MIA in Naruto

Chapter One Druids?

"Alpha team this is Bravo team do you copy?"

After thirty minutes of rucking east northeast, Doug believed it was safe to test whispering in his radio once more.

Rucking through a forest was shit but rucking through a forest while trying to be stealthy and covering your tracks while in desert camo fatigues and kit and possibly behind enemy lines was worse than getting shot. 

At least if you were shot you would bleed out and die now he was sweating his ass off and he had no clue where he was going and didn't know for how long he would be stuck doing this.

Quietly and repeatedly Doug began to chant to himself "Embrace the suck".

Readjusting his pack Doug froze. He heard something. The sound of several explosions and a low droning noise. Immediately Doug hit the deck, pulled his Sig, and looked up and around eyes dilated adrenaline kicking in as he scanned the tree tops for any incoming drone.

After fifteen minutes of nearly panicked scanning, Doug noticed the explosions had long since finished and the droning noises sounded more like that of a waterfall than an incoming drone.

The explosions mean there was fighting and if there was fighting then it means friendlies were like in his Area of Interest. Maybe if he got close enough to their Area of Influence he could radio in for an EVAC.

Ditching all forms of stealth this twenty-two-year-old man began running towards the AO hoping to both reinforce and get reinforcements.

After 12 minutes of running Doug came across a well-trodden dirt road. Dropping back Doug dove behind a nearby bush. Never cross a road without investigating it first, heading out into the open with unknown sightlines and possible mines is just asking for death. 

Drawing his P220 from the holster Doug began investigating the road and tree line for any irregularities. What began to become apparent was the fact he never saw any trash yet. No plastic bags, disregarded wrappers, or old tires it has been a pristine forest. 

As he began investigating the species of trees instead of looking for enemies another bomb and crash were heard nearby.

Completely dropping into the bushes Doug turned towards the end of the road with his Sig with one hand and his other reaching for his radio.

"Can you hear me? I am right down the road pushing southwest towards my direction. I can reinforce you or we can pincer them. Do you copy?"

With no response from his radio Doug just assumed it was broken but the noises were getting louder so they must have heard him.

Dropping fully prone Doug repositioned to a roll-over prone stance and aimed down the road. The dust never settled but it didn't need to as Doug could see a horse-drawn caravan bolting towards him followed by flying balls of water and fire.

"I did not sign up for this shit."

Doug was just about to get up and run for his life but he noticed that the caravan was filled with civilians. If he saved those civilians they would likely help him. But how could they even help him?

As he lay there prone deciding his actions he was slowly running out of time. ROE 5 minimum risk to innocent civilians without endangering the mission. 

"Hearts and minds even if there are fucking wizards' hearts and minds".

Fighting down on the wizards Doug noticed the weird outfits they seemed to be wearing white animal masks, black cloaks, and grey body armor.

"They are likely some kind of druid. I guess I can't tell if that armor is bulletproof. 

Let's see I see two druids they might have another ally hidden in but unlikely as they seem to have the upper hand".

The cart's wheel finally exploded. Toppling over the cart taking the horses with it. As this train wreck happened it threw out a few passengers and crushed a few more the druids finally stopped.

Crack Crack Crack 

With a quick flick to the side

Crack Crack Crack 

Three rounds each following the Mozambique Drill two shots to the chest and one to the head. His muscle memory chose this pattern more than his conscious mind. A part of himself wanted to check on the survivors of the crash. 

A more rational part warned that the druids might have possible allies in the AO so it would be good to reposition. 

However, he was dressed in a desert camo so his stealth was nearly fucked and any quick movement on his part would make him a greater target than any repositioning.

Grabbing the six brass casings as those might be the only means of resupplying his SIG he decided anything was better than nothing. Slowly Doug began to army crawl his way through the underbrush beside the road hoping his camo would at least be mistaken for the road.

After two minutes of crawling he heard the sounds of explosions from his initial position. Meaning there was at least another bogy this time it was at his six and he didn't even hear or see him get there.

Rolling over to his back Doug sat up kicking both feet out and atop one another Doug rested the but of his pistol atop the toes on his boots. With a stable stance, he sighted down his original position. All he saw were several knives with burning talismans. Burning fuses usually means explosives.

"Fuck this"!

Rolling around, Doug climbs to his hands and knees before pushing himself up and off the ground like a sprinter in a starting block through the bushes.

Bbbbbbbooooooooooommmmm!

Blowing him off his feet Doug's face planted into the mud the world ringing. No, it was his ears ringing. As Doug began to push himself to his feet a foot came for his side. The kick lifted him off his hands and knees but his plates distributed the force across his whole chest saving his ribs but leaving them all sorely bruised. 

However, Doug now found himself back on his back, gun in hand. Raising his gun towards the magical druid assailant, the druid left no time for his enemy to use the oddly shaped kunai. With a quick application of body flicker, he was right atop Doug with a kick moving towards his wrist. 

Losing control of his Sig against the super-fast Druid wasn't good but he was basically in bottom mount and with years of BJJ experience he felt confident taking on a druid as long as he couldn't wild shape into a bear, then he would be fucked no matter what.

As the ninja was to the right of his guard having kicked his gun from his hands Doug quickly pivoted and kicked the knee of the druid. 

Staggering downwards allowing Doug to grab the wrist of his adversary and pull it down towards himself and twisting. Rotating his hand so that it reaches its maximum supination.

This lock nearly pulled the druid off his feet as Doug pulled himself up slightly while pulling down his enemy's wrist.

Doug was honestly surprised as most would either have been thrown to the ground or have their wrist dislocated or worse.

That didn't matter much as he still had the man's wrist and now it was closer to his body. Firstly Doug stomped the guy's other knee then yanked the guy once again and successfully threw him sideways and over himself. Following the wrist Doug tied up his two legs around the fully extended arm of his captive before he could retract his arm to his chest.

Locking in a tight Top Half Guard Arm Lock Doug began to flex and squeeze. He heard a pop and crunch. It was the sound of the stupid prize the man had won an inverted elbow joint. The druid wasn't the only winner today as he also felt a burning sensation in his thigh. Looking toward his leg He could see a handle sticking out.

"Fucking bitch"!

The druid, having released the knife in pain never made a noise but proceeded to reach back for his knife. He would get revenge for having to suffer once more from having his elbow dislocated just like back in training. He was prepared for this moment.

However, Doug was just as pissed and used the pain of his lock to his advantage. When his opponent was just about to outpace him to the knife Doug lifted his hips giving pause to his combatant and him time to get to the knife.

Ripping the knife out of his leg Doug proceeded to bring the knife down on the druid's face.

Catching Doug's wrist the druid fought for control of the blade. Even though he was in a far worse posture for exerting strength he was somehow quickly overpowering Doug.

Worried Doug flicked the knife towards his side but out of the reach of the druid before twisting his wrist clockwise breaking the druid's grip. With a quick yank of the broken area, he momentarily stunned the ninja as he proceeded to make a fast hand chop to his exposed neck. 

The druid immediately grabs his greatly injured throat hoping to protect his weakness falling onto the back foot. Doug snatched back the knife and stabbed through the back of the man's hand and into his neck. 

He would have gone for the head but the knife would probably get stuck in the mask.

Doug held the knife there as he watched the life drain from the man's eyes, the only part of the druid's face he could make out behind the mask. The tears slowly welled up.

"Aaaregfffffhhh".

Foamy blood slowly tracked from between the mask and the druid's face from near the tiger mask's mouth.

"There can only be one Mufasa".

After several seconds the man breathed his last. Adrenaline crashing and his leg started killing him pulling himself away from the druid Doug crawled his way to his gun. 

Upon picking it up his instincts had him check the slide for a round in the chamber. 

Upon realizing that he was stupid he reholstered his pistol unpacked the tourniquet from his lower chest kit and began to triage his leg.

Using short quick breaths Doug quickly got his adrenaline back up as he finished his leg and started his way to the druid's body.

"Druids use poison right? Must find an antidote". 

Strategically transferring equipment to an alternative location. Doug found a handful of different talismans, vials, knives, pills, and Hardtack. 

Picking up two bricks Doug tested their durability with a clack clack. A small smirk broke Doug's stoney face façade.

"Nice. They seem well made, looks like these were certainly a part of some sort of military unit.

After determining the maker's marks to compare to the other soldiers he found a bag of pills and vials. The vials were like not the medication as nothing else looked like poison or venom that could be applied to a blade in the other bags. 

He however wasn't going to just take a handful of pills and just hope things worked out. He could find out these druid soldiers carried Pervitin. The merchants should be able to tell what was safe so after looting the druid he stopped at the mask.

Did he want to know what his potential killer looked like? No, it would only humanize his killer just only be another face in his nightmares but he needed to know so he could identify his enemies more easily. 

The man was wearing a mask meaning he and another identity one that could be tied back to an identity he needed hidden. If he could find any distinguishing features he could track the man's history and identify possible enemies.

"It's a fucking kid. Jesus Christ these people are monsters"!

Getting up with the bloody mask and all the bags of supplies Doug began to limp towards the merchant caravan.

As he broke his way through the underbrush and onto the road he found one purple-haired woman standing amongst the merchants facing him with a fireball floating above her hand.

Quickly Doug began to draw his gun but the woman seemed to exhale in relief when she noticed he wasn't one of the druids. Dropping down her hands started moving across her allies triaging her fellow merchant. Does that mean she is a wizard? 

Doug limping over the lady he began talking like an American in a foreign country.

"Miss please can you help me? I think I might be poisoned. Is there something in here for me"?

The woman was confused by his words but she looked towards the man's face seeing the blood coming out of his ears and just assumed he was confused and concussed. Looking back at her allies she put the the crazy dress warrior to the back of her mind.

"Lady"!

Turning around, looking panicked she noticed the crazy warrior was right behind her. Doug however didn't care and tossed over one of the bags he filled will all the pills and vials. 

The lady's confusion could only be compared to her panic as she was just attacked and was trying to help her allies.

Mimicking opening the bag Doug then pointed at his leg before drawing one of the kunai from the looted pouches. Then pointed at his leg.

The woman shook in response to Doug drawing a knife on her. It was after she followed his eye to his leg. From fear to confusion, she looked back at his eyes. Doug pointed back at her and the bag he tossed.

It was only then did she realized he was asking for help. Pulling out a pill she tossed it back to Doug. Before keeping the rest and divvying pills out to her injured friends.

Consuming the pill the heat in his leg started to burn and itch before it started to cool like a refreshing mint. It was the most magic thing he experienced he just saw people cast magic and transferred from another world.

Investigating the hole in his leg he noticed the blood now oozing from the hole in his leg was black as tar. 

He almost felt like vomiting but first, he needed to loot what he could from his other two enemies before hiding from future reinforcements.

Upon investigating their gear everything was standardized and had the same maker's marks. Whoever outfitted these guys there's certainly more of them.