A Parting Gift

A mountain road that would take an ordinary person a full day to traverse took a ninja only moments.

Before long, Higashino Makoto's group of three encountered the squad that had called for help. It was Captain Ritsu's Genin squad, but only the two brothers, Yuta and Yuto, were present.

The two looked anxious and helpless.

Upon seeing Higashino Makoto's group, Yuta looked them over, failed to find the person he was expecting, and asked disappointedly, "Where is your Leading Jonin? Why isn't he here?"

Higashino Makoto said, "Teacher had something to do. Did you run into some danger? Where is Ritsu Senior?"

Yuta could no longer spare attention for anything else. "Yes, we encountered a powerful Black Bear. Captain... Captain Ritsu lured the Black Bear away by himself to save us."

His younger brother, Yuto, had already sunk into deep self-reproach. "It's all because we're too weak. If we were stronger, Captain wouldn't have ended up in danger. Maybe... maybe he's already dead."

"Enough nonsense. Lead the way. We might still be able to save Ritsu Senior."

Yuta could only agree. "All right, follow me. Thank you."

Led by the two brothers, the five of them hurried after Ritsu in the direction he had gone. They soon found the tracks left behind by the Black Bear's massive body as it passed through the forest.

Following the tracks, they soon arrived before a cave. The Black Bear's roars and a human's screams seemed to be coming from within.

Without a second thought, the two brothers rushed inside anxiously. Higashino Makoto's group of three wore identical expressions, as if cast from the same mold. They merely surveyed the surroundings before following them in.

The cave was quite deep, and the farther they went, the darker it became. When they were more than halfway through, the roaring and screaming stopped at the same time. It seemed the victor had been decided.

Yuta and Yuto burst forth at the fastest speed of their lives. Unfortunately, when they reached the end, all they saw in the dim cave was the corpse of a Black Bear lying on the ground.

Yuta examined the area, but did not see Ritsu's body. He guessed, "Could it be that Captain won? But where is he?"

Yuto let out a breath of relief. "Great, Captain must be fine. There must be another exit here. Let's look for it. Captain should be injured and needs our help."

Higashino Makoto's group of three turned to look at the brothers at the same time. With reactions this slow, they should stop being ninjas in the future—if they had a future.

"I didn't expect you two to follow us in as well. Were you worried about me? You really haven't improved at all. You have neither strength nor brains. You're only useful in this one way."

Ritsu's voice suddenly came from behind them.

The brothers turned around in delight.

"Captain, you're alive?"

"It's great that you're all right."

After saying that, the two prepared to run toward their captain. If they could have a passionate embrace, it would truly make for a happy reunion.

Higashino Makoto grabbed them both. "Aren't you curious why he appeared behind us?"

"Well, as expected of the top graduate from this year's Ninja Academy. You're much smarter than my two idiot teammates. It would be wonderful if all Konoha Ninja were like them. As for outstanding people like you, it's better for you to die sooner rather than later."

"Captain, what are you talking about?" x2

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" A series of explosions answered them.

While speaking, Ritsu activated the trap without hesitation. The five people in the cave, himself included, were all caught in the explosion of the detonating array.

Unfortunately, he was only a clone. After completing his task, he turned into a pile of shattered earth.

Earth Style: Earth Clone Technique, a clone technique that Iwagakure ninja excelled at. However, it seemed Ritsu's grasp of Earth Nature Transformation was not quite sufficient. Otherwise, after the clone dispersed, it should have left behind a pile of hard rock.

At that level, it would no longer be an Earth Clone, but a Rock Clone, which Tsuchikage Ōnoki excelled at. It possessed greater offensive power and durability, making it extremely practical.

Since he could use such a distinctly styled jutsu, Ritsu's identity was already obvious. Even Yuta and Yuto, slow as they were, noticed that something was wrong.

Higashino Makoto did not think further. He immediately raised his Left Hand, spreading his five fingers. In an instant, a hemispherical, translucent blue Chakra shield enveloped the five of them.

Hayate and Yugao dragged the two brothers along as the five ran toward the exit beneath the shield's protection, enduring the Explosive Tag blasts and countless falling rocks.

Fortunately, the cave was sturdy enough and did not collapse from the Explosive Tags. The fiery shockwaves and falling rocks struck the Chakra shield as though hitting an exceptionally flexible protective membrane. They could compress and deform it, but they could not penetrate it.

Water Style: Unicorn Serenity.

A Defensive Jutsu developed by Higashino Makoto. Chakra infused with Water Nature Transformation sprayed from his five fingers and, constrained by Sealing Runes, formed a practical Chakra shield.

To develop this series of jutsu, he had even specifically studied the Basic Knowledge of Sealing Jutsu.

Did the Shinobi World have Chakra shields that could take tangible form?

Yes, brother, it did. The inspiration for Water Style: Unicorn Serenity came from Chiyo of Sunagakure's Machine Light Sealing Technique.

"Boom—"

The explosions within the cave echoed through the forest, startling flocks of birds into flight.

On a Big Tree in the distance, Ritsu felt the faint tremors and was quite satisfied. With a hint of smugness, he muttered to himself, "Consider it a parting gift. Eliminating the best class among Konoha's current graduates should be enough of an explanation when I return to the village."

But when he turned to leave, he found Moonlight Whirlwind and Uzuki Yugao standing on the Big Tree ahead, Ninja Swords in hand as they glared at him with murderous intent.

"You really are no good!" Uzuki Yugao's face was full of anger. If they had not been prepared, they would have been blown to death by now.

"Shimada!"

Ritsu realized something was wrong and immediately tried to flee in another direction. Then he suddenly felt a pain at the back of his head, lost consciousness, and fell straight toward the ground.

"My, how dangerous. A parting gift? What an unsettling thing to say. You scared me so badly I thought you were about to throw out a Great Spiraling Ring."

The one who appeared behind Ritsu was naturally Higashino Shinichi. As for the people following behind the two brothers, they were all transformed from his Shadow Clones.

So long as one had sufficient Chakra Amount, all kinds of tangible clones were extremely useful techniques. Unfortunately, the vast majority of shinobi in the Shinobi World could not afford such extravagance.

Hayate Gekko had already grown used to the strange things Higashino Shinichi occasionally said and could not be bothered to ask. He went straight down to the ground, put on his gloves, and swiftly searched Ritsu's body, including his teeth, collar, cuffs, and anywhere else he might have hidden poison for suicide.

The result proved that this guy might have been an unqualified spy. He did not have any of those things on him, so Hayate could only put his learned knowledge to use, tying him up in different ways with steel wire until he resembled a salted fish.

Seeing that the danger had passed, Uzuki Yugao asked curiously, "Hey, Makoto, what is Great Spiraling Ring? Is it some powerful ninjutsu?"

"It's a fat guy and a little boy."

"You're saying things we don't understand again."

Higashino Shinichi had not hit him hard, and Ritsu woke up before long.

When he saw his situation, he struggled with all his strength. Yet the more he struggled, the tighter the steel wire became, sending searing cutting pain through his entire body. At that moment, he somewhat regretted not listening to those seniors.

To be a spy, one had to be prepared to die at any time. Otherwise, if captured alive by the enemy, one's fate would only be a hundred times worse than death.

Unfortunately, it was already too late for regrets. He looked at Higashino Shinichi. "What an impressive junior. As a reward, kill me. You haven't killed anyone before, have you? Imagine slicing open my throat with a blade, or piercing my heart. That would be a wonderful feeling."

Shinobi had been taught to kill since childhood.

Ritsu's words seemed to be drawing out the beastly instincts buried within the three of them.

The Shinobi World was just that kind of twisted place. Shinobi were taught from childhood that they could not drink before coming of age, could not indulge in lust, and could not become obsessed with money—yet they were allowed to kill.

There were especially many perverts among shinobi. Just look at Kirigakure. Why? Because they had immersed themselves in slaughter too early, their hearts and minds becoming completely warped by bloodshed.

Fortunately, Hayate Gekko and Uzuki Yugao had both been raised well. Though they felt a faint stir within their hearts, it was not enough to affect their judgment.

Higashino Shinichi had always known what he wanted: to become stronger, to live an exciting life—anything was fine, so long as it was not becoming a cold-blooded killing machine.

Killing was a means, not an end.

He looked at the bastard who was still trying to dig a pit for them even with death at his doorstep. "You just want an easier death, don't you? Don't come looking for us for that. Go talk to the Anbu yourself."