The Great Elder nodded in satisfaction, feeling very pleased with Isamu. Not bad—truly not bad.
After a brief conversation, Isamu said goodbye to the Great Elder and returned home. He didn't pay much attention to the discussions between the Moderate Faction and the Martial Faction earlier that day. After all, he was someone with a system; he didn't particularly need the support or cultivation of others.
Early the next morning, Isamu followed Hiruzen Sarutobi and began carrying out missions. Of course, the ninja world was currently at peace, so Genin missions weren't very high-level. Most of them were D-rank missions.
For several days in a row, the two of them stayed in the village, either helping residents dispose of trash or searching for lost cats and dogs.
During this time, Hiruzen Sarutobi also taught Isamu how to climb trees using chakra and how to walk on water. However, these techniques posed no challenge for Isamu at all. He mastered both within a few minutes, which made Hiruzen Sarutobi sigh in admiration at his extraordinary talent.
During this period, Isamu also used his points to exchange for ninjutsu from the system.
S-rank ninjutsu cost 10,000 points,
A-rank ninjutsu cost 5,000 points,
B-rank ninjutsu cost 1,000 points,
C-rank ninjutsu cost 500 points,
D-rank ninjutsu cost 100 points.
With the support of the Great Elder and the Clan Leader, Isamu didn't want to waste points exchanging for ninjutsu that already existed within the clan. However, learning them normally would take far too much time.
In the end, he chose the Crow Clone Technique, created in the future by Uchiha Itachi, spending 500 points. This ninjutsu combined genjutsu with a clone technique, allowing it to both confuse enemies and serve as an effective escape method.
With the remaining five hundred points, he exchanged them for Water of Life from the system.
Water of Life could repair human cells and strengthen the body. Frequent use could even increase one's chakra.
A small bottle cost 100 points, best used during the Genin stage.
A medium bottle cost 500 points, best used during the Chunin stage.
A large bottle cost 1,000 points, best used during the Jonin stage.
Isamu exchanged his points for five small bottles of Water of Life. After drinking four bottles, his chakra directly reached Chunin level.
Thus, the days passed one after another as he searched for cats and dogs—until one day.
"Isamu, let's go. There's a new mission today," said Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Another search for cats and dogs? Or maybe weeding?" Isamu looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi with a speechless expression. Honestly, he was getting tired of these tedious missions.
"What cats and dogs? This time it's a B-rank mission!"
"A B-rank mission? What is it?" Hearing that, Isamu's interest was instantly piqued.
"Don't rush. I'll explain," Hiruzen Sarutobi said as he handed Isamu a sheet of paper.
"This mission is to exterminate bandits. The information about them is written here."
"This mission will be handled entirely by you. They're just a group of petty thieves, so it shouldn't be a problem for you now. Of course, as the captain, I'll follow you in the shadows. Unless you face life-threatening danger, I won't interfere. Understood?"
"Understood. Just a bunch of thieves—easy!" Isamu replied confidently. With his strength already at the Chunin level, dealing with bandits would be simple.
"Then I wish you good luck."
As soon as he finished speaking, Hiruzen Sarutobi vanished.
At that moment, the system issued a mission.
[System Mission: Exterminate all bandits.
Reward: 5,000 points.
Failure: Erasure.]
Hearing that failure meant erasure again, Isamu immediately rushed out of the village.
"Damn system… trying to erase me? In your dreams!"
---
Late that night, inside a tavern, Isamu muttered to himself while looking at the information in his hand.
"These really are just petty thieves. There are only three Genin among them, and the rest are ordinary people. Why is this a B-rank mission? Shouldn't their strength only qualify for a C-rank mission?"
Seeing the note at the bottom that said "total extermination," Isamu wasn't worried at all. Just a few bandits—wiping them out completely would be easy.
"Why think so much? I'll find out tomorrow."
After traveling for an entire day, Isamu quickly fell asleep.
---
The night passed peacefully.
Early the next morning, Isamu headed toward the mountain stronghold mentioned in the report.
Hidden in a bush near the stronghold, Isamu looked at the large group of patrolling bandits and couldn't help but feel surprised.
"Holy crap… there are so many people here. At least two hundred."
"No wonder the mission requires total extermination. That's probably why it was classified as B-rank."
"If I had known, I would've learned the Shadow Clone Technique. With this many people, if I get discovered, they'll all scatter. If they escape, this mandatory mission will fail."
"What should I do…?"
Isamu began thinking carefully about how to eliminate them without being discovered.
Suddenly, an idea appeared in his mind.
"Got it!"
---
Night fell.
During the day, Isamu had already observed the layout of the stronghold. Now he had found a house that would be easy to set on fire.
That's right—he planned to create chaos with fire and then harvest lives during the confusion.
"Boom!"
Isamu ignited the house, and a raging fire quickly spread. Thick black smoke billowed into the night sky.
When the bandits saw the burning building, panic erupted. They rushed around trying to extinguish the flames.
Amid the chaos, Isamu quietly began harvesting their lives.
It was his first time killing someone, yet he felt no discomfort at all—as if slaughter came naturally to him.
---
While Isamu continued eliminating bandits one by one, the three Genin leaders of the stronghold finally realized something was wrong.
They noticed their subordinates were steadily disappearing.
"Don't panic! Everyone gather up! An enemy has infiltrated the stronghold!" the Third Leader shouted.
"To think half our men vanished without us noticing," the First Leader growled angrily. "If Old Third hadn't noticed, we'd still be in the dark. Damn it!"
Seeing that only about a hundred men remained, the First Leader felt his heart bleed with anger.
At that moment, the Second Leader spoke.
"Since our guest has arrived, why not show yourself? Whatever the conflict is, we can talk it out. Why slaughter our men like this?"
---
Seeing the bandits gathering together, Isamu ignored the leaders.
His primary target right now was the ordinary bandits.
Although stealth kills were no longer possible, having them gathered together saved him the trouble of hunting them down individually.
His hands quickly formed seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball shot toward the three Genin leaders.
They reacted quickly and immediately formed hand seals.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"
Three earthen walls rose in front of them, blocking the fireball.
But while their vision was obstructed, Isamu seized the opportunity and eliminated another dozen bandits.
When the walls collapsed, the three leaders saw a blood-covered boy slaughtering their men.
The Third Leader sneered.
"I thought it was some powerful ninja, but it's just a brat. Die!"
Without hesitation, he rushed forward and stabbed at Isamu with a kunai.
Isamu noticed the attack. Just as the leader approached, he suddenly accelerated and grabbed the man's wrist firmly.
"With this little strength, you still dare charge at me? Aren't you embarrassed?" Isamu mocked.
The Third Leader struggled desperately, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break free.
The strength of the boy in front of him was terrifying.
"Go fly over there."
Isamu kicked him away.
Then he turned and rushed back into the chaotic crowd, continuing his slaughter.
---
"Old Third!"
The First Leader and Second Leader rushed over to help him up.
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, Boss," Old Third replied. "That kid isn't normal. His strength is terrifying. The three of us need to fight together if we want to defeat him."
"Old Second," the First Leader said grimly, "gather everyone. Today we fight him to the death."
"Yes, Boss!"
Old Second shouted loudly at the fleeing crowd.
"Stop running! Gather around us! If you keep running, you'll all die!"
Under his command, the remaining bandits regrouped around the three leaders.
---
Looking at the corpses scattered across the ground, then at the dozen or so remaining bandits, Isamu stood there with blood splattered across his face and stared at the three leaders.
The leaders felt chills run down their spines.
They had never seen such a terrifying child.
Old Second swallowed nervously.
"Boss… can we really win? That kid is a lunatic."
The First Leader ignored him and stared at Isamu.
"Brat, where did you come from? Why are you targeting us? Do you think we're easy prey?"
For once, Isamu gave them an answer.
"I'm a ninja from Konoha. A mission was issued to eliminate you. That's why I'm here."
"If you're smart, don't resist. At least then you'll die with your bodies intact."
"But if you insist on resisting…"
Isamu narrowed his eyes at the group of bandits.
"…don't blame me for being ruthless."