The Inoue

- 04 -

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LITTLE SNITCH

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After the failed hunting mission the group decided to take added precaution and stay alert whenever they went, in case the person appeared again. Everything proceeded as usual except for Hinata, who was assigned the mission of going with Kai while the others were busy. Kiyoko was taking care of Ayato, while Baji and Izumi went back to the Village to investigate the place, leaving Hinata alone with Kai.

Hinata had never been on a duo mission, having always been assigned to group missions before. She felt a sense of anxiety and fear creeping up on her at the thought of having to continue the mission alone if Kai was injured, a scenario that seemed quite plausible at the moment. She was unsure of her abilities and the skills that she possessed in order to complete the mission solo, causing her to feel overwhelmed by her emotions.

Kai noticed that Hinata was anxious and fearful, which made him try to calm her down with her words. "Don't worry. You'll be fine. I won't let anything bad happen to you," she said in a reassuring tone, trying to offer her comfort. Hinata then looked at her with eyes filled with worry and fear and said "What if I'm going to die?" Kai's response was swift and confident, though it did not entirely alleviate her worries. "You won't. I'll make sure of it," she said, determined to protect her at all costs.

"Remember, our goal is to catch the thief and get the snitch," Kai said to Hinata, who nodded in reassurance. They arrived at the shady, crime-infested city. Its streets were dimly lit, the air was thick with pollution, and it seemed as if the whole city was enveloped in an aura of corruption.

"This is so creepy," Hinata said, moving closer to Kai and keeping by her side. The city seemed as if it had been built for the sole purpose of harboring a sinister atmosphere, filled with a menacing aura that radiated from every corner of the city. "Come on," Kai encouraged, leading Hinata along the narrow alleyways of this crime-infested place, their only source of comfort being the presence of one another. The pair moved through the dim lit streets with a sense of haste, eager to avoid any unpleasant or dangerous encounters.

After a few minutes of wandering the narrow pathways and alleyways, they caught a glimpse of a snitch running from a shop and disappearing around the corner. "Hinata, there it is," Kai said with a keen eye, pointing in the direction that the snitch had taken. The snitch appeared to have escaped unnoticed by the shopkeeper, who appeared to be too busy talking to a customer to pay attention to the thievery that was unfolding in front of their eyes.

Following the snitch was a tense and anxious affair, as they tried to remain hidden in order to prevent being noticed. The snitch eventually led them to an abandoned building, which seemed even more eerie than the rest of the city so far. The building was a dilapidated structure with broken windows and crumbling bricks, its structure indicating a history of neglect and abandonment. The atmosphere here was even more oppressive than before, making Hinata even more anxious and fearful than before.

They entered the abandoned building, which seemed like an even more sinister place than the surrounding city. Inside, they saw the man they were after, sitting on top of the stolen items, seemingly pleased with himself. The man laughed and spoke with a gleeful tone in his voice, his attitude indicating that he had no fear of the consequences of his actions. "Good, good. My little pets. Bring all the luxury" were his words, filled with a condescending and boastful tone, the man treating them like lesser beings.

A heartbreaking sight appeared before their eyes, as they saw many little snitches trapped in cages, separated from one another in narrow and cramped spaces. Hinata felt a wave of sympathy and sorrow wash over her, feeling very sorry for the suffering and mistreatment of the snitches.