The night was as cool as water.
Out here in the wilderness, the darkness was deep, with only the moon providing any illumination, and there was no other sound from the vast, quiet world.
Mai didn't fall asleep right away. She blinked her large eyes a few times and sneaked a glance beside her.
Of course, she couldn't see anything in the pitch-black, but she knew… he was there.
As a Ninja of Konoha, no matter what the reason, circumstances, or position, she should not get along with Missing-nin like this.
Mai understood this very well.
Which was why, when Logan told her to leave, she hadn't put up much resistance. It wasn't about logic, as growing up in the village, she had outgrown the childish innocence of the past. She couldn't just be unreasonable anymore.
But she felt that Hattori-nii was still the same Hattori-nii in her mind.
A single sentence, a single expression, and she recognized him again.
In just half a day of reunion, Logan overlapped perfectly with her memories of him.
So no matter what the world said, no matter if people called him a dangerous villain, Mai stubbornly convinced herself that he hadn't changed.
When he fought her team, he hadn't seriously hurt them. When he recognized her, he froze mid-attack, so shocked he couldn't even speak.
It was only after knowing that her team members were safe that Mai mustered up the courage to lie.
After all, every Ninja was their own person.
And honestly, at her age… being a little rebellious wasn't so unusual.
…
The next morning, Logan and Mai woke up early.
After freshening up, Logan stretched by the creek. The transparent morning dew carried a fresh scent. Moving his limbs a few times, he realized his body was quickly reacclimating to his previous rhythm.
Mai, having washed her face, obediently prepared breakfast as 'ordered'. While waiting for the fire to cook the food, she sat quietly on the grass, watching the legendary expert warm up.
'So... normal. Isn't that just a health exercise?'
If Logan had known her thoughts, he would have given her a serious lecture about the importance of gradual progression and the dangers of haste making waste.
However, being stared at didn't feel quite right. Suddenly, the once-retired expert felt an urge to engage, so he gestured to the girl standing on the sidelines.
"You, Konoha Ninja. It's been a while. Come, let's spar."
"..."
Mai wasn't sure what came over her, but she actually didn't refuse. She stood up and, with a crisp motion, positioned herself opposite him. Logan was briefly stunned.
A shuriken whizzed through the air toward him.
"Oh?"
There was naturally no suspense about the result of the spar. Logan wasn't serious, as his intention was mostly to understand and guide Mai.
The fight did not last long, and even when Logan was holding back, Mai could not beat him.
Despite her delicate appearance, Mai's physical condition wasn't bad. It seemed she was on the right track in Konoha, with excellent coordination and precise situational judgment. She can even cast a few harmless Ninjutsu, which Logan easily dispelled with a single punch.
What surprised Logan, though, was her strength. Perhaps irritated by how easily her Ninjutsu were dispelled by Logan, Mai punched directly at Logan.
Logan held back his strength, but the impact he felt made him take notice of something special, 'Was this... Chakra Enhanced Strength?'
"Mai, you..."
Just as Logan was about to say something, Mai advanced again.
Boom!
Dust scattered from the impact.
'Wait a minute… the sweet, kind Mai isn't going down a dangerous path, is she?'
It can be seen that this method of exerting force is not something that Mai is proficient in. Her strikes lacked the fluency and explosive force of those two violent women he remembered... thankfully.
What Mai truly excelled at was sensory abilities, something Logan had already confirmed the day before. Despite his skill in concealing his presence, she had detected him effortlessly.
'To be discovered by a 'Genin'… Konoha's ranking system is seriously flawed.'
Sensory-type ninja were incredibly rare. Their sparring ended quickly, and Logan watched as Mai skillfully used Medical Ninjutsu to heal a small scratch on herself. The wound visibly closed up.
'As expected of a top student.' Comparing their ages, Logan felt both pleased and conflicted.
The Ninja World ahead is far from peaceful...
Regardless, for now, this was a good thing for Mai. Logan couldn't walk this path alongside her, so he took the opportunity to offer guidance while he still could.
Their sparring also helped ease the awkwardness from the night before. Logan relaxed, deciding to accompany Mai a bit further.
Once they reached town, for her sake, he would leave, no matter what.
The murmuring stream carried wisps of smoke. After eating, Logan smiled and led the way.
They walked leisurely, as Logan wasn't in a hurry. As time passed, the morning sun slowly descended from the clouds, bringing a hint of warmth to the sparse, chilly forest.
"Mai, do you know Naruto, Uzumaki Naruto? He was my student when I led a team. There were two others. How are they doing?"
Logan casually chatted about Team 7. He figured Naruto was doing well. And right now, he had probably just returned from his training with Jiraiya, and Sakura is following Tsunade, so there was no need to worry about her.
But deep down, what he was most eager, yet apprehensive, to hear about was Sasuke's current situation...
"Uzumaki Naruto? I've heard of him, but I don't know him well." Mayi followed obediently, answering honestly.
"Oh..." Logan was stuck for a moment, 'Why wasn't she familiar with him? Wait… that actually makes sense.'
"You said you're studying under the Hokage?"
"Well, Tsunade-sama is very amazing. Although she doesn't teach me every day, I always learn something valuable when she does. She's very kind to me."
'It seemed Mai was well-liked and cared for in the village.' Logan nodded in approval.
"Then, what about Haruno Sakura? "
"She's my senior. Oh, right, Hattori-nii, you said you led a team, but I remember you were an assistant instructor. It's kind of a strange position, and you were quite well-known for it."
"Hahaha, is that so?"
"The real Jonin Instructor was that masked guy, Kakashi, right?"
"Hahaha… Looks like we're almost there."
…
Yukino Town was the most well-equipped town near the northern border of the Land of Fire. Few settlements were nearby. Logan's first stop was here, not just because he would pass through the intelligence black market in the Land of Grass, but also because he needed supplies.
He had only the clothes on his back, and traveling without Ninja Tools or survival gear would be inconvenient.
On the way, the conversation between him and Mai continued.
At this time, news about the unknown powerful Lightning Release User has been sent back to the Konoha Village. The lightning and speed… Even after all this time, that distinct signature hadn't gone unnoticed. Konoha's forces had begun to extend their reach.
When Logan and Mai arrived in Yukino Town, the relaxed mood from their journey quickly evaporated, as traces of ANBU's activity were already detectable in town.
The warm journey caused by this chance encounters ends here.