LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 43: War I
The kunai he had sidestepped suddenly poofed into smoke, and Sasuke's real body materialized in an instant, Sharingan revolving as he flickered towards a blinded Arata. Before the youth could recover his bearing, a pair of bloody red revolving demonic irises entered his vision. He had yet to even materialize enought cursed energy to kickstart his technique once more, yet it was as if his soul was being dragged into the depths of Hell by the demonic irises.
"No!!!"
"No!!"
Screams reverberated across, as silence reigned for a moment, followed by the sound of blades ripping through flesh and a rain of blood.
.
Arata POV.
Sasuke was a tricky opponent. Neither I nor the clan knew what exactly his cursed technique was, but after closely monitoring his battles and assassination, the clan figured I was best equipped to deal with him. But this was far from the truth. I thought I had overwhelmed him in every aspect of combat, yet with a single glance of his demonic eyes, I felt my soul fall straight into the pits of Hell.
I fell for so long, I thought time was non existent, but that was mediocre compared to what I saw. A small realm devoid of anything, I looked around in fear and right then and there, I saw two graves. I knew those graves, they belonged to my brothers, yet as I stood there, I saw my brothers arise from their graves full and well.
They noticed me and they rushed towards me in joy. I thought I was in Heaven for once, only for a gut wrenching scene to occur right before my eyes. Sasuke's figure arose from another grave in the distance, but this version of him was not human. No, it was demonic, something that should not even exist. With a blade in hand it rushed towards my brothers and decapitated them right before my eyes, as their blood spilled all over me.
Before I could even mourn, time seemed to reverse and I saw my brothers arise from their graves once more, only to get killed over and over and over again by the same demonic figure and I was helpless, my spirit broken and my soul crushed ...
*
Pulling Arata's consciousness into an illusion fully prepared for someone like him, Sasuke watched as his body shook and struggled, before he unleashed the Kusanagi and let out a barrage of slashes, ripping him apart almost instantly in a rain of blood and gore.
Sheathing the blade, Sasuke staggered to a large rock and rested his back against it, as he revolved the Hundred Healings Jutsu and took in deep breaths.
Arata was a strange fellow. High and mighty, nonchalant and Machiavellian even, yet like any human, he had a weakness. He truly and deeply cared for his brothers. Had Sasuke just focused on killing regular Zen'in clansmen, Arata would never have bothered to track him down, yet his love for his brothers forced him out of his shell and ultimately led to his demise.
But ultimately, the war with the Zen'in clan was far from over. Mei had been captured and was scheduled for execution tomorrow. Thinking up to this point, Sasuke let out a small laugh and took out a large bowl of ramen, and several side dishes consisting of meat, veggies and dumplings. Tomorrow, he was going to war.
It was an encounter that was only going to lead to two outcomes, his demise or his ascension, and even as crazy as he was, he had no plans on dying anytime soon, so he was going to win. He didn't care if the entirety of the Zen'in clan or the Jujutsu society was going to try to take him down. Hell, even all of humanity could join forces for all he cared. He was going to fight, and he was going to win.
The Next Day....
Jujustu High Execution Grounds, Asakusa Mountain Range, Tokyo...
The execution grounds were hidden deep within the rugged Asakusa Mountain range, a remote and desolate location far from the bustling cities. The path leading to the site was treacherous, winding through thick forests and steep cliffs, where the dense fog of the mountains gave an eerie, otherworldly feel. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, the silence broken only by the distant calls of wildlife.
At the heart of this secluded area stood a weathered, ancient stone platform surrounded by jagged rocks and towering trees that seem to close in around it. The stone was cracked, worn from years of use, and stained with remnants of past executions, serving as a grim reminder of the violence that had taken place here. Thick chains were secured to the ground, remnants of past prisoners' bonds, their rusted links a testament to the horrors that had been carried out in this forgotten corner of the world.
Mei, the prisoner, bruised and battered lay unconscious at the center of the execution grounds, a victim of the brutal restraint designed by the Jujutsu society.
Her body bound in enchanted chains that restrict her cursed energy and technique. Surrounding her are elite sorcerers from both Jujutsu High and the Zen'in clan, numbering close to 50, their faces cold and expressionless, watching silently over the scene. Their eyes are sharp and vigilant, alert to any threats, their cursed energy humming in the air, like an invisible force that weighed heavy on everything nearby.
The higher ups of the Zen'in clan, three old and two middle aged stood at the forefront of the execution, garbed in Japanese robes, their faves serene and calm, but the intense bubbling of their cursed energy bubbling as if awaiting an impending attack from an enemy.
"We're just wasting time here, the little pup won't show up knowing it's a trap that will lead to his death!"
Naobito Zen'in, who sat at the base of a small tree with a wine jug in his hand took a swig and then relaxed his head against the bark nonchalantly as he spoke.
"Relax, Naobito, my son might be heartless and merciless, but he's bound by one thing just like any of us. - Love!"
Sasuke's father, lifted up his countenance after his brother spoke convincing everyone why their wait was worthwhile.
Soon, a black van pulled up, and more than a dozen figures came trotting out, garbed in standard Jujutsu gear.
In their lead was a dark skinned man with black shades walking gently with a frown and beside him was another handsome thirty something year old man dressed in robes, with a menacing scar on his forehead.
"Asahi Zen'in, you promised to free our own, what then is the purpose of this execution?!"
Without hesitation the dark skinned man walked over to one of the old Zen'in clan elders, the oldest amongst all of them and demanded with a straight face, as his cursed energy flared.
"Calm down, Vice Principal Yaga. This is just a bluff, a bait to reel in the traitor. We have sealed this entire mountain range with talismans. Once he enters, this place would be his grave."
The old man spoke, and despite the frown on his vice principal's face, the scarred man let out a small chuckle.
" How incredibly smart and sinister of you, clan Head. I was just telling the Vice Principal here on how we can place our trust in you. We know you certainly wouldn't let us down this time..."
The man spoke and the old man flashed him a knowing look and nodded.
"But vice Principal, your promised us the six eyes and the curse summoner in this battle. I don't see either of them here."
The old man's vision quickly scanned through the dozen of Jujutsu sorcerers in an instant and then frowned, his tone laced with venom.
"Satoru and Suguru would be here. But just so you know, any casualties here would be placed on your head, not mine."
The Vice Principal reassured them, yet the last part of his statement came with a chilling tone.
"Ah, very trustworthy of you, but you needn't worry, the traitor dies here today. Unless you think he would prevail against the combined might of the Jujutsu society?"
The Vice Principal could only shoot the old man a venomous glare, before walking away to the van in a rage, returning the place to its peaceful and quiet atmosphere..
However, the quiet didn't last for too long, as a magnificent phenomenon occurred right before everyone's eyes.
*CAW!*
*CAW!*
*SSSST*
In a mighty burst of torrents of wind and cursed energy, dozens upon dozens of crows zipped out of the forests, at incredible speeds, while snakes slithered towards the gathered armies.
Most notably on the swarm of crows and snakes, were the three tomoe shaped red irises each of them possessed, as if they were under subtle control.
The commotion continued for a minute, the massive winds blowing away some of the sorcerers while the swarm of crows and snakes, frightened nearly everyone else, but when the dust settled, the elders of the Zen'in clan all lifted their heads into a particular direction in the wake of sensing the new cursed energy that had just infiltrated the grounds.
And there he was, dressed in his signature black robe with red cloud imprints and a spiral mask, atop a rather tree, staring down at the enemies below...
This was war...
A/N: Merry Christmas y'all.