No one's POV

(8 Years Ago)

At the Gifonolia Forest at the Empire. And unforgivable, sinister plan was currently put into motion. It was finally the day, the start of the Empire's Assassination Unit where two different teams would be lead. The leaders stood watch as many of the Empire's children were no doubt countless would die but there was still much to learn.

Bill: Now then. Which child will arrive here first, do you suppose? And moreover what you said about your plan to take a hundred children from each region and train them to be assassins. There were well over a hundred of them released into this forest, correct?

Gozuki: It's fine. It's a good number to start with. The process will cull them based on their individual abilities, no doubt dozens will perish.

Said the middle-aged man with blond hair and green eyes. He had a small beard. He wore a white shirt with black pants and a red scarf. His name was Gozuki. Who is one of the proctor of the current Assassination Unit.

Bill: Ah, I see. You mean the weak will voluntarily extract themselves from the running. So Gozuki how many can you instruct?

The former member of the 4 Rakshasa Demons stood about an already slain Danger Beast, eating its meat raw as he continued to watch over the exit of the forest for any of the children to arrive.

Gozuki: I've thought about it, and seven is probably my limit.

Bill: Very well. After the ranks have been assigned, I'll hand the seven best over to you. The rest will all go to me.

(Elsewhere)

Within the forest itself, many children were given one task to survive and make it to the exit with not much more than smaller and weaker weaponry. A certain young boy was currently making his way through the forest, with only one thought in mind.

Ryu(mind): Survive. I have to survive this.

The boys name was Ryu. He had dark purple hair and has Martinique and East Side colored eyes. Ever since he was sold to the Empire by his own parents, in order for them to survive, he had only one thought in mind. Is to survive these whole ordeal.

Ryu(mind): Little Sis. I wonder what you are doing right now?

As he wander through the forest, he's finally reaching the end of the forest. He stopped at an opened area, where he saw multiple danger beast. Some of them were eating the children, some were trying to fight, and some were trying to run.

Ryu:...

Ryu felt remorse by the scene. Those other kids didn't survive these ordeal. But he didn't have the time for remorse, as multiple danger beast were already rushing towards him.

Ryu: Out of the way!

Ryu brandish his knife, the only weapons that he was given at the start of this whole fiasco. He cut his way through the whole danger beast. Making vital attacks while also taking as minimum damage as possible.

Ryu: ?!

Getting in front of one of the many extracted children here, Ryu jumped in the way of a beast and took a bite into his arm while he continued to stab it repeatedly. The pain didn't seem to exist until it finally died with a yelp as he stood back up.

Ryu: If you act carelessly, that's only going to get you killed here.

???: Why did you help me?

Said the young man with short, blond hair and blue eyes.

Ryu: Why wouldn't I help you?

???: We aren't even— No... everyone I knew is dead. So what's the point in me surviving?

Hearing that made Ryu pissed. He walked over, Ryu grabbed the person's by the collar, and hoisted him up into the air. When he spoke, his tone was surprisingly gentle.

Ryu: What's so wrong about wanting to live? What's so bad about being happy that you survived? Those feelings are the most natural thing in the world. For a human, wanting to survive is a praiseworthy trait.

???: B-But... I...

Ryu: If you feel bad for your dead comrades... then live on. Even if you have to crawl on the ground dredging for scraps, survive. As long as you keep struggling... eventually, the day will come when you realize there was meaning in you surviving this day.

???: Live... on.

Ryu turned around when he heard some rustling to stab another beast in the head, killing it instantly. The person stood there, only surprised before Ryu gave a dark glare at him.

Ryu: Either you stand up and fight or die here! Even if you had to eat dirt, stand up, fight and survive!

With a bloody roar, Ryu charged ahead to kill more with an ignorance to all the pain. On the other side of the forest, the same two proctor Gozuki and Bill were still waiting for the children to escape.

Gozuki: But the way I see it... It'll take close to 10 years to train these kids. I only hope the country lasts that long.

Bill: No matter how bad the corruption gets, this vast Empire has lasted for a thousand years. It will not come to an end so easily. Though the seeds of war are undeniably being sown. And this plan has been set in motion to nip them in the bud.

Gozuki: It's a heavy responsibility.

Bill: Being in possession of the Teigu Murasame, I have faith in your abilities. I'm looking forward to your superb training. You've even gone so far as to ready an artificial village for the task.

Just then, Gozuki spotted some children making their way out of the forest.

Gozuki: Oh! This time we've got a pair coming. Oh wait, there's another one coming his way out.

Bill: Oh, this is...

Ryu who had struggle his way through the forest, had finally reached the other side, where he saw Gozuki and Bill. Not only that, just as he made his way out, he saw two girls look similarly alike. Judging by their looks, Ryu could already guess that they were siblings.

Ryu:...

Bill: Congratulations on making it. You passed the test, you can now receive medical attention if you so wish.

Akame: We did it! We passed, Kurome!

Kurome: Yeah! Thanks, sis.

Ryu(mind): Siblings, huh....

(Timeskip)

They all went into the medical tent, any and all injuries being treated as best they could as the two leaders sought their eyes on them trying to think quickly about their placements.

Bill: Those two sisters got out of the forest relatively quickly, and that boy could've made it so much sooner if he didn't help some others as well. Do you think they quality for the top seven?

Gozuki: No, at least not both of the sisters. I can't let any sibling teams into my seven. It'd only make trouble if they had someone relying on them.

Ryu continue to get his injuries healed. The feeling in his arm soon returned as he tried to calm himself down from his extreme rush of adrenaline. Though the look of the two happy sisters caused a smile to appear on his face before Gozuki entered the tent.

Gozuki: Now, to present the results of your test. First, Ryu your kill rank puts you at No. 2. Congratulations on getting such a high rank in this test. But for the two sisters. Kurome, your kill rank puts you at No. 8 and Akame, you're No. 7. This is an impressive ranking for having to take care of your sister throughout the test.

Ryu:...

Gozuki: You two will be going to separate places to undergo your training. Akame, Ryu, you're with me. Kurome will be going to the Capital.

Akame: No! I'm staying with Kurome!

The older girl Akame said while hugging her own little sister tightly and the little sister Kurome did the same.

Kurome: Big sister...

Ryu: Hey! Stop!

The two were pulled apart from each other when Gozuki snaps his fingers. Seeing that made something inside Ryu recall something. He too had been separated from his own sister. Wanting no one to experienced what he did, Ryu jumped in to help only to be grabbed by the Rakshasa member and his injured arm being squeezed to the point where it felt like it was going to break.

Gozuki: It's okay, you'll only be apart for a little while. If you're both good, I promise you'll get to see each other again.

Akame: Kurome!

Gozuki: There's nothing to be sad about, Akame. We'll be your new family. You can even call me 'father'.

(Timeskip, 8 year later, Present Time)

Ryu slowly lit his eyes opened. Another dream of the past... The sun was enough warmth for him as he stretched himself out with a yawn to look around Mount Rousei. They've been here for 8 years now, though it was somehow a place Ryu could easily call home. He and 6 other kids along with Gozuki.

???: Took you long enough to wake up.

Said the person sitting next to Ryu reading a book. A young man with spiky, blond hair and golden eyes. He wears an outfit resembling a military uniform consisting of a long trench coat with golden epaulets and a suit underneath. On some occasions, he was also seen without the coat.

Najasho (Kill Rank No.1)

Najasho was reading a book right next to Ryu, overseeing the river where two more other members would be hunting for Danger Beasts. He was the strongest out of the seven of them, or as the others called him, chief.

Ryu: There's nothing for me to do. I already did my quota for the day. I'd rather rest a little than wait around for someone to do my job for me.

Najasho: Then go do your job, Akame's about to get jumped.

Ryu: Eh?

Looking down, a Land Tiger was quickly jumping towards her while she was sleeping. Ryu sigh.

Ryu: Akame, wake up!

Her eyes fluttered open quickly. As Akame went to grab her weapon at her side, preparing to attack the Land Tiger. Ryu steps in and grabbed his own weapon killed the beast as cleanly as he could.

Akame: Thank you, Ryu.

Ryu: No problem, and we can both fill our quota with the pelt and meat.

Ryu cleaned the blood off his weapon before sheathing it back to his scabbard, and carry the corpse over his shoulder. Akame the pretty young girl with long black hair that reaches down to her knees and red eyes. She nodded and started heading towards Najasho.

Akame (Kill Rank No.7)

Najasho: You were lucky Ryu woke up and that your prey came flying at you.

Ryu: Go easy on her, geez!

Najasho: Hey, Shrimp! You're letting the other shrimp beat you. Make yourself more appealing as live bait.

Poney: What's that supposed to look like?!

Said the young girl with green eyes and long, auburn hair worn in a ponytail and decorated with a few hairpins. She is usually seen wearing a tank top along with Yocto-bottoms, which take the form of leggings with a belt and ankle bands. She also walks barefoot.

Poney (Kill Rank No.5)

Poney appears from under water, probably looking for some big fish to fill our quota for money that Najasho was sure to take a cut out of it because someone here has a slight bias towards him.

Poney: Besides, the big ones don't come out in this season, remember?!

Ryu: It's not like we haven't seen crazier things happen.

Poney: You're not helping, Ryu!

Ryu: Behind you!

Poney: Oh! Speak of the devil, here's one!

A loud roar was enough to cause her to turn before kicking it once to kill it and its corpse landing right next to Najasho.

Poney: I gotta say, that's a pretty big one! Daddy's gonna praise me for this!

Najasho: It's so-so. If we sell it, you and I will meet our quota. Good work, Poney. Now carry it along, will you?

Poney: But, you're not even doing anything chief. All you've been doing is reading your favourite book chief.

Najasho: Took you long enough to notice.

Ryu: Learn to respect the work of others, you idiot!

Najasho: The one who calls others idiot, is the idiot, idiot!

Ryu: Why you, damn bastard! Come here!

Ryu the boy with the dark purple hair and has Martinique and East Side colored eyes. He wears a military uniform.

Ryu (Kill Rank No.2)

He dash over at Najasho wanting to give him a headlock only for Najasho to ran away with a smirk on his face.

(Elsewhere)

From the distance not to far where Ryu and the others were, 2 other members were doing their own quota.

One of them wear a suits, burrowing up as he emerge from the ground. Rubbles, rocks, ores, were flying everywhere, the other teen wearing glasses as he picks and start examining them.

Guy: How is it Green? Did we get any usable ores?

Said the tall young man with a sturdy and muscular build. He has short brown hair and a scar on his left cheek. He wears a brown vest with white sleeves and a white collar. His pants are also white.

Guy (Kill Rank No.3)

Green: Let see... a lightly-colored petit crystal... you got it Guy.

Green was a young man with black hair and green eyes. He wears a green jacket with a black T-shirt and black pants. His shoes are also black and he wears glasses. He wears a necklace with a gem around his neck.

Green (Kill Rank No.6)

Guy: Alright! Mining is such a thrill. You can make so much money if you hit the jackpot! I'll sell this off and have fun with the money left over!

Green: You want to buy more village girls, right? What about Corey?

Guy: Cornelia refuses to have anything to do with me! Give me a break.

Ryu: Of course she won't. You pervert.

Guy: Oh piss off, Ryu! And what are you doing here?

Ryu: I came here checking to see if the two of you have finished your quota.

Guy: Of course we have! That's why we're discussing our plans. You two want to come?

Green: Nah, all the girls in the village are too young...

Ryu: Not interested.

Guy: Heh-Heh! That's the opinion of an obvious virgin!

Ryu: Get lost before I make you!

Guy: Heh! Your lost! Later!

Guy then burrows away, Ryu sighing before he looks to the dark green haired boy, affectionately called Green. The glasses wearing boy was examining another ore, a grin coming to his face.

Ryu(mind): He's on his own world again.

Ryu had grown quite close with all of the other children, but him and Najasho were always having a small quarrel here and there. But it was usually something minor. Mostly the two argue which one of them was using their toothpaste in the bath, unknown to them it's actually Poney. Ryu then turned his head to his right as he heard a pleasant voice. It was the blonde beauty of the group, a girl with golden blonde hair with deep blue eyes, Cornelia.

Cornelia (Kill Rank No.4)

Cornelia: You're mining, huh, Green?

Green: Cornelia.

Cornelia: I just finished my quota. What about you, Ryu?

Ryu: Finished mine awhile ago. And why are you holding two baskets? Here... give one to me.

She drops the two baskets, smiling kindly as she looks around.

Cornelia: Thanks for the concern, but you should know I can do fine on my own.

Ryu: What's so wrong about helping a friend?

Ryu smile while picking one of the basket. Seeing his gentle smile made Cornelia blush averting her gaze away from him.

Cornelia: A-Anyway, what are you mining, Green?

Cornelia immediately changed the topic.

Green: Picking mountain herbs....sounds like something you would do, Corey.

Cornelia: We can eat whatever's leftovers, too. I'm thinking about you guys' nutritional balance too, you know? If we left you guys alone, all you'd eat would be meat and fish.

Ryu: And that's Akame's literal heaven. And for your thoughts, it's always me who do the cooking.

Cornelia: But your cooking is heaven for us, Ryu. And is Guy digging around here somewhere?

Green: He was sulking about you not paying attention to him earlier.

Ryu:(smug) Someone's very popular.

Cornelia: I bet Guy is like that with every girl in the village. I hate perverts! I like someone who's calm and collected whenever he carries out his duties.

Cornelia said while gazing at Ryu, but it turns out he wasn't paying attention to her and was looking at Green making her pout slightly.

Ryu: And, Green is smiling creepily to himself again...

Green: Hehehe...

Cornelia:(sigh) Who knows what he's thinking...

(Timeskip)

Later that night...The seven children had gathered in front of their adopted father. Gozuki sat in one of the chairs, tossing a bag of gold coins in his hand.

Gozuki: Great. Looks like everyone met their quotas. You've mastered the societal skill of "earning money".

Poney: The villages are full of nice people. They even gave us more than we asked for!

Gozuki: However, there are people in this world that want to start wars and drag those peaceful villages into them. You've all done very well putting up with my strict training these past 8 years. As a result, you've grown into outstanding masters of your own fields. Very soon, you'll be given your first mission. So ready yourselves for it.

Everyone: Yes sir!

Some of the members like, Cornelia, Poney, Green and Guy were clearly excited and ready to take on their first mission. Some of them were tense. Despite all the happiness the members showed, they didn't know what kind of cruel fate and the hell that would soon awaits them all.