The village chief was a middle-aged man, roughly in his thirties.
Clad in simple clothes, his complexion was sallow, and his body seems to be haggard. His eyes were dull, reflecting long-term malnutrition.
Naruto glanced at him briefly, then lost interest.
According to the village chief, his father, the previous chief, had been killed by mountain bandits just a few days ago.
Unable to endure any longer, he had spent his family's savings and the village's last reserves to commission a mission from Konoha.
Orochimaru nodded in agreement, finally deciding on a night raid.
That night, the sky was tainted ink-black, and the earth was shrouded in darkness.
Gray clouds slowly gathered in the high heavens.
A chilling wind swept through as Naruto pressed his hand against the rocky wall, muttering with a touch of meaning, "Rain's coming…"
The bandits' stronghold was perched atop a steep mountain, with only one accessible road leading to it—a position easy to defend and hard to assault.
Of course, such terrain posed little challenge to ninja, whose thinking transcended that of ordinary people.
"Let's go." Orochimaru took the lead, moving effortlessly up the steep cliff as though walking on flat ground.
The two women followed closely, with Naruto bringing up the rear to guard against unexpected dangers.
Earlier, Kushina and Mikoto's training in walking on water proved to have paid off.
During the climb, Kushina encountered a mishap. The cliff, worn down by years of wind and rain, crumbled under her footing.
Her foot slipped, and she plummeted straight down.
Naruto reacted swiftly, casting a chakra-infused steel wire to catch Kushina in midair.
"Sorry, Naruto."
"It's fine. Let's keep moving."
After some time scaling the cliffs, the three members of Team Seven spotted the brightly lit bandit stronghold in the distance.
Silently, they infiltrated the stronghold without alerting anyone.
Hiding behind a wooden shed, Orochimaru gestured for an immediate attack.
Uchiha Mikoto and Kushina hesitated, their faces flashing uncertainty.
The kunai in their hands seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.
Naruto, receiving the signal, activated the lightning chakra within him, weaving hand seals rapidly: Monkey, Dragon, Rat, Bird, Ox. Snake. Dog. Tiger. Monkey.
Orochimaru's golden, slit-pupil eyes flickered with a trace of surprise.
"That jutsu… a lightning release technique?"
"Chidori."
Zzzzzz…
The air crackled as though a thousand birds were chirping in unison, the sound sharp and piercing.
Naruto lowered his head, his right hand coated with blue-white arcs of light.
The lightning coalesced in his palm, electric currents crackling across his skin and stimulating his cells.
The shrill noise startled the bandits in the stronghold.
"An intruder! Kill them!" came the sharp cries of the bandit leader, spurring his men forward with spears and swords in hand.
Naruto knew Orochimaru wanted Team Seven to experience bloodshed firsthand—only those who've killed could truly be called ninja.
A ninja is an assassin.
Rather than waiting for the girls to act on their own, it was better to force their hands. The result would be the same.
"Fools."
Naruto charged straight ahead, thrusting his glowing hand forward. In an instant, the spear-wielding bandit was impaled, his lifeless eyes staring blankly as he crumpled to the ground, blood streaming from his mouth.
Withdrawing his hand, Naruto noticed the warm blood coating his skin.
As time passed, the air grew thick with the stench of blood, and Naruto wrinkled his nose in discomfort.
The sheer number of bandits was overwhelming, leaving him mentally drained from the endless slaughter.
Naruto's face, drenched in blood, curled into a twisted smile that resembled a demon from the depths of hell.
"Gulp…"
The remaining bandits swallowed nervously, hesitation creeping into their hearts. But being fugitives, they knew surrender would bring no better fate. They chose to fight to the death, hoping to carve out a slim chance of survival.
"After all, it's just a brat! Everyone, together! Wear him down!"
This rallying cry ignited their spirits like gasoline thrown on a fire, and the bandits charged with renewed vigor.
"Kill him!"
Naruto's peripheral vision caught sight of the two women crouched behind him, trembling and unmoving.
"Tch."
This wouldn't do. If this continued, the purpose of hardening them would be lost.
Feigning exhaustion, Naruto let his chakra falter. His breathing grew labored, and the Chidori in his hand flickered dimly.
"Hahaha! The brat's done for! Finish him!"
Seeing Naruto's apparent fatigue, the bandits' faces twisted with savage glee as they surged forward faster.
Mikoto, watching the approaching tide of enemies, finally found her resolve. Weaving hand seals, she shouted:
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A blazing fireball erupted from her mouth, engulfing the front ranks of the bandits and leaving only charred remains in its wake.
The mixed scent of burnt flesh and blood permeated the air, an indescribable stench that assaulted their senses.
"Ugh…"
The overpowering smell churned Naruto's stomach, forcing him to retch.
It'd be a while before he could stomach barbeque again.
"Stop dawdling and get moving!"
Naruto shouted at the two women. Though he usually doted on them, this was no time for leniency.
The women exchanged a glance before finally gripping their kunai tightly and joining the fray.
Only then did Orochimaru nod in satisfaction.
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