62

The silent damp forest covered in a beautiful hue was disturbed by the crackling noise of the thunder, the raindrops falling on the ground, and the sound of killing and screams. Thick blood covered the trees and the leaves.

From among the thick foliage came running a human shadow as he slash the one near him beheading his enemy with a long knife.

Blood splash on his face, but he didn't care as he ran towards his next target as quickly as possible, water Jutsus was fired from both sides causing rain to fall as if nature wanted to wash away the blood of those who fell prey to the mercilessness of these shinobis.

A strong wind rose from the sea's depths bringing waves to crash against the shore. The waves had the strength to drag the bodies along with them, dragging them further and further inland where the corpses were torn to pieces as if they were alive. The user had his enemy rolling on the ground, breaking limbs and bones before scattering the trees around.

However, the victory was short-lived as a shadow appeared behind him using the mist as the cover. Cutting his hands and feet as he bled, the shadow didn't show any mercy, thrusting the sword into the neck of the enemy, the shadow rush to help others only knowing that his enemy lay dead at his feet.

A figure that seemed to be wearing a robe with a broadsword in his hand rushed forward like an avalanche of death and blood. Killing anyone that dares to stand in his way.

"Damit, we need to get the young lady out of here", Someone yelled.

A very little girl not even 10 yet from the looks of it ran while holding the hands of some adult.

She was wearing rags and was covered in blood all over her, even her face was covered in dirt and tear marks, The only thing that was clear was her hair, which was auburn in color.

The adult's face was stained with tears and blood as well. Her body was also drenched in blood.

However, she seemed to be a war veteran as she block the enemy attack from behind, "Young lady run", She yelled and kicked the enemy while weaving through the hand signs and using the water dragon Jutsu only to be counter-attacked by another water dragon that intercepted her attack from the side.

She grits her teeth and blurs towards those who were rushing towards the young girl.

"Hurry up and run. Run young lady. Run!" She screamed with all her might, cutting down the one who approached the young girl from the back while getting hit by a water dragon bullet from behind. Another stabbed her throat once she landed after flying from getting hit by a water dragon...

A long shadow appeared from the top of the trees watching the battle with slight interest...!!

The forest was in shambles, plumes of smoke rising from the clash of techniques; screams were apparent from the clash of will and fear.

The clouds crackled, and the rainwater flows carrying the blood within it. The consistent rain only makes it worse, as it amplifies the bloody smell of the blood.

Standing on the tree branch, he keep looking at the little girl who was being carried by yet another guard covered in blood as he ran like crazy.

"Hehe, where do you think you are going!", A figure walked in front of the little girl and the guard. His face is hidden by his hood, but even so, there is no doubt he is not their friend.

"Young lady run..." The guard said, rushing towards the man in front of them.

"But... but you-?" She asked timidly, not daring to show fear towards the person who seemed very powerful, yet she still knew that if her guard rushed in like that he will die.

"RUN!!!!", The guard yelled with all his force and swing his broadsword at the enemy in front of him.

The girl clenched her tiny fists tightly and moved as fast as she could away from them...

"Little girl, you really think you can run away?!", A mocking sound came from behind her. But the young girl didn't look back at the scene behind her. Instead, she looks ahead, away from the man behind her.

Despite her young age, she had seen many battles and witnessed many deaths; all of them placed their hopes on her. She has to live, for them.

A knife flew from out of nowhere and stuck on the little girl's leg, making her bleed and fall onto the muddy ground as she began to crawl away, crying while struggling to stay alive...

The rain and the blood made everything even more miserable and chaotic. As her guard was killed and the Kiri shinobi rushed to her position.

The Kiri shinobi didn't stop to take a breather and without a word or mercy, hacked toward the crying and bloody little girl.

On that gesture, his movements stopped. He dropped his sword and held his neck which was sliced out of nowhere. Blood gushed out of the wound painting his neck and hand in crimson.

The Kiri shinobi didn't understand what just happened and only stared at the girl in front of him, holding his hand on the wound while the blood continued to flow out. And before he knew what was going on he died. His eyes were wide open, lifelessly staring at her.

"What happened?", It was a shock to everyone present. No one figured out who or what actually did this.

"My lady run", The Lava Bloodline user yelled being the first person to regain his composure.

She ignored the kunai and the pain in her little leg, as she struggled to get up and move forward. She tried to run but was blocked by the kunoichi rushing to her position.

However, the mysterious shadow struck again and the kunoichi was lacerated through her waist in the middle of her run, the momentum carried two halves of her body in different directions splattering and scattering on the muddy ground; the meat on her body parts became separated from each other and scattered all around.

The blood splashes onto the girl's face overwhelming her with the scent of blood which was stinging her nose and making her throat choke up in disgust.

But what was more horrifying was the scene in front of her, she watch the half-mutilated body with an expression of fear, and even so, she still kept running without a second thought.

Her heart is in agony and she doesn't want to die... Not before taking her revenge. She kept struggling forward with everything she has left as her figure was lost in the dark woods covered in the thick mist.

"Chase her..!! She must not be allowed to live", One of the Kiri shinobi yelled, the top priority is not to figure out who this unknown rebel is. But to catch that little girl quickly.

While most were stopped by the rebels, because of the vast difference in number, a handful of Kiri shinobis still managed to brush off the rebels' attack with the help of their comrades.

The young lady was trying to keep moving forward despite the pain that kept throbbing, making her face even redder than before; tears welling up from her eyes. She could barely breathe, and no longer had the strength to run anymore...

The rain poured down on her face like a waterfall and made it even harder for her to see and continue her escape.

Even so, she was still running...

The shadow blinked into existence on top of the tree, carrying the flashes of a thunderstorm with his arrival, watching them trying desperately to catch a little girl.

Under the dark canopy of the stormy sky, chaotic forces clash beneath. A flash of lightning, and thunder booms in concert, and the shadow was gone once more.

The Kiri shinobi tried to find her location as fast as possible. She must die today, otherwise, if the rebel leader Mei Terumi gets her hand on this girl, they would acquire a powerhouse in a few years.

Those far behind her managed to catch up to her in nearly an instant. They all were like a blur to her. It was impossible for a mere kid to outrun them, not to mention, they are all trained to kill.

But as soon as they caught up to her, something miraculous happened, as if it was a magic trick, a flash of lightning illuminated the dark forest, and her injured body disappeared from sight right in front of them.

"What the hell-", One of them muttered in confusion. The others just stared at the spot where she was just a moment ago.

The Kiri shinobis were shocked by this revelation as if it is something out of a dream, an injured kid suddenly vanished from their sight.

...

The rain poured on the little girl as her blood dripped down on the ground along with the rainwater. Her eyes are filled with tears as she stared at her savior.

The pretty big sister stood in front of her with her two guards; her subordinates. The girl recognized her at a glance, it was the renowned Mei Terumi, the rebel leader...

Mei smiled gently at the kid; despite the blood covering her face and body, she still had the beauty that made her so desirable, "It's gonna be alright now..."

The young girl hugged the big sister, trying to stop the tears from flowing, as she continued to hold her close and tightly.

"Thank you, Thank you...", The little girl said in a soft voice, her voice muffled in Mei's embrace...

The emerald-eye beauty chuckled and caressed the little girl's head gently, "That was brave of you. Now let's-"

Mei coughed blood when a white hand came out of the little girl's body and stabbed Mei right through her abdomen... The girl morphed and turned into White Zetsu..!

The blood spurts, the flesh is cut, and Mei fell on the hard wet surface with a thud; her eyes remained open ever so slightly; she couldn't believe it. This is impossible, she thought to herself...

The guards around her screamed, "NOOO!!"

They were caught off guard by this sudden attack from a kid who should not be a threat...

They didn't, however, had the time to react to rebound from this sudden attack because the space behind them twisted in a spiral; blood spewed off their body as they were split into two halves down their waist by Obito who suddenly appeared behind them and performed a single horizontal slash...

Their blood poured onto Mei's face as she lay on the muddy ground... She cursed before she was forced to close her eyes...

The thunder and lightning brighten the area once again; the clouds rumble loudly as the rain continued to fall on this accursed island, called the "Bloody Mist"...

...

~Konohagakure~~

Raizel waved towards Naruto at the academy gates with a soft smile — a rather peculiar motion, indeed. Especially from him.

Raizel was accustomed to turning away whenever someone made their way towards him, however, looking at the child he once fed milk to, the kid he saw growing up for the last 8 years, the kid he looked after all this time, and the kid he never took his eyes off— Playing the role of an older brother is a matter of course...

"It's time to go in, remember, do not tarnish the name of our clan"

Raizel turned his head to see Uchiha Fugaku lecturing his son Uchiha Sasuke...

"Yes Father", Sasuke said excitedly as Fugaku nodded and the two were separated at the school gate...

Raizel smiled slightly again; watching many families dropping their kids at the academy gates before parting ways. Here, in this place, the peace was broken only by the sound of the children playing and laughing in the nearby field, and the wind rushing through the tall pine trees.

A scene, so calm and serene that one could easily forget the war-driven world they live in, even for a few minutes...

Raizel did not say it— but he thought to himself that this place looked more like home than ever before. He turned back to leave only to stiffen as he instantly sensed Mei's chakra diminishing rapidly.

Creating a shadow clone to watch over Naruto, Raizel vanished in thin air, like a mirage, leaving only a trail of mist behind, running into the horizon in seconds...

His target: Mei