We continued down the road for a few more hours after the confrontation. The silence lingered, except for the sounds of the wagon wheels creaking on the ground and the low murmurs of the merchants thanking us for their protection.
The tension was still palpable, especially for me.
I couldn't get Hikaru-sensei's expression out of my head when he noticed my use of Mokuton. He hadn't said anything, but that only made everything more tense.
Sora, walking beside the wagon, seemed calm, almost indifferent to what had happened. Every now and then, she would make excited comments about how "we could've finished them off faster," or "if there had been more, it would've been more fun."
Renji, on the other hand, remained focused, with that watchful gaze, as if he were always waiting for the next attack.
Hikaru-sensei, leading the group, walked with steady steps. From time to time, he looked back, his gaze meeting mine for a brief moment.
It wasn't disapproval or judgment, but perhaps curiosity... or even expectation?
'He definitely knows,' I thought, adjusting the strap of my bag to occupy my hands and prevent my nervousness from showing.
When we finally arrived at the village of Tanzaku, the sun was already setting. Lantern lights illuminated the stone streets, and the peaceful atmosphere of the place was a welcome relief after the chaotic day.
The merchants thanked us repeatedly as they unloaded the cart.
"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have made it," one of them said, bowing respectfully.
"That's what we're here for," Hikaru-sensei replied, with a slight but authoritative smile.
While the sensei settled the details with the merchants, Sora turned to me and Renji.
"Hey, did you guys notice how fast sensei is with that sword? Like, he cut that bandit down before I even realized what was happening."
Renji just shrugged, but I could tell he was also impressed, although he wasn't the type to admit it easily.
"Yeah... Hikaru-sensei definitely knows what he's doing," I agreed, still lost in my own thoughts.
Sora turned to me with that provocative smile.
"What about you, Riku? When are you going to show us something even more impressive? I saw you doing well with that Doton and Suiton, but... I don't know, I think you're hiding something."
I felt my heart skip a beat, but I covered it up with a forced laugh.
"Even if I were hiding something, do you think I'd tell you, Sora?"
"Hey, it was just a question! You're so mysterious sometimes," she replied, rolling her eyes.
'This girl is so hyper...'
With the mission officially complete, Hikaru-sensei took us to a local inn, where we would spend the night before returning to Konoha the next morning. The atmosphere was simple but cozy. Each of us was given a room, and as soon as I entered mine, I felt the weight of the entire day finally catch up with me.
Morning came faster than I expected. Soft sunlight streamed through the inn's windows, warming the room with a strangely peaceful feeling. But in my mind, chaos reigned. Every moment that passed only reminded me that time was against me.
As we gathered in the inn's lobby, ready to return to Konoha, Hikaru-sensei appeared with his usual calm demeanor, as if the previous day's mission had been nothing more than a stroll.
"Ready to head back?" he asked in a light tone.
Sora was already eager to leave.
"Finally! Konoha is waiting for me, and I've got a lot of training to do."
Renji, as always, just nodded slightly. It seemed that nothing bothered him.
As for me, my mind was still stuck on the Mokuton issue.
Hikaru-sensei hadn't mentioned anything about what he saw yesterday, but that didn't mean he'd forgotten.
He was probably just waiting for the right moment to bring it up.
'Either way, I need to be ready,' I thought, adjusting my bag.
The return trip was smoother than the journey out.
There were no attacks or unexpected surprises along the way, which came as a welcome relief.
When we finally saw Konoha's gates, a wave of familiarity washed over me.
Hikaru-sensei dismissed us shortly after we reported our mission's completion.
"Rest," he said, looking at us.
"Starting tomorrow, we'll begin more specific training. Each of you has strengths that need refinement."
His gaze lingered on me a moment longer before he turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Sora said goodbye with excitement, saying she was going to practice her kunai aim, while Renji just muttered a "see you later" and went on his way.
I had other plans.
After dropping my things at home, I headed to the Uchiha district.
Something had been bothering me since my encounter with Itachi.
If I wanted to understand more about him and what was coming, I needed to take a closer look.
The district was as busy as usual, but there was still tension in the air.
Maybe it was just my imagination, but people seemed suspicious of one another.
As I walked the streets, I tried to catch snippets of conversations and observe the expressions of the Uchihas around me.
Some looked more worried than others, but everyone seemed on edge, murmuring as they walked.
I decided to sit near a tea shop where two Uchiha men were speaking in low voices.
I took a seat at a nearby table, pretending to look at the menu while I listened.
"Did you hear what the captain said yesterday?" one of them asked.
"Yeah," the other replied, his voice heavy with concern.
"He thinks things are getting... complicated. But no one wants to talk openly."
"And Itachi? Do you think he's part of all this?"
The second man hesitated, glancing around before answering.
"It's hard to say. He's always been secretive, and now that he's in ANBU, it's even worse."
Their words confirmed what I already suspected: there was unrest within the clan, and Itachi was at the center of it.
Before I could hear more, I sensed a familiar presence.
I looked up and saw Itachi standing at the entrance of the shop, watching me with that same unsettling calm.
'Damn. Did he notice me?' I thought, adjusting my chair and hiding behind the menu.
He approached slowly, as if he already knew what was going on.
When he reached my table, he sat down silently.
"Still curious, aren't you, Riku?" he said, finally breaking the silence.
"I don't know what you mean," I replied, trying to stay calm and sound indifferent.
He tilted his head slightly, a faint smile playing at his lips.
"There's no need to lie. I know what you're doing, but be warned — some truths are better left buried."
I stayed quiet for a few seconds, studying Itachi to no avail.
"Riku," he said, his voice lower now. "Not everything is what it appears to be, and sometimes, knowing too much can be dangerous. So tell me — are you ready for what you might uncover?"
His words carried a weight I can't even describe. I didn't know what would happen once I gave him an answer.
"I'm ready," I said at last.
Itachi nodded, looking pleased with my response.
"Good. I told you to train and get stronger, didn't I? You're really promising. I can tell you've made a lot of progress in a short time."
He stood up and started to walk away, but before leaving, he glanced over his shoulder.
"Time is running out, so I'll need you soon. Until that time comes, you must become stronger than you are now."
I sat there for several minutes after he left, trying to make sense of everything.
'Time is running out..."'
Then I got up and left the store, a new determination burning in my chest.
I needed to become stronger. I needed to be prepared for what was to come.
'Itachi... I don't know if I can change what's about to happen. But I'll try."'
...
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