Chapter 20 - Clash

In the heart of the newly renovated Gelel ruins, Shen's control over the floating device gave him a vantage point that allowed him to oversee the unfolding events. His expression remained impassive as he observed the situation before him, his thoughts a mix of determination and frustration.
'As expected, these sage clans of the past will not let me off easy. They will once again thwart the development of sage technology just because they can't understand how it works,' Shen muttered to himself. His belief in the potential of his machine-phase matter technology was unwavering, and he found it disheartening that others couldn't share his vision.
With a few deft motions, Shen issued a command, and natural energy surged in the mines once more. After a few seconds of silence four metal boxes that could fit a person rose from the ground, revealing figures clad in samurai armor. These enigmatic figures emanated an air of controlled strength, their presence an enigma even to those who laid eyes upon them.
"Beat them half to death then throw them out of the forest," Shen ordered, his tone cold and calculated. The samurai figures moved with synchronized precision, their armor gleaming faintly in the ambient light of the ruins.
The intruders, unaware of the approaching threat, soon found themselves confronted by the four armored figures. The clash that ensued was fierce and intense, a battle of skill and determination on both sides.
Blades clashed against armor, the sound of metal on metal ringing through the air. The intruders fought valiantly, using their own unique abilities to counter the samurai's formidable strength. It was a chaotic dance of jutsu, weapons, and strategy, each side determined to emerge victorious.
'Tsk, he's too fast!' Orochimaru's hand broke after a kick from the blue armored figure with grey hair. Before he could recover, an explosion hit his back and caused him immense pain. A new body came out from outstretched mouth free from injuries. His foe's fighting style felt oddly familiar, like he saw him somewhere before.
'Grey hair, water release, could it be? This is interesting.'
As the battle raged on, Shen's eyes remained fixated on the scene projected in front of him. His calculated expression betrayed no emotion, his focus solely on the outcome of the clash. He knew that the success of his plans hinged on his ability to protect the secrets and resources hidden within the Gelel ruins.
With regards to this, he began to modify the edo tensei and targeted candidate guardians for this place. These resurrected figures doesn't need sacrifices but they consumed vast amounts of natural energy. The advantage is that these summoned can't be considered dead anymore. They are no longer human, but they are genuinely living organisms made from the very same materials that composed his body.
They are linked to him in an intimate fusion of body and spirit making them essentially extensions of himself with their own personalities. Not different from what he did to Isobu or Sunto before.
In the screen, the samurai figures moved with an almost mechanical precision, their movements coordinated and unwavering. Their armor absorbed blows, and their attacks were calculated and methodical. Slowly but surely, they began to gain the upper hand, their relentless assault wearing down the intruders.
Amidst the chaos of battle, Shen's mind whirred with thoughts of strategy and contingency. He had prepared for this moment, knowing that the Gelel ruins would attract attention and opposition. But he was determined to see his vision realized, even if it meant facing challenges head-on.
As the battle continued, it became clear that the samurai figures were a formidable force to reckon with. Their armor protected them from harm, and their skills were finely honed. The intruders, despite their efforts, began to falter under the unrelenting assault. The red figure and the blue figure in particular dealt more damage than anyone else disabling shinobi from the hidden Sand all the while dealing with the legendary Sannin of Konoha and their summons.
Shen's gaze remained fixed on the unfolding clash, his mind calculating the best course of action. He knew that the outcome of this battle could shape the path of his ambitions and the fate of the Gelel ruins. And as the conflict raged on, he remained determined to secure his hold on the resources and power that he believed were rightfully his.
The battle raged on, and as the four armored figures unleashed their unique elemental techniques, the dynamics of the fight shifted. Each figure wielded their chakra nature with mastery, using it not only to counter the attacks of Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru but also make them suffer tremendous losses. The battlefield was a symphony of jutsu, each clash of elemental forces creating dazzling displays of power.
The figure in purple armor, proficient in lightning release, crackled with electricity as they deftly weaved through the chaos. He transformed into lightning and streaked through the air, striking with precision and causing the ground to tremble with each impact. With his speed, he is a little bit slower than the blue armored samurai one but is physically stronger.

The one in blue armor, used water release and explosive tags. Water surged from out of nowhere and crashed, forming barriers and projectiles that challenged the intruders to navigate the shifting terrain. He is also extremely fast, so fast it became almost impossible to defend. Orochimaru the legendary sannin known for his prowess in ninjutsu looked like a child fighting his father. Like an idiot posing before a true scholar.
The white-armored warrior harnessed the power of magnet release, manipulating the forces of attraction and repulsion. Metal objects became lethal projectiles, and the very earth itself seemed to bend to their will. Although the others also lost their weapons to him, Orochimaru's heart is pained the most after losing his treasured blade Kusanagi to the control of this unknown figure. He didn't dare take out more of his weapons after.

The figure in red armor, wielding wood release, commanded the very essence of nature. Trees and vines surged from the ground, forming barriers and striking with surprising speed and strength. His wooden dragons and giant figures with multiple hands tangled with the large summons while the figure himself created more trees within the forest.

As the battle intensified, Rasa's voice cut through the chaos, drawing attention to a startling realization. "This... This is the third Kazekage! Be careful! Someone used a forbidden jutsu to resurrect our Kazekage. If I'm not wrong, we may be facing our ancestors. I won't forgive whoever did this to teacher's body!" The implications were profound – the figures before them could very well be reincarnations or manipulated forms of their own ancestors.
Tsunade's shock was palpable as the pieces fell into place. The familiarity of the red and blue-armored warriors finally made sense – they were her grandfathers, Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, two legendary shinobi from Konoha's history. The revelation added a new layer of complexity to the battle, as emotions and loyalties intertwined with the fight itself.
"Then those two are indeed the Shodaime and my teacher, the Nidaime. The purple one, I think is a Raikage... They don't seem to be conscious." Hiruzen spoke in agreement to Rasa's theory.
'Tsk. Someone really beat me to it?' Orochimaru clicked his tongue, he was just beginning to collect DNA from famous shinobi of the previous era for his experiments but someone actually beat him to making use of these amazing individuals. Something is weird though, they don't have the aura of death that usually comes with the impure world reincarnation.'
Orochimaru has long since researched the forbidden jutsu known as edo tensei created by the Nidaime himself. 'If this is truly so then how ironic. Hahahahaha.'

The clash of wills and elements continued, each side pushing their limits to gain the upper hand. The armored figures fought without uttering a single word or making a single hand seal to cast ninjutsu, while Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Rasa fought to protect not only themselves but the legacy and integrity of their ancestors. Orochimaru began to pull back after almost dying for the nth time. 'This isn't worth it. I'm gonna bounce.'

"I'll see you guys another time." He spoke before vanishing with a cloud of smoke. "That sly snake!" Jiraiya cursed before flying from a kick to the stomach and rolling through the dirt and cough blood. The purple figure retracted his blade hand before the punch, something that bewildered Hiruzen who saw it transpire.

Each combatant tapped into their unique strengths, harnessing their chakra natures and skills to adapt to the ever-changing battlefield. The clash of jutsu and steel created a breathtaking spectacle, a testament to the power and complexity of the shinobi world. A single distraction can cause devastating damage.

As the battle reached its crescendo, the realization that they might be fighting against their own ancestors hung heavily in the air. The legacy of the past clashed with the ambitions of the present, and the outcome of the battle would shape the course of history in ways none of them could predict.

Hiruzen's voice cut through the chaos of battle, his keen perception and leadership guiding their course of action. As he assessed the situation, he knew that the odds were stacked against them. Orochimaru's unexpected departure had dealt them a significant blow, and the relentless assault of the armored figures had taken its toll on Rasa, Jiraiya, and Tsunade.
"We are retreating as well," Hiruzen announced with a heavy sigh. The weight of his decision was palpable, knowing that their withdrawal was the best course of action in this dire situation. With his deep understanding of strategy and the lives under his care, Hiruzen made the call to regroup and live to fight another day.

As the command was given, Rasa, Jiraiya, and Tsunade along with their summons disengaged from their opponents, each utilizing their remaining strength to create openings for their escape. Explosive jutsu, barriers of fire, and bursts of chakra created temporary distractions, allowing them to break away from the relentless assault of the armored figures.

The withdrawal was not a sign of defeat, but rather a strategic retreat – a momentary respite to gather their strength, assess the situation, and plan their next move. Hiruzen's leadership was evident as he guided his comrades through the chaos, navigating through the shifting terrain and using his experience to ensure their safe escape.

As they retreated, the armored figures did not pursue. Their purpose seemed to extend beyond immediate conflict, leaving a lingering sense of mystery in their wake. The battlefield, once a whirlwind of elemental forces, gradually quieted, the echoes of jutsu fading into the air.

Back in the safety of a temporary camp, the four shinobi regrouped, their faces etched with a mixture of exhaustion, determination, and intrigue. Hiruzen's gaze was fixed on the horizon, his mind undoubtedly processing the events that had transpired and the new questions that had emerged.

"We'll need to gather more information," he finally spoke, breaking the silence that had settled over them. His words were met with nods of agreement, a shared understanding that their journey was far from over. The enigmatic armored figures, the Gelel mine, and the deeper implications of their battle all demanded further investigation.

A series of thuds echoed, to Rasa's surprise the shinobi that he left behind in their escape are not dead. None of them died! 'What the...' This confused them to their core. It turns out that their opponents are even holding back to not kill them.

"I will send a letter to Konoha for reinforcements and also to the Raikage. He may be interested to hear about his father's corpse getting desecrated by a forbidden jutsu." Hiruzen's eyes are squinting, according to Enma they cannot abandon this mission no matter what.

And so, in the aftermath of their retreat, Hiruzen, his students, and their temporary allies from the Hidden Sand began to piece together the puzzle that had been set in motion. With their determination and strength renewed, they embarked on a path that would lead them deeper into a web of intrigue, history, and secrets waiting to be unraveled.