Kapitel 246: 245-Starting Fires

The sun was low in the sky, casting long shadows across the training field where Renjiro Uzumaki and Kakashi Hatake stood. Both boys, though already experienced jounins, now found themselves in the gruelling process of ANBU training.

The atmosphere around them was tense but purposeful—this was no ordinary training; this was a transformation. While being an ordinary shinobi trained one to become a tool for the village and the feudal system, an anbu was trained how to become a weapon in the system.

Renjiro wiped a bead of sweat from his brow as he watched Kakashi execute a series of precise movements, each one deliberate, and calculated.

They were learning not to fight like themselves, to erase the individuality that made them known among their peers. In ANBU, there was no place for the flair of a signature jutsu or the distinctive style of a well-known shinobi, unless in peculiar situations. Everything had to be uniform, standardized, and designed to protect their identities.

"Again," Yano said.

Renjiro nodded, stepping into the sparring ring with Kakashi. They both knew the drill by now—no personal styles, no flashy moves. Every strike, every counter, had to be neutral, and impersonal, so that no one could ever link them back to who they truly were.

It was a strange feeling for Renjiro, who had spent years honing his own unique fighting style. He had developed it to reflect his heritage, combining the brute force of the Uzumaki with the finesse of his Uchiha bloodline. Now, all of that had to be set aside.

Renjiro moved first, throwing a series of jabs, followed by a sweeping leg kick. Kakashi blocked the strikes effortlessly, his movements mirroring Renjiro's, as if they were reflections of each other. The fight was textbook—nothing that could give them away. No wild movements, no intricate jutsu, just cold, efficient combat.

"Thud!"

Their fists collided, a rhythm as repetitive and mechanical as the training itself. Renjiro's muscles strained with each strike, but his mind was focused, and disciplined.

The training was unlike anything he had experienced before, even more advanced than the rigorous drills he had gone through during his time in the police forces. The ANBU training wasn't just about fighting; it was about becoming a shadow, a ghost in the world of shinobi.

'This is harder than I expected,' Renjiro thought, sidestepping a quick punch from Kakashi.

Renjiro's previous training had been focused on winning battles, completing missions, and fighting in the heat of war. But in ANBU, the focus was all-encompassing: stealth, espionage, assassination, and most importantly, anonymity. It was an entirely new way of thinking, a shift in mentality.

While they say that learning a technique or skill while young was optimal, it was also the same when it came to unlearning some of them. Fortunately, Renjiro and Kakashi were not that far into life.

Yano stepped forward, nodding approvingly. "Better," he muttered, his voice barely audible through his mask. "But remember—no distinct techniques. Keep it clean, keep it untraceable."

As the week passed, the training intensified. Renjiro and Kakashi were drilled not only in combat but also in stealth techniques, covert movements, and how to eliminate targets without leaving any trace.

The training was gruelling, but Renjiro found himself adapting quickly, even noting that this regime was far more advanced than what he had experienced in the past.

'It's no longer just about brute force or even tactical brilliance,' Renjiro mused to himself during one of their brief breaks.

'It's about being invisible—about eliminating all traces of who we are.' He recalled his previous experience in the force, the way the clan had trained him to fight and win battles through sheer power and precision.

In ANBU, the goal was different. Stealth and deception were just as important as strength, if not more so. Here, the art of killing silently, disappearing without a trace, was honed to a razor's edge.

On the eve of their first mission, Yano called both Renjiro and Kakashi into the training room. It was late, the evening casting a deep, orange glow over the compound.

"Tomorrow, we begin our first mission," he said, his voice steady and composed.

"I expect you both to come fully prepared."

Renjiro and Kakashi nodded in unison, neither of them saying a word. They knew the gravity of their training, and more importantly, they understood the weight of the missions they would soon be undertaking.

Yano was not one to sugarcoat things—he expected nothing less than perfection, not even their best.

"Rest up," Yano added. "You'll need it."

The next day arrived swiftly. Renjiro and Kakashi were summoned to the mission briefing in the evening. The room was dimly lit, only a single lamp casting light over the large map that Yano had unfurled on the table. His gaze was focused, his voice low but commanding as he explained the situation to his new recruits.

"Konoha's intelligence network has picked up some troubling information," Yano began, pointing to a region near the Land of Fire's borders.

"The Village Hidden in the Grass—Kusagakure—has been quietly gathering up military forces near our borders. They've been amassing resources, and it's clear that they're preparing for something."

Renjiro leaned in, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studied the map. The Grass Village had never been a major player in the grander schemes of the shinobi world, but that made their recent actions all the more concerning.

Why would a smaller, less influential village like Kusagakure be preparing for war? And against whom?

"Kusagakure doesn't have the strength to engage Konoha directly," Yano continued, his finger tracing the lines of the border.

"Which means one of two things—either they've become emboldened for no apparent reason, or someone is backing them."

Kakashi tilted his head slightly, his sharp mind already piecing together the possibilities. "If someone is backing them," he said, his voice quiet but firm, "it could mean one of the other great shinobi nations is involved."

Yano nodded, his expression grim. "Exactly. The Land of Fire doesn't neighbour any of the five great shinobi nations, but if Kusagakure is building up its forces, it could mean that one of those larger villages—perhaps Iwagakure or Kumogakure—is pulling the strings from behind the scenes."

Renjiro's mind raced as he processed the information. If a village like Kusagakure was preparing for conflict, it was no small matter. Even if they were acting independently, Konoha couldn't afford to let such actions go unchecked. A war with Kusagakure, no matter how small, could weaken Konoha's position in the region and invite larger, more dangerous enemies.

Yano's voice broke through Renjiro's thoughts. "Even if Kusagakure is acting on their own, Konoha can't take any chances. We have to deal with this quickly and efficiently to maintain our standing in the region."

Renjiro looked at Yano, his brow furrowed in thought. "So, the mission is to eliminate the force they're gathering at the border?"

Before Yano could respond, Kakashi added his own insight, his voice calm but calculated. "Or are we supposed to destroy their supply lines and weaken their ability to sustain a larger force?"

'That's an even better plan,' Renjiro quickly thought.

Yano looked at both of them, a small, almost imperceptible smile forming beneath his mask. "Those are good ideas," he said, his voice taking on a darker tone.

"But no. The village will send a regular team to handle their forces directly."

Both Renjiro and Kakashi exchanged a glance, their eyes questioning but remaining silent as Yano continued.

"Instead of putting out this fire," Yano said, his eyes narrowing as he leaned closer to the map, "our goal is to start another one."

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Kapitel 247: 246-You Look Better In Black

The dim light of the briefing room cast long shadows on the faces of Renjiro, Kakashi, and Yano Shimura.

The usual type of mission he expected—disrupting supply lines, eliminating forces, or sabotaging logistics—seemed to pale in comparison to what Yano had just hinted at. This was something deeper and more covert.

"How?" Renjiro asked, his voice calm but filled with curiosity.

He'd been a shinobi for many years, completing countless missions in the service of Konoha, but this…this was something entirely different. The notion of destabilizing an entire village from within wasn't something he had done before at least not when both parties were on the brink of war. Most of the missions he had undertaken were along the lines of what he and Kakashi had initially assumed—tactical strikes, reconnaissance, and even some minor assassinations. But those were straightforward compared to this.

Yano met Renjiro's gaze, his eyes steely behind the mask. "The goal of this mission," he began, "is to destabilize Kusagakure as a whole. It's not enough to deal with their gathering force at the border. We need to ensure that even if they manage to regroup, they won't be able to repeat these actions anytime soon—if ever."

'Damn, it was enough for the village to kick them down, but they had to make sure they don't get back up.' Renjiro thought

The gravity of Yano's words hung heavily in the room. Kusagakure had never been a major power, but they were still a shinobi village, with their own military and political infrastructure. To destabilize a village wasn't just about defeating their forces; it was about eroding the foundations of their society, creating internal conflict and confusion.

Renjiro's brows furrowed, trying to piece together the scope of what Yano was suggesting. "So, what are we supposed to do? Cause infighting in Kusagakure to distract them from their plans?"

Yano's expression didn't waver. "In a way, yes," he replied. "The village council wants Kusagakure's internal structure weakened. We will act as a catalyst for that disruption. However, the exact method of how we achieve that...well, you'll learn that part later."

Kakashi, standing beside Renjiro with his usual calm demeanour, raised an eyebrow beneath his mask. "How are we supposed to proceed if we don't know the full plan?"

Yano shifted slightly, his voice growing more deliberate. "ANBU operates differently from the regular shinobi forces. In standard missions, you're given the full scope of the mission upfront—the objectives, the plan, and every detail laid out before you set out.

But with ANBU, things are compartmentalized. You'll only be given the information you need at each stage of the mission. This prevents sensitive information from leaking out. Even if someone knew where we were going, they wouldn't know what we were actually doing."

Renjiro understood the logic. Compartmentalization was a common tactic in covert operations, ensuring that even if part of the mission was compromised, the whole operation wouldn't fall apart. But it also meant stepping into the unknown, a risky game where every decision could have far-reaching consequences.

Yano looked between them, his voice low and intense. "You'll receive the details as we go. For now, your task is to prepare for infiltration. We'll make our way into Kusagakure unnoticed, and from there, you'll know what to do."

As Yano prepared to call the meeting to a close, Renjiro raised his hand, stopping him. "Wait. If we go through with this, Kusagakure will surely know that Konoha was behind whatever happens, even if we're discreet. What's the plan if they retaliate or if their allies decide to step in?"

Yano didn't hesitate in his response, his tone cool and collected. "That's the beauty of this operation. We have to be so thorough in what we do that even if Kusagakure suspects Konoha's involvement, they won't have the evidence to prove it. It's a delicate balance, but it's one we've handled before."

Renjiro fell silent, though his mind continued to churn. The risk was high, but so was the reward. If they succeeded, Konoha's position in the region would remain unrivalled, and Kusagakure would be reduced to a shadow of its former self, unable to pose a threat for years.

But something about this mission tugged at the back of his mind—what if whoever was backing Kusagakure had already accounted for Konoha's reaction? What if they were being drawn into a trap?

'Either way, Kusa is going to lose in this. If another major village is indeed backing them, then they were blindsided.'

The meeting ended, and Renjiro, Kakashi, and Yano prepared to set out. The mission weighed heavily on Renjiro's thoughts, but he knew there was no turning back now. They had to move.

Before they left the room, Renjiro performed a quick hand sign and activated the Transformation Jutsu. His appearance shifted, but subtly—his fiery red hair darkened to a deep black, and the length of his hair shortened. He still resembled himself, but with enough changes that no one would recognize him at first glance.

Kakashi, watching from the side, gave a nod of approval. "You look better in black," he said, his tone light but tinged with his usual sarcasm.

Renjiro smirked beneath his mask. "I'll keep that in mind."

It was dusk when the three-man ANBU team left Konoha, the fading light casting a perfect cover for their departure. The shadows of the trees stretched long across the ground as they moved silently, their masks concealing their identities, their mission cloaked in secrecy. Dusk was the perfect time for ANBU activities when the fading light made it easier to slip between the cracks of the world.

Their path to Kusagakure was a long one, and they couldn't take the direct route. The border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass was being closely monitored by both sides, especially with Kusagakure's forces gathering at the edge. A direct route would draw too much attention, so Yano had devised an alternative.

They would travel through Takigakure, the Village Hidden by the Waterfall. It was the only way to avoid suspicion. The detour was longer, but it allowed them to bypass the heavily guarded borders between the Land of Fire and Kusagakure.

Amegakure, the Rain Village, also bordered Kusagakure, and any movement in that direction could risk provoking Ame's volatile leader which would be counter-productive for such a mission. Thus, the hidden waterfall village was their best option.

The journey through Takigakure was swift and quiet. The village itself was well-hidden, nestled between towering cliffs and dense forests. The sound of the great waterfall crashing down filled the air as they passed through, their movements quick and precise, avoiding any unnecessary contact with locals. They stayed hidden, moving through the shadows, their presence a secret known only to them.

Renjiro found the scenery of Takigakure almost serene. The waterfall glistened under the moonlight, and the forest surrounding it was lush, almost untouched by the chaos of the shinobi world. But there was no time to appreciate the beauty. The mission pressed on, and by dawn, they had crossed through the territory, entering the outskirts of Kusagakure.

The Hidden Grass Village, by contrast, was more subdued, its forests dense but not as vibrant as Takigakure's. The grasslands stretched for miles, giving the village its name, though the buildings themselves were low to the ground, camouflaged into the natural landscape.

The village seemed quiet, but Renjiro could feel the tension in the air. This was a place preparing for war, even if the signs weren't immediately visible.

By the time they reached Kusagakure, it was already noon. The journey had been long and taxing, but they moved with the precision and discipline expected of ANBU operatives. Their mission was still unclear, but the first phase was complete—they had infiltrated the territory without being detected.

Yano turned to them, his voice low and commanding. "Rest up. We'll act at nightfall. That's when our real mission begins."