A Difficult Road Home 7

Tetsuma exhaled slowly, surveying the aftermath of the brutal battle. The scent of scorched earth and blood filled the air. The once-solid ground was now a battlefield of craters, shattered rock, and lingering sparks of electricity.

His squad had suffered heavy losses.

A few meters away, the body of his fallen comrade lay motionless, his mask cracked, his Anbu armor soaked in blood. His two remaining subordinates, barely standing, were covered in injuries, their breaths ragged.

Tetsuma clenched his fists. Another life lost under his command.

But this was war.

Ebizo, kneeling a short distance away, was still alive but gravely injured. His breathing was labored, and blood trickled down his lips. Yet, despite his weakened state, the Suna commander remained defiant.

Then, movement.

Tetsuma's keen senses picked up the arrival of multiple chakra signatures—fast-moving, disciplined.

Konoha reinforcements.

Emerging from the darkness, a squad of Anbu operatives landed beside Tetsuma. Their wolf-masked captain, clad in standard Anbu gear, immediately took in the situation.

"Commander Silver, we received word of your engagement and moved in immediately. We stand ready for orders."

At the same time, on the opposite side of the battlefield, another group arrived.

Suna Anbu.

Five elite operatives, clad in their desert-toned uniforms, rushed to Ebizo's side. They helped their commander up while one of them scanned the battlefield with wary eyes.

A standoff.

Neither side moved. The tension in the air was suffocating. Hands hovered over weapons, muscles tensed, and the storm rumbled in the distance, echoing the unspoken threat that lingered between them.

Ebizo, still clutching his injured side, let out a weak chuckle.

"Seems we both drew attention, Silver Blade. If we fight now, it'll only attract even more unwanted guests."

Tetsuma remained silent, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings. He already sensed the presence of approaching Ame shinobi.

The Hidden Rain had always been territorial. If they arrived now, both Konoha and Suna would be forced into another engagement neither side wanted.

A fight here would serve no purpose.

Tetsuma's grip on his Kusanagi loosened slightly.

"Withdraw," he finally ordered.

The Konoha Anbu hesitated but obeyed, disappearing into the shadows. His remaining two subordinates followed, leaping into the trees.

Ebizo nodded toward his own men.

"We're leaving," he muttered.

With that, the Suna Anbu vanished into the dunes, supporting their injured commander.

Tetsuma took one last glance at the battlefield. Blood, bodies, and destruction.

He turned and flickered into the darkness.

The war raged on. But today, there would be no victor.

__________

Tetsuma's body ached with exhaustion, but his mind remained razor-sharp. The battle against Ebizo had drained him, and the loss of another comrade weighed heavily on him. However, he had no time to mourn—not yet.

The Land of Rain was no longer safe.

Ame shinobi were already prowling the battlefield, drawn by the clash between Konoha and Suna's elite forces. If they lingered, they would be overwhelmed by enemy reinforcements.

Tetsuma turned to his remaining Anbu operatives, their armor battered and their chakra reserves running low. They were in no condition for another prolonged engagement.

"We move out," he ordered, his tone firm despite his fatigue. "We're heading straight for the Land of Fire's border outpost. No stops. No detours. Keep your chakra usage to a minimum."

His men nodded without hesitation.

Without another word, they flickered into the dense foliage, blending into the shadows as they moved.

---

A Grueling Journey

The trek toward the Land of Fire was arduous. The constant rain and damp air of Amegakure seeped into their wounds, slowing their movements. Even for battle-hardened Anbu, their injuries made the journey difficult.

Tetsuma took the lead, pushing forward despite the burning pain in his limbs. His Chidori-based techniques had drained a considerable amount of his chakra, and while he was still capable of fighting, he knew he had to conserve his strength.

At one point, one of his subordinates—Anbu codename "Striker"—stumbled, nearly collapsing. Tetsuma caught him by the arm and hoisted him back to his feet.

"Don't falter now," he said, his voice steely. "Just a little farther."

Striker nodded weakly, regaining his footing.

By the time they crossed into the Land of Fire, the rain had begun to fade, replaced by the cool night breeze of their homeland. They were close.

---

The Border Outpost

After what felt like an eternity, they reached the outpost. Hidden within a dense forest near the Fire Country's edge, the outpost was a heavily fortified stronghold, meant to monitor enemy movement.

The guards at the entrance—standard Konoha shinobi rather than Anbu—immediately stiffened at the sight of the battered squad approaching.

"Anbu operatives approaching! Identify yourselves!" one of them shouted, raising his kunai.

Tetsuma didn't bother with formalities.

"Stand down," he said, his voice carrying the authority of a commander. He reached for his mask, revealing his battle-worn face. "Silver Blade, returning from a mission. Get the medical unit here. Now."

The guards immediately complied, recognizing the famous Anbu captain.

Within minutes, medics rushed forward, guiding the injured operatives inside. The border outpost was well-equipped to handle wounded shinobi, and within moments, Tetsuma felt himself being led toward a medical ward.

But before he could allow himself to rest, a familiar voice reached his ears.

"Tetsuma-sama, you look terrible."

He turned to see Senju Kaori, codename "Verdant", standing with her arms crossed. Her green-tinted Anbu armor marked her as one of Konoha's most skilled medics.

Tetsuma let out a dry chuckle. "I've had worse."

Kaori sighed and grabbed his wrist, dragging him inside the medical tent.

"Sit down before you collapse, idiot."

This time, Tetsuma didn't argue. He had pushed himself far enough.

As he sat down, the weight of the war finally settled on his shoulders.

This was just one battle.

There were still many more to come.