A Shadowed Past

In the dead of night, a silver cascade of moonlight filters through the dense forest in an unknown location in Japan. It cast an eerie glow upon a concealed structure nestled beneath the towering trees. This secretive place, hidden from prying eyes, seemed abandoned. Yet, within its shadowy corridors, danger lurked.

A group of men, their faces concealed by protective armor, infiltrated the darkened corridor. Their silent steps echoed softly, muffled by the dampness of the underground facility. Armed with guns, they moved with precision, swiftly dispatching the guards without raising alarm. The scientists, in their pristine white robes, were no safer than the sentinels; blood flowed across the floor, and deafening gunshots resonated through the halls, creating a grim tableau.

Amidst this chaos, the hurried footsteps of children echoed. Though young, they wielded deadly weapons with practiced ease. The intruders froze at the sound of approaching footsteps, and in the blink of an eye, a child leaped through the air, wielding an axe. With a single stroke, he severed an assailant's arm, causing him to crumple to the ground. As the wounded enemy writhed in pain, bullets whizzed through the air, but none found their mark.

Abruptly, a flurry of gunfire ceased as the group's leader ordered a halt. One of them turned, only to watch an object hurtle through the air, its trajectory unclear. As it plummeted to the ground, the object revealed itself as a smoke grenade. The infiltrators, enveloped in a haze, struggled to see. One by one, they fell, their bodies succumbing to a relentless barrage of punches and kicks.

As the smoke dissipated, a child's voice emerged, "You alright, Yuji?" It was the child brandishing the axe. "I'm good, Ryo. These guys had no clue what hit them," Yuji replied with clenched fists. "What about you, Kenji?" he asked another child, picking arrows from fallen foes. Kenji, sporting a soft smile, replied, "I'm okay."

Right after recovering from their encounter, they suddenly heard footsteps. "Guys! Kaito needs help, Yumi can't cover him fast enough." Hana, one of the children with little bots flying around her, chasing her breath, shouted to Yuji, Ryo, and Kenji. The three children did not hesitate to respond to Hana's request and rushed over to help the others.

Meanwhile, in another wing of the facility, another group of infiltrators proceeded with caution. As they entered a room, they found a child standing amidst a moonlit tableau of fallen enemies.

The group's leader trained his gun on the child. "Who's there? Put your hands up!" As more weapons were aimed at the child, he remained motionless. "I said put your hands up!" the enemy leader shouted.

The child turned, a mask of blood concealing his emotions. In his small hand, he clutched a katana smeared with the blood of their fallen comrades.

Eyes widened, sweat poured, and the enemy leader commanded his men, "Kill him!" In a blur of motion, the child lunged, his katana slicing through them with lethal precision. Moonlight gleamed off his blade as he moved with extraordinary speed and skill. Amidst the echoing gunfire, only one enemy remained. He screamed in fear, pointing his weapon at the child, but blood spilled from his mouth as the katana found its mark, and he fell.

Moments later, other children arrived to find the lone child, Daichi, standing amid the lifeless bodies of their foes. One child, the eldest, Takeshi, approached him. "Daichi, it's over. We've taken down all the infiltrators." Daichi, his katana stained with blood, remained silent. Concerned glances exchanged among the group spoke volumes.

As the children exited the facility, they left a trail of blood-soaked hallways, lifeless bodies, and bullet-riddled walls. Outside, heavy snowflakes fell, and their feet met the cold ground.

Once reunited, Yuji turned to Takeshi. "Takeshi, what happens next for us?" he asked with a worried expression. Takeshi replied, "It's not safe to stay here anymore, Yuji. I don't know why this happened, but I guess we're free now. We're no longer trapped and forced to kill. We can live life on our terms."

Takeshi's words gave them direction and hope. "What happened here wasn't our fault," he continued. "From now on, we go our separate ways. Live the life you've always wanted."

Daichi, still covered in blood, remained silent throughout Takeshi's speech. The others couldn't help but look at him with concern. Hana, one of the youngest, hesitated to approach him. Her heart ached as she watched him in this state.

Standing outside the facility, Takeshi's gaze shifted to each of them, eyes filled with empathy. "This isn't a goodbye, but rather, see you soon."

As the children accepted Takeshi's words, they left one by one.

Hana, usually close to Daichi, parted her lips, emotions swirling within her. But for now, she decided to keep her feelings to herself. Daichi had just unleashed fury upon their enemies, and the last thing he needed was her confession. So, she masked her emotions behind a faint smile, one that held warmth and a tinge of sadness.

With heavy hearts, she and Yumi departed, leaving unspoken words unsaid, for now.

This is the tale of eight orphaned children, each bearing a dark and harrowing past. They were transformed into instruments of death, assassins, and spies, their true names replaced with new ones they now called each other. Behind their training lay the shadowy government project known as Tokumei, employing them as covert assassins, their hands stained with blood for the sake of the state. The children were aware, yet the depths of this organization remained shrouded in mystery.