Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji rushed up the mountain path, their hearts pounding with urgency. When they reached the summit, they stopped abruptly, eyes widening at the sight before them. A massive dragon with scales that shimmered like starlight crouched beside Naraku, its presence both majestic and intimidating.
"Don't worry," Naraku said calmly, noticing their shocked expressions. "This is my summoning beast—the Sky Comet Dragon."
The three young ninja exhaled in relief. While they had never encountered a creature quite like this dragon, they knew that summoning beasts came in all shapes and sizes. The ninja world was full of strange and wonderful creatures, after all.
"You really scared us," Ino admitted, placing a hand over her racing heart. "We saw what looked like a red comet falling from the sky. We thought we were under attack or something terrible had happened."
Now that their initial panic had subsided, the trio took in the devastation surrounding them. The mountain peak had been transformed into a hellscape. Flames danced across the rocky terrain, and the air shimmered with intense heat that made breathing difficult. Rivers of molten rock flowed like glowing serpents across the ground.
Shikamaru waved his hand in front of his face, trying to disperse the scorching air. "Why is the fire still burning so intensely?" he asked, his analytical mind already working. "There's nothing up here but rocks and dirt. What's feeding these flames?"
Naraku blinked, suddenly realizing the oddity of the situation. He had grown so accustomed to seeing everything ablaze that he hadn't questioned why the fire persisted. Without any wood or other fuel sources, the flames should have died out by now. Yet they continued to burn vigorously, even spreading outward as if determined to consume the entire mountain.
"You're right," Naraku murmured, studying the phenomenon with new interest. "This isn't normal fire behavior."
With a casual wave of his hand, Naraku commanded the spreading sea of flames to contract. The fire obeyed instantly, drawing inward until it formed a massive pillar of swirling flames that burned in place. Even without his chakra maintaining it, the fire column continued to burn with unnatural persistence.
"Wait a moment..." Naraku's eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. "If the flames can sustain themselves, then perhaps..."
Rising to his feet, Naraku spread his arms wide. The three genin watched in astonishment as the fire pillar exploded outward, transforming back into a roaring sea of flames that engulfed the mountaintop. But this time, Naraku shaped the inferno with purpose.
The flames surged and flowed like a living thing, carving out a specific pattern. Within moments, a winding path emerged on the mountain's northern face—the side facing the Land of Lightning. Walls of fire rose on either side of the narrow trail, but the path itself remained completely clear of flames.
Nara Shikaku, arriving just in time to witness this display, immediately grasped the tactical brilliance. "That's genius!" he exclaimed.
The strategy was elegant in its simplicity. The Konoha forces controlled the southern face of the mountain, safely away from the flames. But any Cloud ninja approaching from the Land of Lightning would face an impenetrable wall of fire, with only one viable route to the summit—the narrow, winding path Naraku had created.
"If the Land of Lightning wants to reclaim this strategic position," Shikaku continued, his mind racing through the implications, "they'll have no choice but to funnel their forces up that single path. They could try circling around to approach from our side, but that would take considerable time and leave them vulnerable to ambushes."
Naraku nodded, pleased that the jonin commander understood so quickly. "The mountain's proximity to the border works in our favor. We can strike at their flanks and retreat to the Land of Hot Water before they can respond effectively."
"We need to get our forces up here immediately," Shikaku decided. "Choji, head back down and relay the order for all units to advance to the summit."
"Right!" Choji responded, disappearing down the mountain path with impressive speed.
As Konoha ninja began ascending the mountain, word of Naraku's feat spread quickly through the ranks. Soldiers stared at him with expressions bordering on reverence, as if he were some kind of deity who commanded the very elements.
Naraku shifted uncomfortably under their awed gazes. "Focus on establishing defensive positions," he ordered, hoping to redirect their attention. "The Cloud forces won't wait long before responding."
The ninja hurried to comply, but he could still feel their occasional glances. Meanwhile, Shikaku gathered his tactical advisors to revise their battle plans around this new advantage.
"This changes everything," one strategist noted. "We've effectively turned their numerical superiority into a liability. They can't bring their full force to bear on such a narrow approach."
"The psychological impact shouldn't be underestimated either," another added. "Charging up a narrow path between walls of supernatural fire? That would unnerve even veteran shinobi."
However, the strategy wasn't without drawbacks. Despite Naraku's efforts to contain the flames, the intense heat affected everyone on the summit. Konoha ninja wiped sweat from their brows constantly, and water supplies would need careful management.
"This is the best we can do for now," Naraku said, surveying the bustling activity as soldiers prepared fortifications. "I'm going to take a strike team and hit their supply lines. Can you handle things here?"
"Leave it to me," Shikaku assured him. "With the position you've created, holding this mountain should be well within our capabilities. If we fail here, I'll never forgive myself."
Naraku gathered a small team of elite ninja, including Hyuga Hiashi, and they slipped away from the main force. Using a combination of his Observation Haki and the Byakugan bloodline limit, they easily identified gaps in Cloud Shinobi's patrol patterns. The small unit infiltrated deep into Lightning Country without triggering a single alarm.
While Hiashi would lead the actual combat operations, Naraku positioned himself as tactical support. As supreme commander of the front-line forces, he couldn't afford to involve himself in every skirmish. His role was to guide and enable his forces, not fight their battles for them.
High above the clouds, Naraku stood atop his Sky Comet Dragon, surveying the landscape below. A large Cloud Shinobi force moved along the main road, completely unaware of the Konoha ambush team lying in wait near their supply convoy route.
The critical factor now was timing. Everything depended on when the Fourth Raikage received word about Thunder Gorge falling to Konoha forces. That information would likely prompt a change in Cloud's strategy—whether they would accelerate their advance, split their forces, or alter their route entirely remained to be seen.
Meanwhile, among the Cloud Shinobi forces below, Fourth Raikage Ai marched at the center of his ninja army. His short, light blond hair caught the sunlight, and his white cloak billowed behind him as he maintained a dignified, controlled demeanor. But beneath that calm exterior, fury burned like molten metal.
From the moment he'd received news of the disasters at the border, Ai had struggled to contain his rage. Every instinct screamed at him to charge ahead alone and crush these Konoha invaders with his own hands. He wanted nothing more than to see every last Leaf ninja dead on the battlefield—especially Shihouin Naraku.
I swear on my honor as the Fourth Raikage, Ai thought grimly, I will personally snap Naraku's neck for what he's done.
Only his responsibilities as leader kept him from abandoning the army to seek immediate vengeance. The logistics of gathering ninja forces, organizing supply lines, and coordinating movements couldn't be delegated entirely. His village needed him to think clearly, not charge off in a rage.
The image of Yugito Nii's body being returned to the village burned in his mind. His adopted brother Killer Bee, gravely wounded and unconscious, had to be evacuated to Turtle Island for emergency treatment. These losses cut deep, and Ai's fury threatened to consume him entirely.
But he was the Raikage. The village looked to him for leadership, especially in times of crisis. So Ai buried his rage deep, channeling it into cold determination. He would have his revenge, but he would do it properly—as a military commander, not a berserker.
Despite his emotional turmoil, Ai led his forces with careful precision. He knew Konoha would be watching for any sign of weakness or carelessness. The march formation remained tight, scouts ranged ahead and to the flanks, and supply lines were well-guarded. Even in his fury, the Raikage remained a formidable military leader.
From his aerial vantage point, Naraku observed the Cloud forces with grudging respect. "The Fourth Raikage lives up to his reputation," he murmured. "Even burning for revenge, he maintains perfect discipline. That's the mark of a true leader."
A slight smile played at Naraku's lips. "I wonder how long that composure will last when he learns that Thunder Gorge has fallen completely? So many devastating blows in such a short time... I almost feel sorry for him."
Naraku caught himself before he could laugh aloud. This was war, after all, and the Fourth Raikage was a dangerous enemy. Still, he couldn't help but appreciate the irony of the situation. The mighty Cloud Shinobi Village, known for its military might, was being systematically dismantled by Konoha's strategies.
The game of ninja warfare continued, with each side maneuvering for advantage. But for now, Konoha held the initiative, and Naraku intended to press that advantage for all it was worth.
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