Chapter 144: C144
Here's the expanded chapter with Daichi's personal feelings and reflections woven into the mission:
Half a day later, the team arrived at the second hideout. Unlike the mine, this place had a different, darker atmosphere. The crumbling walls of the abandoned military outpost loomed ahead, casting jagged shadows under the late afternoon sun. Haruto wasn't sure if the outpost had seen battles in the wars, but its current state—fortified by bandits—meant it would soon witness bloodshed again.
Sakumo scanned the area, assessing the situation, then turned to Daichi with the same calm, steady gaze he had when he briefed Shuisi. "Daichi, you're up. Show me what you can do."
Daichi nodded, his face expressionless, but deep inside, the familiar weight of the past settled into his chest. He wasn't new to death. No, far from it. The memories of Whirlpool, the fall of his village, the image of his parents lying motionless—those scenes never truly left him. They lingered, always on the edge of his mind, creeping in during moments like this. But this time, Daichi welcomed it. He needed that edge, that drive.
As he moved forward to begin his surveillance, his mind drifted, unbidden, back to the day his parents were killed. In the chaos of Whirlpool's destruction, he had seen the face of the ninja who cut them down. And though that man had likely been a soldier following orders, in Daichi's mind, the ninja had become a symbol—a reminder of the cruelty of the world and the weakness he once felt. Every mission like this was another chance to rid the world of men like that, even if they were only bandits today.
Konoha had never really accepted him as one of their own. He felt the looks, the whispers behind his back. Outsiders were rarely treated with warmth. But Haruto had been different. Haruto hadn't tried to "fix" him like others had. No pity, no judgment. Haruto just trained with him, day in and day out, as if Daichi was no different from anyone else. That was something Daichi appreciated more than he could ever express.
He shook the thoughts from his mind as he neared the outpost. There was no room for distractions. Daichi's sharp eyes quickly scanned the area, counting the bandits. There were about eleven visible from his vantage point, but there was a small, sealed-off room that he couldn't get a clear view of. From the movements and positioning of the bandits, he suspected there were probably two or three more hidden inside.
He returned to Sakumo, giving his report. "There are eleven hostiles visible, but there's a small room inside. I'd estimate two or three more hiding in there."
Sakumo nodded, his expression unchanging. "Proceed. We're standing by."
Daichi took a steadying breath and moved out. He wasn't as fast as Shuisi—he knew that. Shuisi's speed and precision were unrivaled. But Daichi had patience, and he preferred to operate slowly and methodically. Every step he took was careful, deliberate. He circled the outpost, taking out the outer guards with clean, silent strikes. His kunai found their marks, and the bandits fell without a sound, their bodies hitting the ground in silence.
But as Daichi moved deeper into the outpost, the ghost of that ninja from his past crept back into his mind. The face of the man who killed his parents appeared, blurry and fragmented, but clear enough to fuel his every move. With each bandit he eliminated, he imagined that face—the cold eyes of a killer who had taken everything from him.
He moved closer to the inner part of the outpost, but just as he prepared to strike again, something went wrong. One of the bandits stumbled upon a dead body. The man's eyes widened in horror as he realized what had happened, and before Daichi could silence him, the bandit began to turn, ready to alert the others.
Daichi's heartbeat quickened. He had eliminated 75% of the bandits already, but there were still a few left, and if they were alerted now, it could jeopardize the mission. There wasn't time to think—only time to act.
In a swift motion, Daichi formed the necessary hand signs. "Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu."
A thick fog rolled over the outpost, blanketing the area in a heavy, disorienting mist. The remaining bandits, already confused and panicking, stumbled through the haze, their vision completely cut off. They were blind, helpless.
For Daichi, the mist was a perfect veil. He moved through it like a phantom, silent and deadly. His kunai sliced through the last of the bandits, each one falling without even knowing what hit them. The image of his parents' killer flickered in his mind, each strike a reminder of why he fought—of the justice he sought, and the vengeance that still burned within him.
When the last body hit the ground, Daichi stood in the center of the outpost, his chest rising and falling with slow, controlled breaths. The mist began to clear, revealing the now-empty battlefield. The mission was complete.
Daichi made his way back to Sakumo, his mind still replaying the images of the past, but his expression calm. "It's done," he said, his voice steady.
Sakumo gave a small nod, his eyes studying Daichi closely. "You did well. You took out the majority of the bandits quietly and efficiently. Your Mist Jutsu was used correctly, and it allowed you to finish without alerting the remaining enemies. You adapted when the situation changed. Good."
Daichi felt a flicker of pride, though his thoughts were still distant, still haunted by the memories that refused to leave him. But Sakumo wasn't done.
"However," Sakumo continued, his tone slightly firmer, "you took a little too long. Patience is valuable, Daichi, but speed is just as important. Hesitation allowed that one bandit to find the body, and that could have compromised everything if you hadn't been fast enough to act. Speed will come with more practice, but keep it in mind. Not every situation will give you the luxury of time."
Daichi nodded, absorbing the critique. He knew Sakumo was right. His methodical approach had its strengths, but he had to be faster, sharper—especially in situations where lives were on the line. But as he thought back to the faces of the bandits, he couldn't help but imagine the man who had killed his parents in their place. He wondered if, someday, he would face someone like that again—and if he'd be fast enough when the time came.
"Understood, Sensei," Daichi replied, his voice steady but his mind already drifting back to the past, back to the day when everything was taken from him.
Sakumo gave one final nod, the conversation over. "Good. Keep improving."
As Daichi walked away, he clenched his fists slightly, knowing that every mission was another step toward getting stronger. And one day, if he ever came face to face with the ninja who had taken his parents, he would be ready.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone