The Land of Wind, Daimyo's Mansion
Atop the mansion's tower, a figure sat cross-legged without any cover, a black suitcase next to his hand. Dry winds constantly blew from a distance, rolling up the corners of his black coat.
Jade green light radiated from Kakuzu's eyes as he watched a team rush out of the daimyo's mansion. Based on the direction they were running, their destination was clearly Sunagakure.
"So they want to bring in reinforcements from the Sunagakure. I'm surprised the highest authority in the Land of Wind is reacting so calmly,"
Kakuzu remarked, surprised by the now composed demeanor of the Wind daimyo. He initially believed the Wind Daimyo could withstand his intimidation for a considerable duration, but the ease with which the plan progressed exceeded his expectations. The daimyo appeared genuinely terrified. Or was it due to his high position that made him so afraid of death? But It didn't matter whichever. As long as the goals were achieved.
While not an honorable approach, under normal circumstances, Kakuzu would have aggressively tracked down the debtor himself to commence endless debt collection. This particular debt collection mission differed significantly.
On the surface, it appeared as a normal mission, but in reality, it concealed a secret contest between the Land of Demons and the Lan of Wind.
Kakuzu found the hidden motivations behind this incident interesting.
The Land of Wind resisted settling the debts owed to the Land of Demons. At the same time, the Land of Demons, while ostensibly aiming to collect the debt, secretly wished for the Land of Wind to adopt a tough stance and would refuse payment as well.
Observing the guards from the Damyo Mansion hastening towards Sunagakure, Kakuzu chose not to stop them. Summoning Suna ninjas to provide protection was an expected action from a terrified leader.
"Now, it's your turn, consider adding a few more to the fire," Kakuzu said, turning his head towards the air.
Behind him stood a humanoid clay puppet, half of its body exposed on the floor. Acknowledging Kakuzu's words, it silently submerged into the floor, vanishing from sight.
...
In q dimly lit room, only the sounds of deep sleep echoed.
Ninja guards were stationed in almost every corner, leaving no blind spots as they kept watch. A consequence of the morning's events that led to severe reprimands from the Daimyo. Their collective hatred extended to those who had secretly pasted the notes demanding repayment in the mansion.
Due to these unsettling occurrence, everyone in the mansion was on edge all day, not even daring to breathe loudly. The Daimyo himself wore a gloomy expression, ultimately having no choice but to eventually request aid from Sunagakure.
In contrast to the ninja guards within the Daimyo Mansion, Suna boasted more soldiers and generals capable of replacing the existing guards, securing the mansion's safety. However, for the guards in Daimyo mansion, this was far from favorable.
The arrival of ninjas from Suna to replace their position implied not only an acknowledgment of their failure but also raised doubts about their capabilities, which would endanger their livelihoods.
Consequently, they needed to pay hundred percent attention, preventing any disturbances in the dark that could disrupt the peace of the Mansion.
As they maintained their guard, a head silently emerged from behind a gauze curtain on the wall. The pale yellow eyes, devoid of light in the darkness, went unnoticed by the surrounding guards due to the curtain's concealment.
The protruding head belonged to Shiraishi's Earth clone—Tu.
Even in the dark, Tu could perceive everything clearly. For artificial humans, the distinction between night and day held little significance, having no impact on their vision.
Utilizing its perception ability, Tu created a radar map in his mind, evading the guards. Successfully avoiding and infiltrating the Daimyo's location.
Tu's face, protruding from the wall, directly faced the resting daimyo below.
Observing the Daimyo through his eyes, the daimyo appeared deeply asleep, likely frightened by the day's events.
Wasting no time, Tu stretched an arm out from within the wall, a slip of paper held in his palm. Gently placing it on the daimyo's chest, the sleeping man noticed nothing wrong. Coupled with his evidently overweight body, his current sleeping form did indeed resemble a dead pig.
Continuing his movement, Tu reached out and lightly smeared something on the daimyo's neck.
The daimyo only scratched absently at where it touched before settling back into sleep.
"...Hoo...Hoo..."
Only the gentle sounds of undisturbed sleep persisted, suggesting he was immersed in a pleasant dream.
Tu persistently carried on his mission, affixing carefully prepared items from Kakuzu onto the quilt, bed, walls, and other decor one by one.
In just two minutes, he accomplished everything required. Confirming no outstanding tasks remained, Tu's body slowly sank back into the wall as soundlessly as he had emerged, vanishing without a trace.
...
Morning.
A horrified scream echoed from the room where the Wind Daimyo resided, shattering the morning's tranquility.
"Daimyo-sama!?"
The Ninja guards emerged from the shadows, rushing to the Daimyo's bed. As they arrived, their eyes widened in shock.
On the daimyo's chest lay a note with the word 'death' written in red. Red blood stains were visible in the daimyo's neck, dried and indicating they had been there for a considerable time.
Additionally, there were numerous words on the wall behind the bed.
Death Death Death Death Death
Countless 'death' words overlapped on the wall, some accompanied by splatters of blood, resembling morbid and terrifying scene, creating an eerie and cursed atmosphere.
""What is the meaning of this? You guaranteed everything was safe last night!"
After the Daimyo's fright, his expression suddenly became terrifying. He stared at the half-kneeling ninjas in front of him, gritted his teeth, his face livid.
"This... this..."
The lead ninja sweated profusely, struggling to provide an explanation.
In truth, he was also panicking. This should be impossible.
As the head of the daimyo's guard ninja, he was a seasoned ninja, a jonin. It was inconceivable for someone to elude his senses, approach the daimyo, and intimidate him in this manner.
Yet, the unfolding events defied his expectations. Despite his skilled sensory ninjutsu, he detected no one approaching last night. Could the enemy possess infiltration abilities surpassing his sensory ninjutsu?
Impossible. It must be a mere coincidence.
"You truly have disappointed me. Allowing the enemy to succeed in wreak havoc under my nose time and time again. You will face a half-month salary deduction, no objections?"
The Daimyo struggled to suppress his anger, maintaining a seemingly calm tone.
"I'm deeply sorry, Daimyo-sama! We won't allow the enemy to succeed next time!"
The lead ninja bowed deeply, overwhelmed by the daimyo's authority, and the tense atmosphere dared not take a breath.
"Hmph, I hope so. Let's go down."
"Yes."
The lead ninja and his companions vanished, continuing their vigilant watch in the shadows to protect the Daimyo.
'Each one of them is utterly useless.'
The Daimyo's dissatisfaction grew even worse. He had completely lost faith in the abilities of these ninja guards. It seemed imperative for Suna to train superior ninjas to serve as his protectors.
After calming the anger in his heart, the Daimyo prepared to rise from bed, dress, and take a bath to wash away the blood on his body.
Suddenly, his fingers brushed against something on the bed frame. It was a piece of paper.
There were three words written prominently on it—Repay The Money.
The Daimyo became even gloomier, unable to utter a word. He crumpled the paper in his hand, vigorously rubbed it, threw it on the ground, and stomped on it several times with bare feet, creating a resounding thud on the wooden floor, releasing the pent-up anger in his heart.
...
The day passed swiftly.
Everyone in Daimyo's Mansion, including the guards and maids, lived in an odd atmosphere. They knew little about the daimyo's ordeal, and even if they did, they dared not speak of it.
Night arrived, and for some reason, the Daimyo couldn't help but feel a surge of panic when confronted with the darkness of the night. He subconsciously touched his neck, relieved to find everything normal.
The ninjas from Suna were already on their way here. If they successfully endured tonight, peace would return tomorrow.
After all, these ninjas differed from those in his residence. Suna ninjas were more powerful, boasting numerous top warriors. As long as a portion of these top-notch ninjas were transferred here, they would suffice to protect his life and eliminate the "rats" that had infiltrated his mansion.
And, when the detested 'rat' was found, it would be dismembered into pieces to satisfy his rage.
Contemplating these satisfying thoughts, the Daimyo's anger considerably eased.
Tonight, the Daimyo had no intention of sleeping in his own bedroom. Instead, he sought out an empty house, instructing the maid to lay a floor in the center.
Around the floor, there was a total of sixteen ninjas sitting cross-legged with their backs to each other. Their keen eyes meticulously scanned every corner, leaving no subtlety unnoticed.
Moreover, more than a dozen ninjas crouched on the beams of the house. Not even a mouse, let alone a mosquito, could escape their vigilant gaze.
To prevent a repetition of the disturbances from the past two nights, the Daimyo mobilized the majority of ninja guards from the mansion, doubling the usual guard strength.
In theory, security concerns should no longer be an issue.
The only thing to worry about was the enemy's high infiltration ability that could not be detected by sensory ninjutsu. As long as the enemy's stealth capability was nullified, approaching the target silently would be impossible.
The enemy could not infiltrate undetected..Even if they did, maintaining complete silence during their actions was impossible.
The Daimyo looked at the sixteen ninja guards around him, their backs turned, scanning the outer circle, vigilant for any sign of the enemy.
Simultaneously, the dozen or so ninjas on the beams scrutinized the surroundings, leaving no corner unchecked.
The daimyo nodded approvingly, he could finally sleep peacefully tonight.
.....
"Hurry, we must reach Daimyo's mansion before dawn!"
In the desert at night, bathed in moonlight, the sand resembled fine, white snow. The strong wind made it difficult to keep one's eyes open.
While challenging for ordinary people, ninjas accustomed to this extreme environment found this harsh climate isn't worth mentioning.
The leader, a male Suna ninja about twenty-four or five years old, he had two red oil paints on his upper right cheek. Wearing a forehead protector denoting his identity as a Suna ninja, he was sprinting across the desert under the moonlight.
Behind him were eleven Suna ninjas, half of them jonin, and were considered elite among Sunagakure's ranks.
"Yes, Baki-san!"
The eleven Suna ninjas echoed in unison, their voices solemn.
Their Daimyo had been threatened and intimidated..It was undoubtedly a grave situation.
Approximately three years ago, the Land of Water's daimyo was assassinated by the then declared S-rank rogue ninja Hoshigaki Kisame from the Kirigakure. Though the current Water daimyo was the previous daimyo's eldest son, his reign faced power struggles and led to chaos and economic decline.
Now, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind was facing threats from unknown individuals.
Although not as serious as the Land of Waters' situation, the gravity of the threat couldn't be ignored.
The Wind Daimyo's abrupt assassination might plunge the Land of Wind into turmoil, similar to the fate of the Land of Water. For Suna, this wasn't a cause for celebration.
Suna controlled the country's military, and the daimyo wielded the highest political power. In this era of one country, one village, the contract initiated by the ninja god, persisted, no one dared cross this red line.
This 'contract' maintained a balance in the ninja world, not only due to the influence of the god of ninjas but also by consolidating the interests of the nobles. The establishment of the ninja villages solidified cooperation between ninjas and nobles, ensuring mutual benefits in terms of survival and military development.
The leader of this team, Baki, was acutely aware of the severity of the Daimyo's intimidation. For this reason, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa dispatched him for support. This wasn't just a recognition of his strength but also a supreme display of trust.
Baki sensed the value that Kazekage Rasa placed on him.
He silently vowed to flawlessly complete this important S-rank mission flawlessly, winning glory for Suna in the process.
"Baki-san."
Suddenly, a ninja approached and whispered in Baki's ear, wearing a peculiar expression.
Baki immediately comprehended the message and gestured silently.
The formation of Suna ninjas behind him swiftly transformed, spreading out in all directions without hesitation.
Boom!
The desert erupted.
Scorching flames engulfed the surroundings, causing the air temperature to rise.
A manic heat rushed towards the faces of the Suna nins.
They scanned the area, spotting figures in black coats adorned with the logo of a rose. On their chests, circular nameplates of copper or silver gleamed.
In their hands, they wielded weapons made of metal and solid wood, but the muzzle caliber surpassed that of ordinary firearms. The gun tray was slightly swollen, emanating a cold and perilous aura.
After seeing the attire of these people, Baki smirked coldly, remarking, "So, you're the infamous debt collectors from the Land of Demons. It seems those who threaten others lack an understanding of their own limitations."
The debt collectors of the Purple Rose Merchants Association in the Land of Demons were far from a reputable debt collection organization. Driven by money, they resorted to various malicious tactics to coerce debtors into repaying, employing extreme intimidation methods without shying away from coercion.
It could be deemed a notorious organization.
In the eyes of larger countries, this organization held no significance. Many underworld figures utilized similar methods for debt collection, with the Land of Demons merely formalizing the practice. This was why Baki regarded the debt collectors with disdain.
"However, don't compare the Land of Wind with those small country businessmen who had been intimidated by you. Moreover, your audacity to threaten and try to collect debts within the territory of a big country is rather misplaced."
Baki was aware that debt collectors from the Land of Demons usually operated outside the territories of major nations, exerting high leverage over businessmen in smaller countries.
Twelve Suna ninjas, six silver rank debt collectors, and seventeen copper rank debt collectors, a total of 23 people.
The debt collectors coldly stared at the surrounding Suna ninjas, they wasted no time, swiftly raising their kunai guns and pulling the triggers.
A large number of kunai sprayed from the muzzles, carrying sparks and emitting a terrifying whistling sound as they traversed the air.
Without hesitation, Baki raised his right hand, enveloped with the wind's breath, instantly condensing a wind blade. He swung it forcefully, intercepting the incoming kunai with precision.
A tingling pain shot through his palm.
Although the kunai were successfully blocked, Baki noticed a wound on the back of his hand, and his pupils constricted slightly.
'Wind chakra!?.'
Propelled by the force, the kunai's firing speed surpassed that of a regular ninja, and with the added wind chakra... its penetrating ability was terrifying. However, it was too late for Baki to ponder.
Kunai shot relentlessly, and Baki dodged and retreated. Unable to dodge entirely, he cut off kunai with the wind blade in his hand, resulting in more wounds on the back of his hand, now bleeding.
The other Suna ninjas, like Maji, initially struggled to adapt. But soon they maintained their offensive and defensive formation, and the Suna nins at the back row immediately seized the opportunity and formed seals with both hands:
"Wind Release - Great Breakthrough!"
A sudden gust of wind lifted countless grains of sand, causing chaos among the debt collectors.
Some debt collectors, using the body flicker to evade, stowed away their kunai guns, realizing that this weapon might not be effective against elite ninjas from Suna. If that were possible, the Jōnin and Chūnin would be worthless.
"Fire Release - Fireball Jutsu!"
The fiery momentum overwhelmed the storm as the fireball transformed into a sea of flames, blazing across the desert.
"Don't panic, maintain the formation!"
Baki remained calm in the midst of the crisis. Identifying an opening in the sea of flames, he employed the wind blade to cut through the wall of fire and counterattack with kunai.
Despite bloodstains on his palms, Baki paid them no mind. The wounds, though appearing severe, were superficial and posed no threat to his combat effectiveness.
A silver debt collector signaled, and everyone dispersed.
The Jonin Baki was a name they recognized. A confidant of the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, an elite Jōnin of Suna, Baki was undeniably one of the top ninja figures in Suna.
Being approached by such a ninja made the situation considerably tricky.
"You truly underestimate me! Cover me, and I'll deal with these pests!"
Seeing the group of debt collectors intentionally retreating, Baki sneered, and at the same time, he instructed the Suna nind beside him to provide cover.
Wind chakra condensed on his feet, and he was about to sprint forward in a breath.
Shadows moved like lightning, overlapping with Baki's figure, traversing the sky one after another.
Baki instinctively looked up, spotting a bird-like object soaring high in the air. With the naked eye, it was impossible for him to discern its identity.
Following the passage of the strange birds, black dots descended from the sky.
Finally identifying them, Baki's expression changed drastically.
"Retreat!"
Witnessing the small black dots falling rapidly, growing larger within sight, it became evident that there were numerous kunai. Not only that, each kunai's ring handle featured a burning exploding tag
The aerial attack struck so suddenly, and just after Baki finished shouting, it was already too late. The kunai descended much faster than he had anticipated.
The moment they landed on the ground, the exploding tags just detonated.
Boom! Boom!
Flashes and bangs erupted simultaneously.
The sea of flames produced by the explosion engulfed the desert. During the explosion, there was a series of flustered sounds from the Suna ninjas. Due to the terrifying shock wave generated by the explosion, their shouting voices couldn't reach the outside, covered by the explosion.
The terrifying sand waves stirred up chaos among the sand ninjas.
After the explosion, disregarding the approaching heat wave, the debt collectors surged forward, becoming the last straw that overwhelmed the Suna ninjas.
Several minutes later, the twelve Suna ninjas lay on the ground without exception, almost breathing their last. Baki, the last ninja standing, retained his consciousness but suffered severe injuries from the continuous surprise explosions.
"I was too careless, i didn't expect you to..."
Air had always been a domain few ninjas could touch.
In Suna, while there were ninjas capable of aerial attack, none were part of their group, leading to their defeat this time.
Without giving Baki a chance to respond, a silver debt collector stepped forward, rendering Baki unconscious with a swift hand chop.
"Give them first aid. If they die, we'll face trouble."
Their victory this time stemmed from catching the opponent off guard. In an open confrontation, winning would prove challenging, and they might face counterattacks.
"The existence of the new weapons has been exposed; shouldn't we eliminate them?"
"No. Otherwise, I wouldn't have used exploding tags with great impact but limited lethality just now, specifically to avoid killing these sand ninjas."
"That's really strange."
"Kunai guns and the flying machines aren't real top-secret weapons, so don't worry too much. Moreover, we're all retired military ninjas, so stop approaching this with a military mindset. Debt collection may cause harm, but killing is only permissible when absolutely necessary."
The lead silver debt collector explained.
Though puzzled by the situation, it was something for those higher up to consider.
Debt collectors operated solely to collect debts.
Attacking the Suna ninjas served the purpose of enhancing debt collection. If these sand ninjas were killed, it would alter the nature of debt collection, defeating the purpose of a debt collector's job.
Soon, the severely injured and unconscious Suna ninjas were bandaged.
The lead debt collector spoke again:
"Next, hang them all at the gate somewhere close to the daimyo in the Land of Wind capital, and the mission will be considered complete. By the way, don't forget to attach an invoice at the end and include more threatening letters. The owed debts must be recovered. I'll report the debt collection situation to Gold Medal."
"Yes!"
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Hey guys i started an original.. just testing the waters though. You can check it out *Flawed Awakening* and let me know what you think of it. Thanks