As they moved through the village, Tajima noticed that the enemy was trying to overwhelm them by sneaking past the front lines and attacking from behind. But something bothered him—why was this particular squad heading straight for the Uzukage tower?
"Hey, you!" he called to one of his men. "Inform our front line to get the 4th phase on the line now! We'll use asymmetric warfare—that's the only way."
"Hai!" the shinobi responded before disappearing toward the front.
"And you, to my father's frontline," Tajima ordered another.
"Hai!" The shinobi disappeared, leaving Tajima with three men.
They sped toward the enemy, Tajima's heart sinking as he realized their target. "Let's go now! They intend to get to the Uzukage tower!"
-Eichi-
In a dimly lit room, or rather a bunker beneath the Uzukage building, ten of the world's best seal masters—Uzushio's finest—worked tirelessly, their concentration unwavering as they struggled to create the seal of transportation.
They had been at it for an entire day, and the strain was evident in their deep frowns and the meticulous way they inscribed kanji onto the floor, as if crafting a delicate piece of art.
Eichi sat in a corner, cradling a baby in his arms, his eyes fixed on the seal masters as they moved their brushes with precision. Time passed slowly, and his mind wandered.'I wonder if my brother is still alive…'
The loss of his brother Izuna had devastated him, and now the looming fate of his father and Tajima weighed heavily on his heart.
This wasn't a nightmare—it was the harsh reality that Eichi had to accept if he was to complete his mission with the last heir of the Uzumaki clan.
Finally, the seal masters stopped writing. Eichi looked up from the floor, noticing them forming a circle around the intricate seal they had just completed.
"Eichi-sama! Now is the time to go! We've detected a squad of powerful enemies speeding toward us! They could be here any moment—" one of the seal masters began, but his words were cut short as an explosion shook the entire building.
"Now!" Eichi commanded, his voice firm despite the urgency.
"Hai!" he replied, rushing to the center of the circle with the baby still in his arms.
The seal masters began weaving hand signs together, their movements synchronized as they prepared the final stage of the transportation seal.
But just as they were about to complete the last hand sign, five enemy shinobi burst into the room, their eyes locking onto the seal group.
The enemies rushed toward them, intent on stopping the teleportation. Eichi quickly formed a series of hand signs, casting a Genjutsu on one of the incoming shinobi.
The enemy's perception was altered, making him see Eichi 30 centimeters to the left of his actual position. The shinobi's blade sliced through the air, missing Eichi by a hair.
But not all the seal masters were as fortunate. In the chaos, two of them fell, their lives snuffed out in an instant.
Just as the situation seemed dire, Tajima burst into the room, his presence a whirlwind of deadly force.
He engaged the enemy, buying the remaining seal masters the precious moments they needed.
And then, in a flash of light and a surge of chakra, Eichi, the baby, and the surviving seal masters vanished from the room, disappearing from the face of the Elemental Nations.
The mission was complete, but the cost was immeasurable.
In a city of towering, sky-piercing buildings seemingly made of glass, the streets below were teeming with a diverse array of people.
Some had animalistic features, others boasted more than two limbs, while a few had electronic hardware replacing parts of their bodies.
This was Musutafu, a bustling metropolis in Japan where the extraordinary had become ordinary.
It was a calm, sunny day—a typical "happy day" by most standards. But for Aizawa, it was anything but. The day would soon take a turn for the worse, becoming one of his most unforgettable nightmares.
Aizawa had just graduated from U.A. High School, quickly establishing himself as a Hero who shunned the spotlight.
He had a knack for infiltration and information gathering, which naturally led him to join forces with the underground heroes Ectoplasm and his sidekick, Edgeshot.
Together, they operated in the shadows, far from the glamor and adoration most Pro Heroes enjoyed.
The training regimen was intense. Physical drills, combat scenarios, stress management exercises—you name it, Aizawa endured it. His body was pushed to its limits, leaving him sleep-deprived and irritable.
On this particular evening, at 6 PM, the team was on a routine patrol in Musutafu. Winter had set in, and the cold air bit at their faces as they perched high atop a building, keeping a watchful eye on the city below.
Aizawa broke the silence, his voice heavy with fatigue. "Do you think we'll be infiltrating those underground arenas again?
They're attracting attention from other criminal organizations. I've even heard rumors that the Yakuza are planning to get involved."
Edgeshot glanced at him briefly before returning his focus to the streets below. "Honestly, I don't know.
Ectoplasm hasn't mentioned those arenas since the last operation to gather names of the participants. Infiltrating that place was already a miracle, and successfully gathering intel was more than we could've hoped for."
Aizawa sighed, clearly unsatisfied. "You know as well as I do that it won't be enough. Those people don't give up on money easily. If we don't take down the owners, we're just going to see another case repeat itself."
Edgeshot shot him a sharp glare. "Aizawa, take this as advice from a partner—if you want to keep your job, don't question the Association's decisions again."
Aizawa felt a chill run down his spine at Edgeshot's warning.Jeez,How can I even think about questioning anyone when I'm barely able to stand on my feet...he thought, sweat beading on his forehead.
Before Aizawa could respond, the radio crackled to life with an urgent report.
"All Pro Heroes in the vicinity of District 69 in Musutafu, report immediately. A fight has broken out between two groups. Type A threat, approach with caution. Quirk usage has been reported."