After Ren, Yui, Sakura, and Kazuma came through the portal, they placed the trays on the ground. Kazuma added, “I also found these forest nuts, dried plums, and redroot crisps. Safe only. Don't worry.” He tossed it into the tray.

  As they settled, Sakura scooted closer to Ren, sitting beside him. Yui sat opposite them, and Kazuma sat opposite Ren, Sakura, Yui.

  The trays had rice balls, dumplings, smoked tofu sticks, sweet egg rolls with herb filling, mini pancakes with honey glaze, cold soba in leaf wrap and vegetable rolls.

  The smell reached Yui fully now. “Ugh… my stomach’s mad at me now.”

  She took a cautious bite of the tofu stick. Her eyes widened. “…Wait, this is good. Like, soft but chewy… and it melts a little in your mouth. Whoa.”

  Sakura tried the egg roll next, breaking it in half. “Amazing… the herbs inside are spicy.”

  Kazuma picked up a soba wrap without a word. He took a bite, then blinked once—then again. He didn’t answer—just ate more, slower this time.

  Yui grabbed the mini pancake. She chewed for a second, then looked stunned. “Honey. Really sweet. Your vast space feels totally different—Haruki's vast space doesn’t feel like yours.”

  Ren picked a dumpling and nuts for himself.

  Sakura reached for a rice ball, Yui slouched back, chewing constantly.

  Sakura leaned in with a spark in her eyes. "Dad, can you tell us about the tournament rounds you played? You’re always skipping it—even in the first round!"

  Kazuma narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms. "Hey. We already told you, didn’t we? It was just boring. We lost." His tone had a hint of frustration.

  Yui looked at him suspiciously, tilting her head.

  Ren caught her look. "Why are you looking like that? He’s telling the truth."

  Yui raised an eyebrow, arms folding. "Then tell me too. I want to hear how you actually played."

  Kazuma sighed and looked at Sakura. "Sakura, listen first. Only you and Hisagi know we’re from this kingdom and participated here. We even told the villagers we're outsiders. Don’t forget that."

  Sakura blinked at his stern gaze. "Okay, okay, Master… why are you saying it so harshly?"

  Kazuma frowned. "Because you already forgot once. That’s why I’m saying it this way now."

  Sakura glanced away and mumbled, "Still… I don’t understand why you’re saying that to Yui-san."

  Yui narrowed her eyes, her gaze sharp.

  Sakura flinched a bit and waved her hands. "No, no, Yui-san! I didn’t mean anything bad! I just wondered why they only told you and no one else..."

  Ren sighed gently. "Because I trust her. That’s all. Sakura… didn’t I already say? Please don’t ask."

  Sakura looked down. "Well… okay, okay."

  Noticing her mood, Ren smiled faintly and ruffled her hair. "Alright. I’ll tell you about one round I played. Though… you might find it boring."

  Yui rested her chin on her palm. "Say it first. We’ll decide if it’s boring or not."

  Kazuma spoke with a bitter chuckle. "Honestly, I think we’re both thinking of the same round. It was the worst one we played."

  Sakura’s eyes widened. "Huh!? Worst?"

  Kazuma turned to Yui. "I don’t know if you’ve played anything like this. It was a forest round, though I forgot which number. Um…I think… 100 participants, paired into 50 teams."

  Sakura lit up. "So it was like this year’s round!"

  Ren gently patted her head. "Wait, Sakura. He hasn’t finished explaining yet."

  Kazuma continued, fingers tapping lightly on his knee. "We had to find fifteen wooden boxes hidden in the forest. Each had a different geometric symbol—triangle, square, circle… the usual. The first to collect all and reach the instructors would win."

  Sakura tilted her head. "But what’s so bad about that?"

  Yui snorted. "Sounds simple. Was it even difficult? Oh, I think you aren't able to search right?”

  Ren groaned. "Hey! Don’t say it like that… I did search properly! And anyway, some boxes were hidden with clues, some just tucked behind a rock or tree."

  He gestured with his hands. "You had to look carefully. If you spotted them, they felt like they were placed openly. But the clue-based ones were hidden."

  Yui leaned back, smirking. "Oh, I see. So your dumb brain didn’t solve the clues and now you’re blaming the round."

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Ren sulked. "I said I found some clue boxes… and Kazuma is good at those!"

  Sakura leaned forward. "Say it, Master. It sounds easy, why are you saying it's the worst?!"

  Kazuma smirked, folding his arms. "I didn’t say the full rules yet." He glanced at Yui. "If all 50 members out of 100 could win or 25 pairs out of 50… then yeah, it would’ve been a good round. Whether it's easy or hard depends on our skills, but rules are not in our hands."

  He looked at Sakura. "And the rule was ‘only one person from each pair can win.’ ”

  Sakura blinked. "Huh? Only one?” Then she glanced toward Ren. "Wait… were you and Master paired together, Dad?”

  Yui’s eyes widened. "What!? Is that true? I never played under that rule."

  Kazuma shrugged. "The other worst part was that you not only had to search… you had to fight within pairs too."

  Sakura wrapped her arms around Ren’s left arm. "Dad! Please tell me who won? You or Master?"

  Yui grinned. "Isn’t it obvious? Your dad probably lost. Maybe he won due to getting lucky like today. Ten percent chance."

  Ren rubbed his neck, sighing. "Yeah… I lost. We made a rule between us ‘whoever finds and submits the boxes first wins… no fighting each other.’ "

  He gave a small, sheepish smile. "I mostly went for the openly placed ones, but found some clue boxes too."

  Sakura leaned forward, curious. "Wait… wasn’t that round where the Master used his avatar ability?"

  Kazuma shook his head. "No, no. In that round, neither of us had the option. I won just through searching. But this year’s forest round… I feel like something else will be added too."

  Yui yawned, stretching her arms. "Ugh, I’m getting sleepy. I’m going to lie down. Oh, Kazuma-san, what happened after he lost?"

  Kazuma scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Don’t call me Kazuma-san. I only call you Yui-san in public. Just speak casually… like you do with Ren.”

  He lowered his hand. "Anyway, after that round… I just didn’t feel like playing anymore without him. So I lost intentionally later."

  Yui blinked, surprised. "Huh? Just because he wasn’t there?"

  Kazuma shrugged, his tone flat. "I didn’t feel interested, that’s all. No deep reason."

  “You two are weird. Well, anyway…” She clutched the soft, warm blanket, one brought from Ren’s vast space. Wrapped in its quiet comfort, she lay down just a little distance from the others, her eyes growing heavier with each breath.

  “You’ll take care… right? I’m sleeping,” she asked softly, as if seeking permission, her voice barely more than a whisper.

  Ren gave a small nod, his voice just as quiet. “Yes. Don’t worry.”

  Yui exhaled gently, eyes fluttering closed, her breathing settling into a peaceful rhythm as the world dimmed around her.

  Sakura was curled under her own blanket, nestled safely between Ren and Kazuma. Though in a sleeping position, one small hand peeked out from beneath the covers, holding a rice ball. She nibbled on it slowly, lazily, each bite tiny and spaced apart.

  The warmth of the blanket, the silent presence of the two who guarded her, and the still hush of the forest night made her voice sound even softer.

  She blinked sleepily, eyes half-lidded, and looked up at Ren.

  “Dad… guess what’s special the day after tomorrow?”

  Ren tilted his head, thinking. "Umm... it’s not your birthday, then… what is it?”

  Kazuma glanced over. "Idiot. It's your birthday only."

  Sakura blinked, then grinned. "So you’ll finally complete 25… and start your 26th year, right?"

  Ren glanced over at the sleeping Yui. "Umm… technically that’s correct. But practically, I’m not 25."

  Sakura tilted her head. "But you and Master look the same age!"

  Ren gave a lopsided smile. "Well, we’re only a few months apart. But remember, I spent time inside the vast space. While I was there with Saku and Amaya, they aged, but I didn’t. And… you know I disappeared for a while, right? During that time, you were living with Sakuragi.”

  He softly said, "So… yeah. I’ve completed 24, but to finish 25… there’s still time.”

  Sakura looked down quietly, chewing a bite slowly. Then she said softly, "Dad… I told Hisagi it was just death."

  Ren turned his eyes to her.

  "But I only said that because you didn’t eat for ten days. Back then, I didn’t fully know you. Now I’m thinking… why didn’t you save him?”

  She looked down, her fingers clutching her sleeve again. "I also felt… a little guilty. But that uncle… he never even talked to me much after that."

  Ren’s voice was soft. “You were five. I think… you do remember something.”

  Sakura blinked slowly, eyes narrowing with distant thought. “Hmm… uncle did talk to me. But after the baby… after his daughter went missing, he just… stopped. Only Aunt Sakuragi took care of me.”

  Ren’s gaze dimmed, and his throat bobbed with a swallowed grief. “She did take care of you. But… he thought it was his fault. He believed… because he wasn’t there, that’s why the baby went missing.”

  He hesitated, then continued, voice almost cracking. “Even Sakuragi… What could she do? She couldn’t register the baby immediately after conceiving. I mean… who even thinks of registering a newborn the moment they’re born? Nobody expects something like that to happen right away…”

  Sakura frowned. “But… Dad, if the hospital or Uncle had registered her early, they could’ve found her, right?”

  Ren nodded, his voice low. “Yes. But people don’t usually register babies instantly. Most wait till they get home… sometimes even years later.“ His voice thinned. “I wasn’t there at that time…” He stopped. The silence stretched, heavy. “…If I had been…” His gaze dropped. “…maybe I could’ve helped her.”

  Kazuma’s voice chimed in from the side, calm and observant. “I was in the village around then with Sakura. But… that guy….He took the punishment onto himself.”

  Continued, voice low. “Miko-senpai wanted to help Sakuragi. But even she couldn’t do anything… not if the baby wasn’t registered.”

  Sakura murmured, “Still… Why did he drown himself in sake? I mean, I know it hurts, but…”

  Ren’s voice trembled again, eyes glassy.“Sakura… every parent thinks like that…” he exhaled, his voice low and rough. “…He may have thought ‘if I took care… even if I didn’t register… maybe I could’ve stopped it.’ ”

  A heavy silence followed.

  Finally, Ren stood up, brushing the corner of his eye. “Let’s not talk about this now. Go to sleep. Kazuma and I will guard the place, switching turns.”

  Sakura gave a faint nod and slowly laid down, curling into the blanket. Her breath steadied with silence.

  Mind Voice starts.

  Ren sat, fists loosely clenched, head lowered.– You're right, Kazuma… we have to beat them to death…

  Kazuma’s eyes narrowed slightly. – Oi, idiot. Don’t think like that. You’re the one who told me not to say such things. Now you’re saying it? Even I wouldn’t have known what to do in that position. It all happened so fast, right?...Anyway, tomorrow night…We've got a lot of work.

  Tears slipped down Ren’s face silently. – Still… I could’ve saved him, right? Even with the guard’s kunai in his neck… there was time. My legs… they didn’t move. I felt something strange, like… another guard was watching. If I had moved and saved him, nothing would have happened, right?

  Kazuma exhaled, jaw tight. – Stop it, Ren. Don’t think like that. Maybe they already decided… whoever came first would be confirmed as an intruder. We’ll ask them. Don’t worry.

  Ren’s voice softened. – Thanks… for saying we can show proof. I didn’t think of that before.

  After a quiet silence, Kazuma shifted slightly. – Don’t get angry… but I asked Sakuragi to agree when you came to her about going to the tournament.

  Ren’s eyes widened in surprise.

  Kazuma continued calmly. – Yeah. I knew she’d say yes. That’s why I asked her beforehand. We have to take this chance. Only after talking with the guards, we’ll get some clarity. We have slight information… but we don’t know what it is. In my mind, so many questions are running… why, what, how…

  Ren stared at him, confused and shaken.

  Kazuma scratched the back of his neck. – Hey. Don’t look at me like that. I could’ve easily convinced you just by saying ‘we can show proof.’ But I knew… even then, you’d feel guilty. You wouldn’t come. That’s why I asked Sakuragi. At least… we’ll get some answers. Even if they don’t know everything.

  In the silence, his voice came again – Hey… We’re already in the tournament. I trusted your words. If you were wrong... our plan failed before it even started

  Ren didn’t respond right away. – Yeah… sure, I saw them, alright. Those guards. But… There were few villagers in front of me. They were blocking their view, so the guards couldn’t see me clearly… And besides… It's been 40 days. His tone grew quieter. – They probably forgot by now.

  Kazuma gave a small nod – Okay

  He paused briefly, his gaze firm now, tone heavier.

  – And… I have another important matter to discuss with you.

  *******

  In the southern zone of the forest. Nivan sat upright, eyes scanning the still forest ahead, while Meena wrapped her cloak a little tighter.

  “You sleep,” Nivan said calmly. “I’ll guard for now.”

  Meena turned to him, brushing hair behind her ear. “Huh? First you sleep. I’ll keep watch. If I get sleepy, I’ll ask you to swap.”

  He gave a small chuckle through his nose but didn’t argue. Meena added, tilting her head, “By the way… what did you think in that tunnel cave?”

  Nivan replied without turning. “How would I know? But there was a clear no entry sign there. So probably no crystals inside… at least, not meant for us.”

  He glanced her way finally. “First, think about this… sleep. You don’t need to skip it for my sake…”

  ”Okay,” Nivan gave in with a sigh, “if I feel sleepy, then I will wake you up. Don’t worry about me.”

  A faint smile curved Meena’s lips. She leaned back, letting her eyes trail up to the dim stars above. “Still not sleepy… Tell me something. Let’s talk.”

  Nivan looked over briefly. “Heh, I can clearly see you're almost sleepy.”

  Meena leaned closer suddenly and hugged his right arm, resting her head on his shoulder. “Told you… I’m not sleepy. So come on, tell me… which participants caught your eye? I mean, who stood out to you?”

  “My eyes?” Nivan tilted his head a bit. “Hmm… Jin-Inori-sama’s son. That white-haired guy.”

  “Ah! Same!” Meena lit up a little. “He fought in the first fight… then again in the third”

  Nivan nodded. “Yeah. And the other guy, Azuma.”

  He exhaled lightly. “Well… most of the participants, I already knew.”

  *******

  Author Note: I’m taking a bit of liberty when it comes to food in this story. While historically, ninjas ate simple and easily digestible meals, I want to explore a wide variety of dishes for character moments, bonding, and world flavor. So in future if you see food items which are not eaten, it’s intentional. I hope you’ll enjoy the warmth and emotion around these scenes more than the realism