Naruto: Rise of the Fallen Princess

That morning, Hinata and her guardians were escorted by C through the upper ridges of Kumogakure. Their path wound around the highest peaks until they reached a wide chamber built into the side of a neighboring mountain. The space was circular and reinforced with chakra-infused stone, its design reminiscent of an old war council hall. Towering windows curved along the outer wall, revealing an unobstructed view of a great plateau across a narrow gorge. From there, gusts of wind could be seen blowing trails of snow, but the room remained warm, shielded by thin layers of chakra glass.

Below those windows, the peak across the gorge hosted a grand arena of stone and snow, where several young Kumogakure shinobi engaged in duels. The matches were fluid, swift, and clearly for exhibition rather than combat.

"We chose this location for today's ranking preliminaries," C explained, standing beside Hinata as her guardians spread out respectfully behind her. "Normally these are held near the civilian district, but today we thought it might serve as both entertainment and demonstration of Kumogakure's strength—for our honored guest."

Hinata's eyes softened with understanding. "I'm grateful for the gesture. Such displays not only entertain, but speak deeply of a village's spirit. May I ask the ages of those participating? They seem young—eager."

C nodded. "From fourteen to eighteen. These preliminary bouts are a tradition—an opportunity for clan leaders, tribe elders, merchants, and even foreign observers to see rising talent. Only kenjutsu and taijutsu are permitted. Chakra techniques are reserved for formal matches."

Hinata smiled. Souta and Emi were already watching intently; Ayaka had a competitive glint in her eye.

"Then, I have a proposal," Hinata offered. "Rather than interrupt such an important event, perhaps my young companions could take part—one at a time, until each is defeated. I believe it would offer valuable experience to your shinobi and allow the program to resume tomorrow without disruption."

C considered it, clearly intrigued. He was composed, but Hinata felt a ripple of curiosity through his soul—more than professional interest. "Your offer is acceptable. I'll arrange the matchups immediately."

He left the room, accompanied by Emi, Souta, and Ayaka, who carried the restrained excitement of students before a challenge. Before the new event began, they arrived.

Some time later, the organization of the event had clearly changed. The young people on the large platform that contained the arena had a competitive glow about them. It was now more than a demonstration; Kumo pride shone through them.

Before the new event began, two new figures entered the hall.

The first was a large man with dark skin, a muscular build, and tightly pulled-back hair. His presence was magnetic, but wild—like lightning caged in a man. The other was a poised woman with light blonde hair and sharp blue eyes, her movements graceful but precise. Both radiated the unmistakable presence of jinchūriki, a soul within a soul.

It was the woman who spoke first. Her voice was clear, her posture composed.

"We expected to find C here. I assume you must be Princess Hinata Gin? I am Yugito Nii, and this is my colleague, B. I am the intended recipient of the amulet you have provided to the village and he is the one who will benefit from the next one."

Hinata studied them. Yugito's soul echoed with feline alertness, controlled but coiled—like her inner beast. B's was louder, more expansive, like a storm still deciding where to strike, he was clearly being forced to wear a mask he didn't feel comfortable wearing.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Hinata said gently. "I imagine my presence here puts you on edge. But please, there's no need to wear masks today."

Her voice carried warmth, and something about her smile—calm, unthreatening—seemed to ripple through B's barriers.

He grinned.

"Lady H! Dressed in grace, with soul refined, don't worry 'bout us—we're feelin' fine. You came with gifts, a charm to share, For beasts and souls with strength to spare."

Yugito closed her eyes for a moment, exhaling lightly.

"He means: we appreciate your gesture. Even if some of us weren't sure what to expect."

Hinata let out a soft laugh at B's theatrical verse. "That's certainly a memorable way to introduce yourself. I'm glad you're willing to take my words to heart. I hope you don't mind that the originally scheduled event has shifted into something more competitive. The duels are now between your village's youth and a few of my own guardians, all within the same age range."

B tilted his head, clearly amused, his grin widening.

"Kumo's flame is burning bright, Steel and will in every fight. Samurai blades may twist and turn, But watch our lightning—see it burn! YEAH!"

Yugito gave him a sidelong glance before turning back to Hinata, her tone level but edged with confidence.

"Our shinobi won't be easy to defeat. You can expect your samurai to be humbled."

Hinata nodded calmly, her hands resting in her sleeves. "That may be true. But I believe the outcome is less important than the example it sets—for the young and the old alike. It will show the resilience of Iron's young new wave, and the strength born of discipline and adversity."

Outside the chamber, the wind howled against the windows, but within the mountain, something deeper had begun to stir: respect not yet spoken aloud.

<<<< o >>>>

The battles did not unfold the way the young shinobi of Kumo—or their instructors—had anticipated.

The official rules had been made clear:

-The first combatant to receive three visible wounds causing bleeding would lose the match.

- A combatant forced outside the ring's bounds would be disqualified.

- A combatant rendered unconscious or unable to continue would concede victory to their opponent.

- Only kenjutsu and taijutsu were allowed—no Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, or Explosive Tools.

- One-on-one matches would continue in rotation until the three samurai were defeated or the Kumo fighters chose to end the challenge.

Medical personnel from Kumogakure stood by at all times.

Ayaka stepped forward first. Her first opponent relied solely on taijutsu—so she respectfully sheathed her twin blades and fought him unarmed. The boy's chakra-enhanced speed made it clear that augmentation was permitted. Ayaka responded by shifting into Shadow Breath, and the rhythm of the fight changed completely. Her nimble steps flowed into the blind spots of her opponent, and with precise counters, she used his own strength against him—ultimately throwing him from the ring.

What followed was a storm of duels. Shinobi used steel wires, caltrops, and sleight-of-hand tools—until they learned that such implements unlocked the true threat of the samurai. With blades in hand, Ayaka danced through every deception. She won seven matches, earning admiration from both kunoichi spectators and clan instructors. Her eighth opponent mirrored her style, and exhaustion from previous rounds led to three clean hits.

Still, respect had been earned. Some whispered admiration; others watched her with newfound interest. And when Souta stepped up next, he received an unexpected kiss from Ayaka before the crowd—drawing a mix of applause and jealous murmurs.

Bee scribbled notes in a tattered book beside Hinata.

Yugito, arms folded, muttered, "I didn't realize the Land of Iron allowed female samurai."

Hinata, ever composed, replied, "They always did—if the woman in question was exceptional. But these days, more of us are being seen not just for our faces... but for our strength."

Bee chuckled, raising his head.

"Her stance was steel, her heart like flame— Her blade cut through more than just the game. And now her lover steps into light, To guard her name, and show his might!"

Hinata turned to him with a curious smile. "You carry many blades, Lord B. Can you truly wield them all?"

For a brief moment, Bee seemed caught off guard. Before he could answer, Yugito interjected smoothly:

"And I'm sure you carry one of your own. I expect you know how to use it."

Hinata dipped her head. "I only carry one. And I still have much to learn. The idea of using more in battle... feels far away for now."

Bee's grin returned full force.

"Perhaps one day, if fate aligns, You'll face the sting of seven lines. My blades like bees, they sing and bite, But you, dear lady, might match my light."

Hinata inclined her head with grace. "I'd be honored to learn through such a duel. Perhaps we could arrange it once my warriors have finished their matches—it would make for a fine event to close the day. I'm sure I would leave the battlefield wiser."

Then came Souta's turn. Without his armor, his bare skin bore the marks of the Earth Breath technique. His body was like granite—kunai and shuriken deflected harmlessly off him. He knew exactly how to receive them without his armor, moving with instinctive precision and using the flow of each breath to guide the angle of impact. His strikes shook the platform. Many Kumo fighters tried to exhaust him; others attempted direct assault. None succeeded—until his thirteenth match.

His final opponent was a sharp-tongued kunoichi who danced around him, provoking him with jabs—not just physical, but verbal. She mocked Ayaka, teased him with flirtation and insults, and drew him into a clumsy lunge. With a feint and a pivot, she redirected his momentum and let his own weight carry him over the boundary.

It was not a noble defeat—but it was clever. And Souta, to his credit, recognized it. He stood, dusted himself off, and extended a hand with a proud grin. She shook it, grinning back.

Hinata turned to her companions and whispered with a smile, "And you should see him in full armor. I've seen Souta shrug off blows that would break bones."

Kenshiro couldn't help but quip, half in jest and half in admiration, "Most of those hits were probably yours, milady."

The next to step forward was Emi—and his arrival stole the breath of more than one kunoichi in the stands. Clad in the soft layers of his robe, his Water Breath technique allowed him to weave around strikes with uncanny fluidity, altering not only his movement but the trajectory of others'.

In taijutsu duels, Emi's redirection techniques were devastating. One of the advanced aspects of the Water Breath allowed him to take the momentum of an incoming blow and send it spiraling off-course—or return it with increased force. These bouts ended quickly.

Weapon duels, however, were a different matter. Emi was strong, but as the number of rounds increased, so did the difficulty. Opponents adapted. Small cuts began to accumulate. By his tenth fight, Emi was clearly exhausted. Every challenger until then had been highly skilled, and it showed.

His final match ended in a clean third cut to his chest—his last opponent was a boy with sharp instincts and a good read on Emi's rhythm. As he collapsed backward, the crowd didn't cheer—they held their breath. Even the medical staff of Kumo rushed in, eager to tend to him. More than one seemed determined to "nurse him back to health."

None of us had the heart to tell them he was already taken—by a kunoichi from Konoha. Lucky for them, Kuro wasn't here.

The audience had barely begun to settle when surprise rippled through the crowd. More than a few spectators had begun to gather their things—until they saw Bee stepping down toward the ring.

Beside him was a young woman in a white and blue kimono, embroidered with silver lotuses. Together, they descended toward the arena, and whispers rose among the shinobi who recognized the unmistakable posture of the Iron Princess.