The Truth Within the "Truth"

"**Hahaha, didn't expect that, did you? Konoha ninja, we still outplayed you!" Aoyama, the rogue ninja, struck with all his might, forcing Captain Yamaguchi back. As he flexed the arm exhausted from prolonged bursts of strength, the arrogant delight on his face was no longer concealed.

Before Taiichi and the others, who had stopped fighting at the sound, could say anything, there was a bang. The "Taiichi" maintaining the ninjutsu vanished, and the enormous Water Prison immediately collapsed. The two ninja trapped inside fell to the ground.

Anyone could see that they were already dead. Nearly ten minutes had passed since the battle began, and they were merely ordinary wandering ninja. They could not possibly endure that long within a Water Prison filled with high-pressure torrents.

Their deaths were like two vicious slaps across Aoyama's face, which had been brimming with triumph moments earlier.

"Damn it!" Aoyama glared viciously at Taiichi, the culprit behind it all, his eyes seeming ready to devour him. "It's all this brat's fault. He was the one who ruined things during the last attack too."

Wandering ninja were not as easy to recruit as bandit lackeys. Who knew how much effort he had spent gathering these people? Yet so many had been lost in this mission, including two Chunin. How could that not pain him?

Suppressing his thoughts, Aoyama steadied himself and said to Captain Yamaguchi, "We already have the target, so there's no need for this fight to continue. Let's call it off here. That child might still keep his life."

"Otherwise, a dead person works about the same." Aoyama's threat was venomous. He did not want to keep fighting either. Who knew how many more would die if they continued? It simply was not worth it. They were rogue ninja paid to do a job, not people defending their village.

"Are all Sunagakure ninja this shameless?" Captain Yamaguchi mocked.

"Hmph, I stopped being a Sand Village Ninja long ago. I'm a rogue—"

Before he could finish, another bang interrupted Aoyama.

Saori, who had been beside the carriage, suddenly transformed into Taiichi before dissolving into white smoke. This was what happened when a Shadow Clone ran out of chakra.

"Shadow Clone. Transformation Technique." Aoyama gritted his teeth as he spoke.

So the "Saori" by the carriage had been Taiichi's transformed Shadow Clone all along. During the battle, she had guarded the carriage and only acted against a few bandits, so no one had noticed she was fake even when she disappeared.

That girl had been fake? Then where was the real one? The changes in the situation had exceeded Aoyama's expectations, leaving his mind in chaos.

"Not good! Guangtai, check that child!" The quick-witted Koji roared at the Chunin holding the child hostage.

But there was no need for Guangtai to check. The "Little Ishihara" in his grasp also vanished in a puff of smoke with a bang. Taiichi had personally dispelled the Shadow Clone.

This left everyone on Aoyama's side frozen in shock, followed by a surge of fury at having been played. The duck that had been in their mouths had flown away—how could they not be furious?

Time returned to the night of the fifth day, the night of Aoyama's first attack.

"Madam, Saori will carry Little Ishihara and take a detour straight to Jinsong City. She'll definitely be much faster than the main group. If all goes well, they should arrive on the seventh day," Captain Yamaguchi explained their plan to Mrs. Ishihara.

Taiichi had proposed this plan. It was similar in spirit to Masao Ishihara's earlier idea: deceive the enemy.

"They just retreated in a panic. They definitely won't expect someone to leave the main group and travel alone now. Meanwhile, we'll use the Transformation Technique to disguise ourselves as Saori and Little Ishihara, staying here to draw their attention," Captain Yamaguchi continued.

"By the time they bring reinforcements and attack us again, it will be too late even if they discover the truth."

Mrs. Ishihara considered the feasibility of the plan, then nodded gladly. She also knew that if the enemy attacked again, it would not be so easy for her side to deal with them.

Captain Yamaguchi and the other three sighed in relief when Mrs. Ishihara agreed. Though they had agreed to continue the mission, they did not want to throw away their lives in a direct fight with the enemy. Now, all they needed to do was delay them rather than fight to the death as they had at first.

"Then, Madam, please pack up as well. We'll come get Little Ishihara once we're ready." Captain Yamaguchi gave his final instructions before leading the other three out of Mrs. Ishihara's tent.

Just as he was about to leave, Taiichi seemed to remember something. He turned to Mrs. Ishihara and said, "Madam, don't tell anyone about this, including Masao Ishihara. Understand?"

"You mean someone in the merchant caravan..." Mrs. Ishihara hesitated.

"Better safe than sorry!" Taiichi said no more and turned to follow the others out.

Not long afterward, a figure swiftly departed the Camp under cover of darkness. After taking a roundabout route, they headed straight for Jinsong City.

Time returned to the present.

"Where are they?! Where did you hide them?!" Aoyama roared.

"Ahahaha! Judging by the time, they should be almost at Jinsong City by now!" Yohei was beside himself with pride, as if he had come up with the plan himself.

Seeing the rage rising in Aoyama and his men, Captain Yamaguchi did not want to provoke them further. The battle had reached this point, and there was no longer any reason to continue.

"It's over. Just as you said, your mission has failed. We have no reason to keep fighting. Continuing will only cause more casualties," Captain Yamaguchi tried to persuade them.

As Captain Yamaguchi spoke, Taiichi and Yohei gathered at his sides, adopting the stance of men prepared to fight to the death.

Aoyama was unwilling to accept it. He had gone through so much trouble and lost four subordinates, only for it all to come to nothing. How could he swallow this bitter pill?

"Boss, let's go. If they fight desperately, they can definitely take one of us down with them. Cut our losses while we can," Koji said, clear-headed at last as he stepped forward to advise him.

"Damn it. Withdraw!" After thinking for a long time, Aoyama finally gave up on the battle.

With the order given, both sides gradually abandoned their opponents and withdrew while remaining wary of each other.

Watching their enemies leave, Captain Yamaguchi, Taiichi, and Yohei all let out sighs of relief. The enemy lineup had truly been powerful, and they had even gained an unexpected Chunin later on. If the battle had continued, they might have suffered casualties as well.

Fortunately, everything had proceeded smoothly according to plan. With no target left to pursue, the enemy had ultimately retreated.

At this point, the members of the merchant caravan finally understood their situation. The most dangerous moment had passed, and all that remained was to travel peacefully. Everyone immediately burst into cheers.

Sure enough, the rest of the journey was smooth sailing. Not even the shadow of a bandit appeared. It was as though the sky understood their feelings, putting away the endless drizzle and hanging up a warm Sun Barrier.

On the afternoon of the eighth day, the merchant caravan finally caught sight of Jinsong City in the distance. Many caravan members shed Tears of Joy. The casualties on this journey had been far too heavy. Someone laughing and joking with you yesterday might already be dead today, leaving behind nothing but a handful of ashes.

Upon arriving in Jinsong City, Taiichi saw the crowd that had come to welcome them. At a glance, he recognized Saori Furukawa among them, as well as Little Ishihara standing beside her. Only then did Taiichi finally put his mind completely at ease. This mission could finally be considered a perfect success.

There was not much else to say. The head of the Ishihara Clan warmly entertained Taiichi and the others, once again apologizing for the deception at the beginning of the mission. He also promised to inform Konoha of the specifics of this mission and raise both its rank and reward.

Of course, Captain Yamaguchi handled those negotiations. Since the mission deadline had not yet arrived, Taiichi and the others spent a full day enjoying themselves in Jinsong City. Only before the final deadline required by the mission did they bid farewell to the Ishihara Clan and set off on their return journey to Konoha.