Rising in the sky like a light of hope, the sun announced noon. At the same time, hundreds of people dressed in black gathered in one place to show respect to the man who gave his life for the village.
Some showed grief-stricken expressions, others mourned the death of the Hokage and then there was Toru, who watched everything as a spectator, silently and without saying a word.
(If the Hokage is dead, the village will be unprotected. I think the elders will make a decision as quickly as possible to choose the new Hokage.)
With a long sigh that seemed to last an eternity, Toru left the place leaving his teammates without any explanation.
After a few minutes, on top of the sculpture of the Hokage's faces, Toru looked at the scenery with coldness in his eyes. More and more, the situation was getting worse, as if someone was pulling the strings from the shadows. Moreover, since the day Naruto and Toru defeated Gaara, the latter once again felt watched, as if sharp needles were digging into his spine, feeling the bloodlust emerge from the darkness.
Well, after all someone was interested in him, in his eyes and in his power as a ninja. Though for Toru, there was no way of knowing this.
(A few days passed since we defeated Gaara. Apparently all of Konohagakure was attacked by an army from Sunagakure. There weren't as many deaths as expected, but still many ninja gave their lives in this small war).
Shaking his head, Toru gave some of his respect to the ninja who fell in battle, especially the Hokage. They all gave their best effort to prevent the destruction of the village, while Toru fought against a beast with a tail.
Though the latter caused a smile to form on Toru's mouth. The emotion he felt at that moment could not be compared to anything he had ever felt before, not even in his past life.
(Hm... I have to train...)
Closing his eyes and throwing himself into the void, Toru put on his mother's cloak and let the wind caress his face. As he fell, he thought.
(It was good that I was able to find Okaa-san's cloak, I thought I had lost it since I left it lying on the battlefield in the stadium.)
Returning the poker expression to his face, Toru pulled out the daggers and stabbed them into the mountain, slowing down the falling speed. After that, she propelled herself using her legs until she reached the roof of a house, she kept jumping from roof to roof until she reached home.
-Days later-
Preparing for the next mission, Toru had no time to waste. Now that Hinata had recovered faster thanks to the medical jutsu handled by the ninja of Konoha's hospital, he could return with his team and complete missions, after all what this village needs is money for repairs, so sending his ninja on missions was the obvious thing to do.
So, putting on his cloak and adjusting the bandages on his arms and legs, Toru opened the door of his house and looked at the sky. His scarf, as always remained blood red, however the ends were torn due to the fight he had against Okamitsuki.
(I am ready for this new mission)
"Time is relative, so if I'm late, I'll just tell everyone that you're very early."
Saying this strange sentence, Toru left the door of the house locked and took a leap climbing onto the roof. What followed from that, was Toru jumping between the roofs of the houses to get there faster.
-Konoha's commercial area-
Staring at the horizon, keeping silent, Yamato continued to remember Hiruzen's death. He was in front of him, but could not help him.
(Orochimaru...)
With memories he hadn't expected to return, Yamato felt uneasy. Despite always remaining stoic in any situation, this time he almost lost control of himself.
(Those ninjas that accompanied him, they were from the Sound Village, huh...).
Thinking seriously about the situation, again and again those bitter memories of his childhood came back. The reason why Yamato can use Mokuton, a ninjutsu that was supposed to be from the first Hokage, was because Orochimaru experimented with it, giving him Senju Hashirama's cells and thus unlocking this kekkei genkai.
(He is looking for Uchiha Sasuke and Toru, he wants the destruction of Konoha and, for that, he assassinated the Hokage...)
Big problems were starting to appear, the whole ninja world was about to change completely and that is something that Yamato could feel, he knew that this was not going to be easy for anyone.
"Yamato-sensei, good morning..."
Coming out of nowhere and pulling Yamato out of his world, Toru bowed slightly to greet his master.
"You're early, as usual."
"I suppose. Besides, from what I'm seeing, everyone in the village is busy, and now they're sending a large portion of their ninja on missions, don't you think that's kind of stupid? They're leaving the village unprotected."
"I don't think so, they are only sending the less experienced ninja, as well as you, Hinata or Ino. On the other hand, the elite ninja and ANBU are being reserved in case of a surprise attack."
"Hm... I guess that's better than I thought. Konoha needs money after all and, for that, they're sending their ninja to get it."
"Exactly."
Nodding his head, Yamato felt a little calmer. Now he had to worry about his students, otherwise his discomfort might cause trouble for the team.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, Toru-kun, sensei..."
Two voices echoed in the place, after all Hinata and Ino had arrived together. With this in mind, Yamato could now begin his report on the mission they were assigned.
"Well, we're all here now. So I'll start with the information I've been given for this mission."
With serious expressions on their faces, Hinata and Ino looked at Yamato, waiting for this important information.
"This is an assassination mission."
"Assassination?"
The serious expression on Ino's face changed the instant she heard the word 'murder' after all she doesn't have good memories with that word. Hinata on the other hand, looked at Toru, whose eyes glittered dangerously.
(Is this... a mission for me?)
Looking into Yamato's eyes, Toru instantly understood the purpose of this mission, moreover he could tell quickly as Yamato looked at him seriously as he spoke.
At the same time, Yamato thought that they were given this mission to put Toru to the test, after all the judges of the chunin exams looked very satisfied when they saw Toru fight during the final fights of the exams, that means that they will possibly raise his rank, and that this is the ultimate test to make a final decision.
Thinking about this, Toru knew that now that he had exhibited his true power to the world, he would draw more attention and everyone would look at him wherever he went.
(Now that I realize... everyone is watching...)
The people around him were staring at him while muttering, this made Toru uncomfortable, as he feels watched and this reminded him of certain things from his past.
"But who... will we have to kill?"
Looking at the ground with a worried expression on her face, Hinata didn't know what to do. She was still delicate due to the fact that she was not fully recovered, the medical ninja said that she could now move freely and that she could use ninjutsu, however, she could not overdo it as this could affect her health again.
"The person we will have to kill is called Kirou, he is the leader of a sect that extorts small towns in order to get large sums of money. For the moment, he is sheltering in a large mansion guarded twenty-four hours a day. We must be careful because he has wanted criminals all over the continent on his side, you will know why they are wanted criminals everywhere."
Hearing this, Toru thought that this mission might be too much for a team of rookie genin, but if this mission is for him, he would have to use all his resources to complete it, this is where Hinata and Ino come in, who will be the cornerstones that will support Toru during this mission, that's called teamwork, that's what a ninja has to know.
"The mansion is located between the land of the earth and the land of the waterfall".
"It's near the place where we did the research mission."
Looking at the ground, Ino didn't think she would have to go back to that place, but then she remembered that day in that forest, when Toru showed her his hidden side, the darkness of his heart.
"So when are we leaving?"
"Right now."
When Ino asked her question, she looked excited and full of determination, but when Yamato answered, all that excitement vanished.
(So it will be an assassination mission, huh... Then I'll have to kill a criminal, this is the test they want me to do, right? Then, see how I exceed your expectations)
Starting to walk in the direction of the village exit, Toru sighed with a faint smile that no one could see.
-Minutes later-
Looking around, Toru noticed something.
(There are a lot of families, huh...)
The expression on his face now was neutral, as if he was never able to show a smile. Every time he saw a happy family on the street, Toru somehow felt pathetic, after all no matter what life he was in, he always ended up alone, locked up in a laboratory without a mother or father to care about him.
Although in this world he had a mother who did love him, but that was short-lived.
(Ha~ is it because I'm in a child's body that I have this kind of depressing thought?)
Shaking his head, Toru tried to erase these thoughts to nothing.
Meanwhile, Ino was looking at Toru from behind. She felt uncomfortable after punching him in the face knowing that she had just saved his life again.
(I... at that moment I was useless, I couldn't do anything but stand around waiting for Toru to do everything for me. But, I don't want to be useless, I want to be useful for Toru, I want him to look at me like he looks at Hinata... huh?)
Touching her head with both hands while her face blushed, Ino crouched down looking at the ground to hide the expression on her face.
(Why does this always happen to me! I don't want to look at Toru like that!)
Shaking her head, Ino stayed like that for a little while longer.
At the same time, further in front of where Toru's team was, two men in black cloaks with a strange red cloud design were walking. They had hats covering their faces and one of them carried a large sword covered in bandages on his back. The one carrying the sword looked taller than the second.
The two teams walked, until in a second, Toru opened his eyes and looked at the man standing next to the guy with the sword.
(This feeling...)
A shiver ran down his spine and he unconsciously looked the man in the eyes.
As if time had stopped, Toru saw the cursed eyes of the Uchiha clan, the Sharingan. At the same time, for no reason the Shigan in his eyes activated.
A second that was eternal for both of them. Toru knew who that man was, he knew better than anyone....
(...Itachi)
Both groups of people continued walking, but Toru was still left with that strange feeling of danger and, when he looked behind, the two men were gone.
-Somewhere between the land country and the waterfall country-
Walking among the women who were tied up and lying on the ground, the greasy-looking man flashed a disturbing smile.
At the same time, in each corner of the room, four people held their guns and guarded every corner of the place to make sure that no unwanted guests entered.
"You will be the chosen one for tonight..."
Pointing at the silver-haired woman who was half-naked and lying on the floor, with chains preventing her from moving, the man touched his crotch as he looked at her lustfully.
"No, please... I don't..."
At once, two men appeared and took the woman by the arms, leading her to one of the nearest rooms.
"No! Please! I don't want to! Help me! Help me!"
The woman tried to resist, but it was useless, as the two men holding her had more physical strength.
"Kukuku, tonight will be fun!"
Adjusting his glasses, the fat man flashed another disturbing smile. Hiding in his mansion, with plenty of money to offer to those willing to give their lives to protect him, this man is the target of team 11.
"What fun things can I do today, Kukuku!"
Entering the room where the silver-haired woman was stuffed, the man combed his mustache as he slowly approached his prey.
After that, only the screams of that woman were heard deep inside that mansion.