Kid, You're Too Naive!

He stopped in his tracks and raised both hands to show he meant no harm. "Relax, I just wanted to borrow a fire to roast something to eat."

Aoba did not lower his guard. His gaze swept over the man's figure, and he spotted the faint outline of a short blade at the man's waist.

He said in a low voice, "Pull back your cloak and show me your face."

The man seemed taken aback for a moment, then let out a soft laugh. "Tch, kid, you're pretty cautious."

He slowly pulled back his cloak, revealing a face covered in stubble. A hint of mockery glinted in his eyes. "Is this enough now?"

Before Aoba could answer, Shinku's voice suddenly came from behind him. "Aoba, step back."

Startled, Aoba turned around and saw that Shinku was already standing behind him, his cold gaze locked onto the newcomer.

Yuhi Kurenai and Fujiwara Yuya had been awakened as well. They rose to their feet, each already gripping a weapon.

"Friend, what brings you here in the middle of the night?"

Shinku's voice was calm, yet it carried an invisible pressure.

The man smiled, his hands still raised. "Don't misunderstand. I'm just a down-and-out wandering ninja passing through. I only wanted to borrow a fire."

His gaze passed over the four of them, but when it settled on Yuhi Kurenai, an imperceptible gleam flashed through his eyes.

Shinku's brows furrowed slightly as he said in a low voice, "You can borrow a fire, but don't try anything.

Aoba, give him a firebrand."

Aoba hesitated, but he still picked out a burning piece of firewood from the campfire and tossed it over from a distance.

The man caught the firewood and nodded. "Thank you."

He turned and walked into the darkness, his back quickly