New Era
New Era
The village was bustling. Kids were playing and running around with smiles on their faces. The land of earth had benefitted from three whole years of peace while the rest of the shinobi world fought for feudal lords and their ambitions.
Iwagakure, the shinobi village of the land of earth had a population of seventy thousand people. Five ninja academies were created, each one of them had experienced senseis.
From the age of four, every kid was to join the academy. There, they would learn the basics of being a shinobi and even receive history class about the creation of the village and the masterminds behind it.
At the age of six, the kids would undergo a harsh training regimen. It was only after they were twelve and passed the graduation exam that they would officially become shinobi of the village and were given their black Iwa headband.
Those who failed the graduation exam twice would be unable to become future shinobi. Instead, they were sent to one of the ten basic academies. In the basic academies, they learned about being farmers, blacksmiths, bakers, nurses and all kind of common jobs.
The levels of shinobi were also divided into five and they were the following: Genin, Chunin, Jonin, Anbu and kage.
In Iwagakure, special Jonin did not exist. The village wouldn't give this fancy title to someone who had only one skill at the Jonin level and the rest at Chunin level.
Or you had all the capacities of a Jonin, or you stayed a Chunin your whole life. The senseis and even the parents made sure to pass down Iwa's stonehard mentality to the children.
To have no pity for enemies or traitors, to follow orders no matter what they were unless they were given the permission not to, to never divulge information even if you were tortured, to kill the comrades who you know are going to talk before they get captured.
A group among Iwagakure operated in the shadows, they were the Tsuchikage's personal bodyguards. The secret Anbu Corps.
Once in a while, the Anbu Corps would do a recruitment selection. All the superior Jonins would be welcome to participate.
They would go through tests where their own lives were at risk due to the use of real weapons and deadly jutsus.
Among the Jonins, there was a rumor that said that the test to become Anbu was to survive a ten minute fight against the Tsuchikage himself.
Whether this was true or not was a complete mystery. The only ones who knew were the Tsuchikage and the members of the Anbu.
For three years, the Espionage Group had been tasked to spy on the neighboring countries. More particularly on the country of fire and the Senju and Uchiha clan.
Kentaro was sitting in his office, he was wearing the Tsuchikage's attire on top of Iwagakure's battle outfit.
From the balcony behind him, a man so fast that it could be considered a shadow entered and got on his right knee in front of Kentaro's desk
The man was wearing a red porcelaine mask who portrayed an oni. On its forehead, the symbol of Iwa was etched in black.
"Lord Tsuchikage, I come to deliver you the report on our mission." the Anbu member held a scroll in his hand, Kentaro stood up and took the scroll out of his hands.
Kentaro opened the scroll, he read the content of it. He turned around and placed the scroll on his desk.
"You've done a good job, squad captain. Your squad can leave the land of fire, have some rest. It's been three years since you guys are away. To reward the twenty of you, I will let you pick one S-class jutsu each." the Anbu gave a nod.
"Also, inform the three group leaders that I summon them. They must be in my office in the hour to come!" the Anbu nodded and disappeared, he became but a shadow.
Kentaro went to the balcony and looked at the village. The time had come, they needed to live in secret no more.
Ten minutes later, Kentaro felt the presence of someone in his office. He looked back and joined this person.
"My love, why do you look so....worried? Is something the matter?" Amaterasu sat down on Kentaro's chair.
"Amaterasu, things will be getting serious from now on. This husband of yours will be very busy." Kentaro stood behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders and resumed.
"Worry? I must say that I am feeling it for the first time after I've learned sage mode. I worry for you and.....our child to come." Kentaro looked at Amaterasu's visibly bigger belly.
"Kentaro, our child will need its father when growing up. Whatever you have to do, do not put yourself too much in danger." Amaterasu was making an absurd request and she knew it herself.
"You remember when I told your father about a change to come in the Shinobi world?." Amaterasu nodded. Just as he was going to explain further, someone knocked on the door.
"Knock knock!" Kentaro looked up, he knew who it was.
"Enter!" the door opened, Mū entered inside. His body had become visibly stronger with all the training he had been enduring under the augmented gravity.
On top of his bandages, Mū was wearing a gray armor that covered his top. His clothes were black and he only had a long sleeve for his left arm, he proudly wore the black headband.
He also worked on Kenjutsu, he was now capable of wielding two blades at the same time. That's why he had two swords on his back.
"Lord Tsuchikage, I see that you're busy. I can come back later if you want " Mū had matured, he didn't call Kentaro by his name or by big bro anymore.
"It's alright Mū, close the door. Tell me, what can I do for you?" Kentaro did not mind Mū at all, he closed the door and walked closer.
"I came to receive some of your advice, if it's not too much asked." Kentaro looked at Mū patiently.
"I have become so much more powerful with your help. I would like to receive an advice for a jutsu that could help me triumph in a fight." Kentaro knew what Mū's fighting style was.
While he was still behind Amaterasu, Kentaro's body started splitting until their were two Kentaros.
Mū was impressed by such a display of ability, he had never thought of something like that.
"This is the Fission Jutsu. You can use your Yang affinity to use this jutsu and create two Mūs" Kentaro was about to explain more about it.
"Splitting your body means dividing your power by half. Your strength, your quickness, your agility, your chakra, everything will be divided between the two bodies. Judging by your chakra reserves, you won't be able to use particle style in a divided state." Mū had not asked for so much explanation, he was grateful to Kentaro.
"Listen well, little Mū. If one of your halves gets sealed, you power will permanently be halved unless you unseal your other half." Mū had one question in his mind.
"What if one of the halves were to be destroyed? What would happen then?" Kentaro looked seriously into Mū's eyes.
"You would forever be in a divided state, meaning that half of your power will forever be lost." Kentaro didn't want Mū to get too discouraged about that.
"Mū, I need you to master this jutsu as fast as possible. You have already mastered the particle style under my tutelage, this will not be too difficult for you." Mū could sense the seriousness in Kentaro's voice.
"Lord Tsuchikage, is something the matter?" Kentaro placed his Kage hat on his desk and gave Mū a nod.
"The Senju and The Uchiha have united. The world has officially entered a new era, the era of the hidden villages."