________________________________
______________
The chapter got you itching for more? Read ahead and get exclusive content before anyone else? Join me on Patr -e-on! Your support would mean the world to me.
( | [email protected]/FictionGoat | )
Read over 20+ chapters in advance.
. . . .
______________________________
______________
Inside a relatively cheap restaurant tucked along a side street of the village, the noise of clinking silverware and overlapping conversations filled the air, at least, up front. In the far corner, where the lights were dimmer and the volume from the main crowd barely reached, sat a four-person booth with a quiet, awkward tension hanging over it.
Kuro sat at the edge of the booth, his back to the wall, a plate of untouched food in front of him. Around the table were three others, one casually sipping from a drink, the other two eyeing their food in silence like they were waiting for permission to dig in. The only thing louder than the restaurant's front half was the awkwardness between them.
"I want to thank you all for coming," Kuro finally said, breaking the ice with a polite nod.
It wasn't easy trying to figure out who to bring along for a B-rank mission, especially on short notice. At first, he didn't have the slightest clue who to even ask, but then Sugari came to mind. The kid he met during the Genin Corp training course and later again during the evaluation. Sugari was reliable, or at least, reliable enough for a low level B-rank mission. Kuro reached out, sent him a mail, and surprisingly enough, the guy accepted the offer without hesitation.
Since he was a Genin under the Genin Corp, stumbling into a B-rank mission was a rare opportunity. Most Genin could go their whole stint doing chore-level missions without ever touching anything higher than a C-rank. So getting his hands on a B-rank was a good look on a résumé, so much so that it might finally get him out of the Genin Corp.
That's mostly why the others accepted his offer too.
Since Sugari was the only person Kuro really knew and trusted even a little, he'd asked if the guy knew anyone else who might be up for it. He wasn't expecting much, maybe one person, maybe none, but to his surprise, Sugari got back to him the next day, saying he found two more people who fit the mission's criteria.
The person seated on the far right was a girl that looked to be maybe a year older than Kuro at most, and she wore the standard shinobi Leaf gear with dark undershirt, mesh armor sleeves, and combat pants, but noticeably without the flak jacket with her headband tied around her upper arm.
From the moment she sat down, she gave off the kind of energy that said she didn't want to be here. She hadn't touched her food with her arms crossed. And every few minutes, she tossed Kuro a sharp, lingering stink eye that made him feel like he'd insulted her ancestors without realizing it. He tried to ignore it, but the intensity of her glare was… persistent.
'What the hell is her problem?' Kuro thought, trying not to make direct eye contact.
The person sitting in the middle was hard to miss, not just because of his size, but because he dominated the space around him without even trying. He was broad-shouldered, with a solid build that spoke of constant physical training.
His shirt was sleeveless, a tight black compression top that hugged his muscles and made his frame seem even more massive in the dim lighting of the booth. Despite that, he had a soft, round face, like someone who hadn't fully grown into their body yet, which made him look about Kuro's age, even though his physique said otherwise. Sitting next to him made the others appear slightly squished, like furniture struggling to hold his presence.
And then, at the edge of the booth, was the man who made it all possible... Sugari. He sat back comfortably, sipping his drink, eyeing the tension quietly simmering in the group like it was background noise. A small grin spread across his face.
"Well, I should be the one thanking you for offering such a generous gift," Sugari said smoothly, flashing Kuro a grin before quickly pivoting the conversation to break the awkward silence lingering between the team. "Anyway, this is Airi. I know she has a stanky attitude, but she's very sweet underneath it all."
Airi gave Sugari a hard side-eye, then uncrossed her arms just long enough to sigh and cross them again.
Sugari then turned to the big guy in the middle. "And this is Daichi. He looks like a giant, but really, he's a baby at heart… I mean, look at that cute face."
Daichi chuckled. "Heh… still an asshole, I see," he said with a smirk, glancing over at Sugari who looked like a child next to his massive frame. Despite the jab, it seemed they knew each other long enough to trade insults like compliments.
Kuro gave a small smile, finally starting to feel like maybe, just maybe, this group could work. Although he'd have to see just how strong they were, the weight of responsibility sat heavy on Kuro's shoulders. Bringing these three on a B-rank mission meant dragging them into real danger, not running errands or dealing with petty thieves, but risking their lives in the field. And while they may have accepted the mission willingly, knowing the stakes, Kuro knew that knowing and experiencing were two very different things.
They were mercenaries for hire, after all. Death came with the job.
Being a shinobi wasn't all that different from being a Navy SEAL. Both took on missions that meant walking headfirst into danger, fully aware they might not walk back out. Kuro was used to that kind of pressure, he'd lived a life where death constantly loomed around the corner. But these three? They were still kids. They hadn't even hit twenty yet.
If one of them died under his leadership… it'd be on him.
And that thought, it hit a little too close to home. He'd be no different than Hiruzen, the so-called Professor, who sent children into war and watched them come back in pieces… if they came back at all.
"Nice to meet you all. My name is Kuroshin, but you can call me Kuro, and I'll be the team leader for this mission...if you'll have me." his voice was calm, but there was a faint undertone of seriousness. He glanced around the table, meeting each of their gazes. Airi gave him a nod without saying a word. Daichi offered a small, respectful bow and Sugari raised his drink like a toast.
Kuro nodded and leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "The mission is simple," he started, as he reached into the folder Daigo gave him and pulled out a map, unfolding it across the table. Scribbled in red ink was a location deep within the forests of the Land of Fire.
"There's been recent reports from a nearby farming village. A few days ago, they spotted a camp of bandits...And not just any bandits either." he paused for a second before continuing. "They call themselves the Blood Ripper Bandits. If that name sounds dramatic, I get it...but it's earned. These guys hit merchant caravans and travel convoys, rob them of everything, and then leave no survivors. Bodies are always found stripped, tied, sometimes even mutilated."
He let the words sink in, especially for Airi and Daichi as their expressions stiffened. "They've been active for a while now, but always on the move. This is the first time they've set up something resembling a permanent camp, probably planning to establish a base of operations deeper into the Land of Fire. If they do, they'll be easier to track… and harder to stop."
Kuro tapped a spot on the map. "Our job is to prevent that. We move in, confirm the presence of the bandits, and either capture them or, if they resist we eliminate them entirely."
He leaned back slightly. "There's intel suggesting around thirty bandits in total, and most of them armed with basic shinobi weapons, but no confirmed chakra users are among them. Still, don't get cocky. Numbers alone can overwhelm if you're not careful."
He let the silence hang for a few moments again.
"I won't sugarcoat it. This mission is dangerous. We're going out there by ourselves so we're all we've got." then, with a calm but steady voice, he added, "But if we stick together, watch each other's backs, and play this smart… we can handle it. We will handle it." Kuro looked at each of them again, his gaze lingering just long enough to see their reactions.
"You all in?"
They paused for a brief moment to consider, but then the trio nodded in unison, which made Kuro smile.
"Alright. Meet tomorrow at six sharp at the front gates," he said. "This is going to be a three-day journey, so bring food, clothes, weapons...anything and everything you'll need. That's important. But don't go overpacking either. Lugging unnecessary equipment will just slow us down."
He gave each of them a look, one by one. "Any questions?"
Renji shook his head with a grin. "Nope."
Sugari leaned back and stretched his arms behind his head. "Nah."
Airi just rolled her eyes and gave a silent shake of her head.
"Alright, good."
Clapping his hands once, Kuro turned toward the waitress and flagged her down. "Can I get mine to-go?" he asked. She nodded and took his half-eaten plate.
A few minutes later, with a simple white takeout box in hand, Kuro left the restaurant. Planning on eating his food at home...
- - - -
____________
- - - -
The morning fog still clung to the edges of the village as a soft breeze drifted through the trees, rustling the leaves. Just outside the massive wooden gates of Konoha, under the tall shadow of a lone tree, Kuro sat with his back against the bark with his arms resting over his knees. He'd shown up an hour early on purpose because he wanted to be the first one there, maybe even get a little time to breathe before the mission began.
His small backpack was nestled beside him in the grass, the fabric slightly wrinkled from use but still usable. It didn't carry much, just the mission planning details, a small map, and a few basic surveillance tools. The more important tools and supplies, were safely tucked away in his inventory. Which made traveling easier, his shoulders lighter, and most importantly, it removed the risk of losing something important while on the move.
He looked out over the dirt road that snaked its way through the forest beyond the gate, listening to the chirping of early birds and the distant groan of wagons from merchants beginning their day. The quiet was peaceful, something he'd come to appreciate in moments like this.
Sadly, he knew the peace wouldn't last, not with what was coming in a year… and then again two years after that.
An hour passed by quickly and eventually, the sound of approaching footsteps pulled him out of his thoughts.
Kuro turned his head, and saw the silhouettes coming towards him one by one, moving down the road from the village gates.
All three of them were dressed in shinobi tactical gear, the dark vests and lightweight armor giving them a uniform look.
Sugari led the group, dressed mostly the same, but with a few new touches. He had a dark scarf wrapped loosely around his neck, with that same large ass scroll strapped across his back, from before and those same smaller more colorful scrolls dangling from his waist.
Next was Airi. As she wore a long cloak that trailed behind her, stopping at her waist. Strapped at both sides of her hips were sleek daggers, each one polished and ready.
Daichi brought up the rear. His gear fit snug around his wide frame, the fabric stretched just enough to show the muscle packed underneath. A short-handled hammer rested across his back, the kind that could shatter bones if swung right.
Kuro pushed off the tree and walked to meet them. He looked them over once, giving a small nod.
They looked ready.
"You all set?" Kuro asked, planting his feet on the path ahead.
Sugari grinned and tugged at his scarf. "Of course.."
Airi gave a short nod, still not having said a word.
Daichi smirked. "Yes, sir..."
"Alright," Kuro said, turning toward the road. "Let's roll out."
. . . . .
_________________________________
________________________________________________________
Leave a review and comment!
Read over 20+ chapters in advance, on P@treon.