Naruto: Perfect Copy System

Land of Fire.

Swish! Swish!!

HA!!

Torifu's expression was dark as he moved through the forest, his large frame pushing past thick undergrowth. His breathing was heavy and his eyes were full of worry.

Damn!!! Damn!! Damn!! Where are they!!!?" Cursed Torifu with a lot of self-blame in his tone, he had failed to protect his squad.

The battlefield had been a mess. Bodies burnt beyond recognition, the ground torn apart as if titanic forces had clashed. And yet, no sign of his squad.

His fingers clenched into a fist. The silence of the forest pressed down on him. His mind raced. Had they been killed, captured or had they escaped? No matter what he had to get some answers.

Then, he saw it as his movements halted. A snapped branch. Slight indentations on the grass. A faint trail of disturbed dirt—subtle but deliberate, as if someone had wanted to be found.

Torifu's brows furrowed. It was clear with his year of experience that someone left a trail on purpose.

Without hesitation, he followed it, moving quickly but cautiously. He advanced deeper into the woods, where the trees thickened and the air grew colder. And then he spotted under the canopy of a large tree, three figures lying side by side on the grass.

Renzo. Reika. Sakumo. Unmoving.

Swish! Swish!

Torifu's breath caught in his throat as he rushed forward, kneeling beside them. His large hand pressed against Renzo's neck, then Reika's, then Sakumo's. Their pulses were steady. Their breathing steady. Alive just unconscious

"HA! Thank God!" His shoulders relaxed slightly. The worst didn't happen after all.

Then, just a few paces away, he spotted the merchant, Takeshi, also sprawled out on the ground, his face slack and unconscious.

Torifu exhaled, rubbing his temple. Whatever happened here, he didn't understand. But for now, they were safe.

He sat back, resting against the tree trunk, his exhaustion catching up to him. His body felt heavy, his limbs sluggish. The pill he had taken earlier had already begun its backlash. A bitter taste lingered in his mouth.

But this wasn't the time to rest.

They had to wake up soon.

Night had fallen when movement stirred beneath the tree.

Renzo's fingers twitched slightly before his eyes fluttered open. A cold night breeze brushed against his skin. The scent of burning wood drifted in the air.

Slowly, he sat up.

The first thing he noticed was the flickering glow of a fire. The second was Torifu, sitting nearby, his face pale, his breathing slightly labored.

A few feet away, Reika and Sakumo were also waking up. Reika rubbed her temple, her usual indifferent gaze scanning the surroundings, while Sakumo blinked, his sharp eyes regaining focus.

The three of them exchanged a look before their gazes settled on Torifu.

The older shinobi didn't say anything at first, merely staring at the flames. His large frame was tense despite his fatigue.

Renzo pushed himself up, glancing around. "It seems everything panned out as I expected" He said inwardly.

"...What happened?" Sakumo was the first to break the silence, his voice calm but laced with an edge of confusion.

Torifu didn't look at them immediately. His eyes remained on the fire, the flickering light casting long shadows across his face.

"I don't know much," he said finally. His voice was quieter than usual. "When I broke out… there was nothing left. No enemies. Just… destruction."

A heavy pause followed his words. Reika narrowed her eyes. "Nothing?"

Torifu nodded. "The battlefield was torn apart. But there were no bodies. No sign of who did it."

Renzo, still playing his role, frowned slightly as if deep in thought. He let a beat of silence pass before speaking.

"A silver-haired man."

Torifu's gaze snapped toward him. "What?"

Renzo exchanged a glance with Reika and Sakumo before answering.

"Before I blacked out, I saw him," Renzo continued, keeping his tone even. "Silver-haired, masked, fast. I was out before I could react."

Reika gave a slight nod, adding in her usual cold tone, "Same for me. One second I was standing, and then—" she paused, "—everything went black."

Sakumo crossed his arms, his brows furrowed. "Me too. I couldn't even see his movements clearly."

Torifu digested their words, his expression unreadable.

Renzo could see the confusions on their faces and eyes searching for an answer but it was bound to be left unsolved, he had made sure of it.

Eventually, the older shinobi let out a deep sigh, leaning back against the tree.

"...Well, we're alive. That's what matters."

The conversation died down. The fire crackled softly. A faint wind rustled the leaves overhead.

Torifu's exhaustion was evident now. The yellow pill he had taken earlier had drained him, leaving his face paler than before. His breathing was steady but weaker.

Renzo didn't miss the way Torifu's fingers twitched slightly—a side effect. He had forced himself to stay alert all this time, but his body was reaching its limit.

"We should rest," Renzo finally said. His voice was casual, but the meaning was clear. Torifu gave a slow nod, not arguing.

The group settled in, letting the silence stretch. The fatigue from the battle still weighed on them.

Eventually, one by one, they drifted into rest.

Morning arrived quietly.

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the trees, casting a soft golden glow over the forest. The fire had burned down to mere embers.

By the time they were all fully awake, the merchant had also begun stirring. Takeshi sat up groggily, rubbing his head, confusion clouding his features.

"...What happened?" His voice was hoarse.

"You passed out," Renzo replied simply.

Takeshi blinked, trying to recall, but whatever had happened to him was lost in the haze of unconsciousness. He hesitated, then eventually nodded.

With no more words exchanged, the group prepared to move.

The journey to the Land of Fire's capital was quieter than before. No more attacks. No more interruptions. Just the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds as they traversed the remaining distance.

Hours passed, and by late afternoon, the grand gates of the capital came into view.

Takeshi, still looking somewhat shaken, was escorted to his destination. The man turned back before leaving, bowing low.

"Thank you."

His gratitude was simple but sincere.

Torifu only gave a nod in response, while Renzo, Reika, and Sakumo remained silent.

With the mission complete, they found themselves with a rare moment to breathe. Resting another day in the capital, they took the chance to recover from the past few days.

After a day's rest at the capital, squad 8 journey back to the village began.