Arriving at Takashi's village, Team 14 was greeted by Takashi's father.
"Father!" Takashi rushed to greet him. "How is grandfather's condition?" he asked with a smile, holding the antidote he had brought back. He was happy, thinking his grandfather would be healed today, but his father's expression said otherwise.
"This isn't the right place to talk," Takashi's father responded with a sad look.
"Did something happen?" Takashi quickly caught on.
"Come, I'll explain inside. If you would kindly follow Mai, she will guide you to your stay," his father replied.
"It's alright, Father. These are Leaf Shinobi I hired to guard me during my return," Takashi said.
"I see. Then please forgive me. You can come along with us," his father said. Team 14 remained quiet, assessing the situation as they followed to the village head's house.
"So, tell me, what happened?" Takashi asked as they sat down.
"Haa," his father sighed, unsure where to start. "When you left, your grandfather was still holding on strong, but now he's unconscious."
Takashi gasped, not understanding how this could have happened. "How could that happen? The nurse said his condition wouldn't worsen and he would be better if administered with the antidote."
"So it's a poisoning," Yuki observed, a thought running through her head.
"Yes, that was under normal circumstances," his father said.
"Are you implying..." Takashi began.
"Yes. Our village head was poisoned again, and with a higher dose this time," his father revealed.
"Who on earth could do such a thing?" Takashi said, clenching his fists. His father looked at him, an answer already in his mouth. Seeing his father's expression, Takashi grew more enraged.
"Takumi, my cousin, was caught last night administering the poison," his father said. The shock on Takashi's face was great.
"Why?" he struggled to respond. "You already know the village was split when you were made my grandfather's successor. My cousin was well known for voicing his opinions, you know that," his father said, slightly grieved by what his family had come to.
"All this just for a title," Takashi said, rage filling his voice.
"And unfortunately, he escaped from us, so we're currently wary," his father said, glancing at Team 14.
"We were hired by your son for protection until he reached the village. Although I can say we're somewhat tired from our travels and would like to stay for today. We'll leave early tomorrow morning," Nana said, her tone polite yet firm, declaring that Team 14 would stay the night.
"Well, if it can't be helped," Takashi's father said as he got up.
"We appreciate your kindness," Nana replied.
At night, Team 14 rested in the guest room of the village head's house. Waking up suddenly, Ando felt weird sounds nearby.
"Hmm. Who's making such noises this late?" the half-asleep Ando said, waking up his team. Now awake, they followed the sound to find a strange man trying to break into the room where the village head lay ill.
"That must be Takashi's crazy uncle," Ando said, rushing to capture the man. The man struggled but was no match for the genin.
"What's with all the commotion?" Takashi's father said as he rushed to the scene.
"I think we found your missing relative," Daniel replied. Takashi's father was slightly shocked at the turn of events. While struggling, Takumi grunted, "Let go of me, you brat. Tenzo, do you really think you can keep me from my rightful position?"
"Enough, Takumi. Don't you see it's over?" Tenzo, Takashi's father, said.
"I will claim what is rightfully mine!" Takumi yelled.
Takume was taken away by the village guards to the detainment center to await further judgment. "Thank you for all your work," Tenzo said, bowing to Team Fourteen.
As morning came and they prepared to administer the antidote, a riot filled the village head's house. "How could you lose such a thing?" Tenzo yelled. "You were entrusted with such an item, and you lost it!"
Takashi, not knowing what to reply, stood in remorse. "Thi... That... it can't be right. I made sure to place the antidote in a secure place. How could this have happened?" Takashi racked his mind. "Did they check thoroughly?" he asked.
"Are you covering your mishaps by blaming the nurses, boy?" Tenzo said loudly.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing? Get your hands off us!" Ando yelled as he and the rest of Team Fourteen were dragged in by the village guards.
"What's this now?" Tenzo questioned, seeing Team Fourteen being led to where he and Takashi were. The workers in the village head's manor watched as the scene unfolded.
"We were searching the manor for the antidote and found it in this Leaf ninja's bag, sir," a guard reported, showing the antidote and Ando's bag.
"Colluding with Leaf Shinobi to secretly hide the antidote from your own grandfather. You have disappointed me, son," Tenzo said, shaking his head.
"Wait, Father! I can explain!" Takashi cried, trying to plead his case.
"Take them away. We'll conduct further investigations after I personally oversee the administration of the antidote to Father," Tenzo said, signaling the guards to take Takashi and Team Fourteen to the detainment center as well.
Inside the cell, Takashi voiced his frustration. "To think I trusted you. All you Shinobi are scum."
"It wasn't me, I swear. This is probably a mistake of some sort," Ando defended himself, feeling the bond between him and Takashi tearing apart. "I'm sure if you speak to your father, it will all be solved," Ando added.
"I don't think so," Nana said, breaking her silence. "Observing all that just transpired, it's obvious this was all scripted. We were framed," she said calmly.
"What?" Ando and Yuki stood shocked.
"Wait, if that is true, then it can only mean..." Yuki began.
"There's no way that's true," Takashi cut her off. "Are you implying that my father is behind all this?" Takashi burst out.
"Haha!" Takumi's voice echoed through the detention center from the front left cell where he was held. He grabbed the cell bars. "To think that snake Tenzo would even treat his own child like this. Haha," he continued mocking Takashi. "Now look at you, not so high and mighty, are you now?"
"Chh. What does he want?" Ando clicked his tongue.
"Wait, shouldn't we focus on getting out of here?" Yuki said, ignoring Takumi's taunts.
"Yes, why don't we bust out of here and knock the ba..." Ando stopped as he saw Takashi's face, realizing how sad the young man must've felt being betrayed by his own father simply for succession rights.
"Not so tough are you now, boy? You used to regard me as nothing, now look at you," Takumi taunted, holding the cell bars.
"Why don't you just shut up? Can't you see he's going through a lot?" Yuki yelled, angered by Takumi's taunting.
"Is that right? When my father, the rightful head, died because of that bastard Tenzo's scheming to make himself the next village head by right of succession from his father, for killing his own wife—my sister—after she came to know the truth of his ways, and now hiring bandits to frame me for crimes I never knew or committed so he can be the head. Do I not get the right to be mad?" Takumi raged.
"But it's not like Takashi is the one who did all that. Aren't you both victims?" Ando replied, causing Takumi to flinch.
"Don't you think I know that?" Takumi defended, his emotions spilling over.
"It seems this is a big mess," Daniel said, breaking the tension as he entered the detainment center.
"Wait, how are you outside? Weren't you in here with us?" Ando asked, looking at Daniel standing in front of him.