Chapter 17: Killing
The convoy's travel speed was not fast because the cargo was heavy, and going too fast would damage the vehicles, and the horses would not be able to endure it.
The Land of Fire is very rich; even ordinary villagers have some savings from farming. After discovering bandits, they would pool money to commission Konoha Village, so the Uzumaki Maple Squad had a very low chance of encountering robbers before leaving the Land of Fire, allowing them to relax a little.
Hyuga Kiyomi and Kurenai Yuhi were leaving Konoha Village for the first time and were very curious about everything outside the village. Even though Hyuga Kiyomi was bound by the etiquette of the Main Family, her pure white eyes would still secretly glance left and right, just not as obviously.
Hyuga Mirai would activate his Byakugan at regular intervals to observe the surrounding movements. He claimed that his Byakugan could observe up to one kilometer, but in reality, Hyuga Mirai could already see two kilometers away.
Kaminari Kaede, meanwhile, was at the very back of the merchant convoy, scrutinizing the actions of Hyuga Mirai and the other two.
'Prudent and qualified, with varied tactics, executing the ninja code most standardly!'
This was Kaminari Kaede's assessment of Hyuga Mirai. In his opinion, among these three subordinates, only Hyuga Mirai could be promoted to Chunin in the shortest amount of time.
His insight was outstanding, able to discern his Jonin's intentions in the shortest time, and in their first squad assembly, he could make the three of them coordinate as a team. Aside from being slightly weaker in strength, Hyuga Mirai basically already possessed the qualifications of a Chunin.
It was just that his strength was a little weaker.
It was also a pity that he was from the Hyuga Branch Family. If Hyuga Mirai had been a ninja from a civilian background, Kaminari Kaede would definitely have considered taking him as a disciple.
The Hyuga Branch Family could only obey the orders of the Main Family; even the Third Hokage could not interfere. If, due to war, some ninjas from the Hyuga Clan were needed, the Third Hokage would only negotiate with the Main Family's patriarch and elders, and only then would they dispatch Branch Family ninjas.
Ninjas from other Clans still had a chance to join the Anbu or Root, but only the Hyuga Branch Family did not have this opportunity.
"What a pity."
Kaminari Kaede shook his head and stopped thinking about the issue. He served as the squad leader Jonin mainly because he could protect the Hyuga Main Family members and quickly impart ninja experience to the three of them. Once all three had Chunin qualifications, Lord Hokage would reassign Kaminari Kaede from this squad.
Therefore, quickly executing missions and accumulating ninja experience was essential; occasional guidance was sufficient for Hyuga Mirai and the other two.
Even within the Land of Fire, where the chance of danger was small, Hyuga Mirai still would not let down his guard.
He who walks a hundred miles has only completed ninety. Hyuga Mirai understood this principle well, especially since the Ninja World was full of surprises; Six Paths level experts could be fatally stabbed in the back, and Kage-level experts would foolishly stab Susanoo with a Kunai.
The merchant convoy traveled all the way to the border of the Land of Fire, only stopping in a small town along the way. The rest of the time, they rested in the wild.
During this mission, Kaminari Kaede barely spoke. Hyuga Kiyomi and Hyuga Mirai were also quiet individuals, and only Kurenai Yuhi was relatively lively, often unable to bear the silence and initiating conversations.
"You need to be careful from now on, Hyūga Kiyomi, Kurenai!"
After entering the Grass Country, Hyuga Mirai saw that Kaminari Kaede still had no intention of speaking, so he cautioned the two of them.
Hearing Hyuga Mirai speak, Hyuga Kiyomi frowned slightly and said to Hyuga Mirai with some displeasure, "I told you, call me Kiyomi when we're outside."
Hyuga Mirai was speechless and said nothing more, directly speaking as Hyuga Kiyomi wished, "I understand, Kiyomi."
Afterward, the three formed a protective formation at the very front of the merchant convoy, with Kaminari Kaede still at the very end of the convoy.
Everyone also knew that after leaving the relatively stable environment of the Land of Fire, they might encounter some dangers, so they all became more alert.
Hyuga Mirai and Hyuga Kiyomi maintained alternating use of their Byakugan. Although this consumed Chakra, with the supplement of soldier pills and the mission location not being very far, Hyuga Kiyomi considered it Byakugan training.
Otherwise, she couldn't tolerate the taste of soldier pills.
Hyuga Mirai suddenly spoke, "One kilometer away in the valley, there are thirty-six armed bandits ambushed. One of them has Chakra, but it's less than half of Kurenai's."
"Mirai-kun!"
Kurenai Yuhi puffed out her cheeks and glared at Hyuga Mirai. Of the four of them, he specifically compared her. Was he saying she was the weakest?
"Uh, sorry, Kurenai, it just slipped out subconsciously."
Then, Hyuga Mirai looked at Kaminari Kaede, waiting for his captain's command.
Kaminari Kaede pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Is this the only group of people around?"
"This is all I can see."
"Within 1.5 kilometers, there is only this one ambush." Hyuga Kiyomi also activated her Byakugan to scout and said to Kaminari Kaede.
"Then, the three of you go and deal with this group of people."
Kaminari Kaede said calmly, "Resolve them before the merchant convoy reaches the valley, then quickly return to the team. Go."
"Yes!"
The three answered in unison, then with a leap, they directly separated from the merchant convoy, gradually spreading out their formation while running, heading towards the group of people in the valley.
A group of bandits, one of whom might be a rogue ninja, posed no threat to Hyuga Mirai and the other two.
Although a rogue ninja appeared, a ninja with that amount of Chakra could be considered an anomaly, not enough to raise the mission level.
After telling Kurenai Yuhi the location of the bandits, the three split up and surrounded them from three directions.
In this world, killing is a compulsory course.
Moreover, Hyuga Mirai had constantly witnessed bloody wounds in the hospital, and even many corpses. What he lacked now was the experience of personally killing someone.
This experience was a way for him to gain experience. Killing was nothing; as long as it could make him stronger, Hyuga Mirai would not hesitate to wield his Kunai.
When the other two arrived at the bandits' hiding place, Hyuga Mirai gave a hand signal.
Swish! Swish!
Kunai and Shuriken attacked the bandits from three directions, taking the lives of seven or eight people in an instant.
"Damn it! Who's there?!"
"It's ninjas, those damned Konoha Merchant Association, they actually hired ninja escorts."
These bandits panicked when they saw the Shuriken. It was common knowledge in the Ninja World that ninjas possessed power unrivaled by ordinary people.
"This is as far as you go, you guys!"
Hyuga Kiyomi jumped down from the tree and said coldly to the bandits in front of her.
A bandit, seeing Hyuga Kiyomi's forehead protector, shouted loudly, "A little girl? She's a ninja from Konoha!"
"We have Lord Ryosuke, what's there to be afraid of with a little girl?!"
It seemed that the rogue ninja had given these bandits courage, and Hyuga Kiyomi's age also made them look down on her, thinking that the deaths just now were merely due to this little brat's sneak attack.
The rogue ninja among the bandits walked to the front. He sized up Hyuga Kiyomi and said with some disdain, "Hmph, a brat. Even if you're a ninja from Konoha Village, don't underestimate adults."
Before the man could finish his words, a dazed expression appeared on his face.
Seeing this, Hyuga Kiyomi turned her head and asked the other person in the tree, "Kurenai, we agreed this guy was mine to deal with."
This person was under a genjutsu; his consciousness was already unclear.
Kurenai Yuhi squatted in the tree, her ruby-like eyes flashing with a hint of triumph as she said, "Kiyomi, Mirai-kun said that, I didn't agree."
Puff! Puff! Puff! Puff!
Again, several Shuriken directly slit the bandits' throats.
Hyuga Mirai stepped out helplessly and appeased them, saying, "Forget it, Kiyomi, the captain hasn't given us much time. Let's prioritize the mission."