Naruto: Maelstrom Of The Uzumaki

Might Duy and Namikaze Minato, surrounded by the enemy, remained cautious. The sheer number of opponents suppressed their movements, and the individual strength of the enemy ninjas was formidable. Acting recklessly could easily lead to their defeat.

Despite the dire situation, Minato's resolve remained unwavering.

"I promised Kushina that I would come back alive," he thought, determination flickering in his eyes.

Suddenly, as Minato observed the enemy, a phantom emerged from the ground behind him. In an instant, it materialized into a figure wielding a kunai aimed directly at his back.

"When did they get behind me?"

Caught off guard, Minato realized the number of enemies in front of him hadn't decreased. He hadn't anticipated an attack from this direction. Unable to dodge completely, he twisted his body to avoid a vital area, but the kunai still stabbed into his back. Just as the attacker moved to strike again, Duy's knee struck the enemy, forcing them to retreat.

"Minato, are you okay?" Duy reached out to support Minato, glancing at the kunai embedded in his comrade's back with concern.

Before Minato could respond, his expression shifted. "Be careful!" he shouted, pushing Duy away. A split second later, a violent explosion engulfed the area where Minato had stood.

"Boom!!!"

"M-Minato!" Duy's eyes widened in horror as flames erupted before him. He gritted his teeth, his emotions surging uncontrollably.

"You bastards!" he roared, charging recklessly at the Iwa ninjas. But before he could close the gap, something yanked him back by the waist.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

More explosions erupted just ahead of him, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield.

When the smoke cleared, several figures stood amidst the chaos. Leading them was Uchiha Shinki, his Sharingan glowing crimson as he held a short blade at the ready. Behind him, Hyuga Hiashi supported an unconscious Minato, his face pale from the earlier explosion. Uchiha Fugaku guarded Duy with cold determination, his excitement barely concealed as he gripped his dagger.

Iwa's blond-haired leader surveyed the reinforcements with a twisted grin.

"Konoha ninjas... Sharingan and Byakugan, huh? This is a jackpot. Two Kekkei Genkai in one sweep!"

Shinki's eyes narrowed as he recognized the blond Iwa ninja. "You must be Atsuchi, disciple of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki."

The blond ninja sneered. "Don't call me that! Call me Houto!" He barked orders to his squad. "Kill them all!"

Clay birds shot out from Houto's hands, zooming toward Shinki's team. Shinki remained calm, waiting for the attack to come closer. Just as the birds neared, Hiashi stepped forward.

"Eight Trigrams Palms: Rotation!"

The spinning chakra shield deflected the explosive birds, neutralizing their threat. With the path cleared, Shinki and Fugaku charged into the enemy ranks, engaging the Iwa ninjas in close combat.

While the battle raged, Houto stayed on the sidelines, crafting more clay creations. His actions caught Shinki's attention.

"This guy is up to something," Shinki thought, fending off his attackers while keeping an eye on Houto.

From Houto's hands, two massive clay centipedes emerged and rushed toward Minato and Duy, their bodies glowing ominously.

"Get out of the way!" Shinki shouted, his urgency cutting through the chaos.

Duy, unfamiliar with the clay technique, instinctively kicked at the centipedes instead of dodging. Just before impact, a bolt of purple lightning crackled through the forest.

"Lightning Style: Thunder Dragon!"

A purple lightning dragon surged forward, coiling around the clay centipedes and neutralizing their explosive potential. The clay creatures crumbled to the ground, lifeless.

Houto's face darkened. "Who's there?!" he barked, scanning the forest.

In the chaos, Uzumaki Raiden emerged from the trees, his chakra flaring. His sharp intervention saved Minato and Duy, but his presence didn't go unnoticed.

"That kid's lightning jutsu is impressive," Shinki thought, recognizing Raiden's chakra signature with relief.

The tide of battle began to shift, and Houto's confidence wavered. Realizing his position was compromised, he summoned a giant clay bird and retreated into the sky, calling for his squad to follow.

As the enemy withdrew, Raiden watched warily. "He's not retreating... he's setting up for something."

His suspicion was confirmed moments later. High above, Houto began releasing clay bombs. The first explosion created a massive shockwave, leveling the surrounding forest.

"Boom!!!"

"Retreat!" Raiden's voice cut through the din. "Follow me!" His shadow clones guided the team toward a safer position.

As the explosions intensified, Raiden formed seals with his clones.

"Four Violet Flames Formation!"

A protective barrier surrounded the group, this time infused with purple lightning. Inside, they were shielded from the devastation outside. Explosions rained down, each blast shaking the ground and leaving craters in its wake.

Eventually, the bombardment ceased. Hiashi confirmed with his Byakugan that Houto had truly withdrawn. As the team emerged from the barrier, the forest was unrecognizable—trees uprooted, the ground scarred with craters.

Back at their makeshift camp, Shinki ordered the team to rest and regroup. Using broken branches and fallen leaves, they constructed camouflaged shelters that blended seamlessly with the devastated surroundings. The mood was somber as the team gathered around a small, concealed fire.

Minato, still unconscious, was tended to by Raiden. Duy, mourning the loss of his teacher, sat silently, his usual energy replaced by grief.

Raiden reflected on the battle. "My techniques aren't enough to handle flying enemies. If I face someone like Houto again, I'll need to be better prepared. Otherwise, I'll only be a liability."

The night deepened, and the rain returned, drumming against their shelters. Despite the victory, the team knew the battle was far from over.

(End of this chapter)

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