The journey back to Sunagakure was longer and much heavier than the journey there. The tension and fighting spirit of the journey were replaced by exhaustion, pain, and the weight of losing comrades.
The team moved silently through the Gobi Desert and sand dunes at a slow pace, because less than half of the team members could walk on their own; the rest were either helped or carried on makeshift stretchers.
The smells of blood, Yakumi, and sweat mingled together, leaving an invisible, sorrowful trail on the wind.
Shira was placed on a makeshift stretcher made from broken spears and clothing, carried by Asuka and Sasori. His eyes were closed, his face was an ominous ashen, his lips were cracked and chapped, and only the faint rise and fall of his chest proved that he was still alive.
What's even more distressing is his right arm—from shoulder to fingers, twisted at an abnormal angle, with horrifying bruising and swelling beneath the skin, and the few splints that were simply used to fix it looked extremely fragile.
A medical Chunin, whose arm was also injured, had just re-examined him during a short rest. He was now walking beside Baki, reporting in a low voice, his face extremely grim.
"A comminuted fracture of the bone and multiple tendon tears—but that's not even the worst part."
The medical Chunin's voice was hoarse, "The problem lies in his meridians. His entire right arm's Chakra pathways, due to the impact and recoil of that violent power, have suffered extensive fractures and atrophy. It's like a meadow scorched by wildfire, almost completely devoid of life. With my abilities and under these circumstances..."
He paused, not daring to look Baki in the eye, and lowered his head. "Even if we return to the village and have the best medical Jonin treat us, it would be a miracle if this arm could be saved from necrosis and amputation. It will be difficult to wield a sword and exert force like before."
Although he spoke in a low voice, Reppu, Asuka, Sasori, and several other nearby Sunagakure all heard him clearly.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, leaving only the sound of footsteps and heavy breathing.
Asuka's shoulders slumped almost imperceptibly, her eyes instantly reddening. She gritted her teeth to keep quiet, but her hands gripping the stretcher tightly.
Sasori's usually nonchalant face was now as stiff as a stone, his lips pressed into a straight line.
Sada, lying on another stretcher, struggled to look up at Shira's direction upon hearing these words, but the pain from his injuries caused him to groan. He could only grip the edge of the stretcher tightly, his knuckles turning white.
Reppu walked a little ahead, fresh blood seeping from the bandages on his chest, making each step difficult. He didn't turn around; his shadow stretched long in the afternoon sun, making him appear somewhat hunched.
He Earth Flow silence, his hand gripping the hilt of his knife trembling slightly from the force, the veins on the back of his hand standing out.
Shira was a member of his team, and in a sense, a junior he had watched grow up; she was a rare and promising talent from Sunagakure.
For a ninja whose primary skills are Taijutsu, swordsmanship, and cold weapons, losing an arm means something he knows better than anyone else.
That was practically the end of his future. Self-blame, anger, and a profound sense of powerlessness clung to his heart like poisonous vines.
After hearing the medical-nin's report, Baki's expression remained unchanged, though he paused almost imperceptibly before returning to normal.
"Understood. Do your best to maintain the situation. Before we get back to the village, make sure nothing happens to him." His voice remained calm, but those who knew him well might have detected a very faint undercurrent beneath that calm.
The group continued their silent march. The atmosphere was so oppressive it was hard to breathe. The relief of surviving the ordeal was shattered by the deaths of their companions and the reality that Shira might be crippled.
It felt like a huge rock was pressing on everyone's heart.
Just as the team was traversing a severely weathered yardang landform and entering a relatively flat Gobi Desert, an unexpected change occurred!