Naruto: Power in Play

A few minutes prior to the attack.

In the quiet, ink-scented office of Takara, head of the Bright Orphanage, the only sound was the faint scratching of her pen against paper. The fragile tranquility was shattered as the door burst open, crashing against the wall, revealing a figure draped in black, their stark white mask gleaming in the dim light.

Takara's breath hitched, her hand instinctively darting under her desk to brush against the rough surface of a hidden alarm seal. Her fingers pressed into its grooves, ready to activate the distress signal. But before she could act further, the sight of the mask stopped her cold.

"Anbu?"

The figure straightened; their movements deliberate slow to not spook Takara.

"Miss Takara, the head of the hospital, Yoshioka Yuji, has ordered the immediate evacuation of the orphanage. Head towards the nearest evacuation point."

In one gloved hand, they held a small parchment, a seal embossed with the Hokage's unmistakable insignia glinting faintly in the light. Takara stared for a fraction of a second, her mind racing. She had no time for questions.

With a decisive motion, her palm slammed onto the emergency seal beneath the desk, its chakra-activated glow spreading across the surface as it triggered an alarm throughout the orphanage.

Takara sprang to her feet, but when she glanced back toward the door, the Anbu ninja had already vanished.

The hallways turned alive with the wailing siren of the alarm, echoing through the orphanage like an ominous chant. Takara burst into the gathering hall, her heels clicking against the polished wooden floor. Within moments, the matrons and staff began streaming in, their faces painted with confusion and worry. Some carried children in tow, while others came empty-handed, their steps hurried and uneasy.

Takara turned sharply, her voice cutting through the clamor. "We have been ordered to evacuate the orphanage. Prepare the children and the necessary supplies immediately."

A frail but firm voice called out from the crowd, belonging to Usagi, an older matron with a discerning gaze.

"Miss Takara, what seems to be the issue? Why the sudden evacuation?"

For the briefest of moments, Takara's lips thinned, her gaze darting toward Usagi. There was always something about the woman that unsettled her, though Takara couldn't place her finger on why. But now wasn't the time for distrust.

She inhaled sharply and responded, her tone clipped and resolute. "The Hokage himself has approved of the order. That's all we need to know."

Feeling the urgency in Takara's tone, the staff scattered, a flurry of motion and purpose filling the room. Some rushed toward the dormitories, calling out to children lingering in their rooms and ushering them into organized lines. Others moved to the records room, pulling out stacks of documents and scrolls, sealing them with chakra to ensure nothing important was left behind.

In the storeroom, hurried hands swept up supplies: food, medical kits, and blankets. The staff worked in a hurry to pack these into compact storage scrolls, their hands glowing faintly as the seals absorbed the items.

Takara stood in the middle of it all, watching the chaos unfold. She barked out orders when needed, her voice steady despite the pounding of her heart.

Thirty minutes later, the scene had transformed. Lines of children, some clutching blankets or small belongings, stood near the exits. Staff members moved briskly, checking the supplies and ensuring everyone was accounted for.

Takara glanced at the rows of tiny faces, her heart aching at the fear and confusion mirrored in their wide eyes. But there was no time for comfort.

"Move out," she ordered. "Follow the designated routes and stick together. We'll regroup at the nearest evacuation point."

The staff nodded, ushering the orphans toward the doors. Takara remained at the rear, her gaze sweeping the halls one last time before stepping out. Whatever was coming, Takara knew that it was huge. Something monumental that put the whole village at risk.

Stepping into the streets, Takara froze mid-step, her breath catching in her throat. The afternoon sky was a brilliant blue, but it was marred by a sudden, unnatural light. A deafening boom followed, shaking the very ground beneath her feet. She spun around, just in time to witness an energy cannon tear through the Hokage Mountain.

The once-proud stone faces, carved into the mountain as a symbol of Konoha's resilience, crumbled under the blast, massive chunks of rock raining down into the village below. The cannon's trajectory continued, striking the eastern wall, reducing it to rubble in an instant.

A horrified gasp escaped her lips. Around her, the children screamed in terror. Some fell to their knees, while others cried, clutching their caretakers. The matrons moved quickly, trying to calm them, but panic spread like wildfire.

"Miss Takara, what's happening?" one of the older children cried, their voice trembling.

Takara didn't respond immediately, her mind reeling. The Hokage Mountain, the eastern wall—what else was under attack? Forcing herself to focus, she turned to the matrons, her voice cutting through the chaos.

"Get the children in line! We're heading to the Naka River training grounds!"

The matrons nodded, springing into action. Some shepherded the children into organized groups, while others began carrying the youngest on their backs. Takara took the lead, her sharp eyes scanning the skies, her heart pounding in her chest.

The group began their march, moving swiftly through the streets. Takara's focus was fixed on the path ahead, but the distant rumble of explosions gnawed at her nerves. As they neared the edge of the village, a shadow loomed above them.

She looked up and froze.

Strange ninjas streaked through the sky, clad in dark, lightweight armor with billowing cloaks and sleek masks, their chakra-powered flight devices catching the afternoon light. A loud whistling sound pierced the air, followed by the earth-shaking impact of bombs. Explosions erupted near the outskirts, sending plumes of dirt and fire into the air.

The children screamed as the ground trembled beneath their feet. Takara's breath hitched as she reevaluated the situation. The Naka River training grounds, though farther from the heart of the bombardment, now seemed perilously exposed. The enemy's forces were too close—if they continued their assault in that direction, the group would be caught in the open.

"We can't go to the training grounds," she muttered, her thoughts racing.

Turning back to the matrons, she called out, her voice urgent. "Change of plans! Head to the underground bunkers in the central district!"

One of the matrons, Usagi, hesitated, confusion flickering across her face. "But you said—"

"I know what I said!" Takara snapped, pointing toward the distant smoke and destruction. "The bunkers are reinforced. If we're in the open when they bomb the area, we'll have no chance. Move!"

The group changed course, weaving back toward the heart of the village. The streets were packed with panicked civilians, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of smoke. Takara pushed forward, her voice rising above the chaos as she urged the children to stay together.

Then came another whistling—a high-pitched, eerie sound that made Takara's blood run cold.

"GET DOWN!" she shouted; her voice barely audible over the deafening roar of a nearby explosion. The impact hurled debris into the air, a suffocating cloud of dust and rubble engulfing the group.

Children screamed as they were thrown to the ground, their cries mingling with the rumble of destruction. Takara scrambled to her feet, coughing through the choking dust. Her sharp eyes darted around, desperate to assess the damage.

"Get up! We need to keep moving!" she cried, her voice raw with urgency.

Takara's breath came in ragged gasps as she counted the children, ensuring none had been left behind in the chaos. The matrons worked just as frantically, ushering the orphans into a tighter formation, their expressions tense with urgency. The streets around them were in complete disarray—shouts of panicked civilians, the distant thunder of collapsing buildings, and the acrid stench of smoke filled the air.

Then, from the shifting haze, figures emerged.

Dark silhouettes moved with eerie calm, stepping out from the swirling dust and embers. Their uniforms were unmistakable—sleek black armor, steel-plated forearm guards, and the signature porcelain masks of Konoha's Anbu.

Takara stiffened. Reinforcements? Her heart hammered in her chest as the light of hope ignited.

The leader, a tall figure with an eagle-masked helmet, strode forward with measured steps. Without hesitation, he pulled a tightly bound scroll from his belt and unfurled it with a crisp snap of his wrist.

"Orders from the Hokage," he announced, his tone level but firm. "We're taking over the evacuation."

Takara's sharp eyes flicked to the document. The Hokage's seal was there, bold and unmistakable, stamped in red ink. Takara extended her arm forward, intent on examining the document. But before she could move closer, Usagi, stepped forward.

"Finally," Usagi exhaled, relief evident in her voice. "We were worried no reinforcements were coming." She turned to the others. "They're here to help. We need to follow their orders."

Takara blinked at the uncharacteristic response. Usagi was usually cautious, especially when it came to the safety of the children. But she nodded, the old woman had the right idea. Any moment of delay or hesitation could potentially lead to disastrous outcome.

One of the younger matrons hesitated. "But we weren't told—"

Usagi cut her off. "Would you rather stand here arguing while the enemy bombs us?" Her voice was sharp, urgent. "The Hokage wouldn't send Anbu for no reason."

Takara nodded along. The reasoning was sound. Another explosion rocked the ground beneath them, sending a fresh wave of screams through the crowd. There was no time to debate.

She turned to the matrons; her voice crisp. "Follow their lead!"

The matrons hesitated only a moment before nodding. The orphans were quickly gathered, and the group fell in behind the ANBU. Usagi moved confidently alongside them, occasionally giving the children encouraging words while trying to ease up the tension inside the group.

Takara, still on edge, took up the rear.

The Anbu operatives moved quickly, leading the group down a narrow alleyway, away from the main evacuation routes. The air was thick with smoke, the distant wails of civilians echoing between the crumbling buildings.

One of the ANBU ahead turned his masked face toward her. "Enemy forces have targeted the bunkers," he explained. "They know that's where civilians would be taken. If we head there now, you'll be leading these children straight into a death trap."

"We have a secure underground route," the eagle-masked leader continued, not slowing his stride. "Shielded from aerial surveillance and reinforced against collapse. That's our best shot at getting them out safely."

Before Takara could respond, Usagi spoke first. "We should hurry."

Takara's frown deepened.

One of the younger matrons looked uneasy. "Are you sure, Usagi? Maybe we should—"

Usagi turned sharply, her expression hard. "We don't have time to hesitate." She gave Takara a pointed look. "Not at a time like this. Don't forget that the lives of these children depend on us!"

Takara narrowed her eyes. Usagi was acting strangely. Despite their differences, they knew each other well, and Takara had never known her to snap so easily, even under pressure. There was something that the older woman was not telling them.

But before Takara could voice her concerns, another distant explosion rumbled through the village, making the ground shudder.

"Keep moving," Takara ordered through gritted teeth. Standing still wasn't an option.

The orphans clutched each other tightly as they followed.

As they turned another corner, the air shifted—quieter, more controlled. The open streets disappeared behind them, replaced by shadowed passageways that wove deeper into the ruined district. The chaos of the village faded slightly, muffled by the labyrinthine paths the ANBU had chosen.

Takara glanced at Usagi, who walked with no hesitation, as if she knew exactly where they were going, a dark feeling welling up in her heart. The group had barely made it another two blocks when a second explosion erupted behind them.

The shockwave sent Takara stumbling, her ears ringing as the blast threw plumes of rubble into the air. The matrons cried out, shielding the children as debris rained down.

For an instant, the world was fire and sound.

Then, smoke bombs burst across the alley.

The thick smoke rolled through the street, swallowing the orphans and their caretakers in a dense, suffocating haze. Cries of confusion and fear rang out as the matrons struggled to keep the children together, their silhouettes barely visible through the shifting mist.

AN: Sorry for the delayed update, I've been a little busy :)