The light that blinded Naruto that morning had disappeared into the screen of dark cumulonimbus clouds. Thunder roared as lightning flashed with the threat of a downpour. Not far from the baths and inn were squads of shinobi sent all the way from Konoha. Shinobi probed through the mountainside looking for the samurai, but they found no trace of the woman.

However, through the muck and snow, and past the trees, they managed to follow the samurai's footprints to the river. The footprints disappeared into the water, but across the river her footprints were found once more. It went on beyond the trees and on and on. The shinobi held back from pursuing, and reported their findings back to the superior shinobi.

"She's probably heading back to Taiyogakure," said Aoba Yamashiro, a jonin with red-framed sunglasses and spiky hair.

"Sir?" The confused shinobi looked at the man quizzically.

"The samurai is from the Land of the Rising Sun," Aoba replied calmly. "She came here looking for help. It is obvious that she would return to her homeland."

"Isn't that quick of her to decide? And not to mention that the Hokage had decided to lend a hand," the shinobi asked.

The bespectacled shinobi shrugs.

"I don't understand women."

Clearing his throat, Aoba turns his gaze to the inn where he knew the three squads were. He frowns slightly, but behind his sunglasses were eyes full of concern for the young shinobi.

With this head hanging, Naruto stayed by the bed where Sakura lay. Her eyes remained close and no sound escaped from her lips. She lay perfectly still with her arms by her sides--she completely appeared to resemble a corpse in her casket of flowers. Dressed in Incense burned at the sides of her bed, and the fragrance permeated the entire room. Sasuke, however, also stayed by her side with her hand now warmly tucked in the palms of his hands.

Fondly he brings her hand to his lips on which he places a fond kiss. Frustration was plastered all over his face as his heart and soul cried for Sakura to wake up. Tears were brimming on his eyes when the pink-haired kunoichi gave no response. Naruto grits his teeth as he watched his best friend agonize over the unconscious Sakura. He had no words of comfort. How can he console someone when he can't even console himself? If he tries to console Sasuke or even tell him that everything with Sakura was going to be alright, wouldn't he just be trying to console himself?

"Damnit! Damnit! Damnit!" Naruto screams in his mind. "Sakura-chan is like this because of me! If only I acted and not freeze while watching her fight Masashi-san!"

The sudden sound of footsteps approaching made Naruto's back straighten up. He wipes the pathetic look on his face as he snapped his neck to see who walked into the bedroom. He was relieved to see his teacher walk in, and with him was the rest of the team. They all had worried looks on their faces, but they tried to hide the swirling emotions inside of them.

"How is she?" Ino asks as she approached the bed. "Has she made any signs of waking up?"

Naruto shook his head.

"She's been still since she was knocked out," said Naruto. "I don't understand. Masashi-san said that Sakura-chan isn't posed to any real danger. So why isn't she waking up?"

"Actually, something has been bothering me," said Hinata, bringing her hands to her chest.

Her words widened her teammate's eyes, especially the team captain and his assistants.

"What do you mean, Hinata?" Obito quizzed.

Activating her Byakugan, the kekkai genkai of her clan, Hinata's irises popped out more visibly while the veins around her eyes bulged out. Her view changing perspective allowed the girl to see the chakra veins that ran through the bodies of her friends. Then diverting her eyes to Sakrua, she points out what was going on.

"Sakura-chan's chakra. . . they seem to be. . . pulsating instead of flowing." Hinata gulps.

"That samurai knows the art of the Trigrams of Heaven," an old voice suddenly explains, interrupting everyone with the Hyuuga.

Turning their heads, the ninjas saw an old woman, dressed lavishly in a kimono. Her gray hair was neatly tied with a hairpin. By her sides were maidservants serving as her aides. The Konoha shinobi instantly recognized Sen who waved at them, but she was quickly shunned by the other maidservants with her.

Kakashi raises an eyebrow at her.

"What do you mean?" He asks, while looking at Obito for affirmation.

A fan snaps at the old woman's hands, and she brings it up to her face with such grace and poise. She smiles behind the fan, as if she mocked them.

"You shinobi should be aware of the technique, but apparently it is forbidden."

"Wait, who are you?" Obito asks.

"Please address to me as Madame Botan. I'm the owner of this establishment," she chuckled.

The shinobi quickly bowed at the old woman because of her introduction. They didn't expect to see the owner of the grandiose structure so quickly, although it shouldn't be a surprise since a terrific phenomenon had occurred just the previous day. Although, Madame Botan had the aura of a strong yet graceful woman, the perfect stature for the owner of a grand establishment.

Straightening up, Kakashi faces the bathhouse owner who only smiled graciously at him with a slight sternness tinted in her eyes. She waves at the girls behind her, and they quickly came at her command. In their hands were trays with ceramic bottles with intricate detail on it. Another had a tray of ceramic cups. In pure unison, they laid the bottles and cups on the table that was placed in the center of the room, and as fast as they had laid the trays they leave and stand behind their employer.

The shinobi stood in silence until Naruto spoke up.

"W-What is this Trigrams of Heaven? It sounds similar to the Byakugan," he points out with an incredulous tone in his voice.

Madame Baton smirks.

Without saying a word, she walks past them and walks over to Sakura. In a swift movement, her fingers jab into Sakura's abdomen just below her diaphragm. The Konoha shinobi quickly come to Sakura's rescue before she would be exposed to anymore danger, but before they could do anything Sakura's eyelids sudden open and the girl sits up straight as if she had just woken up to a nightmare.

"Masashi-san! Did we get her?!" Were Sakura's first words, but she received hugs and tears as her replies.

Kakashi and Obito let out loud sighs in relief while they watch the younger ninjas congratulate Sakura for waking up after a long day. Seeing their happy faces lifted their spirits. But their eyes widened in surprise when a rare sight occurred before their eyes.

Known to be stoic and serious and arrogant, Sasuke suddenly wrapped the pink-haired kunoichi with his arms. A surprised look comes over Sakura and tears form at the corner of her eyes. She embraces him back and buries her face into his shoulder where she found comfort. The two shinobi's surprising embrace made the other shinobi exchange glances with smirks on their faces. Without saying anything, everyone leaves the room to leave the two alone.

The old woman began walking away with her maidservants, but Kakashi halts her from leaving. "What do you know about this Trigrams of Heaven?"

"Similar to the famous Byakugan, this technique involves the tenketsu in our bodies," said Madame Botan, turning her eyes to the shinobi behind her. "But the difference is that the practitioners don't use any special kekkei genkai like yo shinobi. If one practices acupuncture and master it, which includes mastering all the pressure points in the body, then with a little more training--doing the technique to temporarily halt the chakra flow would be easy as breathing air."

"How does that work?" Shikamaru asks skeptically. "Do you know this technique as well?"

"I used to do acupuncture when I was in my younger years. So I know a thing or two about this technique."

"Thank you very much for helping our friend and comrade!" Ino cried as she bowed down to the lady. "We don't know how we could repay you for your kindness!"

Opening up her fan again, the old woman just huffs sarcastically.

"I don't want customers to think that this place is cursed. Though the appearance of those monsters may have already affected the business, but I hope not. It's thanks to that samurai that this place along with everyone who was here is saved," she replies.

And with that she leaves the shinobi baffled.

* * * * * * * *

Slipping the door open, Hinata and Ino smile in relief to see Sakura and Sasuke engrossed in a conversation. Although the atmosphere seemed pretty serious than it was earlier. Glancing at each other, the two kunoichi wonder what had happened while they were gone. But they decided not to dampen the atmosphere any more than it was by not asking about it. Placing on bright smiles, the two kunoichi join the two.

"How are you doing, Sakura-chan?" Ino and Hinata asks as they come into the room. Sasuke, who was with Sakura, nods his head at them in greeting but he gets up to leave the girls alone to chat. He leaves no words for any of them though and disappears behind the door in silence.

Sakura smiles at them, glad to see her friends.

"I feel fine. Just a little drowsy though. Sasuke-kun told me that I've been unconscious for twelve hours. Is that true?" She asks with a worried look on her face. Although the kunoichi seemed to be full of regret.

Ino glances at Hinata who just bears a sympathetic look on her face.

"Yeah." Was all Ino could muster.

"What about Masashi-san?" Sakura asks.

Sighing, Ino takes a hold of her friend's hand, and she grips it tightly. Though her eyes held so much regret and helplessness, the young kunoichi smiled the warmest smile she could.

"We'll follow her. I'm sure the Hokage that is what he's thinking."

Sakura groans loudly.

"I'm sorry it's all my fault. If I didn't let myself get hurt, then maybe we could have apprehended Masashi-san! I acted rashly!"

"The owner of this establishment though called her a hero," Ino quickly replied, silencing Sakura.

The pink-haired kunoichi agreed deep inside. If the samurai didn't save her the moment the guy opened his jaw, she wouldn't know what could have happened. Maybe she could have gotten seriously hurt, or maybe even dead. If anything, she was ungrateful to the samurai for saving her measly life.

"She's right," Sakura said finally. "She saved all of us from those things. But I don't understand why she didn't tell us more about this. Or why she's suddenly pushing us away. I don't get it at all."

A surprised look in the kunoichi's mind appeared when a hand landed on hers. She jerks Her head up and sees a concerned Hinata standing beside her bed. The black-haired kunoichi places a lock of hair behind her ear and smiles warmly at Sakura. She didn't want Sakura to worry aimlessly after just waking up from her coma.

"When we see Masashi-san again, let's make sure that we'll know the whole truth about this. I want to help her," she said.

"Hinata-chan. ."

"You can see it don't you?" Hinata asks. "Underneath her stern face, is a pained woman who is pleading for help. Although she isn't voicing it out, but we understand that she needs help. I don't know how I can tell, I just. . . feel it."

"Stop sympathizing with a murderer," Kiba's voice suddenly interrupts. "She killed her own husband and kid, I don't get how you guys could still go moping around for her."

Hinata gasps.

"So what they said is true?" She asks, still skeptical.

"I heard that the samurai didn't deny those facts," Kiba replied with a disgusted huff. "And we were supposed to help her?"

None of the girls could answer their teammate. They were more confused than ever. And to find out the secrets the samurai hid from them became a motivation that sparked in their hearts.

* * * * * * * *

"So we're continuing with the pursuit?" Yamato asks Kakashi and Obito as they read through a scroll.

Kakashi nods.

"The Hokage didn't like the part with Yoshie saying that shikabane have spread through the Land of Fire. Then us admitting that our kunai and weapons had no effect whatsoever, is quite disturbing. Jiraiya-sama has also decided to send Team Guy for assistance," the team captain explains.

"What if we encounter those things again?" He asks. "Without the samurai, we won't know what to do as countermeasures."

The gray-haired ninja clear his throat loudly, silencing Yamato. But he understood his junior's concerns. "We'll get there when we get there, Yamato. But if ever the need arises, hopefully we have something to use against them."

"I hope we do find something."

Kakashi nods. He rolls up the scroll and places it into his scroll holder which was along with the rest of his equipment. Kakashi and his companions were surrounded by other shinobi who were noting of the traces of the corpses. Some still couldn't help but feel horrified at the state. Hardened and dried, the corpses appeared as if their life was sucked out of them. Some shinobi were also interrogating the bathhouse's customers and resident employees.

The bright red pillars of the bathhouse contrasted greatly from the dark gray skies, while the wind carried the permeating scent of incense throughout the entire establishment. The grandiose and opulent was like a massive red peony on the snowy white mountain, and its stem are the corpses that lay on the mountain. Piling them all up brought sores all over the shinobi's body. And mounds of corpses were formed through the day. The motive on dealing with the corpses further on was still unknown however.

Watching from the sides made chills go up Yamato's side. The horrid looks on the corpses minds burned into his mind. It made the shinobi swallow down his strength. Obito couldn't stand the sight either. Then while watching his fellow shinobi haul away the corpse of Sakura's attacker, he suddenly saw a symbol marked into the corpse's palate.

Without a second thought, he rushes towards the corpse, and halts the shinobi who were about to haul it away.

"Watch wrong, Obito?" One of the men ask.

"This corpse has a symbol on the palate," said the Uchiha. "Put the corpse down! Let me examine him!"

"Quickly, put the dead man down!" Said a shinobi.

The shinobi quickly placed the corpse down, and the medic ninja who were watching hands the Uchiha some gloves. Thanking them, Obito places them on and opens the corpse's mouth wider. The jaw had already tightened like two large stones placed against each other; forcing it open was like trying to open a crocodile's mouth. But after a little effort, Obito got to open the corpse's mouth wide. He peers in, and just like the glimpse he saw the mark was clearly embedded on the palate. The others were amazed at the sight.

"Have someone take a picture of this!" Obito quickly ordered the men. "And have a team check all the corpses!"

"Yes, sir!" Said the other shinobi who quickly disappeared in a flash.

"As expected of an Uchiha," Kakashi complimented, patting Obito on the back.

Obito didn't beam though. He was too engrossed with the symbol marked into the corpse. But he wasn't the only one disturbed once they laid their eyes on it. Kakashi, too, couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. It crept up his spine with a negative energy he has never felt before. His friend beside him suddenly knelt down and took out a kunai. Then in a flash, he tears through the chest. It surprises everyone, and the medical team rushed to stop them. But Kakashi halts them.

"Let Obito do what he needs to do," he said.

"But Kakashi, the medical nins are supposed to handle that!" Said a medical ninja. "Checking the palate is one thing, but cutting up a corpse is another!"

"I think he's onto something. Just let him."

And the ninjas said nothing more afterwards. They watched Obito slice the flesh carefully, but the process of removing flesh was still deemed difficult. Drops of sweat trickled down the Uchiha's forehead as he struggled to cut off flesh, but the blade barely cut through an inch. Suddenly a static sound pierces his ears and a bright light shone behind the Uchiha. Turning around, Obito sees Kakashi with his hand dressed in lightning, forming a blade.

"Let me," said Kakashi.

Obito just nods in response and made way for Kakashi. Then getting on his knees, the gray-haired ninja acted quickly; and swinging his arm, he roughly cuts through the chest. Black fluid sprayed on the nearby ninjas, and it made them yelp out in fear. It was sticky like oil, but it smelled like blood. But in all his stoniness, Kakashi holds onto the two sides of the crevasse and he began prying them apart. He heaved and pulled, but he couldn't open the chest as much as he wanted to. It barely showed the inner chest. Kakashi huffs for breath and tries again. But he still couldn't pry the chest any more than he could have.

More shinobi gathered to watch. They watched Kakashi's hands bleed as he desperately tries to open the corpse's chest. Even Obito tries to lend him a hand, but their strength was not enough to compete against the corpse's stone-like skeleton.

"What are they trying to do?" Naruto asks as he comes to see what was happening. All of his friends were there as well. Their faces were distorted with disgust, but they also appeared incredulous. Ino was particularly disturbed to see this sight.

"Kakashi-sensei and Obito-sensei are trying to open the corpse's chest," Choji replies with a long sigh.

Naruto's eyes widen.

"Why??"

"Remember Masashi-san showing us a stone heart?" Shikamaru asks.

Naruto nods.

"That's probably what Kakashi-sensei and Obito-sensei are trying to look for," the jonin explains.

Then showing out of nowhere, Sakura quickly replaces Kakashi, and it surprises her teachers. Without saying a single word, she holds onto the two separate sides and began prying the chest open. Her muscles began to tremble, and the girl felt her muscles tiring out.

Obito couldn't take seeing a young shinobi trying to pry a corpse apart. She was still too young to experience such things. "Sakura-chan, you're supposed to rest! You don't need to--"

"Sensei," she seethes under her tired breath. "This might lead us to an answer to find out the truth about this corpses. I won't let this opportunity pass!"

The pink haired kunoichi let out a loud cry, and with all her strength she finally opens up the corpse's chest. Then lo and behold, a stone heart glimmering like a diamond.

Obito gulped.

"It's. . "

"The stone heart Masashi-san spoke about," Kakashi finishes for him.

He turns to Sakura.

"Could you pry out the heart?" He asks.

"Hai," said Sakura.

Placing her hand on the stone heart, the kunoichi with her strength pulls out the heart with ease. She turns to hand it to her teacher, but at the same time the other shinobi from before reappeared with worried looks on their faces.

"Obito, they all have that symbol on their palates," one of the medical nin reports. "There's something fishy going isn't there?"

Obito and Kakashi exchange glances.

"Write down everything you find," said Obito. "We have to let the Hokage know about this asap."

* * * * * * * *

Bags are packed and tied, and they were made sure to be secured thoroughly. Food are packed, and water as well. The journey seemed long as it is. The shinobi wrap themselves with warm clothing to battle the cold they would be facing. Though they expect the foot of the mountain, they expect the worse case scenario. The Konoha ninjas wore brave and determined looks on their faces. The look in their eyes says it all. Then throwing their cloaks behind their backs, the shinobis were ready to go.

"Leaving already?" Aoba asks as Kakashi and the rest marched to the front door.

"We can't wait anymore for Team Guy," Kakashi explains. "If we wait any longer, the samurai might get too far. We need to catch up to her."

"Makes sense since you still stayed here for the past two days. I don't know how far she could have gone though," the shinobi replied.

"That's why we should leave already. We were fortunate enough to meet her by the river not too far from here. But to make things worse, the snow had covered up her footprints," Kakashi sighs in disappointment.

"Well, we didn't expect so much snow fall here when it's already April."

"Weather is one of the things we can't perfectly predict, which is quite unfortunate." Kakashi pulls the ends of his cloak closer to his face. "We'll be off then. I'm sure Team Guy would catch up soon enough."

"Do you have a message for them?" Aoba asks.

The gray-haired shinobi shakes his head.

"I don't have any message in mind. Well, just tell them to be wary of those monsters. We still haven't found an efficient way to fight them, so I guess you should tell them to avoid combat if they ever encounter those things."

"Alright then."

The bathhouse's manager along with some othe remployees bow to the leaving Konoha shinobi, followed by a cry of good luck. It made them beam from the honor.

"May God bless and guide you in your journey," said Madame Cho, bowing again ever so gracefully.

"Madame Botan won't be seeing us off?" Naruto asks with disappointment glinting in his eyes.

The old woman huffs incredulously.

"Her ladyship have other matters to deal with. You should be honored enough to even meet her at all," she replied sternly.

Naruto frowns, disgusted with her reply.

"Sorry for asking--"

"But the Lady wishes you her best regards," Madame Cho interrupts. "She told me to tell you that there is more than the eye could see, even beyond the capabilities of a kekkei genkai."

The shinobi exchange perplexed glances at the sound of this.

"What do you mean by that?" Ino asks.

Madame Cho shakes her head.

"She simply told me to tell you those words."

But before the shinobi could leave, Sen suddenly comes running after them. But the girl nearly flies to her bosom because the newly polished floor of Onsen Monagatari, leaving it slippery. The girl though was saved by Shino who managed to catch her in his arms.

"Are you alright?!" He asks.

"I-I'm alright," Sen stammered, feeling her face heat up from embarrassment.

"Sen! You dare disgrace yourself in front of the guests!" Madame Cho boomed angrily.

"It's alright," said Shino, adjusting his shades. "Do you know why? Because tripping shows that a woman can still be deemed attractive despite her discomposure."

His words made Sen burn from embarrassment. But she couldn't do anything but feel shy, and she couldn't move from her place at all. Kiba and Choji gaped in disgust at his words, Naruto couldn't seem to hold back his laughter, while the rest just found themselves speechless. Even the three older shinobis in the group found no words dripping from their mouths. And Madame Cho could only sigh in disbelief.

"Compose yourself, Sen! Don't let the sly words of a man get to you. Whether or not they're sincere, you're an employee of this establishment. Apologize for giving our guest an inconvenience!" Madame Cho yelled sternly.

"She sure is uptight," Naruto muttered to Sasuke.

Sasuke scoffs.

"Old people are always like that. You shouldn't be surprised."

"Still though."

Meanwhile Sen quickly composes herself, although she could no longer look at Shino straight in the eye. Apologizing, she gives him a bow--bending until she was horizontal to her hips.

"I apologize for a disgraceful sight, please forget that such an event had occurred!"

"Madame Cho," Kakashi boomed. "Please forgive your employee. Everyone makes a mistake once in a while."

The old woman frowns.

"True, but making one should be refrained," she sternly replied. Madame Cho turns to Sen, giving her a death look. "Now, would you like to explain why you seemed so excited."

"Actually, I found a *kaiken in the room the ladies were staying in," said Sen. "I was wondering if it belonged to any one of the kunoichis."

The girls' eyes widened in surprise. Then taking a look at the dagger Sen held in her hand, they raised their eyebrows at the idea of the dagger belonging to any of them. It was a beautiful dagger placed in a mount that matched it. It was white in color with intricate designs painted in gold. The embedded design appeared like sakura petals. It was truly beautiful that the young kuoichis couldn't help but stare at it in awe.

But then they remembered the samurai.

"Wait, you don't think this might belong to Masashi-san, don't you?" Hinata asked with a worried look on her face.

Sakura couldn't say anything. All she could remember last was the calm look on Yoshie's face during their brief battle on the side of the mountain. Her eyes at that time were glinting like burning embers. And during that short period of time, Sakura saw many sides of Yoshie that contrasted her calm persona: a desperate warrior, an angry woman, and a broken soul.

* * * * * * * *

Bright lights lit the dark night that hovered the town. The snow had melted and buds had already appeared on trees. Tiny animals scurried about as they found themselves wide awake with full intent of making an adventure. Though it was already dark, men and women still roamed around to enjoy the beautiful night where the moon and stars shone brightly in the dark sky.

The scent of ramen and meat permeated the air. It pulled customers into the stalls and restaurants like fish to a worm wrapped around a hook. It was as if they were magnetized by the sweet smell that completely devoured their senses. Or perhaps it was the warmth they finally felt after a cold winter. After their thoughts no longer felt the need of pure survival to fight the cold, the people instinctively decided to spend their lovely spring night to a fresh slab of meat that sizzled by the grill.

Even hungry travelers couldn't help but peer into one restaurant after the other. After all, who would not feel hungry after such a long journey?

Two strangers, both cloaked for their journey and both wore a kasa for the ever-changing weather. Both covered their faces ever so carefullly, placing on a mysterious aura. They both treaded through the village with hopes to find a place to stay for the night.

A simple inn caught their eye. Despite its simplicity, they smelled food that made their mouths water and their throats gulp down their dry throats. They push aside the cloth that blocked the doorway, making room for their to enter.

"Welcome strangers!" Cried the inn owners. "Will you be staying for the night?"

"We would like a room to stay and a table where we could fill our stomachs, if you please," a deep voice surprised the owners.

But they smiled anyway.

"Of course! Would there be anything else you would like to request?" They asked.

"That would be all for now," said the man. He was tall with a huge build, but his companion did nto share the same size he had. He was a lot smaller in comparison, but for the other men around him, he was of average height.

The owner and his wife left them after a short moment, and it allowed the men to heave out a tired sigh. Removing his kasa, the big man revealed scars that marred part of his face. But he had a kind look in his eyes compared to his companion who also removed his kasa. The smaller man revealed a handsome face that made the women inside the inn swoon in an instant. He remained composed, however, and made no effort to reply at the women with eyes that stared at him like a hawk. The women couldn't help but stare at his clean shaven face, and they fell in love with the glint in his blue eyes. 

He listened to them whisper gossip amongst themselves, and it made him feel more and more incredulous and embarrassed at the same time. The man along with his partner removed their coats, revealing an armored attire. The taller man wore an orange plated cuirass and padded sleeves over a white shirt and khaki pants, complemented by brown gloves and black boots. On his face was a silver armored faceplate. The smaller man wore a different outfit. He wore a white shirt under a light blue jacket. Then over it was a black-tailed vest that protects his midsection while holding down his silver shoulder playing. He also wore black vambrances and greaves over white trousers, and his boots were reinforced with metal at the soles and heels.

The big man carried a jumonji wari, a trident-like spear, which he kept by his side at all times. The blade glinted under the light, but at the same time, it revealed writings engraved on it. The spear-wielder's companion, unlike him, carried multiple katanas with him: three on each side. It made the spear-wielder smile amusingly when his companion remained uptight as ever. Especially when someone stared intently at his blades.

"Loosen up a little, Ieyasu," said the big man. "Enjoy a little. It's not everyday that we visit a shinobi country."

"That's what disgusts me. Why are there no samurai?" His companion replies calmly, although his face displayed irritation.

The big man shrugs.

"Like I would know something about that," he said.

His companion sighs.

"I just hope we find Yoshie soon, and quickly," said Ieyasu.

Also turning his eyes to the blade, the unnamed spear wielder wonders when their journey will end. And he wondered when the horrific mystery that haunts them all would end.

Suddenly a terrific high-pitched laugh broke their serene atmosphere, and it instantly brought a frown on their faces. They heard ceramic plates smash against the ground, and gasps of discomfort whispered into their ears. The spear-wielder peers behind his companion to see brigands terrorizing the owners.

"Give us the best meal you have," one of them said. "Make sure they're savory, cuz Big Bro here is hungry."

"B-But you haven't paid for the meals you got last week!" The owner's voice squeaked.

The man with the spear wielder suddenly gets up with an irritated look on his face. It surprised the spear wielder, but he only smirked when he realized what his friend was planning. Walking up to the brigands, the samurai quickly gives them a fierce glare in the eyes. But his strange appearance only made them laugh at the foreigner.

"And who the hell are you, swordsman?" Chuckled the brigand.

"I would advice you to leave this instant and never come back and bother these couple again," the samurai commanded.

The brigand in front of him sneers mockingly.

"Like hell I would listen to you. These pathetic losers own me tons anyway, and besides, no foreigner could tell me what to do!" He cackled, poking at the samurai.

Placing him hand on the hilt, the man only took a split second to swipe off his head.

~~~

Number of words: 5553

*kaiken (懐剣) is a 20-25 cm (8-10 in) long, single or double-edged dagger without ornamental fittings housed in a plain mount.

*jumonji wari (十文字槍), cross-shaped spear, also called magari yari (曲槍, curved spear), looked something similar to a or and brandished a pair of curved blades around its central lance. Occasionally called maga yari in modern weaponry texts.

I.

FINALLY.

UPDATED.

YASSSS.

Omg guys, thank you all for the support you've been giving me! I was really happy going through the comments and I was really motivated to write, just didn't have the time though. I had a hard time picking who to dedicate this chapter to, because everyone was really nice and cool with their comments. I'm really sorry that I took so long to update! I was hoping to update last month, but I got really busy with school :(

Anyways, this chapter is dedicated to sommeille_ <3 Thank you so much for your support! I want to thank all the readers for reading this book despite the slow updates. It means a lot to me <3

I hope you guys enjoyed reading the latest chapter! It didn't have much action, but it had fillers and new characters :D

- Raita-san