Arrogant and overbearing.
Itachi's gaze sharpened too. In the distant bushes, several tall, well-dressed young men looked at them with disdain.
Falconry and hunting dogs, along with those Spruce Kimonos, made it easy to recognize them as members of a wealthy, powerful family, even in the dead of night.
"A bunch of lowlifes. So it was you who stole the deer from my estate. You're pretty quick on your feet, aren't you?"
A servant spurred his horse and circled their iron pot. Then he suddenly lashed a whip across a villager's face.
Blood splattered everywhere. But aside from the crackling of the bonfire, no one dared to speak up in defiance.
A deathly silence fell. Almost everyone trembled where they stood. When they heard that the deer Itachi had killed came from the estate owned by this lord, their faces turned even paler.
"You worthless lot just never learn, do you? What, gotten brave all of a sudden? Think you can rebel now?"
The armored youth at the front spoke in a gruff voice. Though his face still held the childish softness of a young boy, he showed no mercy when he struck.
Itachi felt a chill creep through his heart.
Even worse than the villagers' one-sided wailing was how deeply servile they were. Even as they were exploited, they still bowed their heads and believed it was only natural.
"Stop. I did all of this. If you have a problem, take it up with me."
Itachi snapped the bow beside him and barked at them.
His face dark, he strode forward. The other team members were also seething with anger, but the moment they reached for their ninja tools, Itachi stopped them.
If these were enemies, he could end them with a single sword stroke. But unfortunately, they weren't.