Perfect!
I'll write Chapter 18 and Chapter 19 separately.
For Shinkuro, I'll make him a rogue ex-Konoha ANBU
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The Alarm
The emergency sirens blared across the village. ANBU squads sprinted toward the Hokage Tower as explosions erupted from its upper floors.
"Shinkuro's making his move," Hana said, already pulling on her mask.
"Storm Division, full speed!" I ordered, storm chakra bursting around me as we leaped rooftop to rooftop.
---
Inside the Tower
We found masked intruders cutting through guards with deadly precision.
"These aren't regular mercs," Kai muttered. "They move like ANBU."
"They are," I said grimly. "Shinkuro's recruits."
---
Saving the Hokage
Reaching the top floor, I saw Hiruzen standing calmly with his staff—but three enemy operatives closed in fast.
"Tempest Falcon Strike!" I shouted, slamming into them like a lightning bolt, knocking two unconscious instantly.
"Arashi," Hiruzen said firmly, "protect the village. I'll handle my end."
"You're not fighting alone, Lord Hokage," I replied, standing between him and the attackers.
---
Shinkuro's Entrance
A cold voice echoed through the room.
"Still playing hero, Arashi?"
Shinkuro stepped out of the smoke, his mask half-broken, revealing a scar across his eye.
"You and I are the same… except I stopped pretending."
"You betrayed the village," I growled. "That's where we're different."
He smirked, hands flashing through seals—Forbidden Jutsu: Shadow Merge, a technique fusing his chakra with an enemy's shadow, amplifying speed and power.
---
Cliffhanger
Shinkuro's shadow lunged like a beast, slamming me through a wall. Pain flared across my ribs.
"Next time, I take your heart," he whispered, vanishing as fast as he came.
Hana ran to my side. "Arashi! Stay with me!"
"I'm fine," I groaned, standing shakily. "This isn't over."
---
The Pursuit
I tracked Shinkuro's right-hand assassin—codename Wraith—to a ruined sector outside Konoha.
"You shouldn't have come alone," Wraith said, twin blades gleaming in moonlight.
"I don't need backup for you," I retorted, activating Tempest Wrath.
---
The Duel
Wraith moved like water, every strike perfect and lethal.
I barely dodged, countering with Falcon Strike, but he twisted unnaturally—forbidden joint enhancement jutsu making his body inhumanly flexible.
"You're just a cheap copy of Shinkuro," I said, spinning into Tempest Cyclone Drill.
Wraith blocked, forcing me back. "Then die to a copy!"
---
Near Death
He feinted, blade slicing deep across my abdomen. Pain flared, and I dropped to one knee.
"Say goodbye, ANBU," he hissed, blade raised—
—when chakra vines wrapped his legs, Hana appearing like a green storm.
"Stay away from him!" she shouted, blasting him back with Bloom Burst.
---
Finishing Move
"Hana, sync with me," I gasped.
She nodded instantly, hands locking with mine. Together we unleashed Storm Bloom Barrage—a fusion of my storm dragon and her chakra vines, crushing Wraith under raw elemental force.
He hit the ground, unconscious.
---
Cliffhanger
Hana held my face, eyes wide. "You almost died again."
"Not while you're here," I whispered, gripping her hand.
From the shadows, Shinkuro's voice echoed faintly. "Enjoy your victories, Storm… they won't last."