Watching Yuhi Teruharu's slightly mocking back, Hatake Kaede said to Haruhi with a helpless expression, "Your brother looks like a serious person, but I didn't expect him to be so mischievous!"
Haru didn't answer, only awkwardly smiling and agreeing: [Brother's image is completely ruined, okay?You even know how to use such a shameful move as the "Thousand-Year Kill"!Looks like I'll have to go back and tell Mom and Sister-in-law!Hmm~ I'll tell them when I get home!]
"Let me out first, okay?If -sensei Teruharu won't treat you, I'll treat you to a big meal!Let's go eat barbecue together!"
Hatake Kaede and Haruyuki Yuhi exchanged a glance, then quickly bent down and started digging.
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, the two kept throwing dirt into Sarutobi Shota's mouth.
"Ptooey, ptooey,Kaede, Haru, don't get dirt in my mouth, it's super dirty."
"Oh, oh, oh, sorry, sorry, I just did it subconsciously!" When digging holes and shoveling soil, I always want to bury something.
Just as the three little ones were having a happy meal together, celebrating their official becoming ninjas.
Jonin Yuhi Teruharu, who was in charge of instructing the Third Hokage, had arrived at the Hokage's office.He reported on Hatake Kaede's unskilled ninjutsu to the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage was also quite surprised, never expecting that Hatake Kaede could develop a ninjutsu without hand seals at such a young age.
Although there are many of these casually launched purple senbon needles, they pose no threat to these established ninjas.What's truly important is Hatake Kaede's talent in ninjutsu.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, thought for a moment and said, "Teruharu, don't reveal this to anyone for now.Observe Hatake Kaede closely, and report anything that happens as soon as possible."
"Teruharu!The ninja world is in turmoil, and war may break out tomorrow.These new buds of Konoha must grow quickly!Teruharu, I'm counting on you!"
Yuhi Teruharu quickly echoed, "Hokage-sama, you flatter us.Protecting them and guiding them is our responsibility, isn't it?"
...
The life of a genin is so monotonous and dull, consisting of nothing but trivial tasks: picking up trash, taking care of children, doing farm work, cleaning up river debris, and finding lost pets.
Especially when looking for his pet, Hatake Kaede always thinks of the cat that ran away from home and was besieged by the main characters in the anime he watched in his previous life.
As a complete newbie, the only tasks I could get were low-level D-rank missions.
Assigning such D-level tasks to newbies is not meant to be difficult; rather, it reflects a certain consideration on the part of the village.
Some tasks are indispensable for rookie genin.For example, finding pets can train genin's tracking, intelligence gathering, trap digging, and teamwork skills.Cleaning up trash in the river can help genin train their fine chakra control.
Some tasks involve helping the village with production, which can be considered as the village's employment.
While these D-rank ninjas have their good and bad points, they're really boring.The three kids think a ninja's life should be more exciting, more conflict-driven; what's with all this peace and quiet?
After more than ten D-rank missions, perhaps sensing the team's impatience (how did you know?They were all completing the missions using shadow clones, how do you think you could tell?).
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, personally assigned a C-rank mission.Upon receiving this C-rank mission, Yuhi Teruharu approached the three children.
He raised the scroll in his hand and said to the three little ones, "Tell them to come over here quickly.This is a C-level mission."
The three shadow clones, who had been listless, widened their eyes immediately upon hearing that it was a C-rank mission.The three little ones exchanged glances and then released their ninjutsu.
As soon as the shadow clone was dispelled, Haru, Shota, and Hatake Kaede, who was reading Tsunade's "super strength" notes in the hospital rest room, immediately received the news.
Hatake Kaede was also eager to get on a mission soon.These past few days, Tsunade had been overwhelmed by the medical department's reform plan, and Kaede's physical body had been repeatedly drafted to serve as a training assistant.
Officially, he served as a teaching assistant, but sometimes he also had to teach classes when Tsunade was hungover.However, Tsunade gave her "Super Strength Technique" manual to Hatake Kaede as payment for serving as his teaching assistant.
The three kids, including Hatake Kaede, quickly packed their things and arrived at the meeting point.
With a helpless expression, Yuhi Teruharu opened the C-rank mission scroll in his hand and said to the three children, "There is a group of bandits on Mount Dangmang, about 30 kilometers east of Konoha Village.These bandits have kidnapped the son of a wealthy man, and the wealthy man has issued a bounty to Konoha Village.Mission requirements: wipe out all the bandits and rescue the hostage safely.I will explain the details of the mission on the way."
Shota Sarutobi jumped up excitedly upon hearing the mission: "OK, finally a mission befitting my status!" Yuhi Haru was also looking forward to it.Only Hatake Kaede frowned slightly, then, as if making a decision, his brow slowly relaxed.
Seeing the three boys' behavior and taking in their expressions, Yuhi Teruharu said to them, "You have one hour to pack your gear.We'll meet at the East Gate in one hour.No lateness allowed.That's it, disperse!"
The Third Hokage, far away in his office, could clearly see the expressions on the three children's faces through his telescope technique.
In less than half an hour, the three little ones had packed their gear and arrived at the east gate of the village one after another.Soon, Yuhi Teruharu led the three little ones to their destination.
On the way, Yuhi Haru said to the three children, "This band of bandits numbers about eighty.The employer requires us to wipe them all out, leaving no one alive.The most crucial thing is to ensure the hostages are not harmed.Understand?"
The three little ones nodded, indicating that they understood.
Hatake Kaede asked, "How should we identify."Are there other hostages?Is there any information about their appearance?
Yuhi Teruharu took out a portrait; it depicted a boy who looked to be about ten years old.
"Make sure you see him clearly and remember what he looks like.Make sure he is safe.After you rescue him, don't let a single bandit escape.Wipe them all out."
After hearing Yuhi Teruharu's words, the three children remained silent.Hatake Kaede shook his head inwardly; in the ninja world, human life was indeed cheap.To become a ninja, one had to be prepared to take another's life.
This isn't the country from my past life; this is a ninja world where people "eat" each other!Everything is just a mission!
The four traveled quickly and arrived at their destination in the afternoon.
As dusk fell, the four arrived at the outskirts of the bandits' den on Dangmang Mountain.They hid in the trees, carefully observing the bandits below.
The bandits, their clothes filthy and disheveled, huddled together, boasting and drinking wine of unknown origin, eating meat they had stolen from who-knows-where.It was a scene of living for the moment.
Yuhi Teruharu said, "This mission is a test for you.If you pass, you can continue to carry out C-level and higher missions; if you fail, you can only continue to do D-level missions.So, unless your lives are endangered during the mission, I will not take action.Also, remember, the mission is to annihilate the entire enemy force, understand?"
"Yes!" X3.
After Yuhi Kaori disappeared, the three little ones began to discuss their battle plan.
Hatake Kaede said, "According to our intelligence, there are about eighty bandits in the entire stronghold.They live in scattered areas, and attacking them one by one would easily alert the others.So someone needs to gather the bandits together.The remaining two need to rescue the hostages.After taking the hostages to safety, quickly return and surround the bandits.Do you understand?"
Shota Sarutobi and Haruyu Yuhi nodded and said in a low voice, "Understood."
"Now let's assign tasks.The bandits need to gather together and become their leader.We need to assassinate the bandit leader beforehand, preferably silently.Who wants to do it?"
Killing the bandit leader wasn't difficult; the challenge was avoiding alerting the other bandits.Sarutobi Shota and Yuhi Haru exchanged bewildered glances.Seeing this, Hatake Kaede volunteered for the mission.
After the tasks were assigned, Kaede silently dealt with the bandit leader, then used a transformation technique to become the bandit leader himself, gathering all the bandits together.Taking advantage of this opportunity, Shota and Haru rescued the hostages, and then joined Kaede in a siege against the bandits.
"Alright, the plan is set.We'll make our move when it gets dark!"
"Um!"
Shibuki Haruhi, hidden in the shadows, nodded secretly, showing great appreciation for Hatake Kaede's action plan.
...
As night fell, the three began to split up and take action.
The three men easily infiltrated the group of undisciplined bandits.
Under the cover of night, the three captured a lone "lucky" hostage.Haru immediately used illusion magic to extract the hostage's and the location of the bandit leader.
After obtaining the necessary information, Hatake Kaede drew a kunai, covered the bandit's mouth, and slit his throat open.
Upon witnessing this bloody scene, the three little ones turned pale.
Shota looked at Hatake Kaede in horror: "Hey.Kaede, you.you."
Suppressing his nausea, Hatake Kaede said earnestly, "This is something we have to go through.The Hokage personally assigned this mission; isn't the purpose to make us see blood?"
"Otherwise, why give us this one out of so many C-level missions?And what about -sensei Teruharu's actions?Don't you understand what this means?"
"This is a required course for ninjas, not a 'ninja game' at the ninja academy.We'll be killing people sooner or later.If you don't have that awareness, you shouldn't be a ninja.Just go home!"
The Third Hokage wanted to hone them, hoping they would experience blood and fire and quickly become capable ninjas.Only through trials could they unleash their dazzling brilliance.
Shota lowered his head and said, "I know, but.but even so."
"That's too cruel?We're ninjas."
After a moment of calm, Hatake Kaede looked around and stood up.Though his face was still pale, he forced himself to drag the body into the bushes and whispered, "Don't forget the rules of the ninja.Missions come first."
Shota and Haru quickly composed themselves.Although they were still trembling and pale, they said firmly, "We're entrusting the leadership of the bandits to you.Be careful in everything you do."
Then, the two disappeared into the night.
Hatake Kaede let out a long breath, desperately suppressing the nausea.Gritting his teeth, he slapped himself, regaining his composure.
Since I've chosen to become a ninja, I can't regret it.I can't be inferior to those two kids from before!
Hatake Kaede concealed his presence and quietly approached the bandit leader's house.Based on the information from the slain bandits, Hatake Kaede quickly located the bandit leader's room.
[Heh~ You little rascal, you know how to enjoy yourself!]
The bandit leader's room was easy to spot; it was the best and only two-story wooden cabin in the stronghold.
Hatake Kaede approached the house silently and lightly jumped onto the roof.He could hear sounds of drinking and joking coming from inside the house.
Kaede quietly moved the tiles aside to carefully observe the situation inside the house.
A bald, burly man was seen embracing a woman in her thirties.The woman had a slender figure, but her looks were average.The man was drinking and eating, while casually flirting with the woman in his arms.
Just then, footsteps sounded outside the house.It turned out to be some henchmen from the mountain stronghold delivering food to the leader's room.
Hatake Kaede flashedApproaching the henchman from behind, he knocked him unconscious and then steadily caught the food from his hands.
Drag the henchman to a dark place and snap his neck, then use a transformation spell to turn him into the henchman.
During his training in medical ninjutsu under Tsunade, Hatake Kaede also gained a lot of knowledge about poisons.As the saying goes in his previous life, medicine and poison are inseparable; a highly skilled doctor is often also a master of poisons.
Hatake Kaede entered the leader's room, placed the poisoned food in front of the leader, and then respectfully withdrew.
The bandit leader was already quite drunk and his reactions were no longer sharp, so he didn't notice anything amiss.He just kept eating and drinking, groping the woman in his arms.
"Hehehe, you're still the prettiest!You'd better serve me well later!" The bandit leader, slightly drunk, looked at the woman in his arms with a lewd grin, kneading her soft breasts as he spoke.
"Oh dear You're so annoying" the woman exclaimed coquettishly, feigning reluctance."I'm already yours!I even abandoned my family for you!"
The bandit leader laughed heartily after hearing this, took a bite of the poisoned food in front of him, and said, "Hahaha.Little beauty, am I more powerful or is your sickly husband more powerful?"
The woman punched the bandit leader's chest a few times and said shyly, "Don't mention that sickly old man, he belongs to you now.Of course you're the better one."
"Hahaha.Little beauty, you're so sexy.Come on, let me feed you." With that, the bandit leader put the poisoned food in front of him into the woman's mouth.
Hatake Kaede quietly hid outside the door, and soon heard the bandit leader shout, "Hey, what's wrong with you?" Then there was a "bang," and the bandit leader went silent.
After waiting a while, Hatake Kaede pushed open the door and came in.He saw two people foaming at the mouth, their bodies convulsing as they collapsed to the ground.Hatake Kaede stepped forward and checked their pulses, confirming that they were both lifeless.
Hatake Kaede dragged the two corpses onto the bed and covered them with a blanket.Then, he used a transformation jutsu to become the bandit leader.He pinched his throat, changing his voice to different ones, and only after confirming that one sounded exactly like the bandit leader's did he cough and walk out the door.
As he stepped outside the door, Hatake Kaede shouted, cursing, "Where are they?Where have they all gone?Get over here right now!"
As Hatake Kaede roared, the nearby bandits lit their lamps and ran out, their clothes disheveled.
The bandits asked all at once, "Boss, boss, what happened?Are you going to kill someone?"
Hatake Kaede jumped in front of the person who had just spoken and smacked him on the head several times.
Hatake Kaede angrily cursed, "Chop, chop, chop!All you do is chop.You don't use your brain at all."
Seeing their leader so irritable, the other bandits didn't dare to utter a sound.
Hatake Kaede pointed at them and yelled, "You're all useless!How would you survive without me?Go and call everyone over here, there's a big deal coming up!"
The bandits' eyes lit up; they couldn't wait to know the details.The bandit who had just been beaten mustered his courage and asked, "Boss, what big deal?"
"Hmph!Of course, it's a huge deal that will make everyone stuffed.Call all the brothers in the stronghold over.Remember, after we finish this job, we'll no longer be bandits.No one will have to worry about going hungry anymore."
Upon hearing that it was such a big deal, the bandits' eyes lit up with excitement, and they hurriedly ran towards the door.
"Thank you, boss.We'll go get help right away."
After the bandits left, a figure landed.It was Sarutobi Shota.Shota said, "The people have been rescued and handed over to Haru for safekeeping.Haru is also keeping watch on the perimeter to prevent any from escaping.What about the bandit leader?Is he dead?"
Hatake Kaede nodded and said in a low voice, "He's dead from the poison."
Shota was silent for a moment, then said, "I understand.Let's wait for them to arrive!"
"Okay, you hide first and block their retreat.We'll attack from both sides."
Shota simply nodded, then vanished in a flash.
After waiting a while, about sixty or seventy bandits came in.One of them asked obsequiously, "Boss, boss, I heard you're going to lead us on a big deal?What kind of big deal is it?"
Hatake Kaede said, "Don't worry, it'll be huge, so big you won't have to worry for the rest of your life!" After saying that, Hatake Kaede looked up at the gathered bandits and asked, "Is everyone here?"
"Four brothers are still missing.I wonder where they've gone!Maybe we should wait for them."
"Hmph!We're not waiting for them.They're just unlucky to miss out on this great gift."
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