Mission Accomplished

"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!!!" The instant Issui used the Substitution Technique, he rapidly formed Hand Seals and opened his mouth wide. A torrent of water gushed out, sweeping into the bandits and turning the entire area where they stood into a small lake. This time, Issui hadn't used the miniature version of Exploding Water Colliding Wave he had employed during his graduation test, but the complete B-rank Ninjutsu. He had used such a powerful technique because there were too many bandits; killing them with Taijutsu would have taken too long, and Ninjutsu was faster.

The enormous torrent swept through for a long time. The bandits were scared witless, crying and begging for mercy, but Issui gave them no hope. There was no need to show mercy to such wicked bandits. Let them go one moment, and the next they would be plundering another group of people. They lived in sin, and they would die in sin.

"Lightning Release: Earth Flow!!!" Issui showed no mercy. This time, those who had survived the torrent or escaped drowning were finally wiped out by the Ninjutsu.

Shuriken in hand, Issui went around expressionlessly finishing off the groaning, injured bandits one by one. Perhaps he didn't know that each time he killed a bandit, a trace of blood energy entered the third eye on his forehead, even though the eye remained closed.

Okamura watched the kid in front of him slowly kill the bandits who were powerless to resist, and fear gripped his heart. Beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks, and the hand gripping his katana trembled constantly, its fingers white. His whole body felt weak. To him, Issui now seemed like a demon god from legend, slaughtering ruthlessly; no living thing he set his sights on would survive.

After killing every bandit and confirming that none had been left alive, Issui's lips curled into a cold smile. His silver eyes were bloodshot. He slowly turned to look at Okamura and the guards behind him, but the light gradually faded from his eyes. He collapsed onto the waterlogged ground and passed out.

"Quick, quick! Pick him up and put him in the tent. Give him some warm water; he needs rest. Everyone else, follow me and clean up the battlefield." Okamura finally relaxed. So he couldn't take it mentally after all? He's still just a child, after all. This might have been his first time killing someone.

Killing for the first time had been agonizing. When those people, humans just like him, fell at his feet, Issui had felt as though he had entered a hell of blood, with nothing but slaughter, only slaughter, no beginning and no end. The feeling had been unbearable, and his mind had gradually begun to break down. Fortunately, he had pulled through.

"Ah, you're awake! That's great. I thought you'd never wake up. You're amazing! You killed so many bandits; you're much stronger than Uncle Okamura." Recalling what had happened, Yamada Hika felt terrified as well. With so many bandits, she certainly wouldn't have escaped. She hadn't expected little Issui to be so strong. Ninjas were amazing.

"Uh..." Issui could only smile wryly. You're still smiling? Do you think killing someone is that casual? Although he was strong, he had never killed anyone before. In his previous life, killing had been against the law, but in this life, people killed as readily as they ate and drank. It seemed he was behind the times.

"Kid, you're impressive. It was your first time killing, right? It's all right. Now that you have some experience, it won't be like this next time. You're doing pretty well, actually. Some people have a complete mental breakdown. When I killed someone for the first time, I was throwing up and had diarrhea, and I didn't eat meat for three days straight. And you killed so many bandits. That's how it is in these troubled times. The nations fight year after year, and the people at the very bottom can only endure it in silence." Okamura walked in from outside the tent.

"Yes. If I have the ability, I'll unite this world, put an end to the killing, and let everyone live and work in peace," Issui said calmly.

"Ah, it's hard, far too hard. The nations have fought year after year, and their customs and ways of life are all different. How could you alone change the entire ninja world?" Okamura shook his head helplessly. The child's ideal was good, but it would be hard to achieve.

"Haha, is that so? I believe miracles can happen in this world, and these troubled times will come to an end. Believe me, old man. I'll show you a world that's united and at peace. That's my ideal, and it's also my ninja way. I do what I say. I learned that from a 'hero' in our Konoha. I'll accomplish this great undertaking together with my friends, even though the road is full of hardship!!!" At that moment, Issui finally understood his own path. Naruto, Hinata... all his companions were working toward it, and the ninja world shrouded in war would one day be bathed in gentle sunlight...

"Is that so? I'll be watching. I believe you..." Before he knew it, Okamura had been swept up in Issui's confidence.

"Mm-hm, I support you too..." Yamada Hika said with a smile.

After Issui recovered from his mental ordeal, the caravan set out again. They traveled steadily until they reached the border of the Land of Rivers.

The ninja village affiliated with the Land of Rivers was Amegakure, and the Akatsuki also had a camp here. In the original story, this was where Naruto and the others had rescued Gaara. The Land of Rivers was so secluded that many "secret bases" had been built here.

"Wow, we're almost home at last! That's wonderful," Yamada Hika said happily.

"I'm almost done with my mission too. This is the first C-rank mission I've taken, so it's really memorable. Speaking of which, the forests all around the Land of Rivers are vast. It's so secluded, and the environment is nice too," Issui said.

"Yes, our Land of Rivers is surrounded by nature, and nature has nurtured us," Yamada Hika agreed.

"Miss, it'll be dark soon. Let's find an inn and rest for the night before setting out again," Okamura said from outside the carriage.

"All right. I'm starving too," Yamada Hika agreed.

After another hour on the road, the caravan entered a small town. Okamura, familiar with the place, found an inn and arranged for everyone to rest.

After eating at the inn, Issui immediately wished Yamada Hika and the others good night and went to rest. His mind still hadn't fully recovered from the killing that day.

At a secret base somewhere in the Land of Rivers.

"We're short on manpower lately. We need to find some capable ninjas, not just Kage Level ninjas, but talented ninjas with outstanding abilities too. The organization needs fresh blood to grow. Kakuzu, I'll leave this to you. Recruit more capable cannon fodder."

"Tch, I have money to make. I'm busy, so leave it to someone else. Isn't that kid Uchiha Itachi who just joined pretty strong? Kisame's not bad either, and the others are strong too."

"..."

"All right, I'll look for a few while I'm making money. What a pain. How much money will I have to spend going out this time? I'd better check the underground exchange for any heads worth a lot of money."

"Wow, that feels good. The weather's really clear today." Issui crawled out from under the covers as warm sunlight streamed in through the window.

After breakfast, Issui and the others set off again.

A day later...

"Ah, we're finally home! That's wonderful. Dad, open the door! We're back!" Yamada Hika happily jumped down from the carriage and knocked on the gate before her.

"Coming... coming... Oh, my dear daughter, you're finally back! I was worried sick. Okamura, quickly, unload the goods. Thank you so much. It's wonderful that you managed to buy so many things. You didn't run into any danger on the road, did you?" A fat middle-aged man opened the gate, looking at Yamada Hika with delight and concern before thanking Okamura repeatedly.

"It was nothing. Actually, I didn't do much. If it weren't for this young genius ninja from Konoha, we would have been plundered by bandits long ago." A little overwhelmed by the attention, Okamura could only pull Issui out from behind him.

"Yes, yes, little Issui is amazing. He wiped out a huge group of bandits in no time," Yamada Hika chimed in.

"Oh, is that so? Thank you. Your name is Issui, right? You're the youngest ninja I've ever seen. What a genius! Come in and rest. I'll have the servants prepare a meal; I must thank you properly." Surprise flashed across the fat middle-aged man's eyes.

"That would be wonderful," Issui said.

After eating at Yamada Hika's home, Issui could only agree to her father's pleas and stay another night before leaving.

Issui woke early the next morning. After he washed up, a servant came to tell him breakfast was ready.

"Little Issui, won't you stay a few more days? I really want to talk with you. Honestly, you're leaving so soon..." Yamada Hika kept grumbling as she ate breakfast, staring at Issui with a resentful look.

"Don't be difficult. He doesn't have as much free time as you do. He has a lot to do; ninjas are very busy," Yamada Hika's father told her.

"Is that so? All right, but you mustn't forget me. I'll come visit you in Konoha someday..." Yamada Hika could only agree reluctantly.

After breakfast, Issui packed his things and set out. His route, however, did not lead toward the Land of Fire, but toward the Land of Water. He wanted to return to Heaven Village for a visit. Heaven Village was in a small valley on the border between the Land of Water and the Land of Fire, due west of the Land of Water and southeast of the Land of Fire.

Traveling at speed, Issui covered ground quickly and reached the eastern border of the Land of Rivers by sunset. He had to stop and take out the rice balls Hinata had made for him. But eating nothing but rice balls left his mouth craving flavor, so he caught a few wild rabbits and roasted them.

Although he had no seasonings, the aroma of the roasting meat was enough to make Issui's mouth water. Ignoring how hot it was, he tore off a piece of rabbit and began to eat. The fragrance filled the air, but it also drew an unexpected visitor...

"Who's there? Come out!" Issui called toward the bushes behind him.

"Tch, I've been spotted. Impressive, kid, noticing me like that. Huh, you're a Konoha ninja? Not bad. Mind if I have something to eat?" Kakuzu stepped out of the bushes. This is great. Free food, and I don't have to spend any money. Still, this kid's impressive, seeing through my concealment. Konoha really does have a lot of geniuses. Uchiha Itachi is one, and this kid's not bad either. It's enough to make anyone jealous. Why does Konoha have so many geniuses?

"You... you're... Kaku... a missing-nin from Takigakure!!!" Once Issui saw who it was, panic gripped him. He hadn't expected it to be Kakuzu, Akatsuki's Hokuto. What was this powerful Kage Level ninja doing here? His luck really was... how should he put it...

"Mm, not bad. Tastes decent. Kid, how old are you?" Kakuzu sat down across from Issui without a hint of reservation, took a roasted rabbit, and began to eat.

"Issui Kanna." Issui could only go along with it. He couldn't beat Kakuzu, but judging by the situation, Kakuzu had no intention of attacking. After all, Kakuzu only liked people whose heads were worth money.