There was a possibility of encountering Mist ninjas during the mission, and Hayashi was prepared for that.
However, he had assumed such an encounter would happen only after reaching Mihana Town or finding Ryoma, not here in these woods deep within the Land of Fire.
As the Third Hokage had explained, the Mist ninjas wanted to accomplish something through the former daimyo's son. A logical tactic would be to stay close to the target, not suddenly strike in the forest without warning.
What made this even stranger was that this Mist squad had crossed paths with Team 1, the group assigned to this mission.
Keep in mind that Himeji's scouting range was only one kilometer, and this forest stretched far beyond that. Unless this was an intentional ambush, the odds of such a random encounter were nearly zero.
There was one other possibility. The Hidden Mist could have sent a large force, lying in wait specifically for Leaf shinobi in these woods…
But that would be more than some trick or strategy. That would be a full-scale attack.
And considering the current state of affairs—after the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Leaf Village had come out stronger than ever—no nation would provoke them at such a critical moment.
It didn't make sense.
It was as if a cautious master strategist, always playing it safe to survive, suddenly cast aside caution entirely, pulled out a powerful weapon, and chose to fight head-on against the most formidable opponent.
In situations like this, there was only one obvious conclusion: the enemy was using some kind of cheat.
Whether the Hidden Mist had such an advantage, Hayashi couldn't say for sure. But even if they did, what would it matter? They hadn't participated in the great war—what impact could these tricks possibly have now?
Even if their attack succeeded, it wouldn't cause any real damage to the Leaf Village. At most, it would irritate them. And besides Onoki, no one in the ninja world acted out of such senseless hostility.
Furthermore, there was no political conflict between the Leaf and the Mist. The Third Mizukage would have to be out of his mind to order something like this.
And the most confusing part of all was this squad's leader—he was from the Kaguya Clan.
The Kaguya were known for their unpredictable temperaments. Why would the Mizukage assign such a volatile shinobi to an important task? It made no sense.
Based on the brief clash they had just endured, Hayashi concluded that their enemy wasn't a thinker—he was a warrior driven by bloodlust.
Sending someone like that was practically guaranteeing failure.
In short, everything about this situation was suspicious.
As the sky darkened toward evening, Hayashi led Mikoto and Himeji to set up a camp a little distance away from where their skirmish had taken place.
After briefly surveying the surrounding area, he placed numerous rudimentary traps and several summoned snakes around their perimeter before returning, carrying a freshly caught game bird.
"Here," Hayashi said, offering the bird to Mikoto.
Mikoto nodded and, with a quiet efficiency that reminded Himeji of a dutiful partner rather than a comrade, began preparing the bird for roasting.
Himeji, busy setting up the tent, glanced over and asked, "Didn't you say yesterday we shouldn't make open fires near Mihana Town?"
"Yes," Hayashi confirmed as he used Earth Release to form a simple seat before sitting down.
"So what's this? Why are we cooking a fire now instead of just eating our rations?"
"Mhm," Himeji responded while continuing her work, curiously turning an ear toward him for his explanation.
Hayashi smiled just a little and said, "Before, we hadn't seen any enemies around here yet, and we didn't know what we were walking into. So we had to be cautious. But now that we've already fought, if there were Mist shinobi nearby they would have discovered us by now. There's no hiding anymore."
His eyes shifted slightly with teasing logic.
"Besides," he continued, "I'd rather they find us now. How are they supposed to locate us if we don't give off any traces?"
He then explained all the odd aspects of this mission, the questions plaguing him since the encounter.
Himeji thought for a moment, setting another support peg into the earth before saying, "So what you're doing is… testing the waters."
"That's right," Hayashi replied with a nod.
"I've placed a number of summoned snakes all around. If there are many Mist shinobi, we'll fall back. If there aren't, then we handle them head-on. Lighting a small fire tonight shouldn't be an issue. If we can be more comfortable, why should we settle for dry rations?"
Himeji hummed with agreement, then resumed erecting the tent's final poles.
She realized in that moment that she still had much to learn—even though she was three years older than Hayashi, his composure and strategic thinking far surpassed hers.
After a moment of silence, Hayashi said casually, "Oh right, Himeji, there's something else I wanted to ask."
"Mhm, what is it?" she replied, hands still securing the tent fabric.
"Do you know that Kaguya shinobi from earlier? The one we clashed with? I'd say he was at least an elite jonin, and his position within the Kaguya should be high…"
Himeji thought carefully before answering, "I've never seen him before. Our Hyuga Clan has maintained good relations with the Kaguya for generations, but that was more common before the founding of the villages. Ever since the shinobi system was established, contact between our clans has become less frequent. The last time I saw a Kaguya ninja was five years ago."
"Five years ago?" Hayashi repeated.
"Yes," she continued. "There was a family celebration then—my eldest brother was named successor of the main house, and my second brother became the successor of the branch house. The Kaguya came to congratulate us."
Hayashi narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking.
"But… if your clans have historically been on good terms," he asked, "why would a Kaguya be so ferocious in battle?"
Himeji shook her head, "I'm not entirely sure. That sort of history has been passed down by our elders for generations. The Kaguya themselves have similar teachings about their own traditions. Does your clan have stories like that too?"
Hayashi scratched the back of his head awkwardly and offered a wry smile.
"Yes, we do," he admitted. "Our old clan teachings used to say… eliminate the Senju."
Himeji paused mid-knot.
"…Yes, that's what they said," Hayashi continued quickly, trying to ease the tension. "But it's not as crude as it sounds. Our clans fought for over a thousand years before the shinobi villages were formed. Hatred only began to fade after the villages were established and peace became important."
Before Himeji could respond, Mikoto, having finished preparing their meal, walked over carrying the game bird now ready for roasting.
She set the bird against a simple frame and sat beside Hayashi.
From her pouch she produced a scroll, made the necessary seals, and with a soft shimmer a bag filled with special seasonings appeared.
Hayashi immediately responded by forming the required seals of his own. With controlled chakra, he conjured a modest but steady flame.
Mikoto skewered the bird and placed it over the fire.
As the sun dipped lower, the rich scent of roasting meat filled the air, coaxing an involuntary hunger from Hayashi.
By the time Himeji finished washing her hands with clear water, Mikoto called out with a soft, "Dinner's ready."
Though their meal was simple, Mikoto's skill was evident. Every twist of the meat and adjustment of the flame ensured the bird cooked evenly, its skin turning a mouth-watering golden brown.
Hayashi knew all too well—if he skipped a meal prepared by Mikoto for just one day… he'd regret it.
That used to be a frequent complaint from Nawaki.
"…Hayashi," Nawaki would grumble, "you're dying for good food again. It's a rich man's problem, if you ask me!"
But these days, Hayashi didn't pay such jokes much mind. After all, Nawaki was always quick to nag about anything and everything.
They ate in relative silence at first, the simple comfort of warm food grounding them after the earlier conflict.
Eventually, Himeji spoke softly, "Your explanation… it makes sense."
Hayashi nodded at her, offering a modest smile in return.
"It's not just about survival," he said, "It's about making sure we're prepared for whatever comes next. This mission isn't normal. Something's off—more than we can see so far."
Himeji dipped her head, considering his words while taking another bite.
Mikoto, ever observant, had already finished her own dinner and was quietly watching her two allies, her expression thoughtful.
But no one spoke further about the strange facts of their encounter—not yet.
They simply ate, letting the warmth of the fire chase away the chill of uncertainty that had settled in their bones.
For tonight, at least, they were safe.
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