Life in Konoha's ANBU by Shezza

Chapter 49: Operation HURRICANE: Part VI

Small, secondary explosions continued to rumble throughout the air as the attack squad fled the scene. The explosive tags detonated at the base of the support structure had been effective, and they large weapons factory had been successfully brought down. It was quite the blow to the loyalist forces of the Fourth Mizukage, and another tally added to the Resistance's ever-growing list of victories.

Yet, despite the stunning victory they had just wrought, Naruto couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.

The small group of allied Resistance members and black-ops Leaf-Nin regrouped a couple of kilometres away from the factory, circling around the inlet and moving towards the centre of the island. The jungle trees grew half as tall as the giant forests of the Land of Fire, their thick, green canopy shielding them from view. The air was warm and humid, almost unpleasantly, and insects buzzed noisily around them.

Komachi was running her hands over the back of Yuuka's blood-splattered head, a gentle green light glowing from between her fingers. She was earning her position as Team Sigma's medical officer, having already finished Naruto's fractured arm. The Resistance's medic-nin, ironically called Kiri, was crouched down over one of his team, running his own hands over the large gash in his leg.

Mei looked quite pleased with herself. Unlike the rest of her squad, it didn't look like a speck of dirt had stained her grey flak-jacket, and her long red hair swayed in the breeze. Naruto watched her very carefully.

"That was an excellent operation," she told Naruto with real warmth in her voice. She regarded him with sparkling green eyes. "You and your team are quite skilled. That fire technique you used was very impressive."

"Says the woman who can spit lava," Naruto responded dryly.

Mei laughed, throwing her head back. "Quite ironic," she agreed.

Naruto smiled thinly behind his mask. "It did go well," he agreed. "I'd say it went too well."

Mei cocked her head in puzzlement as Naruto turned to fully face her.

"You didn't need us for that attack," the blond ANBU Captain continued, his voice hardening. "You and your forces could have quite easily taken out that factory without us- so why did you want us to come along?"

Mei looked taken aback, but then a soft smile crossed her face. "It was guarded by two of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist," she answered. "I took out one, and you took out the other. I wouldn't have wanted to face them alone."

"The Swordsmen I took out wasn't that good," Naruto shot back, shaking his head. "I'm sure you have shinobi capable of that level of skill."

"He was good enough." Mei looked at him strangely. "He was a brute, yes, but he was fast and vicious and very good with that sword. The new incarnation of the Swordsmen may lack the sheer quality and skill of the previous generation, but they're not weaklings."

Naruto wasn't convinced.

"You're either overestimating the number of shinobi the Resistance has that are at your calibre," Mei said, "or you're underestimating your own prowess. Yes, the Resistance probably could have taken that factory without your help, but it would have cost us lives. With you, we didn't even lose a single fighter."

Mei's face softened, and for a brief moment she looked quite sad as her voice turned wistful.

"It's not often that happens."

It was a plausible explanation, and the display of emotion from Mei was almost touching. It was almost believable. Maybe Naruto was being a bit too hard on himself- without that combination fire technique at the beginning of the fight, things could have gotten tough. If the Swordsman hadn't been wounded, Naruto could see how dangerous and deadly he would have been with that weapon.