Read Nin-To-Five (A Naruto SI) Chapter 45

Land of Rivers

Ryoma, Jonin of Sunagakure

Hatake Kakashi. Kakashi of the Sharingan. Copy-Ninja Kakashi. He was one of those ninjas that redefined the scale for ninja strength. Such an extreme outlier that he remained an outlier among other outliers.A normal ninja enters the academy at eight years old. They receive four years of instruction, then graduate as Genin. They then spend two to four years learning under a Jonin Instructor, take the Chunin exams, and graduate as a full-fledged 'common ninja' at the end. For the majority of ninja, that's where they stay until they die. A comfortable life as a mid-ranking ninja who eventually 'retires' to consistent pay jobs in safe locations. They usually end up getting hooked up with another ninja and raising three to five kids to also be ninja.A rare few manage to grow to become Jonin, high ranking ninja. Usually pushed upwards and onwards by some sort of natural advantage or advanced instruction. Generally speaking, the more generations of chakra-warrior the ninja can trace, the further they'll go in their career. A ninja from a clan has a larger chakra pool, clan-specific techniques, and sometimes useful mutations that put them head and shoulders above the everyday ninja.Chakra mutates you over time, don't ask him why.Hatake Kakashi was from a relatively small clan in Konoha. Indeed, Ryoma wasn't sure if any other Hatakes were currently alive at all right now. He had a relatively modest amount of chakra and no real hidden clan techniques or inherent special mutations that he could think of. The 'Sharingan' that he was famous for had come from a transplant from his fallen Uchiha teammate, and Ryoma was pretty sure he only used it rarely due to how prohibitive it's chakra drain was.Nothing about his body would push him beyond his nominal peers.No, what Kakashi had was an absolutely unfathomable, ridiculous, absurd amount of talent as a ninja.Graduation at five years old. Chunin at six. Jonin almost as early.Hatake Kakashi was regularly battling and killing fully grown ninja as a toddler. He was qualified as one of the elite younger than most ninja even enter the academy.His father, Hatake Sakumo, was similarly ridiculous and somewhat more famous. The White Fang as he was known, for his sword that produced streaks of white chakra when swung. A ninja said to overshadow even the Sannin in overall ability- who in turn were famed for managing to survive Hanzo for an extended period of time.He was one of those household names as far as ninja go, even people who knew nothing about ninja would know about his exploits saving princesses, defeating giant monsters, and scattering rebellions.Perhaps then it was training from Sakumo that explained Kakashi's monstrous talent as a ninja? If his legendary father had been passing on techniques and tips that allowed him to rise so far, then that would explain his son being such a skilled ninja wouldn't it?He also committed suicide when Kakashi was very young. Most of Kakashi's career as a ninja was after his father's death."Hey- Ryoma-sensei, what are you thinking of?"Needless to say, his thoughts were dominated with questions of how exactly he was going to handle such a monster if the mission came to that. It shouldn't under their current trajectory, but Ryoma liked to be prepared for such things if possible."Oh, nothing much." He waved his hand lazily, eyes closed behind his puppethelm. His omnidirectional view revealed nothing in particular about their surroundings, as the Great Bolter slowly followed in the wake of a thousand footsteps. The road had started to wind down the side of the large hills, leading down into a substantially more flat valley region.It was, like many regions of the Land of Rivers, heavily forested with farming communities sparsely littered over its face. He had gotten a rather exceptional view of the whole valley-region further back. It looked like a quilt that was covered in broccoli.The roads were sufficiently wide for the Great Bolter to stomp through, but not much more than that, and were made of well-packed dirt. Every now and then they intersected with a minor stream or river that fed into the large central river of the valley. Notably, none of these smaller bridges were sabotaged in the same way as the first one."I'm just thinking about the bridge sabotage, I suppose." Ryoma continued with a small tilt of his head. No need to get them worked up with details about super-prodigy ninja who were three valleys over right now. "Only the first bridge was sabotaged, but none of these were.""Huh- yeah that is weird, isn't it?" Mao muttered, leaning forwards to look over the side of the Great Bolter, and the rocky stream it was currently stomping across. He had chosen to avoid stepping on the bridge and just pass through the water instead- like an elephant treading a creek. "If they were trying to stop us, then wouldn't they cut the other bridges up too?""Not necessarily." Tsubame shook her head. "It was the most important bridge into the region. No other crossing looks to be as dangerous to navigate. Cutting these bridges would do little to slow the army.""So if they were planning on betraying their lord and had limited time to work with, then cutting that one down would slow them down the most." Benki nodded, planting his hands on his hips in an authoritative manner. "That makes sense!"They were cresting over a hill now, the army ahead being cast in rays of open sunlight and raising their limbs to cover their eyes. Ryoma's mental map of the valley indicated that they were about to enter into the largest deforested region, which presumably the 'capital' of the valley was located.And therefore, their first target."There's something that bothers me about that." Tsubame said with a frown. Ryoma raised a brow beneath his helm, and Mao and Benki turned to her with curious expressions. "If their aim was to delay Takeda as much as possible, then simply destroying the bridge outright would have been more effective.""Whereas leaving it sabotaged like that would, at best, kill the first couple soldiers who walked across. At worst, it would leave the bridge functional for the Takeda group to cross anyways, albeit slightly slower." Ryoma immediately understood what Tsubame was speaking of, and inclined his head. "That is suspicious.""Maybe they were trying to be clever and undermined their own goal?" Mao suggested with a shrug."Maybe." Tsubame replied, acknowledging that as a possibility. Her normally stoic expression slightly marred with furrowed brows and a tiny downward tilt of her lips. "Pursuit of a marginal gain that sacrifices an assured outcome isn't a decision any wise enemy would make.""Maybe the enemy simply loves gambling." Ryoma suggested in his most genuine tone.Tsubame shot him a flat look.The Great Bolter stomped over the hill at about that point, blanketing them in sunlight not broken by tree cover and letting them look out to the valley.The road of hard-packed dirt wound down along the gentle slope and into the distance, where a single hill poked out of the ground in the middle. The hill was surrounded by a square-mile of flat, well-groomed farmland with small paths that laced between. Naturally, most of the farmland was rice, but there were a few other crops scattered about. The central, lone hill was capped in a wooden fortress, and surrounded by modest walls. This fortress was in turn surrounded by a number of homely wooden buildings in the traditional style.The other buildings were around the very edges of the valley- right up against the treeline in the distance. They were currently passing by one such set of buildings, with nervous looking villagers poking their heads out of windows and watching the soldiers as they passed."It certainly doesn't look like they're getting ready to wage war…" Ryoma muttered thoughtfully. His fingers twitched, and the Great Bolter's legs shifted as it settled down to use its wheels. The road was wide and flat enough here that using them would cause less overall damage to the surface.The army was unopposed as it headed up to the central village region, a few farmers running from the fields at their approach and rushing to it ahead of them. Eventually they reached the base of the hill where the fortress stood, and the army slowed to a stop.Ryoma gently lowered the Great Bolter into a stationary resting position, then disconnected his strings and stood up. "Come on." He nodded towards his team, jumping off the side and making his way over to the samurai-group.Sho and his team blurred into existence just before they arrived, nodding towards him and making a gesture.'No enemies detected'Ryoma nodded to acknowledge it, and the eight of them came to a stop a respectful distance from the samurai group. There were still suspicious eyes on them, but that was normal for Samurai.Up ahead, they watched Takeda talk angrily to a pair of very nervous looking men with spears, who hastily bowed and then ran off towards the fort. Takeda huffed, before strutting around and walking back. His eyes spotted the Suna teams shortly after, and he tilted his head back. Walking over, Takeda called out to them. "Ninja- your scouting, did you see any massed troops?"The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation."No, Lord Takeda. The largest accumulation of soldiers remains six men with spears and crossbows on the far-eastern tower." Sho explained with a bowed head. "If there are any enemies, then they have hid themselves successfully from us.""Tch." Takeda grunted, casting his eyes around suspiciously. "They must be inside then, I suppose.""Lord Takeda, it is possible that the Yagi were not the ones to sabotage the bridge." The large half-oni, Okada, offered with a frown and a slightly bowed head."...Possible." Takeda grumbled, closing his eyes. "Chikae or Miyano then, if the Yagi are truly innocent of this conspiracy against my father."A slightly portly man in modest robes came running out of the fortress, a tiny spec against the distant gates that quickly began to move down along the winding road towards their position, clutching onto his hat as he dashed. Ryoma turned his head in a very deliberate fashion, staring at the man as he approached and subtly indicating his presence to their client without needing to speak.Takeda turned his head towards the hill, and then nodded sharply. "There he is- panicked geezer…' He grumbled softly, before stepping forwards to the front of the samurai and waiting expectantly.The man approaching them called out with a slightly worried tone. "Young Lord Takeda! My apologies, I wasn't expecting you! How may the Yagi serve you today?!" He slid to a stop at the base of a hill and fell into an almost immediate sliding-bow. Dust was kicked up by his wooden sandals as he slowed to a stop before the annoyed looking Takeda heir."Mister Yagi…" Takeda began with a frown and furrowed brows. "Why was the Fuyan Bridge sabotaged for collapse?"Mister Yagi pulled up with a horrified look on his face. "The Fuyan bridge was sabotaged?! Who would do such a thing?!""So this is news to you?" Takeda tilted his head with a scowl."I- I'm deeply sorry Lord Takeda! We do most of our trade by the river, I- I had no idea the bridge was damaged! I'll have my best carpenters sent out right away!"Mister Yagi, at least, seemed quite genuine. Ryoma turned his head subtly towards Sho, who in turn gestured quickly.

'Low suspicion.'

Sho agreed with his assessment, which unfortunately just raised more questions than it answered.—"We will enjoy the hospitality of the Yagi clan for tonight, then continue marching north to the Chikae clan. As soon as the sun rises, we will be off, so be ready for that!" Their VIP told them in a very commanding tone, while also effectively telling the ninja that they were going to be sleeping in again.Ninja normally started the day a bit before sunrise, after all. "Understood, Lord Takeda.""Maintain your vigil- treat everything around you as potentially hostile. Whoever sabotaged the Fuyan bridge is still out there, and could attack at any moment." Takeda continued with a suspicious glance to the woods in the distance."Understood, Lord Takeda." Sho repeated in a professional tone. The irony of a noble heir telling ninja to remain alert and suspicious was not lost on any of the ninja present. "We will maintain a cycling watch throughout the night.""Good." The Takeda heir declared, before closing his eyes and crossing his arms huffishly. "At least the wits of the ninja are not slacking, right now." He muttered, shaking his head and walking away into the fortress.The gates closed behind him, leaving the ninja outside the gate of the building but within the walls of the inner courtyard."How does he expect us to defend him from out here?" Tsubasa the warfan user muttered with a scrunched-up face."He doesn't, that's the job of the samurai, don't you know?" Mao replied with a dry and annoyed tone, staring up at the heavy wooden gates."The same samurai that he just said were slacking?" Tsubasa asked with a deadpan."The same." Sho cut in. "We will maintain a watch along the exterior. Full team shift rotations, at least one person outside his room at all times.""How will we know what room is his, Field Commander?" Ryoma asked with a raised brow. He already had a few ideas, but if there was a simpler option available…"I can tell." Sugimoto declared with a soft smile and a shrug. "He's moving around right now, I'll tell you when he settles down for the night."Some kind of sensor-jutsu then? Ryoma nodded, trusting in the mysterious abilities of his peer.Nagare spoke up at that. "We should eat while we have the time. It would not do to be defeated by hunger.""This is true." Tsubame agreed with a shallow nod. Sho glanced at them, his demon-mask hiding any expression but posture conveying a mild exasperation."Very well- this is a fortified enough position. You have my leave to start immediately." Sho nodded, then hopped up and away, landing on the wall that loomed next to them. "I will maintain a patrol while you eat." He declared, then vanished.They all watched him go for a moment.The silence was broken when Nagare spoke. "Our Field Commander is diligent." The observation was blunt and carried absolutely no sarcasm. She then turned to him. "Jonin Ryoma, may we utilize the kitchen of your Great Bolter?"Ryoma huffed in amusement, his mask extending it into a long dry exhale. "Go ahead- that's what it's meant for."Nagare nodded, setting her massive clay jugs down with a pair of heavy thuds. She reached up to rub her shoulders. "Your Great Bolter is exceptionally convenient.""Sensei- don't fall for it!" Mao wailed, tossing herself forwards to clutch onto Nagare's vest. Nagare stared down at her blankly. "His giant wood or his roguish charms- falling for him could endanger the whole mission if you lose track of your current position daydreaming!""...Daydreaming." Nagare replied blankly."My massive wood?" Ryoma asked in an unimpressed fashion. It wasn't the most unoriginal joke he had heard, but it was pretty far up there."Not your roguish charms?" Tsubame asked with pressed lips."I knew about those already." Ryoma shrugged.Sugimoto was the only one who laughed, and for that reason he was Ryoma's new favorite.—Ryoma remained motionless atop the wall, staring out at the moonlit fields with helm 'ears' pulled back to reveal his lenses. The bright moon and stars above provided just enough light to see shadows, all the way out to the treeline in the distance where darkness dominated. It was warm even in the middle of the night, unlike the oppressive cold of the Wind Country deserts.He sat in a statuelike manner, legs crossed and hands in his lap. His cloth garments flowed in a gentle breeze that rolled down from the surrounding hills and up loudly against the side of the central fortress. Every now and then he could hear the distant yowl of a cat or bark of a dog, briefly, and then they were silenced again. There was a crackle of fires from various ceremonial watchposts.A calm, peaceful night. Just himself and his paranoia.His vision cut out.Ryoma jolted to full wakefulness at the base of the wall, the chakra-shock of his sand clone suddenly cutting out making him rise in immediate alarm.A heavy boom shook the wall and the distant crack of the sound barrier being breached followed. An explosion of wooden splinters and shattered clay tiles showered over the courtyard- which was currently filled with dust."We're under attack!" He declared, swiping a hand at the others. Most of whom were already rising and consolidating. His fingers connected to a ready Bolter, which rose high into the air above the walls and pointed out towards the distance."What was that!?" A spearman from the walls called out fearfully."We're under attack!" One of them repeated him, which furthered the panic."Jonin Ryoma! Where is the attacker!?" Sho demanded, swinging down from a hidden position and falling towards the courtyard.Half a moment later, the corner of the tower he was sliding down exploded violently, and the distinct crack of the sound barrier shattering followed from the distance.Sho landed in a disheveled heap, blurred from the use of a body-flicker and rolling across the ground until he crashed into the base of the wall near the Great Bolter."North-east!" Tsubame declared, assembling and stringing her bow with a tense scowl. "An enemy with a bow- for certain!""Sound the alar-!" A spearman from the walls attempted to shout.He was turned into an explosion of gore before the sound of the arrow reached them, a red spray that painted his section of the wall, the watch tower next to him, and the ground for a wide radius after.Crack-boom.It was only Ryoma already-focusing at the spearman in question that allowed him to see the massive grey bolt blurring through his torso for a half-moment before it destroyed itself against the thick wooden walls of the tower, sending shrapnel all over the courtyard.A sniper.The most annoying type of enemy to fight.

Nin-To-Five (A Naruto SI)

Chapter 45

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