Kaen spoke first, arms folded but tone steady. "We let the warehouse guards keep patrolling so the place looks protected. Meanwhile we hide inside one of your seal formations that conceals chakra. The defenses look normal from the outside while our real strength stays hidden. If they come, we might catch them off guard."
Sena's eyes slid to him, almost impressed. She did not say it, but I could tell she had not expected him have such a good plan. I was not surprised. I had fought him. For all the power he liked to throw around, he planned his moves. Still, this was sharper than I expected.
I scratched my head. "I can set up seals that do that. The problem is that once they are active, they block my sensing. Yours too," I added, pointing at Sena. "So we won't feel anything approaching until it's right on top of us. On the upside, the seal makes it harder for anyone outside to focus on us or even watch directly, as long as we don't go throwing around powerful ninjutsu or burning too much chakra."
Kaen's mouth tilted up like he had been waiting for that. "I will handle early warning with my eyes."
Sena nodded. "That is a strong start. We still need a backup plan for surprises."
His smirk thinned. He looked like he thought she was undercutting him, but she read it and kept her voice smooth.
"I am not dismissing your idea," she said, polite smile in place and eyes sharp. "It is a good strategy, Kaen. Sound plans still need contingencies. Think of them as support, not replacements."
He held her gaze, then shrugged. Annoyance stayed in his eyes, but he let it go.
Sena continued. "I will place explosive tags along the walls, the floor, and inside the warehouse. Noa, I will need one of your shadow clones stationed inside to trigger them if anyone slips past us."
I nodded. "Fine by me. But let's keep expectations real. If she is a chunin, stalling her will be rough. I might be strong, but she will probably have me beat in chakra reserves and experience."
Kaen gave me a flat glare like honesty was an insult. I fake coughed.
"What I mean is that I will not hold her forever. That is the truth."
He smirked again. "If you are scared of her, step aside. I will take her when she shows."
I let the jab pass. "Fine by me. She uses Wind Release. My lightning will be less effective."
Shisui chose that moment to speak. His voice was calm and final. "Noa will engage her."
The floor seemed to shift under Kaen. "Sensei, I can do it."
"Not yet," Shisui said. "She is a Wind Release specialist and she is fast. Faster than you can track with your current speed. Noa can already keep up with that level of movement. That is the difference."
Kaen's Sharingan turned once. "My Sharingan will help."
"She is an experienced kunoichi," Shisui replied. "I know of her. She will understand how to fight around the Sharingan. You are not ready."
Kaen dropped his eyes. Frustration tightened his shoulders. Shisui let the silence breathe, then eased his tone.
"I told you before, Kaen. I will work with you on speed. When you sharpen that edge, you will handle threats like her without hesitation. As for learning to use your Sharingan as a weapon, I am one of the best teachers you will find in this village."
Kaen straightened. The anger did not vanish, but respect settled over it. "I will do my best to learn from you, Shisui sensei."
Shisui gave him a short nod and looked at me. The warning in his eyes was clear. "Noa, this fight will be dangerous. Stay alert. Do not get careless. If you relax at the wrong moment, you lose."
I stood a little straighter. "Yes, sensei."
He turned to Sena. "You will coordinate. Review the plan with them and prepare every tool you need. I will rely on you to keep the formation tight."
Sena's smile lost its polish and turned firm. "Understood. I will see it through."
"Good," Shisui said.
Sena clapped her hands once, her tone brisk. "All right. Let's finalize positions and timing."
We shifted closer around her notes, the scratch of paper and the quiet shuffle of feet filling the room. The atmosphere had grown heavier, more focused. For a moment it felt like the real mission had already begun.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door. Sena straightened and went to open it. Tamon stood there with a worker behind him carrying a tray.
"I had a light breakfast prepared," Tamon said, smooth as always. "Nothing heavy. You will need to stay quick. There is fresh water as well. Please enjoy."
Sena accepted the tray with a respectful nod. "Your hospitality is appreciated, Tamon san."
He waved once, then slipped out. The worker trailed after him, and the door closed softly, leaving the room in silence.
Kaen moved like a starving wolf. "Finally."
I moved just as fast. No way was I letting Kaen snatch the best piece for himself. We both reached for the same plate of sliced bread, the ones layered with cheese. Across from us, Sena's eyes narrowed on the tray. She quickly snatched up a slice of her own and lifted it close to her nose, breathing in sharply. Once. Twice. Her face hardened, and when she spoke, her voice cut across the room, sharp and cold.
"Don't eat that."
I froze with the bread halfway in my mouth. Kaen had already bitten into his piece, chewing once, but he stopped short before swallowing. His jaw locked, and a heartbeat later he spat the food back onto the tray, wiping his tongue roughly with the edge of his sleeve.
"There is something mixed into the cheese," Sena said.
My first thought was water, then I looked at the pitcher and felt stupid for even thinking it. If the food was tainted, the water might be as well.
We turned to Shisui. For the first time since this mission started, he smiled.
"Good work, Sena." His gaze shifted to me and Kaen, the faint smile already gone. "You both carry rations sealed away, yet you chose not to use them now. That is the point of personal supplies. A shinobi should not trust food or drink they did not prepare themselves, or that did not come from someone they trust completely, especially when outside the village. Always assume the worst until proven otherwise."
Kaen and I both stared at the floor like two kids caught stealing sweets. In my case, I actually had experience, so you could say I was already trained for the role.
Shisui nodded toward Sena. "Your nose is sharp. Catching a trace that faint is impressive."
Sena dipped her head slightly. "It is an honor to be praised by someone as perceptive as you, sensei. I had special training to recognize and resist different poisons and mixtures."
She leaned closer and sniffed again, slow and careful. "A mild relaxant. Very light. On its own it does little. But if we ate it at breakfast, then again at lunch, and once more at dinner, the buildup would leave us sluggish if the enemy chose to strike tonight."
My jaw tightened. I glanced at the door. Every part of me wanted to hunt Tamon down and ask him a few questions.
"Wait," Sena said, seeing it on my face. "We do not know if it is his doing. There could be someone else in the warehouse working with the bandits."
Kaen grunted. "Check the records again. If he is dirty, it will show."
"That would take too long," Sena said firmly. "We do not have that time. Our focus should be on finishing the formation and preparations before the enemy makes their move."
I looked to Shisui. "Sensei, can you watch him at least?"
He shook his head. "This is your mission. Plan for what you suspect and prepare for surprises. Do not rely on me to cover your blind spots."
Great. Of course, the training had to be practical.
I turned to Kaen. "You take the bandits when they show, but hold back your chakra. Use weapons and taijutsu as much as possible. We do not know how many enemies will come, and I will already be burning a lot fighting the chunin."
He nodded, still annoyed, but on board.
Sena set the tray aside. "I will secure the warehouse with Noa's clone and support when I can. Let's get the layout settled."
We gathered around her notes. She drew a quick map of the warehouse and the streets outside, then marked placements for tags, clone positions, and sight lines for the Sharingan. The faint smell of tainted cheese clung to the air. It felt like a warning. The fight had started long before the first kunai flew.