Chapter 47 – The Truth Behind the Mission
Yōhei was, unsurprisingly, Yōhei.
Even after Taichi told him about awakening the Sharingan, he remained perfectly calm—almost indifferent. It was as if the eyes weren't his own. According to him, the Sharingan was merely a tool; true strength came from one's foundation.
That declaration stunned Taichi. As expected of a Uchiha… truly different from the rest.
When the two arrived at the center of the convoy, Taichi immediately checked on Saori's injuries. Thankfully, they were only surface wounds.
He cleared a patch of ground, carefully cleaned her cuts, then used the Mystical Palm Technique for basic hemostasis and healing. From his tool pouch, he took out medicine and bandages to finish the treatment. After his methodical care, Saori was no longer hindered for the journey ahead.
Just then, Ishihara Masao arrived with his wife and child. Watching Taichi finish, he asked with feigned concern:
"Miss Saori… she's all right, isn't she?"
Taichi lifted his head, staring at him in silence. Yōhei, sensing something, also turned his curious gaze on Ishihara.
Under their eyes, Ishihara shifted uncomfortably. Before he could speak, Captain Yamaguchi cut in:
"Mr. Ishihara… shouldn't you give us an explanation?"
"E–Explanation? What's there to explain?" Ishihara forced a laugh, pretending not to understand.
Yamaguchi's tone turned sharp. "This was supposed to be a C-rank mission. Yet we were ambushed by a Jōnin, two Chūnin, and four Genin. And you think that needs no explanation?"
"I–I don't know either!" Ishihara stammered. "Who could have guessed a simple convoy of grain would attract ninja? Who could possibly predict something like this?" His words struggled to hold weight, and even Yōhei could see through the act.
"I suspect…" Taichi finally spoke, his voice cutting through the air, "the cargo you wanted us to guard was never the grain in these wagons."
All eyes snapped to Taichi in shock. Ishihara's expression froze as though he'd seen a ghost.
"I thought it strange—two passengers not listed in the mission scroll." Taichi took a step closer.
"You had your wife and child deliberately befriend Saori. That was no coincidence." Another step.
"The earlier bandit attack—just a probe to test our strength and confirm the real target." Another step.
"And when the ninja struck… they ignored the guards and went straight for the carriage under shinobi protection." Now Taichi stood before Ishihara, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"Let me guess. Our true mission… was to protect your wife—" Taichi's words slowed, deliberate, "—or perhaps… your child."
At the mention of the boy, Ishihara's composure shattered. Panic flickered across his face.
"N-No! That's nonsense—there's no such thing!" Ishihara tried to defend himself, but his voice trembled.
"Enough, Masao."
A calm but firm voice cut him off.
Lady Ishihara stepped forward, bowing deeply. "I apologize for deceiving you all." Her words carried weight, but she still held back the truth.
"Madam, you don't need to." Masao's face twisted, torn between shame and helplessness. "This was my idea alone. If apologies are due, they should come from me!" He turned toward the shinobi and bowed again and again, his movements frantic, desperate.
But Taichi and the others remained silent. Even Saori said nothing.
At last, Captain Yamaguchi spoke, his words heavy:
"Madam, falsifying mission details grants us the right to terminate the assignment. If you wish for our aid, we need the truth."
Lady Ishihara's shoulders sagged with resignation. She sighed deeply.
"…Very well. There is no point in hiding it any longer."
She raised her head, eyes solemn.
"My name is Ishihara Masami. Masao is not my husband, but my family's steward. And this child…" Her voice wavered slightly.
"…This child is, in fact, my husband's illegitimate son."
The revelation left Taichi and the others stunned. What a tangled mess of family intrigue…
As Lady Ishihara explained, the truth gradually unfolded like a grand drama of clan politics.
The Ishihara clan was divided into two branches—the main family and the secondary branch. Not long ago, the clan head of the main family had been gravely injured in an ambush while traveling for trade. Though his life was saved, the damage left him unable to father children.
The secondary branch seized upon this weakness, scheming to wrest the position of clan head. In desperation, the clan head confided in Lady Ishihara: he had a child born out of wedlock.
From there, the plan was clear. Masami and Masao staged a supply run, secretly retrieving the child. By disguising the mission as a simple grain escort, they lured a team of Konoha Genin as cover—hoping to slip past enemy eyes and deliver the boy safely back to the Ishihara estate.
With an heir secured, the secondary branch's ambitions would crumble to dust.
"…What do you three think?" Captain Yamaguchi finally asked, turning the decision toward Taichi's team.
He couldn't help but glance at Taichi with new respect. The boy's sharp analysis earlier had been remarkable—not just strong, but quick-witted as well. Given time, he'll become a truly formidable shinobi.
The three exchanged looks. Saori hesitated the most; in the past days she had grown genuinely close to Lady Ishihara and her child.
Taichi broke the silence, his face stern. "Lady Ishihara, the next question I ask will determine our decision. If we find you are deceiving us again, we will abandon this mission immediately."
"…Very well. Ask." She braced herself, ready for the truth to be laid bare.
"Those ninja who attacked earlier—do you know them?"
Lady Ishihara nodded without hesitation. "Yes. They are mercenaries frequently employed by the secondary branch. Their leader is a rogue from Sunagakure. The others are wandering shinobi." She spoke quickly now, as if spilling beans from a bamboo tube.
"They should also have another—a Tokubetsu Jōnin. But for some reason, he wasn't present this time."
The group exchanged uneasy glances. Cold sweat trickled down their necks. Thank the heavens he wasn't there… or we'd all be corpses by now.
"So that means," Taichi muttered, piecing it together, "our enemies may consist of one Jōnin, at least one Tokubetsu Jōnin, one Chūnin, and three Genin."
The weight of that lineup left them speechless. Even Taichi knew—killing a Tokubetsu Jōnin before had been thanks to traps and ambush, not a fair duel. In a head-on fight, he might very well be the one to fall first.
"What do you think, Captain?" Taichi finally asked. He needed to know how strong Yamaguchi truly was.
Just then, the child tugged on Saori's hand. "Sister Saori… are you leaving?" His clear, pleading eyes pierced her heart.
Saori's resolve wavered. Reason told her she shouldn't let emotions dictate their mission, yet how could she abandon such an innocent child to a grim fate?
Seeing her conflict, Taichi turned back to the captain. "Captain… do you think we have the strength to fight them?" His words betrayed a clear lean toward protecting the child.
Yamaguchi frowned, then answered carefully. "Against one Jōnin and one Tokubetsu Jōnin… I can just barely hold them off. If you join me, we might have a chance." His tone was cautious, but it was also a strong acknowledgment of Taichi's ability.
Taichi looked to Yōhei. "And you?"
Yōhei scratched his head awkwardly. "Ah… I've only just awakened my Sharingan. It's only single tomoe, but… I should be able to hold a Chūnin-level rogue. I think."
His casual words shocked Saori and Yamaguchi. Yōhei… awakened his Sharingan?!
"Even so," Taichi muttered, frowning deeply, "at best we'd be evenly matched. If we want to win, we'll need a solid plan."
He paused, eyes narrowing with thought.
"…And besides, there's no rule that says we must face them head-on."
The others stared at him in confusion. Only Yamaguchi seemed to catch a hint of his intent, eyes gleaming thoughtfully.