Bratva: Some things never change

Chapter 16: Counter attack

Washi, who was sitting with his back against the wall, turned his head to meet the gaze of men. "Didn't expect you to be here," he said. "What are you doing here, Takahisa-sama?"

Takahisa stepped forward and replied, "I came to help. We received intel about the Uzumakis' situation and we couldn't just sit back and do nothing."

Washi nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He quickly got up and walked towards the barrier, muttering a few commands to himself. With a wave of his hand, the barrier dissolved and the seven individuals walked into their side.

Izuku stood up, ready to meet his superior. As the group gathered, Takahisa spoke up, his voice grave. "We need to move quickly. The council has decided on a counter-attack after receiving reinforcements from the noodles Daimyo. We can't hold onto this outpost any longer, it's putting a strain on our line of cohesion, and we don't have enough personnel to defend it."

Takahisa turned to Izuku, approaching him with concern etched on his face. "You good? Do you need a Medic-nin?"

Izuku nodded, "Thank you, father, I'm just a bit chakra-exhausted, but overall I'm good. I just need some soldier pills to keep going."

Takahisa shook his head, "You need rest, Izuku. You're the heir, don't force yourself."

Izuku shook his head fervently. "No, father, the clan needs more soldiers. We can't afford to be short on personnel."

Washi interjected, "He's right, Takahisa-sama. We can't afford to be complacent. The Uzumakis won't give up easily, and we need every soldier we can get."

Takahisa nodded, understanding their predicament. "Fine, but make sure you get some rest, Obake. We need you in top condition for the upcoming battles."

Takahisa then turned to his men, he continued, "Alright listen up! we need to return to the 5th Forward post to brief you on the objective of the operation, time is running out, so move out!"

The group quickly gathered their injured and followed Takahisa out of the bunker, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

But Izuku pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the task at hand. He had trained his entire life for this moment, and he was ready to fight for his clan's survival.

As he vaulted from one tree trunk to another, Izuku couldn't help but feel a gnawing sense of unease at the Uzumaki clan's unexpected rebellion.

What troubled him was the fact that the Uzumaki shinobi they were facing were experienced fighters, as if they had been battle-hardened for years, just like the Utsukame themselves. This seemed impossible to Izuku, as the Uzumaki clan was confined to the upper part of the noodle country, between the Nirinobu river and the Akame mountain chain. They were almost isolated, and the Uzumakis had been subject to strict secrecy measures and a ban by the CSA on hiring them as agents.

Izuku felt as though he was hearing yet again a fantasy story that he had heard a drunk Genin tell in a tavern, boasting about their achievements of taking down four Jounin by themselves. But this was not a drunken fantasy - this was the harsh reality that the Utsukame clan was currently facing.

What perplexed Izuku even more was the fact that the Uzumakis had revolted. They had been provided with ample food supplies, peace, protection from the outside world, and all for the price of a few sealing tags. It made no sense.

'There must be something going on behind the scenes,' Izuku thought to himself as he leaped from tree trunk to tree trunk. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something more sinister was at play here, something that had led the Uzumakis to abandon their grateful demeanor and become savage freedom-seekers.

Izuku couldn't help but wonder if there was a hidden motive behind the Uzumakis' rebellion. Was there someone or something that had turned them against their former allies?

As he ran through the forest, Izuku tried to piece together any clues that could shed light on the situation. But alas, as he saw the bunker entry of the 5th Forward post, he cut his though short and instead focused on putting the injured in a place where they could make an CASEVAC to the compound, then got to the meeting room, spotting there roughly 9 Shinobi and an unknown person dressed as a samurai, probably the reinforcement commander.

Gokoku, code name Nezu, noticed Takahisa's arrival and motioned for him to join them. "Takahisa-sama, good to see you made it. Take a seat."

Takahisa nodded and took a seat at the table. He listened intently as Nezu briefed them on the situation.

"Alright, here's the plan. We need to launch a surprise attack on the Uzumakis' compound. We have received intel from our scouts that they have amassed all their Shinobi and have fortified their position. However, they are not expecting us to launch a full-scale assault."

Takahisa pointed to the samurai, introducing him. "This is General Yasuhiro, he is leading the reinforcements from the noodles Daimyo's army. He has extensive experience in siege warfare against the Uzumaki's and will be assisting us in the attack."

Takahisa nodded, taking in the information. He felt a sense of relief knowing that they had reinforcements and someone with experience against the Uzumaki's.

Takahisa continued, "Our objective is to take out their shinobi and neutralize their leaders. We cannot afford to let them regroup and escape. The success of this mission is crucial to the secrecy and the survival of the clan."

Izuku nodded, understanding the importance of the mission. He knew that their clan's survival rested on their ability to take out the Uzumakis' main base and stop their rebellion.

The two men exchanged a nod before Yasuhiro spoke up. "As Nezu-sama said, we'll be working together on this. Our goal is to take out their leader, Kei Uzumaki. If we can accomplish that, we can destabilize their forces and hopefully force a surrender."

Izuku raised his hand, catching their attention. "What about the civilians? You know damn well what the Uzumaki can do when cornered."

Yasuhiro nodded, "Indeed, Uzumaki last stand still causes me nightmares, and I fear it will only add more fuel to my nightmare after the siege."

Nezu sighed heavily. "We'll have to assess the situation once we breach their compound. If they're will follow orders, we'll have to find a way to integrate them to the clan." He then looked deep into Izuku's eyes, "But if they're combatants, we'll have no choice but to neutralize them."

Izuku nodded, his expression grim. "Understood."

Takahisa spoke up, "What's the timetable for the operation?"

Nezu pulled out a scroll from his pouch and unrolled it on the table. "We'll be launching the assault at midnight. That gives us enough time to prepare and coordinate with our allies."

Yasuhiro added, "We've also prepared diversionary tactics to draw their forces away from the compound. Hopefully, that will work."

Takahisa nodded, satisfied with the plan. "Alright, let's get to work. We need to make sure everyone is equipped and briefed on their respective roles. We don't have much time."

As the meeting adjourned, the group dispersed, each one heading to their respective tasks. Izuku grabbed his gear and headed to the armory, mentally preparing himself for the battle to come.

As he selected his weapons, Izuku couldn't help but think of his clan's legacy and all that was at stake. He knew that he had a duty to his people, and he was willing to lay down his life to protect them.

With a deep breath, Izuku exited the armory with 3 soldiers pills in his hands and headed towards the sleeping room, for now he need rest.