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Storm Division Briefing
The war table was littered with scrolls and hastily drawn maps. Sera's hands trembled slightly as she pinned down the estimated enemy movement.
"We have confirmed visual contact—over one hundred active Revenant shinobi, spreading from the lab ruins into Fire Country's border zone," she said.
Hiruzen's expression hardened. "Arashi, this is your operation. Do what you must."
I looked at my team. Ten masked faces stared back—battle-ready but tense.
"This is it," I said firmly. "Storm Division is no longer covert. We are the only line stopping Shinkuro's undead from spreading beyond the border. If they reach the nearby villages… there won't be survivors."
Kai cracked his knuckles. "Finally, a real war."
"Don't celebrate yet," Hana muttered. "These things don't feel pain, and they don't stop."
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The Battlefield
We arrived at dawn. A dense fog covered the clearing, the kind that dampens sound and makes every step feel heavier.
But we didn't need sight to know they were there—Revenant chakra signatures glowed like beacons through Sera and Lira's combined sensory field.
"They're waiting," Lira whispered.
"They know we're coming," I replied. "Fine… then we hit first."
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First Strike
"Storm Formation Alpha!" I commanded.
Kaoru leapt forward, fists glowing as his chakra-infused strike split the ground, sending three undead tumbling. Kai swept in, kunai flashing, while Hana's chakra vines wrapped one enemy completely, locking him down.
I surged Storm chakra through my blade, unleashing Tempest Falcon Strike—lightning-wrapped wind that ripped through five undead in a single pass.
For a moment, it felt like we had momentum.
Then they adapted.
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Revenant Adaptation
One undead jōnin mirrored my Falcon Strike almost perfectly, albeit slower. Another channeled Hana's vine-style back at her.
"They're learning… in real time," Sera shouted.
"Figures Shinkuro wouldn't settle for mindless drones," I growled.
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Near Death (Hana's Moment)
Mid-battle, one undead bypassed our flank entirely and went for me—its blade slicing across my arm before I could parry. Pain exploded as blood sprayed, and I faltered for half a second.
"Arashi!" Hana screamed, diving forward. She didn't hesitate; her body shielded mine as she unleashed Chakra Bloom: Bloom Cage, locking three undead in place.
But the cost was high—another undead got a clear line on her, blade raised.
"Hana, move!" I shouted, but she didn't flinch. "I'm not letting them touch you!"
The blade came down… and my instincts exploded. Storm chakra flared uncontrollably, forming an automatic barrier pulse that shattered the enemy's sword and sent it flying.
Hana blinked, stunned by the backlash of my chakra.
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Emotional Confession Setup
"You idiot!" I yelled, grabbing her arm and pulling her back.
"You'd have died if I didn't—" she started.
"I promised I'd come back alive, remember? You don't get to break that promise for me!"
Her eyes burned, voice trembling: "Because I can't lose you, Arashi… I just can't."
The battlefield blurred for a split second, my breath catching—not from injury, but from the weight of her words.
"Later," I muttered, forcing focus. "We live through this first."
Hana nodded, cheeks flushed but eyes blazing with resolve.
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Cliffhanger (End of Part 1)
Daisuke appeared on the ridge, standing beside Shinkuro himself, both watching like gods over ants.
"You see now?" Daisuke's voice rang out. "This is the future, Arashi—no weakness, no fear, no failure!"