Summary/disclaimer: time for another chapter of legendary Eyes. Enjoy the 900-word chapter. I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto and a few others do.
Arata was awake by the time Sarada arrived at the cave. He waited for her and the others to sit.
"There is still 3 of them." Sarada stated to Arata while she pushed up her glasses. "I don't know where they took Boruto, or if there's a Genjutsu," Sarada added in.
"Then that means the civilians are under their control?" Arata asked as he sighed. "We can't engage them without risking civilian losses." Arata said to Sarada and crossed his arms.
Arata was no stranger to battles like this, but this sounded like a siege. They had no supplies, no reinforcements, they were fighting a group without rest.
But to retreat not only gave the fabrications a base, a prisoner… Arata knew Naruto wouldn't take the capture of his son lightly. Their retreat would lead to various problems.
"I think the Genjutsu can be broken," Sarada said to Arata with a sigh. "The problem? I have to get close enough to use my Sharingan. I doubt those fabrications will allow me to get close enough." Sarada stated as Arata scratched at his hair.
Both could tell a direct assault would just get them killed. Arata wasn't stupid enough to think they'd fight him one on one again. Arata also hadn't fully healed from combat with both Kako and Kokuyo. The fabrications had to know that considering he hadn't chased them down.
Arata wasn't worried about himself, however. This was a battle of group vs group. Arata knew his strengths and weaknesses very well, it was the strengths and weaknesses of the others that worried him.
Sarada could hold her own, so could Inojin from what he saw. Arata didn't know Shikadai or Chocho in combat. That didn't help when it came to strategizing a plan to take down the enemy.
"You're going to handle the fabrication who is maintaining the Genjutsu alone?" Arata questioned Sarada before standing up. "That's a very bold and risky move," Arata stated with a raised eyebrow.
Sarada nodded to him. Arata turned from her and walked to the cave wall before leaning against it.
"I suppose you have roles for the others and me?" Arata asked while raising an eyebrow. "I don't intend to sit in this cave, Boruto is their prisoner. He isn't going to die here while I'm still alive." Arata said as he cracked his back with a grunt of pain.
He cursed his wounds for still healing up, his body ached. Arata wanted to rest, but he wasn't going to sit by and let others die in his stead.
"Your die if you go out there again," Sarada stated before turning away. "You need to stay here and rest. We can find Boruto and handle the others." Sarada put in as she ran her fingers along the stone wall.
Arata sighed and rolled his eyes. Sarada was just going to dodge the question, he hated being guilt tripped by her. Arata did consider it nice Sarada cared so much for him, but he was a warrior. Arata was going to die one way or another, combat was something he was trained for, combat shall be his exit from this world.
He stopped to question something before mentally kicking his thoughts around his head. He was treating Sarada and the others the same way they treated him. Arata hated himself for considering Sarada and the others a weak link he had to protect.
"I'm touched you care, Sarada." Arata said before he kicked off the wall. He walked towards the cave entrance. "I am still going anyway. Boruto got captured because I jumped the gun and got into another fight." Arata stated while he paced back and forth.
Boruto needed to be saved. Arata would save him, just as Sarada and Boruto saved him from Kuro.
"I will try and break Boruto out," Arata put in. "I will need Inojin, his drawings are creative and to break Boruto out? We're going to need to get very creative in order to make a big enough distraction." Arata said to Sarada with a confident smile on his face.
Sarada grunted, this wasn't the time to make battle plans so idiotic. Sarada hated how fearless Arata could be at times. This was going to get him killed along with the rest of them.
"Then I suppose me and Chocho will try and track down Lord Onoki?" Shikadai questioned Arata who hummed. "He is the strongest Shinobi besides the Tsuchikage. He can take down the fabrications with us." Shikadai questioned while Sarada sighed.
This was going to fall apart, but it seemed everyone was agreeing on this plan. Sarada sighed.
"Well, if everyone is in agreement…" Sarada deadpanned with Arata smirking at her.
She glared at the Otsutsuki. He had turned this entire conversation around into a war meeting with him fighting no matter what.
'Damn him,' Sarada thought to herself. 'Damn him to hell and back.' She stated mentally.
Author Notes
Phew, another chapter done! I want to point out that Arata is going to use more Rinnegan powers, but he's not Naruto or Sasuke level. Next chapter will be in a week and will show Arata and Inojin on their mission to get Boruto and Sarada starting her plan. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!