Aokawa suddenly understood: "So we missed one bandit!"
The next moment!
A blue-white light arrow shot precisely into the forehead of that small bandit.
The latter's body stiffened, was thrown backward by the immense impact force, and was nailed motionless against the wall.
The trio regrouped at the fork in the road.
Kurenai Yuhi was followed by two frightened children, while Uchiha Tetsubi supported a weak woman.
Aokawa's gaze carefully swept over the faces of the rescued.
Confirming that their expressions held only the gratitude and fear of survivors, with nothing unusual, he then quietly dispersed the Gentle Fist Chakra he had gathered at his fingertips.
"Aokawa, no one on your side?" Kurenai Yuhi asked, puzzled to see him return alone.
"I encountered one disguised as a bandit on my side. Already dealt with. It seems we missed one during our initial count."
Aokawa replied calmly, his tone betraying no emotion.
"These bandits are too despicable," Kurenai Yuhi said indignantly.
Uchiha Tetsubi, however, felt a bit strange inside.
"Missed one? The number outside matched the intelligence report though."
But seeing Aokawa's expression unchanged and the people already rescued, he suppressed this sliver of doubt, didn't dwell on it further, and followed the group out of the cave.
"Clap clap clap!"
Just as they exited the cave, a clear sound of applause came from the shadows ahead.
Shinku Yuhi slowly walked out, a look of praise on his face: "Excellent."
"Clear tactical division of labor, layered offense, and quite coordinated teamwork. From infiltration, assault, to clearing, the entire mission process was executed cleanly and efficiently."
"Overall, you performed this mission exceptionally well."
Hearing such direct praise, smiles couldn't help but appear on the faces of all three. Even Uchiha Tetsubi, who usually kept a stern face, found the corners of his mouth lifting slightly, uncontrollably.
No matter how much he tried to act deep and serious, at his core, he was still a child in his teens. Being praised always makes one happy.
"Of course!" Kurenai Yuhi proudly puffed out her chest, her tone full of pride: "Just look at who we are."
With Aokawa joining the team, she had become much more lively during this mission.
Shinku Yuhi's gaze finally settled on Aokawa. Seeing him still composed and not the least bit complacent, he silently approved.
"At this age, to not become arrogant with success is rare."
Moreover, this kid's Medical Ninjutsu was truly strong. Even the elite Medical Team members he had seen on the Battlefield before
rarely performed split-handed treatments like he just did.
The four of them collected the spoils, escorted the kidnapped hostages down the mountain, and then headed for the next stop.
On the road.
Words appeared before Aokawa's eyes.
[For unity, mutual aid, and eliminating violence to bring peace, you have gained Favor]
[Uchiha-Style Throwing Technique (Practiced level) *1]
[energy crystal *20]
Even slacking off a bit can net me some things.
Unconsciously, a smile appeared on his face.
Suddenly, Kurenai Yuhi's fair, delicate face appeared in his field of vision.
She blinked her gem-like eyes, looking at him curiously.
"What's up?" Aokawa asked.
Kurenai Yuhi looked at him suspiciously: "Are you in a relationship?"
"Nonsense, where did you hear that?" Aokawa explained.
"Smiling so sweetly, you must have gotten a girlfriend," Kurenai Yuhi said, unconvinced.
"Really not. How about you be mine?" Aokawa teased.
Kurenai Yuhi didn't expect Aokawa to say it so bluntly.
Her little face instantly flushed red: "In your dreams!"
Then, with a delicate snort, she ran off ahead to avoid him... The group soon arrived at the second mission point.
This time, similarly, Uchiha Tetsubi charged ahead to clear the path, with Kurenai Yuhi providing genjutsu support.
Aokawa, meanwhile, moved around the periphery, offering long-range support with precise Shuriken.
There weren't as many bandits as in the previous mission, but they were quite fierce.
Uchiha Tetsubi and Kurenai Yuhi, on the front lines, ended up with more or less some wounds after the fierce battle.
After the fight ended, Aokawa treated both of them as usual.
However, this time he only received 20 energy crystals.
Nothing else.
With the mission complete, the four made their way forward and finally reached the border of the Land of Fire.
After Shinku Yuhi presented the clearance documents to the border guards, the group smoothly exited the country.
While passing through a dense forest, Shinku Yuhi suddenly stopped.
He turned around, his gaze serious as he looked at Kurenai Yuhi and Uchiha Tetsubi.
"You two, take off your headbands."
"Huh?" Kurenai Yuhi was somewhat reluctant; this was her symbol of becoming a Ninja.
She had studied hard for years at the academy to earn it.
"Be quick!" Shinku Yuhi's tone brooked no argument, as he simultaneously took out three plain headbands without any markings.
"Put these on."
Seeing Shinku Yuhi's serious expression, the two obediently complied.
Aokawa hadn't graduated yet, so he had no headband. He took the one from Shinku Yuhi and put it on directly.
Then, he even took out a pair of goggles from his bag, covering his conspicuous Byakugan.
This display of meticulousness made Shinku Yuhi nod inwardly repeatedly.
"This kid, his meticulousness is nothing like a twelve-year-old child. He completely lacks the arrogance and impetuousness typical of geniuses.
He almost wondered if an adult's Soul resided in this body."
He collected himself and explained to the three: "This escort mission is merely a pretext for entering the Land of Wind. So, from the moment we enter the Land of Tea, we must conceal our identities as Konoha Ninja."
"The Konoha headband might intimidate some petty thugs during the escort journey, but once we enter the Land of Wind, it will instead become a major source of trouble."
"Therefore, in the future when carrying out missions, you must be flexible in adapting, don't be rigid."
The three nodded in unison, taking the lesson to heart.
From the start of their departure from Konoha Village, Shinku Yuhi had explained the reasoning behind every decision he made along the way.
The three also listened very attentively, even able to apply the lessons learned.
Aokawa, in this process, learned many details not found in the original work or at school.
The four continued onward.
Soon, they arrived at the capital of the Land of Tea.
This escort mission was to escort the Land of Tea's chief tea master, Fujiwara Kiyoshi, to the Land of Wind.
The journey wasn't long; they only needed to reach the border trading post in the Land of Wind to complete the mission.
"I'll go find the client. You stay here, don't wander off."
Outside the city gate, Shinku Yuhi gave the instruction and entered the city alone.
"Okay, hurry back, Dad," Kurenai Yuhi responded cheerfully, watching Shinku Yuhi's retreating back.
The remaining two, for some reason, didn't feel like responding and remained silent.
After quite a while, a procession approached on the road from inside the city.
Leading were Shinku Yuhi and a man dressed in luxurious clothing with a reserved, dignified air.
Behind them followed a passenger carriage and two carts piled high with tea bricks.
Surrounding the carts were six guards with lean, strong builds and vigilant expressions.
The two parties met outside the city gate.
"Mr. Fujiwara, these are the other three team members: Aokawa, Uchiha Tetsubi, and Yūhi Shinku," Shinku Yuhi introduced.
"What?" Fujiwara Kiyoshi's critical gaze swept over the three. He said discontentedly:
"Two half-grown boys and a little girl? This is the escort I hired for a hundred thousand ryo?"
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