CH_90

"I just realized something…" After hearing Natchi's words, Tōji immediately thought of an important point. "Whether we're looking for Lord Shinku or the scrolls, it's like finding a needle in a haystack."

"…" Neru's large eyes glimmered faintly in the darkness of the forest. "So the only information we have to work with are the nine 'tower guards' and the 'gate guards' at each entrance."

"One more thing—you can leave the Forest of Death freely, but entering isn't so casual… The consent form clearly states you need it to enter." Tōji paused, glancing up at the sky almost completely blocked by branches and leaves…

"If we want to go outside to look for Lord Shinku, we'd have to bet that he's already outside, and that he won't come back into the Forest of Death on the third day to collect the scrolls." Neru analyzed Tōji's words.

Tōji looked back at Neru. "So we can't go outside to look for Lord Shinku. The only leads left are the proctors serving as 'tower guards' or 'gate guards.'"

"That's actually good—it narrows down our options a lot. So—watch the 'tower guards' or the 'gate guards'?" Neru's tone lightened. Partly because they'd successfully reduced their target range, and partly because the remaining option was closer to her original preference.

"There's a third option—whether the three of us should split into two or even three groups." Tōji was in a good mood too—just by discussing among themselves, they'd saved a lot of unnecessary searching.

"The 'gate guards' are probably two per entrance. The south gate we came in through had two chūnin. The 'tower guards' might be even stronger than chūnin." Neru remembered the details well—she'd been paying attention from the start.

"Then I get it—the 'tower guards' are at least tokubetsu jōnin level, right? There's no need to station that kind of elite just to guard a tower—unless the scrolls are actually inside the central tower!" Tōji felt they were closing in on the right direction.

"So you're guessing that the nine tokubetsu jōnin proctors are each guarding one scroll. When the three days are up, they'll each take a scroll to deliver to Lord Shinku?" Neru spelled out Tōji's theory more clearly.

"That's when our chance comes! Once the nine 'tower guards' split up…" Tōji stared toward the central tower he couldn't even see, his eyes filled with confidence.

"So all we have to do is grab a scroll from one of those tokubetsu jōnin, right?" Natchi finally caught up with Tōji and Neru's pace.

"I'm confident." Neru's voice was full of fighting spirit.

"Then let's practice one or two tactics first? After all, we're dealing with a tokubetsu jōnin." Tōji suggested.

"Tomorrow. The fight with the proctor will be at noon." Neru said as she stood up.

They'd already found a place to sleep before eating. Now Neru was the first to turn in—she'd take the 4 to 6 a.m. watch shift.

"Natchi, you should get some rest too. I'll wake you when it's your turn." Tōji patted Natchi's shoulder, then prepared to find a spot to sit and look at the stars.

"Alright—good night." Natchi also got up to rest.

"Good night." Neru, who'd already taken a few steps away, added belatedly.

"Good night. Rest easy—this spot is safe." Tōji said as he jumped onto a small mound a few meters away.

The mound was right on an open patch of ground in the forest, with no branches blocking the sky.

Tōji leaned back against the slope, gazing up at the sparsely starry night sky.

The chirping of insects—a constant presence in Konoha through every season—only made the stillness feel deeper.

『I wonder if I'll live long enough to retire and still be able to watch the stars like this…』