20 Years Ago, Konoha Forest
Mission Time: 3 days.
Mission Statement: Suspicious group activity near border of Konoha Forest. Possibly bandits.
Mission Goal: Investigate and return with intel.
The three Anbu scouted the forest. They'd been traveling for three days now. Today was their last day. The captain frowned. Three days, and they'd yet to see a questionable footprint. In his whole career, he'd only failed three missions. His frown deepened. All because of this trivial mission.
There was a thud behind him, about fifty feet away.
That was where his first subordinate was. The captain stopped in his tracks and leapt toward the source of the thud.
No one was there.
"This better not be a joke, you hear me –"
A second thud, coming from his second subordinate's position.
The captain whirled around, annoyed. "I said, stop fooling around!"
That was when the chakra-kunai hit him in the back.
"Lord Hokage, the Anbu squad we dispatched three days ago should be back by now."
The Third Hokage looked up from his paperwork.
"We have dispatched other teams as well. None have returned. What do you suggest we do?"
"Give them some time. They may still be gathering intel."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
The teams never came back.
Present Day, Konoha
Temari walked inside Konoha's gates. After two months, she was back again. As usual, Shikamaru was waiting for her. Except this time, something was different.
"Tsunade wants us. It's urgent."
"Gaara told me. Let's go."
Mission Time: As much as needed.
Mission Statement: Suspicious group activity has started up again at the border of Konoha Forest. Confirmed bandits.
Mission Goal: Recover stolen loot, and if possible, disband group.
"Understood."
"Wait," Tsunade said. "There's something you need to know. These bandits aren't ordinary bandits. Yes, I know that every time you go on a bandit-related mission, you hear that. But this time it's for real…these bandits are managing to steal loot from caravans guarded by Jonin-level ninja. That's impossible, except if the bandits were Jonin-level or higher."
"So why are you sending only the two of us on a mission?"
Tsunade leaned forward. "This is a secret kept only by Konoha's top-ranking officials…but I'll make an exception. These bandit attacks have been going on for a while now, but we've just put more and more ninja to guard the caravans. That hasn't been working. However, if anyone found out, we Konoha ninja would be put to shame, having being thwarted by some group of bandits. Iwagakure and Mizugakure are looking for an excuse to attack us. We can't let that happen. We're already weak as it is. We're going to nip the threat right in the bud."
"That doesn't explain anything."
"I'm not done yet. Like I said earlier, these bandits are no ordinary bandits. It's said that they possess close-combat abilities like ninja. Their long-range abilities are unknown, but most likely weak. Therefore, we sent a mid-range specialist and a long-range specialist. But never mind about that. These bandits are dangerous. I've heard that if they touch you with their chakra, the victim immediately falls into a deathlike state. But not death. However, after a period of twenty-four hours, the victim will die. Be careful."
"Understood." Shikamaru and Temari turned to the door.
"I'm sorry."
What?
"I haven't told you why only two of you are on a mission. The truth is, the chance of you returning is 50% at best. The truth is—"
"….oh, nevermind. I…it's nothing. Be careful…!"