Northwest of the Land of Fire.

  This regiohe Land of Rivers, the Land of Rain, and Kikyo Pass, was a chaotie. Yet, it also served as an important trade route eg several northwestern nations.

  As a result, the area bustled with activity.

  “So this is Hakuen Town?” Asuma looked around, taking in the unfamiliar sights of the town.

  “That’s right. I was here just a few months ago,” Kyoiodded. “Back then, a team of Sand Vilge shinobi attacked this pce, but we mao drive them back.”

  Sihe war ehe area had begun to recover, and many trade routes were being rebuilt.

  However…

  Being close to the Land of Rain and the Land of Rivers meant this pce often attracted bandits and rogue ninjas. While the presence of Konoha’s forces during the war had kept such threats at bay, the withdrawal of troops had left the area vulnerable. With only a few shinobi patrolling the borders, bandits began resurfag, f the town’s leader to issue a request for aid.

  Kyoichi leaned against a wall, activating his chakra sensing teique.

  “Got them!”

  To the northwest, toward the Land of Rivers, a group of wandering samurai had formed a gang of thieves. Emboldened by previous successful raids, they were still lingering in the area, tinuing to loot and pilge.

  “What’s the pn now, Sensei?” Kurenai asked, gng around.

  Around them, townsfolk were busy repairing streets and rebuilding homes. The main roads were mostly restored after a month’s effort. For now, the area seemed peaceful.

  “No rush. Let’s scout the area first a a feel for the terrain,” Kyoichi instructed.

  If it were just him, he could have stormed in and taken care of the bandits with ease. But with a squad to train, things were different.

  He g the three young shinobi.

  After some thought, Kyoichi said, “For missions ranked d above, there’s always a risk of bat. You o be ready to fight and kill at any time. Now, if I left the pnning to you, what would you do?”

  “Scout the terrairaps, and prepare defensive positions,” Asuma responded without hesitatioibook answers.

  “Where would you pce the traps?”

  “That’s…” Asuma hesitated, uo provide an answer right away. His ck of experience showed.

  Shisui thought for a moment before replying, “To the west. The Land of Rivers doesn’t have a hidden vilge, so it’s a hotspot for wandering samurai and rogue ninjas. Bandits often fangs there, and patrols tend to focus on that dire.”

  “Not bad. Your ’s police force has taught you well,” Kyoichi remarked.

  The Uchiha might be arrogant, but they were undeniably skilled. Unfortunately, the hawkish elements within the , particurly after the ails’ attack, were growing increasingly difficult to trol, even faku.

  Turning back to the three, Kyoichi instructed, “Head west, scout the area, a up traps. If you enter the enemy, assess the situation and decide whether to engage. Remember what I’ve taught you, and you should be fine.”

  “Yes, Sensei!”

  The trio set off as instructed.

  Kyoichi followed from a distance, while sending a shadow e to observe the townspeople rebuilding the area. Driving off bandits alone wouldn’t ehe long-term recovery of Hakuen Town.

  For young shinobi, even basic missions had yers of plexity.

  While Shisui, Asuma, and Kurenai patrolled, Kyoichi pulled out a book and began reading.

  It was a medical text oheory.

  Borrowed from the Third Hokage, this book plemehe system-gifted “Basic Medical Knowledge” he already possessed. In his spare time, Kyoichi would study it to deepen his uanding.

  Retly, his researto cell activation teiques had shown promise. While human skin has limited breathing capabilities, if cell activity were enhanced, could the skin absorb more oxygen and increase overall vitality?

  Experiments firmed the theory’s potential.

  His breathing teiques, particurly those involving chakra flow, saw signifit improvement. While he hadn’t reached the pinnacle of cell activation teiques, he believed he was on the right trabsp;

  By activating skin cells first and then gradually extending to blood and muscle tissue, a simplified version of the activation teique could bee a reality.

  Theoretically, the bes would extend to areas like Hashirama cells, taijutsu, and mediinjutsu iure—truly a long-term iment.

  After a while, Kyoichi set the book aside and shifted his attention to Kurenai.

  “Have they found the target?”

  Two to three kilometers ahead, Kurenai signaled with haures, holding kunai and shuriken ready.

  Kyoichi wasn’t too worried.

  In the past ten days, Kurenai had bee profit in the Body Flicker Teique, Asuma had mastered the Vacuum Bde, and Shisui’s improvements in swordsmanship and mobility were evident. Their collective strength should suffibsp;

  What ed him was how they would haheir first real kill.

  As the trio approached the bandits, who were wandering aimlessly after their ret plunder, Kyoichi mused, Perhaps it’s time to teach Kurenai chakra sensing teiques. Her natural talent for precision could make her excel at it.

  The differeween chakra sensing and Kurenai’s innate abilities y in range and focus. Chakra sensing allowed for broader dete, while Kurenai’s abilities were sharper in close proximity.

  Both had their uses.

  The wandering samurai soon came into view—a group stained with blood and carrying bags of loot. Judging by their appearahey had just killed and looted again.

  Shisui and the others took cover, having already set traps.

  A moment ter…

  Boom!

  Explosi out.

  “Such a waste!” Kyoichi sighed.

  The cost of those explosive tags was higher than the reward for a k mission. Only kids with wealthy backgrounds could afford such extravagance. Ordinary genin couldn’t dream of using them so liberally.

  Still, it was their first mission. The expense was uandable.

  “There are ninja among us!”

  Amid the chaos, the trio uheir attabsp;

  Fire Release teiques like Fireball Jutsu and Great Breakthrough added to the fusion, scattering the bandits. Taking advantage of the disorder, Kurenai threw shuriken, killing two or three in quick succession.

  Blood and charred flesh filled the air, creating a grisly se.

  “Charge!”

  Asuma was the first to react, enhang his kunai with Wind Release chakra to form a Vacuum Bde. He rushed into the fray.

  “I’ll support with genjutsu!”

  Though shaken, Kurenai quickly regained her posure, f seals for her genjutsu.

  “They’re just kids! Kill them!”

  Seeing their attackers were young, the bandits regained some of their heir killing i fring.

  But…

  Shisui was faster.

  Using es and transformation teiques, he infiltrated their ranks, bining stealth and swordsmanship to take them down one by one.

  “Retreat! Stay back-to-back or we’re all dead!”

  The bandits quickly regrouped, standing back-to-back with ons drawn.

  Kurenai activated her genjutsu, while Asuma closed in, pierg one bandit’s heart with his kunai. Blood spttered across his fabsp;

  Three or four bandits retaliated immediately, their bdes aimed straight for Asuma.

  “No tricks—just speed and ruthlessness. These guys are relentless,” Kyoichi muttered, their desperate ferocity.

  Caught off guard, Asuma froze.

  “ASUMA!”

  Kurenai shouted, hurling shuriken in a panibsp;

  Shisui intervened, cutting down one bandit.

  But the remaining bandits showed no mercy, sacrifig their wounded rades to focus entirely on killing Asuma. Their savage determination made them even more dangerous.

  Asuma faltered, his mind bnk.

  Just as the bdes were about to strike…

  g!

  A fsh of steel.

  The bandits’ ons shattered, followed by sprays of blood.

  Gcell