Naruto: Power in Play

The seals on the floor of the T&I department flared brightly, casting an ethereal glow across the tense faces of the shinobi within. The communication link was finally established, and Inoichi Yamanaka's relieved voice rang out: "Connection established. All units, report!"

One by one, the translucent figures of Konoha's leaders shimmered into view, their expressions reflecting the dire situation.

Shikaku Nara's calculating gaze immediately scanned the scene, taking stock of their condition. He noticed that almost all of Konoha's decision-makers were present, which was a good sign for the village.

"Thank you, Inoichi." A voice called out. All eyes turned towards the center of the projection where Hiruzen Sarutobi stood, even in the projection, his presence remained commanding and resolute.

"Shikaku," Hiruzen said with an urgent tone. "What's our best course of action?"

Shikaku, already analyzing the situation, spoke up. "Hokage-sama, the enemy's aircraft is the key. As long as it remains in the sky, their gliders and bombardments will keep our forces scattered. We need to force it to land, or we'll be worn down."

Hiruzen nodded grimly. "Agreed. That vessel needs to go down. But we can't focus all our efforts there. The evacuation must be prioritized before we force it to land. There's no point in taking down the enemy if all of our friends and family die in the process."

Shikaku continued, "Then we will need to use underground shelters. Inoichi, how much do we have that are currently operational?"

"Only four. The emergency Civilian Shelter, Anbu operations bunker, the medical bunker, and our own base of operation, the T&I." Inoichi rapidly supplied after consulting with the personnel in the T&I department.

"Alright. We'll have to make do with what we have. All ninjas without flight or long-range capabilities should be tasked with securing and escorting civilians to these points. The younger shinobi—genin, fourth-year academy students—and clan members will form the core of this force. Once the evacuation is complete, we can regroup and strike back."

Hiruzen nodded in approuval before ordering with a firm tone. "Follow the plan we have previously established! Hiashi Hyuga, you will deploy your clan members to monitor enemy movements and ensure the evacuation routes remain secure."

The hokage then turned towards Tsume Inuzuka. "Tsume, your clan's mobility and tracking abilities will be vital. Assign teams to retrieve critical resources and documents from key locations. Ibiki will guide you. The Inuzuka will take this responsibility. Time is short."

Tsume nodded, baring her teeth in a grim smile. "We'll get it done, Hokage-sama."

Shikaku added, "We'll also need a team to scour the village for potential infiltrations, traitors and troublemakers. Our enemies may not come only from the sky. With this level of coordination, someone had to assist them from within. I suggest Kakashi Hatake, the Aburame trackers, and our remaining chunin to handle this task."

Hiruzen's eyes hardened. He had thought about that possibility as he watched the one-sided massacre that was unfolding in his village. But he pushed it to the back of his mind.

He gave a firm nod towards Shikaku, and turned towards the rest of the members of the impromptu meeting. "Good. I'll lead a strike force to harass the gliders and draw their attention away from the shelters. That is all, Shikaku, find a way to take down that aircraft! Keep us updated."

With a chorus of "understood!", the meeting came to an end, and Konoha finally started fighting back. As the orders filtered through the communication lines, the village began to respond with newfound determination. The initial shock was subsiding, replaced by the sharp focus of survival.

*******************************************************************************

The scene around the emergency civilian shelter was chaotic, the air heavy with dust and tension. Fresh genin worked to guide panicked families away from the danger, their movements jerky and unsure but driven by the urgency of the moment. One boy, barely twelve, stood frozen in place, his small frame shaking as he clutched a kunai like it was the only thing keeping him upright. His heart pounded in his chest, the sound of distant explosions echoing in his ears like a drumbeat. What if they're bombing near our house? What if Mom and Dad didn't get to the shelter? The thought hit him like a kunai to the gut, and his legs felt like they would give out beneath him.

He glanced up at the sky with fearful eyes, searching for any sign of the enemy ninja swooping through the smoke-filled clouds. Shadows danced overhead, and every flicker of movement sent his pulse racing. What if they see me? What if they drop a bomb right here? He couldn't stop imagining the worst—the deafening roar of explosions, the searing heat, and the possibility of the ground swallowing him whole.

A chunin knelt beside him, gripping his shoulder firmly. "Stay calm, genin. Focus on your task—get them out, one step at a time. You're doing fine," he said, his voice steady, cutting through the boy's paralyzing fear. The boy's tightened his grip on his kunai. The chunin's words fought their way through the storm in his mind, pulling him back, grounding him in the moment, but his thoughts lingered on his family. Please be safe. Please let me make it back to you.

Not far away, a woman's desperate cries pierced the air. She held a toddler tightly against her chest, her body shaking uncontrollably as she stared at the rubble that pinned her husband. Blood pooled beneath the debris, but she wouldn't move. Two academy students, barely teenagers themselves, approached cautiously. "Ma'am, please, we need to get you out of here," one of them said, her voice trembling. The other tried to pull the woman away gently, whispering, "We'll come back for him, I promise," though the hollow look in their eyes betrayed the lie.

*******************************************************************************

Far above Konoha, the airborne fortress of the Sky Village hovered ominously, its body gleamed against the fiery glow of the burning village below. Panels on its underside slowly slid open, revealing rows of long-range energy cannons. The air thrummed with the hum of its engines as targeting systems flickered to life, locking onto one of the evacuation points in the village.

Inside the fortress, the atmosphere was cold and orderly, a stark contrast to the fiery chaos below. Sky Village shinobi moved in groups, their dark uniforms blending seamlessly with the metallic interior as they prepared for the next wave of attack. Holographic maps of Konoha flickered on large displays, highlighting defensive strongholds and key infrastructure. At the center of it all stood Shinno.

"Status report," Shinno said, his voice cutting through the low murmur of activity.

"The energy cannons are fully charged, Lord Shinno," one operative replied, bowing slightly. "The Anbu operations bunker has been identified and targeted. We are ready to fire."

Shinno nodded, his expression unreadable. "Good. The bunker is critical to their coordination. Take it out, and their ability to respond will crumble." He stepped closer to the display, tapping the highlighted bunker. "Fire a staggered volley. Ensure maximum structural damage. If they attempt to reinforce it, direct secondary strikes to their approach routes."

"Yes, sir," the operative replied, turning to relay the command. The sky ninjas hovering above the bunker received a warning and glided away.

Moments later, the first beams shot out from the sky fortress with a deafening hiss. Through the large viewing panels, Shinno and his officers observed the streaks of light racing toward their targets. The initial impacts hit with devastating precision, the ground below erupting in fire and debris. Buildings near the Anbu shelter collapsed under the shockwaves, scattering terrified villagers who had gathered there for safety.

"Direct hits confirmed," another operative reported. "We estimate that the structural integrity of the bunker is down to 63%. Collateral damage is affecting the surrounding area."

Shinno's expression was calm but unrelenting. "Maintain fire."

Inside the Anbu shelter, chaos reigned. The impacts shook the reinforced structure violently, lights flickering as the walls groaned under the strain. Civilians huddled together in designated safe zones, their faces pale with fear as dust and debris rained from above. Anbu operatives moved swiftly, splitting their efforts between maintaining order and securing classified materials.

"Evacuation protocols are active!" a senior operative called out. "Guide the civilians to the underground emergency tunnels! Protect the exits at all costs!"

Obsidian barked orders over the alarms, her voice sharp. "We need to move fast! Prioritize getting the villagers out! Move!"

In one corner, a medic tended to an injured child, her hands trembling as she worked under the dim emergency lights. "Stay calm," she whispered to the child, though her own fear was evident. Nearby, an elderly man clutched a scroll of family records, refusing to move until an Anbu operative physically guided him toward the evacuation route.

Another barrage struck, and a section of the ceiling collapsed, crushing a corner of the shelter. Screams erupted as operatives rushed to clear the debris. The impacts grew more intense, with cracks spreading like webs through the walls. Smoke and heat filled the air, making it harder to breathe. Civilians streamed toward the emergency tunnels; some being carried by shinobi as others stumbled through the chaos.

Above ground, the devastation spread as beams continued to rain down. Nearby, shinobi worked to guide stragglers away from the collapsing area, their faces grim with the knowledge that the shelter was becoming a deathtrap.

Back inside the sky fortress, a younger officer hesitated as he observed the growing devastation on the screens. "Lord Shinno, the destruction is already extensive. Should we not shift focus to the village's other critical points?"

Shinno turned his piercing gaze on the officer, silencing him with a cold stare. "Not yet. When you do something, you have to see it through. Continue targeting the bunker until nothing remains."

"Yes, Lord Shinno," the officer replied, bowing quickly.

Through the observation deck, Shinno watched the unfolding destruction with an air of detachment. "Let them fall into despair," he muttered, almost to himself.

Another volley launched, this one aimed with pinpoint accuracy at the heart of the Anbu bunker. The explosions tore through the structure, leaving gaping holes and reducing its reinforced walls to rubble. Fires raged uncontrollably, and the surviving operatives were forced to retreat, dragging injured comrades and precious scrolls with them.

As Shinno observed the wreckage, an aide stepped forward. "The bunker's defenses have been neutralized. Remaining operatives are retreating toward the central district."

"Good," Shinno said, his tone icy. "Stop the energy cannons for now. With that attack, we should have neutralized the most dangerous part of their forces."

Suddenly, a massive pillar of flame surged upward from Konoha, hurtling straight toward the energy cannons on the Ancor Vantian. The attack illuminated the sky with its blazing intensity, threatening to pierce the floating fortress's defenses. In the command room, Shinno turned his gaze toward the monitor, his calm demeanor unshaken. His eyes narrowed briefly before a faint smirk crossed his lips.

With a wave of his hand, the glowing seals etched into the fortress's hull activated. A transparent barrier shimmered into existence around the fortress, its surface pulsating with intricate chakra-absorption patterns. The towering flame struck the barrier with a deafening roar, its fiery energy crashing against the glowing shield. For a moment, the sheer force of the impact illuminated the entire sky, casting eerie shadows across the battlefield below.

The flames twisted and churned as the barrier absorbed the chakra fueling them, pulling the energy inward like a vortex. In mere seconds, the once-raging inferno fizzled into nothingness.

Shinno's smirk deepened as he glanced toward an operator. "It seems Hiruzen Sarutobi has decided to involve himself."

One of the operators turned from their console. "Lord Shinno, we have managed to identify the source of the attack. The Hokage is stationed near the eastern defensive line."

"Is he growing desperate?" Shinno said, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "Let our forces focus on the Hokage. He's a symbol to Konoha. Break the symbol, and the rest will fall apart."

"Yes, Lord Shinno," the operator replied, quickly relaying the commands to their airborne forces.

Outside, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood atop a shattered watchtower, his face set in grim determination. The glow of his jutsu faded as smoke curled from his hands. His sharp eyes scanned the fortress, catching the faint shimmer of the barrier that had nullified his attack. He frowned. A chakra-absorbing barrier. It seems brute force won't be enough.

"Hiruzen-sama!" an Anbu operative called out, landing beside him. "The eastern flank is holding for now, but we've sustained heavy casualties. The enemy's mobility gives them too much of an advantage."

Hiruzen nodded. "That damned fortress must be neutralized." He turned his gaze skyward, his mind already racing through possibilities. "Rally the teams. We'll draw their attention here."