Servant: Kagerou Fuma

He lowered his Horizontal Blade slightly and released the genjutsu.

Arata accepted the other party's offer.

But the moment light returned, a gust of wind struck from behind him.

"Die!"

A vicious roar rolled through the forest path.

Kirikiri was furious.

When had he ever been toyed with like this?

And by a brat who hadn't even come of age, no less!

If word of this got out, how could they continue living in the Land of Fields?

Let alone restore their family's glory and bring the Fuma Clan's name out of the darkness and into the light!

"Kirikiri, stop!"

Kagerou's eyes were filled with alarm. He wanted to stop him, but it was already too late.

What on earth was going through that foolish clansman's head? If their opponent dared stand in the middle of their formation and casually release the genjutsu, there could only be one reason:

Absolute confidence in his own strength!

Don't assume you can do whatever you want just because he's a child!

A ninja's strength isn't measured by age!!

The enormous paper cutter sliced through the air, and the figure in its path shattered.

The madness and bloodlust in Kirikiri's eyes vanished in an instant, replaced by fear!

"Another Shadow Clone?"

"How is that possible!"

But before he could think any further, his right arm—the one holding the giant shears—strangely appeared in his field of vision.

He hadn't made another move. How could this be?

At that moment, the pain arrived a beat late, carried along his nerves. The agony of his body being torn apart filled his entire mind in an instant.

"Ah!"

"My hand, my hand!!"

A shrill scream rang out along the forest path.

But there was not a trace of sympathy in Arata's eyes. He raised his bloodied Horizontal Blade again, intending to finish his opponent off.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Please spare him! I failed to keep my companion in check. Please, leave him alive!"

The ugly Kagerou stepped in front of Kirikiri.

Although he had just been cursing the other man as an idiot who couldn't read the situation, he still couldn't bring himself to watch his companion die.

Blood slid slowly down the blade and splattered on the ground.

"There won't be a next time,"

Arata said coldly.

"Yes, yes."

Kagerou hurriedly answered in a low voice.

But when he looked around, his eyes filled with grief.

They had arrived with dozens of clansmen, yet several had died in a single clash. Even Kirikiri's dominant arm had been severed. For the already declining Fuma Clan, the loss was a heavy blow.

But who could they blame?

They could only blame their own lack of strength. Seeing a ninja escorting a merchant caravan alone, they had instinctively assumed he would be easy prey.

Besides, that was simply how the Ninja World worked.

The strong preyed on the weak, and only the fittest survived.

After composing himself, Kagerou directed the remaining clansmen to clean up the battlefield. Arata, meanwhile, paid no attention to the others. He returned straight to the caravan and began meditating to recover his chakra.

The lands beyond Konoha really were more chaotic than he had imagined.

At almost every village they passed, there seemed to be some trouble—crooked inns, bandits, or robbers.

This was the first time Arata had encountered ninjas from another faction, but their strength was disappointing. They didn't seem much stronger than Konoha's Genin.

Their ninjutsu had been somewhat interesting, but that was all.

Aside from the ugly man named Kagerou, not one of them had the decisiveness or judgment a ninja should have.

Tactics and teamwork were even further beyond them.

These men relied entirely on the ninjutsu they had learned and their numbers. Once their techniques were countered, they were lambs waiting to be slaughtered, with no chance of turning things around.

However, after Kagerou offered to follow him, a stage mission had been triggered:

[Stage Mission: Recruit a Servant]

Mission Description: As you travel through the Ninja World, no matter how strong an individual may be, there will be times when two fists can't overcome four hands. Gathering companions and working together will help you handle all kinds of situations.

Completion Condition: Gain the loyalty of a ninja.

Mission Reward: 1 ninjutsu matching the servant's chakra nature

Mission Status: Completed

[Random Earth Release Ninjutsu being selected]

[Obtained: Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall]

[Earth-Style Wall]: Create one or more earthen walls to protect yourself and your companions. It can also be used as a simple barrier to trap enemies.

P.S.: (If you don't have much chakra, don't waste it carving fancy decorations; highly effective against Water Release Ninjutsu.)

It was a defensive ninjutsu, not particularly compatible with his offensive style.

"Arata, it's getting late. How about we stay at an inn on this street for the night?"

As he pondered, Kujo Sho's voice reached his ears.

By now, he had been thoroughly won over by the young ninja, who was only eight years old. The men who had blocked their way were none other than the Fuma Clan, an established power in the Land of Fields!

Although they had fallen into decline, they weren't pushovers. They even controlled a relatively busy inn street.

And yet this young boy had defeated them with ease.

He was beginning to think he had offered too little for the commission.

Of course, whether a conventional Chunin squad would have even been attacked was another matter.

"Fine,"

Arata Uchiha replied softly.

He had no particular preferences or demands regarding food, lodging, or travel. He was happy to follow the Kujo Merchant Group's arrangements.

As they entered the inn street, the atmosphere around them changed abruptly. Passersby stopped in their tracks, their eyes filled with ill intent, as if they had spotted a fat lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

But when those scheming to make a move glanced farther back, their faces stiffened. They hurried off the street, and some shopkeepers even shut their doors and closed up early.

Look at the Fuma Clan's battered survivors. Was this really a lamb they could swallow? It was clearly a wolf in sheep's clothing!

Kagerou arranged their lodgings after they entered the inn street.

As expected, he was the strongest among the Fuma Clan's remaining members and was also fulfilling the duties of acting clan head.

"Lord Arata, may I come in?"

The ugly man standing outside the courtyard gently knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Arata put away the Horizontal Blade he had been swinging.

Even while on a mission, he hadn't forgotten his daily training. Every minute and every second was precious to him.

Besides, his endless blade practice was about to earn him the Thousand Days of Training achievement. The Intermediate Constitution Pill he would receive then was one of the things he coveted.

As Kagerou pushed the door open, he immediately saw the boy who had just stopped training. His sharp eyes were as cold as blades, and his lean upper body had not an ounce of excess fat. The sweat pouring off him had already soaked the ground.

"Sorry for interrupting your training."

The startled Kagerou Fuma hurriedly dropped to one knee, his shock only growing.

There was a reason his opponent was so strong!

Of all the ninjas who had passed through here, had any of them continued training while on a mission?

Not one!

The moment they arrived, they would look for good food or go do something else entertaining to relax.

"Is something the matter?"

Arata asked.

The distance in his voice was like a mountain and a sea between them.

His reasons for accepting the other man's plea were simple:

First, he wasn't fond of killing. As for the bandits and crooked inn thugs whose hands were stained with blood, they had been asking for it—and they couldn't even take a hit. Who else could they blame?

Second, of course, was to complete the mission.

As for the other man's strength, Arata wasn't impressed.

With his brother Shisui towering over him like a mountain, his standards had become rather high.

"Please forgive the Fuma Clan for our disrespectful behavior, Lord Arata. We were driven to it by circumstances beyond our control."

Kagerou lowered his head as he explained.

It turned out that the Fuma Clan had declined—and become a band of robbers occupying this area—because of the Daimyo of the Land of Fields.

That ruler, despite his lack of ability, still dreamed of expanding his territory.

Their defeat in the war had led directly to the country's decline. The ninja clans that had gone to battle alongside him never recovered. Without powerful fighters, resources to cultivate strong warriors, or missions they could accept, they had been forced into banditry just to survive.

"I see. Is there anything else?"

Arata nodded slightly to show he understood.

He wasn't particularly interested in the history of other ninja clans.

What interested him was the few clans still remaining in the Land of Fields and what special abilities they possessed.

"There is. I want to follow you, Lord Arata. Please allow me to."

Kagerou Fuma raised his eyes, his gaze filled with unyielding resolve.