Meanwhile, the air inside the old storage yard has become tense since the arrival of Kenji. It was written all over his face that he didn't liked the presence of Jiraiya at all. A single campfire crackled in the center of the courtyard, throwing long, dancing shadows against the cracked stone walls. Jiraiya stood by the side, sharpening a kunai with a whetstone, the steady, rhythmic shhhnk-shhhnk of metal against stone is the only sound in the dark.
The heavy wooden gate creaked closed, and Kenji entered, followed by five of the younger clan members. Their faces were flushed, their postures defensive.
Jiraiya didn't look up from his work. "You're late. The wagons need to be greased for tomorrow's return back to village."
"You aren't even an Ogata anymore Jiraiya so don't order us around like you already are our future leader. We aren't greasing the wagons." Kenji said, stepping forward. His voice cracked slightly, a mixture of alcohol-induced bravery and deep-seated fear. "And stop whetting the kunai, we won't be able to go to sleep with the noise. It is already a favour by us that we are allowing you to stay with us." The others wanted to stop Kenji but didn't have the guts.
Jiraiya stopped the whetstone. He lowered the kunai slowly, his dark eyes locking onto his older cousin. "Is that so?"
Looking at the menacing look Jiraiya was giving him, Kenji wanted to shut up but still replied in a nervous tone, "Yes!"
Jiraiya was amused, "You have grown brave Kenji or perhaps the alcohol made you forgetful. Could it be you are asking for another beating?" Jiraiya then looked behind Kenji at the group who immediately shook their head in a gesture of 'No'. Kenji also lost all his alcohol-induced bravado.
Jiraiya took a step forward when Taji pleaded, "Jiraiya-sama! Please forgive them! We need to depart tomorrow for the village. A beating at this point will delay our departure tomorrow!" He reasoned. Unlike the others in the clan who has only heard the stories, he has first hand witnessed the monstrous strength of Tsunade Senju and Jiraiya is somebody who is said to rival her in strength. He knows the consequences. And from the sighs escaping from the groups, it seems they too knew it, including Kenji.
Jiraiya accepted the request and then ordered, "Let us do the greasing of the wagons for smooth sailing back home."
Everybody obediently followed the ordered without any argument. Looking at the development, Taji relaxed and happily joined the group, glad that no fighting took place.
NEXT DAY...
"Let us go back to the village as soon as possible and celebrate our success!" Keno energetically spoke up from behind Taji. The group was in a jolly mood. Even Kenji smiled thinking about his triumph return but he suddenly frowned thinking about Jiraiya. B*stard think he can leave and return as he please. He looked at Sato and smirked. They don't need Jiraiya anymore. Four times! Four has become his favourite number. He loaded the Iron box on the wagon, the silver Ryos producing a melodic song of 'Khanak-Khanak', a pleasant sound to their ears, making them giddy.
Sato smirked thinking of the magistrate's scheme while listening of the sounds of silver. Jiraiya also smirked looking at Sato.
Together, they exited their capital, taking the road towards the village. The gates of the capital loomed massive behind them, two towering slabs of iron-gates, shining, signifying a world entirely separate from the rest. But as the caravan of wooden wagons rumbled over the stone bridge and onto the dusty dirt road, the city started disappearing from sight.
Senior Chunin Kenji sat at the front of the lead wagon, his calloused hands loosely holding the reins of the old mare. The Iron box was loaded in this wagon with Taji keeping an eye on it. For the second time in five years, the deep lines around his eyes were creased not with worry, but with an enduring, disbelief-tinged satisfaction. The first time was when Jiraiya has acquired the Chunin rank and was declared a genius rivalling Tsunade and Orochimaru in the village.
"Keep moving, Everybody!" Kenji called back, his voice cutting through the thick afternoon heat, "We will reach the village in one day!" They weren't walking anymore but riding the wagons.
A chorus of raucous laughter erupted from the wagons behind him. Keno, a thick bearded Genin started singing in joy. The atmosphere was intoxicating. Young men who had known nothing but the grueling bend of the paddy fields were singing old bawdy tavern songs they had picked up from the village.
For once, they were paid fairly of what their sweat was worth. That's what was going through their mind. For once, they would not have to worry about the academy fees, would not have to short rations.
To ensure their harvest made it across the lawless stretches of the outer provinces, Kenji and four Genins accompanied the caravan for protection. Sato was appointed as the leader of this group and Kenji as the treasurer while the rest were experts at making sure the caravan ran smoothly. Due to the money, they have completely forgotten it, the threat of bandits and rogue Shinobis.
Four rogue Chunins were pursuing the caravan, clad in dented iron breastplates, with long, heavy broadswords slung over their shoulders. Their leader, a scarred ronnin from Kirigakure, named Torin, walked swiftly with an arrogant stride, occasionally taking long draughts from a leather wine skin. He listened to the farmers' cheering with a faint, condescending smirk. To a Chunin who lived by the blade, the Genins were simple creatures, easily eliminated with a few justus. They started pursuing them just half an hour ago, looking for a suitable place to ambush and retrieve the money.
As the sun began to descent on their head of their one-day journey, the traces of civilization dissolved into vast tracts of tall, dense forest trees. The road narrowed, turning from hard-packed earth to loosened soil. The air grew cooler, carrying the scent of damp earth and wood from the distant hills. The group lost their cheerfulness and became fully alert.
Kenji kept watch from the wagon, a quiet smile on his face, though his eyes never stayed off the iron box for long. He knew the road. He knew that wealth in the hands of peasants was an anomaly the world didn't like to tolerate for long. It must have been already known to most of the market afterall a magistrate has purchased their harvest at substantial amount. He glanced over at Jiraiya and his four Genins, who had taken out their kunais and were talking in low, muted tones.
"You look worried Kenji-san even though you are smiling." It was Taji who asked.
"The money is heavy, Taji," Kenji replied, taking a small sip from his cup offered by Taji. "It makes the wagons slow. And word travels faster than a horse can gallop. The capital is full of eyes."
"Let the world look!" Taji said, his voice steady. "We earned every Ryo fairly. The gods would not give us this bounty only to snatch it away."
Last time, they were ambushed by four rogue Chunins along this part of the road, forcing them to trade the silver in exchange for their life. That's how Jiraiya has gotten involved in the matter despite severing all ties with his clan. He find out that the merchant Maro has sent those people to take away the money. Then Sato will play the saviour role offering a staggering sum in exchange for their land at Fire Capital, selling it to Maro. The magistrate then receive nothing, furious at the betrayal, he sent men to eliminate Sato but Jiraiya saved his life, earning his loyalty for his clan. Later Jiraiya forced Orochimaru to accompany him to visit Maro to make things alright. Orochimaru has quite the prestige for being Hiruzen's Star Pupil.
Jiraiya hearing Kenji's conversation remembered everything that happened last time.
"The gods are often busy elsewhere," Kenji muttered, looking out into the dark, rustling sea of dense forest. By the afternoon, the landscape had grown harsher. The road climbed steadily into the foothills, winding through steep ravines and thick, overgrown forests where the canopy grew so dense it choked out the sun. The joyful singing had died down, replaced by the heavy breathing of the draft animals and the creak of strained wood. It was during a brief rest stop near an old, collapsed stone waystation that the mood of the caravan soured entirely. Keno had gone down to a nearby creek to fill a water skin when he suddenly stopped, his hand dropping to the small hunting knife at his belt. He shouted back to the main path, his voice tight with anger. "Kenji! Come look at what the river washed up!" Kenji moved alongside the wagon, followed by Taji and a few of the other men.
Torin, the rogue captain, lingered at the top of the ridge, his hand resting casually on the pommel of his sword. He smiled. The plan has began. Lying in the dirt by the water's edge was a man. His clothes were ragged, torn by thorns and caked in dried mud. A thin, rusted short sword was bound to his waist with a piece of frayed rope. As Kenji approached, the man rolled over, groaning, his face gaunt and pale from the wounds.
When he lifted his head, the breath caught in Kenji's throat. A forehead protector! It was shinobi. A heavy, suffocating silence fell over the farmers. The warmth of their celebration vanished, replaced by an icy fear. From the looks of it, he looks like a Chunin too. Who can bring a Chunin to such a stage? Definitely not bandits! They are simply incapable of such a fit. To Chunins, bandits are like lamb to slaughter. Rogue Shinobis. Kenji and the four Genins frowned reaching the same conclusion. Jiraiya kept his face neutral while the wagon people were clueless thinking some wild animals has attacked the man.
"Who are you? Who did this to you?" Keno asked, stepping forward, his massive fists curling. "I am Ryuu! I was attacked by rogue ninjas. Thankfully I managed to escape them through sheer luck. They are up ahead attacking all people passing through. They are a bunch of rogue Chunins from Kirigakure. I was hired to protect a caravan but lost. All my teammates were killed. You all look like Konoha shinobi. Please help me! We need to inform the village and avenge my teammates." winced and started crying while explaining, dragging himself backward against a mossy boulder. His eyes were hollow, filled with a deep, pathetic shame. "Aoto... Asahi... I couldn't save you... I abandoned you... I am sorry... I promise to avenge you both... I will avenge you..."
"Get up, coward!" Keno interrupted and spat, kicking dirt toward the man's feet. "Get up and start running before I use this skinning knife to show you what we do with deserters." He spoke passionately. It is better to die with your comrades than abandon them. Keno was a seasoned Genin and has seen deaths. He won't tolerate such cowardice specially if he is a Chunin. Kenji had never abandoned them even in difficult situations. He would die first than abandon them. Keno thought pridefully about the chivalry of his Chunin cousin.
"Please," Ryuu whispered, his voice cracking. He held up a hand that was blistered and bleeding. "I haven't eaten in two days. The road pirates... the highway robbers weren't what we are told about. They were no bandits. They were Kirigakure Chunin nukenins specialised in brutal assassination techniques. I was a newly promoted Chunin trying to lead my team. I had no chance."
Kenji looked down at him, his face carved with worry. The Genins were scared. Kenji was also fearful but he then looked at Jiraiya and reassured himself. Sato was relaxed. The game has begun. The Genin Taji offered Ryuu some food and picked him up while others filled their water skin. Torin seeing the completion of the first step of his plan left the area to begin his preparation for the ambush.
Torin along with Aoto, Asahi and Ryuu were known as the Blast Squad of Kirigakure for their extensive use of explosives tags in their Jutsus. They were from the clan who had forged one of the seven mystical swords: Shibuki, the Blastsword. They were already living a good life but the scoundrel Third Mizukage had their clan leader deliberately killed in mission and seized the Shibuki. Shibuki was declared a village property while paying their clan a meagre sum and even not caring about their opinions. It was pure tyranny. Being the most famous from their clan, they had no choice but to avenge this injustice and dishonour. They tried to assassinate the Mizukage by blowing up the Mizukage Tower but was caught in the act. They abandoned the village and was living the miserable life of Missing-nin until they were taken in by Magistrate of the Fire Capital. He has taken good care of them and in exchange they had done missions for him. This is just another such mission.
After filling the water skin full, the wagon were preparing to move. Ryuu was placed in a wagon alongside Jiraiya. Nobody wanted to accompany Jiraiya. The caravan started up again, Kenji started looking ahead with sharp eyes. They have interrogated Ryuu and has decided to change the route, going back half an hour on the road, taking a detour through the Wolf Pass. The caravan entered the Wolf Pass, a treacherous, narrow road cut directly into the side of a steep mountain ridge. To their left was a sheer rock wall that rose into the grey clouds; to their right was river and a deep forest home to hundreds of wolves, a reason people avoid this road. Also the river floods the road frequently. The river act as barrier between the road and the wolves. The celebratory mood was entirely gone now, replaced by an acute, palpable tension. The weight of the silver Ryo seemed to have become too heavy to bear, and every creak of the wheels sounded like a warning.
"Stay close," Kenji warned, his eyes scanning the thick fog ahead. He made a grim face. Fog in the autumn. "The is a bad. If someone wanted to ambush us, this is where they'd lay the trap. Everybody on guard! Be careful!" Kenji alongside the Genins came out of the wagons and stood guard around the wagon containing the iron box. The fog reached and enveloped their caravan. All the civilians went inside one wagon huddled together for safety. Sato volunteered to guard them with a staff.
Torin laughed, a loud, obnoxious sound that echoed off the rock wall through the fog, full of killing intent, unnerving the Genins.
"Relax! I am still here! I will protect you with my life." The Genins smiled, the words relaxed their nerves, restoring their confidence in Kenji.
"Don't worry too much. Who would dare touch a caravan guarded by veteran Chunin Kenji? He had killed Rogue Shinobis from Iwagakure, Kusagakure, Yugakure to Sunagakure." Keno reinforced their confidence, "This is nothing!"
Listening to the words, Taji tightened his grip on the Kunai. Fighting one Chunin is one thing but fighting four Kirigakure Rogue Chunins. He only hoped Jiraiya was as powerful as Tsunade. The fog has thickened. Sensing the killing intent, the lead horse suddenly reared back, whinnying in panic. One of the Genins hauled on the reins, stabilizing the animal just as the fog ahead seemed to clear somewhat.
Standing in the middle of the narrow pass, completely blocking the path, were three men. They did not wear the mismatched leather and ragged furs of common robbers. They wore long, hooded coats, their Kiri forehead protectors scratched with a single deep line through their village symbol to show they reject their allegiance, a practice common among nukenins.
Nukenin aka Rogue Shinobis who lived by the edge of their steel, answerable to no Hidden Villages, bound by no code but survival, devoid of honour and chivalry. A long katana and the short wakizashi, hung near their waist, signalling of the assassin class, killing intent leaking from their bodies. The middle nukenin, a man with a deep scar that ran from his temple down to his jawline, stepped forward. He didn't draw his sword; he simply rested his palm on the guard, a gesture of supreme, terrifying confidence.
"Leave the wagons," the scarred man said. His voice was low, carrying effortlessly through the damp mist. "Walk back down the mountain. If you do this, you keep your lives. If you stay, you become meat for the crows."
Keno smirked, stepping past Kenji's wagon. His three Genins followed, drawing their kunai with loud, dramatic flourishes. "You three look like you haven't had a decent meal in months. You think you can take on five trained seasoned soldiers? One of us is a Chunin. Turn around and runaway before we paint this Pass with your blood."
The scarred nukenin didn't blink. He didn't even look at Keno; his eyes were fixed on the heavy chests visible beneath the tarpaulins of the wagon. "We gave you a chance, told you to leave." He then lunged forward with a heavy, overhead strike meant to split Kenji in two, shouting, "Die then!"
What happened next occurred with such blinding speed that Keno's mind struggled to register the movements. Kenji didn't parry. He simply shifted his weight an inch to the left. The scarred Chunin's longsword whistled through empty air, the momentum throwing the nukenin slightly off balance. In that fraction of a second, Kenji's hand blurred. A silver arc of steel flashed through the fog. A sickening thwack echoed through the pass. The scarred Chunin froze. His longsword slipped from his fingers, clattering loudly against the stones. A thin red line appeared across his throat, widening rapidly until a torrent of crimson burst forth. He fell to his knees, clutching his neck, before tumbling over the edge of the bank into the river, submerging below thickening the water.
Before the scared Chunin's body even sank below the river, the other two nukenin struck. They moved like shadows, their movements precise, lethal, and entirely devoid of wasted energy. It was like Kenji hasn't just eliminated one of their men. Sato frowned. He didn't knew that the simpleton Kenji was this skilled. Nonetheless he didn't cared who dies and who lives. He is going to enjoy the show.
Kenji managed to block a strike, but the second nukenin tried to slip under his guard, driving a short blade deep towards his belly. Two Genins decided to guard the Box while the other two Keno and Taji engaged the two nukenin, seeing their captain Kenji overwhelmed by them.
Kenji engaged the muscular one while Keno and Taji engaged the pot-bellied one, showing their peerless teamwork, yet the Genin duo were continuously pushed onto the river. Kenji would have already panicked if it wasn't for the presence of Jiraiya so he concentrated on quickly finishing his opponent, having already eliminated one.
"Water Release: Water Clone Prison Capture!" A voice rang throughout the area. The technique caused the water beneath the Genin duo to erupt suddenly, trapping them in a spherical prison of river water; the water sphere was heavy enough to restrict their movements. They struggled to breathe and looked helplessly towards their comrades for help. The scarred Chunin whom Kenji has killed sometime ago emerged from the fog, keeping a Bird Hand Sign. Keeping the bird hand sign was necessary to maintain the Jutsu. He doesn't need to stay in contact with the sphere, typically by keeping an arm submerged within it, to maintain it.
"What! I killed you..." Kenji looked at the scarred Chunin with astonishment while engaging the muscular nukenin.
"You think it's that easy to kill our captain Torin. I will admit you have some skills but you cannot defeat our captain. Surrender and handover the money if you know what is good for your people." the pot-bellied nukenin threatened.
"Jiraiya!! Save Taji and Keno. I will..."
"Don't bother!" Ryuu interrupted and emerged from behind the wagon wiping blood from his kunai with a piece of cloth, his eyes turning slowly toward Kenji, "He is dead!"
The nukenin cackled like a pack of Hyenas. The muscular one was named Asahi while the pot-bellied one was named Aoto. Aoto threw a sword towards Ryuu who caught it with ease. The first half of their mission to eliminate Jiraiya is complete. Now they just need to retrieve the money and tada, Mission Complete.
Panic erupted among the Ogatas. Jiraiya has been killed. Kenji disengaged and regrouped with the other two Genins. His eyes were bloodshot as he looked at Ryuu. He shouldn't have allowed Ryuu to go with Jiraiya when Jiraiya offered to take care of him. Jiraiya was the hope of the Ogatas. The elders hasn't given up on him. The clan hasn't given up. They hasn't removed his name from the clan registry. How will he answer them? What he will explain when they ask how Jiraiya died under his watch? He should have died not Jiraiya. He was useless.
"Give it to them, Kenji!" Sato, seeing the opportunity to play saviour cried out, his voice trembling as he shielded civilians with his staff. "It's just money! We can survive on roots again! Don't let them kill us!" Kenji looked at the iron box at the wagon. He thought of the empty bellies of the children last winter. He thought of the impoverished elders. He thought of how they shortened rations to pay the academy fees despite receiving double the harvest pay and how this was the one time they had finally won. If they gave this up, they won't be able to sustain the child at academy. They don't have Jiraiya anymore who sometimes secretly paid some fees for their kids' ninja equipment, lessening their burden. Jiraiya has died. Just thinking about it, made him mad, filling him with anger, regret and sorrow.
"No," Kenji said, his voice surprisingly calm. Sato looked bewildered. That arrogant brute Jiraiya has died. Two of their Genins has been trapped. Kenji has two Genins left while the enemies now has one more Chunin, a total of four Chunins. What chance does he think he has? Sato wanted to scold Kenji but he refrained. The mission parameter was clear, the elimination of Jiraiya and retrieval of money. Nothing is going to happen to anybody else. Kenji is essential to his plans since he is a simple-minded fool, easy to manipulate and has influence over the clan leaders. Sato relaxed and allowed Kenji to do as pleased. The outcome isn't going to change, the Ogatas are bound to lose the money.
Kenji looked at the two remaining Genins by his side, the other two trapped in the water bubble then at his opponent. Seeing the smirking face of Ryuu, it was too much to bear, "We are going to avenge Jiraiya! Fight to death!", saying that Kenji lunged at Ryuu while two Genins engaged the muscular Asahi. The pot-bellied Aoto slowly moved towards the wagon to take the money.
One of the civilian Ogatas shouted, "Kenji-san! He is going to take the money!"
Kenji ignored the shouting, he is determined to eliminate Ryuu, who slowly moved closer towards the Asahi, he eventually pushed Kenji back, sending him flying away. Asahi and Ryuu's back touched.
"These Konoha shinobi were quite trouble, won't you agree Ryuu? Perhaps we should fight with the intent to ki..." Before Asahi could even complete his sentence, a sword pierced through his chest from behind. The sword had had gone through his heart. Asahi had wide eyes, as he looked down. Blood started to drip slowly, he could not even move a muscle. His energy was deserting him. Pain was shooting through him, he ignored it all, and tried to move.
Ryuu was behind him, the sword being held by his right hand. When he sensed movement, he pulled his sword and disappeared. Aoto ran with surprising speed despite his fatty figure and caught the falling Asahi screaming, "Snake! Why? He was our brother, our own blood. Our clan wasn't like those savages of Third Mizukage. Why?"
Aoto kept shouting, saying more profanities. He checked over and over. There was no sign of life. Asahi was dead. Their brother was dead. His eyes sharpened dangerously. He could not wallow in pity now. He needed to stay strong.
Kenji was also shocked not understanding anything, moved towards the remaining Genins. He couldn't make sense of anything that is happening at the moment.
Torin was also shocked and couldn't understand why Ryuu did this? It was a miracle he didn't lost the Bird Hand Sign and accidentally released the trapped Genins. He too couldn't understand.
When Ryuu smirked at Asahi's corpse and his tears, showing no regret, Aoto stopped caring for his reasons and bolted towards Ryuu. He determined to break his mouth. Torin shouted trying to stop him.