Setting out! The road to Sunagakure

Early the next morning, at the Konoha Gate.

Uchiha Rìtiān walked over with a huge backpack on his back, yawning.

Hayate had already arrived, also carrying a large pack, his face full of excitement.

Jingyue was there too. She carried only a small bag, apparently traveling light.

Shikaku leaned against the gate, looking as laid-back as ever.

"Yo, everyone's here." Shikaku waved.

"Good morning, Teacher Shikaku!" Hayate greeted him loudly.

Jingyue gave a slight nod.

Uchiha Rìtiān, however, looked at Shikaku resentfully. "Old man, what took you so long? I'm about to fall asleep."

"Getting up early is good for your health," Shikaku said unhurriedly.

Uchiha Rìtiān rolled his eyes. Early, my ass. You obviously overslept.

"All right, everyone's here. Let's head out." Shikaku clapped his hands.

"Wait, where's the caravan?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked in confusion. "Aren't we supposed to escort a caravan?"

"The caravan's already waiting for us up ahead," Shikaku said. "Come on. You'll see when we get there."

The four of them headed out of the village.

After walking for about an hour, they finally spotted the caravan.

It was a sizable caravan, with more than a dozen horse-drawn wagons and dozens of guards.

At its head was a plump merchant, who immediately came forward when he saw Shikaku and the others.

"You must be Jonin Nara! I've heard so much about you!" the merchant said warmly.

"I'm Yamada, the leader of this caravan."

"Hello." Shikaku nodded. "I'm Shikaku Nara, and these are my three students."

Yamada looked at the three children, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

Children this young... were ninja too?

But he quickly concealed it and said with a smile, "Hello there, you three young ninja."

Hayate immediately saluted. "Hello, Uncle Yamada!"

Jingyue gave a slight nod.

Uchiha Rìtiān grinned. "Uncle Yamada, you've got quite a big caravan. What kind of goods are you carrying?"

"Just some daily necessities and ninja tools," Yamada said with a smile. "They're all bound for sale in Sunagakure."

Uchiha Rìtiān raised his eyebrows. Daily necessities and ninja tools?

It looked like legitimate business, but something about it felt off.

"Uncle Yamada, you must make quite a bit of money from a trip like this, right?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked casually.

"Oh, just a bit of hard-earned money." Yamada waved a hand, but he couldn't hide the pride in his eyes.

Uchiha Rìtiān smiled and didn't press further.

Who cared what he was transporting? All that mattered was completing the mission.

"All right, it's getting late. Let's move," Shikaku said.

"You got it!" Yamada waved his hand. "Move out!"

The caravan slowly set off toward Sunagakure.

The three children walked alongside it, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

Hayate looked around excitedly.

Jingyue calmly watched for any movement nearby.

Uchiha Rìtiān walked at the rear, hands in his pockets, looking relaxed.

"Rìtiān, how come you aren't nervous at all?" Hayate asked curiously.

"What's there to be nervous about?" Uchiha Rìtiān yawned. "It's just an escort job. What's so nerve-racking about that?"

"But... what if we run into bandits?" Hayate said worriedly.

"Bandits?" Uchiha Rìtiān curled his lip. "Perfect. They'll save me from boredom."

"Arrogant," Jingyue said coldly.

Uchiha Rìtiān: "..."

Why did this girl always have it in for me?

Just then, Shikaku spoke.

"Stay alert, everyone. Death Valley is up ahead. Bandits often show up there."

Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes lit up.

Speak of the devil.

Death Valley, as its name suggested, was a dangerous gorge.

High mountains rose on either side, with only a narrow passage between them.

Easy to defend and hard to attack, it was an ideal spot for bandits.

The caravan slowly entered the gorge.

It was quiet inside, with only the sound of the wagons.

Uchiha Rìtiān quietly activated his Sharingan and surveyed the surroundings.

He could sense quite a few chakra signatures on the mountains to either side.

There really were bandits.

"Watch out, everyone! It's an ambush!" Uchiha Rìtiān suddenly shouted.

He had barely finished speaking when-

"Kill them!"

A group of people suddenly charged down the mountains on both sides, carrying blades and looking vicious.

They really were bandits!

Yamada's expression changed drastically. "Oh no! Bandits!"

The caravan guards panicked too.

"Don't be afraid. We're here," Shikaku said calmly.

He looked at the three children. "This is your first mission. Try dealing with them."

"I'll be watching from the sidelines."

"Yes!" Hayate immediately charged forward.

Jingyue followed him.

Uchiha Rìtiān stretched and strolled over.

"Just in time. I could use a little exercise."

The bandits charged toward them, some twenty or thirty in all.

Their leader was a burly man with a scar-covered face, wielding a large blade and looking ferocious.

"I cleared this mountain! I planted these trees!" the scar-faced man shouted. "If you want to pass this way, leave your toll with me!"

Uchiha Rìtiān nearly laughed out loud.

Those lines were way too clichéd.

"Old man, couldn't you come up with some fresher lines?" Uchiha Rìtiān picked at his ear. "I'm sick of hearing those."

The scar-faced man froze, then flew into a rage.

"Where did this little brat come from? How dare you talk to me like that!"

"Boys, get them! Take all their goods!"

The bandits charged forward, yelling.

Hayate was the first to rush in.

"Multi-Size Technique!"

Hayate's body grew larger, and he sent two bandits flying with a single punch.

"Aaaah!" The bandits flew away screaming.

Jingyue made her move too.

"Genjutsu: Fox Fire Technique!"

Several streaks of blue flame flew out, instantly surrounding several bandits.

"Aah-hot, hot, hot!" The bandits rolled around on the ground.

Uchiha Rìtiān stood where he was, hands in his pockets, looking like a big shot.

"You dare become bandits with skills like that?" Uchiha Rìtiān shook his head. "Too weak."

The scar-faced man trembled with rage.

"You little bastard! You have a death wish!"

He swung his large blade, slashing at Uchiha Rìtiān.

Unhurried, Uchiha Rìtiān shifted his body and easily dodged.

"Too slow." Uchiha Rìtiān shook his head.

"Damn you!" the scar-faced man roared, hacking at Uchiha Rìtiān again and again.

But Uchiha Rìtiān was too fast. The scar-faced man couldn't even touch the hem of his clothes.

"Hey, could you speed it up? I'm about to fall asleep." Uchiha Rìtiān yawned.

The scar-faced man was furious.

"I'll kill you!"

Gripping his blade with both hands, he brought it down hard at Uchiha Rìtiān.

Uchiha Rìtiān shook his head. "Looks like you won't learn your lesson unless I teach you one."

He extended one finger and flicked lightly.

Bang!

The scar-faced man's blade was sent flying.

The scar-faced man froze.

H-how was this possible?

With that blade, he'd beaten everyone in Death Valley!

And now a child had flicked it away with a single finger?

"Y-you... who exactly are you?" the scar-faced man asked in a trembling voice.

Uchiha Rìtiān put his hands in his pockets and said coolly, "Remember this. My name is Uchiha Rìtiān."

"Next time you go out robbing people, find out who you're up against first."

The scar-faced man's legs went weak with fear.

Uchiha?!

That Uchiha Clan?!

"I... I was wrong! I'll never do it again!" The scar-faced man dropped to his knees with a thud.

Seeing their leader kneel, the other bandits all laid down their weapons and surrendered.

"Spare us! We'll never do it again!"

Uchiha Rìtiān curled his lip. "Tch. How boring."

He had thought he'd get to fight a little longer.

Ding! Easily defeated the bandits. Show-Off Points +100!

Everyone in the caravan stared, dumbfounded.

These three children... weren't they far too powerful?

Especially that Uchiha Rìtiān. He was ridiculously strong!

Yamada ran over, looking excited.

"You three young ninja are amazing!"

"Thank you so much!"

Hayate scratched his head. "Hehe, it was nothing."

Jingyue looked as cold as ever.

Uchiha Rìtiān waved his hand. "Piece of cake."

Shikaku walked over and nodded.

"Not bad. Better than I expected."

"But don't celebrate too soon."

"These were only bandits. The real test is still ahead."

Uchiha Rìtiān raised his eyebrows.

The real test?

Did he mean the Akatsuki?

Just then, his expression suddenly changed.

Because he had sensed two familiar chakra signatures.

Deidara and Sasori... were here!