[NGS] [ARC-01] Chapter : 10
Added 2025-07-19 22:27:33 +0000 UTCDay of the Jonin Trails, 5 AM
The soft light of dawn had barely touched the rooftops of Konoha when Genma opened his eyes.
Sitting cross-legged in the center of his room, shirtless and calm, he focused on his breathing. The silence was meditative—every inhale steady, every exhale deliberate—as he centered himself for what lay ahead.
Today was the day.
His thoughts drifted to the week behind him—his friends have helped in any way they can for the past week to train him as soon as they knew that he was going to be in the jonin trials. Grueling sparring sessions with Gai while Kurenai tried to put him in a genjutsu and relentless sensory training with Iwashi. He could feel the difference. His stats, though not yet textbook Jōnin-level on paper, had taken a significant leap—especially in genjutsu and sensory proficiency.
But stats alone didn’t make a Jōnin.
Experience. Instinct. Tactical clarity.
Those were the things he had in abundance. And in these turbulent times, when all Five Great Nations were scrambling for capable shinobi, a well-rounded fighter like Genma was no longer a luxury—he was a necessity.
—
Hokage Building - 6:00 AM
"Good morning! Aika-san. How is everything going today?" Genma greeted Aika, the personal assistant of the Third Hokage, who was manning the reception right now.
"Hectic as usual. Genma-kun. You are right on time as usual. I still remember your promotion to Special Jonin just a few months ago, and now you are already up for promotion to Jonin. It seems you are climbing the ladder pretty fast." Aika replied, also commenting on this fast rise in strength.
"I'll take that as a compliment, Aika-san. So, where should I head to?" Genma replied coolly and asked for directions.
She gestured toward the hallway. “Straight to the Hokage’s office. He’s expecting you.”
"Got it. Thanks, Aika-san. See you later!"
"Good luck, Genma-kun. And… stay safe!"
—
The doors to the Hokage’s office creaked open, revealing the Third Hokage—Sarutobi Hiruzen—in a commanding light as the highest authority of the village, exuding power.
Hiruzen sat upright, the white of his robes pristine, a scroll already unfurled on his desk. His aged eyes lifted to meet Genma’s with a gaze that was piercing.
“You’re on time, Genma,” Hiruzen said with a faint smile. “A good sign.”
“I figured you'd appreciate punctuality, Hokage-sama,” Genma replied with a respectful bow.
Hiruzen gestured toward the chair opposite him. “Sit. We have much to discuss.”
As Genma took his seat, the old Hokage’s face grew more serious.
“I won’t waste time with pleasantries. You’ve proven yourself capable. Your progress in the past year has been significant. But the Jōnin Trials are not merely about skill. They’re about judgment and leadership too.”
Genma nodded once, quietly absorbing every word.
Hiruzen reached for the scroll on his desk and passed it across.
“Your first mission.”
Genma unfurled the scroll. His eyes scanned the contents:
Mission Brief: Escort and Investigate
Rank: A
Assigned Shinobi: Shiranui Genma (Candidate)
Supervising Commander: Solo Mission.
Primary Objective:
Escort and protect the noble Fukuyama family of the Fire Daimyō’s court.
Retrieve them safely from their ancestral estate near the Fire–Rain border.
Ensure their secure arrival at the Fire Capital.
Simultaneously investigate reports of missing villagers, looting, and civil unrest in the surrounding territory.
Secondary Objective:
Identify whether the unrest is internal or instigated by external forces.
Constraints:
Civilian casualties must be avoided.
Intelligence gathered will be used to brief the Daimyō directly.
Genma whistled low under his breath. “Saving a noble family, a cross-country travel guard, and an intelligence sweep all in one? You are definitely not going easy on me, Hokage-sama.”
Hiruzen chuckled, the sound old but full of mirth. “You’ll have no safety net. This trial is not about fighting power—though that will surely be tested—but about the choices you make. These people are symbols, not just clients. If you fail, the will hear of it.”
Genma’s eyes darkened slightly as he refolded the scroll. “Understood. When do I leave?”
“Immediately. A hawk will meet you at the halfway point with new intelligence if anything changes. And Genma…” Hiruzen leaned forward, his voice grave now. “This mission is high priority. It came in just a few hours back. The Fukuyama family is currently in distress and in hiding. Their safety is paramount.”
Genma stood, slipping the scroll into the pouch strapped across his lower back. “I won’t let you down, Hokage-sama.”
As he turned to leave, Hiruzen’s voice halted him at the door.
“One more thing… Should you find signs of organized resistance—especially from within—report back first. If you move recklessly, it could turn into a political nightmare.”
Genma gave a short nod. “Got it.”
The door closed behind him with a soft click.
And so began the first trial.
—
Genma moved swiftly, leaping from branch to branch through the dense forests skirting the borders of Konoha, his eyes fixed on the horizon that would eventually give way to the Rain Country. At full speed, he could reach his destination in just over a day. If he paced himself, maybe a day and a half—but either way, there was no room for meals.
Not that it mattered. He could go without food for three days if necessary. What concerned him wasn’t the journey—it was what waited at the end of it.
Reaching the location was the easy part.
The real challenge would be locating the client—the Fukuyama family—and extracting them safely, all while flying blind. No intel on the enemy. No layout of the terrain. Just whispers of unrest and danger in the ruins of their ancestral estate.
If it was just rogue samurai stirring trouble, that would be manageable.
But if the situation involved missing-nin, or worse—a rival clan employing foreign shinobi from another village—the mission could spiral into something far more volatile.
'First things first,' Genma thought, narrowing his eyes as he propelled himself forward with another chakra-enhanced leap. 'I need to reach the border fast and assess the situation. Everything else will hinge on what I find.'
—
**One Day Later**
(ANBU's POV)
"What’s your read, Wolf? You know Genma better than I do. From his file, I’d peg him at low-Jonin level at best. Think he can pull this off?"
The ANBU wearing a tiger-patterned mask cast a sideways glance at the smaller operative beside him—a figure donning a sleek wolf mask.
There was a pause before Wolf—Kakashi—responded, his tone measured, as though turning the thought over carefully in his mind.
“He should manage it. Genma’s more resourceful than people give him credit for.”
“Hmm. Let’s hope you’re right,” Tiger muttered. “Cleaning up after a botched mission isn’t exactly fun.”
Just then, Tiger’s expression sharpened behind his mask. He raised a fist, signaling a halt.
“He stopped. Chakra signature's steady. Looks like he’s taking a break,” he said, crouching into the foliage’s cover. “We’ll hold here and observe. After running across the Land of Fire for a full day, even a stubborn one like Genma needs to breathe.”
“Wolf, what’s your chakra level?” Tiger asked, glancing back.
“Stable. I can go another five days without a pill,” Kakashi replied flatly, no hint of pride or resentment in his voice—just fact.
“Good. But don’t hesitate to take one if needed. We can’t afford slip-ups on this mission.”
“Yes, Captain.”
A few minutes passed in silence before Tiger asked, “What’s Genma doing now?”
Wolf pulled out a compact monocular from his pouch, raised it to his mask’s eye-slit, and scanned the area ahead.
“He just took a food pill… now he’s pulling on a dark cloak. Looks like he’s prepping for rain. He’s moving again.”
Tiger nodded approvingly. “Smart. Let’s follow.”
“Yes, Captain.”
They moved swiftly through the trees, shadows gliding silently over branches and leaves. After nearly an hour of running, the terrain began to change—the air felt heavier, more humid. The border was near.
“We’re close,” Tiger murmured. “Should be no more than ten kilometers to the Fukuyama estate.”
Suddenly, Wolf froze.
Sniff. Sniff.
His voice cut in, sharp and alert.
“Captain. I smell blood. It’s faint—but it’s fresh. Coming from Fukuyama territory.”
Tiger stiffened.
“Shit.”
Name: Genma Shiranui
Age: 17
Chakra Capacity: 51000/51000 (Jonin)
Strength: 113/500
Endurance: 162/500
Durability: 117/500
Agility: 117/500
Chakra Control: 210/500
Taijutsu: 185/500
Ninjutsu: 205/500
Genjutsu: 160/500
Bukijutsu: 155/500
Fuinjutsu: 160/500
Sensory Jutsu: 105/500
Chakra Affinities:
Fire (Advanced)—Master of Fire Chakra nature.
Lightning (Adept)—Know five Lightning-style ninjutsu.
Water (Adept)—Know five Water-style ninjutsu.
