"Could we stay here for the night?" Mirai asked softly.
The man froze for a moment, then nodded. "Of course. Just make sure you don't enter our perimeter."
"Wait, Captain, isn't that a bad idea?" A one-eyed young man walked over. His face bore even deeper traces of hardship as he looked Mirai up and down. "Don't forget what happened to that group three months ago."
At that, the young man who had spoken earlier also looked uneasy. He grunted and fixed his eyes on Mirai. "My brother's right. You'd better leave now. Three months ago, a hunting group was poisoned by someone unknown. All thirty-seven members of the group were taken down by the poison."
After hearing that, Mirai gave a short chuckle. "It's fine. Asking you was only a matter of courtesy. Even if you disagree, it doesn't matter. We're staying here tonight no matter what."
A vicious look appeared on the captain's face. "What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing. I'm simply saying that we're resting here. Don't try to use your whole hunting group to pressure me. You're just an ordinary captain-level figure, aren't you?" Mirai looked him over. "Your leader hasn't told me to leave."
Fujiwara Hakkai stood to one side with a bitter smile. He had already recognized who these people were: the Blood Mist Hunting Group. It was said that this hunting group was made entirely of ninja, and that they accepted anyone. It did not matter whether they were wandering ninja or rogue ninja who had fled from some village. As long as they had strength—or even decent potential—the group was willing to take them in and nurture them.
As a result, this group had become a dominant force in the Land of Snow.
Such a group was exceptionally strong, and beyond