The Adventurous Gamer Ninja - Daichi Hekima

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Land of Earth - Time: 4:30 pm

The mental mansion began to blur as Daichi exited Kuroda's mind. The familiar sensation of his consciousness returning to body washed over him.

When his senses sharpened, Daichi, in his "Dragon" persona, was back in the Finance Minister's personal chambers. He looked at the minister who was dazed at the moment and began to search the room. Thanks to his mind walk, he knew where the minister kept intelligence on Orochimaru.

Dragon soon found a hidden safe and quickly opened it to find several documents and maps with markers on them.

His visage remained impassive as he activated the communication array jutsu. He wanted to update his real self and wanted to know how to proceed.

A familiar voice spoke through the connection and echoed in his mind. 'Report.'

'Mission partially complete.' Dragon spoke in his mind. 'I've confirmed the minister's collaboration with Orochimaru. It's as we feared. Their plans involve experimenting on sensei and creating an army of Wood Style users. Kuroda also intends to seize the position of Daimyo and then start a war with the Land of Fire. I'll send you the memories right now.'

Dragon created a shadow clone and dispelled it immediately. Daichi quickly found out what happened at the compound and saw what his clone learned.

A pause lingered before the real Daichi replied from the other side. 'That's worse than I expected. You're still in his chamber right? You got the proof?'

'Yes. I've secured his documents, maps, and blueprints related to Orochimaru's operations. He also kept records of Orochimaru's activities as leverage. It was a potential insurance against any betrayal. I've collected those as well.'

'Good. That evidence is vital.' the real Daichi said firmly. 'I'm also in the Land of Earth with Kakashi sensei and a couple of others. I can't risk revealing what you've learned to them, but we'll have to make sure those documents you have reach the right people.'

Dragon inclined his head slightly, though he knew his real self couldn't see it. 'Understood. What are your orders?'

'Two things. First, make two recordings of the minister confessing to his crimes. Extract everything he knows about Orochimaru and his plans, including his role in this conspiracy. Use Genjutsu if you must.'

'And the second?' Dragon asked, his tone calm but alert.

'Take all the blueprints, maps, and incriminating documents he's collected. Deliver one recording and the relevant evidence to Jiraiya. He's currently investigating the situation in the Land of Earth. You'll need to track him down but that won't be too much trouble. Once you're close he'll pop up on your mini-map. You should start with the areas near the Capital. Make sure you approach him as 'Dragon'.' Daichi told his clone the plan after a few minutes.

The shadow clone nodded to himself and glanced at the minister who was still under the effects of his jutsu. 'He will definitely be wary of me. I just raided the Root base half a day ago. Unless Danzo kept his mouth shut Jiraiya and the Hokage would already know my features.'

'Yeah about that. You're not gonna believe this but Danzo is here.'

'What? Did you meet him?' The shadow clone disguised as Dragon was shocked.

'Yes. But you don't need to worry about that. What I need you to focus on is giving Jiraiya that Intel.'

'What if he doesn't believe me?'

'He will. And make sure you're not taken down.'

Dragon nodded, his mind already formulating a plan. 'Alright. And the second recording?' He asked in a calm tone.

'Deliver it to the Intelligence Minister. Use it as leverage. He'll want to control the situation and get ahead of this whole thing. Such a lapse in intelligence won't sit well with the Daimyo. But do it only after I rescue sensei and Shizune. There's also one more thing you need to make the Intelligence Minister do.'

As Daichi laid out his plan, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of Dragon's lips. 'Understood. I'll make the preparations immediately.'

'Anything else?' Daichi asked and his clone went silent for a couple seconds before speaking.

'What about the wife?' Dragon asked.

Daichi was silent as he pondered on what to do. A few seconds later he gave his answer. 'Going after a woman who can't even defend herself is in bad taste and it's not our style… But that being said, she crossed the line when she pushed him to go after sensei… Take the gloves off. Show no mercy.'

Hearing his creator's orders, Dragon's eyes hardened. He acknowledged the command. 'Understood. Consider it done.'

The communication array jutsu faded, and Dragon's focus returned to the present. His sharp eyes scanned the room, lingering on the minister's unconscious form slumped over his desk. Kuroda's breathing was shallow, a side effect of the genjutsu-induced stupor Dragon had placed him under.

'Better get this done fast.'

Dragon took two recording devices from the minister's personal library. Once he deleted the previous recordings he switched them on and placed them in front of Kuroda.

His movements were precise and methodical.

He conjured another layer of Genjutsu around Kuroda, deepening the minister's mental state of vulnerability. The man's eyes fluttered open briefly, glazed with the illusion of safety.

"Minister Kuroda," Dragon's voice cut through the haze. He sounded calm yet commanding. "You will answer my questions truthfully. There is no escape from this."

Under the power of Genjutsu the old man was unable to resist. "I... I'll talk."

Dragon smirked faintly. 'Perfect.'

Using his medical ninjutsu expertise, Dragon placed his hand over Kuroda's temple, ensuring the minister remained compliant while accessing his deepest thoughts. As the interrogation began, the clone deftly extracted detailed confessions of Kuroda's dealings with Orochimaru, his plans to overthrow the Daimyo, and the intricate web of corruption tying him to other high-ranking officials.

While recording the confession, Dragon ensured to extract specific details: the locations of shipments, the identities of accomplices, and the exact nature of Orochimaru's requests. The minister's words spilled forth like a torrent, each one more damning than the last.

When the confession was complete, Dragon withdrew his hand and stepped back, observing the exhausted and pale form of the minister. 'I got everything I need from you.'

He immediately used his medical skills to physically cripple the man and made sure to erase any trace of his true presence from his mind.

Once Dragon was done with the Finance Minister, he turned his attention to his wife. 'If you had been unaware or was even just following his orders out of fear then I would have let you go. But not now.'

Dragon walked up to the woman while weaving several seals. Seconds later his hands glowed green and he placed them above her head. A few seconds later his work was done.

He looked at the woman and spoke.

''I've locked your psyche in the deepest parts of your mind and crippled your body. You'll be able to see and hear everything but you won't feel anything. You won't even be able to move a muscle. I've made you a prisoner inside your own mind and you'll never be free. Consider this your punishment."

Dragon turned his attention back to the papers on the nearby table. He sealed the blueprints, maps, and documents into another scroll, ensuring nothing of value was left behind. He glanced at the two recordings, satisfied with their content.

'Jiraiya first.' he decided. 'The Intelligence Minister can wait.'

With the evidence secured, Dragon put his mask back on and slipped into the shadows, his form disappearing as though he had never been there.

He quickly appeared outside the compound and took one last look back. Without wasting another second he moved in the direction of the Earth Capital.

Dragon was low on mana so he was conserving his mental energy. So when Black Zetsu poked his head from a rock several hundred meters away from him, he didn't notice.

"Hey, isn't that the same person who attacked Danzo and his Root last night?" White Zetsu asked his counterpart.

"Yeah. That's him alright. Dragon."

"Let's go see where he's headed in such a hurry."

Black Zetsu nodded with his counterpart's idea and followed Dragon. But kept a distance since they knew the unknown enemy had excellent sensory skills.

Dragon, unaware of the eyes behind him, used his teleportation jutsu after jumping down a small cliff. But luckily he was outside of Zetsu's sight when he used his jutsu.

"Where'd he go?" White Zetsu asked as they reached Dragon's last location.

Black Zetsu meanwhile remained silent. 'Did he sense us? No that can't be. Something else happened… He just vanished from my senses.'

"Since we don't know where he's going we might as well find out where he was coming from..''

"He was coming from the home of the Finance minister, right?"

Black Zetsu turned his attention to the large compound. "Yeah. Let's go find out why."

The next moment the spy of the Akatsuki disappeared making their way into the minister's home.

—-

The waning light of the afternoon painted the sky in shades of gold and crimson as Jiraiya walked through the bustling streets of a small village. His casual gait and carefree demeanor masked the sharp focus in his eyes.

'He should be right here.' he thought, smirking to himself.

He stepped into a quiet teahouse. Its modest exterior hid its importance as a haven for whispers and covert exchanges. A man sat at a corner table, his face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat. Jiraiya approached him and slipped into the seat across from him.

The man didn't look up, his hands idly stirring his tea. "You're late."

"Was just taking in the sites." Jiraiya replied with a grin, leaning back in his chair. "But I hear you've been busy. Did you get it?"

The contact slid a small scroll across the table. "Yes. But it was far from easy. Especially getting it all so quickly. Why the urgency? Is it just about Orochimaru or is there something more going on?"

"You don't need to worry about that." Even though Jiraiya said it in a casual tone, the contact could understand that it was not a request.

He nodded and spoke. "Minister Kuroda has been making waves. Trying to get several land acquisitions, mining rights, and a few off-the-books deals. He's got a knack for keeping secrets recently. He's had several shipments from the Land of Snow brought into the country. I don't know why."

Jiraiya unfurled the scroll, his eyes scanning the neatly written details. He quickly went over several transactions the finance minister had but one caught his attention. "And these mining rights?" The Toad Sannin asked, pointing to a mine in the northeast location.

"They're not his." the man said with a low chuckle. "A few months ago, the Intelligence Minister outmaneuvered him and secured the rights to that area. The land's rich in minerals. Gold, iron, maybe even chakra-sensitive ore. It's why they've been at each other's throats lately."

Jiraiya's brow furrowed as he absorbed the information. "That friction could get messy."

"Messier than you think," the contact continued. "There's more here than just minerals. The area overlaps with an old battleground from the last war. Buried secrets, unmarked graves. Whoever controls it could find more than just wealth."

Jiraiya nodded, tucking the scroll into his robe. "And the Finance Minister's assets? Anything of note?"

The secret contact took a drink from his cup and then replied. "Nothing that screams Orochimaru, but just the usual shadowy dealings. Off-shore accounts, shell companies, and enough money to buy loyalty from half the Land of Earth."

Jiraiya nodded. "Good to know. And what about the attacks on patrols?"

The contact stiffened slightly, his fingers tightening around his cup. "It's only been a few hours and you already know about that?"

"Yup. I'm just that good. Now spill. What's going on?"

The man was slightly hesitant but soon he answered. "That's... a little different. Lone Stone patrol ninjas or two man teams are being ambushed. Whoever's doing it hasn't killed anyone yet, but they've put the victims in comas. The village hasn't been able to identify the attacker."

Jiraiya leaned forward, his tone growing serious. "No pattern to the targets?"

"Not that they've found. But it's got the higher-ups in Hidden Stone village rattled. The attacker's leaving behind no traces, no chakra signatures, no identifiable jutsu. Just chakra drained, comatose bodies."

'Comatosed and chakra drained?' Jiraiya was startled. He saw similar symptoms on some ninjas not long ago. The Root.

Jiraiya's mind churned with possibilities. 'Could he be here too?'

The playful spark in Jiraiya's eyes was replaced with cold calculation. "That's unsettling. I'll look into it."

The contact nodded, standing abruptly. "I think it would be best for you if you left. This place is a powder keg. One spark, and everything burns. Especially if the Hidden Stone ninjas find out you're here."

With that, the man disappeared into the crowd, leaving Jiraiya alone with his thoughts. He finished his tea, tossed a few coins onto the table, and exited the teahouse.

—-

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the village, Jiraiya in disguise strolled toward the outskirts. The cool evening air was a welcome reprieve after the day's work.

The scroll he'd received was tucked securely in his robe, along with other gathered intel.

When he was away from the population he suddenly felt a faint, almost imperceptible shift in the atmosphere. His senses, honed from years of battle and espionage told him that he was under observation.

"Come out," Jiraiya called, his voice calm but firm.

A figure stepped from the shadows, clad in dark green clothing and a mask in the shape of a dragon head that concealed everything but a pair of piercing eyes. The air around the figure seemed to ripple with controlled power.

Jiraiya instantly recognized the attire. 'He perfectly fits the description Danzo gave us. It's him.'

"This is certainly a surprise. I take it you're Dragon," Jiraiya said. His stance seemed casual though his muscles were taut with readiness.

"Indeed. It's a pleasure to meet you." the masked man said. His voice was deep, steady, and laced with an unsettling calm.

"Can't say the same." Jiraiya was on guard as he looked at the man who infiltrated the Root base and single handedly crippled it.

"I have a feeling you'll change your mind once you see what I have for you."

Dragon's cryptic words made the white haired ninja narrow his eyes in caution.

A tense standoff took place between the enigmatic Dragon and the powerful Toad Sage in the Land of Earth.

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