Island of Houki
Land of Water
Basara POV
I skillfully maneuvered the jutsu, a literal forest I had grown on the marshy ground. It weaved through our enemies, crushing and killing the Kirigakure ninja. I let out a strained breath, focusing on maintaining the jutsu. I was feeling the strain of continuously pouring Chakra into it for nearly a minute.
From what I could guess, I had used a good quarter of my reserves. Perhaps not the wisest decision to waste chakra like that in the middle of the battlefield, but the situation called for it. I had misjudged the jutsu a little; the amount of concentration I needed forced me to remain immobile on the ground. To my surprise, however, my fellow Konoha compatriots had charged ferociously through my jutsu, making quick work of the remaining forces on our side of the battlefield.
I wasn't sure how the other side was doing, but eventually, I cut off the chakra for the jutsu, took a deep breath, and analyzed the situation around me. The battle had mostly wound down, filling the air with the smell of iron and filth. The mist had quickly filled back in, covering our legs.
The battle had come to an end... more or less...
Even if some shinobi had made a quick getaway, the battle was done, ending in our resounding victory. I was sure there was a death count from our side, but it was masked by a sense of triumph all around. I quickly noticed the looks I was getting; it was inevitable. I had just proved why the Mokuton was a feared bloodline. I had essentially turned the tide of battle.
I was sure our cohort would have been fine with shinobi like Minato on our side, given time... I had just reduced the time it would have taken.
Though, from what I could sense, our numbers had swelled from an odd 200 shinobi to well over 300. Were these the ones we were supposed to meet? I wondered. Regardless, I did my best to find my friends, starting to move and searching for familiar chakra. Eventually, I spotted Hanami. She was standing, and I couldn't see any flowing blood, despite her disheveled state.
I jogged over.
"Are you okay?"
Up close, I saw the problem. A shuriken had punched through the gap in her flak jacket and was still lodged in her side. Truly unlucky. She reached down, gritted her teeth, and yanked it free with a short grunt.
"I'm fine," she said, her voice tight. She looked around. "Where are the others?"
"I'm not sure." I hoped they were all right. I gestured, offering my shoulder if she needed it. She shook her head stubbornly, even while her hand stayed pressed to the wound.
Around us, the scattered groups were beginning to move. Nearby jonin were calling out orders, waving people toward a particular direction. Hanami and I fell in with the flow. Those who could still run at full pace did so; the rest were supported or carried. The whole mass of three hundred-odd shinobi pushed through the thinning mist until we reached a stretch of ground littered with massive boulders half-swallowed by trees.
Hanami was breathing harder from all that running. That wound needed proper attention soon.
Still, she doesn't have to be so stubborn... and could take help from me.
We gathered in the clearing and waited. Then, between two of the largest stones, someone flared chakra in a specific burst, and the ground opened into a wide stone ramp that led downward into darkness. One by one, the shinobi began filing inside.
As I stepped through the entrance, I felt myself pass through a thick film of chakra I had not sensed from outside. The underground bunker beyond was steeped in near-total dark. It took a second for my eyes to adjust. When they did, dozens of red lights glowed back at me from the shadows.
Sharingan.
Most of the force that had been holding this island were Uchiha.
The bunker stretched out into a sealed cave system, walls covered in dense fuinjutsu script. Someone directed the wounded toward the medical station. I guided Hanami that way. We moved in silence. We were far from the only ones making the slow walk; the corridor was full of the injured and those helping them.
Halfway there, Hanami's voice came soft beside me.
"You can go look for the others. I can take care of myself."
I shook my head.
"No. I'll stay with you. We can find them together. And... I don't know where to go yet."
It was the truth. I hoped the rest of the squad was already inside and safe, but the way we had been herded here was an absolute mess. There could have been people we left behind. Then again, the entire plan to spring the trap was not perfect either.
Somehow, I had expected better from the Yellow Flash.
The large chamber we were brought into was filled with the hurt and the dying. The smell of blood and antiseptic mixed with the damp cave air. It was a depressing place that dragged me back to the hard reality of this war. One of the medics took Hanami from me. I stood nearby in quiet moral support while they worked. Her injuries were not life-threatening, and I could not find any of my teammates among the wounded. Still, the seals layered throughout the bunker were messing with my senses, dulling everything until it felt like part of my vision had been cut away.
I had come through the fight without a scratch. That privilege left me free to think about the why and the how of all this. Even after everything, I still could not fully understand why this war was being fought if this was the state of the shinobi on the ground. I shuddered to imagine what the civilians were going through — especially those caught directly in the path of the fighting.
Was it for resources? Pride? Or just traditional hatred passed down from father to son?
I shook my head, pushing the thoughts aside.
The Uchiha medic finally finished. Hanami was fine. She stood up, holding her bloodied flak jacket in her arms, wearing only her mesh shirt and bottoms. Her face looked a little pale from the blood loss, but she was steady on her feet, which was a good sign.
We made our way out of the medical area. All we were told was to head to the rest area and wait for further orders. The resting places had been carved directly into the rock walls with Doton. Each small room was barely large enough for two people, three if they didn't mind being pressed together. Hanami and I claimed one of them. She was clearly exhausted from everything.
We sat inside the raised rock bed as Hanami fished out a couple of ration bars and passed me one, which I accepted gratefully.
"The setup is a mess... there's no organization," Hanami complained, and she was right; at least I wasn't the only one who thought so.
I ate it, and after some time, I decided I couldn't stay here. I had to find out what was truly happening.
"I'm going to find out what's going on," I told her.
She nodded, looking tired and settled into the rough bedding provided. My eyes had adjusted to the darkness by now. I moved through the corridors until I found an Uchiha standing near a junction with her Sharingan blazing.
"Excuse me," I said, keeping my tone polite. "Do you know where command is? Or if there's any word on the rest of the forces that came with us?"
The woman gave me a flat look.
"Go back and rest until you're called upon. Orders will come when they're ready."
I felt a flicker of annoyance. "I understand that. But a lot of people got separated in the fog. I'm just trying to find out if—"
"You heard me." Her voice was firm, with a hint of annoyance. "Rest. That's an order for everyone who just arrived."
I was about to push further when a familiar voice cut through the corridor.
"Basara-kun."
I turned. Minato was walking toward us. He had a smile on his blood-covered face, a strange contrast to his expression. I hadn't sensed him at all until he spoke. The seals in this place truly were cutting off my range; I had to do something about it.
"I'm glad I found you. Why don't you join me," he said simply. "There's a meeting."
I wanted to ask a lot, but I fell into step beside him without another word. He led me deeper into the bunker until we reached a room lit by a scattering of candles. The flickering light cast long shadows across the faces of several veteran shinobi already seated inside.
Tsume is not here...
Minato waved to an empty seat, which I took, sitting next to an Uchiha who looked about my age. He saw me and gave a bright smile.
"Hi, I'm Shisui!" Startled, I froze a little as I recognized him, Shisui of the Body Flicker. I didn't think I'd see him here; I wasn't even sure when he was supposed to be born. I quickly replied back,
"Basara Senju."
One of the older jonin cleared his throat and sent a sharp glare our way. Shisui just laughed it off under his breath, completely unbothered.
At the head of the low table sat a stern-faced man. Minato looked toward him and gave a small nod.
"Fugaku-san. Please start the debrief. What happened? You were supposed to receive us at the original position."
Fugaku's eyes were sharp despite him not activating his Sharingan. I noticed his eyes land on my armor for a moment before he answered Minato.
"We were forced to abandon the original camp. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist attacked in force."
A different jonin — one without the Uchiha clan symbol on his flak jacket — spoke next. His tone carried a clear hint of anger.
"We had to leave a civilian settlement behind when we were ordered to retreat." He shot a hard glare toward Fugaku, who remained completely unbothered by the accusation. "We believe the entire settlement was massacred."
Damn...
Minato rested his chin on one hand, thinking. The candlelight flickered across the dried blood on his face. After a few seconds, he spoke with a happy voice.
"You did well to retreat. I think that's why most of our fellow shinobi are still alive."
I stared at him.
Yeah... this guy is not normal.