It was a strange relief to be back in the cramped and perilous tunnel. With his air growing staler by the minute, and his heart beating a little too hard, Genma pressed on into the dark.

The tube Fukuda led them down this time was wider, with smoother walls. The floor was sand-covered, with shrimp scuttling here, a cluster of sand dollars standing on edge there. It was straighter, too, easier to follow. Genma risked a glance behind them and was relieved to see Raidou and Kurenai close behind, and the lights of at least some of the others further back.

Genma was starting to get a headache from the carbon dioxide he was rebreathing before they finally surfaced into a low, broad cavern. The floor sloped up, leaving sand behind and becoming smooth basalt. Fukuda and Kakashi were both out of the water already, shaking droplets out of their hair and gasping like they’d run marathons.

“You good?” Genma asked, as soon as Ryouma popped up panting hard beside him.

Ryouma hoisted himself up out of the water and rolled flat on his back, arms spread wide, chest still heaving. “Guess I should… thank you…f'r making us swim laps back home. Maybe later.”

Genma followed him out of the water and sat tripodded beside him with his hands on his outstretched thighs, rasping in huge lungfuls of air. “Go ahead… thank me now. So I hear it before I die.”

Ryouma lifted his head to gaze intently into Genma's eyes. “Thank you.” He let his head flop back with a groan. “Half a slice of sea-mucus is not nearly enough food.”

Raidou and Kurenai surfaced, followed by Kasumi, and shortly after that by Usagi, red-faced and gasping; Abe; and Ginta, who looked far too serene. They hauled themselves out of the water and lay catching their breaths.

Genma watched the water for Eizo, Kuroda, and Satomi with mounting apprehension. He signalled to Raidou and was about to dive back in when silver bubbles rose and two of the missing ninja surged to the surface.

Satomi’s Sharingan eyes were whirling red. Kuroda was pale, darkening the water around him with blood.

“Help him up!” Satomi snapped.

Both captains were already moving. Usagi shouted for Abe in almost the same breath that Raidou yelled for Genma. They pulled Kuroda out of the water and laid him on the ground, one checking for a pulse, the other scanning for injuries.

“Where’s Eizo?” Usagi demanded. Satomi shook her head.

Ginta stiffened, fumbling the carrying scroll he was attempting to unseal, and for a moment he and Usagi just held a look. His shoulders shook once, then his mouth firmed into a flat line and he turned back to his task. The scroll released its contents with a faint burst of chakra, and Ginta tossed Genma his medical bag, followed by one for a pale-faced Abe.

Genma nodded at the rookie. “You get a blood pill into him, I’ll explore the wounds.”