Naruto: Zombie Release

When an elite Jonin disregards the larger battle to lead a strike team in a single-minded assault on a mere Chunin, the sheer impact of such aggression is staggering.

No one anticipated it. A formidable warrior emerging from nowhere, launching an all-out offensive in such a reckless, high-pressure fashion, it stunned everyone.

In mere seconds, dozens of Konoha ninja at the front line were thrown into chaos, panic written across their faces.

Those who reacted quickly hurled ninjutsu into the swirling sandstorm. Even though they weren't sure if it posed more danger than just obscuring vision, it was the only thing they could do.

But those who moved slower weren't so lucky. They were torn down on the spot by the sandstorm unit led by Araki, screaming, collapsing.

Araki was like a dagger tearing through the sand and wind, putting the terrifying might of an elite Jonin on full display.

"Get out of my way. If you stay back, you live."

Araki's gaze was locked on only one person, Arata.

This wasn't just about erasing the shame of their last encounter, it would shape Sunagakure's future.

He knew about the human puppet project. 

An elite Jonin wasn't just any ninja; while not necessarily high command, they were the backbone of a great ninja village. There weren't many like him, even in a place like Suna.

The war had dragged on too long. Suna was barely holding on. Even if they won this battle, they'd never seize Land of Fire's fertile lands. War reparations? Out of the question.

Years of fighting had drained them, crippling the Land of Wind's economy and costing them countless exceptional shinobi. 

Suna needed a way to close the gap between them and the other great villages, fast.

And human puppets were the most efficient path forward. Which meant Arata's value was only climbing.

"Looks like Konoha's higher-ups haven't realized it yet. They still think you're just a talented medic…"

Araki's strike wasn't aimed at the elite Jonin, it was targeted at the Chunin, the genin, the rank-and-file. 

It was a blitzkrieg with his elite unit, and in a flash, Konoha's side was in total disarray.

His eyes scanned through the crowd, locking again on Arata through a narrow gap. 

He had hoped to see fear, but beyond the initial flicker of surprise, all he saw was a calm so deep it was chilling.

"Hmph. When I drag you back to Sunagakure, I'll make sure you get a taste of our village's finest tortures. Don't go crying on me then!"

Araki let out a twisted grin and expanded the sandstorm, tightening the visibility to under five meters. The howling wind drowned out all noise.

"He's coming… quite the dramatic entrance."

Arata looked up at the sky, now warped and seething as though it had turned against the earth itself. "He doesn't care if his own squad dies, as long as he captures me…"

More than that, he could see it.

Araki had used his Magnet Release to suspend over a hundred shuriken in the air, each one shimmering at the tip with a special hemotoxin.

The ground leading to Arata rippled like a living creature, the grassy field within a hundred-meter radius transfigured into a pool of flowing sand, an ambush prepared with disturbing precision.

Araki might not have overwhelming single-target firepower, but in wide-scale battlefield control, he was a nightmare. 

He could tie down entire squads alone and open windows for critical strikes.

Arata didn't hesitate, he summoned six corpses in one breath. They moved to stand at six positions around him, forming a tight defensive perimeter.

"The enemy's targeting you? Whatever his reason, we can't let him reach you!"

Takano looked stunned, uncertain of what was going on. But no matter the motive, if the enemy wanted something, that alone was reason enough to stop it. That was never the wrong choice.

After watching several comrades fall, the nearby Konoha ninja rallied, quickly regrouping in an attempt to surround Araki and his strike team.

The chance to take down an elite Jonin didn't come often.

"Is that all your necromancy can do? You think these second-rate rejects can slow me down?" Araki sneered.

Magnet Release: Quicksand Spiral Prison!

The sand began to spiral and converge above, forming a crushing vortex that dropped from the sky like a trap sprung shut around Arata.

"This time, you won't escape. I've seen through all your tricks!"

Arata didn't respond. He just kept falling back.

As a medic ninja, the first rule on the battlefield was survival above all else. Tsunade had drilled that into every one of them.

And no one from Konoha faulted him for it. They threw themselves forward instead, to buy their healer time to get away.

But Arata wasn't simply running.

His six corpses split off as he moved, forming hand seals in unison, unleashing basic ninjutsu of water, fire, and wind from their mouths.

The techniques weren't strong, Arata didn't expect them to defeat Araki.

They were just there to stall.

He couldn't let the sight of his comrades falling break his focus. Killing Araki had been his goal from the start.

"Arata, I suggest you retreat!"

Takano threw himself in front of him, gritting his teeth. He knew he couldn't stop Araki, this man was like a storm, barreling forward with nothing but madness in his eyes.

If it came to it, he was ready to lay down his life, 

A corpse grabbed him and flung him aside.

"Leave him to me. I'll finish this here."

Arata's voice was calm. "I won't let my comrades die protecting me."

Takano steadied himself, stunned by the words.

For a medic ninja to say that, it went against battlefield protocol. Regular shinobi were expected to shield medical-nin at all costs.

But Araki was closing in now, facing heavier resistance, barely reaching Arata after fending off a barrage of jutsu and decapitating a corpse.

Arata's face didn't flinch. He formed a one-handed seal.

Zombie Shift: Hollow Domain!

His figure blurred, and then switched places with one of the zombies.

It was the first time he'd used this technique in front of so many people. The visual impact was incredible.

Many had thought Arata was done for, yet in the next moment, they saw Araki's strike land on a corpse, and Arata reappeared unharmed, standing exactly where it had been.

"What kind of jutsu is that?"

"No mistake, I was stationed in Iwagakure and saw Minato use Flying Thunder God from afar. This looks a lot like that, instant relocation! But… I didn't see this medic throw a special kunai…"

"No wonder he's the target! He can summon multiple physical bodies to cast jutsu, and now this technique, like a time-space jutsu similar to Flying Thunder God! 

That's like creating a small squad out of nothing!"

For many here, it was their first time working with Arata, and seeing his abilities up close. 

Until now, they'd been puzzled why a supposedly unknown medic-nin had drawn the attention of an elite enemy squad.

Now it all made sense.

Boom!

Another zombie self-destructed, no damage to Araki.

"This distance… it's just right."

Arata's expression didn't change.

"From now on, become my trump card."