The Calm Before the Storm 18

Tetsuma, battered and bruised from days of evasion, finally stumbled his way into the border outpost of the Land of Fire. The guards, unaware of his identity, only recognized him as an ANBU member, his face obscured by his dog mask. They quickly rushed to assist him, leading him to the medical tent. His injuries were severe, and his chakra was nearly depleted. The guards scrambled to stabilize him as best they could, but with limited resources, they knew he needed help.

In a frantic hurry, one of the guards sent a hawk to Konoha, summoning reinforcements to the outpost. The message was simple: an ANBU agent was injured, and immediate help was required.

Hours passed—twelve to be exact. The outpost personnel worked tirelessly, but despite their efforts, Tetsuma's condition remained critical. The sun began to set, casting a dusky orange light over the border outpost, and it seemed like the hope of reinforcements was growing thinner with each passing moment.

Finally, as night fell, the sound of wings filled the air. It was no longer the hawk that had carried the urgent message, but a full squad of ANBU. Their leader was none other than Sting, the ANBU Battalion Commander and Tetsuma's father.

Sting's presence commanded immediate attention. His eyes, sharp and calculating, scanned the medical tent with precision, his gaze resting on Tetsuma, who lay unconscious and battered on a stretcher. The guards snapped to attention as he entered, his voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of concern.

"Report," Sting said, his tone calm but authoritative.

One of the guards stepped forward, briefing him on the situation. "Sir, this ANBU was found near the border, injured and exhausted. His chakra reserves are dangerously low, and he's been unconscious for over twelve hours. We've done what we could, but he's in critical condition."

Sting's expression hardened, his eyes never leaving his son. He moved quickly to Tetsuma's side, kneeling to examine the wounds. His son's body was covered in bandages, and the strain on his face was evident, even in his unconscious state.

"How long has he been in this condition?" Sting asked, his voice softer now, tinged with fatherly concern.

"About twelve hours, sir. His injuries are severe. We need to get him to Konoha immediately."

Sting nodded silently, the weight of the situation clear in his eyes. He understood the urgency. The mission that Tetsuma had undertaken, the information he had gathered about Takigakure's ties with Iwagakure, was too important to allow his son's injury to slow them down. This was no time for hesitation.

He stood up and addressed the gathered ANBU. "Prepare for transport. We leave now. There's no time to waste."

The medics moved quickly, stabilizing Tetsuma enough to transport him. The team went into action, coordinating the movement to ensure he would be safely carried back to Konoha. Sting watched them for a moment, his gaze lingering on his son, who had risked so much for the village.

Turning to the head medic, Sting's voice was firm. "Make sure he's stable enough for travel. We leave immediately. We don't stop until we reach Konoha."

The medic nodded, giving orders to the team to make the necessary preparations. Within moments, the stretcher was loaded, and the ANBU team was ready to move. Tetsuma was their priority now, and Sting would see to it that nothing would prevent them from completing the mission, no matter the cost.

As the team prepared to leave, Sting gave the final order. "Move out."

And with that, the reinforcements departed from the border outpost, the heavy weight of their mission hanging in the air. They had a long journey ahead, but the urgency to get Tetsuma back to Konoha remained ever-present. Despite the battles, the pain, and the obstacles, their duty was far from over.