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Aside from the two men, there was also a beautiful young woman seated in the corner of the carriage. Her hands were bound, and her mouth gagged. This girl was none other than Yurika Goto, the daughter of the daimyo of the Land of Sakura and the princess of the nation.
The young woman had long chestnut hair, adorned at the forehead with a purple hairpin that revealed her smooth, unblemished brow. Beneath it lay a pair of striking lake-green eyes. She wore an elegant purple gown that accentuated her slender figure, cinched at the waist with a white ornate belt. Every detail about her appearance exuded nobility and refinement.
Though born into wealth and luxury, she carried herself with remarkable maturity. Even now, as she sat kidnapped by three ruthless shinobi, her demeanor remained calm, betraying no trace of panic—though a faint glimmer of sorrow could be glimpsed deep within her eyes.
This wasn't the first time Yurika had been targeted for kidnapping. Somewhere along the way, her once peaceful life had slipped away. Waves of attacks from foreign shinobi had become a grim reality. In the past, her guards had managed to fend off these threats, but this time, luck had abandoned her. The strength of these three kidnappers far surpassed anything her protectors could handle. Many of the loyal guards who had stood by her side were slaughtered without mercy.
Yurika understood all too well why they had targeted her. Over the years, the rapid development of the Land of Sakura, coupled with its abundant resources and thriving economy, had drawn the covetous eyes of neighboring nations. While the military might of the Land of Sakura was weak, attacking it outright would come at great cost. Moreover, the surrounding nations were wary of one another, unwilling to play the role of the foolish cicada while another reaped the benefits. Thus, a fragile balance had been maintained.
Yet, if direct confrontation was impossible, covert actions weren't. As the sole daughter of the daimyo of the Land of Sakura, she inevitably became a target. Everyone knew how deeply her father cherished her. Killing her would only incite his wrath, but taking her hostage? That would paralyze him with fear, forcing him to surrender the nation's wealth and resources willingly. This was the true aim of those nations—not outright conquest, which was impractical—but control through coercion.
Suddenly, the speed of the carriage surged forward. The sound of hooves splashing through puddles grew louder, accompanied by the clear voices of the men conversing inside.
"Third Brother, go faster! We need to leave this area quickly. Though their shinobi are weak, their numbers far outweigh ours—it'll be troublesome!" said the eldest brother.
"You're right," agreed the second brother. "We're still within the borders of the Land of Sakura. It's best to get out as soon as possible. If the daimyo hires shinobi from one of the Five Great Nations, we'll be in serious trouble!"
In this world, the hidden villages of the Five Great Nations often established outposts in smaller countries. Those seeking to hire their services could simply visit these outposts to submit requests, which would then be relayed back to the main village. From there, shinobi would be dispatched to carry out the missions.
Not everyone could afford—or was willing—to travel all the way to the main village itself. Such journeys were costly and arduous, especially for those living far away. Not every client of the Five Great Nations hailed from immense wealth or power.
As Yurika listened silently to their conversation, her gaze remained stoic, lost in thought.
"What are you looking at, wench?!" snapped the eldest brother, his expression darkening as he noticed her quiet stare.
"Heh, Big Brother, take a closer look. This woman is quite the beauty. I've rarely seen anyone with such elegance. If we didn't have to hand her over to our employer for payment, I'd love to have some fun with her," sneered the second brother, his small eyes gleaming with a sinister lust.
"Hmph! Don't get any ideas. She must not be harmed!" the eldest brother warned coldly.
"Yes, yes, I understand," the second brother replied with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"But even if the daimyo hires shinobi from the Five Great Nations, it won't matter. By the time they arrive, we'll already have handed her over to our employer. By then, the three of us will be long gone, enjoying ourselves somewhere else. Hahaha…" the second brother laughed cruelly.
"You're right," the eldest brother smirked, his jagged face twisting into a grin. Hearing their words, Yurika's expression grew even more somber. If only I were dead, she thought bitterly, then I wouldn't burden Father anymore, nor become a tool for them to threaten him.
But just then, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air outside the carriage. A blood-curdling scream echoed down the ancient path: "Ahhhh!!!"
"What?! Third Brother!!" The two men inside the carriage immediately turned pale with shock. "What's going on?!" Without hesitation, they leapt out of the carriage. There, slumped against the side of the vehicle, was the burly man who had been driving. His eyes were wide open, filled with terror, and a thin red line encircled his neck. Blood gushed continuously from the wound, dripping onto the ground and mingling with the rainwater in a vivid crimson stain. Sticking out of the carriage door was a kunai stained with fresh blood.
"How… how is this possible?! Third Brother was killed instantly!" gasped the second brother, his face pale with disbelief as he stared at the lifeless body of the driver. Even the usually composed eldest brother wore an expression of utter shock.
"The worthless shinobi of the Land of Sakura couldn't possibly have caught up so quickly, let alone kill Third Brother in an instant. Could it be shinobi from one of the Five Great Nations?! No, that's impossible. Kumogakure, the closest of the Five Great Villages, is still at least two days away. They couldn't possibly appear this soon! Who could this be?!?" Though outwardly stunned, the eldest brother's mind raced furiously, trying to piece together what had just happened.