Aftermath 3

After half a day of non-stop body flickering, Silver and his team finally reached the Land of Sound. The oppressive tension that had been gnawing at them began to dissipate slightly, but they knew the journey wasn't over yet. They had reached the edge of the village, a place where they could finally let their guard down, even if just for a moment. Silver's team was exhausted, every flicker of movement, every chakra burst, taking its toll.

The Land of Sound, a place filled with the remnants of conflict and the constant hum of power struggles, offered them brief respite, but only briefly. They had to rest, recharge, and then keep moving.

As they were passing through a quiet part of the Iburri Clan's territory, an unexpected encounter broke their brief moment of peace. From a distance, they could see a group of bandits harassing the remaining villagers. The Iburri clan's warriors weren't around—likely off in some other location, leaving their civilian population vulnerable.

Silver's eyes narrowed. The bandits were terrorizing the people. Iburri clan members were known for their ability to transform into smoke, utilizing a unique kekkei genkai. However, it appeared only the civilians were left, and their fighting abilities were likely limited without the clan's warriors present.

Silver turned to his team.

"We can't just ignore this," he said, his voice firm. "We'll handle this quickly and then take a break. The mission comes first, but this situation doesn't sit right."

Aiko, who had been slightly tense from the journey, nodded. "Agreed. Let's make sure we don't draw too much attention. We don't need extra trouble right now."

With a quick nod, Silver motioned for his team to spread out and position themselves. They couldn't waste time; the longer they waited, the worse the situation could get.

Silver's Kusanagi sword gleamed under the faint light as he flickered into position behind a group of three bandits. Before they even realized it, his lightning-infused blade was already at their throats, his body moving with the precision of a skilled shinobi. In a matter of seconds, two bandits were incapacitated with clean, swift strikes.

Meanwhile, Aiko and the rest of the team quickly dealt with the other two, employing a mixture of taijutsu and Yamanaka clan techniques. Aiko's phantom step allowed her to move like a blur, disorienting the bandits before delivering a final strike, taking down one with a perfect phantom strike.

The remaining bandit, realizing they were severely outmatched, began to retreat, but Silver quickly blocked his escape route.

"No one runs," he muttered under his breath, stepping forward. His chidori blade crackled with energy. Within moments, the bandit was pinned down. Silver struck the ground with his kusanagi, and the bandit collapsed, unconscious.

With the threat neutralized, the team turned their attention to the villagers. The civilians of the Iburri clan, wide-eyed and shaking, were grateful. They had been left unguarded and vulnerable. Silver's team offered reassurance, making sure that the bandits wouldn't be a problem for them again.

They helped the villagers quickly, offering some of their remaining rations and checking for any injuries. Aiko took a moment to reassure the frightened civilians with a few words, while Tetsuma made sure there were no lingering threats nearby.

Silver, now aware of the continuing dangers of their journey, turned to his team after the brief but necessary detour.

"Alright, we've done what we can here. Two hours of rest and we move out again. We're still a long way from our destination."

The team nodded, grateful for the brief respite. They sat in the small makeshift camp, catching their breath, but their minds were already on the next phase of their mission. Time was running short, and the mission they were on was still their primary focus. The bandits had been dealt with, but their true goal lay ahead.

The two hours passed quickly. The team, now rejuvenated and ready for whatever came next, stood up and prepared to move out again.

"Let's go," Silver said, his tone steely. And with that, they set off once again, deeper into the Land of Sound, making their way toward their destination. They couldn't afford to waste any more time.