After heading home, you take a shower and then go over reports for the rest of the afternoon. Nothing stands out, so things are stable as you've predicted for this time period. The tournament would be over at the end of this week, and after that all bets were off. You would probably have to meet up with a few of the Leaf's clan heads at the least...
Eh. You could worry about that when the time came. No need to stress out. There's also the meeting with Tsunade coming up before anything else; you were worried about her possibly being in a bad mood with Sakura's eventual loss coming up, but that doesn't seem to be a factor anymore. Plus she's taken a liking to you, which is nice.
You'd have to see about getting her some time with Grams.
After a few more minutes of reading, you realize there's something you can do in a low power state. It wouldn't hurt to meet with some of the Leaf jounin and see what they thought of the tournament. It's the weekend, so a few of them are probably getting together for a drink or two.
You close your book and set down your pen, leaving your room. The living area is occupied by Hikari, who notices you and salutes crisply from her position on the sofa. You nod to acknowledge her and head past the kitchen towards the girls' room, knocking on the door twice.
"Come in," Hannah calls back.
"Yo," you say as you open the door. Hannah and Ritsu are lying side by side on their bed. Ritsu has a book in her hands and peers over it as you enter. "I had an idea for a few outings. We're taking it easy for the night, but I thought we should see the town and get to know people a bit better."
"What did you have in mind, love?"
"I was gonna ask our guardians to guide us to the most popular watering hole. And after that, we could head over to a hot spring I was looking at earlier. Aside from Hot Water, Fire Country has the best hot spring spots on the continent."
"They are known for that, yes. Along with the lovely year round weather," Hannah says. "Just the two of us for the first, and then everyone together for the next?"
"Yeah. If everyone wants to come, of course."
"I think it could be fun, sir," Ritsu says as she sets down her book. "We should all go to a spring together. Although...what kind of place did you have in mind?"
"I earmarked it in the magazine on the kitchen table. It's a nice and cozy place, affordable for our tastes, and has private facilities."
"Mixed bathing, yes?" Hannah asks with a smile.
You grunt playfully. "Nothing less for our princess, obviously. I know you couldn't handle being away from me."
"Thank you for thinking of me, sir."
You give Ritsu a nod. "I know you're still a bit self-conscious when it comes to your body, so I didn't want to do too much. I'm sure Haru and Hikari already know, so..."
"By the by," Hannah says with a smile, "those are reasons two and three that I'd like to go with everyone. I'm very curious as to the faces beneath those masks...and everything else, of course. Hmhm."
"You'll get your chance, if they agree anyways. I'll ask while you get ready. An hour?"
"Plenty of time. I'll try not to make myself too alluring, though it's a heavy task," she says with a wink.
"The little black dress is out. Both of them."
"Aw. Fine, fine. An hour, then."
"Thanks. See you in a bit."
You leave the room and see that Haru has joined Hikari in the living area. She nods politely to you as Hikari salutes again.
"Afternoon, ladies. Hannah and I are heading out to get the pulse of the town."
"Did you want to stop by one of the drinking establishments, sir?" Haru asks.
"Yeah, exactly that. Was gonna ask you what place is good."
"There's a place that was launched about a decade ago and became popular very quickly. It's the go to establishment today for shinobi for many reasons, including the quality and variety of drinks on their menu. There's also delicious food cooked in small batches, which is a treat if you're hungry but don't want to eat an entire meal. The place is called Radiant House, and shinobi of all kinds gather there nightly."
"Neat. Oh, anything we need to know about? Etiquette and stuff like that?"
"Nothing serious, sir. The place is neutral territory and fighting is almost non-existent. The few employees working behind the scenes are retired shinobi of varying ages, and the owner is tough in her own right. Her name is Leona Yamasaki, and she worked with her mother and father from the time of the bar's opening. They're still part owners, but Leona runs everything by herself now, as she has for the past four years."
"That's pretty cool. Radiant House, then. Do you mind coming with us?"
"It's not a problem, sir. You won't be drinking, will you?"
"No, no. Probably could get away with it with effort, but don't want to risk anything. Kushina would kill all of us once she found out," you say with a grimace. "If you wanna knock back a few, we'll take care of you, though."
"Thank you, sir. I might take you up on that offer, as fair warning."
You smile. "Heh. Got it. And the next item...we're going to a closed-off little spring later tonight. The other girls are in, and we'd all like you two to come along."
"Us?" Haru asks. Hikari makes a contemplative noise and tilts her head.
"Yeah. I mean, if it's okay with you. Seriously, no pressure."
"Hm. Lady Kuiper surely has some...no, many ulterior motives when it comes to things like this. But that's not terribly troublesome..." She turns to Hikari. "What do you think?"
"Ma'am."
"Permission to speak freely, Hikari."
"Yes. I...think it would be nice to do. They're going to be treating us, and it's a good way to bond as well."
"You really do like everyone, don't you?"
"Very much, Sister Haru."
"Hm. Well, that's fair. I feel the same way." Haru turns back to you and nods. "Alright, then. We'd be happy to join you. Of course, that means revealing our identities in part to you, but...that's no cause for concern. Not only do we trust you, but we look forward to some amusing expressions on your parts."
Haru was a spicy one, wasn't she...and to think, you'd probably be dealing with that full time in a matter of weeks.
Not a bad prospect.
"Alright, then it's settled. We'll be back in a few hours and then we can head out together."
"Of course. Thank you for thinking of us," Haru says as she bows her head.
"Sir. Thank you very much, sir." Hikari follows suit.
"No problem. You two have been really good to us, so I thought it was the right thing to do. Anyways, I'm gonna go and get freshened up. Hold down the fort for us, Hikari. See you in a few, Haru."
---
Since it was going to be a relatively warm night, you felt that you could go with something lighter while not standing out too much. Your favourite hat as always went on your head. A crisp set of black pants went with a t-shirt in a red and black checker pattern. You think it makes you look a little sophisticated.
"Should be good." You leave your room and see that Hannah and Haru are near the door waiting. True to her word, Hannah didn't go overboard and wears something relatively simple. Her long hair is loosely braided and sits on her left shoulder. There's the pink, short sleeved shirt with light floral patterns running through it, a small gold necklace, and an ankle length red skirt that is supported by two white belts.
"Oh, there you are. Looking as handsome as ever," she says with a smile. "You don't mind a bit of gold on me, do you?"
"Not at all. You look great."
"Thank you. Compliments from you are, as always, the absolute best. Since we're both prepared, shall we go?"
"Yeah. We'll hang out for a while and then get back here. The resort I checked out is open whenever, which is interesting."
"It certainly is, but I imagine that the prices keep things orderly by themselves. Fortunate that money is little problem for us," Hannah says as she flips open her compact mirror.
"Small mercies, yeah. Let's hit the town. Haru, if you'd lead the way?"
"Of course. Hikari, take care of things until we return. At that time, you'll know if you have to take point for a while afterwards."
Hikari moves towards the three of you and salutes. "Ma'am, understood, ma'am. Please be safe, everyone. Sir, ma'ams."
You take turns petting her head before leaving the hotel room, then the hotel altogether. Sunday evening in the Leaf is calm, but with a lot more people around than you were used to. Plenty of families out and about, with children begging their parents to buy them treats and the periodic wail of a hungry or cranky infant. There were couples all over too, who were no doubt looking around and thinking about starting their own families.
"Peace is a beautiful thing, isn't it?" Haru asks.
"Sure is. The Leaf's pretty big, I never took it all in till today. I bet the population has been booming lately."
"It has been. More and more of us have been having children, from civilians to shinobi alike. Even Sharingan Kakashi has a child."
"No kidding?" you ask.
"His wife is one of Sakura's mentors, very much like a sister to her. And probably the most talented of Lady Tsunade's apprentices. She was born Rin Nohara, but by now she's taken on the Hatake name. Their child is five by now, I believe."
"Hm." The same age as Aria, then. Maybe in a more peaceful age, they'd cross paths. You wonder how likely that would be.
"You can talk to him about it on your own, since he should be down at Radiant House with his wife, sir. There's pretty much a queue to babysit her at this point."
"Heh. Popular kid. And from what I know, Kakashi's a hero of the village, so that helps."
"Well, sir...there's also that saying from long ago. 'It takes a village to raise a child'...we've taken that very much to heart. The Honoured Third used to babysit children alongside his work, and he would always take time out of his daily schedule to visit children at the Academy and give them tours. He's really great like that."
"Yeah? Fond of him, then?"
"Very much so. Especially after he personally encouraged me on my way to ANBU, sir. He still does and checks on me, along with his wife, Lady Biwako. It's like my grandparents are right here in the village with me each day. The village is family. That's the Will of Fire at its core."
"I see. Something like that..." You nod. "Yeah. It's a good thing to have."
"I'm glad you agree, sir. Well, it looks like we've arrived."
The outside doesn't look like anything terribly special, but there's a neatness to it that looks appealing. A large chalkboard is outside the front door, with the specials listed for the day and the featured beer on tap. The word 'radiant' is written on the front door in western script. Haru pushes the door inward and ushers you and Hannah inside.
Inside, it looks comfortable. Plenty of tables, and some areas with leather-lined benches. There are two or three tables lined with green felt, and a billiards table in the back near them. The bar stands out with its polished black wood and shining gold rails going around the sides. People stand between the fixed stools and make their orders or chat with each other. It's lively and you can only faintly hear music coming from radios in the back of the building. Working the bar is who you assume to be the owner Haru was talking about earlier. She's sharply dressed in black with a white vest, and her chin-length hair flows downwards in a gradient of blue.
Her head tilts upwards as she notices Haru with her pale blue eyes, and she nods to your left while filling up a glass of beer from the tap. The head comes up to the lip of the glass pefectly as she shuts the tap off and pushes the order to a waiting shinobi customer.
Haru takes you over to the furthest open seat, and you dust it off for Hannah before seating her. You stand on her left and Haru on her right as Leona brings a square bottle and a small glass.
"On the clock?" she asks.
"No," Haru replies. "Today is a social day."
"'Kay. One second." Leona spins around and starts mixing drinks in two bigger glasses, creating cascading colours and a steady fizz you can see as she hands them to you and Hannah. "Pop back over when you want more. I'll send over some extra goodies in a bit. Welcome to Radiant House, kids."
"Thank you," you say with a nod.
"Your hospitality is much appreciated," Hannah says.
"Neat. My name's Leona, and my parents are getting up there in age so I took over the place a few years ago. This is slightly above the usual pace, with the tournament in town. Can't say I hate it, though I won't mind when things shift back to normal. Locals are always easier to deal with." She looks over at Haru. "Junior Ranger not with you today?"
"Busy with security detail. An important guest," Haru says.
"Ah, got it. Well, enjoy your drinks. Mama Uzumaki might pop in any time and I don't want her to catch the kids sipping booze. The lovebirds are in for their Sunday evening drinks as usual. Both sets, I mean."
"So all of the first-year teachers are here, then."
"Might Guy's somewhere in the back being hot-blooded, too. Same as ever. You guys have fun, I'll poke you in a bit if it slows down any."
"Thank you, Leona."
She waves with one hand while mixing more drinks, and your small group leaves for a regular table further back.
"Oh, hey! Haru! Did you guys want to sit with us?" a voice calls to the three of you. You see a brown-haired woman giving you a friendly wave. "Don't be shy, now!"
"Ah, just the ones we were looking for," Haru says. "Let's move some tables and chairs over to get a good fit." The leather seats are facing forward here, so you can easily push another table closer and merge it with the one already present. Hannah takes a seat beside the friendly lady from earlier while you pull up a chair and sit across from her with Haru. This seems to be the smoking section, which they've chosen to accommodate the bearded gentleman with the cigarette in his mouth, who is beside Haru. There's a woman with wild black hair and red eyes next to him. The last member is a relaxed-looking fellow with white hair and his headband tilted over his left eye.
"I won't be drinking too much tonight, despite appearances," Haru announces, moving her bottle to the middle of the table. She's already poured herself a glass. "So feel free to indulge tonight."
"Hoh, pretty generous of you."
"You've tried this before, Asuma?" his companion asks.
"Nah, but anything's good at least once."
"You have a way of sounding adventurous, at least."
"Ouch," he says with a smile. "I'll apologize for whatever it is I did later."
"Well, ignoring the rampant flirting going on next to you...it's very nice to meet you guys. We've been hearing a few things here and there. My name's Rin Hatake, and the always weary-looking guy next to me, believe it or not, is my husband Kakashi." Rin gives you a sunny smile. She has bright brown eyes and rectangular purple markings that go diagonally across her cheeks. Her brown hair runs past her shoulders and frames her face in front.
"Yo." Sharingan Kakashi is laid back, as his wife mentioned. His white hair is shaggy-looking and swept to his left side. The drink in front of him is half-empty, and you wonder briefly how that works with his mask on.
"Kakashi, that's not much of a greeting."
"I'm sure they know who I am. Nice to meet you both, either way. Blue Arrow and Gold Reaper, I presume. Itachi and I talk from time to time, so..."
"Kakashi can be too casual sometimes, which makes it a miracle that his kids got this far in the tourney," the wild-haired woman says.
"Well, it's true that I didn't have to do too much work...but you're the one with a fancy clan heiress on your side, Kurenai."
"That's not even...ugh, whatever." She waves him off and he sighs. "Anyways, my name's Kurenai Yuuhi. It's nice meeting you two." She wears the standard Leaf uniform, but has red and white bandages wrapped around her arms up to her wrists. Her hair is thick and has a lot of curls in it.
"Same here. Asuma Sarutobi," the smoking gentleman says. "As you could guess, Old Man Third is my dad. Don't expect me to become some sort of living god like he is, though. Just someone who's damn good at what he does." You could see the resemblance already, and they share that smoking habit. He has a strong face, especially the jawline. Talk about him has reached you from time to time, since he's one of the Fire Country Guard after all.
"Nice meeting you all. Thanks for having us over," you say.
"We appreciate it very much," Hannah follows. "Coming out tonight, we wanted to socialize and maybe get some thoughts about recent events."
"Neat. So, what's the deal with you two?" Rin asks. "You know, relationship and all."
"Highly compatible life partners," Hannah says proudly.
"Eh...sounds vague."
"Exactly. We can't exactly give the entire game away, my dear."
Rin gives you a look and you shrug. "She's got a flair for the dramatic. But...she's also not wrong. It's not a relationship you can easily sum up, you know?"
"Hm...well, I get it. Did you meet at work?"
"We did, actually. She sought me out and we hit it off on our first job together. The rest is history. What about you two?" you ask before sipping on your drink.
"Kakashi and I knew each other since we were kids. In the Academy and then on a team together. Our sensei and team leader was none other than the Fourth Hokage himself," Rin says.
"She likes to mention that point a lot," Kakashi quips after her.
"And why not? It's not like I have just that, anyways."
"True. Lord Hokage is pretty cool, anyways...so it makes sense to rub it in at times."
"Going there right away, huh."
"You know me."
"And what of our other pair of love birds? When did you two decide to go steady?" Hannah asks.
"What makes you think we're together like that?" Kurenai asks.
Hannah raises a brow and looks at her.
"It's interesting that you're still trying to deny it," Haru says.
"Shut up, fox girl."
"Seriously, the cat's all the way out of the bag and on the roof," Rin jokes. "You're obviously a little more than friends and with obviously more than a few benefits."
"You didn't have to say that much!"
"Well, I know Asuma doesn't buy women's perfume for himself...so when he's got it all over him you can just assume-"
"Shut up, Kakashi. Seriously."
He raises his hands in surrender.
"We started actually-for-real dating close to a year ago," Asuma says as he snuffs out his cigarette and lights another. "It's gotten a bit more serious and complicated because of work. Shinobi stuff. Not in a bad way, though. The lady friend is in her first year of teaching after being a responsibility-free elite for a while."
"Hoh. Responsibility-free...remind me how you found the time to become a guardsman while being a village elite yourself?"
"Yeah, yeah. I was a vagabond for a while, trying to find myself and all. Journeys of self-discovery. You know the drill. I kept in touch with you, didn't I?"
"I never took you for the sentimental type before then. You sent two letters a day."
"That sounds like a complaint."
"What? It's not, stop being a dummy."
"They really are in love, aren't they?" Hannah comments.
"Outings with them always end up like this," Rin says with a smile. "They keep getting lost in their own world. It's really cute. So...we heard you were at the tournament yesterday."
"Yeah, in the good ninja seats even," you say.
"Sakura was so cool, wasn't she?! Kakashi gave her a good start, obviously, but all the work Lady Tsunade and I put in paid off! I'm just happy she got past the first round with that kind of draw. Sasuke...well, he's gonna be a mountain to climb. But I know she'll do her best, and that's all I could ever ask for."
"How did you get your start with Lady Tsunade?"
Rin thinks for a moment before looking to Kakashi. He nods and she nods back.
"It was a while ago. Times were changing, and a friend was on my mind. Do you know about Kannabi Bridge?"
"Heard about it a little. You guys were responsible for that, right?"
"Yes. During the third great war. Kakashi and I were on a team with a guy named Obito. Obito Uchiha. He..." She laughs softly. "We had been friends for a really long time, since we were kids. He ended up having the biggest crush on me, but of course I was infatuated with the wonder child next to me. Even if he was cold on the outside."
Kakashi nods in the background. His mug is now empty and a waitress glides over to collect it.
"Obito was clumsy, kind of middling sometimes. But he was such a hard worker and did everything he could to be great. He was always late for meetings because there was always an old person he had to help out on his way over. Sensei always let it go but he and Kakashi had fights all the time. They were always competing, sorta. Obito was on the losing end a lot. 'Just wait until my Sharingan awakens!' he'd always say. I believed in him...believed that he'd reach his dream of becoming Hokage, and of giving light to the Uchiha Clan. Obito was a reliable guy."
She stops to sip at her beer and holds the mug in both hands.
"Things got messy on the mission. Sensei had to pick up somewhere else, so Kakashi was our team leader. He was a jounin, by the way. That young, yes. Wonder child. You know how it is."
"I wasn't that good."
"Hush, you. You were amazing. Still are. Anyway...I got kidnapped by Rock shinobi. They tried to use genjutsu on me but I held out as long as I could. Kakashi and Obito fought their way to me."
"I was stubborn," he says. "I wanted to finish the mission at all costs because that's what I thought was right. I was fighting against what happened to my father. The Leaf's White Fang. Obito looked up to him, knowing what he did. He reminded me of what my father fought for. We set aside our differences and went after Rin together. He awakened his Sharingan, finally. He became my eyes after I lost one of mine."
"They rescued me, but that wasn't the end of it. Rock shinobi cornered us and created a cave-in. And...Obito sacrificed himself to save Kakashi. Half of him was crushed under a boulder, and we had no time. Before...before we lost him, he gave Kakashi a gift. It was his birthday, and all..."
"The Sharingan," you say. "So that's where the legend began, then."
"Yes. And he made me promise to protect Rin. I felt like trash for what happened. I felt like it was all my fault. But he was with me in the Sharingan that he gave to me. He still is."
"Obito's dream of a better world drove us forward. I didn't think I had anything left, but one day Lady Tsunade happened to be in the village. I threw myself at her feet and begged her to take me on as an apprentice. To teach me everything she knew. At first, she was hesitant, but I kept going until she decided to train me. It was tough at first, but I kept thinking of Obito. He was the reason I could keep going."
"And it was he who brought your hearts together in the end," Hannah says.
"Hehe...you know, I could hear his voice in my head sometimes. 'That Kakashi is stupid, he's all wrong and lazy, he's a huge jerk and...he's someone who would take care of you for life. We made a promise as brothers, after all!' Stuff like that. Kakashi was the only person he could stand losing to when it came to love."
"He kept pestering me inside of my head, too. 'Stupid Kakashi, if you make Rin cry I'll come back to life and kick your ass!' Dumb things like that," Kakashi says.
"Yeah! Obito...he really was the best. But yeah...his memory was what gave me the push to try and become one of the best medics in the world. I get to pass that knowledge down to Sakura, and one day she can pass that down to someone else. It's great, isn't it?"
"You forgot about your kid already?" Asuma jokes.
"Of course not! I was getting to her," Rin pouts. "Our little girl is five years old, and we tell her about Uncle Obito as often as we can. Her name's Tsuyu. Cute, eh?" She makes a face at Kakashi. "Her papa had some other ideas for names, with that sick sense of humour he has..."
"What...what'd I do?"
"Oi, don't play with me! If we have another child and you get the idea to farm one of those dirty books for names, I'll show you something more terrifying than the Lightning Edge!"
"Something beyond comprehension. Scary," Asuma laughs. "I'll name my child something simple, just to be on the safe side."
"Oh yeah? That'll be interesting," Kurenai says with a smug smile.
"You have names picked out already?"
"E-eh...of course not. I'm not planning on getting pregnant any time soon. Who do you have designs on, exactly?"
"Who else? Hey, your old man keeps hinting at me, so what am I supposed to do?"
"Ignore him. Ignore him," Kurenai protests. "You seriously need to stop entertaining him, I know you are. And you're getting Lady Biwako involved, too."
"Ah? Mom already has Konohamaru to fawn over."
"Don't try and trick me. She keeps talking about grandchildren in earshot. Loudly. Very loudly. It's your fault."
"Kakashi's students are all through to the semifinals," Haru says. "Rin isn't a teacher herself yet, which Lord Sarutobi lamented, and Lord Fourth laments now."
"Tsunade wants a monopoly on my time. She's super stubborn. Plus she really likes me, and so does Shizune. Coincidentally, she's going to be doing demonstrations at the university up north a few times each year. Oh, right," Rin says to you, "Shizune is the niece of Dan Kato, a village hero from long ago. He's passed on by now...he used to be Tsunade's lover."
"Ah..." You would have to ask about that later. Maybe that's why Rin's plea resonated with Tsunade so strongly.
"Unfortunately since this year was so loaded with talent, we only had Team Seven and a member of Team Eight get through this year," Rin continues. "You met a few of the kids already, which is how we knew you were watching the fights. Be a little delicate with Sakura, though."
"Delicate?" you ask.
"Ah, more competition?" Hannah says playfully. "I suppose that I really should lock you up soon. Keeping you away from certain vixens, especially."
"And what makes you think I have designs on your team leader?" Haru asks.
"You sing a strong tune for the moment, dear Haru. I eagerly await your thoughts later."
You're sure she's bright red under that mask right now. Actually, that does explain her probing after your talk with Mei and the Mist girls. Hm.
"The preliminaries were fun enough, too. Plenty of comedy all around," Kakashi says, looking over at Asuma. The man in question groans and taps ashes into the tray next to him.
"I don't think he wants to talk about it much," Kurenai says. "Frankly, I wouldn't either."
"His students are the latest Ino-Shika-Cho trio," Haru explains. "There's heavy tradition in those three bloodlines. Inoichi's daughter Ino, Shikaku's son Shikamaru, and Choza's son Choji."
"Oh, I see. I'm guessing there might be a problem with Shikamaru taking over the group's pace?" you say, thinking about Shikaku and his lightning fast analysis.
"The opposite," Rin says. "He's a genius with zero drive. Asuma had to trick him in order to take a proper IQ test, and he got close to flunking out of the Academy because he was asleep in class all the time. He's not a bad person, far from it...but he doesn't exactly show off his potential often."
"He drew Sasuke in the preliminaries," Kakashi says. "And the two of them went back and forth for ten minutes on whether or not he should bother fighting. After that he had enough and quit."
"Least he could have done was throw a punch," Asuma mutters. "Damn slacker."
"Well, he wasn't wrong to assume Sasuke would flatten him," Kurenai replies.
"It's about the spectacle, dammit. Make me look good in front of the Hokage, at least?"
"Ino drew Shino, and that ended in a double knockout," Kurenai continues. "Sakura got Choji, and he tried, but we saw how that went. Kiba...he's okay now, but the match with Gaara really shook him up. So that left Hinata, who took out Temari. What was really surprising was seeing all of Guy's kids go down. Naruto and Lee was a good fight, with Naruto winning, obviously."
"Neji got absolutely cranked," Rin says with a wince. "I mean there's quick victories and then there's that."
"Yeah. And then one of the Mist girls went ahead and dismantled Tenten. Shiori, I think. The same one who beat Hinata yesterday," Kurenai replies. "The other one, Junko, beat the puppet-user from Sand."
"How happy are you with the results?" you ask.
"I'm pretty happy. Kiba did well against a strong opponent, and Shino did his part too. Ino's very crafty. Hinata was wonderful all the way to the end...I'm very proud of her."
"It's a wash for me," Asuma says. "Ino was great, and Choji tried his damndest. Shikamaru...I'm not that upset with him, honestly. Just annoyed. He probably saw the writing on the wall and worked on backing himself out. It's those qualities that produce good commanders."
"Could you explain what you saw, Asuma?" Hannah asks.
"What he saw?" Kurenai echoes.
"Yes. It sounds very much like he's his father's child, as they say."
"Heh. Clever one," Asuma says with a smile. "Shikamaru has a habit of thinking several moves ahead. We play shogi together and I've never beaten him once. When he got to the arena floor, he was looking around at the walls, at all the space around him, and at Sasuke. So it was a boring fight in that there wasn't any direct physical combat, but he was looking past all of that. Sasuke's got a brain on him too, so he was doing things like pacing, moving his hands near his weapons, turning his Sharingan on for a bit each time...small things that add up."
"Shikamaru was looking for an opening, or rather he was looking to create a scenario where there was a possibility of victory. Keeping Sasuke engaged for that long meant that he was searching pretty diligently," you conclude. "Like a game of shogi, or even chess."
"Yeah. And when he couldn't see anything else, he gave up on it," Asuma says.
"Excellent analysis. And at such a young age, too. Reminds me of someone," Hannah says as she looks at you.
"Maybe. That someone would say that Shikamaru sounds more talented."
"That person shouldn't go selling themselves short."
"Actually, I want to talk about you, wonder boy. Apparently you handed Guy his ass the other day?" Asuma asks.
"The jounin were sure buzzing," Rin says. "By the middle of next week everyone will know for sure. I was pretty shocked myself, I mean dueling someone like that in taijutsu and winning by a mile!"
"According to people who were watching, Guy didn't land a hit at all while using three Gates. That's seriously impressive, and a little scary considering your age," Kakashi says. "It's easy to forget sometimes, that there are talented kids just waiting in the wings like you two. Though the whole fight...well, I know Guy's apologized already, but I feel like I have to as well, for everyone's sake."
Asuma nods. "Same here. That was textbook bullying, and really no good on Jiraiya's part."
"I must confess to pushing some of his buttons beforehand. But his dislike of my beloved was rooted in superstition far before that," Hannah says.
"Verbal sparring with Lord Jiraiya? Kakashi's right, you kids really are frightening," Kurenai says nervously.
"She wouldn't be the Golden Reaper otherwise, yeah? But welcome to the village proper," Rin says while taking hold of her mug. "Speaking of villages...those Mist girls are something else. Junko, was it? She came super close to beating Sasuke, and having the guts to decide the match for herself was amazing. And then Shiori was so skilled in her fight, she knew almost exactly what to do at each turn. It's going to be exciting to see her match with Naruto, even if people think the outcome is decided already. And the last..."
"..."
"Lady Tsunade told me about it...the Limiter. That poor girl..."
"I wonder what she was thinking back there," Asuma says. "How much of it was fear, and how much of it was duty. Maybe it was both mixed together, and we just can't go ahead and separate the two."
"What do you think?" Kakashi asks you.
"Something like that...I can't forgive. People aren't tools."
"Even in this world of shinobi?"
"Even then. Those who fight for their nations fight for something, a dream or a wish. Hisano was made into a weapon before she was born. She was robbed of that choice. As she is now, she can never become someone."
"A world of rules and tools was what I thought I wanted. I know better now, thankfully. A friend taught me that."
"We're going to fight forward, and reach Obito's dream. So that we don't have to see people like Hisano suffer this way. Maybe there will always be fighting in some form, but it doesn't mean that we should give up working for a better tomorrow," Rin says. "For Tsuyu especially, and for everyone we love."
"To a better tomorrow, then. For one and all," Haru says as she raises her glass.
"A better tomorrow," you all say in unison. You knock your glasses together and drink.
---
Kakashi and Rin share stories from their time in the field, and at home. He dilligently looked out for her as part of Obito's last request, feeling guilty for what happened and unworthy of her affection. Time passed and their bond slowly deepened to the point where Kakashi was willing to give Rin a chance. They dated, eventually got married, and had their daughter Tsuyu five years ago. Their marriage of eight years is as lively as ever.
Asuma and Kurenai have a more casual relationship but care for each other a lot. They debate marriage for different reasons. Kurenai doesn't feel pressured to get married by anyone, but she wants to make her father happy if she does have a child. What you pick up from their bickering is that they might have one out of wedlock sooner rather than later, and that a plain name will be chosen. Something like Shirou if it's a boy, or Mirai if it's a girl. Just a hunch.
Haru is her snappy, hot-tongued self as she attempts to open up everyone's dark histories. Rin successfully scolds her away from the subject.
It's later than you originally planned when everyone disperses, but you don't mind. Rin invites you and Hannah over for a dinner date - gushing as she did the whole night about you two - and to see Tsuyu. You sincerely promise to find a good date to drop by. Everyone disperses around the same time, and you wait outside with Hannah while Haru has a talk with Leona.
"That was refreshing. They're all lovely people, no?" Hannah asks.
"Yeah. I like 'em. Everyone's got their own story to tell...the world turns in a lot of different ways, and affects a lot of different people at once. What you make of it depends on whether or not you grab hold of the future in front of you. We're all built for it. The training and mindset, though...that's something else."
"Yes. Obito Uchiha...hm. Perhaps you could ask about him. I wonder if that woman was affected by his loss as well."
"You think? I could ask Auntie Mikoto..."
"Your network is becoming more and more robust. An Uchiha woman dancing in your palm. Scary, indeed."
"You're never going to let that go, are you..."
Hannah smiles. "What fun would that be? A world of middle-aged women at your beck and call. Every man's romance."
"Oh, shut up."
"Apologies for the wait," Haru says as she arrives.
"No worries. Everything okay?" you ask.
"Fine, sir. I simply wanted to catch up with Miss Yamasaki and relay a few things of importance."
"No problem, then. Well, let's head home and collect the others. Hopefully everyone's still up for our trip to the springs."
You make it home and Haru knocks on the door in a pattern. You hear return knocks in a different pattern, and Haru opens the door.
"Sir, ma'ams." Hikari salutes crisply.
"We're back. Alright, grab whatever you gotta before we hit the road again. Towels and all the other fancy stuff you like will be provided at our destination," you announce.
Hannah and Ritsu return with small handbags while the rest of you go as you are. For the first time, the hotel suite is unoccupied as the five of you set out for what remains of the night. By now there's not much in the way of traffic, but the modern village never seems to sleep. Bars and the like are still open until very late, and a few regular restaurants join them. Western-style 'fast food' places are open all night from what you can tell.
You head uptown, where things get quieter and the streets are clear save for a few shinobi doing their walks. The wealthier people have already had their weekend dinner parties and gatherings, and are resting for now if not already asleep. You pass a tea house that is moderately busy, with the sound being kept in by some sort of material. The light spills out onto the street, angled low by the windows and curtains.
"We can arrange for a ride back," Haru says as you near your destination. "They have a service at the front desk, sir."
"Ah, nice. We'll do that, then. There's stuff I wanted to do near home tomorrow."
You approach the front desk, pay the per-person fees, and follow a hostess to your changing area. Nobody else around tonight, which works out for you. The woman hands you a set of folded towels, a bathrobe, and a small bucket with different scented soaps and lotions.
"Thank you."
"Thank you, sir. Please enjoy your stay." She bows and walks off.
After a few minutes, you're sparkling clean and have a towel securely around your waist. Even if it's a ghost town, you shouldn't take any chances when it comes to the rules here. You arrive at the small pool and walk across the wood platform before setting down your things.
"You almost got in before us. Shame, shame..."
"It would have been nice to avoid your ogling for once," you say to Hannah without turning.
"Admiration of the human form shouldn't be looked down upon. To call my patient gaze mere harassment...well, I would class it as an offense if I didn't know you better."
"Do you two always flirt like this?" you hear Haru ask.
"It's nice...I mean, to see," you hear Hikari respond.
"Marriage would just be a formality for them at this point," Ritsu says as she walks towards you. "What's the matter, Master? Avoiding us all of a sudden?"
"Eh."
"Don't tell me you're bored of us already."
"You too? Maybe all the steam in these places is messing with your heads, and you end up saying more silly things than usual. Well, at least it's not blatant sexual harassment."
"I'm concerned that you added that qualifier."
"I'm concerned that I had to."
You decide to finally turn around as the girls gather together. Ritsu gives you a smile and you pat her head. It's a small gathering of people you know, but it doesn't look like she's worried about her appearance. You're happy to see it. Hannah wiggles her eyebrows at you suggestively. Today's towel is of a decent length, at least, if a bit on the thin side.
"No masks tonight, huh."
"We've tried it before, and...things like that are infeasible. Not only the discomfort, but the fact that it reduces capability sharply," Haru explains. You had seen her face before briefly, but this is your first time getting a good look at her. Her body type is more slender than Hannah's, and she's very fit. She has bangs of white hair that stop just above her azure eyes. It's a striking colour that adds to her beauty. You understand a little more why that Captain Taro guy was bothered by her rejecting him.
"It also does bad things to our hair," Hikari says. "And having to taste your own sweat constantly is unpleasant." As you've already noted in the past, she's on the shorter side and seemed well-built...but you underestimated how much, it looks like. She is, as the kids say, ripped. Without the mask you can see that her hair is definitely in a bob cut going down to the chin, and it neatly frames her soft face. Her eyes are hazel and opened up attentively to take everything in.
"So? What do you think?" Hannah asks you.
"What do I think about what?"
"Oh, are we going to play that game?"
"Just answer her so she can stop harassing us," Haru says. "Well? How is it? You can see me, can't you?"
"Nice," you say honestly.
Her mouth closes and you see her cheeks redden a little. "Nice, huh...I see. I appreciate that answer...I guess."
You pause a moment. "Well, it's just that I wasn't trying to be too forward. You're beautiful, honestly."
"Oh, he's flattering you~"
"I can hear it, Hannah." She keeps her head tilted downwards. "Thank you for saying that. I really appreciate it."
You turn your head to Hikari. "You look pretty good too. How much do you work out?"
"Thank you. I asked Master Guy for a training regimen years ago, when I first became a shinobi and saw him walking on his hands around the village."
"Hm." You can actually picture it clearly. Definitely a Might Guy sort of routine.
"As you might guess, his initial advice was a little extreme. I fine-tuned it and obtained a healthy body, which I really enjoyed. So I worked at it more. You really think this look is good?"
"Yeah, definitely. You look great."
"Well, thank you for that." She starts to step into the pool. "We should get in now. Though Sister Haru looks like she's about to overheat as is."
You step in yourself as Haru grumbles. The others follow, casting off their towels as they sink into the water and relax. The pool is small enough here that you can stick close together.
"So? What do you think then, Miss Haru?" Hannah asks.
"Think about what?"
"The young man you've been silently devouring for the past few minutes."
"I'm doing no such thing. Though, to answer your vulgar question-"
"As I knew you would."
"...you're...very handsome, Joshua," she says timidly.
"Eh? Are you okay with that sort of reply, darling?"
"Stop trying to stir up trouble. Haru will look like a tomato within the next five minutes," Ritsu says as she leans back against the edge of the pool.
"My composure isn't so easily broken," she argues back, still blushing.
"It's fine. Thanks for the compliment," you say sincerely.
"You see? It's fine. He knows you want to jump him."
"Don't go and-"
"Hikari? Your thoughts?" Hannah asks as the other girls bicker.
"..." She's silent for a long while. "Very...strong," she says with admiration.
"Mm. An interesting way to put it, but not bad, either." Hannah swims over to you and puts her head on your shoulder. "Not that it matters. This one's mine to keep."
"Hey. Stake your claims later," you joke. "I want to actually relax while we're here."
"Thank you very much for inviting us out with you," Hikari says.
"Yes, thank you. It's a very sweet gesture on your parts," Haru follows. "This entire assignment has been special, in a lot of ways. I guess a bit of intimacy is to be expected, but on this level...it's certainly different. Not to get too emotional, but I'm happy that we get to share this moment. More than that, I'm happy we met."
"I feel the same way," you say. "We all do."
"You've both been lovely to us, as we've said before. Sharing this time with you is among the least of things that we could do," Hannah says.
"Hannah, your...strange inclinations aside, I can see why you're so loved by your comrades."
"Why, thank you. I appreciate that very much, Haru. You yourself are stunning, on the inside and out."
"Don't tease me so often."
"I mean it. You're quite wonderful, and if I could, I would take you home with me."
"She's definitely going to overheat," Ritsu jokes.
"I just might," Haru says with a smile. "Thank you. I'm more than a little overwhelmed right now, but I'm enjoying myself, honestly. Chances to relax and really loosen up don't come often. Sometimes even days off at home aren't really as such, you know?"
"Yeah, I know the feeling well," you say. You put your arm around Hannah and she snuggles closer to you. "Sometimes you're so worried about the next day of work that you're planning for it as soon as you leave the last. Getting out of that mindset is hard, even harder if you're doing work for a village."
"Yes, exactly. Hm...I know a little bit about what brought you here, but not your beginnings. I didn't really want to pry, either. Maybe only briefly, but... what brought you to this point? What made you choose?"
"You mean to ask about me, most of all," Ritsu says.
"Yes. Especially your scars. There are so many, and yet they seem like a part of you. Like they've always been there."
"I was used as a plaything. A yakuza boss wanted me and took me for himself. And when I ran away to try and protect my family...they sold me out. He found me and put the first scar on my back. From there, it only got worse. It was like this for three years."
"I'm sorry to hear that..."
"I am too. It's pain that will never truly leave me. But these scars are a part of me, now." She looks to you. "I put my life in the hands of my master and mistress. They accepted all of me, and helped me become whole again. It was because of their kindness that I made a wish, that I could become as strong and as loving as them. It put me on this path, and brought me here."
"Ritsu. You're very strong," Hikari says.
"Thank you, Hikari. I find it hard to believe myself sometimes, but yes. I am strong. I want to grow stronger each day, so that I can help change the world for good."
"And you, Hannah? You must have a rich history," Haru says.
"I rose from the dirt to grab hold of the strength I have now. I had no family, barely a name, and little in the way of hope. I was an orphan, thrown to the winds. Born irregular, as you remember hearing at the meeting with the Five Kage."
"Yes. So...you were alone as well."
"Indeed. And becoming a warrior may have been part of my blood, but it was ultimately my choice to become one. I found myself in the underworld and became the goddess of death that you gaze upon at this moment. I created this legend with my own two hands."
She raises her hand from the water and places it against your cheek, smiling.
"After meeting this man, my life changed again. He opened his heart to me, and became my first friend."
"I didn't think you would be so...I mean, it's not to say..."
"It's alright. I did isolate myself, despite all the opportunities to form different bonds. But those were not what I wanted at all. All along, it was this sweet feeling. To be called friend, and loved to the core of my being...it brought me a joy that will never be surpassed in this world. And it opened my eyes to my true purpose. To fulfill my destiny as chosen of heaven."
"And...Joshua?"
You think for a moment before answering. "I had a home. I had a lot of things. My grandfather was the same, but he chose to try and change the world. I just wanted to find out why. I wanted to see the world the way he did. It ended up costing a lot. Everything, almost. But on this journey, I've gained new things. New people, and new bonds. New strength. I'm starting to see the path for what it is."
"It wasn't your choice to leave home, but it was your choice to live on. All of you, tossed into the world without a real choice, and yet you fought onward to this point. You found each other in this chaos."
Haru smiles. "This is life as we know it. A beautiful struggle."
"Fighting against the world is hard, but...I think if anyone can do it, it's all of you together," Hikari says. "Um, also...I think we should try to be happy in the time we have together. Sister Haru doesn't get teased often, so her expressions are very funny."
"Bullying me like that...you guys are too much."
"Well, there's an opportunity...what do you think about Hannah, since she's been pestering you guys all night?" you ask.
"Betrayal at this hour? Oh, the humanity..." She mockingly faints against you.
"My answer is lewd," Ritsu says flatly. "Definitely lewd."
"Hush, you."
"You're a temptress through and through."
"Very...hm. Very...sensual," Hikari decides on. "Captivating."
"Oh, my. Thank you for the lovely compliment, darling." Hannah focuses on Haru and gives her a playful smile. "I'm looking forward to your verdict the most."
"I see. The word I would settle on is...mm."
Haru taps her chin a few times, thinking.
"Delectable."
"My, my... how scandalous of you, Miss Haru." A blush spreads across Hannah's cheeks. That one sure hit home, huh. "And what made you settle on that word, pray tell?"
"It's just something about you. Very sweet, but the way you're shaped sets something off in the senses. I'm sure Joshua and Ritsu know what I mean...that urge to suddenly indulge. To very slowly take that sweetness and let it sit on your tongue. The more I think about it, the more dangerous you get..."
"At the rate you're going, all the water's gonna evaporate from the pool," you quip. Hikari nods in agreement, already blushing brightly.
"New pet, Mistress?"
"Down, Ritsu. Don't you get jealous on me...not yet, anyways."
"Hey..."
You chuckle to yourself. "And here I am, wondering how I'll deal with this every day."
"A lovely dilemma, no?" Hannah asks.
You nod and look around at everyone. New friends, and loyal family all together.
"The best kind of problem to have."
"I definitely agree. I...hope she'll join us. She really is a beautiful soul," Hannah says quietly.
"I do too. I think it'll work out. Somehow, it always does." You lean back against the edge of the pool and close your eyes.
---
It gets very late by the time you leave the spring. You head home by way of a fancy horse driven cart, and it's a good thing since Ritsu and Hikari are tuckered out. Hannah attaches herself to you quietly while Haru looks out for everyone.
You reach the hotel, head up a floor and to your suite. Haru and Hikari perk up and check the premises thoroughly before letting you inside. You hear the former converse with another ANBU on the balcony before returning inside and closing the glass door behind her.
"We should be fine. Yumemi and Kal are going to cover watch duty for a few hours. They...insisted."
"Might as well extend that leisure time a bit more, eh?" you say with a smile. "I'm gonna be up early tomorrow anyways. Big training day."
"All day, sir?"
"Might be. Lot of hours for sure, I can tell you. But we can worry about that later. Let's all get some sleep."
"Night, sir..."
"Good night, darling."
Hannah and Ritsu peck you on the cheek before shuffling off to their room.
"Sir, good night, sir."
"Yes, good night. And thank you again...for everything."
Haru and Hikari both give you a bow that you return. You head to your room and change before flopping onto your bed.
Sleep is welcome, and comes quickly. A good end to a great day.
---
Amenozenshin Track (Monday training)
[] Improving the startup time and movement is what bears fruit first. The result is one of the goals you've wanted to achieve - a variable speed first step that has no indication of intent before you warp to your desired location. The time between target lock on and technique activation also has been further decreased.
[] After research and optimization, you are able to increase the number of consecutive uses before cooldown. This allows maneuvering into different positions - a step closer to the ideal of complete 3D movement that Hiraishin gives its users. It manifests most efficiently in the option to 'redirect' warp movement by activating the technique twice in a row. The additional physical strain and chakra usage seems to be worth it for now.
---
Next update will be in universe Monday's training day. Update should be in by Friday our time.
