Overwhelming victory

After Qianye Lan's Shadow Clone infiltrated the bandit stronghold, Hatake Sakumo also slipped inside to find the leader, who had the strength of a Chunin.

When Hatake Sakumo found the leader, he was drinking with his subordinates.

He silently disposed of several of the leader's men.

The bandit leader remained completely unaware.

He raised his cup and said, "Come on, drink!"

No one beside him answered. Embarrassment turned to anger. "Are you disrespecting me? Drink!"

As he ranted drunkenly, an icy voice rang out. "I'm afraid they can't drink anymore."

Hearing that voice laden with killing intent, the bandit leader shuddered, much of his drunkenness vanishing.

He turned stiffly to look behind him.

White hair, with a short blade strapped to his back.

His voice trembled with terror as he stammered, "W-White Fang of Konoha?"

Hatake Sakumo raised his index finger to his lips. "If you want to live, behave yourself."

The bandit leader hurriedly nodded and shut his mouth, though inwardly he wanted to cry.

He couldn't understand how his tiny backwater had attracted the attention of someone as important as the White Fang of Konoha.

Seeing how obedient the leader was, Hatake Sakumo patted his shoulder in satisfaction, pulled over a chair, and sat down.

After Hatake Sakumo had dealt with the greatest threat to Qianye Lan and the two girls,

Qianye Lan's Shadow Clone eliminated all the hidden sentries in the stronghold.

Then it dispelled itself.

After receiving his Shadow Clone's memories, Qianye Lan turned to the two girls and said, "The hidden sentries and traps have all been dealt with."

The three strolled leisurely to the stronghold's gates. Qianye Lan easily disposed of the two guards, and they entered without difficulty.

On their way, they happened upon a group of patrolling bandits, who understood everything the moment they saw the three's forehead protectors.

They charged at them, while one pulled out a signal flare and tried to set it off.

Qianye Lan reacted swiftly, throwing a shuriken that struck a vital spot before the man could launch the flare and bring more trouble.

He turned his attention to the charging bandits and was about to attack when an eager Kushina stopped him. "Let me."

With those words, she charged straight at them.

Qianye Lan was about to stop her, but then thought that with Kushina's strength, dealing with these few bandits would be easy.

So he stood to the side to back her up.

Seeing Kushina charge in alone, Uchiha Mikoto worried that she would be outnumbered and rushed in after her.

After easily disposing of two bandits, Uchiha Mikoto turned her attention to Kushina.

To her surprise, Kushina was initially hesitant when facing the bandits, afraid to use her full strength.

For a time, she actually found herself in one dangerous situation after another. Qianye Lan gripped his shuriken tightly, ready to intervene the moment Kushina was in danger.

Fortunately, once Kushina adjusted, she gradually gained the upper hand and finally struck the bandits' vital spots, finishing them off.

Only then did Qianye Lan breathe a sigh of relief, and they continued onward.

By then, Hatake Sakumo and the bandit leader had also heard the cries of battle outside.

Hearing the commotion, the bandit leader's expression shifted several times, his face flickering between different emotions.

He knew he probably wouldn't get out of this unscathed today. Hatake Sakumo's presence filled him with despair.

Hatake Sakumo merely sat there quietly, yet the pressure he exerted was so immense that the leader didn't dare move.

As his thoughts ran wild, the noise outside died down, and Hatake Sakumo's voice rang out. "Do you want to live?"

Of course he wanted to live. The bandit leader nodded frantically, his words tumbling out incoherently. "Lord White Fang, if you'll spare me, I'll give you everything I own!"

Hearing this, Hatake Sakumo shook his head and said, "I don't want your wealth. There are three Genin outside who only graduated recently. Kill them, and you can live. Otherwise..."

Hatake Sakumo deliberately drew out the last word without finishing, but the bandit leader understood what would happen if he lost.

Then Hatake Sakumo suddenly stood, startling him.

"Come out."

As the door swung open, the bandit leader saw the scene outside.

There was only one way he could describe the sight: bodies everywhere.

Looking up, he saw that those responsible for all this were just three young boys and girls from Konoha.

The bandit leader gave a miserable smile. So I'm just a whetstone for them after all?

He could already foresee his fate, but before that, he would take a few of them down with him.

Drawing the long sword at his waist, he charged at the three, resolved to die.

Qianye Lan and the others had just spotted Hatake Sakumo and were about to greet him when they saw a man dressed as a wandering samurai attack them.

Qianye Lan reacted quickly, instinctively drawing a kunai and throwing it.

But the wandering samurai dodged it easily.

Qianye Lan continued by forming hand seals.

[Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves]

A succession of whistles pierced the air. The wandering samurai dodged from side to side, but his limbs were still struck.

The intense pain slowed the wandering samurai considerably.

Seeing this, Qianye Lan used the Flying Thunder God Technique and vanished before his eyes.

The wandering samurai looked startled and began searching left and right for Qianye Lan.

Forming a Rasengan in one hand, Qianye Lan stood behind him and asked teasingly, "Looking for me?"

He spun around in terror.

Qianye Lan slammed the Rasengan into him.

The powerful impact sent him flying.

He collapsed on the ground, coughing up fragments of his internal organs, completely unable to resist.

Qianye Lan walked up to him expressionlessly. The bandit leader tried to speak, but choked on blood as soon as he opened his mouth.

He could only look at Qianye Lan pleadingly. Without any hesitation, Qianye Lan struck and ended his life.

Watching this, Hatake Sakumo felt both gratified and helpless.

He was gratified that Qianye Lan's strength already far surpassed his own at the same age.

If he hadn't been mistaken, Qianye Lan had actually just used the Flying Thunder God Technique.

No one had managed to learn that technique since the Second.

What disappointed him was that he had intended to use this whetstone to hone their skills.

He hadn't expected Qianye Lan to deal with the man all by himself.

Kushina rushed straight over, her little hands feeling over Qianye Lan as she muttered, "You're not hurt, are you?"

That fight had ended very quickly.

Only a few seconds had passed between the wandering samurai's charge and Qianye Lan finishing him off.

Looking at the worried Kushina, Qianye Lan felt a wave of warmth and reassured her, "Don't worry. I'm not hurt."

Only after checking him carefully did Kushina breathe a sigh of relief.

Still a little worried, she said, "Don't be so reckless next time. There are three of us. Why did you have to fight him one-on-one?"

Qianye Lan could only scratch his head awkwardly and promise that he would never be so reckless again.