A/N: It's, a, it's been a while. Yep. Well, to be blunt, that last chapter sucked. So, here's the plan: A REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEWRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITE. Yeah, with the help of my friends ZeroJackson and TheParagonPariah (go check out their work, it is fantastic), I've been improving. More description, emotion, etc. etc. All that fancy jazz. Anyway, with regards to that, this isn't a complete overhaul. Just a better redoing of this chapter so that I can go into future chapters with a better writing style. We cool? I hope so. Anyway, enjoy.
There was a nice breeze blowing through the area, countering the sun's incredible heat. The tree branches swayed in way of the breeze, shifting the leaves to make an orchestra of rustling sounds that echoed through the forest. Below a thick tree on the side of the road, sat the trio with their teacher leaning against the tree.
"Did you see that kill? It was awesome!" Denji thrust his small bowl of rice into the air, letting loose a shower of the white grain over his comrades. "It was, like, hit, smack, BAM!" he stood, visually expressing his recent kill, which they all saw.
"We get it, you killed him, we all killed one. It's not much of something to celebrate." Arine gave Denji an irritated look as she moved a spoon full of rice into her mouth, silent and glaring. Denji stared back, as if answering some unspoken challenge.
"You're no fun." Denji said, sighing and flopping down, losing the contents of his bowl, to which he expressed his annoyance with a loud groan.
"Isn't humbleness and humility the sign of a good warrior?" Yukio quipped, earning a smile from both Arine and Aika, who audibly smirked.
"He's got a point Denji, boasting is bad sportsmanship." Aika commented, pushing from the tree with her back before facing her students. "At least when it comes to people and their deaths in battle." Denji looked into his now empty bowl, as if looking for an answer.
"So people are just kind of a hunting game?" Denji thought, tapping his chin with a lone finger. "I thought we were supposed to be humble?" He looked up to the woman, who was strapping on a familiar black cloak. She snapped the collar button closed and responded
"In a sense. It's all about balance, really. Those bandits back there? Warriors, yes, but not bright. Right now, with a bigger goal in mind, they're merely the small game compared to our true target in this little hunt of ours." Aika closed the main part of the cloak around her body, leaving the hood down for now. "Now while that sounds derogatory, I mean it in only the most metaphorical way possible. A warrior is a warrior, no matter how weak. Cowards, on the other hand, are a different matter altogether." Aika checked that all of her belongings were in order, knives, pouches, gear. "Don't want to get too philosophical before searching a nearby town." Aika searched for a few more minutes before seeming satisfied. "Pack up, we're heading in." She ordered once she finished.
The trio finished their rice and packed up the bowls wrapping them in thick cloth before putting them in bags gently before sliding them over their shoulders. They joined Aika on the dirt path, starting along it once again, the only sounds being the rustling leaves and their footsteps along the soil. The sun was blazing through the leaves, casting shadows along the ground as they walked, but provided moderate shade, the breeze keeping them cool for the most part. Yukio kept his eyes on the forest wall, checking for more possible interruptions. He saw nothing that seemed bad, but the white-haired boy couldn't trust being out here. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he was almost scared to be out here, even with Aika at their side.
At the cabin, there was a sense of security because it was isolated, cut off. No one knew it was there but Shizune, and Aika consoled the children by noting that Shizune was well aware and hadn't told anyone of it yet. But still…
It just feels weird. Was the thought that crossed the boy's mind as he walked, listening to Denji's fervent complaints about walking so long. But I can't quite figure out why. Yukio bit his lip in irritation. Damn. He stared down at his feet, walking in step, one after the other, left, right, left, right, over and over. An oddly comforting feeling, seeing something in order.
"Aye, Yukio." He jerked his head up to the voice, just appearing out of his own head, only to walk face-first into a pole. His head smacked against it audibly, making Yukio recoil and rub his face as it turned red from both the impact and embarrassment. He faced his friends, who were trying not to laugh at his blunder.
"Yes?" he asked, irritated.
"We're here." Aika said, smiling openly. Yukio glanced up to see he'd walked right into the pole of a sign overhead that welcomed them to Makinami Village.
"We are." Was Yukio's curt response. Aika simply kept walking, drawing the hood over her head. Arine offered Yukio a smile while Denji strayed and wrapped an arm around Yukio.
"Don't worry, bro. Walking into a pole is the least of your worries. Trust me, I've walked into more than just a stupid old pole." He offered the white-haired boy a smiled and a pat on the back saying "On the bright side, we're the only ones who saw you." Yukio couldn't help but smile a bit. He could be annoying, but Denji had his back. Yukio followed his friend and caught up with Aika and Arine, who stood near an intersection in the paths that contained vendors and store-fronts alike.
"It's crowded." Arine said, looking displeased. Aika sighed.
"Believe me, there are worse. In fact, Makinami is one of the smaller ones. You want crowds, head to Orochiasu. That place is crowded day in and day out, and is host to some… disreputable people." Aika screwed her face up into one of disgust.
"Disreputable?" Denji asked, sounding the word out. "What's that mean?"
"Bad, mean, unlikable, to name a few words." Aika said. "I've seen some shit there. Stuff you don't wanna hear about or see. Ever." Aika released a tense breath before turning back to the kids. "But enough about that, we're here to find a station." Aika moved forward, the kids following.
"What kind of station?" Yukio asked, curious.
"A bounty station. They have info on various targets. Since our target is in the Land of Fire, all stations in the country should have that info." Aika turned right into some incomers, who avoided her. In fact, pretty much everyone avoided the group as they traversed the streets, as if they didn't care for newcomers. That aided them as Aika turned left, then right, then another right before coming to an alleyway.
The cloaked nin went up to a section of the wall, and knocked on it in a specific pattern. Knock-knockknockknock-knock-knock. The sound was surprisingly hollow, which surprised Yukio. He glanced around and noticed small lines making a rectangular shape. It was a door. Confirming this, the portion slid slightly to the right, showing only a bloodshot, green eye staring at them. From behind the door, they heard a voice
"What shines bright on a full moon's night?" Aika leaned in and whispered
"The blood of the target on the guilty knife." The person behind the door seemed to weigh the answer for a moment before sliding the door closed. Clunking and unlocking sounds could be heard until the door opened just enough for Aika and her trio to slip in. The door was closed tight behind them. From behind them, a very tired man walked to a desk covered in papers. Yukio glanced around and saw that the walls were covered in maps, posters, notifications by local authorities, everything about criminals who had a bounty. Lighting the room were several lanterns, casting a dull, orange glow in the room.
Expansive system. He silently admired it as the man sat at his desk. He fixed the blue bandanna on his head and rubbed his tired eyes. The stubble on his face indicated he hadn't shaved for days, and his clothes consisted of a dark blue, baggy shirt and baggy, black pants. He leaned back in his chair, planting his feet upon the desk in which he worked.
"So, what can I do ya for?" his voice was a bit gruff. As if the motion itched him, the man idly scratched his throat and blinked slowly. Aika walked up, pulling out the sheet that held their target's info.
"I'm looking for information on this one." She handed it to the man, who stared at it for a minute, as if trying to remember.
"Oh yeah." He nodded in affirmation. "This one came in not too long ago. Lemme find his…" he trailed off as he took his feet down, searching the stacks until he found a binder filled with old, tearing pieces of paper, which Yukio guessed contained hundreds, if not thousands, of names, descriptions, worth, and status. Disorganised at first, but this man seemed to know his way around. Said man opened the massive binder, sending papers everywhere, but he ignored it in favour of searching through the names compiled. "There we are." He pointed to a paper, similar to their own. An old, grey-haired man whose eyes looked almost closed. "Tsukune Matsuda. An old drunk, seems he got in with the wrong people to feed his habit, can't pay 'em back, you know how that old song and dance goes." He glanced up at Aika, a ghost of a smirk on his face.
"That's great." Aika said, matter-of-factly. "However, there's a couple things I'm concerned about." She pointed to the paper, specifically the amount. "First of all, fifty-thousand ryo seems a bit high of a price for a man who only owes five thousand. And second, who put this bounty out? It's all a bit strange, no?" the man looked up, almost bored.
"Honestly, I've seen this before. Some ass-" he glanced at the kids. "You think they should be here?" he queried.
"They're my students, so yes. Continue." Aika stayed calm, but irritation was hidden under her voice. The man rolled his eyes.
"Anyway, some asshole owes money, dicks around with the people he borrowed from, the guy is willing to pay an arm and a leg for an expert to bring the guy to him so he can have, shall we say, a bit of personal fun." He shook his head. "Poor saps." He muttered. "And the latter, the guy probably asked to keep it private. I should have that info, though." He moved the target binder and searched through a slightly smaller binder full of clients. He flipped through, a smile on his face that slowly deteriorated the more he looked. "The hell?" He flipped more rapidly back and forth, tearing out pages completely to try and find this mystery supplier.
"Why would they have that?" Denji whispered, looking to Aika for an answer.
"To keep a tab on who to deliver the target to." Aika whispered, as the man spouted profanities, clawing into stacks like a feral beast to find this info. Yukio raised an eyebrow.
"Kind of pointless to destroy and disorganise it all." He commented.
"He can remember most of it, most likely. Only those kinds of people are hired for this kind of job, where our info is on paper, which can be destroyed easily." Aika responded. As if on cue, the man grabbed half a massive stack of papers that he flipped through and tossed it behind him, searching the second half. "Besides, he also probably has copies."
"Damn it all!" the man stood there, breathing heavily after his arduous search. Papers were strewn about everywhere even more. "I've got no info. Nada, zip." He took off his bandanna and ran his hand through his short, black hair. "Sorry, seems it's either lost or I forgot it." He sighed and thought a moment. "There's another station a few hours from here. They might have something. Either I can contact them or you can." Aika seemed to weight he offer given, contemplating the pros and cons.
"Inform this station I'll be arriving tomorrow, tell them to gather as much information as possible and to have it ready when I get there. I'm not about to go into this blind. Got that?" The man smiled and nodded, plopping back into his chair.
"Yeah, sure, that's fair. Just gotta find that lazy bird of mine. I'll have it sent by evening, count on me." He made a mock salute as Aika nodded in approval.
"Oh by the way, what's your name? I'll need it if something goes awry." Aika had a hint of a grin on her face. The man smirked.
"Sousuke. That's all I'm gonna tell you, got it?" Aika nodded. "And by the by" Sousuke pointed to a map behind him, dotted with pins. He pointed to one some distance above the one in the village, Makinami. "There's the station. Should be able to find it easy, no?" Aika nodded, committing the location to memory.
"Well then Sousuke, I hope to hear that this other station has gotten your regards. You also have mine, unless you screw up." With that, Aika turned and went to leave, the trio following close behind. Yukio was the last to leave, glancing back to see Sousuke writing on a fresh piece of parchment. Hopefully, the instructions to the other station. As they climbed out, Yukio was glad to be in the alley way. That room was so stuffy, no wonder Sousuke looked bored and tired. Anyone would be after spending Kami knows how long in there.
"Well that was boring." Denji sighed. Arine glared at him.
"We got the information, so it was worth it. Well, some information. Plus, you shouldn't insult the smart people. They tend to save the lives of the brutes." Her gaze shifted to Yukio, which clued Denji in on her meaning.
"You're saying I need Yukio to save me all the time?" his tone was one of disbelief and astonishment. Arine smirked and shook her head.
"No, just don't throw him to the side. Okay?" Arine raised an eyebrow in challenge. Denji sighed in defeat.
"Don't worry." he slapped Yukio on the back. "Yukio's my friend, my brother. No way I'd leave him behind." Denji had a big grin plastered on his face, the light from the setting sun shining into the alley way, reflecting off his silver hair. Yukio's hair, however, seemed to take on the colour of the light, making Arine look twice. Something incredibly minor, but yet it changed everything about how the boy looked. Almost like his hair was in flames, but the kind that a man would wear to charge into the enemy to scare them.
"All right then." Aika broke up the talking. "As great as it is that you're not fighting, I need to tell you some things." The trio stood, attentive. "First things first: we're gonna stay in Makinami for the night. Too much trouble and too risky to go there and back, especially at night. Second, I'm going to give you kids a bit of my trust." Aika pulled a pouch of coins form her cloak and handed it to them. "That should be enough money for treats. I need to take care of a few private errands myself and it's better if you guys don't know about them just yet. We clear?"
"Crystal." Yukio responded. Aika nodded her approval.
"Good. I want you kids to stay around the centre area, got it? Once I tend to my errands, I'll find us a hotel and come collect you. Got it?" they nodded. "Good. Now, go grab something to eat. You could use it." Denji smiled bright, Arine grinned, and Yukio joined them. "You want a recommendation? I hear this place has some great sweet dumplings. I knew a woman who raved on and on about them. So go check them out, see if they're worth the hype." Denji grabbed his friends by the arms.
"Come on, I'm starving!" he all but yelled as Arine and Yukio followed. Aika smiled, pulling the good of her cloak up. They were good kids, they don't go looking for trouble.
At least I hope not. The words floated around in Aika's stressed mind. She may have trained them but it'd only been two gruelling weeks of teaching. Plus, kids will be kids and explore. They hadn't seen the outside much so they might get too curious.
"They'll be fine." She reassured herself as she drew the hood up and walked out of the alley into the town streets, turned a burning orange the lowering sun. They'd spent more time in that stuffy room than she thought. Aika glanced around, picking one of the many gaps in the streams of people and turned left. She kept her head lowered, but eyes peeled, watching for someone, anyone, who could spot her. As she cautiously walked, she was conscious of the building she was approaching, a smoke stack on top spewing black smoke into the air. The rogue nin stopped in front of it, making a quick sweep before stepping in.
"Well, well, it's been a while." The man at the counter smiled at his customer, who removed her hood.
"Yes, well, I figured I'd come check up on our little pet project. It's been a month, hasn't it Keiichi?" Aika rummaged under her cloak until she produced another bag of money, which she handed over to the blacksmith, how short black hair greasy and slick. He was slim, but with well-toned muscles form his work forging. He wore loose white pants and a black vest, showing most of his bare torso. He checked the bag before closing it and sliding it under the counter.
"A good payment as usual." Keiichi said, smiling. "Unfortunately we haven't finished it. The chakra metal is hard enough to come by, especially without seeming suspicious. As you asked, we've still been ordering the smallest shipments we could, which is damn near miniscule." The blacksmith sighed. "Making the knife itself is easy, it's adding what you want that's hard." Aika nodded.
"I know, I've been searching for the seals for a while now. Managed to pick up that payment of yours while I was at it. Thieving is easy when the rich don't keep track of the small things." Aika stayed as business as possible while Keiichi snickered.
"You do realise my reputation is on the line here."
"Which is precisely why I chose you for such a project, any others would take too long. If you're that unwilling to handle stolen funds, I'm more than happy to take your progress elsewhere-"
"Oh no, please!" Keiichi held his hands up in defeat. "It was only a reminder, I simply hope that your funds aren't traceable. They've been a big help to us." He smiled sheepishly as Aika raised an eyebrow.
"Well then, good." Aika glanced back to a room behind Keiichi where hammering could be heard. "In any case, I've heard from people that there are books on this subject so if I can pilfer one for you, I'll hand it over long enough for the seal to be made. It's not overly complicated, just hard to find."
"Well, as long as one of us finds it." Keiichi checked his hands, which were black and red with burns and minor injuries. "If I do find it, I'll make sure to notify you as soon as I can. However, we're backed up as it is with repair requests so you'll have to do most of the searching."
"That's fine." Aika's lip curled into a small smile. "After all, searching is fun. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be on my way." Aika replaced her hood and ducked out of the establishment, making her way into the crowds, heading to the next shop she had commissioned for a personal product.
"Ah!" Denji grinned wide as he finished the last sweet dumpling on the stick. He kicked his legs out and stretched his arms. "This is great!" he exclaimed, glancing at his friends. Arine was calmly munching on hers as Yukio sat and stared at the passing crowds, his brow furrowed and his lips pursed. Arine followed Denji's gaze and noticed their friend.
"Something wrong?" she asked, concerned. Yukio stared into the crowds for a minute more before answering.
"I feel like I've been to a place like this before." He looked down, the same expression on his face. "I think my mother may have taken me. Somewhere in the Hidden Cloud Village. A festival maybe." He bit his lip and crossed his hands, gripping the dumpling stick tight. "But I can't see clearly. I think that's because my eyes weren't good back then." Arine leaned back twirling the small stick between her fingers.
"Lucky you. I never left my house much. I don't remember why, but my parents were almost afraid to let me out."
"I went out all the time. Parents never really cared, y'know?" Denji smirked, but only a bit. "I mean, I was pretty poor so I just went out and stole some things. Mostly bread and stuff like that. Mother didn't care much for it. Neither did dad but they turned a blind eye since it got us fed along with parent's meager funds." Denji put the stick in his mouth, chewing on it.
"I don't remember my father. He wasn't around much, at least I don't remember him. He fought with my mother sometimes, I could hear them. Then one day, my mom said he died in battle. He was a shinobi, leaving my mother along with me and my sister." Yukio moved the dumpling stick up and ate one slowly.
"What's your sister's name?" Arine asked, intrigued. Yukio cast his eyes down, ashamed.
"I… I-I can't…. I can't remember." He gritted his teeth. "I knew it, but after those…. Operations in the prison… my memories are all a bit muddled. I can't explain it." Yukio's eyes shined with the threat of tears. "I barely remember what happened when I was taken." His body started shaking as he felt a gentle hand rest on his shoulder. He looked up to Arine.
"Listen, I know it must be hard. But, I'm sure you'll remember her name. Just don't force it. That's what I've always heard. Don't force the memory or else it'll just keep slipping away." Arine looked back to Denji for a bit of support.
"I mean, you're really smart." Denji complimented. "So memory is one of those things you'll be good at. Plus, maybe Shizune could heal you… or something." Yukio looked up, blinking hard to prevent any tears.
"You think so?" His friends nodded.
"I mean, it might be possible." Arine shrugged. "I don't really know, but it's worth a shot, right?" Yukio nodded, then smiled a bit.
"You guys are great." He chuckled, Arine and Denji chuckling too.
"Of course, I'm amazing." Denji joked. "Plus, I'm sure I could score a woman here." He scanned the area. "Like that one." He pointed over to a building front across the way. It had a sign with a cartoon girl with a woman out front fixing something. Her hair was chocolate brown and in loose curls. She turned, showing she was putting a small sign up, letting the group see her scarlet lips, pale skin, green eyes, large bust, and rounded bottom. Her top consisted of a red strapless tube top and a very short, red miniskirt that clung to her.
"Are. You. Serious?" Denji looked to see Arine's angry glare aimed at him. "That's a brothel you moron. Those women would do anything with anyone."
"You see? My point exact-" he stopped when Arine stabbed her dumpling stick into Denji's temple, making him cry out. "Gah! That hurt!"
"Remember what Yukio said about humility? Maybe you should use it." Arine growled. Yukio snickered, but soon started laughing. Denji looked at him, raising and eyebrow.
"What's so funny?" Yukio took a deep breath to stop the laughing and responded
"You. You always manage to get a laugh from me somehow. Or maybe it's Arine, I'm not sure." The white-haired boy chuckled, eating another dumpling. "Either way, thank you guys. That cheered me up." Arine smiled as Denji pulled the sharp stick from his head.
"Well, you're welcome." He said before chuckling. "I guess getting hurt gets a laugh from me to."
"Just keep your trap shut." Arine growled, but a smirk played on her lips, threatening to make her laugh.
"It's okay Arine, you don't need to be angry all the time." Denji smirked. "Doesn't do good for you."
"Oh yeah? How would the Great Denji know?" sarcasm was dripping from her voice.
"Well, I happen to be an expert on this subject." Denji raised a pointed finger up, as if for silence.
"Expert my ass." Arine sneered, standing. "If you're an expert in anything, it's stupid jokes."
"Oh yeah?" Denji stood, a cocky grin on his face. "You wanna go? Then let's go."
"That's fine by me, as long as you're ready to lose." Arine moved her hands over her back, where her trident was in two sections.
"Um, guys?" they both stopped to see Yukio, a sheepish grin on his face. "Could we, um, not fight? In public?" he chuckled, hoping they would calm down. Arine sighed.
"All right. But I wanna see the shops. Perhaps I can get something with the money we have left." The girl hefted the pouch. "It seems like a lot."
"Aika probably gave us too much since she had it on her, no biggie." Denji showed his open hands, shrugging in a lack of concern. "I mean, come on, we should spend it. She gave it to us and never said we couldn't."
"Yeah, but what if we need supplies and Aika's out of money?" Yukio stood, slipping the dumpling stick in a pocket on the inside of the left of his jacket.
"Aika's loaded, dude." Denji ran a hand through his silver hair. "She's probably got more money than we've ever seen."
"Yes, but if she needs to be reclusive about these 'errands' then they most likely cost a lot. She might be broke when she returns." Yukio's brow furrowed, trying to convince his friend.
"Calm down, she's loaded. I can tell." Denji's grin never left his face.
"Okay you two, calm down." Arine stepped between them. "How about this. We set aside a bit for supplies if needed." She eyed Yukio. "And we use the rest for personal expenses, within reason." She eyed Denji. "Sound fair?" Yukio nodded, as did Denji, and Arine sighed in relief. "Now then, gentlemen" she held the bag up. "Let's go shopping."
"P-p-please Aika, I swear, I can get back on my feet!" a very short, stocky man stumbled back and fell, landing in a puddle soaking his already ruined pants. He looked up at the cloaked nin, chuckling sheepishly. "Just give me time, I can make it." He smiled, hoping to garner sympathy.
"How pathetic." Aika hissed. "To get addicted to drugs, sell your business, and then you dare to grovel and beg for time? You think empty promises and fruitless apologies will dissuade me?" Aika bared her teeth and the man backed up. "All I asked was for you to make me near-cut proof clothing, and you take my good money and use it to satiate a selfish desire. What of that family you were so proud of?" the man gulped.
"Y-you see, the-they I-um-er, left me. But, if you give me enough time and funds, I can get my business back, I just need some help!" he started crawling on hand and knee to the woman, before the point of a kunai knife was presented before his eyes. He recoiled violently, backing up several metres before he felt the cool metal against the back of his head. Another Aika was present behind him.
"What a worthless dog you are." Aika walked forward, her footsteps echoing in the former tailor's mind like thunder approaching from a distance. Imminent doom. "As a decent human being, it'd be my ever present pleasure to put you out of your misery." Aika scolded, her knife pointed between the man's eyes. His eyes looked to the shining point, the piece of metal that could end him in an instant. It was like an out-of-body experience. He could almost see himself being killed, his body falling, and being left there by this woman in a back alley.
"I-I…" he gulped. Then Aika smirked.
"However, I'm as far from decent as it gets." She sheathed her kunai and the Aika in front of the man dissipated into a cloud of smoke. "I'll leave you to revel in what you've brought upon yourself." Aika turned and exited the alleyway, leaving the tailor to sputter as he became aware that he was alive.
Damn it all. Aika's thoughts were heated as she turned, heading towards the centre of town. That's one of my more important projects a bust. For now, I'll find another. It was foolish to trust that man. Aika gritted her teeth and stepped to the side of the crowds. She pressed her fingers against her face in an attempt to calm down. She took deep breaths, slowly in, slowly out. Calm. Calm down. Aika released a tentative breath into her palm as she looked up and froze.
"Calm down Naruto." She heard, recognising the voice and the man that accompanied it. Her survival instinct took over and she dived into and alley, pressing her back against a wall and peering back. There stood a man with white hair in a very eccentric cut. His back was too her, but Aika wasn't going to take a chance. He eyed him, and the kids around him. They were about as old as her own students, one in orange with blonde hair, one in blue with black hair, and one in red with pink hair.
"But Kakashi-sensei…" the blonde one whined. That one must be Naruto.
I might as well gather some intel while they're here. But only for a bit. Aika listened hard to the conversation.
"Stop whining, you're not going to get anything with that." Kakashi Hatake's words were kind but stern.
"Besides, you spent all your money on food, you idiot." The pink haired one spoke, a feminine voice.
"Moron." The blue haired one grunted, drawing Naruto's ire.
"What's got you so high and mighty about Sasuke?" Sasuke? Sasuke Uchiha? Aika thought back to intel she persuaded someone to tell her.
This must be the surviving heir to the Uchiha clan. Him and Itachi. Aika remembered the elder brother. Her days in the Anbu, hearing about how he'd was likely to join later in life. That was ages ago. Much like everyone, she heard of the Uchiha Massacre, where Itachi killed them all. Seems he couldn't kill his brother. Was Aika's thought as she stared at the boy. Whether it was out of pity, an instruction, just a whim, or an act of love, Aika couldn't tell nor did she care that much.
"Stop being an idiot." The girl sighed, making Naruto turn on her.
"Butt out, Sakura!" Sakura turned to Naruto.
"What was that?" she growled, making the boy cower quite quickly.
"I-I uh I mean, um…" he stammered as Kakashi sighed. Then he stiffened, as if the feeling of being watched had hit him. As he turned Aika quickly darted down the alleyway, blending into the crowds on the other side, her hood pulled down low.
"What is it Kakashi-sensei?" he turned to see Sakura looking at him, concerned. The jonin looked back at the alley, knowing someone was watching, but they were gone now.
"It's nothing." He turned to his pupil and eye-smiled.
"This is amazing." Arine breathed as she stared at the window. She stared a sleek, black jacket with white lining the inside. It had several pockets on the outside and inside, allowing for storage of several small weapons.
"It'd look good on you. You'll be beating guys off with both hands." Denji joked, mimicking fighting, punching the air. Arine glared at him.
"Yes, because a jacket will cause men to flock to me. Dumbass." She turned to Yukio, who was eyeing a weapons shop down the road. "You wanna go there?" she asked.
"Looks interesting. Could be fun." Was his answer. He walked to the shop as Arine lamented the price of the jacket, which was about double what they had on them. A weapons shop may have something fun, though. The group stepped in and admired the room. It was small and rectangular, but several weapons covered the walls. Lances, axes, halberds, swords, staves, all lined the walls in racks, some were hung horizontally, some had tufts of string attached, some were old, some were new, it was a treasure trove. The old man who sat at a small desk didn't seem to mind young kids wandering around his shop. He wore a golden-yellow robe lined with black, and a pair of loose, white pants. He had a long, white beard and was blading, white hair covering only half of his head.
Each of the three found a particular section interesting. Denji almost wanted to reach for the Warhammers and gauntlets, but refrained. He looked at the designs, the spiked hammer heads, the metal knuckled gauntlets and gloves. All useful. Denji pondered how useful gloves like that would be, doing more damage to an enemy's face.
"Now that, I could have a bit of fun with." Denji chuckled as Arine examined a very long, crimson lance. The pole and blade were all red, reflecting a deadly looking crimson off the metal from the sun.
"Ah yes." The old man at the desk chuckled. "That's an old one, older than I. It supposedly belonged to an old hero. It's said it could pierce the heart of any opponent, no matter where they were." Arine looked back at the lance, as if fate had brought her to it. Yukio, however, found a battered old pair of metal, bladed rings. They were dull and boring looking, though the old man saw something. "Chakrams, bladed wheels. Unfortunately, they're the only pair I have." Yukio grunted and set them down, looking to Arine who stared at the red lance intently. She turned to the old man suddenly
"How much?" Denji jerked his head to their friend as Yukio furrowed his brow.
"Arine, we're only kids, you can't buy that." He reasoned, earning a glare from the girl, who looked back at the old man, who was stroking his white beard.
"Unfortunately, your young friend has a point there. I can't be selling dangerous weapons to children.
"Then I'll buy it." The three turned to see Aika standing in the store entrance, seemingly exhausted, but happy to see them. She noticed Arine's surprised expression and chuckled. "If you want to learn about pole arms, then I might as well."
"Well then, I guess it's all settled." The old man laid down his price, Yukio noting that it was a bit higher than he anticipated, but an old man looking for cash and people interested in an old weapon in such good condition would do that. Aika paid the price and the old man was given the spear, wrapping it in a cloth and adding a small scroll with it. "This came with it, I've yet to read it, but perhaps you can find a use for it." He laughed as the group walked out, Aika holding the clothed spear.
"Have fun?" she asked, as the trio nodded. "Good. I've found us a hotel we can sleep in for the night." Aika grimaced as the thought of Hidden Leaf ninja in this village crossed the front of her mind. "And fair warning, if you see a man with a lot of white hair with three kids with him, avoid them. They're ninja from the Hidden Leaf and I'd rather not start something with them. Got it?"
"What could we start?" Denji asked, seemingly annoyed.
"Knowing how you tend to forgo common sense, Denji, anything." Aika sighed, trying to relax. "Regardless, let's get to that hotel before night falls. Then tomorrow we can set out to the next bounty station."
"Excellent." Yukio commented, a grin on his face. "This should be an experience worth having."
A/N: Long as fuck, right? Well, that's what you get when you're getting help and, you know, describing shit. Read, review, follow/favourite, and, most importantly, enjoy.