Killing The Ogre

It was early in the morning, as the sun hasn't even risen up yet. Kakashi was already out of his room in his casual clothes.

"Going somewhere?" A feminine voice could be heard behind him.

"Yeah... just out buying a new book, while looking for some other information that could be useful... Najenda." Kakashi replied without looking back.

"Alright, but do come back during the evening, I'm going to assign Tatsumi on his first mission. If you don't mind, I hope you can keep an eye on him in the shadows. We might not look like it, but we care for each other." Najenda said in a soft tone.

"I was going to do that anyways, I already lost two of my friends... I don't need another one to the list." Kakashi left in an instant after sharing his intent.

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"Kakashi? Is that you champ?" A random masculine guard from the city called out to him.

Kakashi looked at him briefly before replying in a jokingly tone. "It looks like you drank a lot of beer if you can't recognize my handsome face."

"Haha, I know how popular you are with the girls. So, what are you here for? It's not like you come here daily." The guard replied in an unamused tone.

"Just here to buy another book, and need some green." Kakashi replied in a bit of seriousness.

The guard nodded and walked away before saying, "Come back here after you're done buying your book, I can't leave my friend without giving you a gift of my own. Trust me, you'll like it! Haha!"

Kakashi wasted no time and left towards a building with a sign on top of it saying, "Library".

"Hmm I hope they have the book delivered now..." Kakashi entered the building with a bell ringing signalling that a customer has entered.

"Ah! Kakashi my boy! Are you here for your order?" A man who looks to be in his mid 40's greeted the boy.

Kakashi nodded, "Yes sir... how much does it cost?"

"Hmmm" The man rubbed his chin for a bit, "I'll give you it for half price, since you are a regular here anyways."

Kakashi gave a grateful nod towards the owner and paid for the book.

As the owner accepted the money, he couldn't help but ask, "How do you read that book in a straight face? I know most boys your age would read it with an excited face."

"Well, Jiraiya... the author of this book is pretty interesting in how he's able to write the book. Also, I'm not like most boys. See ya, old man." Kakashi left the store and was on his way to gate of the town.

"Kakashi! Over hear!" The same guard who greeted him earlier waved his hand to grab his attention.

Kakashi seeing this, went towards him. "What exactly is your gift? Most of them are a bit... weird..." Kakashi stated with a bit of disgust in his tone.

"Oh come on! They aren't that weird! The guard replied in defense about his gifts. Seeing how Kakashi isn't changing his mind about it, he sighed and went towards his hear to whisper something.

After hearing all of the guard's words Kakashi pulled away with a smile on his face. "That is a nice place to rest huh... thanks." Kakashi left and was on his way to the base carrying his book and holding a small piece paper that's been folded.

'The prime minister is controlling the kid huh... Well then, this information is very interesting.' Kakashi thought as he entered the base.

"Welcome back." Najenda was waiting by the door. "Did you get your book?"

Kakashi nodded and gave her the piece of paper. "That should help you decide for the upcoming battles." Kakashi said in a hushed tone and went towards his room to put his book away.

Najenda opened up the folded paper and read it with a wide eye. 'Kakashi... how were you able to grab this information? Looks like I was right to invite you to our team.'

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After sometime later some of the assassins were present in the room, as the others were on another mission. Najenda asked Leone to tell them the request they received a few days ago.

Leone, the blonde girl nodded and wasted no time explaining the situation, "Our targets are Ogre of the capital guards, and an oil merchant named Gamal. What the client told me was...

Woman: Ogre has been accepting bribes from Gamal.

Leone No signs of anyone hiding in the area.' Continue.

Woman: Every time Gamal commits a crime, Ogre will frame someone to take the fall for him. My fiance was framed for one of his crimes and was sentenced to death. He heard them talking to each other while in his cell. And before his execution, he sent me a letter so I would know all this. Please... please, somehow help me clear the regret from my heart...

Leone: ...Understood. We'll send them both screaming to hell.

Woman: Th- Thank you so much, miss ! I can't thank you enough !

And here's the..." Leone brought out the money that was given to them for their job. "The payment for the request.... I caught the scent of a venereal disease from her... So she must have been selling her body to earn all of that."

"Did you confirm that her story is true?" Najenda asked to make the request official.

Leone nodded, "They're guilty. I observed them from a time from the attic of the merchant's shop."

"Okay. Night Raid will accept this request. We will deliver divine punishment upon the heads of these heinous monsters, and send them to the hereafter." Najenda stated.

"Taking out Gamal will be simple. But Ogre will be a formidable opponent. Ogre the Demon. He is called "The Demon", because his skill with the sword makes him an object of terror to the criminals of the capital. Usually, he spends his time out on patrols with his subordinates. But other than that, he hangs out at the garrison headquarters, where Gamal comes to his private room to give him the bribes. Due to his station, on his days off he leaves headquarters and spends the day drinking on the main street, close to the palace." Kakashi warned the everyone about Ogre.

"It seems the only time to attack would be on his day off. However, the security around the palace will be tough. For Akame, who is on the capital's most wanted list, this will be a dangerous mission." Najenda said after having some time to think about the mission.

"Send Tatsumi then, I'll stay in the shadows in case something unexpected happens. Just like you told me earlier." Kakashi gave out his say in this mission.

"As he is right now, he stands no chance..." Akame said in a bit of a worrying tone.

"He can handle it, I trained him before I left our village..." Kakashi replied hoping to persuade the girl.

Tatsumi hearing that the debate could last for a while, gave out his own opinion about the mission. "While we stand here debating, there may be other innocent people being framed for crimes they didn't commit! If that's the case, we'll handle him ourselves! The feeling of your most cherished person being cruelly taken away... I don't want anyone to have to experience that loss..."

Najenda hearing his opinion concluded her order about the mission. "Understood. I can appreciate your decision. So you, go kill the demon, while Kakashi will observe your battle. Meanwhile, Leone, Akame, I leave the oil merchant to you."

"You got it boss!" Leone smacked the back of Tatsumi, "Well said, Tatsumi! It's good that you're so dedicated."

"How about that, Akame! When it's time, I can step up!" Tatsumi yelled at Akame hoping to impress the teen girl.

Akame replied in a flat tone, "... Where does this self-confidence comes from? You haven't had a successful mission until after you have been given your first report. As you are now, so full of yourself, you'll end up dead."

'It seems she's speaking of experience...' Kakashi thought while observing the conversation between the two.

"What?!" Tatsumi yelled.

'Damn it... I'm definitely going to succeed and make you see me in a new light...!' Tatsumi proclaimed in his head.

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A bit further outside the gate of the city, there is a blonde girl explaining the directions of the destination for two boys.

Leone pointed towards the gate. "If you go straight that way, it'll lead you straight to the main street."

Kakashi nodded while Tatsumi commented afterwards. "Just you see!"

"Hey... you wanna hear a story about Akame?" Leone asked in a soft tone.

"There's more to the girl than just killing is there?" Kakashi asked before Tatsumi could react.

Leone nodded, "When Akame was young, her and her sister were both bought somewhere in the Empire. Well, you know... Poor parents selling their kids is a pretty common story. Anyways, her and other kids in the same situation entered assassination training together. There she learned how to kill people... She survived in that hellish situation, and she worked under the orders of the Empire. She was the perfect assassin... But each time she carried out her duty, she could feel more of the darkness within the Empire. The boss, who was her target at the time, succeeded in persuading her to defect from the Empire, and join the Revolutionary army that cared about the people. By that time, it seems most of the comrades she had grown up and trained with were all dead... Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

Kakashi looked at Tatsumi 'I see... so she was speaking from experience...' Kakashi thought with a sad look on his face behind his mask.

"As an amateur, I should shut up and listen to the professional killer, right?" Tatsumi, who clearly didn't understand from her story asked.

"You'll understand if you're successful today. As it seems your friend already understand what I'm talking about." Leone said while walking away.

After she was no longer in their field of vision, Kakashi told Tatsumi that its up to him on how to handle the target and disappeared in to the shadow.

"Leave it to me." Tatsumi said with dedication.

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Haaaah. Booze is so good after a thorough interrogation. "A soldier who seems to be a high ranking one said with a grin on his face."

"Ogre sir! We just wanted to congratulate you on a job well done. And thank you for the other day." The man who looks to be the merchant, congratulated the soldier, now known as Ogre.

"No problem. Come to me with whatever troubles you have any time. Ogre replied after leaving the building. 'I am the King of this city...! The highest authority! I can do whatever I want, as much as I want!' He thought, before someone smaller than him with a hood over their head went up to him.

"Uhm.. Ogre sir..." The smaller person who sounded a boy who is in his teens asked with a bit of hesitation. "I have something I would like to speak with you about..." 

"What? Spit it out then." Ogre replied annoyed.

"Talking about it in the open like this would be a little problematic... Can we go somewhere else?" The requested feeling a bit of embarrassment of his request.

After both of them are in an empty alley, Kakashi was watching over the both of them. 'Hmm his plan is working so far... Don't mess up now, Tatsumi.'

"Hey, this place is fine, right? So spit it." Ogre demanded after walking for a bit of time.

'He doesn't even seem human, huh... Sayo, Ieyasu... lend me your strength!' Tatsumi thought before kneeling with his head down, "I beg of you !! Please allow me in the Capital Defense Force! I must earn enough money to send back to my home in the countryside, sir!"

Ogre looking at Tatsumi couldn't help but sigh, "Haaaaaah... I thought it would be something like this. Then apply through the normal process, idiot!" Ogre said before turning his back to leave.

"But, in these hard times, it's very difficult to get in." Tatsumi said in a low tone, while getting up slowly.

"It's to be expected, isn't it ? So, I take it you weren't strong enough to pass the entrance test?" Ogre asked as he was about to walk away.

Tatsumi, not bothering to waste any more time, quickly rushed ahead of him, slashing him across his chest. Ogre, who was about to do the same thing couldn't react in time, as Tatsumi was the faster of the two.

Ogre thought, 'What speed! He struck me with everything he had, heedless of his own safety. I can't believe he dared to raise his blade against me...' Was the last he thought before his body plummeted to the ground.

Tatsumi who thought said out loud, "Finally... time to report about it." 

Behind was a shadow that was about to struck Tatsumi down. Tatsumi quickly turn around and tried to block it.

However, before he had the chance to... Kakashi quickly decapitate the Ogre in a swift but silent motion. "You still have a long way to go Tats..." Kakashi said after confirming the Ogre's death.

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After getting back to the base. Tatsumi gave his report about the mission, he even mentioned about the mistake he made and was thankful that Kakashi was there to help him.

"Even with that mistake, good job on dealing with the target. Excellent!" Najenda gave her praise towards Tatsumi.

"Not bad, huh, Akame? I've completed and given the report. And somehow without getting hurt. Come, let me hear your approval." Tatsumi said with a smug on his face while closing his eyes.

Akame went towards him and quickly stripped his upper body's clothes. Tatsumi who wasn't expecting this, opened his eyes in surprise. "Huh? What is this?! What are you doing?!"

Kakashi who was about to stop whatever she's doing saw that Najenda shook her head about it. Kakashi seeing that it means no harm on whatever Akame was about to do Tatsumi let the show happen. 

"Leone, Boss. restrain him." Akame ordered.

Akame quickly stripped him of all his clothes except his underwear, checked his body without touching it for any injuries.

"Wha-what is it?" Tatsumi asked in a embarrassed voice.

After confirming there wasn't any type of injury or scratch on him, Akame gave a heartfelt smile towards him. "Thank goodness... I've seen friends die from poison because they wanted to be tough and not report the wound. But you seem to be undamaged. The mortality rate for those on their first mission is high... You've done well." She reached out her hand for a handshake.

Tatsumi shook her hand, "Tha-thanks."

"Since Kakashi has already proved to be a skilled assassin... Akame was hard on you, because she didn't want you to die." Leone commented about what Akame has done for Tatsumi.

"You know, you learn to communicate with your comrades while cooking. You learn to kill through a difficult hunt... Did you notice that everything you did in those days was beneficial to you?" Najenda, who decided to voice out her comment as well.

Tatsumi after hearing both of the girls say that, looked towards Akame with an apological face, "I'm sorry for misunderstanding you, Akame."

Akame nodded, "It's all right. From here on, please continue coming back alive. Tatsumi." Akame let go of Tatsumi's hand, and reached out towards Kakashi. "You as well Kakashi, even though I know how skilled you are... that doesn't mean you can't get hurt as well. So please come back alive too."

Kakashi eyes widened a bit and smiled before taking her hand. "Thanks... Please take care of the both of us."

Akame blushed a bit, after seeing his smile.

Leone who was sensing the mood turning to be romantic decided to point towards Tatsumi. "You know, saying that while he's almost naked can mean a very different thing."

Tatsumi who became red out of embarrassment yelled out, "YOU GUYS ARE THE ONES WHO STRIPPED ME!!"

Nejenda seeing that everyone was in a good mood said that Mine was the next person for Tatsumi to be working with.

"I-I have to w-work with her?" Tatsumi asked in fear.

Meanwhile, a girl with pink hair suddenly has chills over her body. "F-for some reason, I have goose bumps"

After almost everyone left the room, Akame was about to leave the room before being called out by Kakashi. "Akame... can you show me their graves tomorrow morning? I didn't get the chance to see them earlier due to the mission."

Akame looked behind and replied, "Okay, but we have to be earlier than usual. We'll be both cooking tomorrow, since you weren't with us in the morning."

"Understood... and thanks." Kakashi nodded before disappearing.