Blood Universe

Konohagakure

As Kurenai, Toroi, and Baki dashed towards Shikamaru's office, the tension in the air thickened. The urgency of their mission pushed them to move faster, their minds fixed on reaching their destination. But as they rounded a corner, a piercing energy cut through the air, its force crashing against Toroi's shielded stance. He barely managed to deflect the attack with a magnetic pull of his shuriken.

Toroi: "Tch! What was that?"

Before they could react further, a figure appeared before them with an unsettling grin. The man's presence radiated danger, and the chill in the air intensified.

Jack of Hearts: "Well, well, it seems we have some company."

His smile widened, the corners of his mouth stretching unnaturally. The energy around him crackled as though anticipating violence.

Jack of Hearts: "Angel, can you handle the woman?"

With barely a sound, another figure swooped in from above. Angel, his white wings shimmering in the streetlight, grabbed Kurenai in a single fluid motion, taking her from the ground and into the sky. Kurenai struggled briefly, but Angel's grip was ironclad, and the distance between them grew quickly. Toroi and Baki immediately reacted, starting to give chase, but Jack's voice stopped them cold.

Jack of Hearts: "You're with me."

Toroi's eyes flickered with annoyance, his body tense, but Baki was already stepping forward, assessing the situation. The two shinobi knew there was no way they could let Kurenai go without a fight, but Jack's smug expression made it clear that this would be a battle on his terms. He was no ordinary opponent.

Toroi: "We can't let him distract us. We need to break through to save Kurenai!"

Baki: "I'll take the first shot. You cover me."

Toroi nodded quickly, his eyes narrowing in concentration. The square-shaped shuriken in his mouth clicked slightly as he gripped the rope they were threaded through. In an instant, he released a barrage of shuriken, their metallic edges gleaming in the moonlight. They spiraled through the air, powered by his magnetic field, aiming directly at Jack. The projectiles whistled through the air with deadly accuracy.

Jack of Hearts: "Tch, you think those will stop me?"

With a mere flick of his wrist, Jack's energy flared, and the shuriken were knocked aside by an invisible force. He then snapped his fingers, and the ground beneath Toroi and Baki's feet trembled, a crackling energy field forcing the two shinobi to stagger backward.

Jack of Hearts: "Is that the best you've got? How quaint."

Toroi gritted his teeth, immediately compensating with a follow-up maneuver. He reached into his scroll and launched a fresh wave of shuriken, this time tethered to a magnetic rope that swung and whirled like a deadly pendulum. The shuriken flew in a massive arc toward Jack, but once again, the force field surrounding him repelled them.

Toroi: "We have to get in close. He's using some kind of barrier!"

Meanwhile, Baki stepped forward, spinning his hand to summon his Blade of Wind technique. With a swift motion, he unleashed a concentrated gust of wind that slashed at Jack from a distance, aiming to push through his defenses. But Jack simply raised his hand, the wind swirling around him before being dissipated by his sheer power.

Jack of Hearts: "Hmm, the wind does nothing. You'll need something more than that."

His sinister smile grew wider, and with a swift motion, Jack sent a burst of energy directly toward Baki. The attack hit him square in the chest, sending Baki tumbling backward. He grunted in pain but quickly regained his footing, his eyes burning with resolve.

Baki: "I won't let you get away with this!"

Toroi, seeing Baki recover, knew the situation was growing more dire by the second. With one last attempt, Toroi launched a final barrage of magnetized shuriken, now desperate to break through Jack's defenses. The projectiles flew like a swarm, but Jack raised his hand again, his energy spiraling outwards in a massive pulse.

Jack of Hearts: "Enough of this!"

The force hit Toroi's shuriken head-on, sending them crashing back toward the two shinobi with enough force to create a blinding explosion. Toroi and Baki were sent sprawling, their bodies slamming into the ground with tremendous impact. The force of the attack left them gasping for air, battered and bruised.

Toroi: "We need to—"

Before Toroi could finish his sentence, Jack was already on them, standing above them with a mocking tilt of his head.

Jack of Hearts: "You've had your fun. Now it's my turn."

With one last devastating strike, Jack sent a pulse of energy toward both Toroi and Baki, knocking them unconscious and leaving them in a crumpled heap on the ground. Jack then glanced up at the retreating figure of Angel with Kurenai in his grasp.

Jack of Hearts: "Well, that was far too easy. Let's go, Angel. Our game isn't finished yet."

As Jack and Angel vanished into the night, leaving behind the battered bodies of Toroi and Baki, the streets of Konoha were left in an eerie silence.

Konohagakure, Shikamaru's Office

Shikamaru stood with his arms folded, his sharp eyes narrowing as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. The room was tense, the air thick with frustration and confusion. He leaned over the report spread out in front of him, but no matter how many times he read it, the details didn't add up.

Shikamaru: "What is happening? Several sites had been attacked simultaneously, and most of our combatants are dead. Maki, Sen, and now Wasabi. Moegi is still recovering, and Shiho was found unconscious in the streets."

His voice was steady, but the edge of disbelief was hard to mask. Konoha had been under siege in a way no one had expected. The attacks weren't isolated; they were coordinated. And the losses were mounting faster than they could manage.

Ino: "Another report came out. Baki and Toroi's bodies were found on the streets, burned to crisps. It is still unknown why they were in Konoha, but we can safely assume that they were reinforcements."

The words hung in the air like a dense fog. Baki and Toroi, high-ranking shinobi from the hidden village of the Clouds, had arrived unexpectedly—only to be killed before they could even make their presence known.

Shikamaru: "That means they were killed before they could even announce their arrival. Everything's not making any sense."

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to make sense of the impossible. His mind churned, piecing together the details in a way that barely seemed possible. Why would someone attack Konoha with such coordination? What was the point of targeting so many important figures all at once, with such brutal efficiency?

The room fell silent as Shikamaru turned his gaze to the others, his brow furrowing in deep thought.

Shikamaru: "We've been hit from all sides. The fact that they're going after the reinforcements means they already knew we'd send for help. Whoever is behind this... they're not working alone."

He turned to face the gathered ninjas, his voice low but resolute.

Shikamaru: "We need to gather more intel. No more assumptions. Everyone's been too quick to react."

Ino: "Right, we'll get the intel from the south outposts."

Shikamaru: "No, we need a different approach. Get me an analysis of all communication networks. Whoever's doing this is staying ahead of us, and they know how to hide in the shadows. We're going to need every sensor, every spy network we have left to catch them before they strike again."

His mind raced. There was more going on than met the eye, but Shikamaru knew one thing for certain—this was far from over.

The door slid open with a soft creak, and the room fell into a brief silence as a new presence entered. Akita Inuzuka, the strong-willed and determined member of the Inuzuka Clan, stood framed in the doorway. Her stance was firm, her eyes sharp with resolve.

Akita: "The Inuzuka Clan is here to ask for permission... No, we're here to tell you that we'll be fighting in the front lines from now on."

The words were clear, direct, and unwavering. There was no hesitation in her voice, no doubt in her posture. Akita had come not to request permission, but to assert her clan's role in the battle ahead. It was clear that the Inuzuka Clan was preparing for whatever came next—no more waiting in the shadows.

Shikamaru met her gaze, his brow furrowing slightly. While he respected the Inuzuka Clan for their tenacity and bravery, this was a delicate situation. With casualties rising and the village under siege, he knew that every decision mattered. Having another clan rush to the front lines, with the risk of further bloodshed, was a double-edged sword.

Shikamaru: "I appreciate your determination, Akita, but you're making a dangerous decision."

He stood, turning toward her with a serious expression.

Shikamaru: "We can't afford to waste manpower. Every shinobi is valuable, and we're stretched thin as it is. You can't just throw yourself and your clan into the chaos without a strategy. You need to know what you're up against, and we still don't have enough intel on the enemy's next move."

Akita's expression remained resolute, though she could sense the concern in Shikamaru's voice. Still, there was no turning back now. She understood the weight of the situation, but the Inuzuka Clan had their own code, and with so many lives lost, they couldn't afford to stand by.

Akita: "Our matriarch is dead! Her successors are dead! My clan cannot just sit idly by while our lineage is picked off one by one!"

The room grew silent at her declaration. The anger, pain, and resolve in her voice were unmistakable. Akita was not just speaking as a clan member; she was speaking as the last of her bloodline capable of carrying the mantle. The Inuzuka Clan's leadership had been decimated, and the void left in the wake of their deaths was unbearable.

Shikamaru stood, his brow furrowing as he absorbed her words. He had known the Inuzuka to be a proud and fierce clan, but Akita's emotional outburst revealed the gravity of what had just happened. The clan was no longer a powerful force of warriors—they were a grieving family now with nothing left but the will to fight.

Shikamaru: "Akita, I understand the grief. But charging in without strategy won't honor their sacrifice. You're putting yourself and your remaining clan members at risk by rushing into this battle. We need to approach this with precision, not desperation."

Akita's gaze didn't waver, her shoulders squared as she faced him with an unwavering resolve.

Akita: "I don't care about strategy right now, Shikamaru. My clan is being destroyed piece by piece, and if you think I'll let it happen without lifting a finger, then you don't know the Inuzuka Clan."

Her voice was fierce, but beneath the anger was the raw ache of loss. This wasn't just about revenge. This was about survival—survival of a clan that had already been broken, but would not go quietly into the night.

Akita: "We'll fight. And we'll make sure we hit them where it hurts. But we won't wait for anyone's approval. We'll support Konoha in whatever way we can. If we fall, we fall fighting."

Shikamaru's gaze softened, his mind working through the consequences of what Akita was suggesting. He couldn't fault her for wanting to act, but he also couldn't afford to let emotions cloud the decisions they needed to make. He took a moment, weighing the lives at stake and the strategic necessity of careful planning.

Shikamaru: "Fine. But you need to coordinate with our forces. The last thing we need is for the Inuzuka Clan to fall into a trap. Work with our scouts, make sure your people are prepared, and we'll strike when the time is right."

Akita nodded sharply, her expression still a mix of pain and determination.

Akita: "Understood. We won't charge in blindly. But we'll be there when you need us."

With that, she turned to leave, her resolve as firm as ever. Shikamaru watched her go, feeling the weight of the decision settle on his shoulders. Konoha had to be ready for a battle unlike any other—and now, with the Inuzuka Clan pushing to the front lines, they would face it with everything they had.