Chapter 8
Dinner that night is a somber affair, everyone is there even Neji. He came back after asking his uncle permission to sleep at the Nara compound. They says their goodbyes after dinner then they go to sleep early, they have to wake up early.
They wake up at 5.30 so they have time to shower, get dressed, eat breakfast and check they didn't forget anything. The whole house is awake by the time they have to leave, even Shikamaru who hates waking up and Shikaku who, for once, didn't have to leave early.
Yoshino frets over them "do you have everything ? Toothbrushes ? Spare kunais ? Sleeping bags ?"
Saeko catches her hand "you helped me pack and you checked Neji's before dinner. We also made sure to re-check before breakfast"
Yoshino exhales "alright" she hugs them tightly "You come back home, you hear me ?" she orders with tears in her eyes
"we'll do our best, Yoshino-san" Neji nods
"Sage be with you, kiddos. I know your strong enough to come home" he looks at them seriously "If you have to run away, don't hesitate. Your life and whatever information you have are more important than dying uselessly, don't be heroes" he hugs them briefly
"I'll be waiting for you, nee-san, Neji" Shikamaru hugs them as well "I still need to beat you at Shogi"
Once it's time, Neji and Saeko walk away without looking back. It takes them 15 minutes to arrive at the North gate, they had to take the roofs when they reached the civilian districts, the roads were already bustling with people. They're the first to arrive but it doesn't take long for someone to join them. Sensing the chakra, Saeko quickly deduces it's a shinobi with quite a bit of chakra. She signs her finding to Neji.
the shinobi who stops not far from them is a man in his twenties with short black hair and brown eyes "good morning, you must be Team Delta. I'm Satsuki Iroko, Team 9's leader"
"hello, I'm Nara Saeko and this is Hyuga Neji"
Satsuki nods "the rest of the team should be here any moment"
"someone is coming"
Satsuki looks at her weirdly "wha-" he's cut off by someone shunshinning a few meters from him "How did you know that kid ?"
"I'm a sensor, Iroko-san" Saeko says, not understanding
"mmh, I've never heard of a sensor able to do that"
"I'm a powerful one, that's why I joined the Academy and graduated early"
"how old are you ?" the newcomer asks
"nearly 6 and he's nearly 7... ?" she trails off, clearly asking for his name
"Kamibi Idate" he eyes them "You're both rookies aren't you ?"
"we are" Neji nods "We graduated a few days ago"
"a few days ago ? Is this your first mission ?" Satsuki asks in disbelief
"uh-huh, Hokage-sama debriefed us himself" Saeko crosses her arms "I have to join the war as soon as possible so it's probably to familiarise myself with the front with a less brutal battlefield. There is a great difference between a village with mostly calm chakra signatures and a battlefield with dying ones"
"damn kid, you're unlucky" Kamibi whistles
"I choose to join the war, now I have to deal with the consequences" she smiles wryly
Their last teammates arrives soon after, they introduce themself as Mirado Amy and Kojime Kosume. Without much surprise, Saeko and Neji are the only Genins, Mirado is 15 and a Chûnin, Kojime is 16 and also a Chûnin and both Kamibi and Satsuki are Jônins. Now that everyone is there and the presentations have been made, they leave the village.
They run slowly at first, at Genin speed, as the older members of the team don't know how well the kids will follow. However, Saeko rapidly puts a stop to it and runs ahead with Neji. The team catches on and the rest of their run is made at Chûnin speed. They stop once the sun sets to make camp. Kosume and Amy, as everyone agreed to use first names, are tasked with hunting dinner while Idate secure the perimeter. Iroko lights up a fire and Saeko and Neji set all their sleeping bags a few feet away from the fire.
The Chûnins come back with a few rabbits that Iroko quickly skins and cooks. Dinner is quiet, the Genins keep to themself and whisper between themself while the older shinobis keep an eye on them. They, too, were in their shoes once and they know what they are feeling.
They leave early the next morning, Saeko takes points as the sensor and she has to guide them away from a few groups of people the closer they got to the border. Their weak signatures makes them civilians so she doesn't bother with them.
Iroko runs next to her when they're close to the camp, he has to steady her when she expand her field to take in the number of people. She's been sensing them for a while but the closer they are, the worst it is. It's headache inducing, the chakras are bright and packed right next to each other and she feels one of the weaker signatures fade to nothing. It's weird, one moment the space was filled with colors and the next it's empty.
She nods when she's able to process all the activities in her range. He smiles as he removes his hand, he flares his chakra in a specific patern and he's answered a moment later by another chakra flare, quite similar to his. The Jônin leads them to the hidden entrance then to the central tent. He walks in and beckons them to follow him inside. The interior is nothing fancy, it's a tent next to a battlefront after all. There are maps hungs on the walls and on the table, stacks of papers on desks and empty cups everywhere. There are also 3 men, probably those in charge of the camp.
"Satsuki Iroko, leader of Team 9. We were sent for the next three months" he introduces his team before nudging Saeko
"Nara Saeko and Hyuga Neji, Genins. We're Team Delta" she stands tall under their scrutiny
"mmh, I read the assignement but you look quite young" he seems to be the leader, he's a Yamanaka if his pupilless blue eyes are any indications "I shouldn't be that surprised" he sighs "You're a new team right ?"
"yes, sir"
"what are your specialities ? The missive says you're a recon slash sabotage team"
"I'm a sensor and I've been trained in Iryoninjutsu, I'm also quite good at Bukijutsu. Neji has the byakugan and is proeficient in the Gentle fist"
the Yamanaka strokes his beard "what about your range ?"
"naturally, 2,5 kilometers" it gains her a few whistles "I usually keep it at 5 or 6 kilometers as it barely makes a dent in my reserves. If I really try, I can go to 50 to 55 kilometers. Sadly I can't keep it up for long, it burns too much chakra and I become overwhelmed by all the signatures" she fidgets "My sensing is particular, I sense a lot more than normal sensors. I can sense insects, plants, animals, humans and the remnants of chakra used after a jutsu"
"well" the Yamanaka blinks away his surprise "I know why you're a recon team" he clears his throat "Alright, Team 9 you're on patrol dutil during the night this week, in the afternoon the second week and in the morning for the third week. We'll see later about changing your duties. Dismissed"
"hai" Team 9 nods
he waits until they're gone before speaking again "Genin Nara, you're joining the sensor unit. You'll be on duty one day then in the medic tent the next then it's back to the sensor unit. It'll be like that for the next two weeks. Genin Hyuga, you are on patrol duty the days Nara is at the sensor unit and helping around camp the day she isn't. Keep in mind that you can be send as a team at any moment if it's necessary" he looks them over "Any questions ?"
Saeko nods "when do I begin at the sensor unit and how long is a shift ?"
the Yamanaka looks through his papers before answering "you begin tomorrow at 10 am and a shift is usually between 6 and 7 hours. It depends on the number of sensors we have at camp so it's possible that'll you do longer shifts or more frequent ones some days"
"and when do I start patroling ? Where should I go ?" Neji asks once he made sure Saeko was finished
he looks at his papers again "mmh, you've been slatted to start tomorrow at 2 pm. You are to go to the tent with a bird on it, it's a few tents down this one"
"thank you"
"if it's all ? You're dissmissed. Ask someone to show you where to go for the night" he goes back to his maps after saying that
So Neji and Saeko walk out and look around for a moment before approaching a kunoichi sharpening her sword. She introduces herself as Saoru Kiki ans she seems happy to show them around camp so they follow after her as she points the different units and people.
She starts with the barracks and advises them to leave their packs on their bedrolls as no one will steal anything. Then she shows them where the food is stored, the medic tents, the sensor unit, the bath area and where they can wash their clothes. She points the important people, those in charge of the different units at camp and a few comrades who won't be annoyed by their questions.
She waves them goodbye when dinner is announced, leaving them in the line to wait for their portion.
The first week is hard, Neji and Saeko aren't used to the constant movements and noises of the camp so falling asleep is hard. They have to wake up at dawn or in the middle of the night for their duties, then they have to train to keep in shape, defend the camp when they fight Iwa, help around camp, sharpen their weapons... It's exhausting, their bodies aren't used to it so the first week is hell, the second is a bit better as they are falling in a routine but they still go to bed exhausted every night.
Needless to say, they wished they were back home, alas, they are shinobis and shinobis endure. So they square their shoulders and go on with their duties.
She wakes up with a start, she's not sure why but something is wrong. She can feel it. It takes a moment for her to connect the weird feeling and her chakra but then she's bolting out of bed, waking up everyone in the tent. She dissrupts her chakra with a 'kai' as she puts her shoes and straps her weapons on her, at the same time she orders the others to do the same. She runs to the commander tent and walks in unnanounced and is immediately the subject of 3 pairs of eyes.
"Genin Nara, what's the meaning of this ?" the Yamanaka commander barks
"something's messing with our chakra" she stands up straight "I woke up because something wasn't right, I had to use 'kai' to dissrupt wathever it is that's messing with my chakra" she hears them curses and feels them disrupt their chakra while she expand her field. Her breath stutters.
"what is it ?" the Nara next to the commander asks, looking wide awake
"we're surrounded on all sides but behind us" she bits her lips
"damn it" Nara curses "Are you sure ? How long do we have ?"
"yes, they're being careful but we'll be under attack in 15 to 20 minutes if they keep their pace"
the commander rubs his face roughly "alright" he exhales "Genin Nara, how many are there ?"
she does a quick count of every signature she feels, even the hidden one "368 in total, 150 up front and 100 more behind them, 55 on the left, 55 on the right and 8 hidden underneath" she puts her hair in a ponytail "About half of them are Jônin or more and the rest are Chûnin or Genin"
"great !" the third man says sarcasticaly
"Genin Nara, go check on the sensor as to why they didn't sound the alert. Alert the others to prepare for battle while you're at it and tell them to pass the message then regroup with your partner. Use your abilities smartly and stay hidden a maximum"
"hai !" she nods then runs out to the sensor unit, flaring her chakra while she's at it
She clenches her fist when she sees the older Genin, maybe 13 ?, asleep instead of doing her job. No wonder she didn't alert anyone, she didn't even notice in the first place !
"Genin Shoyo !" she barks, startling the girl awake "What do you think you're doing ?!"
"I was tired" the girl shrugged, rubbing her eyes with a yawn
"tired ?" Saeko repeats incredulous "You should have woken the next sensor on shift ! Now, because of you, we're surrounded and we'll be under attack in less than 15 minutes !" she growls when the girl just gapes at her "Move your ass and go relay the info to the camp ! If we loose the camp, Iwa will have an entry point in Fire !"
She relays the info to the commander before searching for Neji's signature. He woke up when she ran out of the tent and he's waiting for her next to the tent. Multiple comrades stop when they notice her, waiting to know what happened.
"everybody, we're surrounded by Iwa ! They'll be here in 10 minutes ! Arm yourself and wake those still asleep, Commander's orders !"
Nobody wastes a moment, swords are strapped and unsheated, long hair is tied, shoes are put on and scrolls are put in pockets. She herself go back inside the tent to grab her spare weapons and put her pack under her bedroll. Neji does the same as he ties his hair in a low ponytail, he discovered that his old hairstyle was unpractical and changed it.
"what do we do ?" he asks when they're back outside
"the commander ordered us to hide and use our abilities smartly, so help without being noticed mostly"
"understood" he nods grimly
They make their way to the middle of the camp, they'll have more success here than on the outskirts of the camp. They're intercepted by the commander.
"how's the situation ?"
"they're close, 3.5 kilometers. We have 5 minutes" a Chûnin nearby leaves to relay the info "There's also a group 10 kilometers away, they aren't moving" she frowns "Some of them are pouring Doton chakra in the ground and it's coming this way. They're ready to launch a jutsu I wager"
"very well" he clears his throat, pouring some chakra around his vocal cords "Incomming ! 3 minutes ! Be wary of the ground, it's Iwa. May the Sage be with you all !"
Less than a minute after, Saeko snaps her head to the ground. She pours chakra in her throat "everybody jumps !"
Just after she says that, the ground started collapsing. Everything touching the ground in a 15 meters radius is swallowed by the earth, tents and people alike. They don't have time to take note of how many were lost, Iwa-nins started pouring in as soon as the ground collapsed. Earth spikes, boulders, swamps, kunais and shurikens all rained down on the camp. It only takes a few minutes for the camp to fall in ruin. Neji had to steady her when a third of their comrades suddenly vanishes from her perception. She doesn't have time to mourn, they're under attack.
She grabs a kunai and thrusts it behind her as the same time as a person shunshins behind her. The person collaps on the ground as she removes her hand, she quickly slashes their throat then she looks around her. Neji is fighting a woman, he's ready to use Juken but he needs an opening so she throws her kunai with precision to the woman's calf. She lets out a startle scream as her leg buckle, Neji pounces on her and starts his Juken. A moment later, she's dead on the ground.
Saeko takes another kunai to throw at an ennemy's head while he's busy fighting someone then she swaps places with another enemy not a moment too soon as the nin is crushed under a boulder just where she was previously. Neji appears next to her in time to deflects a volley of shurikens thrown at her back. With a nod, they dim they chakras to that of a bug and disappears from the center of the fight.
They do as the commander asked, they sneak behind enemy while they're busy to kill them. With their chakra dimmed and their small size, it's easy to do. A kunai to the back of the knee while they're fighting someone else, a tendon sliced while they tried to jump, some tenketsus blocked here, shurikens thrown to distract while a comrade finishes the job... They go all over the battlefield to help their comrades.
An hour or so later, Saeko stops to catch her breathe and takes the opportunity to check on their surrounding. The nins waiting 10 kilometers away still haven't moved, that's not good. She relays the info to Neji.
"this isn't good" he remarks, swallowing some water and redoing his ponytail "Everyone is tiring, we won't be able to pushes them back if reinforcement arrive"
"I know, what do you propose ?" she kawarimis a comrade with a log, he jumps back in the fight with a grateful nod
"I don't know" Neji throws a shuriken "Protocol says we should inform a superior"
"they're a bit busy at the moment" she snarks, shunshins next to a kneeling Iwa boy and crushes his trachea with a chakra laced punch. She cartweels out of the way of an earth spike then jumps out of the way of a volley of shuriken. She catches the kunai flying above her and sends it back to the sender. Neji pushes her down and Juken someone sneaking behind her
"you have any supplies for BGK ?" he asks after wiping the sweat from his brow (BôGai Kôi-Sabotage)
"in my pack, in the tent" she rolls out of the way of a sword, slides under the swordman's legs and plunges her kunai in his knee
the man curses, ready to turn around to face her only to receive a Juken from Neji "mine's too" he grimaces
She looks around and catches the eye of an Uzuki, she gestures to a Jônin ready to kill a Nara and when the Uzuki nod, she kawarimis his dead oponent with the Jônin. She picks up a few stray weapons on the ground and give half to Neji.
"we need to go there and check, then" she grimaces "At least, our tent wasn't in the collapse radius"
"small mercies" he nods "Unless the tent has been burned, we should be able to retrieve them"
They carefully make they way to their tent, they have to hide when a group of Jônin pass by but otherwise, their path is clear. By some miracle, their tent is still standing, not in one piece but it wasn't burned to the ground or destroyed. She nods to Neji as she darts towards it to retrieve their packs.
"3 o'clock !" Neji shouts
She spins out of the way of a kunai headed for her neck. She looks around for more but the sender must be distracted by someone else. With a last look around, she sprints the last few meters separating her from their packs. She shoulders hers and picks Neji's up and she's ready to go. She kawarimis with a fallen pole next to Neji, he lets out a relieved sigh.
"that was close" he breathes out
"yeah" she nods "Thanks for the save"
"we're partner" he looks aways
"come on then, partner" she smiles "We need to head out of the camp and into the forest, to take care of our injuries and devise a plan to take care of the reinforcement