The path wound through the lush forest of the Land of Fire.
"Yamada-san" Shikaku's voice, though respectful, had a touch of concern. "Why did you request a C-rank mission? Amegakure isn't very stable lately."
A disdainful snort escaped from Kenji. "Bah! Do you have any idea who I am in Amegakure, brat? I do as I please."
A few steps behind, Chen's ears perked up. 'A big fish, huh?' A barely visible smile on his lips.
"What's going on?" whispered Kushina, gently squeezing Chen's hand. "I know that look..."
Leaning towards her, Chen murmured: "We need money, and that guy could be our opportunity."
"I don't know, Chen," Mikoto frowned. "It doesn't sound right."
Kushina's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Come on, Mikoto. That guy is unpleasant. If he's so rich, he won't miss some money."
"Think about it," Chen insisted. "Remember the normal rewards? It would take us years to repair the house. This could be our only chance."
Lowering his voice even more, he added: "We could help those in need. Like Robin Hood, right?"
After a moment of hesitation, Mikoto yielded with a reluctant nod.
Oblivious to everything, Kenji continued boasting about his wealth and status, not knowing that every word was fueling the plans being hatched behind his back.
The road remained peaceful, typical of the prosperous Land of Fire. Well-tended fields and small villages dotted the landscape, witnesses to the region's abundance.
The same wealth that made the Land of Fire a peaceful place made it a coveted target. Neighboring countries, with their arid lands, always looked enviously at these fertile plains.
The group advanced, and Chen remained alert. He knew that peace was fragile and that problems could arise at any moment. For now, he was content with planning, waiting for the perfect moment for his bold move.
The sun hid behind increasingly dense clouds, tinting the landscape in gray and muted tones. The air, once fresh and light, became heavy and humid, announcing the proximity of Amegakure. The ground beneath their feet became softer, the mud sucking at their sandals with each step.
"How boring," complained Nawaki, kicking a stone from the path. "Not even a measly thief. Is this a C-rank mission?"
"Nawaki, you'd better not be careless, or you'll die carelessly sooner or later," said Chen, shaking his head.
Remembering how Nawaki died in the anime.
Nawaki is very careless. To tell the truth, he's not fit to be a ninja, much less to be Hokage.
...
The group advanced in silence, the only sound was the splashing of their steps in the increasingly frequent puddles. The lush vegetation of the Land of Fire gradually gave way to a more resilient flora, adapted to the constant humidity.
"Eight days already," Nawaki muttered. "I knew I shouldn't have accepted this boring mission."
Inuzuka Claw, fed up with the constant complaints, growled: "Could you shut up for a while?! You've been like this the whole way!"
Suddenly, Chen tensed. "Careful," he warned. "Enemies."
He had barely finished speaking when two shadows pounced on Tomo.
"Tomo!" Kushina shouted. In the blink of an eye, she interposed herself between the attackers and her companion, her eyes burning with fury.
Her hands transformed, the skin giving way to a bubbling, sizzling hot magma. The heat was so intense that the air around her wavered, distorting vision.
"Lava Fist!" she roared, launching herself against the first attacker.
The enemy ninja, surprised by the ferocity of the attack, tried to dodge. But Kushina was faster. Her fist connected with the man's chest, and for a terrible moment, time seemed to stop.
Then, the horror unfolded before their eyes. The lava went through flesh as if it were butter, melting bones and organs alike. The man's scream died in his throat, drowned by the magma invading his lungs.
The second attacker, seeing the fate of his companion, acted on pure survival instinct. His hands formed seals, and at the last second, a log appeared in his place, saving him from certain death.
The body of the first attacker fell to the ground with a thud, still steaming. The smell was indescribable: barbecue.
Tomo was the first to react. The sound of her retching broke the silence, triggering a chain reaction.
One after another, the young ones succumbed, their bodies violently rejecting the brutal reality they had just witnessed.
Even Minato and Shikaku, considered the most mature of the group, couldn't maintain their composure. Their faces, usually serene and analytical, were contorted in a grimace of shock and disgust.
"Speak!" Kushina's voice cut through the atmosphere. She was no longer the carefree girl from Konoha; she was a kunoichi facing the cruel reality of the world.
Wiping the remnants of bile from his mouth, Shikaku observed the fallen ninja. "The forehead protector is from Amegakure, but that doesn't mean anything. Anyone can get one."
Chen remained silent. He had no doubts: a member of Root. Danzo's organization was behind this.
The pieces fit together. The ease with which Tomo had been able to leave the village now made sense. Danzo had orchestrated everything, his objective clear: the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
But he wasn't surprised. Danzo's thirst for the Kyubi's power was well-known, at least to him. And it was no wonder. The Kyubi represented the most formidable force in the world. Danzo's ambition to obtain it was predictable, almost inevitable.
Everything had been meticulously planned. The published mission, the fake ANBU who authorized Tomo's departure... every move bore Danzo's signature.
The ninja in black, motionless, fixed his gaze on Kushina. Not a muscle in his face moved, not even a blink of emotion at the death of his companion. He was the living image of Danzo's perfect shinobi: emotionless, without attachments, only blind loyalty to the mission.
"If you won't talk, then die!" Kushina roared. "Lava Flow!"
WHOOSH!
A torrent of magma erupted from her mouth. The ground melted in its path, turning mud into steaming glass.
"Incredible!" exclaimed Nawaki, his eyes wide open at the display of power.
Shikaku, always analytical, murmured: "It must be a Kekkei Genkai."
"What exactly is a Kekkei Genkai?" asked Chōza, his curiosity overcoming the situation.
As the magma continued its course, Shikaku explained: "There are two types. One is unique superhuman abilities. The other occurs when two chakra natures are combined simultaneously, creating a new advanced element."
________
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