Mission X

A lone figure soared through the night, leaping effortlessly between rooftops under the dim glow of the city lights. The masked man was Hiro Namikaze, a ghost in the darkness, moving with precision toward his target. Below him, the streets of Tokyo stretched endlessly, unaware of the deadly assignment unfolding above.

As he landed on another rooftop, his mind flickered back to the confrontation with Kazuya earlier that day.

"Sir… about Mission X," Hiro hesitated, gripping the file tightly. "I don't think I can pull this off."

Kazuya chuckled, leaning back in his chair. "Don't be ridiculous, Hiro. You're one of the best operatives in the organization. Arguably better than your father. I know you're the right man for the job."

Hiro frowned, unconvinced. "With all due respect, sir, Aidan would be better suited for this mission. Why me?"

Kazuya smirked, his sharp gaze piercing through Hiro's doubt. "Both you and Aidan are formidable, but Aidan is reckless. He lets his temper dictate his actions. This mission requires patience, subtlety… and control. You embody all three."

Hiro remained silent, absorbing Kazuya's words.

"This mission isn't just any job, Hiro. We've finally tracked down a man who's been evading us for years. It has to be handled correctly."

Hiro exhaled slowly. "What's the objective?"

Kazuya's smirk widened. "You're going to assassinate the Emperor of Japan—Yoshikawa Eichi."

The air in the room turned heavy.

Hiro's grip on the file tightened. "Sir, with all due respect… you know I don't kill." His voice wavered slightly. "I torture, I extract information, I manipulate… but I don't kill. And you're asking me to take down one of the most protected men in the world. If I get caught—"

"You won't," Kazuya interrupted. "That's why we chose you. Aidan would leave a trail of bodies. You'll get the job done without making a mess."

Hiro clenched his fists. "Why is he even a target?"

Kazuya sighed, leaning forward. "Before he was Emperor, Yoshikawa borrowed money from the organization. A lot of money. When we tried to collect, he refused to pay. Not only that, he had twenty of our best men executed as a warning."

Hiro's breath hitched. Twenty men.

"For years, we couldn't touch him," Kazuya continued. "Then, ten years later, he became Emperor. We finally know where he is, and we're not letting this opportunity slip. But this has to be clean." He leaned back, watching Hiro carefully. "If you won't do it… I'll send your father."

Hiro's eyes darkened. "Leave my father out of this. He's retired. Let him have his peace."

"Then you know what you have to do."

Hiro looked down, his mind racing. No matter how much he wanted to refuse, Kazuya wasn't giving him a choice.

"…Fine. What's the plan?"

Kazuya grinned. "Since this is the most high-profile job we've ever given you, we're upgrading your gear. You'll be equipped with an advanced suit—enhanced scanners, voice modulation, and tools that make infiltration easier. We'll smuggle you into Japan through a cargo plane. Once you land, you'll make your way to the target."

Hiro swallowed the lump in his throat. "And after that?"

Kazuya's expression hardened. "No matter how long it takes—you kill him."

Now, standing on the rooftop, Hiro gazed at the towering structure before him—the tallest building in the city, where Yoshikawa was hiding.

He removed his mask momentarily, taking deep breaths. "How the hell did I get into this mess?" He exhaled, shaking off the doubt. "Guess this is what happens when you're 'the best.'"

Reaffixing his mask, he pulled out a small device and studied the blueprints of the building. "No easy way in," he muttered. "Vents near the top, but the target is on the 43rd floor. Smashing through a window would be suicide."

His eyes trailed to his utility belt, noticing a grappling hook attachment. A smirk played on his lips. "Now this… this could be fun."

He loaded the rope into the device and aimed at the rooftop. With a sharp hiss, the hook shot out and latched onto a vent opening. He gave it a firm tug before securing the line to his belt.

Taking one last look over the edge, he muttered, "I really don't get paid enough for this," before leaping off the building and swinging toward his target.

The rope held as he landed against the glass. "Huh… impressive." He began climbing, each movement precise and controlled. After a few tense minutes, he reached the vent and slipped inside.

Navigating the narrow passage, Hiro grimaced. "Do they ever clean these things?"

After what felt like an eternity, he reached an opening and dropped down into a luxurious bedroom. He pulled up the building's layout on his wrist display, tracing a route to the Emperor's location.

A sudden voice shattered the silence. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"

Hiro spun around to see a guard staring at him, gun half-drawn. There was a brief moment of tension before Hiro raised his hands and said flatly, "Uhh… Room service?"

The guard immediately pulled out his radio. "INTRUDER AT THE TOP LEVEL! SEND BACKUP!"

Hiro sighed, rubbing his temples. "So much for stealth."

Before the guard could react, Hiro dashed forward, striking him in the neck. The guard crumpled instantly.

Hearing footsteps approaching, Hiro locked the door. "That should buy me five seconds." He activated his mask's scanning mode, spotting ten guards storming toward his location. His lips curled into a smirk. "Let's see what you guys are made of."

The door burst open, and the guards rushed him. Hiro dodged, weaving between their attacks, blocking punches and redirecting their momentum against them. He countered swiftly, taking out one guard, then another.

A guard pulled a gun, but Hiro grabbed a nearby enemy and used him as a human shield. A well-placed kick to the head sent another to the ground.

The remaining guards hesitated. Hiro cracked his knuckles. "What's the matter? Scared?"

A gunshot rang out. Pain exploded in Hiro's back, causing him to stumble. Before he could react, three more bullets struck his chest. He hit the floor hard.

The guards laughed. "Idiot thought he could take us all."

One guard stepped forward to check his body, nudging him with his boot.

Big mistake.

Hiro's hand shot up, yanking the guard down as he sprang back to life. He disarmed the nearest enemy, knocking him out with the handle of the stolen weapon. Before the others could fire, he tossed smoke pellets onto the ground.

Thick gas filled the room. The guards scoffed. "You think smoke will stop us?"

Then, one by one, they began dropping. Their vision blurred. Their limbs felt heavy.

Hiro stood amidst the chaos, unaffected. "Knockout gas," he muttered. "Should've started with this."

He crouched over an unconscious guard, searching for intel. Just as he retrieved a keycard, a sudden sting shot through his neck.

His vision blurred. He reached up, pulling a dart from his skin.

His limbs felt weak. His breathing slowed. His fingers fumbled for his mask, removing the top half to see more clearly.

Then everything went black.

(End of Chapter)