Chapter 14: Robbery
Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!
A blazing fire dragon tore through the sky, casting its glow over the collapsed buildings and narrow battlefield. The intense flames illuminated the chaos below.
Watching from thirty meters away at the battlefield's edge, Hajime's eyes reflected the fiery light. He couldn't help but be a little surprised—so even the most random foot soldier from the Sarutobi Clan could cast high-level fire techniques?
The firestorm roared forward like an arrow loosed from a bow, the air itself warping in the heat.
Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!
Just before the fire dragon could strike its target, a shinobi from the Ishiheki Clan swiftly formed hand seals. With a boom, a thick wall of earth erupted from the ground, intercepting the oncoming flames.
Boom!
The narrow stream of fire slammed into the barrier, compressed and flattened like a "fire pancake." The solid earthen wall was struck as if by a massive flaming palm, shaking the ground and blasting waves of heat in every direction. Even the earth trembled under the force.
"Watch out!"
Another Sarutobi ninja shouted in warning. The one who had cast the fire jutsu sensed danger and instinctively dodged sideways. The moment he moved, several sharp stone spikes burst from the ground where he had just stood.
Earth Style: Fist of Stone!
An Ishiheki ninja charged in, hands transformed into massive stone fists, aiming to pummel his opponent in close combat.
Fire Style: Grand Flame Technique!
A Sarutobi ninja evaded the direct assault, choosing instead to flank and launch fire jutsu from the side.
Earth Style: Rising Earth Spears!
Fire Style: Great Fireball!
The battlefield turned into a storm of clashing jutsu. Watching it all unfold, Hajime couldn't help but nod to himself.
Hmm… the flame bullets from the Sarutobi really aren't that different from my own.
The skirmish continued, a deadly duel between fire and earth styles. Though there were no casualties yet, it was clearly not a mock battle. Once chakra reserves ran low, deaths would follow.
Hajime carefully observed the battlefield. As the fight dragged on, discipline and coordination between the allies naturally declined. He noticed that fewer and fewer comrades were surrounding the Sarutobi ninja carrying a supply scroll. On the side closer to him, a brief opening had even formed—a clear path.
Now's the time!
Hajime sprang into action, slipping into the chaos of the battlefield.
The Sarutobi ninja was midway through forming hand signs when he suddenly felt a weight lift from his shoulder. He instinctively turned his head—and found a stranger behind him.
A young man, slightly sheepish, with an awkward smile.
"Too heavy? Getting in your way during battle? Let me carry this for you," Hajime said cheerfully.
In one fluid motion, he severed the scroll's strap, tucked it under one arm, and—with a sneaky foot sweep and gentle shove—nearly tripped the unsuspecting ninja.
Then, without hesitation, he turned and sprinted off.
Hajime had principles—he stole, yes, but he didn't meddle more than necessary. He respected the Sarutobi Clan enough not to leave a corpse behind. If he really wanted to ensure he wasn't followed, he could've simply stabbed the guy. But he didn't.
Even though his infiltration and theft were smooth, in such a high-alert environment, it was impossible for either side not to notice. To escape, Hajime awkwardly formed hand seals and flung a fireball at a surprised Ishiheki ninja trying to block him.
At the same time, he shouted:
"I'll take the supplies and retreat first! Hold them off a bit, then fall back. No need to engage further—protecting the scroll takes priority!"
He kept his head low—no one could clearly see his face.
The battlefield was chaotic, and Hajime had appeared so suddenly that even the Sarutobi, startled by his jutsu, assumed he was an ally.
As for the Ishiheki? Well, the guy just launched a fire jutsu. He must be Sarutobi.
No way that duck gets away—go after him!
"Wait, you—!"
The original scroll bearer finally realized something was off. He didn't recognize this guy! But before he could shout a warning, enemy shinobi were already swarming toward him.
Now the Sarutobi ninja had no time to question things—they had to hold the line and ensure the scroll was safely evacuated.
Hajime wasn't delusional. He knew they'd figure out the truth soon enough, but all he needed was one or two minutes—just a small window.
He dashed away from the battlefield, slipped past a broken wall that blocked everyone's line of sight, and dove straight into a large tree.
Then—he vanished.
To the scroll's former owner, Hajime might as well have disappeared forever.
---
A successful robbery. Kind of thrilling.
Let them fight their war—it had nothing to do with him.
As a bystander, Hajime was just here for the popcorn. A neutral good guy. The scroll he'd taken? That was legitimate income.
After all, he could've killed a few Sarutobi ninja, but he didn't. That meant the supplies he did take were more like "life tokens"—a reasonable exchange.
It wasn't that the Sarutobi were easier to ambush than the Tsugawa he'd fought before—just that the Sarutobi were being tied down by equally matched Ishiheki forces. As a third party, Hajime's ambush would obviously be more effective.
With the scroll on his back and the battlefield far behind, Hajime was confident they wouldn't catch him.
No one could find him.
If no one could find him, the scroll had no rightful owner.
No owner? Then it's fair game.
By that logic, the scroll was now legally his—by the unspoken rules of the world.
After creating enough distance from the battle, Hajime released his stealth technique, revealing himself again.
He repaired the scroll's severed strap, slung it over his shoulder, and set off toward his clan's camp.
This mission had been incredibly fruitful.
His theory of "experience packages" was working—his strength had increased rapidly after absorbing one of White Zetsu's clones. And now, the much-needed supplies for his camp? Snagged. Found. Reclaimed.
Whether the scroll was meant for the frontlines or being shipped back to the village, it surely contained plenty of resources his camp desperately needed.
This battlefield heist had gone off without a hitch. No unnecessary trouble.
It almost felt like Hajime was finally on a winning streak.
But in this harsh era, in this unforgiving war-torn world…
Does "smooth sailing" really exist?