Still seated, Kuroichi lifted his hand in front of him, palm facing up. Dark chakra that looked like inky shadows stirred on his skin.
Dark release was complex, it wasn't enough to simply use it, he felt like he had to really understand it. Train it like a muscle, cultivating precision. At the moment, he could mostly draw upon the dark chakra from his palm and fingers, and then manipulate it somewhat in his hands, like moving it around and compressing it slightly when he really concentrates.
He envisioned different scenarios; draining chakra from one enemy while striking another, using incredibly potent dark release chakra mid-combat to steal enough in one go to keep fighting for minutes to come, and eventually, maybe… going as far as absorbing whole jutsu when they came at him and sending them right back, reforged and stronger at that. Alas, that was still far off in the future.
Another thing lingered in his mind were the fire release scrolls he had obtained when he fought his first pack of bandits and the one genin rogue ninja. He had only read the scrolls before and never tried the techniques themselves. Putting too much on his plate all at once wasn't a good thing, he thought, so he decided that he would continue to focus on his water release for now, and revisit the fire release when the time was right.
Kuroichi's thoughts drifted.
To his "father's" death. To the forest. To his slow, bloodstained growth. From a child pretty much scraping bark for shelter to a killer of chakra beasts and rogue shinobi.
And still, he was at the bottom of the world's hierarchy. There was no clan, no village as foundation and backing, only his darkness and drive to reach new heights.
Finally, his thoughts returned to the black market, to the masks, the roles and the life he'd soon live.
He wouldn't go there today, the time wasn't right yet. First, he'd attend his first calligraphy lesson. After that, maybe even a day or two later, he would return to that shadowy door with a new face, a new name and a clear goal.
And lastly he needed a place where he could train in peace. He dreaded slipping in and out of the city just to enter the woods again. So far, he hadn't sensed anyone dangerous nearby, inly chakra-bearing civilians. But that could change anytime.
—
Tsuchigakure no Sato Office of the Tsuchikage
The faint scrape of brush on parchment echoed through the silent stone chamber as Ōnoki, the third tsuchikage, dipped his brush once more into ink. His hand moved with deliberate precision as he stamped approval after approval, each seal hitting the paper with a satisfying thunk.
His back was hunched over the desk, just slightly, burdened not yet by age, but by the responsibilities of a nation on the brink of another war.
Two anbu, masked and silent, flanked the far wall standing guard motionlessly. A knock interrupted the stillness.
"Enter," Ōnoki grunted without looking up.
His secretary, a sharply dressed woman in her thirties named Ikue, stepped inside holding a fresh stack of scrolls and documents. She bowed lightly before advancing.
"Updates, Lord Tsuchikage."
He waved a hand for her to begin, stilll stamping another mission report.
She began reading smoothly, her tone clear and professional. "From Konoha: they've begun reinforcing their border outposts. Reports suggest a shift in personnel, likely preparation for open conflict."
Ōnoki grumbled, "Of course they are. Hiruzen wouldn't move unless he knew something was coming."
Ikue continued, "From Kumogakure: their jinchūriki, the one known as Blue B has been reported to control up to six tails of his transformation with full consciousness."
Ōnoki's brush paused mid-stroke. He clicked his tongue. "Tch. The Raikage's weapon grows sharper. Noted."
She turned the page. "One more… personal reminder, sir. Your son, Tsuchihiro, is scheduled to graduate from the Academy next week."
The Tsuchikage allowed himself the briefest smile. "Hmph. I suppose that boy has finally grown grown up."
Ikue hesitated at the bottom of the scroll. "There is… one more matter. Intelligence we received from one of our deep rogue field assets."
Ōnoki raised an eyebrow. "That so? Which operative?"
"Codename Mukuro," she said. "The one embedded among former Iwa-nin and other wandering mercenaries. He forwarded a concerning report through indirect channels."
He finally set his brush down and gestured for her to continue.
"The report refers to sightings of a wandering child. No older than six. A child with an active dark release bloodline."
Ōnoki's eyes narrowed.
Ikue elaborated, "According to Mukuro, the child has no village affiliation. He was witnessed engaging in battles using taijutsu, kenjutsu, elemental ninjutsu, specifically water release, and genjutsu. Multiple bandits and rogue-nin, including two former iwa genin and one former chūnin, engaged him."
Ōnoki blinked slowly. "And the outcome?"
"The child killed two of them and held his own against the chūnin class enemy before disappearing. Based on analysis, he was described as fighting with clever unpredictability, weaving deception into any action he could. His movements suggest he's almost entirely self-trained. Surviving in wilderness conditions, clothing torn and mismatched. Probably orphaned. Plus his kenjutsu is said to be incredibly crude and basic, yet still dangerous in it's own way"
The Tsuchikage fell quiet. After a moment, he muttered, "...Dark Release. I haven't heard of that clan in decades."
"The intel suggests he initially aimed for the border town near the Land of Fire, but he never arrived. Since then, whispers of the encounter have been spreading slowly among some mercenary circles. Nothing more than rogue chatter yet, for the most part."
Ikue lowered the scroll and stood silently. Ōnoki closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. "A child like that, allowed to grow unchecked, could become a devastating force. Especially if another village discovers him."
He opened his eyes and gestured toward the ANBU shadows in the room. "Summon Jōgai and his team."
One of the masked guards vanished without a word, while Ikue bowed and stepped back.
Within minutes, footsteps echoed outside the chamber, and the door opened with a quiet creak. In stepped Jōgai, a tall shinobi with graying hair pulled back into a knot and sharp amber eyes. He wore an earthen-colored haori over his flak vest, with a claygourd strapped across his back, a clear indication toward his expertise in Explosive Release. Behind him entered his three subordinates.
First came Hakka, a calm and calculating young man with short black hair and half-lidded eyes, whose sensory abilities were impressive for someone his age. Then Kaoru, a sharp-tongued kunoichi known for her agility and wire-based trap techniques. Lastly, the youngest, Daiken, a burly chūnin with powerful earth-based taijutsu and a surprisingly gentle demeanor.
They bowed in unison. "You summoned us, Lord Tsuchikage," Jōgai said, voice deep and steady.
Ōnoki interlocked his fingers and leaned forward over the desk. "I did. You're to be deployed on a somewhat delicate matter."
He flicked the scroll forward across the table, and Jōgai caught it in one hand. As he skimmed it, his brow furrowed.
"A child? Hm, a different kind of rogue… with dark release?"
Ōnoki nodded. "We don't know his origin. We only know that he's possibly dangerous, growing stronger, and most importantly has no ties to any village. Yet."
Daiken's voice rumbled from the back. "Dark release. I think I've heard the clan that had that specific bloodline limit was wiped out generations ago."
"So did I," the Tsuchikage muttered. "But the chakra signature and jutsu described leave little doubt."
Kaoru clicked her tongue. "Is it confirmed that he is truly alone?"
Ikue, now standing to the side, answered. "Yes. He also definitely appears self-trained. No reports of handlers, guardians, or affiliation."
Ōnoki's eyes hardened. "Which means he's free. Unclaimed. An unshaped weapon in a world that's about to enter a new period of turmoil."
He stood, slowly but with weight.
"I'm giving you this mission because I trust your judgment. First priority is to locate and approach the boy peacefully. Offer him sanctuary in Iwagakure. Tempt him. Promise him training, protection, funding, even the prospect of rebuilding his 'clan.' We'll grant him those benefits if we must."
Jōgai nodded. "And if he resists?"
Ōnoki's gaze sharpened like a blade. "If you believe the situation calls for it, capture him. Alive."
He turned slightly, his voice dropping to something quieter, but heavier. "If all else fails, eliminate him. I won't allow a future S-rank missing-nin with a rare kekkei genkai to slip through our fingers."
There was a long silence before Jōgai closed the scroll. "Understood."
Ōnoki turned to Hakka. "You'll use your chakra sensing ability to scan both cities he may have passed through. First the one near the Fire Country border, then the port city Nakanoura. If he's passed through, he'll leave a trace."
Hakka gave a single nod. "We'll find him."
Ōnoki grunted. "And don't be careless. The boy has reportedly killed trained shinobi already, and his fighting style is unorthodox. Do not underestimate him because of his age."
Kaoru tilted her head. "If he's half as good as the intel says… and all alone… it is necessary to determine whether to approach coming from a shinobi perspective or to appeal to his civilian side, since he's never lived in any of the great nations and had formal ninja training.
Ōnoki didn't answer that. His silence was answer enough.
"Go," he said finally. "Find the boy before someone else does."
The four shinobi bowed again and departed swiftly, disappearing into the morning light that filtered through the narrow window of the stone office. As the door closed behind them, Ōnoki leaned heavily on his desk, staring at the faint stamp marks still drying on the last mission report.