War In kirigakure 1

( 2000 words ) 

Naruto exhaled through his nose, his sharp yellow eye gazing at the rising sun. Mei Terumi was still asleep on his lap, her soft breathing steady. Yet his mind wasn't in the present—it was stuck on Bernkastel's words from 2000 years ago.

"Aren't you grateful to be in the same position as us? Not stuck with those nobodies from the lower dimension?"

Something about it gnawed at him. What had he said in response?

He couldn't remember.

Bernkastel had a bad habit of killing him billions of times in his early years at the Foundation. Probably smashed me with her Leviathan for mouthing off. He scoffed internally. Guess I developed a bit of amnesia from all the respawns.

Shaking the thought away, he looked down at Mei and ruffled her hair. "Mei-chan, time to get up."

She groaned, nuzzling against his thigh. "Mmm... give me five more minutes. Your thighs are soft."

Naruto blinked. Then he smirked. "Careful, Mei-chan. Keep saying things like that, and I might start thinking you're in love with me."

Mei Terumi groaned, still refusing to move from Naruto's lap, but after ten more minutes, Naruto had had enough. With an exasperated sigh, he took off his top hat and reached inside, pulling out a rabbit—fresh, plump, and ready for breakfast.

Then, with a casual motion, he prepared to eat it right in front of Mei.

Before he could take a bite, Mei's hand shot out, gripping his wrist tightly.

"It is forbidden to eat these innocent creatures," she declared with absolute seriousness, her jade-green eyes burning with resolve.

Naruto arched a brow, completely unfazed. "Mei-chan, in the end, everyone dies and turns into soil. That soil grows grass. And rabbits eat grass. It's the cycle of life."

Mei's expression didn't change.

Then—she snatched his top hat right off his head.

Naruto blinked as she shoved her hand inside, attempting to grab a rabbit for herself. The hat was empty.

Mei scowled. "Where are the rabbits?"

Naruto smirked. "How many do you think I have?"

Mei narrowed her eyes. "I don't know. How many?"

Naruto simply shrugged. "Didn't count."

Mei irritation deepened. "Then why can't I pull one out like you?"

Naruto smirked wider, adjusting his coat. "Because, Mei-chan…"

He tilted his returned hat forward like a proper showman."A magician never reveals his tricks."

Mei pouted silently, crossing her arms in mild frustration.

Naruto chuckled. "You two perverts have had enough watching the show?"

From the bushes, Ao and Chōjūrō stepped out.

Ao scoffed. "Just for safety. Who knows? Maybe you were plotting to assassinate Lady Mei."

Mei's jade-green eyes narrowed. She stepped closer to Ao, her voice dangerously sweet. "Your words and actions don't match, Ao~."

Ao stiffened.

"You think I might kidnap this boy, don't you?" Mei said

"N-No! Of course not!" Ao shook his head rapidly. "Besides, you're thirty—"

Chōjūrō was already retreating. From a safe distance, he yelled over his shoulder, "Good luck, Ao!"

Veins bulged on Mei's forehead.

"You brat—" Her tone darkened, molten fury bubbling in her voice. "Say another word, and I'll melt you."

Ao's face palmed with sweat. He looked to Naruto for help.

Naruto sighed, ruffling Mei's hair casually. "Alright, that's enough games for today, Mei-chan. Let's move forward."

Mei huffed, but finally relented. "Yes, I suppose so."

Naruto flashed a thumbs-up toward Ao.

Ao exhaled in relief.

Naruto then created a circle of intricate sigils, glowing with an eerie, otherworldly energy. Ao's eyes widened as he instinctively activated his Byakugan, scanning it.

"This… This isn't chakra at all," Ao muttered, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "But it's full of power."

Naruto held out his hand, revealing a delicate blue butterfly, its wings shimmering unnaturally.

"Mei-chan," Naruto said smoothly, "imagine the location of your rebel base." He twirled the butterfly between his fingers. "But first—grab this little guy."

Mei's jade-green eyes narrowed slightly. Something about this was unnatural. But still, she reached forward, cupping the glowing butterfly in her hands.

And suddenly—The world twisted.

Their surroundings blurred, as if space itself had been rewritten. The forest, the ground beneath their feet—everything dissolved into nothingness.

And then, just as quickly, it snapped back into place.

The group was somewhere else entirely.

The Rebel Base.

Shouts erupted immediately as dozens of Kirigakure Jonin readied their kunai, their chakra signatures flaring.

"Trespassers—!"

But the moment they laid eyes on Mei, their tense expressions melted into relief.

"The leader has returned!"

One of the Jonin, a grizzled man with a deep scar running down his cheek, stepped forward. "Lady Mei!" His sharp eyes flicked to Naruto, analyzing him. "I'm glad you made it back, but—who is this boy behind you?"

The soldiers of the rebellion all turned, gazes locking onto Naruto.

Mei stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "Someone that can change the tide of war."

One of the commanders frowned, skepticism clear in his expression. "Lady Mei, I'm sorry, but one man can't change the tide of war… let alone a kid."

Ao stepped forward, his tone serious. "I also vouch for this kid. He may look weak, but he wields a strange power that can't be explained."

Another commander suddenly rushed in, urgency in his voice. "Mei-sama! Sorry to interrupt, but some of Yagura's forces are invading our smaller camps to the west! They're led by Jinin Akebino!"

Chōjūrō tightened his grip on his sword. "Jinin… One of the Seven Swordsmen of Kirigakure. I'll handle him. He's my responsibility."

Mei smiled, shaking her head. "I have a better idea." She turned toward Naruto. "Naruto, can you handle them?"

Naruto adjusted his top hat and twirled his cane. "How many shinobi exactly are being led by this Jinin guy?"

One of the commanders hesitated before responding. "Approximately 200."

Naruto's grin widened. "They should have brought more. Consider this a tribute to enter this rebel faction."

He turned on his heel and started walking toward the battlefield.

"Wait!" Chōjūrō called out. "Naruto, I will accompany you! Jinin must not be underestimated!"

Naruto didn't stop. "Nope." He raised a hand dismissively. "I'll take this on myself."

Chōjūrō frowned. "But—"

"If you come," Naruto cut him off, his voice smooth but firm, "you might get caught in the crossfire."

One of the commanders frowned, skepticism clear in his expression. "Lady Mei, I'm sorry, but one man can't change the tide of war… let alone a kid."

Ao stepped forward, his tone serious. "I also vouch for this kid. He may look weak, but he wields a strange power that can't be explained."

Another commander suddenly rushed in, urgency in his voice. "Mei-sama! Sorry to interrupt, but some of Yagura's forces are invading our smaller camps to the west! They're led by Jinin Akebino!"

Chōjūrō tightened his grip on his sword. "Jinin… One of the Seven Swordsmen of Kirigakure. I'll handle him. He's my responsibility."

Mei smiled, shaking her head. "I have a better idea." She turned toward Naruto. "Naruto, can you handle them?"

Naruto adjusted his top hat and twirled his cane. "How many shinobi exactly are being led by this Jinin guy?"

One of the commanders hesitated before responding. "Approximately 200."

Naruto's grin widened. "They should have brought more. Consider this a tribute to enter this rebel faction."

He turned on his heel and started walking toward the battlefield.

"Wait!" Chōjūrō called out. "Naruto, I will accompany you! Jinin must not be underestimated!"

Naruto didn't stop. "Nope." He raised a hand dismissively. "I'll take this on myself."

Chōjūrō frowned. "But—"

" If you come," Naruto cut him off, his voice smooth but firm, "you might get caught in the crossfire."

As Naruto made his way to the battlefield alone, Chōjūrō clenched his fists. "Lady Mei… Can Naruto really win against one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen? What if he loses?"

Mei's jade-green eyes remained focused in the direction Naruto had gone. "I don't think he will lose," she said, her voice unwavering. "But if he does, we prepare for the worst."

She turned slightly, a small smirk forming on her lips. "Chōjūrō, accompany me. I want to watch his fight."

Chōjūrō hesitated, then nodded. "As you wish, Lady Mei."

Meanwhile, Naruto had already arrived at the western battlefield. His sharp yellow eye scanned the terrain, and he casually flicked his fingers, forming a subtle hand signal in the direction of a large tree.

Keep your eyes open. Don't miss a thing.

Perched in that very tree, hidden among the branches, Mei Terumi observed the signal, her heart skipping a beat. This kid… he's unbelievably flirty at a time like this.

On the battlefield, Jinin Akebino stood tall, his executioner's hammer resting on his shoulder. His 200 Kirigakure shinobi stood behind him, all smirking at the lone figure in front of them.

Jinin sneered. "The rebels only sent one man? Looks like we're winning the war tonight, fellow shinobi!"

His men laughed, their confidence soaring.

But then— Naruto raised a single hand.

"Dismantle."

In an instant—100 men were sliced apart.

Blood sprayed into the air like a grotesque fountain. Severed limbs and torsos dropped to the ground with sickening thuds. The remaining 100 men froze, their laughter dying in their throats.

Jinin's smirk faltered as a shiver ran down his spine.

Naruto twirled his cane once before resting it on his shoulder. His sharp yellow eye gleamed with amusement.

"Don't tell me you lost your courage after that."

The remaining 100 shinobi snapped out of their terror, their training kicking in as they formed hand seals.

"Hiding in Mist Technique!"

A thick, oppressive mist swallowed the battlefield in an instant. The visibility dropped to near zero, and within the dense fog, multiple figures darted silently, positioning themselves for a coordinated ambush.

Naruto stood still, unbothered.

One of the shinobi whispered, "He's wide open—"

A blinding arc of lightning erupted from Naruto's position, splitting through the mist with violent intensity. The sheer force of it illuminated the battlefield for a brief moment, revealing the silhouettes of every shinobi caught within the mist.

In Naruto's hand was Kamutoke, his single-bladed vajra gleaming with residual static.

The moment his fist struck the air, the weapon channeled his intent, discharging a monstrous surge of lightning.

Screams erupted as dozens of shinobi were electrocuted instantly. Their bodies convulsed, their weapons and armor conducting the energy as they crumpled to the ground, charred and twitching.

Naruto exhaled lazily, spinning Kamutoke in his fingers before resting it on his shoulder.

The battlefield was silent—except for the distant groans of the dying.

The remaining shinobi, still hiding in the mist, froze in absolute horror.

Naruto tilted his head, a slow, cruel grin forming on his lips.

"Now…How about I hunt the rest of you down… like pathetic rabbits trying to flee from a wolf?"

Suddenly—A blade pierced through his chest.

Nuibari. The long, thin sword, like a giant sewing needle, had stabbed clean through him, its wire-like thread pulling taut.

A second strike followed.

Shibuki—Jinpachi's massive sword, covered in explosive tags—detonated at the same moment Nuibari's wire tightened, ripping Naruto apart.

BOOM.

A deafening explosion ripped through the battlefield. The thick mist that had surrounded them dissipated in an instant, the shockwave blowing it apart.

When the dust settled—Naruto was in pieces.

His lower half was gone, obliterated by the explosion. His torso lay motionless on the ground, blood pooling beneath it.

Kushimaru, the wielder of Nuibari, exhaled, his masked face twisting into a triumphant grin. "I got him! Hahaha! This monster finally fell to me!"

Jinpachi, standing beside him, snorted. "No way, idiot. It was my explosives that killed him!"

Jinin, still gripping Kabutowari, turned to glare at them both. His teeth clenched. "You fools! You also killed the rest of our men in that blast!"

Jinpachi scoffed. "Eh, sacrifices. Who cares? The freak is dead—"

"—Is he?"

A voice. A voice that should not be there.

Their bodies stiffened. Slowly—dreadfully—they turned. And saw him.

Naruto. Perfectly intact. Standing just a few feet away, casually gazing at his own torn-apart corpse on the ground.

His coat fluttered in the wind, untouched by the explosion. His yellow eye gleamed with unsettling amusement.

Then—he smiled. "Stand proud my upper half ," Naruto said, tilting his head. "You are strong."