Chapter 20 – The Thickening Mist
The evening sky blazed red as Team Kazuki followed a narrow path toward the coast. The forest slowly gave way, revealing a damp dirt trail with the faint scent of salt carried by the wind.
Kazuki walked at the front, shaking out his still-trembling hand.
"Ugh… my hand's still numb. Rasengan really sucks when it's unstable."
Shikamaru yawned, pulling his jacket tighter.
"I told you… you were way too reckless. Rasengan is a high-level technique, you know."
Kazuki turned with a grin.
"Heh, if I hadn't taken that risk, we'd probably be skewered like meatballs by now. And hey, what matters is the result, right?"
"Well, I guess… but still troublesome." Shikamaru scratched his head lazily.
Hinata, walking behind with Tazuna, glanced at Kazuki's hand.
"Ka-Kazuki-kun… tomorrow morning, I can help restore your chakra flow. With Jūken, I can smooth out the pathways."
Kazuki beamed.
"Seriously?! You're a real lifesaver, Hinata!"
Hinata's face turned bright red. She quickly looked down, pretending to study the ground.
"I-I just… want to help the team…"
Tazuna, half-drunk and clutching his sake bottle, sighed heavily.
"Hhh… these kids… joking around even after fighting those Mist ninjas…"
---
Night at the Camp
They stopped near the forest edge by the beach, resting before taking a small boat across to the Land of Waves. A campfire crackled, sending sparks into the night.
Hinata busied herself with preparing a simple meal, Shikamaru sprawled out complaining as usual, while Kazuki occasionally glanced at Tazuna guzzling sake non-stop.
Kazuki (whispering to Shikamaru):
"If he keeps drinking like that, won't he just drag us down?"
Shikamaru:
"Hhh… troublesome. But adults usually have their reasons. All we can do is keep our distance."
Kazuki's eyes softened as he watched Hinata stir the pot. But suddenly—
Tazuna staggered to his feet, swaying. His eyes bloodshot, his face flushed from drink. He lurched toward Hinata.
Tazuna (hoarse):
"Hey… little girl… you look just like my daughter when she was young. Hahaha… come on, keep this old man company for a drink…"
Hinata froze, stiff as a board.
"T-Tazuna-san… I…"
Tazuna grabbed her wrist a little roughly.
"Don't be shy now. Come on—"
Kazuki shot to his feet, heart pounding. In an instant he was there, knocking Tazuna's hand away from Hinata.
Kazuki:
"That's enough! Don't you dare mess with her!"
Hinata stepped back, her face pale.
Tazuna wavered, glaring at Kazuki with drunken eyes.
"You… brat… how dare you defy the old man you're supposed to protect!"
He tried to raise his sake bottle, but Kazuki snatched it away and hurled it to the ground. It shattered, shards glittering in the firelight.
Kazuki stood protectively in front of Hinata, eyes sharp.
"I don't care how important your bridge is, or how old you are. If you ever lay a hand on my teammate like that again… I won't forgive you."
The air grew heavy. Shikamaru, until now half-asleep, sat up straight.
Shikamaru (quietly):
"…Troublesome… but I'm with Akihiro on this. If this old man causes more trouble, I won't hesitate to bind him in my shadow all night."
Hinata's eyes glistened as she whispered.
"T-thank you, Akihiro-kun…"
Shikamaru:
"Tazuna-san… I get that you're carrying a heavy burden. But don't drag us down like this again. You need our protection, not the other way around."
His tone was calm but sharp. Tazuna lowered his head, silent, then collapsed into sleep, overcome by drink.
The fire flickered. Hinata sat closer to Kazuki, still trembling slightly. Kazuki exhaled and gently patted her shoulder.
Kazuki:
"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, I won't let anyone hurt you."
Hinata's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her gaze.
(softly, barely audible):
"Akihiro-kun… always… standing in front of me…"
Shikamaru covered his face with his arm, groaning.
"Hhh… great. If this keeps up, this team's not only going to be troublesome for missions… but also with all this personal drama."
Kazuki (thinking as he watched the fire):
"Why does everything feel more complicated than I remember? Could this be the sign… that the story is really starting to change?"
---
Morning at the Shore
The next day, they arrived at the beach. Mist covered the sea, so thick it nearly swallowed the small boats at the dock. The waves reflected a pale light from the overcast sky.
An old fisherman approached Tazuna.
"Tazuna-san… are these your escorts?"
Tazuna nodded.
"Yes. They may be kids, but they're tougher than they look. We need to set out quickly before the mist thickens."
Kazuki looked out at the sea, excitement sparking in his chest.
"So this is… the border to the Land of Waves. Somehow… it feels like the beginning of a grand adventure."
Shikamaru sighed.
"More like the beginning of a huge headache…"
Hinata gazed at the mist, her eyes filled with doubt but also determination.
"…I can sense something… someone's watching us from within the fog."
The sea breeze grew stronger, rocking their small boat. Waves lapped against the hull, the mist closing in ever tighter.
Kazuki gripped his kunai firmly.
"Then let's face whatever's waiting out there… Team 7 won't back down."
And within the thick, silent fog… a pair of sharp predator's eyes slowly opened.
TO BE CONTINUED…