For the second mission, Natsuro waited for a long time to receive the notification. This time, it wasn't an assignment from above, but one selected by Tenzo.
He understood that Tenzo was likely concerned about whether he had fully recovered, which was why the mission was delayed.
So he silently acknowledged the good intentions behind Tenzo's actions.
"Captain," He greeted as he arrived at the mission assembly point and saw Tenzo.
"Ink, you're the first one here again," Tenzo observed, his eyes brightening as he examined Natsuro. It seemed he had indeed recovered, which relieved him greatly. It was good that they hadn't led a prodigy down the wrong path.
"Mm, I'm fast."
"That's certainly true…" Tenzo couldn't deny it; His speed was even faster than his own. Truly, he was a prodigy.
Soon, Hyena and Fox also arrived, and they reviewed the details of the mission.
Compared to the previous task, this one was much more reasonable. The target was finally a ninja, although not particularly strong. It seemed they were still taking his recovery into consideration.
Fox and Hyena didn't express any objections, suggesting they had no issues with the mission.
"Let's start the operation!" Tenzo commanded, and the second mission began.
Natsuro quietly followed behind, feeling a sense of frustration.
He understood Tenzo's good intentions, but the approach didn't align with his goals.
He had joined the Anbu to gain combat experience, not for simple tasks. Gradually increasing difficulty might be beneficial for novices, but for him, it felt like a waste of time.
During the first mission, Natsuro couldn't voice his concerns. He knew he had to face bloodshed, and he needed to adapt to it.
The proper process would be to get used to the blood of animals first and then gradually shift to human targets. Even though being a ninja is a special profession, having to deal with hundreds of people was excessive.
Thus, during the first mission, he would pause every time the task was mentioned, not out of fear, but out of uncertainty about whether he could handle it.
In fact, Natsuro felt unfamiliar with himself after the mission, as he had not realized he had such a side…
Now that he had seen blood, and so much of it, he had already adapted. If he hadn't fully recovered, this task would be suitable, but he was adjusted now!
So, having another experience-raising mission felt like a complete waste of time for him.
The only way to avoid wasting time was… Natsuro's eyes flashed as he made a decision.
This time, the target was a rogue ninja of Chūnin rank from Konoha, who had recently betrayed his comrades and fled, though he had sustained some injuries. Thus, his speed was compromised.
Tenzo quickly coordinated with some reconnaissance Anbu, leading Natsuro and the others in pursuit of the target.
During the pursuit, Tenzo explained the operational plan.
As expected, Natsuro was to make the move, while Hyena would support him.
"Understood," both Hyena and Natsuro responded simultaneously.
Although he had his own plans, he wasn't foolish enough to confront his captain at this moment.
Soon, Tenzo's team located the rogue ninja's position. It seemed the ninja had chosen to heal his wounds first, so he hadn't run far...
Isn't that asking for trouble?
Natsuro almost wanted to complain, but it was not surprising. Some people's thought processes were indeed flawed, and not everyone had a well-developed plan. This rogue likely acted on impulse, not considering the escape route.
At this moment, Tenzo was about to offer Natsuro some advice on techniques, but he was interrupted when he saw him suddenly brandishing a kunai with crackling lightning arcs on his arm…
"Ink?!"
Immediately, Tenzo realized that he hadn't waited to hear the full plan and was about to act directly. He instinctively wanted to stop him, but Natsuro's kunai had already been thrown towards the rogue ninja.
Hyena and Fox also reacted, confused as to why Ink, who had performed so well before, was now acting so recklessly.
Even though the target was just a Chūnin, such a reckless approach could alert him. While their team could prevent the ninja from escaping, if the ninja was focused solely on fleeing, it could make their task even more challenging.
Indeed, the children of prestigious families—could they not handle even a single mission?
At this moment, Tenzo and his team felt a sense of disappointment, but before they could fully process it, Natsuro's figure had vanished from their sight...
"!!!"
The trio's eyes widened in shock. How had he disappeared, and why hadn't they noticed?
Their minds raced, completely forgetting their previous disappointment, and they turned their attention to the rogue ninja…
The rogue ninja was sprinting down the main road, internally cursing his fate. He thought he had only killed a comrade and stolen a scroll of jutsu. Why was he discovered so quickly? He had to escape the Land of Fire as soon as possible, or else Konoha's pursuers would catch up.
To make matters worse, the comrade he killed had thrown a kunai at him, forcing him to waste time healing. He should have been long gone by now, but he needed to hurry to avoid Konoha's pursuit.
Just then, a wind-breaking sound accompanied by a thunderous crackling reached his ears. Had they caught up so soon? Damn it!
The rogue ninja quickly assessed the situation and the likely location of the projectile, but…
He had underestimated the speed of Natsuro's kunai. Utilizing a bit of lightning release, the kunai's speed and power were formidable.
"So fast…"
The rogue ninja widened his eyes. It was already too late to dodge. The kunai sliced through his cheek, and he tumbled awkwardly on the ground.
However, the rogue ninja didn't get a chance to rise again. He didn't even notice the presence of a ninja wielding a drawn long blade above him until the blade descended upon his neck.
In that brief moment, realizing the situation was futile.
In less than a second, the blade struck, decapitating him.
Natsuro observed the rogue ninja's corpse, silently confirming his identity to ensure it wasn't a substitution jutsu.
Although he didn't believe the rogue had a chance to form seals, it was always better to be sure. Once confirmed, he turned his gaze toward the hiding spot of Tenzo and the others.
At this point, Tenzo and his team had witnessed the entire process of Natsuro decapitating the rogue ninja, leaving them bewildered. They still hadn't processed what had happened…
Who could tell them what had just occurred?
Hadn't he been right beside them just moments ago?
Why had he suddenly appeared next to the rogue ninja and severed his head?
Disappointment? That emotion had vanished completely. All that remained was shock and confusion...
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