CH_8.40 (305)

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Takuma decided that the ANBU were assholes when they didn't reveal the pairings at the camp and instead declared they would only announce them when they reached the capital city. They were clearly trying to make it hard for the candidates by decreasing the time they would get to establish each other as teammates.

The group of ANBU-nin and candidates took breaks on their way to the Ember Imperial City, where Leopard explained more about the upcoming challenge.

"Time after time, batches of candidates much like yourself mistake that because it's our recruitment process, we control everything. They're not completely wrong, but as you say, we left you guys to your devices for the past five days. They think that, because it's an assessment process, we aren't going to push you to real danger—and if things go wrong, we will be there to stop it. However, let me make one thing clear to you: we don't have complete control over the testing process. The danger you face is real... and to emphasise that point, we are going to drop you in a situation where our inherent limited control will become clear."

If Takuma was being honest, he thought that as well. There was only so much they could push the candidates during a test. Overdoing it would actively deter the candidates from joining.

"Since we can't send you to an active hostile territory, we are using the capital city as the location. I'm sure you all know why that is."

"Samurai," Seven vocalised everyone's thoughts.

The Ember Imperial City was the seat of power for the Fire Daimyo and his court. The city and the surrounding region had close to no real shinobi influence as they were exclusively maintained by the samurai clans retained by the Fire Daimyo. Shinobi still got jobs from the region, but the samurai controlled everything from governance to maintenance in the name of the Lord Daimyo.

Like the shinobi, samurai were people who had developed chakra into tools of violence and war. They were two very different cultures that once clashed during the Warring States Era of history until the shinobi banded together to form the Hidden Villages around the globe and swore fealty to their respective Daimyo, making the two sides allies, which led to a stabilisation of the Great Nations.

"Indeed," Leopard nodded. "The Daimyo's samurai and we, shinobi, are allies, but we are two firmly separate entities. We will be asking you to do certain tasks in the capital city, and if something goes wrong and you attract the attention or even the ire of the samurai, we might be able to get you out of it—but we will have to go through complicated bureaucratic channels, and that stuff always takes a lot of time. Who knows what might happen during that time, and trust me… you don't want to find out. Samurai might tout their code and honour, but they're just as nasty as anyone else."

Takuma inferred they were about to do something illegal in the capital city that might get them into trouble. He looked around the group and saw the implications dawn on everyone. They wanted the candidates to believe that whatever they were about to go through was real and not some controlled simulated setup, which would've been difficult to accept if shinobi were involved as ANBU could rig that.

Introducing an external force outside their control automatically made everything real.

"What will we be doing there?" asked Five.

Leapoard laughed. "It won't be fun if I tell you."

No candidate except for perhaps Three was amused, judging by her snort. During the journey, Takuma got to talk to some of the other candidates. He was running between Ten and Sixteen, who were the quieter ones among the group but were open to talk if someone got a conversation rolling.

"What do you think they'll have us do?" Takuma asked. He had some ideas of his own, but as the saying went, two heads were better than one. Moreover, there was an atmosphere of group speculation among the candidates, as though they were trying to beat ANBU at their own game.

"Stealing from the Daimyo's collection at his home," said Sixteen with a good-hearted chuckle.

"Imagine if they actually made us do that," said Takuma, laughing as well.

"We would be either caught or hunted for the rest of our lives. That type of thinh takes time, people, and planning to pull off decently. Even then, you can't eliminate the risk of getting caught," said Ten.

"Yeah, I guess the Fire Daimyo's palace would be swimming with samurai," said Sixteen.

"I have been to the capital once with my aunt. It feels like the Hidden Leaf, but instead of shinobi, the place is full of armoured samurai on every street," said Ten, making Takuma wonder about his background. "Whatever they plan to make us do, I think it'll involve us having run-ins with samurai, and we are going into their home turf without much preparation—she talked about danger; I think that's dangerous enough for my taste."

"Agreed," Sixteen sighed.

"Who do you want to be paired with the most and least?" asked Takuma before raising one hand and putting the other on his chest. "I swear not to get offended if I'm the least favourite..."

"Why don't you go first," said Sixteen, eyeing Takuma from behind his half-yellow and half-purple mask.

"To be honest, I don't have a preference. Rather than skill, I'm looking for someone who I gel with from a personality point-of-view because it makes working together so much easier—but if you don't get along, it can turn into a horrible experience. Unfortunately, I don't know either of you well enough to know if we will gel."

Takuma briefly glanced at Five running ahead of them; if he had to choose one, Five would be his choice as he had shown some smart actions by observing the candidates as they approached the ANBU staff for their stamp.

"But I do have a least favourite." Takuma looked around before subtly wagging four fingers so that only Ten and Sixteen would see it.

Four was the last to arrive, the slowest, and had set off a large explosion in the woods. Takuma didn't know his circumstances, but he had a regretful look of self-blaming after he arrived at the camp. It clearly felt like he had made a mistake in the woods, which ruined his performance.

Takuma had nothing against the guy, but he didn't want to be paired with the weakest link.

"I'd like the Hyuga," said Ten, straightforward with his desire. "He was the first and fastest to complete the task, and possesses the Byakugan. Having someone like him on the same side is a boon any way you look at it."

Choosing the best-performing candidate as the favourite was the boring answer no one could find a fault in. Takuma wondered if Ten answered truthfully because he really thought that or if he was trying to avoid the question.

"As for the person I don't want to get paired with... Three. I don't know what it's about her, but I get the creeps from her," said Ten with a nod.

"I heard that."

Just then, Three, who had been running behind them, passed by Ten, whispering into his ear and laughing when she saw him almost stumble on his feet, rubbing his arms as he felt a cold shiver down his spine.

"See, that's what I'm talking about," he said.

Had she been listening from the start? Among the candidates, Takuma had a deeper impression of Three. Even though everyone had a facade of friendliness, she had acted too carefree during their short time at the camp. She talked freely as though not at all worried about leaking information, and yet Takuma didn't think she had ever given actionable information. And when she was not talking and just listening, her gaze felt like she was seeing through his masks and directly at him. It wasn't unsettling, but it made him constantly worry he was giving something away.

"What about you?" Ten asked Sixteen.

"I would like to pair with you, Thirteen," said Sixteen, surprising Takuma.

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. As you said, a compatible personality is more important. I find you much easier to talk to than Seven. And I was impressed that you took the second shortest time despite going through the woods at night."

"Oh, come on, doesn't that make me the second option?" Takuma slumped his shoulders. "Your preference would've been Seven if he had a more outgoing personality."

Sixteen shrugged. "The allure of the Byakugan is hard to deny."

Takuma couldn't refute that.

"As for the one I don't want to get paired with? I don't have anyone like that. The ANBU selected everyone for a reason, and those who made it this far must be competent. I think I'll work it out with anyone they decide to assign me."

"That's an admirable attitude, Sixteen. You're in second place on my list," Ten patted Sixteen on the shoulder.

Something told Takuma that Ten wasn't just saying that to be nice or because of his facade.

"Thank you," said Sixteen.

After travelling nonstop for a day, they had the city in their view, with the main route crowded with travellers and merchants. The moment they spotted the first samurai travelling away from the city, Leopard had them move off the main road and travel ten minutes into the wide meadows until they had privacy.

"Alright, now that we're here, I will give you your pairings and your assignments," said Leopard.

The pairings were—

Seven and Fourteen

Sixteen and Five

Ten and Four

Thirteen and Three

Takuma turned to look at his teammate and found her looking at him. Even though she wore her teal blue mask with royal blue splashes, he could feel her smiling behind it. She walked to him leisurely with her hands behind her back and stopped right before him. She was so close that he could see the almost white flecks in her pale green eyes.

"Looking forward to working with you, teammate... I have great expectations of you; don't disappoint me, will you."

He felt that the next few days would be challenging. If he weren't careful, he would get eaten whole by the woman before him—but he wasn't the type to just roll over and let someone walk all over him.

"Don't worry, I'll carry you to the finish line, so just sit there and be pretty."

He wanted to smile when he saw her eyes twitch.

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