Bandits

Night had fallen. Outside a hidden mountain hollow deep in the forest, four figures stood within the shadows.

Yamato lowered his voice as he laid out the plan.

"This reconnaissance will center on the three of you. I'll provide support and assess your performance. Ken, you're responsible for forward scouting and tracking signs. Yu, observe the surroundings and watch for possible traps and sentries. Shinichi, stay in the middle to provide support and be ready to assist at any time. Remember, your objective is to determine their numbers, defenses, and movements."

After speaking, Yamato swept his gaze across the faces of his three young subordinates and reminded them once more.

"Although the target this time is only a group of bandits, you must treat it like a real ninja stronghold. This... is also an important test for you."

"Understood!"

The three nodded, taking Yamato's words to heart.

"Good."

Watching his three subordinates swiftly get into position, Yamato gave an approving nod before saying,

"Move."

The moment his words fell, three figures shot out like arrows from a bow, silently vanishing into the deeper darkness as they infiltrated the bandits' hideout below the hollow.

Perhaps because those in the hollow were merely ordinary bandits, the trio's operation went fairly smoothly.

Kobayashi Ken displayed impressive tracking skills, locating several narrow paths that the bandits appeared to use frequently.

Sato Yu was meticulous. He discovered two crude alarm traps and carefully avoided them.

As they gradually drew closer to the target area, the air began to fill with a faint smell of smoke and... a barely perceptible stench.

When they reached the edge of the hollow and looked down by the sparse moonlight and scattered firelight from within the hideout, the sight before them made both Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu frown.

The bandit den they had expected to be heavily guarded and bustling with figures was strangely deserted.

Inside the camp enclosed by crude wooden fencing, only five disheveled bandits sat around a small campfire, drinking something as they cursed and grumbled, completely off guard.

Several dilapidated huts stood pitch-black, showing no sign of anyone inside.

"What's going on? There are only this many?"

Kobayashi Ken lowered his voice, unable to hide his confusion.

Sato Yu frowned as well. "Where are the others? Did they go out?"

Tejima Shinichi quickly swept his eyes over the entire camp again, confirming that the huts and piles of clutter were indeed empty.

Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu instinctively turned to look at him. With Yamato absent and an unexpected situation at hand, Tejima Shinichi—the strongest among them and usually the calmest—naturally became their pillar.

Tejima Shinichi did not hesitate and made his decision at once.

"The situation has changed, but this is a rare opportunity. Follow the original plan. End it quickly, subdue them, and take them alive."

The concise order instantly dispelled the hesitation in Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu's hearts.

The order was given, and Team 1 moved immediately.

Five bandits sat gathered around the campfire.

A scar-faced man gulped down some cheap liquor and cursed, "The boss and the others are off enjoying themselves, while they leave us here to drink in the wind!"

A skinny, monkey-like fellow beside him chuckled. "Just endure it. When the boss gets back, there'll be plenty in it for us..."

Before he could finish, the corner of his eye suddenly caught a flicker of movement in the shadows at the edge of the camp.

"Hm?"

Skinny Monkey narrowed his eyes instinctively. Before he could make anything out, the shadows abruptly swelled and stretched, transforming into three blurred silhouettes that lunged at them like ghosts! Their speed was astonishing!

"Wha—" Skinny Monkey managed only a single syllable.

In the next instant, agonizing pain exploded in his abdomen!

Kobayashi Ken drove a heavy front kick viciously into his stomach.

Skinny Monkey flew backward like a ragged sack, his back slamming hard against the wooden fence with a dull thud. He immediately curled up on the ground and vomited a mouthful of sour fluid, left only twitching.

Almost at the same time, Scarface had just opened his mouth to shout when a knife-hand strike crashed into the side of his neck.

His eyes bulged. Without even a groan, he crumpled to the ground.

Kunai flashed repeatedly in Sato Yu's hand, precisely slicing open the wrists and ankles of two other bandits. The searing pain made the hands that had just reached for their weapons instantly loosen, and they cried out as they lost their balance.

Facing the last bandit, who had been frozen stiff with fear, Tejima Shinichi slammed a straight punch into his face.

The sound of his nose breaking was clearly audible. The bandit fell flat on his back and lost consciousness instantly.

In the blink of an eye, the battle had ended almost as soon as it began.

The campfire continued to crackle, illuminating the five bandits sprawled across the ground, their fighting ability instantly stripped away, along with the three figures who had appeared without warning.

Team 1's assault was complete.