I found this good-condition softcover at a local thrift shop. It's a manga series I hadn't heard of before, so I had to give it a try.

Turns out it's quite entertaining - but also quite bloody and often grim, despite the Ridiculously Cute Critter on the cover. (That's a young tanuki, rescued by the protagonist.) The premise: rascally Utsuho is a talented ninja-in-training, but loves to fib his way out of his duties. We learn that he's guilty because, as a young child, he told the truth - to a group of strangers, about the layout of his family home, which led to an invasion and a massacre which only he survived. Guilt-trip indeed...

At the moment he's living in a village of other orphans, with a kindly old monk caring for them and teaching them. But - surprise! - this state of affairs is doomed to end too soon and very violently, thanks to a heart-wrenching betrayal. This kicks off Utsuho's quest, to use his talent for lying to avenge his friends, do good for others, and battle evil.

[There's a TV Tropes page on the series.]

I plan to leave this book on a picnic table or window ledge at the ice cream stand at around 4; hope the finder enjoys it!

[See other recent releases in NH here.]

*** Released for the 2017 One Word Title release challenge. ***