Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2

Shino let the tension linger just long enough before leaning back in his seat, a knowing smile playing at his lips. He swirled the remaining sake in his cup before setting it down with a soft clink.

"Gentlemen, it seems to me that your issue isn't just the bandits," he mused, his tone casual, yet edged with a hint of persuasion. "It's the lack of reliable hands to handle them properly. The kind of men who don't ask questions, don't leave messes, and most importantly… don't fail."

The nobles and merchants at the table exchanged glances, intrigued. The third son of a prominent trading house leaned in slightly. "You're talking about mercenaries, aren't you?"

Shino nodded, his smile widening. "Not just any mercenaries. A group with skills beyond what your usual swords-for-hire could ever offer. Highly trained, incredibly disciplined, and most importantly—loyal ."

A murmur of interest rippled through the table, but one man remained skeptical. Goro, son of the ruling lord of the Land of Calm Seas, frowned as he rested his chin on his hand. "Loyalty is always nice. But that's hard to find from wandering men, the problem with men like that," he said coolly. "Mercenaries, missing-nin… they serve only coin. What's stopping them from turning on us the moment a better offer is made?"

Shino let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "A fair concern, Lord Goro, but rest assured—I have ways of ensuring their continued service. Let's just say… they understand the consequences of betrayal." His fingers idly traced the rim of his sake cup as he added, If needed their in the back corner of the land of fire, easy for a shinobi village like Konoha to take notice and eliminate them. After all their missing ninja with bounties on their heads from other countries, its easy to make a few post about them. "Besides, they know better than to bite the hand that feeds them."

The fourth son of the Land of Fire, Shimada, grinned, clearly pleased by the idea. "Now this is exactly what I've been needing," he said, excitement evident in his voice. "My own team of reliable shinobi—men I can call upon whenever necessary, without waiting for approval from my father's court."

Shinno narrowed his eyes but was internally very pleased as he knew where the young lords head was going with this. For Daimyo's assassination attempts happened almost every day, coming from all corners of the court. Ministers? Officials? The maid you've been screwing on the first floor? For a fourth son like Shimada he'd never sniff the room of the court unless his father passes and there are no more of his children to fill the void.

Him having a personal force of ninja behind him spoke volumes, after all half the game of politics is the show the outside world sees. Hiring a full squad of personal ninja spoke to power, but mostly wealth. With this show of force he could overshadow his other siblings, leap frogging them for position to the throne.

Even if it turned bad, he could use this private army to overthrow his father and seize the throne by force. Wouldn't be the first time its been done, as again the practice is common.

If things played out perfectly in his favor he could control the entire landscape of the land of fire with this fool as his puppet. Shinno thought briefly before speaking.

Shino gave a knowing nod. "Indeed. And with men like these under your command, imagine the possibilities. No more waiting on the Daimyo's bureaucracy, no more interference from Konoha's shinobi forces… just action, when you want it."

The table was silent for a beat before Shimada finally leaned forward. "Alright, Shino, you have our attention. What's the price?"

Shino's grin widened. "Ah, now that's the real question, isn't it?" He paused, letting the suspense hang in the air before finally continuing. "Their loyalty, their skill, and their silence… none of it comes cheap."

He raised his cup, his grin unwavering. "But I assure you, gentlemen—it will be worth every single ryo."

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The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and sweat as Kotetsu crouched behind a rocky outcrop, scanning the dimly lit road ahead. Lanterns flickered on merchant carts, their warm glow illuminating the tense figures of several guards gripping their spears with white-knuckled hands. The travelers had halted, their fear palpable as a gang of thirty bandits surrounded them like vultures circling a dying beast.

Dōtō Akimichi, the team's leader, a former ANBU knew his mission details. It said these bandits used strange techniques and could be working for an up-and-coming power carving out a territory in the land of fire.

He remembered the name he was assigned to look out for.

Akatsuki

A group of S rank terrorist lord Jiraya was looking into but had already made waves in the underworld.

Doto was prepared to watch first before acting. If these people work for them then they'd show some strange ability if not then he'd just knock them out right away before too many of the merchants guards died.

Doto signaled for the team to wait with a hand.

The others who were prepared to go right in and fight were confused by the sudden signal to halt. Would they really let these people be killed before acting. They were trained veterans of the past war, so they had already hardened their hearts to the reality of the shinobi but still didn't like seeing innocent people die. But they would follow the orders of their captain.

The night air was thick with the stench of blood and sweat, the sounds of brutal impact echoing through the once-bustling merchant caravan. The guards had fought bravely at first, but they had no chance. The bandits weren't just skilled—they were monsters.

Their blows weren't ordinary strikes; they wore pitch-black gloves that shimmered ominously under the moonlight. Every punch landed with sickening force, not cutting like a blade but crushing. One guard tried to block a strike, only for his forearm to snap like dry wood, his scream lost beneath the cruel laughter of his attacker.

Another guard attempted to run, but a bandit caught him mid-step, driving a fist straight into his gut. Blood spewed from the man's mouth as his ribs caved in, his body rag-dolling across the ground before coming to a twitching halt.

The merchants, their fine silks and gold trimmings now splattered with the blood of their protectors, huddled together in sheer terror. The surviving guards were left a bloody mess, bones shattered, faces unrecognizable. Some still clung to life, weakly groaning, but none were in any condition to fight.

Then, the bandit leader stepped forward.

He was larger than the others, his presence alone commanding silence. His black gloves were smeared with the lives he had just destroyed, but what happened next sent a chill through even the coldest hearts.

He removed his left glove.

A faint hum filled the air as a sinister red glow flickered to life around his now-exposed hand. The aura pulsed, alive and hungry, twisting unnaturally like liquid fire. Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed one of the merchants by the throat.

The merchant let out a bloodcurdling scream.

His body convulsed violently as the red aura surged into him, draining him. His skin paled instantly, his veins darkening as if ink had been injected into them. His vibrant eyes dulled, his cheeks hollowed, and within moments, he was reduced to a husk—his flesh shriveled, his body slack, his once-wealthy garments hanging loosely over what was now a walking corpse.

The merchant stumbled forward, his body jerking unnaturally like a puppet with cut strings. His mouth opened, but only a dry, raspy breath came out. His skin was leathery and stretched, his expression frozen in an eternal state of horror.

A human zombie.

Dōtō, watching from the shadows, clenched his fists so hard his knuckles cracked. This isn't just banditry… this is something else entirely.

He took a slow, steady breath. Every instinct screamed at him to call off the mission, to get his squad as far away from this nightmare as possible. But he couldn't leave empty-handed.

This information needed to reach Konoha.

No matter the cost.

Dōtō crouched behind the tree line, eyes sharp as he scanned the enemy force. The bandits were still reveling in their gruesome display, laughing as they tested their gloves by punching the wooden carts, splintering them like kindling. The merchants trembled in the dirt, too horrified to even beg for their lives.

Dōtō turned to his team, voice low but firm. "We need to take them out before they start moving again. Any ideas?"

Kotetsu leaned against a tree, arms crossed, looking unimpressed. "They're tough, sure. But they've got a weakness."

Everyone turned to him.

He smirked. "They're not real fighters."

Izumo narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

Kotetsu being a big fan of the Naruto series in the past knew exactly what he was looking at. It was rather shocking but was something mentioned a little in Shippuden then given a small mention in Sasuke's Shippuden light novel after the war arc going into Boruto. That being Steel Realese. Yes, this is actually a cannon release type that just goes unnoticed in the fandom and is also assumed to be made up but its deadly real, and powerful.

"That strength isn't natural—it's the gloves," Kotetsu explained. "They fight like thugs, not trained shinobi. If those gloves were taken away, they'd be nothing."

Hakui gasped slightly. "You think their gloves are some kind of chakra-enhanced tool?"

It was rather surprising that Hiruko had a hand in this as that sneaky guy isn't known for showing his hand but the proof is right there. I just don't see his angle in all this.

Kotetsu nodded. "Makes sense, right? We saw what they did to those guards—crushing blows, no technique. Just brute force. If we avoid getting hit and focus on disabling their arms, they're done."

Izumo smirked. "That's actually a good point. If they can't use their hands, they're useless."

Dōtō crossed his arms, considering the plan. "Still, don't underestimate them. Kotetsu and Izumo, you'll have the easiest time dodging, but one hit could take you out. Hakui, even with your healing, if you get hit, you're either dead or out of a career. As for me…" He rolled his shoulders, confidence in his tone. "I can take a few hits. I'll engage them head-on and create openings for you two."

Izumo quickly devised a strategy. "Alright, Hakui, you'll stay in the back and provide support. If any of us go down, you drag us out. Dōtō, you'll be the vanguard. Keep them occupied and create gaps in their formation. Kotetsu and I will go for precision strikes—cut off their arms before they can react."

Dōtō gave a firm nod. "Alright. Move in on my mark."

Dōtō leaped from the treeline first, slamming into the nearest bandit like a boulder. His fist met the man's gut, sending him sprawling across the dirt.

The other bandits barely had time to react before Kotetsu and Izumo flickered into action.

Kotetsu blurred through the air, sword gleaming under the moonlight. A bandit swung at him, but he twisted midair, narrowly dodging the lethal strike. As the man's arm extended, Kotetsu's blade sang—slicing clean through at the elbow. Blood sprayed as the bandit howled, his severed arm landing uselessly in the dirt.

Izumo took advantage of the distraction, sidestepping a wild punch before driving his short sword straight into another bandit's shoulder, pinning his arm to his side. With a swift motion, he sliced through the limb, sending the bandit collapsing in agony.

Dōtō bulldozed through two more bandits, his sheer strength overwhelming them. One managed to land a glancing blow against his ribs, but Dōtō barely flinched. He grabbed the attacker's wrist before the bandit could strike again, twisting with bone-snapping force. The man's scream was cut short as Dōtō planted a knee into his face, knocking him unconscious.

The remaining bandits began to panic.

Kotetsu grinned, darting between two of them like a phantom. One lunged at him, but he ducked, rolling between the man's legs before slashing upward—severing his arm at the bicep. The bandit fell, shrieking, as Kotetsu kicked him away.

Izumo, moving with equal precision, feinted left before cutting through another's wrist, disarming him literally. He followed up with a brutal slash to the leg, sending the bandit crashing down.

Dōtō roared as he grabbed another opponent by the collar and slammed him into the ground, cracking the dirt beneath them. A second bandit rushed in, glove sparking with raw power, but Dōtō caught the punch with both hands. The sheer force made his muscles strain, but with a grunt, he twisted the bandit's wrist, ripping the glove clean off before delivering a devastating elbow to the man's face.

The next bandit barely had time to turn before Kotetsu slammed the hilt of his blade into the back of his skull, dropping him like a sack of rice.

Dōtō charged forward like a human battering ram, his massive frame plowing through the bandits with a chakra-enhanced shoulder check, sending two men flying into a cart. Izumo weaved between enemies with precise, calculated movements, his blade flashing as he struck pressure points that left his targets crumpled and gasping. Hakui moved methodically, delivering swift jabs to nerves and tendons, immobilizing his opponents with frightening efficiency.

Kotetsu, ever the opportunist, used the confusion to fight dirty—sweeping legs, tossing dirt in faces, and using one poor bandit as a human shield against a thrown kunai.

A particularly bold bandit swung a massive club at him. Kotetsu ducked, sidestepped, and planted a knee into the man's stomach before flipping him over his shoulder. "You guys really need better career choices," he quipped. "Ever considered farming?"

Dōtō let out a booming laugh as he lifted a bandit and threw him into three others. "Farming? They don't have the backbone for it!"

The remaining bandits hesitated, realizing they were hopelessly outmatched. Those still standing made a break for the treeline.

Kotetsu cracked his neck. "Oh no, you don't." With a flick of his wrist, he sent a volley of kunai after them, pinning their clothes to the trees and forcing them to skid to a halt.

The battle was over in seconds.

The remaining bandits, now disarmed and bleeding, groaned in agony. Their terrifying strength had vanished the moment their gloves were taken from them.

Dōtō exhaled sharply, scanning the battlefield. "Looks like we were right. They relied completely on those gloves."

Kotetsu kicked a severed arm aside, rubbing the back of his neck. "Man, that was almost too easy."

Izumo sighed. "Yeah, but why do they have these gloves? Who gave them these?"

Dōtō's face darkened. "That's what we're going to find out."

Dōtō walked over to one of the groaning bandits, hoisting him up by the collar. "Alright, buddy. You're gonna tell us exactly who you're working for."

The bandit spat blood onto the ground, glaring defiantly. "Like hell I will."

Kotetsu sighed and crouched down beside him, slapping a friendly hand on his shoulder. "Oh, come on, man. Don't be that guy. I really don't wanna be here all night." He pulled out a kunai, twirling it lazily between his fingers. "Or we can play the hard way."

The bandit's eyes flickered with uncertainty. Dōtō grinned. "Good choice. Now start talking."

The moment the captured bandit opened his mouth, a sharp whistling cut through the night air.

Thuck!

A kunai embedded itself into the man's skull, his body going stiff before slumping forward, lifeless.

"What the—" Kotetsu barely had time to react before a sinister glow erupted from underneath the other bandits' clothes.

Screams filled the air as the remaining captives convulsed, their flesh burning from the inside out as veins of searing red light pulsed beneath their skin. Their bodies twitched violently, the agonized cries sending a chill through Kotetsu's spine.

Then—tick... tick... tick...

Dōtō's eyes widened. "Explosive tags! Move!"

No hesitation. The group leaped back, diving into the safety of the trees just as a massive explosion engulfed the clearing. A fiery shockwave tore through the area, sending debris and body parts flying, the acrid scent of burning flesh filling the air.

From the high vantage point of a thick branch, Kotetsu shielded his face from the heat. "Well... that's one way to shut someone up."

Izumo grimaced. "This wasn't just a silencing method. Someone planned this ahead of time—someone knew we'd be here."

Hakui narrowed her eyes, her gaze sweeping the shadows of the treeline. Her chakra flared for a moment before she whispered, "We're not alone."

All three followed her gaze just in time to catch a glimpse of movement—a dark figure, clad in a black mask and a flowing purple long-sleeve shinobi uniform, darting through the trees.

"There!" Hakui hissed.

Kotetsu's fingers twitched toward his kunai pouch, but Dōtō was already moving. "No time! Kotetsu, with me! Izumo, Hakui—stay and check the remains. We need to know who these men were working for!"

Izumo nodded. "Understood. Be careful."

Kotetsu exhaled sharply. "Yeah, yeah, let's just catch this bastard before he makes us chase him halfway across the country."

With that, Dōtō and Kotetsu launched themselves after the fleeing figure, their pursuit cutting through the dense forest like silent predators.

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Kotetsu and Dōtō tore through the treetops, the masked shinobi moving like a phantom in the dark, barely making a sound as he weaved through the branches with precision. The man was fast, but Kotetsu was faster.

"He's good," Kotetsu muttered, tightening his grip on his sword.

"Stay on him!" Dōtō barked, dropping lower toward the ground. "I'll force him into the open—get ready!"

The masked shinobi glanced back, realizing he was being corralled, and suddenly flipped midair, forming a rapid series of hand seals.

Fire Release: Flame Jet Barrage!

A concentrated stream of flames shot backward, roaring through the night like a dragon's breath, forcing Kotetsu to twist out of the way. The heat singed the edges of his flak jacket as he pushed off a tree trunk and dashed to the left.

Dōtō, unfazed by the sudden attack, landed on the ground with a heavy thud, cracking the dirt beneath him. "You're getting sloppy!" he shouted, grabbing a nearby boulder and hurling it straight at their opponent.

The masked ninja sliced the boulder clean in half with his tanto, but that was all Kotetsu needed.

There!

With a burst of speed, Kotetsu shot forward, his blade flashing in the moonlight as he aimed for the shinobi's exposed flank. The masked ninja barely managed to raise his tanto in time, their blades clashing in a shower of sparks.

Kotetsu twisted his wrist, redirecting the force of the impact, but the enemy was skilled. He disengaged, kicking off the trunk of a nearby tree to create distance before forming another set of hand seals.

Fire Release: Scorching Claw!

His tanto ignited with blazing fire chakra, the blade now wreathed in an intense heat that distorted the air around it. With a single downward slash, a crescent wave of flame surged toward Kotetsu.

Too predictable.

Kotetsu's hands flew through his own seals. "Water Release: Rising Cascade!"

A surge of water erupted from Kotetsu's palm, colliding with the flames in a hiss of steam. The sudden fog clouded the battlefield, limiting visibility for all but Kotetsu, who had already anticipated his next move.

He shot through the mist, blade aimed directly at his opponent's throat—only for the masked shinobi to spin at the last second, his flaming tanto sweeping toward Kotetsu's midsection.

Dōtō intercepted.

The stocky Akimichi charged forward, slamming his thick forearm against the enemy's sword arm, the impact forcing the man off balance. "NOW!"

Kotetsu didn't hesitate.

His blade flashed downward—slicing deep into the masked shinobi's side.

A grunt of pain escaped from behind the mask, but the enemy ninja wasn't done yet. In a final desperate move, he released an explosion of fire chakra from his wound, blasting Kotetsu and Dōtō backward.

Kotetsu tumbled through the trees, barely managing to land on a branch, his sword steaming from the heat. "Shit… he's not going down easy."

Dōtō groaned as he stood. "We end this now."

But the masked shinobi was already moving, clutching his bleeding side as he vanished into the forest, his escape a blur of flickering shadows.

Kotetsu clenched his teeth, watching him disappear. "Damn it. He got away."

Dōtō exhaled, rubbing his sore arm. "We're not done. We need to figure out who he was working for… and why those bandits were rigged to blow."

Kotetsu sheathed his sword, staring at the still-settling embers in the distance. "Yeah… and I have a feeling we're not gonna like the answer."