The mission had concluded half an hour prior.
The three of them were returning via an old trail through the dense forest. The two Chunin in the lead chatted sporadically about what they would eat once they returned to the village.
Kitahara Kaede walked at the rear of the group.
As they passed a bend in the road, a thicket of shrubs on the left perfectly obscured the view ahead. His pace lagged by half a beat.
Silently, his hands blurred through a series of signs at his sides.
A Shadow Clone stepped exactly where his foot would have landed, seamlessly taking his place at the end of the line. The clone's stride, breathing, and the rhythm of its swinging arms were flawless.
The real Kaede vanished into the brush.
Squatting in the shadows, Kaede listened as the three sets of footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
The news should have reached Genji by now. Terumi i would likely know as well.
He couldn't simply vanish. Disappearing was the worst possible script. If a suspected mole vanished without a trace, it would leave behind nothing but suspicion and slander—all of which would be splashed onto the person closest to him.
He had to give Terumi i the opportunity to end this with her own hands.
Ending the "mole suspect" known as Kitahara Kaede would provide the village with an explanation. Ending the years-old cold case of the "Lightning Style Masked Man" would provide her with closure.
By tying these two threads together and cutting them at once, no one would ever be able to block her path by claiming she had an "unclear relationship with a spy."
Kaede removed his forehead protector and tucked it into an inner pocket, pulling out a prepared mask to cover the lower half of his face. It was the exact sa attire he had worn years ago when he rescued Pakura from Midori.
He circled around to a high vantage point to the left of the return route. Below, the Shadow Clone continued to walk at the rear, maintaining a normal distance from the two ahead.
Kaede raised his right hand, and a flash of blue-white electricity ignited.
A bolt of lightning tore through the canopy, smashing into the ground five paces in front of the trio. Earth erupted, sending a spray of gravel in every direction.
The two Chunin were knocked backward by the shockwave, their kunai already drawn. The Shadow Clone was faster, leaping forward to intercept the threat and leveling its kunai.
The masked man dropped from the forest, advancing step by step.
The Shadow Clone looked back and roared at the two: "Go back to the village and report! Move!"
"But—"
"You'll die if you stay! Go!"
The two exchanged a look, realizing they would be useless in such a fight. Gritting their teeth, they turned and bolted.
Behind them, the sounds of clashing tal and thunder erupted, the battle sounding fierce. After they had run two hundred ters, the noise abruptly stopped.
They didn't dare look back, sprinting desperately toward the village.
What they didn't know was that the mont the sound ceased, the Shadow Clone had vanished in a puff of white smoke.
Silence returned to the forest.
Kaede stood in the center of the clearing. Scorched marks crisscrossed the tree trunks, three deep trenches were carved into the earth, and kunai and rubble littered the ground.
He crouched down, deliberately leaving a trail of clues. The direction was southeast.
Ao would certainly be part of the pursuit team; the Byakugan was the optimal tool for tracking. Midori would co as well; as Genji's eyes, he wouldn't be left out of such a matter.
Kaede stood up and glanced toward the Hidden Mist Village.
She would co too.
The Lightning Style Masked Man had kicked her away years ago, and she was not the type to swallow that insult. Coupled with the situation surrounding him, there was no way she would sit still.
Kaede turned and vanished into the depths of the forest.
***
At the entrance of the Hidden Mist Village.
Two Chunin stumbled in, only to be imdiately intercepted by the ANBU on guard.
"The Lightning Style Masked Man... ambush on the way back... Kitahara Kaede stayed behind to cover our retreat..."
The ANBU's expression shifted. The Lightning Style Masked Man was a na that had been on the bingo book for years.
"Slow down. Direction? How long ago?"
"Southeast. Roughly... forty minutes ago."
The ANBU jerked his chin toward a colleague behind him. The other ninja turned and sprinted imdiately toward the building where Genji resided.
***
In Genji's office.
Terumi i stood before the desk, holding a docunt regarding the progress of the village reforms. As she read the second item, her gaze drifted to the notes she had written in the margins.
Last night, while sitting at her desk writing these, her mind had been filled with him. Though she hadn't slept well, her voice remained steady and her logic clear as she delivered the report.
"...Third item: the reopening of the port trade channels. Preliminary agreents have been reached with three rchant guilds."
A knock at the door.
Midori entered, his pace a fraction faster than usual. He glanced at Terumi i first, then looked at Genji. His lips moved, but he didn't speak.
Genji understood his silent signal. "Speak."
Midori said in a deep voice, "A returning team outside the village was attacked. The assailant is suspected to be the Lightning Style Masked Man who rescued the Scorch Release missing-nin several years ago."
The corner of the docunt in Terumi i's hand crumpled.
The Lightning Style Masked Man. She could still rember the force of that kick. It was the first ti she had been hit so hard that she couldn't even form the thought of fighting back.
Midori paused.
"The one who stayed behind to cover the retreat was Kitahara Kaede. His current status is unknown."
The docunt slipped from Terumi i's fingers.
"Where is he?" she demanded instantly.
Genji's gaze shifted to her.
Realizing she had lost her composure, i leaned over, picked up the docunt, and placed it back on the table. By the ti she looked up, her expression was composed.
"The Lightning Style Masked Man is a long-term target of the village," she stated. "Kitahara Kaede is simultaneously involved in the ongoing mole investigation. Since these two matters have collided, we must confirm the situation as quickly as possible. Furthermore, he stayed behind to let his teammates escape. If he were truly a mole, there would be no reason to do that."
Genji didn't respond imdiately. He tapped his cane twice.
"Midori, call Ao."
Midori turned and left. Terumi i remained standing. She heard Genji arrange the mission: Ao would handle the Byakugan tracking, and Midori would accompany him for support.
Her na was not ntioned.
"I'm coming too."
Genji looked up. Terumi i did not shy away from his gaze.
"Last ti, Midori-senpai and a Jonin failed to capture that man. Ao-senpai can track him, but the opponent's close-quarters Lightning Style suppression is too strong. Soone is needed to take the front."
Her voice was firm. "I am confident I can do it."
Genji did not answer imdiately. Terumi i knew what he was thinking.
"If he is innocent, I will bring him back," she added. "If he is guilty, I will confirm it personally."
Genji stared at her for a long ti. A heavy silence filled the room.
"Go."
Terumi i turned to leave.
"Terumi i."
She stopped. Genji's voice ca from behind her—not loud, but every word carried significant weight.
"I am letting you go because you know how to prioritize."
A shiver ran down Terumi i's spine.
"I understand."
She pushed open the door and walked out. At the end of the corridor, Ao and Midori were already waiting.
Ao glanced at her. He said nothing.
The three of them, one leading and two following, rushed out of the village entrance and vanished into the thick mist.
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