"The first mission is just ahead—eliminate the bandits, leave no one alive," Uchiha Mei said calmly. "What? Can't do it? If you hesitate, just repeat the mission in your mind, grip your sword tightly, and begin your life as a ninja." After speaking, Uchiha Mei vanished.
Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Retsu was the first to enter the nameless mountain. Uchiha Haruki and Uchiha En exchanged glances and followed, disappearing under the moonlight.
In the silent night, the chirping of insects and the soft thud of bodies hitting the ground couldn't stir even the slightest ripple. The sentries on the outskirts had already been slaughtered, and the team gradually crept inward toward several small mud huts.
After setting up some traps around the huts, Uchiha Retsu signaled the two to proceed. Uchiha Haruki gently lifted the curtain at the entrance, activated his Sharingan, and cast genjutsu on the sleeping men and women alike, ending their lives quietly.
On the other side, Uchiha En observed from the window before slipping inside. With shuriken in hand, he harvested lives one by one. Uchiha Retsu, after finishing the traps and signaling them to start, perched silently on the roof of the last hut, keeping watch over the remaining buildings.
One by one, the huts were silently cleared out. A faint scent of blood gradually spread through the air. Only two huts remained. Uchiha Haruki gestured to Uchiha Retsu, asking if he wanted to take a turn. Uchiha Retsu nodded.
He rushed directly into the last hut, while Uchiha En quickly darted into the other. Uchiha Haruki took a deep breath and checked all around the huts, finding no secret passages or hidden rooms.
When he stepped back outside, the other two had already finished clearing their huts. They dismantled the traps silently and exited the mountain without a word, each deep in their own thoughts, heading back to the rendezvous point.
Uchiha Mei was waiting there, watching his disciples calmly. "You did well—much better than I expected. Among those bandits were elders and children, yet you didn't spare a single one. That kind of resolve is rare for people your age.
Aside from a few minor flaws: Haruki, you didn't check for traps before entering. En, though your strikes were quick, there was a high chance of alerting the others. You have to remember that Haruki used genjutsu first to prevent them from waking up. Killing intent can be sensed.
Retsu, your performance was excellent, but rushing straight into that last hut was reckless. I chose this mission because these bandits were weak. If there had been a single Jōnin or a few Chūnin, you wouldn't have made it out.
But for a first mission, it was impressive. Don't burden yourselves—being a ninja means living with violence and killing. In battle, hesitation or mercy puts you and your comrades at risk, sometimes fatally.
Look at the people beside you. Would you want them to die because of a moment's hesitation or mistake on your part? As for whether those people were guilty, let them sort it out with the Shinigami. We're ninjas—during a mission, the mission always comes first."
"Sensei, if completing the mission meant your companions would die, would you abandon the mission or your companions?" Uchiha Haruki asked.
Uchiha Mei glanced at him and replied, "I would abandon the mission. We are different from other ninjas; we are Uchiha. Most of those who fight with us are our clan members.
A hundred missions are not worth one living Uchiha. People are the foundation of a clan. With people, there is a family; with a family, there is a clan. If the ninja teaming with us isn't a clan member, it depends on my mood."
Haruki hadn't expected that kind of answer, but it was undeniably Uchiha-like. To the Uchiha, the clan's interests were everything; every Uchiha was a treasured member.
It was hard to understand how such a united clan could produce someone like Shisui, who then led Itachi astray. Sarutobi Hiruzen's brainwashing was something else—a perfect cycle of Will of Fire, washing away countless generations of talented youths. Political games were never for the faint of heart.
"Alright, rest for the night. We'll continue our journey tomorrow," Uchiha Mei said as he saw them lost in their thoughts, finding a place for them to rest.
Morning came, and after packing up, they headed to their next mission location to continue eliminating bandits. The day's clear skies seemed to lift everyone's spirits. "Stop. There's fighting to the west," Uchiha Mei ordered.
He led the team westward into the forest, where the sounds of battle grew clearer. They concealed themselves and observed the situation. Judging by the masks, several Root ninjas were surrounding three rogue ninjas.
Uchiha Retsu glanced at his sensei, signaling if they should help. Uchiha Mei didn't respond, instead gesturing to hold position. Soon, the three rogue ninjas were killed, with one taking a Root member down with him. The surviving Root members were injured and began handling the bodies and tending to their wounds.
Uchiha Mei signaled them to leave, but Uchiha Haruki made a gesture that shocked everyone: attack!
Uchiha Mei smiled approvingly, and Uchiha Retsu and Uchiha En, although confused, followed their teacher's orders, diving into attack mode.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!" three voices whispered.
A rain of shuriken flew towards the five surviving Root ninjas. Then a flash of lightning surged through the ranks, using the shuriken as cover.
Three voices shouted, "Earth Release: Yellow Spring Swamp," and the ground beneath the injured Root ninjas turned to liquid, forming a vast swamp. The earth behind and beside them followed suit.
One heavily injured ninja was skewered by shuriken, two others who managed to deflect a few fatal shots still got swallowed by the swamp.
The lightning struck. "Sword Leap Flame," "Dance of the Crescent Moon," and two more were beheaded. The fight was over.
Uchiha Retsu and Uchiha En prepared to use Fire Release to burn the scene, but Uchiha Haruki stopped them. "Cut off the heads and burn them. Leave the bodies to look hastily abandoned. Search the rogue ninjas for anything worth pursuing.
We'll set traps in their retreat path. If their numbers are few, we'll ambush them. If they're many, we'll retreat after the traps are triggered. I know you have questions, but I'll explain after. Trust me for now."
Uchiha Mei didn't say a word the whole time, clearly approving of the plan. Though confused, Uchiha En and Uchiha Retsu trusted their brother and swiftly carried out the setup. From the rogue ninjas, they found a sealing scroll but didn't have time to inspect it.
Before long, another squad of Root ninjas arrived at the battlegrounds, finding nothing but burnt earth. "Captain, both teams seem to have been wiped out. There's no trace of a fight—just ashes," one of them said.
The captain shook his head. "These burnt grounds are the biggest clue. That fire wasn't natural; it was Fire Release. At least three people used Fire Release here, and the intensity differs—clearly different users. This was a coordinated, large-scale attack.
Track any three-man squads nearby that specialize in Fire Release—immediately."
"Yes," the group dispersed. Under his mask, the captain murmured, "Tanba, I swear I'll find your killer."