Haru continued, brushing Shino's hand off his robe and adjusting it calmly. "The village... it was neat and unharmed. The rooms untouched. Pots clean. Which could only mean one thing..."
The team nodded subtly, processing. Giyu added, "Honeki is..."
"They left," Matsamaru interrupted, eyes wide.
Haru nodded. The entire team froze in realization. "Ehhhhhh?!" they all gasped in unison.
Haru reinforced the point, "The village was only a venue. They were never the target. They evacuated with the help of the bandits. Everything was cleaned up. No unfinished task. The rooms? Empty. They packed up everything and left."
Hiro raised a brow, "What if they disappeared... along with their belongings?"
Haru didn't answer, his gaze fixed on the scorched remains of the warehouse. Matsamaru responded instead, "What's the point of disappearing with belongings? That's not fleeing, that's moving."
Haru turned back to the group. "They'll be here soon. The bandits."
Again, shocked expressions overtook the team.
Haru rolled his eyes at their reaction. He stepped forward. "Matsamaru. Follow me."
Shino instantly objected. "Eh?! What?! No way! Matsamaru's another key team member! You think I want to watch him burn too?"
Haru didn't flinch. "We need to leave. The bandits can't catch the entire team at once. I'll explain Honeki's involvement on the way."
Matsamaru hesitated, torn.
Then Hijen stepped forward. Calm. "I've never seen Haru-san talk this much in a day. Or share his thoughts with any of us. If he's doing this now... then it's part of something bigger. Matsamaru-san, go. I trust it'll be worth it."
Matsamaru gave Hijen a small smile, then turned to Haru. "Let's go."
As they began walking away, Chimaru rushed in and grabbed Haru's robe. "What about us? Our duo?! I burned for this mission!"
Haru didn't stop. He didn't look back. Not a word.
At the back of the group, Akira opened his eyes. Calm. Cold. "Didn't you realize?"
Chimaru looked at him, unsure.
Akira continued, "He used you. He let you take the hit, knowing your water technique would protect you. You were a test subject-proof of what the bandits could do. And the only reason we found him... was because Hiro figured out his trail. Everything has been part of Haru's plan. We're just pieces now."
Chimaru's eyes widened-reality crashing down as he realized he was nothing more than a tool in Haru's plan.
His hands dropped to his sides, his gaze sinking to the ground. It was over.
Elsewhere, Haru and Matsamaru walked through the abandoned village, the silence almost unnatural. Empty buildings loomed around them like forgotten memories. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, and the sharp sound of their synchronized footsteps echoed through the hollow streets.
Matsamaru broke the silence.
"I suspected Honeki was involved... the village has been too quiet for the past three days. These bandits? Just common thieves-why hide with stolen goods for this long?"
He came to a halt, watching Haru walk a few steps ahead.
"The layout... it's wrong sometimes. Like the streets themselves shift. We kept getting lost, like someone's been swapping the map beneath our feet."
He jogged to Haru's side, eyes narrowing with curiosity.
"But you... how did you know Honeki was involved, Haru-san?"
Haru, still walking ahead, rolled his eyes toward Matsamaru and then looked forward again.
He stayed silent.
Matsamaru eventually gave up waiting for a response and looked down, continuing alongside him.
Then, after a long pause, Haru spoke.
"This mission... it's an A-rank."
Matsamaru stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened, ears ringing. Sweat broke across his forehead like a sudden storm.
In the ninja world, there were five recognized ranks that defined both mission difficulty and the ninja's own standing:
D-rank - low-level tasks like errands, minor protection jobs. Often assigned to children with Honeki or retired veterans.
C-rank - advanced missions such as cross-nation communication, reconnaissance, or basic hunts. Ninjas of this level were called *Shinpou*, the second recognized tier.
A-rank - a tier so high, B-rank didn't even exist. These were missions involving rogue ninja suppression, emperor defense, high-stakes assassinations, or the protection of sacred relics. Ninjas capable of A-rank missions were known as *Ninpou*, elite warriors-some of the strongest in the world.
Haru stopped walking and finally turned to Matsamaru.
"There are no bandits," he said calmly.
"They're rogue ninjas."
Matsamaru's eyes remained wide.
His voice trembled, refusing to believe.
"No... it... it can't be. You... you're manipulating me!"
Haru, unbothered, kept his gaze fixed ahead.
"Uh. I see," he said, turning to continue walking.
Matsamaru's breath grew heavy, his chest rising and falling. He stood frozen.
Haru stopped without turning.
"These people... they're using the bandits for their own agenda. They're after someone... someone among us. Matsamaru... the target is within the group."
Haru thought to himself,
"Now I've trapped him. Whether he's the target or not... he can't back down. He'll either confess... or help me find the rogue ninjas."
Matsamaru had never been more shocked.
He couldn't speak or move-completely lost in confusion.
Haru continued, "The explosion was meant to gather us and the bandits at one spot. To weaken us. I don't know why such smart ninjas would need to trap us just to win... probably because the target is strong."
Matsamaru closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath.
He paused, letting the weight of the moment settle.
When he opened his eyes, the conflict had vanished. His face was still—detached, unreadable.
"And I might be the target," he said calmly. "I'll help you catch these people… at least to prove my innocence."
Haru studied him for a long second, eyes fixed like a blade poised to strike.
"I also have a lead on how to know the target," he replied.
Matsamaru gave a faint smile. "Of course you do. You're Haru."
Just as Haru turned to continue walking, his eyes caught movement—figures stepping out from between the buildings.
A dozen bandits, armed and grinning, their weapons glinting under the fading light.
Haru stopped, unshaken. His face was cold, distant.
Matsamaru, running to catch up, slowed as the sight came into view.
His steps faltered. The smile faded.
The air grew still.
Haru thought to himself,
"This is the game — the target gets attacked the moment the bandits feel cornered. A dozen of them… just as expected. The target is either me… or Chimaru. It's imminent now."
The bandits came to a halt a few meters ahead, dust swirling at their feet. Their eyes held no fear.
The one in front, clearly their leader, took a step forward, lips curled in mockery.
"Oi, kids. What's this? You think this is some errand or something? Well, joke's on you. The world doesn't need brats who don't know their place."
Haru didn't respond.
Instead, he slowly clenched and unclenched his right fist—once… twice… a third time.
Then he held it firm, his body slipping into a silent stance.
Matsamaru stepped up beside him.
He unsheathed his blade with a single motion, its edge catching the light.
With a controlled swing, he pointed the sword straight at the leader's throat.
No words.
Just intent.
The leader remained still, not a muscle on his face twitching.
Unfazed. Unbothered.
As if the blade pointed at him was nothing more than a child's toy.
He raised one hand lazily and gave a simple order.
"Kill them."
Without hesitation, nine of the twelve bandits burst forward.
Boots pounding against the ground, weapons drawn—daggers, axes, cleavers—gleaming under the sun.
Haru didn't move.
Not yet.
He watched them, his eyes sharp and emotionless.
Wind swept past.
Sand danced in the air.
Time slowed.
Then—he stepped forward.
Not back. Not to the side.
Forward.
His right foot hit the ground—and the dust beneath it exploded outward.
Haru disappeared.