He spotted the killer almost immediately.
A boy dressed in white stood amid the carnage, veins bulging around his eyes, pupils completely snow-white.
"…The Hyūga Clan."
The bandit chief was surprisingly well-educated. With an appearance that iconic, he recognized the identity at once.
After all, in the entire ninja world, only one clan was born with pure white eyes—and they all belonged to Konoha.
Hyūga Ming didn't answer.
He simply raised his hand and threw his shuriken.
"Shuriken — Heavy Firepower — Fireballs!"
A line of blazing fireballs tore through the air at terrifying speed.
The bandit chief barely had time to lift the iron ball chained to his body to block.
Clang! Clang! Clang!!
Metal rang violently as the massive force drove him backward, boots gouging into the ground.
The moment the impact stopped, he instinctively lowered the iron ball to check—
And Hyūga Ming was already standing on top of it.
The blade flashed.
A clean arc.
The bandit chief's head shot into the air.
He never even had the chance to release a single ninjutsu.
[Experience +112]
[Bandit's Armor – Defense +15]
"Only one drop?" Hyūga Ming clicked his tongue.
"What a useless boss."
Without pausing, he kicked off the ground and charged in another direction, plunging straight back into the slaughter.
The remaining bandits finally understood something was horribly wrong.
They ran.
Every possible exit off the mountain became a floodgate of desperate escape.
A living Yama had descended on their stronghold—
killing on sight, without a word.
No negotiation.
No warning.
You have complaints? Then say them! We'll change!
Why do you have to kill us all?!
Who fights like this—only to take lives?!
(Hyūga Ming: A player.)
Even though Hyūga Ming worked as fast as he could, he still couldn't catch everyone.
When people run with their lives on the line, they move frighteningly fast.
And unfortunately for him—
That was the correct decision.
[Experience +677]
[Silver +78]
Corpses littered the mountain.
Those who could escape had already vanished.
Hyūga Ming doubled back, retrieving the shuriken he'd thrown earlier.
These things cost money.
He also collected the dropped items:
[Bandit Necklace – Chakra Recovery +10]
[Bandit's Left Bracer – Strength +5]
[Coin Pouch – Open to receive 10~100 silver]
[Bandit's Right Bracer – …]
[Bandit's Right Greave – …]
"…Finally."
He equipped the necklace, ring, and left bracer.
A new line appeared on his panel.
[Bandit Set Complete]
Attack +10 | Defense +10 | Recovery +10
Set Skill: Sap (No Level)
Set bonuses were calculated separately, but what really mattered—
Was Sap.
A god-tier early-game skill.
He pulled out a soldier pill and tossed it into his mouth.
As he chewed, bitterness spread across his tongue, mixed with a faint sweetness.
Soldier pills were essential for ninjas on the move—
restoring chakra, stamina, and hunger all at once.
Weight-loss enthusiasts would weep with joy.
The taste, however, was awful.
"Next time I'll try the Nara family's," Hyūga Ming muttered, heading down the mountain.
He'd heard theirs tasted better—
though they were more expensive.
The rendezvous point Tsunade had given them lay at the border of the Land of Fire.
Once he crossed the mountains, he arrived.
Strangely enough, he encountered no further danger along the way.
It was almost as if—
in the eyes of the other villages—
He simply didn't matter.
Or rather…
neither did Hyūga Hiashi or Hyūga Hizashi.
Standing on a tree branch, Hyūga Ming looked toward the border.
A military encampment had already been established.
Beyond it lay the territory of the Rain Country.
The Land of Fire and the Rain Country shared flat terrain—
their border nothing more than an invisible line on a map.
"So this is it…"
"Byakugan."
The world turned translucent.
Everything became pale gray—
except for living bodies infused with chakra, which glowed vividly blue.
He scanned the entire camp with ease.
And what reassured him most—
Everyone inside wore Konoha headbands.
But he didn't see Tsunade.
Nor the Hyūga brothers.
"They haven't arrived yet?"
Shifting his vision, he spotted three familiar chakra signatures approaching through the forests on both sides—
no pursuers in sight.
Only then did Hyūga Ming leap down and head toward the camp.
This area was safe.
For now.
This wasn't open war yet—
only preparation.
The Five Great Nations hadn't torn away the last layer of civility.
But this kind of military lockdown wouldn't be unique to Konoha.
Every major country would be doing the same.
And the consequences were severe.
Ninja movement was restricted.
Cross-border missions halted.
Economic losses piled up.
After all, the greatest source of missions for ninja villages came from the nobles and merchants of the Five Great Nations.
Small countries simply couldn't sustain long-term cooperation with major villages.
At times like this, it came down to one thing—
Foundations.
Whoever had the weakest foundation would move first.
And whoever struck first—
whether at the negotiating table or on the battlefield—
Would be at a disadvantage.
"Next year is when the war breaks out," Hyūga Ming thought.
"And the weakest foundation belongs to Sunagakure."
Just then—
Hyūga Ming suddenly turned.
A figure burst from the forest, launching a surprise attack.
Gentle Fist.
Hyūga Ming answered with Gentle Fist of his own—
But added something extra.
Bear Brawl Hand.
A seemingly soft palm strike landed—
With monstrous force.
The attacker was blasted backward.
Hyūga Ming smiled casually.
"Hyūga Hiashi. What are you trying to do?"
Inside his head—
"Brain Endorphins—MAX IT. EVERYTHING."
[Brain Endorphins (Lv2)]
[Brain Endorphins (Lv3)]
[Brain Endorphins (Lv6)]
[Brain Endorphins (Lv8)]
2,800 experience vanished instantly.
Hyūga Hiashi clutched his chest, face dark with fury.
"It seems I gave you too many chances," he said coldly.
"You've forgotten your place—and grown this arrogant."
"Where do you get the nerve?" Hyūga Ming mocked mercilessly.
"What—planning to kill me here?"
His gaze flicked toward the nearby camp.
"Even if you dared… with your strength?"
Hyūga Hiashi's face twisted as he pressed a hand to his chest.
In direct combat—
He wasn't even a match.
Grinding his teeth, he snarled:
"Never forget—you are branch family. You will always be branch family."
His hands flew through seals.
The Caged Bird—
Activated.
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