Naruto Karasuden Excerpt

To say that the scene was electric would have been an exaggeration, but at the same time not a total lie. While there was nothing thrilling about being called to report on a failed mission, the air did crackle with an ambient energy that made Kurotori-sensei's already disheveled hair stand on end. Even with his head bowed and body kneeled, he could see bolts of light tracing the contours of a flexing hand not far beyond him. The ire of the Fourth Raikage was not something he would wish on his worst enemy.


A manila folder sat perched open in the Raikage's massive right hand, deposited there minutes before by Mabui, the shapely young kunoichi who served as his assistant. Ritoru's eyes lifted for the briefest of seconds to observe her movements behind the leather couch on which their village's hulking leader lounged before dropping back to the tiles at his feet. An increasing grumble, like thunder approaching on the horizon, grew in the Raikage's throat as his hand continued to flex with increasing speed.


"This is unacceptable!" Lord Ei said at last and stomped a sandaled foot against the floor with such demanding strength that his entire office shook. "The Kurotori clan has overseen the instruction of countless genin since the founding days of this village, through three world wars and a thousand of missions, and there has never been a recorded casualty regarding Squad Six until now."


Ritoru exhaled through his nose, his breath hot within the confines of his crow-shaped mask. He wasn't afraid, but he also wasn't relishing the coming inquisition from the Raikage or his father. Even now, twenty-six years old and a Jounin for ten years, the thought of displeasing either his kage or his clan was distasteful.


"What do you have to say for yourself, Kurotori Ritoru!?"


A sudden jolt surged through the Jounin's body and forced him to flinch. That couldn't have been a coincidence. His mind reeled as he replayed the events in question through his mind's eye before he replying in as cool and succinct a manner as possible, "The deaths of Tii and Yotsuki Kagetsu are a disgrace to my record and the reputation of Kumogakure no Sato, but they were, at the same time, unavoidable, Lord Raikage."


The Fourth's moustache bristled as he eyed Ritoru. "Explain."


That was easier said than done. Squad Six's mission had been to infiltrate Tsuchi no Kuni and retrieve intel from an informant within Iwagakure no Sato on a Kekkei Genkai user that entered their ranks within the past month. It was his squad's first B-ranked mission, but he had assured the Raikage that they were ready for the challenge. What they hadn't anticipated was an encounter with the Genbaku Three, an elite squad within Iwagakure's Blast Corps. Though daunting in strength, the enemy lacked speed and was easy to escape… or would have been if not for the grand-standing of one of his genin, Makumo Furan. A Fuuton-using prodigy from a clan renowned for their mastery of the wind, she had hoped to use her ninjutsu to stir up a dust storm to cover their escape, but instead slowed the squad long enough for the Genbaku to enter attack range. Mustering as much speed as he could, Ritoru had managed to get in a diverting slash with his katana on the largest of the Iwa-nin to disrupt the focus of their attack, but hadn't been able to stop it. All four members of Squad Six were caught in the misfired explosion—He could still feel the burns throbbing beneath his flak jacket—and the resulting injuries claimed both Tii and Kagetsu by the time they had returned to the village.


"Despite the relative simplicity of the mission, my genin were unprepared to face an enemy of the Genbaku Three's caliber." Ritoru paused and swallowed as he considered his words. "Even with the record of my illustrious ancestors, Lord Raikage, death on the battlefield is inevitable and all ninja must face it at one time or another, as you well know. While I regret that this occurred under my watch, I pledge on my blade, Tetsuhane, that if you allow me to continue on as the Jounin instructor for Squad Six, I will ensure that the lesson learned from this mission will forge my students into stronger shinobi for the service of Kumogakure and Rai no Kuni."


Silence fell on the Raikage's office. Lord Ei's eyes were shadowed beneath the brim of his ceremonial headpiece, but the way his left hand clenched into a monstrous fist was all the answer Ritoru needed to his fate. He closed his eyes and waited, knowing that his punishment would be swift, until an odd fact caught his attention. The air around him had returned to its normal mountain chill.


"Stand up, Kurotori Ritoru," the Fourth boomed at last.


The Jounin rose and stood at rigid attention in a blur of motion. At the Raikage's behest, Mabui offered the file folder that Lord Ei had been reading to Kurotori-sensei and flipped it open for him to see. Inside were personnel files for a pair of genin, recent graduates from the village's military academy.


"Lord Raikage, sir. These are..."


"The newest recruits for Squad Six, waiting for your arrival with Ruuhei-sensei at the academy. Their training begins immediately." Before Ritoru could respond, the Raikage stood from the couch and jabbed one meaty finger towards his office door. "Dismissed!"