Tough Battle

Land of Fire border region.

"I won't interfere with this mission. Handle it yourselves." Yusuke Senju looked at the three of them. "Kids, don't go dying on me."

He tossed the mission scroll to Renye, then vanished in a flash.

Renye opened the scroll: A band of vicious mountain bandits has entrenched itself on a vital route, frequently plundering passing merchant caravans and nearby villages, severely disrupting the region's peace. Please eliminate these damned bandits. (Note: Rogue ninja may be present among the bandits. Chunin squad recommended.)

After reading the mission, Renye's expression turned grave. "There are rogue ninja among these bandits. We need to be extra careful."

"Are they genin or chunin?" Koharu Utatane asked.

If they were genin, it would be manageable. But if they were chunin, things would get tricky.

Not only did the three of them have to deal with ordinary bandits, they also had to face rogue ninja who might be chunin—the difficulty had just shot up.

"No idea, but let's assume they're chunin from the start."

None of them even considered the possibility of a jonin.

What jonin in the Shinobi World would be bored enough to become a bandit?

Usually, only half-baked chunin or genin stooped to banditry, throwing their weight around among ordinary people.

Renye looked at the two of them. "Wait until nightfall to scout the enemy, then we'll plan the operation."

Without another word, the two found spots to rest and recover, preparing for the night's battle.

Renye noticed his body was trembling slightly. Frowning in confusion, he thought:

Is this fear? No, it feels more like... excitement!

In the few years since he'd come to the Shinobi World, this was his first time carrying out a mission that involved killing.

Night fell, moonlight hidden behind thick clouds.

Renye and his two teammates crouched in the bushes a few hundred meters from the bandit camp.

All three held their breath, focusing.

Renye's Sharingan glowed faintly crimson in the darkness, precisely tracking every movement in the camp.

"Two watchtowers set at an angle—their field of view covers almost the entire camp."

Renye lowered his voice, tracing a rough map in the dirt with his finger.

"The wooden building on the west is the main living area. The three on the east are probably where the rogue ninja are staying."

"We'll take out the sentries in the watchtowers in the dead of night, then eliminate the bandits as fast as possible, and finally deal with the rogue ninja."

Danzō Shimura and Koharu Utatane nodded. No objections.

The clock ticked into the dead of night.

This was usually when people were at their sleepiest.

Renye gripped Muko and signaled the advance.

The three sprinted through the darkness toward the camp at top speed.

On the watchtowers, the sentries were so drowsy they could barely keep their eyes open, completely unaware of the three approaching.

Renye activated his Sharingan and whipped out three shuriken mid-stride, nailing them precisely into the sentries' throats.

At almost the same moment, Koharu Utatane and Danzō Shimura completed their ambushes. Four bodies crumpled silently.

"Stick to the plan. Clear the small fry first." Renye's voice was low.

He charged into a room. The bandits inside were still snoring away, clueless that death was about to arrive.

Without a moment's hesitation, Renye slit one's throat.

Warm blood splattered across his face. He felt no fear or disgust—only an uncontrollable surge of excitement.

Blade in hand, Renye moved to the next room.

Panicked shouts and curses erupted from inside. Bandits clutching steel swords stumbled out of the room.

Clearly, the three of them had been discovered.

Renye glared at them. The first few to emerge suddenly froze, then turned their blades on each other.

"Finish this fast!" Renye quickened his slashes.

They had to wipe out all the small fry before the rogue ninja could react.

These bandits were just ordinary people—killing them was no different from slaughtering chickens. Soon, Renye and his team had butchered them all.

"Bastards! Stop right there!"

A burly man wielding a large blade finally arrived, late to the scene.

He stared at the corpses of his underlings, fury blazing in his eyes.

He'd only been a moment late, and these brats had killed all his men.

"Konoha brats, I'll make you pay!"

"He's a chunin. You two cover me."

Renye struck first, aiming straight for The Strongman's vital points.

The Strongman, unhurried, used his greatsword to block Renye's attack with brute force.

The massive impact numbed Renye's hands, forcing him back a few steps.

"Brat, die!" The Strongman swung his greatsword.

Just then, Danzō and Koharu rushed forward to support.

Danzō formed hand seals and shouted, "Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!"

The Strongman roared, swinging his greatsword to shatter the wind technique.

Using the smoke as cover, he charged at Danzō.

Danzō's expression shifted as he hurriedly cast a defensive jutsu.

But The Strongman's power was overwhelming; the greatsword struck Danzō's defense, the force sending him flying back with blood spraying from his mouth.

At that moment, only one thought crossed Danzō's mind: I'm dead weight again...

Seeing this, Koharu Utatane's eyes flashed with urgency as she immediately used Medical Ninjutsu to heal Danzō.

Meanwhile, Renye charged forward again, engaging The Strongman in fierce combat.

Their weapons clashed repeatedly, sparks flying, blades and shadows intertwining.

Renye relied on his Sharingan's advantage, desperately seeking an opening in The Strongman's guard.

Frustrated by his inability to finish the brat quickly, The Strongman suddenly bellowed, his muscles tensing and power surging.

His greatsword came at Renye like a storm; Renye dodged too slowly and took a blow to his right shoulder, blood staining his clothes.

The searing pain drained the color from Renye's face as he quickly distanced himself.

Just as Renye was cornered, Danzō Shimura and Koharu Utatane, having recovered somewhat, rejoined the fight.

Koharu used Fire Style, sending a blaze of flames sweeping toward The Strongman.

Danzō used Wind Style to fan the flames even fiercer.

The Strongman was forced back by the fire, and Renye seized the moment, gathering Chakra into Muko as he flashed before The Strongman.

The Strongman roared and swung his greatsword to block, but Renye's strike carried all his strength, combined with Danzō and Koharu's coordination, and the greatsword was finally severed.

Muko drove straight into The Strongman's chest; his eyes widened in disbelief at the blade, blood gushing from his mouth as he crashed heavily to the ground.

The battle over, Renye collapsed to the ground, staring at The Strongman's corpse, filled with relief at surviving.

A B-rank mission was way too dangerous—they'd nearly died here.

He shouldn't have listened to Danzō's blabbering.

Koharu Utatane hurried to Renye's side, using Medical Ninjutsu to stop his bleeding.

Danzō lay on the ground, staring blankly at the sky.

This mission, he'd been dead weight again...

"Tsk, tsk, still taking B-rank missions next time?"

Yusuke Senju appeared before the three of them, seemingly out of nowhere.

Of course, he couldn't really abandon them; if they died by accident, Lord Tobirama would tear him to shreds.

Yusuke Senju clicked his tongue, surprised they'd actually teamed up to kill a Chunin.

No wonder they were Disciples trained by Lord Tobirama.

Renye stood up, pulling Muko from The Strongman's body—just as Tobirama Senju had said, the blade bore no bloodstains.

He looked up at Yusuke Senju. "Yes, of course we will!"

Hearing this, Yusuke Senju was a bit stunned.

This kid forgets the pain once the wound heals?

No... the wound hasn't even healed!

He stared at the blood still oozing from Renye's shoulder, falling silent.

Renye only then realized his motion of pulling the blade had torn the wound open again.

"Koharu! Koharu!"