The other side of Changpu Mountain:
"Where does your leader reside?"
"The leader… he lives in the largest tile-roofed house at the back…" After extracting the desired information, Kai delivered the final blow. The bandit crumpled to the ground, his twitching ceasing after a few moments. Kai's Sharingan slowly receded, his eyes returning to their natural black. Having dealt with the bandits in that dwelling, Kai stepped outside, briefly surveyed the large tiled house in the distance, and then proceeded to the next room…
In the inky blackness of the night, the two young ninjas continued their grim work. From initial unfamiliarity, their movements became more fluid, their hearts gradually growing numb. They were becoming, undeniably, qualified ninjas. After silencing the last bandit in their assigned areas, they converged before the large tiled house. Moments later, Kai joined Renzou Uchiha. They exchanged a silent nod, then leaped silently onto the roof, lifting a tile to peer down into the room below. They observed a corpulent man, easily weighing two to three hundred pounds, holding a woman in her thirties with a plain appearance in his arms. A table laden with wine and food stood before them, punctuated by bursts of the fat man's crude laughter.
"Being with a man of means, a hearty drinker like myself, is far better than clinging to your sickly husband. As long as you treat me well, the rewards will be yours," the fat man slurred, his gaze drunkenly fixed on the woman in his grasp, a leering smile on his face.
"Oh, is that so?" the woman replied, pushing weakly at the fat man's arm. "I abandoned my child for you."
Hearing the exchange, Renzou Uchiha and Kai exchanged a look, a silent shift in their strategy. Kai quietly replaced the tile, and the two of them dropped back to the ground with practiced silence, pressing themselves against the door. Renzou Uchiha gestured to Kai, who immediately understood and began weaving hand seals. One… two… three! "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" After the silent incantation, Renzou Uchiha kicked the door inward. Before the two occupants could react, Uchiha Kai unleashed a massive fireball, the roaring flames instantly engulfing every corner of the room.
"Ah!" The two within had no time to process the intrusion before being consumed by the raging inferno. After a few breaths, the flames subsided, and Renzou Uchiha and Kai cautiously entered the house. The air was thick with the acrid smell of burning flesh. The bodies of the fat man and the woman were charred beyond recognition. Ordinary people were simply no match for ninjas.
"Don't blame us. We are ninjas," Renzou Uchiha murmured softly, then turned and exited with Kai to rendezvous with Sarutobi Shinnosuke. On their way, Renzou Uchiha spotted the woman he had rescued earlier. She was clad in ill-fitting bandit clothes and hurrying towards the edge of the village. Hearing footsteps behind her, she spun around in terror, mistaking them for more bandits. Seeing Renzou Uchiha chasing after her, relief washed over her.
"Ninja-sama." The two Genin nodded to her, and Renzou Uchiha said immediately, "Follow us. We'll take you to your companions." With that, they continued forward, the woman trailing behind them, her steps unsteady. To accommodate her pace, Renzou Uchiha and Kai deliberately slowed their own.
After a while, the three reached the designated meeting point beneath a large tree, where they waited for Sarutobi Shinnosuke to return. The rescued woman, still shaken, could only squat silently beneath the tree, watching them.
"The mission was completed efficiently." The two looked up to see a figure perched on a thick tree branch. He jumped down, landing silently before them. It was Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
"Captain! X2" Renzou Uchiha and Kai nodded, standing at attention before their temporary leader, awaiting further instructions.
"I have secured the hostages and am holding them in a warehouse behind the village. I've given them directions for their return. At their pace, they should reach home in about three hours."
"Captain, there's also…" Sarutobi Shinnosuke followed Renzou Uchiha's gaze to the woman standing timidly nearby. She rose and bowed hesitantly towards him, awaiting her fate.
"Ah, another one? Then we'll escort her back to the village as well. That will conclude our mission."
"Yes! X2" The two agreed, and the three of them, with the rescued woman in tow, set off towards the village.
Fifteen minutes later, they caught up with the group of women who had been released earlier. All were in tattered clothing, supporting each other as they walked. Seeing figures suddenly appear, the women screamed, their eyes wide with fear, trembling.
"It's that ninja-sama!" One of them recognized Sarutobi Shinnosuke as their savior. Only then did they notice the woman accompanying the Genin.
"Sakurako!" Several women cried out, rushing to embrace her tightly.
"Alright, let's get out of here first. You'll be home in a little over two hours."
"Yes, thank you, ninja-sama." The women expressed their gratitude before continuing their journey under the escort of the three young ninjas.
As dawn broke, the women finally returned to their village, quickly discovered by the men who had risen early to work. Tearful reunions filled the air, while Renzou Uchiha, Kai, and Sarutobi Shinnosuke began their own journey back to Konoha amidst a chorus of heartfelt thanks.
…
"Yes, you completed this mission admirably." In his office, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the three before him, nodding with satisfaction. After this baptism of blood, the two children's ninja careers had truly begun. "You two go to the mission center to collect your reward. I have already made the arrangements. This mission will be classified as C-rank for your team."
"Yes, Hokage-sama. X2" Renzou Uchiha and Kai exited the office and headed to the mission hall on the first floor.
"How did it go? Any issues?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked, puffing on his pipe as he looked at his eldest son.
"No, their strength is considerable. Completing this type of mission is merely a step for them, a necessary experience," Sarutobi Shinnosuke replied with a shrug.
"Indeed. That's good." Sarutobi Hiruzen also breathed a sigh of relief. "You should spend more time with Asuma when you have the chance. He's always asking you to train with him. As it happens, there are no pressing tasks for the next two days. Perhaps you could dedicate that time to him for some special training. Alright, you may go."
"Yes," Sarutobi Shinnosuke nodded, a hint of resignation in his voice. Now that he was a Jōnin, he hadn't trained with Asuma in far too long. The upcoming days off would be a good opportunity to make up for it.
…
"Here is your mission reward. The total reward for this mission is 40,000 ryō. As the team leader, Jōnin Sarutobi Shinnosuke, you receive 50%, and the remaining half is divided equally between the two of you."
"Thanks," Renzou Uchiha said, accepting his share of 10,000 ryō, instantly feeling his wallet significantly heavier. Indeed, earning money as a ninja through missions is quite lucrative. This was only a C-rank mission, with half going to the Jōnin leader and the rest split between the Genin. When he could undertake B-rank and higher missions independently in the future, the rewards would be in the millions.
"Renzou." Kai's voice drew his attention. Renzou Uchiha turned, a questioning look on his face. "The clan leader's family has invited you to the Itachi birth celebration the day after tomorrow. I was asked to convey the message."
Hearing Kai's words, Renzou Uchiha suddenly remembered. The Uchiha clan was going to celebrate Itachi's birth. Since the clan leader himself had extended the invitation, it would be impolite not to attend. Besides, Renzou Uchiha held no prejudice against Itachi. With this in mind, Renzou Uchiha nodded to Kai. "No problem. Just let me know the details, and I'll be there the day after tomorrow."
"Good," Kai replied. The Itachi birth celebration… I'm actually looking forward to meeting Itachi.
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End of Chapter 49