The ninja guarding the hideout give him nothing more than fleeting glances on his way out. Stupid bastards, he sneers as he rolls magenta eyes. Could all Leaf ninja be that bored? Well, now that war was over, guess the answer's yes.
He almost wanted to cause some trouble himself, to say something smart, anything on accident.. to piss someone off.
Wow, had he seriously gone that stir crazy?
Because Jūgo was usually the one to flip his shit on a moment's notice. Would certainly not miss that.
And with Karin gone, there was no one for him to lock horns with. No one for him to annoy, pester, all the like. Life was painfully boring. He hated boring.
He almost misses Team Hawk, when he sits down and thinks about it. It was like a second purpose that gave him an excuse to stray from his first priority. Or what should have been first priority. He doesn't know what he wants any more.
Suigetsu swung Kubikiribōchō into a rotting tree, watching as his strength caused it to topple. He can only hope he caught their attention. Damn war with their damned shinobi, damn Orochimaru, and damn that Sasuke for getting him involved.
Sasuke.
He had to use force to pull the sword from bark. It would be a lie for him to say he missed the Uchiha's brooding ways and unreadable moods. The only thing he really gained from him were being freed and Zabuza's sword.
Well, didn't he thank him? He saw it more as an equal trade.
Anyway, he wasn't dying to see Sasuke. He was dying to see somebody.. other than Orochimaru and the dozens of experiments he had no interest in.
Suigetsu may have been more like a water-loving creature than a human, but he still wanted to fucking talk. Have someone to tell things. To be heard. To keep up with.. He missed that much about Mangetsu.
He gets sick of taking notes and observing. Sick of watching.
Sick of following.
Talking to Jūgo could have sufficed, if he didn't have to worry about the potential outbursts. He swore those curse marks had to have traces of steroids infused or something.
Hopefully this journey wouldn't be a reminder of why he hated people.
He almost loses his sense of direction a few times, but he makes it. Hesitance greets him at the gates, but he passes without much of a snag.
Guess someone with spiky teeth and a huge sword doesn't seem friendly enough, huh.
Suigetsu resents the profiling, but he also secretly loves it. Speaking of.. when was the last time he cut something up? When was his last kill? When had he last enjoyed his favorite hobby? Ah, too long.
Maybe later.
The Leaf doesn't have a lot he hasn't seen before. But it's a nice village. And he can see why people love it there. Nice scenery, mild weather, lots of space. The reconstruction is still underway, but the improvements were obvious. He isn't that impressed, but he's been to worse.
It would never be great enough to be considered his home, but..
It's peaceful.
But so many strangers.
He doesn't know anyone, and he doesn't care to. He enjoys being by himself to an extent.
But still, life could get lonely when you were Suigetsu Hōzuki. There was no one to argue with, no one to watch out for you, no one to listen to you bitch when you needed to bitch..
But he doesn't need any of that, right? He loves being independent. And he wouldn't give up his independence for anything.
Fending off his thoughts is hard sometimes. During experiments, during training, during walks, during his sleep even.
Recurring nightmares seem like nothing compared to the torture he's exposed to over the years.
It's tiresome until..
A blotch of red hair catches his attention on a whim, and he has to make his entrance dramatic. Excitement lights up his face and suddenly he's revitalized with energy.
Boy, does she stick out.
"And I was just beginning to enjoy the view," Suigetsu feigns a yawn, stretching his arms towards the sky. He's actually glad to see someone he recognizes.
She's seated outside a tiny café at a table just as personal, but she isn't alone.
"Let out of your cage so soon?!" She holds her head up high, uncrossing her legs and paying him a dismissive flick.
"Don't act like you didn't miss me," Suigetsu would have joined the party if there had been another chair present. He acts pensive. "hold on, don't tell me. You're here to stalk Sasuke as he ties up loose ends."
Karin immediately flushes, clenching the table in anger when he steals her ice water. "Oh, as if!"
Her friend seems to get a little antsy at the mention of Sasuke, and luckily, Suigetsu notices this. He extends his hand as an introduction.
"Hello! I didn't know Karin was likable enough to have friends! Pleasure to meet you! Suigetsu Hōzuki."
"You'll have to excuse him, Ino," The redhead shoves his wrist away, "he's been deprived of oxygen to the brain."
She laughs nervously in response. "Oh, hi. Karin's told me about you."
"Yeah? What's she say?"
"How obnoxious and annoying you are," Karin answers for her, glaring daggers.
"So," Suigetsu ignored his former teammate and smirked at the Leaf kunoichi. "you know Sasuke? Old boyfriend of yours?"
"N-No!" The Yamanaka stammered, exchanging a blushed look with Karin. "we, uh.. were in the same class together..."
"Really," He drawled, only vaguely interested. She was just the type to lust over a guy like Sasuke. He should've known the day he went out to lunch with him. Girls flock to his side as if he's a Greek god. Attracted by the mysterious attitude, the casual stare, the total aura of coolness he emitted..
"You think you can just come over here and question people like you're somebody?!" She hopped to her feet, ready to quarrel. "Damn it, Suigetsu! What does someone have to do to get rid of you?"
Their fights are exhausting, but nevertheless entertaining. On his end, anyway. "Why are you here, Karin?"
The Uzumaki lowers her fist, fiery eyes almost a shade of orange in the sunlight. His sincerity is alarming. "They're short-staffed in the medical department, if you must know. What are you doing here?"
So the Fifth had asked her to stay, too. Well, didn't he feel special.
He figured as much.
The blonde was pretty, but something about her stood out. She's like Karin, and there was something obviously wrong with Karin..
"I hope you ladies realize," Suigetsu winks before shrugging, "you're wasting your time going after guys like Sasuke. He's more interested in himself, 'ya know. If I were him, I would have given up on that avenger shit and started relying on my looks years ago."
Dumbfounded silence.
"I mean, it's obsessive," A nod. "Yep, real men are far and between around here."
He must believe she really is stupid if he thinks she doesn't pick up on the way he dances around her question. She adjusts her glasses with one finger. "Please, and that would be you? I think we'll pass."
"Fine then," Suigetsu sighs in loud defeat, "I guess you two are happy being members of the Sasuke Reject Fan Club."
At last he gets the rouse he wanted from both girls.
"Guess my reflexes are a little lacking nowadays," He's in the middle of dodging jabs and laughing hysterically before his short attention span gets the best of him.
He misses fighting.
"Why don't you just get lost already!?" Karin mocked, settling down after landing a swing or two.
"Hey," He isn't offended. "is that a weapons shop?"
Ino still fumes, reluctantly following his gaze across the street. "It isn't officially in service yet, but.."
"Finally something good around here," Suigetsu interrupts, brushing Kubikiribōchō's handle with one hand. "I thought I'd seen it all."
Karin scoffs. "They probably have rules against selling to brainless, good for nothing tourists of your kind."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever," He scoffs right back and struts away from the two enraged teens.
The bell above the door tinkles when he walks in, and the arrant display of tools actually knocks him back.
Swords, kunai, spears, mace, knives, axes, scythes, explosives, shuriken, grenades, arrows..
Damn. Suigetsu blinks, never witnessing so many deadly instruments in one place. It's heaven for a guy like him. The dude who opened this store must have been a real badass..
"Good afternoon!"
The perkiness of a feminine voice bugs him. Karin's personality has poisoned him from wanting to be around other women, it seems.
He gives a curt nod in response as he browses, examining a windmill shuriken more closely.
What if he learned to wield two weapons at the same time..
"How are you today?"
If there was something that really irked him, it was pushy salespeople. He avoids eye-contact, stopping in his tracks before huffing visibly. "Just fine."
And if they thought using an innocent girl would make him more likely to buy something, oh how very wrong they were. He would waste everyone's time and then some just for fun.
Suigetsu hadn't even looked around for a minute more before realizing that watching wasn't this girl's strength.
The brunette moves from her assigned spot behind the counter so she can get a better read on him. As a buyer. "Sorry if it seems like I'm being too eager, it's just.. you would be my first sale! We haven't had the grand opening yet, but-"
The Mist ninja is annoyed at first, spinning on his heel and aiming to give her an intimidating scowl. He's caught off guard by her unkempt appearance.
Two buns are coming undone near her ears, and the unforgiving work shows on her white blouse. Paint, dirt, grease gleaming freshly off her skin. She doesn't fit into the girly stereotype so well any more.
"Oh," She finally looks somewhat embarrassed at her disheveled appearance. "I've been.."
"Look, uh," He trailed off, rudely cutting off any unwanted explanations. He gestures at her with one hand. "listen.."
"Tenten."
"Tenten," Suigetsu continued indifferently, "let's say I am interested in what you're selling. Don't most of the profits go to your dad, or to like.. whoever runs this place?"
What follows this could only be described as a very awkward and confused stare, so he thinks. "I'm sorry, but you misunderstand."
"What do you mean?"
"This is my store," Tenten fills him in, crossing her arms. Doesn't pretend to be modest. "pretty impressive, huh?"
Tawny eyes wait for his head to nod in agreement. He does nothing more than snigger.
"You're kidding, right?"
"What's so funny?"
"You're a chick. Chicks don't know anything about weapons."
"Excuse me, I do too!" She slams on the defensive, "why are all guys filled with this ignorance and outright sexism!"
Suigetsu is trained to keep his laughter to a minimum, unprepared to make any more enemies. "Because it's a guy thing. Guys are just more suited for those types of hobbies."
"It's not a hobby," Tenten countered, insulted by his laid-back nature. "it's my life."
He stifles the urge to laugh again.
"Okay," He acts like he's going to drop it. "whatever you say."
He knows every trick in the book.
"Obviously it's good enough to make you notice," She isn't done with her convincing argument.
Yeah, for a chick, I guess.
Suigetsu is surprised by her ability to hold her stare with him, tilting his head to the side curiously. It's a gaze of admiration mixed in with begrudging, and he can't help but be flattered. Disinclination clouds her tone when he smirks and leans forward. Typical women. Their minds on one thing at a time.
"What'cha looking at?"
Tenten seems unnerved all of a sudden, "Um, nothing."
He realizes only then that her watch goes slightly to his right, straight over his shoulder.
Kubikiribōchō.
Not him.
Suigetsu felt ridiculous in that moment, but it passes. He can't pass up the opportunity to brag. "You wanna see what a real killer looks like?"
She almost stutters, struggling but keeping her pride intact. "It is a good-looking sword. Mind if I take a closer look?"
The Hōzuki blatantly opposes this suggestion. He protectively winds his grip around its handle. "Sure, just wipe your hands first."
Tenten scoffs quietly as he unstraps Kubikiribōchō flashily and lays it across the counter.
"That's.."
"I know," He takes in the glory, chest swelling with satisfaction. "the one and only Executioner's Blade. Since you know so much about everything."
"Wow," She ignores his snarky comment, "how'd you get it?"
"Don't worry about that," Suigetsu snatches it from view as if she would make an attempt to steal it. "let's just say we found each other."
"I could have it sharpened for you," She is unable to hide the yearning in her tone, stepping closer. Would have offered him a generous sum of money for the sword if she had it. "if you want."
"Sorry, but I don't think so," He says with finality. "I never let this baby out of my sight."
He catches a glimpse of the treasured tools she has on proud display to their left. So she did have quite the collection.
"You like them?" Tenten changes the subject, nearly making a smart remark of her own. She pointed to the colored fan. If she had the negotiating skills, they could have talked about a trade. He didn't seem the type to change his mind, so she decided otherwise. "I handled that one during the war."
The war. She fought? He wouldn't have guessed she was a kunoichi just by looking at her. He had to admit, this broad was tougher than she looked. If she could live up to the hype.
"I wanted to show off the ones I was able to recover."
"So you're telling me," Suigetsu tests her, "that you know how to use every one of these?"
"Of course," Tenten insisted, and he can practically see the passion burn within. "what kind of business owner would I be if I didn't know my own products?"
You'd be the average woman.
"Well, I've yet to meet the soul who can show me up in bukijutsu," He lies effortlessly, "and trust me, Suigetsu Hōzuki doesn't take it easy on girls."
He wouldn't have to.
She sized him up, briefly contemplating the once-in-a-lifetime challenge he proposes. "You sure about that?"
"Sure, what's a good laugh every once in a while."
He slid over a vial of polish that he had considered swiping.
Surprise is one emotion he never gets sick of.
He'd be her first sale, all right.
"I bet you won't even come close to landing one hit."
A/N;; You guys who favorite & follow are the absolute best.
Floating from story to story. Having more than one going on is easier for me, it seems. Lol.
