Naruto: Road to Death

Chapter 5: The Path of Fog

.

.

.

.

.

.

Early morning in Kirigakure always brought with it an eerie calm. The fog, thick and cold, covered every corner, blurring the boundaries between the tangible and the unknown. For Yuta, that fog was a constant reminder of the uncertainty that surrounded his life. He walked towards the entrance of the village with determined steps, although a part of him wished not to take that last step. The mission he had been given was not just a job; it was a test, a trial by the council, a way to test his loyalty... and his life.

When he arrived, Akane was already there, firm and stoic as always. At her side, the Mizukage waited silently, wrapped in his robes, watching Yuta with an indecipherable gaze. Naruko, although she should not be present, had arrived somehow. Her eyes showed concern and resistance to the inevitable.

"You are ready," the Mizukage said in his deep, calm voice, though there was something in his tone that suggested a mix of doubt and expectation. "This mission will determine your future, Yuta. I know you understand the importance of what awaits you."

Yuta nodded, not saying a word. He knew any answer would be meaningless. The decisions had already been made.

"This mission is dangerous," the Mizukage continued. "Disappearances in the border village are not common, and there are fears that there is something more sinister behind it. If you manage to solve this mystery and survive… perhaps then we can reconsider your place in the village."

His words hung in the air, but Yuta knew his life depended on much more than simply accomplishing the mission. It was a trial by fire, one in which not all shinobi returned.

"I will." He replied firmly, though inside he felt the weight of the risk.

Naruko wanted to interrupt, but a silent gesture from Yuta stopped her. She knew her adopted brother was ready to face anything, though the thought of losing him terrified her.

Akane, ever the mediator between emotions and duty, stepped forward, handing Yuta a sealed scroll.

"This is your mission report. It contains information about the disappearances, the location of the village, and some details about the preliminary reports. There will be no further support or contact until you return… if you return." Her words were cold, but behind them was a hint of concern that only someone close could notice.

Yuta took the scroll and tucked it into his ninja vest. With one last glance at Naruko, who was visibly struggling to hold back her tears, he turned and began walking toward the village exit.

The mist seemed to embrace him as he moved forward, as if inviting him into the unknown. The sounds of Kirigakure fell behind, replaced by the oppressive silence of the forest surrounding the village. Yuta walked alone, knowing that this mission would not only test him as a ninja, but also as a person.

.

.

.

.

.

The hours passed slowly, and the landscape changed little by little. The path meandered through hills and shadowy forests, with the fog always present, limiting his vision to a few meters ahead. He knew that the village he had to reach was near the border, a region that was rarely visited by the Kirigakure ninja, but that had recently aroused the attention of the council.

As he walked forward, memories of the Blood Trial came back to him. The harsh lessons, the brutal fights, and the fate of those who had not passed the test. The scar on his arm was a constant reminder of that test, of what he had had to do to survive. But what weighed on him the most was not the physical pain, but the emotional burden of having been marked as a "different" shinobi. One that would always be watched, judged.

Finally, as night fell, he arrived at the village he was to investigate. It was a small settlement, nestled between the mountains, with humble houses built of wood and stone. At first glance, there was nothing out of the ordinary, but the atmosphere was eerie. The place was deserted, with no signs of life. There were no lights in the windows, no sounds of inhabitants moving about.

Yuta frowned, sensing that something was terribly wrong. He decided to explore the village cautiously. As he walked through the deserted streets, the doors of the houses swayed slowly in the wind, revealing empty interiors. There were no signs of fighting or chaos, only an eerie absence of life.

Suddenly, a sharp sensation ran down his spine. He was not alone.

"Who's there?" he asked, activating his senses as his hand instinctively slid to the hilt of his kunai.

A figure emerged from the shadows, covered by a black cloak that blended with the mist. His face was hidden under a hood, and his presence was eerily silent. The wind carried him away any sound, leaving only the subtle crunch of leaves underfoot.

"I have been waiting for your arrival," said a soft, masculine voice, which seemed to come from all directions at once. "I knew Kirigakure would soon send someone… but I didn't expect them to send someone so… young."

Yuta tensed his body, knowing that this person was no simple villager. There was something about the way he moved, the calmness with which he spoke, that put him on high alert.

"Who are you?" Yuta demanded, trying to remain calm.

The figure stopped a few feet away, close enough for Yuta to see his eyes shining beneath his hood.

"That doesn't matter. What matters is that you are here, and that means the time has come." The figure raised a hand, and out of nowhere, the mist around him seemed to come to life, enveloping Yuta in a swirl of shadows.

Yuta unsheathed his kunai, ready for battle, but deep down he knew this confrontation was just the beginning of something much bigger... and much more dangerous.