Chapter 53

Hinata stood firm, her celestial aura radiating across the battlefield as her love domain continued to clash against Phobos's fear domain. Despite his immense power, Phobos found himself at a disadvantage within this Immortal World arena, where love resonated more strongly than fear among the spectators and participants. His domain, usually overwhelming, faltered under the collective force of the audience's emotions and Hinata's indomitable will.

"I'll support you from behind, so please end it soon," Hinata calmly announced to her teammates. Her voice carried a confidence that emboldened both Orochi and Ino as they pressed the attack.

Phobos's frustration grew. His once-commanding presence was diminished as Hinata's love domain continued to overpower his fear. While his concept was a force to be reckoned with elsewhere, here it lacked the universal support needed to match the sheer purity and power of love that Hinata wielded.

Seeing an opening, Orochi acted swiftly. With a flick of his wrist, he teleported behind Phobos and unleashed pillars of light that erupted from the ground, striking the lion-headed warrior with precision. The ground beneath Phobos shifted as gravity intensified, pulling him downward while massive earthen hands rose to ensnare him.

Phobos struggled against the relentless barrage, but the coordinated attacks were too much. Hinata nocked another arrow on her energy bow, drawing it back as her love-infused energy surged into the weapon. She released the arrow with flawless precision, striking Phobos and inflicting significant damage. Orochi followed up with dark discs of nothingness, swirling voids that erased everything in their path, while Ino unleashed her enhanced avalanche of memories, doubling its intensity.

Phobos, desperate to regain control, roared as he unleashed a dark world, attempting to drown his enemies in madness and fear. However, Hinata's love domain held strong, continuously crushing his powers and neutralizing his efforts. The overwhelming force of affection proved to be an insurmountable obstacle for Phobos's fear-based abilities.

Realizing his conceptual powers were failing him, Phobos shifted tactics, resorting to pure energy attacks. He fired charged energy beams at his foes, each one crackling with destructive power. Following the barrage, he charged straight for Hinata, his massive blade glowing with energy as he swung it down in a devastating arc.

Hinata didn't flinch. She activated a truth-seeking ball (TSB) barrier, surrounding herself in a protective dome of pure energy. The blade collided with the barrier, causing a shockwave that reverberated throughout the arena. Phobos's relentless assault began to crack the barrier, but Hinata remained calm. As the shield shattered, she used a portal to teleport behind him, evading his attack entirely.

"Your defenses won't hold against this," she declared as she nocked another arrow. This time, she used a technique specifically designed for enemies like Phobos.

"No Beast is Beyond My Arrow's Reach."

This skill, imbued with the negating properties of the truth-seeking balls, was a devastating counter against beings with defensive skills or buffs. By targeting Phobos as a "beast" in the conceptual sense, the arrow stripped away all his protections, leaving him completely exposed.

The arrow flew true, piercing Phobos and canceling his remaining defenses. The lion-headed warrior staggered, his body vulnerable and weakened. Orochi and Ino seized the moment, unleashing their combined attacks to pin him in place.

Hinata's clone appeared behind him, her bow shimmering with radiant light. Without hesitation, the clone loosed one final love arrow, striking Phobos directly in his heart. The arrow exploded in a brilliant burst of light, filled with the pure concept of love that shattered his resolve and left him defeated.

As the battlefield fell silent, Phobos collapsed to his knees, unable to continue. The overwhelming power of love, unity, and teamwork had triumphed over fear. Hinata, Orochi, and Ino stood victorious, their teamwork and unyielding resolve a testament to their strength. The crowd erupted into cheers, their admiration for the warriors echoing across the arena.

Just like that, the once-feared warrior Phobos, who had commanded the battlefield with his darkness and fear, found himself brought to his knees. His body, riddled with injuries, bled golden blood, a clear sign of the immense power coursing through his veins. His mighty presence, once overwhelming, had been shattered by the combined force of Hinata, Ino, and Orochi's teamwork, and the weight of their concepts had proved too much for his fear-driven strength.

Before Phobos could gather the will to make one final, desperate attempt, a new presence made itself known. The air around them seemed to shift, becoming heavier with a palpable tension. From the shadows of the arena emerged Ares, the Immortal of War, and the father of the two brothers. His towering figure exuded an aura of sheer power, the embodiment of battle itself. He was a being of untold strength, and as he stepped forward, the very ground beneath his feet seemed to tremble in response.

"Rest, son, you have done enough. Let me handle this situation," Ares spoke, his voice deep and commanding. Phobos, knowing the weight of his father's words, didn't argue. He retreated silently, a look of grudging respect in his eyes. He knew that to defy Ares would only result in more suffering, and so he withdrew without a word.

Ares didn't spare a glance at the team of warriors who had bested his sons. His eyes were fixed solely on Naruto. The Immortal of War had watched the battle unfold with increasing frustration. In the beginning, everything had gone according to his expectations, but soon the tide had turned. Now, standing before Naruto, Ares' rage simmered, but there was something else in his gaze: curiosity, as if the outcome of the battle had intrigued him in ways he hadn't anticipated.

"It seems your entourage isn't so bad," Ares remarked, a wicked smile curling on his lips. "You've got some good taste. So, let me give them a real fight before we can have a fight of equals." His words carried an air of amusement, but the danger was evident. His confidence was immeasurable, and he relished the challenge.

Ares turned to face Hinata, Ino, and Orochi. His demeanor remained completely relaxed as he cracked his knuckles and stretched his arms. "Don't worry; I'll go easy on you. Just survive for some time to warm me up for the real spar, okay?" he said, his tone light but with an edge of menace lurking underneath. His eyes gleamed with excitement, clearly anticipating the confrontation.

The team could feel the weight of his presence. It was as if a mountain had suddenly descended upon them, and they were mere insects standing at its base. Naruto could immediately sense the overwhelming difference in power between Ares and his sons. The Immortal of War was a threat on an entirely different level, and the scales had shifted dramatically. The brief moment of victory was now replaced by a crushing realization: they were facing someone far stronger than anyone they had fought before.

Naruto's gaze shifted to Hinata, who had a resolute expression. She gave him a slight shake of her head, a silent plea not to intervene. There was an understanding between them, a deep connection forged through countless battles and shared experiences.

'We might lose,' Hinata's thoughts echoed through their bond, 'but this loss will benefit us. Please, don't intervene, Naruto. Let us face death in this controlled environment.'

Hinata had seen the immortals battle to the death and understood the deeper implications of their combat. This was more than just a fight—it was a trial by fire, a way to push their limits and grow. She recognized that the shinobi had been holding back too much of their human nature, clinging to old ideals of mercy and restraint. But to truly surpass their limits, they needed to face one another without fear, to unleash their full potential in a world where the stakes were not about winning or losing, but about evolving beyond their current selves.

Hinata understood the need for sacrifice. Fighting Naruto with all his power had been difficult for her comrades, as the gap between their abilities and his was too vast. They could barely see any tangible improvement because of how drastically outclassed they were. But here, in the Immortal world, in a battle where life and death were in the balance, they could push themselves farther than ever before. The result would be something greater than just a victory—it would be an evolution.

Naruto felt the weight of her words, her silent resolve. His mind raced as he considered her position. He knew that this could be the key to unlocking their true potential, but it came with a cost. Could they truly accept this path, a path where bodies were broken and lives were put on the line in the name of progress?

'We will have to make tough decisions if we want to succeed,' Naruto's thoughts settled, 'And this will be limited to the few of us. We are all ready to sacrifice our lives already. This won't change anything except enhance our chances to survive.'

Hinata nodded, her gaze never leaving Ares. She understood the importance of this battle, but she also knew that it would be a brutal and dangerous experience. Her resolve hardened as she prepared herself for the fight ahead.

Ares' presence continued to grow stronger with each passing moment, his immense power rippling through the arena. His smile widened as he prepared for the battle. "Now, let's see what you're really capable of," he muttered under his breath. The team's survival depended on their ability to push past their limits. Whether they would succeed or perish, the fight ahead would be one that tested them all in ways they had never imagined.

Without a moment's hesitation, Hinata decided to strike first, unleashing her most powerful attack. Her form glowed with the vibrant energy of her Tensaigan, and she drew her bow, its string taut with the weight of a black-and-blue arrow. Orochi, seeing her resolve, quickly reacted, summoning his Light of Nothingness. At the same time, Ino tapped into her psychic abilities, attempting to pull apart the atomic structure of Ares with a telekinetic force while simultaneously attacking his mind.

Ares watched them with a calm demeanor, almost amused. "You know, love is a powerful force, and I appreciate it greatly," he mused, his voice carrying a hint of familiarity. "My wife is the master of that concept, so I am used to it. It is a shame, but you are the weaker side this time. I represent war and battles, and everyone here cares more about battles than love... And everything that can be used for war can be used by me."

With those words, Ares casually raised a Truth-Seeking Ball barrier to block the incoming onslaught of energy and psychic force. In an instant, he conjured a bronze bow, pulling the string and launching arrows made of extreme heat. The arrows cut through the air with blinding speed, striking Ino and Orochi before they could react. The heat was so intense that it burned their flesh instantly, the explosion reverberating with a golden light that filled the arena.

Orochi, narrowly escaping his inevitable demise, teleported away just in time, though the heat had left his body scorched, and his healing was hampered by Ares' overwhelming war aura. Ino, using the last of her energy, shed her physical form and became a pure psychic entity, but the attack had still left her severely weakened.

Despite this, the fight continued. Hinata, undeterred by the earlier events, launched heat beams from every direction at Ares, filling the space with intense energy. At the same time, she opened several portals, sending six arrows hurtling toward him from all sides, hoping to catch him off guard.

But Ares was faster than she anticipated. As the arrows came at him, he casually jogged forward, and with a single motion, a sword appeared in his hand. He deflected each of the arrows effortlessly, catching them in mid-air with his energy hands and sending them back with deadly accuracy. One of the arrows tore through Ino, erasing her from the battlefield entirely, while two others erased Orochi from existence. The remaining three arrows shot back toward Hinata, and she was forced to raise a Truth-Seeking Ball shield to defend herself.

Ares, seeing her struggling to block the returning projectiles, wasted no time. His sword cut through the TSB shield with ease, and before Hinata could react, his blade was upon her. He didn't go for the kill; instead, he kicked her in the chest with such force that her bones cracked, and she was sent flying through the air, a footprint imprinted on her chest.

Her healing was slow, and Ares' presence suppressed her regenerative abilities. He pursued her in the air, his massive form easily keeping pace. With ruthless precision, he began using her as a punching bag, his fists raining down on her weakened body. Each strike was more brutal than the last, and Hinata found herself unable to react or defend against the onslaught. Her powers were nullified by his overwhelming aura, and as she crashed to the ground, her consciousness flickered.

Ares stood over her, grabbing her by the hair and lifting her head to meet his gaze. "Spicy, just like I prefer," he muttered, his smile twisted with amusement. "Why don't you leave the weak boy and come live with me?" His words were taunting, and his grip was unrelenting. But Hinata, though battered and barely conscious, took the opportunity to strike.

With a final surge of strength, she reached for his heart, tapping it with her gentle fist ability. In an instant, she bypassed his defenses and caused his heart to explode, flames spreading throughout his body. The pain was immense, but Ares simply chuckled as his body began to heal rapidly, shrugging off the damage as if it were a mere inconvenience.

"Not interested!" Hinata spat, her voice weak but defiant. She continued to struggle, kicking out with her foot, the TSB forming into a sharp blade. But before she could land a blow, Ares reached out and shattered her attack with a simple wave of his hand. With terrifying speed, he smashed his head into Hinata's face, causing her vision to blur as blood poured from her nose and mouth. Before she could react, he pierced her body with his hand, lifting her off the ground as if she were nothing more than a ragdoll.

Ares could have ended it all in an instant, but there was a strange respect in his gaze. He saw the fire in her, the same fire that had driven countless warriors to greatness, and he was impressed. But he knew when to stop. Hinata's body hung limp in his grasp, her spirit finally giving in to the overwhelming force of his attacks.

"Well, I expected a bit too much, it seems," Ares muttered as he looked down at her unconscious form. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed her aside like a discarded toy. The battle, for now, was over. But for Hinata, the journey was far from finished.