C146

The third hideout was buried deep within the forest, a place untouched by the outside world. The bandits had set up a rough camp, with scattered shacks that looked as though they'd been hastily thrown together. Their roofs sagged, the wood creaked with age, and vines and moss had begun to claim the walls. The layout of the camp was crude, with no real defensive structure, just a few makeshift barricades that were more for show than actual protection. It was clear they didn't expect to be found.

Haruto crouched low in the bushes, his chakra sensitivity spread out around him, carefully reading the number of signatures moving through the camp. He felt the distinct pulses of 17 people—wild, undisciplined chakra flows, typical of bandits. They moved with the carelessness of people who had nothing to fear. The camp's openness made it easy for Haruto to count them.

He slipped back to Sakumo and his team, keeping his voice low. "There are 17 hostiles, Sakumo-sensei."

Sakumo turned his sharp gaze toward Haruto. "Exactly 17?"

For a moment, Haruto faltered. He'd been so focused, so sure. The numbers had come to him easily, but now he realized that he hadn't accounted for possible hidden enemies or other unknowns. He'd gotten lost in the details, in the thrill of thinking about his first real kill. He scolded himself silently but forced his voice to remain steady. "Yes, Sensei."

Sakumo regarded him for a beat longer, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded. "Get to it."

Haruto's hands glowed with the faint green light of his Chakra Scalpel Jutsu, the humming energy now familiar and comforting. But this time, it was different. His heart pounded faster in his chest as the reality of the mission settled in. This wasn't training. These were real lives at stake—both his and his enemies'. His Two Minds ability kicked in, one mind staying sharp, cataloging the layout of the camp with perfect recall from his photographic memory, while the other began planning his approach.

He slipped back into the shadows, moving silently as he crept toward the first shack. His heightened senses picked up the faint rustling of the trees and the low murmur of bandits talking by a fire. His movements were fluid, a shadow in the night, as he approached the first structure.

He crouched by a window, carefully peeking inside to assess the situation—and that's when he saw it.

His chakra sensitivity had been wrong. The four chakra signatures he'd sensed before weren't additional bandits—they were women. Four innocent women, bound and beaten, huddled in the corner of the shack, their bodies battered and bruised. The bandits around them were laughing, oblivious to the nightmare they had created.

Haruto's breath caught in his throat. Rage boiled up inside him, more intense than anything he'd felt before. The bandits weren't just thieves. They weren't just fighters. They were monsters who thrived on the suffering of the weak. And these women—they were victims of that cruelty.

Why? The question burned in his mind. Why do people do this?

Something inside him snapped. His hands trembled with the force of his anger, the green glow of his chakra scalpel intensifying. The Two Minds ability kept him from losing focus, but one part of him seethed with a fury he had never known. There would be no mercy. These bandits didn't deserve mercy.

Haruto's feet moved on their own as he blurred into motion, slipping inside the shack before anyone could notice. The first bandit barely had time to turn before Haruto was upon him. His Chakra Scalpel sliced cleanly through the man's neck, severing arteries with surgical precision. The bandit collapsed in a heap, blood pooling on the floor.

Haruto didn't pause. He moved like a whirlwind, his body propelled by rage and efficiency. The next bandit turned, eyes wide in shock, but Haruto's scalpel was already there, cutting through muscle and bone with terrifying ease. The man fell, his lifeless body crumpling next to the first.

Each kill was cold, calculated. His Two Minds split the task—one focused entirely on the precision of the scalpel, ensuring that each strike was fatal and clean. The other mind, however, burned with righteous anger. This wasn't just a mission anymore. This was justice.

The last two bandits in the shack didn't stand a chance. Haruto moved between them with ruthless efficiency, his chakra scalpel glowing brightly as he cut them down with the ease of a seasoned shinobi. His movements were fluid, each strike perfect, each kill silent.

As the final body hit the ground, Haruto paused, his breathing heavy. The room was quiet now, save for the soft sobs of the women in the corner. His chakra scalpel dimmed, the green glow fading from his hands as he stood among the bodies.

But he wasn't done.

Haruto's eyes narrowed as he stepped outside. There were still bandits to deal with. He moved quickly, his rage still simmering just beneath the surface. The next shack was just ahead, and Haruto was ready. There would be no more hesitation, no more mercy. The bandits had sealed their fate the moment they had chosen to prey on the innocent.

With cold, methodical precision, Haruto cut through the remaining bandits, his Chakra Scalpel Jutsu guiding his hand as he sliced through their defenses. His Two Minds worked in perfect harmony—one mind controlling the fight, tracking each movement, while the other burned with the need for justice.

By the time the final bandit fell, Haruto stood alone in the center of the camp, surrounded by the bodies of the men who had caused so much suffering. His chest heaved with the effort of the fight, but inside, he felt only the cold satisfaction of knowing they would never hurt anyone again.

The women, the suffering—they would haunt him. But this, at least, was done.