CHAPTER 49

Although the third squad had gained the upper hand in the battle, they did not linger in enemy territory to avoid potential reinforcements from Iwagakure. Instead, they quickly regrouped at the caravan's location and resumed their journey with haste.

Pushing forward day and night, they only began to slow their pace upon crossing into the Land of Fire's borders.

After half a month of travel, the third squad successfully escorted the caravan back to Konohagakure.

"This mission took longer than expected, but it was relatively safe and well-compensated," Sarutobi Shuo remarked. "We had an unexpected encounter with an Iwagakure team returning from their mission, which even included a Jōnin, yet we managed to repel them. According to standard protocol, the caravan must compensate us with an additional 260,000 ryō for the increased difficulty."

"Yes," Ishimura Yukito confirmed, "A Jōnin-level opponent adds 200,000 ryō, while a Chūnin or Genin-level opponent adds 20,000 ryō each."

This unexpected clash had been a significant loss for the caravan's employer. With the sudden escalation of mission difficulty, the reward had to be adjusted accordingly. If a mission's difficulty is deliberately misrepresented, leading to potential losses of elite shinobi, Konoha enforces strict penalties. In such cases, the mission issuer might not only be blacklisted but could even face a bounty issued against them.

However, since this particular encounter was purely accidental and did not result in any casualties, Konoha would not take further action. Instead, after reporting the difficulty increase to the Mission Assignment Office, the squad would receive extra compensation.

Had the mission led to severe casualties, the circumstances would have been different. Konoha would still gather intelligence from any surviving ninja. In cases of total annihilation, the village would investigate further, as missions that lead to high-profile ninja deaths carry significant intelligence value.

With that settled, the squad moved on to dividing their earnings.

Orochimaru had previously stated that he would not claim a share of mission payments unless directly involved in combat. Since he personally fought against the Iwagakure Jōnin, the extra 200,000 ryō from that battle was rightfully his. Though Orochimaru cared little for money—considering his research expenses far outweighed mission rewards—he accepted the sum without hesitation.

As for the rest of the reward structure, the mission initially paid 70,000 ryō per person for escorting the caravan to its destination. However, due to the increased difficulty on the return trip, the payment rose to 130,000 ryō each. In addition, they had earned another 150,000 ryō for eliminating bandits and enemy shinobi along the way.

Altogether, the three-person team of Uchiha Kiyo, Nawaki Senju, and Sarutobi Shuo received a total of 350,000 ryō.

Earnings Breakdown:

Uchiha Kiyo: 40% (140,000 ryō)

Nawaki Senju: 30% (105,000 ryō)

Sarutobi Shuo: 30% (105,000 ryō)

Uchiha Kiyo had faced the strongest opponent in battle, justifying his larger share.

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Although the mission had been relatively safe, the squad agreed that their future assignments should focus on more challenging objectives. Their goal was not to become mere escorts but to develop skills in assassination, reconnaissance, and high-risk escort missions—jobs that involved traveling through enemy territories or protecting individuals pursued by Chūnin and Jōnin-level enemies.

Despite the seemingly uneventful nature of this mission, Uchiha Kiyo did gain valuable insights from his battle with Loess.

"First, I memorized the Earth-Style: Earth Wall hand seals, but without understanding the precise chakra flow, I can't use it properly. If I had two-tomoe Sharingan, I might have been able to analyze the chakra pathways in real time."

However, since Earth Wall was not overly complex, Kiyo believed he could eventually replicate it with some practice.

Another major takeaway from the battle was the importance of taijutsu.

"Many shinobi underestimate physical combat, yet figures like the Raikage, Hyūga Clan, and Kaguya Clan prove that taijutsu can be just as dominant as ninjutsu. Loess's immense natural strength reinforced this idea for me."

After the squad finalized their earnings, they took the next day off to rest following their month-long mission.

However, Uchiha Kiyo did not rest.

Reevaluating His Training

Instead of relaxing, he reevaluated his entire approach to training.

"Maybe ninjutsu alone isn't the answer…"

His encounter with Loess had sparked deeper contemplation. Even the strongest ninja struggle against superior physical abilities. If taijutsu was enhanced with proper training, it could become a formidable counter to even high-level opponents.

"Raikage, Hyūga, Kaguya… They all rely on taijutsu-enhancing techniques, yet people focus too much on their bloodline abilities rather than their raw skill."

This realization led him to reconsider his dependence on chakra-based combat.

"Chakra itself has a fundamental flaw—it can be absorbed or nullified by powerful enemies. Taijutsu, on the other hand, relies on the body, making it resistant to chakra absorption techniques."

Otsutsuki clan members were infamous for absorbing ninjutsu, but they were still vulnerable to physical attacks. Taijutsu, along with Senjutsu, were the few known methods that could bypass their defenses.

"If I can develop a fighting style that combines taijutsu and Senjutsu, I can create a method that works against even the strongest opponents."

Uchiha Kiyo's strategic mind started forming a long-term plan.

"I won't follow the Eight Gates path blindly. The later gates cause too much damage to the body, and their duration is too short. I need a sustainable fighting style—something that can handle prolonged battles without sacrificing my own body."

Still, he did not dismiss the Eight Gates entirely.

"The first three gates have minimal drawbacks. If I can master them, I'll already be faster and stronger than most opponents at my level."

A thought crossed his mind.

"Did Maito Dai invent the Eight Gates, or was it originally a hidden Konoha technique?"

Uchiha Kiyo's eyes sharpened with determination.

He clenched his fist, feeling the potential of a new path forming before him.

"Starting tomorrow, I'll increase my taijutsu training. If chakra alone isn't enough to counter the most dangerous enemies, then I'll make sure my body is just as deadly."