Opening the Box

Wind swept through the forest. Though it was still summer, the three words Tsukimi had spoken settled on Asuma and Kurenai's hearts like a crushing weight.

The two gripped their weapons tightly, hesitation flashing across their faces.

Both had received formal ninja training and guidance from their families. They had long prepared themselves for battles to the death.

But the three captives before them were only fifteen or sixteen, their faces full of terror. They had no ability to fight back, and Asuma and Kurenai could not bring themselves to kill them.

It was not that they objected to killing. They just did not want to kill people like this.

Then again, it was no wonder the Shinobi World was so twisted. Every ninja was taught to kill from childhood. How could they not turn out twisted?

Asuma swallowed. His goofy grin had vanished. "Tsukimi," he argued quietly, "they're no threat anymore. Do we really have to kill them all?"

Kurenai bit her lower lip, her brow furrowed with doubt. "Couldn't we seal them or tie them up and take them back to the Konoha Intelligence Department?"

Tsukimi's expression did not soften at their hesitation.

"Take them back to Konoha?"

Tsukimi's cold voice shattered their last hope.

"That Chunin took all three of them in and trained them from childhood. They may not be Death Soldiers, but they've been thoroughly brainwashed."

"As for leads, we've already checked. All the crucial information is in that Chunin's head. These three have nothing left to offer."

"And it's a long way back. Keeping them alive means bringing along three ticking time bombs. Something could go wrong at any moment."

Tsukimi looked straight at them, his gaze sharp and his warning firm.

"Remember this: the moment they ambushed us, they became our enemies. Mercy to an enemy is cruelty to your comrades!"

"Now carry out the order!"

Those last words left no room for argument. Asuma and Kurenai stiffened. They saw the coldness in Tsukimi's face, so different from his usual warmth, and recalled how mercilessly their enemies had fought. The last of their hesitation faded.

That was simply how cruel the ninja world was.

Asuma drew a deep breath. Resolve entered his eyes, and he tightened his grip on Flying Swallow. Cold steel flashed.

Shhk!

The sound of a blade piercing flesh marked the end of the first life.

Asuma began to tremble. His stomach churned. The excitement of imagining himself famous, the thrill and novelty of it all, had given way to the heavy reality of killing.

Let's see if you can still smile now, kid!

Beside him, Kurenai closed her eyes and forced down her reluctance. Then she followed suit, bringing her kunai down in one swift motion.

The second and third lives fell silent.

The hollow fell still once more.

Asuma stared at the bodies, discomfort and confusion in his eyes. Kurenai's breathing quickened, and she turned her head away, unwilling to look any longer.

Tsukimi did not interrupt them as they came to terms with what they had done. Being a ninja was never easy.

He left them to it and turned his attention to Kawata Genji by the campfire.

The outside threat was gone. Now it was time to deal with the trouble within.

Tsukimi approached slowly. Each footstep struck Kawata Genji's heart like a hammer. He shook harder, soaked in cold sweat and close to breaking.

"Mr. Kawata."

Tsukimi stopped before him and leaned down slightly. His calm voice carried crushing pressure.

"Whoever is behind this was willing to sacrifice a Chunin Death Soldier to take what you're carrying. Are you still going to hide it?"

Tsukimi leaned a little closer. His voice remained calm, but the pressure in it was overwhelming.

Even among the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Chunin were the backbone of their forces. In some Small Shinobi Villages, they could even hold senior positions.

Kawata Genji's teeth chattered as he pleaded incoherently, "I... I'm just an ordinary medicinal herb merchant. I really don't know what's going on... Please, Lord Ninja, you have to believe me!"

"An ordinary merchant?"

Like hell I believe you. This old bastard got himself mixed up in this on purpose. Otherwise, he could've gone straight to Konoha for help instead of hiding everything—unless he had a death wish.

Tsukimi gave a derisive laugh. A cold glint flashed in his eyes, though his gentle voice chilled Kawata Genji to the bone.

"Mr. Kawata, did you know that ninja have a rule for missions? If something happens that falls outside the mission's assigned rank, the ninja carrying it out have the right to abandon it."

"And if someone ambushes you again on the way back, there won't be anyone to protect you."

The smiling words whispered through Kawata Genji's ears like a devil's voice. They destroyed his last hope and broke his composure. After so many years traveling far and wide, he knew that rule well. Judging by what he had just seen, he had no doubt Tsukimi would abandon the mission. If that happened, he was as good as dead.

Tsukimi was not bluffing. The ninja code did contain such a rule. Team Kakashi had run into precisely this situation on their first C-Rank Mission, and the ninja carrying out the mission could decide whether to abandon it.

Tsukimi felt no goodwill toward the old man. Kawata Genji had hidden information from the start, and the rules forbade Tsukimi from attacking a client. If he still refused to tell the truth, Tsukimi would abandon the mission without a shred of guilt.

At last, Kawata Genji lowered the hands he had kept pressed to his chest. Trembling, he reached inside his clothes and took out a small, pitch-black wooden box about the size of an adult's palm.

Tsukimi snatched it and held it in his palm, examining it closely by the firelight. Asuma and Kurenai came over too, their gazes fixed on it, wary and grim.

Looks like they've pulled themselves together.

Tsukimi glanced at them, then returned his attention to the box. The wood looked ordinary, but the box felt surprisingly heavy.

This tiny box had drawn an ambush by a Death Soldier.

To be safe, Tsukimi summoned two Shadowkhan and had them take the box five meters away to open it.

"Let's see what's inside."

The Shadowkhan opened the lid smoothly. Nothing unusual happened. Tsukimi went over and took the open box, and the three gathered by the campfire to examine it.

"This... is all that's in the box?" Asuma scratched his head, baffled.

Kurenai spoke softly. "Could there be a hidden compartment?"

Tsukimi ran his hands over the box, testing every side, but found nowhere anything could be concealed.

"Well, this is getting troublesome!"