Chapter 17: The Battle Begins

Asura sat cross-legged on the floor of his small home, eyes closed, his breathing slow and steady. Nightfall was approaching, and the silence was thick, the kind that settled before a storm. He could feel the tension building within him, but he forced himself to stay calm, to focus. This was it—the battle they had been preparing for, the one that would decide everything.

When night finally descended, Asura rose to his feet, grabbed his worn sword, and pulled his tattered cloak around his shoulders. He took one last look around his home, knowing he might not return, then stepped out into the cold night air. The village was already bustling with activity; warriors were gathering, checking their gear, and preparing for the long march ahead.

He joined the other Uchiha, blending into the sea of warriors, each one ready to charge into battle. Asura found a spot near the back, his heart pounding as he waited for Tajima's command. The clan leader stood at the forefront, his presence commanding respect and attention from all who stood before him.

"Tonight," Tajima called out, his voice carrying through the still night, "we march to the Senju village. We will show them what it means to cross the Uchiha. We will kill every last one of them."

A roar erupted from the crowd, the sound echoing off the surrounding buildings. Asura's blood burned with the same fire, his grip tightening around his sword. When Tajima raised his hand, the Uchiha warriors fell silent, their eyes fixed on their leader.

"Move out!"

With that, they began to run, the ground vibrating beneath the thundering footsteps of hundreds of warriors. Asura's legs pumped furiously, but he struggled to keep up, his smaller frame unable to match the pace of the adults and older kids. He gritted his teeth, pushing himself harder. This wasn't a time to fall behind.

For three hours, they ran, the cool night air whipping against their faces, their breaths heavy and labored. When Tajima finally called for a break, Asura collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. His legs ached, but he refused to let the pain slow him down. He took a moment to catch his breath before they were off again, running for another two hours, then taking another break. By the time they started running again, the moon was high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the forest as they approached their destination.

After twenty more minutes of running, they stopped, the dense forest around them silent and dark. Tajima motioned for three clan members to step forward, sending them ahead to scout the area. The Uchiha warriors waited, tense and silent, weapons at the ready. Asura's heart pounded, and he tried to calm himself, his hands shaking slightly as he gripped his sword.

The scouts returned a few minutes later, their expressions grim. "The Senju compound is straight ahead," one of them reported, pointing deeper into the forest.

Tajima's eyes gleamed with a dark, fierce determination. "We attack now," he commanded. "Charge straight for the Senju village and kill everyone who stands in our way."

A deafening roar erupted from the Uchiha warriors as they surged forward, sprinting through the trees, their weapons gleaming in the moonlight. Asura felt the adrenaline surge through his veins, and he ran as fast as his legs would carry him, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.

The Senju compound came into view, and the moment the Senju saw the approaching wave of Uchiha, they sounded the alarm. The once-quiet night was shattered by the frantic cries of Senju warriors, shouting warnings to their comrades. Within moments, the Senju rushed out, ready to defend their home. The two clans clashed, and the battlefield erupted into chaos.

Jutsu lit up the night sky, fireballs exploding and water dragons crashing against each other, creating a storm of elemental fury. Shouts and cries echoed through the forest as swords clashed and bodies fell. The air was thick with the stench of blood and smoke, and Asura found himself in the midst of the chaos, searching for any Senju to strike down.

He saw an Uchiha warrior being overwhelmed by two Senju. Without hesitation, Asura activated his Sharingan, the two tomoes in each eye spinning rapidly, sharpening his vision. He used the Body Flicker technique to close the distance, appearing behind one of the Senju and slashing his sword across the enemy's back. The Senju crumpled to the ground, and the Uchiha warrior finished off the other one, nodding in thanks before running off to continue fighting.

Asura barely had time to catch his breath when a Senju adult came charging out of nowhere, his eyes locked onto the young Uchiha. Before Asura could react, the Senju's sword slashed across his face, cutting through his right eye. Pain exploded in Asura's head, and he screamed, stumbling back, his hand flying to his bleeding eye.

"Damn you," the Senju growled, advancing on Asura with a menacing grin. "I'll finish you off!"

Asura's vision blurred, but he forced his left eye open, the Sharingan spinning wildly. Despite the pain, he could see the Senju's movements clearly, almost as if they were in slow motion. The enemy lunged forward, swinging his sword down, but Asura sidestepped and countered with his own blade.

The two clashed, sparks flying as their swords met. Asura's weapon, already in poor condition, began to crack under the pressure. He gritted his teeth and used his enhanced perception to parry the Senju's attacks, dodging and weaving around the strikes, trying to find an opening.

The Senju smirked and began forming hand seals, his chakra flaring as he prepared to unleash a jutsu. But Asura's Sharingan allowed him to read the movements, and he quickly copied the seals, forming his own jutsu at the same time.

"Wind Bullet!" they both shouted, exhaling streams of condensed air that collided in the space between them, creating a powerful shockwave. Asura staggered back, his chakra nearly depleted, but he managed to hold his ground.

"Not bad, kid," the Senju said, raising his sword again. "But that was your last trick."

Asura's sword shattered as he blocked the next attack, the pieces scattering to the ground. Desperation flooded his veins, but he refused to give up. Channeling the last of his energy, he sidestepped the Senju's next swing, ducked under the follow-up slash, and drove his kunai into the man's side, forcing a cry of pain from his lips.

The Senju slashed wildly, trying to retaliate, but Asura twisted his kunai and yanked it out, spraying blood across the forest floor. With a final effort, he lunged forward, burying the kunai in the man's throat. The Senju's eyes widened in shock, his sword slipping from his grasp as he collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Asura stood there, panting, his left eye blazing with the crimson glow of his two-tomoe Sharingan. Blood dripped from the wound on his face, and his broken sword lay discarded at his feet. The chaos of the battlefield roared around him, but for a moment, all he could hear was his own heartbeat, pounding in his ears.

He had survived, but the battle was far from over.