Chapter 97: The Bandit-Clearing Mission

Hokage Tower, Mission Desk.

"They’re pretty patient."

Kakashi glanced at Sasuke, who was leaning against the wall beside the mission desk, then at Naruto, who was standing beside Hinata and chatting with her.

It had already been more than ten days since their graduation.

Every morning, they performed D-Rank missions.

Every afternoon, Kakashi instructed them in training.

Naruto and Sasuke had already learned Water Walking and Tree Climbing under the excuse that Uchiha Izumi had taught them.

Hinata had received clan training long ago, so she didn’t need Kakashi’s guidance for either technique.

Knowing that Naruto’s team would participate in the Joint Chunin Exams, Kakashi was beginning to feel somewhat anxious.

After using Chakra Paper to determine their elemental affinities, he had immediately begun teaching them according to their individual attributes.

Naruto had deliberately cut the chakra paper in half from the middle, revealing a Wind Release affinity, and then displayed a Wind Release chakra nature.

Seeing that Naruto only had a Wind affinity, Kakashi finally understood why Uchiha Izumi had never taught him any Fire Release techniques.

Without a Fire affinity, it wasn’t impossible to learn Fire Release, but the results wouldn’t be as good.

Of course, someone could also develop an elemental affinity later in life.

As for Sasuke, he genuinely possessed Fire and Lightning affinities, so there was no need for him to deliberately disguise anything.

Kakashi also wasn’t surprised that Uchiha Izumi had never taught Sasuke Fire Release.

In Kakashi’s eyes, she simply didn’t know many ninjutsu herself.

Besides, it was said that her mother had died at the hands of Uchiha Itachi.

The fact that Uchiha Izumi was still willing to look after Sasuke out of their shared clan affiliation was already remarkably generous.

Hinata also possessed Fire and Lightning affinities.

However, she basically never trained in ninjutsu.

The Hyuga clan’s elders would lecture her if she touched ninjutsu before mastering the Gentle Fist.

They were incredibly stubborn traditionalists.

During the afternoon training sessions, Kakashi simply let Hinata train on her own.

By now, Kakashi had taught all three of them the Shadow Clone Technique.

Sasuke had learned one Fire Release technique, while Naruto had learned one Wind Release technique.

In reality, both of them already knew those techniques.

They had simply pretended that it took them three days of training before they could barely master them.

They were all seasoned actors.

Of course, Kakashi knew nothing about any of this.

At the moment, he simply felt that Naruto was extraordinarily patient.

They had spent more than ten days performing D-Rank missions without a single complaint.

They had never asked to take a higher-ranked mission, either.

Kakashi had talked with the instructors of the other teams.

Apparently, their Genin had already grown tired of D-Rank missions and were constantly demanding more difficult assignments.

Naruto’s team, however, didn’t care in the slightest.

That made it impossible for Kakashi to even take advantage of their impatience and give them a slightly higher-ranked mission.

Then he suddenly remembered Uchiha Izumi, the ultimate slacker who had spent five or six years doing D-Rank missions before only recently beginning to accept some C-Rank escort missions.

Kakashi felt that he understood.

Perhaps Naruto and Sasuke think they have to become Chunin before they can take C-Rank missions...

He shook his head, finding the thought somewhat absurd, then walked to the mission desk.

"Give me a C-Rank bandit-clearing mission."

"Of course, Kakashi-senpai. Please wait a moment."

The mission clerk quickly opened a large scroll containing all the available C-Rank missions.

After scanning through it, he found a suitable bandit-clearing mission.

He then retrieved the corresponding mission scroll from a drawer and handed it to Kakashi.

"Kakashi-senpai, it’s been registered."

Kakashi accepted the scroll and briefly read through the details.

"Good. Thanks."

He walked over to Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata.

Looking at the three of them, Kakashi waved the mission scroll in his hand.

"Today’s mission has changed. The mission location is outside Konoha.

"I’ll tell you the details once we reach the destination.

"Do you have all your ninja tools?"

Naruto and Sasuke nodded.

Hinata politely answered,

"Yes, Kakashi-sensei. I brought everything."

Kakashi stared at their calm expressions with a dark look on his face.

The mission requires leaving the village!

Could you at least react a little more strongly?

Even though he had said he would explain the details at the destination, they could at least be curious!

This is what normal Genin are supposed to act like!

After complaining inwardly, Kakashi said,

"Good. Team Seven, follow me."

He turned and walked toward the village gates.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata followed.

It wasn’t until they had actually left the village that the three finally showed some curiosity, looking around at their surroundings.

Kakashi secretly nodded.

Now this looks like a normal group of Genin.

Somewhere in the Mountains

Looking down at the bandit stronghold below, Kakashi said,

"Today’s mission is a C-Rank mission.

"Your objective is to wipe out all the bandits in that stronghold.

"The three of you will complete the mission. I won’t interfere.

"Now arrange your tactics yourselves."

Sasuke looked at Naruto.

Naruto nodded.

Meanwhile, Kakashi folded his arms and leaned against a tree.

The moment Hinata realized that this mission meant killing people, her body trembled slightly.

She instinctively grabbed Naruto’s arm.

Naruto gently said,

"It’s okay. Every shinobi has a first time.

"These bandits probably rob the surrounding villages regularly. Who knows how many ordinary people they’ve killed?

"Besides, we’re shinobi. Killing is part of the job.

"They deserve what’s coming to them.

"Don’t burden yourself with it."

Hinata nodded, and some of the tension left her face.

Naruto looked toward the bandit stronghold below.

"There’s only one entrance on the northern side.

"Since this is a C-Rank mission, there shouldn’t be any shinobi among them.

"Sasuke, start from the southwest.

"Hinata, start from the southeast.

"You two move toward the center.

"Don’t let a single one escape."

As he spoke, Naruto pointed toward their respective directions.

When Naruto stopped talking, Sasuke asked,

"What about you?"

Naruto smiled.

"I’ll guard the entrance.

"Anyone trying to escape will be dealt with by me."

Sasuke and Hinata nodded.

"Good. Move!"

Naruto immediately headed toward the entrance.

Sasuke rushed toward the southwest side of the stronghold, while Hinata moved toward the southeast.

Kakashi, still leaning against the tree, lifted his forehead protector and revealed his Sharingan, carefully observing the stronghold below.

Very quickly, screams erupted from the southwest.

Sasuke showed absolutely no mercy.

He didn’t care about their questions or pleas for mercy.

One swing of his blade—

One life ended.

Moments later, screams also came from the southeast.

After forcing herself to kill one of the bandits, Hinata suddenly felt nauseous.

They deserve to die.

I’m a shinobi. Killing is normal, right?

I can’t hesitate.

Otherwise, Naruto will be disappointed in me.

Remembering Naruto’s words, Hinata forced down her discomfort.

She didn’t want to disappoint him.

Her kunai flashed repeatedly as one life after another was taken.

With her Byakugan activated, no matter where the bandits hid, they couldn’t escape her sight.

Even when a woman screamed and begged for mercy, Hinata hesitated for only a moment.

The next instant—

A flash of steel.

She fell.

At least I’ll make it quick.

At the entrance of the stronghold, more than a dozen bodies already lay before Naruto.

The ground was stained dark red with blood.

Some bandits were crying and begging for their lives.

Others screamed hysterically, calling Naruto a demon.

Naruto didn’t argue.

He didn’t explain.

He didn’t even have the energy to preach some grand moral justification.

Killing?

This wasn’t his first time.

Over the years, he had no idea how many people he had killed.

In this world where the strong preyed upon the weak, it was either kill or be killed.

And how many lives had these bandits already taken?

As for mercy?

That was merely a hypocritical performance put on by those in power while preaching morality from their lofty positions.

Naruto was just an ordinary person.

He didn’t consider himself qualified to touch such a noble virtue.

From a distance, Kakashi continued observing the three of them.

He secretly nodded.

Given Naruto and Sasuke’s mental fortitude, he wasn’t surprised that they could kill so decisively.

He himself had killed people at five years old.

He hadn’t carried much psychological burden from it either.

But Hinata surprised him.

She had also managed to kill without showing any hesitation.

Ten minutes later, every bandit in the stronghold had been eliminated.

Hinata and Sasuke returned to the entrance and regrouped with Naruto.

Naruto said,

"Hinata, check whether anyone is still hiding."

"Okay."

Hinata nodded and activated her Byakugan.

She carefully scanned every corner of the stronghold.

Not a single hiding place escaped her vision.

After a while, she turned to Naruto.

"There’s no one left."

Naruto nodded.

A warm smile appeared on his face.

"Good work, Hinata. You did very well."

As he spoke, he took her bloodstained hand.

He pulled out a water bottle and gently began washing the blood from her fingers.

Feeling Naruto’s gentle movements and seeing the focused expression on his face, Hinata’s smile bloomed like a flower.

The discomfort in her heart seemed to disappear along with the blood being washed from her hands.

Nearby, Sasuke shook his head.

He felt completely speechless.

Damn it.

If you two want to flirt, can you at least pick somewhere else?

There were more than a dozen corpses lying around them, and the entire area reeked of blood.

Yet the two of them could still look at each other so affectionately.

Bloody romance?

Being in the same team as these two was really exhausting.

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