Chapter 41: Bitter Battle

Fire Nation Border Region.

"I won't interfere with this mission. Arrange things yourselves." Qianshou Xiongke looked at the three. "Don't die, brats."

He tossed the Mission Scroll to Lian Ye and vanished from the spot in a flash.

Lian Ye opened the scroll: 【A band of vicious mountain bandits occupies a key road, frequently raiding passing caravans and nearby villages, severely disrupting the region's peace. Please eliminate these damned bandits. (Note: A wandering ninja is suspected to be among the bandits. A Chunin squad is recommended to accept this mission.)】

After reading the mission, Lian Ye's expression turned somewhat grave. "There's a wandering ninja among these bandits. We need to be extra careful."

"Is the opponent a Genin or a Chunin?" Xiaochun Zhuanqin asked.

If it was a Genin, it would still be manageable; if the opponent was a Chunin, things would be a bit tricky.

The three not only had to deal with ordinary bandits but also face a suspected Chunin wandering ninja, undoubtedly increasing the difficulty significantly.

"I don't know, but let's prepare for the possibility that the opponent is a Chunin first."

The three didn't even consider the possibility that the opponent might be a Jonin.

In the Ninja World, what Jonin would be bored enough to become a mountain bandit?

Generally, only half-baked Chunin and Genin would become bandits, throwing their weight around among ordinary people by relying on their own strength.

Lian Ye looked at the two and said, "Wait until dark to observe the enemy situation, then we'll discuss a battle plan."

The two didn't say much more, found a spot to rest and recover, preparing for the night's battle.

Lian Ye noticed his body was trembling slightly, and with a puzzled expression said:

"Is this fear? No, this seems to be... excitement!"

————————

Having come to the Ninja World for a few years, this was his first mission involving killing.

Night fell, and the moonlight was obscured by thick clouds.

Lian Ye and his two teammates crouched in the bushes hundreds of meters away from the bandit camp.

All three held their breath and focused.

Lian Ye's Sharingan glowed with a faint crimson light in the darkness, precisely capturing every movement in the camp.

"Two watchtowers form a pincer position, their field of vision covering almost the entire camp."

Lian Ye lowered his voice, his finger sketching a simple map on the muddy ground,

"The wooden cabins on the west side are the main living quarters. The three rooms on the east side should be where the wandering ninja is located."

"Wait until the latter half of the night. We'll take out the sentries on the watchtowers first, then kill the bandits as fast as possible, and finally deal with the wandering ninja."

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang and Xiaochun Zhuanqin nodded; there were no problems at all.

Time reached the latter half of the night.

This was often the time when people were the sleepiest.

Lian Ye held Wuku and signaled to move.

The three dashed toward the camp in the darkness at extreme speed.

By now the sentries on the watchtowers were so drowsy they could barely keep their eyes open, completely unaware of the three approaching.

Lian Ye activated his Sharingan, flung three shuriken through the air, and pinned them precisely into the sentries' throats.

Almost simultaneously, Xiaochun Zhuanqin and Zhi Cun Tuan Zang also completed their ambush, and four corpses fell soundlessly.

"Follow the plan, clear the small fry first," Lian Ye ordered in a low voice.

He then charged into a room. The bandits inside were still fast asleep, completely unaware that death was about to descend.

Lian Ye hesitated not at all, slashing a blade across their throats.

Warm blood splattered onto his face. He felt no fear or disgust—only an irrepressible excitement.

Lian Ye carried his sword and proceeded to the next room.

Frantic cursing came from inside the room as bandits wielding steel blades stumbled and rushed out.

Clearly, the three's actions had been exposed.

Lian Ye glared over, and the first few to come out suddenly froze, then turned their blades on each other.

"Make it quick!" Lian Ye sped up his slashes.

They needed to wipe out all these small fry before the wandering ninja could react.

These bandits were all ordinary people; killing them was no different from slaughtering chickens, and they were soon massacred to the last by Lian Ye and his two companions.

"Bastards, stop right there!"

Only then did a brawny man wielding a large blade arrive belatedly.

He looked at the corpses of his underlings scattered around, eyes blazing with fury.

He had arrived just a little late, and these brats had already killed all his men.

"You Konoha brats—I absolutely won't let you get away!"

"The opponent is a Chunin. You two, cover me."

Lian Ye launched the attack first, striking straight at the brawny man's vitals.

The brawny man remained unhurried, using his large blade to forcefully block Lian Ye's attack.

The tremendous impact numbed Lian Ye's tiger's mouth, and his feet involuntarily retreated a few steps.

"Brat, die!" The brawny man swung his large blade.

Right at that moment, Tuan Cang and Xiaochun swiftly stepped forward to support.

Tuan Cang formed hand seals with both hands and shouted, "Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!"

The brawny man roared and swung his large blade, slicing apart the Wind Release.

Using the cover of the dust, he charged fiercely toward Tuan Cang.

Tuan Cang's expression changed, and he hastily cast Defensive Ninjutsu.

However, the brute's strength was overwhelming; his long sword struck at Zhi Cun Tuan Zang's defense, and the massive impact caused Zhi Cun Tuan Zang to spit blood and be knocked backward.

At that moment, Zhi Cun Tuan Zang had only one thought in his mind: "It seems I'm dragging the team down again…".

Xiaochun Zhuanqin saw this, a flash of anxiety in her eyes, and immediately used Medical Ninjutsu to heal Zhi Cun Tuan Zang.

At the same time, Lian Ye surged forward again, engaging the brute in fierce combat.

Their weapons clashed continuously, sparks flying everywhere, and the flashes of blades intertwined.

Lian Ye, leveraging the advantage of his Sharingan, strained to find a flaw in the brute.

The brute, seeing that he could not quickly subdue the little imp before him, grew irritated, let out a sudden roar, tensed all his muscles, and his power surged.

The long sword rushed at Lian Ye like a raging storm; Lian Ye failed to dodge in time, taking a slash on his right shoulder, and blood stained his clothes.

The intense pain turned Lian Ye's face pale, and he hurriedly created distance from the brute.

Just as Lian Ye was in trouble, the partially healed Zhi Cun Tuan Zang and Xiaochun Zhuanqin rejoined the fight.

Xiaochun Zhuanqin used Fire Release; roaring Lie Huo surged toward the brute.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang employed Wind Release, making the flames even fiercer.

The brute was forced to retreat repeatedly by the flames; Lian Ye seized the chance, gathered chakra into Wuku, and flashed in front of the brute.

The brute roared, brandishing his long sword in defense, but Lian Ye's strike concentrated all his power, and with the coordination of Zhi Cun Tuan Zang and Xiaochun, the long sword was finally severed.

Wuku plunged straight into the brute's chest; the brute's eyes widened, staring in disbelief at the blade before him, spitting a mouthful of blood before collapsing heavily to the ground.

When the battle ended, Lian Ye lay on the ground, looking at the brute's corpse, filled with gratitude for having survived.

B-rank Mission was too damn dangerous; they almost got taken care of here.

Had we known, we wouldn't have listened to Zhi Cun Tuan Zang's nonsense.

Xiaochun Zhuanqin hurried to Lian Ye's side and used Medical Ninjutsu to stop his bleeding.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang lay on the ground, his vacant eyes staring at the sky.

On this mission, he became the dead weight again…

"Tsk tsk, will you take another B-rank Mission next time?"

At an unknown moment, Qianshou Xiongke appeared before the three.

Of course he couldn't just ignore them; if the three accidentally died, Lord Feijian would surely tear him to pieces.

Qianshou Xiongke couldn't help but gape; he hadn't expected them to actually team up and take down a Chunin.

No wonder he's a disciple cultivated by Lord Feijian.

Lian Ye stood up, drew the Wuku that had been lodged in the brute's body, and, as Qianshou Feijian said, the blade bore no bloodstains.

He looked up at Qianshou Xiongke and said, "Next, of course I'll take it!"

Hearing this, Qianshou Xiongke was a bit stunned.

Has this kid, once his scar healed, forgotten the pain?

No… the wound hasn't healed either!

He stared at the cool, blood‑spouting wound on Lian Ye's shoulder and fell silent.

Only then did Lian Ye realize that the earlier sword‑drawing motion was too forceful and had torn the wound open again.

"Xiaochun, Xiaochun!"