A buzz of discussion rose.
Just then.
"No need to wait until tomorrow morning, either."
A calm voice cut through all the noise in the room.
Everyone turned at once.
The oil lamp's flame flickered.
The ronin in the bamboo hat sat on the straw pile by the wall, his hand resting on the sword across his knees, his tone as casual as if he were discussing something utterly ordinary:
"We'll act tonight."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Then everyone seemed to snap awake.
"That's right!"
"The longer we wait, the more can go wrong. We strike tonight!"
"The main force won't arrive until tomorrow afternoon. They'd never dream we'd come tonight!"
Those eager for a fight and those favoring caution were united as never before. The burly candidate slapped his thigh. "We'll strike while those guards think the most dangerous part is already over!"
The more they talked, the more brilliant the plan seemed.
Amid their overlapping voices, a plan came together.
"Lord Sasori knows poisons."
"Let Lord Sasori move first and quietly poison the guards around the Official Inn."
"Then we sneak inside, head straight for Gaara's room, and take him away."
"Without anyone knowing a thing!"
"By the time Sunagakure reacts, we'll already be out of the Land of Wind with the One-Tail!"
By the end, several candidates' eyes gleamed fiercely beneath the oil lamp.
Tonight, they would shed that "candidate" label.
Every gaze turned toward the shadows once more.
Sasori listened to the whole plan.
He nodded.
"That works."
The plan was settled.
The oil lamp was blown out, and the candidates scattered into the darkness of the refugee district to prepare.
Only Uchiha En remained in the dilapidated house.
He sat on the straw pile without moving.
Send a few people