Uchiha Ankoku noticed that the sounds of battle from Kairen's direction had gone completely silent. His heart tightened. The strikes of his blade grew sharper and heavier. The Root operative before him mistook it for panic, thinking reinforcements were closing in, and began to fight recklessly—trading wound for wound.
But as the moments dragged on, the other front also fell quiet. No one had arrived. Both shinobi grew uneasy—one anxious to save his students, the other praying that help would come before he fell. Perhaps their comrades had gone to the other battlefield first. Ankoku knew they were outnumbered there; if this dragged on, he wouldn't hold much longer.
Then, Ankoku spoke.
"Your comrades are dead. My students went to assist the others—they're skilled in combination jutsu, as you well know. You've been hunting the ones who wiped out two of your Root squads, haven't you? Heh... it was them. I didn't even have to step in."
The Root ninja's focus wavered for a split second—just enough. Ankoku's blade flashed, severing an arm. His opponent staggered but still fought on, desperate to buy time.
But time isn't something you can grasp.
"Dance of the Crescent Moon!"
Steel sang. One clean motion—right hand, then neck. The Root shinobi fell in two.
---
On another front, Honō and Retsu had found a rhythm of their own.
Ninjutsu volleys, shuriken throws, bursts of genjutsu from their Sharingan—just enough to keep breathing. Their opponent, though occasionally thrown off by illusions, was simply too strong. His relentless assault forced the brothers to dodge constantly. They couldn't risk separating; if they did, he'd crush them one by one. Instead, they rotated positions—one attacking, one defending—matching each other's rhythm, using their combination techniques to counter each Water Release barrage.
"My chakra's almost spent," Retsu muttered. "Seriously, how does he still have so much left?"
"He's got more chakra than both of us combined," Honō replied between gasps. "And he's controlling it perfectly. I'm more worried about Kairen. It's been quiet too long…"
"Yeah… but we can't think about that now. They call us maniacs? The real lunatic's standing right in front of us!" Retsu shot back, forcing a tired grin.
Their enemy sneered. "Done whispering? Then it's time you joined your comrades."
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
"Water Release: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Lightning Release: Ground Current!"
The waterfall crashed toward them—massive, violent. The brothers launched a combo jutsu to intercept, but the Water Dragon struck second and still overpowered their defense. Twin Earth Walls rose—too weak. The torrent swallowed them whole. Lightning crackled through the water. For a heartbeat, silence. No movement.
The Root ninja dispelled his clone, exhausted but triumphant. Gasping for breath, he approached the bodies to finish the job.
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
The ground split—but the body crumbled into dirt. "Earth Clone!"
A blur of light and thunder cut through the haze.
"Lightning Release: Swift Step!"
"Uchiha Style Kenjutsu—Flash Cross Sever!"
Uchiha Ankoku's blade tore through the man's chest, spraying blood. The Root shinobi reeled, clutching his wound, still trying to weave seals.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
"Water Relea—"
A voice cut him off from behind.
"Genjutsu—Nightmare Mirage."
His jutsu faltered. The fire dragon engulfed him.
Uchiha Kairen stepped from the shadows, his face smeared with blood, but smiling faintly.
"Too tired… took a quick nap."
---
Ankoku crossed the broken traps and reached a shallow pit. His heart sank at the sight—two unconscious students, and Kairen barely holding on.
"I've contacted the clan," Ankoku said with a cough. "And I've sent word through the valley. I told them a Uchiha died here. Any clansman nearby will come to investigate. If they get here before Root reinforcements, we'll live."
He wasn't wrong. Root had gone silent; another team would soon be sent. In their current state, they wouldn't survive a minute of real combat.
Kairen looked up weakly. "Sensei… what if we go back to the valley? We can treat everyone there. It's crowded—we can hide more easily. If Root finds us here, we're done for."
"I've already arranged someone outside the traps. Go above the ridge and you'll see them," Ankoku replied.
A handcart creaked down a narrow path. Four corpses lay atop it. An old man pushed it all the way to a decrepit hospice known as the Hall of Serenity. He unloaded the bodies, muttering, "Alright, take the two inside. I'll fetch a doctor. From now on, I'm the old man—don't leave the house. I'll be back soon."
Kairen glanced around. The place reeked of decay—clearly a morgue. A faded banner hung on the wall:
"The living cling; the dead understand."
Dragging his teammates into a room, Kairen slumped against the wall. His head throbbed like it was splitting open. Blood ran from his nose. As he tried to wipe it away, the world spun violently—and he collapsed.
---
Inside, the doctor examined them one by one.
"The one inside has internal bleeding and mild brain trauma. With IV treatment, he'll stabilize. The one outside—broken ribs, re-fractured right arm. Needs bone setting and rest."
He turned to the last one. "The boy on the floor's the worst. Severe concussion, intracranial bleeding, ruptured eardrum. Even if he survives surgery, there may be aftereffects. Chakra exhaustion, internal injury... we'll have to see."
He raised his hands slowly. "Now, can you please let my daughter go? I came like you asked. She's my surgical assistant. I'd rather this stay civil, wouldn't you?"
Ankoku created a shadow clone. "Your assistant is me now. If any of them die—you and your family die. Clear?"
The doctor swallowed hard and began.
Hours later, Honō awoke. After hearing what happened, he insisted on giving his bed to Kairen and took a chair outside instead, eyes closed, saying nothing.
When Retsu finally stirred, he realized his arm was in a cast again. He wanted to curse, but one look at Kairen—still unconscious—stopped him. Biting back pain, he climbed down with his IV drip, dragged over a stool, and climbed onto a long table beside a wall lamp. Hooking the drip to it, he lay down and dozed off.
He'd barely fallen asleep when a voice woke him.
"Hey, kid—you should really be on the bed."
It was the masked doctor.
Retsu waved a hand. "Nah, let Kairen use it."
"…That's the operating table," the doctor muttered helplessly.
***************************
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