Chapter 1 Talentless Ninja.

"Atchewww!" A Silver haired youth sneezed lazily. He rubbed his nose and rested his back on the kondo wall, watching his grandfather speak.He wasn't exactly listening, he was just present. Bodily present, very much absent minded. His grandfather, Hanzo, was sitted at the front of the kondo, addressing important members of the clan on an issue, and he didn't seem too happy. The youth remembered him saying something about the Akuma clan causing trouble. Something like that...

It wasn't that the youth was an important member in the clan, he was only present because he was a direct descendant in the Kage clan. Shiro Kage was eighteen years old, and wasn't particularly popular in the the Kage clan, despite him being the clan Lord's grandson. Even the clan lord, Hanzo, didn't have so much hope in him. It wasn't that his Kenjutsu skill was so bad, it was because Shiro couldn't use shadow Gi.

Shadow Gi was the most essential skill every true Kage clan member possessed. The ability to manipulate and attack using the shadows. It was what set them apart from other Ninja clans in Ninshu.

Young ones in the Kage clan went through Intensive training from age five, and by age ten, they had learnt to use Shadow Gi, training to perfect it as they got older.

Well, most clan members. The few who didn't have the talent to learn shadow Gi were sidelined in the clan, and given only menial tasks to do.They couldn't hold any meaningful position in the clan.

Shiro was a part of this category. At eighteen, he could not use shadow Gi and relied only on his Kenjutsu in battle. The only people who didn't mind his inability to use shadow Gi were his father, Satoru, and his two younger sisters, Yumi and Mei, all capable of shadow Gi. Women in the Kage clan were trained to use Shadow Gi too, but most of the fightings were done by the men.

Shiro watched his cousin make a contribution to Hanzo's speech and receive a round of applause and warm smiles. His cousin, Akira Kage was the golden boy of the Kage clan. Akira was a handsome twenty four year old, and was very proficient in shadow Gi and Kenjutsu. Unlike Shiro,he was very much admired by members of the Kage clan and was Hanzo's favorite.There were even rumours about him being a candidate for the next clan Lord.

Shiro and Akira weren't exactly on good terms as Akira, like the rest of the clan members, resented Shiro for his inability to use shadow Gi, and bullied him at any chance he got.

Shiro had tried many times to fight back, but when faced with shadow Gi, his Kenjutsu was almost useless.

"Shiro, what do you think?" Hanzo asked him suddenly.

Shiro froze for a moment before recollecting himself. He looked around the kondo, seeing all eyes staring at him, most filled with disdain.

He scratched his silver hair nervously.

"My thoughts on what, grandfather?"

The whole kondo fell silent for some moments.

"Shameful!!"

"The brat's audacity!"

"Exactly what happens when you let a clown in the midst of true ninjas!"

The ninjas in the kondo had no kind words for poor Shiro.

Even Hanzo's face was bad. He had been speaking for almost an hour, yet Shiro didn't seem to have heared a word he said. He was quite disappointed. He had tried to involve Shiro in order to give him some relevance, but Shiro didn't seem interested in helping him.

"Perhaps you asked too much of him, father. Of what use is the opinion of someone without talent?" A man who sat at Hanzo's right hand said. His long jet black hair flowed freely on his back, and his handsome face held a smirk on it. He looked really calm and composed, and had an intimidating aura around him. He looked to be in his forties.This man was Kaito, Shiro's uncle and Akira's father. Kaito was the Kage's clan chief advisor.

"What do you mean by that, Kaito??" Satoru frowned, exuding dark energy.

"Exactly what it means, Satoru." Kaito smiled, but also exuded his own dark energy.

The air in the kondo became tense, and Hanzo had to step in.

"Cut it out, both of you." Hanzo orded camly.

Kaito and Satoru were both top ninjas in the Kage clan, and Hanzo wasn't exactly sure who was stronger between his two sons. Kaito was the elder brother and the clan's chief advisor,while Satoru who was younger, was the clan's executioner. He was in charge of punishments and executing traitors in the clan. They both had unparalleled Kenjutsu and shadow Gi skills, and their fight was not something Hanzo loved to see.

Satoru sat near Shiro, so he turned to him, "The Akuma clan allegedly started a fight that destroyed the goods of our clan's women in the market, causing them huge losses. We're trying to decide if we should ask for compensation for the losses or attack and destroy their own goods." He said.

So that was what this meeting was all about, Shiro thought to himself. The Akuma clan were huge jerks then.

"Well... I think we should ask them why, and possibly... ask for compensation." Shiro said timidly. He didn't like fights and would always choose to make peace instead.

"As expected, the words of a weakling." Kaito sneered.

"Bullshit!"

"What do you take us for? Clowns??"

The Kage ninjas in the dojo all disagreed vehemently. More so, Akira had chosen attack, so Shiro's opinion was more like an insult.

"The lad has voiced his opinion, if you have an objection, it's best you express it intelligently." Satoru said.

"You don't get to tell us how to express ourselves, Satoru." A bald middle age man said. His face was red and he looked funny,like something out of an animation. He was Tengu, Kage's clan ninja in charge of security.

"You have brains, Tengu, but what use are they if you cannot reason?" Satoru asked him.

"You!" Tengu fumed, and was about to retort, when someone slid open the kondo doors and bowed.

"Forgive me for interrupting, Lord Hanzo, but it's a message from the Ryujin clan." The man said.

Hanzo sighed, and beckoned on the man to come forward. "What does Metsudo want?" He asked no one in particular.

The man came forward and respectfully placed a letter into Hanzo's hand. Bowing once more, he exited the the Kondo, quietly sliding the doors close.

Hanzo opened the letter and read to himself. The kondo was silent, as everyone waited patiently to know what the letter said.

After about a minute, Hanzo nodded and put the letter down.

"Metsudo has ordered that each clan send Ninjas to go wipe out some outlaws on the country's outskirts. According to him, the outlaws attacked visitors coming into the country, which is really bad for tourist revenue. I'll say they're really some foolish outlaws."

Outlaws were ninjas who had left their clans due to some reasons, to live independently in Ninshu. Some left by themselves, due to their dissatisfaction with their clans, while others were banished or kicked out for commiting horrendous crimes. They survived by coming together to steal, rob, and terrorize citizens of Ninshu.

"Everyone knows Metsudo loves his money, I'll say those outlaws deserve what's coming to them." Hanzo said.

"Hmph! Clowns." Kaito has only disdain for them.

Metsudo Ryujin was the lord of the Ryujin clan, and Ninshu's lord of Ninjas. He was the number one ninja in Ninshu, and had power over other Ninja clans.

Lord of Ninjas was was title given to the strongest ninja in Ninshu. A position similar to that of a shogun. A tournament was held every seven years to determine the lord of Ninjas, and each ninja clan sent representatives to participate. The strongest ninja and winner of the tournament got to claim the title, the power, and all the glory.

The champion's clan also became the ruling clan of Ninshu. Metsudo had won the last tournament, carving his name onto the seat with blood and sweat.

"Akira, you take Shiro and one other to join in the hunt of the outlaws. Make sure to show the other clans what we're made of." Hanzo ordered.

"As you command, grandfather." Akira bowed. " But why do I have to take Shiro along? Surely there are others more capable."

Hanzo waved his hand, " You two get going already. Although Shiro is incapable of using shadow Gi, his Kenjutsu is not bad. He'll also need the experience."

Akira wasn't happy, but he couldn't object. Hanzo's words were the law in the Kage clan.

"Yes, grandfather." Akira stood up and exited the dojo, with Shiro following behind him.