562. Dealing with the Bandits / 563. Encountering an Ape

Although the bandit leader nodded, he then took the bag from the bandit and discovered that the materials inside were extremely valuable. He was delighted. Though he did not know what they were used for, they could only be found in rare places. If he sold them to someone knowledgeable, he would surely get a good price. The bandit leader said to the bandit, "Fine, then."

"I’ll spare you this time. But next time, you’d better be more capable. Don’t make me assign you a task only for you to fail at everything. Then there’d be no point in keeping you around."

The bandit nodded. When Izayoi Sakamaki saw his bag appear, he became furious. He rushed forward and said directly to the bandit leader, "That bag is mine, and so are the materials inside. You want to claim them for yourselves?"

"Impossible. If you want to take those materials, you first need my permission. If I don’t agree and you dare take my materials anyway, I’ll fight you to the death."

The bandits laughed. He was alone, yet he actually wanted to fight so many of them? He truly did not know his place. The bandit leader immediately sent a group of bandits to fight Izayoi, but Izayoi was naturally not afraid of them.

Although Izayoi could not defeat every bandit there, defeating that group was easy. Before long, he drove back the group the bandit leader had sent, without suffering any injuries himself.

Dealing with the Bandits

Izayoi felt that these people were overestimating themselves. Their strength simply could not contend with his. If they charged at him again, there would be only one outcome: death. He did not want them to come forward one by one to die, because he was not the sort of person who slaughtered indiscriminately. There were still good people among these bandits, and he did not want to hurt them by mistake.

Some of these bandits could still turn over a new leaf. They simply had not found the right way. If he helped them find a better path, they would surely leave the bandit gang.

That was why he did not want to massacre them. Killing too many people would not benefit him at all. Izayoi said to the bandits, "Stop throwing your lives away for nothing."

"With your strength, you definitely can’t beat me. If you come any closer, I won’t show mercy. I’ve only killed a few of you so far, but you should know this."

"I have the ability to kill many more of you. The reason I’ve spared you is because I do not wish to kill. I hope you won’t force my hand. Are you really going to obey your leader without question? I hope you’ll listen to my advice."

"Do not keep doing such terrible things. What is so good about being bandits? You just rob other people’s belongings. Even righteous bandits don’t rob the poor or forcibly take women."

"Yet you bandits robbed a little girl and her elderly grandmother, even threatening them. Is that something human beings should do? I hope you think carefully. You all have parents too."

"Would you want your elderly parents to be bullied by others? So think it through properly, then give me your answer."

"I truly hope you can turn over a new leaf. Seeing you step away from the path of evil would make me very happy as well."

The bandits thought Izayoi’s words made some sense, but they were bandits for the sake of survival. If they did not become bandits in the mountains, they really would have nowhere else to go. So even though Izayoi’s words were reasonable, they might not truly listen.

Still, none of them dared step forward. They had already learned how formidable Izayoi was. If they advanced again, the only outcome would be death.

They knew their limits, so none dared approach. Seeing how cowardly they were, the bandit leader became furious.

The bandit leader shouted, "Are you all really this useless? I spent so much money and food raising you, just to raise a bunch of trash like you?"

"You can’t do anything. Now I want you to kill the man in front of me, and you can’t even manage that. What can you do? Looks like I’ll have to do this myself. If I don’t personally step in…"

"I’m afraid it’ll be hard for you to kill Izayoi Sakamaki. But is he really that strong? He’s only one person, yet so many of you can’t beat him? I truly don’t understand you. Are you just here to eat? Forget it."

"You’re still my brothers. Since you can’t beat him, I’ll avenge you! I know Izayoi Sakamaki is highly skilled, so I don’t blame you for losing. After all, you’re my brothers."

"But if you dare betray me, I absolutely won’t spare you. I trust you haven’t been moved by what Izayoi Sakamaki just said."

"You know why you became bandits in the first place, don’t you? Wasn’t it because you had no money? Because others robbed you of your money, and you were bullied by robbers?"

The bandits nodded and said to their leader, "Boss, don’t worry. We’ll never be swayed by Izayoi Sakamaki’s words. Back when I had nowhere to turn, if you hadn’t taken me in, I would have been killed by robbers long ago."

"We have always remembered your great kindness. If you hadn’t looked after us all these years, we definitely would not be living so well. Everything we have today is thanks to you, Boss."

"No matter what, we will never betray you. Don’t worry. If Izayoi Sakamaki dares oppose you, then he is opposing all of us. We will definitely help you deal with him."

The bandit leader was delighted. It seemed his brothers had not been bewitched by Izayoi. Then the bandit leader launched an attack against him.

Izayoi hurriedly met the attack. With one strike from the bandit leader, Izayoi was forced back several meters. Izayoi suddenly realized that this bandit leader was rather formidable.

Encountering the Monkeys

The bandit leader felt that Izayoi was running out of strength. After so many fights, Izayoi had to be physically and mentally exhausted. When the bandit leader had just exerted his strength, Izayoi had clearly struggled to defend himself. That meant he still had a chance to defeat him. He said to the other bandits, "Don’t interfere yet. Let me fight Izayoi Sakamaki first. I don’t think he’s as strong as we imagined."

"The reason you lost to him is because you’re too useless. Once I step in, I’ll definitely beat Izayoi Sakamaki into submission, so don’t worry."

The other bandits were helpless upon hearing this. They had personally witnessed Izayoi’s strength.

The bandit leader was clearly being overconfident. Usually, such confidence would only bring trouble.

However, the bandit leader was still their leader, and his words carried authority. The bandit continued fighting Izayoi. The bandit leader said, "I thought you were very strong, but now it seems you’re nothing special."

"I don’t think you’re my match at all. You still have one chance: leave this place immediately. But leave your bag behind, and I can spare your life. I think you’re a hero."

"That means we could still become brothers. My suggestion is that you give me the materials in that bag. I don’t care about the other things. I don’t know whether you’ll agree to my request."

"But I sincerely want to become sworn brothers with you. I think becoming brothers with someone like you would be one of the happiest things in my life. You’re strong, and I’m no weakling either."

"I think we can build something together. Come to my mountain stronghold and become my second-in-command. You can eat and drink to your heart’s content. Isn’t that far better than wandering outside? Think it over carefully. Don’t get angry with me over such a small amount of materials."

"An opportunity for wealth and glory like this is hard to come by. Since I’m giving you this chance, it proves how highly I think of you."

"So consider it carefully and decide whether you want to fight alongside me."

Izayoi merely laughed. This bandit was seriously delusional. He had a proper occupation, so how could he possibly join a gang of bandits? Even if he prospered with them in the future, he would never be able to live it down.

After all, it would all be the result of associating with bandits. He would never let himself bear such a disgraceful reputation. He already hated these bandits. If they were chivalrous bandits, that would be one thing.

But they bullied a little girl and an elderly grandmother. How could he possibly associate with bandits like them? Becoming friends with them was out of the question. He truly did not know what this bandit was thinking.

The man actually wanted him to join their gang. Keep dreaming. He would only join them if he died, or if his consciousness was erased. But that was generally impossible.

Izayoi said to the bandit, "I think you’re seriously sick if you actually want me to join your mountain stronghold. Keep dreaming. No matter how much you admire me, it will never happen."

"I hate bandits like you the most. For the sake of some so-called effort, you harm innocent people. Do you know what kind of behavior that is? Forget it. I don’t even want to say it."

"I really don’t know why Heaven allowed you to descend into this world. Was it just to bring trouble to a peaceful human world? Since you gave me a choice, I’ll give you another choice. You have committed far too many wrongs."

"So saving you will be very difficult. But if you promise to wash your hands of this and never be bandits again, I can become brothers with you and teach you how to change."

"If you refuse, we will remain enemies. Since we are enemies, I won’t be so considerate anymore. I have already told you that I hate bandits."

"So killing bandits is still the easiest thing for me to do. Since it is something I am fully capable of doing, I will make sure it is done properly."

Then Izayoi began fighting the bandit. After saying all that, he fought with even greater ferocity. With one punch, then another, he knocked the bandit to the ground. The bandit had not expected Izayoi to still be so powerful.

The bandit immediately begged Izayoi for mercy. Izayoi merely laughed and had no intention of sparing these bandits. But at that moment, he received a message from Naruto: the Naruto lying in the sickbed was about to die.

Under Attack

When Izayoi heard the news, he panicked. He knew that if he did not find the remaining material soon, the critically ill Naruto would lose his life. He could not continue wasting time with these bandits. His top priority was not dealing with them, but finding that material.

Izayoi said to the bandits, "I’m not going to kill you now because I have something important to do. Hand that bag of materials over immediately. If you refuse, don’t blame me for being ruthless."

"I’m in a bad mood right now because one of my brothers is seriously ill. If you keep pestering me and refuse to return that bag, don’t blame me for showing no mercy."

"I never intended to kill you in the first place, because I am a kind person. I hope you can understand. I’m not taking that bag back because the things inside are especially valuable."

"It’s because the things inside can save someone’s life. That is why I care so much about it. You stole it from me, and that is why I resent you. But if you return the bag to me…"

"I might still spare your lives."

The bandits nodded. They felt that there was indeed no need to keep tangling with Izayoi. After all, he was about to leave.

He had said that he had something important to do, so there was no point in remaining entangled with him.

They could not defeat him. The longer they fought Izayoi, the longer they would be putting themselves in danger. The bandits handed the bag of materials to Izayoi, and he was extremely pleased.

Izayoi continued, "Although I have important business and must leave, I’m warning you: do not ever harm that little girl and her grandmother again."

"If I find out that you are still harassing that little girl and her grandmother, I will never let you off. I’m only leaving because I have something important to do. Once I finish it…"

"If that little girl says you have continued bothering her, I will come back and teach you a lesson. You have already seen my strength, so you should know the consequences of provoking that little girl again."

"I may not be able to make you stop being bandits, but I hope you won’t harm that little girl. If you cannot even do that, there is nothing more I can do."

The bandits nodded and pretended to agree with Izayoi. Their most important task now was to get him to leave.

They had not known how to drive him away, but now Izayoi had something to do himself.

That was the perfect opportunity. If they did not seize it, it would be a waste. Once Izayoi left, he would not know what they did anyway.

When the time came, they could go bother the little girl again without issue.

Izayoi then left with the Naruto who had come to deliver the message. They were in a great hurry. There were only three materials in the bag.

One material was still missing, so Izayoi rushed off to find it. He knew that if he did not find the final material quickly, the Naruto lying in the sickbed would be in mortal danger.

Suddenly, Izayoi encountered a monkey on the road. The monkey held something that glittered in its hand, and Izayoi realized it was the final material he had been desperately searching for.

Izayoi said to Naruto, "I can see the material now. The only way is to take it from that monkey. Wait here. If I manage to get the material…"

"Come support me immediately. If I fail, we’ll run together. I don’t know how strong those monkeys are. If their attacks aren’t powerful…"

"I can win. But if they are strong, we should think of another way."

Izayoi went to fight the monkey. But just as he was about to do so, a whole group of monkeys suddenly rushed out.

Izayoi was helpless. If he had fought one monkey alone, he might have had a chance of winning.

But if he had to fight a whole group of monkeys alone…

There was basically no chance. He signaled Naruto that the situation was unfavorable and that they needed to leave immediately. Then Izayoi and Naruto fled beyond the monkeys’ sight.

Izayoi Was Captured

Having finally escaped the monkeys’ attack, Izayoi felt conflicted. He should have been happy to escape, but he had failed to obtain the material in the monkey’s hand, leaving him deeply disappointed. There was no other way to take it from the monkeys now. There were simply too many of them, and trying to snatch the material back would naturally be extremely difficult.

He sighed to Naruto. "Sigh… I really don’t know what to do. There are so many monkeys. If we try to forcibly take that material back, it will definitely be impossible. I have no idea what to do now."

"Whenever I think about Naruto lying in the sickbed, I feel incredibly guilty. I feel like I can’t help at all. We were only one material away, but now there’s no way to take it back."

"So all I can do is worry."

Naruto saw how miserable Izayoi was and became anxious as well. He felt that Izayoi’s resolve must have collapsed. After everything Izayoi had been through, it was only natural for him to feel this way.

But Naruto absolutely could not let Izayoi give up. Izayoi was the sick Naruto’s final hope. If even Izayoi could not persevere, who else could save the ill Naruto?

He had to persuade Izayoi not to be so discouraged. Izayoi was their pillar of support. If Izayoi did not have the courage to face this difficulty, what way would Naruto have to reclaim the material from the monkeys?

Naruto had always followed Izayoi’s lead. If Izayoi had no solution, what solution could Naruto possibly have?

Naruto said, "Boss, don’t be so dejected. We only have you left. So many of our companions are waiting for you to return. They already went back, and since they lost contact with you…"

"They have not been able to find you, and they are very worried. They are waiting for you to bring those materials back. If you don’t bring that material back…"

"Wouldn’t you be letting everyone down? I think we should pull ourselves together. We can’t shrink back from such a minor problem. Boss, you have faced so many difficulties before."

"So one more small difficulty is nothing. Back when you fought that poisonous snake and it destroyed all your materials, you weren’t as dejected as you are now. Then you fought gorillas, lions…"

"You even fought Crocodile, and then encountered ninjas. You have faced countless difficulties, yet you overcame every single one. Since you never backed down when you faced those troubles, at this critical moment…"

"You absolutely cannot back down either. If you retreat now, the sick Naruto will basically be beyond saving. Boss, I hope you think carefully. He is our best friend."

"He is also our best brother. If we ignore whether he lives or dies, then no one else will care either. We can only leave it to Heaven. Boss, think it through. Don’t give up!"

Izayoi felt that Naruto made some sense. His mindset had indeed collapsed, which was why he had considered retreating. But he absolutely could not do that, because the sick Naruto’s life was in his hands.

If he gave up, it would be the same as abandoning the poisoned Naruto’s hope. Izayoi said to Naruto, "You’re absolutely right. I definitely won’t give up."

"But the two of us need to think of a way. How can we get the material from the monkeys? We only need that one piece before we can return. You know Naruto and the others can’t wait any longer."

"If we don’t go back soon, the sick Naruto’s life will be hanging by a thread. But what kind of plan can we come up with to retrieve the material from the monkeys? You should know…"

"Those monkeys are no pushovers."

Naruto thought for a moment, then said to Izayoi, "We should start with the things they love to eat. Those monkeys are naturally very cute, so if we use something they like…"

"We might have a chance to get the material back from them."

Izayoi used bananas to lure the monkeys and put a little sleeping drug on them. The monkeys loved bananas.

Although Izayoi was their enemy, they let their guard down. Before long, Izayoi easily obtained the material from the monkeys.

The Plan Failed

Izayoi looked at the men in black and asked, "Why are you attacking me? Are you tired of living?"

He was in a hurry to return and did not want to waste time with these men in black. One of them said, "You’re the one we’re here to beat. Get him!"

Several men in black immediately charged toward Izayoi.

Seeing them pounce at him, Izayoi quickly dodged and raised the sword in his hand to block the swords thrust toward him by the men in black.