The next day was the final day of the agreed time limit between Gekkō Kumomi and Higashino Makoto and the other two.
As long as they got through today, their number of D-rank missions would exceed twenty. Although that was nothing compared to some D-rank mission specialists, it was at least enough to meet the requirement of eight missions to be eligible to participate in the Chūnin Exams.
These low-level missions in Konohagakure had never been intended for talent-based squads like theirs in the first place.
After arriving at the mission hall, Gekkō Kumomi changed the original mission plan and asked the staff. Sure enough, there were missions posted by ranches requesting the elimination of ferocious wild beasts.
Because the area involved was too large, and because extremely dangerous, large-bodied beasts appeared unpredictably, the time limit for this mission was set at one month—this was a pattern summarized over many years.
At the same time, the mission reward was also flexible. For each dangerous target eliminated, they could receive the maximum D-rank mission payout.
This approach could, to the greatest extent possible, eliminate sources of danger and ensure the safety of the ranch livestock and workers.
Today, Higashino Makoto and the others did not see Ritsu's team in the mission hall. However, no one paid it any attention. After confirming the mission, they set off immediately.
The mission location was to the southwest of Konohagakure. There, large areas had been opened up as pastureland, with several livestock farms of considerable scale.
The types raised included cattle, sheep, pigs, and the like. Both free-range and pen-fed methods were used, ensuring the supply of fresh, high-quality meat at different price points for Konohagakure, meeting the consumption needs of both ninja and civilians.
A ninja's strength is obtained through arduous training. While they gain power far beyond that of ordinary people, their appetites naturally far exceed those of ordinary people as well.
Without sufficiently high-quality food to replenish nutrition, how could one withstand having chakra extracted from their cells day after day?
The amount of food most ninja consume in a single sitting is enough to make an ordinary person's stomach burst.
If you don't believe it, try having an ordinary burly man weighing over 100 kilograms eat 20 bowls of ramen in one go. Big ocean-style bowls, not the small bowls used for those soba big-eater records.
Hinata said, "I can eat 46 bowls."
After handing things over with the mission client, Gekkō Kumomi led the three of them to a high vantage point and said, "Because there are quite a few cattle and sheep here, it always attracts beasts—black bears, tigers, wolves, and the like."
"These ranches are frequently harassed, so they regularly post missions to Konohagakure to have these hidden dangers cleared out."
"Your mission today is to find and eliminate as many dangerous threats in this area as you can—at the very least, make sure the area within a 2-kilometer radius of these ranches is safe."
"No problem, Sensei!" x3.
This time, even someone as simple-minded as Uzuki Yūgao didn't ask what they would do if, later on, beasts from beyond 2 kilometers ran over. Yesterday's reality had already given her the answer: then the ranch manager could just go post another mission.
In this world, how could there be any such thing as paying once and enjoying lifetime warranty service?
After Gekkō Kumomi finished speaking, he once again—just like usual—ran off to who knows where.
However, for Higashino Makoto's squad, this mission really did fall into the "easy" category, because they had a teammate with powerful sensory abilities, so whether the honored jōnin was present or not didn't really matter.
Living creatures in the shinobi world, due to the invasion of the God Tree, all contained chakra within their bodies, to varying degrees; naturally, the beasts of nature were no exception.
However, there were very few intelligent species. Most became irritable, ferocious, and large and strong because of chakra, lacking the strength and value to serve as summoning animals, yet still posing a lethal threat to ordinary people.
At the same time, chakra acted like a powerful stimulant, causing these beasts to reproduce more and grow faster than their counterparts in the world where Higashino Makoto had lived in his previous life. Unless ninja specifically hunted them across the entire shinobi world, it would be difficult to wipe them out.
With chakra, they naturally couldn't escape Higashino Makoto's perception—at least, that was what Gekkō Kumomi and the others believed.
Higashino Makoto closed his eyes. A few seconds later, he opened them and said, "We ran into some newly met friends."
Hayate was not surprised. "Did they take the same mission as us?"
Uzuki Yūgao looked completely baffled. "Who are you talking about?"
Hayate said, "Ritsu-senpai's squad."
Fortunately, this girl just didn't like using her brain when she was together with Higashino Makoto—it wasn't that she was actually an idiot. "From what you mean, why do I feel like something's off? Did you already notice something wrong with them yesterday?"
Higashino Makoto said, "No. It just feels like some things don't quite add up. Let's leave them alone for now and get on with the mission. Pay attention to my warnings—don't let those beasts ambush you."
...
In the complex mountain forest environment, three figures flashed between the tree trunks like arrows loosed from a bow, the sounds they made almost imperceptible.
A vividly colored tiger was lying prone and dozing in an open area of the jungle, leisurely basking in the sun.
Last night, it had finally managed to snatch a calf from the two-legged sheep's ranch and enjoyed a hearty meal. Now was the perfect time to sleep and put on some weight.
This beast's size looked far larger than the tigers from the world of Higashino Makoto's previous life, and it also contained chakra. Even an exceptionally strong man wouldn't be able to handle it; seven or eight ordinary people would just be throwing their lives away.
However, when it encountered ninja with even a bit of strength, it itself became a dish.
Whoosh—whoosh!
Sharp weapons cut through the air. From the dense forest, two kunai suddenly struck out. Before the tiger could react, they accurately plunged into both of its eyes.
"Roar—!"
The sudden, searing pain in its eyes and the loss of vision made the tiger erupt violently, letting out a roar that pierced the mountain forest. Yet this sound no longer carried the majesty of the king of the forest; instead, it was miserably shrill.
Hayate burst out like lightning, delivering a heavy kick to the tiger's head that threw its body off balance. Uzuki Yūgao followed immediately, driving a blade in from beneath its jaw, then swiftly withdrawing and leaping away to guard against a final, desperate counterattack.
The tiger's body twitched a few times on the spot and then died completely, not a single drop of blood splashing onto its killers.
Even so, Uzuki Yūgao still had quite a bit of blood on her—left from the initial exchange. After that, having learned her lesson, she never made a similar mistake again.
Higashino Makoto stepped forward to check. After confirming the target was dead, he marked the location on the map.
This was the third wild beast they had cleared out that morning.
These top-tier predators were not found everywhere; their distribution was quite sparse. If not for Higashino Makoto's sensory ability, finding them would still have been rather troublesome.
No wonder many genin squads were unwilling to take on this troublesome mission—it was both dangerous and hard to locate targets.
At that moment, a faint explosion sounded from the far south. The three leapt up to the treetops and saw a signal flare slowly rising into the air there.
It was a Konohagakure-exclusive distress signal. Someone was in danger.
Uzuki Yūgao asked, "Should we go take a look?"
Hayate reminded his teammates, "Be careful. It's a bit too coincidental—there could be a trap."
Higashino Makoto sensed the situation to the south, then smiled slightly. "Let's go take a look. They're all Konohagakure comrades. Helping each other is only right."
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