Naruto: Kage of Kages

“I think it is best if Tenma-san hears this next bit.” It seemed the woman was opting for honesty.

At least on the surface.

A few moments passed and Tenki returned with Tenma behind him.

“What’s the matter?” The older man asked.

“I’m afraid our past is catching up with us.” Tomoe spoke up ahead of everyone else.

“I see . . . So someone is coming to attack us?” Tenma responded after only a brief moment of surprise.

Tenki on the other hand, was outright shocked that the source of trouble was within their own group.

“Looks like Tenma-dono was already aware of underlying issues.” Inori commented.

But the older man shook his head.

“I knew Tomoe-dono’s group was running from something when I took them in but no more than that.” He started.

“There was a thought that trouble might show up in the Land of Iron but I believed a shinobi guard might be enough to ward away would be attackers.”

“Alas! It looks like I was wrong.” He sighed.

Tomoe was startled by the revelation.

“Don’t look so surprised Tomoe-dono. You’ve gotten better over time but your people’s acting was definitely not good enough back then, especially when you were standing in front of a merchant whose livelihood depends on their ability to read people and communicate effectively.”

After Tenma’s explanation, Tomoe showed a small blush of shame.

“It seems I have been overestimating myself.” She spoke after a fake cough of embarrassment.

The woman took a deep breath of preparation and decided to come clean.

“Beni-sama . . . The child that is a part of our group, possesses a special sight. It is an ability that manifests in the family sometimes, both coveted . . . and feared by others.” She began explaining.

“Beni-sama!? So Beni-chan is not Ema-san’s daughter!?” Tenki asked with a glow in his eyes.

Tomoe of course realized why the unmarried young man suddenly seemed so excited.

“Since the truth has been made clear, you will now refer to our young lady with the proper respect.” Tomoe declared with a chilling tone that shut Tenki right up.

“A group of criminals wanted Beni-sama, wanted to use her powers for their dastardly ends . . and when our clan head refused them . . . We were slaughtered to the last.” The woman gravely spoke.

The flames of hatred burned in her very eyes.

“We were the few survivors, fleeing the Land of Iron when the criminals thought us dead but . . . It seems they have since learned of our survival and came to claim their prize . . . and finish the job.” Tomoe concluded.

Inori and Shiki looked at each other, both sharing a fleeting look of suspicion.

The Violet Rose made a signal to acquiesce for the moment and the boy obliged, not pressing Tomoe on the matter.

‘Protecting them is the job anyway, if the mission goes wrong due to the clients hiding important information, we don’t get black marks on our record even if we fail and, if we succeed, we get a bump in mission rate as well as a fat bonus from fining the deceiving client.’ Shiki thought.

While not thinking that far, Shinka stayed honed in on their mission, the client’s circumstances being a minor, ultimately insignificant misstep.

After all, what “great” enemies could a small clan from the Land of Iron attract?

Mei on the other hand, looked ready to tear apart the criminals Tomoe spoke off.

Maybe she empathised with someone being hunted for their bloodline ability, Uchiha were very united partially because of this, they would be picked off if they let themselves become too isolated.

Or perhaps the bespectacled girl was simply that empathetic.

There was also the chance that her emotions were running high as they do for “particular” members of the Uchiha clan.

But who knows?

“Shiki, what is the opposition looking like?” Inori inquired.

“Judging strength based on chakra network development is not really that accurate but my best guess is three chunin to jonin level enemies and about thirty fodder.” The boy replied.

“Not too bad then.” The Violet Rose reflexively responded while pondering on the best course of action.

“We go and take them out before the caravan even gets close.” Mei suggested with zeal.

{The mission is to guard the clients, someone will have to stay behind to defend.} Shinka signed in response, making the bespectacled girl frown.

“I’ll just leave shadow clones posing as us behind. If they send scouts to have eyes on the caravan, it will even serve as camouflage.” Shiki proposed.

Inori nodded in agreement.

“Fo our battle plan, it is best if we keep it simple and adapt as we go if need be.” The Yamanaka started.

“Shinka’s hidden jutsu is great for covering wide areas and handling lots of fodder so we’ll leave them to her while the rest of us focus on the three possible threats.”

“How do you two want to play it?” The Violet Rose asked her two students.

“Mei-san should open up with a large scale fire release, cause some chaos while sensei and I each assassinate one of the high level enemies before we all gang up on the last one.” Shikki casually suggested.

“Sounds good to me.” The Uchiha agreed.

“Right then! Let’s get to work, team.” Inori declared.

To the three caravan leaders, the whole discussion felt surreal.

Daikin knew the hidden villages were gearing up for war so he was not surprised when his B rank mission posting only got him a team of young new shinobi.

Just the fact that he hired Konoha shinobi was usually enough to ward away bandits and the like, not to mention that as long as he did not lose his life, the village would compensate him in case their shinobi failed their mission to guard his goods.

But while he thought he understood the ruthless realities of being a shinobi, watching a young woman casually discuss how to conduct what she seemed to be expecting to be a complete slaughter, with children?

Even Tenki who could be considered a shinobi himself simply could not fully understand it. He had grown up thinking about how harder the lives of shinobi without a village were compared to their cushier counterparts but . . .

With the extra benefits, came extra, often deadly, responsibilities.

However, the most shocked one was the cold looking Tomoe.

‘The youngest looks to be about the same age as Beni-sama . . .’

She could not imagine sending her young lady into battle, the very fact that children died in the massacre of their family was horrifying to her.

The battlefield was no place for children, as a samurai, those were her beliefs.

But it was clear that shinobi operated by radically different rules.

While the trio of caravaners slowly disgusted the culture shock, Team 6 had already moved out with Shiki leaving behind three transformed shadow clones that joined the one in a meditative pose that he had created earlier.

That clone had switched from Enlightened Mind’s Eye to more conventional sensory abilities so he could act on notice.

The three caravan leaders each returned to their people in order to reassure them but, her samurai spirit getting in the way of her better judgement, Tomoe approached the Shiki clone.

+++++

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