Written By the Victors


We're all familiar with the numerous tales of wartime heroes and villains of the Naruto world – Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Madara, Namikaze Minato, Hanzō of the Salamander, the Sannin.

However, this story will focus on none of that. Instead, it will delve into one of the bloodiest conflicts in shinobi history from a perspective not often shown in the Naruto series - the conflicts and resolutions of the common soldier.

I hope you enjoy the story, and if you do, please consider leaving a review. If you don't, well, leave a review anyway.

Disclaimer: This is a fan-written work intended only to entertain this site's readers. I neither own nor am affiliated with the Naruto series. It is the copyrighted property of Masashi Kishimoto and associated entities. Please support the official release.


CHAPTER ONE: TARDINESS AND INCOMPETENCE


"You're late."

It was the third time that morning Yamazaki Kaito had been told those exact words.

First it had been his younger sister as she woke him, then his next-door neighbour as he had bolted out his apartment door. And now, this distinctly male voice from… somewhere.

The boy began to wonder if he was hallucinating. It wouldn't be surprising, considering how light-headed and off-kilter he felt.

However, whoever or whatever this voice was, it spoke the truth.

Kaito was indeed late.

But it wasn't his fault. If his alarm clock hadn't failed at performing its sole function in life, he wouldn't have found himself in this situation. Of course, that hadn't been the case. So, here he was.

Standing in this open space within the forest - looking an utter mess.

Sweat streaked through the mangled straw mop that was Kaito's hair, drenching his face and getting in his eyes. His camouflage-brown outfit was in no better condition - dishevelled, improperly-donned, and stained with various wet patches.

And the boy himself, he was barely able to stand. Swaying as he stood, it would take only an unassuming puff of wind to knock him over. All the while, his breathing had remained heavy and laboured.

From the edge of the village to this current place, the academy staff had recommended him an hour-and-a-half trek - at a relatively brisk pace.

Kaito had finished his panicked journey in under fifty minutes.

Dead on his feet, he took several precious moments to gather himself. Pulling out his water canteen, Kaito fumbled with the cap before downing half its contents. Next, he began stretching his aching muscles and allowing his breathing to recover.

As he did so, the boy kept himself aware of the sights before him.

Around was a colossal opening amongst the ancient redwood forest, with large decomposing logs scattering the landscape like a mass grave for trees. Jagged rock formations propped several of these logs into the air like impromptu barricades.

In some areas, entire patches of land were scorched and surrounded by a black crust - the rocks around had been melted into unnatural blobs and any remaining matter blackened beyond oblivion.

It was a strange location.

Far off to the side, Kaito noticed something in the corner of his vision. His eyes trailed over to spot two familiar faces hiding in the shadows of a tree, leaning against a downed log - his classmates.

Before he though through his actions, Kaito hurried towards them, acknowledging them with a wide smile. "Oh, hey guys! How you both doing?"

One of his classmates held a deep frown, while the other's expression was a mixture of anger and bewilderment. At the lack of a response, Kaito stopped in his tracks, giving them a confused look.

Then, he realised.

Those resounding words from merely moments before.

You're late.

Oh shit.

"What the actual fuck was that?!" One of his classmates - a brick-red haired girl dressed in a split-legged armoured apron - exploded. The tone of her voice was positively seething. "Nearly an hour late, and the only thing you have for us is a goofy-ass grin and: OH, HI GUYS?!"

Her flaring hazel eyes drilled into his. From the heat of her glare alone, Kaito half-expected it to start boring a hole straight through his head.

"I… I, I mean…" His words failed him as the flustered boy attempted an explanation. His face turned white as a sheet, as he noticed the girl's hand rested over her twin sheathed weapons by her hips - fingers aggressively tapping the hilts.

Kaito did have a reason, but his mouth refused to blurt it out from fear for his life.

"Come on!" The girl snarled, moving away from the log as she began trudging towards Kaito. Her weapons were being drawn from their leather sheaths. "Speak up, or I'll loosen that tongue of yours myself."

His first response was to rush in the opposite direction, backpedalling away from the incoming red-haired terror. He glanced over to his other classmate, desperate for some form of intervention.

Any hopes were dashed upon realising that the dark-haired, dark-clad boy reacted to his predicament with a cold indifference.

Coal-black eyes merely regarded Kaito's pleading gaze, as the other boy remained against the log. His face was a mask, lacking any colour or depth except for the odd blotchy-black markings around his eyes.

It was like staring at the face of a dead raccoon. With the same personality to boot.

The girl quickly closed the gap between herself and Kaito, the boy having already fallen over onto his rear. A rogue branch had tripped him over. Now, he sat there, waiting for his inevitable demise.

Salvation, however, arrived in the form of a giggle echoing from the trees.

The girl halted her blow mid-swing, as a serene voice carried towards them. "Settle down, Kawakami-chan. Leave the violence for another time."

Kaito looked up to see the girl's form rigid, blades in hand and her expression unreadable. A split second later, the girl sheathed her weapons - a single fluid motion - before backing off. The boy relaxed, releasing the breath he had been holding in anticipation for his untimely end.

Appearing from the shadows of the trees, a brunette woman stepped out into the open. Kaito's first impression was that this woman's presence felt completely unnatural.

Her choice of clothing was simple - a set of red-and-brown robes, hitai-ate placed around her neck, and hair wrapped back into a loose ponytail. What struck Kaito as odd, however, was the way her alabaster skin, exposed to the sunlight, emitted an almost ethereal glow. Furthermore, there was an aura lingering around this woman that felt potent but welcoming.

Something else also caught Kaito's attention - something glistening under the light of the sun. Nestled on the woman's back looked to be some form of scythe sitting in a rudimentary holster of sorts - the blades gleaming like polished silverware.

It was certainly an unorthodox weapon of choice. Appropriate for this unorthodox woman.

Moving closer to the woman and his two classmates, Kaito found himself under the gaze of her kind doe eyes.

"Am I correct in presuming that you are Kaito Yamazaki-kun?" The woman asked, tone polite and elegant, as she provided him with a warm smile.

The boy felt flustered. This was such a far-cry from the reactions of his classmates.

Kaito returned the woman's smile with a small one of his own. "I- I am. And you're Sanjō-sensei?"

"Indeed I am."

The boy lowered himself into a deep bow, his head practically sweeping the floor. "It's truly an honour to meet a highly-esteemed kunoichi such as yourself, Sanjō-sensei. I hope to learn much under your tutelage."

The woman let out a giggle, a pleasant melodic tone. She brushed back several loose strands of hair, she twirled a few through her fingers. "I'm truly flattered, Yamazaki-kun. Little old me, highly-esteemed?" Another giggle. "You spoil me."

Sanjō's smile remained unchanged as she regarded his two classmates. The girl had returned to the boy's side, also leaning against the log. "Kagaribi-kun, Kawakami-chan. Thank you both for staying put while I continued with my preparations. Now, has Yamazaki-kun given either of you a reason for his delay?"

Kawakami - his bad-tempered female classmate - glared at Kaito before replying with a firm 'No'.

"I see," Sanjō said, turning her attention towards Kaito for a few moments. As if contemplating her next course of action. Eventually, she turned back to his two classmates. "Well then, why don't the two of you make yourselves comfortable while Yamazaki-kun shares some insight into his late arrival. It must have been for a very important reason, I imagine."

At her words, Kaito's confidence in the entire situation plummeted. He suddenly felt less certain about his initial judgement concerning the woman - his soon-to-be teacher.

Sanjō gave him a rather disarming smile. It was as if she had been expecting him to drop his guard.

Her curiosity seemed innocent enough. Justified even. However, Kaito had a feeling he wasn't out of the woods yet.

Three sets of ears waited for Kaito to speak, while the dread within grew. He felt trapped. Swallowing down a hard lump in his throat, he considered his choices. He could always try lying his way out of the situation, but that idea was quickly shot down.

It would have been an option if he wasn't such a shit liar.

There really was no other viable alternative. The only way forward was to endure.

He had to the tell the truth.

"I…" Kaito closed his eyes, furrowed his brows, and then took a long, deep breath before finishing his sentence. "I slept in."

"I'm sorry," the boy added, lowering his head in shame. He could hear his female classmate scoffing at the apology, while his male classmate remained ever-silent. Kaito glanced up at the girl, only to avert his gaze as she glared daggers.

"Hmm… I see," Sanjō simply remarked, her observant gaze locked onto Kaito. The boy began shifting on his feet, feeling increasingly pressured by the attention he was receiving and the deafening silence.

The instructor's scrutinising expression eventually peeled away to reveal a smile, the crescent shape of her closed eyes giving form to little smiles of their own. "Well, hopefully it doesn't happen again. Ne, Yamazaki-kun?"

"No, no! It won't," Kaito blurted out. "I swear!"

He was filled with relief when Sanjō finally gave him a satisfied nod at his reassurances. Kaito then ran a mental note to have his alarm clock checked first thing when he returned to the village.

He wondered if his uncle would lend him a hand.

Sanjō clapped her hands together, interrupting his mental ponderings. "Now that's finally sorted, why don't we move on?"

"It has been a tradition," she began, "for newly-formed shinobi teams to have each of its members introduce themselves."

Introductions? Kaito's eyes wandered over to his classmates. Perhaps this was his chance to set a better impression of himself.

"It's something I've done this with every team I've assessed," Sanjō explained as Kaito racked his brain for something to say. "Nothing too major. Just a few things about yourself, your likes and dislikes. Maybe even your aspirations and goals. Whatever you're comfortable sharing."

The female instructor gestured towards all her potential pupils. "So, any volunteers?"

Her offer was met with silence - a pregnant pause from across the board. Kaito's classmates - or soon-to-be teammates, he supposed - refused to utter a single word, while the boy himself was too intimidated to raise his voice first.

'Well then," Sanjō said, unfazed by the uncomfortable silence. "To make this easier for everyone, I'll start with myself."

The brunette woman tapped herself on the chest. "I am Katsuya Sanjō - jōnin instructor assigned by the academy to be your assessor for the initial test. And maybe your full-time sensei if you pass."

The mention of that test dampened Kaito's mood. An assessment specifically designed to boost the already high failure rates. It sounded arduous and painful.

"As for my life goals? I suppose my goal is the one I'm currently committed to. As a teacher, it is my sworn duty to proudly serve our village and to fulfil the requests of our Kage - by helping aspiring genin teams develop their skills and uncover their true potentials. I fully intend to keep it this way until I'm completely unable to teach, or I'm no longer amongst the living."

To teach the future generations to protect and serve their village, and by extension, their friends and family. Kaito couldn't help but feel an immense respect for his jōnin instructor. Her goal was incredibly admirable.

"And for my likes… well, I… uhm…"

For the first time, the woman's ethereal visage faltered as her expression turned undecided. She looked genuinely confused.

"I like… no, that's not it… Maybe I dislike, no… Hmm…"

A lot of uhm-ing and aah-ing later, Sanjō resolved herself with a shrug. Giving them a cheeky smile, she winked at the trio of academy graduates. "I guess it's a secret to everybody."

Kagaribi - Kaito's silent male teammate - surprisingly, commandeered the spotlight. He interrupted Sanjō before she could add anything further and began filling with his own information.

"Katsuya Sanjō is the Two-Mouthed Woman."

The name his teammate mentioned was quite familiar to Kaito, but its exact implications were evading him. Meanwhile, Kawakami's expression had hardened as she shot a determined glance at the woman.

"She wields the Scythe of Futakuchi-onna. A weapon said to rival the raw strength and power of those wielded by Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen."

At that, it finally clicked.

Kaito remembered his uncle - whilst he had been helping at the smithy - discussing the nature of cursed weapons. They were artefacts from a darker age, imbued with supernatural powers. The village was said to be in possession of several, including a weapon thought to contain the essence of a two-mouthed she-demon. The weapon was defined by its endless hunger and insatiable thirst for violence.

This was it. This was that weapon. And it was in the possession of his jōnin instructor.

Kaito's muscles tensed and his mouth became as dry as the Kaze no Kuni deserts. The prospects of facing such an abominable creation. How could three academy graduates possibly face against a demon and its warden?

"Oh, ho ho! I see I've found myself quite the little admirer," the woman announced, lightly applauding Kagaribi's knowledge. "Is there anything else to add, Kagaribi-kun?"

A moment of pause before Kaito's teammate seemed to have decided on humouring their instructor. "Some people call you deranged. Others call you immensely stupid. Rumours suggest that you're indulgent towards the occult and its sadistic rituals. However, everyone agrees upon one sentiment."

"And what would that be, Kagaribi-kun?" The instructor asked as if she was issuing a formal challenge. Her doe eyes had narrowed, her smile turning sly.

Kagaribi's solemn expression remained unchanged. "That you are a great danger to not only yourself, but to those around you." The boy then fell silent once more.

"I mean…" Sanjō began, the woman taking her time to contemplate the boy's forthright critique of her character. After a while, she suddenly let out an embarrassed chuckle. "I guess that's somewhat true," the instructor confessed.

Her lips reformed into a sly smile. "Well, Kagaribi-kun, it seems that I'm at quite the disadvantage in this little information game of yours. Why don't you share a little something about yourself? To even the playing field."

The dark-haired boy seemed to take a moment to consider the suggestion before he began speaking, "I am Enra of the Kagaribi clan. I have neither the intention nor the obligation to disclose to any of you what I like or dislike. And I do not care if you believe otherwise."

Personality of a dead racoon indeed. Kaito started to wonder if Enra felt any other emotions beside the usual cold indifference (if that could even be classified as an emotion).

"No fair, Kagaribi-kun!" Sanjō puffed out her cheeks and folded her arms. "You know so much about me, but you refuse to tell me anything."

Enra ignored the instructor, arms folded and waiting for someone else to begin introducing themselves.

Sanjō sighed. "Well, I'll hopefully learn your deepest secrets one day." The woman looked over to the two remaining graduates who had yet to introduce themselves. "Hmmm… next we'll have… let's see... how about you, Yamazaki-kun?"

Kaito blinked several times. "I, uh… sure," he replied, turning towards his two teammates. "I'm Yamazaki Kaito. I… uhm… I guess if I had to say one thing I like, it would be hanging out with my family and friends. Especially my uncle. Well, he's not really my uncle by blood. He's actually my neighbour's eldest son, but…" Kaito realised he was rambling, so he coughed to pause, and resumed back on track. "I mean, yeah. He's… he's a great guy. As for my dislikes…"

The boy took a moment to consider that part of himself. He was unsure. "Well I don't think I really have any dislikes, necessarily. At least, I don't have one from the top of my head."

"I, uh… sure," Kaito replied, turning towards his teammates. "I'm Kaito Yamazaki. I… uhm… I guess if I had to say one thing I like, it would be hanging out with my family and friends. Especially my uncle. Well, he's not really my blood-related uncle. He's actually my neighbour's eldest son, but…" Kaito realised he was rambling, so he coughed and got back on track. "I mean, yeah. He's… he's a great guy. As for my dislikes…"

The boy took a moment to consider that part of himself. "Well, I don't think I really have any dislikes, necessarily. At least, I don't have one from the top of my head."

Kaito took that moment to observe his teammates' reactions. Enra, as usual, showed great disinterest - his indifferent expression forever unmoving. The female teammate - Kawakami- as usual, chose to glare at him with immeasurable disdain.

Sighing, the boy continued. "My future goal, it's very important to me. One day, I hope to become someone my parents would have been proud of. The type of person who's not afraid to lay down their life for someone else."

Enra's brow had risen somewhat at this latter part, but the pale boy gave no further reaction.

"An interesting goal, Yamazaki-kun. And certainly, an admirable one," Sanjō remarked, her overall attitude having become more subdued and solemn as Kaito spoke of his aspirations. However, the woman's cheerfulness returned to fever-pitch when she moved onto their female teammate. "And now, Kawakami-chan."

The girl moved away from the fallen trunk of the tree she had been leaning on, proudly pointing to herself. "I'm Kawakami Shinsha, the only grand-daughter of the legendary God-Forger - Kawakami Yama. My clan is famous for producing strong warriors and even stronger blacksmiths, but I intend to surpass them all. My likes and hobbies are those aligned with my works in the field and the forge. And my dislikes…"

Shinsha gave Kaito a withering look as the boy shrivelled away under her deathly stare. It was like staring down the end of her blade all over again.

"I especially hate those who don't take their duties as a shinobi seriously."

Polite applause was Sanjō's response for Shinsha's presentation before the woman loudly clapped her hands once together. "That concludes the introduction phase. Now here comes the fun part. It's time for all of you to prove that you're truly worthy of becoming full-fledged shinobi."

Kaito began brushing and patting down his darkened brown camouflage outfit - correcting anything improper and checking each individual pocket for his equipment. This was it. His first steps to making his parents proud.

"The upcoming test is difficult, and intentionally so. However, if you do pass, it will be a strong indicator that you grasp a basic understanding for what makes true shinobi tick."

Sanjō started looking around the fallen trees and the forest surrounding them. "This entire region was once a mining paradise."

"From the far edge of the Nomura Forest to the highest peaks of the Northern Mountain Range, hundreds migrated to these lands to seek their fortune." The instructor's eyes lingered over the massive forest opening they stood within. "That is, until several miners disturbed the lair of the Yonbi."

Kaito blanched at this. The Yonbi? A Tailed Beast? Here, its lair? His eyes darted across the landscape, scouring for any potential dangers or abnormalities.

Noticing his general unease, Sanjō turned her attention to the boy and raised her hands in a reassuring manner. "There's no need to fret, Yamazaki-kun. The Yonbi is long gone. Relocated elsewhere."

Sanjō gestured towards the opening beyond them. "The rampaging bijū forced the region's inhabitants to evacuate. This is but one of the locations unfortunate enough to witness the Yonbi's destructive powers.

The scorched, lifeless earth and the melted rock. The mangled decomposing logs haphazardly thrown amongst the jagged rocks. The enormity of this open scar upon the forest. It all made sense now.

"With its evacuation long ago, the mines dotting the mountains now lay completely abandoned. That is, until today. Your objective is to enter one of these mines. To find and engage a target of interest. Be warned, what you seek is well-protected. And, as for how you'll know when you've reached your destination inside? Don't worry, it's fairly obvious."

The instructor paused, suddenly smirking to herself for whatever reason, before she continued, "In the past, I normally gave teams a full three hours to proceed with the test. Due to extraordinary circumstances, however, I'm instead docking fifty minutes from your total search time."

All three academy graduates in that forest opening stood there, stunned.

"Wait, what?!" Shinsha screeched, breaking the silence. "Why?!"

"Because Yamazaki-kun here," Sanjō pointed towards Kaito, who froze like a deer in headlights, "was late by that approximate amount of time. I believe it's more than enough to remedy the delay with a loss in your team's total time."

"What logic is there to this decision?" Enra asked, his void-like eyes darkening at this rather unforgiving development.

"In this line of work, if a team member makes a significant error - such as arriving late to a destination - it can hamper the entire mission's performance. Sometimes, these errors may contribute to outright failures. Other times? Death."

Kaito bristled at these words. The implication of his failure having such a profound impact on the rest of his team. How this translated to the shinobi world. The pressure grew inside. He felt as if he had just been handed a considerable load to carry.

"Tardiness and incompetence are two traits that are simply unacceptable by shinobi standards," Sanjō finished, her cheerful veil evaporating to reveal an unrelenting sternness.

"But, we're not participating in a funded mission!" Shinsa shouted out. "Why does my teammate's 'tardiness and incompetence' have to affect my chances of becoming a shinobi? He should be punished, not the team! These tests only assess our individual skills and prove that we're worthy of the title of shinobi!"

Sanjō smiled, but it was unlike any other. It was sickly, and it made Kaito's skin crawl.

Any semblance of the serene, playful or cheerful Sanjō was now gone.

"If you truly believe that to be the case, Kawakami-chan, then you have given me more than enough reason to prove otherwise. That you are not worthy of holding the title of a shinobi. And that promoting you to such an elevated standing would in fact be an insult to the shinobi corps of this village. In other words, you've already failed."

Shinsha was completely taken aback by this, even Kaito to an extent, and she failed to bite back with a single retort.

Eventually, one indignant scoff later, the girl returned to her usual angry responses. "Fine, I'll do your damned test with your stupid setback. But you won't be happy when my clan hears about this. They'll know you endangered the chance of their heiress from rightfully becoming a shinobi. All because someone else failed to abide by your stupid rules."

Sanjō's once-kind doe eyes were as cold as the northern tundras. "We'll see, Kawakami. We'll see."