Chapter 15.
With the meeting with Mei finished and now officially being inducted into the rebellion, they were led to their temporary quarters. Inside of the tent, they found their new uniforms consisting of dark blue body armor with blue anbu pants with pockets. "Don't they have anything in orange?" Asked the blonde to which his teammates gave him deadpan stares. "Only an idiot would wear something so bright," Amane said with a sly smirk. "Hey, I wear orange!" He growled and glared at her. "I rest my case." she laughed at his reaction. "Now, now we had enough fighting for one day we should take this time and rest," Chusei interjected before a fight between the raven and blonde started. "Yes!" They both said in sync. The trio quickly got into their coats and soon feel asleep still tired from the battle.
-Later-
"Yawn," said the blonde as he stretched and went over to wake up the others. "Hey Amane, Chusei wake up!" He said to no reply from either and resorted to shaking them awake. "Ngh...five more minutes." Amane yawned as she rolled over and drifted back off. Naruto pondered for a moment before a lightbulb went off in his head and he smirked. Channeling some lightning chakra he gave the raven a little shock. "Aye!" She shouted as she launched up from the cot and looking around before resting her gaze on the laughing blonde. "Why you!" She got the blonde back with an earth pillar right to the gut, his eyes widen as he dropped to his knees holding his gut. "W-what was that for?!" He yelled at the smirking raven. "That was for that little shock you gave me." With the commotion, Chusei woke up in time to see both the blonde and raven butting head with fire in their eyes. *Sigh* "It's too early for this." He quickly calmed the two down before they all did their morning routines and set off for the mess tent. As they traveled the tent they saw everyone was tense and still shrugging off the fatigue from yesterday. Grabbing their food and sitting near the back the trio kept to themselves before a nin came and informed them Mei was waiting for them.
Wasting no time and arriving at the tent they saw Mei sitting behind her desk filling out paperwork with Ao sitting in a chair to her side, Ao coughed to get her attention and gestured to the trio. "Ah, thank you for coming here on such short notice. I hope you got some decent rest?" She said with a smile as she walked around and sat on the desk. "Yes, Mei-sama we did," Chusei spoke up for the group. "Good now as for the reason you're here. We're planning a retreat but we need more time and I doubt the loyalist will be kind enough to wait. Now, how this affects you three. I have assigned you with the fourth company as I read the report on your teamwork and felt this would be for the best. Now you and the fourth division will be assigned to the defense forces to help buy us time while we get the wounded out of the hot zone. Now any questions about the assignment?" She asked the trio to get a shake of the head as a reply. "Good now the remainder of the fourth division is over by the medical tents go find them and inform them of their roles.." She said with a smile but a serious aura surrounding her. "Yes, Mei-sama," Chusei said as they bowed and left for the medical quarters.
-Med tents-
Arriving at the tents they saw a good number of coats everywhere with wounded rebels, it didn't take long before they found the lieutenant from the day before. He was sitting against the tent and when he saw the trio he smiled at them. "It's good to see you." He said. "With all of the chaos yesterday we haven't been introduced my name is Naru Tetsuzan." He said while shaking their hands. "Nice to meet you I'm Kami this is Kuma and Kitsune." He gestured to the Raven and blonde. "The pleasure is mine, now what are you three doing here you don't look injured?" He asked with a quirked eyebrow. "Mei-sama has assigned us to the fourth division and our new orders are to assist the defense forces for the retreat." He nodded his head but kept the smile as he was happy to be assigned with the trio. "I'll inform the others no one is injured so we'll meet you at the mess in half an hour. Taking the time to check their equipment and stock up they meet back up with Naru and the others. "There you guys are, I've already informed the others lets go." The trio nodded and followed the fourth as they went to the front and approached a tall buff man with a scar on his cheek.
"State your business?" He barked. "Fourth Divison reporting we were assigned to the defense force," Naru replied with a salute to the man. "Ah, you'll be assigned to the left flank and your orders are to hold out to the best of your ability until the signal flare is launched. Do you understand your roles and orders" He informed the group making eye contact with them."Yes!" They replied with a salute. "Good now head off to your station and may kami bless you." He returned the salute and went back to his duties. Arriving at their position they noticed the area was thick with woods a perfect place for an ambush. "So Naru what's the plan?" Amane asked once they arrived. "Well, I was hoping Kami would take the lead like yesterday. Does anyone else have issues with that?" He looked to the others as they shook their heads. "Looks like we're all in agreement then." Chusei bowed. "I will do my best." He said as they smiled. "First as we've noticed the area is thick with woods so we should place som traps further ahead to warn us and widdle down the enemy." They nodded in agreement as he put a hand to his chin in thought. "The traps should consist of Ninja wire and paper bombs. We'll set up the paper bombs up a few yards away with ninja wire to catch anyone one who made it through." They all nodded once again and set off to work. "Amane can you clear out these trees and make an open area?" She tilted her head in confusion. "I can but may I ask why?" He pointed at an area behind them. I want to make an open clearing with somewhere the enemy will have to come to us with no cover. While we hide in trenches and behind barricades." she said ah and got to work it took a while but they were able to get it finished rather quickly.
Now in the clearing, they used Amane's earth style to set up the trenches and barricades. "Alright everyone we'll hold here now you should already have figured out we will use the plan from last time. Three teams with Kitsune, Kuma and myself as team leaders." They all agreed. "Now once the enemy makes it past the traps wait until they get close and team three will hammer them with ranged attacks. Once they get close team one will charge and take care of the stragglers before being covered by team two and retreating to the barricade. does everyone understand?" He got a yes and they began preparing themselves for the battle to come. Chusei sat propped against one of the barricades while in deep thought. 'Did I plan well enough? Will they make it?' These thoughts swirled in his head before he was brought out of it by a hand on his shoulder. Looking up he saw none other than Naruto. "You don't need to think so hard everyone will be fine." He said in a warm tone. "But what if it doesn't work I'll have failed everyone." The blonde just shook his head."If I've learned anything from our journey together is you're a lot smarter then me." He laughed and Chusei eyes were wide. "Look Me and Amane have trusted you this far as have the others, now the only thing for you to do is to trust yourself." He said before walking off with Chusei staring at him. As he thought a memory of Masaki came to him. (It's because you're making it so) The talk he had with her coming back to him. "He's right I can't sit here and let worry take over me when I should believe in the others and myself." He said with flames now in his eyes before he set off to double-check on the plan.
Amane was on the other side of the clearing making finishing touches on the barricades while also in thought. Looking down she noticed her hands were trembling she brought her arms in to try and stop them from shaking while a bunch of thoughts circled in her head. 'I'm going to die! What if the others leave me to fend for myself. What if!' Her train of thoughts were cut off as she felt a hand on her shoulder and looking up she saw Naruto staring at her. "You alright?" He asked in concern. "Y-yeah I'm fine I should get back to it." She nervously chuckled and tried to walk off before she was stopped by her arm being grabbed. Lifting her arm he saw her trembling and she tried to avoid eye contact with him. "I said I'm fine you don't need to-" She was cut off as Naruto hugged her and patted her back before stepping back. "It's alright to be afraid but don't you worry just remember both me and Chusei are here for you as well as everyone else." He said with a smile from behind his mask and a thumbs up. She just stared at him before he continued."Remember we all feel afraid but we just have to get over it you know. Besides if you want I can give you a little shock for encouragement." He said as a zap was heard from his fingers. "You zap me and I'll bury you!" She said with a glare and her hands on her hips. "There's the Amane I know." He said in a happy tone. Her eyes went wide before she smiled. "Thank you...Naruto." He just waved it off. "No worries now I should get back to the front line." He said before walking off with Amane looking at him as he left. 'I will do my best and help everyone make it back.' She thought with fire in her eyes.
The next few hours they waited in silence it wasn't till noon the enemy came close. "Enemy detected further ahead they'll hit the traps in 5 minutes." One of the sensors informed. "Alright, this is it stick to the plan and we'll all make it back," Chusei said as he looked at them and they replied with a Roger. Taking their positions they soon heard multiple explosions. "Many signatures have disappeared seems the explosions worked." Chusei nodded this was good the plan was going well. They next heard cries as the enemy likely ran into the wire no doubt widdling down them even more. "They've bypassed the wire they'll be here in a minute." The sensor infromed them as Chusei signaled the others to prepare. From the woods, they saw several nins land in the clearing. "Team three now!" Many Jutsus were launched catching the loyalist off guard. "Crap, ambush everyone-." He was cut off as a fireball hit him and shot up dust. With them in disarray now was the time. "Team one go!" With a roar, they ran at the remaining enemies demoralizing them a bit. "Rasengan!" Naruto yelled as he and the others quickly made work of the stragglers. "Alright get back team two!" Chusei ordered. As team one retreated the enemies who remained saw this and followed them to only run into team twos range. "Earth style - Earth holding technique!" Amane shouted and trapping the remaining enemies to then bet struck down by team two. "Are there any more?" Chusei asked the sensor to which he shook his head. "Alright everyone catch your breath but keep on guard."
A few minutes later another group of enemies arrived they also ran into the traps but also kept their distance once they saw the fortifications. Several jutsu's and kunai with explosive tags were being thrown back in fourth. *Boom* "We have to find a way to get them!" Naru shouted while ducking a kunai from impaling his head. Amane do you think you could set up a barrier to allow team one to get close?!" She nodded Yes but I will have to go out there personally as I have a limit to the range of it.!" He nodded in response. "Alright team one escort Amane so she can set up a barrier so we can get close." He ordered the others. "Roger!" they shouted in response and Naruto merely nodding at Amane. "Alright let's go!" Naruto shouted while summoning some of his clones." They got halfway before the barrage from the enemy was getting to be too much. "Amane make it here we can't get any closer!" She nodded and summoned a barrier that allowed teams two and three to catch up. "Alright Team three and I will keep them distracted while team one and two go." They got set and waited for the signal. "Alright go. Fire - style mythical fire flower!" He shouted launching the fire flowers to the enemy forcing them to take cover. With that opportunity, they rushed them taking them by surprise. "Wind style - Wind bullet! Earth style - pebble barrage!" Both Naruto and Amane shouted and pelted the loyalist. "Ayyy." They cried as they combined attacks between both teams one and two were too much.
"Alright let's fall back, Amane destroy the barrier so they don't use it against us." They all set off back to the barricades after breaking the wall. For the next few hours, the group was under siege by the enemy and lured them in to finish with the teamwork between the three groups. *Boom* "I-I'm running out of chakra Amane said panting and sweating heavily. She wasn't the only one everyone was struggling to stand. A few were injured but nothing too serious they needed a miracle soon or else they would be overrun. Just as hope was running out a large boom was heard in the sky. "That's the signal everyone fall back! Chusui shouted as they ran for the rally point. Amane was lagging behind the group she was running out of stamina fast. "You think we would let you rebels getaway!" A man shouted as him and two others chased them. The three threw a bunch of kunai and shurikens and the lagging Amane. 'I won't be able to dodge in time!' She quickly thought as she closed her eyes. She waited but felt nothing she opened her eyes to see a man in a fox mask facing her it was Naruto. 'He took the attack for me' she thought worried for her teammate. "You alright?" He asked. "Idiot, I should be the one to ask you that!" She glared at him. "You took that like a champ but this is where it ends! Water style - Water shuriken-" He was cut off as a hail of kunai hit the trio cutting them down. "Argh!" Both Amane and Naruto turned to see everyone had notice and came back. "Come on let's go guys!" Chusei shouted and they sett off once again.
As they lept through the trees Amane kept looking at Naruto in concern. "Naruto you sure you're okay?" He just looked at her and nodded and quickened his pace. It took a while before they got to the rally point to see the other defense forces. "Good to see you, fourth division." A man said as they approached. They nodded to tired to respond. Now back in the temporary camp. "Naruto you should get your wounds checked." He just waved her off before he fell to his knees and passed out. "Naruto!" Chusei saw this and rushed over. "What happened?" He looked at the raven. "Earlier when were feel behind he took a bunch of shurikens for me. I asked if he was okay but he shrugged it off." He nodded. "Alright, we need to get him to the medics come on." He shouted as he with help from the others carried the blonde to the get treated.
-Elsewhere-
"Nghh. W-where am I?" The blonde asked looking around and heard a loud scoff. Looking towards the noise he saw a giant fox with rabbit ears. "I wake up and what do I find but none other then my container passed out on the ground." The blonde was shocked so he was in his mind. "Kurama what happened?" The fox sighed. "It seems you collapsed from exhaustion not to mention those shurikens to the back didn't help." He nodded he remembered now. "Are the others okay?!" The fox covered his ears. "Quiet down kit no shouting!" Naruto quickly apologized. "Now as for your friends they're fine. Just worried about you since you collapsed." He felt bad for worrying his teammates. "How long until I wake up," He asked with his head tilted. "Not for a while so I'm stuck with you." He informed the blonde who sent him a fierce glare at the stuck with him remark. "Kurama." The blonde asked in a serious tone which surprised the Kyuubi. "what?" He didn't respond for a while. "I want to get stronger." The fox had wide eyes before returning to normal. "Are you not already strong?" He asked to which the blonde shook his head. "I realized I'm not strong enough. I almost lost one of my friends I don't want to lose another. The image of the old coot smiling at him popped into his head. "Hmph. If that is what you want we will discuss that later but for now you're waking up." The blonde had no time to react as he vanished from his mindscape.
"nghh." He grunted he felt like a tree fell on him. "Naruto!" He heard a voice and turning to it he saw Amane just as she trapped him in a bear hug. "Nghhh. A-am-ane I can-nt breath!" She backed off and apologized before she smacked him upside the head. "Oww, what was that for?!" She glared at him it and it sent shivers down his spine. "You had me and Chusei worried you idiot don't do that again." They soon heard a chuckle and saw it was Chusei carrying some rations. "You two are lively" He smiled at the duo. They both chuckled at the remark. "You alright Naruto?" He asked in concern. "I'm fine thanks." He was quiet for a few minutes. "Guys I'm sorry I didn't mean to worry you." Chusei just put a hand on his shoulder and smiled at him. "Apology accepted just don't do it again." He said with the raven agreeing. "Right, I won't besides were a team." He laughed as they sat and eat the rations Chusei brought.