The daily life of genins consists of tasks like picking up trash, babysitting, doing farm work, and finding lost pets.
As novice ninjas who had just started out, they were mostly assigned D - rank missions.
Finally, when they received their tenth D - rank mission, the "second prince" of Konoha couldn't take it anymore.
"No! I don't want to take these boring missions anymore!" Asuma jumped up and down in the mission hall of the Hokage Building, on the verge of throwing a tantrum, crying, making a scene, and even threatening to hang himself.
Yuuhi Mahiro looked rather helpless upon seeing this. Kurenai and Asakawa Kiyosuke secretly gave each other a thumbs - up.
They also felt that the daily routine of picking up trash wasn't what they wanted. A ninja's life should be more exciting. Such a peaceful life was no way to be a ninja.
"You're still genins who just graduated from the academy not long ago. It's not suitable for you to take on higher - level missions now." Yuuhi Mahiro knew that kids were impulsive and spoke up to stop them.
Hiruzen Sarutobi met his son's stubborn gaze and knew that his son was throwing a tantrum at him. He felt a bit guilty. As the Hokage, he had to put the village first and couldn't spend much time with his family. He sighed and said, "Given that you've completed the previous few missions quite well, I'll make an exception and give you a C - rank mission this time."
The three of them cheered. Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the scroll of C - rank missions, picked one that could train these young ones, and said, "There's a group of bandits on Somnus Mountain, 25 kilometers southeast of Konoha Village. They've kidnapped the employer's son. The mission is to eliminate them all and rescue the hostage. What do you think? Do you want to take it?"
Eliminate them all, leaving none alive?
This was really a suitable mission for them.
Yuuhi Mahiro looked at his three subordinates and said, "I'll take this mission."
"Yosh! Finally, a more exciting mission!" Asuma jumped up happily. Kurenai was also looking forward to it. Asakawa Kiyosuke frowned, then relaxed, as if he had convinced himself in his heart.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took in the expressions of the three young ones, nodded, and watched as the four of them left the mission hall.
After getting their equipment in order, Yuuhi Mahiro led the three of them to the destination.
On the way, he told them, "This group of bandits has between fifty and seventy members, and there could even be more. The employer wants us to wipe out all the bandits, so not a single one can be let go. Also, we must ensure that the hostage isn't harmed."
Asakawa Kiyosuke asked, "What does the hostage look like?"
Yuuhi Mahiro took out a portrait. It was a teenager who seemed to be about their age. "Remember what he looks like. We need to ensure his safety. After successfully rescuing him, don't let any bandit escape. Eliminate them all. This is the mission."
"Is the lives of a group of people only worth a C - rank mission?" Asakawa Kiyosuke shook his head, secretly thinking that human lives were cheap. But he also knew that this was the way of this world. To be a ninja, one must be prepared to take someone's life for a mission.
It was just for the mission.
The four of them rushed on their way quickly and arrived at the destination in the afternoon. After getting information from the employer, they headed towards Somnus Mountain.
At dusk, they hid in the trees, looking down at the bandits, who reeked of banditry, gathering together, chatting, joking, drinking, and eating meat, living a carefree life. The four of them, hidden, ate the bitter military rations.
Yuuhi Mahiro said, "This time, unless your lives are in danger, I won't interfere. Kiyosuke, you make the plan. Remember, the mission is to wipe them out. Understood?"
"Yes."
Yuuhi Mahiro disappeared.
Asakawa Kiyosuke said, "In that case, I'll go take out the bandit leader. Asuma, you and Kurenai sneak to where the hostage is and rescue him. Then, I'll disguise myself as the bandit leader and gather all the bandits. You two come back as quickly as possible and we'll take out those guys together."
"I object. I'll take out the bandit leader." Asuma raised his hand.
"Really? Then I'll go with Kurenai～" Kiyosuke drawled his words. Kurenai nodded and said, "I have no objection." As a genjutsu - type ninja, direct combat wasn't suitable for her.
Asuma looked at Kurenai and suddenly said, "I'll go with Kurenai to rescue the hostage. You go. Remember to be quick."
"Tsk, got it. We'll act when it gets dark."
"Okay."
As night fell, the three of them split up to carry out their tasks.
The bandits lived in a mountain stronghold without any discipline. It wasn't difficult for the three ninjas to sneak in; in fact, it was quite easy.
Under the cover of night, they caught a bandit. Kurenai immediately used genjutsu to control him and asked about the locations of the hostage and the bandit leader. Then, Asakawa Kiyosuke took out a kunai, covered the bandit's mouth, and slit his throat.
"Hey, Kiyosuke, you..." Asuma's face turned pale. Asakawa Kiyosuke's face was also pale, and he seemed nauseous. He said, "We have to learn this. The Hokage gave us this mission precisely to make us face bloodshed. Otherwise, among so many C - rank missions, they wouldn't have given us this one. The way Teacher Mahiro has left everything to us along the way, you should have seen the meaning behind it."
As ninjas, killing was an inevitable part of their lives. Sooner or later, they had to learn it. The Third Hokage wanted to temper them. Only through the baptism of blood and fire could they shine brightly.
"I know, but..." Asuma lowered his head and said, "but it's still..."
"We're ninjas."
Asakawa Kiyosuke stood up, still looking pale. He dragged the body into the grass and whispered, "Don't forget the rules of being a ninja."
The mission comes first!
Kurenai and Asuma stood up. They were still trembling but quickly adjusted their states. "We'll leave that part to you."
Then, they melted into the night.
Asakawa Kiyosuke let out a breath. The nausea hit him again, but he forced it down, and with his legs still shaking, he cheered himself up. "Come on, I can't be worse than two kids. But they adjusted so quickly. "
He had to do it. Having chosen this path, he couldn't regret it!
He gritted his teeth, slapped himself, readjusted his state, and started approaching the wooden house where the bandit leader was.
This guy's residence was easy to find. It was the best one in the stronghold.
The only two - story wooden house.
He quietly approached the wooden house, hearing the sounds of drinking and laughing coming from inside. He secretly moved a tile aside and looked down. He saw a bald - headed man hugging a woman in her thirties with a good figure but an ordinary face, drinking, eating, and flirting with the woman in his arms.
"Little White, go and bite them to death."
The little white snake on his wrist climbed onto the roof and silently slithered into the room. While the two in the room were still laughing, it bit the bandit leader on the instep.
Drunk and slow - witted, the bandit leader didn't even notice the pain and continued to grope the woman in his arms. Little did he know that death was approaching