As the group of five ran through the trees, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Hiruko, and even Orochimaru all were in awe at the scenery.
None of them had ever seen the outside of the village before, and even Hiruko, who was from another world, had seen scenery so beautiful his old world was… dark.
Hiruko, running close to Tsunade, decided to give her one last warning before they got there: "Look, Tsuna, I know you've been grilled already, but be careful; don't let your guard down, and if you need my help, just call." Hiruko said, worried slightly.
However, to his surprise, Tsunade didn't argue back; she simply nodded and whispered, "You too, Hiruko; don't die before accelerating."
Hiruko, who had been restricting his speed to stay with the group, accelerated with a small smile.
As they kept running, Jiraiya, getting annoyed, said, "Hey, Sensei, can't you just tell us where we're going at least?"
Hiruzen, after a second, simply sighed and said, "We're heading to the Land of Fire's border. When we get there, we'll have a little… competition. The winner will be able to get a C-rank jutsu." Hiruzen said, a bit solemn,
"Oh yeah, let's go. It's about time the amazing Valliant Jiraiya got a jutsu to match his brilliance." Jiraiya said if he could win that Jutsu, he'd probably surpass the others.
Hiruko and Tsunade, on the other hand, looked at each other and smiled slightly as their personal competition was on.
Orochimaru, on the other hand, smiled too, licking his lips slightly.
'Hopefully you can keep that same enthusiasm later.' Hiruzen thought.
—
As the group arrived at a small hut, they were met with about 30 men with fierce expressions doing a variety of things, seeming to not sense the group.
"These are bandits; they are regular humans with no chakra, but they do have a lot of fighting experience, and your job is to kill every bandit here. Go!" Hiruzen said as he disappeared into the darkness to observe.
Hiruko smiled. If they were regular humans, then this would be insanely easy, unsheathing Miyuki, who was strapped to his back. Hiruko rushed in while making hand signs for the Water Style: Slick Step Jutsu.
The bandits, alerted to the noise, saw a lone white-haired boy running towards them, sword drawn.
As Hiroko drew near, one of the bandits launched a kunai in hand, aiming for his neck. Hiroko, seeing this, slid across the ground with his jutsu while bending back to dodge it. After dodging, he lifted his upper body up and twisted his sword, cutting the bandit's head clean off.
Blood stained Hiruko's sword, but he had no time to think about this fact as the whole camp of bandits launched at him. But as they did, they all felt a sudden pressure descend on them, rooting them in place.
This was Hiruko using his Press-Press Fruit; the bandits, unable to move, were just pigs waiting for the slaughter as Hiruko killed them.
'13'
'14'
'16'
'25'
'29' Hiruko counted internally, but a question lined his mind.
'Where are the others? I've killed pretty much the whole camp except one.' Hiruko thought as he looked back to where his team hid before.
And it was there he saw Jiraiya, Orochimaru… and Tsunade looking at him wide-eyed. Their eyes were drawn to his sword that dripped the blood of dozens, and they also watched the blade wielder, Hiruko, who was standing in a field littered with corpses.
Frowning slightly, Hiruko couldn't help but think, "What's wrong with them?" but before he could think it through more, the last bandit, who Hiruko assumed was their leader, attacked with a sword that was slowly descending down to his head.
'Too slow,' Hiruko thought as he dodged the blade strike with his newfound reaction speed from the exoskeleton.
'This brat's a ninja.' The boss thought solemnly with a hint of anger, watching the boy intently.
Hiruko, on the other hand, decided to try something different. Hiruko sheathed his sword, falling into the stance of the Senju Taijutsu.
The boss seeing this was visibly angry. "You kill my people and now look down on me? I'll kill you," the boss said venomously.
"You're welcome to try." Hiruko said, smiling slightly.
The boss immediately rushed at Hiruko, kunai in hand, aiming for his neck. Hiruko grabbed the man's outstretched hand, doing a flip, landing on his arm, and then using his strength to break it.
Snap! The man's bones sounded as he screamed in pain, and Hiruko, hearing this, unconsciously smiled wickedly as he jumped off.
He then rushed at the man who tried to attack him with his other hand, only for Hiruko to jump over it, his legs outstretched to either side.
He then landed in a handstand on the man's arm before maneuvering to his head, grabbing it, and flipping behind the man, breaking his neck.
After killing the man, Hiruko stood up, dusted off his clothes, and slightly walked back to his group.
Arriving in front of them Hiruko, smiling, decided to brag a bit.
"Man, where were you guys? You practically handed me the win." Hiruko said, but his smile slowly disappeared as he saw the look on everyone's face.
"What's wrong, guys?" Hiruko asked worriedly.
"Monster, you killed all those people, and you don't even seem concerned," Jiraiya said, a bit dazed, with a bit of disgust and fear evident in his voice.
Hiruko, hearing this, fell into a world of his own, his smile fading, his eyes fixated on his hands. He could even have sworn he heard a voice much like his own but not him say, "He's right."
'He's right? I killed, yet I felt nothing. I even smiled at what's wrong with me,' Hiruko said as a single tear strolled down his face as his hands began to shake uncontrollably, imagining Tsunade, Orochimaru, Arata, and even Mito calling him a monster.
Jiraiya, seeing this, snapped out of it as he tried to reach for Hiruko and apologize, but a pale hand slapped it away before he could touch Hiruko.
"Idiot," Orochimaru said with the same disgust Jiraiya had when talking to Hiruko.
An angry Jiraiya was about to say something back but was stopped by Hiruzen, who appeared again, his gaze on Hiruko for a second longer than normal.
Looking at the kids' solemn faces, Hiruzen sighed. "I know killing is a tough concept to get your mind around as children, but you must remember that when it comes to war, it's either kill or be killed." Hiruzen said sternly before continuing.
"Now let's head back to the village, Hiruko. Once we do, I'll give you the scroll for the Jutsu Water Style: Water Prison Technique, but as for you other three, we'll keep taking bandit missions until you get used to killing." Hiruzen said though inside he was wrestling with his morality, he knew kids this young shouldn't be forced to kill, but he had no choice.
"Now let's go." Hiruzen said as the group took off heading back.
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S: Please keep in mind this is my first time writing a scene like this. I know it's not the best, but I hope you could enjoy it.