Fractured but Unbroken

As the Silver Team reached the border outpost, the toll of the battle was evident. Every member of the team was battered and bruised, their chakra reserves nearly depleted from the continuous fighting. Silver, his dog-face mask now cracked and scorched, limped alongside his team, his usual composure replaced by exhaustion.

Tetsuma, though one of the strongest on the team, had used every ounce of his chakra in the battle, from his Chidori variants to his Earth-style jutsu, but even he had limits. His eyes were bloodshot, his breathing ragged, and his movements slow. The Explosion Corps and the Iwa ANBU had pushed them to their absolute breaking point.

As they staggered into the outpost, the guards quickly noticed their condition, rushing to assist them. Ryota—Sight—was the first to collapse against the stone wall of the outpost, his Byakugan fading as his chakra was completely drained. Kaori, ever the reliable force, was silent, her face pale from the effort of using her Earth-style jutsu to protect the team. Hiroshi's eyes were unfocused, and despite his adept use of genjutsu, even he had been worn down by the relentless combat.

"We… managed to kill seven Explosion Corps members and a team of Iwa ANBU," Silver rasped, his voice hoarse. "But we couldn't take their bodies with us. The battle was too much… we couldn't risk it."

The guards nodded, knowing that the loss of valuable intel was a blow, but the fact that they had survived was a minor victory in itself. The Explosion Corps had been notoriously dangerous, and the Iwa ANBU—with their superior strength and battle tactics—were a force to be reckoned with.

Silver paused, his face still hidden behind his mask. "We need to rest," he murmured. "This mission is far from over. But for now… we regroup."

He turned his attention to his team, silently assessing each of them. Their clothes were torn, bloodied, and dirtied from the fight. Ryota's breathing was shallow, Kaori's hands were trembling, and Hiroshi's mask was cracked from a close-range explosion. Despite the damage, they had all remained alive, and that was what mattered most.

"Let's rest for now. We're not out of danger yet," Silver said firmly. His voice, though quiet, carried the weight of his authority. "The mission's primary objective is still intact. We gathered valuable information, and that's enough for now."

Tetsuma gave a weary nod, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Next time, I'll make sure to conserve more chakra. I… I didn't expect them to push us this far."

Silver's sharp gaze softened for a moment. "We all underestimated them. But this mission is a success. We need to focus on returning to the Land of Fire and reporting what we've learned."

As they sat down, the pain of their injuries seemed to fade slightly with the realization that they had survived. Though their bodies were bruised and their chakra reserves emptied, they had dealt a significant blow to the Explosion Corps and Iwa ANBU—two powerful forces that had been sent after them.

Hiroshi exhaled, his hands still trembling slightly. "Silver… do you think we're ready for the next fight?"

Silver's mask remained in place, but his eyes were serious. "The next fight is already coming, Hiroshi. But for now, we rest and prepare. The enemy isn't going to stop. And neither can we."

The team was battered, but as long as they still drew breath, they knew they had a mission to complete. They had made it this far, and they would continue forward, no matter the odds.

As night fell over the border outpost, the Silver Team found what little rest they could, knowing that their fight was far from over. They had survived this battle—but many more lay ahead.