Fishing

The mountain forest was unnaturally quiet at night, as if the ambush had been nothing but a dream. But they all knew waves were about to surge beneath the calm surface.

The three-person squad took Kawata Genji and drove their carriage toward Bluestone Town under cover of darkness.

Inside the carriage, Kawata Genji kept his head down and his face tight, not daring to make the slightest move. After the ambush and interrogation the night before, he understood exactly where he stood: he was bait on a hook. Death awaited him whichever way he turned. His only chance of survival lay with the Konoha Ninja before him.

Tsukimi's Shadowkhan moved through the forest, spreading out to search for anything unusual within two kilometers ahead.

They hurried on, and by the time daylight filled the sky, the outline of the town finally came into view.

They had reached Bluestone Town.

As the medicinal-herb trading center of the eastern Land of Rivers, Bluestone Town was already bustling. A river ran through it, with pharmacies and warehouses lining both banks, piled high with herbs. Rich medicinal scents mingled with the clamor of the streets, and pedestrians could be seen moving through the morning haze.

When the four reached the dense woods outside Bluestone Town, Tsukimi raised a hand to halt the squad.

"Stop!"

A faint light flickered in Tsukimi's eyes. Sharing the sight of the Shadowkhan around them, Tsukimi confirmed that no one was lying in wait or watching nearby, then withdrew them.

"From here on, Kawata Genji goes back alone."

Kurenai and Asuma were momentarily taken aback. Neither understood why, but they waited for Tsukimi to explain.

"Kawata Genji goes in by himself. The three of us stay hidden and follow him. Don't let anyone spot you."

Tsukimi wore a smile, but the gaze behind it was unusually calm as the reasoning came out.

"First, we need to get one thing straight: Kawata Genji never had access to the core secrets."

"He only received the goods and delivered them on schedule. The other side sent ordinary people to handle the transactions. He has no idea who's behind this or where the experiments are taking place!"

Kurenai's eyes lit up as she caught on at once. "In other words, he isn't a key witness they absolutely have to silence?"

"Exactly."

"Wait, wait, hold on! If Kawata isn't a key witness, why did they send Death Soldiers to kill him last night?"

Asuma hurriedly waved a hand to interrupt them, looking utterly lost.

No, wait. How did I suddenly stop following this? What did I miss? I was there the whole time!

Tsukimi ignored Asuma and continued in a measured tone. "Kawata kept withholding medicinal powder, raising his prices, and using control of the supply to pressure them. He crossed their line. This time he even brought guards and posted an escort mission, so they sent a Chunin to kill him."

"They were never trying to silence him to protect their secrets."

Because the old bastard doesn't know any secrets!

"They sent Death Soldiers so no one could be captured alive during the attack on Kawata and expose the real secrets," Kurenai added.

"Oh, now I get it." Understanding dawned on Asuma's face.

-_-||

Go read a few more books when we get back, kid!

"Here's the important part," Tsukimi said, drawing back that gaze. "Normally, if a Genin squad were ambushed by Chunin Death Soldiers and then discovered a major nation was involved, they'd immediately abandon the mission and return to report it."

"If we carry on with the original plan today, even if we pretend to head back, they'll know we're setting a trap. Kawata isn't worth the risk to them."

Asuma caught up at last, and his furrowed brow relaxed. "Then they'll simply give up on Kawata and never show themselves again."

Kurenai's expression sharpened. "So we need to disappear completely and make them think we've abandoned the mission and retreated. Only then will they make another move to get rid of the greedy merchant who disrupted their plans."

"Exactly. The fish we're trying to catch is whoever comes to settle accounts once they think it's safe."

Tsukimi turned to Kawata Genji with an easy expression, took out the mission scroll, and spoke gently. "Let's complete the mission handover first."

Kawata trembled and nodded vigorously, not daring to disobey. This was the only way he could buy himself a chance to survive.

He signed the mission scroll, officially completing the C-rank escort mission.

"Remember," Tsukimi said, putting away the mission scroll and giving him one final instruction. "When you go back, act panicked and frightened. Let them know we've abandoned you!"

"Understood!"

"Mr. Kawata doesn't even need to act. He just has to let out what he's already feeling," Asuma joked beside him.

Kawata answered awkwardly. With the three of them helping, his outer clothes were torn and disheveled, flecked with grass and dirt from the forest. His hair was a mess, scratches marked his exposed skin, and his eyes were bloodshot.

Kawata Genji took a deep breath and staggered toward Bluestone Town alone, looking thoroughly battered.

"Split up, take different positions, and keep your distance. Follow him without being seen," Tsukimi ordered quietly once Kawata had left the woods.

"Okay!"

Asuma and Kurenai answered together. After using the Transformation Technique, they suppressed their Chakra signatures and followed Kawata Genji from afar in a triangular formation.

Passersby gave the disheveled man a passing glance and assumed he was a merchant who had run into bandits on the road. No one paid him much attention.

A short while later, Kawata Genji crossed half the town and reached a detached two-story residence. With its imposing entrance, it was the sort of home a wealthy local merchant would own.

Kawata took out his key and opened the gate. The moment he stepped into the courtyard, its silence made him stiffen, and his face went pale.

It was too quiet!

He rushed into the back courtyard, where the sealed storeroom for his herbs stood. But when he opened its doors, the sight inside made his legs go weak. He nearly collapsed on the spot.

The entire storeroom was empty. Not only had every bit of the Green Velvet Grass he had stockpiled been taken, but not a single other herb remained.

Kawata Genji refused to believe it and rushed into the other rooms. A few minutes later, he emerged looking stricken. Every transaction record, account book, and letter he had kept was gone.

Even the wandering ninja who had stayed behind to guard the herbs had vanished.

The entire residence looked as though someone had swept through it, leaving not a single clue behind.

Hidden in the shadows, the three of them saw everything.

Asuma's voice grew grave. "You guessed right, Tsukimi. They made their move here at the same time."

Kurenai spoke softly. "The wandering ninja who stayed behind is missing. Chances are, she's already been killed."

While sending people to kill Kawata Genji, the other side had cleared out his residence as well. All the medicinal powder Kawata had withheld, along with his own herbs, had been packed up and taken away. Every trace had been erased.

If they had abandoned the mission and withdrawn last night, Kawata Genji would probably be dead by now, and this lead would have ended with him.

Tsukimi watched Kawata. The empty courtyard was exactly what Tsukimi had expected.

"They came here to recover the medicinal powder he withheld, but they haven't left yet. We've set out the bait. Now we wait to see when they bite."

"Asuma, you—"

"Master, you're back? What happened to you?"

Before Tsukimi could assign their roles, a voice suddenly came from outside the gate.

All three immediately focused on it. Kawata Genji looked up as well. An elderly man of about fifty hurried in, carrying a large bag of food.