Exterminate Mountain Bandits

The Ying Yue squad finally arrived at the village that was their mission objective.

Hatake Sakumo led Uchiha Ying Yue, Yamanaka Chinatsu, and Hyuga Ayane to lurk in a dense forest on the outskirts of the village, observing the situation inside from a high vantage point.

Dozens of bandits were scattered throughout the village. They were dressed in rags and armed with various weapons; while they did not appear particularly strong, their sheer numbers and wild, violent demeanor were striking.

Sakumo frowned slightly. After observing for a while, he confirmed that these bandits lacked any chakra presence and were mostly common thugs. He decided to take this opportunity to train the Ying Yue squad's combat capabilities by letting them handle the bandits on their own.

"Ying Yue, these bandits aren't particularly strong, but there are many of them," Sakumo said softly to Ying Yue. "I have decided not to intervene. You three will resolve this yourselves. Plan your tactics well and show me your teamwork."

Uchiha Ying Yue nodded in understanding. Though he felt a bit nervous, he was mostly filled with anticipation. This was his squad's first real combat mission, and it was the first time Ying Yue would face true enemies—bandits who not only raided villages but also cruelly abused the villagers, committing heinous crimes.

With Sakumo's tacit approval, Ying Yue quickly formulated a plan.

Uchiha Ying Yue considered that because of the bandits' large numbers, a direct frontal assault might put his teammates in danger, so he decided to adopt a strategy of scattering the enemy.

"Chinatsu, use your Mind Body Switch Technique to control the bandits on the perimeter first. Try to make them attack each other to create chaos," Ying Yue instructed. "Ayane, use your Byakugan to observe the surroundings, find the best attack routes, and protect Chinatsu."

Chinatsu and Ayane nodded in agreement. They understood that Ying Yue's tactics were designed to minimize risk while gradually weakening the enemy's strength.

"I will launch a surprise attack from above, using Fire Release to strike the core of the enemy, then quickly enter the battlefield to clear out the rest using taijutsu and Wood Release," Ying Yue continued, a cold intent to kill flashing in his eyes.

Once the plan was set, the Ying Yue squad split up. Chinatsu lurked on the outer edge, preparing to use the Mind Body Switch Technique, while Ayane used her Byakugan to scout the enemy's movements.

Uchiha Ying Yue chose a high position, preparing to launch the first lethal strike.

As Chinatsu's Mind Body Switch Technique successfully took control of several bandits, chaotic fighting suddenly erupted within the group. Taking advantage of the bandits' panic, Ying Yue acted decisively.

Ying Yue quickly formed hand seals and unleashed a powerful Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique toward the core of the bandit group. The scorching flames instantly engulfed several bandits, followed by their shrill screams.

Immediately after, Ying Yue used the Wood Release: Wood Clone technique to create multiple clones, launching attacks on the bandits from different directions.

However, when Ying Yue first plunged his kunai into a bandit's chest and felt the cold, jarring recoil, his heart trembled violently. Blood splattered onto his face, and the bandit let out a final, wretched scream. Ying Yue's arm shook slightly from the intense impact.

This was the first time Ying Yue had killed someone with his own hands.

Although Ying Yue knew these bandits were wicked and deserved to die, as a soul who had transmigrated from a peaceful era, such slaughter still dealt a massive moral blow to him.

A complex mix of emotions surged within him, and he felt a wave of nausea and dizziness, but he immediately forced himself to calm down.

Ying Yue knew that in the ninja world, this was an unavoidable reality; he had to adapt and overcome this psychological barrier as quickly as possible.

This is for the villagers... and for my teammates, Ying Yue whispered to himself, constantly adjusting his emotions.

Just as Ying Yue forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, he felt a sharp pain in his Sharingan. His vision seemed to blur with countless images, and he felt his ocular power fluctuate violently. His Two-Tomoe Sharingan, which had been nearing its limit, finally broke through at this moment, evolving into a Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

With the awakening of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Ying Yue's vision, reaction speed, and dynamic perception instantly rose to a new level. The bandits' movements became exceptionally slow and clear in his eyes; he could accurately predict every enemy's move and make the optimal response.

Ying Yue gripped his kunai tighter and threw himself back into the fray. His movements became swifter and more precise, as if he had unlocked an extraordinary combat instinct, with every strike hitting the enemy's vitals.

At this moment, his ability as the "Ninja World Dance King" was pushed to the limit. Ying Yue moved like a black bolt of lightning, weaving through the bandit group, and wherever he passed, bandits fell.

Meanwhile, Ayane and Chinatsu provided seamless support.

Ayane used her Byakugan to accurately guide Ying Yue, helping him avoid potential traps and ambushes, while Chinatsu used the Mind Body Switch Technique to disrupt and weaken the enemy's combat power.

In the end, with the help of his teammates, Ying Yue successfully wiped out all the bandits.

On the bloody battlefield, the corpses of the bandits lay scattered, and the air was thick with the heavy scent of blood.

After the battle, Uchiha Ying Yue and his teammates quickly rescued the trapped villagers. The villagers had been imprisoned by the bandits for a long time; they were all in rags and looked haggard.

When they saw the Ying Yue squad appear, their eyes were filled with gratitude and hope.

"Thank you, ninjas of Konoha!" an elderly villager said excitedly. "You saved our entire village!"

Uchiha Ying Yue smiled slightly and nodded, but his heart was still replaying the battle. Although he had successfully wiped out all the bandits and protected the villagers, he felt a heaviness he had never experienced before.

This was the first time Ying Yue had truly faced the cruel reality of the ninja world—slaughter and bloodshed.

Although Ying Yue understood that this was the norm in the world of ninjas, he still needed time to adapt and adjust his mindset.

On the way back, Hatake Sakumo noticed the emotional fluctuations in Ying Yue.

He walked to Ying Yue's side and said softly, "Ying Yue, today was your first time facing slaughter. It's a difficult feeling, isn't it?"

Ying Yue nodded, his eyes revealing a complex look. "Yes, Sakumo-sensei... I know these bandits deserved it, but when I ended their lives with my own hands, I still felt an indescribable shock."

Sakumo patted Ying Yue on the shoulder, his tone filled with understanding. "This is the ninja world. Every ninja has similar feelings when they first face killing, but that doesn't mean you have lost your humanity. On the contrary, it proves that you still possess precious kindness. The important thing is to learn how to find balance in this process."

Uchiha Ying Yue took a deep breath and nodded in understanding.

As a ninja, Ying Yue had to learn how to survive in this cruel world while maintaining his inner kindness and sense of justice.

"I understand, Sakumo-sensei." Ying Yue's gaze gradually grew firm.