The twelve-man squad shot out of Suna, feet skimming the sand without sinking in them.
Years of training and perfect chakra control let them run across the desert as if it were solid ground. It was said to be the second hardest thing taught in the Suna shinobi academy since it required a very good chakra control equal to what is required to what is required to walk on water.
And as for the hardest thing, it was creating chakra strings. That's why Shota considered Suna academy, a tad above the Konoha academy even though the number of genins graduating were less.
They moved fast, a blur of headbands and cloaks, heading from the Land of Wind through the Land of Fang toward the Land of Earth. The sun beat down on them, but no one slowed. This was a critical mission.
Shota broke the silence, "Commander, can you tell us more about who we're facing? Any intel would help."
Sōshi glanced back, his dark eyes scanning the squad. Everyone nodded, they wanted details too. Sõshi was going to tell them soon enough but now was a good time as any.
"We'll pass one of Iwa's smaller bases first," he said. "It is likely the destination of our target to rest. We take it out quietly. It would ensure that there would be no alerts and no backup for the Explosion Corps when we engage them."
He kept running as he spoke. "Then we ambush the Corps. Here's what you need to know: most Explosion Corps members use explosive tags or clay bombs. The name makes you think Explosion Release kekkei genkai, but that's rare. Only a few have it."
He paused, letting that sink in. "Our main target, Kurogiri Tetsu, does. He can create explosions from his hands, even his feet. Big ones."
A chunin whistled. Sōshi continued. "We're hitting him because he's a key asset of Iwa, close to S-rank. But there's another reason. The Tetsu clan found a way to infuse their Kekkei Genkai chakra into clay, turning it into explosives. It supplies the whole Corps."
Shota's mind clicked. "By killing Kurogiri, we're getting rid of one of the strongest people who can make those clay bombs," he said.
Sōshi nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes. "Exactly. Intel says only three in Iwa have Explosion Release. One's the old clan leader who is retired and would die soon of old age. Another's a young genin, too weak to make real bombs. Take out Kurogiri, and we cripple the Corps."
Another shinobi grinned. "So we handicap their whole explosion game by hitting a few guys. There would be no one who would be able to make those clay bombs then. Iwa would have to invest a lot more to buy explosion paper tags."
Shota's thoughts raced. 'Deidara didn't have the kekkei genkai in the anime, but he used explosive clay.'
Then it hit him, a cold, creepy realization that made his skin crawl. 'Deidara had mouths in his hands and chest. It was supposed to be a kinjutsu that he stole from the village, but only Explosion Release users could make the clay explosive…'
Shota's stomach turned. 'Those mouths… were they from Tetsu clan members? Cut off, stitched on, still alive somehow? He pictured pale hands with tiny, twitching lips, teeth chomping clay, eyes blinking in the palms.
'Fuck, Deidara walking around with screaming hand-mouths made from real people…' He shuddered, nearly tripping. 'Nope. Nope. Burn that image.'
Sōshi's voice snapped him back. "Let's discuss what each of us can do. No surprises in the fight."
They went one by one. A jonin was a puppet master, poison needles, chakra threads. Another used the wind fan. A chunin specialized in Wind blades, another in traps and wires. Everyone had a role.
Shota went last. All eyes turned to him, the kid who looked ten, second in command. 'Why him?' they thought. 'What's so special about him?'
Shota shrugged. "I'm good with Body Flicker, Fire Style, Wind Style though my Wind jutsu's only C-rank. Pretty bad at taijutsu and genjutsu."
The squad blinked. One jonin scratched his head. A chunin whispered, "That's… it?" Another thought, 'He's too ordinary!'
Sōshi sighed, giving Shota a look.
"You can tell them," Sōshi said. "Konoha knows already. Might as well introduce you to the world. It's an A-rank village secret, keep it quiet for now though"
Sõshi said the last part looking at everyone.
Shota hesitated. Revealing his kekkei genkai could bring trouble. He'd used it before, but those enemies died, no reports.
In Suna, only a few knew to stop spies. Minato had seen it, though. Shota's only hope was the ceasefire. Konoha wouldn't spread word and put a bounty on him. Unless Danzo did. That old war hawk would leak it to Iwa or Kiri just to eliminate a future threat.
But Shota didn't mind. To grow, to survive, to live lazily, he had to show his power. Hiding forever wasn't an option.
Everyone leaned in, excited. An A-rank secret? Such information was always juicy.
Shota took a breath. "I can use the Yellow Flash's signature jutsu, the Rasengan."
Jaws dropped.
But Shota wasn't done. "And… I can stop someone from using chakra just by looking at them. It's my dojutsu. Kekkei genkai."
The squad froze. Eyes popped. Mouths hung open. A jonin's kunai slipped from his hand. A chunin's water bottle fell, splashing sand. One thought screamed in every head: 'That's so broken!'
--------Author Notes---------
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