Chapter 55: Returning to Camp

Chapter 55: Returning to Camp

Genma approached Kurenai and pulled her aside to speak in hushed tones.

Caught off guard by Genma's directness, Kurenai blinked, her long lashes fluttering, as a quiet joy filled her heart. It felt like they were sharing a secret moment amidst the chaos.

After hearing Kurenai's explanation, Genma finally understood what had transpired.

Raido had been trying to calm Kurenai by describing an exaggerated scenario of Genma being blown to bits underground. While it was meant as a joke, it only heightened her anxiety. To make matters worse, Raido himself had returned from his duties with an injured eye, which made him look even more disheveled and suspicious.

When Kurenai had been moved to the tent to rest, her worries only deepened. Seeing this, Raido, ever the jokester, continued spinning outrageous tales to distract her. Unfortunately, his blunt approach nearly brought her to tears.

Realizing that Raido's good intentions had gone awry, Genma felt a mix of frustration and relief. He comforted Kurenai, assuring her that everything was fine, and then guided her outside to rejoin their team.

A loud explosion shattered the relative calm, its sound reverberating across the camp. Genma, Kurenai, and Yuji immediately tensed, recognizing the signal. Without hesitation, they dashed toward the source.

Upon arriving at the scene, they found a chaotic battlefield. Enemy forces, clad in distinctive attire, had launched an attack on the camp. In the distance, Genma spotted enemy shinobi wreaking havoc—one wielding shuriken with deadly precision, two armed with blades, and one with massive, stone-covered fists.

It was clear that the enemy had anticipated the presence of shinobi in the camp and had set their trap around the explosive tags buried underground. While the attack itself was not overwhelming in scale, the precision and ferocity of the shinobi's tactics were enough to disrupt the soldiers and shake morale.

Wildly outmatched, the soldiers were struggling to hold their ground until the Leaf shinobi intervened. Yuji, Kurenai, and Genma watched as their comrades engaged the enemy:

Ebisu and Iwashi managed to hold off one shinobi together.

Another group, consisting of Guy, Iwazuka, and Taito, struggled against three others.

Meanwhile, additional enemies remained hidden underground, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Realizing the dire situation, Genma didn't hesitate. He rushed toward an enemy shinobi who was locked in combat with Guy, intending to strike from behind. But just as Genma was about to land his attack, the ground beneath him gave way.

A hand shot out from the earth, grabbing his ankle with surprising strength.

Genma instantly recognized the technique: Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique. He was caught in an ambush. Despite his struggles, the grip tightened, threatening to drag him underground.

Just as panic began to set in, a familiar voice rang out, calm and reassuring. "Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"

The ground around Genma turned to sand, and the grip on his ankle loosened. The enemy shinobi, buried beneath the shifting earth, flailed desperately but couldn't hold on. Genma seized the moment, driving his blade downward. The sand turned dark red as the enemy's movements ceased.

"Well done, but don't let your guard down next time," Yuji said, stepping into view. His warm tone and steady presence filled Genma with a renewed sense of determination.

Before Genma could respond, Kurenai arrived by his side, her expression a mix of relief and concern.

"Are you okay, Genma?" she asked, her crimson eyes searching his face for any sign of injury.

"I'm fine," Genma replied, though her presence only heightened his resolve. The thought of losing her—or anyone else—was unbearable. His gaze hardened as he looked toward the ongoing battle.

"Let's go help the others," Genma said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within him.

"Right," Kurenai agreed without hesitation.

The two joined Guy, who was still engaged in a fierce battle. The shinobi he faced was a ruthless opponent, matching Guy's taijutsu skill but showing no hesitation to use lethal force. Spotting an opportunity, Genma cast Earth Release: Mud Spikes, aiming to catch the enemy off guard.

The spikes struck true, piercing the target—only for the figure to dissolve into a pile of dirt.

"A substitution jutsu," Genma muttered.

Guy, now free of his immediate opponent, regrouped with Genma and Kurenai. "Thanks for the assist, Genma. These guys are tough—they're at least Chūnin-level."

Genma nodded. "Let's stick together. These aren't enemies we can take lightly."

Guy agreed, and the trio made their way to where Ebisu and Iwashi were locked in combat. They arrived just in time to see the enemy shinobi they were fighting turn into yet another substitution clone.

Relieved to see their friends unharmed, Ebisu greeted them with a rare smile. "Good to see you all in one piece. Let's regroup and support our sensei."

As the group exchanged updates, a troubling thought crossed Genma's mind. "Wait… what about Raido?"

"Last I saw him, he was still in the tent, injured," Ebisu said, his face darkening as the implication sank in.

Genma's eyes widened. "If the enemy has infiltrated the camp, Raido could be in serious danger!"

"I agree," Ebisu said. "But we can't rush in recklessly. There might be more ambushes waiting for us."

Genma clenched his fists. He didn't want to risk leaving Raido behind, but he knew Ebisu was right. After a moment of thought, he said, "Let's split up. I'll take Kurenai, Guy, and Iwashi. Ebisu, you stay here and support our sensei."

Ebisu hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright. Be careful."

Genma led his group toward the main tent, deploying four shadow clones as decoys. "Stay alert," he instructed. "The enemy is likely underground. Kurenai and I will scout the tent with binoculars. Guy, Iwashi, watch my clones for any unusual activity."

The group moved cautiously, using the clones to test the ground ahead. Through his binoculars, Genma observed movement inside the main tent. It was clear that a battle was taking place—but the sporadic movements suggested a cat-and-mouse game rather than a direct confrontation.

"Raido must be trying to keep his distance," Genma speculated. "The enemy might think he can sense the explosives underground, so they're focusing on him."

His heart sank as he realized the stakes. If the enemy succeeded in their plan, it could devastate the entire camp. There was no time to lose.

"Let's move," Genma said firmly. "We'll split into two groups. Kurenai and I will take the lead. Guy, Iwashi—you're our backup. Be ready to use Earth Release techniques if the situation gets dire."

The group advanced toward the tent, their resolve unwavering.

End of chapter 55