Chapter 28: The Reaping
In the bandit-massacred village, Kagenori activated his Sharingan, confirming thirty-four targets. His gaze fixed on four bandits transporting alcohol.
"That was satisfying! Watching those two beg for mercy before I killed them—so pleasing!"
"Tell me about it!"
"But this village is poor. After looting, little remains for us. By our turn, scraps might be all that's left."
"Still better than last village—absolutely nothing by the time we arrived."
"Don't worry. The boss said Rice Field's tapped out. He'll take us to neighboring Moon Country next—real money there!"
...
Like a specter, Kagenori materialized behind one bandit. A kunai's cold flash severed another's throat.
The other two caught the familiar blood scent, turning toward their slashed companion—their final sight.
Kagenori eliminated both throat-cut bandits. The last kept babbling future plunder plans, oblivious.
"Heard Moon Country's small but wealthy! One village there might outpay all Rice Field combined! We'll strike rich then!"
"Just imagining it excites me! Life's looking up! Told you banditry has prospects—believe me now?"
"Hey, why so quiet?"
Noticing his companions' silence, the talkative bandit glanced toward them in firelight—and froze.
Three bandits clutched their necks, blood gushing from mouths as they tried speaking through severed windpipes.
Suddenly, the bandit felt neck pain. Touching it, his hand came away warm and wet. Suffocation followed, face reddening before he collapsed beside his comrades.
Shaking blood from his kunai, Kagenori coldly regarded the corpses. Hmm... rather thrilling.
"Thirty."
Murmuring the count, he vanished into darkness, continuing his assassinations. His strategy: eliminate isolated bandits first, then overwhelm the remainder.
"Twenty-nine... twenty-six... twenty-three..."
He reaped bandit lives systematically. The revelers remained oblivious to their dwindling numbers.
"Where's Shinichi? Went to piss—why not back yet?"
"Passed out drunk? Can't hold his liquor—pathetic!"
"Wait—Sota, Tsukasa, Ryusuke, Uya went for alcohol ages ago! Haven't seen them!"
"Fudou's missing too!"
...
Only after numerous assassinations did bandits notice something amiss. Their leader quickly organized the remainder, counting heads—thirty-four originally, now twenty-one. Thirteen missing.
"Everyone, weapons ready!" the leader shouted.
Leading the search, they found companion corpses—spine-chilling silence surrounding so many deaths.
"Earth Style: Rock Pillar Spear!"
Kagenori emerged behind them, hands sealing as he pressed groundward. Sharp stone pillars erupted, impaling several bandits. The agile retreated hastily.
Spotting Kagenori's shadowy form, the leader paled. A ninja!
In this world, even genin held elevated status—earned through strength. Before chakra, samurai dominated; now only Iron Country maintained pure swordsmanship traditions. These mere bandits stood no chance against ninja.
Terrified, they faltered. The leader knew retreat meant certain death—only fighting offered hope. Besides, he reasoned, if the ninja were powerful, why use stealth?
"Steady! We outnumber him! One opponent only! Stay calm! Charge together!"
Marshaling them, he roared, "Advance! Charge!"
Bandits rushed Kagenori en masse.
His hands flew through seals. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Gathering chakra in his throat, he exhaled a massive fireball. Front-runners were blasted backward, bodies engulfed in flames.
"Don't fear! Keep charging! Close quarters finish him! Retreat means death!" the leader shouted from behind.
Kagenori sealed again. "Water Style: Water Trumpet!"
A water jet spewed from his mouth, repelling bandits without significant injury. But puddles now covered the ground, drenching most bandits.
Sealing once more, he touched a puddle. "Lightning Style: Lightning Jutsu!"
Dazzling lightning erupted from his hands, illuminating darkness. Electricity conducted through water electrocuted bandits, black smoke rising from their bodies.
Drawing his katana, he charged forward, decapitating paralyzed bandits systematically.
The undrenched bandits stared in horror—they hadn't even touched him, yet most were dead or disabled.
How was this fair?
Panicking, they fled—discovering their leader had already vanished.
After beheading all electrocuted bandits, Kagenori whispered "Nine," crouched low, and launched forward like a cannonball.
Three years of academy training plus Orochimaru's month-long specialized regimen meant even without lightning-chakra enhancement, he now matched his initial Thunder Breathing speed.
Like Death itself, Kagenori harvested the remaining bandits.