Ryu and Nono's research paper also made it to some unintended places, which could cause Ryu some problems.
The scene shifts to a hidden prison in the Cloud village's outskirts. In the underground prison, the smell of death and blood permeated the still, heavy air.
It was a place hidden deep beneath the bustling facade of the Cloud Village, a warren of stone corridors and shadowed chambers that mirrored, in twisted ways, the hidden roots of the Leaf Village's own darkness. Onnen was in his office reviewing Ryu's research paper on anti-TB drugs. He was very much impressed with the medical skills Ryu had demonstrated in the research paper.
Onnen thought, "This Ryu brat will be a successful medical ninja in the future. His skills are too valuable to ignore. I should capture him if I can."
His face was a mask of calculating severity, his piercing gaze sweeping over the individuals before him with a cold intensity, assessing each one meticulously. Like Danzo Shimura, he was a man who operated in the shadows, using the expendable to achieve his goals, and he possessed a similar air of self-importance stemming from his unique contribution to the village's hidden strength.
Before him stood the newly assembled Jisatsu Squad, specially created to cause trouble for Ryu. They were a notorious collection of hardline criminal ninjas. They were captured, their wills broken, and transformed into expendable soldiers, akin to the notorious Suicide Squad or Task Force-X from the DC Universe, ready to carry out Onnen's bidding without question. This was the reason that there were not many criminal ninjas when it comes to Cloud Ninja Village. Even Akatsuki had none from Cloud Village.
In Naruoverse, Jisatsu Squad was Onnen's own creation, a testament to his singular achievement as one of the Cloud's few fuinjutsu grandmasters, the [Jisatsu Seal]. He created the seal himself and rose to the status of fuinjutsu grandmasters.
Every individual in attendance displayed the distinctive Jisatsu Seal on the nape of their necks – a ticking time bomb that could be triggered remotely from a set distance, ensuring their success or facing the dire consequences.
"Listen up." Onnen's voice cut through the silence, devoid of warmth. "You are the Jisatsu Squad. Dismissed from the village's traditional justice system, you now serve the Cloud Village in a different capacity." He allowed himself a thin, self-satisfied smile.
"My Jisatsu Seal guarantees your unwavering loyalty and timely compliance. Any deviation will result in your immediate demise. Remember, your heartbeats are but a countdown, and I determine when this countdown ends." He paused, allowing the weight of the unspoken threat to linger in the tense air.
This was the secret of his Jisatsu Seal. It counts the heartbeats of the user and triggers the bomb. This biological clock was used by Onnen to determine how many days they had left to live. Even if some people died during the mission from an excessive amount of cardio, Onnen did not care.
Onnen's ruthless approach to controlling his rogue ninja problem had earned him a reputation as a feared leader within the Cloud Village. His Jisatsu Seal was a constant reminder to his subordinates of the consequences of disobedience.
It was this system, this grim efficiency, that kept the Cloud Village's rogue ninja problem almost non-existent and also dealt with dangerous, sure-death missions much like the Root ANBU of the Leaf Village.
Death was common in this world, but still leaders were hesitant to send their best men on sure-death missions. Hiruzen also for this reason allowed Root to operate in the shadows because he wouldn't know who died. Hiruzen was weak in this category compared to the likes of Onnen and Danzo.
Onnen's gaze swept over the squad, resting briefly on a hulking figure near the front.
This was Kaminari, a man whose sheer size and build were reminiscent of the Raikage himself and who possessed a formidable imitation of the Raikage's Lightning Armour, though lacking the speed of the true technique. Kaminari's presence here was a result of his temper; he had been imprisoned for killing a noble who had angered him, and his eyes still held a simmering hatred for the privileged class.
Beside Kaminari stood a trio, their expressions chillingly devoid of empathy. These were the information specialists, the ones who preferred extracting secrets through pain, their methods akin to the Leaf's Ibiki Morino, but perhaps even more sadistic. The rest of the squad comprised various small-time criminal ninjas, each with their own history of offences that had landed them under Onnen's command.
"Your mission", Onnen announced, his tone shifting to one of cold purpose, "concerns the Haumura clan. Their new fuinjutsu seals have been causing problems for the Leaf Village, and our spies have confirmed that Dan Hamura or his grandson Ryu Hamura will be travelling outside the village soon, heading towards the Land of Rivers."
Onnen's eyes settled on the squad leader. "Your objective is to intercept Dan Hamura or his grandson Ryu Hamura. Capture them if possible. The boy, Ryu, is a rare talent in medical ninjutsu, already making significant waves in the world of technology as well. His value alive is immense. However," Onnen's voice hardened, "if capture proves impossible, you are authorised to eliminate them. Do not allow them to escape."
He looked at the squad members and declared, "Kaminari will be your leader for this mission."
Kaminari grunted in acknowledgement. The rest of the squad also nodded. Kaminari was a powerful individual who rivalled the Raikage in his younger days, so no one objected. Even if they had objected, it didn't matter to Onnen.
Onnen stepped forward slightly, his voice taking on a persuasive, almost inspiring tone, though the malice simmered beneath the surface. "This mission is of the utmost importance to the Cloud Village. Success will not only address a potential threat but also demonstrate the effectiveness of our... unconventional forces. Prove your worth, and perhaps, just perhaps, your sentences may be... re-evaluated." It was a pep talk designed to ignite a desperate hope in the hardened criminals.
"Now go prepare for the mission. You will have to stay outside the land of lightning for weeks, so prepare accordingly."
After dismissing the rest of the squad to prepare, Onnen gestured for Kaminari to follow him.
Kaminari followed him to his office. This was not his first rodeo. He knew half of the things he would be told.
"Upon successful completion of the mission", Onnen began, a calculating glint in his eye, "there is an additional task for you." He leaned in slightly. "Once the mission is concluded, eliminate the rest of the squad. All of them. Leave no witnesses."
Although Kaminari's eyes slightly widened, he said nothing.
"Do this for me," Onnen continued, making the offer explicit, "and I will personally ensure a ten-year reduction in your prison sentence. This significant reduction should be agreeable to you, shouldn't it?"
Onnen watched Kaminari's reaction, a cruel smile playing on his lips.
Kaminari understood his intentions. He had been asked many times to eliminate a few individuals to ensure compliance from others. But killing everyone — that was new. He realised that the mission was risky and that if word spread that the cloud village was involved, it might lead to war, so everyone connected to it needs to be killed. As someone who had done multiple missions for Onnen, Kaminari understood it quickly.
Kaminari finally spoke, his voice a low rumble. "I agree, Onnen-sama. But I have a condition."
Onnen raised an eyebrow, a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. "A condition? You are in no position to make demands without consequences."
Kaminari said, "I don't want 10 years off, but I want this to be my last mission. I have done enough missions for you now. Even your personal ones. All I ever did was punch that bastard. Who knew he would die from just one punch?"
Onnen sighed and pretended to agree reluctantly and said, "Okay, fine. If this mission is complete without any hiccups, we can discuss the details."
Onnen's internal turmoil starkly contrasted with his outward gestures, revealing a complex web of deceit and manipulation within him.
Onnen was thinking, "He thinks I'll actually free him? Fool. I'll shift the blame for the squad's inevitable demise onto him. It will provide the perfect pretext to keep him imprisoned and perhaps even extend his sentence. By harming a noble, he committed the gravest offence. Those meddling nobles didn't want me to release him. I need the support of these nobles if I want to keep my seat on the council."
He chuckled inwardly. "But what power does he truly hold? His life, controlled by the ticking clock on that seal, remains solely within my grasp. Branded a criminal by the village, I will manipulate him to serve my ambitions until his final breath."
The thought brought him a cold satisfaction. He knew that, in the end, the Kaminari would comply. They always did. Because the alternative was a fate far worse than a swift end.
##PoWeR StOnEs##
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