Naruto: I Draw Power Into Reality

"You're in terrible shape. It's already nightfall."

Arriving at their destination, Danzo spoke coldly, then pointed at one of the hills nearby. "I have a secret mission. There's a group of bandits cultivated by rogue ninja on that hill. I order you to eliminate them."

"What?"

Shiso gasped, his face turning pale.

Kill people?

Sakumo Hatake tightened his grip on the hilt of his blade, feeling somewhat nervous and uncertain, though there was no fear in his heart.

Blades are made for killing—he'd known that since he was a boy.

"Are any of them actual ninja—those trained by the rogue ninja?"

Akaba asked, taking a deep breath.

"According to Anbu intelligence, they provide supplies to the rogue ninja, but currently, none of them are actually ninja. However, just to be safe, I require that everyone—young or old, man or woman—be eliminated!"

Danzo finished speaking and stared at them with icy eyes. "I hope I won't need to finish this mission myself in the end."

"This…"

Shiso looked horrified and confused, hesitation spreading across his face.

He could kill—he could handle that—but murdering women and children? That was something he couldn't accept.

"Yes, sir!"

Sakumo took out his tanto and stood up, heading straight toward the hill.

After all, protecting trade routes from bandits was a ninja's job.

With a quiet sigh, Akaba grabbed his brush and paper and followed toward the mountain stronghold.

The situation outweighs personal will. Danzo had spoken—whatever it took, the mission had to be completed.

"Akaba and Shimo are sure to follow through. Shiso, what will you do?"

After watching them leave for quite some time, Danzo slowly stepped forward, trailing behind them.

Akaba was mature, Sakumo came from a disciplined household, but Shiso lacked both—their master doubted whether he had enough resolve.

The hill grew closer and closer, and Akaba could already see lights flickering atop the mountain.

"Our teacher wants us to kill children…"

"It was always going to happen eventually—it's just that we're the first ones to walk this path. You knew this day would come the moment you became a ninja."

Akaba said calmly.

Though his gut churned, Akaba kept his face blank—better not let the others see how scared he really was.

Sakumo placed his hand on his sword and said, "My father taught me since childhood: A blade is made for killing. Ninja are born to kill. Like Akaba said, this was always a step we'd have to take."

"I've wanted to become a ninja my whole life—I only ever wanted to kill enemy ninja."

Shiso clenched his fists.

They were just little shits themselves—how could they stomach killing kids all of a sudden?

"If you can't do it, I'll go up and kill them all myself."

Sakumo raised his sword, ready to charge up the mountain.

"I'll handle the children," Akaba offered, grabbing his sketchpad. "I'll give them a painless death."

Using [Five Senses Manipulation], they wouldn't even feel it coming.

"No… I must do it too."

"My talent isn't as good as yours. If I back down now, I'll always fall behind."

"I don't want to fall behind—I want to become a powerful ninja!"

Gritting his teeth, Shiso tightened his kunai and charged forward ahead of them, instantly sprinting up the mountain.

His speed burst forth, and within moments, he was halfway up the hill. He hurled his sharpened kunai without hesitation, killing on sight.

But these bandits were merely ordinary men. How could they possibly stand against three elite genin?

Blood sprayed everywhere along their path, and within moments, the ground was littered with corpses.

"Run! Ninja have come! Ninja have come!"

"Think you can run?"

"Let's fight back!"

"No, retreat! There are two ninja. We can't beat them."

Panic spread among the group on the hilltop. Some wanted to fight while others hesitated—utter chaos, like a boiling cauldron of confusion.

They had always thought they were far away from trouble, hidden and safe, but never expected Konoha ninja would actually come for them.

And they came so fast, so terrifyingly fast!

[Fire Release: Phoenix Bloom Jutsu]

Flames spewed forth as countless small fireballs flew in from outside, tearing through the bandits' camp with wild fury.

"Witchcraft! This is witchcraft! Run!"

"Run! Run for your lives!"

Figures scrambled desperately through the flames amid piercing screams.

Yet amidst it all,

Blades flashed—one clean cut, one life ended.

On the rear mountain path, Akaba sat calmly in the middle of the road, painting with brush and ink.

"Mother, why do we have to leave?"

"Because ninja have come."

To ordinary people, ninja were objects of admiration; but to thieves like these, they were Shinigami harvesting souls.

Wait!

What was that ahead?

The lead bandit stopped in his tracks, eyes wary, lifting his steel blade slightly. "Kid, if you don't want to die, get lost!"

"Chief, he's a ninja—he has a forehead protector! He's from Konoha!"

Someone cried out in terror.

At the word "ninja," the chief nearly dropped his sword in fright.

He had seen firsthand the power of those two young ninja—they slaughtered the entire bandit gang alone, an overwhelming force beyond their capability to resist.

"Honorable ninja, spare us! We had no choice but to raid the Land of Fire!"

A woman knelt before him, begging desperately, "We just want to survive."

"I'm sorry—I don't make the rules."

Akaba didn't stop painting—even though most of them were women and children, only a few gang leaders stood out.

He continued his work without pause. These bandits had stolen untold wealth and taken countless lives in the past. Today was simply their turn to meet justice.

His background was already drawn—the forest path at the foot of the mountain behind.

With each brushstroke, more figures appeared on the scroll, and suddenly, a genjutsu emerged.

In the illusion, death reigned silently—a massacre soundless and painless.

"This is all the compassion I can show."

Deliberately controlling his Kekkei Genkai, Akaba erased most of their suffering. Within this dreamlike illusion, one by one, their lives quietly ended.

These were ordinary people—it cost him little extra effort or chakra.

Minutes later, the painting tore apart.

All fell lifeless to the ground, bearing frostbite-like wounds, as though they had frozen to death.

Akaba stared at the ruined scene in silence.

He had killed.

Killing without bloodshed was somehow even more terrifying than actual carnage. Akaba felt no emotion at all—as if he had merely erased strokes from a painting rather than ending real lives.

"With the Land of Whirlpools in such disarray, Danzo coming here must mean he wants to investigate its current state."

Akaba wasn't stupid, and knowing information from a future perspective helped him understand everything instantly.

The ice doesn't freeze three feet thick in a single day; the seeds of Uzumaki Village's destruction had long been sown.

"Akaba, you're deep in thought. Did you figure something out?"

A voice interrupted from behind him.

Shimura Danzo!

Akaba turned around and bowed lightly. After a moment's thought, he said, "Teacher… the Land of Whirlpools."

"I want to hear what you truly think."

"The unrest in the Land of Whirlpools has affected the Land of Fire. Judging from the Daimyo's attitude toward the Land of Whirlpools, I doubt he'll ever be friendly toward it."

Akaba voiced his conclusion.

This wasn't just a memory from a past life—it was also his judgment drawn from current clues.

"Hmph."

Danzo let out a soft chuckle. His hands formed seals before he spat forth a gust of wind from his mouth. The razor-edged storm swept across the ground, leaving behind a large crater shortly after.

"Burial them."

"You think we should proceed how?"

Danzo spoke indifferently.

That question seemed to ask for advice, but it was really more of a test.

After a brief pause, Akaba replied, "The Land of Fire and the Land of Whirlpools aren't allied. Unless Uzuhashi Village is in danger, there's nothing we can do."

"Heh, very good. I'm growing fonder of you by the moment."

Danzo slowly made his way up the Rear Mountain.

Akaba buried the bodies. Only after finishing this task did he return from the Rear Mountain back to the mountaintop.

"Teacher, looks like we can't stay at the summit anymore. We'll have to camp out again tonight."

Scanning the area, Akaba observed the devastation. The houses were either stained with blood or burned by flames—clearly unfit for habitation.

"No problem, as long as it's livable."

Danzo simply picked one room and moved inside.

Shiso and Sakumo hesitated briefly before picking a neighboring room where people had been killed.

Akaba followed them in and noticed their pale complexions.

The corpses were gone, but the heavy smell of blood still hung in the air. Given what they'd just done, how could they possibly fall asleep?

"I killed many people. Some of them carried blades and truly were bandits, but most were ordinary folk."

Shiso struggled with inner torment, his face showing both fear and remorse. Beside him, Sakumo fell even deeper into silence.

"We had no choice from the very beginning."

Akaba had always known from the very beginning—they had no choice.

If he'd had another option, he'd have preferred to stay in Konoha, remain cloistered behind closed doors, and draw his manga in peace. But could he really?

"Even our teacher can't resist the tides of fate—let alone us lowly Genin."

Akaba's words carried subtle meaning.

Inside the room, blood had begun congealing, giving off an increasingly foul stench.

<><><><><><><><>

Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!

~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!

<><><><><><><><>

~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!

~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!

patreon.com/Tansnovel

<><><><><><><><>