As darkness enveloped the ship, shadows lengthened across the deck, mirroring the growing threat that loomed over them. The enemy, cleverly exploiting the cover of night, steadily closed in.
Third POV
In the captain's cabin, Ryujin's voice rang out with newfound strength. "I have fully recovered," he declared, his eyes unwavering as they met the gaze of those gathered around the strategic table.
Tsunade, her expression serious and probing, didn't mince words. "And how many adversaries do you realistically believe you can handle in this state?" Her tone was characteristic of a seasoned medic who had seen too many risk-takers pay dearly for their bravado.
"All." Ryujin's confident assertion hung in the air, leaving his comrades momentarily stunned. His resolve was undeniable, yet his strategic approach was met with skeptical glances.
"However, I will focus solely on their leader," Ryujin continued, his gaze unwavering. "He appears to be the most formidable opponent among them."
His declaration was met with a brief silence before Shizune stepped forward, her finger tracing the markings on the map spread across the table. "They're closing in from three directions: east, northeast, and southeast," she reported, her tone cool and composed despite the imminent threat.
Unohana, her eyes narrowing in contemplation, offered her insight. "It seems they're herding us towards the storm," she remarked, her voice carrying a weight of grim deduction.
Tsunade, the seasoned veteran of countless battles, wasted no time. With decisive authority, she allocated tasks to each member of the crew, assigning roles based on their strengths and capabilities.
As preparations were finalized and weapons readied, a tense anticipation settled over the cabin. The air crackled with determination and the palpable sense of impending conflict.
The division of teams was swift and purposeful. The elite Hokage Anbu squad, my own seasoned comrades, and Tsunade's determined contingent assembled with practiced efficiency. Meanwhile, Shizune, accompanied by a few shadow clones and essential Fuinjutsu, remained behind to safeguard our vessel, her resolve steeled by Tsunade's quiet encouragement.
Before departing, Tsunade embraced Shizune, her words a whispered assurance amid the gathering storm.
As we surged forward towards the eastern threat, a formidable Y-shaped formation awaited us. Two adversaries positioned at the front, one lurking behind—an intricate dance of strategy played out upon the turbulent sea.
"I'll take the left flank," Ryujin asserted, his movements fluid as he sprinted across the water's surface. Tsunade, a seasoned leader attuned to his unspoken cues, nodded in silent accord.
With synchronized precision, we engaged the enemy. Ryujin's blade flashed with lethal grace, each strike a testament to his prowess. Meanwhile, I mirrored his determination on the opposite flank, meeting the encroaching threat with unwavering resolve.
The clash of steel and the crackle of jutsu filled the night air, illuminated by the distant flicker of lightning on the horizon.
Booom
As the deafening boom echoed across the tumultuous seas, the contrast between Tsunade's raw power and Ryujin's calculated finesse became starkly apparent. Hidden in the shadows, Ryujin observed Tsunade's relentless assault, marveling at her prowess while seeking to glean insights from her chakra-enhanced techniques.
With precision born of practiced expertise, Ryujin ascended the tallest mast, his movements silent and deliberate. From his elevated vantage point, he cast a smoke bomb that billowed down, shrouding the deck in a thick haze. The ship, now turned towards Tsunade's battleground, bore witness to the aftermath of her devastating onslaught.
A mischievous grin played upon Ryujin's lips as he muttered under his breath, "Time for slaughter." Swiftly weaving a complex array of hand signs, his Dojutsu activated to enhance the reach of his Genjutsu.
In the swirling chaos of smoke and sea spray, Ryujin's illusionary prowess unfurled like a hidden serpent, ensnaring the senses of unsuspecting adversaries. Whispers echoed in the minds of those caught within his psychic web, disorienting and unsettling.
Meanwhile, Tsunade's relentless onslaught continued unabated, each strike a symphony of brute force and honed skill. Her adversaries faltered under the weight of her unyielding assault, their defenses crumbling like sandcastles before a relentless tide.
Amidst the swirling tempest of battle, Ryujin's silent dance of shadows and illusions unfolded, a counterpoint to Tsunade's thunderous fury.
[Bringer of the true darkness: Extension]
High above the chaos he had wrought, Ryujin watched with a mixture of fascination and detachment. The Genjutsu, like tendrils of true darkness, gripped each victim's mind, distorting reality into a twisted tapestry of paranoia and terror.
Within the haze of illusion, every living soul nearby appeared as a menacing threat—an existential danger that demanded elimination. Frantic figures, once comrades and foes alike, turned on each other with blind ferocity, oblivious to the puppet strings of Ryujin's manipulation.
From the ship's shadowy depths to its wind-tossed deck, the air reverberated with anguished screams and the metallic clang of battle. Explosions erupted sporadically, heralding the swift demise of those ensnared by Ryujin's Genjutsu.
The more souls entangled within the web of deception, the more potent its grip became. False truths and fabricated fears wove a spell so intricate, it bordered on unbreakable.
Yet amidst the turmoil he had orchestrated, Ryujin remained an aloof observer. His eyes, keen and unblinking, surveyed the macabre dance of death below, a silent architect of chaos perched upon the precipice of destruction.
As the enemy ranks dwindled amid the carnage, Ryujin's grin widened—a testament to the power of his craft and the depths of darkness that dwelled within.
Ryujin's gaze, tinged with an eerie luminescence, swept over the blood-soaked aftermath. Amidst the carnage, he spotted a few survivors—shinobi on the brink of death, clinging to tenuous threads of life.
As he approached one of the gravely wounded adversaries, Ryujin's demeanor shifted, a disarming mask of casual curiosity veiling his true intentions.
"You're the mastermind behind this attack, aren't you?" The injured ninja, his life force ebbing away, managed a feeble question.
"I guess," Ryujin's voice carried an unsettling calmness, juxtaposed against the chaos that surrounded them.
Ryujin's eyes narrowed slightly, his Dojutsu assessing the man's remaining strength. "You possess a chakra signature akin to special Jonin," he remarked, his tone laced with intrigue.
The wounded shinobi's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation. "Y-yes... I... hold the rank of... Captain Jonin..."
A faint smirk played upon Ryujin's lips. "A captain Jonin orchestrating such a reckless attack... How intriguing," he mused, his words veiled with subtle mockery.
Despite the dire circumstances, Ryujin's demeanor remained unnervingly composed. His keen interest in extracting information masked by a facade of casual inquiry.
"Now, captain Jonin," Ryujin continued, his eyes gleaming with an inscrutable intensity, "I have a few questions for you. Information, after all, is invaluable—especially in times of war."
As the dying shinobi struggled to respond, the shadows of uncertainty and impending doom cast a chilling pall over their macabre exchange.
"DIE!!!" The wounded shinobi, driven by desperation, lashed out with a final burst of energy, aiming to take Ryujin down with him. In that fleeting moment, Ryujin's Dojutsu activated, time seeming to slow to a crawl around him.
With preternatural awareness, Ryujin analyzed every minute detail—the tension of muscles, the flow of chakra—reading the assailant's intent like an open book. In a swift and precise maneuver, he countered the attack, deflecting the onslaught and pinning the wounded shinobi to the ground.
"It seems my hunch was correct, Captain," Ryujin remarked coolly, his voice a measured contrast to the chaos that had unfolded.
The injured shinobi grunted in pain, attempting to resist. "Like I will let you—" His defiance was cut short as Ryujin's visual prowess enveloped him, rendering him unconscious with a mere glance.
"It's not a request, but your inevitable fate," Ryujin stated, his tone devoid of remorse.
With the fallen shinobi now subdued, Ryujin delved into his memories with practiced ease. Images and impressions flooded his mind, revealing crucial information amidst the sea of thoughts and experiences.
"Interesting... hostages and a formidable opponent on the main ship—a brother of the Third Raikage," Ryujin muttered to himself, processing the newfound intelligence.
As the echoes of battle faded into the night, Ryujin stood amidst the aftermath, his mind calculating the next steps in this intricate game of strategy and deception.