With time, I started to develop a system. The longer we stayed out there, the more Suna squads and teams we ran into, the more experience I gained.
Some people say that failure is the mother of all learning, or something, but I would like to ask them how much the dead learn. Because out here, failure means death, cold, wet, and dark.
I didn't fail, so I got to learn. And from that knowledge and experience, I ended up with the current system.
We would only go out hunting once a week. Or rather, we would rest for at least a week after each fight. And every time, we would pull all the way back to our main hideout.
Once we had rested and healed, we would set out, spend a day moving to one of our outer sites, and hunt from there. This allowed us to protect the location of our secret base, making it a safe haven in this land of endless rivers.
It was almost fun, despite all the rivers, we never did much water walking, always running through the forests. The larger rivers were simply too populated, it was how everyone else got around.
You need to get somewhere? Take a boat down the river to it, easily. But as assassins and murderers, we had to hide in the shadows. Can't let the civilian population suffer under the war fought on their lands.
Rain had suffered hard from that, and so far, both Konoha and Suna seem to agree not to devastate Rivers' economy.
So, still just smallish teams running around, trying to prepare for the big war. Suna is trying to build up forces inside Rivers properly, and Konoha is trying to stop them, but without being able to send as many people.
Konoha had the most shinobi for sure, but also the most places they needed them. So yeah, we four, running around in here, with hundreds of enemies, a lovely time indeed.
However, in all honesty, it only highlighted the severity of the situation. They had to rely largely on hope and prayer that small teams could somehow make a difference by doing the dirty work.
Sometimes, it felt like we were ghosts.
We didn't fight for territory. We didn't hold positions. We didn't even leave bodies behind if we could help it. We moved like shadows, swept through a region, severed a thread in Suna's growing web, and vanished before anyone could trace the blood back to us.
And they were bleeding, not in the loud, obvious way that makes headlines, but in the slow, agonizing drip of attrition.
One almost got used to staying out here, though there had been a lot of bumps in the road to get to this point.
While my personal strength was enough to ensure my safety for the most part. I still wasn't so strong that numbers couldn't take me down, and an ambush was impossible with Koij, Kuro, and me all keeping watch around us.
So I wasn't worried, I could always escape, and the clan would have my back. So, should things go wrong, I could have the others cover my retreat and face another round of so-called punishment for abandoning the mission.
Though it was far more likely that I would just get away with saying that I failed it and then that would be it.
After all, they couldn't punish people for failing a mission; there was always a risk of that.
Still, even without the risk of dying, the fights weren't dull. Some ended quickly in ambushes, and others were full-blown battles.
Those were my favorites.
I had to admit, I really liked the thrill. Throwing myself into a fight, I felt so alive when fighting, often, I took risks just to get that high.
I had us assault teams far bigger than ours, just because fighting only one Elite wasn't enough, unless they could push me, I wasn't satisfied.
That did mean we all ended up suffering from injuries of various degrees, but everyone was strong, and we worked together to keep it to a minimum.
This is why there is a one-week rest period between fights, allowing everyone to fully recover.
Sometimes I wondered if I had gone too far.
The thrill of charging into a superior force, gambling everything on precision and teamwork—on me—it was addicting.
Or rather, I think it was because of how alive I felt, how much control I felt, on the battlefield, I was in control I was powerful, and feared nothing. Nothing really made me feel so alive.
At times, I couldn't help but wonder if I was okay or if maybe my time inside the seal had affected me. Some part of me told me that spending as much time as I had, imprisoned on the moon, couldn't have been good for me.
But I felt alright, so I think I was okay, though I knew one thing. I hated being bored.
In some ways, I was almost like Koji, unable to sit still.
So we threw ourselves into the mission, spending our days fighting, resting, and wanting to fight more.
Thankfully, there were plenty of people to fight out here, and plenty of puppets to break. All this combat did allow me to grow stronger. Became a true blade forged in fire. "it's about time we return, get an update, let the world know we are still alive." I finally said, and I took stock of my dwindling supplies.
Koji didn't look up from where he was crouched by the fire pit, carefully stoking the embers with a branch stripped bare of bark. "Finally, I was starting to wonder about who we might have to eat, because Kuro and I will start starving soon."
"Yes, yes, you two eat a lot, honestly, I'm starting to suspect you two belong to the Akimichi Clan," I fired back. I had levelled up my trash-talking a lot, though I still had much to learn.
"Rude," Koji muttered, flicking a bit of charcoal at my foot. "You take that back. We're lean, agile hunters. Akimichi can't sneak through a pine grove without setting off every squirrel within a mile."
"You think you sneak through groves?" I shot back, arching a brow. "I can hear you coming a good three seconds before Kuro."
Kuro, to his credit, huffed where he lay curled near Koji's bedroll, clearly pretending not to listen. He twitched his ears once, though. I knew he was listening.
Koji just grinned, "Hear us? And here I thought you Hyūga types only knew how to use those fancy eyes of yours."
I scoffed. "Just because I can see everything doesn't mean I can't hear you breathing like a dying pig."
Koji clutched his chest dramatically. "A dying pig? That's harsh, even for you."
I smirked. "Then maybe stop wheezing every time we climb a tree."
"That was one time," he grumbled. "And I had just been stabbed."
"And whose fault was that?" I asked, tilting my head. "Had you been better, you could have avoided that. Kuro didn't get hit."
Over the months, I had developed a good relationship with Kuro, mostly because we both enjoyed making fun of Koji.
Kuro let out a low, rumbling growl that I was pretty sure translated to something smug. Then he thumped his tail once against the ground and rolled onto his side like he was basking in the praise.
Koji narrowed his eyes at him. "Traitor."
"Smart," I corrected. "He knows who the strongest member of the team is."
"That's debatable," Koji said, squinting at me like he was trying to gauge how serious I was.
"It's not."
He rolled his eyes but didn't argue further. Instead, he reached over and scratched behind Kuro's ears, sighing softly. "You know, I think he likes you more than he likes me."
"I don't blame him," I said, holding up my hand." I mean, I'm better looking than you, smarter than you, stronger." I held up three fingers. "Anything I forgot?"
Koji looked skyward with exaggerated exasperation. "Humble. That's the one. You're clearly the humblest kunoichi to ever walk the continent."
I gave him a regal nod. "Exactly. I'm glad you're finally starting to understand."
Both Haruto and Arata just looked on from the side, having grown used to this sight long ago.
Then Koji spoke, quieter this time. "You've changed, you know."
I blinked, turning to glance at him. "That so?"
"Yeah," he said. "When I first met you, you were, well, cold as ice. But now? You are a fire, unstoppable."
He didn't look at me. Just kept his eyes on the embers.
That one caught me off guard. Not because he was wrong—he wasn't. But because I hadn't expected him to notice. Or say it out loud.
"Well, I didn't think you mattered." I said eventually. "Figured I would never see you again after that mission, so why make friends?"
Koji let out a low chuckle—not offended, just amused. "Harsh, but fair."
I shrugged. "I didn't think I would leave the clan much, but well, here we are, in the thick of it."
Koji nodded slowly. "Yeah. Funny how things work out."
"Well, that's enough of that. If we continue, those two old men are gonna make fun of us, and it's my job to be fun of you."
"Us?" Koji echoed, raising a brow. "You mean you. I've been perfectly professional."
Kuro let out a very deliberate snort.
Even Arata chuckled from where he was cleaning one of his kunai. "Sure you have."
Haruto didn't look up from his gear, but he added flatly, "Those trees to the west might want a word about that."
Koji visibly stiffened. "What trees?"
Haruto didn't look up from his gear. "The ones west of here. A few marks in the bark, that's all."
Koji's voice stayed too casual. "Marks? Could've been anything. Could've been foxes."
I gave him a sidelong glance. "What's this about?"
He flushed lightly, ears tinged pink, and went quiet.
Arata gave a soft hum and smirked without looking up. "Some people leave more behind than they mean to."
Koji shot him a glare. Arata didn't flinch, just continued sharpening his blade.
I narrowed my eyes slightly. Something was up.
But Koji was already muttering under his breath, busying himself with tightening a strap on his vest.
I debated pushing. But honestly? I had bigger things to focus on.
Probably just one of Koji's weird forest habits. Or maybe they had caught him jerking off in the woods.
I didn't hold it against him. We'd all been out here for too long, and there wasn't exactly a lot of privacy in the field. If I ever caught him sneaking off again, I might tease him just to watch him squirm—but deep down, I understood.
After all, my current body was still young, and no matter how much ancient patience I carried from my past life, it didn't make me immune to teenage hormones.
So yeah, maybe Koji had his odd moments. We all did.
And if the others were smirking about something he left behind on a tree, it probably wasn't worth digging into.
"Tomorrow, we will return to the Konoha basecamp," I said, standing and brushing dirt from my legs. "We'll resupply, meet with Commander Nara, and see if the situation has changed. Maybe even take a few days to rest."
I turned and pointed straight at Koji. "Get our clothes washed. Especially you, Dog-boy. You smell."
Koji sniffed himself and made a face.
"It's the scent of something," I muttered. I didn't think it was a particularly bad smell, but I couldn't seem to get it out of my nose, and that alone was annoying me.
Kuro gave a few barks, and Koji instantly went all embarrassed, clearly even his partner agreed with me.
Haruto coughed into his hand, suspiciously close to a laugh.
Koji just grumbled, "This is bullying. I'm filing a formal complaint."
I gave him a lazy wave. "File it with the river. You'll be in it by dawn."
(End of chapter)