Shinobi

Aki stood at attention in the Raikage's office, his heart pounding with a mixture of pride and anticipation. The room was spacious yet minimalistic, reflecting the no-nonsense attitude of the man who occupied it.

Behind the desk sat A, the 4th Raikage, a figure of immense strength and authority, but also someone Aki knew well—his adoptive father.

The Raikage's stern gaze softened slightly as he looked at Aki. In his large hand, he held a folded piece of cloth—the symbol every shinobi from Kumogakure wore with pride.

"Aki," A began, his deep voice resonating through the room, "you've worked hard, and trained relentlessly, and today, you've proven that you're ready."

Aki felt a surge of emotion as he watched the Raikage rise from his seat, the headband still in his grasp. A rarely showed much emotion, but there was a glimmer of pride in his eyes as he approached Aki.

"This isn't just a symbol of your rank," A continued, holding the headband out. "It's a symbol of who you are—a shinobi of Kumogakure. You've earned this, Aki."

Aki bowed his head slightly, allowing A to tie the headband around his forehead. The cool metal plate felt almost like a weight lifted, a burden of proving himself that had now been replaced with the responsibility of living up to the symbol he now bore.

"Thank you… Father," Aki said, his voice steady but laced with the respect he held for the man in front of him. The Raikage had always been a figure of strength and discipline in Aki's life, pushing him to be better, stronger, and wiser.

A's expression grew serious again. "Now, it's time for you to take on your first mission as a genin."

Aki's eyes lit up with excitement. He had been waiting for this moment, the chance to prove himself in the field, to show that he was more than ready to serve his village.

"Your mission," A continued, handing Aki a scroll, "is a simple D-rank assignment. But don't underestimate it. Every mission, no matter how small, is important."

Aki took the scroll, but before he could unroll and read it, a knock came from the door.

Raikage allowed the newcomer in, it was the examiner Aki had fought. The one who absolutely slaughtered Aki.

Aki was certain with the relaxed and lazy attitude this guy held the last day, any other Jonin would be fucked up against him, so he must be a special rank Jonin.

Without their guard up most ninjas are just like normal humans, pretty easy to kill. But it's a different story when they are alert.

This might probably be the reason, Takigakure dared to send Kakuzu to assassinate Hashirama… who knows?

(A/N: Dumb move)

"You'll be working under the guidance of the Jonin who tested you. He'll be your sensei until the academy graduation day, and you'll be the only member of his team for now. His name is Morio," A gestured at the newcomer aka Morio.

"Yo, Aki," Morio greeted, "Looks like we'll be working together for a while. Ready for your first mission?"

"YES!!!" Aki did the scout's regime pose and pounded his fist over his heart.

(A/N: Aki hasn't only watched Naruto so he might be calling out other anime names or references)

Morio took the scroll from Aki and went over it. The contents made him frown this mission didn't feel like a newbie genin mission, it was a C-Rank mission.

But he still put in his uniform and went out with Aki following closely.

"Habataitara

Modoranai to itte

Mezashita no wa

Aoi aoi ano sora"

Aki started singing along the way making Morio frown even harder as Aki wouldn't be singing and smiling for long.

Morio glanced at Aki, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced with a stern frown. Aki's enthusiasm was infectious, but Morio knew what awaited them at their destination.

This mission wasn't the usual first outing for a newly minted genin, and the thought of it weighed heavily on Morio's mind.

As they walked, the village around them gradually transformed. The bustling market stalls and friendly faces gave way to quieter, more ominous surroundings.

The sky seemed to darken as they approached the outskirts of the village, where the prison stood—a foreboding structure of stone and steel, isolated from the rest of Kumogakure.

Aki's smile waned as he noticed the change in atmosphere, his voice trailed off and he felt a creeping sense of dread. He glanced at Morio, his face stern and unreadable.

Finally, they reached the massive iron gates of the prison. This gave Aki a bad premonition, maybe the reality of the Naruto world was awaiting him inside.

"Let me tell you what your mission is" Morio stated with a stern frown on his face.

Aki held his breath, expecting a simple task, maybe something mundane like delivering a message or scouting a location. But what Morio said next made his blood run cold.

"You are to execute a death row prisoner."

The words hit Aki like a physical blow. He blinked, trying to process what he had just heard, but the shock made it hard to think straight.

His heart pounded in his chest, and for a moment, he felt like the ground was slipping out under him.

"W-What?" Aki stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. His eyes widened in disbelief as he searched Morio's face for some sign that this was a joke. "Execute… you mean… kill?"

Morio's expression remained serious, his tone devoid of emotion. "Yes, Aki. You are to carry out the sentence. It's your mission."

Aki's breath caught in his throat. The very thought of taking a life, of ending someone's existence, was something he had never truly considered.

In his mind, being a ninja was about protecting the village, fighting enemies in battle—not coldly executing a defenseless prisoner. He felt a cold sweat break out across his skin, fear and panic rising within him.

"I… I can't," Aki whispered, his voice trembling. "I've never… I mean… how can I…"

Morio's hand tightened slightly on Aki's shoulder, grounding him. "This is the reality of being a shinobi, Aki. It's not just about the glory or the strength. Sometimes, it's about making the hardest decisions. This is one of those times."

This was the reality of Naruto world, or shounen anime in general. You have to kill… while most anime fans might want to go to their favorite world.

Facing the reality of death is what hits you hard the most, especially as a law-abiding citizen of modern times.

There is a difference between fiction and reality, though sometimes reality is harsher.

(A/N: even so I would still want to go… would you?)

The door to the prison room creaked open, its rusty hinges groaning as if protesting the grim task ahead. Aki's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing with thoughts of refusal.

Every instinct screamed at him to run, to do anything but what was being asked of him. The weight of the headband on his forehead, once a symbol of pride, now felt like an oppressive burden, pressing down on him with the reality of what it truly meant to be a shinobi.

Aki stepped into the dimly lit room, the cold air biting at his skin. His eyes fell on the prisoner, a man bound in heavy chains, slumped against the wall. His clothes were tattered, his body bruised and scarred from relentless interrogation.

The gag in his mouth muffled any sound he might make, reducing his voice to a low, desperate hum.

The prisoner's eyes were wild, filled with a mix of fear and madness. Upon seeing Aki and Morio, he strained against his restraints, the chains rattling loudly in the confined space.

He lunged forward like a beast, his movements frenzied and animalistic, but the chains held him back. Aki could see that this man's mind was broken, shattered beyond repair. Every piece of useful information had already been extracted, leaving behind a shell of a person.

For such a man, death might indeed be a liberation. But the very thought of delivering that final blow made Aki's hands tremble.

He gripped the kunai tightly, his knuckles turning white, but his feet felt as if they were rooted to the ground, refusing to move forward.

Morio watched Aki, his stern expression softening ever so slightly. He had expected some hesitation, but not to this extent. He knew Aki had been raised differently, even though he was the Raikage's son.

 Aki had been trained well in taijutsu and had sparred with Jonin before, but this… this was different. The reality of taking a life was something no amount of training could truly prepare one for.

"Aki," Morio said quietly, his voice firm but not unkind.

"This is what it means to be a shinobi. You protect your village by doing what others can't. This man—he's beyond saving, beyond redemption. He's dangerous, even like this. If you don't do it now, you'll have to face this reality sooner or later.

Better here, under controlled circumstances, than in the chaos of battle where hesitation could cost you or your comrades their lives."

Aki's breaths came in shallow, rapid bursts. The prisoner's muffled grunts filled the room, each one a painful reminder of what was expected of him. The kunai in his hand felt heavier than any weapon he had ever held.

He closed his eyes, trying to summon the resolve he needed, but all he could see was the man's haunted eyes staring back at him.

Morio stepped closer, his hand resting gently on Aki's shoulder. "It's okay to be scared," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "It's okay to feel this way. But you have to push through it. You have to do what's necessary."

Aki nodded slowly, swallowing hard. He opened his eyes and looked at the prisoner again, trying to see him not as a man, but as a mission—a task that needed to be completed. But the fear and doubt gnawed at him, making every step feel like an insurmountable challenge.

The prisoner, sensing his hesitation, let out a guttural growl, his body shaking with futile attempts to free himself. The sound sent a shiver down Aki's spine, but it also reminded him of the danger this man posed, even in his current state.

Finally, with a deep breath, Aki took a shaky step forward, then another. The kunai shook in his hand, but he tightened his grip, willing himself to complete the mission. He raised the blade, his heart pounding in his ears, drowning out the prisoner's muffled protests.

In that moment, time seemed to slow. Aki could feel every beat of his heart, every drop of sweat that slid down his brow. He glanced at Morio one last time, seeking some form of reassurance. Morio gave him a small nod, his eyes reflecting both understanding and expectation.

With a final, deep breath, Aki steeled himself. He couldn't back down now. He had to do it. For the village, for his duty as a shinobi… for himself.

And then, with a swift motion, he plunged the kunai forward.

The room fell silent, save for the soft clinking of chains as the prisoner's body slumped forward.

Aki stared at the lifeless form in front of him, his mind struggling to process what he had just done. His hand still gripped the kunai, now slick with blood, but it felt like someone else's hand, someone else's actions.

Morio stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Aki's shoulder. "You did well," he said quietly, his voice carrying a weight of experience. "This will never be easy, but you've taken the first step. You'll learn to live with it."

Aki's legs felt weak, and he slowly lowered himself to the ground, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him, but he forced it down, focusing on the fact that the mission was over.

But deep inside, he knew this was only the beginning.