Flight: Encounter Battle

A gentle sea breeze swept through Fukuhara.

This seaside, which once witnessed Taira no Kiyomori's grand ambitions and left behind brief moments of peace and refined memories, has now become a place of respite for the Taira clan during their hasty escape.

The numerous attacks by Minamoto Ninja squads over the past few days, though fought to the death to repel them, have left the already exhausted team even more battered and bruised, with morale plummeting.

Upon arriving in Fukuhara, some people even tumbled off their horses and collapsed on the familiar beach, looking as if they had just survived a disaster.

With the young Emperor Antoku and the "Three Sacred Treasures" symbolizing the legitimacy of imperial power, Tokuko finally overcame numerous hardships and reunited with her family.

Her arrival gave this exiled group, which had lost its roots in Kyoto, at least nominally, the legitimacy of the imperial lineage.

The news quickly reached Kyoto.

Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa was furious and anxious at the sight of the empty palace Taira taking the Emperor and the Divine Artifact hostage and fleeing west, but he was helpless.

In order to maintain the operation of the court and to counter the "legitimate succession" held by the Taira, he had no choice but to hastily establish the son born to Lady Shokushi as the new emperor.

Tokiko the news reached Fukuhara, Lady Tokiko was deeply worried, fearing that the Taira had lost their most important asset: the "only emperor."

Tokuko, however, remained unusually calm. Holding young Ande in her arms, she gazed at the gray sea and sky outside the window and whispered, "No, Mother. The place where His Majesty is is the imperial capital."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable firmness.

Night fell once again over Fukuhara.

The waves gently lapped against the beach, and the cool moonlight spilled onto the sea, shattering into a sheet of silver scales.

Kiyotsune and Shinrei sat side by side on a rock, gazing at the moon over the sea. Kiyotsune still held his flute in his arms, but he had no heart to play it.

"Those days seem like a dream," Kiyotsune's voice drifted. "Not long ago, we were here, playing the flute with Uncle Shigehira and Atsumori."

Shinrei didn't reply, but just listened quietly.

"It's like something that happened a long time ago..." Kiyotsune lowered his head, his voice choked, "Before leaving the capital, my brother Koremori... blamed himself with tears in his eyes, but that matter wasn't entirely his fault... Our Taira actually left the Capital City in such a panic, and ended up spending the night in such a... dilapidated place."

He could no longer hold back; his eyes quickly reddened, and his voice trembled with suppressed sobs. "Why... why have I fallen to this state!"

Just then, Atsumori emerged from the shadows. He first gently shook Shinrei's hand before looking at Kiyotsune.

"I knew you'd be here." Atsumori's voice was as clear and melodious as ever.

Kiyotsune quickly wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, not wanting to lose face in front of his friend.

Atsumori sat down beside him, patted him on the shoulder, and said firmly, "Kiyotsune, please pull yourself together! Despair will not help. The Taira has suffered such a great calamity; from now on... it is our generation of younger generation that should step forward to fight the enemy and reverse the decline!"

Kiyotsune a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "I understand, Atsumori, I understand... but..." His voice lowered, filled with desperate rationality, "One hundred thousand soldiers, now only seven thousand remain... how can we possibly contend with Minamoto no Yoritomo Minamoto no Yoshinaka?"

Shinrei, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke.

"It's alright."

Kiyotsune and Atsumori were both startled and looked at her.

Shinrei looked at them calmly and repeated, her tone flat yet containing a strange power:

"It doesn't matter. As long as you're alive, anything is possible."

"Ping Kiyotsune, don't say discouraging things."

Qingzheng stared blankly at Shinrei.

Atsumori was also stunned, forgetting the words of encouragement he originally wanted to say, and just stared blankly at Shinrei's profile.

He liked Lian, initially because of her stunningly beautiful face and graceful figure as she grew up.

Men are prone to lust, and he readily admits this.

Who doesn't love big breasts, a slim waist, and long legs?

But at this moment, hearing Shinrei say in such a calm tone, "As long as you're alive, anything is possible," and looking at her profile that revealed a resolute strength in her calmness, Hinata felt a slight touch in his heart.

A woman's charm goes far beyond her physical appearance.

On the stage constructed by Izuna, whether it is Tokuko, Tokiko, or Shinrei in front of us, or even other female characters with few scenes, they all seem to have a common trait.

A kind of resilience that forces one to straighten their spine due to being in a vulnerable position.

In different ways, they strive to maintain their dignity and beliefs in the mire of fate.

Tokuko chose "forgiveness" and "becoming a flower in the mud," Tokiko demonstrated the decisiveness of a matriarch during the family's crisis, and Shinrei protected those around her with the most direct actions and the simplest words.

This unwavering pride in the face of adversity is perhaps the very essence of a woman's strength, and what makes her so captivating—a radiance that transcends mere outward appearance.

Atsumori stared at Shinrei, momentarily speechless.

Under Shinrei's gaze and words, Kiyotsune gradually regained his focus.

He squeezed his eyes shut, looked at Atsumori, and nodded. "Atsumori, you're right. Despair is useless. Next... it's our turn to bring victory to the family."

However, Fukuhara's stability did not last long.

Minamoto's pursuers and the pressure were ever-present.

To make matters worse, Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa's order reached Kyushu.

The powerful clans in Dazaifu who had secretly supported the Taira clan out of respect for Shigemori ultimately chose to betray them under the strict orders of the Cloistered Emperor and the pressure of the new emperor's banner.

The Taira members were ruthlessly expelled from Dazaifu before they even had a chance to catch their breath.

Displaced, they set off again.

This time, I braved the rain to travel to Hakozaki Ford.

The cold rain soaked through their thin clothes, and the muddy road slowed their already difficult pace.

A despair colder than the rain permeated the ranks.

Along the way, the Ninjas encountered enemy resistance again.

The battle took place in torrential rain, blurring visibility and making footsteps slippery. Everyone fought with their last ounce of strength.

Although they repelled the enemy once again, the Taira Ninjas had truly reached their limit.

His Chakra was almost depleted, old wounds had not healed and new ones had been added, and exhaustion penetrated to the bone.

As night fell, to avoid being surrounded and annihilated by the Samurai army that might track them down, the Taira had no choice but to abandon the land route and board several requisitioned ships of various sizes, sailing into the dark sea.

The drifting at sea, the cold, the turbulence, the unknown—it all left everyone's hearts hanging in suspense.

The next scene brought the backstage atmosphere to an extreme level.

Before arriving at the Spring Festival, Uchiha Izuna gathered the relevant actors while going over the script.

"For the next night raid scene with Hakozaki Ford, in order to achieve the most realistic effect, I need to 'make it real'." Izuna's gaze swept over the people present.

The cast includes Yamanaka Harukawa as Kiyotsune, Hinata Rei as Shinrei, and several actors who play the pursuing Ninjas.

"Using Shadow Clones or Genjutsu to simulate serious injuries before wasn't realistic enough. That was fine before, but this time we have to get serious," Izuna explained calmly. "Of course, it's within a controllable range. medical-nin are on standby backstage to ensure no permanent damage is left."

Yamanaka Harukawa was the first to jump out in opposition, his face flushed with anxiety. "I object! Lord Izuna! In the script, Shinrei will be seriously injured, pitying her..."

During rehearsals, he had already Hinata Rei like Narichika sister; how could he bear to see her truly injured?

But Lian stopped him and shook her head at him.

Izuna looked at Hinata Rei: "Rei, what do you think? If you really have concerns, I can hire a stunt double, or find other ways to make up for the effect."

Hinata Rei looked at Izuna, her gaze clear and firm. "No, Lord Izuna. I can do it. I'm willing to take this risk for the sake of the performance."

"Sister Lian!" Harukawa wanted to say something more.

Just then, Hinata Masayoshi, who had been silently observing, stepped forward.

"Since real injury is required, the attacker must be careful with their strength. Let me do it."

Izuna shook his head. "No, Elder Jiangyi, it can't be you. Your temperament and fighting style are not up to par."

His gaze shifted to Sarutobi Sasuke, who had already finished filming and was now watching from the sidelines.

"Sasuke," Izuna called his name, "I want you to play the role of the enemy Ninja who launches the attack. Can you do that?"

Sarutobi Sasuke stroked his chin, a slightly roguish yet helpless smile spreading across his face, "Finished filming and still have to come back to play the villain, huh? Fine, I'll play the villain this time."

"Then I'll leave it to you." Izuna nodded.

Hyuga Masayoshi's gaze immediately shot sharply towards Sarutobi Sasuke.

Privately, he even approached him directly, his words carrying an undisguised warning. "Sarutobi Sasuke, watch your step! Rei is a member of the Hyuga Clan. If you go too far, the Hyuga Clan will not let this go!"

Sarutobi Sasuke raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

He had heard about the conflict between this Hyuga main family elder and his daughter Akari during previous rehearsals, and thought he was someone who only cared about the main family's reputation and interests and was quite indifferent to the matter of dividing the family.

Unexpectedly, he also showed such protectiveness towards Hinata Rei, who came from a Branch Family.

It seems this play has involved quite a few things, both on and off stage.

Sarutobi Sasuke's joking expression vanished, and he nodded seriously to Hyuga Masayoshi: "Elder Masayoshi, rest assured, I, Sarutobi Sasuke, will act with discretion. The act is real, but no one will be harmed."

The campfire at Hakozaki Ford's makeshift campfire flickered weakly in the damp sea breeze, barely dispelling the chill and the heavy darkness of night.

The continuous escape had almost exhausted everyone's physical strength and morale.

The Samurai, clutching their weapons, leaned against the ship's gunwale or damp rocks, dozing off.

The women and children huddled in a corner that offered only meager shelter from the wind and rain, their suppressed sobs coming from time to time.

The air was filled with the salty smell of the sea.

Shintarō has not yet returned.

He had previously led a few lightly wounded Ninjas to deal with any stray pursuers who might be tracking them from behind, and to try to create some clues to confuse the enemy.

Takuichi stood guard near Sukemori and Kiyotsune, his sharp eyes scanning the dark sea and the outline of the trees on the shore.

With the enemy situation unclear and the main guard temporarily away, the perimeter of the camp was particularly weak.

Shinrei checked her Ninja Tool Pouch, walked over to Takuichi, and whispered, "I'm going to set up some traps and warning devices at the edge of the nearby woods. If... some pursuers do sneak up, it'll buy us some time."

Takuichi's brows furrowed immediately. "You alone? No, that's too dangerous. Let's wait for Shintarō to come back, or I can go with you."

Shinrei shook her head, her voice still calm. "We don't know when Shintarō will be back. You're more useful staying here than coming with me. If something happens, you'll be needed to lead them to safety or organize defenses immediately."

She paused, then added, "It's just setting a trap; we won't go deep. We'll be back soon."

Takuichi wanted to say something, but looking at Shinrei's calm and determined eyes, and then at the anxious crowd around him, he finally gritted his teeth and nodded. "... Be careful. If anything seems wrong, signal immediately."

"Mmm." Shinrei responded, then turned to disappear into the darkness at the edge of the camp.

"Shinrei!" Kiyotsune couldn't help but call out to her, her little face full of worry, "You must... be careful!"

Atsumori also stood up, opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just clenched his fists tightly, anxiously watching her figure disappear into the shadows of the trees.

The atmosphere in the audience also became somewhat strange.

Especially Lady Wakako, the wife of the Daimyo, tightly gripped the handkerchief in her hand, her body unconsciously leaning forward, her eyes fixed on the stage.

When she saw Shinrei walking alone into the dark forest, she couldn't help but gasp softly, her voice filled with obvious panic. "No, no, no! We can't let her go! Shinrei can't go! Darling! Make them stop! It's dangerous in there!"

The Daimyo beside her helplessly pressed her hand down, lowering his voice to soothe her. "Wakako, this is just a play, not real. The actors have all rehearsed."

"That's true!" Wakako's eyes reddened with anxiety. "Even if it's just a play, it's still heartbreaking to watch! Shinrei will get hurt!"

"Alright, alright, I know you're worried," Daimyo said helplessly, gently patting her hand. "But the show has to go on, let's just watch it without worry."

Wakako pursed her lips, no longer shouting loudly, but her whole body was tense, staring intently at the stage, as if she wished she could rush up and pull Shinrei back.

On stage, the scenes change as Shinrei moves.

In the dark forest, the moonlight was fragmented by the dense foliage, barely illuminating the decaying leaves and gnarled tree roots beneath our feet.

All around was quiet, with only the faint sound of distant waves and the rustling of leaves in the wind.

Shinrei moved quietly, like a real feline.

Using the dim light, she chose a suitable location and began to quickly and skillfully set up the trap.

Tripwire connects to a poisoned Kunai, cleverly hidden beneath withered leaves.

Disguised Explosive Tags were buried in several inconspicuous tree branches or rock crevices, and triggered by Chakra Threads as thin as hair.

She silently counted in her mind. "One... two... three..."

After setting up one location, she quickly moved to the next, her movements swift and efficient, without any unnecessary steps.

"... There are still fourteen Explosive Tags left." She counted the remaining supplies in her Ninja Tool Pouch, estimating in her mind, "As long as these are deployed to form a crossfire network and an early warning zone, even a Jonin would have to work hard to break through, which should be enough for the camp to react."

The cold night wind, damp and blowing through the woods, fluttered the red Butterfly behind her head.

She stopped what she was doing and listened carefully to the sounds around her.

Apart from the sound of the wind and the rustling of leaves, there was nothing unusual.

"Okay," she whispered to herself, both to confirm the plan and to encourage herself, "Hurry up and finish setting it up, then go back."

She crouched down, preparing to carefully bury the eighth-to-last Explosive Tag in a natural depression formed by intertwined tree roots.

Just as her fingertips were about to touch the edge of the Explosive Tag--

A voice, laced with mockery and malice, like the flicking of a viper's tongue, rang out without warning from the dense canopy diagonally above her head:

"Oh dear... what are you still doing in the woods so late?"

Shinrei's body suddenly stiffened!

The blood seemed to freeze instantly!

She suddenly looked up!

A dark shadow, like a real night owl, silently landed on a thick, horizontal tree trunk not far in front of her.

The moonlight illuminated part of the newcomer's figure at that very moment.

He wore a dark, tight-fitting bodysuit, a mask, and had a striking white armband bearing the Minamoto crest on his arm.

Minamoto Ninja!

He looked down at Shinrei, his eyes, visible outside his mask, gleaming with the light of a hunter spotting intriguing prey.

"I just came out for a casual stroll, hoping to get some credit... but I didn't expect to have such an unexpected gain."

"A lone... and rather pretty little mouse."

Shinrei's heart pounded wildly, almost shattering her chest.

But she forcibly suppressed the fear that surged within her, her right hand silently reaching for the Kunai at her waist, her body slightly lowering as she entered a fighting stance most conducive to both explosive attacks and evasion.

She knew that the worst had happened.

Not only did the other party discover her, but... their Strength was unfathomable.

He hadn't even noticed their silent approach!

The trap is only partially completed; the warning zone has not yet been closed.

The campsite was still some distance away.

She was left to fight alone.