Chương 43: Request for Help Signal

The next day marked the final day of the time limit agreed upon by Yunmi Gekko and the three members of his squad. Once today passed, their D-rank mission count would exceed twenty. While this was nothing compared to those who were "D-rank specialists," it more than satisfied the requirement of eight missions to participate in the Chunin Exams. These low-level missions in Konoha were never truly intended for elite squads like theirs. Arriving at the Mission Hall, Yunmi Gekko adjusted his original plan.

Upon inquiring with the staff, he found the mission posted by the breeding farms for clearing fierce wild beasts. Because the geographical area involved was vast and the high-risk, large predators were nomadic, the mission duration was set for one month—a standard established over years of experience. The reward was also variable: for every dangerous target cleared, one would receive the maximum amount for a D-rank mission.

This ensured the maximum removal of threats, guaranteeing the safety of the livestock and the farm staff. Zhen and the others didn't see Ritsu's squad at the Mission Hall that day, but no one paid it any mind. Once the mission was confirmed, they set out immediately. The mission site was southwest of Konoha, where large swathes of land had been cleared for pastures, home to several sizable livestock farms.

They raised cattle, sheep, pigs, and more, using both free-range and stable-breeding methods to ensure Konoha was supplied with fresh, high-quality meat at various price points, satisfying the consumption needs of both shinobi and civilians. A ninja's strength is gained through arduous cultivation. While they obtain power beyond that of ordinary people, their appetites are naturally incomparable to civilians.

Without sufficient high-quality food to replenish nutrients, how could they withstand the daily extraction of chakra from their cells? Had Duy been able to eat well every meal, there would be no need for jokes about his meager diet. The amount of food most ninja can eat in one sitting would cause an ordinary person's stomach to burst. If you don't believe it, try having a normal two-hundred-pound strongman eat twenty bowls of ramen in one go—large bowls, not the tiny ones used in buckwheat noodle eating records.

As for Hinata Hyuga, she could put away forty-six bowls. After checking in with the client, Yunmi Gekko led the three to a high vantage point and said, "Because there are so many cattle and sheep here, they always attract predators—black bears, tigers, wolves, and the like. The farms here are frequently harassed, so they periodically post missions to Konoha to clear out these hidden dangers.

Your task today is to find and eliminate as many threats as possible within this area, ensuring safety within at least a fifty-kilometer radius south of these farms."

"No problem, Sensei!" the three replied in unison. This time, even the simple-minded Yugao Uzuki didn't ask what would happen if a predator from beyond fifty kilometers wandered in later. The reality of yesterday had already given her the answer: the farm manager would simply post another mission. There was no such thing in this world as paying once for a lifetime warranty. Once Yunmi finished speaking, he vanished to parts unknown as usual. However, for Zhen's squad, this mission was actually quite easy.

With a teammate possessing powerful sensory abilities, the presence of their respected Jonin didn't make much of a difference. This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Due to the invasion of the God Tree, creatures in the shinobi world all possess chakra to some degree, and the beasts of nature are no exception. While intelligent species are rare, most become irritable, fierce, and physically massive due to chakra.

They lack the strength and value to be used as Summoning Beasts but pose a fatal threat to ordinary people. Furthermore, chakra acts like a supernatural fertilizer, causing these predators to breed more frequently and grow faster than their counterparts in Zhen's previous world; unless ninja specifically hunted them across the entire shinobi world, they would be difficult to drive to extinction.

With chakra involved, they naturally couldn't escape Zhen's perception—at least, that's what Yunmi Gekko and the others believed. Zhen closed his eyes. After a few seconds, he opened them and said, "We've run into our new friends." Hayate Gekko wasn't surprised.

"Did they take the same mission as us?" Yugao Uzuki looked confused.

"Who are you talking about?"

"Senior Ritsu's squad," Hayate replied. Fortunately, while this girl didn't like to use her brain when she was with Zhen, she wasn't a fool.

"From the sound of it, something feels off. Did you two notice a problem with them yesterday?"

"No," Zhen said.

"It just feels like some things don't align with common sense. Ignore them for now. Let's do the mission. Pay attention to my warnings; don't let those beasts ambush you." Within the complex environment of the mountain forest, three figures flickered between tree trunks like arrows released from a bow, the sounds they made almost imperceptible. A brightly colored tiger was lying in an open clearing in the jungle, leisurely basking in the sun and napping.

Last night, it had managed to snag a calf from the "two-legged sheep's" pasture and enjoyed a hearty meal; now was the perfect time for sleep and building fat. This creature looked much larger than the tigers of Zhen's past life. It possessed chakra; even Wu Song wouldn't be able to handle this. If seven or eight ordinary people tried to face it, they would be nothing more than snacks. However, when faced with a ninja of even modest strength, they were the ones on the menu. Shu! Shu!

Sharp tools sliced through the air. From the dense forest, two kunai suddenly shot out. Before the tiger could react, they pierced accurately into its eyes.

"Roar—!" The sudden, searing pain and loss of sight caused the tiger to bolt upright, letting out a roar that pierced through the forest. However, this sound lacked the majesty of the King of the Forest; instead, it was incredibly wretched. Hayate Gekko moved like a lightning strike, delivering a heavy kick to the tiger's head, causing it to lose its balance. Yugao Uzuki followed close behind, thrusting her blade into its jaw.

She then drew her sword and retreated instantly to prevent any frantic counterattack before its death. The tiger's body twitched a few times before it died completely, without a single drop of blood splashing onto the killers. Yugao, however, still had quite a few bloodstains on her outfit from an earlier encounter; she had since learned her lesson and hadn't made a similar mistake again. Zhen stepped forward to check the body, and after confirming the kill, marked the location on his map.

This was the third beast they had cleared that morning. These apex predators weren't everywhere; they were scattered quite thinly. If not for Zhen's sensory abilities, finding them would have been quite a chore. No wonder many Genin squads were unwilling to take on this troublesome task; it was dangerous and difficult to track. Just then, a faint explosion sounded from the due south. The three leaped to the top of the trees and saw a signal flare rising steadily into the sky.

It was the specific request for help signal used by Konoha shinobi. Someone was in danger.

"Should we go take a look?" Yugao asked. Hayate cautioned his teammates, "Be careful. The timing is a bit too coincidental. It might be a trap." Zhen sensed the situation to the south and gave a slight smile.

"Let's go. They're comrades from Konoha; helping each other is only right."