kscans

Chapter 33 - Iga Chunin Hojo Sakura (1/2)

My performance in a recent protection detail was recognized, and I was promoted to Chunin.

Ah, first, let me introduce myself.

My name is Hojo Sakura.

I am an office lady working for a company in Tokyo. That is my public face.

When a directive comes from the village, I undertake missions in the shadows as a ninja of Iga. That is my hidden face.

After getting hooked on a ninja manga I read as a child, I set my sights on the path of the shinobi.

I never thought I would actually become one, but…

Real ninja exist in modern Japan. And we have been secretly protecting government officials and continuously eliminating foreign enemies who would do our country harm.

By the way, when I say eliminating foreign enemies, it might sound dangerous, but we generally don't assassinate targets. Japan is a nation of laws, after all. Our job is to neutralize the target and hand them over to the judicial authorities.

For that reason, we ninja are required to have the power to neutralize enemies armed with firearms.

The title of Genin is the lowest rank for a ninja, but even a Genin can deflect a bullet with a single kunai. You can't even become a Genin without that level of skill.

Currently, the number of Genin produced by the Iga village is approximately 25,000. There are 4,500 Chunin like myself. And the higher rank of Jonin has 500 members. Half of them are in Japan, guarding important figures and monitoring persons of interest staying in the country, while the other half are engaged in intelligence activities abroad.

Incidentally, this information can be learned by anyone who visits the Iga village.

In the ninja museum in the village, the exact same thing is written in the explanatory text about ninja.

However, visitors seem to think of it as nothing more than 'an interesting setting'.

The truth, it turns out, is less likely to be exposed when you don't try to hide it.

This time, I was summoned by order of Hattori-sama, the leader of the Iga ninja.

It was my first time receiving a directive bearing the leader's name, so as a newly promoted Chunin, I was nervous.

When I went to the designated location, I found many renowned Chunin who are active throughout Japan. Tsukumo-sama, a Chunin who I was indebted to in the Iga village, was also there. She is the head Chunin. She also has the role of organizing the Chunin.

Tsukumo-sama told us to line up and wait.

Thirty Chunin had been gathered.

Is this country finally going to war?

Thirty ninja, each capable of single-handedly neutralizing about ten fully armed mercenaries. If deployed in the right place, we could annihilate a small-scale army.

My heart pounded as I awaited instructions.

"Everyone. Thank you for answering my summons this time."

We were gathered in a certain event space. There was a stage in front, and on it, an old man with white hair was standing, having appeared there at some point.

Even as a Chunin, I couldn't tell how he had appeared.

It was the leader of the Iga ninja, Hattori Juuzo-sama. One of the strongest ninja in Japan.

He is the legendary ninja who stopped the Fourth World War by assassinating the president of a certain country who had become a dictator.

To think I could meet him in a place like this. A cry of emotion almost escaped my lips.

But I am a shinobi. And a Chunin at that.

I cannot even let a hint of joy show on my face.

"The mission I want you all to undertake is the rescue of targets from the dungeons that have appeared across the world. Our negotiators have already contacted the targets' associates, and the success rewards have been decided. Therefore, failure is absolutely not an option."

Of course, I know that dungeons have appeared all over the world. I also know that they imitate the setting of a game called FWO. In fact, I used to play FWO myself.

However, I have not yet challenged the dungeons that have appeared in the real world.

This is because the process of clearing a dungeon is automatically streamed. My public face is that of a mere office lady, so I cannot just go around dominating dungeons using my ninja skills.

I really wanted to. I should have been able to dominate them.

It was while I was thinking such things that this mission came up.

Does this mean I'm allowed to do it?

"However, as you know, the progress of a dungeon clear is broadcast to the entire world. We cannot show our ninja techniques to the world."

…So it's a no-go, apparently.

"If our techniques fall into the wrong hands, it will only destabilize the world situation further. The existence of true ninja cannot be revealed yet."

Then, how on earth are we supposed to do it? How do you expect us to clear the dungeons?

"That is where we will use his technique."

A young man walked up onto the stage.

I know who he is.

Shizukuishi Hayate-kun. He was a famous streamer back when FWO was a game, but now you could say he has become the most watched streamer in the world.

That scene where he rescued Shinonome Rena-san was truly moving.

I had felt that his movements were somewhat close to those of an Iga ninja, but appearing in this place means he must have received instruction, after all.

Until Hayate-kun walked to the stage, I hadn't noticed his presence. I think he is a much stronger ninja than I am, at the very least.

"Many of you here will know Hayate. Just the other day, Hayate rescued a young girl from a dungeon. The technique he used on that occasion was the Hayate-style four-sword style."

I know. I'm a fan of his, after all.

"Those of you with sharp intuition have probably already figured it out, but the Hayate-style four-sword style is an application of our Iga ninja techniques. And Hayate has succeeded in creating an environment where the general public does not think of it as a ninja technique."

Does that mean it's okay for us to use the Hayate-style four-sword style?

It means that if we use his technique, it's okay to dominate the dungeons, right?

"Even for me, it is difficult to use ninja techniques without being detected at all in a situation where I do not know who is watching from where and when. However, if it is a technique that is already recognized by the public as something that 'someone who has mastered the Hayate-style four-sword style could plausibly do,' then it is fine to use it. From now on, I want all of you to learn this technique from Hayate."

As a fan, I am delighted… but some of the Chunin are very prideful. They will obey the orders of a higher-ranking ninja, but will they obediently accept the guidance of Hayate-kun, whose background as a shinobi is unknown?

If it comes to it, I intend to stand by him as a fan.

"Incidentally, Hayate is the only man in the modern era to whom I have given a certificate of complete mastery. All of you here could not defeat him even if you ganged up on him. Do not get any strange ideas."

Wow, really, Hayate-kun? No, Hayate-sama.

"Hayate, who has become a Special Jonin, will now bestow his techniques upon you all. Devote yourselves to mastering them."

"""As you command!"""

The thirty assembled Chunin knelt, showing their respect to Special Jonin Hayate.