Search and Rescue Opt. 10

As Silver stood poised, preparing his next move, the deafening sound of explosions ringing in his ears, a shout broke through the chaos. He whipped his head around, eyes narrowing.

"Tetsuma! Over here!" It was Falcon, the leader of the other Anbu squad, his voice cutting through the smoke and dust of the battlefield. Falcon was the only one left standing from his team, bloodied and breathing heavily, his mask cracked and his once pristine cloak now tattered.

"Falcon..." Silver muttered, his focus momentarily diverted. The sight of the squad's fallen members, their bodies scattered across the battlefield, sent a wave of frustration and anger rushing through him. Despite the grim situation, there was little time to mourn their loss. The immediate threat was still Yukio and the Explosion Corps.

As Silver looked back at his own team, he saw that Whisper, Sight, Embers, and Verdants were all struggling. Their breathing was heavy, their bodies battered and bruised. Hiroshi, the usually calm and collected member of the team, was clutching his side, his body covered in cuts from the explosive barrage. Kaori had blood dripping down her temple, and even Ryota, despite his superior combat prowess, looked on the verge of exhaustion.

The situation was dire.

"Tetsuma, we need a plan, now!" Falcon shouted again, barely holding onto his composure. "The other squad is finished. It's just us now, and if we don't act fast, we're done for!"

Silver didn't respond immediately. His mind raced as he tried to calculate the best way forward. His eyes flicked back to Yukio, still standing tall in the midst of his chaos, and then to his own squad. The odds were slipping further from their favor with every passing second.

"We need to take him down now, or we'll be overwhelmed completely," Silver said, his voice sharp with authority, despite the fatigue weighing heavily on him. He knew they couldn't afford to fight defensively any longer.

He glanced at Falcon, who was standing tall despite the odds. His experience and leadership would be key in this fight. "Falcon, create an opening for us. I'll take care of Yukio. The rest of you—get ready to assist me."

"Understood." Falcon nodded, his eyes filled with determination. Without another word, he spun around and leapt into action. With a flick of his wrist, he threw shuriken imbued with chakra, creating a barrage of deadly spinning blades aimed at Yukio, forcing him to react.

As Falcon created the opening, Silver moved swiftly, the lightning-charged Kusanagi sword crackling with energy. "Chidori Eiso!" Silver roared, his sword shooting forward in a deadly beam of lightning chakra, aimed straight for Yukio's chest.

But Yukio wasn't the type to be caught off guard easily. With a savage grin, he raised his hands and quickly performed a series of seals. The ground beneath him erupted once again, a series of jagged stone pillars rising to intercept Silver's strike. "Explosion Style: Cataclysmic Burst!" Yukio shouted, releasing a massive explosion beneath him, sending shockwaves in all directions.

Silver had no choice but to backpedal, his feet sliding against the dirt as he tried to regain his balance. The explosion left a crater in the earth, obscuring his vision for a moment, but Silver could still hear Yukio's laughter echoing through the smoke.

"You're still alive? I thought the mighty Kusanagi sword would be enough to end you!" Yukio taunted, his voice thick with malice.

Silver's jaw clenched, but he remained silent, his eyes scanning the dust, waiting for an opportunity to strike again. The others were still struggling, but they were alive, and that was something.

"Let's finish this," Silver muttered under his breath, his resolve hardening.

"The battle is not over yet."