You'll Be the Bait

The campfire burned slowly, spitting tiny sparks that vanished into the wind.

Tsukimi's question wiped the brief ease from Asuma's and Kurenai's faces. They tensed again, considering whether to abandon the mission.

After a short silence, Asuma spoke first, his tone cautious and steady.

"I think we should end the mission."

Huh. He was so excited a moment ago, but he still managed to hit the brakes. Those two years of training paid off after all. At a critical moment, he's a little better than Obito.

Three points for judgment seems too low. Let's give him four!

Asuma glanced at the disheveled Kawata, then looked back at Tsukimi and Kurenai. "The situation is out of control. What should have been an ordinary medicinal-herb trade has led us to human experimentation involving three major nations and an ambush by a Chunin. This is beyond our ability to handle. It's a high-risk, classified matter."

Though Asuma said they should give up, disappointment showed on his face. This was their first C-rank mission, and it was a shame to abandon it after things had taken such a turn.

"Our safest option is to end the mission, preserve every clue, and return to the village immediately. We can report everything that happened tonight and let the village send an investigation team to take over."

Asuma's judgment was sound and fully in line with Ninja rules. Under ordinary circumstances, abandoning a mission when it took an unexpected turn was indeed the safest choice.

But Kurenai, usually so reserved and composed, shook her head. Her expression was calm as she pointed out the flaw.

"Giving up would be safe, but it would also mean giving up every lead."

She swept her gaze across the deathly still forest. "What they did tonight shows how tightly guarded these human experiments are. The secrets and interests involved must be considerable."

"If we retreat, Kawata—the only surviving person who traded with them—will be killed before the follow-up team arrives. Every trace and clue will probably be erased at once. There'll be nowhere to start an investigation."

Kurenai looked at Tsukimi, a question in her eyes. "So what matters now is this: why are they conducting human experiments? Is it important enough for us to keep investigating?"

Asuma caught on as well. "Right, Tsukimi. What are they trying to achieve? If it has nothing to do with Konoha, do we still need to pursue it?"

Tsukimi slipped his hands into his pockets, his easygoing manner returning. He snapped the fingers of his right hand and smiled.

"Good question. That decides whether we continue the mission."

"Most likely, it's for war."

Asuma jolted. He stared at Tsukimi, eyes wide, and stumbled over his words.

"What? W-war? Tsukimi, you're not joking, are you?"

Kurenai looked stunned too. "But didn't the last war end not long ago?"

"Because the Second Shinobi World War never ended. It was only put on hold."

Even without knowing the full story, Tsukimi could guess as much. The Shinobi World had only so many resources, and Ninja produced nothing themselves. Each village needed to survive and grow. War was unavoidable.

The Second Shinobi World War had ended only a few years ago. Neither Asuma nor Kurenai had been to a battlefield, so while war was no strange concept to them, neither truly knew it. Hearing it raised so suddenly was hard to believe. The word weighed heavily on them both.

"With tensions simmering everywhere, and a major nation's hand behind this, it's hard not to think of war."

Tsukimi looked toward Bluestone Town. "Kawata Genji's greed brought assassins after him. They'll strike again to make sure he can't reveal anything. That's our chance to break this open."

"You mean use Kawata Genji as bait to draw out whoever's behind this?"

"Exactly." Tsukimi looked at Kawata Genji, who had given up struggling altogether. "And given how thorough they are, I'm afraid they've already sent someone to his home while hunting him. We need to check it out. We might find another clue."

Asuma let out a slow breath and looked at Tsukimi and Kurenai. "You're right. If this concerns a war, it's a chance we can't ignore. But Tsukimi, have you thought about what we'll do if a Jonin ambushes us?"

Even Kurenai was at a loss for words. She pointed behind them. Asuma turned and saw Orochimaru, dressed in white, standing beneath a tree.

"Uh, didn't Orochimaru-sensei say he wouldn't step in? I forgot..." Asuma's voice dwindled away.

You little brat. I just raised your judgment to four, and now you're back down to three.

Tsukimi glanced at Orochimaru. Though Orochimaru had already begun researching immortality, he had not yet tired of Konoha's Will of Fire. Nor was he the man who would one day lose the race to become Hokage. For now, Hiruzen Sarutobi still considered him the best candidate for the Fourth Hokage.

He had said he would not intervene, but that applied to a normal C-rank mission. The nature and rank of this mission had changed. If they encountered a Jonin, Orochimaru would not stand by.

As for anyone below Jonin level, Tsukimi could handle them himself.

"The mission continues!"

With that, Tsukimi made the final decision as team leader.

"Since we're continuing, should we change our approach and travel through the night?"

Asuma slipped straight into battle mode and asked with a serious expression.

"Yes, you're right. Pack up. We're leaving now. Same formation as before: I'll send shadows ahead to scout. You two cover the flanks and rear, and keep an eye on him."

"Got it!"

After giving Kurenai and Asuma their orders, Tsukimi summoned the Shadowkhan again. They scattered without a sound and began carefully scouting the road ahead.

Then he turned back to Kawata Genji, his voice cold. "Mr. Kawata, remember where you stand. Don't try anything clever. If you hide anything or make a move, we'll leave you to..."

"Fend for yourself!"

Each word struck Kawata Genji like a blow, sending a chill through him. He scrambled to his feet, nodding and bowing over and over, his face full of fear and submission.

"I understand! I'll do exactly as you say. I'll follow every instruction you Ninja lords give me!"

He had heard Tsukimi's analysis from beginning to end. The truth behind it had crushed him with fear. He did not dare refuse even when they made him bait, much less gamble on getting away. All he wanted was for this Konoha team to keep him alive.

The night wind scattered the last embers of the campfire, and darkness settled over the mountain hollow again. The team finished packing. After spending most of the night on this, they wasted no more time and set off once more for Bluestone Town.