NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 51: Battlefield
It had been three months since the Third Great Ninja War had broken out. The conflict was raging at the borders of Konoha, but the village still enjoyed a certain tranquility, thanks to the sacrifice of its shinobi.
In the Uchiha district, the worry was palpable. Each day brought news of the death of one of their own on the battlefield. The other clans of the village were not spared either.
"During these three months, Akira had made enormous progress, but the most remarkable change was that of Itachi. Unlike in the original work, he showed exceptional endurance. Their bodies had significantly developed, gaining muscle mass and power. After slowing down some basic exercises, they focused on hand-to-hand combat training as well as mastering kunai and shurikens. Their relationship had also evolved positively.
Two more months passed like this. The news of the war continued to flow day after day, until the news of the sacrifice of a young Uchiha named Obito reached the village, and more specifically the Uchiha district.
Pain and sorrow quickly spread among the clan. Obito was destined for a bright future as a shinobi, and his loss was felt as a hard blow for all.
In the Uchiha district, discussions continued to rage. Non-combatants and those not chosen for war lamented the loss of Obito. Some clan members were in shock and couldn't help but ask questions.
"How is this possible? Obito was part of Minato's team, nicknamed the Yellow Flash of Konoha! He should have been protected!" exclaimed an elderly woman, tears in her eyes.
A younger man shook his head sadly. "Yeah, even the best shinobi are not safe in this crazy war. Obito died a hero, protecting his teammates. We should be proud of him, despite the sadness that engulfs us."
The discussions continued, shifting from one topic to another. Some mentioned Minato's exploits, causing chaos in the enemy camp, while others expressed their desire to see this war end quickly.
*****
Meanwhile
On the training ground, Akira was training alone, throwing shurikens with deadly accuracy. He knew that the end of the war was approaching fast.
"Well... Now that this guy is supposedly dead, I think it won't be long before the end of the war is announced," he murmured softly. Suddenly, he heard Itachi's voice calling him from afar.
"I see you're still training," said Itachi as he approached. "Father is calling for us."
"Why?" asked Akira.
"I don't know, but it seems important," replied Itachi.
"Alright," Akira acquiesced as he ended his training and followed Itachi.
When they arrived, Fugaku was sitting across from Mikoto, his face expressionless. He then turned his head, giving a glance to Itachi and then Akira, and said, "So, how is your training going?"
"Fine, father," replied Itachi.
"It would have been better if you joined us sometimes," added Akira.
Fugaku did not respond before speaking seriously. "We leave at dawn tomorrow. Prepare your things and rest well tonight. Details will follow."
Nodding, Itachi and Akira turned around and went to get ready.
"What do you think?" Itachi asked Akira.
"Father must be taking us to the battlefield," replied Akira.
Nodding, Itachi went up to his room, followed by Akira.
*****
The next day, after they had prepared, Itachi and Akira bid farewell to their worried mother before leaving with Fugaku. They left the village towards the border, Itachi silent and Akira looking around. Although Fugaku had the speed of his advance, they had no trouble keeping up.
As they ran at a fast pace, the distant sound of clashing metal could be heard. Suddenly, the rain began to fall, adding a gloomy atmosphere to their journey. The water droplets hammered the ground and the leaves of the surrounding trees, mingling with the growing noise of the battles.
Fugaku signaled to slow down and be extra cautious. With their senses alert, they progressed carefully, maneuvering between trees and bushes. The metallic smell of blood permeated the air, mixing with the scent of damp earth. After a few minutes, they finally arrived at the battlefield.
Before them unfolded a scene of horror: mutilated bodies littered the muddy ground, some still twitching. Shinobi clashed with unprecedented violence, the clatter of weapons and screams of pain and rage blending into an unbearable cacophony.
When calm finally returned, the ground was strewn with corpses from both sides. Fugaku stood beside his sons, the latter gazing at the battlefield. Itachi looked at the corpses wondering if this war would end, accustomed to this kind of thing Akira was not really troubled. Seeing this scene, a smile formed on his lips, and he stepped forward first.