Shota dodged a low punch from Shizu, his body moving like it was second nature. She followed with a sidekick, her little leg swinging fast.
He jumped over it, light on his feet, and flicked her forehead with a finger. "And you're dead," he said, grinning.
"Oou!" Shizu shouted, rubbing the spot, her face scrunched in pain.
"You need to not just attack nonstop," Shota said, crouching to her level. "Read what the enemy's doing. Block or dodge, too."
Shizu nodded, her pout fading. She didn't complain much, she'd begged him to train her to be a "super duper powerful ninja" like him. She'd just started the shinobi academy, so he was teaching her basic taijutsu. Simple punches, kicks, and footwork. Nothing fancy yet.
"Alright, again," Shota said, standing and taking a stance.
Before they could spar, a shadow flickered beside them. An Anbu appeared, mask blank and creepy.
Shota's eyes snapped to him, his dojutsu kicking in on instinct. The Anbu's chakra vanished, but the guy didn't flinch. Shota shut it down, relaxing.
"Chunin Shota," the Anbu said in a flat voice, "the Kazekage wants to see you. Urgently."
Shota nodded. He turned to Shizu. "Keep practicing the katas. If I'm not back soon, don't worry, I'll probably be on a mission. Spar with your academy friends, too."
Shizu nodded, then put on her serious face. "Don't forget to pack your kunai, shuriken, and paper explosion tags," she said, like a tiny mission commander.
Shota smiled, ruffling her hair. "Got it, boss." He waved goodbye and watched her run off to practice. The Anbu had already Body Flickered away.
Shota headed home, moving fast. He grabbed his gear, kunai, shuriken, explosion tags, a few soldier pills, water, rations. Standard stuff.
Then he Body Flickered to the Kazekage's office, sand kicking up behind him.
He pushed open the heavy door and stepped inside. Eleven shinobi stood in a line, facing Rasa behind his desk. Shota took his spot, making it twelve.
"Good," Rasa said, eyes scanning them. "The entire twelve-man squad for this mission is here."
Shota glanced at the others and whistled in his head. 'Now this is some heavy firepower.'
They were some big names and talented shinobi. Jonin with scars and sharp eyes. Chunin who looked ready to bite.
"You all are being given a very important mission," Rasa said. His voice carried weight. "This could force Iwa to offer Suna a ceasefire. We might even get fair compensation for the damages and lives they've taken."
Everyone straightened. Suna had a ceasefire with Konoha now, fighting only Iwa on one front.
Iwa had tried to grab land rich in minerals after the Third Kazekage vanished and Suna weakened. So a war started on the border of Suna and Iwa.
Pakura of the Scorch Release led that fight, holding off Roshi, the Four-Tails jinchuriki with Lava Release.
Rasa continued. "Konoha used intel to hit Iwa bases across the Land of Earth. The Tsuchikage pulled forces from his village and our front to reinforce them. We strike now and take the advantage of this situation. Give Iwa a major blow."
He paused, letting it sink in. "Your target: Iwa's Explosion Corps. Main priority: their commander, Kurogiri Tetsu of the Tetsu clan. Explosion Release kekkei genkai. We know where he'll be. He'll have a few Explosion Corps members with him, secondary targets. Eliminate them if you can."
Shota's stomach dropped. 'Oh, boy.'
Kurogiri Tetsu wasn't S-rank, but he was a top A-rank elite jonin. One of Iwa's strongest. Explosion Release meant things and people going boom. It would be messy and deadly.
And he wouldn't be alone. 'This mission's gonna be a pain in the ass,' Shota thought, trying not to groan. 'Killing him? Not easy. Not easy at all.'
"The mission will be led by Sōshi Kuromori," Rasa said. "Mission details are with him."
Sōshi was vice commander of Suna's Puppet Corps. He was tall, calm, with dark hair tied back. He carried a scroll on his back—probably a puppet sealed inside.
Shota knew him as an elite jonin of Suna. Shota nodded. 'At least we've got a heavy hitter. Puppets against explosions? Not sure how that works, but okay.'
Then Rasa looked right at Shota. "Chunin Shota will be second in command. He's the most critical part of this mission."
Shota blinked, then nodded. Surprise hit him, he saw three jonin in the squad, all older, all experienced.
'Of course,' he thought, sighing inside. 'They want me to shut down the Explosion Release with Erasure. And by giving me a command positionz they are ensuring that my safety would be prioritized.' His dojutsu was perfect for it. No chakra, no explosions. But it meant he'd be in the thick of it, eyes locked on Kurogiri, no blinking.
The other shinobi turned, staring. A few jonin raised eyebrows. One chunin whispered to another. Shota felt the looks some curious, some annoyed. They were all thinking why a Kid was second in command of such an important mission.
Rasa caught it. "I see some displeasure," he said, voice firm. "But once you know why he's critical, you'll understand. Dismissed."
Sōshi stepped forward, scroll in hand. "Meet me at the village gates in twenty," he said.
Shota exhaled, rolling his shoulders. Twenty minutes to prep for a mission that could end Iwa's push or end him. He glanced at the squad again. Twelve shinobi, hand-picked. Suna wasn't playing around.
But this was it. The plan he'd suggested or well had in mind. He was pretty sure that the elders of the village were more experienced in warfare than him and would have likely came with this idea on their own.
Let Konoha bleed Iwa, then strike them hard. And Suna was striking hard by targeting the Explosion Corps. Kurogiri Tetsu. A chance to cripple Iwa's strongest unit. If they pulled it off, Suna could breathe. Maybe even win against Iwa. This would mean that he could afford to be lazier in the future.
Shota tightened his headband and cracked his knuckles. 'Let's do this.'
--------Author Notes---------
Y'all can now read the next 15 chapters of the fanfic on my pat*reon. Thankyou for your support!
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