Ninja, Get Out!

After leaving the office with Tony, Genma finally realized what he was up to.

Since Genma had come out unharmed, Kurenai had quietly slipped back into hiding. But when Tony saw Kurenai in the lounge, he first showered her with praise, then tried to give her some gifts.

Even Kurenai sensed that something was off about his unsolicited enthusiasm, so she refused his offer to let her pick out a few more clothes. She only grabbed a few handfuls of fruit and snacks from the lounge before leaving with Genma.

Genma strongly supported Kurenai's newfound fondness for the boutique's snacks and her complete lack of concern for appearances as she grabbed several handfuls to take away. Later, he even found a bag and packed away more, making even Kurenai feel a little embarrassed.

But these were perks they had earned by spending a great deal of money. The things in the lounge really were free for them to eat.

Tony, however, saw nothing wrong with what they had done. If anything, he wanted to give them even more fruit and snacks.

But fruit and snacks could only serve as between-meal food, and taking too much would be pointless, so they both declined.

Under the watchful gazes of Tony and his pretty shop clerks, Genma left side by side with Kurenai, carrying a bag of snacks.

When they arrived at the inn Yushi had mentioned, they unexpectedly ran into Raiton, who had just returned from wandering around.

"Hey, Genma, Kurenai, you're back so soon?"

Namiashi Raidō had bought some greasy food from who knew where and was gnawing on it with his hands, completely unconcerned about appearances. Finding the flavor a little lacking, he somehow produced a packet of seasoning and sprinkled some over the pig trotter.

Ninja really did love meat, but ordinary families were poor, and people generally did not eat like that. Quite a few passersby turned to stare.

It seemed that running into Namiashi Raidō had not been much of a coincidence. This guy had deliberately been showing off his food at the entrance.

And his goal seemed to have been achieved. Quite a few children had gone green with envy and gathered of their own accord across from the inn.

Namiashi Raidō really did seem to be doing it on purpose. While stuffing his face with meat, he kept glancing at those children, looking indescribably pleased with himself.

Seeing how arrogant Raiton looked, even normally quiet Kurenai could not stand it. She frowned. "Raiton, what happened between you and those children? Do you really need to target them like this?"

"Heh heh~ They started it. A bunch of little brats trying to exclude outsiders—why don't they just block the village entrance and stop people from coming in?"

Although Kurenai tried to reason with him, Namiashi Raidō did not rein himself in at all. Instead, he became even more excessive, tearing into the meat with greater ferocity.

"Excluding outsiders?"

Genma could not understand it. They were all from the Land of Fire—were regional differences really that big?

So he asked, "Raiton, can you stop stuffing your face for a moment and tell us what happened first?"

"Yeah, Raiton, this way of getting revenge... it's a little too..."

It was not only the children watching them. There were even more passersby staring, and with the two of them appearing, even more people gathered around to enjoy the spectacle.

Kurenai did not mind being watched, but what Namiashi Raidō was doing was simply too embarrassing...

"Mm~ slurp~" Hearing Kurenai say that, Namiashi Raidō opened his mouth wider, sucked in one last huge bite of meat, then let out a satisfied burp. "Burp~"

After barely chewing a few times, Namiashi Raidō belched contentedly, looking like a wild, unrestrained wanderer detached from the world.

"Haha, sorry you had to see that."

Unexpectedly, Namiashi Raidō had some sense of shame. After burping, his face filled with apology. What was unbearable, though, was that he still occasionally sucked the grease off his fingers.

Kurenai and Genma were both dumbfounded. After licking his fingers clean, Namiashi Raidō, his face glowing, spoke again. "It really wasn't anything. I just asked them where I could find something especially tasty to eat, but they seemed really hostile toward me. Not only did they refuse to tell me, they even snapped at me! So... so this is what you saw~"

Watching Namiashi Raidō first look pitiful, then smile as innocently and brightly as a child, Kurenai and Genma could only feel helpless.

What had unleashed this guy's true nature and made him so spiteful? Still, hating evil as if it were a personal enemy was indeed a fine quality for a swordsman.

But the evil he saw were just children. As a ninja, he should not have been picking fights with kids like this.

"Enough of this racket outside. All of you, get in here!"

Before they could even figure out Namiashi Raidō's situation, Kamise Yushi suddenly appeared.

Judging by his expression, it seemed he had encountered something extremely serious—or perhaps the commotion outside had simply annoyed him beyond endurance.

The three of them immediately turned into obedient little children and followed Yushi into the inn.

They were then taken to a room. After the three sat down, Kamise Yushi finally spoke. "News has arrived from the village. One piece is good news, and one is bad news. Which do you want to hear first?"

"Uh, Sensei, it came that quickly?"

Namiashi Raidō looked utterly incredulous. It had only been half a day, yet news had already arrived.

"Yes. Actually, the village sent word first. The employer probably notified the village in advance. Since I was here, the message happened to reach me."

"Then let's hear the bad news first. The important thing is to be prepared."

Hearing Genma say that, Yushi nodded in deep approval. "It seems you have a strong sense of vigilance. There is nothing especially bad about it, really. You have to stay and continue the mission. That should not be a problem for you, right?"

"Wow, Sensei, is that true? We don't have to go back!?"

Namiashi Raidō seemed never to have given up on the idea. The moment he heard they did not have to leave, he nearly started cheering.

Seeing Raiton's reaction, Yushi sighed helplessly. "You really are young and fearless. Do you have any idea how cruel battles between ninja can be? And you're actually happy about it?"

"Ahem, Sensei Yushi, what's the good news? What is it?"

Seeing that Yushi seemed about to start lecturing Raiton again, Genma hurriedly changed the subject.

If he kept going on and on, they would not get any dinner.

"Well, the village is having us stay behind to wipe out that group of bandits. Whether we want to or not, we have to do it. But reinforcements will be sent to us."

"This... Didn't Sensei say missions above B-rank were not our turn yet? Why would the village..."

Kurenai's face was full of worry. Even though she learned that reinforcements were coming, she had never expected their first C-rank mission to become one above B-rank. It was simply too much to ask.

Seeing Kurenai react so strongly, Kamise Yushi's mood sank even lower. "Because there are especially many graduates this year. You know that as well. It is also my fault. I should have realized earlier that this could lead to an accident. But we still have three days. Over those three days, I'll do my best to train you and raise your strength to another level!"

Kamise Yushi's gaze became firmer, leaving the three of them somewhat confused.

"Sensei, I'm afraid three days won't be enough~"

The least tactful one, Namiashi Raidō, was the first to complain.

Bang!

"I said it's enough, so it's enough! Where did all this nonsense come from!"

After punching Namiashi Raidō, Kamise Yushi swept his imposing gaze over the other two.

"Uh, Sensei is right. We'll work hard and cooperate~"

Genma hurriedly offered his support, just short of shouting his approval.

"Sensei has always been reliable. So when do we start, Sensei Yushi?"

Kurenai looked at Yushi with innocent, guileless eyes, instantly filling him with a sense of accomplishment.

It had to be said that shamelessness was contagious. After spending so long around Genma, Kurenai seemed to have gradually developed that ability too.

"Very good. Unlike some useless person. Since you are both so enthusiastic, we'll start tonight!"

"Mm~" Namiashi Raidō had just wanted to complain when Genma instantly covered his mouth and dragged him away.

"Then, Sensei, we're going to eat. Would you like to join us?"

Seeing Genma drag Raiton away, Kurenai obediently asked Kamise Yushi.

"No, I still need to prepare some things. You go ahead~"

Kamise Yushi waved his hand and gave Kurenai a reassuring smile.

"All right~"

Having failed to invite him to dinner, Kurenai could only leave the room.

"Hey, hey, Genma, we're already out. Can you at least let me stand up first?"

After only a few steps outside, Namiashi Raidō began shouting.

"No matter what, Sensei is trying to increase our chances of surviving. So I hope you'll take training more seriously."

"That's right, Raiton. This is different from before. Even Sensei thinks it's difficult, so we definitely can't hold everyone back."

Kurenai, who had caught up, joined Genma in talking Namiashi Raidō down.

Yet faced with their serious expressions, Namiashi Raidō became somewhat at a loss.

Was he really that unreliable...?

Kurenai and Genma both looked at him with concern, as though he were the dead weight of the team...

Seeing that Namiashi Raidō had not reacted for a long time, Genma sighed, turned, and left. Kurenai gave Raiton a complicated look before following him.

"Hey, wait for me! Damn it, I'm strong too!!"

Namiashi Raidō shouted loudly as he hurried after Genma and Kurenai.

Since Genma and Kurenai felt a greater sense of urgency, and Namiashi Raidō chased after them persistently, the three quickly arrived outside the inn.

But unexpectedly, many children were still gathered across from the inn. The moment they saw Namiashi Raidō, they all revealed angry expressions.

"Why are they so angry at you? It looks like they hate us too..."

Shiranui Genma turned back to look at Namiashi Raidō, his face full of suspicion.

Kurenai, standing beside him, had anger in her eyes, as though she had already foreseen the terrible things Namiashi Raidō had done.

Under their gazes, even normally thick-skinned Namiashi Raidō began to panic. "It wasn't me, I didn't do anything, I don't know anything~"

"They're blocking our way to dinner. Why don't you take the initiative and resolve this?"

Namiashi Raidō felt like crying. All he had done was show off while eating a pig trotter, and now he had landed himself in this mess. Besides, they were all children, so he could not settle it with force...

He finally understood that he really had been too rash.

Seeing that Raiton seemed unable to process it, Genma had no choice but to sigh and walk over to a boy who appeared to be the leader of the children.

"What grudge do you have that makes you insist on gathering here like this!?"

Genma looked expressionlessly at the boy before him, his tone devoid of any emotion.

"You're with that guy. You're a ninja too!?"

"I suppose so. What's wrong with ninja?"

Genma frowned, feeling that these children had come with hostile intentions.

The next moment, his premonition came true.

"Get out of town! Ninja, get out of town!!"

"You disaster-bringing ninja, get out!!"

"Not a single ninja is any good! Get out of town!"

After the first child shouted, more and more children yelled angrily, leaving Genma even more confused.