Ino took a step back, her face slightly pale. Her eyes, trained to pick up the subtlest details in the flow of information during battle, couldn't process what they were seeing.
It wasn't a ninja technique. There were no hand seals, no visible chakra. It was... something else. A pure, elemental violence that shattered every shinobi standard.
Her mind hit a blank wall.
What kind of power is this?
To cause devastation so... clean. So thoughtless.
Choji, who had been about to pull a bag of potato chips from his pocket, froze. His thick fingers closed around the bag, crushing it completely.
His jaw, usually occupied with chewing, hung open. His survival instinct, often overshadowed by his love of food, screamed one thing at him: danger.
Not the danger of an enemy you could hit or dodge. This was an environmental danger, like an earthquake or an avalanche. Something that simply crushed you if you were unlucky enough to be in its path.
And all of it contained within a body with a kind face.
Genzō, for his part, remained on the ground where he had fallen to his knees. His straw hat had flown off, revealing a sweaty, haggard face.
"Im…impressive". He couldn't help but murmur.
Kaito lifted him by the hem of his shirt. The man weighed absolutely nothing for someone who handled such an enormous flow of money.
Man, at least eat more.
The civilians driving the carts seemed to have forgotten how to breathe.
Thirty-seven men had surrounded the caravan. Now not a single one remained standing.
"Everyone okay?". He asked after making sure the ninjas under his command were safe.
Kaito would naturally prioritize the safety of his squad.
Ino finally exploded.
"¡WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!".
Several birds fled the nearby trees.
Kaito blinked and shook his ear in annoyance.
"Don't be so damn loud".
"Don't be loud? Sensei, look at what you just did. How do you plan to explain that in the mission report".
Kaito looked at her with an expressionless face.
"You'll do it, of course".
Ino was dumbfounded.
"Alright, let's not waste any more time. I want to be back in Konoha by tomorrow and take a week-long vacation".
The caravan employees tied up the bandits who had fallen unconscious earlier and then prepared to continue.
Ino couldn't help giving Kaito another look.
She narrowed her eyes and swore she would discover what the hell he'd used to make more than half the bandits pass out.
Her first target was the katana.
Her eyes drifted to his waist. The katana was positioned in a place that made it easy for him to walk.
Ino decided she would try to inspect it later.
Along the way, Genzō cautiously approached.
"Kaito-sama".
Kaito waved his hands.
"Just call me Kaito".
"Ah, oh, of course".
The merchant looked around.
"I've hired shinobi before.…
"I'm glad to know Konoha doesn't monopolize your assets".
Ino, listening from behind, rolled her eyes.
'This guy doesn't take anything seriously'
Genzō let out a nervous laugh.
"That's not exactly what I meant".
Kaito waited for him to finish stammering.
"I've never seen destruction like that".
Kaito didn't respond to that.
Genzō took a deep breath.
"When I saw the kids this morning... I thought I'd wasted my money".
Ino heard that from the back and replied.
"We can hear you, Genzō-san".
Genzō jumped.
Kaito smiled in amusement.
"We ninjas have good senses".
"W…well, the point is that you're incredible. I thought it was the end for me. I didn't expect things to turn out like this".
Kaito waved his hands again.
"I told you to forget about it. It's our job as ninjas once we accept the mission. There's no need for such a fuss".
Several hours later, they reached a small clearing suitable for resting.
Genzō ordered the carts to stop.
The workers began preparing food while the horses drank.
Ino sat against a tree.
Chōji immediately opened his backpack.
Kaito raised an eyebrow.
"More food?".
"It's lunchtime". Chōji replied.
"You've been eating since we left".
"That was during the mission".
Kaito was left speechless by this kid. He decided not to argue with that logic and then sat down on a rock and began cleaning his katana, despite it already being clean. He was simply showing off. He really liked doing it.
The blade barely had any dirt on it.
Ino couldn't help approaching.
Kaito suddenly caught a sweet floral scent. When he turned his head, he saw Ino's face almost pressed against his own.
"Can I see it, sensei?". Ino asked.
Kaito refused immediately.
"You're too weak-willed. It could kill you in a single second".
Ino blinked at his words.
Kaito wasn't lying.
The name of this katana was "Shodai Kitetsu". A system reward for unlocking Shanks's template.
Normally, it should have given him his sword. Instead, it gave him Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro's sword.
One of the Five Elders of the World Government.
The katana is the first and most powerful of the Kitetsu line of cursed swords, classified as one of the twelve Saijō Ō Wazamono.
Kaito wasn't crazy enough to let Ino hold it.
"Hmph"
Ino pouted and walked away angrily.
No more bandits appeared for the rest of the day.
That was probably for the best.
As evening fell, while the sun painted the treetops orange. The caravan finally reached its destination.
The capital of the Land of Fire appeared between the hills as the sun began to descend, sprawling around a commercial road far busier than the paths they had traveled for most of the journey.
It wasn't particularly large, at least compared to Konoha, but its position between several trade routes gave it considerable activity.
There were wooden warehouses near the entrance, stables, small shops, stalls still open at that hour, and a surprising number of travelers coming and going.
Ino was the first to react.
"Finally"
Kaito turned his head slightly.
"I thought you'd learned to enjoy the journey".
"I learned to pay attention during the journey. That's different. Besides, I need a bath".
Chōji nodded solemnly.
"And food".
The caravan's arrival drew a few looks. The capital's guards approached immediately.
Genzō explained the situation and handed over the bandits they had captured. They could consider themselves lucky after all. At least they were alive.
That delayed their arrival by almost an hour. Because of the absurd number of questions.
After all, this was where the Daimyō resided.