January 6th, 1941
After the bombings Shikamaru followed his commanding officer and friends as they walked to the port. The devastation that the German planes caused was extensive, rubble and buildings were collapsed nothing was left unscathed. It truly was a horrible thing. Shikamaru looked on as he saw a young family standing in front of a collapsed building that must have been a store with their home residing just above it. Terrible feeling to have lost your source of income and your house in one attack.
In a way America was lucky, they were in the Western Hemisphere and it would have been strategically unsound to have made an attack such as this, too many precious materials wasted. That doesn't necessarily mean that America would be protected forever, but for now this early on in the war they were at least protected by the distance between warring countries.
"Hopefully our ship wasn't damaged." Kiba said.
"If it was than our deployment would be delayed for months. Troublesome."
The boat thankfully our in-thankfully depending on who you ask was undamaged. The One-hundred and seventh infantry was able to board and sail off in less than two hours. They were now off to Frances boundary line aiding their allies in keeping the German troop out of Western Europe's' lands. The ride across the English Channel was relatively quiet, the water weren't choppy and they weren't attacked by any stray enemy boat that had somehow managed to get past the twenty five strong navy that was surrounding the waters.
"So far so good." Chouji murmured.
Shikamaru snorted. "So far so good until we are met by enemy fire that is."
Chouji gave him a weird look. "What does Naru see in you?"
"It's not my effortless Nara charms?" Shikamaru said dryly.
"Definitely not." Shino stated.
"Maa maa you three stop…doing whatever you all do." Kakashi said head buried in a thick orange book. Shikamaru rolled is eyes, he never understood why Kakashi read all that crap. It was something he had never believed until he was shown, Naru had constantly said that her brother was an insatiable pervert, he regretted it when he was proven wrong. Naru had been smug for weeks and he had to do all sorts of work to get back in her good graces. He had wondered if it was worth it at the time. He still can't tell if it was.
"So Kakashi, what happens after we dock?" Kiba inquired.
"Well, it will be a six day trip to the eastern part of France in a tiny town called Barmouth, from there we will set up a small camp and create a large barrier that was left loose and if our new info was correct than the Germans were creating a task team to fly by this little blip to occupy France. We have to close this and stop any opposition from the German officers."
Shikamaru sighed yet again, if he sighed anymore than he would become an old man. Why did everything have to be so troublesome? He would give nothing more than to be laying in his bed never getting up, but then Naru would barge into his house and shout bloody murder so he would wake up. He truly wondered what was more troublesome, his fiancée, or death. Fiancée, definitely Fiancée. He didn't care what Shino and Chouji said about Ino, and Sakura; Naru was twice as bad as those two. Kiba was the lucky son of a bitch and got the sweet one. While he, Chouji, and Shino got the angry ones.
Shikamaru looked on into the horizon, the small strip of land they had seen from England had grown to an enormous size. The moon which was set up high into the night sky beat down with a rare orange glow in the waters. The red moon, also known as the blood moon was thought to have been a bad omen to those in war. It symbolized death and destruction. Normally Shikamaru thought it was just some superstitious myth to scare people to not getting into wars, but seeing it in the night sky just as they were about to land in France, sent shivers down his back.
The captain of the boat was an older man of thick build with a great big white beard that reminded Shikamaru of Santa Clause walked up to them, his left foot thumping harshly against the metal of the boat caused by a terrible limp. He could have had a minor case of Polio or what not. He stared directly ahead with his dark gray eyes.
"If we retain our current course we should be getting to port early in the morning. There you will meet a caravan to take you cross country to Barmouth I've heard. Sad thing Barmouth had been lost in the Franco-Prussian War sixty years ago but was won back in the First World War. I'd be wary if I were you, I'd expect Barmouth to be a little war weary at this time three wars in less than a century, two of them being World Wars and right in Europe's doorstep." The captain shook is head. "My Mother was from this town you see. A young French Woman forced into German society, her name was Francesca Lobelia. I wouldn't be surprised if you had frequent sightings of Germans down there."
With that the elder Captain left them, Shikamaru sighed, he hadn't heard of any town called Barmouth in any if his readings, but the town was in the area over taken by the Prussians.
"War, whether you know about it or not happens everywhere. It effects anyone or everyone. Let's just hope that this war is the last major war that involves the whole world." Kakashi stated. Nobody said anything but they all knew, everyone wished that this was the last World War. They docked just as the orange glow of the sun had begun to rise. Shikamaru glanced blankly at the bright orange sky, and purple stained clouds. It seemed everywhere he went he was always reminded of Naru, orange sky, her pearls, even a firefly. Troublesome he thought. Truly troublesome.
The clanking and roaring of the anchor as it fell deep into the port ground jerked the boat. The iron coating the boats exterior groaned and shook but never fell. A wooden plank attached itself to the boat, Shikamaru followed the last of the four commanding officers, the cigarette in his mouth burned the stench of nicotine in the air.
The naval crew threw their sacks of clothes and necessities into a large pile, it seems that they were going to have to fish for their luggage. Thankfully his was relatively easy to find smashed between several other bags together. It took some force but finally he was able to yank the bag out of its confinement. The friction of the green fabric really was a bitch sometimes. There were several more minutes of chaos with the men. Trying find their bags, it had gotten so bad that finally Shikamaru had to order Genma to call out the names on the bag and have the designated soldier grab it. It was ridiculous.
The captain was right about the caravan though Shikamaru mused. Several green jeeps and Humvee's sat in a line heading east. They were dented and had various war wounds scattered around there bodies. He moseyed along taking his time to slowly reach the head car. He had to hide in a smirk at the at the miffed expressions on his friends faces.
"Just trying to exert all my laziness before I won't be able to."
"I pity your family I really do." Kiba said his brown eyes glowering at him.
"You're the one to talk."
The trucks roared to life, with a quick nod to the driver the caravan set off through the dirt roads and the pebbles clicking and clacking noisily on the windshield. The truck swung widely to the left then immediately to the right. His head hit the back of the low seated bar his vision blurred for a few seconds before returning. Along with a splitting headache.
"Don't the French know how to level roads!" He growled.
"This one was made for the fastest way possible to the eastern border." Their driver said with a thick French accent.
"Troublesome."
The longer they rode the more Shikamaru grew irritated, the road was bumpy and more than once he had hit his head on the Humvee. Worse was that the car did nothing to protect them from the frigid winter air that chafe his skin and made his teeth rattle. The 'road' and the Frenchman put it grew narrower and narrower until the cars were maneuvering in nothing more than a hastily made path made of only cut down trees. But the reason why grew clearer to Shikamaru each second.
At first it wasn't noticeable but now the thundering of tanks and guns were unmistakable. He could hear faint screams over the cacophony of gun fire, but even that made his chest run cold. Soon the sound grew so loud that he couldn't hear his own breathing. Had the Germans already attacked? Eventually the shaken military lieutenant stopped the car, the path too narrow for anything more than men.
Chouji gave him a dire look and hopped out the car walking hurriedly down the line of cars, knocking softly on the body of the car. Kiba left next, jogging into the forest for reconnaissance, following him shortly there afterward was Shino moving in the opposite direction of Kiba. It was his turn now, with bravado that he wasn't feeling Shikamaru hopped out of the truck and sprinted forward he could just hear the crunching footsteps of others in the platoon behind him.
He was taking everything in, every fallen twig and branch, there were more scorched trees than he would have like to see. A billowing smoke cloud had formed ahead and Shikamaru didn't enjoy the implication of what it might mean. The shadow of a man formed up ahead, the rifles of his men were raised and ready to fire. Shikamaru held his hand up waiting for the soldier to make the first move. The man started shouting in French before rushing towards him, Shikamaru was usually pretty good at French but the speed in which he was talking made even his genius mind spin. He could only briefly make out the words German…attack…and losing before the man started running again. Without a second though Shikamaru dug his boot in deep to the compact snow and darted after him.
The German were making too good of a progress into invading Europe, they already had Poland, now they were taking France. Walking into the enemy fire was something that Shikamaru never wanted to do again, but knew he must. He was thankful more to his training now that ever as he ducked behind a tree to dodge the bullets coming at him in waves. He meandered around the copse of trees, shooting when he saw a German soldier. He fingered the grenade locked onto his belt buckle. He needed a good angle so that the shards wouldn't pierce an ally.
From the looks of it, there wasn't going to be one any time soon.
"You want us to what?"
Tsunade gave a little smirk and circled a finger along her sake glass. Shizune smiled a little at Naru's outburst. Ino looked at Tsunade in shock, her mouth dropped open. Hinata choked on her water hitting her chest harshly with her fist. Naru ran her hands through her frazzled hair. She rubbed her hands along her temples and sighed.
"So let me get this strait, you want us to follow you to England, and work at a hospital for the military?"
"I was offered a position as the head of an immediate response hospital unit for the wounded soldiers that come over the channel from France with mortal wounds. They told me that I could bring anyone I want, you three are the best nurses I have. You're good with pressure. Midoriko comes too, she worked for me before she married Kakashi. So what do you say?"
"What about the other patients?" Hinata questioned.
Tsunade downed her drink before answering. "Their being sent to a higher living facility, and don't ask about the other nurses as of yesterday you three are the last nurses that this hospital has. So even if I wasn't given this offer we don't have the resources to run this hospital."
Naru sighed, it was one thing after the other; first it was the whole damn war, then it was the rationing, next they had trouble with money. And now it was either disrupt their living situation, or lose their jobs. Fantastic.
"We're going to have call Midori."
With a quick, drunken smirk Tsunade handed Naru the cream colored phone. The line buzzed before a woman's voice answered from the counties switch board.
"Hello, how may I help you?"
"Yes can you direct me to 361 Briorshare Rd."
"Certainly miss."
Another shaky buzz rang in her ear before Midori's tired voice grunted into the phone. Naru laughed when Midori screamed into the phone. "We're going to England!"
Naru covered the receiver and laughed somewhat shakily. "I think we're going to England."
Ino huffed blowing her wispy pale blonde hair agitatedly. "Wonderful, we're going to possibly the second most dangerous place in the World War now, near a port scarily close to the England Channel where the German's could bomb at anytime, where we would be handling mortally wounded men that cannot be moved! Sure going to England would be great, if there was actually something to enjoy in England!" Naru couldn't agree more.
"This…is the…worst…idea…ever" Naru groaned. This couldn't be more humiliating, she was leaning over the edge of the ship puking whatever contents remained of her stomach. Her brain was bounding against her skull, and if the water looked anything more like a fuzzy blue blob she'd think there was something wrong with her.
She heard a guffaw behind her. "Aww, Naru are you feeling bad?"
"Just peachy Ino." She groaned, and emptied more bile into the cerulean blue sea. "Never better."
Ino leaned against the wall of the cast iron ship next to Hinata who was crouched down by Minato and Sakumo playing with them. Midori pat her back humming a tune to mask her own amusement. Naru felt betrayed, here he closest family were laughing at her predicament. Though she would have done the same thing had the positions been reversed so she didn't feel too badly for too long.
It had been two weeks since they had set sail across the Atlantic from their port off of Virginia, and every second since she had stepped over the gangplank her stomach had been in knots. They still had too weeks to go and Naru was counting every second that ticked by until they got there.
Naru lifted herself breathing through the spinning in her stomach. "Does anyone have water?"
Hinata glanced up through her sunglasses and gave a small smile. "I don't have water, but I do have a peppermint."
"Give it to me." She breathed and shot over to wear the small packaged candy at in her friends hand. Popping the small mint into her mouth Naru moaned at the sweet flavor that ran down her throat subtly soothing her stomach. "Man do I wish that this trip was over."
"Don't hold you breath,"Tsunade said from her small seat, "We still have a week and a half, with the the War going on a soon as we hit British waters the sailors have to be extra vigilant, it could get choppier."
Naru groaned. "I hate boats."
"Didn't you love to go sailing with Shikamaru on the pond back home?" Sakura asked frustratedly gathering her short pink locks in a ponytail to keep them from flying through the wind.
"No, that was you." She dead panned.
"Really?"
"Yes Sakura, I've never like boats. Always felt queasy."
Almost on cue a harsh we crashed along the edge of the boat rocking it just enough to shake the bowling ball settled in her stomach. Naru crashed against the railing before feeling the bile scratched her throat. It was such a shame though Naru thought, it was so pretty over the ocean too, and here she was too preoccupied to look and the ocean puking her guts out than enjoying what should have been a relaxing time before they settled back onto land and chaos reigned over.
Naru raced off of the port as soon as the gangplank hit the traveled ground below. The weight of her immense luggage didn't other her as she flung the suitcase around as she danced happily. "Off the boat, off the boat, we're finally off the boat…" She sang happily skipping and frolicking about, much to the amusement to her companions.
Sakura nudged Ino gently into her side. "Well at least now the question is answered, Naru is the worlds oddest person."
Ino tightened her grip on the heavy case of her luggage as she followed Sakura down the rickety wood plank. "That really isn't a surprise to me, more common sense if you ask me dear."
Sakura rolled her green eyes and wrinkled her nose in Ino's direction. "Are you saying I'm stupid?"
"Not saying," Ino flipped her hair out of her face, "implying, I'm implying that your stupid. Completely different my dear."
Sakura opened her mouth for a retort when Hinata breezed past them. "No fighting please, at least not in public. Tear each other out when we get to out home of residence."
"Yes Ma'am."
Midori chuckled behind them and kissed Sakumo's forehead, whilst Minato played with her red curls as she led them tightly against her torso. "Girls, can you calm down. No need to be so energetic. Naru stop acting like a lunatic and stay still!"
Naru sighed irritated that her cousin ruined her fun, but did so anyway. Midori may act calm but Naru knew her and underneath the serene and calm smile that the young Crimson curled young woman carried was a frazzled and hysterical girl screaming out inside. Midori was barely thirty, she had two growing twin boys that were sprouting like beans, with the energy that rivaled Naru's, her husband was somewhere in the heat of battle in France, or maybe even Germany at this point with practically no way of contact. Contact with Kakashi, Shikamaru, Kiba, Shino, and Chouji and been lost two of three months after they had been deployed. Midori was running her self ragged trying not to think about the danger her husband could possibly be in.
Midori wasn't the only woman going through the harsh loneliness without a clue as to wear the father of her children was lost but Naru could guarantee that they weren't;t bottling it up like Midori was so fond of doing. Naru ran back up the plank and gathered a fussy Minato into her arms so Midori could gather her luggage. The young boy, now close to year in age looked nothing like the tiny little bean that she had seen only weeks ago. Tsunade stood next to a brick building talking quietly with a man pointing at a map she held in her hands. Shizune panted as she leaned against the large stack of luggage she carried down rom the boat. With exhausted limbs she wiped a small trail of sweat that trekked down her face on the sleeve of her coat.
Tsunade pointed to a decent sized building that looked like a large clinic a few yards away from the port. It made sense, to Naru at least. The men who were coming here were injured that would possibly leave them disfigured. The clinic had to be close by so that the men could get proper treatment as soon as possible.
It was a nice building that was understandably large but would spread their numbers thin unless they had other volunteers. Immediately after entering the brilliantly painted red door she saw a small entrance hallway that split into two that lead them through the the many room with three four and somethings even five recovery sick beds with small tables that separated them.
Tsunade sighed as she sat down ion a small chair. "We need a lot more help. Fortunately there are several volunteers from around the village that want to help so we have that covered. Unfortunately though is that I have no idea how much experience they have with blood, and gore, and..well nursing period. There are a few more doctors that are arriving on the next ship. What's needed now is to get ready for an influx of the injured, the sick, and the dying."
Oh yeah, Naru thought, worst idea ever. She had no idea how the clinic would handle the large amounts of wounded men that were bound to come but they'll figure it out…hopefully.
