"Stop right there!"
Just as Natsume Yō's squad was about to step into Sunagakure's residential and trade district, a sudden voice cut through the air.
"What seems to be the matter, honored shinobi-sama?"Lion-Hawk, cloaked in the guise of a middle-aged merchant, turned around with a warm smile and gave a respectful bow. His act was flawless—down to the smallest gesture. Even Yō had to admit, the man's acting skills were so good it was scary. If he hadn't been told outright, Yō would never have guessed Lion-Hawk was ANBU beneath that friendly mask.
"You lot look unfamiliar… and don't exactly scream desperate merchants. You're not spies, are you?"The Sunagakure chūnin narrowed his eyes, suspicion glittering in his gaze. "Not long ago, two groups dressed just like you tried to sneak in. Lucky for us, my eyes are sharp—I caught them and saved the village from a disaster. And you all… you seem pretty suspicious. How about coming with me for a little test?"
The moment those words landed, every member of the squad except Yō and Lion-Hawk stiffened. Pupils contracted, breathing hitched. They knew this was bait—but knowing didn't stop the instinctive panic, the same way a thief panics at the sight of a policeman. Different camps, different aura—the chūnin carried the weight of his home turf.
Yō alone kept his face relaxed, utterly unshaken. He knew better. This guard had no intention of dragging them off for "tests." It was just the usual intimidation routine, tossing out bait to see if anyone slipped up. If anything, he hadn't even considered them true suspects. Just a gamble, hoping to scare an amateur into spilling.
After all, what kind of intel squad looked like this? Aside from Lion-Hawk, they were all barely eighteen—and Yō himself was a ten-year-old kid. No spy master in their right mind would field a lineup like that.
"Hehe, shinobi-sama jests. Look at us—bowed heads, nervous smiles. Do we look like ninja?"Lion-Hawk's tone was still mild, but a flicker of sharpness entered his eyes as he continued, "If some force actually sent people like us to infiltrate, their leader must be an idiot. Of course, if you don't believe us, you're welcome to search. We'll cooperate fully. But… I'll have to reconsider trading in this country if Sunagakure treats its merchants with such hostility."
His sudden shift was jarring—one moment meek, the next fierce. Yet wasn't that exactly what a real merchant would do? Harmless most of the time, but ruthless when profits were threatened.
"Ah—haha, my friend, you speak too harshly! I was rude just now. Please, don't take it to heart."The Sunagakure ninja's tone flipped instantly. His arrogance melted into flustered apologies, and all suspicion faded under Lion-Hawk's firm performance.