"We wouldn't want that, would we. Until later, then."

She retreats from the place inside and opens her eyes. That went... not as poorly as it might have. She brushes aside the sand blocking the cave entrance as she unfolds herself to stand up, and returns to her village.

The village is much the same as she left it. The level of frantic activity hasn't quite died down yet, as more people trickle in from the failed invasion.

...Best not to upset that just yet.

She makes her way to a little-used training ground to practice. If someone needs to find her, they'll be able to.

The next day, their team is called in to receive a mission. A group of bandits have been taking advantage of the scramble to harass travelers on the road; they're to go in and clear them out.

"Straightforward enough."

"What's our plan?"

"We use them to send a message. Maximum force. Sand may be reeling but we're not broken."

"Are... you sure that's what you want to do?"

"These bandits have broken any ties they may have had to us with their actions. They're not ours. They do not matter."

"I suppose that's true."

Off they go.

Step one: recon.

The group's large, and seems to have grown recently. Many of the bandits are armed with only improvised weapons - mostly slightly altered farming tools. The leaders seem to have better gear by a good bit. The bandits don't all clump together, instead having several camps working together, and a number are frequently out watching the roads or the surrounding area. (The camps are pretty well hidden by non-shinobi standards, but he's able to find them easily.)

Do they trade people between camps? Where are the leaders usually found?

There's some movement between camps, but not a ton. The leaders are in a different place in each camp, but generally the most well-secured, largest, and nicest looking tent, hollow, or other shelter.

He goes back to the others with this information.

"So?"

"They don't seem that dangerous. We could take them all out."

"They're a bit spread out."

"Yes. If they were grouped together a frontal assault might have been best. As it is, I think should split up and take out the leaders."

"With the leaders dead, the rest might surrender."

"Or they'll be that much easier to kill."

"Sounds plan-shaped."

"We'll move tonight. I will take the southern camp. Tsubasa, central. Kankurou, north. Meet back here when you finish."

Nods of acknowledgement, and everyone sets off.

The bandits at the southern camp are easy to take down, and make a concerted effort to surrender when they realize what they're up against.

The northern camp is better organized, with tightly ordered patrols. They don't surrender, even after their leader is dead.

The central camp bandits are a bit of a mixed bunch - the leader goes down rather bravely, and a few keep fighting, but one loudly surrenders and throws down his weapons, and a few others either stand down or hesitate, waiting for Tsubasa's reaction.

Anyone who stops fighting doesn't get attacked. Anyone who continues, does.