Chapter 2: Shadows in the Cloud
The gates of the Hidden Cloud were unlike Konoha's.
Tall, thick walls lined with steel chakra barriers shimmered under the harsh mountain winds. The air felt electric, charged by the lightning nature chakra permeating the land. Every shinobi who walked the streets carried themselves with silent strength, their hitai-ate glinting with the cloud insignia.
Boruto whistled as he looked around. "Man, everything here feels intense."
Sarada adjusted her glasses, her eyes sharp. "We're here for a diplomatic mission, Boruto. Try not to embarrass us."
"I never embarrass us," Boruto retorted, puffing out his chest.
Ryo walked silently beside them, absorbing everything. The mark on his wrist had stopped pulsing, but a tension in the air made it itch faintly, like something was watching him.
They were escorted by a Hidden Cloud jonin named Kuren, a stern woman with dark eyes and lightning tattoos across her arms. She led them through the main street toward the Raikage's tower.
"The Raikage expects your cooperation," Kuren said curtly. "Tensions are high since these chakra storms began affecting our borders. We've lost two patrols near the storm zones."
Sarada frowned. "We're here to help, not to fight."
Kuren glanced back, her gaze lingering on Ryo's wrist before turning away. "We'll see."
---
The Briefing
Inside the Raikage's tower, lightning-themed architecture hummed softly with chakra-infused generators. At the head of a large meeting table sat the Raikage, a broad-shouldered man with a deep scowl etched into his face.
"You're the Seventh's brats, huh?" he rumbled, looking them over. "You look soft."
Boruto bristled. "What did you say, old man?"
"Boruto," Sarada hissed, stepping on his foot.
Ryo bowed deeply, calming the moment. "Lord Raikage, we're here on behalf of the Seventh Hokage to assist and investigate these storms. Please allow us to cooperate for the safety of everyone."
The Raikage grunted, leaning back. "Your storms started near your lands, spreading to ours. If they continue, we will take our measures, even if it means crossing your borders."
Sarada kept her tone calm but firm. "Lord Raikage, we assure you, Konoha does not wish for conflict. We will resolve this before it escalates."
The Raikage's dark eyes met hers for a long moment before he nodded. "You'll be sent to our northern border patrol tonight. If these storms appear again, I want to see how you handle it."
---
The First Signs
That night, clouds gathered above the mountains, black and thick, swirling in unnatural spirals.
Lightning crackled through the sky, blue and purple, illuminating the rocky paths below. The Hidden Cloud shinobi moved with quiet urgency, their eyes scanning the darkness.
Boruto bounced on the balls of his feet, restless. "Any minute now."
Sarada activated her Sharingan, focusing on the clouds above. "They're forming faster than yesterday. Be ready."
Ryo felt the mark on his wrist warm up, pulsing like a heartbeat. The closer he moved toward the storm front, the more it resonated, as if something in the storm recognized him.
Then it hit.
A wave of chakra-laced wind exploded from the center of the storm, lightning slamming into the ground like falling spears. Trees ignited, rocks split, and chakra lamps along the patrol route flickered and died.
"Positions!" Kuren shouted.
Boruto leapt forward, his Jougan activating, revealing a distortion within the storm's core.
"There's something in there!" he yelled.
Sarada followed, weaving signs.
Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!
Flaming projectiles soared into the darkness, lighting up shadowy forms that twitched and moved within the storm, feeding off the lightning.
Ryo stepped forward, the storm's rain hitting his skin, draining his chakra until the mark on his wrist flared, countering the drain. A faint voice in the storm whispered:
"Return… join us…"
Ryo's eyes widened as he saw shapes forming—figures of chakra, like the ones before, but larger, more defined, each holding lightning rods like blades.
---
The Attack
With a roar, the chakra figures charged.
One swung its lightning blade at Boruto, who blocked with a rasengan, the clash exploding in steam and sparks.
Another lunged at Sarada, who dodged and countered with a chakra-infused kunai, sparks flying as she slashed through its arm, only for it to regenerate instantly.
Hidden Cloud shinobi fired lightning jutsu at the figures, but the attacks were absorbed, strengthening the storm further.
"They're feeding off lightning!" Sarada shouted.
Ryo stepped forward, raising his hand. The mark glowed green and gold, a pulse of warmth pushing back the rain around him. The chakra figures paused, their glowing eyes turning toward him.
The storm's core shifted, and from the lightning, a tall figure emerged.
A man in a black cloak, lightning crackling around him, his face hidden beneath a dark mask with a red swirl.
Kuro.
"So, you're the child with the mark," Kuro said, his voice calm, almost gentle beneath the storm's roar. "I've been looking forward to meeting you."
Boruto's eyes widened. "Who the hell are you?!"
Kuro tilted his head. "I am the one who will free this world from its endless cycles of war."
Sarada narrowed her eyes. "By creating storms and killing people? You're no different from the ones before you."
Kuro sighed. "This is necessary. The chakra fragments must awaken, and this world must collapse before it can be rebuilt."
He lifted his hand, revealing a sphere of swirling chakra fragments—the Chakra Resonance Core.
The storm roared louder, lightning slamming into the ground around them, chakra figures growing stronger as they fed off the storm.
"Ryo!" Boruto shouted. "We need your power!"
Ryo's mark blazed, warmth spreading up his arm, pulsing in rhythm with the Resonance Core.
"Join me, Ryo," Kuro said softly, extending his hand. "End this false peace."
For a moment, Ryo saw a vision—villages burning, children crying, the world drowning in war. Then, a world united, calm, no borders, no orphans.
Ryo's heart pounded.
Was Kuro right?
"Ryo!" Sarada's voice snapped him out of it, her Sharingan spinning, a mix of fear and determination in her eyes.
Ryo clenched his fist.
"No."
Kuro's masked face tilted. "No?"
"I will protect this world," Ryo said, the mark on his wrist blazing with green and gold light, forming a swirling sphere of chakra in his hand. "I will protect everyone."
Kuro sighed, lowering his hand. "Then you will stand in the way of true peace."
With a wave of his hand, the chakra figures lunged, and the storm struck.
---
Clash Amid the Storm
Boruto charged, his rasengan clashing with the lightning blades. Sarada weaved lightning and fire jutsu, countering the storm's strikes.
Ryo stepped forward, unleashing the green sphere of chakra, which collided with the storm's energy, dispersing the lightning figures around him, creating a calm bubble in the chaos.
Kuro moved like lightning, appearing before Ryo, his hand gripping Ryo's throat, lifting him off the ground.
"Do you think your childish ideals can save this world?" Kuro whispered, chakra crackling around them.
Ryo gasped, the mark on his wrist pulsing wildly, green and gold light pushing against Kuro's lightning. Their chakra clashed, sparks flying.
Behind them, Boruto and Sarada fought back-to-back, protecting the Hidden Cloud shinobi, pushing the chakra figures back inch by inch.
Ryo met Kuro's hidden gaze, eyes burning.
"I believe in them."
With a final burst of chakra, the mark on Ryo's wrist exploded in light, forcing Kuro to release him, the Resonance Core in Kuro's hand flickering violently.
Lightning exploded around them, and the world went white.
---
When the light faded, the storm had receded, leaving only distant thunder.
Kuro was gone.
Boruto limped over, grinning. "Dude… that was awesome."
Sarada knelt, panting, her Sharingan fading. "You… did it, Ryo."
Ryo stood shakily, looking at the mark on his wrist, which now glowed softly. "No… he's not gone. He'll be back."
As the Hidden Cloud shinobi regrouped, the Raikage arrived, his eyes scanning the destruction before settling on the three.
"You protected my people," he said gruffly, nodding once. "Thank you."
Boruto smirked, thumbs hooked in his pockets. "All in a day's work."
Ryo looked toward the horizon, where the last of the storm clouds faded into dawn.
The war wasn't over.
The seeds of revolution were growing.
And they would be ready.