Gamer, fixing the fates of fictional characters

With all the training he underwent time quickly went by, and it was soon half a year since he came to the camp, which more and more took shape. It now looked rather like a village than just a camp, as Hashirama in his free time also took on the task of creating real houses for everyone for the time being.

Kaitou thought that most of it was temporary though, as the camp was still in a different place as Konoha would later be in.

He achieved good results in all of his different training sessions and most of his Teachers were very content with him.

The Ninjutsu training program gave him a good foundation and also some of the more important techniques, like the shadow clone jutsu and many more.

His strategy lessons were mostly playing different strategy games with Shikakane or be taught things like war tactics, all while Inosuke used the Yamanaka secret technique on him, though, because of his [Gamers Mind] that part was not very demanding. They always ended with a thorough physical training overseen by Chouichiro.

As for his Kekkei Genkais, they were coming along quite well. After about two months in training, he reached the point where his mother said it was okay to start teaching him the *Hydrafication Technique* of the Hozuki.

Right now he was already quite proficient with it, but still couldn't use it subconsciously or as an automatic defense. He also started experimenting more with his 'Red Eyes', and in secret also tried the main aspect of his Dōjutsu, the Illusion Sand. While a bit difficult at first, Kaitou was soon able to make a few realistic Illusions and succeeded in tricking a few of his teachers, of course not Madara, or the Senju brothers.

Something that happened as well was, that after his Chakra reached a certain threshold, while he was in the midst of training he finally unlocked his first 'Adamantine Sealing Chain'. This was then on taught by his Aunt, as she was the only one present who also had them.

Overall his training brought good results, but Kaitou also had to acknowledge that training would only bring him so far for now, he needed actual combat.

This sentiment was also shared by his teachers.

As discussions of Kaitou's progress continued, the idea of sending him on a mission was first proposed by Inuzuka Kaede. She argued that, despite his rapid development, there was only so much training could teach him - real combat experience was necessary. While some of the present clan heads hesitated, it wasn't long before the Sarutobi and Shimura clans took an unusual amount of interest in the proposal. 

"We cannot shelter him forever," remarked Shimura Toubei, the head of the Shimura clan. His voice was calm, but his sharp gaze flickered with something unreadable. "He has talent, yes, but talent alone means little if he does not test it in true battle." 

The Sarutobi clan head, Sarutobi Sasuke, nodded in agreement. "Agreed. The battlefield is where shinobi are truly forged. And it just so happens we have a scouting mission near the northern border - bandit extermination, straightforward, and well-suited for someone of his caliber." 

Hashirama seemed contemplative, and Tobirama was skeptical but did not outright object. Kaede, believing this was a step in the right direction for Kaitou, ultimately relented. 

Thus, the decision was made. Kaitou would join the mission. 

The morning of the mission was crisp and quiet. A thick fog lingered over the trees as Kaitou approached the gates of the camp, where the assembled group awaited him. 

Shimura Toubei, the mission leader, stood at the front. His dark blue armor gleamed faintly in the dim light, and his expression was unreadable. Flanking him were six other shinobi - three from the Shimura clan and three from the Sarutobi clan. 

Kaitou noticed how none of them seemed particularly interested in small talk. A few gave him polite nods, but the atmosphere remained… off. It wasn't tense, but there was a certain weight to the silence, like an unspoken agreement hung in the air between them. 

"You're on time," Toubei finally said, his voice steady but devoid of warmth. "Good." 

He studied Kaitou for a moment before turning to the group. 

"We have a three-day journey ahead of us to reach the target location," Toubei continued. "The bandits we are hunting have been active along the river routes, raiding trade caravans and attacking small settlements. Our primary objective is to confirm their numbers and movements before eliminating them. No unnecessary risks. We strike only when we have a complete assessment of their forces." 

Kaitou nodded along, but something in the way Toubei spoke unsettled him. His words were measured, precise - as if he was more focused on controlling the flow of the mission than simply explaining it. 

Still, Kaitou dismissed his doubts. This was his first real mission. He needed to focus.

Without further delay, they set off. 

As they traveled through the dense forests of the Fire Country, Kaitou quickly noticed something odd. 

The way they moved felt… unnatural.

While shinobi were trained to be silent, the Shimura and Sarutobi members barely spoke at all. In most squads, there would be some casual exchanges, discussions of past missions, or even just minor comments on the terrain. Here, there was only silence. 

More than that, he realized that their formation always placed him near the center. It was subtle, but no matter how they adjusted their pace, Kaitou was always kept between them. 

It could have just been caution. He was the youngest among them, and technically, the least experienced. But… 

Was that really all there was to it?

Shimura Toubei, in particular, kept a close watch on him. He rarely spoke unless necessary, but Kaitou could feel his calculating gaze lingering every so often, as if he was studying him - not like a teacher evaluating a student, but like a hunter gauging its prey. 

Still, there was nothing outright suspicious, nothing Kaitou could call out. 

So he stayed quiet. 

By the time they set up camp for the first night, the forest had grown eerily quiet. The only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind. 

As they ate, one of the Sarutobi shinobi, a man named Hikaru, finally broke the silence. 

"Kaitou, you've trained under some of the strongest shinobi alive, haven't you?" he asked casually, though there was a strange undertone to his voice. 

Kaitou, caught off guard by the sudden interest, nodded. "Yeah. I've learned from my uncles, my mother, and a few others." 

"And how strong would you say you are now?" another voice joined in - this time, one of the Shimura members. He leaned forward slightly, his expression unreadable. 

Kaitou frowned slightly but answered. "I think I can handle myself well enough." 

Toubei, who had been silent, finally spoke. "Confidence is good, but do not overestimate yourself," he said in a measured tone. "Training and war are two different things." 

Kaitou simply nodded, but in the back of his mind, a nagging feeling remained. 

Something wasn't right. 

And tomorrow, as they neared their target, he had a feeling he would find out exactly why.