The group split up.
Soda shouted to Dosuke. "Dosuke, check on the Flower Country merchants."
"Understood, Captain," Dosuke replied.
"Byakugan, open," Tatee said.
Tatee Hyuga's eyes scanned the room. "Five people are inside. You can go, Dosuke."
The merchants stayed together in one room. It made sense. After a robbery, they would stick close. More people meant safety, but it also risked them all being caught at once.
"Understood, Sister Tatee," Dosuke said. He stepped out.
Dosuke pulled a blowpipe from his bag. He blew colorless, odorless gas through the door's gap. It spread slowly inside.
Ten minutes later, Dosuke opened the door. Five people lay scattered on the floor. A Flower Country merchant, a teenage girl, and three samurai-dressed men. Likely family warriors.
Dosuke took a potion bottle from his ninja pouch. He poured it into the merchant's mouth.
Then he woke the man.
"What is your name?" Dosuke asked.
"My name is Junichiro Shibauchi," the merchant said.
The next day, Dosuke woke early. He moved quietly to avoid waking Tatee, who slept nearby.
He turned on the faucet. Cold water splashed his face. The morning grogginess faded.
Dosuke returned to the room. He closed the door softly.
"You are up early, Dosuke. Where is the captain?" Tatee asked sleepily, sitting on the tatami.
"You are awake, Tatee. I do not know," Dosuke replied, looking at her.
"The captain went out. He did not say why," Takuto said from the sofa. He recalled his warning bugs from last night. Two rows of insects flew to him, crawling into his sleeves.
The Oil Girl clan's secret technique, bug control, kept them safe. Takuto's bugs guarded the area, letting Tatee sleep through the night.
Soda returned.
"I set traps along the route. We will try to capture them alive," Soda said, his tone serious.
"Captain, I checked the Flower Country merchant. His family, habits, everything is here," Dosuke said. He handed Soda a paper.
Soda read it quickly. "Good work, Dosuke," he said, impressed.
"We are now the Shibauchi family, Flower Country tea merchants. Our home is in the Mori Mountain area. I am the father, Junichiro Shibauchi. Dosuke is my youngest son, Taiyo Shibauchi. Tatee is my eldest daughter, Miyo Shibauchi. Takuto, you are Makoto, our samurai. Clear?" Soda assigned the roles.
"Clear," Dosuke, Tatee, and Takuto replied.
"Dosuke, how are the Flower Country people?" Soda asked.
"Captain, I gave them a strong hypnotic potion. They will sleep until tomorrow," Dosuke said.
"Good. Prepare to move. Dosuke, Tatee, find the Sunagakure team from yesterday," Soda said.
At noon, Dosuke and Tatee sat in the same ramen shop. Tatee teased the puppy she bought, glancing back.
"Haha, this mission pays well. I want extra ramen," a loud voice said outside.
"Let us eat plenty," another voice replied.
The Sunagakure team entered.
Dosuke saw them and ran to the chunin. "Hello, Ninja-sama, is your mission done?"
"We finished our village task. Can we eat first? My name is Jieren Qingyou," a genin said eagerly.
"Sorry, I am eager," Dosuke said. He led them to Tatee's table. "Come, my sister and I have not eaten."
"Boss, ramen for everyone," Dosuke called loudly.
"Add more if needed," Tatee said softly.
"Wow, sister, you smell nice," Jieren shouted, sitting by Tatee.
"You brat," the Sunagakure chunin said, tapping Jieren's head. He turned to Tatee. "Sorry, my student did not mean it. He rarely meets girls in the village. No harm meant."
"It is fine. Jieren is cute," Tatee said, waving it off.
"My father is collecting payment for yesterday's goods. He offers B-rank mission pay. Please accept," Dosuke said to the chunin, bowing.
"I promised yesterday. I will take it," the chunin said.
"Haha, more money! Yang, Hang, are you not happy?" Jieren asked his teammates, grinning.
Jieren's teammates ignored him. They ate their ramen quietly.
The young ninjas finished quickly. Jieren ate two extra bowls. He said he could not resist food, having gone hungry often in the past.
Dosuke and Tatee led the Sunagakure chunin and genin to the hotel. Soda waited there.
"Hello, Saidaiji Chunin. This trip has been hard. My life is tough. I never met ninjas before in the Wind Country. Only bandits. My samurai handled those," Soda said, posing as Junichiro Shibauchi, his belly large.
"This time, my dozen samurai died. The rest fled. Only my loyal Makoto stayed. Without your help, Miyo, Taiyo, and I might die on the road," Junichiro said, tears in his eyes.
"Do not worry, Mr. Shibauchi. We will ensure your safety. You know the price," Saidaiji, the Sunagakure chunin, promised, patting his chest.
"Payment is no issue. B-rank mission standard. Escort us to the Flower Country. I can pay half now if you want," Junichiro said, pulling money from his pocket.
"No need. I trust you," Saidaiji said, waving off the money. "When do we leave?"
"Now. The sooner, the better. I am packed. I will not return to the Wind Country. It is too dangerous," Junichiro said, looking at Saidaiji.