The meal ended quietly.
No one lingered.
Shinji Akagi wasn't the type to believe that sharing a meal meant inheriting someone else's vendetta. At most, he planned to leave extra money behind before departing.
Hidan cared even less.
People died every day.
One more dead son meant nothing to him.
After eating, Shinji and Hidan returned to their room.
The woman and child left for relatives' homes, avoiding gossip.
Deep into the night, Shinji opened his eyes.
He slipped out silently.
A figure sat outside the door.
Waiting.
"Out for a walk, young man?" the old villager asked calmly.
Shinji paused.
"You were waiting for me?"
The old man studied him.
"You and your companion… you're ninja, aren't you?"
Shinji didn't answer.
"Our village is remote. Merchants rarely pass through. When strangers appear, we notice."
"So I watched."
"Why?" Shinji asked.
The old man exhaled.
"Fear."
Shinji understood.
"You're worried we'll bring disaster like before."
The old man nodded.
"We finally had a few peaceful years."
"Once bitten, forever cautious."
Shinji looked at him.
"You think you could stop us?"
The old man shook his head.
"I'm gambling."
"If I'm wrong, I die."
"If I'm right, I go back to sleep."
Shinji studied him in silence.
"You sent your family away after dinner."
The old man didn't deny it.
Shinji felt a flicker of respect.
Old.
Fragile.
But clear-headed.
"Relax," Shinji said. "We're not here for your village. We leave at dawn."
Relief flickered across the old man's face.
"Good… good. Time for sleep, then."
He turned to go.
Shinji spoke again.
"The story you told earlier. About your son. It's real?"
"Yes."
"Do you hate the ninja who caused it?"
The old man smiled bitterly.
"I'm too old to hate."
"I just want the child to grow up safely."
Shinji nodded.
"Understood."
He walked off into the darkness.
Behind him, the old man's calm expression cracked for an instant.
Pain surfaced.
Then vanished.
He had learned who was responsible long ago.
Mist shinobi spies.
Leaf shinobi pursuing them.
The fireball that killed his son came from a Leaf ninja.
His own country's protector.
Compensation rebuilt houses.
Money and grain were delivered.
The dead stayed dead.
That was war.
No one to blame.
No one to sue.
Only fear remained.
"Damn world…" the old man whispered.
"Move."
A cold voice sounded behind him.
The old man nearly jumped out of his skin.
Hidan stood there, scowling.
"You two were whispering forever. Where'd he go?"
The old man immediately pointed.
"That way!"
Hidan sneered.
"Call me stupid again and I'll slaughter your whole family."
Then he sprinted off.
The old man wiped sweat from his brow.
After a moment of hesitation…
He clenched his teeth.
And followed.