Five Days Later
One. Four. Nine. Eleven.
Eleven bodies came back to the village within the first two days of the C-rank missions. Eight teams were sent out. So far only one cell was yet to come back, but each team managed losing at least one member. This was the highest amount Nohara ever lost to a first outing. However, this group were good enough to fight off bandits. So, their deaths, especially at this magnitude was unwarranted.
He had fully anticipated his student running into hostile enemies, but for the deaths to equal three cells. It would mean that all the clients were benefitting from the post war flow of information. If it was up to him they would still be running drills and improving their taijutsu, but there was only so much you could say to sway the red hat. His decision was final no matter the opposition.
The senile old man found it ideal to keep their vail of protection. There was no complaints because the facade seemed to keep serious attacks at bay, even though the village was finding it hard to match the man power of the satellite nations. All leading to the great Konoha forcing more children to the frontline. A desperate attempt to compensate for the thin line of defense.
The war was definitely over for the elemental nations, but the fighting was still as lively as ever, but none of the other villages resorted to pushing kids ahead unless there were spats of war.
He had not heard about exploding Rock-nin toddlers since the second war. Cloud-nin always favored the approach of training well into the teens. Sand kept their young close to the village until they were mature enough to make adult decisions. Even Kiri kept their babies psycho's leashed. Only releasing fully grown psycho's to do their dirty work.
Nohara had to admit if somehow those madmen had the moral high ground, then Konoha was really in it for shits and giggles.
To make matters even worse, spies like Sakumo not making it to this generation. And the Uchiha focusing more on their police work in protest. Information coming to Konoha lessened every second. Other major villages were still hyper focused on gaining an advantage. If they knew something we didn't. It was our loss. With Konoha's entire spy network now watered down to one, barely trustworthy individual. They had lost the cold war before it started.
Now because of more terrible judgement by the red hat his genin were coming across A-rank Kiri assassins next in line for the swords.
It was a dark thought but at the very least their loss left no one behind to suffer emotional turmoil. This prompted him to remember that he failed to get his youngest student to quit while he had the chance. Not really his problem but he would prefer if his best student didn't confuse integrity with stupidity. What shocked him more was that the decision stood even after he pandered to the emotions of the kid's parents.
What else could he expect from people that work closely to death.
Naivete of young parents. They always assumed that something can't happen to them until it does.
After all he allowed his own daughter to take up the line of work. If only other people could learn from his mistakes. Well he could force them to learn with a well crafted genjutsu, but he'd probably lose both his job and head for the treasonous act. Hurting a civilian Uzumaki and worst yet a living descendant of Museigen. They were quite literally the last remnants of a dead village.
They were provided five days to complete the mission.
It's been almost a week.
If those kids weren't dead. They were definitely captured.
XxX
The rest of the journey remained uneventful. Which was great in Kobaru's eyes. The only problem he had with the trip, was how long it took for them to arrive at their destination. He was not aware that the continent was as far reaching. Of course the only scale he had to compare it by were the depictions in his textbooks.
Pictures did not do the distance justice.
After the Outpost it took the group an additional two days just to make it to the border. Sure they were in and out of the Land of Dreams in just over five hours but that didn't mean the terrain agreed with them. The Land of Hot Water was easier to traverse and took them the rest of that day. Ten hours of walking for five days and, according to Mr. Hayazuki, they still had thirteen miles to cover.
This was already Kobaru's least favorite thing about being a shinobi. Forget a premature death and an unaccomplished life. Walking was a criminally underrated downside of his chosen career. Not to mention the gross understatement from the Chunin who assigned the mission in the first place. They told the group it would take five days back and forth. The only way they could complete the journey in five days was if they had a cart and four horses that could fly.
The only thing that kept him going was that the client seemed to fare well with the painful walking. There was no way he would embarrass himself by whining when the less fit Mr. Hayazuki went about it as though it was normal.
Thankfully no one capitalized on their novice and judging by the way the people of Frost were going about there business. Kobaru found it safe to assume that no attack would happen.
Why?
For one. They were no way near the capital and he was sure that they didn't accidentally stumble onto the path to Frost's hidden village. But there were already coming across people that appeared to be happy with the life they had. No endless despair like he was conditioned to anticipate. A clear sign that these people weren't at the mercy of rogue-nin and desperate bandits.
Then there were the things that held his attention the longest.
The roadways.
The path leading through Frost Country were both well travelled and well cared for. As soon as they crossed, there was an immediate increase in traffic going in all directions. On their way to Konoha's outpost they didn't encounter a single traveler. Dream and Steam were no better. On the roads of the northern nation they ran into a group every minute or so. Not to mention that the roads were also better built. Imagine walking through four countries and only one of them invested in the infrastructure outside the villages.
Something else that caught Kobaru's attention were the shops and shacks that were along the way. Frost country was a mostly neutral zone. Shinobi conflict in this area would break several treaties in one interaction. No one was going to risk war over minor dislikes. So without the threat the people across the nation adopted a very laid back, but open outlook.
Mr. Hayazuki called for an early break. Finally giving in to his exhaustion. Chusei quickly complied allowing them to seek refuge on the shaded side of a merchants shack. If Kobaru was being honest it would have been better if he called for that break an hour before, but this would do just fine. The group settled in taking a drink to deter the dehydration for another hour. Removing their sandals which were without a doubt changing the shape of their feet forever. This was all in good reason. Because for a country named after Frost, the place had a lot more in common with the Land of Fire.
Kobaru hated it.
They sat for awhile recharging for the next four hour trek that was awaiting them. Hopefully they could continue their streak of no conflict. Otherwise the group wouldn't be able to fight back. They were quite reasonably exhausted. Their best bet would have someone run with the client while the others held off the assailants.
A sound plan indeed. Hopefully Chusei had an alternative in mind.
A few minutes of silent relaxation. Everyone took the shade as a welcomed opportunity to catch their breath. Sure they had half an hour to gather the energy necessary to make it to the capital, but thirty minutes rest was useless when they would be baking under the sun for the next four hours.
Kobaru looked around at his makeshift cell and for once since he met Chusei, broke the silence before the orange haired boy had a chance.
"Nagisa," he called tilting his body forward to look around Mr. Hayazuki. She returned her attention with disinterest already written on her face, "yesterday... That old man asked if you were involved in that Mist Intervention thing. What did he mean? I thought you were born in the Leaf?"
She stared at him for a while gathering words for her next statement. Nagisa was without a doubt the most mature genin in the reserves and she was year younger than most. Of course this question didn't require as much thought as she was putting into it, but it was fitting, "My mother..." she paused to think some more, "she was a shinobi on Nagi Island. It's The Land of Fire's territory, not Konoha's. We had our own shinobi schools there. Not as popular, but..." another pause without a change in expression, "And well my father too, but he wasn't as accomplished. Fifth year of the war our island was sieged by Mist shinobi. They took our home and sought to make it an outpost. By the time Konoha-nin showed up..."
She didn't have to finish her statement. Everyone knew what happened to natives when stronger shinobi immigrated.
Mr. Hayazuki wrongfully took her incompletion as a sign of emotional weight and decided to finish for her, "The higher ranked shinobi attempted to buy time for lower ranks and children to escape. They were only massacred for their efforts. The Mist is known for thorough extermination of what they perceive to be weak. It's a miracle you're even alive to share this with us."
"Dude," Chusei said shooting their client a look only a disappointed parent could have. Then still turned to Nagisa and asked, "So... how are you an orphan then? Your Dad wasn't higher ranked so he should have escaped."
First thing to do when I get home. Is to find new friends.
She narrowed her eyes at him but decided to answer anyway, "When we came to Konoha. He worked really hard. Became a jonin. Found me a new mother. Then..." she paused again a habit Kobaru didn't know she had, "they both died during the Kyuubi attack."
The Shinigami definitely hates you.
Naturally this lead to a silence in the group. One that would meet it's end swiftly, but until then they were going to take in how much of a bad hand most of them were dealt. Kobaru couldn't help but feel entitled that he was the only person in the reserves left with an actual family. Most of them were carrying the death of their loved ones on their shoulders. While being contracted as shinobi by default. Kobaru's only reasoning to continue the career path was because it intrigued him.
He had hopes of living long in their line of work when all he had motivating him was his mild amusement with chakra and needing to know more of it's uses. Different things motivate different people. Was all he could think about and the village didn't hire based on childhood trauma.
His thoughts were routed by Mr. Hayazuki, who took the moment to stretch into a slow stance.
"Looks like the break's over," Chusei joined the man on his feet.
"That won't be necessary Nakamura," the man gestured for the boy to sit with an outstretched hand, "I haven't been one hundred percent honest with you in the first place," He tossed his sack over his shoulder and stretched once more, "I think you've realized that I was supposed to die on this mission. That my father is only paying for a one way trip. That I wasn't supposed to make it back home," Nagisa flinched and Chusei swallowed audibly, "I assume you know that once we walk another thirteen miles and get to Rikubetsu, I'll be assassinated. More than like it would be outsourced to Kiri-nin or an illiterate merchant from Takumi. It doesn't matter my bounty is only enough for a round of malt."
Chusei's eyes widened in an uncharacteristic amount of surprise. What was more unsettling was that he opted out of reacting with words.
"I told you that I didn't know why my books weren't popular in the main villages. Why only the satellite nations purchased in mass. That was a lie," he frowned to himself then gazed off at a patch of dirt, "my books do not only explore the history of the North Continent. As a matter of fact my most popular pieces have nothing to do with the North or it's culture.
"In the scroll I am to be assassinated over. I provided in-depth commentary on our society. How it's a self sustaining cycle. One where the strong employers breed strong employees to further subjugate the weak. It was my first manuscript on our society and it was compiled poorly, but it's topic was made for simple understanding. Therefore it captured the minds of Hanzo's people and most importantly the rogues scattered through our continent. Giving them even more reason to arm themselves. Thinking that as son of a diplomat, I foolishly wrote my take on the operations of our government. How the chain of command cuts off at my Daimyo's court. How land was gained and alliances forged at the expense of innocent families. Children deliberately orphaned and forced off in the massive draft for post war dominance. A cycle that was supposed to die with the creation of hidden villages. Funny enough the only thing hidden villages did in that aspect was give the child soldier factories financial backing. Elevating the families that could pump out the most infant murderers.
"My original copy was sold a year into the third war and yet in it I predicted perfectly that the fighting would end with the biggest political betrayal in history. Leading the notion of true peace to be met with hostility and outrage. Both Iwa and Konoha had the talent and resources necessary to end the war in the early stages. Yet both states opted to keep their most skilled troops back. Serving as poster children. Symbols as opposed to an actual solution. True peace would die with the end of that war, that's a hill I'm prepared to die on," He chuckled then looked at Kobaru, "I've never regretted such a thing as tying my name to that statement. Iwa's hatred will span for generations to come. Not because of the amount that died. People die in war all the time. With the powerhouses that inhabited each side, any of the two would lose over five hundred shinobi in a one man attack.
"The thing that fuels the opposition. The things that has them building and investing in an unstoppable army in wait that our nation falters. Is that there was an agreement that fire refused to recognize. We knew their country was suffering from a viral disease that broke out. The Shinigami dealing them one of heat resistance, incredibly contagious and it was cutting through their population. They needed a place to cultivate the medicine. Unsurprisingly dry, rocky desert isn't the best place to grow medicinal herbs. And so Mushroom allowed them the space. Mushroom agreed to loaning out land so they could acquire and stock resources for a given period. Yet we interpreted it as a threat against the liberty of The Land of Mushrooms. Sowing seeds of disdain. Then finally initiating the scuffle. It remained as senseless sparring for some time. We didn't need your shinobi to fight ruthlessly against a dying population.
"What changed was that Konoha took the bridge that allowed the flow of resources back to The Land of Earth and a foolish clan child died in the process. A young boy descending from the founders. They wanted revenge and Konoha bent to the will of that clan as they always did in the past. They sent their most feared shinobi at the time to the frontline and I take it you know how the story goes with the yellow flash."
Kobaru for the first time since the man started his story felt his jaw shake itself loose. He could feel it move intent on speaking, but could not bring himself to say what was on his mind. The third war had a less than pleasant effect on the genin of the cell.
Chusei was at the frontline of the very first battle and was "rescued" by Konoha-nin. Nagisa lost her mother and her home to that war. Then even her father lost his life fighting for Konoha-nin. All of this was either a well timed lie or a confusing conspiracy. It didn't matter. The words were already affecting who it needed to affect.
Kobaru was as skilled at reading people, but he had spent enough time around his two friends to know when they were having an internal spat.
"I've seen you interact and heard you speak for the whole journey," he continued, "you're smart kids. And I take it skilled shinobi to be sent out this far without supervision. That's the only reason I'm telling you this. I could've had my new escorts jump out at anytime and take me to the base, but you..." He smiled at all four of them, "You won't take this at face value. You'll want to know for yourselves. Unfortunately you're not cleared for that level of infor--"
"Shade is for paying customers only!" The owner of the shop cut off Mr. Hayazuki, realizing the group weren't leaving anytime soon and did not take too kindly to their lack of purchases. Out of the window he stuck his head which was desperately clinging to a small population of hair. Much of which was grey.
"I guess that would be the signal for me," Hayazuki smiled then turned his back to the children, "head home, work hard, rank up and hopefully you get assigned to the team tasked with actually taking my life."
Right in front of them. A head popped out of the ground without displacing the dirt and grass. As though he was passing through it. Kobaru did what was instinctual and jumped to his feet. Kunai already palmed and without wasted movement launched the pair of throwing knives at the head. Which sunk back into the ground before impact.
The others caught track of the movement and Chusei quickly took his place in front of Kobaru ready for retaliation. Nagisa at his right and the other member of their cell at his left.
The head shot out of the ground once more, but this time attached to a body. Which was in turn attached to a pair of burly arms, that held two swords the size of the Hokage rock.
"Leave them!" Mr. Hayazuki motioned, "they are kids."
"So! One of 'em tried to give me a haircut," the man yelled dropping his sword and slapping the top of his head. He spoke with a weirdly familiar accent for a foreigner. He almost sounded like Chusei. But better at sounding like Chusei than Chusei himself.
"Well you shouldn't have snuck up on a child that's trained to take lives," their client waved it off as a minor inconvenience, "If you don't mind I plan on getting to the base by sunset."
With that he started walking off towards the bushes. His accomplice gave Kobaru a look over scanning his face, before following The Land of Fire's delegate off into the wilderness.
Kobaru looked up at the sun then back at the two retreating adults. All in a subconscious act to keep track of them, headed East.
They disappeared into the bushes, without anyone making a move in on them. Mostly because their leader wouldn't make any calls to give chase. He didn't appear to be affected by what he just heard, but anyone who knew him. Could tell that the orange haired genin was lost with internal turmoil. A lack of speech said as much.
"Does this mean we failed our mission?" the other genin asked.
Chusei jolted back in surprise, more than likely forgetting that the boy was there. He gathered his wit and straightened his frame, "I think there's other things for us to worry about right now."