Ambush in the Rain

Shadows in the Rain

The cold drizzle of the Land of Rain soaked Tetsuma's uniform, weighing it down like the burdens of war. He stood amidst the corpses of his fallen comrades, their blood mixing with the rain, turning the battlefield into a macabre canvas of red and gray. His breathing was steady, his heartbeat slow. The fight wasn't over.

Two figures in Kirigakure hunter-nin masks circled him, their presence barely visible through the mist and falling rain. Their weapons gleamed under the dim light of the overcast sky—one wielded a jagged executioner's blade, while the other brandished twin kunai coated with an unknown toxin.

Tetsuma had been tracking a rogue shinobi through the Land of Rain, a routine mission—until it became an ambush. These two weren't just ordinary hunter-nin; they were elite operatives from Kirigakure's secret corps, possibly from the same unit responsible for the deaths of his previous Anbu team in the Land of Water years ago. His grip tightened around the handle of his tanto.

"This is bad…" he muttered to himself, analyzing his situation. His chakra reserves were running low after days of pursuit, and he had already sustained a deep cut on his shoulder. Despite this, retreat was not an option.

One of the Kirigakure nin moved first, dashing toward him with inhuman speed. The executioner's blade swung in a deadly arc. Tetsuma flickered out of the way just in time, leaving a faint afterimage as he reappeared behind the attacker, slashing his tanto upward. Sparks flew as steel met steel. The other ninja struck from the side, aiming a kunai at his ribs.

Too slow.

Tetsuma twisted his body midair, planting a foot against the first enemy's blade and using it as leverage to flip backward. He sent a burst of lightning chakra through his tanto, forcing both attackers to leap back.

The brief exchange had given him enough insight—these weren't just elite hunter-nin. They had experience hunting shinobi of his caliber. This wasn't an ambush meant to capture. It was meant to kill.

"Silver Blade of the Leaf," one of them finally spoke, his voice slightly distorted through the mask. "Your reputation precedes you."

Tetsuma exhaled slowly. "Then you should know that backing me into a corner is the last mistake you'll ever make."

Without another word, he clasped his hands together. Lightning crackled around him.

"Lightning Release: Thunderstorm Spear."

A spear of pure lightning formed in his hand, humming with deadly energy. The two hunter-nin tensed, recognizing the danger, but it was too late. With a flick of his wrist, the spear exploded into dozens of smaller bolts, targeting every blind spot around them.

One managed to counter with a water barrier, but the other wasn't so lucky—the electricity surged through his body, his screams lost in the downpour.

Tetsuma didn't waste time. The moment the first hunter-nin collapsed, he was already moving toward the second. He weaved through the rain, appearing behind the remaining enemy, tanto poised to strike.

A sudden burst of mist engulfed them both.

Hidden Mist Jutsu.

Tetsuma's vision darkened as the thick fog rolled in. His senses sharpened. Footsteps—three meters behind. A shift in the air—kunai incoming.

With practiced precision, he dodged the attack, countering with a sweeping slash aimed at his enemy's throat.

A clang of metal. A sharp pain in his side.

The hunter-nin had sacrificed his arm to land a deep stab into Tetsuma's ribs. Blood seeped into his uniform, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he grabbed his enemy's wrist, locking them both in place.

"Game over," he whispered.

A surge of lightning burst from his body, electrocuting the hunter-nin point-blank. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as the last enemy dropped lifelessly to the mud.

Tetsuma staggered back, gripping his wound. The rain washed away the blood on his face, but it couldn't erase the exhaustion settling into his bones. He looked at his fallen comrades one last time before flickering away into the storm.

The mission was over. But the war was just beginning.