The fortress of iron, Amegakure, gave way to earthen ramparts, wooden palisades, and canals that were both lifelines and potential invasion routes.
The Border Fort was a crude but functional structure of wood and stone, built into the side of a hill overlooking the confluence of two major waterways. It smelled of wet wood, boiled rice, and alcohol.
[Lv. 16 Genin]
[Lv. 12 Genin]
[Lv. 16 Genin]
...
Most of the forces assigned to this backwater border fort, if it could be called so, were dispensable assets. Genins made up most of the numbers. Occasionally, Ryugo would identify a chunin, but they were rather low-level, most hovering around Lv. 30.
"Ryugo, Tetsu, Ameruyi!", a familiar voice reverberated in the court.
It belonged to Mumei, their old sensei. His face showed bruises, and his arms were covered in bandages. Between those injuries and the burning of his hands in the Jotaki monk encounter, it seemed like Mumei did not care much about his arms.
Seeing the chunin vests on them, he sighed: "I did expect you three to rank up...I never thought this day would come so soon. Well done, everyone"
Ameruyi bowed in respect: "It was a pleasure learning under you, Mumei-sensei"
Tetsu did not say anything, but merely bowed, symbol of his gratitude. He had been the one who benefitted most from Mumei's hidden weapon mastery.
Ryugo smiled: "So the ops the Dark Hall was talking about was related to the Tanigakure borders?"
Mumei scratched the back of his head: "Unfortunately, yes...Even though the lands of River is not at war with the lands of Rain, the hidden village of the valley, Tanigakure, has been growing increasingly bolder over the past few months...Commander Batto will probably brief you"
He seemed to hesitate before muttering: "Don't make him wait...He is quite rough"
Ryugo nodded and walked towards the central building. It was a house of stone, with the Amegakure crest symbol on top of it.
Inside, a round table was exposing a map, with three shinobi discussing military operations. Pinned scrolls and hydrological charts covered the walls.
[Commander Batto – Lv. 58 Jonin]
[Zenitsu Takeda - Lv. 51 Jonin]
[Kirito Shikabane - Lv. 31 Chunin]
Ryugo had heard some rumours about Commander Batto. A famous jonin of civilian background, who relied on his physique to dominate close combat. The long sword in his back was a testament to his physical strength.
He was broad-shouldered and thick-armed, his face a landscape of scar tissue and grim patience. His Amegakure flak jacket was worn and stained, a stark contrast to their own new, dark grey chunin vests.
He didn't look up as they entered, his finger tracing a line on a large map.
"Ryugo Kagutsu, Ameruyi Takeda, Tetsu Waraiko," he stated, his voice a gravelly rumble. "The Tower's new assets. Promoted fast. Kosuke's note says you're 'tactically innovative.' I hope it's not a fancy way to mean reckless"
He finally looked up, his eyes. They were black, almost lifeless. It seemed like the burden of a border commander was taxing his body. Or his soul. Or both. They lingered on Ameruyi's sheathed katana, on Tetsu's mask, and finally on Ryugo, who met his gaze steadily.
"We complete our missions, Commander", Ryugo said, neither defensive nor boastful, "Kosuke briefed us on the way, but told us we would be yours to command for the operation"
Batto grunted. "Let me paint you the tactical mud. Nagare Dam"
He tapped the map. "Twenty miles south, inside River Country territory but within the joint-admin zone. For fifteen years, it was a boring engineering post. Two dozen civilians, a handful of River samurai for show, a few of our observers to ensure the water shares. A backwater. Then Chief Engineer Hoshi takes a dive from the spillway. Very messy. Very convenient."
"Sato Ren," Ameruyi said.
"Sato Ren," Batto confirmed with a sneer, "A paper-pusher from the River capital comes and spread chaos. Within a week of his arrival, our observers were 'reassigned.' Within a month, the water flows to our sector's primary irrigation canals started fluctuating. First it was a nuisance. Then the rice started dying. Now…"
He pointed to several marked positions on the Amegakure side of the border. "My patrols along the canal network have started taking fire. Not from samurai. From shinobi. Ambush tactics. Small unit. They hit fast, disappear into the river mist or the tall reeds. No identifiers. Just… efficiency."
"How many engagements?" Ryugo asked, "And casualties?"
"Six in the last month. We've lost two chunin and five genin. Wounded twice that. We've confirmed three of theirs dead. No identifying marks on the bodies. Equipment is generic, but well-maintained. Their tactics…" Batto paused, scratching his scarred cheek. "They're adaptive. Unpredictable. They don't fight like any Tanigakure unit I've faced in twenty years. They are bold, and they target our routes to deal maximum damage...They have a strategist in their ranks"
A cold knot formed in Ryugo's stomach. Adaptive. Unpredictable. Coordinated.
It was suspicious. Tanigakure, a backwater hidden village, stood no gain by probing its neighbour Amegakure. While their position was slightly better than the lands of Rain, Tanigakure was still surrounded by two of the five major hidden villages.
"You think they're not regular Tanigakure," Ryugo stated.
Batto's eyes narrowed. "I think they're a new breed. Maybe an elite unit Tanigakure's been training in secret. Or maybe…samurai ronins from the lands of iron", He let the thought hang, "The point is, the dam is the heart of it. Control the water, you have the initiative. It's a prelude. Someone is preparing this sector as a battlefield, and they're using the dam to do it."
"What are your forces doing?" Tetsu asked, his voice slightly muffled.
"What we can," Batto said, frustration edging his tone. "The Council won't authorize a direct assault on a jointly-administered facility inside River Country. It's a political minefield. Could trigger a wider conflict with Tanigakure before we're ready. So, we're stuck reacting. Fortifying our canals, running heavier patrols, which just gives them more targets. It's a draining game"
The dark circles under his eyes were convincing enough.
He leaned forward, his massive hands flat on the map. "That's where you come in. Dark Hall. Deniable assets. Your mission isn't to start a war. It's to solve this problem. Infiltrate. Identify. If they are Tanigakure shinobi operating outside treaty bounds, gather proof. I will personally lead the Border Fort forces to kill them if they are sufficient"
He paused.
" But, if the opportunity presents itself to… resolve the command element at the dam… do so. Cleanly. Quietly. Make it look like an accident, or internal strife. We cannot let a civilian wild card spread chaos and remain untouched. Let him be a warning to the lands of River"
He looked at each of them again. "This isn't a test. This is the real border muck. The enemy is dug in, on favorable terrain, and they're smart. You'll have no backup from my regulars once you cross. You're on your own"