Bellicism Arc: Fire I

"How many times do I have to apologize?" It wasn't like Yuina wanted to ruin Kakashi's celebration. He didn't even have to forgive her, but it was now in petty territory with his snide remarks.

"Until I feel like it."

She reminded herself it was the rejection that made her insides twists and not the poison. She was slated to periodically take it for the foreseeable future, but she got through the worst of it.

She followed him through the streets.

"What if I—" Yuina stopped speaking as Ryoma dropped down beside them.

"You two will do. We're headed out," he said as another five people who had been following behind stop.

She had been hoping not to be under his leadership again. She also worried about what would require so many people on one mission. If Ryoma was leader then everyone present was either chunin or genin.

The head out when the mission details were reiterated again. Apparently, he told two of them before deciding to tell everyone at once.

"There's an ongoing wildfire at Chisaiu. Those from the south-west Post 3 have been working to maintain it, but there's still no signs of stopping. There's about a hundred people who have been evacuated at a camp north of there, but new orders are to have them evacuated to Musoku for the time being. They're being a little stubborn, so Kakashi, Yuina, your role will be to help with their evacuation while we handle the fire. They've been resistant, but they might be more receptive to you two."

"Understood," said Kakashi.

They didn't know any water jutsu, so it was all they could do. Yuina recalled Musoku from her first mission beyond Konoha. The largeness and the diversity would certainly lend well to newcomers whether temporary or more permanently. Better than a tent set up in the middle of nowhere.

However, she wondered how bad the wildfire was if the post needed backup. Was it they needed more water power? Even then most people required a water source to use water jutsu, or at least use them on a meaningful scale. Those who didn't usually gained a name for themselves. The Land of Fire had a fair number of lakes, but the east side had many more. They would need a reliable water source to live, so she hoped there was a body of water and not a well. West had drier climates which explained the wildfire.

Well, there was no point in overthinking it. She would learn soon enough.

Kakashi and Yuina stopped at the camp set up whereas the others went onwards. She could only see flecks of fire in the distance, but the smoke was horrible.

People stood in line for raw food. There was a horse laying down. The wagon it had pulled there had food in it among a few other supplies.

The person handing out food was wearing the familiar vest. Kakashi went directly to him as Yuina took in the scene.

"We're here to help with relief efforts and relocation," said Kakashi.

Some of the people in line for food began to mutter around themselves. "We already said we aren't leaving. Can't you do anything?"

"All of this is doing something," Kakashi replied pointedly before the other nin could say anything to smooth it out.

"We aren't expecting you to leave forever, but it's looking like it may take weeks before the fire can be properly quelled." The Konoha-nin she didn't know the name of was much gentler with his words.

Yuina joined in. "If we haven't already, we'll take down all your names to follow up with you, but it's dangerous here and breathing all this smoke isn't good for anyone. If you want your family safe then please consider relocating for now."

"Ataka, who is this creepy child?"

Creepy?! And she may not have a vest jacket like the other two but her forehead protector is clearly worn.

"They're with me," Ataka said in a gentle tone again trying to not further escalate the situation.

The elder lady brushed his words off. "And where would you expect us to go?"

"That's…" Ataka hadn't heard their update yet.

"Musoku," said Kakashi.

"You aren't taking us to that cursed town!"

The younger woman standing next to the elder grabbed her arm. "Now, mom, why don't we calm down. Sorry for her."

She shrugged off her daughter's grip. "Don't apologize for me. They'll dump us there. Then we will never be notified when the fire is gone or they'll let the town burn like they did with Kogagi."

"That was before I was even born."

Yuina saw no signs of their argument stopping. "If I could cut in." She continued talking the moment she had their intentions. "There's more access to food in Musoku and it can be cooked there. We'll follow up with every resident. We promise."

"Keh. You don't even know who all lives in Chisaiu."

"It's better than living out here in the bush," added Kakashi. He crossed his arms. He hated crowd control or anything public facing.

"We aren't useless. We know how to hunt."

"It's not smart to start a fire to cook it though. There's a reason you're being fed raw vegetables." Ataka was worn down long before they arrived, but a job was a job.

"If we haven't already, we'll write down the names of everyone who has evacuated. If there's anyone missing or unaccounted for then we will note that down too." It was better then telling a bunch of refugees to deal with it. They didn't have a choice. It was the luck of life and now the only thing that could be done was manage it. "Did we not write their names down?"

"That's not protocol."

Sure. This world was a mash of new and old and emergency measures was the thing that leaned towards medieval. That was infuriating.

"You write down the names," said Kakashi looking at the food. "I'll help Ataka finish distributing food and then we will load up what we have back on the wagon."

They divided the work and a little over two hours later they began their walking journey north.