Gamer, fixing the fates of fictional characters

The next morning came fast and Kaitou was currently standing in front of the South Gate of the camp. In front of him were eight individuals. With all of them being the ones assigned to the mission.

They were standing on attention, and looked at Kaitou. Their expressions varied, they ranged from indifference to expectations to disdain. Ignoring their expressions, Kaitou saw that all of them were paying attention and began going over the necessities.

"Alright, I hope everyone here was already briefed on the mission details? Regardless, I'm gonna repeat them once more. The mission is not too direct, we have to handle the situation with how it develops along the way. If everything works out, then we are merely an political envoy, sent by our camp to establish connections, if not…," Kaitou left the rest unspoken for now, as he knew, no matter how everyone looked, they were all tense. For some of them, was it probably their first ever mission.

After seeing that they understood, and were still listening, he continued, "We will first travel as a big group south, at one point we will separate into three teams, you four and you four will form groups," he said while pointing at the people in front of him, upon which all of them rearranged themselves. "In those three teams we will first search for signs of their base and then act accordingly after communication."

As Kaitou finished his explanation, he observed the way his team reacted. While no one openly objected, he could sense some skepticism in their body language - the brief glances exchanged, the slight stiffening of shoulders, the way some of them hesitated before moving into formation. It wasn't surprising. He was the youngest among them, yet he was leading the mission. Some probably questioned whether he had the experience to handle such a delicate task. 

Still, none of them voiced their doubts, which meant they at least respected the structure of command. For Kaitou, that was enough for now. 

Reaching into his pouch, Kaitou pulled out three sets of small paper tags, each inscribed with a seal. "Before we move out, I've prepared something," he said, raising the seals for them to see. "These are simple communication markers. Each team gets one of each type. They are chakra-sensitive and will release a signal when activated." He handed one set to each group. 

"The first one," he tapped the tag marked with a small symbol resembling an eye, "is for when you locate the base. Use this the moment you confirm their location." 

"The second," a different tag, this one with a symbol resembling a handshake, "is for when you've made contact and things are peaceful. If you use this, it means we can regroup at the base without concern." 

"The last one," Kaitou held up the final tag, the markings resembling a jagged crack, "is for combat. If things go south and you're forced to fight, this will let the rest of us know." His voice was firm, making sure they understood the gravity of each seal. "Use them wisely. We don't want to send the wrong signal at the wrong time." 

"You got five minutes to choose a group leader, they will get the set of seals, time was limited, so every team has one of them."

With that said, Kaitou sat down to the side and waited for them to choose their squad leaders, for the first group it was as expected the Nara member, Shouma. The second took a few minutes longer, but ultimately chose the Kurogane Guy, Raiga.

Both stepped forward and received the sets of prepared seals.

Kaitou took a final glance at the assembled group. "We move as one until we reach the designated scouting point. From there, we split into our assigned teams. Stay sharp, and remember: we are diplomats first and shinobi second on this mission." 

With that, he turned, leading the way south. The eight followed behind, and the journey began. 

As they moved through the dense forests of the Land of Fire, the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional chirping of birds were the only sounds accompanying them. The sun hung high in the sky, marking that they were already well into their journey. Kaitou led the way, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, always wary of potential threats. Just in case he also activated his Dōjutsu, to scan the surroundings.

Though the group moved as one, there was a clear divide in how they interacted. The first team, led by Shouma Nara, was composed of members who worked together seamlessly, their quiet whispers showing clear coordination. The second group, however, was a different story. 

Most of them didn't know each other very well till now, especially because the Kurogane and Hoshikawa were still relatively new.

The Inuzuka, Isamu, decided to break the ice and start a conversation, "We were chosen for a squad, so we should know more about each other's fighting styles. I start, I like most of my clan specialize in scouting or indirect confrontations with our clans secret techniques.

Raiga continued, "Alright, I'm more of a slow but heavy hitter. If the need is there then I will be at the very forefront. When it comes to enduring hits, very few can contest with my clan."

"I can work as an Allrounder and help out where it needs me the most, but if I had to be designated, then I guess the most fitting would close combat, but not like Raiga, my style is more focused on speed and precision," was added by Hoshikawa Fuyuki.

And lastly Ryouji finished, "Then I will focus on ranged combat rather than close up."

Fuyuki hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I don't mean that I doubt the leader's skill, but sealing techniques are notoriously tricky. If they fail at the wrong moment, we could end up in a really bad situation." 

Raiga crossed his arms. "Exactly. I'm not saying he's incompetent, but seals aren't something you just trust blindly." 

Before they could continue, a scoff came from Ryouji, who shook his head in disbelief. "You two really have no idea who he is, do you?" 

Raiga narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?" 

Isamu let out a short laugh. "Man, you guys must really be new. Kaitou Uzumaki isn't just some random guy who happened to get put in charge of this mission - he's THE Uzumaki kid. You know, the one who's practically revolutionizing sealing techniques in the camp?" 

Fuyuki blinked. "Wait, that's him?" 

"Yeah," Ryouji confirmed, his voice filled with amusement. "That kid, is getting taught by nearly all of the leaders. He's also the reason why half of the barriers and defensive seals around our camp are even functional and on the level they are now. If there's one person whose seals you should trust, it's him." 

Raiga clicked his tongue, shifting uncomfortably. "…Didn't know that." 

Fuyuki sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Well, now I feel stupid for even bringing it up." 

Isamu smirked. "Don't worry, we all look stupid compared to him when it comes to seals." 

With that, the conversation died down, though there was a noticeable shift in their attitude. While they still had their doubts, they weren't about the seals anymore. If anything, their curiosity about Kaitou had grown - who was this young Uzumaki that even the higher-ups trusted with such responsibilities? 

By the time the sun started its descent, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold, they finally reached the designated scouting point. It was a clearing near a riverbank, a strategically advantageous position surrounded by dense foliage. Kaitou raised his hand, signaling for everyone to stop. 

"This is where we separate," he announced, his voice steady. "Shouma's team will take the eastern path, Raiga's team will move west, and I will take the central route alone." 

A few of them shot him wary looks at that, but no one openly questioned it. They had seen firsthand how serious he was about his strategy. 

"This way, we can cover more ground while keeping an open line of communication. The seals will ensure that we remain coordinated. If anything goes wrong, do not hesitate to use them." 

Shouma and Raiga both nodded, accepting their assignments. 

"Move carefully, but move quickly. We regroup here in twenty-four hours - earlier if necessary," Kaitou finished. 

With that, the teams split up, vanishing into the forest under the cover of dusk, each heading toward their respective paths.