A few minutes earlier...
The moon shined over the forest as Masanori led the seven boys through the darkness.
Tonight was their first night training.
Masanori stopped and looked at them.
"I will teach you guerrilla warfare."
The boys listened carefully.
"How to move in the dark."
"How to hide."
"How to set traps."
"And how to fight enemies stronger than you."
Suddenly—
CLANG!
The sound of swords echoed through the forest.
Everyone froze.
Another clash followed.
Masanori turned toward the sound.
"Come."
The group moved through the trees.
Soon they reached a small hill overlooking a clearing.
A battle was taking place below.
Yoshi was bleeding heavily from his arm.
Beside him stood his captain.
The captain could barely remain standing.
Blood continued to flow from the wound on his back.
Kenta's eyes widened.
"Sensei... they're outnumbered."
Masanori narrowed his eyes.
He instantly recognized one of the fighters.
"Yoshi..."
Below them stood four enemy shinobi led by a Jonin.
Near them stood another man.
The spy.
The boys watched from a distance as the spy finished speaking.
Then he turned around and started running deeper into the forest.
Yoshi tried to follow him.
But the Jonin blocked his path.
The battle continued.
Masanori looked toward the fleeing spy.
Then he turned to Ryu and Benjiro.
"Catch him."
The two nodded.
A few minutes later...
The spy ran through the forest.
Ahead of him, hidden among the trees, Ryu and Benjiro waited.
The two grabbed a thick branch and pulled it back with all their strength.
Ryu carefully made a small cut near the end of the branch.
The branch stretched even further.
Benjiro held it tightly.
The spy came closer.
Ten steps.
Five.
Three.
Ryu raised his hand.
Then lowered it.
"Now."
Benjiro released the branch.
WHAM!
The branch slammed directly into the spy's chest.
His eyes widened.
Blood came out of his mouth.
The impact threw him backward.
He crashed hard onto the ground.
Before he could move, Ryu placed a blade against his throat.
Moments later, Masanori arrived with the others.
He looked at the captured spy and nodded.
"Very well done, Ryu."
His eyes moved to Benjiro.
"And Benjiro."
Both boys smiled.
Masanori pointed at the spy.
"Tie him up."
The spy's face turned pale.
Masanori then looked toward the battlefield.
The fight was still going on.
"Ryu, stay here."
Ryu nodded.
"Guard him."
"Yes, Sensei."
Masanori picked up his bow.
Then he looked at the others.
"Kenta, Kaede, Benjiro, Kuro, Haruki, Fuyuki. Come with me."
The group quickly moved through the forest.
Soon they reached another position overlooking the battle.
Yoshi was still fighting desperately.
His captain was barely standing.
Masanori slowly pulled an arrow from his quiver.
He aimed.
The bowstring tightened.
TWANG!
The arrow shot through the darkness.
THUD!
An enemy shinobi screamed as the arrow pierced his thigh.
He fell to one knee.
"Ambush!" one of the shinobi shouted.
At the same time, Kenta and the others ran through the trees.
Branches shook.
Leaves rustled.
Footsteps came from different directions.
To the enemy, it sounded like many fighters were surrounding them.
"What is going on?"
"How many are there?"
Yoshi immediately saw the confusion.
He rushed forward.
SLASH!
His sword cut across one shinobi's chest.
The wounded man cried out and fell to the ground, clutching the wound.
The other shinobi stepped back nervously.
"Jonin-sama!"
"What should we do?"
The Jonin looked around the dark forest.
He couldn't see the attackers.
One man had an arrow in his thigh.
Another was badly wounded.
And unknown enemies seemed to be everywhere.
The Jonin made his decision.
"You."
He pointed at the shinobi who was still standing.
"Help him."
The man quickly grabbed the wounded shinobi.
The Jonin lifted the arrow-hit man onto his shoulder.
Then he looked at Yoshi.
"We will come back for you another time."
With that, he jumped into the trees.
The other shinobi quickly followed.
Within seconds, they disappeared into the darkness.
The forest became silent.
Yoshi lowered his sword and took a deep breath.
The battle was over.
For now....