After Shinichi's explanation, Nonō and Minato quickly realized that this entire plan was Hirito's idea.
Not only could they increase their actual combat experience, but they could also earn bounties, killing two birds with one stone.
Of course, to avoid revealing their identities as Konoha shinobi, all four of them needed to use the Transformation Technique.
"hanara, with the strength of a Chūnin…" Shinichi explained solemnly. "Wandering ninjas like this, who are offered bounties in exchange for gold, often have their own special abilities."
"And their characters can be cunning, cruel, or outright vicious…"
He paused for a moment, considering his next words.
Deciding to give a more thorough explanation, Shinichi began to detail the different types of wandering ninjas.
"Wandering ninjas are generally divided into two categories," he began.
"The first type consists of those who weren't trained by an official ninja village. They might have learned about chakra by chance, wandering between countries and secretly picking up bits of ninjutsu. But most of them only scratch the surface of the techniques they learn."
"As a result, their ninjutsu isn't systematic, and some of them don't even know the basic Three Body Technique."
Hirito recalled the robbers they encountered while escorting Takeuchi Ryo. They had seemed to know a basic Earth Style ninjutsu, but as soon as Hirito engaged them, it was clear their taijutsu was unrefined.
Or rather, it couldn't even be called taijutsu. They simply relied on chakra to boost their strength and speed.
"The second type…" Shinichi's expression grew more serious. "These are former ninjas from various ninja villages. They received formal training and are often quite powerful. But for various reasons, they became rogue ninjas."
"This kind of ninja always has a trump card. Otherwise, they wouldn't have survived after going rogue."
Hirito asked, "So, do we have any specific information about our target this time?"
Shinichi shook his head. "Not much. The best estimate is that he's at the Chūnin level."
"There was a bounty hunter with Chūnin-level strength who took on this mission but failed and was killed by hanara."
"Why not send Jōnin after him?" Nonō asked curiously.
Shinichi chuckled, but the laughter wasn't directed at her.
"Do you know what it means to be a Jōnin?" he asked.
"Jōnin are the core elite of each ninja village, highly talented individuals who represent the very best in strength and strategy. They are also involved in important decisions, such as voting for the Hokage."
"Even in the Five Great Ninja Villages, there aren't that many Jōnin. So why would a Jōnin bother hunting down a rogue like this?"
"Bounty hunters are people who value their lives. Hanara has never targeted anyone famous, so we can assume his strength is at best that of an Elite Chūnin."
"Oh…" Hirito, Minato, and Nonō nodded, absorbing the information.
Hirito, especially, found it enlightening. Perhaps due to his past experiences and his interactions with the Hyuga clan, he had always assumed that Jōnin were as common as leaves on the ground.
In reality, there were only about a hundred or two hundred Jōnin in a large village.
Of course, if you included retired or clan ninjas who had the skill level of Jōnin but didn't hold the rank, that number would be harder to gauge.
Inside a hotel room on the second floor, Nonō was tending to Minato's wounds.
"When my chakra recovers, I'll use the [Healing Technique] to speed up your healing," Nonō said as she applied bandages.
"Thanks, Nonō. I really appreciate it," Minato said with a bright smile, showing no signs of discomfort despite the pain.
The injury had occurred during their attempt to capture Hanara.
A few hours earlier, with Watanabe Shinichi's help, they had quickly located Hanara's hideout.
Shinichi signaled the team to attack freely while he remained hidden, ready to provide backup if needed.
As the fastest member of the group, Hirito launched the first probing attack. He quickly noticed that, while Hanara's taijutsu wasn't highly refined, it was effective and dangerous, with attacks coming from unusual angles.
Hirito dodged with Shunpo, his speed increasing sharply. He struck with a Gentle Fist to the abdomen and leaped back.
"I sealed one of his chakra points. Minato, go!"
Minato and Nonō immediately followed up, flanking Hanara from either side. First came a volley of shuriken, followed by close combat with kunai.
This battle was different from anything they had faced before. Hanara was a seasoned rogue ninja with years of experience, and his combat skills were sharp and efficient.
Minato quickly felt the pressure. Hanara was stronger, and their speeds were evenly matched. Minato had to rely on his heightened reflexes and dynamic vision to dodge and counterattack.
But hanara grew irritated by the blond boy's agility. He hated fighting prodigies.
Realizing his movements were restricted by the Gentle Fist strike, hanara shifted his focus to Nonō.
"Water Style: Water Chaos!"
Hanara spewed a torrent of water at Minato, using the distraction to charge at Nonō, his kunai aimed at her leg.
"Haha! You brats from Konoha shouldn't have come after me!" he sneered, a manic grin spreading across his face.
The kunai he stabbed into Nonō's leg flashed with the red glow of a paper bomb, ready to detonate.
"Explode!!"
BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the battlefield. Nonō's lower body was blown apart. But before hanara could celebrate, Nonō's body dissipated with a puff of smoke.
"A Shadow Clone!?" hanara cursed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In that moment of distraction, Minato unleashed three curved shuriken.
Hanara's experience saved him. Though caught off guard, he managed to jump out of the way just in time.
Minato's eyes glinted. He's airborne… A perfect opportunity!
"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Technique!"
Several fireballs shot toward hanara, fast and deadly.
He chose the Phoenix Fire Technique over the Great Fireball Technique because it was faster.
"Nonō!" Minato called.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Nonō shouted, sending a powerful gust of wind to amplify the fireballs.
The flames tripled in size and accelerated, engulfing hanara in a fiery inferno. His screams filled the air as his body was consumed by the fire.
But before they could celebrate, Hirito's voice interrupted them.
"That was an Earth Clone. He's not dead yet."
"What?" Minato's heart skipped a beat as he sensed movement beneath them. He grabbed Nonō and leaped into the air just as sharp spikes shot up from the ground, aiming to impale them.
Caught midair with nowhere to go, they were about to be skewered when Hirito and Nonō's voices rang out simultaneously.
(End of the Chapter).
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