Chapter 44: Kill the evil to protect the innocent

(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)

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Colt was still a little excited about leaving the village.

After staying in the ninja world for so many years already, the farthest place Colt had gone to was the forests around Konoha.

Strictly speaking, it was still within the Fire Country's borders.

But this time, it was a true departure from the village.

Before leaving, Colt checked his ninja kit again.

Explosive tags, kunais, shurikens, and some ration pills.

Although with his physique, the chakra that soldier pills can help him recover was very small.

But it was also good to have it in critical moments.

When he came to the Konoha gate, Maruboshi Kosuke was already standing there with a gourd on his back.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Maruboshi-senpai."

Colt said apologetically, but Kosuke didn't mind and spoke, "I just got here too, but now that you're here, let's go."

"Okay."

After the two registered at the gate guard station, they left Konoha.

And this also allowed Colt to meet the legendary Konoha Gate Guards, Izumo and Kotetsu.

It was said that because of the existence of those two, even Nagato chose to go around to attack Konoha indirectly.

Along the way, their traveling speed was not fast, and Maruboshi Kosuke frequently recounted his mission experiences as they walked.

Since the Third's request was to let Colt gain experience as soon as possible, he naturally had to guide this younger kid in every way he could.

Colt listened very carefully.

The ninja world was vast, and there were no boundaries to the strange things out there.

He will not underestimate the world because of his own strength.

Perhaps when encountering familiar characters from his previous life, he could easily deal with them using foreknowledge.

But if he became arrogant because of this, he would suffer a great loss one day.

The distance to the Niu Head Mountains was not too far, and even without rushing at full speed, they reached their destination by nightfall.

According to the intel report, this was a vicious group of bandits, burning villages, killing innocents, looting and pillaging - doing all kinds of evil.

Countless innocent lives have perished at their hands.

The nearby villagers who could no longer bear it teamed up to gather enough reward money for this extermination mission and requested Konoha's assistance.

This was very common in the ninja world. After all, the backward feudal system represented the harsh inequality between the rich and poor.

Rich people can spend lavishly, while the impoverished cannot even afford a C-rank mission's fees.

Along the way, Colt also passed by many small towns and villages.

Compared to them, the villagers of Konoha were simply blessed.

Even poor families could support themselves through honest labor.

The slightly more wealthy can even hire ninjas to assist with tending to their respective needs.

With the cover of the dark night, the two easily made their way to the base of the Niu Head Mountains.

"The mission is to eliminate the bandits. They are all ordinary civilians. The only complication is that these bandits have many hostages in their custody."

"This mission is entirely up to you to lead, and I will follow your arrangements throughout."

Maruboshi Kosuke took out the mission scroll and said to Colt.

At the same time, Colt's system released the first mission prompt ever.

[Mission: This world is diseased and requires your healing touch. The first step lies with the bandits before you.]

[Kill the evil to protect the innocent, eliminating these transgressors is not murder! Please kill all the bandits and rescue all the captive villagers.]

[Mission Reward: 200 Points]

200 points, a hefty sum, which was a windfall gain.

This mission was not only to expose Colt to bloodshed and familiarize him with the feeling of killing, but also to test his heart.

If he disregards the hostages' lives in order to complete the mission expeditiously, it also means that Colt was not truly qualified to become a Hokage.

Konoha does not need a leader who would readily sacrifice subordinates at his whim.

Hearing this, Colt also understood the underlying intent.

"I understand, in this case, I can handle it alone. I will ask Maruboshi-Senpai to retrieve the hostages while I create a distraction."

"No problem," Maruboshi Kosuke responded.

The two moved swiftly, with Kosuke locating where the hostages were being held, guarded by over a dozen bandits.

Colt directly drew the Kaminari and jumped out.

With Lightning Chakra enhancing his body, crackling electricity coated the blade.

Those guard bandits were cut down like melons before they barely even raised an alarm.

And they were only able to attempt sounding an alarm because Colt deliberately allowed it.

Only in this way could all the other bandits be drawn in to be eliminated in one strike.

Because the Kaminari was incredibly sharp, and Colt could not utilize any refined sword techniques yet.

He only knows how to rely on overwhelming physical power to hack and slash.

Many were directly bisected into multiple pieces, red viscera flying everywhere in a grisly scene.

Facing this carnage, Colt didn't feel the legendary urge to vomit, but goosebumps crawled up his body.

His mind entered a wondrous state.

The three-tomoe Sharingan manifested automatically.

And the other bandits who heard the commotion also rushed over. Seeing the death of so many comrades, the bloodlust in their bodies was thoroughly ignited.

"Kill him! He's alone!"

"What ninja, it's not like we haven't killed them before!"

A bandit who seemed to be the leader roared, and the surrounding ones rushed forward, but he retreated stealthily.

They had killed ninjas before but also paid with over ten lives that time.

This time, he won't foolishly charge in recklessly.

Colt was keenly aware of his movements. Under the Sharingan's crimson glare, these bandits seemed frozen, unable to move.

A handful of kunai were thrown out and pierced the leader's throat under his terrified gaze. Soon, it was also his troops.

After dealing with them all, Colt calmly raised the Kaminari and beheaded these bandits one by one.

He had just noticed that most of the hostages were young girls.

The looks of dazed trauma in their eyes hinted at the unspeakable sufferings they had endured.

Because of this, Colt didn't feel any burden in killing these depraved men, but rather his blood was enflamed with anger.

Every time a bandit fell, his pupils power increased by a tiny amount.

When the head of the last bandit rolled, the three tomoe finally linked together, forming a wondrous kaleidoscopic pattern.

At the same time, the system chimed.

[Congratulations to the Host for completing the mission and earning 200 Points!]

Maruboshi Kosuke could only see Colt's back at this moment.

"Colt-san, are you alright?"

Kosuke asked worriedly, as many people will change temperament after killing too indiscriminately.

He worried that Colt might be the same.

Kosuke could clearly see the merciless methods employed just now.

Hearing this, Colt quickly reigned in his chakra, the Mangekyo Sharingan disappearing as his eyes returned to normal.

He turned his head and smiled, "Of course I'm alright, I just think these bandits got off too easily with such quick deaths."

Looking at Colt who seemed completely unaffected, Maruboshi Kosuke was a little dazed.

This person's demeanor shifted too rapidly.