章節 73: They Come and Go...

The grayish light of dawn barely filtered through Amegakure's perpetual clouds when Chen was torn from his sleep.

The sound of metal against metal and battle cries penetrated the hotel walls.

"Damn them," he growled, rubbing his eyes irritated by lack of sleep. "If they don't quiet down, I swear I'll kill them all."

He got up with difficulty and approached the window. The scene unfolding on the street was chaos, flashes of kunai and explosions.

Iwagakure and Amegakure ninjas were facing off, their battle cries mixing with the constant patter of rain.

Chen and his group had been trapped in this hotel for nine days, and for the last three, these two groups of ninjas had turned the streets into their battlefield. Although casualties were few, the noise was deafening.

"Three in the morning," he muttered, looking at the wall clock. "They've been at it since three in the damn morning."

A movement behind him indicated he wasn't the only one awake. Kushina rose from the tatami, her red hair a mess and her eyes burning with fury.

"I'm going to kill them myself," she growled, her voice hoarse from sleep but laden with threat.

Chen stopped her with a gesture. "Leave it to me. You rest. These idiots need a lesson."

Before Kushina could protest, he transformed into a flash of electricity and disappeared through the window.

....

Chen reappeared in the midst of the battling ninjas, his figure floating in the air.

The leader of the Amegakure ninjas, his face contorted with bewilderment, shouted: "Insolent brat! Who do you think you are? Get out of here before I kill you!"

The rain, which soaked everything around, seemed to avoid Chen. Each drop bounced centimeters from his body, creating a halo of moving water around him. It was the Tenseigan in action, its repulsive force keeping the rain at bay.

The Iwagakure Jōnin, more analytical, narrowed his eyes. "That headband... you're from Konoha. Is that flying ability some kind of secret technique or a Kekkei Genkai?"

Without answering all these questions, Chen sighed with boredom: "The torrential rain of these days has prevented me from sleeping. And now you, insignificant insects, keep bothering. It's time to send you to the Pure World."

Without further warning, he extended his hand. "I don't have time for nonsense. 60 million volts!"

The sky seemed to split in two when a terrifying thunder dragon materialized above Chen.

Its eyes, bright as stars, fixed on the ninjas below. With a roar that shook the earth, it launched towards the ground.

BOOOOM!!

The explosion was deafening. For a moment, everything was blinding light and searing heat. When vision returned, where there had been a dozen ninjas before, now only ashes remained that the rain began to wash away.

Observing the scene with his fists clenched. It was the first time he had used the Thunder Fruit ability to its full capacity, and yet... he wasn't satisfied.

'It's fast, yes,' he thought, 'but not as much as the Glint Fruit. The attack power is greater, the damage range wider, but... it's not the leap I expected.'

A hint of regret crossed his mind. Would it have been better to give this fruit to Mikoto or Tsunade? In their hands, perhaps, it would have been more useful.

But then, a new idea began to form. 'Lightning is the most explosive energy in nature. If I could combine it with the Glint Fruit...'

The idea was promising. The destructive power of thunder, combined with the penetrating capacity of the laser... But there were obstacles. The abilities of both fruits couldn't be used simultaneously. It was a problem he would need to solve.

With a sigh, he transformed into lightning and returned to the hotel in an instant.

-----

The rain of Amegakure continued to fall relentlessly, a constant backdrop for the scene unfolding in the hotel. The building, once bustling, was now plunged into an unsettling silence.

Chen returned to the room, finding Kushina waiting for him with amazement on her face.

"That was quick," she commented, her violet eyes fixed on him.

He shrugged, an enigmatic smile playing on his lips. "Amegakure's environment is perfect for the Thunder Fruit. One lightning strike, and the rain does the rest."

Suddenly, Kushina approached, her closeness sending a current of electricity down Chen's spine. "It's impressive," she murmured, her hand lightly brushing Chen's arm. "You're impressive."

But that moment was interrupted by frantic knocks on the door.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Chen! Those bastards were struck down by lightning!" Nawaki's ecstatic voice resonated.

Chen sighed, sharing an annoyed look with Kushina before opening the door. "Yelling all day, shit," he muttered, but Nawaki's enthusiasm was contagious.

Soon, the entire group gathered in the empty hotel hallway. The absence of staff and other guests, who had fled days ago, made the place seem even more desolate.

"The rain is getting worse," observed Hizashi, looking out a nearby window. "Maybe we should move. We've been here for almost ten days."

Shikaku shook his head. "Walking in this rain will make us sick. And with ninjas fighting outside... it's better to wait."

"I don't understand why you're so scared," Chen commented carelessly. "It's not so bad watching it rain here."

"Chen," Shikaku looked at him with disbelief, "This is Amegakure. Here, life is in danger at any moment."

Inoichi, looking for someone to blame for his frustration, complained: "All of this is Nawaki's fault. We had to accept this mission because of him."

Before the discussion could escalate, Mikoto and Tomo appeared with breakfast. The aroma of freshly prepared food filled the hallway, silencing everyone.

.....

The rain continued to fall incessantly, creating a sonic backdrop for the scene unfolding inside the hotel.

After breakfast, the group dispersed throughout the room, each seeking their own space.

Chen, Kushina, and Mikoto settled in front of the window. Chen sat in the center, with Kushina leaning on his left shoulder and Mikoto gently reclining on his right. Their actions did not go unnoticed by the rest of the group.

"It's beautiful, in a way," Mikoto murmured, her eyes fixed on the drops forming patterns on the glass.

Kushina nodded. "Sad, but beautiful," she added, her hand finding Chen's almost unconsciously.

For his part, Chen seemed absorbed in his thoughts, his gaze alternating between the rainy landscape and the faces of the two kunoichi at his side. Occasionally, his fingers traced soft patterns on Kushina's back or played distractedly with a strand of Mikoto's hair.

The rest of the group observed the scene with a mix of emotions. Nawaki, lying face up on one of the beds, let out occasional sighs of boredom. Minato, sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, cast furtive glances towards the trio at the window, his expression indecipherable.

Shikaku, in his characteristic style, had found a quiet corner to lie down with his eyes closed. Chōza was absentmindedly chewing on a cereal bar.

"Do you think the rain will ever stop?" asked Hizashi, breaking the silence that had settled in the room.

"In Amegakure, the rain is eternal," Chen replied without taking his eyes off the window. His arm adjusted slightly, bringing Kushina and Mikoto closer.

Kushina looked up at Chen, a playful smile on her lips. "And does that bother you, Mr. Lightning?"

Chen chuckled softly. "Not at all. Rain has its advantages," he responded while his eyes shone with a hidden meaning that only Kushina and Mikoto seemed to understand.

Mikoto shifted slightly, adjusting her position to look at Chen and Kushina. "We should take advantage of this time," she suggested quietly. "To plan, to... to advance more in our relation-."

The atmosphere in the room changed drastically. The intimate mood dissipated like mist under the sun when Chen spoke,

"Someone is coming from the southeast. A Chūnin and six Genin."

As if they had been electrocuted, everyone who was lying down sat up abruptly. Hizashi, without losing a second, activated his Byakugan, prominent veins around his eyes.

"It's true." he confirmed with amazement and concern.

On the contrary, Nawaki seemed revitalized by the news. He stood up with a jump. "Let them come! It was about time for some action."

Looking at this cadaver, Chen warned him. "Be careful, Nawaki. These aren't academy Genin. They've seen real battle. Don't make me have to collect your body afterward."

"Don't underestimate me," Nawaki replied, puffing out his chest with pride.

They didn't have to wait long. In a matter of minutes, seven figures appeared in front of the hotel.

"Big brother," said one of the newcomers. "There's a bunch of kids here."

The Chūnin, evidently the leader, responded with coldness: "Kill them."

One of the Genin, however, noticed something that the others had overlooked. "Brother, look at their headbands. They're from Konoha. Maybe we shouldn't..."

Hearing this, the Chūnin seemed to hesitate for a moment, but it quickly vanished. "What are you afraid of? We don't have a fixed home. Konoha can't chase us all the way here for a few brats. Besides, in the chaos of Amegakure, who will know it was us?"

His eyes shone with greed. "And as ninjas from a great village, they must have some valuable jutsu."

The six Genin accompanying him nodded, their own eyes reflecting the same thirst for blood and loot.

________

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