Somewhere in the Land of Earth, a merchant traveled a lonely road, bound for the cities beyond the mountains.Four hired guards accompanied him — hardened mercenaries paid well to ensure his goods arrived safely.
The day was perfect: clear skies, a gentle breeze, and a road known for its safety. It should have been the ideal journey.
But as the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows across the trail, two masked figures in black cloaks appeared, blocking their path.
The merchant's heart seized with fear.The rumors... the secret criminal group killing the rich...He barked at his guards to intervene.
The leader of the mercenaries gave a grim nod, drawing his sword. His men followed, weapons gleaming under the fading light.
Before they could charge, one of the masked figures unleashed a barrage of shuriken.
Three guards deflected the spinning blades, but the fourth cried out as a blade pierced his thigh.Before they could regroup, a searing wave of heat washed over them — a massive fireball screaming through the air.
The mercenary leader managed to leap clear. His comrades were not so fortunate.In an instant, three men were engulfed in roaring flames, their screams ending as quickly as they began.
The leader whirled, scanning the road.One of the masked figures had vanished.
Panic clawed at his mind.I can't win this.Smoke bomb in hand, he hurled it down, clouding the air, and fled into the trees.
But the forest had been laid with traps.As he sprinted through the undergrowth, a series of hidden explosive tags erupted around him, tearing him apart in a shower of earth and fire.
Back on the road, the merchant stood paralyzed, unable to move as one of the cloaked figures approached, blade gleaming.
A swift, brutal strike ended his life.
Minutes later, the two masked assailants gathered the merchant's wealth and, with a fire jutsu, reduced all evidence to ash.
Their names were Hand-12 and Hand-11 — codenames given by their organization's leader to maintain secrecy. The lower the number, the stronger the operative.
As they made their way from the scene, the two spoke quietly, their voices low.
"Another job well done," said Hand-12. "That mercenary... he was maybe at the level of a genin. Maybe a low-ranking chunin. I'm glad you took care of him."
"Stop talking," muttered Hand-11, scanning the trees warily. "If the Anbu discover us, we're finished."
"We already know the Tsuchikage has made eliminating us a top priority."
"So where to now?"
Hand-11 adjusted the strap on his cloak."We're heading to the Land of Waterfalls. Smart move by the leader — setting up a base outside the Land of Earth."
Hand-12 groaned softly. "Yeah, but it's going to be a long trip."
Meanwhile — In the Land of Waterfalls
Within a dimly lit cavern, far from prying eyes, a meeting was underway.
Hand-1 knelt before a man cloaked in even deeper shadows — the leader of the organization.
"I have some information to share," Hand-1 said.
"Proceed," the leader commanded.
"I discovered who has been funding us. He's a middleman — an unremarkable figure — but he works for someone powerful in Iwa."
"Which means," the leader said thoughtfully, "that a major clan in Iwagakure is using us for their own ends."
"Exactly. They think by funding us, they can weaken the Tsuchikage's regime."
The leader's voice was calm, almost amused."Let them believe that. As long as they keep providing resources, they serve our purposes. When the time comes, they'll be just as vulnerable."
Hand-1 bowed slightly."And the matter of the new recruits?"
"I've assigned them the titles Hand-5 and Hand-6. They're strong — but still not enough to rival the Tsuchikage's Anbu."
The leader's gaze turned distant."But soon... very soon, we will have the strength we need."
A Few Days Later
Hand-11 and Hand-12 finally arrived at the organization's base — a hidden fortress deep in the wilds.
Upon arrival, they were immediately summoned to report to Hand-1.Seventy percent of their stolen wealth was claimed by the organization, along with the full bounty placed on the merchant they had killed.It stung to lose so much, but their remaining share was still considerable.
They planned to take a few days to rest — to enjoy the spoils of their bloody work.
But fate had other plans.Hand-1 had already assigned them a new mission.
There would be no rest.
Far Away — In Another Land
The Raikage sat behind a mountain of paperwork, sifting through endless reports from his Anbu.
Most of it was mundane — minor skirmishes, border disputes, internal affairs.
But one section caught his eye.
A detailed assessment of the other hidden villages.
Konoha was still weakened, struggling to replenish its forces after the devastating losses of the Second Great Ninja War.Sunagakure faced food shortages, destabilizing their economy.And Iwagakure... plagued by a rising criminal organization targeting its elite.
The Raikage allowed himself a rare, thin smile.If fortune favors us, Kumogakure will dominate the next war.
Setting the report aside, he turned his thoughts to another matter.The Chūnin Exams were approaching — a perfect opportunity to showcase Kumo's rising power.
He would need to choose his genin candidates carefully.
Victory — and the future of Kumogakure — depended on it.
Autor:
Hello
I have not much to say ... rate my fanfic or else!!
if you have suggestion write them down :d