First Time (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

A light drizzle began to fall from the sky.

Inside a dilapidated house, Genma peered through a window, locking his gaze onto 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, "Perhaps they don't think we're a match for them?"

"After all, under normal circumstances, missions like this are usually taken by Chunin squads."

Shizune followed this line of thought: "So, are these guys planning to ambush us?"

"Could what Genma sensed be clones?"

Genma replied, "That is indeed a possibility."

"However, I didn't sense any other ninjas in the vicinity."

"Is it possible the real bodies fled, leaving clones behind as a trap?"

Genma thought for a moment: "Hmm, we should be more cautious."

"After all, that guy is a samurai; if he doesn't maintain his chakra, he's no different from an ordinary person."

"Should I use clones to scout ahead?"

With that, Genma looked toward their teacher, Hatake Sakumo.

Hatake Sakumo nodded: "Proceed. Follow the plan you've discussed!"

Genma nodded and immediately created two clones, using the Transformation Technique to turn them into a stray cat and a small bird before they darted out the window.

Yamashiro Aoba said, "It's not far from here; I'll keep an eye on those six guys."

The bird darted through the air, skimming over rows of houses, its gaze sweeping over the occasional hurried passerby.

The stray cat navigated through the alleys, slipping into one abandoned house after another.

Meanwhile, hidden in the grass amidst a patch of ruins, Igata Kaito lay in wait, his eyes fixed on the stronghold where the clones were located, letting the drizzle soak him through.

A moment later, a stray cat walked past not far from where he was hiding.

Igata Kaito merely glanced at it and paid it no further mind.

A while later, a small bird flew overhead, looking down at the person hidden in the dense grass.

Receiving the memory feedback from his clones, Genma smiled: "What a cunning guy. It's very likely that the ones inside the stronghold are just clones."

"The target is hiding somewhere else, though I haven't found anyone else."

Shizune gasped softly: "Did this guy use his own companions as bait?"

Yamashiro Aoba said, "That seems to be the case. He's a very cruel man."

Hatake Sakumo was satisfied with the trio's performance and spoke up: "Therefore, never underestimate your opponent at any time."

"Now, let's begin the operation."

"Genma, use your clones to disguise yourselves as us and lure those people away from the stronghold."

"Our target is Igata Kaito. Unless necessary, do not engage the others in combat."

Genma nodded: "Understood!"

He created Shadow Clone, three of which used the Transformation Technique, and then they filed out, heading straight for the enemy stronghold.

As for the real bodies, they naturally took Hatake Sakumo and the others to find the real Igata Kaito.

A moment later.

Hidden in the grass, Igata Kaito's eyes narrowed as he saw two figures appear on the house next to the stronghold. He licked his lips in excitement: "They fell for it, just as expected!"

But the next moment, a soft chuckle reached his ears.

"Too bad, we didn't fall for it!"

Genma appeared right in front of Igata Kaito.

Igata Kaito's body stiffened instantly, and as he turned his head, he realized he had already been surrounded.

"Heh, as expected of Konoha ninjas!"

Igata Kaito stood up with a laugh, looking completely unperturbed: "To think it's just three brats."

It wasn't as if there was no chance of escape.

Igata Kaito glanced at Hatake Sakumo, calculating his odds in secret.

Genma stared at Igata Kaito, seeing through his intentions at a glance: "Igata Kaito, surrender now!"

"Little brat, you haven't even grown your hair out yet, have you?"

Igata Kaito let out a strange laugh, his right hand moving as he prepared to detonate the explosive tags at the stronghold to create a distraction.

However, the moment his hand moved, he realized he couldn't move his body even an inch.

"Damn it, I can't move!"

Igata Kaito's eyes finally revealed a look of terror: "This brat... did I fall for his genjutsu?"

How could a mere brat be this powerful?

He hadn't even seen him perform any hand seals!

Just then, movement came from the direction of the stronghold, and several figures shot out from within, racing off toward the west.

Hatake Sakumo glanced over and immediately said, "Knock him out and take him with us. We'll talk once we've moved to a different location."

Genma stepped forward immediately, knocked the man unconscious, and hoisted him up.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

The group utilized the Body Flicker Technique and vanished into the air.

Outside the town, inside a cave.

Igata Kaito woke up with dark circles under his eyes. After glancing at Genma and the others and realizing that escape was impossible, he began to laugh recklessly: "Shouldn't you have just killed me outright?"

"Could it be that you're planning to take me back to the Land of Fire Daimyo Estate?"

"Hahaha, how laughable. Powerful ninjas like you are actually taking orders from those idiots at the Daimyo Estate."

"So-called 'Lord Ninjas' are nothing but a bunch of fools!"

Hatake Sakumo remained expressionless, while Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba couldn't help but frown as they listened.

Genma smiled: "You're a ninja too, aren't you?"

Igata Kaito immediately retorted, his voice tinged with a hint of pride: "I am not a ninja; I am a samurai!"

Genma nodded: "A samurai, a force controlled and driven by the daimyo and the nobility."

"So, by your own logic, what do you have to be proud of?"

Igata Kaito was instantly provoked and roared: "What I'm proud of isn't my status, but my character, my spirit! You know nothing, you brat, you bastard!"

Yamashiro Aoba said: "You slaughtered your superior's entire family, not even sparing the children. That is hardly a good character."

Igata Kaito roared with bloodshot eyes: "Because they deserved to die!"

"My family had been loyal to him for generations, but for the sake of an outsider ninja, he actually ordered my wife to serve him."

"So, I killed that ninja, and then I slaughtered them all."

"Not just them, but you too—Konoha ninjas, all ninjas deserve to die!"

Watching the crazed Igata Kaito, Genma finally understood why those earlier inconsistencies existed.

This man was hostile toward the entire ninja community and also despised the noble rule of the Land of Fire.

And in his quest for revenge, he had become the very thing he hated and despised.

He was a pathetic man.

However, Genma had no intention of letting him go.

Yamashiro Aoba and Shizune, however, fell silent, looking at Hatake Sakumo with a sense of uncertainty.

Hatake Sakumo hadn't known these details either, as the Daimyo Estate wouldn't include such internal matters in the mission briefing.

"Genma, take him outside and finish him off. Store the body in a Sealing Scroll."

Hatake Sakumo produced a small scroll.

Genma took it, knocked Igata Kaito unconscious again, and dragged him out of the cave.

This was his first time killing.

Yet, he felt no resistance whatsoever.

This was the Naruto World.

Of course, Genma intended to make his first time quick and clean.

And so, while Igata Kaito remained unconscious, Genma used a Chakra Scalpel to sever his myocardium.

Soon, Igata Kaito's heart stopped beating, his breathing ceased, and brain death followed.

Genma opened the Sealing Scroll, placed it over the corpse, and performed the hand seals.

Poof!

The body vanished, sealed away inside the scroll.

This was the proof of mission completion.

Of course, a head would have sufficed, but Genma didn't want to make things too bloody.