He Had Infiltrated

Twenty minutes later, in front of the Konoha Gate.

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade arrived right on time.

"Hey! A C-rank mission! Finally, no more pulling weeds or looking for cats!"

Jiraiya looked eager for action, his arms folded across his chest as he impatiently tapped the ground with his toes.

"Idiot, don't let your guard down.

C-rank missions aren't that simple. They can be dangerous."

Tsunade stood off to the side with her hands on her hips, her brows furrowed and her expression quite serious.

Orochimaru seemed much calmer. He carefully checked his Ninja Tool Pouch, making sure he had enough Kunai, Shuriken, Explosive Tags, and spare medicine.

After all, he wasn't short on money anymore, so he should prepare a little extra. Better safe than sorry.

"The objective of this C-rank mission is to clear out a band of bandits in the forests near the Land of Fire's border."

As Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke, he handed the Mission Scroll to Orochimaru. Of the three, Orochimaru was the most mature, so for now, he was the leader of their team.

Orochimaru took it and quickly skimmed the information:

Location, known number of bandits (about fifteen), leader's appearance (possibly a wandering samurai?), client (the head of a nearby village).

"This band of bandits has been active lately. They've not only been robbing people of their possessions, but have even begun taking lives. The nearby villages have suffered greatly."

"Remember, this is your team's first C-rank mission, and a true test of your ability to operate independently.

From now on, the three of you will be responsible for the mission's command, decisions, and execution."

"Unless an extreme situation arises that puts your lives in danger, I won't intervene."

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, his tone growing more serious. As he spoke, he made a point of looking at Jiraiya.

"Bandits are nothing! I'll take care of them all in no time!"

Jiraiya immediately straightened up and answered confidently.

"Anyone can talk big."

Tsunade shot him a look and snorted in exasperation.

"Sensei, how strong are these bandits? Could there be any ninja among them?"

Orochimaru closed the scroll, handed it back to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and asked.

"The information says most of them are ordinary bandits, but their leader may have some martial skill. As for whether there are any ninja among them... we don't know yet.

That's part of what you'll need to investigate and determine.

Remember, every mission has unexpected variables. Underestimating your enemy is a cardinal sin for a ninja."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke earnestly.

"Don't worry, Sensei!

With Lord Jiraiya here, no enemy will be a problem!"

Jiraiya thumped his chest, interrupting once again.

"Jiraiya, you said you'd take them all out. Are you prepared to take another person's life?"

Orochimaru gave Jiraiya an exasperated look. His calm words fell like a bucket of cold water.

The air seemed to freeze for a moment...

"Of... of course! The day I put on my Headband and became a ninja, I accepted that I might have to do this!"

Hearing that, Jiraiya dropped his usual carefree attitude and answered seriously.

His parents had died protecting the village. If he had chosen this path, then of course he was prepared for this.

Tsunade watched Jiraiya with some surprise. She hadn't expected the guy to have this side to him.

Orochimaru nodded and said nothing more.

Some things could only be truly understood after experiencing them firsthand.

Talking about resolve was meaningless.

"All right, let's go."

At last, Hiruzen Sarutobi extinguished his pipe and spoke.

The four of them promptly left Konoha and raced toward the mission site.

Two days later, in the evening.

The four stopped on a secluded hillside. Not far ahead, a crude stockade built against the mountainside came into view.

The stockade was made of thick logs and looked rather rough.

Several figures could be seen moving along the palisade. They were probably bandits standing guard.

Thin streams of smoke rose from inside the stockade, and they could faintly hear the rowdy voices and crude laughter and curses.

"The rest is up to you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said quietly, then stepped back and leaned against a large tree, as if he were settling in to watch a show.

"Heh-heh, leave it to me!"

Jiraiya rubbed his hands together and whispered excitedly.

As he spoke, he started to get up, ready to charge straight into the stockade.

"Wham!"

Tsunade saw him and punched him away without hesitation, cursing:

"Idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed? We know nothing about what's inside. What if there are traps or an ambush?"

"Tsunade's right. Charging in without thinking is the stupidest thing you could do.

Don't forget how badly you got caught out during the bell test..."

Orochimaru shook his head and added.

"Fine, fine, I'll listen to you.

So what do we do?"

Tsunade's punch had left Jiraiya gritting his teeth in pain. After hearing Orochimaru's words, he was still reluctant, but he knew they had a point, so he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

"A ninja's battle is a battle of information!

First, we need to observe and find out how many of them there are, what weapons and equipment they have, and how their defenses are arranged.

Most importantly, we need to determine whether there are enemies who are skilled in ninjutsu or particularly powerful."

Orochimaru answered. A ninja's battle was a battle of information.

It was like Kakashi's fight against Zabuza, or the battles against Kakuzu, Hidan, and Pain.

Having information and having none at all made for two completely different situations. That showed just how important information was.

Tsunade nodded in agreement. Orochimaru was right.

The three of them leaped into the trees and silently hid among the branches, watching the bandit camp below.

A short while later, they had a general idea of the stockade's situation:

There were four guards on the palisade, and they seemed somewhat lax. About a dozen bandits were moving around inside. Most were dressed in rags and carried crude swords. They looked more like a disorganized rabble.

There was a slightly larger wooden hut in the middle of the stockade, with two guards at the entrance. It might be the leader's quarters.

"The numbers are about what the report said. The defenses are lax, and most of them are ordinary people.

But we can't let our guard down.

I'll infiltrate the stockade, take out the guards on the perimeter, and investigate what's inside.

Wait here and act as the situation demands. Keep me updated on the enemy's movements, too.

If I'm discovered, create a diversion and draw their attention."

Orochimaru quietly analyzed the situation. Then he took a headset and a wireless radio from his bag and handed them to Tsunade.

"Okay."

Tsunade's eyes lit up when she saw them. She nodded and put on the microphone.

She hadn't expected Orochimaru to come so well prepared...

Jiraiya pointed at himself, his expression clearly asking, "What about me?"

"As for Jiraiya... just act as the situation demands..."

Orochimaru's mouth twitched as he gave him an offhand assignment.

Then Orochimaru's figure melted into the shadows like a ghost.

He didn't climb straight over the palisade. Instead, he circled around to a relatively secluded spot behind the stockade.

With the help of the parkour techniques passed down by the Assassins in Assassin's Creed, along with this world's Chakra, Orochimaru quickly climbed up the outer wall of the stockade.

A lone guard yawned as he leaned against the battlement, completely unaware that death was upon him.

Orochimaru slipped over the wall like a cat and dropped down behind him. His Hidden Blade shot out, striking a vital spot with pinpoint accuracy.

There was no scream, only a muffled groan. The guard fell silent.

Orochimaru quickly dragged the body into the shadows and hid it. The whole process was clean and efficient, without a single unnecessary movement.

"Phew..."

Orochimaru took a deep breath. Perhaps because of the memories of those legendary Assassins, he didn't feel uncomfortable at all after killing someone for the first time.

He didn't dwell on it. Keeping to the shadows, he moved on toward his next target.

From a tree in the distance, Hiruzen Sarutobi watched everything unfold, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

His infiltration and assassination techniques were incredibly polished, nothing like those of a Genin on his first C-rank mission.

And that weapon hidden in his sleeve—Hiruzen had never seen anything like it. Had the boy designed it himself?

In the trees, Jiraiya watched Orochimaru take out a second and then a third guard as easily as chopping vegetables. He couldn't help feeling a little put out.

That guy was stealing all the glory!

"Hey, Tsunade, let's go down and help!"

Jiraiya whispered. Without waiting for Tsunade to answer, he leaped from the tree.

"Idiot!"

Tsunade muttered under her breath. Seeing how conspicuous Jiraiya's landing was, she shook her head helplessly, but quickly followed him anyway.

She didn't trust that impulsive guy to act alone.

The moment Jiraiya landed, before he could even slip into the shadows, a bandit on patrol nearby spotted him.

"Who's there?!"

The bandit shouted, raising the long knife in his hand.

"I've been spotted? Then I'll take you out first!"

Jiraiya reacted quickly, immediately taking a fighting stance and preparing to strike first.

But just as he was about to charge, the ground beneath his feet suddenly rippled without warning. Then, with several muffled pops, sharp earthen spikes burst out of the ground, stabbing toward his feet and lower legs!

"Earth Style?!"

Jiraiya was startled and instantly realized that his opponent was a ninja!

He hurriedly leaped backward, narrowly dodging the spikes, but his position was now fully exposed to the sight of even more bandits.

"Intruders! Ninja have broken in!"

The bandit's shout and the clang of a gong instantly rang throughout the stockade.

"What an irredeemable idiot!"

Tsunade landed beside Jiraiya. Seeing the bandits quickly closing in and sensing the hidden threat, her expression turned grave as she prepared to fight.

In the shadows at the corner of the stockade, Orochimaru heard the commotion and stopped his assassinations, his eyes narrowing.

Tsunade had told him over the radio what had happened. Their opponent actually had a ninja who could use Earth Style.

He didn't show himself right away. He decided to observe the situation first.

A dozen or so bandits swarmed over, surrounding Jiraiya and Tsunade.

"Heh-heh, two little brats from Konoha?

You've got some nerve, breaking into our stockade!"

The leader was a burly, bald man with a face full of flesh. He looked at the two of them with a nasty grin.

"Hmph! A bunch of bandits, and you dare act so cocky!

Prepare to witness the awesome ninjutsu I just learned! Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

Jiraiya forced himself to stay calm and rapidly formed Hand Seals.

He took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully!

But... instead of the raging fire dragon he'd imagined, only a tiny, weak flame appeared. It flickered like a candle in the wind for a few moments, then went out with a puff.

The air fell silent.

"Pfft, hahahaha...

That's all you've got? A fire dragon? More like a little bug spitting a flame!"

After a brief silence, the bandits burst into deafening laughter.

Jiraiya's face flushed bright red. He wanted nothing more than for the ground to swallow him up.

Damn it! It hadn't been like this when he practiced!

As the bandits roared with laughter and focused their attention on Jiraiya, Tsunade's sharp gaze swept over the crowd and quickly settled on someone standing behind them.

The man had a prominent scar on his face. On his arm, she could make out a Headband with its symbol scratched out. He was a rogue ninja.

There was a good chance he was the one who'd used Earth Style earlier!

"Found you!"

Tsunade cried, driving off the ground with a burst of force and shooting forward like a cannonball!

"Damn! Stop her!"

The bald man panicked and hurriedly gave the order.

Two nearby bandits swung their hatchets at her, trying to stop her.

But Tsunade was incredibly fast. She didn't even dodge the enemies in her path—she simply threw a punch!

Using the Senju Clan's secret taijutsu, she unleashed her Chakra in an instant. Her fist, imbued with the Strength of a Hundred, whooshed through the air and struck the two bandits squarely in the chest.

"Thud! Thud!"

Two heavy blows rang out along with the sound of breaking bones. The bandits flew backward like kites with their strings cut, spitting blood as they were instantly put out of commission.

Tsunade didn't pause for a moment. In the blink of an eye, she was in front of the scar-faced man, her fist packed with terrifying force striking straight at his chest!

"Bang!"

The scar-faced man didn't even have time to react. The punch bent him double and sent him flying backward. He slammed into the wall, slid to the ground, and lay there, his life or death unknown.

That was too easy...

A trace of surprise flashed through Tsunade's mind.

The scar-faced man hadn't even used the Substitution Technique or put up any decent defense.

Just as she was wondering about it, things suddenly took a turn!

One of the bandits she'd knocked down with her punch earlier—a thin, unremarkable man who had been lying on the ground as if unconscious—suddenly flashed a sharp glint in his eyes. He lunged forward and grabbed Tsunade by the ankle!

"Heh... Who told you that anyone wearing a rogue ninja's Headband had to be a ninja?"

The thin man's lips curled into a strange smile. A blinding blue spark of electricity erupted from his palm!

"Zzzzt—!"

"Lightning Style!"

Tsunade's pupils contracted. A powerful electric current raced through her body, and the intense numbness made her stiffen. She instantly lost control of her muscles and nearly fell to the ground.

"Tsunade!"

Jiraiya was shocked. He hurried forward to help her.

"Get lost, brat!"

Without even looking at Jiraiya, the thin man swung an elbow backward and smashed it into Jiraiya's abdomen.

Jiraiya felt an immense force slam into him, as though his internal organs had been knocked out of place. He grunted and was sent flying, crashing to the ground. For a moment, he couldn't even get back up.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. So these are Konoha's Genin? They're getting worse and worse. They can't even see through this little disguise."

The thin man stood up and dusted himself off. He sneered at Tsunade, who couldn't move, and Jiraiya, who was struggling to rise.

"Is that so?"

Just as the thin man was gloating, a cold voice came abruptly from the ground beneath his feet.

"What?!"

The thin man's heart jumped. He looked down.

The ground suddenly caved in. A pair of arms shot out and clamped around his ankles like iron pincers, yanking him downward!

"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"

The thin man was caught off guard. His balance vanished, and he was dragged underground. A blade then pierced upward beneath his chin.

Only his head remained aboveground. His face was filled with shock and disbelief, but he was already dead.

These guys really had a lot of tricks up their sleeves...

Orochimaru climbed out of the ground and wiped the blood from his Hidden Blade, unable to help reflecting on it.

Even an ordinary bandit had thought to use a substitute...

"Are you all right?"

Orochimaru turned to Tsunade, who was shakily getting to her feet, and asked.

"I'm fine! Damn it, I let my guard down!"

Tsunade rubbed her still-numb shoulder and spat, looking annoyed.

"Let's finish off the rest first."

Orochimaru nodded and looked toward the bandits, who had been stunned by the sudden turn of events.

With their two ninja leaders gone, the remaining bandits immediately fell into disarray, their morale plummeting.

They were no match for Orochimaru and Tsunade.

A short while later, the battle was over. Apart from the three of them, not a single bandit was left standing in the stronghold.

The air was thick with the smell of blood. The setting sun's fading light fell across the bloodstained ground, illuminating the devastation.

Jiraiya stood to one side, looking at the bodies strewn across the ground, then at Orochimaru and Tsunade, whose clothes were spattered with their enemies' blood. His face burned with shame.

He hadn't helped with the mission at all. Worse, he'd nearly gotten Tsunade hurt. In the end, it had taken Orochimaru to turn things around...

Looking at Orochimaru's back, Jiraiya clenched his fists, unwilling to accept it.

Just then, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly appeared. His gaze swept across the battlefield before settling on the three of them.

"The mission is complete."

"I saw how you all performed."

"Jiraiya, you have courage, but impulsiveness is a great taboo for a ninja.

Information and strategy matter just as much. I'm sure this mission taught you that."

He looked at Jiraiya first, his tone turning more stern.

Jiraiya glanced at Orochimaru beside him and nodded firmly. He really had learned his lesson.

"Tsunade, your strength is formidable, but not every enemy is as simple as they seem.

Sometimes, the deadliest threat is hidden beneath the weakest-looking disguise."

Hiruzen Sarutobi turned to Tsunade.

Tsunade clenched her fists, acknowledging her mistake.

Finally, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Orochimaru, his eyes filled with approval.

"Orochimaru, you're calm and know how to make good use of information and your surroundings.

Your quick thinking and methods were what turned this mission from a disaster into a success."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the three of them once more.

"Overall, you all did well for your first mission of this kind."

"To celebrate your successful completion of your first C-rank mission, I've decided to teach you a new ninjutsu..."