Capítulo 63: CHAPTER 63
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The dense forest air grew tense as Sakumo, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru carefully stowed away their newly acquired Heaven Scroll.
The clearing where they'd ambushed the ino-shika-cho team felt eerily quiet after the swift strike, a silence that crept into their senses, signaling them to be on alert.
Sakumo tightened his grip on his kunai as he looked around, his eyes narrowed.
Just as he gave a signal for them to move deeper into the forest, a sudden rush of movement erupted from the trees.
Out of nowhere, another team sprang into action, surrounding them with an agility and coordination that betrayed weeks, perhaps months, of meticulous planning.
Team Hiruzen's composure cracked under the pressure; they barely had time to react before they found themselves encircled.
"Caught you!" sneered a member of the new squad, his eyes glinting with triumph as his kunai hovered inches away from Jiraiya's neck.
The ino-shika-cho squad, still nursing their defeat, took advantage of the situation and regrouped, weapons drawn and at the ready.
A blonde-haired Yamanaka, who appeared to be the team leader, stepped forward and pointed his kunai toward Sakumo.
"Did you think you'd get away that easily?" he taunted, a smug grin creeping across his face.
"We were searching for you specifically. Your team's position was well-known to us; you led us right to you."
His mocking laughter echoed through the clearing, sending a chill down Team Hiruzen's spine.
They were outnumbered, with two teams against their one.
Despite the trap closing in around them, Sakumo met the Yamanaka's glare with a calm determination.
He nodded subtly to his teammates, signaling them to stay ready.
He could feel their unease and sense the anticipation in their breaths, but they were well-prepared; they had practiced handling situations under immense pressure like this.
"Stay calm," Sakumo whispered to his teammates as he gave each of them a glance, silently planning their next moves.
"Remember, we've trained for moments like this. Stick to the signals."
Tsunade responded with a quick nod, her eyes intense with focus.
Orochimaru's lips curled into a slight smirk as he prepared himself for the challenge ahead, while Jiraiya's usual grin was replaced with an unusually steely gaze.
"Break formation!" Sakumo commanded sharply, his voice low. He then swiftly counter some shuriken and kunai.
As if on cue, Team Hiruzen's stance shifted, and they immediately moved to exploit a gap in their opponents' circle.
Sakumo gave a signal, and Tsunade lunged forward, a fierce battle cry escaping her lips as she drove a shoulder into the nearest enemy, knocking them back just enough to create an opening.
Orochimaru followed close behind, his reflexes razor-sharp as he slipped through the gap and positioned himself in a counter-offensive stance.
The rest of Team Hiruzen maneuvered quickly to form a line across from their opponents, creating enough distance to regroup.
The ino-shika-cho squad and their allies regrouped as well, now standing in a line opposite them, each team eyeing the other with equal parts anticipation and caution.
The forest around them seemed to shrink as both teams stared each other down, their stances tense, poised to attack.
Leaves rustled overhead, and the humid, earthy scent of the forest added to the pressure hanging in the air.
No one dared to make the first move, knowing that even a single misstep could mean the end.
Sakumo gave his teammates a final, decisive nod, and with a collective shout, they charged forward.
The forest floor blurred beneath their feet as they launched themselves at the enemy.
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Tsunade clashed with the leader first, their kunai meeting in a flurry of sparks.
Her strength was formidable, each strike of her kunai accompanied by the unmistakable force that only she could muster.
Her opponent staggered slightly under her relentless assault, but he quickly regained his footing, countering with precise, practiced strikes.
"Tsunade!" Jiraiya called out from her right, leaping into the fray.
He launched a series of shuriken, each spinning towards their target with deadly accuracy.
The black haired sidestepped the first two but was forced to deflect the last with his kunai, giving Tsunade a brief opening to press forward.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru moved with an eerie grace, his movements almost serpentine as he darted around his opponents.
He faced a tall, lean genin from the opposing team who wielded a chain and sickle.
Orochimaru's golden eyes followed each swing of the chain with laser focus, his lean form darting in and out of its arc.
Just as the chain swung his way, he ducked low and unleashed a swift leg sweep, knocking his opponent off-balance.
The enemy genin stumbled, and Orochimaru took full advantage, thrusting a kunai towards the exposed side.
But his opponent recovered faster than expected, blocking with the handle of his sickle.
Orochimaru grinned, impressed by the resistance, and slipped back, ready to strike again.
On the far side, Sakumo found himself facing two opponents simultaneously.
They coordinated their attacks, moving in sync to corner him with swift kicks and kunai thrusts.
He met their strikes with effortless fluidity, blocking and parrying with an almost preternatural calm.
Though he couldn't fully overpower them, he kept them at bay, his eyes glinting as he watched for any mistake in their rhythm.
Amid the chaos, Jiraiya and the opposition leader were locked in a fierce one-on-one duel.
The black hair ninja was quick and nimble, dodging Jiraiya's taijutsu strikes with an agility that bordered on infuriating.
"You're going to regret underestimating us," Jiraiya growled as he lunged forward, aiming for the black hair ninja midsection.
The leader dodged with ease, a sly grin on his face.
"Am I?" he taunted, his voice filled with mocking amusement.
With a flick of his wrist, he aimed a shuriken at Jiraiya, who dodged it narrowly.
Suddenly, another blonde Yamanaka ninja switched tactics, pressing his hand together in a familiar seal.
"Mind Body Disturbance Technique!" he called out, his eyes flashing as he channeled his chakra towards Jiraiya.
Jiraiya's body stiffened, and for a moment, he felt his limbs move against his will.
Panic surged through him as he struggled against the mind-altering jutsu.
But just as his movements grew sluggish, he felt a sharp jab on his shoulder—Tsunade's fist snapped him out of the trance.
"Focus, Jiraiya!" Tsunade barked, pulling him back to reality.
Gritting his teeth, Jiraiya fought against the lingering effects of the technique and regrouped with Tsunade.
Together, they exchanged quick nods before charging forward as a team, combining their attacks to overwhelm the ino-shika-cho leader.
The fight raged on, the sounds of grunts and clashing weapons filling the forest.
Dirt flew, leaves scattered, and the once-quiet clearing transformed into a battlefield.
Team Hiruzen's focus never wavered, but fatigue was beginning to set in. Cuts and bruises marked their bodies, and their breaths came in heavy pants.
Sakumo glanced at his teammates, noting their weariness. It was clear they were reaching their limits, but so were their opponents. He raised his hand, signaling a final push.
"This is it! Give it everything you've got!" he called out, his voice steady but strained.
With one last surge of energy, Team Hiruzen launched their final coordinated attack.
Orochimaru slid low, tripping one of their teammates, while Tsunade delivered a powerful punch that sent another sprawling.
Jiraiya moved in tandem, trapping their leader in a pincer movement with Sakumo.
In the chaos, they managed to wrestle the Heaven Scroll from the Yamanaka team.
Victory was within their grasp, but at a price; each member of Team Hiruzen bore the marks of the battle, their clothes torn, and their bodies battered.
The black haired leader, disarmed and bruised, glared at them with an expression of grudging respect.
"You… you're tougher than I thought," he admitted, a hint of admiration in his voice.
Sakumo simply nodded, his expression unreadable. "The feeling is mutual."
With the scroll in hand, Team Hiruzen quickly retreated, moving deeper into the forest and away from the battlefield.
Their breaths were labored, and the weight of exhaustion pressed heavily on them, but they felt a surge of satisfaction. Despite the challenge, they had prevailed.
As they slowed their pace to catch their breath, Jiraiya let out a tired but triumphant laugh. "We did it… barely."
Tsunade rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Yeah, but we're not out of this forest yet. Let's keep our guard up."
Sakumo glanced at the Heaven Scroll in his hand, his grip tightening. "We've still got a long way to go. Let's make it count."
And with renewed determination, Team Hiruzen pressed forward, leaving the battlefield behind as they navigated deeper into the Forest of Death, the final destination still looming ahead.
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Status de energia semanal
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