章 77: CHAPTER 77
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The grand council chamber of Uzushiogakure resonated with tension.
The chamber, carved from ancient stone and inscribed with countless sealing formulas, stood as a testament to the village's unrivaled mastery of Fuinjutsu.
Flickering torches cast shadows on the anxious faces of clan leaders, elders, and military commanders gathered around the long stone table.
At the head of the table sat Uzukage Ashina Uzumaki, his crimson hair tied back in a ceremonial knot, his face etched with determination. The scroll from Konohagakure lay open before him, its contents burned into his memory:
"Reinforcements will arrive. Hold fast. Trust in Konoha's might."
With a heavy sigh, he rose, silencing the murmurs of uncertainty. His voice carried authority tempered by years of leadership.
"The situation is dire," he began. "The great nations—Kiri, Iwa, and Kumo—are moving against us. Their target... is our home."
Gasps rippled through the chamber. Fear flashed in the eyes of some, while others clenched their fists in quiet defiance. An elderly council member, Seiji Uzumaki, stood abruptly.
"Uzukage-sama, what of Konohagakure? Have they responded?"
Ashina nodded firmly. "The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, has pledged aid. His message assures that reinforcements are already mobilizing."
Whispers broke out among the gathered leaders. Relief mixed with lingering doubt. Another elder, Lady Reina Uzumaki, spoke with a trembling voice.
"Even with Konoha's help... can we withstand three great villages?"
The Uzukage's gaze turned steely. "We have no choice." His voice grew harder. "We are the Uzumaki, the masters of sealing. Our walls have never fallen... and they will not fall now."
The leaders exchanged determined looks. There would be no surrender.
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Amid the tense preparations, not all hearts in Uzushiogakure burned with loyalty.
In a dimly lit alley behind the Uzumaki Archives, two figures clad in dark cloaks met in secret. Their identities concealed, they exchanged scrolls marked with coded symbols.
"The hawks are ready," one whispered. "The coordinates of Konoha's reinforcements... and our village's defenses... have been sent to Iwa, Kiri, and Kumo."
"What if we're caught?" the second asked, trembling.
The first figure's voice turned cold. "By the time they realize... there will be no village left to punish us."
With that, they vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only the faint scent of burning parchment.
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In Konohagakure, the Anbu training ground stood silent under the pale moonlight, an expanse of rugged terrain surrounded by dense forests.
There, 800 elite Anbu operatives knelt in disciplined rows, their faces hidden behind emotionless masks. They were carefully selected for the upcoming battle.
Before them stood nine Anbu captains and their supreme commander—Maito Dai—his imposing figure radiating unyielding strength.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, clad in dark combat robes adorned with intricate seals, faced the assembled force. His expression was calm but deadly serious.
"Today, we march into war," he declared, his voice cutting through the stillness like steel. "Our mission: the defense of Uzushiogakure. Failure... is not an option. Securing the escape route and prioritize the children first."
The Anbu operatives remained still as statues, absorbing every word.
"We will face overwhelming odds," Hiruzen continued. "Our enemies believe they have the advantage... but they underestimate Konoha's strength, your true strength, because they don't know you are strongest of the Konoha ninja, elite of the elites."
Maito Dai stepped forward, his deep voice carrying command and respect. "We are ready, Hokage-sama."
Without another word, Hiruzen formed a long sequence of intricate hand seals.
His chakra surged like a tidal wave, crackling with power. Heavenly Transfer Technique!
This was kumo exclusive forbidden technique, comprehended by Hiruzen.
He also redeveloped it for large scale supply and soldiers transfer, making it one of the best support techniques in the world.
A swirling vortex of energy engulfed the Anbu, consuming them in a burst of blinding light.
The sheer strain of transporting such a massive force caused sweat to bead on Hiruzen's brow.
Even with his vast chakra reserves comparable to that of three tails, he felt the toll— to transfer more than 800 ninja across such vast distance to the periphery of coastal area.
His chakra levels dropping to a dangerous 8%, even if this was his one of the clones, whose chakra reserves were comparable to the main body and even after sage chakra mixed in it, it was a very straining work.
Moments later, the Anbu reappeared at sea near Uzushiogakure's coast.
Using advanced Water Escape Techniques, they began their approach in perfect formation—silent and deadly as shadows.
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In Iwagakure's grand war chamber, Tsuchikage Ōnoki brooded over a large battle map illuminated by glowing chakra crystals.
His commanders and strategists surrounded him, exchanging theories on Uzushiogakure's defenses.
"Their walls are fortified with ancient seals," one commander stated. "Our best option is a concentrated bombardment from all sides."
Ōnoki's sharp eyes narrowed. "Time is our enemy. If Konoha's reinforcements arrive..."
Another scroll lay open on the table—the intercepted message from Uzushiogakure's traitors.
It contained precise details of Konoha's movements and possible arrival routes.
"We'll crush them before help can reach them," Ōnoki declared. "Launch the assault!"
In Kirigakure, the Third Mizukage met with his Seven Swordsmen, their deadly blades glinting ominously under the war council's torches.
"Strike fast. Strike mercilessly," the Mizukage ordered. "The Uzumaki will drown in their own blood."
In Kumogakure, the Third Raikage held a fiery war meeting with his elite warriors. His booming voice echoed through the mountain fortress.
"Send the First and Second Divisions," he commanded. "Let the world know the price of standing against Kumo."
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In a world of ninjas, such kind of movements were noticeable.
But even after the movements made by 3 great villages, the small nations and their ninja villages cannot perceive any information.
Far beneath the earth, in a cavern cloaked in eternal darkness, Black Zetsu observed the unfolding chaos with satisfaction.
His twisted smile deepened as he addressed a dozen White Zetsu clones.
"Intercept all outgoing messages," he hissed.
"No word of the alliance's movements must reach Konoha. Block all the hidden routes of leaving Uzushiogakure. This war, Uzumaki clan need to be extinct at all cost."
The clones nodded and vanished into the ground, leaving Black Zetsu alone with his dark thoughts.
"War is inevitable... and from its ashes... the future I desire will rise. Mother, your devoted son will resurrect you at all cost."
To be continued...
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