Akira walked away from the outskirts of town with satisfacted look, heading towards a few miles away.
All details required were now completed, every preparation finished.
The mission was simple and risky. In this town, an crucial production village for Kumogakure, were several officials and nobles staying for the night, on the way to the Village Hidden in the Clouds.
It was not by coincidence but by choice, and in retaliation to Kumo's repeated aggravations, Akira had been sent to give a message.
As far as he was concerned, the shinobi guarding the caravan were jonin tier at most. The few cloud ninja who were originally stationed here were no stronger than mere chunin.
A foolish mistake; Kumogakure must have thought no one would dare attack so close to the village, as such an action was paramount to a war declaration.
But as long as they couldn't prove it, they would be the war-declarers, not Konoha. The Raikage's were inherently hot-headed and brash, but they were not stupid or dull in the senses, for they would have been kicked out of their position long ago.
However, them being known warmongers, they would surely do something. Perhaps a few more border skirmishes but nothing more.
Konohagakure would have sent a clear message, as well as being given more time to prepare for the storm that would follow suit.
War was inevitable by now, and their village was not ready. Given a few more months, and just maybe, they could pull through with it. Or just rely on plot armour.
.
.
.
"Everything's set. We are waiting for your command, captain."
By now, the two Hyuga, as well as the Aburame and one unnamed civilian, had already accepted the young man as their leader for this mission.
He smiled, brown eyes closed 'happily' and blonde hair flowing in the light breeze.
"That's great! Now, night is coming. We'll take care of the village guards first. Make no noise. I'll take the east, you all take the west. Meet back here in ten."
And with that, they split up again.
There weren't many guards really at the east wall, so Akira finished up the shinobi quite quickly. One of his signature Raihimo was all that was needed to finish the job, as all them were foolishly drunk and gathered together, which made the kill far easier than it should be.
No longer after he arrived at the west gate, the west team were done as well.
Though more ninja were stationed at that side, the ANBU team were not shabby at all.
'Not bad,' Akira noted.
His granduncle, the Second Hokage, had planted the tree of Konoha : Everything from the ANBU, a traditional ninja hospital, including iryonin training, and much more.
But his successor as the Sandaime had nurtured that sapling and it truly bore fruit. These ANBU were all personally trained and specialised in the art of silent killing, but unlike under the 'Bloody Mist Policy' Kirigakure, the assassins were deeply loyal to their ninja village.
"Your orders, captain."
"No need, I've already set up everything."
Revealing a mysterious smile, Akira continued.
"It's already night time. The nobles and officials should be asleep, no?"
Confused but obedient, they replied like kindergarten students answering a question.
"Yes, but what does that have to do with anything?"
"Just watch," he replied cryptically.
Then, out of the blue, several explosions sounded throughout the village, fires blazing through houses and sparks igniting more flames.
A strong gust blew through his hair and his clothes ruffled in the wind, making him seem rather divine under the contrasting moonlight and carnage.
The wind did not extinguish the fire, instead, encouraged it even more, spreading the blaze all around the town, sending villagers scrawling and shrieking.
Though only two explosive tags were used, they were specially inscribed with his own abundant blood, personally taught by Uzumaki Mito. These would cover extremely long ranges and could be 'programmed' to detonate at a specific time.
It was possibly the first fuuinjutsu seal she had ever taught him.
Flashback
"Grandma Mito! Can you teach me how to make a explosive tag? They're really expensive so I thought I could make them for me and my teammates!"
Akira, back then just turned seven, ran up to his beloved grandmother with a big joyful smile.
She laughed softly, stroking his head in gentle pats, "Of course, Akira-kun. It's not easy, and most shinobi give up on learning sealing due to its difficulty."
"But don't give up. Who knows, you might even have a natural aptitude for it. You have Uzumaki blood after all."
Mito said endearingly, a twinkle in her warm eyes.
"Listen closely. My father taught me a...special way to make these tags, not the usual ones shinobi use."
He knew who her father was. The legendary Ashin Uzumaki, the one who fought fearlessly in the Warring Periods, truly a magnificent warrior. Of course, his 'special' fuuinjutsu would be no less than of a grandmaster's, right?
"The Uzumaki have a special constitute that gives them abundant vitality and chakra, as do the Senju. You, little Akira, have both. Greatness is destined for you, coded right into your genes and blood."
She traced her arm with a delicate finger, doing a cutting motion with her nails.
"Now, normal explosive tags are made with a special kind of ink."
Pulling open a drawer and taking out a basic sealing set, she quickly drew some lines on a small red paper with a calligraphy brush dipped in a small bottle of ink.
"And these ones are made with blood."
Opening a small packet of blood which Akira did not want to know where she got it from, Mito dipped another brush into the red liquid, uncaringly repeating the same strokes.
"Everything except the medium is the same. Come, I'll show you the difference."
They reached a training ground specially made for withstanding high forces, bringing along with them the fuuinjutsu kit and the two explosive tags.
"I'll detonate the normal tag first. Before we start, I want you to know I made these a tad weaker than the ones you can buy at ninja tool shops, as I don't want to wreck the place."
Holding it between two fingers, she waved it with a stern look on her pretty face.
Nodding enthusiastically, the young and innocent Akira looked in anticipation.
After she threw it up in the air, a small 'boom' followed and the paper was ripped into shreds, no, blown to smithereens.
"Now the next one."
This one created a significant larger explosion, startling some people nearby.
"As you can see, blood is a much better medium than this ink, but the blood type also matters. Watch what happens when you use Uzumaki blood."
She slit her arm without the slightest twitch, not feeling the pain at all.
Akira, though startled at the sudden self-injury, calmed himself soon enough, focusing again.
A third explosion soon followed.
This time, much, much more bigger.
Even toned down several times, it still made such a loud sound that Hiruzen used his newly-invented crystal ball jutsu that he totally did not use to spy on the woman's bathhouse to check out what was happening.
He stared with sparkling eyes, pointing excitedly to the direction of the once intact tag, shouting with a vigor only the youth could have.
"That was amazing, Mito-baasan! Please teach me this!"
Uzumaki Mito immediately healed her cut (yes, she knows iryoninjutsu) then acted all grandmotherly again.
"Of course, Akira. I'm sure you'll succeed. Maybe you'll make a better seal master than me in the future."
Akira blushed in embarrassment, knowing full well of his kind grandma's actual abilities in this art.
"I'll make you proud, obaa-san!"
"I look forward to it, then."
And with that, the teachings began, with groans of frustration and cheers of joy until Mito eventually retired to her bed after a long day of work.
Flashback
"So...are the targets dead yet?" The tall and bald man asked, a little bored.
"You talk rather candidly, don't you? We're still on the mission."
'As if you didn't just call out my name on the mission!' Hyuga Hattori secretly thought in his head.
"Anyways, of course not. There are several jonin protecting them. I estimate all except two chunin have escaped and are arriving here in 3...2...1..."
"And, they're here."
He stretched casually, as if warming up for a light run or exercise.
"Try not to bore me..."
"...Kumogakure!"
***
Words ~ 1420
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