NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 75: Chapter 75
His hands trembled slightly. This was 200,000 ryō!
Even during his time as a Chunin, he'd never come close to earning such an amount.
"Uncle Jiro, please, accept it."
"If possible, I'd like to clear that vacant lot behind our clan grounds."
"Set it up like one of the village training fields, with equipment for everyday training."
"Compared to other ninja clans…"
"Our kids are way behind."
"Even if they can't refine chakra yet, they can at least start practicing kunai and shuriken throwing techniques."
There were many ways to earn money, of course, but letting those avenues grow too large would only invite trouble. Given the current state of the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans, defending such interests would be impossible.
In the ninja world, only strength is eternal.
"Tetsuya, I understand your intentions," Jiro said, a hint of resignation in his voice. "I'll arrange things as you've requested. But this ryō…"
Looking at the young man before him, Tanaka Jiro smiled wryly. He couldn't say when, but he found himself in the unfamiliar position of being on the weaker side.
"Uncle, don't worry about it. This money has no strings attached."
"In the Land of Whirlpools, we undertook an S-rank reconnaissance mission under Jiraiya-sama," Tetsuya continued, noticing his uncle's hesitation. "A significant part of this reward is from that mission."
"Jiraiya-sama… An S-rank mission?"
Hearing Tetsuya's answer, Tanaka Jiro's expression changed dramatically. Tetsuya… have you already entered the world of elite ninjas like Jiraiya-sama? No wonder. This is Tetsuya, after all!
In Tanaka Jiro's mind, he began imagining Jiraiya recognizing Tetsuya's talents, willing to offer him protection and opportunities. Little did he know that the reality Tetsuya had faced was far more treacherous.
---
Over the next few months, perhaps haunted by the shadows of Mist Island, Sensei Shin kept their missions to B and C ranks, with only a few reaching A-rank. All of them stayed within the Land of Fire's borders.
Though the kill count rewards had slowed, Tetsuya now had the time to familiarize himself with the techniques he had yet to master from the scrolls.
---
In the western mountain ranges of the Land of Fire, bandits roamed, including rogue ninja who hid there. Upon receiving the mission, Squad 13 took only three days to push the mountain's bandits to form an alliance out of sheer desperation. Finally, the thieves chose to make their stand in a valley.
"Tetsuya! I'm done on my side!" called out Muto.
"How's it going with you and Mikoto?"
For this mission, Shin didn't lift a finger. Against an alliance of hundreds of ordinary bandits and dozens of low-level rogue ninja, Squad 13's tactics were simple. Muto used his clan's secret techniques to block off the valley's exit, while Tetsuya and Mikoto engaged the main forces.
The plan was one thing, but its execution was another. Despite the countless enemies, Mikoto didn't even have to lift a finger. Everything fell to Tetsuya.
The crackling sound of the Chidori, the fearsome Water Dragon Jutsu, and the relentless kunai—every attack harvested lives from the bandit ranks.
Neither regular bandits nor rogue ninja, whether Genin or Chunin, could last more than ten seconds against Tetsuya's onslaught.
So, by the time Muto returned to offer support, all that was left was a wasteland of debris, broken bodies, and blood that pooled into a nearby stream, turning the waters a chilling red.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, for defeating 327 ordinary bandits, 32 rogue Genin, and 13 rogue Chunin!]
[Accumulated kill points: 7375 points.]
This mission had earned Tetsuya the most kill points since he'd arrived in the ninja world—surpassing even the two battles in the Land of Whirlpools.
Though the sight before him was sickening, he took comfort in the fact that those killed were not innocent. Each of them had committed atrocities—pillaging, ravaging villages, and acting as spies for villages like Amegakure, Sunagakure, and even Iwagakure. Not a single life here was unjustly taken.
"Apologies, Muto. I'm a bit late," Tetsuya called, wiping the blood off his kunai before returning it to his pouch.
In the distance, he could see Mikoto and Shin walking toward him, with Mikoto just a few steps behind their teacher.
"Tetsuya," Shin said, his gaze lingering on the carnage. "Once this mission ends, take some time off. We've been on seven B-rank and one A-rank mission back to back. It's time to relax a bit."
He looked over the gruesome scene, his expression dim. Prolonged killing only leads deeper into darkness. And at Tetsuya's age, carrying the weight of his clan's future, he worried Tetsuya might lose his way—not as a ninja, but in his heart.
He feared that Tetsuya would become like the faceless killers of the Anbu or the ROOT division, a machine that knew only how to kill.
---
"I understand, Sensei."
Facing Shin's worried gaze, Tetsuya fell silent for a long moment. Ultimately, he agreed to the suggestion. The past month had indeed been intense.
The number of A and B-rank missions they had completed surpassed what some elite squads might do in months or even years.
Since Tetsuya agreed, Shin said with a soft smile, "let's return to Konoha and treat ourselves to a hot spring. We've earned it."
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