"Engage in more real combat—it'll do you good."
After saying this, Shigeo took out a mission scroll from his robe and tossed it to them. "Although the Tea Province has already been annexed by Nanmo, the local nobles don't always hire our Mokunin shinobi. This year, during the annual Zōdo Rinoki Shrine Festival, they've requested protection from three villages: Kirigakure, Konoha, and us. You two squads will handle this mission."
He threw the scroll. Both teams caught it, nodded, and left.
When they had been genin, instructors had accompanied them on every mission. But once a single member of a team advanced to chūnin, such supervision ended for all non-critical tasks.
This time, six would go—two chūnin and four genin. The chūnin, Hatsufuyu and Hōzuki Tsukiyo, would each lead a three-man squad.
Team Hatsufuyu consisted of Kodomo, Kaku, and himself. Kodomo served as the medical ninja—average in ninjutsu but skilled in healing. Kaku specialized in close-quarters combat; during the last chūnin exams he had narrowly missed promotion.
Team Tsukiyo included the earth-release ninja "Toppan" and the sensory-type "Shōken."
Both squads assembled, geared up, and departed for the Tea Province.
Inside the office, Kinse stood before Shigeo. "My lord, are you sure about sending only those six? This mission is already S-rank. I fear they—"
"I know." Shigeo cut him off. "The Tea clans are restless but still hesitate to act. Their hiring of Kirigakure and Konoha shinobi for the festival means they're planning something. My six may not stop them, but they'll make fine torches. I don't need them to win—I need them to expose the fox tails hiding in the shadows."
Despite the S-rank risk, he trusted them to survive.
He stood, removed the Mokukage cloak from his shoulders, and performed a quick transformation technique—his body shrinking into that of a seven- or eight-year-old boy. "I'll accompany them in secret. If anything happens, use the summoning talisman to contact me."
Kinse hesitated. "My lord… this battle isn't like the others. We'll be dealing with civilians. Please—don't—"
He couldn't finish the sentence. Asking a man like Shigeo, known for merciless efficiency, to restrain himself was nearly impossible.
"Don't kill innocents?" Shigeo's lips curved faintly. "I'll try. If I can't… then I can't."
Kinse pressed on. "My lord, the Tea Province doesn't need ninjutsu or chakra right now—it needs hearts. Win the people, and you'll win the land."
Shigeo gave a short nod. "I'll do my best."
He turned and vanished.
Moments later, he reappeared far away, following behind Tsukiyo and Hatsufuyu's two squads. Their pace was slow; they were escorting the person they were to protect.
The elderly man's name was Masada, the newly appointed mayor of Mo-kai Town in the Tea Province. Though not as wealthy or influential as the great noble families, he was respected among the locals—a man of reputation and integrity.
Recently, unrest had shaken the Tea Province, especially across the western islands. When Shigeo had reclaimed the region, he had only secured the main island. The western islets, technically part of the same domain, had since fallen into turmoil.
Some nobles still resented Shigeo for executing the former Daimyō of the Tea Country. Many even declared that they would sooner pledge allegiance to the Land of Fire or the Land of Water than submit to Nanmo.
As a result, officials appointed by Wuyouka had been threatened, kidnapped, or even killed. Those who survived were forced to bend to the nobles' influence just to continue working.
Shigeo's secret journey to the Tea Province aimed to resolve this unrest. Kinse's plea not to "kill innocents" came from fear that another massacre would only widen the rift between Tea and Nanmo.
"Masada-san, are you tired?"
After less than thirty li of travel, the old man already looked exhausted, sighing deeply with every step.
"I'm not tired," Masada groaned. "I'm scared. The festival draws nobles and commoners alike. If we offend the noble houses, our lives are forfeit. Lately, many have died at their hands." He slumped onto a roadside rock, unwilling to continue.
"Please rest assured, sir," Hatsufuyu said kindly. "Mokunin Village sent two squads to protect you and the runners. You'll be safe."
The Zōdo Rinoki Shrine Festival was, at its heart, a race. Once a year, representatives of the noble families competed—and this year, for the first time, ordinary citizens would join. Mayor Masada was responsible for organizing the commoners' team.
Although he had just been appointed, the thought of clashing with the entrenched families made him sigh helplessly.
"You don't understand," he muttered. "The situation's a mess. The previous officials were killed, injured, or vanished. Even the ruler of Nanmo couldn't fix it. What can a handful of kids do? No matter how this goes, blood will be spilled…"
Before he could finish, the disguised Shigeo stepped forward, eyes wide with the innocence of a child. Inside, though, he admired the old man's clear-headedness.
"Then, Masada-san," the boy asked softly, "if blood must be spilled, would you prefer it be yours—or someone else's?"
Masada turned to him with a weary sigh. "I hope for peace. I wish no one had to bleed."
"You're kind, sir," Shigeo replied. "But mercy toward enemies rarely brings mercy in return."
Masada shook his head sadly. "If only Nanmo hadn't annexed the Tea Country… then the people could've lived as before." He spoke with a conflicted heart—neither rejecting nor accepting Nanmo's rule.
"Maybe," Shigeo said with a faint smile, "but perhaps only after Nanmo's unification can the Tea Province truly know peace."
He straightened, putting on an innocent grin. "By the way, everyone—my name's A-Mo. I'm headed to the Zōdo Rinoki Shrine Festival, too. Since we're on the same road, why don't we travel together?"
(End of Chapter)
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