"Today, Lin and I will be taking you two outside the village for a small mission."
"The goal of this task is to build your courage. Being a ninja is not a game."
As Uchiha Mori spoke, Saitama immediately recalled what Nagisa had told him earlier. So this is what he meant.
He had expected this moment, so he wasn't surprised.
Standing beside him, Shisui didn't seem to fully understand the implication of Mori's words. He simply listened attentively, his expression unreadable.
"Get your field packs, check your gear, and bring anything you need. We're heading out."
With that, Mori and Lin turned and left the room.
Saitama checked over his tools again—shuriken, kunai, and his short blade. He drew the sword briefly to wipe it clean, then sheathed it across his back with practiced ease.
He and Shisui departed soon after. Both boys were excited—it was their first mission beyond the village gates.
Though the Uchiha typically handled internal security and patrols within Konoha, there were exceptions. Missions outside the village, especially those tied to clan interests, were rare but possible.
The four-person team passed through the gates of Konoha together.
For Saitama, this was the first time leaving the village since arriving. The fresh, open air beyond the walls lifted his spirits. He felt a strange mix of calm and excitement.
"This mission is a C-rank extermination request," Uchiha Lin explained as they walked. "A group of bandits has been harassing several villages in the southeastern region of the Land of Fire. There may be rogue ninja among them. We don't know their exact abilities, but they aren't expected to be very powerful."
She looked at the two boys with a serious expression.
"Mori and I won't be intervening unless absolutely necessary. We're here to observe and evaluate. If we're forced to step in, you fail the mission."
Her tone was casual, but the warning behind her words was clear.
"Understood," Saitama nodded. He had anticipated this sort of setup.
Shisui's eyes flickered. He was only now realizing the nature of the mission, and uncertainty crept into his expression.
He's still unsure? Saitama noted silently.
Their group traveled east for two days, eventually arriving in a mountainous region near the southeastern border of the Land of Fire.
From a high vantage point, they could see a crude camp in the distance. It looked hastily built—just some scattered tents and makeshift fortifications, confirming that the bandits were constantly on the move.
Saitama and Shisui had followed signs and clues along the way to reach this location. Now, it was time for action.
"We leave the rest to you," Mori said calmly. He and Lin exchanged a nod, then vanished into the trees with practiced stealth.
Saitama narrowed his eyes at the camp ahead.
Shisui moved up beside him, equally cautious.
"See anything?" Saitama asked.
"I counted eleven visible targets," Shisui whispered. "But I can sense at least one more hiding."
"Agreed. We need to get closer."
Without waiting for a reply, Saitama moved forward, using chakra to silently grip the tree trunks as he approached from above.
The camp was nestled in the woods at the base of the ridge they had descended. Staying in the trees provided cover and perspective.
Shisui followed a few seconds later, quiet as a shadow.
They moved in tandem, silent and calculated, stopping only when they reached a safe distance from the camp—about half a kilometer away.
According to the mission intel, at least one rogue ninja was among the bandits. Whether that meant a sensor-type or not, Saitama couldn't be sure. But they couldn't afford to get any closer without risk of detection.
"We'll scout the perimeter. Look for traps, ambush points, or hidden guards," Saitama said, serious. "No room for mistakes."
Shisui nodded, and they split up—each circling opposite sides of the camp.
Only the rustling of leaves filled the forest now.
Over the next thirty minutes, the two boys scouted the area thoroughly. Oddly, they didn't encounter any traps, alarms, or guards posted outside the camp.
Too easy. Suspiciously so.
When they regrouped, Saitama was already frowning.
"Find anything?" he asked.
Shisui shook his head. "No. It's strange. No sentries, no traps. Either they're careless—or they're way better than we think."
"Same here," Saitama replied, touching his chin thoughtfully. "They might be overconfident. Or they're hiding something."
"There are definitely eleven visible in the camp. But the intel said there could be more. At least one rogue ninja."
Shisui furrowed his brow. "What now?"
Saitama looked at him seriously.
"We don't rush in. We watch a little longer. If there's a hidden threat, we draw it out. If not—then we strike hard and fast."
Shisui nodded slowly.
They crouched in silence once again, watching the bandit camp—waiting for something, anything, to reveal itself.
This mission was no longer a test of courage alone.
It was a test of survival.