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Legends of Saiga: Chronicles of the Hellfire Tiger and his Disciples
Act 1, Chapter 1:An introduction to Katsuki Hakai

Act 1, Chapter 1:An introduction to Katsuki Hakai

Hakai is a ninja of Saiga village and has a reputation of being a very brutal killer. His naming convention is unique and allows others to recognize him as a foreigner from the island of Edomura, which currently serves as a colony for the Saiga village, which in turn is located in the country of Saigram and dubs as a large port.

Hakai also features a short height of 168 cm/5'6",a buzz cut hairstyle, blonde hair (not his natural colour), green eyes and average build. Hakai is currently 31 years old and single, his last serious relationship lasted 2 months.

As a native from the island of Edomura, Hakai’s full name is stylized exclusively in kanshi alphabet, as opposed to Saigramite names such as Tommy Takizawa, which feature a family name stylized in kanshi alphabet and given names stylized in western xervosi alphabet.

He currently serves Saiga under the nickname of the Hellfire Tiger, an alter ego which allows Hakai to reinforce Saiga’s reputation as a strong village capable, of decimating it’s opponents with extreme prejudice and impunity.

Unfortunately for Hakai, the council of Saiga has decided, that Hakai has peaked as a ninja and should start to pass on his knowledge to the new generation of fledgling ninjas (known as Genin) in order to compensate for the shortage of mentors currently plaguing the village.

The council, however, was not unanimous in this decision, many fearing that Hakai will pass along many of his bad habits such as, his stubbornness, his impulsivity or the rebellious attitude of his youth.

Of the council members who believe in Hakai’s potential, many will advocate that Hakai is a very competent ninja, with an amazing work ethic who was able to defeat many strong enemies.

His biggest assets as a potential instructor is the fact that he is aware of his shortcomings, a skill which was crucial in his ascension among the ranks of the Saiga ninja.

If not for the fact that Saiga has lost many ninja with greater potential or affinity for becoming a mentor figure, Hakai would never have gotten the potential to once again grow as a person - by learning to become a respectable role model for the ninja of tomorrow, in spite of his shortcomings.

Hakai specializes in Yang and Fire Style ninjutsu and is considered by many a close to mid range fighter. As a Yang style user, Hakkai favors the use of techniques aimed at enhancing physical abilities, (such as gaining super strength, super endurance or super agility) and the techniques of others but he has a major aversions towards both Yin and Yang styled entropic and illusory techniques.

To have an aversion for a certain style of ninjutsu means the resulting technique will consume more spiritual power than needed in order to create a weaker effect then if it were cast by someone who simply lacks affinity for the certain style of ninjutsu in question.

Hakai’s favorite branch of ninjutsu is collaboration ninjutsu, where two casters combine their powers to create an advanced technique. He has two familiars which he can summon. One is a male ferret capable of using illusory and lighting styled techniques while the other is a female skunk specializing in Yang styled techniques, but can also use Water and Wind styled techniques. The ferret chose to use the name Jerry Jester while existing in Hakai’s world, while the skunk was named by both Hakai and Jerry as Jade, due to her jaded nature when they first met. They were both summoned at once, which is a rare feat for any ninja to pull off.

As a ninja, Hakai is a controversial person who values self improvement and having a strong work ethic, over developing interpersonal relationships and his ninja motto is “A ninja who can’t identify and overcome his shortcomings can never get the job done”.

Hakai often comes off as very confrontational and rude/vulgar or simply lacking in tact or diplomacy, due to the fact he likes to be very direct with people. Furthermore Hakai considers himself blessed as being capable to do a job he thoroughly enjoys and his highly competitive with others for the sake of bragging rights and financial gain.

During his time a Genin, he learned to compensate for his short comings by taking the time to rationally justify his position, so that, while coming off as a jerk, he can at least convince his peers that he is in the right for behaving the way he does in most situations.

Overall Hakai is perceived by the villagers of Saiga (those who had the displeasure to know of him at least) as a very eccentric and passionate person with no regards for the feelings of others and has lived most of his life as a social outcast and a loner.

Outsiders and enemies of the Saiga village regard Hakai’s persona as the Hellfire to be a cruel and zealous opponent, who will stop at nothing to get the job done while causing as much devastation and death as possible.

Few have the pleasure of surviving an encounter with the Hellfire Tiger and fewer people are even aware of the fact that Katsuki Hakai and the Hellfire Tiger are the same person, despite the fact that Hakai isn’t trying to play a role – he is simply letting lose by doing things 100% his way, while creating legends about himself.

As an enemy of Saiga, you know you are in deep trouble, when they unleash a killer who values his legacy as the most dangerous and efficient killer in the world more than the lives of his opponents.

It is now Friday, at Saiga village’s committee for Labor distribution (which is basically Saiga’s HR departament) and a very upset Hakai can be heard shouting throughout the building at two unfortunate representatives regarding his reassignment from his preferred role as a stand alone operative to a squad leader for a team of Genin.

“I am the Hellfire Tiger, you bastards! I have no business or interest in teaching Genin how to wipe their own asses! Leave that shit to qualified people like ninja who aren’t given an alter ego with which to represent Saiga or ninja who actually care for leadership roles. I don’t have time to waste on Genin, when there are so many morons in need of a death certificate out there!” shouted a very furious Hakai.

“But Mr Katsuki, I thought you were a ninja who prided on his accomplishments, surely you can see that, by us enabling you to teach potential disciples your ways, so they can learn how to be as good as you, is a compliment towards you mastery in the trade and not an insult” said the first representative of the committee.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“You dumb-asses, the only reason I am good at this, is because I love doing this. This job allows me to enjoy the 2 great pleasures of being a shinobi, not because I give a damn about the future generations of ninja” exclaimed an annoyed Hakai”.

“Excuse me sir, may I ask what those 2 pleasures might be?” asked the second representative, who was visibly confused by Hakai’s statement.

“I am glad you asked. The first joy is dealing with the strong, because they always push oneself to become stronger. However, the best part about being a ninja is when you are tasked with killing someone who is stupid. There is no, greater joy than killing a stupid person! It gives you the satisfaction of having done something good for the sake of humanity” said Hakai in a cheerful tone.

“A wonderful perspective on the shinobi life style, I am truly impressed and surely you can see by how strongly your words impacted me. This is exactly why we need your help in improving the education of all Saiga Genin” said the second representative with his eyes closed and a shaky smile.

Hakai’s eyes narrow as he looks at the second representative, baffled by the notion that everything he can be comprehended by Genin, who never killed a living person before, let alone deal with life or death situations.

“What are you, stupid? Just because I can acknowledge the joys of being a ninja, that doesn’t mean I have an interest in wasting my time with Genin. Those maggots should be smart enough to learn these sort of things on their own, while on the job and not from a speech” retorted Hakai in anger.

The first representative, infuriated by Hakai’s stubbornness, abandons all diplomacy and hits the table with his fist while shouting back at Hakai.

“Listen up, you unhinged maniac! The actual reason we are changing your job is because you peaked as a ninja and there are no other jobs for nut jobs of your caliber to do around here. As you are right now there is no way you are going to get promoted to a level 5 Chunin and you can forget about ever becoming a Jonin as a result of that”.

Hakai was taken aback by the fact that his potential for a promotion came up. Currently, he is a level 4 Chunin, which is 2 steps away from his goal of becoming the best of the best.

In order to achieve his goals he must first become a Jonin in order to fully realize his career as a ninja.

However, in order for a ninja to become a Jonin, a ninja must be classed as a level 5 Chunin and then acknowledged as having the ability to pass the Jonin exam, by the council of elders, who oversee all of the committees within the village.

The representative continues shouting back at Hakai.

“While you have come along way from being the reckless Genin who kidnaps the wrong VIP and traumatizes them for no reason during interrogations by inflicting 2nd degree burns on their genitals, you remain one of the most difficult bastards to work with !”

“If I am so horrible, why the fuck would you want me to teach Genin how to be a ninja, then” asked Hakai visibly annoyed at being shouted at and admonished for things he did when he was a 14 year old Genin.

“Despite your career as an unhinged ninja, you have shown the ability to control your short comings and get the job done to, an acceptable degree” said the first representative, while the second added “Plus during your mission regarding Kolchs incident, you have proven to be a capable leader, when you took command from the deceased Jonin, Freddie Hachijou”.

The remark about Hakai getting the job only to an acceptable degree almost sent him over the edge with rage – ‘no one is better at doing this job than me, YOU fucking bastards and for this insult, after I become Jonin, I am going to do my best to take over Labor and make your FUCKING LIVES HELL FOR THIS!’ thought Hakai to himself, as he felt every drop of blood within his veins boiling.

“I don’t care about leadership and in that instance, someone had to take control of that gigantic mess, before we all died. Let me go back to killing people for a paycheck” retorted Hakai angrily.

“Sadly, due to the declining number of Chunin and Jonin, we need all capable ninja to pitch in, towards the education of the current generation of Genin - it’s either that or failure to comply with a direct order from both the Feudal Lord and the council of ninja elders.

Hakai’s face turned from frustrated, to annoyed, as he realized that his reassignment is non negotiable and that he risks being kicked out of Saiga and possibly executed so that he can’t join a rivaling ninja village or even worse the black market – this was the downside of being too good at being a ninja affiliated to a ninja village.

“Do I at least get to chose my Genin?” asked Hakai in a calmer voice, accepting the fact that he has very little choices, outside of playing babysitter for Genin in the foreseeable future.

“No, it has already been decided by the council that you will lead a specific team of 2nd grade Genin”

“2nd grade? What is the point in my training a squad with such a low chance of success at survival? Why not just give me 1st grade Genins so that I can have the satisfaction that I won’t have to wipe the asses of children for more than a year” asked a frustrated and confused Hakai.

As a Chunin, Hakai knows that Genin teams and individuals within the grading system are normally comprised of Genin who are either out of the academy or Genin who failed to gain the trust of the committee for Labor distribution in regards to their ability to get the job done. Grade 1 Genin are often viewed as the most unreliable and most likely to die on missions. Genin who are within the leveling system are considered to be reliable ninja who are on their way towards becoming Chunin.

However most Genin are unaware of the difference between the grading system and leveling system because this difference is not explained to them in order to protect their pride in the hopes that they turn their career around.

“Sadly, we were not able to produce many Genin past grade 3 and we think that a Chunin of your caliber and potential for growth deserves a proper challenge” said the second representative of the committee for Labor distribution.

“I thought I had no more potential for growth as a Chunin - what are you actually trying to say now, that I deserve better than to wiping Genin ass for a living in the foreseeable future?”

“No no, we still believe that, as you are right now, you have peaked, but, what I mean is that, as an instructor for Genin, you have a great deal of untapped potential, potential that could help you later grow into a level 5 Chunin, or maybe, even Jonin proper.”

“Fine, I will get your fucking Genin out of the ranking system and into the proper leveling system, but once they become Chunin, I expect to return to my normal life as a killer” declared Hakai in an aggravated tone.

“The committee for Labor distribution is unable to make any promise at this time, but please, do your best as an instructor for the sake, OF EVERYONE, in Saiga” replied the first representative in an annoyed voice.

After this aggravating meeting, Hakai is given several files regarding his new assignment and is dismissed in order to analyze the files, at his leisure.

The first file contains the written expectations of the council of elders, regarding Hakai’s team of genin, which is referred to as Team 13, 2nd grade Geijutsu unit. This team is expected to be a Geijutsu team unit, featuring one close to mid range combatant, one mid to long range combatant and one mid range support ninja.

Geijutsu focused units are often required to go on reconnaissance, infiltration as a stand alone unit, however their main purpose is to provide support for other ninja teams so that they can get the job done.

In rare circumstances they will also be sent on assassination and pacification missions by themselves, should the demand for such tasks be high enough.

What Hakai found unusual, while examining the first file, is the fact that this file had been created by agents of the council of elders and not agents of the labor committee, which made Hakai more receptive in regards to the potential rewards he will gain from succeeding on his assignment.

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