ALL NOVEL Chapter 78: 78. A New Threat Emerges
The dark clouds over the Hidden Leaf Village loomed larger now, no longer a distant threat but a presence that could be felt in every heartbeat, every breath. The village was on high alert, the once serene streets now filled with shinobi preparing for war. The training had sharpened the resolve of the younger generation, but even with their newfound strength, there was a tension that weighed heavily on everyone.
Ryusei stood atop the Hokage's tower, looking out over the village. His eyes, hardened from years of battle and experience across timelines, scanned the horizon. The shift in energy that had begun as a whisper was now a roar, growing louder and darker with each passing moment.
"They're coming," he murmured, his voice barely audible but filled with certainty.
Behind him, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Anon joined him on the rooftop, their expressions a mix of readiness and concern. The calm before the storm was finally breaking.
"How long do you think we have?" Naruto asked, his usual cheer replaced with grim determination.
Ryusei's gaze didn't waver from the horizon. "Not long. A few hours at most. We've prepared the village as best we can, but we don't know what we're dealing with. The enemies we fought in the past may have grown stronger… or worse."
Sasuke, always the strategist, crossed his arms, his Sharingan already active. "We've fought against insurmountable odds before. But this feels different. There's something darker at play here."
Anon, silent as always, stood at the edge of the group, his eyes glowing faintly with the power of the void. "The balance is off. I've seen timelines like this fall before. If we're not careful, we'll lose everything."
Sakura clenched her fists, her Chrono Essence swirling around her. "We won't let that happen. We've trained for this, and the new generation is stronger than we were. But we can't underestimate the enemy."
Ryusei finally turned to face them, his expression unreadable. "We need to prepare ourselves for anything. These enemies may not be the same as the ones we fought before. They could have learned, adapted, grown stronger. But we have something they don't."
"What's that?" Naruto asked, his eyes narrowing.
Ryusei's gaze hardened. "Unity. Across time, across dimensions. We're not just fighting for ourselves—we're fighting for every timeline, every reality. And that's something no enemy can break."
The First Strike - Boruto's Team
On the outskirts of the village, Boruto, Konohamaru, and Mitsuki stood guard, their senses heightened as they awaited the inevitable attack. The air was thick with tension, every rustle of the leaves or gust of wind causing their muscles to tense.
"This feels way different from before," Boruto muttered, his hand resting on the hilt of his kunai. "Like they're already here, just waiting to strike."
Konohamaru nodded, his eyes scanning the treeline. "Stay sharp. We don't know what they're planning, but we can't let them catch us off guard."
Mitsuki, ever calm, stepped forward, his eyes narrowing as he felt a shift in the air. "They're here."
Before anyone could react, the ground beneath them rumbled, and from the shadows emerged a horde of rogue shinobi, their bodies twisted by dark energy. They moved with unnatural speed, their eyes glowing with a malevolent light as they charged toward Boruto's team.
"Here we go!" Boruto shouted, his hands flying into motion as he formed a Rasengan, the energy infused with Eclipse power.
Konohamaru followed suit, summoning his own Rasengan as they both launched their attacks toward the incoming enemies. The energy collided with the first wave of shinobi, sending shockwaves through the ground and knocking them back.
But more kept coming.
"They're relentless!" Boruto growled as he dodged a strike from one of the enemies, his body moving with practiced speed.
Mitsuki moved like a shadow, his movements fluid and precise as he struck at the rogue shinobi, using his wind-infused attacks to keep them at bay. "They're stronger than the ones we fought before. Be careful."
Konohamaru leapt into the fray, his kunai flashing as he cut through the enemies with deadly precision. "We need to take them out quickly! If we get overwhelmed, the village is done for!"
The battle intensified, the young shinobi using every ounce of their training to fend off the attackers. But for every enemy they defeated, more seemed to take their place. The dark energy that surrounded the rogue shinobi was suffocating, twisting their bodies into monstrous forms that seemed impervious to pain.
"This isn't normal," Boruto muttered, his eyes darting around as he tried to find a way to break through the onslaught. "There's something else at play here."
Suddenly, a dark figure emerged from the shadows, towering over the other rogue shinobi. His eyes glowed with a menacing red light, and the energy radiating from him was unlike anything they had faced before.
"You've done well to make it this far," the figure sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "But your time ends here."
Hinata's Team – Deeper Into the Fray
Meanwhile, in another sector of the village, Hinata, TenTen, and Ino stood on guard, their bodies tense as they felt the same oppressive energy creeping toward them. The air around them felt thick, almost suffocating, as if the very atmosphere had turned against them.
"It's like we're walking into a trap," Ino said quietly, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement.
TenTen twirled a kunai between her fingers, her expression grim. "Doesn't matter. We've fought our way out of worse."
Hinata activated her Byakugan, her pale eyes glowing as she looked into the distance. "They're coming. From all sides."
Before they could react, the trees around them exploded with movement, rogue shinobi flooding the area like a tidal wave of dark energy. They moved with terrifying speed, their bodies contorting unnaturally as they lunged toward Hinata's team.
"Get ready!" TenTen shouted, throwing her kunai with deadly precision. The weapons flew through the air, striking down the first wave of enemies, but more kept coming.
Ino's hands flew into motion as she used her Mind Transfer Jutsu, taking control of one of the enemies and turning him against his comrades. "I've got this one. Keep going!"
Hinata's Gentle Fist strikes were amplified by her mastery of Chrono Essence, allowing her to slow time around her enemies just long enough to deliver devastating blows to their chakra points. But even as she fought, the sense of dread continued to grow.
"They're too strong," Hinata murmured under her breath, her Byakugan flickering with strain as she tried to keep track of the enemies. "Something is feeding their power."
TenTen gritted her teeth, her kunai flying through the air as she cut down another wave of attackers. "We just need to hold them off until the others get here. We can't let them reach the village!"
But as the battle raged on, it became clear that they were being pushed to their limits. The rogue shinobi were relentless, their bodies moving with unnatural speed and strength, and the dark energy that surrounded them seemed to grow stronger with every passing moment.
"We can't keep this up," Ino called out, her voice strained as she fought to maintain control of her jutsu.
Hinata glanced around, her heart pounding in her chest. The enemy forces were growing larger, stronger. The village's defenses were holding, but for how long?