Explosive encounter 7

As the Silver Team continued their flight through the forest, the tension was palpable. Their bodies ached from the earlier battle with the Explosion Corps, and their chakra reserves were running low. But just when they thought they had made a clean getaway, fate had other plans.

A merchant caravan, traveling through the dense woods, crossed their path. The merchant, a grizzled man with a weathered face and tired eyes, stopped when he saw the Silver Team's fatigued and wary expressions. After a brief conversation, he offered them some much-needed supplies—food, water, and a safe place to rest for the night.

Grateful for the help, the team agreed and settled down inside the caravan. The merchant led them to a small campfire within the caravan's shelter and assured them it was safe. They were exhausted, their muscles sore from the constant movement and the battle they had just survived.

The caravan seemed to be heading toward a nearby village. It was a temporary reprieve, a chance to regain some energy. Silver, though still wary of their situation, let himself relax for a moment as he ate and rehydrated.

However, peace would not last long.

A day later, Silver woke to the distant sounds of explosions and shouting. His senses instantly sharpened, and he sat up, his mind on high alert. The noises were coming from outside. The sounds of chaos reached his ears, sharp and ominous. A sense of dread settled in his chest as he stood up, his eyes scanning the dimly lit interior of the caravan.

"Get up. Something's wrong." Silver's voice was low, filled with urgency. He moved quickly to the door, pulling aside the thick fabric of the caravan to look outside.

What he saw made his heart race. In the distance, he could see flashes of light and billowing smoke, the unmistakable signs of explosions. His instincts told him immediately—it was the Explosion Corps. They were here.

As he stepped outside, his sharp gaze caught the sight of Sight (Ryota) already engaged in combat with three members of the Explosion Corps, their forms moving with deadly precision. Sight was a blur of motion, his Byakugan active and glowing as he swiftly dodged and countered their attacks. The Iwa ninjas launched explosive tags, creating massive bursts of smoke and debris, but Sight moved through it all with a calm, calculated grace.

"Damn it!" Silver muttered under his breath, quickly assessing the situation. The rest of his team was still inside the caravan, but they wouldn't have much time. If the Explosion Corps was already here, they were likely aware of their presence.

Without hesitation, Silver formed a series of quick hand seals, his body flowing with chakra. "Lightning Style: Thunderclap!" A bolt of lightning shot from his hand, streaking toward the battlefield in a blinding flash. The explosion was deafening, temporarily blinding the enemy and providing a brief moment for Sight to disengage and reorient.

But the Explosion Corps wasn't so easily shaken. The Iwa ninjas, though temporarily stunned, quickly regained their footing. One of them formed hand seals with remarkable speed, and before Silver could react, the ground trembled beneath their feet.

"Earth Style: Stone Avalanche!" The earth cracked open, and massive stones erupted from the ground, raining down around them in a deadly barrage. Silver barely had time to react, leaping to the side as the rocks smashed into the ground.

"Sight! Fall back!" Silver shouted, realizing they were quickly being surrounded by the enemy. There were too many of them, and the terrain was too difficult to navigate quickly.

Sight, still in the thick of battle, nodded sharply, his Byakugan glowing brighter as he dodged another explosive kunai. He immediately flickered away with Shunshin, vanishing into the smoke just as another explosion rocked the earth.

Silver's mind raced. He needed to regroup with the rest of the team, and fast. But he couldn't leave Sight in a vulnerable position.

"Everyone, move out! We've got to help Sight and get out of here!" Silver barked, turning back toward the caravan. He could already hear the others stirring behind him.

Inside the caravan, Whisper (Aiko), Embers (Hiroshi), and Verdants (Kaori) were already preparing for action. Whisper's eyes narrowed as she sensed the threat closing in, while Kaori slammed her hand into the ground, ready to unleash an Earth Style counter.

"On my mark!" Silver said, as he formed another set of hand seals. "Lightning Style: Thunder Beast!" A massive bolt of lightning erupted from the sky, crashing into the trees and creating a blinding light. The explosion was enough to force the Iwa ninjas to scatter, giving them a brief window of escape.

The Silver Team quickly moved into action, charging toward Sight as he reappeared from the smoke, panting heavily but still standing strong. They needed to break through the enemy lines and flee—now.

"Let's go!" Silver ordered, leading the charge as they pushed forward, their chakra and energy working in perfect synchronization.

Sight followed closely, his Byakugan active as he scanned for any threats. "We're not out of the woods yet. They'll come after us," he warned, glancing over his shoulder.

Silver nodded, his mind already working on their next move. They had to make it to the cover of the trees before the enemy regrouped.

As the Silver Team moved quickly and decisively through the battlefield, they knew they weren't safe yet. The Explosion Corps would stop at nothing to destroy them. But for now, they had a brief moment to escape the chaos, and they weren't going to let it slip away.