Success

"Of course!"

"If you don't believe us, I can pay part of the deposit in advance," Souya said, gazing into the distance.

"There's no need for a deposit. If all you want is the star, then I can help you!"

"Wait! Natsuhi Star! They're unknown ninjas. How can you trust them so easily?"

Hotarubi Star said, but his emotions got the better of him, and he suddenly began to cough.

"Hotarubi!" Natsuhi Star cried out anxiously.

As his companion and wife, who had trained in the "Mysterious Peacock Method" together with him since childhood, she knew her husband's condition all too well.

As a mother, she wanted even less to pass this tragedy on to her son.

"No matter what their purpose is, as long as they can take the star away, isn't that enough?" Seeing the bright red blood slowly seep between Hotarubi Star's fingers as he covered his mouth, tears welled in Natsuhi Star's eyes.

"Cough! Cough! Cough..."

"Your companion... seems to have a serious health problem. Why don't you let me take a look?" Souya looked at the two Star Ninja, who seemed inclined to "conspire loudly," and wore a helpless expression.

"You know Medical Ninjutsu?" Though Natsuhi Star had lived in seclusion from the world for a long time, she was not ignorant.

"I know a little." Looking at Natsuhi Star's tear-filled eyes, Souya replied blandly. He felt no particular stirrings; after all, he didn't have Cao Cao's "taste for heroes."

Souya had studied the Mystical Palm Technique for a time. With his powerful Soul Power, he had exceptional control over Chakra. Even Chiyo, who had taught him, had praised him without reservation.

Chiyo had once lamented that Sunagakure lacked advanced Medical Ninjutsu teachings. Otherwise, perhaps the village could have produced someone like Tsunade.

Natsuhi Star led them to a cave. Several animal-hide blankets were spread out inside, and a pile of charcoal remained at the back of the cave, showing that people had once lived there.

Green light flared as Souya began examining Hotarubi Star.

"His life force has been drained, causing his organs to lose vitality and their functions to deteriorate," Souya said with a frown.

By his perception, Hotarubi Star looked very young on the outside, but his organs were like those of a man in his seventies or eighties. A faint purple glow also seeped through the depths of his meridians, like a parasite clinging to his bones and constantly feeding on his life force.

"With life force depleted this badly, ordinary Medical Ninjutsu won't work. Only a jutsu on the level of a Forbidden Jutsu might be able to prolong his life," Souya concluded without mercy.

"It's all right. Don't worry, Natsuhi!" Though there was no cure, after Souya used the Mystical Palm Technique to treat him, Hotarubi Star looked much better. At least, he seemed no different from an ordinary person. He held Natsuhi Star's fair hands and spoke tenderly.

"So, can we still go through with our deal?" Souya interrupted them directly.

"Yes! We can tell you where the star is, then help you steal it. But you mustn't harm any of the ninjas from Hoshigakure in the process."

"We don't need any money. But you'll have to restore the sealing barrier and teach Natsuhi Star how to control it."

Hotarubi Star had changed his mind. The side effects of training in the "Mysterious Peacock Method" had clearly brought him to the end of his life. To put an end to this scourge once and for all, he could no longer afford to worry about anything else.

"Hotarubi..." Natsuhi Star still watched him with concern.

Hotarubi Star stood up, gently stroked Natsuhi Star's smooth hair, and said softly, "We'd already planned to do this. But if we went through with it ourselves, we'd definitely be driven out of the village."

"Even if we don't care about that, we have to think about our son..."

"If they do it instead, then at least you'll be able to stay by Subaru's side and look after him!"

"No! It's all right! You'll be fine! We'll both be there for Subaru, watch him grow up, and always be with him..." Natsuhi Star suddenly lost control of her emotions, buried herself in Hotarubi Star's arms, and wept bitterly.

Hotarubi Star's lips curled into a smile as he gently stroked Natsuhi Star's head, but a deep sadness lingered on his face.

Souya and Sasori left the cave, walking away from the place that reeked of sourness.

"Why not just take it by force?" Sasori asked. He had been standing to the side, watching the whole time.

A cool breeze brushed past, ruffling the short black hair over Souya's forehead. He took a deep breath, gazed at the peaceful valley, and savored its quiet.

"Maybe because that woman has red hair too!"

Late that night, the stars dimmed, and clouds veiled the moon's silver light, making the darkness seem unusually deep.

A golden cloud silently drifted toward the sky above Hoshigakure. Cloaked by the night, it didn't stand out much.

"This is the place. Everyone who trains at this hour has already gone back, and there won't be any ninjas on guard."

"Once you've taken it, just leave," Hotarubi Star said quietly, standing on the golden cloud. The night breeze seemed a little cold—or perhaps there was another reason. A hint of worry hung on his face.

"The terrain here is rather unusual," Souya remarked. With a ninja's keen eyesight, he could make out, in the faint moonlight below, a place that looked like a quarry pit.

"What's that raised slope behind it?" Souya asked casually.

"That's where the ancestors of past generations lie at rest!" Natsuhi Star answered without thinking.

Souya gave a brief "Oh," then controlled the golden cloud to drift straight down to the ground.

The ground was covered with tiny dark-blue stones. If you stepped on them without noticing, they would crunch beneath your feet. But if you released Chakra beneath your soles beforehand, you could avoid making a sound.

"Then we'll head inside." Souya turned back to signal to Hotarubi Star and Natsuhi Star, then went into the wooden hut with Sasori.

The hut was somewhat dilapidated and contained no furnishings. As soon as Souya entered, he spotted the sphere set in the middle.

It radiated an eerie purple glow. As the light shifted, it seemed to carry an air of danger.

The pitted sphere rested on the claw of some unknown beast. Three dark-silver talons protruded from its tip, making it seem no ordinary object.

"Such a wondrous thing really exists in this world?!" The star immediately captured Sasori's attention, and its purple light reflected deep in his pupils.

"According to them, the star fell from the sky, so of course it's no ordinary thing."

"Let's take it first and study it later!" Souya was also examining the star, but he hadn't forgotten their real objective.

"There's an alarm barrier set up underneath it. If we take it directly, they'll probably catch up to us soon..."

"Unfortunately for them, a barrier of this level is no trouble for me." Souya smiled.