On the hunt

"Kimimaro on me" Kageyama ordered and rushed into the forest.

Kimimaro followed him closely and asked.

"Kageyama- san can you tell me the information about the bandits."

Kageyama smiled and said.

"Don't worry Kimimaro our info states that the bandits have eight members with no chakra users. Last night we were severely at disadvantage because we were outnumbered and on defence. A ninja on offence is different animal than ninja on defence. We have more options to use against them.

Walk closely to me, we must find some kind of marks so we can track them down.

For starters where do you think they may leave marks."

"On the road?" Kimimaro replied.

"Indeed, after all they are bandits, they kill and loot ,so they naturally roam around the roads."

Kageyama looked up to the sun and said.

"But I think they are not around the road right now, because the sun will soon fall under the horizon.Most caravans by that time will set up camps. They are not big force, so they will not attack reinforced camp if they are not suicidal ofcores. So they must hide somewhere, preferably, a valley, cave or some kind of low lands. Why do you think,in your opinion, they will hide there Kimimaro?

"Because there you cannot spot the fireplaces and they are easily defendable or escapable."Kimimaro replied.

"Yes you are mostly right.Bandits will not stay at one place for a long time.Because some traders can issue missions from ninja or samurai clan to exterminate bandits,at some place, and if they gain infamy at the region their death will soon follow." Then he looked at ahead while touching his chin.

"Yes for example in the far north there is infamous bandit camp led by Sakura Sakeyama with six thousand members. Even our clan can't destroy them. Only the Holy Emperor and his army or minimum seven clans can destroy them."Kageyama explained and continued.

"Ok, enough chit-chat back to work. Use your byakugan to see if they are dumb enough to stay near the road."

Kimimaro activated his Byakugan and searched around the forest.

"Kageyama- san my limit for now is 250 meters around me I don't see them, but there seems to be small path that leads somewhere left of us."

"Nice job Kimimaro we will investigate"Kageyama replied.

After they reached the path Kageyama asked.

"What do you think?"

"I think thats our target, the path is used quite regularly and by not a lot of people."

"Excellent investigation Kimimaro- kun you have bright future for a tracking ninja, after all we have a lack of them for most of our existence."

"Why I thought every ninja must be good at that?" Kimimaro asked with visible confusion on his face.

"Because we are brutes. Our most common mission is to destroy or exterminate something somewhere." Kageyama answered with a smile.

"Now let's follow the path be ready for everything." After 20 minutes jumping from branch to branch they reached a valley. At the lowest point there was a clearing. Six bandits sat tired around the fire.Next to them were  three rusty old katanas,two axes and three big wooden hammers."

"That's our target Kimimaro. Look with your byakugan where the last two bandits are." Kageyama whispered to Kimimaro."

"One stands on the other side of the valley and the other is staying in small three house. Fifty meters on the right looking at the road we found." Kimimaro whispered back.

"Ok I want you to go on the left side around the camp and assassinate the bandit on the other side of the valley. And after five minutes we will assault the other six. Do you understand?"Kageyama looked at Kimimaro seriously.

"Yes sir." Kimimaro replied.