Disclaimer: I do hereby disclaim all rights and responsibilities for the characters in this innocuous interlude. Oodles of respect for Masashi Kishimoto, the creative force behind Naruto. Please do have patience with me and with the ninja who has probably always been a picky eater.
SEVEN: HATCHING PLOTS
Kisame led them to breakfast, and the resort staff was clearly braced braced for his arrival. A waiter with impressive fortitude stashed them in one of the side rooms they probably used for private parties. He didn't bat an eye when Kisame ordered one of everything on the menu. In fact, he grinned.
"Hungry?" teased Sukea.
"Ravenous," Kisame amiably assured. "And this way, we can figure out what's good."
He was so careful not to look at Itachi, Iruka guessed the overflow of generosity was probably an attempt to get the Uchiha to eat. Catching Kisame's eye, Iruka raised his brows, wondering how worried he should be.
Rolling his eyes, Kisame drawled, "Eat something, already. Or I'll get Iruka to feed you."
Itachi calmly replied, "Leave it, Kisame."
With a heavy sigh, the Mist nin flagged their server and called for hot sake. A little early to be drinking, to Iruka's way of thinking, but Sukea raised two fingers, doubling the order.
Trays began arriving from the kitchen. Their waiter rattled off the names of each dish before hurrying away for more. Three sets of chopsticks snapped into action. Only Itachi lagged behind, poking disinterestedly at the nearest dish.
Iruka revived his old game of sneaking tidbits onto Itachi's plate. "Try that one. So tender."
Itachi huffed.
"No, really. Best thing I've tasted so far, and it's all good."
Itachi hummed. It was a neutral hum. And he didn't tell Iruka to leave off. He even tasted a few things. And given the abundance of items to sample, he was faring pretty well.
Meanwhile, across the table, Sukea was talking Kisame's ear off. "Here's what I've decided. I'll make Iruka my apprentice, teach him the journalistic trade. He can travel with me, starting out as an assistant but eventually, he'd be a business partner. Kind of like you two."
Kisame choked. "Us? Like you? Seems you've got the wrong idea. We're nothing like you two." He darted a worried look Itachi's way.
Apparently oblivious, Sukea asked, "No? But isn't that how things are done in your homeland? Warriors like you choose a promising boy. Train them up and travel together. All very inseparable."
Itachi leveled a flat stare in Kisame's direction.
"We were assigned to each other!"
Sukea poured more sake into the Mist nin's cup. "The parallels are striking, though. Must be comforting, all this familiarity."
"Comforting?" Kisame echoed incredulously.
Itachi spoke up. "Coincidental. Since I killed Kisame's previous partner."
Kisame nodded. "After that whole mess, nobody else wanted him."
"But you did?" Sukea inquired.
"Don't insinuate stuff." Kisame swore under his breath. "Shouldn't a journalist be better at listening?"
Iruka slid a bit of grilled fish onto Itachi's plate. "Sukea, don't tease."
"I'm only interested!" he countered, bringing out his notebook. "Which reminds me. I'd like to hear more about Iruka's pursuer. From yesterday."
"What, Orochimaru?" Kisame tossed back some liquor. "Bad news. Steer clear."
"Are you protecting him?"
"Nah. We don't owe him any loyalty. But he's a piece of work. He can really mess someone up if they're not wary."
"And you jumped in to defend my Iruka?" Sukea beamed. "Another round for the hero in our midst. Or should I say … guardian angel?"
Kisame told him where to shove that notion.
Sukea jiggled their empty sake bottle at their waiter.
Itachi stoically sipped at his mostly empty teacup.
Iruka moved to refill it.
"All I'm saying is that Orochimaru is a big name. My publishers would probably snap up a story, assuming he's up to something. Might be worth some cautious poking."
"Give it a rest," advised Kisame. "You're on vacation."
"Mmm, you're probably right. This is hardly the best story for my cub reporter to cut his teeth on. I don't like the idea of sending him into danger."
Iruka wasn't sure he liked the implication that he needed coddling. Even if he had needed rescuing.
Kisame grunted. "If he's your partner, you have to give him space to handle crap in his own way. Iruka had every old biddie and shopkeeper in his pocket last summer. I'd say he's a natural."
"You might be right!" Sukea turned an admiring gaze on Iruka. "He may be more suited to my line of work than I first thought. What do you say, Iruka? Up to the task of pocketing shopkeeps and biddies?"
Considering the practicalities, Iruka asked, "Do you even know where he's staying?"
That set off a round of speculation and suggestions. Kisame was an old hand at tracking down bounties. "But why the interest? Are you after him just because he wanted a second look at this guy?"
Sukea shrugged. "I wouldn't mind messing with him a little. But there could be a story here, or maybe I could sell a hot tip to some bounty hunter."
"Dooming said bounty hunter to an early death," Kisame pointed out.
"Valid." Sukea shook his head. "You're as strong as Orochimaru, right? Couldn't you take him down and turn him in for a bounty?"
Kisame frowned. "It's not that we couldn't …."
"He's not the sort of prey you can toy with," said Itachi.
"Can't we be nosy from a safe distance?" wheedled Sukea.
Itachi coolly asked, "Is idle curiosity worth your lover's life?"
Sukea blinked. "I wouldn't endanger Iruka."
"Then leave it, Sukea." He spoke as one who expected to be obeyed.
Iruka wasn't even a little bit surprised that Sukea would challenge him.
"I think we could learn some incidental things without risking a confrontation." He applied to Kisame. "Like you said, Iruka's a natural. I'll give him an easy first assignment, researching the gifts of the sea you're always on about. Folks will cooperate because it's good publicity."
Kisame was frowning, but he hadn't spoken against the scheme. Maybe that had something to do with his whole 'trust your partner' policy.
"Healers, resort owners, shopkeepers," Sukea listed. "Just get them talking and wait for a story to emerge. It's easy!"
Iruka cautious said, "I can do that."
Sukea quietly urged, "You'll be careful, right?"
Before any assurances could be made, Kisame smoothly interjected, "If you're worried, bring a bodyguard."
It was very quiet for several moments.
"I couldn't presume," said Iruka.
"Thought you were impressed by our ninja arts?" teased Kisame.
"Oh! I'm not doubting your capabilities." Iruka supposed there was nothing else for it. "Kisame, I don't think it would be wise. You make some people uneasy."
Sukea snorted into his cup.
Kisame grinned. "I make everyone uneasy."
"You do. Sorry."
"You've got nothing to apologize for." Kisame jerked his chin toward his partner. "Besides, I was talking about Itachi. He could tag along with you."
There was another too-long silence.
All eyes were on Itachi, who pushed back his chair, stood, and said, "Come on, then."
And walked out.
"I'll just be on my way, then," Iruka murmured, downing the last of his tea.
Kisame cast a glum look at the untouched food on Itachi's plate. Sukea blew Iruka a kiss.
He caught up to Itachi in the lobby, and they strolled out into the soft morning air. "Is this okay?"
"It is preferable to the alternative."
"Should we head into the shopping district? They have some interesting food stalls."
Itachi favored him with a slow blink. "Are you going to make further attempts at feeding me?"
"At every turn."
The line of his face softened slightly. "It will be interesting to see you try."
Iruka linked arms with him, and they ambled toward a sort of open-air market. It was like old times. Iruka struck up conversations, asking about local specialties and recommendations. Many of the sellers were happy to hype their goods and offered samples. Iruka spent a little coin, and Itachi radiated amusement and contentment. It was nice.
Until Itachi's hand clamped around his upper arm and steered him into a gap between two carts. There was a quick flash of fingers between their bodies. Gentjustu. But why would they need an illusion to hide them?
Iruka peered past Itachi's shoulder and whispered, "Where?"
He turned his head, then lifted a finger. "They went that way."
"Who did?"
"Come," he ordered, and they ducked down an alley.
When they neared the opposite end, Itachi flashed through more seals. Signaling for silence, he pointed into the street beyond.
Sukea strolled past, camera in hand. He must have finished breakfast and parted ways with Kisame. But … oh.
Sasuke appeared, and it was pretty clear that he was trailing Sukea.
Iruka grimaced, and he was about to remark on the close call, but Itachi set his fingers against Iruka's mouth, his gaze still fixed on the passersby.
Oh. Oh, shit. Why?
Sasuke was following Sukea, which was bad enough. But Orochimaru was following Sasuke, and that could spell disaster. For all of them.
End Note: originally posted on December 29, 2021. 1,474 words. Thanks for your patience during a busy season. Aiming for weekly chapters again in the new year. ::twinkle::
