Published at 3rd of November 2024 9:32 am

Chapter 171 The Shadows of the Third: A Hokage's Legacy, ;4: The Clash of Shadows

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Jiraiya’s heart pounded as he and his team faced the Shirogane shinobi, their dark cloaks blending into the shadows of the forest. The dozen masked figures moved with eerie synchronization, circling them like predators sizing up their prey. There was no question now—these were not ordinary enemies. They moved and acted with a unity of purpose that hinted at something deeper, something unsettling.

Shikaku’s eyes flicked from one enemy to the next, his mind racing through strategies. "We need to break their formation. If they’re moving as a single unit, then disrupting their pattern will give us the upper hand," he whispered to Jiraiya, who nodded in agreement.

But the Shirogane shinobi were already on the move, their hands flashing through a sequence of hand seals in perfect unison. In an instant, thick black flames erupted around them, forming a burning cage that cut off all routes of escape. The fire emitted an unnatural heat, unlike anything Jiraiya had felt before, as if it were fueled by the chakra of the shinobi themselves.

Jiraiya’s face darkened. "Everyone, stay alert! These flames drain chakra. They’re using forbidden techniques—don’t let them touch you."

Inoichi nodded, his face tense. "We need a plan, and fast. If they box us in here, we won’t last long."

Jiraiya took a deep breath, tapping into his vast reserves of chakra. He leapt forward, performing a string of seals as he summoned his toad ally, Gamabunta. The massive toad appeared in a cloud of smoke, his imposing form towering over the clearing. "Jiraiya, what mess have you gotten yourself into this time?" Gamabunta grumbled, his tone wary as he eyed the black flames and the masked shinobi.

"No time for explanations, Gamabunta. Just crush anything wearing a mask," Jiraiya replied, his eyes narrowing.

With a rumbling battle cry, Gamabunta launched himself at the Shirogane shinobi, his powerful legs sending him hurtling through the burning cage. His sword flashed in the firelight as he slashed through the flames, scattering the enemies. The masked shinobi scrambled, forced to break their formation to evade Gamabunta’s devastating attacks. Just as Shikaku had planned, the unity of their movements fractured.

Seizing the opportunity, Jiraiya directed Inoichi and Shikaku to flank the scattered shinobi, aiming to separate them and weaken their strength in numbers. Inoichi used his Mind-Body Disturbance Technique, targeting one of the Shirogane, who staggered briefly before turning on his own comrades, throwing them off-balance. Shikaku followed up with his Shadow Imitation Jutsu, capturing two more in his shadow, forcing them to freeze in place.

Jiraiya darted forward, a Rasengan spinning in his hand. He targeted one of the entrapped shinobi, driving the spiraling ball of chakra into their chest, sending them flying backward as their mask shattered and they collapsed to the ground.

But the Shirogane shinobi quickly recovered, regrouping with deadly precision. Their leader stepped forward, his mask different from the others—a blood-red mark emblazoned across the center. His presence exuded an ominous aura, his eyes filled with a cold, unyielding hatred.

"You may have disrupted our formation," he said, his voice chillingly calm. "But your resistance is futile. Konoha’s era will end, whether by your death here or by the fires that will consume your village."

Jiraiya’s face hardened. "Who are you? Why are you so intent on destroying Konoha?"

The leader’s eyes narrowed. "We are the Shirogane, the ones who remember. While Konoha prospered, our clan suffered, cast aside and forgotten. Our people were forced to survive in the shadows, waiting for the day we could reclaim our place in history. That day has come."

Jiraiya scoffed, anger simmering beneath his calm demeanor. "Konoha has always sought peace. If your clan was wronged, we could have found another way. Revenge will only destroy more lives."

The leader’s eyes gleamed with malice. "Peace is a lie. Konoha’s peace is built on the backs of those it abandoned. We are the retribution that will cleanse this land of your hypocrisy."

With that, he raised his hands, and the remaining Shirogane shinobi moved in unison, their chakra coalescing into a single massive wave of energy that darkened the sky above them. Jiraiya’s instincts screamed danger—this was no ordinary technique.

"Get back!" he shouted to his team, his voice urgent. "They’re using a summoning ritual. They’re planning to unleash something big."

Gamabunta roared in agreement, leaping back with Jiraiya and the others as the ground began to tremble. The air grew thick with a dark, oppressive chakra that weighed down on them, making it hard to breathe. From within the swirling energy, a monstrous figure began to emerge—a massive, serpentine beast with scales as dark as night and eyes that glowed with an unnatural red light.

The creature let out a bone-rattling hiss, its gaze sweeping over the shinobi before it. Jiraiya recognized the creature from ancient texts: a serpent summoned through forbidden techniques, capable of absorbing chakra and draining life from everything around it.

"Is this… some kind of sacrificial jutsu?" Inoichi asked, his face pale. "They’re sacrificing their own chakra to keep that thing alive!"

The Shirogane leader smirked. "This is our ultimate creation, a weapon to bring Konoha to its knees. You cannot stop it. Your village will burn, and the Hokage will fall."

But Jiraiya’s eyes burned with resolve. He glanced at Shikaku, who gave a quick nod—both understood that this was their only chance. They had to stop the creature here and now, or it would reach Konoha and wreak havoc.

"Gamabunta, we’re going all out!" Jiraiya shouted. "Let’s show these guys what it means to mess with Konoha!"

Gamabunta nodded, his massive sword gleaming as he advanced on the serpent. Meanwhile, Shikaku and Inoichi began coordinating their efforts, creating a web of shadows and mind-control techniques to restrict the creature’s movements.

The serpent lunged forward, its mouth opening wide as it tried to strike, but Gamabunta intercepted it with a swing of his sword, forcing the creature back. Jiraiya gathered his chakra, creating a massive Rasengan and charging toward the beast’s head.

With a thunderous impact, the Rasengan struck the creature, but its tough scales absorbed much of the blow. The serpent retaliated, lashing out with its tail, which slammed into Jiraiya, sending him flying into the trees.

"Jiraiya!" Inoichi shouted, worry evident in his voice.

Groaning, Jiraiya pulled himself up, blood trickling down his forehead. "I’m fine," he muttered, brushing off the pain. "We need to find a way to disrupt the source of its chakra. If we don’t stop that flow, it’ll keep regenerating."

Shikaku nodded, his mind racing. "The Shirogane shinobi are feeding their chakra directly to the serpent. If we can sever that connection, it’ll weaken."

Together, they launched a coordinated attack. Shikaku used his shadow jutsu to bind the Shirogane shinobi who were channeling their chakra, restricting their movement and cutting off the energy feeding the beast. Inoichi quickly followed, using his Mind Transfer Jutsu to disrupt the minds of the remaining shinobi.

With their connection severed, the serpent began to thrash, its movements growing frantic as its strength waned. Jiraiya seized the moment, summoning all his remaining chakra into one final, colossal Rasengan. Leaping forward, he drove the Rasengan into the creature’s head, the force of the attack ripping through its dark scales and shattering its form.

With a final, agonized hiss, the serpent disintegrated into a cloud of dissipating chakra, leaving only silence in its wake. The remaining Shirogane shinobi collapsed, their strength drained and their plan shattered.

Jiraiya, panting and exhausted, looked around at his team, relief flooding his expression. "It’s over," he said, his voice hoarse. "Konoha is safe."

But as they gathered themselves, Shikaku picked up the blood-stained note that one of the Shirogane shinobi had dropped. It read simply:

"For every shadow you destroy, another will rise. The Shirogane are eternal."

Jiraiya’s eyes narrowed. The immediate threat was gone, but he knew that this battle was only the beginning of a much larger struggle. The Shirogane might have been defeated today, but their hatred and their purpose lived on—and it was a shadow that would haunt Konoha for years to come.

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