Kaida had activated his Sharingan and quickly located the enemy ninja 70 meters away. Using his Wind Instantaneous Movement Jutsu,

  He appeared behind the ninja, sword in hand, aiming for a fatal blow. The ninja, sensing the danger, mao leap forward, but not without receiving a cut on the back of his neck. Realizing he was ered, the ninja crushed the poison capsule hidden in his mouth and died instantly.

  Yukihiro appeared beside Kaida, his expression somber.

  "Most ninja are very loyal to their vilge and choose the vilge over their life most of the time," Yukihiro expined. "Go handle your friends; I'll take care of the rest."

  "Okay, Sensei," Kaida replied before using his Wind Instantaneous Movement Jutsu to return to Ryota and Yomi.

  He found them both in distress, vomiting as the reality of their as set in. Kaida, though also feeling nauseous, mao maintain his posure.

  Kiba was barking, trying to fort Ryota and Yomi.

  "Let them be, buddy," Kaida said softly to Kiba, giving the dog a reassuring pat. They then sat quietly in a er, waiting for the others to finish.

  Meanwhile, Yukihiro effitly stored the ninja's body in a scroll and buried the bandits, before joining Kaida.

  "Killing never gets any easier. It's us who get stronger," Yukihiro said with a sorrowful expression.

  Once Ryota and Yomi had recovered, Kaida offered them some water, and they all returo their camp for a brief rest. During this time, Kaida and Yomi had a quiet versation.

  "Are you all right?" Kaida asked gently.

  Yomi sighed. "Yeah, I'm okay... It's just... I didn't expect it to be like this."

  "I know, it's tough," Kaida said, uanding. "But we did what we had to do."

  "I know, but... taking a life, even if they were bandits... it's never easy."

  "Remember what Sensei said? Sometimes, as ninjas, we must make difficult choices to protect the ones we care about."

  "I know, but it doesn't make it any less painful," Yomi replied, her hands ched into fists.

  "Yeah, it is painful. But we're a team, and we'll always have each other's backs," Kaida reassured her.

  "Thanks. Let's focus on proteg the vilge and keeping everyone safe."

  "That's the spirit. Now go and take some rest."

  Yomi nodded a into the tent to nap. Yukihiro, who had been the exge, sat dowo Kaida.

  "ivational speech, Kaida," Yukihiro said with a small smile.

  Kaida chuckled. "Thanks, Sensei."

  "When they wake up, we'll head back to the vilge. We'll rest for today and take another mission tomorrow. Kaida, there's something I o tell you.

  The Land of Fire is ied with bandits not just because our vilge is short on ninjas, but also because other vilges are using this as an opportunity to weaken Konoha's ey.

  Most of our trade routes are pgued with bandits. Sihese bandits have support from other vilges, they've beore brazen, attag and killing i people. We have to keep taking missions; we don't have a choice."

  "I uand, Sensei. And I'm sure they'll be alright by tomorrow."

  After resting, the team returo the vilge, this time using movement jutsu to cover the distan just three hours.

  They parted ways, with Yukihiro going to submit the missio, while Kaida and Yomi headed home. Ryota and Kiba returo the Inuzuka pound to ret their mission.

  That day, none of them trained; instead, they took a mueeded rest. The mission had beeally exhausting for Yomi, and Kaida decided to stay with her. They spent the day indoors, the for an evening walk, had dinner, aurned home. By then, Yomi seemed to have recovered.

  Kaida, refleg on the day, thought to himself, 'This time killing was much more easier on my mind, I don't feel the same guilt I felt that day, is it because of Sharingan or am I getting used to this world?'

  That night, one of Yukihiro's es visited Kaida's house to inform them that they had to meet at the vilge gate at 5 AM the day.

  ---

  The m, Kaida and Yomi woke up at 4 AM, got ready, and headed to the vilge gate. Yukihiro was already there, and Ryota arrived shortly after using Body Flicker Jutsu.

  "So, how are you guys feeling?" Yukihiro asked, his gaze focused on Yomi and Ryota.

  "We're fine, Sensei," Ryota replied, with Yomi nodding in agreement.

  "That's good. We have another bandit extermination mission. This time, it's near a vilge where the bandits have been harassing the vilgers. The ces of ninja involvement are low, but stay on guard."

  "Yes, Sensei," all three of them responded in unison.

  The team set off, and by 4 PM, they arrived at the vilge where the mission request had inated. An elderly vilge guard greeted them at the gate and escorted them to the vilge chief's house.

  "Thank God you arrived," the vilge chief said, visibly relieved. "The bandits gave us three days to hand over half of our crops and 1 million ryo, or they would kidnap every girl in the vilge. Today is the st day."

  "Don't worry, old man. We'll take care of it," Yukihiro assured him. "Do you know where their camp is?"

  "Unfortunately, no one who has goo their camp has ever returned, so we don't know its exact location," the vilge chief admitted sadly.

  "We'll ha," Yukihiro said fidently. He then turo Ryota. " you find the bandits' tracks?"

  "Yes, Sensei." Ryota and Kiba began searg, with Kaida activating his Sharingan to assist.

  After a few moments, Ryota paused and looked at the vilge chief. "Sir, do the bandits e to the vilge on horses?"

  "Yes, three bandits came on horses yesterday to remind us of the deadlihe chief firmed.

  "That makes it easier. Sensei, I track them," Ryota said.

  "Okay, we'll follow you," Yukihiro replied.

  The team followed Ryota, with Kaida also trag the horses' tracks, though he served his chakra by letting Ryota take the lead. Soon, they arrived at the bandit camp, located in a bamboo forest. The camp sisted of three makeshift huts and a rger tral building, likely where the leader resided.

  Yukihiro decided to assist this time. He spread his chakra field, sing the camp.

  "There are 27 bandits in total—24 is and three in the tral building. No ninjas," Yukihiro reported.

  "Sensei, how were you able to find that out?" Kaida asked, voig the curiosity of the others.

  "Chakra do many things, Kaida. Sensing is one of them," Yukihiro expined. "Now that I remember, you all o choose a specialization soon. Being a sensor ninja is oion. But let's focus on the mission for now. You guys know the drill."

  The team nodded, preparing to execute their pn.