A single oil lamp flickered, casting long, dancing shadows across the rough cellar walls. The air hung heavy with the scent of damp earth and mildew, a chill clinging to the cold stone. Kinoshita, bound and gagged, sat slumped on a stool, his face bruised but otherwise unharmed.
Team 2 stood around him in a tight circle, their expressions grim in the dim light. He could feel their eyes on him, their youthful impatience a stark contrast to the stale air of the cellar.
Itachi spoke first, his voice a low rumble that echoed slightly in the confined space. "Why did you lie to us about this mission?"
Kinoshita winced. He could taste blood in his mouth. He scoffed, looking away. "Is this how you treat someone you just saved? The Leaf Village sure has changed."
"This was supposed to be a low-risk C-rank mission," Itachi continued, his voice taking on an edge. "Chances of a fight were low, yet here we are. You lied to me and my team. I know these mercenaries; Aya, Kira, and Shiro. I've read about them in the Bingo Book. They're a family of assassins who don't take small fees. This means someone has it in for you."
Kazuya shifted impatiently, the floorboards groaning beneath his weight. He put his foot on the stool where Kinoshita sat, leaning in close. "And don't think for a second a man as knowledgeable as you wouldn't know who. Look, old man, neither of us are fools, so quit playing around!"
"Yeah? So what?" Kinoshita muttered, the words catching in his dry throat.
"He's right," Arashi's voice was calm, a stark contrast to Kazuya's aggression, "why did you lie about this mission? It's clear to us that you're someone else's target."
A one-sided frown appeared on Kinoshita's face as he turned away from Arashi's intense gaze. He could feel the young ninja's eyes boring into him. "What? Am I supposed to fear a kid now?" he rasped, his voice hoarse.
"Still smug, huh?" Arashi's voice, though calm, held a steely edge that cut through the damp air. "If this was another team, a lesser quality team, at least one person would've died. It's not that we won't protect you anymore, but you're lying to us, and if you continue, we might just leave you to die out here." He paused, letting the threat hang in the air. "Even better," he added, a hint of something dangerous creeping into his tone, "what's to stop me from taking the bounty myself? It's all for the benefit of the village, nothing wrong. I could always frame some other assassin."
Kazuya, his foot still resting on Kinoshita's stool, glanced at Arashi, a smirk playing on his lips. The old man could feel the pressure mounting.
"Yeah, fine! Fine, I'll tell ya." Kinoshita's voice cracked as he gave in, the words rushing out in a desperate exhale. He could feel the tension draining from him, leaving him feeling weak and exposed.
'Hmph,' Arashi's quiet scoff was barely audible, but Kinoshita felt a shiver crawl down his spine. 'This geezer fell for it. None of us can just take a bounty just like that.'
"I knew what I was doing when taking you leaf Genin." Kinoshita swallowed hard, the dryness in his throat making it difficult. "The truth is, I'm being hunted like a damned animal." He took a deep breath, the musty cellar air filling his lungs.
"I had a son…" His voice wavered, the memory a fresh wound. "He was a young shinobi just like you, Arashi. Brave, rash yet calculative, and probably the most positive and reassuring kid you'll ever meet."
Arashi listened closely, his expression unreadable in the dim light. Kinoshita could feel the young ninja's intense gaze, a weight that settled heavily upon him.
Although he was telling the entire team, Kinoshita focused on Arashi, his words directed at the young ninja who reminded him so much of his lost son.
"My son died as a young shinobi. Reckless, foolish, and most of all naive."
Arashi's eyes widened, the flicker of emotion visible even in the shadows. "How can you say that about your own son?" He grabbed Kinoshita by the neck, the sudden movement sending a jolt of pain through the old man's bruised body. He could feel the young ninja's fingers tightening, cutting off his air supply.
"What?" Kinoshita gasped, his voice strained. "Does it seem heartless? Cold? Aren't shinobi supposed to be that way? My heart was torn apart when my son died, does this surprise you?"
Kinoshita closed his eyes, the pressure on his neck bringing back a flood of grief. He could almost feel his son's presence in the damp, cold air of the cellar. Tearing open an old wound that he thought had closed, he continued, his voice raw with emotion.
"When someone you love dies, all that's left is an empty void in your heart. That's what people say… But I realized, that's an understatement to what really happens. My life stopped, it was as if nothing mattered anymore. My business, the number one business in the village, almost went bankrupt. My apprentice left and betrayed me. Perhaps, owning a hot spring isn't something worth noting anywhere else, but to us, the villagers in the hidden hot springs, this is a symbol to represent our pride."
He paused, catching his breath. "Soon as I realized how pathetic I was for being so selfish, I set myself on a mission. I can't let my wife and village live in poverty, can I? When you already have the design, the secret to making a good hot spring is using the right herbs and stones. I found one in the Land of Fire, and when I came to get it, my rival must've heard about it. I didn't know there'd be people out to get me, but I had a feeling-"
The words were cut short by a sharp crack. Arashi's fist connected with Kinoshita's jaw, sending the old man sprawling to the dirt floor. The impact sent a shockwave of pain through his body, but it was nothing compared to the agony in his heart.
"Hey!" Kazuya's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. He grabbed Arashi's arm, pulling him back with surprising strength. "What is wrong with you?"
Miyu joined in, her small hands tugging at Arashi's other arm. "Arashi, stop it!"
Itachi remained silent, his dark eyes observing the scene with an unnerving intensity. The flickering lamplight cast his face in shadow, making it difficult to read his expression.
Arashi glared at Kinoshita, his chest heaving with anger. He roughly wiped the blood from his split lip, the metallic taste lingering in his mouth.
"Heh…" A smirk twisted Kinoshita's lips, a flicker of defiance in his eyes. "Like I said," he rasped, his voice hoarse, "you've got guts, kid."
Arashi's eyes narrowed, his frustration growing. "Is it so difficult to tell the truth?" he spat. "I already told you we would protect you. Once I take on a task, I won't stop until it's complete, that's just the kind of person I am. I never give up."
"Never give up, eh?" Kinoshita's smirk faded, replaced by a distant look in his eyes. The image of a young boy, full of life and energy, flashed through his mind.
"You just wait, father! I'll become the best shinobi in the village, I'll never give up!" The boy's voice echoed in his memory, a painful reminder of what he had lost. He could almost feel the warmth of the sun on his skin as the boy saluted him with a wide, innocent smile.
'Natsuo, you foolish boy…' his mind lingered on the past, the pain of loss a dull ache in his chest.
As Kinoshita looked at Arashi, his eyes softened. He saw Natsuo in the young ninja, not just in appearance, but in the fiery determination that burned within him. It was as if their energies were synced, their spirits connected across time and tragedy.
"The person who wants to kill me is my old associate and apprentice," he finally said, his voice heavy with regret. "His name is Riku Nakamura."
"Riku Nakamura?" Itachi's voice cut through the silence, a hint of recognition in his tone. He had heard that name before, a whisper in the shadows of the shinobi world.
"Well, now what will you do?" Kinoshita challenged, his gaze sweeping over the four young ninja. "Are you all going to just let me die and ruin a whole village?"
"Ruin a village?" Miyu's voice was small, filled with concern.
"That's right," Kinoshita confirmed, a bitter edge to his voice. "The Hidden Hot Springs Village is going bankrupt. Now we'll be prone to attacks and much more. That student of mine is too ambitious for his own good. He makes rash decisions and takes foolish gambles."
He sighed, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders. "To add to it, my poor nephew's heart will ache seeing his favorite uncle dead, and then my poor wife too. She'll literally be poor and then heartbroken." Kinoshita looked at the rest of Team 2, his eyes pleading.
Their eyes shifted away from him, a flicker of guilt in their expressions.
"But of course, you won't have to do this mission," Kinoshita continued, his voice laced with a hint of manipulation. "It's just… my nephew will blame you all, and so will so many others. The village will probably hate Konoha and its shinobi."
"Hmm…" A wave of guilt washed over the team, a silent pressure that urged them to act. Despite Arashi already agreeing, the others had made no promise, yet they felt a growing sense of responsibility for the fate of this old man and his village.
"If we're going to protect you," Itachi's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, his tone brooking no argument. He leaned against the damp cellar wall, arms crossed, his posture radiating an aura of quiet authority. "Then we should leave tonight. Staying here only brings trouble for others."
Arashi and the others nodded, their faces illuminated by the flickering lamplight. They were young, but their eyes held a newfound determination. They were ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, united in their mission to protect Kinoshita and his village.
"Good, now that it's all settled, let's leave." Itachi pushed himself off the wall, his movements fluid and graceful. He turned and walked towards the cellar steps, his silhouette disappearing into the darkness above.
Kinoshita, his heart a mix of gratitude and apprehension, scrambled to his feet. He followed Itachi, the rough stone steps cold and uneven beneath his bare feet. The rest of Team 2 fell in behind them, their footsteps echoing in the narrow passage.
They checked out of the inn, the innkeeper's eyes widening at the sight of the battered old man and the serious-faced young ninja. They paid for the damage caused, the coins heavy in their hands, and then stepped out into the cool night air. The scent of pine needles and damp earth filled their lungs, a welcome change from the stifling atmosphere of the cellar.
As Team 2 set off, their figures silhouetted against the moonlit sky, they were unaware of the eyes that followed them. Hidden amongst the dense foliage of a towering tree, two figures watched their every move.
One was a tall, muscular man with a commanding presence. His spiky, dark hair framed a face etched with determination, his piercing blue eyes glinting in the moonlight. A long, black coat with red accents flowed behind him, and a unique blade with a curved, jagged edge was strapped to his back.
"Tsubasa-sama," a voice whispered from beside him, soft as the rustling leaves. "Should we follow them?"
He turned his head, his gaze falling upon a young girl with fiery red hair that cascaded over one eye. Her other eye, a vibrant pink, was fixed on him with an unwavering intensity. She wore a form-fitting brown and yellow top with a green jacket, her hands encased in fingerless gloves.
"Akane-kun," Tsubasa replied, his voice a low rumble. "That person wearing the Jonin uniform is Itachi Uchiha of the Sharingan eye. It would be unwise to attack him without a plan." He sheathed his blade, the metal sliding smoothly into its scabbard. "Basically, your talents would be wasted here if you attacked."
Akane nodded, a silent understanding passing between them.
They both formed hand seals, their movements swift and precise. A gust of wind swirled around them, lifting them into the air. With a final rustle of leaves, they vanished into the night, their presence erased as quickly as it had appeared.