Reina's smirk didn't waver.
Reina: "Let me remind you—Principal Kanzo made me captain. I set the rules. I call the shots."
She stepped forward until her shadow fell across Raizen's map, blotting out the neat lines of his plan.
Reina: "Rule one: underlings don't make plans. You speak when spoken to."
The air cooled. The cicadas had gone silent. Even Karui's grin faltered, her gaze flicking uneasily between them. Aika's eyes darted back and forth, the weight of the silence pressing in.
Raizen's jaw locked. His hands curled into fists at his sides, nails digging into his palms. He bit the inside of his tongue, forcing the words down.
Arguing would only feed her pride — and risk the entire mission before it began.
Reina tucked the scroll back into her pack and turned away, the faintest hum in her throat as if the confrontation hadn't even registered.
Reina: "Understand something, Tsukihana," she said without looking back. "This team moves when I say move."
Raizen exhaled slowly through his nose, the breath rough with frustration.
Aika: "So… what's the plan now?"
Reina stopped mid-step, then turned back toward the group, arms crossed confidently.
Reina: "Simple. We don't need all that overthinking. We go in through the main entrance—less suspicious that way. Karui and I handle the front since we can take a hit. You and Raizen trail behind as support. Once we're inside, we'll find the stairs, grab the scroll, and get out. Easy."
Aika blinked, visibly uncertain.
Aika: "Just… walk in? Won't the guards or traps notice us?"
Reina: "Not if we act like we belong there. It's a trading district, remember? People go in and out of buildings all night. Confidence is disguise enough."
Karui raised an eyebrow. "That's the whole plan?"
Reina: "That's all we need. Simple is faster. Raizen's overcomplicated maze of steps and secret routes would take half the night. We're not performing surgery—we're taking a scroll."
Aika looked to Raizen, half expecting him to argue.
But Raizen stayed silent. His fist tightened once more, the faintest tremor of annoyance in his jaw. He'd already seen this kind of arrogance before — and he knew how it ended.
Reina smirked again, mistaking his restraint for submission.
Reina: "Good. Then we move in thirty minutes. I'll take point."
She turned away, beginning to gather her gear.
Aika crouched beside Raizen, whispering under her breath.
Aika: "You've got that look again."
Raizen didn't look up from the dirt.
Raizen: "Just trying to predict how long it'll take before her 'simple plan' blows up in our faces."
Aika chuckled softly. "You think she'll listen when it does?"
He finally looked at her, a ghost of a smirk forming.
Raizen: "Not a chance."
The moonlight caught on the edge of his seal brush as he tucked it back into his pouch — just in case.
The team departed exactly thirty minutes after Reina's command.
The moon hung high above Kumogakure, bathing the city in a pale silver glow. As they moved through the narrow streets, the air shifted from quiet mountain chill to the vibrant pulse of Kumo's night district.
Laughter, music, and the rhythmic beat of taiko drums echoed through the streets. Lanterns swayed overhead, painting the sky in streaks of amber and crimson. Street vendors called out their wares, and the smell of sizzling skewers drifted through the air.
It was chaos — the perfect cover.
As they neared the southwest district, the chatter and light grew louder, the buildings taller. The old ceramics building stood in the distance, dim among the bright stalls and music halls — its shadowed frame surrounded by motion and color.
Reina: "We're coming up on our target," she said quietly, eyes flicking toward the structure. "But trying to walk in looking like this isn't going to work."
The team stopped. Aika, Karui, and Raizen exchanged a glance. Reina was right — four teenagers in training uniforms would stick out like sore thumbs in a place like this.
Aika: "Yeah… we look like kids trying to play ninja."
Reina: "Exactly. Perform the Transformation Jutsu. Adults — nothing fancy. Blend in, act natural."
With a synchronized breath, the team formed the seals. Poof!
A swirl of smoke enveloped them — when it cleared, four ordinary adults stood in their place.
Reina's disguise: a stern woman in her twenties with sharp eyes and a high ponytail, her clothes neat but professional.
Raizen appeared as a dark-haired man with faint stubble and a serious expression.
Karui took on the image of a tall bodyguard with a lazy grin.
Aika appeared as a lively civilian with short brown hair and a simple coat — energetic but unassuming.
Reina: "Stick close. Don't talk unless I signal. Leave the talking to me."
They merged into the crowd, weaving through the bustling marketplace. The sound of festival drums mixed with conversation, masking their quiet footsteps.
As they approached the ceramics building, its age became more apparent — weathered bricks, boarded windows, faint cracks climbing up the side. Yet a few faintly uniformed shinobi lingered near the entrance — genin-level guards, their hitai-ate glinting under the street lamps.
Aika (under her breath): "Reina, there are genin patrolling the building. Are we still just gonna… walk right in?"
Reina's lips curved into a self-assured smirk.
Reina: "Wasn't that the plan? Confidence is the best disguise. Just follow my lead."
Before anyone could argue, she straightened her posture and strode toward the entrance. The others followed a step behind, careful to keep formation.
A guard stepped forward, his expression wary.
Guard: "Who are you? The building's closed for the night. What business do you have here?"
Reina didn't hesitate. Her tone sharpened to a perfect mix of annoyance and authority.
Reina: "You must be new. We're part of the maintenance unit sent by the Trade Commission. There's a faulty ventilation seal in the basement that needs to be inspected before tomorrow's deliveries."
The guard frowned, glancing at her from head to toe. "Maintenance? At this hour?"
Reina: "You'd prefer the building fail inspection and delay the morning shipments?" she shot back smoothly. "If you want to explain that to the overseer, be my guest."
Her delivery was flawless—confident, condescending, official. But Raizen could see the small twitch in her eye. She was bluffing hard.
The genin hesitated, eyes narrowing. "Funny, I didn't hear about any new orders. And we weren't told to expect anyone—"
Raizen subtly shifted his weight, chakra flickering around his fingertips beneath his cloak — ready to act if the situation broke bad.
Aika's hand hovered near her pouch. Karui's fake smile had started to fade.
Then, fate intervened.
From the street nearby, a sudden shout erupted — followed by a crash of wood and startled yelling. Two drunk merchants had begun arguing at a food stand, shoving each other until one toppled an entire cart of grilled meat onto the street.
The noise drew the guards' attention instantly.
Guard #2: "Oi! Over there! Break it up!"
Half the patrol rushed toward the commotion. The first guard turned his head for just a second — but it was enough.
Reina took a sharp step forward, thrusting a forged-looking document (a blank receipt she'd snatched earlier) into his hand.
Reina: "Paperwork. Signed off by the district clerk. We'll be quick."
The guard blinked, distracted by the chaos behind him. "Fine—just… make it fast."
Reina dipped her head in mock gratitude and swept through the doorway with the group close behind.
Once they were inside, the sound of the festival faded, replaced by the creak of wooden floors and the low hum of silence.
Aika: (whispering) "We actually made it in…"
Raizen gave Reina a side glance, his tone dry.
Raizen: "Luck, not skill."
Reina smirked, brushing imaginary dust off her sleeve.
Reina: "Luck's just another skill I happen to have mastered."
Raizen rolled his eyes but followed as the team slipped deeper into the darkened building.
The door shut behind them with a muted click, sealing off the noise of Kumo's nightlife.
Inside, the air was thick with dust and the faint smell of baked earth — the ghost of the building's old trade still lingering.
Dim light filtered through cracks in the boarded windows, illuminating shelves lined with broken pottery and clay molds stacked like fossils of another era. Every footstep echoed faintly against the wooden floorboards.
Aika: (whispering) "Creepy… but kinda cool."
Raizen: "Focus. The scroll said third basement floor. Keep quiet and watch for seals."
Reina led the way down the hall, chin lifted, every step radiating misplaced confidence. Raizen stayed near the middle, scanning the walls with his chakra sense — faint signatures pulsed beneath the wood, traps woven into the structure.
Raizen: "Careful. Chakra lines — there's sealing work laced through the corridor."
Reina: "Then deal with it."
Raizen bit back a sigh. "I would if I could see where it leads. Aika, send your summon. Small traps, small eyes."
Aika's grin returned, the thrill of using her summon lighting up her face.
She formed the seals in silence, kneeling on one knee.
Her chakra flared gently, crimson light pulsing through her hands.
Aika: "Summoning Jutsu: Scarlet Langur."
A small burst of smoke erupted, and when it cleared, a tiny red-furred monkey with bright golden eyes stood crouched on her shoulder. Its mask-like markings glowed faintly under the moonlight filtering through the cracks.
The creature yawned lazily, tail flicking.
Langur: "You call me out just to crawl around in the dark again? You're lucky I like you, kid."
Aika: (whispering) "You'll live. Keep it quiet, find the traps, don't get caught."
Langur: "You say that every time."
The little beast leapt down from her shoulder, padding silently across the dusty floor. Its eyes flashed faintly as it scanned the chakra lines. When it reached a faint seal array hidden beneath a floorboard, it tapped it twice with its tail — the ink flared blue, then fizzled out.
Raizen: "Nice. It's disrupting the chakra flow."
Aika: "He's pretty good, huh?"
Raizen: "Good enough that we're not dead. Keep him close."
They moved deeper. The stairwell creaked as they descended — first floor, then second. The deeper they went, the colder it became. A dim blue glow lit the path now, radiating from the old energy conduits built into the walls.
At the second basement, the Langur froze mid-step.
He hissed quietly — warning.
Raizen looked down. The faintest shimmer crossed the next step — a thread of chakra wire stretched thin as silk.
Raizen: "Tripwire seal."
Before Reina could bark an order, Aika snapped her fingers.
Aika: "I got it. Langur—now."
The small summon darted forward, rolling a bit of dust into the air before striking the wire with its tail. The chakra line flared, then went dead, severed cleanly.
Karui: (grinning) "He's got better reflexes than Reina."
Reina shot her a glare. "Focus, musclehead."
They kept moving. The third basement door loomed at the end of the hall, half open, faint light flickering from inside.
Raizen extended a hand. "Wait."
He knelt, brushing his fingers over the floor — more chakra residue. "Something's been disturbed recently. Someone's already been down here."
Aika frowned. "Another team?"
Before he could answer, a shadow shifted in the doorway ahead.
A figure stepped out — a genin in dark uniform, a headband glinting faintly in the light. His eyes widened the moment he saw them.
Guard: "Hey—who are you? This area's restricted!"
Reina straightened immediately, keeping her transformation active.
Reina: "Maintenance crew. We were sent to—"
Guard: "Cut it. Maintenance isn't authorized below the second floor. Drop the henge now."
Aika froze. Raizen's fingers inched toward his sealing pouch.
Reina held her ground. "Listen, kid—"
Guard: "Kid?" His tone sharpened. "Drop it, or I'll—"
Before he could finish, his gaze flicked to the side — the Langur had perched on a shelf, baring its teeth.
The guard's expression twisted in confusion— "Wait, is that—"
A loud clatter erupted from above them — a clay jar toppled off a shelf, shattering on the ground. The guard flinched instinctively, glancing toward the sound.
That single heartbeat of distraction was all Raizen needed.
He moved — a seal tag already between his fingers.
Raizen: "Flash Seal — release!"
A burst of blinding light erupted through the corridor. The guard stumbled back, covering his eyes, shouting in surprise.
Karui: "Guess that means we're fighting!"
She lunged forward, her transformed form melting away mid-stride as she launched a kick toward the guard's chest. He blocked it with his forearm, skidding back, kunai flashing into his hand.
The fight broke the silence like thunder.
Aika: "Langur—disrupt his footing!"
The monkey chittered and darted across the floor, kicking dust into the guard's eyes while Raizen slapped another seal to the wall, dampening sound so the fight wouldn't alert the others upstairs.
Reina stepped back, hands reaching for her katana
Reina: "Fine. So much for subtlety."
Raizen's eyes narrowed. "You think?"
The guard recovered quickly, sweeping his leg in a low arc, forcing Karui back. He moved with sharp precision — faster than expected.
Raizen (thinking): A trained genin. He's not just a lookout.
The guard slashed forward, kunai grazing Raizen's sleeve. Raizen twisted aside and threw down a seal tag — it flared beneath the guard's feet, locking them in place with a burst of chakra static.
Raizen: "Karui—now!"
Karui drove her knee into his gut, sending him crashing into a pile of broken crates.
The dust settled slowly. The guard groaned, half-conscious, pinned under debris.
Aika's summon landed on his chest, baring its teeth as if daring him to move.
Reina: "Tie him up. We don't have long before others come to check."
Raizen nodded, pulling out a binding seal. As he pressed it to the guard's wrist, the ink spread like black vines, locking the chakra flow in his arms.
He looked up at Reina, his tone calm but edged.
Raizen: "That simple plan of yours just got us detected."
Reina didn't answer, but the tightness in her jaw said enough.
Aika: (quietly) "Guess luck's got an expiration date."
The Langur perched back on Aika's shoulder, tail flicking smugly.
Langur: "Told you walking through the front door was dumb."
Aika snorted. "You're not helping."
Raizen stood, eyes shifting toward the stairwell leading deeper underground — faint chakra pulses still humming below.
Raizen: "We move fast."
The group gathered themselves, tension hanging heavy in the air as they disappeared down the final stairwell.
The first real trial had begun.
To Be Continued…