Bandit extermination
Over the next few days, the atmosphere in Team 7 changed noticeably.
With Naruto insisting, "We need tougher missions! That's what being a real ninja is all about!"
And Sasuke agreeing, "D-rank missions are nothing but a waste of time,"
Their temporary supervising jonin, Uchiha Itachi, assessed their abilities.
After considering Naruto and Sasuke's combat skills, which surpassed genin level, and Sakura's adequate theoretical foundation, he agreed to take on several C-rank bandit extermination missions.
Their objective was to eliminate several bandit gangs that harassed trade routes and endangered civilians.
For Uchiha Itachi, who had faced life and death and witnessed true darkness, this was child's play.
He offered crucial instructions at just the right moments, allowing the three genin to coordinate far better than usual.
But the problem lay in how they carried out the missions.
When facing the bandits, Naruto and Sakura instinctively chose to subdue them and knock them unconscious.
Although Naruto always shouted about becoming Hokage and defeating every bad guy, when the moment came to take a life, he hesitated.
Sakura was even more reluctant. She had an instinctive reverence for life, even when it belonged to a villain.
Sasuke, however, was completely different.
He fought with a deliberately cultivated ruthlessness.
His kunai sliced through throats, and his Fire Release: Great Fireball swallowed those who stubbornly resisted.
His face showed little expression, and his gaze remained calm. Only when the mission was complete and he sheathed his blade did the faintest curve cross his lips.
He was not bloodthirsty. He simply... felt that this was how things should be.
Years ago, in the Land of Fire Capital, Uchiha Itachi had followed Genya's instructions.
He had struck with overwhelming force, sparing neither the elderly nor the weak, women nor children, sending a shock through