Chapter 8: Survival

"Where is the Heir?" said the Kiri-nin as he eyed Eichi, who was in a pitiful state, with a blank expression.

"I don't know what you are talking about," responded Eichi with a smirk, crouching lightly as he prepared for a fight despite his injury and exhaustion.

The Kiri-nin raised his eyebrow, then bore a devilish smile that bordered on craziness. "Bold of you to challenge an I&T Division member into extracting information," he said, also crouching slightly and taking off his two kunai. "It will be fun, believe me, you will enjoy it!"

As the Kiri-nin shot towards Eichi, the latter felt his vision darkening, likely from his blood loss and chakra exhaustion from his previous encounters and the teleportation Jutsu.

'This is it, my life is over,' he thought as he watched the Kiri-nin approach in slow motion, his hands forming a seal and black markings starting to expand from his chest.

But just as the seal was about to detonate, Eichi canceled it as he saw a huge guy with yellow hair and a blue and red outfit land a kick on the Kiri-nin.

"It's fine young man," the yellow-haired man said, slowly standing up with his back facing Eichi. "Because I am here!" he yelled with pride and warmth.

Just as he said that, Eichi, suffering from heavy blood loss due to a shuriken that had hit an artery, collapsed, his vision darkening slowly.

The Kiri-nin crashed into a wall from the impact of the yellow-haired man's kick, surprised by the sudden intervention. He quickly regained his balance and turned his attention to the new threat, ready to continue the fight.

"You weakling don't know when to mind your damn business!" He yelled, but the man in the blue and red outfit was not alone. From the shadows emerged a group of similarly costumed men and women, each with unique designs. The Kiri-nin, realizing he was outnumbered and exhausted, cursed then wisely chose to retreat.

As the group chased after the retreating Kiri-nin, the yellow-haired man knelt down beside Eichi and assessed his injuries, quickly realizing the severity of the situation.

"Someone get a medic!" he shouted to someone nearby, who immediately sprang into action. One of the group members disappeared to retrieve medical help.

"Stay with me, young man! Stay with me!" the blond man said as he shook Eichi, who winced and groaned in pain.

"Don't shake him like that, All Might, you may aggravate his injuries," spoke a skinny man with a monotone voice as he wore a grey suit, had green-blond hair, and wore glasses.

"Yeah, sorry young men, just stay with me." All Might said, staying with Eichi and monitoring his breathing and pulse. As he waited, he couldn't help but wonder who this young man was and why he was targeted by the dangerous men.

But those questions would have to wait. Right now, his priority was to save Eichi's life.

*Scene change*

In the village of Uzuchio, a fierce battle raged on between two armies of shinobi outside the village walls. One army donned the unmistakable sky blue flak jackets bearing the swirling emblem of Uzuchio on their shoulders and backs, navy cargo pants, and sandals. They were the defenders of the village.

On the opposite side stood a disparate group of warriors, some bearing recognizable uniforms of the Kiri-nin and Kumo-nin, with a few Iwa-nin sprinkled in between. The clashing of swords, the casting of jutsus, the hurling of kunai and shuriken - it was a true battle.

Eichi fought valiantly alongside his brother Izuna, each slashing and casting jutsus with practiced ease. But the sound of Izuna's grunt made Eichi turn to check on his brother, only to witness a sight that froze him in place.

Izuna was impaled by two Kumo swords, one jutting out of his back and the other piercing his side. Blood spurted out of his mouth, but Izuna managed a smirk through the pain. "May the sun rise again on the Uzumaki clan.." he muttered as black markings started to spread all over his body.

Eichi was about to rush to his brother's aid, but he froze again. His brother had activated the Reverse Four Sealing Symbols Sealing, preventing any movement and immobilizing both Izuna and their enemies.

"Izuna!" Eichi yelled in desperation, but it was too late. The black sphere surrounding Izuna and their enemies had already disintegrated them all.

The next thing Eichi knew, he was in a white room, panting hard because of the nightmare. As he tried calm down, he glanced at the beeping sound that he was hearing upon his awakening, it was a hospital machine.

Exhausted and in pain, Eichi tried to move but his body refused to cooperate. He was in unfamiliar territory and his sense screamed danger lurking around every corner, he knew he couldn't stay still for long.

With a deep breath, he forced himself to sit up, Pain shot through him as he forced himself to sit up. As he sat up, he felt a sharp sting in his arm where the IV had been inserted. Determined to push through the pain, he ripped the needle out and swung his legs over the side of the bed.

Surveying the room, he couldn't help but feel a sense of peace. It was as if all of the chaos and destruction that had taken place prior had never even happened. Despite this, his exhaustion and injuries were a constant reminder of the reality he faced was in fact not a dream, or rather a nightmare.

Just as he was about to stand up, the door creaked open, and an old woman in a white coat walked in. Eichi guessed she was a doctor, but he couldn't be sure. She quickly moved towards him, concern etched on her face.

"Don't move, young man," she admonished him as she hurried over to him. "You're still injured. Please stay put."

Despite his confusion over this sudden change of location and the presence of this new person, Eichi could sense that she meant him no harm. So, he complied with her instructions and was about to lie back down when a sudden thought struck him and stood up abruptly.

"Do you know what happened to my Br-the comrade of mine?!" he stuttered, a pained expression on his face as he thought of the sacrifice his brother had made in order to help him escape with the heir, hopeful he may still be alive.

The elderly woman simply looked at him with a long, pitying gaze, remaining silent. Eichi's impatience began to boil over, and he yelled again.

"Where the hell is he!?" he demanded, his voice echoing through the room. "Answer me!"

As he stepped toward the woman, ready to grab her and shake the answers out of her, a stern voice interrupted him.

"Not another step," the voice warned.

Eichi whirled around to see a man he recognized as one of his rescuers from earlier. Standing beside him was the other blond-men who had helped him escape. Eichi was ashamed that he had forgotten his name..

"What's going on?" he demanded, his heart racing as he wondered if his brother was truly gone forever.

"I am sorry young men." The large men with blond spikey hair spoke, with sadness evident in his tone while and a pitying gaze, "but the person you are speaking about.. did not make it alive."