Chapter six started...
Naruto smiled at her then he shifted his attention to the white feline and she obliged like a noble woman. "I use aera magic." And Naruto tilted, zero idea of what "Aera" is. "It's flight magic." Carla clarified in which Naruto nodded, with a gaping mouth. The language of this world sure is a lot, he mused.
The wagon continued its journey, the trio settled into a comfortable silence, with the long journey ahead Carla and Wendy ended up taking a nap next to each other.
The wagon rolled to a halt at the edge of Drought Village, a place that looked as desolate as its name suggested. The land was cracked, barren, and the few houses still standing were in dire condition—patched roofs, broken fences, and an eerie silence that spoke of hardship beyond just a lack of water. The only movement came from weary-eyed villagers who barely reacted to their arrival, their expressions etched with exhaustion and quiet desperation.
Carla sat on Wendy's shoulder, scanning the surroundings with a critical eye. No wonder the reward was so low, she mused. It was obvious that these people barely had enough to survive, let alone pay a hefty price for mercenaries.
Naruto led the group toward the largest structure in the village, where an old man with a hunched back and a weathered face waited. His deep wrinkles and sunken eyes told a story of suffering, but his stance remained firm.
"Wizards? Finally at long last!" the elder's spirit lifted at the sight of the three, his voice raspy yet hopeful.
Naruto gave a nod, his usual carefree demeanor dimmed in the presence of such misery. "Yeah, we're here to take care of the bandits."
The elder sighed in relief. "They've taken everything from us… our food, our supplies, even our people. We can't even trade with the neighboring villages anymore. Every time merchants try to reach us, they're ambushed. Those bastards hoard our crops and sell them elsewhere."
Carla's ears twitched as she listened. "How many of them?" she asked, eyes narrowing.
"Too many for us to fight back," the elder admitted. "At least twenty, maybe more. They move in groups and rotate their watch shifts, making it impossible to catch them off guard."
Naruto crossed his arms, thinking. "Any hostages?"
The elder's gaze darkened. "They took some of our people, mostly young ones. Forced them to work their fields under constant threat. If we resist, they'll…" He trailed off, shaking his head.
A deep silence hung between them.
This wasn't just a matter of beating up some thugs—there were lives at stake. Rushing in head first could get the hostages killed. Naruto knew that all too well.
He exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "Alright. We do this quietly."
Wendy perked up. "Quietly?"
Naruto smirked slightly. "Yeah, not really my style, huh?" His expression shifted to something more serious. "But I've done it before. I can take out the patrols one by one without making a sound. If we do this right, they won't even know they're under attack until it's too late."
Carla nodded approvingly. "That would be the ideal approach. If we alert them too soon, they might use the hostages as shields."
Naruto turned to Wendy. "You'll stay back and observe. Learn how to take out enemies without drawing attention. You might need it someday."
Wendy hesitated but nodded. She had an initial assumption that Naruto would be a loud, headstrong fighter, but if he was experienced in stealth tactics, then there was something valuable to learn here.
Naruto's eyes gleamed with determination as he cracked his knuckles. "Alright, Let's hunt some bandits."
Under the cover of darkness, Naruto moved like a shadow. Years ago, stealth wasn't his strongest suit, but experience had shaped him into something far more adaptable. With each silent step, he approached his first target—a sentry leaning lazily against a post, half-asleep.
In an instant, Naruto was behind him. A swift chop to the neck sent the bandit crumpling like a sack of rice. Before the man could even exhale his last conscious breath, Naruto caught him and carefully laid him down. His hands moved swiftly, tying the bandit's wrists and ankles with thick rope.
Then, he felt it.
A strange sensation pulsed through his fingertips, like water being sucked through a straw. The unconscious man's body twitched slightly before his breathing slowed into deep, exhausted snores. Naruto pulled back, flexing his fingers. His modified Tetragram Seal was at work again.
Drain.
He had noticed it before—his body naturally sapping energy from those he touched, but this time, it was different. More precise. More potent. The closer the contact, the stronger the effect. Pressure amplified it. A strike, a grapple, even a mere grip—his opponent's strength bled into him like ink into water.
Naruto cracked his knuckles.
So that's how it is.
His taijutsu had always been formidable, but now? If he fought hand-to-hand, he'd be unstoppable.
A smirk ghosted across his face.
Good.
He slipped through the village like a ghost, taking down each bandit one by one. A blow to the ribs, a chokehold from behind—every move was quick, efficient, and silent. Each time, his seal activated, draining them dry. By the time they hit the ground, their bodies sagged, snoring like spent batteries.
One by one, the hostages were freed. Some stared in confusion, barely able to comprehend their sudden rescue, but Naruto motioned for silence and guided them to safety.
Only one place remained.
The largest building in the village—the elder's home, now under the bandits' control.
Naruto crouched behind a nearby stall, eyes narrowing as he counted the guards stationed outside.
This one's gonna be tricky.
His fingers curled into a fist.
Good.
He was just getting started.
Wendy and Carla watched in awe as Naruto moved with near-perfect efficiency, striking down each bandit with speed and precision. There was no wasted movement, no hesitation—just pure, calculated skill.
To be continued….
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