Gamer, fixing the fates of fictional characters

By the second day, they had reached the outer edges of the bandits' reported territory. The forest grew denser, the air heavier, as if the land itself knew what was coming. 

Kaitou remained sharp, watching the way the others moved. Their behavior hadn't changed.

They still kept him in the center.

Shimura Toubei, their leader, stayed at the front, his presence commanding but cold. He spoke only when necessary, issuing directions in clipped, efficient sentences. The others followed in quiet obedience; their movements too precise, too controlled. 

Kaitou had been on edge since last night, but now, as they approached their supposed target, that feeling only deepened. 

"Stop," Toubei finally commanded. 

The group halted on a ridge overlooking a clearing near a riverbed. Below, a scattered group of bandits could be seen - maybe thirty in total, gathered around a makeshift camp, weapons resting lazily against stumps and logs. They weren't expecting an attack. 

"They're sloppy," muttered Hikaru, the Sarutobi shinobi from last night. "They barely have any security. We could wipe them out right now." 

"Patience," Toubei responded coolly. "We will move at nightfall. We need to ensure there are no reinforcements." 

The dense forest was eerily silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves in the night breeze. Kaitou crouched behind a thick tree, his breath steady as he observed the bandit encampment below. Seven figures moved beside him - three Sarutobi and Shimura clansmen each, led by Toubei Shimura himself. This was supposed to be a routine scouting and extermination mission, yet something about it felt wrong. The camp was too quiet. No patrols. No signs of movement. It looked staged. 

Still, he pushed down his unease. If something was off, he would deal with it when the time came. 

Toubei raised his hand, signaling them forward. They moved swiftly, descending the slope and slipping between the trees toward the clearing. The closer they got, the heavier the tension became. 

Then Toubei halted and spoke in a low tone. "Kaitou, you should go in first." 

Kaitou's eyes narrowed. "…Why?" 

"This mission's objective is not only to clear it, but also to help you get acquainted to such missions, so you have to learn how to kill, if necessary." 

Something about the way he said it set off alarms in Kaitou's mind. He glanced at the others. Some wouldn't meet his eyes. Others watched him too intently, like they were waiting for something. 

A test, then. But not the kind he had expected. 

He exhaled and nodded, stepping into the clearing. The moment his foot touched the open ground-

"Now." 

The attack came from behind. 

A kunai whistled through the air, aimed at the back of his neck. Kaitou twisted just in time, the blade grazing his shoulder instead of slashing his throat. His senses flared as seven chakras surged in unison. 

Hikaru Sarutobi moved first, hands flashing through seals. "Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet!" 

A roaring stream of fire shot toward him, illuminating the night. Kaitou reacted instantly. 

"Water Release: Water Encampment Wall!" 

A spiraling torrent of water erupted from the ground, quenching the fire mid-air. Steam billowed, cloaking the battlefield in thick mist. 

But he wasn't safe yet. The moment the flames vanished, Kenji Shimura was already on him, blade slicing downward in an arc. 

Kaitou barely sidestepped, twisting his body to avoid the slash before forming his own seals. 

"Swamp Release: Emerging Swamp." 

The ground beneath them turned to sludge. Kenji's footing collapsed as his legs sank into the muddy trap. 

"Tch - damn it!" 

Renji Sarutobi and Masaru Shimura leapt back in time, avoiding the swamp, but Kaitou was already moving. His eyes flared red, locking onto them. 

The next moment, there were two more identical Kaitous next to him, all three circling in, soon standing right in front of them. Before they could engage them and stall for the others to come closer – both coughed up blood. Looking down they saw that another Kaitou appeared behind them and stabbed both of them directly into their hearts with now bloody Kunais.

Kaitou turned away and brushed of the blood. The first two were dealt with. 

Five left. 

"Enough games," Toubei muttered. 

His hands flashed through seals, and a surge of wind erupted outward. "Wind Release: Pressure Damage!" 

A powerful shockwave shattered the mist and swamp. Kaitou leapt back, but the force sent him skidding. 

The moment he regained his footing, Toru Shimura appeared behind him. 

A blade drove through his chest. 

For a brief moment, silence. 

Then his body liquefied, and the sword slipped through water. 

'Hydrification Technique.' 

Toru's eyes widened. "What-?" 

Kaitou solidified behind him, his Adamantine Sealing Chains bursting from his back. The golden chains wrapped around Toru's body in an instant, crushing his arms and legs, leaving him completely incapacitated. 

Four left. 

"You should've killed me in one strike," Kaitou said, his voice cold. 

Kenji finally freed himself from the last of the swamp, hands forming new seals. "Lightning Release: Thunderbolt!" 

A spear of lightning crackled toward Kaitou. 

But he was ready. 

"Lava Release: Lava Surge." 

A wave of molten lava erupted forward, colliding with the lightning. Sparks and flames burst into the clearing, sending Kenji stumbling back. Kaitou didn't hesitate - he closed the distance in an instant, his fist slamming into Kenji's gut. The man crumpled to the ground unconscious. 

Three left. 

Toubei sighed. "It seems we underestimated you." 

He glanced at Masaru and Hiroto. Masaru moved, hands flashing through seals. 

"Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction!" 

A massive wave of flames roared toward Kaitou, consuming everything in its path. Too large to block. Instead, he ran forward. 

Masaru's eyes widened. "What-?" 

Kaitou's chains lashed out, wrapping around Masaru's ankle and yanking him off his feet. Before he could react, he was swallowed by his own flames. 

Hiroto Sarutobi had managed to stay back, watching the battle unfold. Now he struck, his hands blurring through seals. 

"Wind Release: Gale Palm!" 

A focused blast of wind shot toward Kaitou, aiming to break his balance. But Kaitou braced himself, pushing forward with a burst of chakra. 

Hiroto's eyes widened as Kaitou's fist connected with his ribs, sending him crashing into a tree. He slumped over, unconscious. 

One left. 

Toubei remained. 

"…Impressive," he admitted. "I almost regret this." 

Kaitou's breath was ragged, but he steadied himself. "You should." 

He dashed forward. Toubei's hands blurred. "Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" 

A violent gust exploded outward, sending Kaitou hurtling back. He rolled mid-air, flipping to his feet. His body ached. His chakra was running low. 

But he wasn't done. 

His chains lashed out once more. 

Toubei dodged to the left, but Kaitou was already there. His blade, covered in sealing marks, drove into Toubei's shoulder. The Shimura leader staggered as his chakra was completely sealed. 

"…Damn." 

He exhaled, falling to one knee. He looked up, meeting Kaitou's gaze. "You've won." 

Kaitou stood over him, bloodied and bruised. "Why?" 

Toubei's smirk didn't fade. "Your growth was too fast. Your influence too dangerous. We had to stop you before it was too late." 

Kaitou clenched his fists. "Then you failed." 

Toubei laughed weakly. 

Kaitou drove his fist into his face, knocking him unconscious. 

His vision blurred. His body swayed. 

But he forced himself to move. He dragged all of them, at least this who were still alive together, placing seals over their bodies one by one. 

Only when the last seal was in place did his legs finally give out. 

He collapsed onto the dirt, chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. His consciousness flickered, exhaustion crashing down on him all at once. 

But before everything went dark, he allowed himself a single thought. 

They failed. And he survived.