Under Ninja

During Japan’s feudal era, ninjas operated as revered covert agents, wielding immense influence across the nation. Their formal organizations were dismantled during the Allied occupation following World War II, leading the public to believe they had vanished entirely. In reality, their lineage survived in absolute secrecy. Today, an estimated 200,000 active ninjas remain hidden throughout modern Japanese society, operating far beyond the reach of ordinary citizens. Within this vast underground network, a stark divide separates the elite from the expendable. The most skilled operatives are entrusted with handling critical threats on a national scale, executing high-stakes missions that safeguard the country from the shadows. Meanwhile, lower-ranking members struggle to secure consistent assignments, leaving many without purpose or income in a world that has largely moved past their traditional craft. Caught in this unforgiving hierarchy is Kuro Kumogakure, a marginal ninja currently stuck between jobs. Unlike his elite counterparts who shape the fate of the nation, Kuro faces the mundane reality of unemployment while remaining bound to a secretive and ancient profession. His story explores the overlooked lives of those lingering at the bottom of a hidden world, where legendary status offers no guarantee of survival.