The morning stars flickered faintly in the pre-dawn sky. At the edge of a desolate forest outside Windmill Village, the night wind rustled through the leaves.
In the distance, the village glowed with scattered lights.
"Come, drink…"
"This haul's fat sheep was loaded…"
"Eat up, chicken's hot…"
Rough voices carried intermittently through the air.
A group of bandits reveled late into the night. From the snippets Tatsumi overheard, they'd pulled off a major heist and were celebrating.
"Summoning Jutsu," Tatsumi whispered, biting his thumb and forming seals.
"Come, Abo Snakes!" He shook his trench coat dramatically.
Smoke cleared, revealing a swarm of half-meter-long snakes. They slithered silently into the village, blending with the tall weeds.
Tatsumi retraced his steps, following hidden markers back to the cave where the team had holed up. He sidestepped their traps and pushed aside the stone blocking the entrance.
Inside, a dim kerosene lamp cast a yellow glow. A fire would've been too conspicuous, its smoke a beacon, so they relied on the lamp. The stone sealed the cave, trapping the light within.
Tatsumi sat on the ground.
"What's the situation?" Rope Tree asked, barely containing his impatience.
"Hold on. Dabai's still relaying intel from her White Snake Corps," Tatsumi said.
Soon, Dabai hissed the details to him.
"Orochimaru-sensei was right," Tatsumi said, grabbing a stick to sketch a defense map in the dirt. "They've got numbers—about a hundred in the village. Four hidden outposts, two guards each."
"What's the plan? Rush in?" Rope Tree asked.
"No way," Tatsumi said, shaking his head. "Orochimaru-sensei's intel is vague. The biggest issue is their leader. He took out a special jonin, meaning he's at least that level—maybe full jonin."
"If he's a jonin, we're done," Rope Tree said, slumping. "We might as well grab souvenirs and bolt."
"I'm a genius, sure, but I'm not delusional enough to think I can kill a jonin at nine," Rope Tree added, pouting.
"Self-awareness, huh? I was worried you'd claim you're the Six Paths Sage reincarnated and charge a jonin head-on," Tatsumi teased.
"So, Orochimaru-sensei gave us this impossible mission," Tatsumi continued. "It's like a filthy beggar tapping your shoulder, saying, 'Ninja, your chakra's special. You'll be Hokage someday. Pick an S-rank jutsu—save the world!'"
"Would you buy that?" Tatsumi asked.
Rope Tree perked up. "Totally! That's me in three points!"
"Get lost, shameless!" Tatsumi shot back.
Their bickering eased the cave's tension, drawing a soft smile from Mikoto.
"There are two possibilities," Mikoto said, picking up Tatsumi's analysis. "Either the intel's wrong, or Orochimaru-sensei will handle the leader."
"Exactly," Tatsumi said. "Our job is the small fry. We're small fry too, but that makes it manageable."
"They're drunk now," he added. "We strike in the dead of night—around 3 a.m., when they're groggiest. Even if they're awake, their combat strength will be shot. That's our edge."
"And I've got a killer plan."
"What?" Rope Tree asked.
"Explosive tags."
Rope Tree flinched at the words, haunted by prior tag-heavy skirmishes with Orochimaru.
"With their numbers, we can't go head-on," Tatsumi said. "How many tags you got left?"
"Not many," Rope Tree said, rifling through his pack. "Used a ton on Orochimaru-sensei."
"Enough to make them regret it," Tatsumi said, eyeing the stash.
Despite their planning, nerves gnawed at them. This was their first time killing. Tatsumi's confidence masked a racing heart.
"Stick to the plan," he said firmly. "Do what you can. If it goes south, prioritize survival. Don't play hero and think you can take ten guys."
He drilled the warning into Mikoto and Rope Tree, then glanced at the sky. It was time.
At 3 a.m., the trio moved like vipers in the dark.
At a hidden outpost, two bandits yawned, stuck on night duty.
The older one dispensed grim wisdom to his younger partner. "…In Windmill Village, only the cruel and cunning survive. Cruelty isn't just fighting—it's striking when it counts. One brutal act, and everyone fears you. Years ago, a beggar tapped my shoulder, said I was the Six Paths Sage reborn…"
His voice cut off. Tatsumi's genjutsu had taken hold.
In the darkness, a kunai flashed, slicing through both their throats. Blood sprayed, a faint metallic scent rising.
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