Killing

As the scroll unfurled, the mission Uchiha Gen and the others were to carry out was revealed to the three of them.

[D-rank mission: Exterminate all bandits near Cihang Town in the Land of Fire. Leave no survivors. Note: There is a very high chance of encountering onmyoji and samurai during this mission. Please only accept this mission with a jonin accompanying you.]

"..."

Uchiha Gen fell somewhat silent as he read the scroll.

Since when were missions involving bloodshed D-rank? Weren't normal D-rank missions supposed to be things like catching cats and clearing rivers?

And samurai were understandable. Kakashi's family had gone from samurai to ninja, and the Land of Iron had a whole bunch of samurai too. But... what the hell were those onmyoji supposed to be???

Had Heian-kyo crossed over into the Shinobi World????

"Are... are we going to kill people?"

While Uchiha Gen remained silent, Kurenai Yuhi read the scroll beside him, her voice trembling faintly and lowered to a near whisper.

The words "leave no survivors" were a little too much of a shock for a girl who was only nine and still gentle at heart.

Beside her, Asuma Sarutobi also stopped smiling.

His carefree grin vanished completely. He stared at the scroll and read it twice, his expression becoming incredibly grave.

This was killing people... and... it wasn't just ordinary bloodshed, either. It was... wiping them all out.

"It's a perfectly ordinary first-blood mission. Let's go."

Uchiha Gen pulled himself out of his thoughts and spoke calmly.

Novice ninja needed to experience bloodshed and learn to kill every enemy, regardless of age or sex. It was something every ninja had to go through.

"This is something we have to face as ninja. I should have prepared myself for it long ago!"

Seeing Uchiha Gen show no reaction, Asuma Sarutobi recalled the weak thoughts that had just surfaced in his own mind. He immediately gritted his teeth and spoke fiercely.

If Uchiha Gen wasn't afraid, what the hell did he have to be afraid of!!

He absolutely refused to let Uchiha Gen look down on him.

"I won't hold you back! I've... prepared myself too!"

Seeing that both her teammates had made their decisions, Kurenai Yuhi pressed one hand to her chest, calmed her nerves, and spoke earnestly as well.

Seeing all three of them ready, Shibi Aburame couldn't help the slight upward curve of his lips behind his collar. Students who required so little worrying over really were nice.

"Since you're all ready, I'll explain the specific targets of this mission. Due to certain... hmm, special circumstances, numerous disturbances have broken out along the borders of various countries. This has caused many bandits near the borders to move inland.

"Our target this time is near Cihang Town, two hundred and fifty kilometers from Konoha. A group of bandits led by an onmyoji appeared there from somewhere unknown, and they raid Cihang Town from time to time.

"After a villager reported this, a lower-level Shogunate official paid to post this mission in Konoha. Our objective is to exterminate all the bandits, including that onmyoji, and... leave no survivors."

With a serious expression, Shibi Aburame explained the details of the mission to Uchiha Gen and the other two.

"Wait! Shibi-sensei, did you just say two hundred and fifty kilometers? Doesn't that mean we'll be away from the village for a long time this time??"

Asuma Sarutobi's eyes lit up at that. He had never once left the village in his entire life, and now, having only just become a ninja, he could already spend a long time outside it.

"It should take about a day. Although I'm not as fast as a certain friend of mine, I'm not that slow, either."

Shibi Aburame smiled confidently. Naturally, among the insects he raised, some were suitable for riding on journeys.

Outside the Konoha Gate, all of Team 8 stood quietly, watching Shibi Aburame.

A breeze stirred through the woods. Shibi Aburame raised a hand, lightly bit his finger, and began forming hand seals.

"Summoning Jootsoo!"

The technique's formula spread out.

Poof!

A low tremor sounded.

An enormous jet-black beetle, its carapace covered in dark purplish-gold patterns, unfurled its broad wing membranes and emerged steadily from the white mist!

The beetle's back was wide and flat, like a black platform, with enough room to securely carry several people in flight.

"This is Walking Insect No. 12138. His flying speed is quite good. Riding him on missions can save us a great deal of time."

As he spoke, Shibi Aburame flickered onto the beetle's head, where he stood and calmly introduced him.

"What... what a huge bug! So cool!! Sensei! He's so cool!!!"

Asuma Sarutobi's eyes immediately lit up at the enormous beetle Shibi Aburame had summoned.

Boys always had a particular fondness for big things.

Uchiha Gen was no exception. Looking at the enormous beetle before him, he couldn't help thinking of the one and only Master Ball in his storage.

Should he... get himself a summoning beast?

Whether it could help in a fight didn't really matter. The main thing was that having a mount would look damn impressive. An Uchiha couldn't exactly travel everywhere on foot.

Even Uchiha Sasuke had known to catch a giant Ninja Hawk.

"Then let's set off."

Once everyone was standing on the beetle, Shibi Aburame spoke softly from his place atop his head.

As his words fell, the giant beetle gently beat his wings. His massive body rose smoothly from the ground, soaring upward and soon reaching high into the sky.

Time passed.

"This is Cihang Town? They call it a town, but it's really more like a small village. There aren't many people."

The giant beetle stopped above their destination. Uchiha Gen closed his eyes and spread his Observation Haki. In mere moments, he knew exactly how many villagers there were in the entire village.

"We're here already? That was so fast... I thought we'd have to fly for a lot longer."

A little surprised by his words, Kurenai Yuhi leaned out to look down. Gazing at the scattered houses below, she couldn't help murmuring in wonder.

"We're here already?"

Asuma Sarutobi also leaned out and looked at the scenery below, his brow furrowing slightly.

Reaching their destination meant they had to begin their mission...

And their mission...

Was to kill people.