Killing

The caravan did not travel quickly. The cargo was heavy, and moving too fast would damage the wagons while the horses would not be able to endure it either.

The Land of Fire was prosperous. Even ordinary villagers had some savings from farming; whenever they discovered Mountain Bandits, they would pool their money and come to Konoha to commission a mission. Therefore, before leaving the Land of Fire, the Kaminari Kaede Squad had little chance of encountering robbers and could relax somewhat.

It was Hyuga Kiyomi and Yuhi Kurenai's first time leaving Konoha, and they were intensely curious about everything outside the village. Even though Hyuga Kiyomi was bound by the etiquette of the Hyuuga Main House, those pure white pupils still secretly glanced around. At most, she did not make it too obvious.

Every so often, Hyuga Mirai would activate his Byakugan to observe the activity around them. He had told others that his Byakugan could see up to one kilometer away, but in truth, Hyuga Mirai could already see two kilometers into the distance.

Kaminari Kaede remained at the rear of the caravan, studying the actions of Hyuga Mirai and the other two.

'His caution is up to standard, his tactics are adaptable, and he follows a ninja's principles to the letter!'

That was Kaminari Kaede's assessment of Hyuga Mirai. In his view, among these three subordinates, only Hyuga Mirai could be promoted to Chunin in the shortest amount of time.

His perception was exceptional, allowing him to see through the intentions of a Jonin like him in the shortest time. During their very first team assembly, he had already gotten the three of them to cooperate as a squad. Aside from being a little lacking in strength, Hyuga Mirai basically already possessed the qualifications of a Chunin.

He was just a little too weak.

It was also a pity that he was from the Hyuga Branch Family. If Hyuga Mirai had been a ninja of Civilian birth, Kaminari Kaede would definitely have considered taking him as a disciple.

The Hyuga Branch Family could only obey the orders of the Hyuuga Main House. Even the Third Hokage could not interfere. If war required some Hyuga Clan ninjas, the Third Hokage could only discuss it with the Patriarch and Elders of the main house before they would send out Branch Family ninjas.

Ninjas from other Ninja Clans still had the chance to join the Anbu or Root, but the Hyuga Branch Family alone had no such opportunity.

"What a pity."

Kaminari Kaede shook his head and stopped thinking about it. The main reason he had become their supervising Jonin was to protect someone from the Hyuuga Main House and quickly pass down ninja experience to the three of them. Once all three were qualified to become Chunin, Hokage-sama would transfer Kaminari Kaede out of this squad.

Therefore, swiftly carrying out missions and accumulating ninja experience were necessities. Occasional instruction was enough for Hyuga Mirai and the other two.

Even within the Land of Fire, where the odds of danger were low, Hyuga Mirai still did not let down his guard.

The final stretch was always the hardest. Hyuga Mirai understood that principle well, especially since the ninja world was filled with surprises. Even a Six Paths powerhouse could have his heart torn out from behind, while a Kage-level powerhouse could foolishly stab Susanoo with a Kunai.

The caravan traveled all the way to the border of the Land of Fire, stopping only once at a small town along the way. They rested in the wilderness for the rest of the journey.

Throughout the mission, Kaminari Kaede had barely spoken. Hyuga Kiyomi and Hyuga Mirai were both people of few words as well. Only Yuhi Kurenai was relatively lively, often unable to bear the silence and starting conversations.

"You need to be careful from here on, Miss Kiyomi, Kurenai!"

After entering the Grass Country, Hyuga Mirai saw that Kaminari Kaede still had no intention of speaking, so he reminded the two girls.

Hearing Hyuga Mirai speak, Hyuga Kiyomi frowned slightly and said to him with some displeasure, "I told you, call me Kiyomi when we're outside."

Hyuga Mirai fell silent for a moment and said nothing more. He simply followed Hyuga Kiyomi's wishes. "I understand, Kiyomi."

Afterward, the three formed a protective formation at the front of the caravan, while Kaminari Kaede remained at its rear.

Everyone knew that after leaving the relatively safe environment of the Land of Fire, they might encounter danger, so they all heightened their vigilance.

Hyuga Mirai and Hyuga Kiyomi continuously alternated the use of their Byakugan. Though it consumed Chakra, they had Soldier Pills to replenish themselves, and the mission location was not far away. Hyuga Kiyomi treated it as training for her Byakugan.

Otherwise, she could not stand the taste of Soldier Pills.

Hyuga Mirai suddenly said, "There are thirty-six armed Mountain Bandits lying in ambush in the Valley one kilometer ahead. One of them has Chakra, but less than half of Kurenai's."

"Mirai-kun!"

Yuhi Kurenai puffed out her cheeks and glared at Hyuga Mirai. Why did they always use her as the comparison? Were they saying she was the weakest?

"Uh, sorry, Kurenai. It just slipped out."

Hyuga Mirai then looked toward Kaminari Kaede, waiting for the Captain's orders.

After thinking for a moment, Kaminari Kaede looked up and asked, "Is that the only group nearby?"

"That's all I can see."

"Within one and a half kilometers, that is the only ambush." Hyuga Kiyomi also activated her Byakugan to scout and answered Kaminari Kaede.

"Then the three of you will deal with them."

Kaminari Kaede said calmly, "Eliminate them and return to the squad quickly before the caravan reaches the Valley. Go."

"Yes!"

The three answered in unison. Then, with a single leap, they broke away from the caravan. As they ran, their formation gradually spread apart, and they headed toward the group in the Valley.

A group of Mountain Bandits, with one of them possibly being a wandering ninja, posed no threat to Hyuga Mirai and the others.

Although a wandering ninja had appeared, a ninja with that amount of Chakra could only be considered an unexpected development and was not enough to raise the mission's rank.

After telling Yuhi Kurenai where the Mountain Bandits were located, the three split up and surrounded them from three directions.

In this world, killing was a required lesson.

Moreover, Hyuga Mirai had constantly seen bloody wounds in the hospital, and he had even seen quite a few corpses. What he lacked now was the experience of personally killing someone.

To him, that experience was a way to gain more experience. There was nothing to killing; as long as it could make him stronger, Hyuga Mirai would raise his Kunai without hesitation.

Once the other two reached the Mountain Bandits' hiding place, Hyuga Mirai gave a hand signal.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Kunai and Shuriken shot at the Mountain Bandits from three directions. In a single instant, seven or eight lives were taken.

"Damn it! Who is it?!"

"It's ninjas! Damn that Mokusuke Trading Company—they actually hired ninja Guards."

The mountain bandits panicked the moment they saw the shuriken. It was common knowledge in the Ninja World that ninja possessed strength ordinary people could never match.

"That's far enough, you lot!"

Hyuga Kiyomi leaped down from the tree and spoke coldly to the bandits before her.

When one of the bandits saw Hyuga Kiyomi's forehead protector, he shouted, "A little girl? She's a ninja from Konoha!"

"We have Lord Ryosuke! Why should we fear some little girl?!"

It seemed the wandering ninja had given the bandits courage. Hyuga Kiyomi's age also made them look down on her, and they believed the deaths just now had merely been the Kid's sneak attack.

The wandering ninja among the bandits stepped forward. He sized Hyuga Kiyomi up and said disdainfully, "Hmph, just a Kid. Even if you're a ninja of Konoha, don't underestimate adults—"

Before he could finish, his expression went blank.

Seeing this, Hyuga Kiyomi tilted her head toward the tree on the other side and asked, "Kurenai, we agreed I would handle this guy."

This man had been caught in an Illusion Technique; his consciousness was no longer clear.

Yuhi Kurenai crouched on the tree branch, a trace of smugness flashing through her ruby-red eyes. "Kiyomi, Mirai-kun was the one who said that. I never agreed."

Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!

Several more shuriken flew out, slicing straight through the bandits' throats.

Hyuga Mirai stepped out helplessly and soothed her, "Forget it, Kiyomi. Captain didn't give us much time. Let's prioritize the mission."