Bellicism Arc: Fire II

Yuina stayed behind with the slower villagers and those who required more breaks as Kakashi and Ataka continued onward with the rest of the group. She had the patience for it, so she offered. Plus, there was the benefit of not having to do the organization once arriving in Musoku. Hopefully, those two would have things sorted out by the time they eventually caught up.

"Are you one of those illusion things your kind can do?" a man asked her as if ninja were another species. Yuina felt like another species, but that had to do with the world and not her occupation.

"No."

"But you know a bunch of poems only someone as old as my great grandfather would know." A young boy said. He had been eager to ask a question, and took others asking questions as his opportunity to join in.

"Do poems have age restrictions?" She had only recited them to appease some of the crankier people to help pass the time, and she only knew them because of Sakumo.

"You're so young though," said a woman who looked over her, concerned. "You should smile more and be carefree."

The young girl next to the woman tugged her clothes. "But you always say I need to help out more."

"That's because you never help around the house unless I tell you to," the mother scolded.

"Are you really a shinobi?"

"Yes." It was a question she was tired of. Yuina started to believe she needed to make Konoha's emblem with flashing lights to drive her point home, but that sounded dangerous and she didn't want to be more of a billboard than she already was.

"Is she some kind of super genius?"

"I bet she's possessed."

"What if she was cursed?"

"She's just a kid. How scary can she be?"

"Just what is Konohagakure thinking?"

"Shhh. They're the ones who organized this."

"All the more reason to ask questions."

"Hey! Can you show me any super awesome moves?"

"Oh, no you don't. I said no more getting into fights. Sorry about him."

Yuina considered herself a patient person, but the stream of inquiries began to annoy her. So much so that she was thrilled when they finally reached Musoku and regrouped with Ataka and Kakashi. She needed a moment to herself.

"I'll take things from here," said Ataka after getting everyone to settle down the best that he could. "You two can report back." He needed to take control back. It was helpful to have more hands as they relocated, but he had his own reputation to defend.

"Understood." Kakashi began walking back the way they came. Yuina gave a quick, but shallow, bow before she caught up to Kakashi who began to increase his speed.

Now that it was just the two of them, she asked, "Am I creepy?"

"Is this about that old woman? You can always wear a mask."

Yuina doubted she was described as creepy because of her appearance. She didn't have any deformities. She often kept a neutral face, so it likely wasn't her expression. She was too small to be threatening in size. She would even argue that they were born with conventionally attractive faces, even if she still hated looking at hers. Even so, she considered Kakashi's recommendation to wear a mask again, but mentally declined it. Not that exposure therapy had offered any development of self-acceptance, but she had a feeling that hiding her face would only make it worse.

She did however want one in that moment. The air quality steeply declined the closer they got to the fire.

It was weird being on a mission with Kakashi. They trained together, but missions had always kept them apart. It was like the wires in her head tangled unsure of how she should behave around him. "I can taste it." It was gross as the dry smokiness invades her senses.

"The smell is worse."

Yuina suddenly remembered the results of the chakra analysis. There was an imprinted chakra on Orochimaru, and she never had gotten the opportunity to prove whether the same was true for Kakashi. "Have you noticed anything different since making a contract with Pakkun?"

"That dogs are a lot of work." Kakashi loved Pakkun anyway. He was more than willing to do the work again. Plus, things were improving now that Pakkun didn't have the need to chew on everything. He was still a chewer, but not everything had to be hidden from him.

Yuina let it go. If Kakashi didn't notice anything different about himself, then it was probably a good sign.

Eventually, they reached Ryoma. The air had become drier, and[CD1] the flames exuded an intense heat.

"Everyone's been relocated," reported Kakashi. He stood straight and looked head-on.

"They're with you?" The man who stood next to Ryoma whistled. "I know we messaged that the town elders were fonder of youngins, but you really chose the youngest you could."

"Kyojiro!" a serious-looking woman shouted. She had a scar that ran down her cheek to the top of her neck.

"Coming?" Kyojiro wasted no time booking it to the woman.

"That's Miyoko. She's been in charge of this post for the past decade after she got caught on an infiltration mission," explained Ryoma.

Yuina didn't think he should have been gossiping, but his commentary sparked Yuina's attention. Was it punishment? If she got caught infiltrating, it was a miracle she escaped. She started reevaluating the potential of working at a post. There may be social implications. Or not. Maybe the Council didn't want them in the village, but still wanted to make use of them. To redeem themselves or something. However, by that same logic, they should want more eyes on them, not less. Abandoning people at posts seemed like a bad way to have info leak. She shook the thoughts from her head. Her speculations had gone wild before. It was best not to think too hard on it.

"Is there anything else you need us to do?" asked Kakashi uninterested.

"No, you can—"

"Hold up Ryoma." Kyojiro rushed back over. "Mind sending them back with this?" He whispered something into Ryoma's ear. It was so quiet that she wondered if he was actually saying anything. It was impossible to tell as a hand covered Kyojiro's mouth and Ryoma's ear.

Ryoma's eyes steeled. He raised his hand and his fingers glided through his fringe. "Understood." He took the scroll from Kyojiro and tossed it to Kakashi. "Take this. Request it be given to the Hokage. Don't let anyone see it. Including you." He glowered, but as much as he judged the Hatake twins, he knew they could follow orders.

Yuina was curious. What information did it contain that required strict confidentiality? Was it a report from Miyoko? The post? Someone else? Was it about the fire? Was it about something else?

Yuina took one last look at the ashen sky. Regardless of the cause, they either needed a few days of rain or for the fire to run out of things to burn. Only then would it extinguish.

"Let's go." Kakashi tapped her shoulder.

As always, Kakashi assumed she'd be a few steps behind. He wasn't wrong. Yuina shook her head, and a small smiled snuck its way across her face. Some things never changed. It felt like the old days. Only, she no longer sought approval from him. Affection, yes. Approval…not from him. She always thought it was weird how people would chase approval from those they weren't close to, yet here she was – fallen in the same trap.

At least they'd be home soon. She still needed to get Kakashi to forgive her.