The battlefield raged with chaos.
Yamata and the Delta Ops were locked in fierce combat with the Monkey Clones, each clash sending echoes of destruction through the trees and scorched earth.
Fugami's eyes glowed faintly as he activated his sensory ability, scanning for any trace of Smoke and Hikari.
His awareness spread across the battlefield like ripples across a pond, cutting through smoke, flames, and shattered wood.
At last, he located them. Without hesitation, he surged forward, moving faster than most could track.
When Fugami arrived, his gaze landed on Hikari.
A thin stream of blood traced from her eye down her cheek.
Concern twisted his features.
"Hikari… what happened? Are you going to be alright?"
Before she could respond, Smoke stepped in, his voice calm but firm.
"She just got out of a tough battle. Against a very powerful opponent."
Fugami's senses flicked outward. "Where are the enemies?"
"They retreated," Smoke said, eyes narrowing. "They couldn't stand against Hikari's Kokkorogan."
"You let them get away?" Fugami's voice hardened.
Smoke met him, unwavering. "I wasn't about to leave Hikari behind.
She's drained. My duty my responsibility as her sensei is to protect her."
Fugami studied him for a long beat, then nodded. "…I understand."
He paused, then added, "Lord Shukumei is currently battling the Monkey King. He's already faced at least a hundred clones."
Smoke clenched his fist. "Can you walk?"
Hikari shook her head weakly. "No… I'm exhausted. My ability drained too much aura.
I haven't fully mastered the Ultra Kokkorogan yet."
Without a word, Smoke crouched and gently lifted her onto his back. She wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you…" she whispered.
"Don't talk. Focus on recovering your aura," Smoke replied.
Fugami led the way back to the battlefield.
THE BATTLEFIELD
The scene was apocalyptic. Monkey Clones clashed violently with Yamata and the Delta Ops. Fallen shinobi littered the ground, a grim reminder of the battle's intensity.
From Smoke's back, Hikari stared upward, her left eye wide.
"Oh my gosh… I've never seen so many clones…"
"We have to help them," Smoke said. He lowered himself, and Hikari slid off his back.
"Hide in a tree," he instructed. "Stay out of the battle until you've recovered. Don't move unless necessary."
"I understand… please be careful, sensei," she said.
Smoke gave a slight nod before rushing forward, Fugami close behind.
"Shadow Smoke Technique!" Smoke formed hand signs, and ten clones of himself erupted into existence, spreading across the battlefield to join Yamata.
Yamata smirked despite the chaos. "You finally made it back. Glad you could join us, Smoke."
"Now's not the time for jokes," Smoke said, eyes sharp. "Let's take these clones down."
Thick clouds of smoke rapidly spread across the battlefield, choking and blinding the Monkey Clones. "Not this again!" one shouted, coughing.
"Fire Class: Burning Ash—Fire God Flames!" Smoke ignited the smoke into a massive inferno. Trees burned, and thirty Monkey Clones were reduced to ash.
Yamata struck from below, eight massive serpent-like appendages bursting from his cloak, crushing clone after clone until they burst.
But in that moment, Smoke let his guard slip.
A sudden roar The Monkey King leapt from a nearby tree, staff extended mid-air.
CRASH! Smoke flew backward, hitting the ground hard.
"Smoke!" Fugami shouted.
Lightning surged as Fugami formed a hand sign. "Lightning Class: Thunder Fang Strike!" In a flash, he reappeared before a Monkey Clone, piercing it through with lightning-coated force.
Yamata nodded silently.
"A technique that manifests maximum speed and striking power through lightning aura… incredible."
"Smoke! Where are you?!" Fugami called.
"Relax… I'm fine," Smoke replied. "That was just a clone. The one he hit wasn't me."
SHUKUMEI VS THE MONKEY KING
High above the battlefield, Shukumei faced the Monkey King, Goku, and his massive swarm of clones.
The sky seemed to pause as they hovered, tension crackling between them.
The Monkey King's golden eyes scanned the battlefield, noting Smoke, Fugami, and the absence of Ren and Juzo.
"Impossible," he muttered. "They're among the strongest in the Land of Fire.
I'll have to take them all down myself." His gaze flicked skyward, searching for Hikari.
Shukumei remained calm, hand signs forming in mid-air.
His father's teachings echoed in his mind. This is nothing… nothing like my father ever faced.
Suddenly, the Monkey King and his clones unleashed a barrage of fire-based attacks.
Flames surged forward but passed through Shukumei. His body phased, intangible.
The Monkey King narrowed his eyes.
"That technique again… you slip through attacks. But more than that… you move through dimensions."
Shukumei reappeared behind a few clones, cutting them down effortlessly.
"You're not entirely wrong," Shukumei said coldly. "I am a reflection of my father… but I've surpassed him."
He formed hand signs for his Nature Class: Elemental Dragon Technique.
Energy erupted from the ground, spiraling in fire, wind, water, and lightning not through a sword, but as a devastating elemental wave, annihilating the remaining clones.
The Monkey King smirked, body dissolving into smoke.
Moments later, he reappeared behind Shukumei, punching him through the clouds.
Shukumei recovered mid-air, but the Monkey King on his cloud struck again, smashing him into the ground.
"Thanks to your ally," the Monkey King said with a grin, "I copied that technique. Useful."
Shukumei wiped dirt from his cloak. "How…? I thought your transformations were limited to animals and objects."
The Monkey King chuckled.
"Disappointed, my lord. You came unprepared. I can transform into anything I desire… except the divine."
Flying down, he tried to crush Shukumei, but Shukumei phased at the last moment.
The Monkey King's feet smashed into the earth, sending rubble flying.
Testing him, the Monkey King summoned a clone. Shukumei accidentally cut a tree near the original Monkey King.
Confused, the Monkey King growled, "Are you trying to upset me? I wasn't even there."
The Monkey King swung his staff. Shukumei blocked with his sword, and they clashed blow for blow.
Strength overpowered Shukumei, sending him crashing against a tree.
The Monkey King created more clones charging forward.
Shukumei phased but the Monkey King focused.
A clone timed its attack perfectly, striking into the air but when Shukumei reappeared, his sword sliced through nothing.
A smile spread across the Monkey King's face.
"So that's your weakness… You can phase, yes, but you can't see while phased. No wonder you hit that tree. I baited you you could not see when I just summoned a clone."
Shukumei activated his Butsugan, analyzing the battlefield.
"I see… even in your smoke form, your aura remains. I can track where you'll reform."
The Monkey King's glare hardened. "…You've surpassed your father. But I'm just getting started."
Yamata, Smoke, and Fugami joined Shukumei on the battlefield. He quickly scanned the chaos and asked, "Where is Hikari?"
They nodded. Hikari was absent, but Smoke reassured him. "She's safe, just exhausted, recovering nearby."
GROUND BATTLE BEGINS
The group turned toward the Monkey King.
His staff shrank behind his ear. Crossing his arms, he said, "Expansion Technique."
His body grew, towering over the battlefield. A deafening roar tore the sky as violent winds swept across the ground. Birds scattered, and trees bent under the force. Fugami's eyes widened.
"…Is this… the power of a god?"