"I've only seen hand-to-hand once.
Once—for real. And a thousand times—in dreams.
Whoever says war isn't scary
Knows nothing of war."
Yulia Drunina
My comrade charged at the same time as me, and in moments we clashed with the enemies. Yasushi took the guy who wanted to slice us into ribbons, and I got the girl who wanted to spill my guts.
I try a sweep. She jumps back. Two feint hand strikes. She blocks. My faint smirk and a sharp kick. The enemy flies several meters.
"You're not half bad— this'll be fun!" the blonde shouts and hurls kunai with explosive seals at me. Seems she wants to test my speed. I deflect them mid-flight and create a clone during the explosion.
"Ah, there you are!" she yells as the double circles the fire and joins the fray. Meanwhile, I hide and start analyzing. My opponent is slower and lower in Taijutsu than me, but emotional. Still, she hasn't shown any techniques yet—I can't underestimate her. My task: don't let her show any.
The clone dispels, relaying info that the enemy has water techniques. Fine, I've faced those before. I make another double, who descends the building to flank and strike from behind. I leap from cover and charge the Kunoichi. Seeing me, the girl mutters something and forms seals, exhaling a water stream.
Without hesitation, I draw explosive kunai and, dodging, hurl them into the water. A second later, soaked head to toe, I start regretting it.
"You're pissing me off!" the girl screams and draws a kunai. I silently reciprocate, but with tekko-kagi instead. "Do you even know how to talk?!" she snaps irritably as we clash.
I don't answer, working out strategy in my head.
Suddenly she stops and starts forming seals. After four—"snake," "ram," "horse," "hare"—I realize it's the water prison seal. I throw a kunai and try to leap back, but too late. Water bonds grip me instantly. I stare at the opponent in shock; she grins like a cat that got the cream.
' Isn't this technique impossible without nearby water?' is my first thought.
"Now you definitely won't say a word," she keeps ranting about whatever, but I notice my clone appearing silently behind her via shunshin. I made it while in cover. It forms replacement seals lightning-fast, and I'm free in moments. Without wasting time, I charge, channeling chakra into my legs and right arm. Just don't kill her.
She probably hears noise behind and turns. Right then, I strike. I hear a crack. Feel her jaw go soft under my fist. For a split second before sending her on a long flight, I look into her eyes. Nothing but terror.
She clearly knew losing consciousness in enemy territory means death.
"Hope you knew what you were getting into," I mutter under my breath, eyeing her unconscious body embedded in the wall. When she wakes, it won't be pretty. She won't even be able to move. Wringing water from my hair and locating my comrade, I ran to him.
If my internal radar's right, Yasushi's fighting on the next street.
I reach the roof's edge to jump, but stop abruptly, suppressing chakra and mentally slapping my forehead. I'd have charged in like an idiot unprepared.
Instantly forming a plan in my head, I execute it. I create two clones: one heads to the friend to lure the shinobi into a trap. The second's goal: set the trap meanwhile. Two outcomes: he falls into it—good—or dodges to a prepped spot—also good, because I'll be there. That's when I'll strike.
I hear shuriken clangs and feel my clone dispel, relaying that the enemy dodged the trap. Using shunshin, I teleport behind the man and inflict a ragged shallow wound. Then immediately leap back to my comrade. The wounded shinobi vanishes in smoke, replaced by a log. Substitution, huh.
I scan quickly and spot him hiding four buildings away. Probably plotting.
"Ariza..." my comrade distracts me, and turning, I see him crouched, hands on his stomach. "Kh, where'd you find time to swim?"
"You're wounded?" I change the subject, not distracting from the battlefield. Enemy could strike any second.
"Yeah... kha... a bit," he replies, and I silently create a double to start healing.
"He's good with the sword, and Taijutsu... kha... not bad either," my partner reports.
"Yeah, I figured. He's fast too, but I doubt he has strong elemental techniques—his hotspot's small and will burn out in minutes. Means he specializes in Taijutsu and Kendo," I concluded from the data and thought on: ' Close range is dangerous, clones probably useless except as distractions, and he's likely Jounin-level. His tactic: close in and Taijutsu assault. So why's he waiting?'
"I can fight, just a little. Won't last long," my comrade informed me, and I nodded, noticing another hotspot approach the enemy's, then both head our way. Now two foes against us.
"Two enemies now, gotta hurry. Do you have earth affinity?" I ask curtly.
"Yes."
"Can you hide underground?" Second question, answer "yes."
"Perfect, then I have a plan."
One minute later
"Where's your cute little buddy I didn't finish off?" the brown-haired guy asks with a smirk, drawing his wakizashi. Beside him stands another, even younger—maybe fifteen.
"None of your business," I snap, drawing my tekko-kagi.
"We'll find him anyway and chop him into..." He doesn't finish before I bolt forward. No time for chit-chat. En route, I create an enhanced clone to handle the younger one. I head for the stronger.
Moments later, we clash. I aggressively strike with sword and kicks, probing defenses. My enemy tries to impale me with wakizashi, intentions clear. When he lunges, I dodge and grab the blade sideways, yanking him.
Releasing one hand, I elbow his jaw to distract, then kick his knee.
He falls and turns into a log moments later.
' Predictable!' I smirk inwardly, locate him fast, and hurl kunai. I glance at the clone fighting; the enemy hasn't landed a hit yet. ' What kids they send to war!'
Fine, deal with him later—first the serious foe who subbed again. So annoying! Gotta finish them quick and help ours.
We clash again, and mid-fight I subtly create several clones without seals, sending them to his sub spot. Goal: set trap there, position so dodging lands him near Yasushi. Trap within a trap.
Distracted planning and cloning, I hesitate and eat punches and kicks. Painful but tolerable. Rising, I dive back in. But a minute later, sword strikes land—jagged cuts on cheek and arm sting. Damn!
Enraged, I strike and we lock, straining blades. He pushes hard, but so do I. Seconds later, perfect moment.
My lips curl in a smirk; I channel wind chakra through the tekko-kagi. It slices the wakizashi like butter and keeps going, into flesh. If I'd known no sub, I wouldn't have.
The shinobi vanishes in smoke; seconds later, a massive explosion. Time for the main trap.
No delay, I head there—but on arrival, only the hidden comrade.
Mmm... what?
Glancing around, I spot my clone descending the roof toward me.
"Here's the deal," the double starts. "The Jounin should've dodged the trap into another trap, but he couldn't and the blast threw him..."
"He's alive?!" I interrupt anxiously.
"Yes."
"Thank god," I exhale in relief. Main thing: don't kill anyone. I don't want that sin on my soul.
"And the kid couldn't beat the copy, so we knocked him out and tied him up," the double smiles slightly, fixing his hair.
"Good, dispel," I form the seal, and all clone info floods in.
"Yasushi, come out already!" I shout, and my comrade, buried underground waiting to lure enemies, crawls out.
"And how do I take this?" he asks smiling, brushing dirt. "Why'd I sit there so long?"
"Dunno, it just happened," I shrug, smiling faintly.
"Here's your smoke bomb. Still don't get if it knocks out or paralyzes," he hands it over, still shaking dirt off. "And I'm done with your plans. You probably made me hide on purpose to do it all yourself," he grumbles, feigning offense.
"Yeah, sure," I snort and leap to the next building. "Come on, grump. You'll get to play hero more."
He follows, and we head to our people.
But after a few jumps, a loud, gut-wrenching scream—like someone being torn apart—followed by explosions. Something freezes inside me. We speed up. When the blast ends, the wild scream resumes for seconds, then stops.
My partner and I exchange looks; we know exactly who screamed.
"I'll tear them apart!" Yasushi growls and bolts full speed. "Bastards!"
"Stop! Don't run so fast, Yasushi!" I yell at my friend, now far ahead. Rage blazed in his eyes; he'd probably quartered them mentally already.
"They're killing our people there, Ariza. Ours!" he throws over his shoulder.
"I know," I shout, fists clenched. "But if you charge without a plan or prep, you'll die!"
"What the hell does it matter! I won't die till I kill them all!" He jumps off the roof and runs. Almost there.
I stay on the roof; need the high view. Won't charge till I understand. Suddenly, memories from the backup clone hit: he won't come. The double didn't make it—an enemy got him.
For moments, fear grips me: no backup, we're alone, and I sense plenty of enemy shinobi. Doubt creeps in. Should I go where winning's impossible?
I shake my head, edge to the roof, and crouch. Seconds later, glad I did—the sight squeezes my heart.
The square we fled had countless bodies. Mostly ours. Our people. Almost nothing left of the twin brothers. One hacked apart—no arms or legs, body a pincushion of kunai. The other mangled similarly, then burned. Fire still fed on his body. That charred flesh smell will haunt me forever.
No clothes left, skin black as coal—or meat, probably. Face close-up: that's why he screamed. Burned alive. The rest seem minor reinforcements after we left.
High roof vantage, I suddenly realize: this is war... Buildings wrecked, massive snake—summon, probably—raging north Konoha, flames devouring familiar homes. Screams, explosions everywhere. They want to destroy our home, our homeland.
Seeing the horror, I grit my teeth. That's why I want to save this world! I dream of peace, no wars! No kids or loved ones dying. No killing.
"What have you done! Monsters!" I hear Yasushi; I'd lingered too long on ruined Konoha.
"Stop! Don't go in!" the commander shouts, but the guy ignores. He charges the enemy cluster.
' Idiot!' First thought; I make a clone, sub, and leap down. Gotta stop him.
"Don't you go in either!" I hear Takashi-san as I land; something shoves me into a wall. Slumping, horrified, I watch the commander save wounded Yasushi by throwing him my way, exposing himself.
I bolt to my comrade, fallen nearby.
"Hey, you okay? Buddy!" I yell, trying to rouse him, but he's unconscious. Damn! Clone grabs him and leaps to a roof.
No delay, shunshin beside commander. He's on one knee, blood trickling from beard.
"You okay?!" I ask without looking, deflecting incoming kunai. The thrower charges; I parry and fling him aside.
"Yeah, Saito, take Yasushi and... run," he says, breathing heavy and fast, slowly rising beside me. Must hurt bad.
"I can't leave you! You're already wounded. You'll die!" I refuse, thinking: ' By wounds, blood loss—he'll pass out soon, not counting near-zero chakra. Can't beat them. Yeah, many wounded, low chakra (tiny vs. mine), some out of ammo like me. But... ten! Ten Chunin/Jounin-level enemy shinobi. Fighting solo like this—suicide! Unless you're Madara.'
"I'm not asking!" he almost snarls, but gripping tekko-kagi and tensing, I hold position. "That's an order!"
"Haha, wounded old man and little girl playing heroes against us," one smirks, but no rush to attack.
"I get it, Takashi-san, but I can't. Can't and that's it. I want to protect not just you, but everyone behind us in the shelter. If they break throu—" I don't finish; massive explosion at Konoha center, arena area, tons of dust rising. Seconds later, shockwave hits with grit. "Damn!" I frantically wipe sand from eyes; clearing them, I focus on blast and freeze.
A demon where the arena was.
One-Tail...
The Bijuu monster raised its muzzle skyward, laughing so loud it could deafen. Like a tanuki, yellow-brown, but dark-blue pattern like a Cursed Seal spread its body. It spoke, but only fragments reached us.
"No way..." the old commander muttered in shock. "Sand demon Shukaku..."
"Victory's ours now!" a ninja cheers joyfully. They seem ready to charge.
"Fall back," the captain says, and I form seals for distraction, exhaling a giant fireball. Should confuse them a second. Hope it doesn't kill.
I step to jump to roof, but notice commander can't move.
Instantly grasping, I grab him and leap up.
"Takashi-san, what's wrong?!" I prop him against the wall.
"Yeah... s-something... p-para... lyzed me. Can't... m-move," he rasps haltingly. Face emotionless, but eyes furious—at his helplessness.
"My clones are holding for now; leaving one with you. He'll heal," I explain, assuming paralytic on the weapon. Out of commission. Don't know dosage or concentration in his blood. Now, just me.
"Don't... you dare," he insists as I create the double and step back.
"Takashi-san..."
"Pointless... they'll kill you... in seconds..." He presses, and logically I get it. If I go and die, nothing gained. If I fetch backup, shelter Chunin might hold till ours arrive. But two issues: First, Takashi-san doesn't know enhanced shadow clones. Second, fleeing for backup now is pure cowardice, if not treason.
Memories from dispelled doubles hit; gotta go.
"I know it's risky, but... I can't... And if I survive, I'll take responsibility. Just believe in me," I say without turning, make enhanced clone for backup, and leap down facing enemies.
"You're alone, girl, against ten of us," one opponent shouts. "Total suicide."
I sigh heavily, swallowing fear lump, and assume combat stance, plotting strategy. Heart pounding wildly, like it'll burst; legs shaking. Inside screamed I can't, won't win, will lose. But ignore it. Just act, no thoughts.
For a second, I recall Sasuke, Naruto, my mission. What an idiot, charging where I won't escape alive!
But if I flee and civilians die, how do I live knowing my cowardice killed kids and elders? What savior then?
"I have no choice!"
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan