Root Anbu base|underneath Konoha
Underneath the village, was a system of pipes and floors operated by the Root Anbu division. A subdivision of Anbu: Black Ops created by Danzo Shimura to tend to missions related to assassination, espionage, and building connections with other villages. Danzo recognised that the underworld is as important to the growth of Konoha's public affairs.
The current generation of Shinobi grew up post the 3rd Ninja world, and child soldier laws are strict in this modern age.
This change greatly angered Danzo; he believes all Shinobi are mere tools to be used and discarded for the betterment of their village.
To achieve the best weapons, he created an experiment alongside Orochimaru. The Maggots Pit. It is a battleground at the core of the underground base, a place swallowed by darkness, and barely enough resources for people to survive. The pit will be filled with countless ninja, some Anbu, some badits captured and offered the chance of freedom, and for entertainment, a few mental patients equipped with weaponry.
"Whichever child survives, they will be worthy of the Konoha badge–kuku." Orochimaru chuckled.
Danzo stood next to the Snake Sanin, eyes glued to the pit that echoed with the sounds of steel clashing, blood splattering to the ground, and the shrieks of men nearing their ends. He was unfazed by it all, "The lone survivor will be the ultimate tool." Danzo stated.
In the Maggots pit. Ninjas moved with urgency to preserve their lives, attacking the weak, ambushing stronger opponents with coordinated attacks, and immediately betraying each other. The place was chaos and in that chaos, a boy stood on a pile of bodies, dressed in an Anbu standard gear, Taiju, a black-haired teen, with red pupils, standing at 175 cm in length. Wielding a jagged blade, coated in the blood of slain Shinobi. He looked on at the chaos, a grin plastered on his face, and he bent his knees to prepare for a charge. "Come on! I'm all open for an attack–anyone brave enough to attack?" He gestured.
Seeing that no one responded to his invitation, he charged at the nearest person.
Splat!
The blood of the unfortunate victim, splattered across his current opponent, who froze in shock at the brutal attack, Taiju turned with a second to spar, charging at the frozen enemy, a blur of hand movement, and he severed the man's head clean from his body.
"That's 13 down." Taiju counted, red eyes roaming the darkness for his next prey.
Splat.
"14."
Splat.
"15."
Taiju kept count of every death; some were lucky to die swiftly with a kiss to the neck, but others were left to wait for the final breath as their hearts were stabbed like meat at the butchery.
Thud...thud...thud.
Bodies fell in a sick rhythm as the sounds of resistance, died down, and the slashing of steel to flesh was the only indicator of life. Taiju had no interest in using Ninjustsu unless it was life or death...even then he'd die by the way of his blade.
"This is no fun." He ticked in annoyance."Even the psychopaths aren't entertaining. " He groaned in frustration.
"That boy is quite skillful with a blade–are you sure he isn't from the Mist?" Orochimaru questioned, smiling at Taiju's brutality. "Amazing ~"
Danzo glanced at the Sanin," The boy refuses to use Ninjutsu, his instructors at the Academy said he has decent Ninjutsu but excels at Taiju to the point he broke his instructor's nose."
"Truly remarkable. " He praised.
"Indeed. " Danzo agreed.
Taiju continued his killing spree, the Maggots' pit was just another training routine for him. His nindō- is to die in a battle that will leave his bones broken, flesh peeling of and all senses useless. A warriors death of a lifetime.