Chapter 61: The Unseen Guardians

## Authors note##

This story has climbed to the 8th spot in the weekly fanfiction collections rankings! A huge thank you to our incredible readers for your unwavering support. We're not far behind the top 3, and with your continued encouragement and support, we can aim for the top spot! As a token of my appreciation, I'll release a bonus chapter if we manage to break into the top 3. Let's keep the momentum going!

#Enjoy the chapter#

Ryu and his grandfather Dan continued their conversation in the afternoon. The young ninja-in-training sat cross-legged on the floor, his muscles still aching from his morning exercises, but his mind was sharp and eager for more knowledge. Ryu's curiosity continued to grow as their conversation veered into more profound territory.

"So, what about homeschooling?" He asked, recalling a detail from their earlier talk. "Doesn't that need permission from the village? How does that even work?"

Dan reclined in his seat, a contemplative look spreading across his grizzled visage. He appeared to be peering into the intricate web of ninja politics as his eyes seemed to see past the room's walls.

"Ah, good question. You see, while opening your own academy is indeed a crime without proper authorisation, teaching your own children or clan members is perfectly acceptable. It's a loophole of sorts, one that many powerful civilian clans have exploited for generations to train their young. In fact, that was how it was before the Ninja Academy came to be. For a civilian, if they have power and money, they can put in a ninja-study mission to the village."

Ryu's eyes lit up with understanding, a spark of excitement igniting within him. "So, if a civilian family can afford it, they could hire a ninja for private tutoring?"

"Exactly," Dan confirmed, nodding approvingly at his grandson's quick grasp of the situation. "They can hire a ninja for homeschooling, and the student can then take the Genin and later Chunin exams without ever attending the academy. It's treated as a ninja mission, and the tutors are paid handsomely for their services. It's a way for some ninja to make a comfortable living without the risks of high-ranking missions."

Ryu's mind raced with the possibilities. "So, basically in the future, if I get tired of ninja missions, I could just become a tutor and chill at home?" He grinned, half-joking. 

Dan laughed, shaking his head. "If you think tutoring is 'chilling,' you've clearly never tried to teach a bunch of hyperactive kids how to throw kunai. Trust me, it's a different kind of battlefield."

Ryu laughed, imagining himself surrounded by a group of unruly kids, all throwing kunai in the wrong direction. "Yeah, maybe not. I'd probably end up dodging more kunai than I do in training."

Dan smirked. "Exactly. And you'd have to deal with the parents. Trust me, they're scarier than any rogue ninja."

As the laughter faded, Dan's expression grew more serious, the air in the room thickening with anticipation. "There's more to the Ninja world than just the hidden villages and private academies, though. Have you ever heard of the warrior monks of the Fire Temple?"

Ryu shook his head, leaning forward with rapt attention. The mention of warrior monks conjured images of mysterious, robed figures with extraordinary powers.

Dan's voice took on a reverent tone, almost a whisper, as if speaking of something sacred. "The Land of Fire's Fire Temple houses a significant number of ninja monks. The Daimyo allow their existence because they don't participate in politics or wars. They defend the country in case of invasions but never attack unprovoked or participate in offensive missions. Unlike ordinary ninjas, they also don't take on missions and survive solely on donations to the temple."

"Wow," Ryu breathed, trying to imagine these peaceful yet powerful warriors. His mind painted pictures of serene figures meditating amidst flames, their chakra palpable in the air around them. "Are they difficult to join?"

Dan chuckled, a sound that seemed to dispel some of the mystique surrounding the topic. "More difficult than you might think. They're very selective in their recruitment. You'd have a better chance at the academy than at the Fire Temple."

Dan's voice grew more serious as he added, "But make no mistake, Ryu, these monks are formidable. On average, they're much stronger than typical Ninjas. If you ever encounter them, show them the utmost respect."

Ryu nodded solemnly, making a mental note to learn more about these mysterious ninja monks in the future. The idea of warriors who could be both peaceful and powerful intrigued him, challenging his preconceptions about the ninja world.

"So, they're like... the ultimate pacifists, but if you mess with them, they'll wreck you?" Ryu asked, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.

Dan raised an eyebrow. "Something like that. Think of them as the calm before the storm. You don't want to be around when the storm hits."

Ryu chuckled. "Noted. Avoid making monks angry. Got it."

Ryu nodded solemnly, making a mental note to learn more about these mysterious ninja monks in the future. The idea of warriors who could be both peaceful and powerful intrigued him, challenging his preconceptions about the ninja world.

Dan leaned in closer, his voice lowering conspiratorially. "There's one more group I should mention. Have you heard of the Twelve Guardian Ninja?"

Ryu's pulse quickened. He remembered this group from the original story, but the details were not explained much in the story. He thought ,"wasn't Asuma Sarutobi part of this group !"

Ryu said, "I think I have heard of this group, but I'm not sure what they do."

"They're the public face of the ninja unit that protects the Fire Daimyo. All twelve of them are Elite Jonin, some even stronger than that. A few are rumoured to be Kage level ninja."

Ryu whistled softly, impressed by the calibre of these guardians. The idea of such powerful ninjas gathered in one place was both awe-inspiring and slightly terrifying.

"But here's the truly astounding part," Dan continued, his voice dropping even lower. "Together, as a team, it's said they most definitely could take down a Kage or two."

Ryu's jaw dropped, his mind reeling at the implications. The idea that a team could rival the power of a village leader was staggering. It shifted his understanding of the balance of power in the Ninja world, adding yet another layer of complexity to what he thought he knew.

Dan wasn't finished with his revelations. Leaning in even closer, so close that Ryu could see the flecks of grey in his grandfather's eyes, he whispered, "There are whispers of another unit, known only as the Faceless Unit. They're said to protect the Daimyo from the shadows, but no one knows for sure if they truly exist. Some say they're mere myths; others claim they're the true power behind the throne. Either way, their very existence—or non-existence—is enough to keep potential threats at bay."

Ryu felt a shiver run down his spine at the thought of these unseen protectors. "Faceless, huh? That's... creepy. Do they wear masks or something?"

Dan shrugged. "No one knows. That's the point. They're invisible, undetectable. If they exist, they're the ultimate shadow warriors, and it is rumoured that even the ROOT and ANBU are behind them in terms of the quality of Ninjas. ."

Ryu rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a little uneasy. "Great. So, not only do I have to worry about super-strong monks and Kage-level boy bands, but now there's a secret group of ninjas who might not even exist, but could totally be watching us right now?"

Dan smiled. "Welcome to the ninja world, Ryu. It's not all flashy jutsu and heroic battles. Sometimes, the most dangerous threats are the ones you never see."

As their conversation drew to a close, Ryu's mind buzzed with all this new information. The paths to becoming a ninja were more varied than he had thought, and the political landscape of the ninja world was far more complex than it appeared on the surface.

"Thank you for sharing all this with me, Grandfather," Ryu said earnestly, his voice filled with gratitude and a newfound respect for the depths of his grandfather's knowledge. "It's given me a lot to think about."

Dan smiled warmly, reaching out to rub Ryu's hair. His touch was gentle, but Ryu could feel the strength in those weathered hands—a reminder of the years of experience behind his grandfather's words. "As I have already told you, knowledge is power. The more you understand about the world around you, the better equipped you'll be to navigate it. Remember, in the world of ninjas, what's unseen is often more important and dangerous than what's visible."

As Ryu prepared to continue his training with a renewed sense of purpose, he couldn't help but feel both excited and slightly overwhelmed by the vast, intricate world he was stepping into. 

With a determined nod to his grandfather, Ryu headed out to begin his sit-ups, his mind still swirling with thoughts of ninja monks, elite guardians, and shadowy protectors.

Ryu thought, "Great. I now have to worry about these Faceless Men from Game of Thrones in addition to Root-ANBU and Danzo. I hope any Jaqen H'ghar does not come after me. That is, if they really exist. But 'The Faceless' was not mentioned anywhere in the original story. Is this world even the same as the one I am familiar with from the story? There seem to be a lot of differences."

## Author's Note##

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