Chapter 10: First Task - The Blade Behind the Mask
"Once you leave the village, child's play ends."
đź“Ť Mission Hall, Konoha
Hirito's team officially receives their first C-rank task - escorting a merchant to the border of the Land of Fire. Technically, it's just security. Accepted - an exam from the Hokage.
Iruka:
"Your Jonin mentor has been temporarily replaced. The new commander will arrive right before departure."
Hirito (thinking):
This is suspicious. Is someone trying to test us... or me?
đź“Ť At the Konoha Gate
A figure in a gray-black cloak, with a mask and strands of gray hair appears.
"I'm your new one. Call me... Koan."
Ino (whispering):
- He looks like a villain from a cheap manga...
Hinata:
- His aura is... gloomy.
Hirito:
- His chakra is... empty. Not weak. Empty, like a vacuum.
đź“Ť Path through the forest
The merchant is talkative, nervous, smelling of sweat and fear. He carries goods sealed in boxes. One of them is locked with five locks.
Hirito (mentally):
No one carries noodles with such security. What's inside?
đź“Ť Ambush
On the third day of the journey, three bandits fall on the caravan, not shinobi, but with experience. Koan disappears immediately after the start of the battle. As if he never existed.
Hirito gives short orders:
- Hinata - left, Ino - mental control. I'll cover.
đź“Ť Scene: Fight
Hinata strikes the first enemy in the liver - it penetrates the consciousness.
Ino grabs the second, it falls, seeing, showing nightmares.
The third child is sold to Hirito with a blade.
Hirito catches the blow... with his palm, slightly opening the lid, but holding the blade, and then:
- Bad choice of weapon.
And activates a useless (at first glance) item from the past gacha - "Rebound Glove".
The blade flies into the enemy's face. Victory. Blood. Real. First time.
đź“Ť After the fight
Koan appears again, as if from thin air.
- Fast. But too much emotion.
Hirito (harshly):
- You watched, not helping?
- I evaluate. I do not interfere. Your life is yours.
🎯 Hirito imagined real anger for the first time. He hates such methods.
đź“Ť In the evening by the fire
Ino's attempts to cheer up:
- You did it... blood on your hands is not as scary as they say.
Hinata comes closer. Quietly:
- You were shaking. But you kept moving. It's... beautiful.
Hirito (mentally):
They both saw my weakness. But... they didn't turn away.
🎯 [✓] Emotional Criticism Level:
Ino: 63%
Hinata: 58%
đź“ŤSecret Episode (Late Night)
Koan stands in the forest, in front of him is a crystal with the Root emblem.
- Report: Hirito boy realizes A-level potential. Suspected of access to the Bijuu power. Contact with Kurama is possible. I recommend further observation. Do not use for now.
🎯 Riddle: Who is Koan? And why is he watching Hirito in particular?
First blood. First kill. And the first hint that the mission is not a game.
Hirito realized: not everything is clean in Konoha, and he is already being hunted by glances from the shadows.
He finds: Girls he is fundamental, but more and more drawn to him.