Published at 16th of September 2024 1:05 am

Chapter 13 The Thunder Within – Part 6

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Killer B stared at the scroll for a moment, the words echoing in his mind: “The storm is coming. Choose your side before it’s too late.”

Gyūki’s voice rumbled within him. “This is no idle threat, B. Whoever that masked figure was, they knew who you were, and they had the nerve to approach you directly. This isn’t some random rogue shinobi.”

B nodded, his brow furrowing as he folded the scroll and tucked it into his waist pouch. "Yeah, I hear ya, Gyūki. This is serious. But what’s their game? They’re tryin’ to pull me into somethin', but what?"

“That’s what we need to figure out,” Gyūki replied. “But we can’t do it alone. A needs to see this.”

B straightened up, feeling the weight of the situation pressing on him. His instincts told him to chase after the masked figure, but he knew Gyūki was right. This was bigger than just him, and he needed to bring the Raikage into the loop. Without wasting any more time, B set off toward the Raikage’s office.

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Inside the towering administrative building in Kumogakure, A sat behind his desk, reviewing reports from the village’s intelligence network. His mind was already troubled by the growing unrest across the continent, and the idea of hidden forces pulling strings in the shadows made his stomach churn. His thoughts were interrupted when the door to his office swung open.

"B, what is it?" A asked, his tone sharp, though not unkind.

Killer B stepped in, his usual swagger toned down as he held up the scroll. "Yo, bro, got somethin’ strange on the go. Check this out, came from a shadow in the night, left without a fight."

A took the scroll and unrolled it, his eyes scanning the brief message. His jaw tightened as he read the words, and he crumpled the paper slightly in his fist before setting it down on the desk.

"Where did this come from?" A asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"Some masked ninja, creepin’ in the dark. Dude tossed the scroll, disappeared without a spark," B explained, leaning against the doorframe.

A stood up, his fists clenched in anger. "They came that close to the village? And they dared to target you directly? Whoever this is, they’re bold—and that makes them dangerous."

B nodded, his expression serious. "Yeah, bro. But they weren’t lookin’ for a fight. They wanted me to see that scroll, to know what’s comin'."

A paced behind his desk, his mind racing. "This isn’t just a warning, B. It’s a message. Someone is making moves in the shadows, and they want you involved. But why?"

B crossed his arms, thinking. "Could be they know we’re strong, yo. Maybe they want us on their side before they make their show."

A slammed his fist on the desk, shaking the wooden structure. "They’re trying to play us, B. I won’t let Kumogakure be dragged into another war because of some shadow group."

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and Darui, A’s right-hand man, stepped inside. "Raikage-sama, we’ve received some troubling reports from the Land of Iron. There’s been an unusual gathering of rogue shinobi near the borders."

A looked at Darui, his eyes narrowing. "The Land of Iron? That’s neutral territory. Why would rogues gather there?"

Darui handed over a report. "We don’t know yet, but several of our scouts have reported seeing high-level shinobi from various villages—shinobi that were thought to be missing or even dead."

B and A exchanged a glance, the same thought crossing their minds. Could this be related to the message B received?

"Darui, double the surveillance around Kumogakure and the surrounding regions," A ordered. "I want to know who’s moving in and out of our territory. And send scouts to the Land of Iron—discreetly. We need to find out what’s going on there."

Darui nodded, then turned to leave, but B stopped him. "Yo, Darui, keep an eye on things low, but if you hear a thing, you let us know."

Darui gave a nod of acknowledgment before slipping out of the room.

Once the door was closed, A turned back to B, his face grim. "We’re running out of time, B. Whoever is pulling these strings, they’re moving faster than we anticipated. We need to be ready."

B stepped closer, his fists clenching. "So what’s the plan, bro? We waitin’ for them to make the next move, or are we gonna strike ‘em with the groove?"

A frowned, deep in thought. "No, we can’t just sit back and wait. But we need more information before we act. I’ll send word to the other Kage—we need to get to the bottom of this together."

B nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Alright, bro. But if it comes down to a fight, you know I’m ready to light up the night."

A allowed a small smile, his hand gripping B’s shoulder. "I know, B. And if things go bad, you’ll be right there with me, like always."

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Days passed, and the tension in Kumogakure only grew. Reports of rogue shinobi activity continued to come in from all over the continent, but the most troubling information came from the scouts in the Land of Iron.

Darui stood before A and Killer B, delivering the latest report. "Raikage-sama, our scouts have confirmed that there’s an organized gathering of high-level rogue shinobi in the Land of Iron. They’ve been seen moving in and out of a hidden base within the mountains."

A’s eyes narrowed. "A base? Who’s behind it?"

Darui shook his head. "We don’t know yet. But there’s a pattern to their movements. They’re not just random rogues—they’re being directed."

B crossed his arms, the weight of the situation settling in. "Yo, bro, sounds like a puppet show. Someone’s pullin’ strings, but who’s in the know?"

A clenched his fists, his anger barely contained. "It doesn’t matter. We’ll find out soon enough. Prepare to move out, B. We’re going to the Land of Iron ourselves."

B’s eyes lit up. "Finally, some action! I was startin’ to get bored with all the inaction."

Darui stepped forward, concerned. "Raikage-sama, are you sure it’s wise to go personally? If this is a trap—"

A raised a hand, cutting him off. "That’s exactly why I’m going. I won’t let Kumogakure get blindsided by some rogue faction. We need to find out who’s behind this, and we need to stop them before they cause any more damage."

B grinned, excitement coursing through him. "Yo, Gyūki, you ready for this ride? We ‘bout to bring the thunder, no need to hide!"

“I’m always ready, B,” Gyūki replied, his voice rumbling with anticipation. “Let’s see what these rogues are up to.”

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The next day, Killer B and A, along with a small elite squad of Kumogakure’s best shinobi, made their way toward the Land of Iron. The journey was tense, each of them aware that they were heading into enemy territory without fully understanding what they were up against.

As they approached the snow-covered mountains of the Land of Iron, the temperature dropped sharply, and the wind howled around them. The village of samurai was a neutral zone, but that didn’t mean it was without danger. The base that the rogues were using was deep within the mountains—hidden from the watchful eyes of the Land of Iron’s samurai.

B glanced at A, who was walking silently beside him, his face set in a grim expression. "Yo, bro, this place gives me the chills. Hope we find some answers in these hills."

A nodded, his eyes scanning the terrain. "Stay sharp, B. We don’t know what’s waiting for us up ahead."

As they ventured deeper into the mountains, B felt a strange tension in the air, a sense of unease that settled in his gut. He could feel Gyūki stirring inside him, sensing the same ominous presence.

“Something’s wrong, B,” Gyūki growled. “There’s chakra in the air. We’re walking into something big.”

Before B could respond, a sudden burst of chakra exploded from the ground beneath them, and a group of masked shinobi appeared, surrounding the team in an instant. Their leader, a tall figure with a dark mask, stepped forward.

"Welcome, Raikage," the masked leader said, his voice echoing through the snow-covered valley. "We’ve been expecting you."

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To be continued...

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