Chapter Six
Outside Help
Kisame nearly sighed in contentment as he sunk a little deeper into the couch. If Itachi were here, he would have chided him for eating so much, but after being on the run with little to nothing in the way of a decent meal, Nami's cooking had been too much for his control. He had gorged himself on freshly caught crab, homegrown vegetables and rice from the village market. You just don't come by a meal like that every day.
The old kunoichi had settled into her rocking chair and picked up a book that lay on the side table next to her. She let it fall open to the marker that held her place, and without removing the small slip of paper, began to read. Kisame noted from the cover that she was working on The Tale of Genji, a book that he knew she had read at least three times already. He watched as she flipped the page, seemingly unaffected by his attention. The thought that she looked like an ordinary old lady sitting there made him snort lightly, immediately grabbing her attention.
"What is it?" she asked him, raising an eyebrow.
"It's nothing."
She gave him a disbelieving look, but returned to her book as he shifted on the couch, searching for something to say. He could have just left her there in peace, but after all the trouble she had gone to on his behalf and her earlier comment about being bored, he figured he could at least indulge in a conversation.
"I can't believe you're still working, Nami-sama." he finally said, "Have you ever thought about giving it all up to live peacefully?"
She eyed him again, a small smile on her face. "Why aren't you a farmer or a fisherman, Kisame? You know as well as I do that when you become the kind of shinobi we are, there is no stopping until you die. I've just had the good fortune of cheating death more times than anyone else. Besides, I'd hardly call it working; I'm just a mission contractor. I hardly do anything at all."
"But if you were ever found out by the Hidden Villages, you know they would kill you."
She gave a very un-ladylike snort. "They would try to kill me."
Just then, a disturbingly familiar chakra appeared just outside the door. Apparently, Nami had been expecting this as much as he had, because she rose from her rocker to answer the following knock, shooing Kisame to the back of the house with a wave of her hand. He slipped from the couch and made his way silently into the closest room and shut the door just as he heard the squeak of hinges coming from the front of the house. He glanced behind him to make sure the small window in the bathroom was secure.
Oh Kami, his eyeballs were going to melt.
The bathroom was still pink.
Tearing his attention away from the vomit-inducing hues, he closed his eyes to sharpen his hearing as noises signaled the entrance of another person into the main room. He felt like a coward hiding in the bathroom, and it grated on him that he couldn't just face Zetsu directly, but Nami had a firm set of house rules, and one of the biggest ones was that until she established the intentions of any company, no one staying at her house was to reveal themselves. The second or third time he had stayed here, a fellow missing nin from Mist arrived as well, looking for work. Hunter nin showed up at the door the next day and he panicked, revealing his location and forcing Nami to wipe out the lot of them. As soon as it was over she turned on the unlucky nin as well… and let's just say the experience didn't bear repeating. Besides, she was more than capable of dealing with Zetsu herself. He would only get in her way.
Dismissing his thoughts, he focused on listening to the noises behind the door, an amused smirk lighting his face as he heard Nami greet his former comrade in her sweet and seeming innocent way. The plant ninja would be in for quite a surprise…
"Can I help you with something, Zetsu-san?" Nami asked, a charming smile on her face as she moved from the door to bustle around the kitchen, setting out cups for tea.
To his credit, Zetsu had the grace to look disturbed by the act she was putting on, not to mention the fact that she knew his name. But he sat at the little table she waved him toward just the same, feeling clumsy and uncomfortable as he tried not to bump into anything with his carapace. The light half of his face nearly twitched in amusement as she set a plate of cookies before him, but his darker half was all business as he eyed the sweets suspiciously before returning to watch her face. Her complete lack of fear was a dead giveaway that she was no ordinary old woman. His senses were on alert for any sort of trap, but he could detect nothing as she sat across from him, waiting for the water in the kettle to boil.
"I am looking for Hoshigaki Kisame, obaa-sama." his light side started as she finally gave him her undivided attention.
"I know he is here." the deeper voice representing his dark half pressed as he leaned forward.
Nami's eyes roamed the small room. "I don't see anyone here but you and I, Zetsu-san."
He pulled back a little in discomfort. "How is it that you know who I am?"
"Hoshigaki did not hold our confidence long."
Nami waved a hand in dismissal. "You give both of us too little credit. Kisame may forever be a rogue, but he is an honorable ninja. And I'm old enough to have heard of the secret that forced the Yamanaka Clan of Konoha to seal their plant-based jutsu away forever. I am rather surprised that you have survived this long, though."
Zetsu fell quiet, shifting in his chair as he eyed the old woman warily. She stared right back, her piercing eyes seeming to see straight into his mind as the minutes ticked by. She broke off first as the whistle from the kettle cut into the sudden tension and rose to fetch it, leaving him to his thoughts. He had never discussed his past with anyone; it was an uncomfortable subject that he had managed to avoid for most of his life. And to hear it coming from this complete stranger was quite a shock.
What she said was correct. His present state was the result of a horrible mishap that occurred while a couple of over-ambitious shinobi from the Yamanaka Clan were working on a flesh eating jutsu that would later be sealed and forgotten forever. He might have been a normal human before that, or maybe two, but the truth of it was nothing more than a white blank now, lying dormant in the recesses of his fractured mind. The rest of his memories from that time were hazy and incomplete as well, but he knew that several people died before they wounded and buried him in a field, believing he was dead. What they hadn't realized was the fact that the failed jutsu had altered his physical state. It was a form of kinjutsu, using components of insectivorous plants as a base, and these properties had transferred to him. As soon as he was within the earth he began to regenerate, and after several painful days of healing as he drew nourishment from the soil around him, he burrowed back to the surface, emerging in his present form.
Unsure of what to do with himself, he wandered through the forest around Konoha, alone and burning with a hunger he couldn't satisfy. He was unwilling to reenter the village, knowing they would try to dispose of him again, but he knew that he would frighten anyone else he approached. His mind was still trying to come to grips with its new identity as well, and it was in this state of confusion that Madara found him.
He could remember it as if he had been there five minutes before. He had come across the body of a murdered woman, dumped carelessly in the woods for the crows and buzzards to consume. Her glassy brown eyes stared unseeingly at the blue sky, the dappled light dancing over her frozen purple lips. She was naked, and flies buzzed around the gaping wounds on her body, happily feasting on the unexpected bounty. Zetsu was nearly dead with hunger at this point, and something about the way her flesh smelled as it swelled in the humid air refused to leave him. His mouth was watering unbearably, and before he knew what he was doing, he had knelt down and was nibbling on her fingers, disjointed and black where they had been broken in the assault that had ended her life. When he came to himself, he dropped her hand and sprang back in shock. That was when he heard a smooth, low voice behind him.
"It would be a shame to let it go to waste."
Zetsu had spun around to see a man with spiky black hair and a mask standing there, arms casually crossed over his chest. His face quickly flamed with heat at the abhorrent thing he had been caught doing, and though he was struck speechless by his own actions, part of him was completely unrepentant. Death was the nourishment of life, and after it had been broken down, every living thing was made of the same components. It was just human superiority that kept them from realizing that. But he was more plant than human now anyway, and they fed off their own decaying leaves and dead limbs, not to mention another of the same species. But that inner voice that was strengthened by civility said it was wrong, and he shouldn't act like such a barbarian, regardless of how hungry he was.
Nearly forgetting the man in front of him, he stood there arguing with himself, both mentally and aloud, as Madara watched on in abject fascination. Finally Zetsu's hunger won out and he resigned himself to his first meal of human flesh. After he was satisfied, leaving only blood-stained leaves to mark the woman's passing, the stranger offered him an escape from his exile: joining his fledgling organization of ninja and using his newfound talents to their advantage. He would never be persecuted or ridiculed, and he would have plenty to eat and a place to be alone when he desired. Zetsu agreed, on the condition that Madara made sure there would never be a way to make someone like him again, and that no one else knew he was still alive.
Two days later, Madara assured him all the shinobi involved in creating the jutsu were dead, and any information pertaining to it stolen and sealed. The Yamanaka Head gave the order to abandon all jutsu relating to plants, and encouraged the development of their mind techniques, which eventually became second to none. All that remained of the debacle were whispered rumors and a clan-wide penchant for gardening. But apparently, his attempt to erase his existence hadn't been as thorough as he had believed. Someone had either been missed in the clean-up, or leaked the information before they died, and the proof of it had just set a cup of tea in front of him. Even so, there was only one person outside the Akatsuki or Konoha who would even pick up on the fact that the story was useful, let alone true. But she had disappeared decades ago. It seems Kisame had truly taken him in an unexpected direction.
"For you to think such a thing about me…" his light side started slowly as he pulled himself from his thoughts.
"Means that you are the infamous kunoichi, Nami."
"The fact that you are old enough to know that name proves both our theories." she stated as if she had been listening in on his thoughts the whole time.
Zetsu's first thought was to kill her, dig Kisame out of his hiding place, kill him, and dispose of both their bodies. Her knowledge was dangerous, and she had used it to disarm him, and that made him angry. In fact, he realized, the whole process of inviting him in and making tea had been just to get him to drop his guard. She was crafty, and he disliked this social battle where he felt he had no footing. Going with his initial plan, he started to rise from his chair when her voice froze him in place.
"There are rules in this house, sir." she said sternly. "The first one is that when you have tea, you must sit at the table."
Zetsu slunk back into his chair as she continued, watching her closely for signs of attack. "The second is that I do not tolerate fighting in the house. You may be after Hoshigaki, and I do not control what happens beyond my door, but if you attempt to defile this sanctuary, I will kill you. And believe me when I say I have a hundred ways to do it before you can form the first hand seal. I have not survived this long on luck alone."
Her sharp gaze bore steadily into his gold eyes as he pondered her more direct threat. There was a nearly sadistic gleam to them that said she had him backed into a corner and knew it. Times like these made him wish his talents lay in areas other than information gathering. Kisame was a handful for anyone by himself, and both of them together would most likely not end well, especially for him. It was best to conduct a strategic retreat for now and consult with Madara before proceeding with the retrieval of the former Mist nin. Taking a sip of the tea, which he absently found quite good, he nodded his head.
"I will abide by your rules, Nami-sama."
"Tell Hoshigaki his business with the Akatsuki remains unfinished."
He drained the last of his tea in silence and set the empty cup down before rising from his chair. Nami didn't try to stop him, but rose with him and escorted him to the door. She opened it for him, handing him a cookie as he stepped across the threshold. "Take care, Zetsu-san. I hope we can have tea again soon."
He felt himself start to smile at her well-wishing, but caught it at the last moment, remembering her earlier play against him and the fact that it was just courtesy and meant nothing. Instead, he gave her a short bow before walking down the steps and into the yard. The old white dog that lay in the grass never made a move to acknowledge him, but he had the eerie feeling that should he take a wrong step, it would spring from its prone position to attack him. He waited until he was on the road before activating his mayfly jutsu and sinking into the ground, cookie still in hand, his eyes on the house the whole time. Madara would be displeased with his failure, but would probably find his information most interesting all the same.
As soon as the plant ninja's chakra dissipated, the bathroom door opened and Kisame strolled out, one hand to his head as if he had just developed a headache. "Took you long enough." he grunted.
Nami gave him a half glare. "Stop whining. I got rid of him, didn't I?"
Plucking a cookie from the plate, he took a bite and grumbled under his breath, "You should have locked him in the bathroom instead."
Nami chuckled before feigning concern. "I am so sorry, Kisame-san. I've been meaning to change that room for years. I hope you weren't offended by it."
Kisame snorted. "You are a cruel woman, lying to me like that. I know you enjoy torturing people with that horrible room. You leave it that way completely on purpose."
The old woman gave him a sweet grin. "Do I?"
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The Hidden Claw Village lay just to the west of Wave Country, in the middle of a mountain range that stretched along the length of its border. Civilian villages lay nestled in the natural valleys to the North and South, but the ninja village itself lay on a sheltered mesa, the entrance protected by a small cave at the base. The sides of the mountain were impassible cliffs, leaving the sky as the only potential means of invasion.
Kiba, Shino and Hinata arrived there early in the afternoon, on the fifth day of a rather uneventful journey. They felt a little travel worn, but in good shape overall. Matsushiro greeted them at the cave entrance, along with two burly-looking ANBU, one in a bear mask, the other in a ram. The Claw shinobi looked over the new arrivals silently, keeping any opinions to themselves before escorting them through the cave, lit only by the torches they carried. As the group moved further inside, damp, cool air filled their lungs and crawled along their skin, refreshing them as it chilled their faces and curled around their bare calves. Hinata smiled in amusement as she followed behind Kiba and Akamaru, who wrinkled their noses in similar fashions at what she was sure was an overwhelming earthy smell. Light caught her attention as it bounced off the walls, reflecting on droplets of water and the multitude of mineral veins lining the stone around them. Shadows darted and jumped behind the illuminated rock, mimicking the dancing of the torches as drafts pulled at their fire. Pinkish-red sparkles stood out from the water smoothed limestone, and Shino paused behind her to study one of the closer stalagmites that seemed inundated with it.
"This is…"
"A ruby vein, yes." Matsushiro interrupted him, bringing the party to a short halt. "This mountain range is full of gemstone mines. That's how they manage to acquire a large income with so few people. But they have to be very discreet in trading their stones; if word got out that such a fortune was here for the taking, they would forever be defending their front door."
"Consider it part of your mission parameters to keep this information confidential." the bear ANBU stated over his shoulder, speaking for the first time.
"We understand." Shino replied stiffly, straightening to follow Kiba and Hinata as they moved on.
After moving through several similar rooms, the cave opened up again, the exit guarded by two more shinobi. Emerging into the warmer air of the surface, Kiba and Akamaru sighed in relief as Hinata rubbed the chill from her arms. Even with her jacket, she managed to get cold. Shino seemed unaffected, and stood waiting with his hands in his pockets, observing the houses spread out before them.
The village itself was small, as Matsushiro had told her, but Hinata was amazed at how beautiful it was. Every house and building was constructed of wood and traditionally styled. They clay shingle roofs were impeccable, and the rice paper on the shoji doors were painted with a variety of designs, ranging from simple sakura branches to intricate forest scenes filled with deer, bear and wolves. The shops and restaurants were equally elegant, with wooden signs hanging from wide porches to let shoppers know what they sold. People moved about the streets in a relaxed manner, not crowding each other or raising their voices in complaint. It seemed idyllically peaceful.
They were led through the village without stopping, Matsushiro pointing out the house they would be staying at and particularly good places to eat. He hung back a little as he walked, until he had maneuvered his way to Hinata's side. When she realized how close he was to her, a light blush crept up her cheeks and she pretended to take interest in a small park on the opposite side of the street to hide it. Kiba noticed too, and frowned slightly as he drew up on her free side. Shino continued to walk behind the trio, but his strides were noticeably longer as the distance between them slowly dwindled. Nothing was said, and they continued on as if they were the best of friends from the start.
At the very end of the main street stood the Daimyo's mansion. Usually, the head of the country resided in the capital, not in the ninja village it supported. The risk of invasion was high, and to lose their head of state and military force in one blow would be devastating for any country, no matter how strong. But considering the excellent fortifications, superior to anything they had seen in the civilian villages they passed through, it made sense to install the daimyo here as well. As long as the cave wasn't compromised and they could defend themselves from aerial attacks, it was perfect.
Hemmed in on all sides, Hinata didn't notice the stares of the villagers around them. Kiba did, and with interest, noting that the civilians had a subtle, untrusting gleam in their eyes, while the ones he pegged as shinobi were damn near overt and malicious. In fact, the latter started trailing after the group, keeping a fair distance and acting nonchalant, but following nonetheless. Picking up on their pack-like behavior, he straightened and stared ahead as he walked, lips pulled back in a canine-baring grin. Akamaru walked stiffly just behind him in a similar posture, hackles lifted slightly as he watched them out of the corner of his eye.
Kiba studied them, taking in as much detail as his askance glances would allow. The ninja were definitely dressed in a more primitive manner than he was used to seeing, but he couldn't say he disliked it. Nearly all of them had some combination of multi-colored furs, leather and claws worked into their clothing and hair. They seemed to favor sleeveless shirts, displaying taut muscles with leather or silver armbands, and fingerless leather gloves. The majority of them had dark blue or black hair, with a few auburns and blonds thrown in here and there.
The heavy smell of animals hung in the air as well, and beyond the line of buildings he caught sight of several scurrying blurs. He took a deep breath, allowing the pheromone-laden atmosphere to flow through his nostrils and down his throat to roll over his tongue. He picked from the muddled scents of the humans at least five wolves, a hawk, two mountain cats, and one smell he couldn't define, but was definitely animal. He didn't know if the creatures belonged to animal clans like his own or if they were ninkin, but he did know they were much more than a collection of rescued strays. Otherwise they would have just hid or watched them cautiously, rather than actively stalking them.
Despite the increasing tenseness of the atmosphere, they reached the daimyo's mansion without incident, and were ushered inside by two male servants dressed in crisp, blue kimono and white hakama. Only a couple of ninja from the impromptu caravan entered as well, obviously of higher standing than the others. A large female timber wolf was allowed in as well, and she padded to an inconspicuous corner and sat, her gold eyes never leaving their group. They paused just inside, glancing around the sumptuous environment. There was a set of open shoji doors to the right, revealing a sparse sitting room where a young man with long, black hair sat at a low table, his black silk kimono bordered with gold suns displaying his obvious wealth. To his left sat an elderly woman, equally garbed, her gray hair pulled into a severe bun, a blue sheen highlighting the strands. Both of the servants bowed deeply from the waist.
"My Lord, the shinobi you requested from the Hidden Leaf Village are here." one of them said.
"Very good. You may show them in." he replied, his voice carrying a slight lilt as it echoed in the large room.
Matsushiro stepped forward as the escort turned to leave, followed by Hinata, Kiba and Shino. He gave a small bow before turning to the side, gesturing to Team Kurenai. "Netsubo Daitan-sama, I present Konoha's specialized tracking and espionage team, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino and Hyuga Hinata."
Daitan's eyes roamed over them for a moment before he gave them a curt nod. "It's a pleasure to meet you." He gestured to the woman beside him. "This is Tsume Kogyn, one of the elders of our most prestigious clan."
The Leaf nin gave small bows, which was returned with a cold glare. It was obvious from the woman's icy demeanor that she didn't approve of this potential alliance, or maybe it was life in general, but she had no qualms about expressing her distaste for their interruption of her visit with the daimyo.
Now that the introductions were over, Daitan laced his fingers together and spoke as his eyes gave them a second appraising sweep. "Yuhi-san assures me that you are perfect for the mission I have in mind. You look a little young, but the same could be said for myself. I will trust in his word. I was rather impressed with the cunning your Uzumaki Naruto displayed with the previous daimyo, and hope you are equally promising. Now, will you require more than one day's rest to recover from your trip?"
Kiba, accustomed to being the spokesperson for the group, took a step forward and gave the daimyo a smug grin as his hands went to his hips. "Give us a cold drink of water and we'd be ready to leave today, Netsubo-sama."
He was rewarded with a small laugh as Daitan shook his head. "I appreciate your enthusiasm, but rushing is not necessary. Besides, your guide will need time to pack."
Kiba nodded in acquiescence, but his face betrayed a hint of a frown. They were more than capable of finding their way anywhere in the world and back again; they didn't need someone to babysit them. But since the alliance hinged on their behavior and the success of the mission, he let it go for diplomacy's sake. He dug around for something more to say, but was saved by Shino, who stepped up beside him.
"You never told us," he said evenly, "what sort of mission this is."
Kogyn's scowl deepened at his boldness, but she discreetly covered it by taking a sip of tea. If Daitan noticed, he didn't comment. "It's a reconnaissance mission." he said, "Your guide will take you to a building in Wave Country and I want you to infiltrate it and map it out for me. Security will be tight there, and it will probably be heavily populated. Also, our ninja are not welcome in Wave, so if you get caught, you're on your own."
"Not a problem since we won't get caught." Kiba replied.
Kogyn shook her head, speaking for the first time. "Your overconfidence will be the death of you."
Tired of her frosty attitude, Kiba gave her a silent sneer. She rose then, bowed low to the daimyo, and made her way out of the room. She limped slightly as she walked, but tried her best to cover it by keeping her back straight and her head lifted. Kiba averted his eyes in a show of respect despite his aggravation, and Shino and Hinata gave a slight bow.
"Forgive her morose words. Kogyn is one who grows on you with time. She was an unparalleled kunoichi in her day, and is unafraid to speak her mind." Daitan said with a grim smile once she was gone.
"There is nothing to forgive." Kiba replied, shrugging it off. "My mom tells me the same thing all the time."
"As did mine. If you don't have any questions about the mission, Matsushiro-san can show you where you can rest and eat, and your guide will meet you in the morning. I look forward to speaking with you again on your return."
"So do we."
With a low bow, the team turned and followed Matsushiro back through the shoji doors. The main room had been cleared of everyone but the silver wolf, who continued to watch them as they proceeded outside.
They were led to a small guest house just outside the mansion, far enough away for privacy, but close enough to be watched by the regular guards. It was tidy and clean, with all the amenities of home. There were four bedrooms, so there was no argument over sleeping space, and after a wonderful meal of venison and local vegetables, they bid each other good evening and went their separate ways. Matsushiro had one more diplomatic meeting with the local merchants, and after a wistful apology to Hinata, left first. Kiba and Akamaru, restless as always, went to explore the village while Shino retired to his room to read after releasing several of his best tracker beetles to patrol around the house.
This left Hinata on her own, and after a few minutes of wandering around the house admiring the rustic décor, she went to the room she had claimed between Shino and Kiba's. It was small and impersonally decorated, with a vase of flowers in a small alcove and lotus blooms painted on a changing screen. She felt a sudden pang of homesickness for her bedroom, with its overly large floor space and stuffed fox on her down quilt. But this room did have one advantage; there was a set of shoji doors that led to a beautifully kept garden, full of rhododendron, azalea and lady's slippers. They were plants native to the area, and looked nothing like the summer flowers she had in Fire Country.
There were still several hours until sunset, so she crept out onto the walkway, looking left and right before she sat, dangling her feet over the edge as she let the sun warm her bare toes. A pair of goldfinches hopped from branch to branch in the closest rhododendron, their nasally tweeting getting louder as they fought for dominion of the plant. A light plop drew her attention to a small pond, where dragonflies hovered around the cattails growing haphazardly around the edge. She watched them in amusement for a few minutes, mesmerized by the rapid beating of their lacy wings. Then her attention was drawn by a flash of silver and the rustle of bushes. She stood in alarm, activating her Byakugan as she scanned for potential enemies.
She was surprised when the intruder emerged immediately, and she recognized the large silver she-wolf as the one that had been watching them in the Daimyo's mansion. It regarded her for a long moment before tentatively stepping over to the pond and taking a drink, intense gold eyes never leaving Hinata's face. Not wanting to appear threatening, but still on her guard, Hinata sunk to her haunches and lowered her head slightly, just the way Kiba had taught her to do when interacting with strange animals. The wolf stopped drinking and lifted its head, a surprised air emanating from her. Hinata smiled a little, remembering to not part her lips.
"You can speak, can't you?" she asked quietly.
After another long moment of regarding each other, the wolf slowly walked over to her, gait slightly stiff and tail lifted. It stopped almost six feet away, ears swiveling back and forth to pick up the sounds around it.
"Yes." came the soft, feminine reply.
"Why have you been following us? I saw you at the daimyo's house."
"I was ordered by my mistress."
"We aren't here to hurt anyone." Hinata said, lifting one hand in a placating gesture.
"We know that. But the pack has grown out of control, and you being here is causing great unrest. We would like it very much if you would leave and not come back."
"The pack? You mean the village?"
"Yes."
"We'll be gone tomorrow for a mission. I'm sorry we are disturbing things here."
"We wish you would not do that either. Too much ambition is bad. But the pack will not listen to my mistress when she tells them this."
Hinata tilted her head at the familiarity of the words. "Is Kogyn your mistress?"
"I have never told and will never tell. To the pack I am alone. It is safer for us this way."
"Isn't it dangerous for you to be telling me this much?"
"We have seen you and know you hold no treachery. You will not betray anyone, even when they are not of your pack. This is not always a good thing, either. Docile pups are the first to be eaten."
A flash of embarrassment swept over Hinata as she thought of the way her father treated her because of her meekness. "I'm not-"
A crow squawked nearby and the wolf lowered her ears and started to back away before she could finish. "I must go now. Tell the flea lover he is not as slick as he thinks."
Then she was gone in a flash, leaving Hinata staring after her, a puzzled look on her face. A moment later she felt a tickling on her arm and looked down to see a large, black beetle slowly climbing up her jacket sleeve. She watched it until Shino's door slid opened and he joined her on the porch, hands stuffed in the pockets of his coat. Realizing the position she was still sitting in, Hinata flushed red and stood up, refusing to meet his eyes. The beetle took off from her arm and returned to its master, alighting on his ear before crawling down the neck of his coat. She couldn't see his face, but she could feel the amusement coming from him. It was mild and didn't last long, and he sat on the edge of the porch as he looked at the spot where the wolf stood a minute ago.
"Interesting." he said. "We will have to be cautious tonight and tomorrow. This inner turmoil in the village does not bode well for us."
"I-I agree." Hinata replied as she watched the crow circle low over the garden, its shining black eyes trained on the house below it.
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A/N: I apologize for the long delay in posting. End of school activities and a general lack of inspiration kept me from the keyboard often.
