Underground

The researcher's camp was deep underground. After entering through a series of confusing tunnels, they eventually reached a large pair of stone doors. Natsume looked around the tunnel system with wonder. It was covered in tree roots thicker than her body going every which way. Such a complicated network of roots with a natural underground cavern system was really a feat of nature.

"What is this place?" Reiji asked the man.

"We discovered it several years ago. We think that it has been around for over a hundred years. Some of the writing inside predates the Land of Fire." The man began to prattle on, seemingly unaware that he was essentially a hostage. This information was interesting, but Natsume and the others just wanted to find Hinako and get out. They would report on this underground structure and let Tajima decide what to do with it.

Once they pushed open the large doors, they saw many tables with scrolls, inks, and random notes laid out haphazardly. There were rooms connected to the main area and the man pointed to one of them. "The Uchiha is over there. The money is in another room." He pointed out two rooms on opposite ends of the area. Natsume felt that something was odd about the situation.

Saki went to retrieve the money and Natsume went ahead to check on Hinako while the others watched over the man. They planned to execute him once everything was confirmed. This was a direct affront to their pride.

Natsume entered the far room and heard a steady drip landing in a pool of water. The atmosphere was very eerie and there was no lighting. She activated her sharingan and was able to see this section of the building was caved in. After navigating through some rubble, she sensed a weak chakra presence in the corner. Natsume quickly approached as she recognized it as Hinako.

"Hinako-sensei! You're alive, thank goodness…" However, she almost screamed in horror. Two trails of dried-up blood were seen on her cheeks, and she was completely pale. Natsume went to her side and tried to rouse her. "No… wake up, Hinako!"

Her eyes were destroyed. It was several days old based on the dried blood. Hinako suddenly came to life and tried to swing the bloodied kunai out in front of her. However, Natsume intuitively dodged it. Sensing who it was, Hinako realized that she recognized the person standing over her. Although she couldn't see, her other senses were heightened.

"…" she whispered something in a weak voice, Natsume got closer.

"What is it?" Hinako grabbed her arm and said louder.

"Trap!" Her words were immediately followed by an explosion.

Moments earlier in the main room.

"So, what gave you the courage to bring an Uchiha here?" Seiji asked out of curiosity.

"Ah, I was just helping with her injuries. If not for the giant snake, I wouldn't dare to offer a guest as a reward…" He seemed a bit nervous, but Seiji just nodded as if it made sense. Ryunosuke looked around the scrolls and maps, seemingly absorbed in it. Reiji gave a thoughtful look toward Seiji and then the man was suddenly thrown on the floor as all three broke away from where they were standing. The walls warped and hundreds of shuriken pelted the spots they were in.

"Ah you idiots!" The civilian screamed, rubbing his back in pain.

"Hmph, you gave us away." The leader of the group replied. Looking at their appearance, they were the same group they met in the forest. The civilian stood up and walked toward the leader in an attempt to get to safety. The robed man didn't think anything of it, until suddenly, the civilian lunged toward him with his arms wide going for a grab.

The man reacted in time, but a bright light was seen all over the civilian. A cacophony of hissing led to an explosion as the numerous explosive tags went off on the civilian's body. He was instantly vaporized, but the robed man managed to avoid the brunt of the damage. However, his clothes were torn up and some blood ran down his arm.

"Genjutsu! So, you knew all along." The leader spat out some blood and frowned. "Doesn't matter, you aren't getting away from us anyway. The price of an Uchiha in the market has quadrupled, its our payday!" Each of the robed figures made a hand seal and a series of fuinjutsu markings spread across the walls of the underground facility. "You're trapped now. Just lie down and die!"

"It seems you are mistaken. It is not we who are trapped in here, but rather you are the trapped ones." The image of Ryunosuke and the others became faded and blurry. Their red eyes were piercing into their souls. The robed figured had their faces covered so they couldn't be manipulated by the sharingan, but their thinking was too simple. The leader suddenly detected something and shouted out.

"Poison gas!" The explosion had also released a smoke-like poison. It seemed to just be part of the explosion at first, but the black smoke lingered for too long. It wasn't lethal otherwise they would have detected it right away, so it was a weaker poison meant to mess with their senses. Once it was confirmed they were poisoned, the three began to fight.

…

"Your friends' fate is already sealed. Just give up." The man said to Saki. They both had swords drawn and the damage in the room was a testament to their clashing. Saki sensed the fighting going on, but her sharingan was being interfered with by whatever seal was cast in the main room. Based on what she knows about Ryunosuke, she didn't think they would lose to an ambush.

"Your kenjutsu is weak." She didn't bother speaking anymore and continued trying to get past him or exploit a weakness to take him out. She didn't apply any chakra to her blade in order to conserve energy while observing the situation.

…

"Leave me, I won't live for much longer." Hinako's words made Natsume's heart drop. The anger and grief caused her sharingan to activate on its own. The two tomoe spun and spun until a third tomoe appeared. She felt the drain in chakra and was a bit burdened by it, but the enhancement filled her with confidence.

"Hang in there, sensei. I'll get you out of here."