Dry branches and dead leaves creaked beneath his feet...
[Ding! Target distance: fifteen kilometers.]
The system's crisp notification flashed through his mind.
Sen rubbed his belly. It felt empty.
"The faster I run, the faster I get hungry. I'll find somewhere to light a fire later."
He muttered lazily around the grass root in his mouth.
Before long, the trees ahead began to thin out.
A dilapidated earthen outpost appeared in a clearing.
The place looked like a burial mound, with a huge hole in its roof.
A stream of curses came from outside the outpost.
"You should feel honored that I'm asking you for money!"
A bald rogue ninja with a scarred face spat on the ground.
The long sword in his hand swayed in the moonlight, gleaming coldly.
"Sir, we really don't have any money. Last month's pay hasn't even come through yet."
Two Konoha Chunin stationed at the border leaned against the earthen wall, their faces pale.
Their clothes were covered in patches, and even the kunai in their hands had begun to rust.
"No money? Then I'll trade your heads for the bounty!"
The bald rogue ninja grinned viciously and raised his sword to strike.
Several of his accomplices closed in with equally malicious looks.
"Well, look at you, drumming up business first thing in the morning."
Sen sauntered out of the bushes and slung his cloth bundle over his shoulder.
The sudden voice made everyone freeze.
"Who's there? Where did this brat come from? Mind your own business!"
The bald leader turned, fixing his lone eye on Sen.
"I'm just a Genin passing through. Doing a little landscaping while I'm at it."
With a shameless air, Sen pointed at the withered weeds beneath his feet.
"A Genin? You're asking to die! Kill him!"