As night fell, the small town sank into silence. Only the occasional bark of dogs in the alleys proved this wasn't an abandoned place.
At the temporary outpost, Sarutobi Sasuke glanced at the sky and waved to silence the whispering F6.
"It's about time. Move out."
According to the mission details, every month-end night, several people vanished mysteriously. By morning, their remains were dumped outside the town—stench unbearable, bodies mangled.
Though the client insisted the culprit was an indescribable monster, Sasuke, seasoned and pragmatic, suspected a humanoid beast. The missing vagabond ninja from years back? Likely just under-skilled and unlucky.
"Father—Captain Sarutobi! What's the battle plan?"
Hiruzen, on his first mission, clenched his fists, eager to prove himself.
"Yeah, yeah!"
The other brats nodded, faces tight with excitement.
"…Just follow my lead."
Uncomfortable under their stares, Sasuke dodged his eyes and gave the vague order.
"Understood!"
With the moon climbing high, Sasuke led the group into the dark alleys, scanning for suspects. But after covering half the town, they saw nothing.
"Hiruzen, come here."
Deciding wandering aimlessly was pointless, Sasuke gathered them.
"We'll split up. Three per team. Watch the two main gates. If you see anything, don't engage—signal immediately."
He handed out signal flares.
"Yes, sir!"
Time to divide. Danzo didn't hesitate—he grabbed his childhood friend Hiruzen. The two then turned toward Uchiha Kagami, who was being hounded by Koharu.
"Kagami-kun, please let me join you. I'm just a weak little medic-nin~"
Pouting, Koharu clung to Kagami's arm, batting her lashes.
"Koharu, we're in public. Keep some distance."
Sweat trickled down Kagami's back. Anyone who didn't know her true nature might have fallen for it.
"How could you say that? Aren't we good friends?"
"Kagami, team with us!"
Hiruzen and Danzo stepped in, their invitation earnest.
"I was first—!"
Koharu's face darkened, glaring at them.
Damn brats, ruining my fishing attempt.
"Teams must be voluntary. Kagami, we need you."
Hiruzen extended his hand.
"Sorry, Koharu."
Kagami smiled apologetically and joined them.
"You… Danzo, you just wait!"
Her prey stolen, Koharu snarled and pointed at Danzo.
"Huh? Why me? I didn't even say anything!"
Danzo scratched his head, confused. He had no idea he was born with the Innate Scapegoat Physique.
Left with no choice, Koharu grudgingly teamed up with Homura and Torifu.
"Good. If nothing happens, we regroup here at dawn."
Sasuke, having witnessed his son's leadership, nodded in approval.
"Yes!"
The kids dispersed into the dark.
Still uneasy, Sasuke clapped his hands, summoning two mischievous little monkeys from smoke.
"Watch over them. Report back if anything happens."
"Chii chii~"
The monkeys stretched out their hands expectantly. Sasuke, sighing, pulled out bananas.
"Ki-ki!"
Paid, the monkeys leapt into the night after the teams.
"Now I can relax a little."
With that, Sasuke melted into the darkness himself. A B-rank it might be, but failure would stain Konoha's reputation.
"Monkeys, huh…"
Elsewhere, Madara sipped fragrant tea in the ex-mayor's house, mind drifting.
If his guess was right, the Konoha ninja was none other than Sarutobi Sasuke, clan head. And the kids… Tobirama's disciples.
That meant Kagami was here too.
No, he had to intervene. Kagami was clan blood, a favored child of Gin. If something happened, how could Madara face his cousin?
"Thank you for the tea. I'll take my leave."
Worried, Madara stood.
"Wait! Are you crazy? Did you forget everything I just told you?!"
The elder panicked.
"No need to worry. I'm a ninja."
Madara revealed his identity, but the elder scoffed.
"You vagabonds all call yourselves ninja. Just like that boy five years ago."
"…Boy?"
"Yes. A youth from the Grass Country. He claimed to be a ninja, and still… the ghost devoured him."
Intrigued, Madara sat back.
"What was his name?"
"He was called—"
"I'm Hoshin! A ninja from Grass. I hear you have a commission?"
Years ago, a thin youth with a ponytail stood nervously before the then-town mayor, clutching his worn sword.
"You? A ninja?"
The old mayor eyed his shabby red shirt with doubt.
"Of course! See for yourself!"
Hoshin swung his sword, splitting a table in half.
"How's that?"
"…Three thousand ryō."
"Huh? You promised ten thousand!"
"For the table!"
"…."
"In the end, you'll get seven thousand."
Despite suspicion, the mayor gave him the job.
"You'll cover food, right? I eat a lot."
The mayor winced. Is this guy just here to freeload?
"One meal a day. Three days. If you fail, leave."
"Fine, fine! Let's eat!"
Thus began Hoshin's gluttonous freeloading. His appetite was legendary, drawing crowds daily.
"Big brother, are you really a ninja?"
A boy asked one evening.
"Don't I look it?" Hoshin mumbled around a mouthful.
"But ninjas are supposed to breathe fire, summon water, fling shuriken—"
"Sorry, I'm a poor-country ninja."
"Where from?"
"Grass. Weak, full of petty rules. Annoying place."
"…Can you really beat the ghost?"
The boy's eyes hardened.
"My father, the night watchman, was eaten by it."
"…I see."
Hoshin's gaze softened briefly, but he only muttered, "…That's rough."
"Please, avenge him!"
"Sure, sure."
When the night finally came, the mayor rallied men with iron tools. Hoshin, lazy as ever, sipped tea.
"Time's almost up."
The mayor's stomach twisted. His position as mayor hung on this.
"You're going, right?"
"Cough—yeah, yeah."
Hoshin rose at last and strolled into the night.
Moonlight filtered through branches. At the gate, a mass of darkness slithered in, coalescing into a pale woman with lifeless eyes, gray robe, long hair, no expression. Her crimson eyes scanned for prey.
"Eat… eat…"
Her whisper slithered through the empty streets.
A boy ran, terrified, stumbling. He'd snuck out to check on Hoshin, but met the ghost instead.
"Eat…"
He tripped, frozen in fear as she reached out, her breath foul, mouth opening wide.
"Someone… help!"
Footsteps echoed. His heart surged with hope.
"Ninja big brother!"
Hoshin stepped out, no longer careless, eyes complicated. "Didn't I tell you not to run around?"
"Eat…"
The ghost straightened, staring at Hoshin.
"You're hungry again, huh?"
His tone was cold, stripped of laziness.
"That night, Hoshin vanished. Along with the boy. Later, we found the child's mangled corpse… clutching a strip of red cloth."
The ex-mayor's face was bleak.
"You never found Hoshin's body?" Madara asked, frowning.
"Only tatters of his clothes. Likely swallowed whole."
Strange. Every victim's remains appeared—why not his?
"Maybe beasts carried him off."
The elder refused to dwell on it.
"Stay here tonight. Konoha's shinobi will surely end this."
"…Thanks."
Madara nodded. The elder retired, soon snoring.
Once sure he slept, Madara vanished into the night.
At the gate—
Hiruzen's team crouched in an alley, tense.
"Grumble~"
A stomach growled. Hiruzen elbowed Danzo. "Didn't I tell you to eat earlier?"
"What? Not me!" Danzo whispered back, frowning.
"Then Kagami?"
"No way, maybe him—" Danzo quickly shoved the blame at Kagami.
"Crunch, crunch."
Kagami blinked, holding out a snack bag. "Want some?"
He'd prepared for night hunger.
"Thanks, Father!"
Moved to tears, Hiruzen accepted the gift.
"…Don't mention it. I've got more."
"See, Danzo? Learn from Kagami."
(End of Chapter)
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