Naruto: Path of the Ninja

Kotetsu groaned as the loud, insistent knocking on his door rattled through his skull like a taiko drum performance at a festival he never wanted to attend. He cracked open a bleary eye and immediately regretted it. The sunlight filtering through his window stabbed into his brain like a kunai.

Another knock. More forceful this time.

"Alright, alright, I'm up," Kotetsu grumbled, rubbing his temples. His head felt like it had gone ten rounds with Might Guy's morning routine, and his mouth tasted like he'd tried to swallow a kunai handle-first.

He reached for a shirt and found nothing but the bedsheet tangled around his leg. Whatever. He staggered toward the door in just his boxers and swung it open, fully prepared to curse out whoever thought this was a good time for a visit.

Instead, he was met with the sight of a familiar purple-haired ANBU standing in his doorway, arms crossed.

"Yugao," he muttered, blinking at her. "Unless you're here to assassinate me, can this wait until I regret my life choices a little less?"

Yugao didn't so much as smirk. "The Hokage summoned you. Ten minutes ago."

Kotetsu exhaled through his nose. "Of course he did. Because why wouldn't the Hokage need me on my day off?"

Believe it or not but its typical for ninja's to be called up on missions on their day off. As it's a tactic to keep the ninja always working so their brain doesn't have long enough time to realize that being a ninja isn't what it's all cracked up to be. If your brain is constantly moving its harder to react to outside information. Even for gate guards like him and Izumo, they can't escape a sudden summon from the Hokage. Most of their missions now of days happen on their day off. The Hokage likely does this to make sure their skills are up to code to do a good enough time to last against any potential enemy at their front door. After all, their the first line of defense, so you'd hope your cannon fodder could at least scream for help before your village is in flames.

From Kotetsu's past life he knew this was a tactic deployed in the military so he's not surprised by it, but that only makes him angrier with that stinky old monkey.

Yugao tapped her masked fingers against her arm. "You want me to tell him you refused to come?"

Kotetsu rubbed his face, mumbling something obscene under his breath. "Tch, fine. Lemme put on pants first. Unless you're trying to get a good look, in which case, I do charge for the privilege."

Yugao rolled her eyes. "Just get dressed, Kotetsu."

Yūgao Uzuki was always such a stick in the mud, its a real shame.

As she stepped back, he muttered, "Yeah, yeah, no appreciation for good humor." He glanced at the clock and sighed. "And Izumo's probably not even awake yet, the bastard. Bet he's still sleeping off whatever cougar he picked up last night."

Yugao raised an eyebrow but didn't ask.

Kotetsu shut the door, threw on his uniform, and splashed some water on his face. His head still throbbed, his stomach churned, and his only motivation to move was the knowledge that ignoring a direct summon from the Hokage tended to have… consequences.

Still, he couldn't help but grumble as he headed out.

"One of these days, I'm gonna fake my own death and move to Suna."

-----------

The mission briefing room smelled like ink, old paper, and a faint trace of stress-induced sweat—probably from the guy who just left. Kotetsu and Izumo slouched into their seats, both still feeling the aftereffects of their previous night's indulgences, while two unfamiliar shinobi stood across from them.

Believe it or not but the Hokage isn't the one to always personally assign missions. No. No. No. Thats left up to the stay-at-home chunin like himself, who are mostly retired ninja who do the job of the secretary. With the only one getting a summon from the Hokage for a mission being Jonin, special chunin like himself who have important jobs in the village, and clan heir Genin fresh out the academy.

With the Hokage being to busy to see them personally today.

At the head of the room stood their mission desk handler, A Branch Hyuga, with a grim-looking official from Konoha's intelligence network, arms crossed as he eyed the group. "You've been assigned a classified mission," he began. "There have been unusual movements in the outskirts of the Land of Fire—rumors of a faction with access to advanced technology and jutsu we've never seen before. You four are to investigate and determine if they pose a threat to Konoha."

Kotetsu raised a hand lazily. "Question. What if we determine that they do pose a threat? Do we report back? Or are we supposed to—" He made a casual throat-slitting motion.

"Gather intel first," the official said curtly. "Engagement is at the discretion of your mission leader, Dōtō Akimichi."

Kotetsu turned toward the large, imposing shinobi who stood with arms folded. His size was intimidating, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that suggested he wasn't just muscle.

"Right," Dōtō said, stepping forward. "Since we're working together for the first time, we should do proper introductions. Name, specialty, hobbies, and a weakness. I'll start."

He cleared his throat. "Dōtō Akimichi, Jōnin. My specialty is high-impact combat and barrier ninjutsu. I can reinforce my body with earth-enhanced techniques to tank hits most shinobi can't. Hobbies? I enjoy cooking and competitive eating." He shrugged. "Weakness? I have trouble with speed-based opponents—I'm not exactly the fastest guy around."

Kotetsu nodded. "Yeah, no offense, but you do look like you'd rather roll through a battlefield than run across it."

Dōtō smirked. "That's the idea."

'Doto is very robust tall man. He wears a samurai-like outfit with the kanji for "food" (食, shoku) on the front, and has distinctive serpentine markings on his cheeks. He covers his long, light-brown, spiky hair with a Konoha forehead protector that he wears like a bandana. He also carries a bō. With him actually serving along side the fourth Hokage in the war during their battle against the killer A-B combo of Kumogakure.'

Next, the woman in the group spoke up. She had a sharp, calculating gaze and a medic-nin's standard attire. "Hakui. Chūnin. Specialization: advanced medical ninjutsu and toxin neutralization. I also have experience in precision strikes—if I hit a vital point, even a glancing blow can shut down a target's mobility."

Izumo whistled. "Remind me not to piss you off."

Hakui ignored him. "Hobbies… studying anatomy, puzzle-solving, and experimenting with medical applications in combat. Weakness?" She frowned slightly. "I don't have much raw power, so if I get cornered without a plan, I'm in trouble."

'Hakui has long brown hair that is cut in a hime-cut style and is divided over her forehead, where she wears her Konaha' forehead protector. She also wears a white coat over her Konoha flak jacket. Kotetsu remembered that him and Izumo knew of her from the academy, but the girl was never a standout in class and wasn't particularly talented in the shinobi arts, due to her small chakra reserves. She's the type to get easily tired if pushed in a fight. Not to be mean but its a shock she hadn't died yet.'

'Hear me out. After the war she sort of faded into the medical core and they haven't seen much of her because of it. With her currently being 18 like they are now. Still she's admittedly cute but is like a 7, maybe an 8 on a good day.'

She looked at Kotetsu expectantly.

He stretched lazily and yawned. "Alright, alright. Kotetsu Hagane. Chūnin. Specialty? Speed. I specialize in the art of the sword. Hitting people with heavy objects and general hit and run tomfoolery. I also dabble in sealing techniques, genjutsu, and unconventional combat methods."

Hakui narrowed her eyes. "Tomfoolery is not a specialty."

"It is if you commit to it," Kotetsu said with a grin. "Hobbies? Drinking, napping, and collecting weird weapons. Weakness? I don't have a lot of chakra so I can't use too much ninjutsu. Also not to great in tanking hits, my taijutsu is passible but my skills take a noticeable drop when I don't have the sword in my hand.

Izumo chuckled. "I'll go next. Izumo Kamizuki. Chūnin. Specialization in Kenjutsu, water release and tactical support. Hobbies? Reading, playing shogi, and making sure this guy—" he jabbed a thumb at Kotetsu, "—doesn't get himself killed. Weakness? I overthink things sometimes, which slows me down in fast-paced fights."

Hakui just stared at the duo, having been brief classmates with them in the academy. But Back then classes were different because of the war. In the ninja school you spent 6 years with the same group of people until you graduate. At least that's how it is now. Back then classes were spilt into 5 groups. Class D the one's with little to no talent in the ninja art and would likely drop out or become missing-nin, living a life of banditry with the little skills they do have.

Class C: A class with basic skills of a ninja but would likely end up in the Genin-Corp for the rest of their life. And in war time, cannon-fodder. Most children of civilian born merchants or families of nobles end up here. Put their kids into this hoping they could have a seat at the table, but most don't go far. But they don't care much as its nothing more than a gimmick they can brag to friends about being a ninja.

Class B: These were the one's who had talent but little to no backing. Some of them ended up as guards for daimyo's or other forms of nobility, but this is a path that most don't want as it sounds boring. Others die on their first real mission, while others go missing, and never heard about again. If they did happen to stay alive after three years then they would be promoted to chunin, where they'd likely remain for the rest of their life. This doesn't affect her as much as it used to, as being a chunin is more stable than the life of a Jonin. With this being the class, she ended up in.

Then Class A: This is where all the clan heirs end up. Being where the village spends most of its resources into, as they will be at the center in village politics, economy, and influence in the future.

Kotetsu and Izumo were like her with a civilian ninja background and weren't particularly special. But still in the end they were chosen to move up a class while she remained in class C. By the time the war started, they were closer to the top of the class but definitely weren't prodigies.

'She didn't know much about them but did remember that their personalities were switched. Izumo was the loud one while Kotetsu was the reserved one.' Hakui shakes her head as she was thinking too much about the past and needs to be focused on the mission Hokage-sama gave her.

Dōtō nodded. "Alright. Now that we know each other, let's get to work."

The mission handler cleared his throat. "Your first destination is a trade outpost near the border. That's where the rumors started. Gather intel, move discreetly, and report back. Dismissed."

As the team filed out, Kotetsu sighed. "So much for my day off."

------------------------

South The Land of Fire- Near Tea

The town at the Land of Fire's border was exactly what Kotetsu expected—loud, grimy, and teetering on the edge of lawlessness. Narrow alleyways twisted through clusters of wooden buildings, their structures leaning like they'd collapse with a strong breeze. Merchants called out from stalls selling everything from rare herbs to illegal weapons, while hired muscle loitered in the shadows, eyes scanning for easy marks.

"Feels different?" Kotetsu muttered, hands in his pockets as he strolled alongside Izumo, Hakui, and Dōtō.

"Feels busier," Izumo said, watching a few cloaked figures slip into a gambling den. "I remember this place having trouble keeping its people from leaving. Now it's got more guards, more traffic. It's like someone's pumping money into it."

Dōtō nodded. "We'll get a clearer picture once we check out the roads. If bandits are targeting nobles, someone's either sending a message or trying to control trade routes."

The group made their way to the outskirts of town, where caravans had been ambushed over the past few weeks. The remains of a burned wagon still sat by the roadside, its frame blackened and charred. Crows picked at what little remained of a dead horse nearby.

Hakui crouched, running her fingers over the wagon's shattered wheels. "No sign of fire jutsu, but the way the wood splintered… this was hit by something heavy. A club, maybe, or a large weapon."

Kotetsu kicked at a discarded sword lying in the dirt. "Bandits taking out noble caravans? Sounds like illegal business. Unless they aren't just common bandits looking to make a quick buck."

Meanwhile

Gambling hall- Back room

-----------------

The gambling hall buzzed with a heady mix of pipe smoke, of tabaco, forming thick fogs inside the bamboo rooms. Expensive sake is poured to the tip of their cups, with you able to hear the quiet murmurs of deals being made behind veiled intentions. Golden lantern light flickered against silk curtains, casting long shadows over the lacquered floors where geisha girls sung songs and played their instruments. Other twirled in elegant steps, their laughter mingling with the clinking of cups.

Performing eloquent dances, shaking their hips slowly, barely showing their thighs over their expensive looking Kimono's. Not too much skin, but enough to make the lower regions of the men their serving react. Willing to make a third or fourth son to put their heart at ease.

Some had abandoned their performances to entertain wealthy clients, draping themselves over their laps, straddling the waist while whispering sweet nothings in their ears.

At the heart of it all sat Shinno, a man who's planned this game too many times not to be a regular customer. A man draped in the guise of warmth and benevolence. To the untrained eye, he was nothing more than a kind-hearted merchant—a man of good humor, easy smiles, and a patient ear for the woes of others. He blended seamlessly into the company of wealthy merchants and lesser nobles, the latter eager to carve out a name for themselves in the Land of Fire's tangled web of power.

The third and fourth sons of influential families sat across from him, their silk robes slightly disheveled from drink, their voices laced with frustration as they sipped fine sake and complained about recent misfortunes.

"This is getting out of hand," The third son of a merchant grumbles, tossing a few coins onto the poker table with a bitter scowl. "Bandits picking apart our caravans like carrion birds. Three shipments gone. Do you know how much we've lost?"

Another noble scoffed, Being the second son of a cousin to the Daimyo of the Land of Calm Seas, shaking his head. "It's not just the money. We're losing men. Not just guards—trained ones. How is it that these supposed thieves can wipe out entire security details without leaving a trace?"

The Fourth son of the Daimyo to the land of Fire, Shimada, couldn't take it anymore and shouted. "They told me they use to be ninja's from Konoha, but they die like dogs in the street. Useless! I already tried pestering my father to send me more reliable help, but what does he do. He tells me to get lost, spouting about how I'm no son of his. The bastard is probably in between the legs of whatever whore would take his money. While I'm here working."

Shino tilted his head slightly, as if in deep thought, fingers idly tapping his cards. His eyes flickered with something unreadable, but his face remained the picture of concern. "Troubling indeed," he mused, shifting his chips forward. "Trade is the lifeblood of this land. If the roads aren't safe, how do you expect to expand your wealth?"

The question hung in the air for a moment, the nobles exchanging uneasy glances.

"That's exactly the problem," one of them muttered. "The Daimyo's court is slow to act, and we're bleeding coin while we wait for a solution."

Shimada, still fuming says. "The least the bastard could do is send those twelve guardians of his, or at least 1 or 2 of them as support. If their supposedly the 12 strongest shinobi in the nation then why don't they do anything."

Shino hummed thoughtfully, allowing a moment of silence to settle before offering a reassuring smile. "Then perhaps," he said smoothly, "it's time someone took matters into their own hands."

---------------