I woke up that night thinking about my patrol and how the shinobi had willingly given up his life so his village wouldn't suffer.
The realization hit hard.
This wasn't just a mission anymore. The stakes were higher.
I had to do better. I had to be better.
This wasn't about completion, it was about survival.
With my thoughts finally in order, I went back to sleep, letting the cold air drifting through our tent pull me under. Daichi had mentioned skirmishes tomorrow. I needed all the energy I could get.
I woke up to something licking my face.
"Aw, man Kiba, get off me. Roku, get your ninken."
Roku grinned. "You should be thanking him. Any more sleep and you would've snoozed right through the battle."
That did it.
I shot to my feet, ignoring the saliva dripping down my cheek, threw on my battle gear, and joined the rest of the unit as we waited.
"So, Nara," I asked, "how does this usually go? Do they hand-select teams, or does most of the camp move out?"
Tetsu looked up from whatever he was doing, clearly wishing he were anywhere else. After a long sigh, he answered, "Depends on the mission goal. Usually teams stay under eight shinobi so they can move fast. We just wait. Squad leader'll let you know if you're picked."
So I waited.
I followed Tetsu's gaze, no surprise, the clouds. I talked with Roku for a while. Eventually, Daichi returned.
We all stood.
Daichi nodded. "Relax. Shinji you were chosen. Don't know why, since you're new, but report to mission briefing in one hour. Ready to move. You'll meet your team there."
I nodded. "Alright. Have you been on something like this before, Daichi-senpai?"
"Yes," he said. "Only advice I can give you, listen to your team leader, and do your role as best you can."
I thanked him, got directions to the briefing tent, and set off.
The mission debriefing tent was massive maps spread across a central table, carpets lining the floor, and what looked like the only real bed in the entire camp tucked into one corner.
I passed the table and entered a smaller tent within the tent.
That's where I saw them my team.
And the one briefing us.
Jiraiya of the Sannin.
He noticed me immediately. "Good. Now that you're all here, we can begin."
The mission was simple.
"You six will infiltrate deep into the Land of Wind and eliminate as many patrols around this town as possible."
He pointed to a rock formation overlooking a settlement labeled Kazehara.
"The goal is to get as many eyes off this town as we can, so another unit can later steal supplies."
Then he gestured to another settlement Fusato, deeper in Wind but on the opposite side.
"Open fights are bad. You need to be quick. Efficient. That's why I personally selected this team."
He turned to Genma. "You're the leader. The rest is yours."
With that, Jiraiya left.
The pressure vanished the moment he did. I hadn't realized how heavy it was until it lifted. One shinobi and he hadn't even been trying.
Genma faced us. "We're five against an unknown number. Before we move, give me a rundown of your abilities, Shinji. Everyone else here has worked together before."
I stepped forward. "I specialize in taijutsu and fire-style ninjutsu. I have a two-tomoe Sharingan. I'm competent in genjutsu, stealth, and shurikenjutsu."
Genma nodded. "Good. Everyone here favors stealth and silent kills. These are Raido, Toboki Shimura, and Goro Gekko."
He looked back at me. "You good with a sword?"
"Yes," I said. "My clan trained me. I can use one."
Genma handed me a blade. "Strap it to your back. We move."
The journey took three days. We traveled cautiously, avoiding detection.
When we reached the Land of Wind, we set up a small camp, no fire. Ration pills only.
The heat was relentless. The sandstorms never stopped. The desert felt endless, like it was trying to erase direction itself.
By the time Kazehara came into view, my nerves were worn thin.
"We wait until nightfall," Genma said. "One of us goes into town, talks to locals."
I raised my hand without hesitation. "I'll do it."
Genma paused, then nodded. "If anything feels wrong, bail immediately. Head to this cave."
"I understand."
I left my gear behind, changed into peasant clothes, wrapped a towel around my face, and stepped into the sun.
Kazehara had no guards at the entrance. No shinobi presence. I walked straight to the only bar still open.
The town was quiet, too quiet.
This wasn't a village settling down for the night.
This was fear.
In an alley, I transformed into an older man with short brown hair, average build and entered.
The bar smelled of dust and stale heat. Sand coated everything. Cloth walls were ripped and mold-stained. A few villagers murmured softly, until the shinobi at the bar spoke.
Then silence.
I listened.
"We're relieving the western patrol tonight," one said. "Last unit hasn't checked in since dawn."
"Why bother?" another scoffed. "Leaf dogs are busy on the front lines." He lowered his voice. "It's the beasts we should worry about."
"The ones in the dunes?"
"Yeah. Don't hunt them. Don't chase them."
No one spoke after that.
They talked about the desert like it was alive.
I returned to the cave just as night fell.
"Report," Genma said.
"Western patrol rotates tonight. Last unit never checked in." I hesitated. "Sand shinobi are nervous. But not about us."
Raido frowned. "Then what?"
"Beasts. Things in the dunes. They warned each other not to hunt them."
Genma studied me. "Fear changes behavior. Good work."
"We move at full dark," he said. "One patrol. Fast and silent."
The patrol appeared five shinobi.
Genma signaled.
Toboki and Goro moved first.
I took the rear guard.
The Sand shinobi sensed something too late.
One clean strike. No sound.
Four down.
The fifth reacted fast but I threw first.
My shuriken struck his wrist. Genma finished it.
Silence.
We withdrew immediately.