A fine drizzle began to fall.
Inside an abandoned house, Genma peered through the window and fixed his gaze on a building. "That's the place. There are six people in total."
"They knew we were coming, yet they didn't run?"
Yamashiro Aoba analyzed the situation. "Maybe they think we're no match for them?"
"Normally, a mission like this would be assigned to a Chunin squad."
Shizune followed that line of thought. "So those people are planning to ambush us?"
"Could the ones Genma sensed be clones?"
"That's certainly possible," Genma said.
"But I didn't sense any other ninja nearby."
"Maybe the real one escaped and left a clone behind as bait?"
Genma thought it over. "Hmm, we should be more cautious."
"After all, that guy's a samurai. If he isn't maintaining his chakra, he's no different from an ordinary person."
"Should I send a clone to scout ahead?"
As he spoke, Genma looked toward his teacher, Hatake Sakumo.
Hatake Sakumo nodded. "Go ahead. Do as you discussed."
Genma nodded and immediately created two clones. Using the Transformation Technique, they turned into a stray cat and a small bird, then darted out through the window.
"This place isn't too far away," Yamashiro Aoba said. "I'll keep watch on those six."
The bird flew through the air, skimming past one house after another and scanning the occasional passerby hurrying along.
The stray cat wandered through the streets and alleys, slipping into one abandoned house after another.
Meanwhile, among the weeds in the ruins of a cluster of houses, Igata Kaito was hiding, his eyes fixed on the hideout where the clones were. He let the drizzle soak him.
A moment later, a stray cat walked by not far in front of him.
Igata Kaito glanced at it and thought nothing of it.
A little while later, a small bird flew overhead. It looked down at the man hidden in the dense weeds.
After receiving his clones' memories, Genma smiled. "He really is a slippery one. The people in the hideout are very likely clones."
"The target is hiding somewhere else, but we haven't found anyone with him."
Shizune gasped softly. "He's using his own companions as bait?"
"That seems to be the case," Yamashiro Aoba said. "He's a truly vicious man."
Hatake Sakumo was pleased with how the three had handled things. "So never underestimate your opponent, no matter the circumstances."
"Now, let's get moving."
"Genma, use your clones to impersonate us and draw those people away from the hideout."
"Our target is Igata Kaito. Avoid fighting anyone else unless necessary."
"Understood!" Genma replied.
He created Shadow Clones, and three of them used the Transformation Technique. They then filed out and headed straight for the enemy hideout.
As for the real Genma, he led Hatake Sakumo and the others to find Igata Kaito's real body.
A moment later.
Igata Kaito's eyes narrowed as he spotted two figures on the roof beside the hideout. Excitedly, he licked his lips. "Just as I thought—they took the bait!"
But in the next instant, a soft laugh reached his ears.
"Too bad. We didn't take the bait!"
Genma appeared right in front of Igata Kaito.
Igata Kaito stiffened. Turning his head, he realized he was surrounded.
"Heh. As expected of Konoha Ninja!"
Igata Kaito laughed as he stood up. He didn't look nervous in the slightest. "And there are three little brats, too."
There was still a chance he could escape.
Igata Kaito glanced at Hatake Sakumo and silently weighed his options.
Genma stared at Igata Kaito and saw right through him. "Igata Kaito, surrender!"
"Kid, you haven't even grown all your hair yet, have you?"
Igata Kaito gave a sinister laugh. His right hand moved, intending to set off the Explosive Tags near the hideout and distract them.
But the moment his hand moved, he realized he couldn't move at all.
"Damn it, I can't move!"
Terror finally appeared in Igata Kaito's eyes. "That kid... did I fall under his genjutsu?"
How could a kid be this strong?
He hadn't even seen him form Hand Seals!
Just then, a commotion came from the hideout. Figures shot out one after another and raced west.
Hatake Sakumo glanced over, then said, "Knock him out and take him away. We'll deal with him somewhere else."
Genma immediately stepped forward, knocked Igata Kaito unconscious, and carried him.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~
The group used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished into the distance.
Outside the town, inside a cave.
Igata Kaito woke up with dark circles under his eyes. He looked at Genma and the others, realized there was no way he could escape, and laughed without restraint. "Shouldn't you just kill me?"
"Are you planning to take me back to the Daimyo Estate in the Land of Fire?"
"Hahahaha! How ridiculous. You're powerful ninja, yet you still have to take orders from those idiots at the Daimyo Estate."
"You so-called great ninja are nothing but a bunch of fools!"
Hatake Sakumo remained expressionless. Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba couldn't help frowning as they listened.
Genma smiled. "Aren't you a ninja now, too?"
Igata Kaito immediately retorted, his voice tinged with pride. "I'm not a ninja. I'm a samurai!"
Genma nodded. "Samurai: a force controlled and used by the daimyo and nobles."
"So, by your own logic, what exactly do you have to be proud of?"
Igata Kaito was provoked into a furious roar. "It's not my status I'm proud of, but my character, my spirit! You don't understand anything, you little brat. Damn you!"
"You killed your entire superior's family, without even sparing the children," Yamashiro Aoba said. "That's hardly a sign of good character."
Igata Kaito's eyes reddened as he snarled, "They deserved to die!"
"My family had served him loyally for generations, but for the sake of an outsider ninja, he ordered my wife to serve him."
"So I killed that ninja, then slaughtered the rest of them."
"And it's not just them. You Konoha Ninja, all ninja—you all deserve to die!"
Looking at Igata Kaito's frenzied state, Genma understood why the earlier details hadn't added up.
The man hated the entire ninja world, and he also opposed the rule of the Land of Fire's nobles.
Yet, in seeking revenge, he had become what he hated and despised.
He was a pitiable man.
But Genma had no intention of letting him go.
Yamashiro Aoba and Shizune fell silent, unsure what to do as they looked toward Hatake Sakumo.
Hatake Sakumo hadn't known any of this either. The Daimyo Estate wouldn't include such details in the mission briefing.
"Genma, take him outside and finish him. Store the body in the Sealing Scroll."
Hatake Sakumo took out a small scroll.
Genma took it, knocked Igata Kaito out again, then hauled him out of the cave.
This was his first time killing someone.
But he didn't feel the slightest reluctance.
This was the Naruto World.
Of course, Genma wanted to make his first kill quick and clean.
So, while Igata Kaito was unconscious, Genma used a Chakra Scalpel to cut through his heart muscle.
Soon, Igata Kaito's heart stopped beating, his breathing ceased, and then he became brain-dead.
Genma opened the Sealing Scroll and placed it on the body, then formed Hand Seals.
Poof!
The body vanished, sealed inside the scroll.
It was proof that the mission was complete.
Of course, a head would have been enough, but Genma didn't want to make things too bloody.
Before you continue