"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
The bandits were caught completely off guard. They screamed in panic and grabbed their weapons, trying to fight back, but Hyuga Rei was faster. She was already an expert in Taijutsu, and with a quick movement of her hand, she precisely pierced two of their throats.
The last bandit also fell into a pool of blood, dying in bitter resentment after Hiruzen stabbed him repeatedly with several Kunai.
Hearing the screams from nearby, Chiri nodded slightly. The three teammates were more in sync than she had expected. That was a good thing.
"What's going on?"
The bandits in the surrounding wooden houses heard the commotion, grabbed their weapons, and rushed outside.
Just then, Watanabe and the other two, who had just drawn blood for the first time in their lives, emerged from a wooden house and came face-to-face with the other group.
"Who are you?" the bandits demanded angrily, pointing their blades at them.
"I'll take the ones in the middle," Hyuga Rei said quietly.
Watanabe said, "I'll deal with the ones on the left."
"I-I'll take the ones on the right!" Hiruzen said.
The bandits were furious. "What are you whispering ab—"
"Go!"
Hyuga Rei charged first, straight toward the bandits in the middle. She used the Gentle Fist Style and fought like an unstoppable goddess of war. One palm strike sent a bandit flying backward, spitting blood. Not one of them could withstand even a single blow from her.
Watanabe wasn't good at Taijutsu, so he formed Hand Seals and used Fire Release. A huge fireball slammed into the bandits on the left, turning six of them into charred corpses in an instant.
"They're ninja!"
"Go get the boss!"
"Run!"
The bandits were routed after just one exchange. Terrified out of their wits, they