Chapter twelve

It had been a long trip to the coordinates of the rendezvous site that the mission scroll had listed, thirty-six hours of travel in total with eight hours set aside for small breaks and rest between the long stints of high-speed travel. But finally squad eleven landed just outside the small hidden encampment where they were to meet up with the other squads joining in the attack on the slaver camp.

Four small tents, all a dark green camo, were set up in a ring around a much larger four post command tent with a dark grey camo, with a dark green fabric mesh over the top to provide additional camouflage to prevent it from being made out easily from a distance.

As the three Shinobi and Ninken entered the small cleared area the flap on the command tent opened and another Konoha Shinobi stepped out, he had black eyes and a short crop of brown hair that could be seen at the sides of his bandanna-style Hitai-ate, wearing the standard Chūnin attire of Konohagakure complete with a the green flak jacket and blue bodysuit, the only other identifying mark he had was that of a purple colored tattoo he had on his left cheek which Kenta could make out as the Kanji for Kage.

The man looked at them with shock on his face, "Anko, we weren't expecting you or your squad for another couple of hours at least." the Chūnin said before he looked to both Kenta, Sayaka and Midnight before back to the purple haired Kunoichi, "I would have thought having two Genin would have slowed you down some." he stated.

Anko smirked, "Good to see you too Kokage." she said in greeting, "And you don't have to worry about these two, or the mutt, they are able to keep with me just fine. The pair of them could probably run laps around you and still be able to kick your butt ten times over." she stated with a grin.

Kokage blinked for a moment before looking back to Kenta and Sayaka for a moment before seeing that they weren't winded in the slightest, and even giving him slightly annoyed looks for his comment, he chuckled a little and nodded, "Sorry, it's just that I remember what it was like when I was a fresh Genin, two days running with little breaks would have left me exhausted, it's good to see some Genin are taking their training seriously." he said in way of apology, "My name's Kokage Yanagikage, I'm leading squad B-three on this mission."

Both Kenta and Sayaka nodded back to him accepting his apology, "No apology needed Kokage-san, many of the civilian students in our class wouldn't be able to do so either, but Kenta and myself have been training partners since before we started the academy. We've always pushed each other to do better, a short two day run isn't that tiring for the two of us" Sayaka explained, "I'm Sayaka Uchiha and this is Kenta Uzumaki and his Ninken partner, Midnight." she introduced them.

Kokage nodded, "Good to meet you." he said before turning back to the command tent, "Come on inside it's just my team here now. Team C-six is out watching the slaver camp and keeping us apprised of any changes." He said as he opened the tent door as they all walked into the large tent.

Inside there was a table set up in the middle of the floor with another two Shinobi standing on the opposite side of it. One had dark eyes and brown, jaw-length hair that frames the sides of his face that hung over his standard blue Konohagakure Hitai-ate. The other had small black eyes and short brown hair that comes to a point at the top with his own Hitai-ate around his forehead, both were wearing the standard Chūnin uniform same as Kokage.

"Squad B-three, this is Sayaka Uchiha and Kenta Uzumaki and his partner Midnight of squad eleven. Squad eleven these two are Zaji and Kabure my squad mates for this mission." Kokage introduced them.

Both Kenta and Sayaka nodded to the two Chūnin in greeting and both nodded back, Zaji smirked, "So these are the ones we have to thank for getting the Intel that started all this." he said with a grin, "Nice job, you three come to make sure it's all finished and wrapped up with a neat little bow."

Anko chuckled, "Yeah we can't leave it to you guys, knowing you Zaji you'd screw it up somehow." she joked getting a laugh from everyone bar the smirking Zaji.

"Alright that's enough chatter." Kokage said as he chuckled, "Come on let me show you three what I've got planned for this operation. We were just about to go over the plans again so you three have good timing." He said as he gestured to the large map laid out on the table with various reports spread over it.

Squad eleven took up one side of the table as they looked down at the map and documents to see what they were facing. Kokage moved to the other side of the table with his team before clearing his throat.

"Alright, so the reports from C-six detail what the camp it like and it's a pretty basic setup." Kokage started as he gestured to the map and circled a small area on it, "Their main defense is a seven foot wall made up of cut down trees, it looks like a hatch job but it's sturdy enough for their purpose." He said "C-six have been able to get a general layout of the inside from looking through the gaps in the wall, as well as getting a birds eye view from the treetops around the perimeter." he tapped an area to the far right of the circle, "They have several large cages set up in this area, filled with young women and children. There are nine hostels in total armed with various weapons though nothing properly maintained, a couple of crossbows, swords an axe or two, and a variety of other weapons. Though they don't exactly look proficient in using them." he stated before tapping another area in the circle, "The two main areas that they congregate are here and here, a small fire pit and a log cabin that they took over for their shelter. They have a two man patrol circling the outside doing a full rotation in just under three minutes which swaps out ever two hours, though it isn't timed and the swaps vary."

"That's our opening to get people inside before we make our move. Our plan is to take out one of the patrols silently and replace them with two of our own under Henge. Once they are in place and the next patrol is out we deal with them and we'll have nearly halved their numbers. Then once our inside men are in place and the signal is given we will have the element of surprise on our side when two of their own turn on them. We'll also have men in the trees to provide overwatch and give strategic long-range assistance with Kunai and Shuriken given that we can't use our Jutsu as it would danger the captives. So getting in close would be the best option overall to eliminate any chance of the captives being caught up in the fighting."

Kenta nodded as he heard the plan and read over one report in particular, "What about the gate? I'm seeing here that they have two thugs guarding it at all time." he said noting the report detailing them and their weapons.

Kokage nodded, "Yes they will be the first to be dealt with when the attack commences. They're the biggest threat, large brutes with heavy weapons. But with little going on up top the signal for the attack to commence will be when they fall. The sudden fall of the two of them will give the opening for our inside men to take out the nearest slavers close to them when they are caught up in the sudden shock. There will only be three left alive by that point, so we will outnumber them three to one with the nine of us assigned to this assault."

Midnight gave a growl at that comment and Kenta ruffled his fur, "I think you mean ten." he chuckled.

Kokage gave a smirk, "Right ten of us." He said before going back to the map, "This is the way that I have it planned out. Zaji and I will be up in the trees in the area above the captives to provide the overwatch and to prevent any chance of a slaver grabbing one of the captives to use as a meat shield." he explained, "Once the second team is in position and the second patrol is taken out another two of ours will Henge into them to get the gates to open. Once they are open they will take out the two brutes and those inside take out the two closest to them." He added before looking up, "I planned all this out when it was just going to be the two squads here so you guys will just be here as back up. With any luck everything will go off without a hitch and you three won't have to do much else than take up the overwatch on the other side of the encampment to give support if it's needed."

Squad eleven nodded not having any real problems with the plan, seeing that it was set out so well, though Anko did give a huff, "And here I was hoping for some real action." she said before sighing, "Sorry you two looks like your first C-rank mission is going to be a bit of a downer."

Kenta smirked; "Eh there's always the next one. As long as everything runs smoothly here I don't mind watching how it's done from the sidelines." he shrugged.

Sayaka nodded in agreement as she looked over the plans in thought, "Kokage-san, wouldn't it be better to bide our time just for a little bit longer with our men inside and get a second-team inside? That way we would cut the enemies numbers by a further two before beginning the assault." she asked.

Kokage shook his head, "If we had the time to spare that would be ideal, but once the first team is inside we need to put things in motion as soon as possible because the longer they're in there the higher the chance of them being discovered as imposters gets. We don't have time nor the backgrounds to do proper profiling on the ones we'll be impersonating so we can't even hope to have them be able to mimic anything but their walk patterns and appearance with the Henge. If we left it any longer it would put the operation at risk if they were discovered that's why we'll be pressing the attack within three minutes once the first team is inside. That will allow for enough time for the team to get into position within the enemy encampment and ready themselves for the attack to begin." he explained, "While we're lucky right now to have even numbers I don't want to risk them catching on and possibly blowing the whole op before we can even get started with the main attack."

Squad eleven nodded in agreement with the assessment of the situation it would be better to move fast once they had people inside, and with trained Shinobi inside dispatching the three left after the gate guards fell should make for an easy task considering that they wouldn't have the skills nor reaction time to act once things got started, it would be over before they even knew what happened.

It was at that moment the cry of a Hawk was heard from outside the tent and Kokage looked to the door before he stepped up and held out his arm as a messenger hawk landed on it with a small scroll tied to its talon. "Its a report from C-Six." he said as he retrieved the message and started to read it frowning as he did so, "Damn it, looks like things have changed." he said as he made his way over to the table, "We're not going to have equal numbers any more." he said as he put the message on the table, "One of the other groups came by the camp about five minutes ago with a fresh batch of slaves, all young girls, but because their cages were already full to the max they had to move out again. C-six is currently following them because the direction they went doesn't match up to the other camps we've discovered and it could be the final one we've been looking for." he said with a frown, "They followed protocol and sent a second message to the Hokage to inform him of this at the same time they sent this back to us."

Kenta crossed his arms hearing that, "So now we've got to wait until we hear back from lord Hokage on whether or not the mission is still a go." he stated frowning.

Kokage nodded, "Yes we'll give it seven hours, that's more than enough time for them to receive the message and relay any new orders back to us. But either way there's no way for them to send out an additional team to restock our numbers." he stated looking grim before glancing to Anko, "Looks like you'll be getting to have your share in the action after all Anko."

Anko nodded back, "Don't worry, these two can handle it. They aren't as green as most academy students." She stated, confident in her two Genin.

Kenta nodded as well, "We're Shinobi as well. We came here expecting to be involved and not to sit on the sidelines, this doesn't change anything." He stated with his fists clenched and blood pumping in his ears as he kept his expression one of resolve.

Kokage looked to him and then to Sayaka who had the same expression on her own face to show that they were both committed to seeing the mission through and he nodded, "Alright then, but just so you know that means that you two will have to be the infiltration team. That was going to be C-six's part of the mission but now that they're gone that's going to have to fall to your team, and while I would like to send Anko in I'm going to need her to back up Kabure to take down those two brutes at the gate when the attack begins." he stated, "Are you two okay with getting your hands dirty?"

Anko glance at her two Genin at that a little worried about them knowing that this was just the thing she had been worried about when they had first left the village, but the looks in both of their eyes squashed those worries as both of them nodded.

"Like I said we're Shinobi." Kenta said with conviction, "Taking lives is part of the job. These bastards have caused nothing but hell for other people if we can end that here and now, we won't hesitate to do so. The fact that it's for a mission is just a bonus."

Kokage looked Kenta straight in the eye in a test of wills for several moments in a challenge to see who would look away first but when neither did Kokage smirked, "That's what I like to hear, you'll do just fine." he said with a nod, "Alright head out to the tents and rest up, me and Zaji are going to go out to the encampment to take over C-six's post to make sure that nothing else changes before the attack. Kabure will come and get you when it's nearer the time. You've had a long trip here I want you both rested and in the right mindset for when the operation begins, dismissed."

Both Sayaka and Kenta nodded and started from the tent with Midnight staying by his masters side as they left, Anko watched them go and once they were outside she let out a sigh, well this was what they had signed up for and she had prepared them both as best she could, now it was up to them to put all that training to the test, she just hoped that their convictions would hold out.

Time skip- two hours before mission start

Kenta sat in one of the smaller tents, sitting on one of the crates of supplies as he sat with his sword out and between his legs with each of its blades in a cross-section as he went over each with a small black sharpening stone as he refined the edges of each of the smaller blades one at a time until they were razor sharp. It was what he found himself doing in order to take his mind off the mission and the part he knew he would have to play in it. While he knew he was committed to doing what he had to do there was a part of him that felt uneasy and shaky. He knew it was just his nerves before going on his first serious mission and that it would go away when his adrenaline started pumping and he had to think and act in the heat of the moment but right now he was just doing everything he could to try and steady himself until the time came.

Looking down at the very blade he was sharpening he felt a knot form in his stomach. In a few short hours he would be taking someone's life, possibly with this very blade that he was sharpening right now. The thought made him pause mid stroke with the sharpening stone before continuing on a moment later as he pushed the thought from his mind as he continued on. It was funny in a way, he had probably sharpened this blade hundreds of times over the years, and now something so small and insignificant seemed so big to him now.

After finishing the final blade on his sword Kenta set the sharpening stone down to the side of him and took a final breath to try and steady himself, his nerves were really starting to get to him and he noticed that he was even shaking a little bit which he couldn't help but chuckle nervously at.

Midnight who was lying on the ground next to him looked up at his master sensing his unease and gave a small whine as he sat up and placed his head on Kenta's right thigh to try and give him some comfort.

Kenta looked to his partner with a small chuckle before reaching over and giving the Ninken a scratch behind the ear, "I'm fine buddy, just a little nervous is all. I'll be alright, thanks for worrying." he said back with a smile to reassure his canine partner that he was okay.

"Glad to know I'm not the only one." came a voice from the doorway that Kenta looked up to seeing Anko and Sayaka standing there, "You too hm?" Sayaka said as the pair walked in.

Kenta chuckled and nodded as he shook his head, "Yeah, it's getting to me more and more as it gets closer. I didn't think I would be this stressed out about this." He said as he looked down at his sword that was now on his lap.

Anko nodded as she put his hand on his shoulder, pausing a moment as she felt him shaking a little and looked at him softly, "It's okay Gaki it's a natural reaction, you're both just nervous about the whole thing." she said gently to try and calm him down, "It's the knowing that what you're going to do is what is getting to you. Taking a life in the moment is a lot less nerve-wracking than knowing that you're going to be doing it hours beforehand." she said giving him a shake, "You're both well trained and have the skills to be great Shinobi, but the true test of a Shinobi is if you are able to carry out missions like this one. You can be the best at everything else, but this is what makes and breaks most Shinobi. The final test is taking a life for the sake of completing a mission, if you are capable of that then you will truly be able to call yourself Shinobi."

Listening to Anko both Kenta and Sayaka took her word to heart as they thought over just what she mean, it was something they had both always known but it had never felt so real until now hours before they were actually going to have to make their first kills. But regardless of that they both knew it was inevitable, this was the path they had both chosen, and whether it was today or a hundred days in the future they would eventually have to kill, it was what Shinobi did, and they knew this. They were Shinobi and if they truly wanted to call themselves that, this was what they had to do.

Looking back to Anko both of them nodded solemnly a look of resolve in their eyes, and got a nod back of silent approval from the older Kunoichi seeing that look, she knew that she would have nothing to worry about with them making their first kill, it would only be the aftermath now that they had to deal with and they would deal with that when it came.

The trio sat in silence for the remainder of the hour each alone to their thoughts as Kenta and Sayaka steeled their resolves a final time, and Anko steeling herself to help them through what was probably going to be one of the most difficult times of their Shinobi career.

She still remembered her first kill and she was younger than both of them when it happened, she had never been so grateful that the academy age had been raised some time ago no one that young or younger should have to go through something like that. 'At least with them being a little older than I was they should be able to process it better, and they'll have me there to help walk them through it after. Anything is better than what I had. I'd have been better off going it alone than with him.' she thought darkly to herself as the minutes ticked by.

But the hour passed and the door to the tent was darkened again as Kabure stood in it with a serious look on his face, "There still hasn't been any word from Konoha, so we're preceding ahead as planned." he stated, "Come on, we need to meet with Kokage and Zaji." he said as he turned to leave.

Both Sayaka and Anko nodded and got up to follow him out of the tent, Kenta took another breath as he stood up as well after they had left and lifted his sharpening stone as he put it back into his pocket before looking down at his sword, the light gleaming off the sharp edge as he caught his reflection in the flat of the steel. He had always known it was a weapon, that its purpose was to kill, but now he was looking at it in a whole new light. It was his weapon that he would use to take his first life this very day and in doing such he would truly become a Shinobi.

Midnight looked up to his master and gave him a small whine in concern seeing him look at the sword as he did. Kenta glanced at his partner and nodded to him before he looked back to the sword as his expression hardened. With a resolve to do what he had to he swung his sword around his waist as it clicked in place before he strode toward the door, he had a mission to complete.

Scene break

An hour after leaving the camp, both Kenta and Sayaka found themselves taking light breathes as they crouched next to Anko as they hid in the cover of several large bushes between the trees just north or the slaver encampment. They had been there for nearly half an hour now their eyes focused the entire time on their targets as they completed yet another rotation of the walls.

The reason behind their watching them was for the purpose of the mission as they lacked a proper profile of each of them they needed to watch them so they could get their walk cycles down as well as small details in their appearance so that their Henge would be able to pass at a close glance when they entered in through the gates and lasted the few minutes they were inside the enemy camp.

Kenta watched his target closely, all the while he did there was a small mattering at the back of his mind, how the poor idiot didn't even know what was going to happen to him in the next couple of minutes. All he'd know would be a sharp pain and then nothing more as he passed from this world in the blink of an eye, one second he was here and the next he was gone a sad end to a sad existence

Shaking his thoughts from his mind he focused again on his target as he memorized every detail for the Henge and his movements, 'Six foot tall, clumpy black hair down to his back, pale complexion, three scars on his lower left cheek, hazel eyes, ragged coat with muddy bottom and a tore left sleeve, dark pants and no shirt, wooden sandals with replaced toe string on the left foot. Walks with a three foot right stride and a two and a quarter left, possible injury to his left leg, carrying what looks like a wooden club with metal shards protruding from its top end with cloth wrapped around its lower, the body just looks to be a broken tree branch, skill with use: unknowable.' he rattled off for several seconds before repeating it in his head as he committed it all to heart.

While next to him Sayaka was doing the exact same with her target only she had a much easier time of it as the second man was a head shorter than his patrol partner and had a bald head, sporting a small white goatee and a leaner body only wearing a pair of navy blue shorts and nothing else, he was a lot more heavy built than the other man though with broad shoulders and a thick chest and arms, which she was guessing came from practicing with his weapon, that of a rusty iron cleaver that he had hoisted over his shoulder that looked to be half blunt from cutting into something it wasn't supposed to be cut into. Looking up to the top of the wooden wall she could see that each of the trees used in it had been cut away to points and she guessed that was what had done it and what had dulled his blade.

As the pair reached closer to the middle point of their patrol, an owl call was heard from above in the trees, it was Kokage and Zaji asking if Kenta and Sayaka had had enough time to get what information they needed. Anko looked to both her Genin and one by one both nodded their heads once in conformation and Anko nodded back before raising her hands to her mouth and sounding off her own owl call as an affirmative response before reaching for her own kunai and waiting.

The next second two glints of metal could be seen for just a split second before two kunai were launched silently from the treetops with speed towards their targets, and at the same time, Anko threw her own. The first two from the trees impacted hard into the back of the pairs necks for a near instant kill and at the same time two of Anko's Kunai lodged themselves in the pairs windpipes preventing any sound from being made from them in their final moments before their eyes rolled up to the tops of their heads as their bodies fell to the ground lifeless and unmoving.

With the targets down Anko rose up from the bushes silently as Kokage dropped from the treetops above as both ran to the bodies and quickly lifted them off the ground to move them out of sight before they were seen.

Seconds later both Kenta and Sayaka rose from the bushes and made their way towards where the targets had been taken out as, and after a small covering of smoke and a few seconds passed both had assumed the appearance of the recently assassinated men.

Not breaking their new walking stride both picked up the fallen weapons of their covers and assumed the patrol route as their placement was complete and they were ready for the next stage of the mission, the infiltration of the enemy camp.

It was only another minute, but it felt like an eternity for the two of them as they got nearer and nearer the gate, but doing their best to keep their cool and their Henges up they made to enter through the gate. Kenta stepped forward under Henge and with a shove pushed the gate open as they both walked through.

As they entered they came face to face with the two brutes that Kokage had mentioned earlier, and his statement really didn't do them justice. Both stood nearly six and a half feet tall, and were practically walls of muscle and meat, both were bald except for the topknots on the back of their heads, they could easily have passed for twins at a glance as they stood either side of the gate each wearing what looked to be bear hides around their waists and both carried a large iron mace with several prongs in their huge right hands. Kenta and Sayaka could both see why Kokage wanted them taken out in the opening of an assault; they were the biggest and most obvious threat to the mission and would be more difficult to take out in a one on one fight.

The two large walls of muscle nodded to Kenta and Sayaka as they came in through the gate and they nodded back in response keeping their mouths shut not wanting to test the impersonations of their voices if they could help it, they had only managed to catch small bits of conversation between the pair as they had patrolled so weren't totally confident on their voices but with any luck they wouldn't need them.

Beside the left wall of muscle was a bench where another two men sat, one skinny and lanky with a crossbow and some light armor with greying brown hair and a scar over his left eye, the other a tub of a man carrying a short sword with a crop cut of blond hair, both rose from their seats upon seeing Kenta and Sayaka enter and made towards the gate giving displeased grunts as they passed before they went out on the next patrol as they pulled the gate shut behind them.

The second they heard the gate close, both Sayaka and Kenta glanced at each other, they knew now that they only had a limited window before the attack would begin to get into position where they would have the other three scum bags within arms reach so that they could be taken out when the two walls of muscle at the front gate fell. They could practically feel their hearts racing with the adrenaline in their systems, though no one else could see the looks on their faces as their individual Jutsus covered them.

As they continued into the camp they both did a head count to find where each of the slavers where, two of the remaining three were by the fire pit, and the other was up leaning on the railing outside of the log cabin, with a flicker of the eyes Kenta gestured to Sayaka to take the one at the house and he would take the two by the fire pit. Sayaka gave a barely noticeable nod of the head as she followed his cue as they split off and headed towards the two locations casually not drawing attention to themselves as they moved to their positions.

As Kenta turned and walked towards the fire pit, he could see the cages at the other side of the camp and his eyes widened as he felt himself tense up at the sight. Several large cages all in a row along the back wall of the encampment, each filled with young girls and those just reaching adulthood, all in filthy clothes and rags, huddled together with the look of utter fear on their faces for their situation and their very lives. Kenta could make out the blood stains on several of the older and some of the youngers dresses and behind his Henge gritted his teeth as the reality of what these bastards had done to some of these girls sunk even further into him. He had read about the cruelties that some of them would suffer but seeing it in the flesh was something far different. He could feel his anger inside him his rage towards the bastards who did this but he pushed it down, he couldn't let his anger get the better of him now, the mission came first.

As he neared the fire pit Kenta reached out with his sensory skills and felt the chakra signatures of the two men on patrol fade away as their lives were cut short, only for the familiar signatures of Anko and Kabure took their places as they continued on the pass around the perimeter. His features hardened, the mission objectives were halfway complete, only the five inside were left, they have them outnumbered and they didn't even know it yet.

As Kenta reached the pit he moved to sit at the end of one of the logs that the others were using as a seat setting the scrap club down to his left as he did so, before glancing up at the log cabin as he saw Sayaka greet her target before he looked down and took another breath, his heart was pounding in his ears, he knew he needed to calm down otherwise he might be noticed.

Taking a glance over to the other two slavers at the pit with him he could see that they were busy talking and weren't paying any attention to him which he was thankful for, they looked like brothers, both with similar features and the same style of brown hair and green eyes, they had similar highs and builds wearing white shirts and some light armor. With a glance to their weapons he could make out that of a hatchet on the belt of one and a pair of steel daggers in the belt of the other. He knew he would have to move fast when the attack begin before either could pull their weapons when they realized that they were under attack.

Kenta could feel both Anko and Kabure getting closer to the gate, and a flicker of his gaze had both the walls of muscles still standing guard on either side of it, his gaze moved up to Sayaka and saw her playing her part well as she leaned on the railing next to her target as she passed what looked like a cigarette between them to keep up her facade a little longer, he could just about make out the shape of a second crossbow slung to the man's back from this distance, as well as a knife in the man's belt but he couldn't make out the man's features other than his black hair.

Looking down again Kenta could feel the chakra signatures only feet from the gate this was it. Taking a final breath to steady himself he moved so that his left hand was on the club and his right was at his waist as he reached to grab the handle of his sword as he moved like he was just casually getting up, he would take them out at the same time, quick and clean the second they were caught off guard by the two at the gate falling.

The chakra signatures had reached the gate and he could hear it starting to open, with a glance he could see the two guards look in curiosity as to why the gate was opening again so soon as both the Hanged forms of Anko and Kabure came inside. Before all hell broke loose, the one with the crossbow raised his hand and with a simple pull of his trigger the crossbow bolt fired and stuck fast right into the jugular of the first brute. As the tub of lard move with speed and rammed the now sharpened sword he had right into others gut bringing him to his knees before a kunai came out of his sleeve and with speed ran straight across his throat spraying blood high into the air as he fell back as his double did the same as he gargled with the bolt lodged in his trachea.

The sudden actions had drawn the attention from those left inside. The two by the fire pit quickly rose from their seat and made to pull their weapons, but Kenta was faster. Rising up from his seat Kenta hefted the heavy club up as he rose and with all the force he could muster behind it smashed it into the side of the hatchet-wielding brother's head as he was still getting up. The impact of the club combined with his unsteady stance knocked the man to the side with a painful cry as he crashed to the ground dazed as blood sprayed from his face where the metal shards had dug into his face.

Hearing his brothers cry the second man turned and looked at the scene in shock before looking to Kenta his eyes wide, "Kaito what are you…" he began to yell only for his words to falter as Kenta's Henge to fade and go up in a plume of smoke as he reached through his Henge grabbing at his sword and pulling if free from his waist.

In an instant the blade came loose and the joints came together as he swung it in an arch at the man as he closed in on him, the metal gleamed as it cut through the air it's edge razor sharp as it met the flesh of the man's neck and the next moment passed straight through.

For a second Kenta stood there his sword in the apex of its arch as it was raised in the air it's edge shimmering with the crimson liquid as the man stood in shock in front of him before blood gushed from the line in his neck that burst open his hands immediately went to it to try and stop the bleeding and were instantly painted red with the spray as he fell to the ground still clutching at it as he tried to gasp for life.

But before Kenta could spend another second on the sight before him his attention was taken by a gargled cry of "Bastard!" as he looked to his left as he saw the man he had knocked to the side rise up as he pulled his hatchet, his face had shredded by the metal on the club that Kenta had used to strike him moments before.

Hearing the cry Kenta reacted on instinct and swung the weapon he had most closest to the sound, putting his strength behind it he hefted the shrapnel club up once more as the man started to rise before he brought it down on the top of his head with a sickening wet thump.

The man's war cry had fallen silent as he instantly dropped the knee that he had been rising as his body started to shake. Kenta's eyes widened as he let go of the club but it remained in place and it was then that he realized what had happened. One of the larger shards of metal on the club had pierced the man's head as was keeping the club in place, but the man still wasn't dead.

Kenta felt bile rise up in his throat at the sight but knew that the job wasn't done, and so stepping forward as he brought his sword around again he swung, 'For the mission.' he thought as he let the sword fall.

The blade of the sword made a clean arch, the razor-sharp blade having dulled none in the last few seconds and with the full momentum of Kenta's swing behind it made a clean and true cut, as the next second the man stopped shaking before blood sprayed from his neck and onto the ground before the man fell sideways hitting the ground with a thud, as his head made another as it fell separately from the rest of his body.

The seconds ticked on in the aftermath as Kenta's heart pounded in his ears and he found himself breathing heavy in the following moments that seemed to tick by slower than anything he'd ever experienced in his whole life.

His gaze was fixed on the sight before him on the body of the man whose head he had just bludgeoned before cutting off. The sight of the blood pooling around his severed neck and the sight of the man's mangled face, as it still remained attached to the club made his guts wrench. Sure he had seen mutilation and torture before, at least a dozen times by now thanks to his training sessions over the past three weeks, and it was only thanks to them that he immediately didn't start to throw up rings around himself.

Turning his head away from the sight his blue eyes met another pair of eyes wide with fear, the man with his throat slit lay on the ground with his hands still clutching his neck, the blood had long stopped flowing and he now lay in a pool of his own blood silent and still, but the look in his eyes made Kenta freeze, it was a look of pure fear and utter terror that was etched into the man's face in his final moments when Kenta had taken his life, because of something he had done.

Kenta looked down at his sword and saw the blood still on his blade; he swallowed hard as the reality of it all hit him. He had actually done it, not just once but twice, in the blink of an eye he'd ended two lives with this very sword, he felt himself begin to shake and he felt like he'd just been punched right in the gut as he felt the bile start to rise again in his throat turning his head away from the sight he felt absolutely sick of what he had just done, but he couldn't get the images out of his head as he closed his eyes to stop from seeing them they were right there. Those eyes filled with fear and terror because of him, it was all because of him.

Opening his eyes to see something anything else, his eyes instantly fell on the cages, and all the girls inside them, their faces, their clothes, their fear and the look in their eyes, and instantly he was reminded of what he had just done, what he had actually done, remove two monsters from this world that didn't have the right to live in it and breath the same air as decent people.

They had caused so much pain, taken so many lives, and ruined so many others. The brief pain and fear that he had inflicted upon them in their last moments before he took their lives was nothing when compared to the sea of blood that was on both of their hands, he wasn't a murderer they were. He was a Shinobi doing his duty, and they were scum that needed to be put down before they could ruin more lives. He was just the one to do it.

Breath by breath slowly his breathing returned to normal as he stopped shaking and started to calm down. He felt a hand grip his shoulder and he turned his head to meet the light brown pupil less eyes of Anko, her worry and concern for him written practically all over her face.

Slowly a small smile came to Kenta's lips as he gave her a small nod of his head to let her know he was okay. She smiled back softly as the worry and concern lightened off on her features as she nodded back.

Midnight, who had come in after it was all over gave a whine as he nudged Kenta's hand with his snout and pawed at his pants leg clearly worried about his master. Kenta smiled as he rubbed his partners head and behind his ear, "I'm alright buddy, just a little shaky is all." he said softly with a sigh before swallowing as he looked over to the log cabin where Sayaka had been before he started walking in that direction, Anko and Midnight followed behind him.

The sight that greeted them was more gruesome than they had expected, the thin railing at the front of the cabin had been broken, and the slaver lay face up like he had gone through it backwards with more weight than he looked to have. His shirt was drenched in blood, and the large rusted cleaver was embedded right into his collarbone. It had obviously caught one of the major arteries upon cutting into him to cause so much bleeding.

But the sight that caught them the most was that of Sayaka, several feet away from the body, her hand and the front of her dress covered in blood, her body shaking as she just stared at the blood on her hands, her eyes open wide as she shook with each ragged breath she took.

Moving slowly both Kenta and Anko moved closer to her, "Sayaka-Chan." Kenta said softly as they neared her his own eyes wide with worry for her knowing what the exact thoughts were that were likely going through her head.

But Sayaka didn't seem to notice as she just continued staring at her blood-caked hands and now they could both see the tears streaming down her face as she did, but what had them both taken aback was the sight of her two now blood red irises with a single tomoe in each eye. Both realized at that moment that it was the stress of her first kill that had awakened her clan Dōjutsu, the Sharingan.

"Sayaka." Kenta said again softly as they got closer to her moving to gently grasp her shoulder as he did so.

This time Sayaka's head snapped up to the sound of his voice her eyes wide and full of fear. She quickly pulled back and away before he could touch her, "S-Stay back, D-Don't come an-any closer!" she cried as she did so, "I-I'm a monster!" she said in broken up sobs as she looked down at her hands again, at the now hardening blood that was encrusting her hands.

"I…. I ki….I killed h-him, with these hands, oh kami what have I done." Sayaka said in a frightened voice her eyes fixated on her hands.

Kenta's heart wrenched in his chest to hear his neared and closest friend sound like she did, the once confident and beautiful girl, was now overcome with the grief and realization of her actions having taken her first life in such a way.

Kenta looked back at the man she had killed and felt anger rise up in his chest towards the dead man, even after they were dead, these bastards were still causing people pain and misery… 'No, it stops here.'

Gritting his teeth and swallowing hard Kenta turned again to Sayaka and strode forward as he reached down and gripped her shoulders before she had a chance to pull away from him again, "Sayaka look at me, you are not a monster do you hear me!" he said to her with a firm voice one that said that he had the utmost belief in what he was saying.

Slowly breaking her gaze on her hands Sayaka looked up to him as she shook with another breath before his words fully had contact with her and her tears renewed themselves as they flowed freely, "How can you say that!?" she said as she brought her hands up and pushed his hands off her before she pointed to the corpse, "Look at what I did, I killed him!" she screamed out in a sob.

Stepping to the side Kenta turned and pointed to the fire pit, "And look at what I did, look at the bodies of those that I killed." he told her as he pointed at them, "I killed them Sayaka, does that make me a monster as well." he asked her with the same firm tone as before, "No it doesn't because they were the true monsters." he stated before pointing to the cages and the women and young girls that Kokage, Kabure and Zaji were busy freeing, "Look at them Sayaka, look at their faces. What those monsters did to them can never be undone, but we put a stop to them doing it to anyone else. Look at them Sayaka!"

And she did, looking through tearful eyes she could see the looks of shock on the captives faces as their cages were opened, and the tearful smiled as they were freed from their captivity, as sisters embrace each other, mothers were reunited with their daughters and the relief and happiness that flooded their faces as they realized that the nightmare that they had suffered for so long was actually over.

"I…. I did that…" Sayaka said softly as her breathing began to lighten off from the ragged breaths she had been taking in her emotional state, still shaking she looked back down at her hands, "But…. I" she said slowly the tears still flowing from her eyes.

Seeing her student needed help, Anko moved and knelt to her left side as she took the canteen from her left hip from under her coat and gently took her hands and began to pour the water from the canteen onto them washing the blood off them as she used her hands to gently rub the more dry patches away, "Shhhh, it's okay, it's okay, look see." she said as the blood washed away, "There, like it never happened. You were just doing what you had to, it was all part of the mission." she said softly.

As Anko was washing the blood away Kenta knelt down on Sayaka's right and watched as the blood was washed away and nodded, "She's right it was all part of the…" he began to say before he was cut off as Sayaka threw herself onto him wrapping arms around him and hugged him tightly as she began to sob into his shoulder.

Kenta on instinct wrapped his arms around her and held her as she cried, bowing his head as he held her as he closed his eyes. He didn't want to think about the memories that this brought up; about the last time he held her like this how much of a nightmare that time was for her. But he would help her now to get past this just like he had the first time and she would be stronger for it, they both would be.

Over the next five minutes slowly but surely Sayaka's sobs died away as she just shook in Kenta's arms his presence and warmth giving her something to hold onto reality as the memories of what she had done not minutes before flooded her vision. It was only his embrace that kept her from breaking out into fresh sobs. But eventually, as she knew she had to, she slowly pulled herself out of her embrace finding herself totally exhausted and weaker than she ever felt in her entire life as she sat back and wiped her eyes as she looked down at her lap swallowing hard.

"W-When the gates o-opened and the attack began," Sayaka began to speak, but stopped when Kenta put his hand on her shoulder.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." Kenta said concerned for her as he looked at her with worry.

Sayaka gave him a small smile and shook her head, "No, it's alright. I need to get this off my chest and out of my head." she said before swallowing hard again, as Midnight came over and lay his head on her lap.

She smiled weakly as she reached down and gently ran her hand through his soft fur as she took a breath and started over, "When they opened, he stepped forward in shock, I could see him going for his crossbow to draw it and load a bolt." she said in a weak voice, clearly struggling with it, "B-But when he turned to grab the bold that was when I swung." she swallowed again, "I was trying to make it clean, b-but I guess my nerves got the better of me and I swung too soon and caught his collarbone. The blade stuck when I tried to pull it free and when he fell backwards...h-he pulled me with him." she said as she began to shake a little more at the memories as she closed her eyes, "There… there was so much blood, I…I could see him struggling to breathe and his movements getting weaker as he… as the light went out of his eyes."

Anko grimaces hearing the details, it was probably the most unfortunate way it could have gone down. She'd seen the two that Kenta had killed and even seen the final stroke of his blade, she was expecting this to be rough on them but this was something else. Her first kill had been quick and clean a kunai to a bandit's heart, the poor bastard was dead the next second and didn't even know what had hit him. She'd felt like hell for weeks after, but both their first kills were brutal and bloody. There was no comparison; she knew that this was going to stick with them both for a while. She'd have to keep a close eye on both of them to make sure that they both got through this alright; it was always the aftermath in the weeks following that made or break a Shinobi.

Reaching over Anko placed her hand's on both their shoulders giving them a gentle as she tried to reassure them both, "Hey, you both did your jobs great, okay. There's no more need to be said about it. The mission is complete, and it went off without a hitch, I think we can call this mission a success don't you." she said giving a slightly cocky smile trying to take their minds of what they had just done.

Both Kenta and Sayaka looked to her and nodded back in response, it was clear that they were both still coming to terms with what they had done, but they had done it and completed their mission as Anko had said. Now all they could do was try to put what they had done behind them and be ready for when they had to do the same again because there was no doubt in either of their minds that they would have to. They were Shinobi and Kunoichi now, and they had earned the right to call themselves so.

Scene break

It was three hours later back at the rendezvous site, that had grown considerably with a number of new tents in order to temporally accommodate the released captives before they could be escorted to Konoha to start a new life after their past ones had been taken from them.

Kenta and Sayaka were in their designated tent on orders to rest after their mission while the older Shinobi were helping to organize the captives taking down names, ages and places of origin for their new records once they reached Konoha.

In an effort to take their minds off earlier they had taken to experimenting with Sayaka's new eyes. The young Uchiha was smiling brightly as she looked at them using a hand mirror seeing the single tomoe in her red eyes she was finding it hard to believe that she had actually done it.

"I can't believe I've finally got my Sharingan. Kaa-chan is going to be so excited when we get back to Konoha, she'll probably throw a party to celebrate." Sayaka giggled as her single tomoe spun in each of her eyes.

Kenta laughed, "Yeah that will definitely be fun. But what I'm looking forward to is seeing Sasuke's face when he realizes that you got your Sharingan before he did." he laughed out loud as he imagined it.

Sayaka giggled as she let her Sharingan fade, "Oh he's going to be so mad." she said as she burst into a giggling fit.

"Well, it's certainly good to see you two are laughing and back to normal." Anko said as she came in with Midnight by her side, "How are you two doing?" she asked before looking to Sayaka.

Sayaka smiled and nodded, "A little better Sensei." she said before looking to Kenta, "Kenta-Kun is just helping me to take my mind off things and he's helping me through it."

Anko smirked, "Yeah he has a knack for doing things like that." she said before looking at the redhead, "What about you gaki, you back to normal yet?"

Kenta smirked as he ruffled his partner's fur as Midnight came over to him, "Yeah I'm doing just fine Anko. It's nothing that a good nights sleep can't clear up, I'll be fine."

Anko frowned hearing that and was about to comment that it would likely be a while before he got one. She remembered her nightmares that had carried on for a while after her own first kill, but before she could the voice of Kokage called over, "Hey Anko!"

Anko turned to see Kokage standing outside the main tent with another messenger hawk on his shoulder and a scroll in his hand, Kenta and Sayaka both got up from the bunks in the tent and followed Anko out to see what was going on

"That a message from the village?" Anko asked as they came over to him as she eyed the scroll in his hand.

Kokage nodded, "Yep, B-three sent word to the village a little over an hour or so ago. Their little break away paid off." He stated as he tossed her the scroll to read, "They tracked the group to the camp that we haven't been able to locate. Buggers had it hidden in a cave that's why we couldn't find it out in the open like the other ones. But there are just as many hostiles there as there were here, they're going to need a hand to take it."

Anko unrolled the scroll and looked it over, "Only one way in, it won't be a stealth attack like this one was then, no need for a patrol when they just need guards at the front door." she stated as she frowned.

Kokage nodded, "They've requested that one of our teams go to back them up, there's already a replacement team on the way from Konoha, but they won't arrive for another seven hours, and I don't feel comfortable transporting these many civilians with so few guards. But if we wait then chances are they could get wind of the other attacks and decided to cut their losses and kill the other captives before we can get another team out there for the attack."

Anko looked to him still with a frown, "And you're looking for us to go and back them up?" she stated more than asked.

Kokage nodded, "Yes, I'd send my own team, but we'd be the best to guard the civilians here until the other team arrives and we can start moving them to Konoha."

Anko frowned she didn't like it, especially after everything that both her two had just been through. She didn't want to put them through another attack after the last bloodbath that they had just gotten out of and she was about to voice so when Sayaka spoke up.

"Anko-sensei let's do it, we can't just let them die. The longer we wait, the more likely they'll just kill the captives." Sayaka stated, "What's the point in all of this if we let half of those we could save just die anyway?"

Kenta nodded in agreement, "I agree. We're not hurt so we have no excuse not to go. We said we'd see this through and I'm not about to quit when there's still more work to be done." he said with conviction, "We're Shinobi, it's what we do." he added as Midnight gave an agreed bark of approval.

Anko looked to both of them at the statements with a worrying glance, "You both sure you're up to it? It's not going to be like the last time when you had a chance to kill them silently, this will be a full frontal assault." she warned them.

Both Kenta and Sayaka just nodded their heads firmly both set on seeing this through the whole way and Anko sighed, "I guess we're going then." she said before she rolled up the scroll.

It was then that the doorway into the tent opened and one of the older captives came out, she was a young woman slightly younger than Anko with dark blond hair and blue eyes, now with a blanket wrapped around her.

"Um excuse me." The woman asked, "I… I just wanted to thank you before you left. You were the two who saved us, who killed those three inside the camp where we were held." she said swallowing slightly as she spoke, "My name's Niko, I was at that camp the longest out of all those there, you… you have no idea what you have done for us by doing what you did, I know it must be difficult taking a life but…" she said as she bowed to them, "We can never thank you enough for what you have done for us all, thank you!" she said loudly.

It was then that they looked around and all the other girls and young women that were out of their tents were doing the exact same all bowing in their direction.

Sayaka and Kenta both were shocked at the thanks, they had never expected such a display from them and were a little taken back by it as Niko stood up and looked at them her eyes filled with such gratitude that it was practically overflowing from her.

"Please, can we know your names so that we can remember them and say who the brave Shinobi and Kunoichi was that saved us all." Niko asked practically pleading.

This brought them both out of their shocked states and both looked to each other before looking back to Niko, Kenta swallowed slightly, "Um sure I guess, I'm Kenta Uzumaki." he said as he gave his name clearly uncomfortable about the whole attention thing, given that as a Shinobi he had expected to be in the shadows and not really give his name out to people who he helped.

"And I'm Sayaka Uchiha." Sayaka said as equally as awkwardly having expected the same as Kenta, finding the whole thing awkward, if a little flattering, they hadn't done that much had they.

"Thank you." Niko said bowing again, "We will never forget what you have done for us all." making both Genin squirm a little awkwardly not used to being in the spotlight like this with everyone bar the other Shinobi bowing to them.

Anko smirked seeing her two Genin squirming like the awkward teens they were. It was clear that they hadn't expected to be thanked, not after what they had went through but she knew it could only help them. But decided that she should probably save them from their embarrassment as she turned and started to walk in the direction the scroll had indicated, "Alright that's enough of that. Come on you two before your heads swell any bigger. We've got another mission to get to." she called back.

Hearing her both Kenta and Sayaka gladly took the chance and turned to follow her as they left the camp both feeling awkward but a little bit better right now after the thanks that they had never expected to receive. But one thing was certain at that moment, the events from a few hours ago were now far from their minds, as they now had to focus and prepare themselves for another mission where anything could happen.