章節 44: The Return of Hope
[Year 52, Land of Rain, Suna Encampment]
'It's only been a little over six months since this damn war started…' Ryushi, the Third Kazekage, thought as he cast his eyes across the faces of Suna's elite.
They were all in the main command tent, filled with Suna's most trusted shinobi. Ryushi stood at the head of the gathering, his back straight but his eyes heavy with exhaustion. His fingers absentmindedly drummed against the armrest of his chair, a habit he had developed in recent months.
Ever since he took to the office, his shoulders have never felt so heavy. The weight of the war, the losses they have suffered, the news of their home being attacked while he was away.
The weight got even heavier when Chiyo was deemed KIA. It was a burden she helped share, being one of the most respected kunoichi in Suna. Yet now, he was forced to shoulder it all alone.
"We are losing ground in the southern territories," Ryushi began, his eyes scanning the room, meeting the weathered gazes of his allies. He spoke in what many called the 'Kage Voice', one that held the authority of his station, but those closest to him could sense the weariness in it.
"Iwa's victory at the outpost has given them a foothold they can use to push deeper into our lands. We have confirmed reports of their patrols reaching as far as the border villages."
The assembled jonin nodded gravely. Some exchanged worried glances, while others tightened their fists in frustration.
"Do we have any idea how large their forces are in the south?" asked Tetsuo, his brow furrowed. He was one of the more experienced members of the council and one of Suna's stronger Jonin, a man who had fought in the first Shinobi War.
Ryushi paused for a moment, weighing his next words carefully. "From what our scouts have reported, it's a sizable contingent. They've had forward camps built all across the Land of Rain to protect their troops moving from Iwagakure towards the borders. However, our efforts in other battlefields have yielded better results. Ishito is making significant progress at the Suna-Iwa border."
At the mention of Ishito, a murmur of approval rippled through the council. Ishito's actions are the only thing that prevented the Suna shinobi from completely losing morale. Suna hasn't had any major victories at this side of the war. With the loss of one of Suna's pillars as well as the news that their home was attacked, Ryushi wasn't surprised when the rank and file shinobi started to lose hope.
Hope that was reignited by Ishito, however slight it was.
"With the Tsuchikage and Roshi both here in the Land of Rain, Ishito faces little resistance. Han's defection has created a gap in their forces, and it seems there are no other shinobi capable of contesting him at the moment. He is now able to enter the Land of Earth itself unimpeded."
Ryushi knew Ishito well. He had taken Souei's death personally, turning that grief into a weapon on the battlefield. One of the worst things that a Jonin sensei could ever experience is the death of a student.
Ishito's rage had fueled their advance into the Land of Stone, as he destroyed whatever Iwa forces that were present in the small country. There's absolutely nothing now that could prevent him from plundering the whole of Iwa.
He had even remembered the reports of how little Rukia Hoku, the gentle and kind girl that was Souei's and Rasa's teammate, utterly decimate an entire division of Iwa's explosion corps by pulling the air straight from their lungs. It was a brutal technique, one only attainable with her unique skill of sealless wind jutsu and knowledge of the human body, knowledge that she would possess as a medical ninja.
Yet even with all the successes, he couldn't help but feel the strain of these ongoing conflicts. Even their victories felt hollow in the face of so much death and destruction.
'No matter how much we do, no matter how many wins we achieve, nothing will bring back those who have already died.'
"It's fortunate that the Tsuchikage is here in the Land of Rain," Ryushi said after a brief pause, " It leaves the western front open for Ishito to press deeper into Iwa's heartland."
Ria, a Jonin and strategist who had been one of Ryushi's closest confidantes, leaned forward, her face serious. "Then we should make sure the Tsuchikage stays here. We can keep him occupied while the Centipede continues to advance."
Ryushi nodded, but his thoughts lingered on another matter. "We need to devise a strategy to contain the Yonbi Jinchuuriki," he agreed. "I can handle the Fence Sitter for a time. But with Chiyo's death, no one here can sufficiently fight Roshi on equal grounds. Ishito must have time to continue his campaign without interference."
"All of this is great and all," another voice piped up, this time belonging to Ichirai, the perpetually scowling man that always sees the worst in everyone and everything. "We still need to talk about what happened a few days ago. Jonin Tsumari, along with Chunin's Rasa and Karura were discovered abandoning their posts. What should we make of this?"
"I doubt they would just leave." Ria added. "Tsumari is a member of the Kogeru clan and a high-ranking one to boot. Rasa was Kazekage-sama's student. Surely they wouldn't just defect."
"And how sure are you of that?" Ichirai countered. "The boy thinks too much of himself just because he knows the Magnet Release. He was trained by our very own leader and decided to spit on our virtue."
Ryushi had to stifle a sigh as the conversation shifted to discussing Rasa and his compatriots. Truthfully, not even he is completely privy to what they're planning. Rasa was one of Suna's brightest shinobi. He was calm, calculating, and fiercely loyal.
Ryushi had already gleaned all of this from the young boy when he spent time teaching him during the Chunin Exams. He wouldn't leave without a good reason. And yet, his sudden departure had raised suspicions, especially among the more jaded members of the council. Some even whispered of defection, but Ryushi knew Rasa better than that.
"I know what some members here feel regarding the situation." He started, earning the attention of everyone in the room. "But I trust Rasa. He hasn't defected." Ryushi knew that his words wouldn't dispel all the doubts in the room, but they were the truth. Rasa wasn't a traitor. Still, what could have prompted such a sudden disappearance? What was Rasa searching for?
Before anyone could respond, sounds of cheering and clamoring came from outside. Ichirai would turn towards the outside of the tent, "What the hell is going on out there?!"
Ryushi merely raised an eyebrow before walking outside, followed by nearly all of Suna's Elite.
Outside of the command tent, a sea of Suna shinobi had gathered. The sounds of cheering filled the air, a sound that Ryushi hadn't heard in what felt like an eternity. The energy amongst the shinobi was one of elation and awe as the crowd finally parted to reveal what it was.
A long line of Suna shinobi, all injured and battered, marched towards the command tent with their heads held high. What surprised Ryushi to his core was the two men leading them.
Souei.
The name echoed in his mind as he watched the 14-year-old boy that he had thought dead, that he had himself declared killed-in-action, stride through the crowd. His back was straight, the wind billowing his dark blue hair as his eyes held a steel that was previously unpresent.
At his side was Rasa, his face determined but much more relaxed ever since he heard the news of his best friend's death. 'Of course. I should've known, he must've gone to confirm the rumors himself.' Ryushi shook his head with a smile. 'Loyal to a fault that one.'
Behind them marched a line of about thirty Suna Shinobi, all battle-worn but alive. The sight of them filled the camp with a renewed sense of hope, of pride. Souei Matsuri had literally returned from the jaws of death, and lived.
Ryushi merely stood there as Souei and Rasa approached. Both young men stopped before him before bowing low in respect. "Kazekage-sama. I would like to surrender myself to disciplinary action for abandoning my post." Rasa said.
A beat of silence passed before Ryushi karate chopped the auburn-haired boy in the head. "Next time, just tell me what you plan to do. Don't ever pull something like this without consulting me again, is that understood?"
"Crystal." Rasa replied with a small smile. A small cheer erupted for his lenience.
Souei stepped forward then, as he took off his bloodied headband and held it forward, instantly silencing the crowd.
There was no need to ask whose headband it was. They already knew.
"She died protecting me," Souei said quietly, his voice emotionless. "I couldn't save her."
Ryushi's heart clenched as he took the headband from Souei's hands. Chiyo's headband. Her loss had been a weight on the souls of every shinobi who had the symbol of Suna etched on their foreheads. And now, seeing her headband, stained by what's no doubt her own blood, the weight felt even heavier.
For a moment, the title of Kazekage meant nothing. He threw all propriety in the wind as Ryushi's shoulders slumped as he allowed himself to feel the grief that had been festering inside him for so long.
Without thinking, he pulled Souei into an embrace, the boy who shared Chiyo's blood. The boy who lost the woman who was a mother to him in all the ways that mattered.
The young man stiffened at first, but then returned the embrace.
The crowd were silent as they shared the moment of grief, watching in melancholy as their leader, who was known for his composure and strength, showed them all a moment of vulnerability.
As Ryushi pulled back, he held the headband tightly before giving it back to Souei, their eyes meeting. "She would be proud of you. Just as I am."
For the first time in a long while, Ryushi allowed himself to hope. Even in the midst of war, even with all the losses they had suffered, the return of Souei and Rasa reminded him that there was still something worth fighting for. Something worth protecting.
They had lost so much, but they hadn't lost everything.
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— End of Crisis Affliction Arc —
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AN: This marks the end of the second arc, which ended much much bigger than I had anticipated. The Second Shinobi War was meant to only be 12 chapters at the most, yet 30 chapters and nearly 70k words later, here we are.
This arc encompassed the start of the Second war, Souei's growth alongside Rukia and Rasa, Han's defection, Chiyo's death, meeting with the Ame trio, and ended with his return (First Avenger style).
Up next shall begin the Crossroads arc, where a bunch of things will happen.
I really hoped you enjoyed the story. I apologize for the bunch of breaks and uncertainty in uploads during this arc. I promise I'll try to do better.
Stay tuned guys.
Cheers.
— 新章節待更 — 寫檢討
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