As they walked, Yome couldn't help but whisper to Sen. "They clearly need our help, but it's like they think we're slowing them down."
Sen smiled, shaking his head a little at her complaint. "That's how it always is, Yome. Daimaru and I have been genin for a few years now, and you're not exactly a rookie anymore. If we weren't considered dead weight, we probably wouldn't even be on the same team."
In this trio of underdogs, Daimaru was the only one with some ambition. Whether they wanted to admit it or not, Daimaru was the strongest among them. His sharp drive stood out, even if it rubbed them the wrong way sometimes.
"Let's try to keep up, Yome," Sen said after a pause. "Daimaru's not the type to coddle anyone, but I don't think he'll abandon us either. At least, not casually."
"Really?" Yome asked, her tone filled with uncertainty.
"So, if you don't want to be left behind, you'll have to push yourself too." Sen shrugged, trying to offer some encouragement. "If we can't keep up, we can't blame anyone but ourselves."
The competition in Sunagakure was brutal. Resources were limited, and priority always went to the more talented ninjas who showed potential. Mediocre shinobi like them were often left behind. Most who found themselves in their position either quit after a few years or met an early end on a mission. Konoha's system of selecting one successful genin out of three felt almost luxurious in comparison to the harsh, unforgiving world they lived in.
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The Land of Wind was vast, but for skilled shinobi, travel was swift. If one pushed themselves to their limits, they could make it from Sunagakure to Konoha in about three days. That, of course, was assuming you had the stamina of someone like Might Guy, who could sprint non-stop. For most, it was a much slower pace.
With their current team, it took nearly five days just to reach the border of the Land of Wind. Sen, Yome, Daimaru, and their jounin leader, Otokaze, were moving slower than they'd hoped. While Daimaru could keep up somewhat, Sen and Yome were another story. Their pace forced the team to stop more frequently, and it was obvious Daimaru was frustrated. He gritted his teeth every time they paused for a break.
"This pace is killing us," Daimaru muttered under his breath. "If we keep this up, we'll be exhausted before we even encounter the bandits."
Sen's stamina wasn't the best, and her speed was average at best. Yome, while having decent endurance, struggled with her shorter stride, which made it hard for her to keep up with the taller members of the group. Even though Daimaru could match Otokaze's pace, he too was struggling, and by the time they arrived in a small town near the border, he was barely standing. Otokaze decided they needed to rest for the night to recharge their energy before heading into their mission.
Early the next morning, the four disguised themselves and prepared to infiltrate the nearby village. Otokaze, now disguised as an old merchant, led the way. Daimaru, Yome, and Sen played the role of his grandchildren. Daimaru, however, was not thrilled with his new look.
"I feel like I'm being made a fool of," Daimaru grumbled, tugging at the rough linen clothes he was now wearing. He much preferred his ninja gear.
Yome was doing better at blending in. Dressed as a simple farm girl, she appeared far more natural than Daimaru. Sen, on the other hand, looked somewhat awkward, her calm demeanor out of place for a supposed civilian.
Even Otokaze's disguise had its flaws. Despite his attempts to appear older and hunched over, his energy was hard to hide. He still looked too lively for someone of his "age."
Yome, however, fit the role perfectly. With her small frame and childish appearance, she looked every bit the part of a young granddaughter, blending in effortlessly.
"Stop complaining, Daimaru," Otokaze said quietly, his voice stern. "You're drawing attention to yourself. Besides, your sleeve is about to rip."
"These clothes are terrible," Daimaru complained again, but this time in a lower voice. The harsh desert sun made the linen itchy and uncomfortable, and the exposure to the elements was starting to redden his arms. "I don't know how people wear this in the heat."
They walked through the town's narrow streets, trying to blend in with the sparse crowds. The atmosphere was tense, but not unusual for a border town. Merchants sold their goods under watchful eyes, and locals moved cautiously, wary of strangers.
"This town feels off," Daimaru observed quietly. "It looks like a regular place, but there's something strange about it."
Otokaze nodded. "That man we passed earlier, the one selling trinkets? He's probably a fence for stolen goods."
"Seriously?" Yome said in disbelief. "He looked harmless."
"Trust me. You three haven't seen enough yet. Experience is everything in places like this," Otokaze replied. "There are things you can only understand after you've been in the field for a while."
He led them to a quiet teahouse on the edge of town. Inside, they took a seat in a corner, away from prying eyes. Once they were settled, Otokaze spoke in a hushed tone.
"This town is likely one of the bandits' hideouts," he explained, glancing around to make sure no one was listening in.
"What? We're already in their base?" Daimaru said, eyes wide in surprise.
Otokaze shook his head. "Not exactly. But a lot of people here are tied to the bandits. Some are family members, others are just trying to survive. This place is a gray zone, a no-man's-land between the Land of Wind and the Land of Grass. It's not under the control of either country, and lawlessness thrives here."
As he spoke, he explained that places like this were breeding grounds for bandits. Civilians who couldn't survive in the desert or within their countries' borders often found themselves drawn into a life of crime. Some had no choice but to steal or trade stolen goods to survive.
"Our mission is to eliminate the group of bandits causing trouble in the area," Otokaze continued. "But how far do you want to go? Do we just take out the bandits directly, or do we follow the leads and see who else is involved?"
Daimaru paused, considering the options. "Is this some kind of test?"
"You could call it that," Otokaze replied. "It's up to us how deep we want to dig. Just remember, in a place like this, almost no one is innocent."
Yome shifted uncomfortably in her seat, realizing the weight of the situation. Even the children here could be connected to bandits in some way. It was a harsh world, and survival as a shinobi came at a cost.