Their porcelain masks have the blood of both friends and foes smeared across them.
((All the blood, no matter who it's come out of, haunt their night terrors until days and nights bleed together.))
Their black hoods hide them from the village they protect, obscure them from the very memories of the family's they never get to see.
((During the darkest moment their cloaks are the only warmth they receive, and sometimes if they're delusional enough (from lack of sleep, food, or water) their cloaks almost feel like the hugs they don't receive.))
Their stories are difference, but they all eventually fade into dark corners of the mind no one speaks of. Eventually, the only thing left are code names, missions, and comrades for life.
((Most requites are clanless orphans that no one misses, a few come from the branch families of prominent ninja clans, and two (or three) come from powerful crime families.))
Their leader is Shimaru-sama who's bandages were a testament to his loyalty to the village they protect and the weakness of his fool hearted teammate possesed. ((Secretly, and only when they were sure it would never get back to him, the craziest members referred to him as Mira-chan or just 'The Old Mummy'.))
All members understood that the hierarchy of how 'The Foundation' leadership works, they don't answer to the Hokage because he is too weak. They only answer to Shimaru-sama's orders. ((Yet, Shimaru-sama is also too weak, so while the man think he's in charge there is another leader hidden away in the shadows.))
Ages ago, before any of the current members were around, someone had scratched 'The roots of a tree are not replaceable, they give the tree stability, nourishment, and strength to stand against the harshest of conditions' on a wall out of sight. ((This became a motto, a nido, and a mantra.))
Orochimaru is a traitor. ((Orochimaru is not a traitor. He is one of them and they stand with him if he calls for their help.))
They protect their village with their lives, they are Root. ((They are children broken beyond repair but chose to suffer in silence so no one else has to.))
"Mole, all of Konohagakure 's civilians and children populations will be evacuated within the next twenty minutes. Konohagakure 's counterattack will commence within the next thirty minutes. Mira-chan's orders were to stay uninvolved. What are your orders?"
Mole knows this is their chance, the only chance they will ever have (-because what are the chances someone else would be stupid enough to invade Konohagakure?), and if they don't act now it is only a matter of time before Danzo finds out about the counter-movement within his counter-movement (-Irony).
Hesitation will only lead to death, "Tell ever member to go above ground. Kill everything that moves without a leaf headband and make everyone see us from our shadows...Extra points for anyone who manages to kill Danzo with a rickashay kunai."
"Challenge accepted, Mole-sama."
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"I want all C squads fighting that giant summons, the first summon I want taken down is the silver snake near safe house 10-C. D squad I want you to find out what that weird purple dome it. A squad you will be back up for D squad, and A squad will be in charge of taking down the dome if deemed necessary. B squad will keep eyes on 'The Mummy' and kill him if you have a shot-I don't want any hesitation when it comes to his execution. E squad and F squad take out as many enemies that you can find. I'll meet up with G squad at the rondevu point and give further orders than." Mole switches off their communicator, jumping through the trees of the south outskirts of the village with ease.
Being in the sun and fresh breeze burns the Foundation member's pail skin almost painfully, their skin hasn't seen the above worlds in nearly seven -maybe eight years and it isn't sure how to react. Yet it's nice to feel this burn because it means Mole can at least feel the sun again.
It's been a while since Mole's been aloud to feel anything.
If they were not in the middle of an invasion, Mole would even go as far as call it a nice day.
Than Mole sees a flicker, actually it's more like a white gleam, of a new headband through the treeline.
A boy with dark hair in a ponytail is standing, probably a Genin if his headband is still shiny, standing between at least seven Oto-nin. The sight brings an old order (from back when they still took orders -two years or maybe three ago) to the forefront of their mind.
'It is your job to protect, protect those who don't know the shadows we run in. The youth in our village is sacred, they're our will to keep fight -our fire-, you are to protect this future generation with your life.'
He's our 'Will of Fire'.
Mole will not be meeting up with G squad but that's okay because their troops can handle themselves.
Mole needs to protect.
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Asuma doesn't except to find his (favorite) student surrounded by at least six dead Oto-nin. All of which are torn apart with the brutality of a monster (or someone fighting for their life), bodies litter the ground in different states of gore and mutilation.
In the center of all the death kneels his student, leaning over a body with an almost frantic intent to help but not knowing anyway to help. A dead (barely breathing-Asuma never really had a talent to be a med-nin) shinobi with dull red hair held back in the messiest dreadlocks Asuma's seen lays in front of Shikamaru.
They clothes are almost drenched with blood and it make their wet armor a second skin, the armor itself is that of the Kohanna elite, the best of the best, also known and the Anbu Black-Ops. A porcelain mask of a Ox, maybe (Mole), and the dark chest armor designed to protect the wearers.
Anbu Black-Ops, and this is the reason he fights with his father, this kid is too young to be a recruit. What the Hell, Anbu isn't suppose to take in people this young -they looks late academy age (systematic malnutrition often makes people appear younger than they really are).
The kid was strong though, they were outnumbered by ninjas who were at least Chunin level and made sure to take every last one of them down. Given a few years they could have been as great-or broken beyond repair like Kakashi.
It's a waste of talent and life, that a kid no older than Shikamaru is laying in a pool of their own blood. Asuma checks for a pulse (and he really needs to take a refresher first aid course) and feels nothing, he assumes the worst and figures they're dead. So the man takes out a corpse scroll because their family at least deserves to know what they've done and a body to bury once the dust settles.
"Sensei," Shikamaru is shaking like a leaf, truly shaken for the first time. "I didn't even know, and than he-"
"It's not your fault." It's a hollow comfort but it's all he can give, maybe if they were closer he would hug his student -but they're not that close yet. Instead, the man prepares to seal the body and takes off the kid's mast.
The face behind the mask, or maybe it's just the eyes, shock the two males because the red (scarlet) eyes staring back at them are unresponsive but alive.
Asuma doesn't even try to stop the cusses from rolling off his tongue as he realizes his mistake, while there is no pulse (because he's incompetent), there is a slow beating of chakra under the child's skin.
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"What is this place?" The small child asks, following the masked figure through the underbelly of the village without hesitation. Narrow scarlett eyes scan the hallways with an disconcerting intelligence. "Why am I here?"
"Don't ask questions, Danzo doesn't like it when we ask questions." The Hyena masked figure growls harshly but stops long enough to pull the smaller child into a room lined with bunk beds. "You are just a runt, you answer questions when they are asked. What's your name?"
"Oni, that's what everyone at the orphanage calls me, at least."
Flash, Hyena took a moment to snap a quick photo of Oni's face, hands, and one where they had them stand near a wall with height markings. Unceremoniously a heap was dump into the child's arms with a black clock, grey armour, a rations bar, and a mask.
"What is this mask of?"
"I said no questions...but it's a Mole, that's your identity from now on. Oni is dead, do you understand?"
"Yes, Hyena-san."
"Welcome to Root."
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Mole's armour is ill fitting, making it hard for them to move their arms.
(Hyena-san says they'll probably grow into it…)
Their mask isn't to bad after another porcelain masked figure, Butterfly-san, ties it back with a rubber band so it doesn't slip. Though it's hard to breath behind the porcelain and the eye holes obstruct her vision.
(Butterfly-san says that they'll learn how to breath and see with the mask, it will get easier after a while.)
Their cape gets stepped on by some of the other members until Hawk-san cuts the cloth with a sharp kunai.
(Hawk-san says it will be hard enough to survive without tripping over their own cape.)
Mole's bunk mate, Cricket-san, helps braid Mole's hair so it doesn't get in their way during practice. They even show Mole a few of their rinkaichū after a especially bad training session.
(Hebe-san is strange, but nice enough when Danzo isn't looking, and often gives the members special medical creams to help with healing and sweet snacks.)
Sometimes if Mole is lonely and sad, Wolf-san will crawl into their bunk and hold them tight against their chest.
(Wolf-san smells like pumpkin, cinnamon, and outside.)
Root...is hard and demanding but sometimes it isn't so bad, even if Mole is only a grunt who is expected to following orders no matter what.