Number Four looked around desperately one last time. Searching for an escape route was futile; his two opponents could easily catch him. Desperately, he decided to use his last cards.
"Earth Element: Ground Manipulation!" Number Four shouted, rapidly moving his hands to make complex signs. He began to manipulate the earth around him. Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet started to collapse, and an underground tunnel formed. This technique allowed him to shape a certain area as he wished. He had saved this for the end because it consumed an enormous amount of energy.
Rikimaru and Kamiya stumbled with the sudden collapse of the ground. As the earth slid beneath their feet, they tried to quickly position themselves with their reflexes. Kamiya struggled to maintain his balance with years of experience, while Rikimaru made agile movements to avoid falling. Number Four's unexpected move had caught them off guard, if only for a brief moment.
The rapidly sinking earth beneath the surface created a deep pit around them. Number Four's final move was unexpectedly trying to change the course of the battle. Although their balance was shaken, Rikimaru and Kamiya quickly adapted to the situation.
Rikimaru leaned towards Kamiya and whispered, "Uncle, we need to get out of this pit. I'll create a clone to distract him, and you start climbing up during that time."
Kamiya nodded. "Understood. But be careful, don't waste your energy reserves unnecessarily."
Rikimaru quickly created a clone, and Kamiya threw the clone upwards with all his might. As the clone lunged towards Number Four, Rikimaru and Kamiya began to move towards the edge of the pit. Kamiya started climbing rapidly.
"Now!" Rikimaru called out as he began climbing after Kamiya. While Number Four was dealing with the clone, they were moving upwards.
Just then, Number Five unexpectedly appeared, teleporting in. With a single powerful kick, he knocked Rikimaru's clone to the ground. The clone instantly vanished, and its energy returned to the original Rikimaru.
When Rikimaru and Kamiya reached the edge of the pit, they found Number Five facing them. Number Five turned to Number Four and asked, "Why are you tiring yourself out so much? I just finished my own job. All you had to do was wear them out a bit and escape, there was no need to waste so many resources."
When Number Five's eyes shifted to Kamiya, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He hesitated for a moment, then took a step back. "Kamiya... I don't want to fight you. You're lucky this time," he said, with a hint of reluctance in his voice.
Kamiya furrowed his brows. "What do you mean? Why are you avoiding fighting me?"
Instead of answering, Number Five turned to Number Four. "Let's go. Our job here is done," he said, and they both started to quickly move away.
Rikimaru pulled himself up with one final move. "Uncle, let's get out of here. We need to take Soma and return to the village."
Hearing Rikimaru's words, Kamiya nodded. "You're right, let's go immediately. We won't let this go, but right now our priority is Soma's safety and our own wounds." Kamiya winced as he checked his own wound. "I'd like to follow them, but we can't risk it in this condition. We need to return to the village and get treatment."
They both started running quickly towards Soma. As they were going, Rikimaru voiced his thoughts aloud: "Uncle, Number Five's behavior was strange. He seemed to know you."
Kamiya took a deep breath at Rikimaru's words. A pained expression appeared in his eyes for a moment. "Yes, he seemed to know me," he said slowly. "And I recognized him too. He... might be Minamoto Toki."
Rikimaru paused in astonishment. "Minamoto Toki?"
Kamiya nodded. "Yes, the person I believed had poisoned and killed my wife in the past. He was famous for his speed, which is why they called him the 'Ghost of the Wind.'" Kamiya's voice trembled. "But now he's here, as one of the masked ones... There must be something bigger behind this situation. Also, don't tell Soma about what we've discussed."
Rikimaru placed his hand on his uncle's shoulder. "Alright, Uncle Kamiya, but we should discuss this matter in detail later. Right now, our priority is Soma and our safety."
Kamiya nodded, the determination returning to his eyes. "You're right. Let's go. But this matter isn't closed, Rikimaru. Minamoto Toki's presence here shows that the past hasn't let go of us."
As Kamiya and Rikimaru quickly made their way towards Soma, both of their minds were filled with questions brought on by this unexpected encounter. The shadows of the past had become intertwined with the dangers of the present. The journey back to the village reminded them that not only physical wounds needed healing, but also the wounds opened by the past.
As Kamiya and Rikimaru headed towards the village with Soma, their minds were occupied with concerns about the future along with the shadows of the past. Soma's condition, the emergence of Minamoto Toki, and the presence of the numbered masked men created a big puzzle that needed to be solved. When they reached the village, they would not only have to tend to their wounds but also plan how to deal with these new threats.
When Kamiya, Rikimaru, and Soma arrived at the village, tired and wounded, they were met with unexpected activity. The crowd gathered in the village square turned to them with worried looks. Endo and Hirabayashi quickly came to greet them.
"What happened? Is everyone alright?" Kamiya asked, sensing the tense atmosphere around him.
Endo took a deep breath. "Some events occurred while you were away. Other teams were also subjected to similar attacks. Some are severely injured, some are missing. And you don't look too good either."
Hirabayashi interjected. "Let's take you to the hospital first. We'll explain the details on the way."
As they headed towards the hospital, Endo began to summarize the events. "Three more teams encountered masked attackers. Two suffered heavy losses. We can't get any news from one team."
Rikimaru asked in surprise, "Such an organized attack... How did they prepare?"
Hirabayashi shook his head. "We don't know yet. But it's certain that there's a big plan behind these attacks."
When they arrived at the hospital, they saw injured warriors in the corridors. While Kamiya, Rikimaru, and Soma's wounds were being treated, Endo and Hirabayashi gave them detailed accounts of the other events that had occurred.
When Kamiya's treatment was finished, he said, "We have important things to discuss with you. The masked men we encountered, especially Number Five... He could be an old acquaintance."
As Endo and Hirabayashi listened carefully, Kamiya and Rikimaru recounted the events they had experienced, the emergence of Minamoto Toki, and other details. Soma also added his own observations.
Hirabayashi furrowed his brows and said, "This information is very valuable. It seems that the enemy we're facing has a more complex structure than we thought, and we've also received information about Number Five from other teams. We also have suspicions that he might be Minamoto."
Endo thoughtfully added, "These events pose a serious threat to the future of our village. We need to develop a strategy urgently."
Kamiya nodded. "You're right. But first, we should wait for all the injured to recover and hear from the missing team. Then, we need to gather all the information and make a comprehensive plan."
Rikimaru asked, concern evident in his eyes, "What about Minamoto Toki? What are we going to do about him?"
Kamiya took a deep breath. "I need to put aside my personal reckoning with him. Right now, the village's safety and future are more important. But we need to find him and learn what he's up to."
The meeting continued with discussions about the measures to be taken in the coming days and preparations to be made. The village was facing a great danger, and everyone was aware of it. The information brought by Kamiya, Rikimaru, and Soma had further clarified the dimensions of this threat.
Late at night, they dispersed, tired but determined. The days ahead would be critical for the future of the village, and everyone was aware of this. As Kamiya retreated to his room, he was contemplating the shadows of the past and the uncertainties of the future. But he was sure of one thing: They would overcome this difficult period together.
The next morning, the village council gathered for an emergency meeting. Kamiya, Rikimaru, and other high-ranking members had come together to discuss the events that had occurred and future plans. The fatigue on Kamiya's face as he entered the meeting room revealed the sleepless hours of the past night.
As Kamiya started the meeting, his eyes briefly shifted to Rikimaru. He thought, "He's still a child, but he's taking on too much responsibility," thinking that he needed to rest.
He wasn't aware of it himself, but everyone was under Kamiya's leadership; the number of people who thought he should be the village leader was increasing throughout the meeting.
"What we experienced yesterday and what we learned have revealed the extent of the threat our village is facing. Now, we need to determine how we will act against this threat," said Kamiya.
Rikimaru took the floor, his voice clearly conveying respect for Kamiya: "Uncle Kamiya, the presence of Minamoto Toki and the other masked men... This seems to be much more than a simple attack. We're fighting against an organized group."
Hirabayashi nodded in agreement. "You're right, Rikimaru. Each of these masked men has different abilities and is extremely dangerous. We need to be prepared against them. From what we've learned, they call themselves Kaguyaku-chi."
Endo spoke as he spread a map on the table: "I've marked the areas where the recent attacks took place. It appears that these attacks are not random, but focused on strategic points."
Kamiya examined the map, his eyes scanning the marked points. "This shows that their aim is not just destruction. Maybe they're looking for something... Or someone..."
Kamiya thought, Maybe I should have used my question right against the fourth one. They needed to make a proper plan, and Kamiya was the person who could manage this process best, but he still didn't have a strong desire to be the village leader.
"Now, we need to make a plan for the coming days. First, we need to strengthen our defenses. Rikimaru, you and your team increase the observation points around the village. Take Soma with you when he recovers."
Rikimaru gave a confident look. "Understood, uncle. I'll start right away."
Hirabayashi interjected: "What about the other tribes? Should we still communicate with them? Maybe they've also been subjected to similar attacks."
Kamiya nodded thoughtfully. "I'm not sure, these events are directly targeting the teams that will carry out this mission, after all, no one has interfered with or prevented the wars against other tribes outside. Continuing this is very risky, but if we don't, we'll be very isolated and alone, so let's do it this way. Let's send our agents who are experts at hiding individually to the tribes. We can't guarantee they'll be safe when they reach the tribes, and we can't know who to trust. But we have no other option."
The meeting continued for hours. Defense strategies, intelligence gathering methods, and possible scenarios were discussed. Everyone was concerned about the future of the village, but also determined.
At the end of the day, Kamiya spoke his final words: "We're going through difficult times. This village is our home, and we'll do everything we can to protect it. If we stand united, we'll overcome this threat too." These words gave everyone confidence; he had managed the entire meeting well, truly like the head of this village.
As the meeting dispersed, Rikimaru approached Kamiya. "Uncle," he said in a low voice, "I'm worried about you. Minamoto Toki's appearance... How is this affecting you?"
Kamiya put his hand on Riki's shoulder. "Thank you, Rikimaru. This is difficult for me, but the presence of you and the others gives me strength. Together, we'll overcome this challenge."
Although Rikimaru felt a bit brushed off, he realized that the issue was heavier than he thought, and began to think he shouldn't press further.
When Kamiya returned to his room, he felt the fatigue from the events he had experienced one after another. "Why, Toki?" he muttered to himself. "Why did you wear a mask? Why did you kill Watase? I have so many questions I can't solve in my mind." He knew he couldn't rest until he found the answer to this question. But now, with Rikimaru and the others, he could look to the future with more hope.
As the village prepared for the uncertainties of a new day, Kamiya and his team continued to work with the strength of family bonds. The road ahead would be challenging, but they believed that together they could overcome any obstacle.