After resting at the outpost for an hour, Sarutobi Asuma and the other three left. They moved through the forest under the cover of night.
First, they checked the traps left by the previous squad according to the handover details.
It was crucial to be familiar with them and also to check if they were still intact.
After familiarizing themselves with the patrol area, the squad returned to the outpost, and Hatake Sakumo arranged the patrol routes.
Sarutobi Asuma and Yūhi Kurenai were paired together, and Hatake Sakumo and Shizune were paired together. The two groups would patrol in turns.
The designated patrol area was a six-ri long border.
Other squads were stationed to the left and right of this area.
If they were attacked, reinforcements from either side could arrive quickly.
If there were no enemies, such a mission could be described as easy and monotonous.
After two days of adaptation, Sarutobi Asuma and the other two resumed their training.
Sarutobi Asuma mainly focused on practicing Shadow Clone, Wind Style, Taijutsu, Sword Technique, and Lightning Style Chakra Nature Transformation.
Yūhi Kurenai focused on Taijutsu and Genjutsu.
Shizune focused on Taijutsu and Medical Ninjutsu.
Sarutobi Asuma was also responsible for catching various small animals to serve as experimental subjects for Shizune.
In a clearing a few hundred meters away from the outpost.
A pale blue chakra gathered and spun in Sarutobi Asuma's hand, gradually forming a sphere of chakra.
Rasengan!
With a Chakra Control level of 10 and a clear understanding of the jutsu's principles and even its training process, mastering it was not difficult for Sarutobi Asuma.
However, initially, he needed two hands to perform this jutsu.
Today, he had finally managed to perform the Rasengan with just one hand.
He glanced at the skills section of his system panel.
The Rasengan jutsu had already reached level 5.
In half a month, going from zero to level 5 had earned him a total of 50,000 experience points.
Unfortunately, he hadn't received an achievement for creating a ninjutsu.
"Either this doesn't count as an achievement, or Namikaze Minato had already mastered the Rasengan before me," Sarutobi Asuma mused silently, though he wasn't disappointed.
He had been prepared for this possibility.
Besides, the Rasengan wasn't his ultimate goal.
For him, the Rasengan was less useful than Wind Style: Sword Technique.
His goal was the ultimate killing move, the complete Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!
Did he need to master Sage Mode to throw the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken?
Sarutobi Asuma was defiant!
With his level 10 Chakra Control, he wanted to try.
If level 10 wasn't enough, he would add more points!
Looking down at the Rasengan in his hand, Sarutobi Asuma attempted to infuse it with Wind Release Chakra.
But just then, a loud explosion echoed through the air.
Sarutobi Asuma looked up, his heart jolting: "A distress signal!"
He dispersed the Rasengan and vanished from his spot.
Outside the outpost.
When Sarutobi Asuma returned, the others were already there.
Hatake Sakumo said gravely, "I will go for the rescue. Asuma, you will be the temporary captain. Maintain a high level of alert to prevent anyone from breaking through our defenses!"
"Understood, Teacher Sakumo!"
Sarutobi Asuma immediately nodded.
He knew that Hatake Sakumo was considering the possibility of the enemy using a feint.
After giving the instructions, Hatake Sakumo vanished with a whoosh.
"Spread out, about one ri apart. If anything happens, blow your whistle!"
Sarutobi Asuma made the arrangements.
Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune nodded solemnly in unison, and then the three of them immediately used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared from their positions.
Between two traps, a green snake hung from a tree.
A moment later.
Three figures darted through the forest, two in front and one behind.
BEEP!
BEEP, BEEP!
A whistle sounded.
"We've been found, speed up and charge through!"
"Understood!"
The three figures rushing forward increased their speed, avoiding traps as they advanced.
After they passed, the green snake hanging from the tree released its grip on the branch and fell straight down.
BOOM!
The green snake transformed into Sarutobi Asuma, who opened his mouth and spat out an orange flame bullet that exploded outwards.
This flame bullet wasn't large, only about the size of a person.
However, the orange flame bullet's temperature was higher than any Sarutobi Asuma had unleashed before, exceeding one thousand degrees.
The terrifying heat not only distorted the light in the air but also caused the nearby leaves to rapidly wither and turn yellow.
The three ninjas trying to break through the defense line were startled; they hadn't sensed anyone ambushing them at all.
"Careful!"
A loud shout rang out.
The three stopped simultaneously, then turned and formed hand seals to cast their jutsu.
"Too fast, it's too late!"
The lead ninja's expression changed drastically: "Scatter!"
The three immediately dispersed.
BOOM!
The flame bullet exploded.
With roaring waves of heat, the two ninjas slightly behind were engulfed by the fiery blast, their clothes immediately catching fire.
They quickly dropped from the air and rolled on the ground, managing to extinguish the flames on their bodies.
But even so, the flesh in the burned areas was charred, and the intense pain contorted their faces, causing cold sweat to stream down.
This was the first time they had encountered such terrifying Fire Style ninjutsu.
Just then, screams echoed from the air.
The two looked up and saw a flash of blue light. Their captain, along with his sword, had been cut in half at the waist.
"What?"
"Captain!"
"How is this possible?"
"Genjutsu?"
The two were incredulous.
Their Jonin captain had been dealt with in a single move.
Before the bodies even hit the ground.
Two Sarutobi Asumas landed on a branch, looking coldly at the two injured ninjas.
"You are surrounded. Drop your weapons and surrender!"
"A brat?"
"Damn it!"
"How could this be?"
The two ninjas exclaimed, then exchanged glances and shouted in unison: "Take him down!"
SWISH! The two ninjas leaped up.
Almost simultaneously, the two Sarutobi Asumas vanished from the branches.
With flashes of blue light, four figures clashed in the air.
CLANG! The four figures crossed paths.
Sarutobi Asuma landed steadily.
The other two ninjas, however, were separated from their bodies in mid-air, blood gushing out like pillars and splashing everywhere.
Dismissing his Shadow Clones, Sarutobi Asuma turned to look at the falling corpses and shook his head: "I told you you were surrounded, yet you still dared to resist!"
"Asuma!"
As the sound faded, Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune appeared simultaneously.
They had actually arrived while Sarutobi Asuma was trying to persuade the enemy to surrender, but had remained hidden, waiting for an opportunity.
They never expected there would be no chance to make a move.
At this moment, a huge roar came from the right.
Sarutobi Asuma and the other two flashed to the treetops and looked towards the sound.
They saw dust and smoke billowing in the distance, indicating the battle was extremely fierce.
"Asuma, should we go help Teacher Sakumo?" Yūhi Kurenai asked.
Sarutobi Asuma frowned and shook his head. "Sakumo-sensei didn't signal, which means the situation isn't that critical. We should guard this place to prevent anyone from infiltrating."
Yūhi Kurenai and Shizune nodded, then, along with Sarutobi Asuma, they carefully collected the three corpses before returning to their positions.
Concealing themselves, Sarutobi Asuma focused part of his attention on the system panel.
He had just received a notification that he had completed the "First Kill" achievement and received a reward.
"I'll check it when we rest."
Suppressing his urge, Sarutobi Asuma closed the system and continued his ambush.
Half an hour later, Hatake Sakumo returned.
This also signaled a temporary end to the fighting.
After hearing Sarutobi Asuma's retelling of the battle, Hatake Sakumo's face immediately filled with admiration.
Taking down three enemies alone, even through an ambush, was still very good.
This was, after all, Sarutobi Asuma's first real combat experience, and one of the enemies was a Jonin.
"Sakumo-sensei, those three ninjas seemed very familiar with the traps. They didn't hesitate at all and completely avoided them," Sarutobi Asuma said.
Hatake Sakumo nodded and said, "I'll report this to the Third Hokage. You three immediately reset the traps!"
"Yes, Sakumo-sensei!"
Sarutobi Asuma and the other two immediately got busy.
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