246-You Look Better In Black

The dim light of the briefing room cast long shadows on the faces of Renjiro, Kakashi, and Yano Shimura.

The usual type of mission he expected—disrupting supply lines, eliminating forces, or sabotaging logistics—seemed to pale in comparison to what Yano had just hinted at. This was something deeper and more covert.

"How?" Renjiro asked, his voice calm but filled with curiosity.

He'd been a shinobi for many years, completing countless missions in the service of Konoha, but this…this was something entirely different. The notion of destabilizing an entire village from within wasn't something he had done before at least not when both parties were on the brink of war. Most of the missions he had undertaken were along the lines of what he and Kakashi had initially assumed—tactical strikes, reconnaissance, and even some minor assassinations. But those were straightforward compared to this.

Yano met Renjiro's gaze, his eyes steely behind the mask. "The goal of this mission," he began, "is to destabilize Kusagakure as a whole. It's not enough to deal with their gathering force at the border. We need to ensure that even if they manage to regroup, they won't be able to repeat these actions anytime soon—if ever."

'Damn, it was enough for the village to kick them down, but they had to make sure they don't get back up.' Renjiro thought

The gravity of Yano's words hung heavily in the room. Kusagakure had never been a major power, but they were still a shinobi village, with their own military and political infrastructure. To destabilize a village wasn't just about defeating their forces; it was about eroding the foundations of their society, creating internal conflict and confusion.

Renjiro's brows furrowed, trying to piece together the scope of what Yano was suggesting. "So, what are we supposed to do? Cause infighting in Kusagakure to distract them from their plans?"

Yano's expression didn't waver. "In a way, yes," he replied. "The village council wants Kusagakure's internal structure weakened. We will act as a catalyst for that disruption. However, the exact method of how we achieve that...well, you'll learn that part later."

Kakashi, standing beside Renjiro with his usual calm demeanour, raised an eyebrow beneath his mask. "How are we supposed to proceed if we don't know the full plan?"

Yano shifted slightly, his voice growing more deliberate. "ANBU operates differently from the regular shinobi forces. In standard missions, you're given the full scope of the mission upfront—the objectives, the plan, and every detail laid out before you set out.

But with ANBU, things are compartmentalized. You'll only be given the information you need at each stage of the mission. This prevents sensitive information from leaking out. Even if someone knew where we were going, they wouldn't know what we were actually doing."

Renjiro understood the logic. Compartmentalization was a common tactic in covert operations, ensuring that even if part of the mission was compromised, the whole operation wouldn't fall apart. But it also meant stepping into the unknown, a risky game where every decision could have far-reaching consequences.

Yano looked between them, his voice low and intense. "You'll receive the details as we go. For now, your task is to prepare for infiltration. We'll make our way into Kusagakure unnoticed, and from there, you'll know what to do."

As Yano prepared to call the meeting to a close, Renjiro raised his hand, stopping him. "Wait. If we go through with this, Kusagakure will surely know that Konoha was behind whatever happens, even if we're discreet. What's the plan if they retaliate or if their allies decide to step in?"

Yano didn't hesitate in his response, his tone cool and collected. "That's the beauty of this operation. We have to be so thorough in what we do that even if Kusagakure suspects Konoha's involvement, they won't have the evidence to prove it. It's a delicate balance, but it's one we've handled before."

Renjiro fell silent, though his mind continued to churn. The risk was high, but so was the reward. If they succeeded, Konoha's position in the region would remain unrivalled, and Kusagakure would be reduced to a shadow of its former self, unable to pose a threat for years.

But something about this mission tugged at the back of his mind—what if whoever was backing Kusagakure had already accounted for Konoha's reaction? What if they were being drawn into a trap?

'Either way, Kusa is going to lose in this. If another major village is indeed backing them, then they were blindsided.'

The meeting ended, and Renjiro, Kakashi, and Yano prepared to set out. The mission weighed heavily on Renjiro's thoughts, but he knew there was no turning back now. They had to move.

Before they left the room, Renjiro performed a quick hand sign and activated the Transformation Jutsu. His appearance shifted, but subtly—his fiery red hair darkened to a deep black, and the length of his hair shortened. He still resembled himself, but with enough changes that no one would recognize him at first glance.

Kakashi, watching from the side, gave a nod of approval. "You look better in black," he said, his tone light but tinged with his usual sarcasm.

Renjiro smirked beneath his mask. "I'll keep that in mind."

It was dusk when the three-man ANBU team left Konoha, the fading light casting a perfect cover for their departure. The shadows of the trees stretched long across the ground as they moved silently, their masks concealing their identities, their mission cloaked in secrecy. Dusk was the perfect time for ANBU activities when the fading light made it easier to slip between the cracks of the world.

Their path to Kusagakure was a long one, and they couldn't take the direct route. The border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass was being closely monitored by both sides, especially with Kusagakure's forces gathering at the edge. A direct route would draw too much attention, so Yano had devised an alternative.

They would travel through Takigakure, the Village Hidden by the Waterfall. It was the only way to avoid suspicion. The detour was longer, but it allowed them to bypass the heavily guarded borders between the Land of Fire and Kusagakure.

Amegakure, the Rain Village, also bordered Kusagakure, and any movement in that direction could risk provoking Ame's volatile leader which would be counter-productive for such a mission. Thus, the hidden waterfall village was their best option.

The journey through Takigakure was swift and quiet. The village itself was well-hidden, nestled between towering cliffs and dense forests. The sound of the great waterfall crashing down filled the air as they passed through, their movements quick and precise, avoiding any unnecessary contact with locals. They stayed hidden, moving through the shadows, their presence a secret known only to them.

Renjiro found the scenery of Takigakure almost serene. The waterfall glistened under the moonlight, and the forest surrounding it was lush, almost untouched by the chaos of the shinobi world. But there was no time to appreciate the beauty. The mission pressed on, and by dawn, they had crossed through the territory, entering the outskirts of Kusagakure.

The Hidden Grass Village, by contrast, was more subdued, its forests dense but not as vibrant as Takigakure's. The grasslands stretched for miles, giving the village its name, though the buildings themselves were low to the ground, camouflaged into the natural landscape.

The village seemed quiet, but Renjiro could feel the tension in the air. This was a place preparing for war, even if the signs weren't immediately visible.

By the time they reached Kusagakure, it was already noon. The journey had been long and taxing, but they moved with the precision and discipline expected of ANBU operatives. Their mission was still unclear, but the first phase was complete—they had infiltrated the territory without being detected.

Yano turned to them, his voice low and commanding. "Rest up. We'll act at nightfall. That's when our real mission begins."

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