SWNOVELXO Chapter 32: North Coast Scouting (1)
[Island of Steel, North Coast]
The Island of Steel looked like a crescent moon, with a radius amounting to roughly 50 miles. It could not be considered big in the world of Naruto, where the biggest nations spanned over tens of thousands of miles. However, it was enough for different parties to enter the fray.
Naya Tori, Takeshi Ryu and Yukiko Anata had been deployed on the North Coast for scouting purposes. Although the crazy elder Otuka - now commander of the steel shinobi platoon - opposed the idea of sending them in a dangerous field, the scarcity of unscathed teams in the settlement made it impossible to refuse.
[Compulsory Mission - North Coast Scouting [C]
As part of the platoon deployed to defend the island of steel, a strategic location containing iron mines necessary for Kirigakure's supply of shuriken, kunai and swords, patrols on the island were deemed of utmost importance. Activity on the North Coast has made it mandatory for Kirigakure to send a message. You were tasked with gathering information about the size of their cohorts and their strength. And if enemies are encountered, to kill them at all costs.
Task - Scout the North Coast (Progress: 28%)
Rewards - 1500 EXP, 5000 Ryô, +50 Reputation with the Steel Platoon, +50 Reputation with Naya & Yukiko]
Naturally, they were not the only one deployed, with three more teams scattered accross the North Coast, each inspecting a different route, looking out for ships and hidden settlements.
[Yukiko Anata - Level 22 Kirigakure Genin
Relationship status: Good]
[Naya Tori - Level 40 Kirigakure Chunin
Relationship status: Good]
Both Yukiko and Naya had good relationships with Takeshi, but he did not plan on stopping there. Unlike Naya, Yukiko could be said to be slightly more talented. Her chakra reserves left to be desired, but her chakra control was very high, hence her medical jutsu specialization. The team was rather balanced, and their combat power very high.
If anything, they lacked means of detection.
Thankfully, Kirigakure shinobi knew their lands better than Kumogakure scum.
Communicating in sign language, Takeshi shared a crucial peace of information.
'ENEMIES AHEAD'
[Level 55 Kumogakure Jonin]
[Level 18 Kumogakure Genin]
[Level 24 Kumogakure Genin]
Three enemies, including one jonin who looked incredibly dangerous. Their blonde hair and black skin made their affiliation to Kumogakure quite obvious.
The jonin was a weapon specialist. He had some sort of chained scythe hanging on his waist, and his framed body made it obvious that he had invested plenty in physical training.
The level 18 Genin had glasses and it was difficult to get any more information than that.
Last but not least, the level 24 Kumogakure Genin looked like a ninjutsu expert. He had a weak physical frame and lacked
Thankfully, they had not noticed Takeshi or the others.
Naya said that she would engage the jonin, while Takeshi would have to take care of the ninjutsu expert. The weakest was left for Yukiko to deal with.
Engaging a jonin, much less a weapon specialist with lightning affinity, was a terrible idea on paper. Even if they had the element of surprise on their side, the gap in strength was just too high.
However, Naya had failed to see that. Unlike Takeshi, she did not have a system allowing her to gauge the strength of her opponents. In her eyes, these were enemies that had to be eliminated.
Had he been sane, Takeshi would have retreated right this moment.
But he was not.
War was slowly beginning to change him.
The Bloody Mist was beginning to change him.
He was trembling, but not out of fear.
He was excited.
'Monkey, Dragon'
Right after making those two seals, a mighty pressurized stream of water pierced through Takeshi's target.
Suiton No Jutsu : Azure Stream [D]
[You have dealt a critical blow]
[You have dealt 192 points of damage]
[Enemy has received [Heart failure ailment]...]
[You have killed [Level 24 Kumogakure Genin]. You have earned 240 EXP]
"TOKOOOOO", the jonin shouted in despair, but quickly got it together as Naya charged forward and unleashed a vertical chop.
Taken aback by the green-haired chunin's strength, he lost his balance, but his agility was high enough to retreat backwards.
By this time, however, Takeshi had already had time to make another two seals.
Suiton No Jutsu : Azure Stream [D]
With extreme speed and high range, this was a perfect suiton no jutsu to eliminate enemies. The Kumogakure jonin tried to shield himself from the jutsu, but to his despair, it was not aimed at him.
[You have dealt a critical blow]
[You have dealt 192 points of damage]
[You have killed [Level 18 Kumogakure Genin]. You have earned 140 EXP]
Although Takeshi was a genin in name, his strength far exceeded that of regular chunins. His ninjutsu alone put him among the best chunins, but actually, it was his strategic mind tailored to warfare that made him most dangerous.
He knew that the jonin's survival instincts would kick in and deflect his jutsu, so he did not go for him, but only made him think he would. Instead, he went ahead and eliminated the weakest from his team. In the span of a couple seconds, two Kumogakure genins had lost their lives, leaving a despairing jonin and teacher behind.
As Naya unleashed a flurry of thrusts, the jonin's blows became more powerful, rougher than ever. However, a wild beast was easier to kill than a sane one.