Somewhere within the Land of Waterfalls,a group of three individuals was currently walking through a dense forest. One of them suddenly approached a tree and activated a hidden seal.
Upon activation, the soil started to shift on its own, revealing a small hidden passage for the group.
The three individuals descended for a long time, going deeper and deeper underground. Finally, after a while, the stairs ended.
The three men now stood inside a massive cave — although calling it a cave felt wrong. Lights dangled from the ceiling, parts of the walls were reinforced with stone and metal, and old, worn-out furniture hinted that this place had been established long ago.
Inside the cavern awaited the leader of the Hands, patiently waiting for a certain someone.
The two masked individuals accompanying Saseki silently walked away, leaving only Saseki and the mysterious leader of the organization inside the cavern.
"I'm surprised you managed to evade the Iwagakure Anbu," the leader spoke, voice echoing. "You know they're actively hunting you. If not for my intervention, they would've found you. It was just a matter of time."
"Thank you... I guess."
"You know I wouldn't save you without wanting something in return."
"And what would that be?"
"I want to know the reason you abandoned your village and became a rogue ninja... and why so many Anbu are desperate to kill you."
"...It all began a few weeks ago."
— Flashback —
My name is Saseki. I'm 26 years old and a Tokubetsu Jonin. And this... is my story.
My childhood was uneventful — like many others, I dreamed of becoming a ninja, and after years of hard work, I did. By the time I earned the Chunin rank, the peace crumbled, and I was thrown into the Second Great Ninja War. I fought for years, and somehow, survived.
When I finally returned, I had little money. Missions paid poorly, and Iwagakure's economy was in ruins. Still, because of my skills, I was offered a position in the administration — a simple task of transporting documents to secure storage locations. The most critical ones were stored beneath the Tsuchikage mansion, while the less important ones were housed in governmental buildings.
One night, since it was already late and the Tsuchikage was absent, an important official asked me to check the underground storage for any issues. Maybe I was chosen simply because there weren't many administrators left at that hour.
The Tsuchikage mansion is massive above ground — but it is nothing compared to what lies beneath.
I was awestruck the first time I saw it: five floors above ground... and ten sprawling floors underground. It took considerable time to descend to floor -10, where the most secretive documents were kept.
While completing my duties, I carried a few more reports needing storage.
Everything was proceeding smoothly. I reached floor -10, entered the storage room, and set to work. That night, guards were few, mostly stationed on the upper levels.
Everything was fine... until I accidentally dropped a box. While gathering the scattered papers, something caught my eye — top-secret reports. Curiosity overwhelmed me, and I began to read.
What I found justified the "top secret" label: detailed accounts of the Tsuchikage faction's corruption, fraud, favoritism, and suspicious misuse of village funds.
After reading it all, I couldn't pretend it hadn't happened. I gathered every incriminating report I could and fled the village, hoping that one day, I would reveal the truth.
— Flashback End —
"...That's my story."
"Interesting..." the leader mused. "I have a proposition. Hand over those documents, and I'll allow you to join my organization."
"And what will you do with the documents?"
"Nothing for now. But someday, they may prove useful. Anyway, you don't have many options: either join us, or be hunted down by Iwagakure's Anbu."
"...I'll join you, for now."
"Good," the leader of the Hands said, tossing a dark cloak towards Saseki.
— Hand 1 POV —
I've been on assignment for almost a month now, infiltrating Takigakure. The leader tasked me with uncovering information about a rumored mystical water said to enhance one's strength.
At first, I appeared in Takigakure as a wandering shinobi, asking if they sought mercenaries. Fortunately, I was accepted, and now I perform small missions to gain their trust.
However, to reach the information the leader desires, I must rise higher within their hierarchy.
Overall, Takigakure's strength pales compared to the major villages. They have few Tokubetsu Jonin and even fewer Jonin. So when someone like me showed up offering services, they were quite eager.
Regardless of how they see me...I'll be staying here for quite some time.
— POV End —
— Narrator —
The hidden villages are recovering from the previous war at their own pace.But one thing is certain...A Third Great Ninja War looms on the horizon.