Got it. Here's the chapter without any headings or breaks:
The sun filtered through the dense canopy above, casting flickering shadows on the dirt path. The air was quiet, too quiet for Yuto's liking, and the creak of the merchant's cart seemed almost deafening in the stillness. Kiyomi walked ahead of the group, her sharp gaze scanning the forest, her dog Kuro padding silently by her side. Yuto, Shiro, and Airi followed, keeping a tight formation around the cart as instructed.
Yuto gripped his kunai tightly, his palms damp with sweat. His mother's voice echoed in his mind: "Most genin start with simple missions. Fetching cats or helping villagers." Yet his very first mission was an escort, something he knew carried more risk. That knowledge made him uneasy, though he tried to hide it.
"You're awfully quiet, Yuto," Shiro said, glancing at him with a grin. "Nervous?"
Yuto shrugged, forcing a small smile. "A little. Aren't you?"
"Not really. I've been waiting for something like this!" Shiro replied, spinning his kunai in his hand. "It's better than chasing after a cat, right?"
Before Yuto could respond, Airi cut in. "Stay focused. We're not here to chat." Her tone was sharp, but her eyes betrayed her own tension as they darted toward every shadow along the path.
Kiyomi's voice suddenly rang out from the front. "Kuro's acting strange. Stay close to the cart." The dog growled low, its ears flattening, and Yuto's stomach churned.
Then it happened. A hail of kunai shot out from the trees, striking the ground around them.
"Ambush!" Kiyomi shouted. "Defend yourselves!"
Yuto's heart jumped into his throat as he dove behind the cart, his breath coming in quick bursts. From the shadows, six figures emerged—four bandits armed with crude weapons and two rogue shinobi with scratched headbands.
The taller of the two shinobi, a muscular man with a cold, predatory gaze, stepped forward, his partner smirking as he followed. "Well, well," the taller man drawled, "a bunch of brats guarding a cart. How quaint."
Kiyomi stepped in front of her team, her kunai raised. "I'll handle the stronger one. The rest of you—work together and take down the others!"
"Yes, sensei!" Yuto and the others shouted, though the fear in his voice was unmistakable.
The bandits charged, their weapons raised. Yuto barely had time to react as one swung a rusty club at him. He raised his kunai just in time, the force of the impact rattling his arm.
"Get it together!" Shiro yelled, knocking the bandit's weapon aside with a precise strike. "This isn't practice!"
Yuto gritted his teeth, shaking off his hesitation. He ducked another swing and countered with a clumsy slash of his kunai, grazing the bandit's arm.
Airi moved with precision, sidestepping a charging bandit and slicing cleanly across his leg. She was efficient, but Yuto noticed her hands trembling as she fought. The scene felt surreal, like he was watching from outside his own body.
The wiry rogue shinobi hung back, forming hand seals. "Fire Style: Flame Wave!" he shouted, sending a wave of fire surging toward them.
Yuto froze, the flames barreling toward him, but Shiro yanked him out of the way just in time. "Don't just stand there!" Shiro snapped. "Fight back!"
Yuto's mind raced as he formed hand seals. "Fire Style: Flame Bullet!" he shouted, releasing a small burst of flames. It wasn't strong, but it forced the rogue shinobi to dodge, giving Airi an opening to strike. She darted in, slashing across the rogue's arm and drawing blood.
The rogue hissed in pain, his smirk twisting into a snarl. He lunged at Yuto, his kunai aimed for his throat. Yuto barely managed to block, the blade slicing through his sleeve and grazing his arm. The sharp sting brought him back into focus, and he countered with a Wind Style: Gale Palm, the gust of wind knocking the rogue back.
Shiro didn't waste the opportunity. He tackled the rogue to the ground, pinning him with surprising strength. Airi moved in without hesitation, driving her kunai into the man's chest.
Yuto froze, his breath caught in his throat as he watched the rogue shinobi gasp, blood pooling beneath him.
Meanwhile, Kiyomi faced off against the taller shinobi. He was fast, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision, but Kiyomi was faster. She whistled sharply, and Kuro lunged at the man, biting at his leg. The shinobi cursed, kicking the dog away, but the distraction allowed Kiyomi to land a deep slash across his side.
"You're strong for a chunin," the man sneered, blood dripping from his wound. "But you're out of your depth."
Kiyomi didn't respond, her focus unwavering. The man slammed his hand to the ground, shouting, "Earth Style: Stone Spikes!" Jagged rocks erupted from the ground, forcing Kiyomi to leap back. But she was ready, hurling a barrage of kunai that struck him with pinpoint accuracy.
The rogue shinobi staggered, cursing as he realized he was outmatched. With a growl, he disappeared into the trees, leaving his comrades behind.
The team regrouped, their breaths ragged, as Kiyomi tended to their injuries. "You did well," she said, her voice calm but firm. "This wasn't an easy fight, and you handled it better than I expected."
Yuto barely heard her. His eyes were fixed on the lifeless body of the rogue shinobi, blood still pooling around the corpse. He felt his stomach churn, the sight far more horrifying than he could have imagined.
Airi wiped her kunai on the grass, her hands trembling. She had been the one to deliver the killing blow, and her face was pale.
Yuto's mind raced. Could he do what she had done? Could he take a life if it came down to it? The thought weighed heavily on him as they prepared to move again.
The journey back to the village felt longer than it should have. The excitement of becoming a shinobi was gone, replaced by the harsh reality of their world. This wasn't a game. This was survival.
Hi hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.