You'll Be the Bait

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

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

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

"I think we should terminate the mission."

Huh. He was so excited a moment ago, but he still managed to hit the brakes. Looks like those two years of training paid off. At least he's a little better than Obito when it counts.

Idiot Three is a bit harsh. Let's make him Idiot Four!

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

Despite his words, disappointment showed on Asuma's face. Running into this on their first C-Rank Mission was bad luck, and giving up now felt like a waste.

"Our safest choice is to terminate the mission, preserve every lead, and return to the village immediately. We report everything that happened tonight, then let the village send an investigation team to take over."

Asuma's judgment was sound and followed Ninja protocol. Under normal circumstances, abandoning a mission when it took an unexpected turn was the safest choice.

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

"Abandoning the mission would be safe, but it would also mean giving up every lead."

She looked around the deathly still forest. "What they did tonight shows how tightly they're guarding this human experimentation. Whatever secrets and interests are involved, they must be significant."

"If we retreat, Kawata—the only living person who traded with them—will be killed before another team arrives. They'll probably erase every trace and lead at once. There'll be nothing left to investigate."

Kurenai turned to Tsukimi, a question in her eyes. "So what we need to know is: why are they conducting human experiments? Is it important enough to keep investigating?"

Asuma caught on too. "Right, Tsukimi. What are the experiments for? If this has nothing to do with Konoha, do we really need to pursue it?"

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

"Good question. That's exactly what determines whether we continue the mission."

"Most likely, they're preparing 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 only recently?"

"The Second Shinobi World War never truly ended. It was only put on hold."

Even without knowing the original story, that much was easy to guess. The Shinobi World had only so many resources, and Ninja produced nothing themselves. For their villages to survive and grow, war was inevitable.

The Second Shinobi World War had ended only a few years ago. Asuma and Kurenai had never been to a battlefield; war was familiar to them, yet not something they truly knew. Hearing that it might return left them incredulous, the word weighing heavily on their hearts.

"With so much stirring beneath the surface, and a major nation involved in this, it's hard not to think of war."

Tsukimi looked toward Bluestone Town. "Kawata Genji's greed brought the assassins down on him. They'll come after him again to make sure he can't leak 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 entirely. "And given how thorough they are, they've probably sent someone to his house while hunting him. We need to check it too. There might still be a clue there."

Asuma exhaled slowly and looked at Tsukimi and Kurenai in earnest. "You're right. If this involves war, we have a chance to uncover something. But Tsukimi, have you considered what we'll do if a Jonin ambushes us?"

Even Kurenai was at a loss for words, let alone Tsukimi. She pointed behind them. Asuma followed her finger and saw Orochimaru, dressed in white, standing beneath a tree.

"Uh, didn't Lord Orochimaru say he wouldn't intervene? I forgot about him..." Asuma's voice dwindled as he spoke.

Brat. I just promoted you to Idiot Four, and now you're back to Idiot Three.

Tsukimi glanced at Orochimaru. Although Orochimaru had begun researching immortality, he had not yet tired of Konoha's game of the Will of Fire. He was not yet the man who would lose the contest for Hokage. Hiruzen Sarutobi still considered him the best candidate for the Fourth Hokage.

Orochimaru had indeed said he would not intervene, but that was for an ordinary C-Rank Mission. The mission's nature and difficulty had changed. If they encountered a Jonin, he 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 tactics and travel through the night?"

Asuma quickly shifted into battle mode and asked with a serious expression.

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

"Got it!"

After giving Asuma and Kurenai their orders, Tsukimi summoned the Shadowkhan again. They scattered soundlessly and began searching the route ahead.

Then he turned his cold gaze back to Kawata Genji. "Mr. Kawata, remember your position. Don't try anything clever. If you hide anything or make one suspicious 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 repeatedly, his face full of fear and submission.

"I understand! I'll do exactly as I'm told. Whatever you Ninja lords say!"

He had heard Tsukimi's analysis from beginning to end. The truth behind the deal had broken him with fear. He did not dare refuse even when they made him bait, nor did he cling to any hope of 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 hollow again. The team had finished packing. After spending most of the night there, they wasted no more time and set out for Bluestone Town.