A Sandy Encounter (end)

Chapter: Salvage and Strategy

Silver and his team stood among the remains of the ambush, the weight of their losses pressing down on them. The battle had been brutal, but in the end, they had managed to eliminate all but two of the Sand shinobi. Silver's team had fought hard, but the cost of victory was evident in the state of their wounded comrades.

Silver's gaze lingered on Aiko, her pale face a stark reminder of the poison that still coursed through her veins. He had done what he could in the moment—stabilizing her just enough to prevent immediate death—but there was no question that she needed urgent care. The poison's effects were potent, and only the best medical ninjas back in Konoha would be able to properly treat her.

"We need to get her back to Konoha," Silver said, his voice grim as he looked over at Ryota, Hiroshi, and Kaori.

"We'll manage," Kaori replied, her voice steady but laced with concern. She was the most reserved of the team, and her calm demeanor was a stabilizing force in these situations. "But we can't risk staying here for too long. We've already lost valuable time."

Silver nodded. He had no intention of letting the mission drag on any longer than necessary. There were still too many unanswered questions, and the missing three ANBU squads weighed heavily on his mind.

Hiroshi, though quiet in moments like these, spoke up. "What about the Sand shinobi?" he asked, looking at the five lifeless bodies of the enemy ninjas scattered on the ground. Their blood stained the earth, a grim reminder of the price of failure.

Silver's expression hardened as he looked over the bodies. The Sand ninjas had been well-trained, but their skills had ultimately proven inadequate against Silver and his team. Their deaths were a necessary part of the mission—however, Silver knew there was more to gain from these corpses than simple closure.

"We'll bring them back," Silver said, moving to kneel down by the body of the Sand elite Jonin. "Their bodies may hold more than just information. We'll have their minds read."

Ryota, who had been silent up to this point, narrowed his eyes. "Do you think they have any valuable intel on the missing ANBU squads?" he asked, looking toward the distant landscape of the Land of Rivers.

"We'll find out soon enough," Silver replied, his hand resting on the head of one of the fallen Sand Jonin. "If they know anything about the missing squads, we'll extract it."

Silver looked over to Kaori, who nodded and moved to help stabilize Aiko once again. He could see the strain on her face, but her eyes were determined.

"We'll carry the bodies with us," Silver continued. "It'll be easier to get answers with them alive. We'll get back to Konoha and head straight for the interrogation chambers."

Kaori's voice was tight but resolved. "I'll keep Aiko stable. We can't afford to lose any more time."

As the team packed up the bodies of the Sand shinobi, Silver remained focused. His mind raced through their options—how best to handle the interrogation once they returned to Konoha, what information could be gained, and whether or not they could finally track down the missing three ANBU squads.

Once everything was secured, they began their journey back toward the Fire Country border. The weight of their responsibility hung over them. They had no time to waste.

Back at the Konoha Hospital

Silver and his team arrived at Konoha's gates late into the night, the flickering torches marking their passage through the village. Aiko's breathing was shallow, but with every minute that passed, her condition seemed to worsen. The poison had spread too far, and Silver knew they couldn't afford to waste time.

As soon as they reached the Konoha Hospital, Aiko was immediately placed under the care of the medical staff. Silver, his eyes scanning the situation with impatience, met with the chief medical ninja overseeing Aiko's treatment.

"We'll need to administer an antidote, but we won't be able to fully purge the poison without a more thorough examination," the medic explained, looking over the details of the poison. "I'll need to consult with the Hokage's personal physician for a more precise antidote. I'm afraid it'll take time."

Silver's mind was elsewhere, though. "What about the bodies?" he asked, already knowing that time was of the essence. "The Sand shinobi. We need them interrogated immediately."

The medic nodded, his tone serious. "They've been brought in," he said, "but we're short on resources at the moment. Once the patient is stabilized, we can prioritize the interrogation. I'll let the ANBU Commander know that you're ready to start."

Silver turned to his team, looking over at Ryota, Hiroshi, and Kaori. "We'll need to prepare for interrogation. We can't afford to let the Sand ninjas' deaths be in vain."

Hiroshi's eyes flickered with a grim understanding, while Ryota gave a nod of acknowledgment. "We'll get the information. We have to."

Silver's gaze turned cold. "We need answers. The missing ANBU squads aren't going to stay lost forever. We'll find them, no matter what it takes."

The mission wasn't over yet. Not by a long shot.

As the sun began to rise over the village, Silver steeled himself for what was to come. There were still questions that needed to be answered, and he would stop at nothing to get them.