[Chapter Size: 1800 Words.]
Third Person POV
Sea, Year 42.
...
...
When the first rays of sunlight began to reflect directly on the sea, everything seemed calm. Soon, Uzushiogakure was illuminated by the morning sun.
However, just as the entire island had once been shrouded in darkness, without a single glimmer of light or any sign of life, there was no visible movement on the island; it was as if the place were completely deserted.
Soon, footsteps began to splash against the water as a group of ninjas approached from several kilometers away, carefully observing the island.
"How strange... there's no movement, nothing," murmured a ninja wearing a Kumo headband.
"I saw a ninja with the Cloud Village headband," said another, using a magnifying glass to try to locate any sign of activity on the island, but everything seemed empty. There was nothing unusual at the edges.
"Should we get closer to take a better look?" one of the companions asked.
"No, not yet. Let's just report this to command and Raikage-sama. Something's off," the others replied, and they began to withdraw, returning to where the ships from the Mist Village were anchored.
The same thing occurred in the southern, eastern, and western regions: ninjas from the Earth, Sand, and Water villages reacted the same way when they sent teams to investigate.
In none of the corners of the island was there any movement from the Uzumaki, which was extremely strange and concerning, as there was no concrete information about their whereabouts. They continued scanning the island's perimeter in search of enemies.
Then they passed this information to their commands. All four Kage, who had previously gathered together, shared the same concern.
"What's going on? Did the Uzumaki already know we were coming?" an officer asked.
"Maybe they abandoned the island to flee the attack," suggested another.
"Konoha could very well have sheltered them in the Land of Fire." The atmosphere was filled with uncertain questions, and their leaders were becoming increasingly frustrated.
That uncertainty alone had already delayed the attack. The Kage had to send messengers to contact the other attack groups from each village; first, they wanted to understand exactly what was happening.
A reconnaissance group was dispatched immediately after, quickly heading toward the island to check the situation. They advanced at high speed until, just as they were about to reach the shore, they suddenly encountered a barrier that emitted electric-blue lightning. The discharge struck the group with such force that it knocked them out and hurled them backward, stunned. Some were killed.
"The range of this barrier seemed greater than expected, given the island's distance," reported one of the observers, preparing to transmit the report in case the first team didn't make it back alive.
"Let's relay this information," said another, as they returned to warn their Kage. All four sides experienced the same reaction: their groups were neutralized upon colliding with the barrier, which extended farther from the village than what was stated in Konoha's reports and intelligence.
"It seems we can't trust Konoha after all..." Another uncertainty began to arise among those who heard about the barrier.
While the Kage pondered after hearing that report.
"It seems the Uzumaki are just hiding and set up a barrier, or they're deceiving us — in reality, they ran away with their tails between their legs," murmured a ninja, with malice.
"If they're fleeing, it's a shame we'll have the island to pillage and kill no Uzumaki; I'd like to chop off many red-haired heads after the number of Kiri ninja they killed."
"I hope they don't leave. They say Uzumaki women are quite beautiful; I'd love to have fun with their bodies after killing their husbands," he said in a tone full of cruelty.
His comrades looked at this one of the seven swordsmen of the Mist. He was known for criminal acts, especially against enemy kunoichis; for that reason the Village tolerated it reluctantly.
"Be silent." growled the Third Mizukage. "Let's advance from all sides, it's time to attack from the north, east, west and south. Inform the others. Let's begin!" Then he turned to the messengers: "You know what to do!" With that, they departed for the other forces of the other villages.
The ships set off again toward the island; both in the east and in the north and south, the forces advanced rapidly as soon as they received the order. The attack would be coordinated.
Meanwhile, within Uzushiogakure, a large contingent had gathered: more than three thousand shinobi ready to fight for the clan.
"What is the situation?" asked the Uzumaki clan leader to the young man in front of him.
Minato was concentrated in the center, in a lotus position meditating, with an expanded sensory range. With the observation haki and being a sensor, he could perceive everything happening on the island and beyond, where no other Uzumaki sensor would reach.
"They are finally moving. The Third Mizukage's group is already advancing and has passed on information. Suna and Kumo are also beginning to move, Iwa will soon move from the west. Let's prepare." Minato said in a serious tone.
"Well, the time is almost here." the leader murmured.
"I will be the first to make a move." said Minato, standing up with determination in his eyes, while natural chakra soon began to change his blue eyes.
"What do you intend to do?" Tsuna asked as he approached, watching Minato enter Sage Mode.
"Let's say I'll go welcome them." replied Minato, opening a more malicious smile. "They checked the sea, but couldn't distinguish the signs beneath the water — they can't tell the Guren clan fish apart from other marine life. I'll use that advantage." he said.
He knew that all the lookouts had checked the area, thinking they might be being watched, but they couldn't identify anything unusual. Meanwhile, two horned fish watched at the seabed, hidden.
"Do you need help, Minato?" Kushina asked immediately, offering to assist with her powers.
"There's no need. I'll do this alone." Minato replied, maintaining his smile.
He knew he would have only one chance: once he acted, he would have to disappear, as he would reveal the secrets they were hiding and make his position useless, also having to withdraw the fish from the sea. But he would take advantage of that opportunity with something devastating.
Now Minato could sense all the ships coming from every direction, drawing closer by the minute.
"You must follow the plan. Show nothing but the empty island while they get close enough, until they start falling into the traps. The barriers will withstand the first attacks, even bijuudamas, and if the barriers are broken, Kushina will act." said Minato, and everyone nodded.
His confidence and calmness put the Uzumaki at ease as the crowd listened to his words in silence.
"Minato! Wait a moment!" He turned at the sound of Mikoto's voice as she grabbed his arm and looked at him.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"You told me you wanted a cloak two days ago. I hadn't told you until now, but I made one for you, just as you described yesterday... — that kind of mark you wanted to wear." she said, a bit embarrassed by the gesture.
Minato wore entirely dark clothing: simple pants and shirt, no vest. He only had his storage-scroll bracelets and the sword strapped to his back. He was carrying plenty of kunai marked with his jutsu seals and others with explosive tags — thousands of ninja weapons — knowing he would use them all in battle, along with his sword, fighting with Kenjutsu.
In addition, he had spread numerous Hiraishin seals across the island, ensuring versatility on the battlefield in case the enemies broke through the barriers, allowing him to teleport freely as he wished.
A few days earlier, he had spent more time with Mikoto — the mother of his child — and had told her he wanted an outfit for this war, something that represented him with a new style, not as Hokage, but something similar.
Surprised, he watched Mikoto pull from a scroll a thick fabric and unfold a black cloak with red flames at the hem, without the Fourth Hokage's symbol on the back.
"When did you make this?" he asked curiously.
"I left a clone in the village to sew it when we went to Mount Myoboku. Kushina's mother provided the fabric and the needles with thread," she replied, opening a satisfied smile.
"I didn't know you could sew," he said, laughing, though clearly pleased by the surprise.
"I can handle kunai and needles better than many Uchiha. Don't underestimate me, Minato Namikaze," she said in a playful tone.
"Well, then I thank you." he laughed, taking the cloak and putting it on. He liked the result — sleeveless, light, and functional. Black was the perfect color for a rogue ninja, unlike the ceremonial white a Hokage was expected to wear.
"It looks good on you," Kushina complimented, half sulking, arms crossed — perhaps jealous that the gift had come from Mikoto.
Minato's eyes shifted back toward the other directions. He simply leapt away to an area where no one was nearby. All the Uzumaki's eyes turned toward him; landing on top of one of the buildings, he performed the Shadow Clone Jutsu, and three clones appeared, each drawing upon the natural chakra to its fullest.
He didn't need to say anything — all the clones knew what to do. The three clones raised their hands along with the original body. In a moment, their hands began to spin, and the Rasengan began to form. Before finishing it, they infused wind-nature chakra, swiftly creating four Rasenshuriken — three made with natural chakra by the clones, and the fourth by the original body.
The jutsu whirred like propellers in the air and then vanished one by one.
The Mizukage watched, slightly frustrated, believing the Uzumaki had fled, as he looked upon the calm island, without any signs betraying the presence of enemies.
Then, suddenly, he felt an immense surge of chakra; his eyes turned back to the deck and then to the water — nearly to the seabed. As a sensor, it was easy to perceive that a massive amount of chakra was gathering there; all the sensors monitoring the surroundings detected it simultaneously.
"Take cover!" someone shouted from every direction. Underwater, near the pair of horned fish, the water currents began to stir, creating chaos at the ocean floor.
Minato was there, still with his hand raised and the Rasenshuriken active. He looked toward the surface and moved his hand forward, launching the projectile toward the enemy ships, covering the entire surface.
It wasn't an isolated attack; at that moment, multiple Rasenshuriken — like chakra bombs — were fired from the ocean depths toward the fleets of Suna, Kiri, Kumo, and Iwa all at once.
Before anyone could react, they reached the ship formations and exploded, devastating all vessels within the blast radius.
It would not be the enemies who struck first, but the resistance of Uzushiogakure.
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