Naruto rebirth! Xenoverse!

Chapter 56: Regrouping and Recovery!

The forest clearing where Team 15 had fought their desperate battle against the Cloud ninja was now eerily quiet, save for the gentle rustling of leaves in the night breeze. The bodies of their fallen enemies lay scattered around them, testament to their hard-won victory, but Kōzaru knew better than to let his guard down. War had taught him that enemies rarely traveled alone, and the scent of blood could draw more predators.

"We need to move to higher ground," Kōzaru said, his enhanced senses still alert for any signs of approaching threats. "This clearing is too exposed, and if more enemies are in the area, they'll be drawn to the sounds of battle."

"Agreed," Aotaka replied, resheathing his sword after wiping the blood from its blade. "That ridge over there should give us good visibility while keeping us concealed."

Tatsuma nodded, still breathing heavily from his exhausting battle. "And it'll put us upwind of anyone approaching from the south." He said, taking a look at the aftermath of their battle.

The three teammates moved, their recent battles having sharpened their tactical awareness even further. They selected a position on a small ridge overlooking the clearing, with thick trees providing cover while offering multiple escape routes. It was the kind of defensive position that they had been trained to recognize and utilize even while in the academy.

"Yuki, Riku," Kōzaru called softly, his voice filled with concern as he knelt beside his ninken companions. "How are you two holding up?"

Riku limped slightly as he approached, blood still matting the fur around his shoulder where the Cloud ninja's kunai had found its mark. His brown eyes were bright with determination, but Kōzaru could sense the pain his partner was trying to hide.

"You took a nasty cut there, buddy," Kōzaru said gently, carefully examining the wound. He pulled some basic bandages from his supply pouch, wrapping them around Riku's shoulder with care. It wasn't much, but it would help stop the bleeding until they could get proper medical attention.

Yuki pressed close against her brother, her own concern evident as she nuzzled against Riku's uninjured side. The bond between the three was stronger than ever, forged in the crucible of combat and mutual protection.

"There, that should help for now," Kōzaru said, checking the bandages to ensure they were secure. The wound had stopped bleeding actively, though it would still need proper medical attention once they returned to the village. "You're both incredibly brave. I couldn't have won that fight without you."

Both ninken barked softly in acknowledgment, their tails wagging despite their exhaustion. The trust between them was absolute, and Kōzaru felt a surge of pride in his companions.

With his ninken tended to, Kōzaru finally allowed himself to examine his own condition. The recent battles had pushed him to his limits, but the recovery pills had restored much of his strength. Still, he wanted to check his current status to better understand how the system was tracking his growth.

"Status," he whispered under his breath, calling up his personal information screen.

Kōzaru:

Inuzuka Clan: Level 8: EXP (1820/2000) Skill points available: 2

Health: 140 + (14×2) = 168,

Chakra: 140+ (10×2) = 160,

Taijutsu: 14,

Ninjutsu: 10,

Genjutsu: 2,

Kenjutsu: 3,

Abilities: Wind Style (Gale Palm): Cost 20 chakra.

Body Flicker: Cost 10 chakra.

Beast Mimicry: All-Fours Jutsu: Cost 30 chakra.

Man Beast Clone: Cost 30 chakra per clone. Now no cost if the dogs use their own chakra.

Fang over fang: Cost 20 chakra.

Special: Heightened senses, Chakra Sensing.

Yuki & Riku: Ninja hounds Basic Pack Coordination.

Current health and chakra: [Health: 168/168] [Chakra: 120/160]

Kōzaru nodded with satisfaction as he reviewed his progress. The recent battles had provided substantial experience gains, and his skills were continuing to develop. The addition of Chakra Sensing as a recognized ability was particularly interesting—it explained how he had been able to detect the enemy ninja's power levels during their encounters.

"Everything alright?" Tatsuma asked, settling down beside him while keeping his eyes on the surrounding forest.

"Yeah, just checking my condition," Kōzaru replied. "How are you holding up? That was a tough fight."

"Better than I expected," Tatsuma admitted. "Those recovery pills are amazing. I feel like I could go another round if I had to." He said, moving his damaged arm to show it was feeling better.

"Let's hope we don't have to," Aotaka said from his position near a large tree trunk. "Though I have to admit, I'm starting to understand what sensei meant about the unpredictability of missions. We came here to investigate a missing convoy, and we've already fought two separate groups of enemy ninja."

"The war is escalating," Kōzaru observed. "Enemy forces are operating deeper in Fire Country territory than we expected. This area should have been relatively safe."

Their conversation was interrupted by the soft sound of approaching footsteps. All three immediately tensed, their hands moving to their weapons as they scanned the darkness for the source of the sound.

"Relax," came a familiar voice as a figure emerged from the shadows. "It's just me."

Minato stepped into their defensive position, his blonde hair catching the filtered moonlight. But something seemed slightly off about his appearance—the way he moved, the slight translucency of his form in the dim light.

Kōzaru's enhanced senses immediately detected the subtle differences. "Sensei... you're a shadow clone," he said, his voice carrying a note of surprise.

Minato's eyebrows rose slightly. "Impressive. How did you know?"

"Your scent," Kōzaru explained. "It's similar but not exactly the same. Plus, your chakra signature is different—more condensed, like it's been divided."

"Your sensory abilities are developing rapidly, just what I would expect from an Inuzuka." Minato observed with approval. "That's exactly right. The real me is currently securing the area where the medical convoy was taken."

"You found them?" Tatsuma asked, leaning forward with interest.

"I did," the clone replied, his expression growing serious. "The situation is more complex than we initially thought. The convoy was attacked by a coordinated force of Stone and Cloud ninja working together—something we haven't seen before in this conflict."

"Stone and Cloud working together?" Aotaka repeated, his voice carrying disbelief. "But they're traditional enemies."

"Apparently not anymore," Minato said grimly. "The attack was specifically designed to capture the medical supplies and personnel. They weren't just trying to disrupt our supply lines—they were gathering intelligence about our medical capabilities and potentially seeking to turn our own medics against us."

The implications sent a chill through all three genin. The idea of enemy nations coordinating their efforts was disturbing enough, but the thought of their own people being forced to work against the village was horrifying.

"What about survivors?" Kōzaru asked, dreading the answer.

"There are some," Minato replied, and the relief in the air was palpable. "Two of the medical personnel survived, along with the convoy's civilian driver. They're in poor condition but alive. I've eliminated their guards and captured one enemy ninja for interrogation."

"So what's our next move?" Tatsuma asked.

"The mission parameters have changed," Minato explained. "We're no longer just investigating a missing convoy. Our new objective is to escort the surviving medical personnel and the recovered supplies to their original destination—the forward medical outpost near the border."

"How far is it?" Aotaka asked, already mentally preparing for another journey.

"About half a day's travel through hostile territory," the clone replied. "The original convoy route is compromised, so we'll need to take a more circuitous path. It'll be dangerous, especially with wounded civilians slowing us down."

"Are we expecting more enemy contact?" Kōzaru asked, his hand unconsciously moving to comfort Yuki and Riku.

"Almost certainly," Minato said. "The enemy force we encountered was part of a larger operation. When their units fail to report in, they'll most likely send search parties if they have the manpower. We need to move quickly and stay ahead of any pursuit."

The clone gestured toward the northwest. "My real body is about two kilometres in that direction, in a concealed position near where the convoy was ambushed. He's tending to the survivors and securing the medical supplies."

"What about the captured enemy ninja?" Tatsuma asked, wondering what would happen to him now.

"He's being... persuaded to share information about their operation," Minato replied, his tone carrying implications that made all three genin slightly uncomfortable. "Intelligence gathering is a necessary part of warfare, even when the methods are unpleasant." He said cut and dry.

Kōzaru nodded, understanding the harsh realities of their profession. "What do you need us to do?"

"Rest here for another few minutes while I relay information between locations," the clone said. "Then we'll move out to regroup with my real body. The survivors will need medical attention that goes beyond what I can provide in the field, and we'll need all hands to ensure their safe transport."

"Understood," all three replied in unison.

"I have to say," Minato continued, his expression softening slightly, "I'm impressed with how you handled the unexpected encounter with those Cloud ninja. Fighting multiple opponents while already exhausted from a previous battle shows real growth in your abilities and tactical ability."

"Thank you, sensei," Kōzaru said, feeling a warm sense of pride. "We remembered your training about adapting to changing circumstances."

"And you remembered to support each other," Minato added. "That's just as important as individual skill. A team that can coordinate effectively under pressure is worth far more than three strong individuals fighting separately."

"Prepare to move out in five minutes. Follow the trail I've marked—you'll find small chakra signatures embedded in trees along the way. They'll lead you directly to our position."

"What about these bodies?" Aotaka asked, gesturing toward the fallen Cloud ninja.

"Leave them," Minato said grimly. "We don't have time for proper disposal, and their discovery will send a message to any other enemy forces in the area. Sometimes psychological warfare is just as effective as direct combat."

With that, the shadow clone dispersed in a puff of smoke, leaving Team 15 alone once again in their defensive position.

"Well," Tatsuma said, breaking the brief silence, "this mission keeps getting more interesting."

"Interesting is one word for it," Kōzaru replied, checking his gear one final time. "Are you two ready for another trek through hostile territory?"

"As ready as we'll ever be," Aotaka said, testing the edge of his blade. "Though I have to admit, I'm looking forward to completing this mission and getting more EXP."

"Same here," Tatsuma agreed. "But first, we get those survivors to safety. They've been through enough already."

Kōzaru stood, his ninken immediately moving to flank him despite their own exhaustion. "Alright, team. Let's go save some lives."

With a nod the three young shinobi moved out into the darkness, following the subtle markers that Minato had left for them. Behind them, the battlefield fell silent once again, while ahead, their sensei waited with survivors who depended on them for safe passage through a war-torn landscape.

Team 15's longest night was far from over, but they faced it with the confidence of warriors who had already proven themselves in the crucible of combat. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would meet them together.

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That's the end of this chapter. Remember to check out my P.atreon page for more!