27 [27] Battlefield (1)

Chapter 27: Battlefield (1)

—--

Two kunai clashed against each other. They scraped together, screeching and sharpening each other like pieces of metal.

"Y-your good," Minato said. He slightly had one eye closed from the exertion of pressure.

Akio's kunai was currently pressing on his, causing Minato's back to being arched quite slightly, defending the attack.

The extreme body training regimen that he did finally paid off.

Obviously, Minato wasn't going full strength on him; if he did.. well it would be easier for him. He could catch up to the normal clan kids and the sorts but prodigies are in a league of their own.

Minato jumped back and reset back into a stance, keeping eye level with Akio — who had now also stood still — waiting for the right moment.

Both of them were in pin-drop silence, walking… walking… until Akio dashed and made the first move. Minato, seeing this, sidestepped and evaded — pivoting with a slight balance to keep Akio off.

However, Akio didn't stop there as he chased him down, running head-first into him. Minato smirked and waited for him to come… Akio did — and when he was about an arm's length close — Minato dragged his heel across the floor, producing a sweeping kick.

Just as he thought he was about to trip him, Akio had a slight glint in his eyes, stepping on Minato's food with blitzing speed. This made him wince as Akio exerted a bit of pressure and then put the kunai to his throat.

"Hehe, you got me…" Minato gave up with his hands in the air.

Akio just stopped his movements and put his kunai in his pocket before replying, "We both know, I never got you."

Minato chuckled. "As expected, I could never hide anything from your eyes."

Akio knew Minato was going easy on him, it wasn't his fault — he was just much stronger. It's not something time can just solve, this requires measures. But right now, he wasn't focused on such things as he had a heavier burden on his shoulder.

Today was the day he had a taste of the battlefield…

This sparring with Minato was just to get rid of any cobwebs or ease some nerves he might have. It has only been a day so far and he hasn't been doing much, except training in his mystical palm technique.

Also, the occasional bouts with Minato to keep his boredom to a minimum. He did spar with teammates but he couldn't improve as he just won most of the time.

"See ya around then," Minato said as he was walking away now.

Akio just walked back to his tent and got things ready as in an hour or so, he will be called.

He was right, after some time of doing nothing, a knock came on his tent.

He waved the sleeve to the side and saw that it was a pale-looking person, smugly looking at him. Akio nodded as his teammates also came out of their tent, knowing what was to come.

"You guys ready?" Orochimaru asked.

All nodded, ready for what was to come. They had been ready for this moment since they first came.

—--

Travelling through the forest, the team gradually slowed down their pace. This was to save stamina for later.

It only took half an hour before a change of terrain came, Orochimaru smiled at this. Akio also smelt a familiar scent, a rancid one to be exact — just like his first time killing someone — although much stronger.

They turned to travel through the forest but this didn't hide the horrific scenes around them. The limp bodies and blood-soaked up by the ground — everything basically crimson. It was a ruined area, and this carried on for distances to no end.

Gradually, the sound of booms and other things, causing the ground to shake affected their travel. This only got stronger as they moved in closer.

After another few minutes, Akio saw the hundreds of people fighting. Clinging and grunting whilst jutsu flew past could be seen and heard. It was a sight that struck something into all of them.

Especially Akio, who dodged a random kunai that came from out there.

"See that place ahead, you will all go there to fight," he smirked, looking at our faces. "Make sure to split up and use your head to fight… and please – don't die, my dear students."

After he said this, they all saw Orochimaru dash into the battlefield with a kunai. With ease, he gracefully slit the throats of a dozen people in a matter of moments. All of them gulped… this was the difference between a future sannin and normal shinobi.

After seeing this, Orochimaru didn't stop and just ran through the battlefield until eventually disappearing. This caused a slight commotion for a moment before the momentum carried on.

Arise impulsively delved into the experience whilst the two behind followed. Only going in their separate ways as they closed in.

Akio steeled his nerves and calmed down. He focused on nothing except slicing down the opponent – scouting out his first target as he kept full alert.

Mostly in this area were just genin and a few chunin, jonin were rarely seen. First, to get his bearings right, Akio hid behind the tree as he observed. He was patient and calculating at the moment, his life depended on it.

After taking a deep breath and calming himself down… Akio attacked.

Vulnerable and open, Akio saw a shinobi facing his back toward him as he walked, looking for an opponent. So he took this chance and quickly did a hand seal.

[Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet]

He didn't take his time to pour a lot of chakra in. The ground formed a dragon which shot a mudball, alerting him to which he dodged… Distracted and not alert, his focus was now on the mudball.

To his demise, a kunai was lodged in his throat the next second. A boy dully looked at his limp body, falling to the floor. Akio merely used this jutsu as a distraction; the real threat was him.

Just as he was about to reset, Akio felt an unusually slight breeze. When he looked in that direction, his eyes widened… It was a wind jutsu thrown at him.

Without a second thought, he dashed and hid behind the tree. Then, blindly threw a few kunai in that direction before planting a paper-wrapped kunai and dashing toward another tree.

Just as the wind breakthrough jutsu hit… a small explosion occurred, causing debris and smoke to rise.

Taking advantage of this, Akio flanked through to the side. He turned his head to scout and saw two Suna shinobi alert in the direction of the smoke-filled place.

Seeing this, Akio stopped and backed out his kunai.

He stealthily dashed toward them and without both of them even noticing, their throats had been slit.

This was Akio's way of fighting. To not be seen; this was his ninja way. He was never stupid enough to fight head-on if the situation didn't call for it.

Killing these two felt like nothing.

They were just another piece of the puzzle.

**

**

**

A/N; Short chapter soz.

Lemme know what you think. Apparently, my fight scenes are trash and need improvement so I'm trying :))