The chaos and smell of blood in the canyon gradually dispersed in the wind and sand.
The brothers Rani and Fūi showed the efficiency and professionalism of Sunagakure ninja. They quickly bound the bandits who could no longer resist with special ropes, then searched them and treated their injuries, making sure none would die or escape along the way.
"Fūi, send a signal. Have the nearest outpost send someone to take this trash off our hands."
Rani spoke without looking back as he checked that the last bandit was securely bound.
Fūi nodded and took a small bamboo tube from his ninja tool pouch. He pulled out the stopper, and a desert carrier pigeon with grayish-white feathers fluttered out.
Fūi quickly wrote a brief message and their coordinates on a very thin strip of paper, then tucked it into the pouch on the pigeon's leg.
"Go." Fūi raised his hand and released it. The pigeon shot into the sky like an arrow from a bow and quickly vanished into the blue.
Once he was done, Fūi walked over to Rani. The brothers exchanged a glance, then both looked again at Shira, who was helping his parents calm the frightened pack animals.
Rani lowered his voice, still stunned by disbelief. "You saw it too, didn't you? The form that kid took just now."
Fūi nodded gravely and said in a low voice, "Yeah. It definitely wasn't an ordinary burst of Taijutsu. The Chakra that erupted in that instant was violent and scorching hot. It was extremely unstable, but its intensity far exceeded Genin level. And the way he used it was unheard of. He didn't release it as Ninjutsu; he used all of it to strengthen his own body to the utmost."
"If word of this gets back to the village..." Rani rubbed his chin, his expression conflicted. Both brothers liked Shira, such a hardworking kid, but what had just happened was too astonishing for them to conceal and leave unreported.
Fūi understood his older brother's concern and analyzed the situation calmly. "We have to report it. This is no small matter. A seven-year-old who isn't a ninja academy student has the strength to take down several adult bandits in an instant, including a leader close to Chunin level. The ability he possesses is unknown and has enormous potential."
At that, his expression grew even more serious. "Whether it's for the strength he could add to the village in the future or the risks he himself may pose, the higher-ups need to know."
He paused, then added, "We can emphasize where he stood in the report-he was forced to act to protect the caravan and his companions, and his actions were entirely in keeping with the ninja code. That might help him get better treatment."
Rani sighed and nodded. "It's all we can do. Let's hope those old geezers don't pull anything funny again."
When the relief squad from the outpost arrived, Rani and Fūi handed over the bandits along with a brief written report.
In the report, they gave an objective account of the encounter, highlighting the "astonishing explosive power and fighting spirit" Shira had shown at the critical moment. They described it as "an unknown forbidden Taijutsu technique that consumed an extreme amount of Chakra," while emphasizing that his actions had been justified and had protected the caravan.
They didn't dwell on the details, but it was enough to draw the intelligence department's attention.
With everything taken care of, the caravan finished regrouping.
Rani walked up to Shira and his family, his usual hearty smile back on his face. He gave Shira a firm pat on the shoulder, though noticeably gentler than before. "Good kid! You really made your brother Rani proud! We owe you this time! But..."
He leaned closer and lowered his voice, a trace of concern in it. "After we get back, someone in the village might come ask you what happened. Don't be nervous. Just tell them the truth. Fūi and I will both back you up."
Shira understood and nodded calmly. "Thank you, Brother Rani. I understand."
He knew that his hidden power had been exposed and would inevitably draw Kazekage Rasa's attention.
It was a risk, but it might also be an opportunity-an opportunity to prove his worth to the higher-ups.
The caravan set off again.
After the ordeal, the atmosphere in the group quietly changed. The merchants' former pity or curiosity toward Shira had turned entirely into heartfelt gratitude and respect tinged with awe.
Even the pack animals seemed more willing to stay close to him.
Rani and Fūi no longer saw Shira merely as a junior who needed looking after. They had begun to regard him as a trustworthy companion they could fight alongside.
They even began discussing simple tactical coordination and what they had learned from the encounter with Shira.
Shira's parents felt a mixture of worry and joy. They were proud of their son's strength, but deeply concerned that he might be drawn into a more complicated vortex.
Shira himself silently absorbed the experience of his first real battle, repeatedly recalling how it had felt to open First Activation. He considered how to extend its duration and reduce the strain on his body, and planned how to deal with the questioning that might await him back in the village.
The earlier burst had consumed a great deal of his Chakra, but it had also become more active as a result, as though it had truly awakened.
The caravan continued along the ancient trade route toward the Land of Rivers.
The wheels rolled over sand and stones, creaking rhythmically.
No one knew that a report about a "genius young Taijutsu practitioner" was being swiftly passed up through Sunagakure's efficient and secretive intelligence network, destined for the desks of Fourth Kazekage Rasa and the elder advisors.
For the first time, the name Shira had truly entered the sight of Sunagakure's higher-ups in a way that could not be ignored.
But Shira's gaze remained fixed resolutely on the east.
His personal troubles were only an interlude. His true goal had never changed.
The journey continued.