A figure dropped down onto the balcony, his cloak silently ruffling against the wind as he stuck to the shadows. His footsteps were silent and he creeped forward, his hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
The sounds of footsteps stopped him and in an instant he was gone, becoming one with the shadows. "You heard? The Akatsuki are really being aggressive,Lord Hanzo's committing nearly all active-duty shinobi to deal with them" The ninja's voice was laced with fear and there was sweat trickling down his forehead.
However his friend didn't share his concerns as he casually waved it away "Doesn't matter the Akatsuki are in way over their heads, they won't last especially to Hanzo" The other ninja chuckled nervously not knowing to agree or disagree, he'd actually seen the battle sites, they weren't as bad like in the second war but they were still pretty bad.
"Those Akatsuki are just whining babies, you'll see this will all blow over soon" The ninja watched his friend walk away before releasing a breath. However before he could step forward he felt the tip of blade push against his back, his mouth stretched wide open into a silent scream before he flopped lifelessly onto the floor.
The figure stared at the body before unclipping a scroll from his belt and sealing it away. With quick precise movements he cleaned the murder scene before the friend could come back and left without a sound.
'I have to hurry, the infiltration wasn't meant to last this long' The figure ran above the rooftops, his coal black cloak fluttered behind him as he raced to the borders while skillfully dodging the checkpoints. His chakra was forced to the barest minimum, just above that of a normal civilian.
In all intents and purposes he was nearly invisible to a shinobi's eye. That was at least what he thought. His eyes widened when suddenly a dozen different kunai were sent spiralling to him, he quickly drew his blade and deflected half the kunai while dodging the rest.
Landing on his sandal covered feet he swiftly turned around before pulling out his tanto. His right hand held his blade while his left hand was hovering over his equipment pouch, ready to pull out explosive tags in a moments notice.
He didn't move from his spot, he stood there, quietly, patiently. His eyes shining from the shadows of his hood. As if on cue, several shinobi jumped out, kunai and tanto's drawn and were coming down on him. The figure watched before he dodged to the side and delivered and elegant strike to a ninjas back before crouching down and striking another with his foot.
HIs movements were like water to a creek, smooth and flowed with the rhythm. His tanto didn't have a speck of blood but nearly all of the shinobi on his feet were dead, that was how fast his cuts were, his body was twisting and bending to allow him to pass through even the barest of openings before striking his hand out like a snake.
The figure ducked low from a strike before sending a knee into his enemy, he jumped back before throwing a kunai into ones head and knocking the feet of a ninja out from under him.
The figure formed a single hand-seal before calling out "Water Release:Water Dragon Technique" The rain that was dropping all over them suddenly convulsed before they churned and formed a large dragon that engulfed half their numbers.
The figure crouched low when the technique died and readied his tanto. But his eyes widened when he felt the body crushing aura of a man he had hoped to never meet. "You are not one of the Akatsuki members, to what village do you owe allegiance"
The figure turned and resumed his combat stance, his tanto out threateningly against Hanzo the salamander. "I'm not a very patient man" Hanzo said out again, his rebreather muffling his voice a tad bit. The figure slowly stood up, his body language not indicating fear, before unhooking his cloak and letting it flow back and into the sky. Revealing the face of a young man with black hair that was slightly messy with spikes jutting out here and there. He slowly brought his tanto up and spoke, "I am Kaguma Nagasaki the village I come from is of no importance to you" His voice was calm and collected but his back was drenched with sweat.
Hanzo chuckled before he said out rather menacingly "My interrogators will have fun breaking you" The man revered in the village of the rain jumped forward and engaged Kaguma with a ferocious strength and that day would mark the making of a history for both men, the things that they did during that fight would define the men they became.
End flashback
Kaguma quietly walked alongside his Kage. His hands briefly rubbing his neck where a scar laid dormant. A scar full of memories he'd rather not go back to. The DEN captain quietly walked beside his kage while also not missing the looks Ichirou and Kaguya were shooting him.
"Is there something you need Kaguma?" Naruto shuffled next to Kaguma, turning his head to address his captain while also smothering his own aura as he saw how Kaguma sweated a bit when he spoke. He frowned to himself when he noticed that.
'You give someone unlimited chakra and everyone starts to get scared shitless being near you' The blonde sighed as he awaited for his captain to speak. "Tsukikage-sama, I can't help but be against you going to Konoha, I personally hold no ill will to the village however Danzo-" He was stopped when his kage lifted his hand.
"Danzo is dangerous I understand, but he isn't dumb, most probably he'll aim for something discreet when coming after me and that in itself is suicide thanks to my tenant" Kaguma nodded but still seemed skeptical however putting trust into his kages word, fell back into line.
Naruto watched his captain go before sighing 'He's far too paranoid'
'Maybe so but at least somebody is, unlike you Mr Masochist'
Naruto frowned at his tenants words before barking back 'You're the masochist around here, the stuff that goes around in your head is enough the turn seasoned veterans green' Kurama chuckled evilly before replying 'That's what its supposed to do'
Naruto felt his stomach churn as he was assaulted with images he'd rather have no part in.
"Ugh damn you Kurama"
XXXXXXX
"Ken keep close" Ken quietly shuffled behind Setsuna as he watched the proceedings happen in front of his eyes. A genin team from the Hidden Lock village was attacking a single Leaf Genin, a pink-haired familiar looking genin.
"That's flat chest!" Ken whispered harshly at Nobu who continued to watch the scene with a keen eye. However Ken had received a silent smack on the head by Setsuna when she heard the 'Flat-chest' comment.
"Why would Lock send in ninjas to Konohagakure? Last reports we got they were gearing to hold the village by their necks using information they gathered." Setsuna questioned as she stared at Nobu for answers.
The teen rubbed his hands on his red vest before pulling out his butcher knife, soothed by the sound it made when it exited the sheath Nobu spoke. "Most probably they're trying to get some more information out of that girl, this exam or they're just being cocky" Nobu hissed back.
"Or they could be trying to make themselves look innocent, like give out a welcoming hand only stabbing you in the back later on?" Ken suggested but Nobu shot it down with a shake of his head. "Lock doesn't work like that, they gather information they don't deal with lies...well, not those types of lies at least" Ken nodded his head in understanding before looking back at the scene.
"They're messing up that girl pretty bad" Setsuna flinched as she saw a female ninja pull on the Leaf ninjas hair. "That must hurt" She spoke in sympathy for her. The two men by her side shared glances, the underlying message shared between their eyes 'Women and their hair'
"We can't just keep watching this!" Again the boys looked at each other, a silent conversation going on between them as they weighed the pros and cons of helping the Leaf. But their chat through eyes was rudely interrupted when Setsuna had gasped and sprang forward while whispering what sounded like "Hair shouldn't be treated like that!"
The two boys stared blankly as she sped forward and engaged the two male members of the Lock Genin team as the pink Leaf genin began fighting the female member. "To help or not to help that is the question"Ken spoke with a thin smile.
"But really she started it on her own...for hair"Nobu replied just as evenly.
They sat there watching as sparks and the clanking of metal began to fill the area. Various kicks and grunts permitting the combat. Setsuna ducked low from one of the males kicks before launching forward and delivering a kick to another's face before burying the heel of her sandal into the boys gut, leaving him winded before doing a roundhouse kick to his head, knocking a few teeth out.
The opponent was down on the ground whimpering by the time the other male genin caught up and tried to hit the elusive Light Genin.
Meanwhile with the boys.
"She's your girlfriend"Ken spoke and Nobu frown "We aren't dating" Kens flat stare became poker when he heard that. "Fine then what is she?! A conquest?" He spoke sarcastically but all he got was a bop on his head. "No what is wrong with you!" The blush on Nobu's face was threatning to to go nuclear when he heard 'conquest'
"Well if she isn't your girlfriend what the hell is she! Oh don't tell me you guys are friends with benefits I thought that trend ended years ago!" Again Ken received a rather devastating bop on his head courtesy to Nobu's butcher knife's handle.
"Would you stop making assumptions!" Nobu glared hatefully at the whimpering boy before he thought to himself 'Actually...is that what we are?'
XXXXXXX
Setsuna ducked low and performed a handspring before locking her legs on one of the boys neck and tossing him into the ground. When she was back on her feet she dodged a punch while sweeping the legs of her attacker out from under him.
The girl was quick and agile. Which formed the basis of her dynamic with the team. Nobu was frontal assault using mid to close range attacks while Ken used mid to long range attacks, her role was to provide support using her ink and nimble movements to take down any disorientated enemies caused by her teammates ruckus.
But in an all out battle, her taijutsu was exemplary, she may not be capable beating Nobu but she came pretty damn close!
Setsuna blocked a punch and redirected another punch using the palm of her hand, then launched three quick strikes to her opponent's abdomen and chest. He crashed down onto the ground in pain before gurgling out blood.
He'd be fine but he'll be in the hospital for a while.
The other ninja frowned as he saw his teammate go down by the Light girl. He palmed two kunai in his hands and glared at the girl. "Aiko! Fall back!" The boy yelled and he watched from the corner of his eyes as his female teammate kicked the leaf genin away and assumed a position next to him.
"We'll take her out with one go!" He ordered and she nodded her assent. The girl engaged with a series of hand signs as the boy began to throw several kunai at Setsuna.
The light genin dodged most of them but her eyes widened as she felt parts of her body being restrained. 'Ninja wire!' The girl's eyes snapped up as the genin finished his hand signs and called out. "Fire Release:Fireball Jutsu!" He spewed out a particularly large fireball and it raced its way to Setsuna.
The fireball inched closer and closer till, "Earth style:Mud wall Jutsu!" A wall of mud was erected in front of Setsuna and stopped it dead in its track. "I don't know about you but that wasn't particularly nice." Ken appeared by Setsuna's side and cut through the wire as Nobu dropped down behind the Lock genin.
"Always watch your back" He whispered menacingly behind the male of the two. He reacted with whipping out two kunai into an X to block Nobu's butcher knife. "Aiko move!" The girl nodded and jumped back before engaging in another set of handsigns. She was no use in a hand to hand fight but in Ninjutsu she excelled.
"Fire release: FIre Bomb Technique" Three medium sized fireballs were launched from her mouth and came rushing to Nobu. Seeing the danger, Nobu pushed his prey back before angling his blade to block all three of the fireballs himself.
He blocked it, but he didn't expect what happened next. The fire exploded upon contact with his blade and engulfed his hand on fire. "Shit!" Nobu dropped his blade and began smacking away at the fire, working furiously to get rid of the flames while he gritted his teeth through the pain.
"Got you!" The Lock genin tried to drop one of his kunai onto Nobu's head but was stopped short when he had to block another kunai from the other two ninjas. "Damn it all!" He cursed as he jumped back and eyed his fallen comrade.
"I could really use you Cho" The male genin dropped into a combat stance and motioned for AIko to get behind him, which she gladly did.
While that was happening Nobu walked to the side of his teammates and stared at the two genin in front of him. They were worn and tired and he could tell they wanted to run. But they didn't, more so, they wouldn't, question is 'Why'
His calculating eyes drifted across the battlefield before he spotted that reason.
"Hey you!" The Lock genin stiffened as Nobu yelled for their attention. Gripping his large butcher knife up he pointed towards their fallen comrade immediately getting their eyes to widen and causing them to tense their bodies, ready to bolt to him if needed.
"Get your friend and walk or we will not hesitate to end you!" Nobu glared at them, he was actually giving them mercy. Setsuna had knocked one of them unconscious and tired out the other, the girl wasn't any better as she used two high level jutsus in quick succession. Though he was slightly charred and couldn't swing his blade that fast with his burns Ken was still a hundred percent and he'd be more than enough to finish them.
The Lock genin narrowed his eyes at the three Light ninjas in front of him. He pulled two kunai out and motioned for Aiko to pick up Cho. As the girl quickly tended to their fallen comrade, the male continued to scrutinize the genin, 'What's their angle?' he wondered.
His mind was ticking away with scenarios and conclusions but he didn't have sufficient data to understand their motives, not yet anyways.
"Aiko get Cho somewhere safe, I'll come find you later" The girl nodded, albeit with some reluctance, and disappeared with their teammate in a flicker.
"Not going with them" Nobu said icily brandishing his blade, letting the sun reflect of its shiny surface as a warning to the genin. The Lock genin smirked at him before replying "Making sure you're not trying anything"
Nobu narrowed his eyes to slits but kept his peace as he continued his stare down with his adversary.
After about another few minutes the lock genin sheathed his kunai and back away from the group slowly, his eyes not leaving Nobu. But he couldn't remove the curiosity in the back of his mind. "Tell me," He began, "why did you let me and my team leave?"
Nobu tensed slightly before breathing a low sigh. "Good faith between our villages" Nobu replied back. The Lock genin smiled knowingly understanding the 'That's for me to know and for you to find out' in the sentence. "What's your name Lock nin"
The boy frowned slightly, contemplating the good and bad of telling them his name before shrugging. "Rintaro!" he replied back.
Nobu gave him a serious stare, but it held no malice or ill intent simply a stare to get his meaning across. "You made a good choice Rintaro, you did good" Rintaro's frown faltered a bit before it became a thin line.
With a hardened face, Rintaro noded back in thanks before jumping away. "Ligh village huh? What an odd group"
Nobu watched him go before turning to see Setsuna nursing Sakura, and crying about the lost of her hair (Sakura's not hers) while Ken trying to console her with a reassuring pat on the back. The genin sweatdropped before sheathing his blade to his back. "I'm getting too old for this crap"
XXXXXXX
From the shadows a lone ninja dropped in the clearing, quietly stalking into the ranks of the ANBU in the bunk. He passed glanced around him before calling out to one of his buddies. "Hey you heard the rumors about the Light?" He asked and watched as the other ninjas there were paying extra close attention to him. "What about it" His friend asked, playing to the act.
"I heard they tried to assassinate one of the councilman's maybe even the Hokage. Their keeping in wraps for now but apparently they've sent a genin group and their kage's stopping by their being really cocky after the stunt they pulled" He noticed how some of the ninjas faces twisted a bit at the information, it wasn't enough to cause anger but enough to get them to garner their own conclusions and start their own rumors. Once that happened, you could bet that people would start to get anxious around the word Light. Plus he wasn't the only one starting rumors there were plenty others doing it, some with civilians others with the rest of the corps. 'Danzo-sama would be pleased' He chuckled quietly as he pulled his uniform and returned to his normal routine. 'Phase one is already close to completion, Phase two is just about to begin'