East Flank
Choza slammed both fists down, the shockwave knocking Bee backward. Inoichi's timely mind transfer caught him for a moment, freezing Bee's left arm mid-swing.
"Now!" Inoichi barked.
Choza's giant palm came down but at the last second, one of Gyūki's tails whipped up, bracing against the ground. The impact shattered the ground, but Bee slipped free, rolling clear. He was breathing hard now, sweat soaking his brow.
"Yo… you're tough, fat stuff," B panted, grinning weakly. "But the rhyme's still mine… and I'll stand the test of time."
"Save your breath," Inoichi snapped, already weaving signs to try and snare him again. Both sides were bleeding chakra fast.
--
A tremor rolled across the battlefield. Konoha shinobi paused, sensing the surge of chakra signatures rushing closer.
And then they arrived, 300 Kumo shinobi, from the second front they have set up previously from the north, their banners snapping in the wind. Supplies slung across their backs, fresh weapons glinting, food pills in hand.
A howl of triumph rose from the exhausted Kumo shinobu already on the field. The tide shifted instantly. The newcomers rushed into formation, handing out supplies and chakra restoratives as they surged forward. Spent shinobi gulped pills, wrapped bandages, and leapt back into the fray with renewed vigor.
Suddenly, Konoha's advance stalled. Where before their exhausted foes had faltered, now they were striking with fresh strength. And their morale was struck.
A squad of Konoha jonin was cut down in seconds by reinvigorated Kumo jonin. Paper bombs were countered with lightning bursts. Traps were dismantled with sheer force. The battlefield's rhythm changed and Dan Kato felt it in his bones. Then the commanders of both sides realized the shift.
Dan parried young Ay's strike with the sharp side of his blade, both of them nearly collapsing from fatigue. But then he saw it: the fresh Kumo banners piercing the battlefield haze, their shinobi roaring as they cut down his men.
His stomach turned to stone.
"No…" he whispered.
Across the field, Inoichi's eyes widened too. "Choza! Reinforcements... they're here already! So quick, it should have taken atleast 3 days but it's only been about 2 hours."
Choza grimaced, still holding Bee at bay. "We can't… hold this line."
Bee laughed breathlessly, pointing at the arriving comrades. "Yo! The gang's all here—your end is near!"
Dan's face twisted with frustration. He'd gambled everything on breaking Kumo before their reinforcements could arrive. And he had lost that gamble.
"Damn it," he muttered. His mind raced. Retreat was the only option but to turn their backs now would mean slaughter.
--
Kumo's rejuvenated shinobi surged forward. The exhausted Konoha Shinobi struggled to keep up, their gamma formation crumbling under the pressure.
Dan shouted above the chaos: "Retreat! Fighting withdrawal, spread formation... don't give them our backs! Buy each other time!"
His Spirit Transformation lashed out one more time, not to strike young Ay but to harass the nearest Kumo squad, slowing their advance.
Inoichi and Choza redoubled their efforts, pulling back while keeping Bee pinned just long enough for their comrades to retreat. Choza took a slash across the ribs but didn't flinch, swatting Bee away with a massive palm before shrinking down to carry two wounded chunin on his backas he grimaced.
Kumo pressed hard, their morale surging. But Konoha didn't break. Even in retreat, they fought tooth and nail, hurling kunai, weaving barriers, detonating traps as they pulled back step by step.
The field became chaos Konoha desperately trying to disengage, Kumo desperately trying to finish them. And in the center of it all, Dan Kato locked eyes with young Ay one last time.
"You win today, Kumo," Dan said, voice raw. "But the war isn't over."
young Ay, chest heaving, said nothing. His Lightning Armor flickered weakly, but his fists were still raised.
--
By the time night fell, the battlefield belonged to Kumo. Konoha had retreated in bloodied fragments, leaving behind corpses and broken weapons. The ruined base was once again firmly in Kumo's hands.
young Ay slumped against a boulder - tired. Bee collapsed beside him, muttering tired rhymes even as Gyūki scolded him in the back of his mind.
The Kumo shinobi roared in victory, but the commanders knew better. They had won the battle. But Lord Ay and Lord Bee were spent, their chakra reserves dangerously low. The front was secure for now, but Konoha would not stop here.
And far away, in Konoha's council chambers, Dan Kato's report would ignite furious debate about whether to double down or withdraw entirely.
The brothers had to be ready for anything. Yet Konoha didn't attack for over a month. After suffering such a major loss, they couldn't risk another battle they were likely to lose. Instead, they focused on preparing for the clash to come... as they strengthen their forces as it would become even more difficult to claim an occupied camp.
After strengthening the base, young Ay and Bee left to the head quarters and the chakra mining continued.
A/N:
Guys, thinking of a naruto fanfic for Kimimaro, i believe his potential was also wasted with the illness and his bones could have evolved to the level of all killing ash bones that kaguya used against obito...
still working on the idea, i just got... would love to hear your thoughts?
[1st battle: Konoha loses 850 shinobi, kumo loses none]
[2nd battle: Konoha loses 150 shinobi, kumo loses 120]
Upto 20 Advance chapters available @ patreon.com/aizenDuchiha0