Naoto hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "Captain, I just interrogated a few of the tenant farmers.
They confirmed that four rogue samurai did indeed appear earlier. They killed the manor's overseer and promised the farmers a better life.
Before we arrived, those four were drinking in the main house—but they vanished the moment we showed up."
"That's right," Yuki added. "The farmers said the leader called them the 'Red Oni Brigade.' They claimed they weren't bandits, just men who couldn't stand seeing commoners suffer and wanted to help them become self-sufficient."
Sato Yoshisuke sneered. "A clumsy lie. Those samurai either fled long ago or never existed in the first place—the rebellion was likely spontaneous, and the peasants simply used the samurai as a cover to scare off the local guards."
"Then what do we do now?" Yuki asked. "How do we handle these tenants?"
Before a decision could be made, Steward Matsumoto emerged from the forest path with his two servants.
"Hard work, noble ninja," Matsumoto said, beaming with a respectful bow. "The City Lord has learned that you have successfully secured the manor. He has sent me to take over the follow-up proceedings."
Yoshisuke eyed him. "And the rogue samurai?"
"Ah, the Lord suspects they got wind of your arrival and fled back to the city to regroup with the rogue ninja in the mansion." Matsumoto sighed with feigned regret. "A pity they escaped justice for now."
"What about... these rebellious farmers?" Naoto couldn't help but ask.
The smile on Matsumoto's face deepened, looking exceptionally kind. "The City Lord is merciful.
He said that as long as these tenants truly repent, identify those who incited them, and hand over the ringleaders, the rest will be dealt with leniently—some may even be spared entirely."
"Really?" Yuki's eyes lit up. "The City Lord is so generous!"
Naoto breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good to hear."
Yoshisuke and Harusa exchanged a glance but remained silent. Standing at the back of the group, Shisui watched Matsumoto with a faint, knowing smile.
This man feels different than before... despite his aged appearance, his body is remarkably robust.
Unfortunately, no one else in the squad seemed to notice.
Yoshisuke continued, "Since the manor is in your hands, we will proceed into the city to deal with the rogue ninja. Steward, what is the situation at the mansion?"
Matsumoto sighed. "There are four rogue ninja. The leader is a man named Black Scorpion—a ruthless individual.
They've seized the main courtyard and neutralized the guards. The Lord and his family are confined to the East Wing, living in constant fear."
"Four of them... what is their strength?"
"How would a commoner like me know?" Matsumoto replied. "But according to the Lord, Black Scorpion is a Jonin.
Among the others, there are two Chunin and one Genin. They coordinate perfectly and have the mansion's layout. They will be difficult to handle."
The mention of a Jonin sent a chill through the squad.
"Captain, this is too much," Yuki whispered, fear creeping into his voice. "This isn't something we can handle. Maybe we should go back and report this." Even rogue samurai were a challenge for them; a Jonin was a death sentence.
Harusa frowned. "He's right. Our village only has a dozen or so Jonin. A figure of that level could slaughter us all in a single encounter."
"Don't panic," Yoshisuke calmed them. "It might be an exaggeration. We'll scout first. If the strength gap is truly that large, we retreat immediately." He turned back to Matsumoto. "We will devise a plan. Tell the Lord we will move soon."
"Of course, of course," Matsumoto bowed repeatedly. "Lords, please let my two servants guide you into the city. They are my confidants and can be fully trusted."
The squad nodded and began following the servants away from the manor. Shisui lingered at the rear.
As they turned the corner into the forest, the "Shisui" in the line suddenly vanished, replaced by a fresh clone. The previous one slipped into the trees, dissipated into white smoke, and returned his memories to the original.
In the backyard of the main house, after the Takigakure squad had disappeared, the kind smile on Matsumoto's face vanished, replaced by a mocking sneer.
"A pack of fools," he muttered, turning toward the warehouse.
But after two steps, he froze. Shisui walked out from the shadows of the warehouse, looking at him calmly.
"Lord Takigawa!" Matsumoto quickly rebuilt his smile. "Why haven't you left? Did you forget something?"
"Yes, I did leave something behind," Shisui said, stepping closer. "And I have a few questions for you."
Matsumoto felt a surge of dread but forced himself to stand his ground. "Please, ask."
"Where is the real Steward Matsumoto?"
Matsumoto's smile stiffened. "What do you mean, Lord? I am Matsumoto."
Shisui ignored the lie. "And your Transformation Jutsu—who taught you? For a rogue ninja with limited resources, reaching this level of detail isn't easy."
The steward's face drained of color. He stepped back, his hands flashing into seals, but Shisui was faster.
"Secret Technique: Quadruple Golden Binding."
Though only a C-rank combination, the mixture of Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Sealing, and a neuroparalytic toxin locked the man in place. He couldn't even twitch a finger. Shisui walked up and lightly tapped his forehead.
"Genjutsu: Dream of the Insect Swarm."
The man's eyes glazed over instantly. Deep in his consciousness, millions of black insects swarmed him, burrowing into his skin and devouring his flesh.
The pain and terror were absolute, yet his body remained a statue, unable even to scream.
Five seconds later, Shisui released the illusion. The man slumped—as much as the binding allowed—drenched in cold sweat, gasping for air.
"Now, shall we try those questions again?" Shisui asked gently.
The man's eyes trembled in submission. Shisui snapped his fingers, releasing one layer of the binding so he could speak.
"Our leader... he saw through the Lord's plan. The real Matsumoto... I followed and killed him after he reported to the mansion."
He stammered, his voice broken. "Boss Black Scorpion said if the Lord hires ninja, we'll turn them against him. He sent me to pose as the steward to gather intel and lead you into an ambush."
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