The tree collapsed. A stroke of lightning echoed through the sky, crashing against the earth.
Sasuke exhaled. Her eyes narrowed as she turned in a circle. "All right. Come on out." She gestured briefly with the sword.
A silence followed the request. The bushes remained still, not even the hint of wind running through the sky.
"I know you're there. Don't try to play around." Sasuke sighed heavily. "You don't seem to mean to kill me, which I suppose to be a good thing. But at the same time I don't want to put up with your ways of thinking." She lifted the sword. "If you don't come out, I'll cut you into pieces."
A face hidden by a white mask emerged from the bushes. Wild black hair spilt out behind the mask, dyed white in some places. A smile was painted on the mask. Two feral eyes of grey-blue, painted red with a henna dye, peered out from the mask. "This one did not want to interrupt your practice," the figure said in a loud, resonant voice. She leaned forward, her gaze gentle. "But it seems that you have also practiced your awareness. This one formerly managed to evade your notice when you practiced with the Devil-Blade. You have achieved a greater level of skill than the last time you and this one met."
"This is why people say Hidden Frost is entirely composed of mountain barbarians. Still holding onto traditions like that?" Sasuke sighed. "Spirit dancers are pretty outdated, you know?" Her arm lowered the sword slightly. Still, the fact she's here means she's at least somewhat friendly.
The masked figure emerged from the bushes fully. Her ceremonial garb, the hide of some furred black beast splotched with white, flowed in the wind. Bells tinkled, wrapped around her arms and legs.
"So. What's up?" Sasuke went on in a stern voice, her eyes narrowed.
"The Lord of the Frozen Hold has requested your presence in the north." The masked figure spread their fingers wide. Jangling bells echoed through the darkness, shadows reflecting from the edges of the bells.
"Yeah." Sasuke frowned. "I'm gonna have to delay that one." She folded her arms across her chest after a moment.
The masked figure remained silent for a long moment.
"See, I'm not interested in talking with the old man about something like that. I could say that I'm coming but I'd be lying." Sasuke frowned. "It's about this sword I got, right?"
"It does indeed relate to the natural condition of the sword. The brilliant Zanpakutō." The masked figure nodded. She stretched out her hand toward the sword, preparing to run her finger along it.
"Wait, how do you know what it's called?" Sasuke raised her hand, stepping forward toward the figure. She drew the sword back, preventing its visibility. "What are you—how much do you know?"
"This one could not care less as to the nature of a Zanpakutō. But my master has some familiarity with the nature of that sword." The figure lowered her hand. The painted hands darkened.
Sasuke frowned. It could be useful. I guess if I tried to go for some kind of surprise, that would work out pretty well.
The masked figure sighed. Calm light surrounded their eyes. "So please, heed the lord's request and come home."
"It's not that simple anymore." Sasuke paused.
"To this one's view it is quite simple." The figure shuffled backward, the beads clacking together as they moved. "This one apologizes if it seems rude to say so, but your team is currently laid up with their condition of difficulty. There is no better time for you to speak."
"From the beginning of my training with him I've known that his goals and mine never coincided a hundred percent. I knew that. He was creating a really strong Uchiha. God knows why. I agreed to work with him because it suited my goals. I wanted to get strong, and he seemed like the quickest path to that. But I've got no reason to listen to what he has to say about me or what I do anymore." Sasuke touched the hilt of the sword. "Sorry if that offends you. I just didn't want to have anything to do with that side anymore."
"He wished to give you a warning in person regarding that sword." The masked figure bowed her head, jangling bells ringing as she moved.
Sasuke's brow furrowed. "A warning?" She frowned. "What the hell does he need to 'warn' me for, anyway? What's he looking for?"
"Yes, the Frosty Will wished to warn you. It was not given to this one to know the details. Only that it was a matter that concerned him." The masked figure shrugged her shoulders. "Will you go to visit him?"
Sasuke sighed. "See, regardless of how important this time is, it's kind of inconvenient. Most of my team is laid up, and I'm not in a position to take off on my own."
"A sense of responsibility, then. A concern for prior decisions." The masked figure nodded. "This one shall return with the report. May this one ask one more question?"
"Shoot." Sasuke raised her finger.
"Tell this one. What exactly does your power reflect?" The masked figure's eyes narrowed.
"Eh?" Sasuke tilted her head to one side. "I don't follow. This sword is just like chakra, right?"
"Your Zanpakutō is a direct reflection of your soul, from what this one was told previously. What is your soul? How does it work?" The masked figure spoke in a soft voice.
Sasuke stared at the sword. "Right now, it's a lightning bolt." She lowered her hand. "I guess that'd make my soul some kind of lightning storm." A faint smirk crossed her face. "That's an amusing idea."
The masked figure nodded. "Understood. This one will return to Unmei." She started upright, walking toward the doorway.
"You know, I gotta ask before you take off." Sasuke lifted her finger. "What's your name? I assume you spirit dancers have names, right?"
"This one is called Shinkirō." The masked figure bowed. The edge of her sleeve swept along the ground. Blowing snowflakes emerged from the end of the sleeve.
Shinkirō? Sasuke's eyes widened. "Wait! Hold up!" She caught the shoulder of the figure. "You're one of Erisia's handmaidens, right? The left hand of the Koirikage?!" She reached toward the mask. "Didn't we train together? Why are you acting like this? You shouldn't be using a pronoun like that!"
Shinkirō held up her hands defensively, attempting to prevent Sasuke from removing the mask.
"I'm going to figure this out for myself!" Sasuke pulled off the mask. She stared in shock at the face beneath the mask.
Shinkirō looked upward distantly, their eyes the only thing visible in the darkness. "There are reasons we hide our faces. Farewell. This one was pleased to be by your side, and train with you. Maybe one day this one and you will meet once more." She drew the side of her sleeve over her face. A twinkling wave of snow spread across her body. She vanished into the darkness of the day.
Sasuke stared wordlessly at the emptiness. "What the hell is Shade hiding?" she muttered, rubbing her temples. "Why the hell does something like that need to happen?"
The sun dipped toward the horizon.
Sasuke stared at the sword at her side. "There is one thing I know about this sword." Her arm slashed downward. "It's bloodthirsty as all hell." She studied the hilt of the sword again, briefly. "So what exactly did he want me to figure out?" she demanded aloud, staring at the sword. "Sure, you talked to me once, but after, not a word. Why are you so useless?!" Her arm tightened on the hilt of the sword.
The light faded from the sky.
The sword slashed through another trunk, leaving lightning scars on the base of the tree and pieces of its breadth.
Sasuke panted, staring at the trees, her black eyes narrowing. I don't get it at all. Hikage, what the hell are you after right now? What are you going for? She punched forward. "Damn!" she shouted, the sound echoing through the darkness. The sky darkened as the moon faded toward the side of the mountains.
"Young lady?" a voice came from behind Sasuke.
Sasuke whirled. She drew up her sword defensively. Damn, I wasn't focused. I must have been worrying about that man again.
Kakashi smiled.
Sasuke lowered the sword slightly. "Don't scare me like that, you bastard." Her hand sheathed the sword.
"I came here to direct you over to him." Kakashi paused. "He's wanted to see how you've been doing."
"He?" Sasuke asked suspiciously.
Kakashi smiled after a long pause. "Nōtō-san, of course. How have you been?"
"Aside from fighting Mizuki to the death, pretty good." Sasuke glanced upward at Kakashi. "You?"
A drop of sweat ran down Kakashi's face. "Kōju-chan's still acting out against me."
"She's fourteen. I doubt anyone at that age knows better. In that regard, Kakashi, isn't it your time to let her fly on her own?"
Kakashi sighed. "Your tone is pretty rough, but you're not wrong. Still." He hesitated, his visible eye darkening. "I made a promise to her mother."
"You won't be around to protect her forever, right?" Sasuke replied softly.
Kakashi fell silent. "No," he admitted after a long pause. "You're right, but I suppose I'm being too foolish."
The pair finally came to the farmlands. Grain swayed in the wind.
"So. Where is Nōtō?" Sasuke went on, her expression dark.
"ORA!" A hand flashed toward Sasuke's face.
Sasuke ducked backward, her eyes wide. The sword drew halfway out of the sheath. What the—
"Ooohhhhh!" Nōtō exhaled loudly, his fingers pressing together. "ORARARARA!" His hands flashed forward rapidly.
Sasuke drew out the sword rapidly. Her eyes flashed bright crimson. Sanzengan! She dodged backward, her body lacing through the rapid pattern of fists. "Nice to see you too, Nōtō," she remarked laconically.
Nōtō groaned. "I really am out of practice." He pushed the pink-lensed glasses up on his nose with one finger.
You lying bastard. Sasuke frowned as she studied Nōtō. I couldn't even detect your presence while I was focused on the fighting. What kind of techniques have you been learning? Her eyes narrowed. Besides that, it's a vile and cold situation.
"That aside, it seems you've been doing well for yourself. That heirloom of yours, for example." Nōtō glanced toward Sasuke.
Sasuke scowled. "You gonna tell me to drop it too?" She raised the sword. "This is my birthright, my weapon, something that belongs to me. I'm not going to just cast it away."
"I'm hardly in a place to judge." Nōtō tapped his glasses meaningfully. "That aside, I came here to tell you something about your new mentor."
Sasuke blinked. "New mentor?"
"You probably haven't been informed yet. But retired or not, I know a little bit about the internal workings of Hidden Leaf." Nōtō paused. "Regarding that mentor of yours, and the new team members. I wouldn't trust them if I were you." His fingers rose rapidly, pressing together.
"Retired?" Sasuke's brow furrowed.
"Yeah. It's about time I retired to manage a farm. I've already fought too long." Nōtō pointed at the seeded ground. "I've already raised you effectively. You've grown into splendid people. Now, I retire."
"Is that really all right, old man?"
Nōtō raised an eyebrow. "I don't follow. Provided you're careful of that Wood Stylist, I see no reason why you should be concerned."
Sasuke shook her head. "I mean that Miyama woman."
"That brutish jōnin will be fine with or without my presence. I've killed a lot of people in my many years on this earth." Nōtō looked toward the grain swaying in the wind. "Now I rest. My work here is done."
Sasuke nodded. "Okay." She turned and walked away.
Nōtō smiled. It's good she understands the nature of it. What I do in this world has already been accomplished. Now I plant the roots for the next generation—the food to carry them upward.
The sky darkened, clouds gathering in the darkening sky.
"So. Putting that aside, Hakubo's running pretty freely, you know."
Nōtō shrugged his shoulders. "I won't go so far as to say it has nothing to do with me, but I'd rather not get involved, either. It's a question outside my rights. What I'm asking for exceeds my ability. I don't deserve that kind of knowledge."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "I see." She turned away from Nōtō. "That's a shame. At any rate, I was hoping to take a look around your farm anyway."
"Why's that?" Nōtō questioned.
"Your dignity." Sasuke smiled faintly. "I'm curious to see where you hid it."
Nōtō's brow furrowed. "Who taught you that mouth?"
"You taught me to speak my mind. I'm just doing that—speaking my mind. If it bothers you so much, maybe you ought to look at yourself, not me."
Nōtō's smile faded slightly. His hand fell to one side.
Sasuke hurried away. Her eyes narrowed. "Am I wrong?" she questioned, pausing at the height of the hill. "The fact of the matter is you just turned away, right?"
Nōtō remained silent.
Sasuke's voice trembled slightly. "I don't need to be lectured by a coward." She hurried away into the darkness of the woods.
Kakashi glanced briefly toward Nōtō.
Nōtō shrugged his shoulders. "Clearly, she gets that attitude from you, Kakashi-san."
Kakashi hid a smile behind his hand.
"You agree with her, don't you?"
"A little. It simply doesn't seem that you were suited to this life."
Nōtō rested against the fence of the farm. "Every monk must retire eventually." He glanced toward Kakashi. "Regarding Asuma. I've already prayed for him, but I'd feel better if you were willing to send your assistance his way as well."
Kakashi grinned faintly. "Feeling concern for your old comrade in arms?"
"Of course. He's walking a dangerous path, nearly alone. I would feel less worried if he had someone else by his side to tell him that he walks an improper path." Nōtō paused. His eyes glanced downward. "Those of us who walk the same paths fear the same things."
Kakashi stared wordlessly at Nōtō.
Nōtō cleared his throat. "But then, I assume you know that much already, Kakashi."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "Without a doubt."
The sun shone through the window of the farmhouse, turning the waving stalks of grain a bright gold at the top.