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After some hours, the rain stopped pouring down. Water had accumulated in the areas around the tents.

It was around the time of midnight when Yukan stamped on the last sheet and put it in a different pile.

He sighed once and said in a relieved voice," Finally done."

Yukan then leaned back on his chair, relaxing his spine and closed his eyes.

He didn't know when he slept on the chair.

The next morning, he was woken up by Tatsuya.

"Captain, how many times have I told you, if you always sleep like this, you will have back pains like this before you even get old." Tatsuya reprimanded Yukan.

"Hmm. Why are you here?" Yukan asked in a sleepy voice.

"I am here to talk about this. You are making me the new captain? What about you?" Tatsuya put forward the paper Kozuki had given him yesterday and asked Yukan.

"This? Because I think you are the most efficient worker from our squad and also, about me, I am leaving ANBU." Yukan said and then closed his eyes again.

"Hmm. So, you won't go on this mission with us?..." Tatsuya asked last time.

After not receiving a reply, he sighed and said," At least sleep on your bed now."

Tatsuya left the tent with the paper in his hand.

Yukan walked to his bed and lay on it. Before sleeping, he said," I'm tired."

.

.

Outside the tent, Tatsuya had gathered the other two of his teammates.

Ozawa and Takido stood in front of him, reading the paper.

"T-Tatsuya, you want us to call you captain?" Ozawa asked after he finished reading.

"Yup, I ain't calling you captain…" Takido said.

"You guys are going to, it is an order from your squad captain, hehe… Anyways, jokes apart, we have to go patrolling in the nearby area.

We have to also scavenge the carts of food if there are any. Patrolling is still the priority.

Captain won't join us in missions from now on." Tatsuya gave instructions to his squad.

"Hmm. It feels weird doing these missions without captain but, let's leave?" Takido said.

Ozawa nodded in agreement. Not much later, the three left the camp.

.

.

A few hours later,

This time, Kakashi walked into the tent and saw Yukan sleeping.

He went forward and remembered how he woke up Yukan when they first met. Kakashi then started poking Yukan's cheek.

"Back off if you want your hands, kid," Yukan said with his eyes still closed.

"O-Oh you were awake, S-Sensei?" Kakashi said in an awkward tone.

"I was asleep until you entered. So, you are back?" Yukan got up and stood.

"Of course, isn't it obvious.?" Kakashi said as he closed his eyes as if saying that Yukan was asking stupid questions.

Yukan clenched his fist and hit it softly on Kakashi's head.

"What I mean is that how is everything back in Konoha?"

"Ouch, that. Just ask me straight. Well, as for your question, Kushina Nee-San is doing fine. She told me to give you this ribbon rose when I was leaving. Also, mom sent these dangos for you and then even Kiyoko sent you this small drawing. I don't know why she likes you more than her own brother." Kakashi said as he handed all the things sent to Yukan.

Yukan kept everything aside and started eating the dangos, his favourite sweet.

"Here." Yukan offered some to Kakashi.

The two ate dangos as Kakashi continued to tell Yukan about the things going on in Konoha.

At this moment, a loud and worried shout from outside the tent came.

"SENSEI, come here quickly," Kozuki shouted and looked into the tent.

Yukan rushed outside, followed by Kakashi. The moment he stepped outside, he saw a crowd of ninjas gathered in one place.

Seeing Yukan, everyone made a gap for him to walk through.

Yukan walked to the middle and saw two medics giving Ozawa some emergency treatment.

Ozawa's one arm was cut and his face was riddled with injuries.

Yukan bent down and a slight hint of worry appeared on his expressionless face.

"What happened, Ozawa?" Yukan asked.

"Sorry commander, Ozawa-San just lost consciousness. We need to take him inside the tent." One of the medics said.

Yukan nodded and backed away from Ozawa's injured body.

"Um, Sensei according to what I heard from Ozawa-San the moment he came here is that Takido-San is dead and Tatsuya-San is held captive by the enemy," Kozuki said.

Yukan looked at Kozuki once and ordered everyone," We are going to rescue our comrade right now. Kakashi and Kozuki leave with me. The others increase the patrolling around."

Everyone nodded in agreement and started doing their work.

"Let's leave," Yukan said.

By the time Yukan said this, the two had already picked up the small pouches they had prepared for situations like this.

.

.

"So, tell us about that 'Crimson Devil' commander of yours. Anything about your camp will work." A ninja in a Kiri ninja outfit said.

Tatsuya was tied to a tree and was surrounded by more than a dozen of Kiri ninjas which were jonins.

Tatsuya already knew that there was no hope of survival for him now. His hands were both cut and his eyes had been gouged out by a sickle.

There was blood loss too. All that he was doing was wishing for a quick death.

"I won't tell you anything," Tatsuya said.

"What an idiot. Just tell us. No one is going to come for your rescue."

Tatsuya made a guess where the ninja would be and spit toward him. Unexpectedly, he spit right on the face of the ninja.

"You-You useless piece of shit." The ninja who was just spat on shouted and was about to swing his sword.

Tatsuya lost consciousness due to extreme pain.

Before the sword could touch Tatsuya, a sleek horizontal line appeared on the ninja's throat and before any more reaction, his neck cut off and fell.

The rest of his body also fell as a fountain of blood erupted from it.

"What was this?" One of the other ninjas surrounding Tatsuya said. A second later, his neck fell off.

Within minutes, all the Kiri ninjas fell after their bodies got mutilated.

Yukan then appeared in front of Tatsuya's unconscious body and felt sad for not appearing before.

He opened the ropes tying Tatsuya. At this moment, Kakashi and Kozuki appeared too.

"W-Who are you?" Tatsuya said as he barely regained consciousness.

"You are fine now, Tatsuya. It's me, Yukan." Yukan said with finally an emotion of assurance in his voice.

"Commander?"

"Yeah. Now be quiet, let's go back."

"No, stop here commander. It is of no use."

"Why?" Yukan asked why Tatsuya did not want to go back. Although he would not be a ninja anymore, Tatsuya would at least survive.

"They induced a lot of poisons in my body. By the time we reach the camp, I would already die of extreme pain so, please put me down, commander." Tatsuya requested.

Yukan thought for a moment but then put Tatsuya down.

He then ordered Kakashi and Kozuki to go a little further away.

"What is it you want?" Yukan asked as he realized Tatsuya wanted to request something more.

"Please… Please kill me, Commander." Tatsuya said.

Yukan was shocked for a second.

"Please hurry, commander. I don't want to stay in this pain any longer. Also, it was my choice so please don't regret doing this." Tatsuya said.

Yukan felt sad but he somehow took out his sword.

"All the best for your life, Yukan." Tatsuya smiled and said his last words right before Yukan's sword cut his neck in an instant.

"That was the best I could give you. A quick death." Yukan said as a sad look appeared in his eyes.

He had worked with Tatsuya for almost ten years and Tatsuya had also helped Yukan to settle in the ANBU but now, Yukan just killed Tatsuya moments ago.

Yukan walked back to Kakashi and Kozuki.

Kakashi and Kozuki understood the situation and spoke nothing.

"Order someone to bring his and Takido's body back," Yukan said and disappeared into a blur.

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