Chp-42: A Formidable Enemy Approaches

"Am I just a useless person, Satoru?"

Anko raised her head, her grey-brown eyes dull and lifeless, devoid of any colour.

"Useless?" Satoru sighed helplessly, "Honestly, I can't understand why you'd label yourself with that word."

"But I really feel so useless. You and Rin are both so exceptional, and Shibi-sensei is renowned among the Jōnin. But I... I feel like a waste of space among you all."

Anko's voice grew quieter until it was almost like the buzzing of a mosquito, barely audible.

"Why do you think that way, Anko? You've already achieved so much."

Satoru took a deep breath, trying to make his voice as gentle as possible.

"I just want to contribute something, even if it's small. When Rin and Kakashi fought, I wanted to help, but I couldn't defeat Kakashi, so I had to run to find you."

"I really hate that feeling, that helplessness. Being there but unable to do anything..."

Anko clenched her fists unconsciously, her voice cracking into sobs.

"It's happened many times, so many times. I'm completely useless, only dragging you all down. I'm just a failure."

Satoru fell silent. Anko's choking sobs were painful to hear.

In the original story, Anko was considered a prodigy, even taken in as a disciple by Orochimaru. But under Satoru's influence, her path had changed. She hadn't become Orochimaru's student, and now she felt overshadowed by him and Rin.

"Anko."

Satoru sighed again, placing his hands on her shoulders and speaking as gently as he could.

"You are already remarkable. Maybe you're not as conspicuous among us, but if you find your strengths and persevere, you will definitely become an outstanding ninja."

"Do you understand?"

"Yes."

Anko nodded slightly, murmuring in agreement.

Satoru sighed softly. When they returned, perhaps it was time to discuss a special training regimen for Anko with Shibi-sensei.

After Satoru's comforting words, Anko's mood improved somewhat. The two then resumed their search for the last bandit hideout mentioned in the intel.

The location was incredibly well hidden. Satoru searched for a long time but couldn't find any trace of the bandits.

"It seems the Anbu who scouted the area only deduced the hideout's general location based on the bandits' movements. They likely didn't find the exact spot either."

"This is becoming troublesome."

Satoru clicked his tongue in frustration, glancing toward the rendezvous point with Shibi-sensei. It was quite far from their current location.

If they continued to find nothing, they would have to regroup and devise a new plan.

Scanning the surroundings, Satoru noted they were very close to the coastline. The view was expansive, with only vast stretches of forest and a cliff by the sea.

If there were a bandit hideout nearby, it should be easy to spot.

"Strange," Satoru muttered, frowning.

Beside him, Anko voiced her confusion, "Satoru, I don't understand. Why would the bandits place their hideout here? It doesn't seem suitable."

Why place the hideout here?

A flash of insight struck Satoru. He felt he had grasped something important.

If the bandits chose this area, it must serve their purpose. He quickly scanned the surroundings again, his gaze settling on the cliff by the sea.

"Anko, wait here. I'm going to check something."

"Okay."

...

Arriving at the base of the cliff, Satoru looked up and activated his Byakugan, spotting some telltale signs.

"These bandits are quite determined."

The cliff bore signs of human activity. With the Byakugan, Satoru saw iron spikes and ropes creating footholds up the cliff face, leading to a large cave at the top.

This explained why his earlier search had been fruitless. The Byakugan and electromagnetic senses hadn't covered this area from their previous vantage points.

Satoru chuckled, "No wonder they chose this spot. From the cliff top, they can monitor any ships passing through the nearby sea."

With that realization, Satoru leapt up, using the footholds to ascend the cliff rapidly.

Given the bandits' lack of significant strength, sniping from a distance would be too time-consuming. Directly infiltrating their hideout would be much faster.

...

In the forest.

Anko grew increasingly anxious.

"Satoru has been gone so long. What if something happened to him?"

Their location was far from the Leaf Village, in one of the most chaotic regions of the Land of Fire, often frequented by ninjas from other villages.

This was also why the Hokage had tasked them with eliminating the bandits.

Satoru's prolonged absence worried her more and more.

Just then, a familiar voice brought her relief.

"Anko, let's regroup with Shibi-sensei."

Satoru emerged from the forest, smiling at her.

"Is the mission complete?"

"Yes. Now, we just need to meet up with Shibi-sensei. With his and Rin's abilities, they should have already finished their part."

"Is that so? I still feel like I didn't contribute much."

Anko sighed, her mood darkening again.

"Don't say that, Anko. If you hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have found the hideout. I might still be wandering around aimlessly."

"Let's hurry to meet Shibi-sensei."

"Okay," Anko replied softly.

The rendezvous point was far away. As they walked, Satoru glanced back at the grey sky over the sea, seeing flashes of lightning.

He frowned.

"It looks like it's going to rain heavily. Let's pick up the pace, Anko."

They quickened their steps, moving swiftly through the forest.

After some time, Satoru suddenly stopped, his expression serious. He grabbed Anko's arm and whispered.

"Wait, Anko. There are two ninjas from another village ahead."

Anko halted, looking nervously at Satoru.

"Satoru, are they enemies?"

"It's not clear yet, but they're likely very strong."

Satoru's expression was grim. He had sensed two powerful chakra signatures approaching, indicating formidable opponents.

Activating his Byakugan, Satoru saw the headbands of the approaching ninjas and the sword on one of their backs. He instinctively sucked in a breath.

"Anko, we need to retreat. They're from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen."

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen???

Hearing those words, Anko felt a cold grip of fear.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were notorious. Each was a highly skilled and ruthless elite Jōnin. Their brutality was legendary, even in the Land of Fire.

"Are both of them from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?" Anko asked, swallowing hard.

"No, the other isn't, but they might be even more terrifying."

Satoru held his breath. The chakra of the non-swordsman was even stronger than Shibi Aburame's. Even if Shibi-sensei were here, he wouldn't dare face both of them simultaneously.

The air seemed to freeze, their movements slowing as they cautiously retreated, trying not to make any noise that might alert the enemies.

Just then, the two figures in Satoru's Byakugan moved.

They were approaching rapidly.

"Damn it! Have they noticed us?"

Satoru's face turned pale.