[Hokage's Office]
After knocking on the door happened, Sandaime Hokage allowed the person to enter. After the entry of Hayate, the conversation started.
Sandaime: "Hayate, what's the matter? Where's your team?"
Hayate: "They are selling tea leaves. They will come tomorrow to Orca Training Ground. I have come here today to give you the mission completion scroll and collect the reward."
Sandaime: "Okay, give me the scroll. [After 3 seconds, Sandaime was checking the scroll when something hit him.] Wait, what? They are selling what?"
Hayate: "They have bought tea leaves from the client and are selling them in Konoha. They told me to ask you also if you want to buy some. He is giving you a 10% discount."
Sandaime: "What's the price? Don't tell me they're selling it at 4,000 ryo per kilo."
Hayate: "2,000 for medium range, 10,000 for high-end."
Sandaime: "Just that much? Ask them to give me a kilo of both." Sandaime looks excited.
Hayate: "Sandaime, can I ask you something?"
Sandaime: "What?"
Hayate: "Do you know about the liquor scam?"
Sandaime: "Yes, I know. But keep it secret. Do you have anything else to report?"
Hayate: "Yes, there was a skirmish between our team and rogue Shinobi. They were three in number. They knew we were coming, might be some mole, but we were somewhat fast as we stored goods in a sealing scroll. After some time, they caught up with us. One was Chunin level, the other two were Genin. Ummmm..."
Sandaime, seeing Hayate's hesitation: "What happened?"
Hayate: "Massacre. It happened like this."
[Flashback]
Ikki and Team Orca were heading towards Konoha. As they reached halfway, they sensed some people approaching from behind.
Ikki: "Hinari, check out with your Byakugan. We are being followed."
Hinari: "Yes, they are three in number. One has Chunin-level chakra, the other two have Genin-level."
Ikki: "Let's wait then. We need to identify if they are targeting us or not. If they are, let's check our level against them. Hehe."
Hayate: "Ikki, this is not the time for jokes."
Chikako: "Ikki is not joking. Even I want to try our tanto skill."
Hayate: [Are you even a Nara anymore?]
Hayate: "Okay, let's wait."
After some time, three Shinobi reached them. They were wearing masks.
Ikki stepped forward,
Ikki: "Who are you? And why are you following us?"
Chunin Rogue Ninja: "Kid, leave the goods here and go. We are taking them."
Ikki: "What goods?"
Chunin Rogue Ninja looked around and then found out there were no goods there.
Chunin Rogue Ninja: "Where are the goods?"
Ikki: "In a sealing scroll."
Chunin Rogue Ninja: "Give it to us, and we'll let you go."
Ikki: "Nah, don't wanna."
Chunin Rogue Ninja looked flustered. This was the first time someone had refused him, and a small kid at that.
Ikki: "Should I say the next dialogue? 'Take the goods out, otherwise we will kill you, we will do this, do that.'"
Chunin Rogue Ninja looked more flustered. He asked his teammates.
Chunin Rogue Ninja: "What's going on here? Did the world change overnight?"
Ikki: "Okay, listen carefully, this is how it's gonna go. You three leave now without any trouble. If you don't, I will count to three, and after that, whatever happens is your fault."
All three rogue Ninjas' heads went haywire. Now kids were giving threats.
Ikki, without waiting, brought out a sword from his ring and started counting.
Ikki: "1"
No one moved. But the Chunin Ninja started to sweat. He could feel the threat now.
Ikki: "2"
Ikki: "3"
And it happened. Ikki moved. But there was no sound. No change in his position. Applying Twin Wing Edelweiss swordsmanship with Seishuku Shunshin no Jutsu (Still Body Flicker Technique) created a whole new illusion for his jutsu. No one could tell if Ikki moved or not. Just three slashes could be seen. And then came the shockwave. Boom. Afterwards, three shrieks could be heard. Three hands were on the ground, detached from the rogue ninjas' torsos.
Ikki, still stunned in his mind, still spoke these words.
Ikki: "Take your hands and go."
All three rogue ninjas took their hands and ran away.
Ikki turned towards his team and started puking. Hayate came near him.
Hayate: "Now you understand, right? What kind of power you hold."
Ikki: "I need water."
Hinari reached in her bag, brought out a water bottle, and gave it to Ikki.
Ikki: "Thanks."
Afterwards, he also calmed down.
Hayate: "What are you thinking?"
Ikki: "It's quite easy." Hinari and Chikako got confused.
Chikako: "What?"
Ikki: "Taking life. At first, I thought they would be able to dodge, so I went for their hands. If I had gone for their heads, they would have died."
Chikako also started to sweat. Hinari also went pale.
Hayate: "Let's go. This is the life we are in. You need to stay strong, and you guys already know this. Also, you need to understand when to take lives and when not to. This is not a game. It's either you or them. But you still have to have compassion. You are not bloody killers. Got it?"
All three nodded.
Hayate: [This is the first time I got to be a sensei.]
[Flashback Ends]
Sandaime: "That attack... was it that scary?"
Hayate: "Quite actually. It just happened in a flash. I thought he hadn't moved from his place until he was standing behind the Rogue Shinobi. Hinari and Chikako were also getting ready. I think even Ikki didn't know this technique was going to have this much effect."
Sandaime nodded.
Hayate: "The Chunin exam is coming at Iwagakure. Should we send them?"
Sandaime: "No, let's wait for two more years. They are still young."
Hayate: "You want to bully little kids."
Sandaime chuckled at this.
Sandaime: "Okay, you can go. This is the reward."
Hayate, taking the reward, left.
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