Naruto: soldier of 141

Chapter Eighty: Retaliation and Resilience

Screams erupted as the 5.56 rounds from Emlay's SAW began to rip through flesh and bone like a hot knife through butter. The relentless barrage forced the enemy to take cover, though some still attempted to advance, a fatal mistake underestimating the precision of the Demon Dogs. The squad, seasoned and ruthless, picked off the exposed enemies, reducing their numbers drastically.

The chaotic scene was further intensified as other Marines joined the fray, some to fight, others to drag their injured comrades away to safety. The exchange of fire—SAWs against AKs—continued for a grueling fifteen minutes, an eternity on the battlefield. Finally, realizing their efforts were futile, the enemy initiated a tactical retreat. But in their haste, they forgot one crucial lesson: you don't attack the village defended by the Demon Dogs and expect to escape unscathed.

Naruto, peering over the sandbags, watched the enemy falter and begin to pull back, laying down suppressive fire to cover their retreat. A grim smile crossed his lips as he seized the opportunity.

"They're retreating! Marines, advance!" His voice, though young, carried the weight of command, compelling the 22 men and women under his charge to action.

The Marines responded instantly, vaulting over sandbags and climbing out of trenches with practiced ease. They formed a firing line, spreading from east to west, a wall of disciplined firepower that pursued the fleeing enemies. Magazines were emptied and replaced in seconds, the line of fire unbroken as rounds rained down upon the retreating forces.

They halted only when they reached the boundary of the 'no man's land,' a grim reminder of the deadly traps and mines that awaited any foolish enough to continue. Beyond that line, for a stretch of 100 yards, the terrain was rigged with bear traps, anti-personnel mines, and other deadly surprises, designed to ensure that any enemy who crossed into the village would pay dearly for it.

"Cease fire! Cease fire!" Naruto's voice cut through the din, and within seconds, the firing stopped. Silence fell over the battlefield, broken only by the distant sounds of the retreating enemy.

The Marines quickly checked themselves for injuries, then turned to help their comrades. Naruto, seeing they were clear for the moment, began issuing orders.

"Alright, I need a scouting party to follow them. Find out where they're regrouping. Group two, clean up the bodies—anyone still alive, patch them up and get them to the holding cells. Group three, reset the traps. Clear?"

"Yes, sir!" The reply was thunderous, echoing through the village as the Marines dispersed to carry out their orders.

"Demon Dogs, on me!" Naruto commanded, and his team fell in behind him as they began the walk back to the council room.

The journey was quiet, giving the team a moment of peace to shake off the adrenaline and the ringing in their ears. Santos, Naruto's girlfriend of three years, quickened her pace to walk beside him. Without warning, she planted a soft kiss on his cheek, surprising him.

Naruto turned to her, his recently transformed vixen of a girlfriend, and saw the concern in her lavender eyes. "I can feel your emotions, babe," she said softly. "We're connected by this terraformation that happened to me."

Naruto gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I'm fine, just a bit tired. I guess I jumped into combat a bit too early."

Santos narrowed her eyes at him but accepted his explanation. "When this is over, you're coming home with me, and we're sleeping. Understood?" There was a teasing edge to her voice, but Naruto knew she meant it.

"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a grin, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her closer. Santos, being the loving girlfriend she was, accepted the gesture and returned his kiss on the cheek.