NOVEL NEXT Chapter 31: A ninja who can't kill has no place here!!
Yoruichi walked at the back, a faint smirk on his face, silently observing.
Rin smiled and said, "Obito, you look so excited."
"Whatever!" Obito replied, trying to sound tough, though his grin gave him away. This was his first time leaving the village, and he couldn't hide the excitement in his heart.
"Idiot," Kakashi muttered.
"Kakashi, you're calling me that again?!" Obito barked, clenching his fists.
"Alright, alright, stop fighting," Rin said, stepping between them. "We're on a mission."
Obito snorted and stomped ahead. "Mission, huh? It's been a day, and I haven't even seen a single bird!"
Yoruichi kept his pace slow, lips curling slightly. No birds? No problem. There are two *shinobi* watching us.
---
In the dense trees nearby, two *Mist* ninja in masks observed them closely.
"Konoha is sending kids now?" one whispered, his headband glinting under the sun. "This is bad. Their situation must be desperate."
"Shut up," the other hissed. "This isn't our problem. We should return and report to Lord Juzo."
"Wait," the first argued. "They're just kids. If we take them down, we'll earn huge credit. And who knows? They might carry valuable intel."
"You're insane!"
"Afraid to die? Then why are you even a ninja?" The argument ended with both nodding in agreement. They decided to ambush.
---
The Team 7 squad continued along the sunny path. Up ahead, a large pool of water reflected the sunlight.
Yoruichi's eyes gleamed as they walked past. His instincts screamed, and just as he expected, two figures emerged from the water.
The Mist *shinobi* attacked immediately, aiming straight for Yoruichi.
The sudden move startled Kakashi, Rin, and Obito.
"Yoruichi-sensei!" Rin cried out as the attack hit—Yoruichi was torn apart.
"Too weak!" one Mist ninja sneered, already moving toward Obito.
Obito froze, paralyzed with fear. His breathing quickened as the enemy's blade closed in.
But just before it could strike, Kakashi appeared, kicking the Mist ninja away and dragging Obito back.
"Get up, idiot!" Kakashi barked, shielding him.
Obito dropped to his knees, trembling. "Dead… they're going to kill us…"
Kakashi made a quick hand sign. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Two clones appeared and rushed forward.
The Mist ninja chuckled darkly. "Ah, Konoha's genius. Killing prodigies is always satisfying."
Rin hesitated but threw a kunai to help. The blade clattered uselessly against their armor.
"Cute little girl," one of them sneered. "Maybe we'll take you alive."
Kakashi split into three and engaged them directly. But as he fought, vines erupted from the ground, tangling his clones.
"What the—?!" Kakashi's clones shattered, and the Mist ninja closed in with kunai, one pressing it to Kakashi's throat.
"Still too slow…" Kakashi muttered, his heart pounding.
Suddenly, the Mist ninja froze. Vines had snaked around his wrist, tightening as he struggled. In that moment of hesitation, Kakashi drove his kunai into the enemy's heart.
The Mist ninja gasped, eyes wide. Blood spilled as he collapsed to the ground.
Kakashi stumbled back, staring at his shaking hands. "I… killed him…"
Applause echoed behind them.
"Well done, Kakashi. That's your first kill," Yoruichi said, emerging from the shadows, completely unharmed.
"Wha—Yoruichi-sensei?! You're alive!" Rin exclaimed, her face lighting up.
"It was a clone," Yoruichi said nonchalantly. "What's wrong? Surprised?"
Obito's jaw dropped. "I thought—! That's cheating!"
Yoruichi ignored him and pointed to the remaining Mist ninja. "You kids going to handle that, or should I?"
Kakashi turned, ready to act, but Yoruichi raised a hand. "No, not you. Obito."
"What?!" Obito stepped back, his eyes wide.
"If you want to call yourself a ninja, you need to kill. It's tied up. All you need to do is finish it."
Obito shook his head furiously. "No way! I can't—"
"Then go home," Yoruichi said coldly. "A ninja who can't kill has no place here."
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