Koushin: Konoha’s Dragonborn[Completed]

The message arrived as a slight tingling sensation on Koushin's forearm, right at the spot where the Nakama Seal - a cross-shaped tattoo - was embedded. Shikamaru watched with keen interest as Koushin lowered his gaze to the tattoo. To an outsider, it might seem like he was merely looking at a random part of his skin, but Shikamaru knew better. The Nakama Seal, a remarkable creation of Koushin that allowed him to communicate with the leaders through a form of long-distance telepathy.

A hint of a frown furrowed Koushin's brows, indicating that he was focused on the incoming message. Shikamaru didn't disturb him. After a moment, Koushin’s voice broke the silence.

“Mountains' Graveyard, huh?" He muttered, almost to himself. Shikamaru raised an eyebrow, but stayed silent.

Koushin's next question caught Shikamaru's attention, "Any news from Naruto? He sure takes his time. You and Sai returned weeks ago, he's still training." Shikamaru found himself holding his breath. Naruto's absence had been a matter of concern, but knowing that Koushin was aware of it and was on top of things, provided some comfort.

A grin spread across his face, transforming his earlier serious demeanor into a playful one. "Well, anyway, tell them to clear the way. I've long wanted to deal with Kabuto."

"Already on it, Koushin!" came the excited response in Koushin's mind. The voice was distinctly Hinata's, and it carried the undeniable enthusiasm. Shikamaru noted the slight amusement that flickered across Koushin's face as he heard her reply.

With an audible sigh, Koushin rose to his feet, stretching his limbs as if to shake off the weight of the impending battle. He looked at Shikamaru, his eyes serious yet somehow sparkling with a mischievous glint that was uniquely his own.

"Keep the forces ready, Shikamaru," he instructed. "And alert me if anything happens. I'll be there before you even blink."

Shikamaru nodded. He had seen enough of Koushin's abilities to trust his promise. Despite his relaxed demeanor and endless supply of jokes, Koushin was a man of his word, especially when it came to the safety of his comrades.

Just as Koushin's final words settled in the air, an eerie glow began to emanate from him. It was a sight that no amount of briefing could have prepared Shikamaru for, an undeniable testament to the reality of the power that Koushin possessed. A violet hue began to envelop him, the brilliance of the light escalating until it was near blinding, casting an ethereal glow that competed with the looming twilight. It was the legendary Purple Lightning - Lightning Chakra Cloak V2, Lightning Dragon Cloak.

The ominous crackle of electricity accompanied the transformation, the energy tangible even from where Shikamaru was standing, a safe distance away. His heart pounded in his chest, not from fear, but from the intense spectacle unfolding before him. He watched in silent awe as the purple lightning danced around Koushin's form, illuminating his figure in an otherworldly light.

And then, in the space of a breath, Koushin was gone. There was no transition, no warning, just the sudden void where he had stood a moment ago. The silence that followed was deafening, and for a moment, Shikamaru stood still, his eyes wide as they stared at the empty space.

In his wake, a clap of thunder echoed through the air, a reverberation that was felt more than it was heard. It was an audacious punctuation to his departure, a testament to his speed and strength. Even as the sound faded, its echoes remained, a stark reminder of the raw power that Koushin commanded.

Shaking himself out of his reverie, Shikamaru refocused his attention on the task at hand. Koushin had entrusted him with the responsibility of leading the forces in his absence. And despite the undercurrent of fear and uncertainty that gripped him, Shikamaru knew he had to step up.

On the barren expanse of the Mountains' Graveyard, Anko Mitarashi stood alert, her senses honed to pick up any sign of an impending attack. As a senior shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village, she was no stranger to life-threatening situations. But the report from the Intel Division had sent a shiver down her spine.

"We got our orders. Clear the area, and wait for Koushin to arrive. We are to go back after he is done," she instructed, her voice calm yet laced with an undercurrent of tension.

A murmur of disbelief ran through the gathered shinobi, as they shared incredulous looks. From among them, a shinobi of the Hidden Sand Village stepped forward, his brows furrowed in confusion. "Only one person?" he questioned, his tone laden with disbelief. "Are you mocking us?"

Anko snorted at his ignorance, her lips curling into a smirk. "Clearly, you've been living under a rock," she retorted, her eyes sparkling with a peculiar kind of amusement. "The man who is coming is Koushin the Thunderfire. The Regimental Commander of the Allied Shinobi Forces. Well, no need to say much. Keep your eyes open, or you'll miss it. It will only take a second."

Before anyone could respond, a thunderclap echoed through the sky, the reverberating sound seeming to shake the very earth beneath them. The shinobi stiffened, their eyes darting around in anticipation. A sudden flash of violet on the horizon grabbed their attention.

Some turned to follow the beam with their eyes, their breath hitching at the sight. But that move proved to be their folly. In the time it took for them to turn their heads to the source of the light, the beam had already reached the opening before them.

It happened in an instant. One moment, the purple lightning was a far-off spectacle, and the next, it had consumed the entire space before them. The brilliance of the light was blinding, turning day into night in its intensity. A few shinobi shielded their eyes, their heart pounding in their chests.

Before anyone could even register what was happening, the light had flashed away, leaving only the eerie echoes of a thunderclap in its wake. But it wasn't the disappearance of the light that left the shinobi stunned. It was the agonized scream that cut through the still air, a haunting sound that sent a chill down their spines.

Kabuto, who until moments ago had been standing tall with a smug smile on his face, was nowhere to be seen. The space where he had stood was empty, devoid of any signs of a struggle or battle. All that remained was a scorched imprint on the ground, a chilling testament to the raw power that had just swept through.

The shinobi stood in stunned silence, their minds struggling to comprehend the spectacle they had just witnessed. Anko broke the silence, her voice echoing in the now eerily quiet expanse. "That was Koushin," she said, a hint of pride lacing her words. "Now you know why we only needed one person."