Smoke drifted through the broken entrance.
Shinju's breathing tightened, chest rising with sharp, controlled breaths as he steadied his blade. Dust rolled across the floor.
"Who are you?" Shinju demanded.
The cloaked man stood there calmly, as the hood hid most of his face. Then—a soft laugh.
"Well now," he said, tilting his head, voice half-amused, half-serious.
"You've got guts lad, asking my name right after trying to slice my head off."
Shinju was surprised.
How does he know my name? I've never seen him.
I don't know why… but he feels dangerous.
Before Shinju could speak—
THWAP!
Someone blurred into the room.
The cloaked man's head snapped forward from the impact.
"OW—!! Hey!! What was that for?!" he cried, rubbing his head like a scolded child.
Ina stood behind him, palm still raised.
"Why must you always make an entrance like a lunatic?" she sighed.
"He attacked me first!" the cloaked man argued.
"You walked in unannounced!" Ina glared at him.
"That's not the point! Maybe show your superior some respect?"
Superior?
Shinju's mind froze.
Shinju blinked. Face confused. He had no idea what he was witnessing.
Ina finally faced him, exhaling.
"Forgive him. He… lacks self-control."
She straightened and gestured toward the cloaked man.
"Allow me to introduce…" Her tone sharpened with respect.
"…the Captain of Unit Five (Scout Unit), Aokami Itsuki."
The room fell silent.
The cloaked man paused, then—very dramatically—grabbed the edge of his hood.
"Ta-da," he whispered.
He removed his cloak.
Silver-white hair spilled out in soft layers, slightly messy but sharp-looking, light-blue eyes glimmered sharply. His light-blue eyes were cold… and unwavering.
He wore a long white coat with dark straps and metallic details, layered over fitted black clothing. There are chains at his waist and a small blue earring.
The same man who had been pouting like a kid seconds ago…
was actually the Captain.
Shinju's eyes widened.
This… is the Captain?
Itsuki grinned.
"Nice to meet you, Shinju, we need to talk."
Shinju met Itsuki's gaze.
Itsuki did not blink.
His voice was low and steady, heavy with an intensity that left no room for interruption.
"Like I said, Shinju. We need to speak."
Night had already swallowed the sky.
Thick clouds drifted overhead, tearing at the moonlight but never fully erasing it. What little silver light remained slipped through the high windows, cutting pale lines across the wooden floor.
This wasn't the room they had been in earlier.
Itsuki, Shinju, Raizo, Renji, Ina, and Rin stood together now—every high rank gathered in silence.
Silence stretched between them like taut wire.
Itsuki's white coat hung on a hook near the entrance. Itsuki leaned back against the wall, arms crossed, eyes closed — not relaxed, but calculating. Every movement deliberate.
While the rest were seated on wooden chairs.
Then he spoke.
"Before I ask you any questions, Shinju… I need to go back."
Rin inhaled sharply. Her eyes darkened—uncertainty, sadness, discomfort tangled together.
Itsuki opened his eyes.
"After Shinju's extraction that day…"
The battlefield was a ruin.
Trees lay splintered, branches strewn like broken arrows across the ground. Smoke crawled low across shattered earth as Itsuki's grip tightened on his blade.
The forest moaned, groaning as the wind slipped through the remnants of the trees.
Itsuki turned sharply.
"Ina. Raizo."
They snapped to attention, alert in an instant.
"Take Shinju and get out of here," Itsuki ordered.
"To the Safe house, do not stop until you reach it."
Ina froze. Her voice came immediately, firm and insistent.
"Itsuki— going alone is dan—"
Itsuki cut her off calmly.
"Going back without understanding what we're dealing with is worse."
He met her gaze.
"That's why this mission existed."
Ina hesitated.
No argument was allowed.
For a moment, Ina hesitated, uncertainty flickering across her face. Then Itsuki's expression softened — a faint, calm, almost gentle smile.
"Don't worry," he said.
"I'm not planning on fighting."
Itsuki laughed just to lighten the mood.
"That would be suicidal."
That was enough.
"Go".
Ina clenched her fist. Then she nodded.
Raizo glanced at Shinju, then back at Itsuki, confirming the route with a single nod
In the next instant, Raizo vanished with Shinju on his back. Ina followed a heartbeat later, swallowed by smoke and the shadows of the ruined forest.
The battlefield fell silent.
Itsuki turned his attention to the darkness.
I hope I can still catch-up with them, they're fast… but not gone.
The Shadows moved.
Unnaturally.
Silent. Precise.
Five of them.
Then they split.
Three drifted east.
Two drifted north.
Itsuki's eyes tracked them carefully.
Three is death.
Two is survival.
If they noticed him, fighting two meant a chance to escape.
Fighting three meant none.
Without hesitation, he followed the two northward.
They stopped at an old shrine.
The stones were worn and moss-covered. The steps led down to a river that whispered quietly through the night, carrying the scent of damp earth and decay.
Then a figure emerged.
An old man.
Itsuki's eyes narrowed.
"Isn't that the village head?"
What is he doing here?
And why… with the Shadows?
Itsuki's eyes flicked to the two figures beside him. Recognition came instantly.
The Third Shadow (Third Fang).
The Fifth Shadow (Fifth Dawn).
Their conversation was quiet, controlled. Itsuki could catch nothing of the words.
Then—
The Fifth Shadow's blade moved.
Vrrrnn—
It rose from his wrist, not drawn, yet fully formed.
KRRRSHH—
Metal twisted in the air, bending and reshaping itself into a form that defied every known principle of the Five Nations' swordcraft.
Itsuki's breath caught.
"So the rumors were true."
Their sword was not just a weapon.
Without warning—
FWOOOM—!
A beam of light ripped through the forest—
Erasing everything in its path.
KRRRSH—!
The earth where Itsuki had been hiding caved in, fracturing under the impact. Smoke and debris exploded outward as trees and rocks collapsed around him.
Itsuki leapt from the smoke, landing lightly—his eyes never leaving The Shadows.
"That was close…" he muttered.
The old man turned sharply, eyes wide.
"What are you doing here, Itsuki?"
Itsuki met his gaze evenly.
"I could ask the same of you… village head," he replied.
A bead of sweat ran down the old man's temple. His lips parted, but no words came.
The shrine remained tense, heavy with the unspoken, as the Fifth Shadow's sword gleamed faintly under the fragmented moonlight, a silent warning of what was yet to come.
The two shadows turned fully toward Itsuki.
The one bearing the crescent-marked blade—the Fifth Dawn—regarded him in silence, as though measuring something unseen.
Then the Third spoke.
"So, it seems we have an unwanted guest,"
The Fifth Shadow, his voice calm but edged with intent.
"You're a threat as well. Tch."
The Fifth Shadow tilted his head.
His sword stopped spinning for a while.
A subtle reaction—yet unmistakable.
"Interesting," he said.
"I can't believe my blade reacted to someone as weak as you."
Itsuki smiled.
Not wide.
Not arrogant.
Just enough.
"Weak?" he replied.
"Don't judge me by appearances."
His blue eyes glinted faintly beneath the moonlight.
"You might regret that."
The Third Shadow gaze sharpened.
"Do not underestimate him."
The Fifth Dawn glanced at him, unimpressed.
The Third Shadow continued, his voice dropping slightly.
"He looks familiar, silver-white hair and white coat with black pattern."
A brief pause.
"He's the one they call the Argent Knight."
Itsuki exhaled softly.
"Argent Knight. Silver Knight , Silver Prince… it doesn't matter," he said.
"Just names people come up with when they don't know what else to call you."
The Fifth Dawn scoffed.
"Names won't save you," he replied.
"Confidence means nothing when power decides the outcome."
He shifted his stance by a fraction.
"And I look forward to wiping that smile off your face."
SHING—
The Fifth Shadow Sword snapped back into its regular shape and flew into his hand.
Itsuki said nothing.
Instead, his thoughts moved rapidly.
The sword reacted…
Not to my movement.
Not to my intent.
To my presence.
What does that mean?
His gaze flicked back to the blade.
"What do you mean by reacted to my presence?"
The Third Shadow expression hardened.
"You're not in a position to ask questions."
The Fifth Dawn spoke next, his tone unbothered.
"Not attacking you doesn't mean we won't kill you."
Itsuki drew in a slow breath.
Alright…
Plan B, then.
His stance shifted subtly—just enough to prepare an escape.
The past released him.
The dim light in the room touched for a little moment and then went back to normal.
Renji rubbed his chin, disbelief in his eyes.
"I can't believe you faced two Shadows and walked out unscathed, Captain."
Itsuki turned slowly, locking eyes with Renji.
"Don't twist my words."
The air in the room shifted—heavier—as Silene's presence seeped through.
Then Itsuki laughed. Not the carefree kind.
"I didn't fight them."
His smile faded. "I waited for an opening… and got out."
He slid a hand into his pocket, his expression turned serious.
"Even I can't take on two Shadows at once. Besides, we weren't authorized to engage them in battle."
For a brief moment, the image of the village head walking beside the Shadows lingered in his mind.
Ina clicked her tongue.
"Troublesome."
Ina said flatly
"That means we leave immediately."
"Yes," Itsuki replied without hesitation.
He straightened from the wall.
"Before dawn."
The words carried weight.
He turned his attention to Shinju.
"Before anything happens…"
His voice slowed, measured.
"Which brings me to my first question."
Shinju stiffened.
"Why do you think the Shadows came just for you?"
The air seemed to grow colder.
Itsuki stepped forward, gaze unwavering.
"One Shadow would have been enough," he said. "But they sent five… just to make sure you didn't survive."
He stopped a few steps away.
"So why five?"
Shinju said nothing.
A brief silence followed.
"I'm not underestimating you," Itsuki continued, calm but firm. "But one of them would've been enough."
The room fell still.
Shinju's fist tightened.
Itsuki didn't look away.
"Which brings me to my second question…"
His voice dropped.
"Are you hiding something we need to know?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Shinju responded immediately.
Itsuki studied him.
"Is that so?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"I read your records. A boy who appeared out of nowhere. No origin. Then suddenly, an incident… and you gain a title—Dark Samurai."
Not a single voice broke the moment.
"And somehow, you're connected to one of the High Ups."
Shinju met his gaze.
"And your point?"
Itsuki's eyes narrowed slightly.
"My point… is that you know something we don't."
Shinju exhaled quietly.
"I don't know why they're after me."
He paused, then lifted his head.
"But what I do know is if it's my life they want…"
His gaze burned with intent.
"…they can come and take it."
A faint shift in his stance.
"But this time, I won't wait for them to find me."
His voice hardened.
"I'll find them… and take them down. One by one."
No one spooke.
Itsuki watched him carefully.
He really doesn't know…
He exhaled slowly.
"…Fine. I'll take your word for it."
For a moment, he said nothing.
He's just like he said.
A faint smile stretched across the face
"We leave at dawn," Itsuki said.
"Renji … I need you to notify HQ immediately, so they will be ready for our arrival."
Alright Captain, Renji replied.
Renji turned toward the door, the dim light brushing against his shoulders as he walked away, both arms tucked neatly into the flowing sleeves of his yukata.
Without another word, he stepped out.
Itsuki changed his gaze to Rin.
"This must be too much for you to hear," Itsuki said quietly. " I heard about what happened to your loved ones."
His voice was sincere. No theatrics. No distance.
Then Itsuki spoke again.
"And for what it's worth… I'm sorry."
Rin looked up. "Thank you…" her voice trembled slightly.
"If it weren't for you ….. if it weren't for all of you, I wouldn't be alive right now."
Shinju looked away.
"No need to thank us," Itsuki said while waving his hand. we were just doing our job, it's our duty to help those in need.
Raizo, Itsuki called.
yes Captain, Raizo answered.
"Escort Rin to her new room since the previous one she stayed in is ruined".
"And whose fault is that?" Ina muttered dryly.
Itsuki didn't respond right away.
His expression shifted, just slightly.
"…Sorry," he murmured, more to himself than anyone else.
Rin was escorted into a separate room shortly after.
She was barely holding herself together — thoughts scattered, emotions unsteady.
Shinju watched her go.
Shinju rose slowly from his seat.
"I'm going outside," he said.
Ina frowned.
"You should rest. You're not fully recovered."
Itsuki added calmly, "An unprepared body leads to an unprepared mind."
Shinju didn't argue.
He nodded once and left the room.
Itsuki stretched his arms overhead.
He's hiding something.
Itsuki grabbed his coat.
"If you don't mind," he said, "I'm going for a walk."
Ina's eyes narrowed.
"Wait," she said. "That's not all, is it?"
Itsuki smirked.
"You know me too well."
She folded her arms.
"What is it?"
Itsuki's tone shifted — quieter now.
"I'm not certain," he said, "but there's a strong possibility a Ranker will arrive in this town by tomorrow, probably a S-tier or A-tier at best "
Ina stiffened.
"A Ranker …?"
"This town is alread
y under the control of
Nohara," Itsuki continued. "Stationing a high-ranking officer here would make sense."
Ina exhaled slowly.
"And you didn't tell Shinju."
"No," Itsuki replied. "If he knows, he'll want to stay. He'll want to fight."
She looked away.
"And right now," she said, "that would be reckless."
Itsuki nodded.
"For now… ignorance is safer."
Unknown to Ina.
Shinju stood just outside, breath steady, listening.
Every word reached him.
He didn't react.
Didn't interrupt.
After a moment, he stepped away quietly, disappearing down the corridor.
Unseen.
Unheard.
But Itsuki noticed.
Chapter Seven End.