9 Games

<Viper POV>

I exchanged a glance with Hawk, and her eyes mirrored the unease that gnawed at my core. We were not mere witnesses; we were accomplices in this dark theatre of survival. The Chunins, their faces contorted with fear and resolve, engaged in a deadly dance fueled by the sadistic whims of Fox.

*Clank* *Clank*

"Look at them, Viper. This is Fox's idea of entertainment," Hawk muttered, her voice a low growl laced with disapproval. I nodded in silent agreement, unable to tear my eyes away from the unfolding tragedy.

Fox, seated on his elevated perch, continued to observe with a detached amusement that sent shivers down my spine. Is this why Danzo-Sama put so much emphasis on his survival over ours? Looks like he wants to control him…

Fox had set the stage, and now the players danced to his malevolent tune.

"Die YOU FUCKER!!!" shouted one of the Chunin.

The Chunins, once comrades, now clashed in a desperate bid for survival. Each strike, each blow, carried the weight of their own mortality.

"This is madness. We're just letting him toy with them," Hawk muttered, her frustration palpable. I glanced at Fox, who remained unperturbed, his legs still swinging lazily as if watching a mundane spectacle. "We should be interrogating them both.."

The Chunins, now consumed by a primal instinct for survival, fought with a ferocity that spoke of their desperation. Blood stained the sands, and the air reeked of the metallic tang of violence. Fox, unaffected by the carnage below, continued his silent observation.

As the skirmish unfolded, one Chunin gained the upper hand, delivering a final, decisive blow to his adversary. The defeated Chunin crumpled to the ground, a testament to the brutality of Fox's game.

His final blow was merciless, a brutal strike that sealed the fate of his now lifeless comrade. The fallen Chunin crumpled to the desert floor, a tragic casualty of Fox's sadistic game.

As the victor stood amidst the crimson-stained sands, the weight of his actions seemed to crash upon him like a tidal wave. His Kunai dropped to the ground, the metallic *clang* echoing through the desolation. The victorious Chunin, once a warrior, now knelt beside the fallen, his shoulders shaking with the weight of remorse.

"He's broken," Hawk muttered, her voice a low growl of discontent. I nodded in agreement, unable to tear my eyes away from the harrowing scene below. The survivor's cries echoed through the night, a haunting melody that clashed with the stoic silence of the desert.

Fox, still perched on his branch, observed the unfolding emotional turmoil with a detached interest. His legs continued to swing lazily, a disconcerting contrast to the visceral drama playing out beneath him. It was as if the emotions of others were mere pieces on a board, manipulated at his whims.

The silver-haired enigma descended from his perch, landing gracefully on the sand below.

*Clap**Clap* Fox clapped his hands in a slow, mocking applause.

The survivor's trembling gaze met Fox's inscrutable eyes, seeking answers, understanding, or perhaps absolution.

"Well done," he remarked, his voice carrying an unsettling cheerfulness. "I must congratulate you on surviving. "

The broken Chunin, his face streaked with tears and blood, looked up at Fox with a mixture of confusion and desperation. Fox, was seemingly delighted by the emotional wreckage he had caused.

With a wave of his hand, Fox declared the survivor ours to interrogate. Hawk and I exchanged a glance, our expressions mirroring a shared discomfort. The survivor, once a warrior, now reduced to a puppet in Fox's cruel play, awaited our questions in the cold embrace of the desert night.

As we approached the broken Chunin, a sense of dread lingered in the air. Fox's games left scars not only on the bodies of those entangled in them but on the very fabric of their souls.

"Why were you near Konoha's borders?" Hawk's voice, a blend of authority and impatience, cut through the heavy silence. The Chunin, seemingly wrestling with his fractured thoughts, took a moment before responding.

We were scouting," he muttered, the words escaping like fragile whispers. The admission hung heavy in the air, and Hawk's gaze narrowed, probing for deeper truths

"Scouting? For what?" she pressed, her gaze piercing through the darkness to the broken man before us.

The Chunin's eyes flickered as if attempting to piece together the fragments of his memory. "Tension is high between the villages. There have been rumours of unrest, and Sunagakure wanted to stay ahead of any potential threats."

The political tension between the five shinobi villages had created an environment ripe for manipulation.

Hawk's gaze remained steady as she assessed the Chunin's words. "Where is your objective? What were you scouting for specifically?"

The Chunin hesitated. "An outpost, marked for reconnaissance. The details were vague; they only provided enough information for the mission."

Hawk nodded, absorbing the information, and turned to me for the next steps.

"Kill him," I commanded Hawk, my voice devoid of emotion. "Now that you've seen us, there's no turning back."

Panic etched across the Chunin's face as he stammered, "You promised survival! He promised!"

Coldly, I rejected his plea. "Fox may have promised, but not us."

The desert night bore witness to the ruthless decisions dictated by the shinobi world's unforgiving code.

<Scene Break> Gin POV

Viper and Hawk approached Fox after handling the remaining Chunin.

"We usually erase all traces," Hawk's voice cut through the desert silence, a rigid reminder of protocol.

"Preserving the body of the Jonin was essential," Viper added, his gaze unwavering.

I casually shrugged, meeting their disapproving stares with an innocent smile. "Well, that's how you usually operate, not how I do things."

The air hung heavy with their frustration, tangible in the narrowing of their eyes and the set of their jaws. In their world, rules were the foundation, and deviations were met with resistance. Yet, here I stood.

"You should take this seriously," Viper asserted, his tone carrying a touch of irritation. "We could have avoided unnecessary complications."

I merely chuckled, the sound echoing across the desert like the sly whisper of a breeze. "Complications are part of the game. Keeps things interesting."

Hawk, ever the pragmatist, leaned in with a directness that characterized her nature. "Interesting or not, it compromises the mission."

I stood, stretching leisurely as if the weight of their concerns had no hold on me. "Ah, missions, protocols – you two take it all too seriously. Sometimes, it's good to relax."

Their disapproving glares intensified, and a growing irritation simmered within me. The desert, usually a place of solace, now seemed to amplify the tension among us.

"You should've thought about that before making a mess," Viper retorted.

A menacing grin played on my lips, hidden behind the facade of nonchalance. "If Danzo has something to say, I'll think about it. Otherwise, you can both fuck off."

Their expressions tightened, caught between the weight of their duty and my blatant disregard for their protocols. I turned away, leaving their stifling judgment behind.

"Well, if you're so bothered by it, erase whatever traces you want," I called back over my shoulder. "I've got better things to do."

As I distanced myself from their stifling presence, I could feel their murmurs of discontent lingering in the night air.

Viper sighed again, a weariness in his voice. "Fox, prepare to leave for the village."

I turned around, a glint of mischief in my eyes. "Leave already? I was just getting comfortable."

His stern gaze met mine. "We can't linger. Get ready."

I gave a theatrical sigh, playing up the innocence. "Alright, alright. No need to be so serious."

As I gathered my belongings, I couldn't shake the feeling that this mission had left a more profound impact than I initially thought.

I at least hoped they would train me before I went on my first mission. How the hell am I supposed to know all the stupid rules?

'Meh Fuck it! With me showing off in the fights, for sure I'm Cyclops's golden child.' *Giggle**Giggle*

<Scene Break Konoha> Gin POV

The scorching sun hung high in the sky as we returned to the village hidden in the leaves. The journey had been long, the mission accomplished maybe?

Viper's voice cut through the ambient noise, his tone crisp and authoritative. "We need to report to Danzo-Sama immediately. Fox, Hawk, follow me."

Reporting to Danzo was a routine.

Viper led the way, a man on a mission, focused and determined. His words were measured and purposeful as he began the debriefing with Danzo, detailing the intricacies of our recent venture. To him, it was a serious affair, a necessary exchange of information. To me, it was an opportunity for playful detachment.

As Viper spoke, I leaned against the wall, barely acknowledging the significance of our accomplishments.

Danzo's stern gaze attempted to anchor my attention, but I was an elusive shadow, slipping through the grasp of seriousness.

Hawk stood beside me, attentive and disciplined, a contrast to my carefree demeanour. Viper's debriefing continued, his words painting a vivid picture of our success. I, however, was lost in my own world, a world where duty took a backseat to amusement.

Danzo's voice broke the silence, cutting through the weight of the room.

"Fox, you are dismissed."

Danzo dismissed me with a curt nod, his eyes reflecting a subtle acknowledgment of my carefree spirit. Viper and Hawk exchanged glances, a mixture of frustration and understanding etched on their faces.

I turned to my companions with a sarcastic grin. "Well, it's been a pleasure, as always," I quipped, my tone dripping with playful mockery. I waved a casual farewell, leaving them in the wake of my departure. "~Bye ~Bye"

As I walked, a mischievous thought crept into my mind – perhaps it was time to pay a visit to Mito and sprinkle a dash of chaos into her day. The prospect of mischief brought a gleam to my eyes, and with a carefree chuckle, I ventured into the vibrant embrace of the village

<Scene Break Danzo's Office> 3rd POV

Danzo watched with a calculating gaze as Gin Ichimaru sauntered out of his office, the door closing behind him. Once the door sealed the clandestine atmosphere, Viper and Hawk sensed the shift in the atmosphere. The Root leader's eye bore into Viper, demanding an explanation.

"How did you encounter someone during a mission that was meant to be silent?" Danzo's voice was sharp, cutting through the room like a kunai.

Viper, choosing his words carefully. "The mission was designed to test Fox's adaptability and instincts. Unfortunately, we encountered a rogue element during our surveillance near the border. The situation escalated, but we managed to handle it."

Danzo's expression remained stern as he waited for further elaboration.

Viper took a moment to collect his thoughts before responding. "It wasn't our intention, sir. The mission was designed to be discreet, to let Fox get a feel for how we operate. However, he forced us into action."

Danzo's gaze intensified. "Explain."

Viper continued, "Fox exuded an oppressive amount of bloodlust. It's...was overwhelming. We were attempting to retreat when he detected a presence near the border and insisted on engaging. It was almost as if his instincts guided him to seek out conflict."

Danzo leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. "Bloodlust? That's unusual for someone so young, even for one with his background. How did it escalate?"

Hawk, standing beside Viper, interjected, "His bloodlust froze us in place momentarily. It's not something easily described. It's as if the very air thickens when he's in that state. By the time we attempted to withdraw, the situation had already escalated."

Viper nodded. "Indeed, sir. It's a double-edged sword. His combat skills are impressive, but his unpredictable nature can pose a risk to the team's cohesion."

Danzo's eyes flickered with understanding. "So, his presence is not only a challenge for others but also for his own team. Intriguing."

Viper recounted the events, detailing how Fox's instincts had led them into a skirmish. "On the bright side, we managed to secure the bodies of a few Sunagakure shinobi for investigation. They are also dispatching scouts to the borders to gather more intel."

Danzo nodded, acknowledging the silver lining. "That may prove valuable. Now, what about Fox's combat capabilities? What did you observe?"

Viper took a breath. "Special Jonin to Low Jonin Level Sir. He fights with a mix of agility and ruthlessness. His reflexes are animalistic, and he moves with a calculated ferocity. But, there's an element of unpredictability. He's secretive about his true potential, and I suspect he's holding back more than he's revealing."

Danzo's gaze shifted between Viper and Hawk. "He's a wildcard, then. Use him cautiously. His skills could be an asset, but we cannot afford to be blind to the risks he poses."

Viper nodded in agreement. "Understood, sir. We'll continue monitoring him closely. If there's anything else we should be aware of, please advise."

Danzo dismissed them with a nod. "Keep me informed. Dismissed."

Danzo leaned back in his chair, contemplating the revelations about Gin's combat prowess. "A volatile agent with considerable skill. Heh, Hiruzen probably doesn't even realise what he let go of. He's progressing much quicker than I anticipated."

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Thanks for Reading (Zeroskii)

I understand a lot of people want much quicker updates but it's just not possible for me as I work a full-time job. I just write this story for fun during what little time I get. 

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