[Akira would be refered to as Star in the chapter]
Near midnight, the forest road finally opened into a valley.
At its center stood Hoshigakure.
The Village Hidden in the Star was smaller than Konohagakure by a large margin—roughly one-fifth its size according to Akira's memories from the anime.
But it was still a proper shinobi village.
Stone walls circled the settlement.
Watch towers stood at key points.
Small lanterns lit the gates where a pair of guards kept watch over the night entrance.
Hidden in the darkness of the surrounding trees, Star watched the village quietly.
He slipped through the outer perimeter like a shadow, using rooftops and narrow alleys to avoid the guards. Compared to a large power like Konoha, the security here was noticeably lighter.
Within minutes, he was already moving deeper into the village.
From above, the settlement looked modest.
Rows of wooden houses lined the streets. Small shops sat near the central market square. A few training grounds could be seen scattered throughout the village.
But Star wasn't interested in any of that.
His target was information.
More specifically—
Someone who knew where the Star of Hoshigakure was being kept.
He moved slowly across the rooftops while studying the layout of the village.
That was the easiest method.
In every village, the people with the most information were the ones with authority.
And authority usually came with wealth.
Or protection.
Star's eyes scanned the streets below.
Most houses were small.
Simple.
But a few stood out.
Larger compounds surrounded by walls.
Extra guards stationed outside.
Better architecture.
Better lighting.
People who mattered lived in places like that.
Star eventually stopped atop a tiled roof overlooking one particular residence.
This house was clearly different.
The property was large.
A reinforced wooden gate guarded the entrance.
Two shinobi stood watch outside while several more patrolled the surrounding street.
Inside the compound, the building itself was spacious and well-maintained, with decorative lanterns and polished wood structures that reflected wealth and influence.
Star crouched low on the rooftop, watching quietly.
Jackpot.
Someone important lived there.
Maybe a village elder.
Maybe a high-ranking shinobi.
Maybe even someone directly responsible for guarding the Star.
Either way—
They would definitely know something.
A faint grin appeared on Star's face as he studied the patrol pattern of the guards below.
Information always started with the right door.
Star moved across the rooftops like a shadow.
The compound below belonged to someone important—that much was obvious. Guards patrolled the outer wall in slow circles while two shinobi stood permanently stationed near the front gate.
But their vigilance was sloppy.
Their patrol routes repeated too predictably.
Their attention drifted too often.
For someone trained in infiltration, slipping through them was simple.
Star waited for the moment when two patrols crossed paths on the far side of the compound.
Then he moved.
A silent leap carried him over the outer wall. He landed inside the courtyard without making a sound and immediately slid into the darkness between two storage buildings.
The guards never noticed.
From there he crept toward the main residence.
Star remained crouched just below the window frame, his presence hidden by the darkness of the roof tiles.
Inside the room, the atmosphere was thick with smoke and the bitter scent of strong alcohol.
The table was covered with expensive bottles, scattered coins, and trays of untouched food. A thin haze hung in the air from burning pipes placed carelessly beside the elders.
Clearly, this was not a room for serious leadership.
It was a den for indulgence.
One of the village elders leaned back in his chair, swirling liquor inside his cup.
His voice carried the slow irritation of a man who had repeated the same complaint many times before.
"I'm telling you," he said, slamming the cup down, "sealing away the Star of Hoshigakure was the worst decision the Second Hoshikage ever made."
Another man sitting beside him nodded vigorously.
"That meteor built this village. It gave our shinobi strength beyond what a small village like ours should possess."
He took a long drink before continuing.
"And now it just sits there… locked away like some cursed relic."
One of the younger men in the room scoffed.
"All because a few shinobi couldn't handle the training."
The elder waved dismissively.
"People die in training all the time. That's how the strong survive."
He leaned forward, eyes slightly narrowed.
"If we truly want Hoshigakure to rise beyond its current position, we need the Star again."
Another man across the table scratched his beard thoughtfully.
"Then why don't we just take it back?"
The room went quiet for a moment.
One of the elders sighed.
"Because the Second Hoshikage placed too many restrictions around it. Guards. Seals. Protocol. He made sure no one could simply walk in and claim it."
One of the drunken men suddenly slammed his hand on the table.
"Then kill him!"
The words hung in the smoky air.
"If the Second Hoshikage dies, the restrictions disappear."
A few of the others murmured in agreement.
But one elder—older than the rest and far more sober—shook his head slowly.
"That would be foolish."
The room quieted as he spoke.
"There's already a bounty on his head."
He lifted a finger.
"One million sen."
Several men whistled softly.
"That much?"
The elder nodded.
"And despite everything… he's still the Second Hoshi kage. He may not stand on the level of a Kage from the Five Great Nations, but he is still extremely powerful."
The drunken man frowned.
"So what? You think nobody could kill him?"
The elder took a slow sip of liquor before replying.
"Oh, someone eventually will."
He set the cup down gently.
"But anyone foolish enough to attempt it should understand what they're facing. A desperate Kage… even a weaker one… is still a monster."
Around the table, the men slowly fell silent.
Outside the window, Star continued listening quietly.
His expression remained calm, but the information he had just gathered was far more valuable than he expected.
Now he knew two things.
Nobody knows where the Star is except the second Hoshikage.
And that the Second Hoshikage had many enemies—even inside his own village.