Chapter Text
The sun had barely risen over the mountains when the heat settled over Kandahar Province. The first rays of sunlight caused the grains of sand covering the trails around the Spin Boldak Forward Operating Base to glisten as the soldiers finished preparing for the day’s patrols.
First Lieutenant Uzumaki Naruto had called this place home for nearly a year.
He had enlisted in the US Army as soon as he turned eighteen. His courage, determination and ability to lead his men on the most dangerous missions had earned him several decorations, as well as a rapid rise through the ranks, over the years. While many young officers dreamed of being assigned to a safer post after a few months of deployment, Naruto had never asked to leave Afghanistan. No one was waiting for him in the United States. He had no family or spouse, and his only friends wore the same uniform as him. As long as he could be of use on the field, he saw no reason to return home. He was finishing his inspection of one of his squads when a corporal hurried over.
"First Lieutenant, Captain Hatake wants to see you immediately," he said.
Naruto nodded and headed immediately for the command post without questions. After walking through the base for a few minutes, he stopped in front of the main tent.
"First Lieutenant Uzumaki. Permission to enter, Captain?”
“Come in.”
Naruto parted the canvas and stepped inside.
The air conditioning provided a pleasant contrast to the suffocating heat outside. The tent's walls were covered with detailed maps of Kandahar Province, showing patrol routes, observation points, and dangerous areas. Several screens displayed real-time footage captured by drones monitoring the Pakistani border. Captain Kakashi Hatake stood behind the desk. Despite his many years in the field, he maintained a remarkably straight posture and a disconcerting calm. His gray hair was perpetually unruly, sticking out slightly from under his combat cap. A short, perfectly groomed beard covered the lower half of his face. An old scar ran vertically across his left eye, a reminder of a mission he rarely spoke of. His gray eyes were clear and piercing, which immediately made him stand out. They belonged to a man who had seen enough combat that he no longer needed to raise his voice to be obeyed. Naruto removed his Enhanced Combat Helmet, tucked it under his arm, and saluted his superior in accordance with regulations.
"Did you summon me, Captain?"
Kakashi acknowledged his salute with a slight nod.
"At ease."
Naruto immediately relaxed his posture. The captain then turned his head slightly and gestured toward a man sitting in front of his desk.
"Command has ordered us to ensure this journalist's safety. Meet Uchiha Sasuke. He’s here to cover the conflict in our sector.”
Naruto immediately focused on the civilian. At first glance, he appeared to be just an ordinary man. Yet his gear told a different story. He wore sand-colored tactical pants, sturdy boots caked with desert dust, and a lightweight shirt with sleeves rolled to his forearms. A bullet-proof vest bearing the word "PRESS" was neatly draped over the chair next to him, along with a blue ballistic helmet and a professional camera with an imposing telephoto lens. When their eyes met, Sasuke slowly looked up at him. His face remained impassive, showing no emotion. He didn't smile, observing Naruto intently as if analyzing the officer responsible for his protection. This demeanor alone reinforced the impression Naruto had when he entered the tent: this man did not belong on a forward operating base. He pursed his lips before returning to his captain.
"Very well, Captain. I can ask Lieutenant Shikamaru to assign a team to protect you while my platoon operates."
Kakashi calmly raised a hand to interrupt him.
"No, Uzumaki. The orders from Command are very clear. You are personally responsible for Mr. Uchiha.”
Naruto’s jaw clenched immediately. He searched for a few seconds for words that would allow him to express his disagreement without disrespecting his superior.
"Captain, we're close to uncovering a smuggling route used by the Taliban to cross the border. My men and I have been working on this operation for several weeks, and we’re closer to our goal than ever before. I can’t afford to slow down our progress just to escort a journalist.”
Kakashi held his gaze with a calmness that stood in stark contrast to his lieutenant’s inner turmoil.
“I am fully aware of your unit’s situation, Uzumaki.”
Naruto briefly lowered his eyes before speaking again in a more measured tone.
“I apologize, Captain. It’s not my intention to question your orders. I simply want you to understand that having a civilian present will completely change our operations. We’ll have to adjust our movements, slow down certain reconnaissance missions, and deploy men solely to ensure his safety. Every change like this increases the risk for the entire team.”
The captain slowly walked around his desk until he stopped in front of his officer. His expression still showed no emotion, but his gaze had hardened considerably.
"Do you really think I’m unaware of that, Uzumaki?"
Naruto remained silent.
"Mr. Uchiha isn't an amateur looking to take a few spectacular photos. He’s covered international armed conflicts for years, and the command considers his work important enough to justify this mission. You don’t have to agree with this decision, but you have a duty to carry it out.”
For a few seconds, only the hum of the air conditioners broke the silence that had settled over the tent. Kakashi finally clasped his hands behind his back before continuing in the same calm voice.
"If headquarters insisted that you be entrusted with this responsibility, it's not to punish you. It’s because you’re one of the best officers under my command. I know you’ll make the right decisions once you’re on the field. I’m entrusting this man’s life to you because I trust your judgment.”
Naruto felt a pang of frustration tighten in his chest. He was certain that a reporter would slow down his unit and endanger his soldiers. However, he knew an order from the chain of command was not to be questioned. He took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and replied in a firm voice.
"Understood, Captain."
Kakashi nodded with satisfaction.
"Perfect. Effective immediately, Mr. Uchiha is under your command. I’m counting on you to bring him back alive from every mission.”
Naruto then turned his head toward Sasuke. Since the conversation began, the reporter had barely moved. He watched the exchange with unflappable calm, not intervening or justify himself. His gaze met the first lieutenant’s again, and Naruto immediately realized that their collaboration would be far from simple.
Three days earlier, in New York.
The streets of Manhattan were pulsing with the city’s frenetic rhythm. Car horns mingled with the incessant roar of traffic while skyscrapers reflected the sun’s first rays on their immense glass facades. On the twenty-eighth floor of the building that housed the Reuters office, Sasuke Uchiha waited patiently in a brightly lit hallway. Leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, he quietly watched as journalists come and go between the newsrooms. Suspended screens continuously broadcasted the latest news from all corners of the world, and phones rang incessantly—a constant reminder that news never waits.
At twenty-eight, Sasuke was one of the agency’s most respected war correspondents. His name came up regularly whenever someone needed to be sent to the most dangerous region on the planet. While many hesitated to set foot there, he accepted assignments without question. It wasn't because he sought out danger; rather, he was convinced that people living in conflict deserved their reality portrayed honestly. Ever since childhood, Sasuke has felt a need to understand events before judging them. As he grew up, he realized that wars affecting the poorest countries were often reduced to statistics, political statements, and brief, sensational images that quickly disappeared from screens. This way of presenting conflict deeply troubled him. Behind every explosion were families, soldiers, doctors, children, and civilians who carried on with their lives despite everything. He wanted to show the world this reality. As his reports were written, his reputation gradually improved. They never sought to glorify war or unnecessarily shock viewers. Sasuke simply showed what he saw without exaggeration or staging and without trying to influence his viewers' judgment. This approach earned him the respect of many colleagues and several military units that accepted him as an embedded journalist. They were convinced he would faithfully report what he observed on the ground. The door to the office at the end of the hallway finally opened, and Itachi Uchiha appeared in the doorway with a slight smile.
"Sasuke, come in."
Sasuke stepped away from the wall he had been leaning against and entered his brother’s spacious office. The room was simply furnished, but the huge, floor-to-ceiling windows that took up nearly an entire wall offered a spectacular view of Manhattan. From the twenty-eighth floor, the avenues stretched endlessly between the skyscrapers, and the Hudson glistened in the morning light. Itachi walked around his desk before settling into his chair. Despite his position as editor-in-chief, he retained the same calm and composed demeanor that had always characterized him. His impeccably tailored suit stood out against the numerous stacks of files and reports that took up a good portion of his workspace. Sasuke sat down across from him without wasting time.
"So where am I headed this time?”
A slight amused smile tugged at Itachi’s lips.
"We've received an official request from the U.S. Army. They want you to produce a series of reports in Spin Boldak, Kandahar Province, near the Pakistani border.”
Sasuke nodded discreetly to encourage Itachi to continue.
"The units deployed in this sector are working with Afghan forces to prevent Taliban infiltration from Pakistan. The situation remains tense, and the command believes it is important for journalists to show what is happening on the ground.”
Itachi opened a folder in front of him and pulled out several documents.
"As with your previous assignments, you'll be embedded with a U.S. unit for your stay. You’ll follow their operations, share in their daily lives, and be under their protection for as long as you remain in their sector.”
Sasuke simply nodded. He had grown accustomed to this routine. For several years, he had regularly accompanied military units in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, and several African countries. The soldiers didn’t always appreciate having a journalist among them during the first few days. However, that mistrust usually faded once they realized that he respected their procedures, never interfered with their work, and understood the limitations imposed by the theater of operations.
“All right. When do I leave?”
Itachi quickly checked his calendar.
"Tomorrow morning. A vehicle will pick you up at exactly 4:00 a.m. to take you to the airport. The military plane transporting personnel cannot wait for latecomers.”
Sasuke stood up calmly.
"All right."
Itachi did the same before walking around his desk. When he reached his brother, he placed an affectionate hand on his shoulder.
"I know you do this job because you deeply believe in what you're advocating for, and I'll never stop you. Just promise me you’ll be careful.”
Sasuke let out a soft sigh that sounded like a smile.
"You tell me the same thing every time I leave."
"Because you're always traveling to places where bullets are very real."
A faint smile appeared on Sasuke’s lips this time.
“Don’t worry. I will always do everything in my power to return."
Itachi held his gaze for a few moments before nodding silently. He knew his younger brother well enough to realize that he couldn't convince him to choose a less dangerous career. Sasuke had always acted on his convictions with unwavering determination. He sought neither glory nor recognition. All he wanted was to report on the war honestly so that those living in peace could understand what an armed conflict truly entails, if only for a moment. This integrity made him one of Reuters’ best war correspondents but also made Itachi worry every time he left the office for another assignment.
Back in Afghanistan.
Uchiha Sasuke watched First Lieutenant Uzumaki Naruto closely as he finished his conversation with Captain Hatake. Neither the dust covering the officer’s face nor the blonde strands of hair stuck to his forehead by the sweltering Kandahar heat had caught his attention first. What immediately struck him was the intensity of the man’s blue eyes. Even when tinged with irritation, the soldier’s gaze remained surprisingly alive. Throughout his career, Sasuke had met many soldiers—men and women-who had spent several years in the midst of the planet’s most violent conflicts. Many of them retained their professionalism, but their eyes often betrayed a deep weariness or indifference born of everything they had seen. In Uzumaki Naruto, that weariness seemed to be present, but it had not yet erased the humanity that drove an officer to care for the men under his command.
Even before arriving at Spin Boldak, Sasuke inquired about the unit to which he would be assigned. While the U.S. Army documents did not contain confidential details about ongoing operations, they included information about the officers in charge of the base. He learned that First Lieutenant Uzumaki was only twenty-eight years old and was considered one of the most promising officers in his battalion. His superiors regularly praised his composure in combat, his ability to make decisions under pressure, and his constant attention to his soldiers' safety. This reputation likely explained why Captain Hatake had entrusted him with protecting a journalist. Sasuke also understood why this decision did not sit well with the young officer. From the moment they met, Naruto did not hide his displeasure. In his view, having a civilian present during such an important operation was an unnecessary burden and risk for his unit. This reaction did not surprise Sasuke, however. Over the years, he had accompanied dozens of military units from various countries, and few commanders welcomed war correspondents enthusiastically. Soldiers usually accepted his presence once they saw that he knew the safety protocols. He respected the chain of command, and never put a mission in jeopardy for the sake of a spectacular photograph or video.
When Naruto finally turned his gaze toward him, Sasuke held his gaze without trying to provoke a confrontation. He knew first impressions mattered, and a single misstep could complicate their entire collaboration.
"Follow me."
The first lieutenant said nothing else. After saluting his captain, he put his enhanced combat helmet back on and strode out of the tent quickly. Sasuke thanked Kakashi Hatake with a respectful nod before following him. All the while, he put on his bulletproof vest and helmet. Outside, the heat hit him immediately. The air shimmered above the sun-baked sand while the continuous rumble of military vehicle engines filled the air throughout the base. Naruto walked briskly between rows of containers, guard posts, and protective barriers until he reached a group of soldiers gathered around an armored vehicle.
It was an M-ATV (an all-terrain tactical vehicle) designed specifically for operations in Afghanistan. Its tall, imposing silhouette rested on four massive wheels capable of navigating the region’s rocky terrain. The vehicle's reinforced chassis was designed to provide better protection against improvised explosive devices, and its armored hull could withstand small-arms fire. A protected turret on top of the vehicle allowed the gunner to monitor the surroundings while benefiting from additional armor. Despite its size, the M-ATV was developed to maintain excellent mobility on narrow, rugged mountain trails in southern Afghanistan.
Three soldiers paused their preparations when Naruto arrived with the journalist. Their eyes immediately turned to Sasuke, who could sense the tension. None of them seemed pleased that a civilian would now be sharing their daily lives. Accustomed to this kind of reception, Sasuke maintained a perfectly neutral expression. He stood motionless with his arms relaxed at his sides, leaving it to the first lieutenant to make the introductions.
"Command has assigned us a journalist. His name is Uchiha Sasuke, and he’ll be attached to our unit for his stay at Spin Boldak.”
No sooner had Naruto finished speaking than a soldier with tousled brown hair furrowed his brow. The two red triangles tattooed on his cheeks accentuated his annoyed expression.
"Lieutenant, we're in the middle of a mission. We can’t take a reporter with us.”
Naruto immediately raised his hand to signal him to be quiet.
"I'm fully aware of that, Inuzuka. I expressed my reservations to the captain, but the orders come directly from Command. So we’ll carry them out.”
Specialist Inuzuka snorted quietly through his nose before looking away. It was clear that he disapproved of the decision as much as Naruto did. However, he knew his lieutenant well enough to realize the discussion was over. Naruto adjusted the straps on his helmet, then slipped on a large pair of ballistic goggles with black lenses that hid his eyes completely. He turned to Sasuke.
“Let me introduce the team. Specialist Nara Shikamaru is our driver. Specialist Inuzuka Kiba is manning the turret and providing cover. Private First Class Rock Lee is our infantryman. I’m the vehicle commander.”
Shikamaru briefly raised a hand in greeting, but kept his eyes on the engine. Kiba offered only a slight nod that seemed more like a polite gesture than a genuine welcome. Lee gave the reporter a sincere smile and quietly welcomed him, which pleasantly surprised Sasuke. The war correspondent nodded at each of them, not trying to prolong the introductions. While the soldiers performed final checks on the armored vehicle, he took his camera out of his bag and started working. First, his lens swept over the FOB’s fortifications. Then, it moved on to the soldiers bustling around in various vehicles. Finally, it lingered on the precise movements of Naruto’s crew. He wasn’t looking for heroic images. He was interested in the daily reality of these men—their habits, their focus, and the military routine that preceded each of their sorties.
Once the checks were complete, Naruto closed the side door of the M-ATV before giving the order to depart. The four soldiers climbed in with efficiency honed by months of joint training. Sasuke then climbed into the vehicle and took the seat the first lieutenant indicated with a brief gesture. No sooner had the heavy, armored door been locked than the engine revved, causing the entire cabin to vibrate. A few moments later, the convoy passed through the Forward Operating Base (FOB) gates and turned onto the dusty tracks leading to one of the most dangerous areas along the Afghan-Pakistani border. Inside the armored vehicle, the roar of the engine, the clatter of equipment hanging from the walls, and the crackle of radio communications through their helmets created a familiar cacophony for the soldiers. Having already traveled hundreds of kilometers in this type of vehicle during previous reporting assignments, Sasuke calmly settled into his seat. He silently observed the four men who would now be his comrades.
Naruto quickly pushed aside his annoyance at the reporter’s presence. Once the mission began, he no longer had the luxury of dwelling on a decision made by his command. His role was now to lead his men to their objective and bring them back safely to the FOB.
They were heading to a rendezvous point arranged several days earlier with an Afghan informant named Farid. Naruto had been working for several months. Over time, Farid had provided intelligence that had proven accurate enough to enable the interception of several weapons convoys and the arrest of Taliban fighters before they could reach their targets. Although the first lieutenant was naturally wary of any intelligence source, Farid had always proven trustworthy, eventually earning the first lieutenant’s trust. This time, the informant said that a former oil extraction facility was located a few kilometers from their meeting point. Although the site had been abandoned for many years, a source close to Farid told him that the Taliban were now using a hidden tunnel beneath the building’s foundations to cross the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan secretly. If accurate, this information would explain how several armed groups were bypassing the numerous patrols monitoring the main crossing routes.
To facilitate his work with the local population, Naruto devoted much of his free time to learning Pashto as soon as he arrived in Afghanistan. His long evenings studying the language finally paid off; he could now hold a full conversation without an interpreter. This skill allowed him to communicate directly with Farid and ensured no important information was lost due to inaccurate translations. The steady rumble of the engine finally drew his attention inside the vehicle. The lieutenant’s gaze lingered on the reporter for a few moments. Despite the constant jolts caused by the rocky trail, the reporter remained perfectly calm. The M-ATV's interior was noisy. The engine reverberated throughout the armored hull. Equipment hanging from the walls clattered together with the slightest movement. Despite the ventilation system, the heat quickly became stifling. Yet the journalist seemed to have no trouble enduring these conditions. He held his camera tightly against his chest to protect it from vibrations and observed the landscape intently.
Naruto couldn’t help but be impressed. Most civilians quickly lost their bearings on their first ride aboard an M-ATV. Some suffered from motion sickness, while others struggled to tolerate the heat or incessant noise. Sasuke gave the impression that he’d spent a lot of his life traveling in this type of vehicle. This confirmed that he wasn’t just an inexperienced journalist looking to capture a few spectacular shots. After driving for nearly an hour, Shikamaru slowed the M-ATV to a stop near a dusty intersection. About fifty meters away stood an old wooden house whose roof had partially collapsed over time. The sun-bleached, sandstorm-weathered planks creaked softly in the scorching wind. Rocky hills overlooked the trail all around them, offering numerous vantage points for anyone wishing to survey the surroundings or set up an ambush.
Naruto glanced quickly at his watch before returning to the landscape. Farid should have arrived several minutes ago, and the longer he looked around, the more unusual his absence seemed. He could see neither his informant's silhouette nor the vehicle he usually drove. Farid had always been exceptionally punctual and had never missed a meeting without letting Naruto know beforehand. This situation could be the result of an unforeseen event, or it could indicate that something happened before their arrival. Without wasting any more time, the first lieutenant grabbed the radio attached to his tactical vest.
"Shikamaru, keep the engine running and be ready to move out at a moment's notice."
"Copy that, Lieutenant."
Naruto then turned to his men.
"We're initiating the disembarkation procedure. No one is to move away from the armored vehicle until the area has been secured.” The order was carried out without hesitation. Kiba immediately swiveled the turret to widen his field of view, aiming his machine gun at the high ground overlooking the intersection. Meanwhile, Rock Lee checked his rifle one last time before positioning himself near the side door. Meanwhile, Shikamaru remained at the wheel of the M-ATV with his hands on the controls, ready to accelerate if necessary.
Naruto then cautiously opened the armored door a crack and spent several long seconds observing the surroundings before exiting. He methodically scanned the gaping windows of the abandoned house. He also scanned the collapsed stone walls, the ditches alongside the road, and the rock formations overlooking the area. Every nook and cranny could conceal a sniper, a lookout, or an improvised explosive device. He refused to expose his team before inspecting the terrain with the utmost care. Once he confirmed there was no immediate threat, he exited the vehicle, weapon at the ready. Rock Lee immediately joined him to cover the opposite flank. Meanwhile, Kiba kept watch from the turret, and Shikamaru kept the engine idling, ready to evacuate the team at the first sign of trouble.
Sasuke remained inside the armored vehicle in accordance with the instructions he had received before they left the FOB. Having accompanied military units in various theaters of operations before, he knew that civilians never left the protection of a vehicle until the mission leader declared the area secure. He silently watched the soldiers take up positions around the M-ATV and noted the precision, discipline, and coordination with which each performed his role. Naruto scanned the surroundings one last time. The longer he waited, the more anxious he became. Farid had never missed a meeting since they began collaborating. This anomaly alone was enough to make him realize that the day would likely take a very different turn from what he had imagined when he left the base.
Naruto scanned the hills intently. He let his gaze drift slowly from the rocky terrain to an old, abandoned house, then back to the dusty trail winding through the hills. The hot wind regularly whipped up thin clouds of sand that drifted across the crossroads, but they detected no suspicious movement. The unusual stillness only heightened the unease growing inside Naruto. The longer he stood there, the more he felt the unpleasant sensation that something was eluding him.
Farid had always made a point of arriving before the agreed-upon time to ensure he wasn’t being followed. His caution had allowed him to stay alive despite the considerable risks he took by providing intelligence to Afghan and American forces. If Farid still hadn’t shown up, Naruto refused to believe it was just a simple delay. Everything he knew about his informant suggested that something had prevented his informant from keeping their appointment. A growing sense of unease tightened in the lieutenant’s stomach. He decided it would be best to abort the mission before it was too late. After taking a deep breath, he calmly relayed his orders and turned his head toward the M-ATV to tell his team to get back inside when a sharp gunshot rang out from the top of the hill.
The warning came a fraction of a second before impact. A bullet struck the rock less than a meter from Naruto with great force. A shower of shrapnel lashed his face and forearms immediately. At that very moment, the hills surrounding the crossroads erupted with explosions and automatic weapons fired from different positions. The projectiles struck the M-ATV’s armor with deafening metallic clangs while others plowed into the ground around Naruto and Rock Lee. Chunks of rock were torn away, and thick dust clouds were sent up. Naruto immediately realized they had just been ambushed. His experience had taught him that the first few seconds of an attack were always the most dangerous because the attackers had the element of surprise and sought to throw their target off balance before they could react. He knew that if he allowed his men to hesitate, even for a moment, the initial advantage could quickly turn into a disaster. Without wasting a second, he pressed the microphone button.
"Enemy contact! Kiba, clear the high ground! Lee, cover my sector! Shikamaru, be ready to get us out of here!"
No sooner had he issued the order than Naruto threw himself behind a boulder for cover. Another burst of fire swept through the spot where he had been standing moments before. The impact sent the rock shattering into a cloud of dust, which momentarily reduced his visibility. However, he remained clear-headed enough to hear his team's immediate reactions. Rock Lee had already reached the low stone wall he’d spotted a few minutes earlier. He brought his rifle to his shoulder and aimed it up toward the high ground, ready to cover his lieutenant. At that moment, Kiba swiftly turned the M-ATV’s turret and opened fire with the .50-caliber machine gun at the ridges overlooking the road. The weapon’s powerful explosions immediately drowned out the sound of the assault rifles, and the heavy rounds pulverized the rocks behind which the Taliban were trying to hold their positions. Kiba wasn’t trying to hit a specific target yet. His primary role was to saturate the high ground with fire to force the attackers to remain under cover and give the men trapped outside the armored vehicle a few precious seconds of respite.
Taking advantage of this momentary lull in enemy activity, Naruto raised his head slightly from behind his cover. Finally, he surveyed the ridges from a sufficient distance to see several figures moving rapidly from one rock to another. The Taliban were scattered across the high ground in various positions, which allowed them to cross their lines of fire and cover the entire intersection effectively. At that moment, the first lieutenant realized that this attack was anything but improvised. The attackers knew their route, where to ambush them, and had chosen terrain that gave them a considerable advantage from the first shots fired.