Part 2: The Trap Revealed
Inside the Homura District headquarters...
The atmosphere was completely different from the quiet streets outside.
Several shinobi stood in front of Raijin.
Their expressions were serious.
No one spoke loudly.
No one moved unnecessarily.
Because they all understood...
Something was wrong.
Raijin stood near the table where the letter was placed.
His eyes moved over the words once again.
The message was clear.
The war alert...
Was a lie.
The real target...
Was the Inazuma triplets.
"..."
The shinobi standing before Raijin bowed.
"Understood."
One after another...
They turned and left the room.
The door closed behind them.
Raijin was finally alone.
For a few moments...
He simply stood beside the table.
His eyes remained on the letter.
Then...
Knock. Knock.
Raijin looked toward the door.
Before he could answer...
The door opened.
Five shinobi entered.
Raijin recognized every one of them.
They were people he had known for years.
People he trusted.
And among them...
Was Yuji.
Yuji's expression was unusually serious.
The five entered quietly.
The door closed behind them.
One of them looked at Raijin.
"You've been quiet."
Raijin looked toward the window.
"Have you noticed how early the village was closed today?"
Yuji nodded.
"Everyone noticed."
"The shops..."
"The restaurants..."
"Even the streets."
Another shinobi added,
"The closure happened much earlier than usual."
Raijin nodded.
"Yes."
One of them looked at him.
"Was there new information from the border?"
"There was."
Raijin paused.
"But that's not what concerns me."
The five listened.
"The war alert has been active for weeks."
"We've been expecting an attack."
"Yet during all this time..."
Raijin's gaze hardened.
"The attacks we've actually suffered..."
"Have happened inside the village."
Yuji's expression changed slightly.
Raijin continued.
"Explosions."
"Attacks."
"Incidents in different parts of the village."
"And every time..."
"The border teams reported the same thing."
He looked at them.
"No enemies spotted."
Silence.
One of the five slowly spoke.
"...Then the enemies weren't coming from outside."
Raijin nodded.
"They were already here."
Yuji's expression became serious.
"And today..."
Raijin turned toward the window.
"Today, the situation became even more convenient for them."
"The higher-ups believed the war might finally escalate."
"Additional forces were sent to reinforce the border."
"Shops and restaurants were ordered to close early."
"Civilians were sent home."
"The streets became quieter."
He paused.
"We created the perfect environment for someone already hiding inside the village."
One of the five frowned.
"You think the Hunters wanted that?"
"I think they needed it."
Raijin walked back toward the table.
"And now..."
He placed his hand over the letter.
"We know what they needed it for."
Yuji looked at the letter.
"The triplets."
Raijin nodded.
"The Inazuma triplets."
Yuji's expression hardened.
Haruto.
Kaito.
Ayame.
His daughter was connected to them through their family and the restaurant.
The thought of them being targeted clearly bothered him.
One of the other shinobi spoke.
"Then we should send more people to protect them."
Raijin looked at the five.
"I already sent a protection squad to search for the triplets."
"But there's a problem."
Yuji's expression became serious.
"The squad."
Raijin nodded.
"I don't know how many of them I can trust."
The room fell silent.
Yuji looked toward the window.
"The attacks..."
"They all happened inside the village."
Raijin nodded.
"For weeks."
"While our border teams kept reporting no enemies."
One of the five slowly understood.
"So the Hunters have been inside all along."
"That's what I'm beginning to believe."
Raijin looked down at the letter.
"And today, they were given an even better opportunity."
"The village was closed early."
"Additional forces were sent toward the borders."
"Civilians were sent home."
"The streets became quieter."
He paused.
"Everything they needed to move through the village unnoticed."
Yuji's eyes narrowed.
"And if they're watching our forces..."
"They'll notice any unusual movement around the triplets."
Raijin nodded.
"Which is why we cannot surround them with shinobi."
Another of the five spoke.
"Because that would tell the Hunters exactly where they are."
"Exactly."
Yuji remained thoughtful.
"Then the protection squad should continue searching..."
"But they shouldn't make it obvious that the triplets are their priority."
Raijin nodded.
"Yes."
"We let the search look like an ordinary patrol."
"And if the Hunters are watching..."
"They'll believe they still have the advantage."
Yuji looked toward the window again.
"What about the border teams?"
"They'll return once they confirm there are no enemies."
Raijin paused.
"When they come back..."
"The Hunters lose more places to move."
One of the five nodded.
"So we don't need to find every Hunter immediately."
"We only need to keep them from realizing we've discovered them."
Raijin looked at him.
"Exactly."
"The more forces return..."
"The smaller their freedom becomes."
Yuji finally looked back at Raijin.
"And when they move for the triplets..."
"We'll know."
Raijin gave a small nod.
"That's when we act."
The five remained silent for a moment.
Then Raijin spoke.
"Until then..."
"Patrol normally."
"Watch the districts."
"Watch the roads."
"Keep an eye on the places the triplets might pass through."
"And if anyone finds them..."
His gaze settled on Yuji.
"Report directly to me."
Yuji nodded.
"No large group."
"No announcement."
"And no explanation of why we're watching them."
Raijin nodded.
"Exactly."
He slowly folded the letter.
"For now..."
"Let the Hunters believe everything is going according to their plan."
His eyes moved toward the dark village outside.
"They think they've emptied the village for themselves."
A brief silence followed.
"But they haven't."
"The forces outside will return."
"And when they do..."
"There will be nowhere left for the Hunters to disappear."
Yuji gave a quiet nod.
"...Then we let them make the first move."
Raijin looked at him.
"Yes."
The five turned toward the door.
One by one...
They left the room.
Yuji remained
"Keep them safe."
Raijin met his eyes.
"I will."
Yuji nodded.
Raijin remained.
His gaze returned to the village.
The streets were quiet.
The shops were closed.
The village looked almost peaceful.
But Raijin knew...
Something was already moving in the darkness.
The three siblings continued through the quiet streets.
By now...
It was fully night.