Chapter XXVI: Siege of the Leaf, Part One
"Hehehe...I've finally done it," Gyatsō murmurs to himself, his voice low and filled with quiet triumph. His Mūgetsu Shaolin pulses with raw energy, the crosses within his irises spinning rapidly. As the power surges through him, his hair shifts, turning a pure, stark white and shortening in an instant. He chuckles softly, the sound dark and self-satisfied, as he crosses his arms and squints, his eyes glowing with newfound potential.
"With these eyes," he muses, his tone almost casual, "I can freely manipulate the structure of my DNA to change my appearance at will... most interesting. This ability may very well come in handy down the line."
He begins to walk around the cave, his movements slow so he can fully relish in his new powers. His eyes scan the surroundings until they land on a ripped, black poncho draped over a tree stump. He picks it up, examining it briefly before throwing it over his shoulders. The fabric settles around him as he levitates off the ground, his body rising effortlessly. Without hesitation, he phases straight through the cave's ceiling, demonstrating a new intangibility jutsu that leaves no trace of his passage.
Outside, the wind howls, whipping his hair to the side as he hovers above the cave. His Mūgetsu Shaolin flares again, its power radiating like a storm. He gazes down at the cave below, his eyes narrowing as he recalls Zuko's words:One's field of vision shall be engulfed by hellfire upon awakening the Mūgetsu.A faint smirk curls Gyatsō's lips as he raises a hand.
"Now, come forth... Ultimate Shaolin Art: Catastrophic Hell Flames!" he shouts, his voice echoing with authority.
In an instant, the cave is engulfed in scorching red and black flames. The fire roars with an otherworldly intensity, melting stone and earth in less than five seconds. Within a minute, the cave is completely obliterated, reduced to nothing but molten rubble. But the flames don't stop there—they seep into the ground, consuming the soil and leaving behind a massive, smoldering crater. Lava bubbles at the bottom, its heat radiating upward in waves.
Gyatsō chuckles again, his eyes gleaming with awe and satisfaction. "I lost so many loyal subordinates to obtain these eyes," he says softly, his voice tinged with both pride and a hint of nostalgia. "But it was worth it. Now then..."
His pupils expand and dilate, and in the blink of an eye, he's standing at the entrance to the Hidden Leaf Village. The sounds of explosions and screams fill the air, and a cruel smile spreads across his face as he takes a slow, dangerous step forward.
"Stop right there!" a sharp, feminine voice commands.
Gyatsō's gaze shifts to Tenten, the newly appointed Leaf Jonin, who stands before him with gritted teeth. Her once-trademark buns are gone, replaced by middle-length hair that falls straight down her back. Her eyes are fierce, her stance unwavering as she unfurls a large scroll.
"I've never seen you in this village before," she snaps, her voice steady despite the chaos around her, "so you must be the enemy. If you make a single movement, I'll finish you!"
Gyatsō stares at her as he crosses his arms. "Do your worst, kunoichi," he taunts, his tone dripping with disdain.
Tenten's scroll springs to life, launching a barrage of spiked iron balls directly at him. Gyatsō laughs softly, the sound almost gentle, as he extends his hand. A brutal gust of wind erupts from his body, roaring like a tempest. The iron balls are sent flying in every direction, and the force of the wind slams into Tenten, hurling her backward at incredible speed. She crashes into a nearby building, the structure collapsing under the impact.
Gyatsō scoffs, his expression one of mild amusement, as he strides toward the rubble. Before he can reach her, a blur of movement catches his attention.
"Severe Leaf Hurricane!"
Rock Lee, now taller and donning a Jonin flak jacket of his own, appears at Gyatsō's side in a flash. His high-speed kicks are a blur, each one aimed with precision at Gyatsō's abdomen. But the white-haired man doesn't flinch. He catches Lee's leg mid-kick, his grip like iron, and counters with a devastating kick to Lee's chest. Lee manages to block it with his hand, but the force still sends him flying backward.
Gyatsō appears above Lee in an instant, his hand gripping the Jonin's neck as he slams him into the ground. "Don't challenge a god," he says coldly, his voice devoid of emotion as he stands over Lee's unconscious body.
His gaze shifts back to the rubble where Tenten lies. His Mūgetsu Shaolin flares once more, and the wrecked cement levitates, revealing her battered form. Gyatsō crouches beside her, his expression blank, as he drives a kunai through her forehead. Her body goes limp, blood pooling beneath her. He slaps a paper explosive tag onto the kunai and casually drags Lee's body onto Tenten's before levitating away. Moments later, a massive explosion erupts, obliterating the area.
Gyatsō soars across the southern part of the village, his movements effortless as he cuts down villagers and shinobi alike. Anbu, Jonin, even academy students who rush to help—none are spared. His onslaught is merciless, his power absolute.
Just ten minutes into Hikari's relentless bombing and the coordinated attacks between the Hidden Sound and Dark, Gyatsō levitates above the village, his arms crossed. Below, he spots a group of Hidden Sound shinobi swarming the streets, their attacks relentless. The village burns, its once-proud structures reduced to ash and rubble. Gyatsō's eyes scan the destruction, his expression one of cold satisfaction.
"The end of the Hidden Leaf," he murmurs, "has arrived."
"Orochimaru... you rotten bastard...!" Nori snarls through gritted teeth, her voice strained and trembling. She collapses to her knees, her body trembling as more blood seeps from the deep gash in her chest. The crimson pool beneath her grows larger, staining the ground as her strength wanes.
Behind her, the Sannin in question cackles, the sound low and sinister. He turns slowly and shrugs his shoulders with mock nonchalance. "My, my," he drawls, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. "I never expected that the precious daughter of Tsunade would fall this easily!" His laughter echoes through the chaos, a chilling contrast to the screams and explosions that fill the air.
Nori's breathing is ragged, her vision blurring as she struggles to stay conscious. "Why are you... doing this?!" she demands, her voice weak but filled with defiance.
Orochimaru's smile widens, his golden eyes gleaming with malice. "A self-proclaimed god has emerged from the shadows... I'm merely playing my part," he replies, his tone almost playful. Nori's body finally gives out, and she falls onto her stomach, her hands clawing weakly at the ground as her vision fades.
"You'll... regret attacking this village..." she whispers, her voice barely audible. "You son of a bitch... I... swear it..."
Orochimaru rolls his eyes, his expression one of bored disdain. "Spare me the harsh warnings,Lady Hokage,"he mocks, his voice cold and dismissive. "Just keep your mouth shut... and die!"
He takes a moment, savoring the sight of her helplessness, before stepping closer. Standing above her, he raises the bloodied blade in his hand. Without hesitation, he drives it into Nori's head with brutal force, the sharp edge piercing through her skull. The blade emerges through her mouth, its tip glistening with blood.
"No! Lady Nori!" Shizune's voice rings out, filled with anguish and rage. She stands frozen for a moment, her dark eyes wide with horror as she takes in the gruesome scene. Her fists clench, her entire body trembling with fury as she glares at Orochimaru. The Sannin meets her gaze, his smirk widening as he pulls the sword free from Nori's lifeless body.
"Ah, her little pet?" he says, his tone dripping with condescension. He twirls the blade in his hand, the blood flicking off in droplets.
Shizune's chakra flares, glowing blades of chakra forming around her hands. Her face is a mask of fury as she charges at Orochimaru, her voice a raw scream. "I'll make you pay for what you've done to her!"
Orochimaru's smirk never wavers. As Shizune lunges at him, he sidesteps with effortless grace, his movements almost too fast to follow. In one fluid motion, he spins around, his blade slicing through the air. The edge catches the back of Shizune's head, and she stumbles forward, her body collapsing to the ground.
The Sannin stands over her, his expression one of cold satisfaction. "Go join your owner, mutt," he murmurs. He flicks the blood from his blade and turns away, leaving the two fallen kunoichi behind as the village burns around him.
Ughhhhh, Akazo groans inwardly as his eyelids flutter open. The sterile white ceiling of the hospital room comes into focus, the faint hum of fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. His body feels heavy, every muscle aching from the brutal onslaught he endured at the hands of Kimimaro. The memory of the fight flashes in his mind—Kimimaro's bone-like attacks, the terrifying transformation, the moment everything went black.
My head is throbbing... huh? What's that noise?
The distant sounds of chaos reach his ears—shouts, explosions, the faint crackle of flames. His brow furrows as he tries to make sense of it. Slowly, he pushes himself up, wincing as pain shoots through his ribs. He throws the thin hospital blanket aside, his movements stiff and deliberate.
As he sits up, his eyes widen in shock. Surrounding his bed are several Hidden Sound shinobi, their blood lusted gazes locked onto him. Their presence is menacing, their postures tense and ready for action. The room, once a place of healing, now feels like a trap.
"What the hell?!" Akazo exclaims, his voice a mix of disbelief and alarm. His heart pounds in his chest as he scans the room, his mind racing to process the situation. The Sound assailants don't respond, their silence only adding to the tension. Akazo's hands clench into fists, his body instinctively preparing for a fight, even in his severely weakened state.