The Adventurous Gamer Ninja - Daichi Hekima

The air around the base was filled with killing intent. The faint rustling of the leaves in the wind made a poor disguise for the brutal fight that laid ahead.

Jonin Asuma Sarutobi stood at the forefront of his team. His sharp eyes scanned the mercenaries gathered before them. He let out a deep calm breath and it formed steady small clouds in the cool morning air. His ever-present cigarette was clenched between his teeth.

Asuma could feel it. The pulse of hostile chakra, twisted and unnatural, emanated from the enemies that stood between them and Orochimaru's lair.

The son of the Hokage quickly assessed the situation. 'According to the scouting team's report, there are a total of 26 enemies in this location protecting that base. And it looks like out of those 26, 14 of them came out to greet us. Judging from the mutation and strange protrusions on their bodies they're not doubt Orochimaru's experiments. Need to capture a few alive.'

Asuma's team, six strong, spread out around him in a loose formation, prepared for the onslaught. His team was balanced.

Genjutsu, taijutsu, and ninjutsu specialists, all well-trained. But the mercenaries were different. These weren't proper ninjas but they also weren't ordinary fighters. They had tasted Orochimaru's twisted power, and it had warped them into something monstrous.

Asuma locked eyes with the three men who approached him, their bodies bulging and contorting with the activation of the curse seal.

One had grotesque arms, nearly twice the size of his body, covered in bone-like protrusions. The second, a wiry figure, was crouched low to the ground, his limbs elongated unnaturally, moving with an unsettling insect-like grace. The third had a face half-transformed, one side human, the other a grotesque mass of scales, his fingers twitching with dangerous chakra.

Asuma held a cool face even as he realized he was about to face 3 strong opponents at once.

"What?" The Leaf Jonin was curious as to what the man wanted with him.

"That waist cloth you have has the Fire emblem etched into it. That means you were once a Guardian Twelve ninja weren't you?"

Asuma cocked an eyebrow. "So what? That information won't help you here."

"Haha! I've never killed anyone as famous as you. Once I take your head everyone will know my name."

The arrogance of the enemy surprised the Leaf nins. They knew just how strong Asuma is and were insulted.

"How arrogant. It seems these guys have severely underestimated you captain." One of the Leaf ninjas standing behind Asuma spoke.

"Yeah." Asuma nodded as he looked at his enemy. "Out of curiosity, what is your name?"

"Thunderhead!" The one with the large hand shouted proudly.

A few seconds of silence filled the area as everyone processed that name.

"Pfft- HAHAHAHAHAAA…"

Nobody was sure who cracked first but the next second everyone in the Leaf ninjas and even some of Orochimaru's men started laughing hard.

"SHUT UP!" The man roared in anger and embarrassment.

"That sounds like the name of a hooker who's great at giving heads." One of the Leaf ninjas commented.

Even Asuma was chuckling despite the seriousness of the situation. "Really? Out of all the names, you couldn't have come up with something better."

"STOP LAUGHING! I'm gonna kill all of you." The man was getting ready to attack.

The laughter died down and Asuma got serious. "Alright. Enough with the games. Remember the mission. Pick your targets and attack. I'll handle these three clowns." He gave the order and the 5 ninjas behind him immediately sprung into action.

"You're not leaving here alive, Leaf scum," growled the one with the massive arms, his voice thundering with rage.

Asuma didn't reply. His grip tightened around his trench knives, the familiar hum of his chakra flowing into the blades, making them crackle with energy. He exhaled slowly, focusing. There was no room for hesitation now.

Without warning, the man with the oversized arms charged. His speed was unnerving for someone so massive. He swung one of his grotesque limbs toward Asuma with enough force to break a large tree in half.

Asuma sidestepped just in time and he felt the wind from the strike whipping past his face.

'Close.'

Before Asuma could counter, the second mercenary—the one with elongated limbs—darted in from the side. His movements were quick, almost insect-like, and his legs whipped out at impossible angles, striking toward Asuma's ribs.

The Leaf Jonin blocked with one of his trench knives. His jaws clenched as the impact sent a shockwave through his arm. Asuma's eyes narrowed as he looked at the man. 'That kind of force from a leg strike. It's unnatural. This guy is much stronger than his lanky frame suggests.'

The third mercenary hung back for the moment, his scaly hand twitching as he began weaving hand signs.

'Damn it.' Asuma cursed under his breath. 'I can't afford to get caught in whatever jutsu that one is preparing. I need to finish this fast.'

With a sharp exhale, Asuma parried another strike from the insect-like mercenary, spinning to avoid the massive arms of the first. In a fluid motion, he channeled wind chakra into his trench knives, the blades glowing brighter with an almost visible sharpness. With a single swing, he slashed across the massive arm of his first opponent. The blade cut through the cursed flesh with ease, sending a spray of blood into the air.

"Aaarg!" The mercenary howled in pain, stumbling back.

Watching this scene, the one with the half-transformed face sneered. 'You fool. This is what happens when you attack with no plan in mind.'

He had no sympathy, even for the person on the same side. His focus quickly shifted to the former Guardian twelve ninja.

Meanwhile, before Asuma could take advantage of his opening, the elongated limbed mercenary was on him again. His limbs were moving in a flurry of kicks and punches, each strike coming faster than the last. Asuma blocked and dodged, but the attacks were relentless. His opponent's movements were too erratic, too unpredictable.

Asuma tilted his head and avoided a brutal strike coming for his eyes. 'This guy is not only fast but he has unusual strength behind his attacks. Moreover, his movements are too erratic, too unpredictable.'

But despite these challenges, the Leaf ninja kept a cool head and waited for his opportunity. Several moments later, Asuma saw an opening.

As the mercenary swung a long leg toward his head, the Leaf Jonin ducked low and slashed upward, slicing clean through the man's calf.

"Aaaahhh!" A scream tore from the mercenary's throat as he collapsed, blood spurting from the wound. But even on the ground, he still reached out with those unnaturally long limbs, trying to claw at Asuma.

It was then, the third mercenary attacked.

"Rhaaa! Take this you bastard!" With a guttural shout, the half-scaled man unleashed a wave of crackling chakra from his palm.

It shot toward the leaf ninja like a bolt of lightning, fast and deadly. Asuma's instincts kicked in, and he threw himself to the side, rolling just in time to avoid the brunt of the attack.

The ground where he had been standing exploded in a shower of earth and debris.

But even as Asuma dodged, the first mercenary, his arm bleeding but still functional, charged in again with his rage fueling his power. His oversized fists slammed toward Asuma in a brutal overhead strike.

A mad grin was on his face as his massive fist came closer and closer to its intended victim. 'This is it. He has no time to dodge. He doesn't even have time to think. I'm going to kill him. This is your punishment for laughing at me.'

Asuma stood his ground and chakra flooded into his trench knives. Just before the massive fists could connect he swung both blades upward in a cross slash, unleashing the full force of his wind-infused chakra.

The impact created a shockwave that sent the mercenary stumbling back, his arms sliced deeply by the wind blades.

Before the third mercenary could unleash another jutsu, Asuma flicked his trench knife forward, sending a blade of wind straight toward him.

The man's eyes widened as he saw the speed with which the wind blade was coming. 'Too fast. Can't dodge.'

The sharp wind attack sliced through the air and hit its mark, cutting through the man's chest. The scaled mercenary gasped, clutching at the wound as blood poured from it.

Asuma didn't give him a second glance as he fell. He had no time to waste. The elongated-limbed mercenary was still trying to crawl toward him, his eyes wide with desperation, but Asuma stepped forward and drove his trench knife into the man's chest, ending it swiftly.

That left the one with the massive arms. He was bleeding heavily now, panting, his body barely holding together after the chakra-infused slashes from Asuma's knives. But his eyes still burned with fury.

"You… you're nothing… compared to Lord Orochimaru's power!" the man snarled, raising his oversized arms for one last desperate strike.

Asuma's eyes hardened. "Orochimaru can't save you now."

With a final burst of speed, Asuma lunged forward, his trench knives blazing with wind chakra. The mercenary swung his fists down, but Asuma was already inside his guard. With one swift, decisive movement, he slashed both knives across the mercenary's chest, cutting deep.

The man staggered, his eyes wide in disbelief as his body gave out. He collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud, the curse mark fading from his skin as life left his body.

Asuma straightened, his breathing heavy but controlled. He looked around at the carnage—three cursed mercenaries lay dead at his feet. But there was no time to rest. His team was still locked in battle with the others. He wiped the blood from his trench knives and glanced toward the entrance of the base.

'Has the other team entered the base?' Asuma asked the Yamanaka ninja connected to him.

'Yes. They're currently disabling traps and dispelling illusion barriers. Their team is on the west side and is engaged with 4 enemies.' The communications ninja replied.

'They'll be fine. Focus on the team going inside. Make sure they do a thorough sweep from top to bottom.' Asuma ordered.

'Yes captain.'

Asuma then focused on the others of his team. 'Time to see if I can complete the other part of my mission.'

—-

The clash of steel and the crackle of jutsu echoed through the forest as Asuma's team engaged the remaining Orochimaru mercenaries. The battle was chaotic, bodies moving in a deadly dance of violence and skill. The cursed seal-enhanced enemies fought like rabid animals, but the Leaf ninjas were well-trained, precise and held their ground.

Asuma entered the party and the pressure on the Leaf ninjas lessened. Among the five Leaf ninjas fighting alongside was Jogan Himaki. Asuma had been secretly pushing a few stronger enemy ninjas towards Jogan.

The Leaf Jonin was secretly keeping an eye on the man's abilities and as more time passed Asuma became shocked.

Jogan was an average-looking shinobi, typically quiet, unremarkable in most ways, a background figure in many missions. On paper, he was just another chunin—nothing more, nothing less. But as the battle unfolded, something became glaringly clear.

'His movements. They're too sharp, too refined. His strikes hit with deadly precision and his reactions are faster than what I'd expect from someone of his Rank.

Even Asuma, who had always prided himself on his ability to read people, felt a flicker of surprise. 'It's not obvious unless someone is observing closely. He's making it look like he's having a difficult fight but he's in complete control.'

"You won't defeat us Leaf ninjas that easily." Jogan shouted as he stepped forward to engage two mercenaries, his hands weaving through rapid hand seals. A torrent of fire erupted from his mouth, blasting the two cursed seal users backward, their twisted bodies alight with flames.

Asuma's eyes narrowed as he observed Jogan. His suspicion had been correct. Jogan wasn't just an ordinary chunin—he was far more dangerous than he let on.

'He's showing just enough skill and a bit more. This is an important mission. Maybe he's looking to gain merits and a higher position. Root training, no doubt.'

Asuma was given a simple yet grim task: ensure Jogan didn't come back from this mission.

No one else on the team knew. And as Asuma watched Jogan slice through two mercenaries with deadly efficiency, he could feel the weight of that burden pressing down on him.

The Leaf Jonin had read the man's file and he internally sighed.

'He's secretly a Danzo loyalist and fanatic. If I hesitate or show mercy now, it could cause problems later.'

Around him, the rest of the team fought hard against the curse-seal enhanced mercenaries. One of his teammates, a kunoichi specializing in Genjutsu, had trapped a group of enemies in a visual illusion.

It allowed another teammate to break through with a flurry of taijutsu strikes. Another Leaf ninja used earth jutsu to deflect incoming projectiles, keeping the others covered.

But Jogan was to the side and away from the team. He was efficient even as he battled the enemies on his own. Asuma could feel his heart race with the urgency of the situation.

'Dad made his move against Danzo. If Jogan returns to the Leaf and he finds out what happened, then there is no telling what he might do.'

Asuma quickly steeled his heart and made the decision. The chaos of the current battlefield presented the perfect opportunity for him to act.

'Sorry, Jogan.' Asuma thought, his expression unreadable as he observed the battlefield. His hands moved subtly, weaving a quick, discrete set of seals. His attack hit Jogan just as the Root agent prepared to strike at the two mercenaries.

Suddenly, the Root sleeper agent faltered. His attack slowed as confusion clouded his features. His eyes widened slightly, just a flicker of uncertainty crossing his usually cold demeanor. 'Genjutsu?'

It was a genjutsu—quick, subtle, nothing flashy, but enough to throw Jogan off balance for just a few precious seconds. A well-placed distortion of his perception, so small that no one else would notice in the chaos of battle.

The two mercenaries, one with jagged spikes protruding from his forearms and the other with elongated claws, didn't waste the opportunity.

They lunged forward with savage grins, sensing blood. "Yes! Die you Leaf bastard."

Jogan tried to recover, but it was too late. The spiked mercenary slammed his arm forward, the sharp, bone-like protrusions tearing through the Root ninja's chest with a sickening crunch.

Blood sprayed across the forest floor. The other mercenary followed up, raking his claws across Jogan's throat in a brutal finishing move. His body stiffened, his eyes wide with shock, and then, slowly, he crumpled to the ground in a lifeless heap.

Asuma's expression remained neutral as he watched it unfold, the mercenaries pulling back, grinning with victory as they returned to the fray. None of the other Leaf shinobi noticed anything unusual; in the heat of battle, it looked like Jogan had simply been overwhelmed by the enemy.

The kunoichi, still engaged with a cursed mercenary in the distance, shouted in frustration when she noticed Jogan fall. "Jogan! No!"

Another teammate rushed to cover her as she tried to refocus, but there was no time to mourn. "Don't get distracted!"

The fight raged on around them, but Asuma felt a strange sense of calm settle over him. He had done what needed to be done. 'Hokage's orders Jogan. It had to be done.'

Jogan Himaki, the Root sleeper agent, was gone.

The battle continued and Asuma's trench knives flashed as he engaged the remaining mercenaries, his focus shifting back to the mission at hand. The team would mourn Jogan later, perhaps over sake and quiet words. They would speak of his bravery, his skill in battle, how he had fought fiercely against Orochimaru's cursed soldiers.

But only Asuma, the Hokage and a few high level ninjas in the Leaf village would know the truth.

That Jogan and others like him were never meant to return.

—---------------

Author's Note

I'm not sure how the humor at the beginning of this chapter will work out. I'm trying out a few things. Tell me your thoughts on the chapter. I wont show the battle of the other 6 teams too. That would be too boring.

But Jiraiya, Tobirama and Ox are about to go into battle. Try and guess who their enemies will be...

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