Soifon, Jushiro, and the rest of the group had been walking for over two hours from the river that was situated outside the small village they had recently departed from. Despite her desire to move at a quicker pace, Soifon understood the importance of taking it slow and did not voice any complaints.
As they made their way to the village, Jushiro and Rukia took the opportunity to explain to Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai what hollows were.
It appeared that everyone, with the exception of Naruto who always seemed to have a barrage of questions, grasped the concept. Soifon couldn't help but be reminded of a certain orange-haired teenager who also had a tendency to involve himself in everything.
While Jushiro and Rukia provided explanations, Soifon trailed a bit behind, keeping a watchful eye on the rear alongside Renji, who remained silent throughout the explanation.
Suddenly, Soifon began to experience an unexpected headache, prompting her to occasionally rub her temples. She wondered where this sudden discomfort had originated from, and so she kept her gaze lowered, avoiding direct sunlight.
Soifon despised this situation, particularly when the discomfort extended to her eyes. She couldn't determine the cause, but speculated that hunger might be a factor as she hadn't eaten anything since their departure from the Soul Society.
She massaged her temple once again, attentively listening to the conversation between Jushiro and Kakashi. Kakashi suggested, "There is a small dumpling shop just ahead where we can take a break." He glanced back at the others as he spoke.
Soifon swiftly withdrew her hands from her temple, directing her gaze towards the gray-haired man, and nodded in agreement. "That sounds acceptable," she responded, marking the first time in quite a while that she had consented to taking a break.
Ignoring the curious gazes from her companions, the petite captain continued to follow the ninjas. Jushiro turned his head and inquired, "Soifon, are you alright?"
Soifon gave the white-haired captain a piercing glare in response. Why would he question her well-being? Was it truly so astonishing that she desired to halt and rest?
The woman shook her head, indicating that it was not normal for the small and short-tempered captain to agree to take a break. However, there were times when Soifon did choose to take a break, but only when not in the presence of others, especially strangers.
"I am fine," Soifon responded after a significant pause, trying her best not to show any signs of discomfort as she glanced at the sky and then back at the others.
"What I meant to say is that we could consider taking a break because I am aware that Jushiro would need one," she continued, acknowledging that the long walk must be taking a toll on the older captain.
"I am fine," Jushiro replied with confusion, prompting Soifon to give him a look as a reminder that he should also take care of his health. He nodded in understanding and narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the small captain.
With a glare from Soifon, Jushiro refrained from further argument, not wanting to upset her. He nodded and said, "Yes, I am hungry."
"Okay, sounds good," Kakashi remarked, observing the entire interaction between the two. His eye narrowed as he witnessed Soifon rubbing her temple once again.
Kakashi commenced leading the group towards the small dumpling shop, periodically glancing back at their new comrades, particularly Soifon.
Despite his lack of knowledge regarding their origins and purpose, he sensed that something was amiss. However, he dismissively shook off these thoughts and redirected his attention forward.
Soifon, on the other hand, trailed behind the others deliberately, avoiding the spotlight, particularly when Jushiro persistently bothered her.
Was it a wrong doing to simply experience hunger? Yet, she knew that her headaches and the discomfort in her eyes were not due to a mere need for nourishment. She pondered the days when she occasionally skipped meals and never encountered such symptoms.
"What could be the cause of this pain? It only appeared after we arrived here," she contemplated. She wondered if the atmospheric conditions in this realm differed from those in the Soul Society or even the world of the living.
"However, if that were the case, wouldn't the others be exhibiting similar behavior?" Soifon pondered, stealing a glance at Renji, who walked slightly ahead of her, in order to assess his demeanor. "No, Renji appears unaffected, as does Rukia," she concluded.
Soifon observed Rukia and Jushiro's behavior, noting that they were not acting differently. She also noticed that the white-haired captain had not coughed for a while, but she attributed this to his good and bad days.
'Why am I the only one experiencing this?' Soifon wondered. The constant thinking was causing her head to ache more and becoming increasingly frustrating.
When everyone stopped in front of a small shop, Soifon noticed and paused. Kakashi suggested resting and eating there before continuing their journey to the village. He approached an old woman who was sweeping the ground.
Soifon sighed and agreed, saying, 'Can we please hurry instead of walking?' She was eager to reach the Leaf Village as soon as possible, preferably before it got dark. She didn't want to delay their mission for another day.
'Someone is in a hurry,' Naruto muttered to Sakura, who exchanged glances with him. 'She does have a point,' the pink-haired girl remarked. 'I want to make it home as well.'
Kakashi acknowledged the Captain's words while disregarding Naruto's remarks. "I concur, we have wasted enough time," he stated as he placed an order for dumplings and sat down on a bench next to Jushiro and Rukia.
Renji seated himself beside Sai, while Sakura and Naruto joined Sakura on the other side. Soifon stood and leaned against a pole that supported the shop's roof.
Soifon observed as the dumplings were brought out and placed on a table for everyone to enjoy. She nodded at the old woman, who smiled back at her.
As the others began eating, Soifon looked away. "Soifon, you should eat as well," Jushiro's voice interrupted her thoughts. "No, you guys go ahead," she answered, looking away again and closing her eyes.
Jushiro was about to argue with the young woman but instead sighed, realizing that Soifon would be too stubborn to listen. He couldn't understand what had gotten into the second squad captain, but assumed it was just her usual self. "I wonder if it was a wise decision to bring her along on this mission.'
· With Sasuke and his team*
Sasuke traversed the small village accompanied by his team, who followed behind him. It had been several hours since their arrival at the village, and he observed the villagers deliberately avoiding them, casting disapproving glances as they passed.
" These individuals certainly do not seem pleased by our presence," Karin remarked, walking closely behind Sasuke, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the villagers.
" They likely caught sight of you from quite a distance!" Suigetsu retorted, a smirk appearing on his face. "Silence, Suigetsu!" the red-haired woman snapped angrily, her eyes ablaze with anger. "Perhaps they noticed your arrival!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes in annoyance at the ongoing argument, increasing his pace as he remained focused on the path ahead. "Will the two of you kindly cease your bickering?" Jugo's voice interjected, effectively silencing the quarreling pair.
Sasuke felt grateful that Jugo had managed to quiet them down. "The villagers may be apprehensive simply because they seldom encounter rogue ninjas," Jugo continued.
Sasuke proceeded to walk ahead, instructing his comrades, "Why don't you all gather the necessary provisions? I will proceed and formulate our plan."
Jugo nodded in acknowledgement as he prepared to respond, 'You are in charge, Jugo,' Sasuke stated before swiftly moving away from the group, disregarding the ongoing argument between Karin and Suigetsu.
Once Sasuke had distanced himself from the group and left the village, he found solace in a tree. A slight headache made its presence known, as if signaling the proximity of something important or foreshadowing an imminent event. 'What is this?' Sasuke pondered, leaning against the tree.
He contemplated the information Itachi had shared about meeting someone, but Sasuke questioned who this person could be and how Itachi possessed such knowledge.
'Itachi is indeed astute, often grasping concepts ahead of others,' Sasuke acknowledged. If his older brother deemed this individual significant, Sasuke wondered about their worth and why Itachi believed their presence warranted his attention.Soifon, Jushiro, and the rest of the group had been walking for over two hours from the river that was situated outside the small village they had recently departed from. Despite her desire to move at a quicker pace, Soifon understood the importance of taking it slow and did not voice any complaints.
As they made their way to the village, Jushiro and Rukia took the opportunity to explain to Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai what hollows were.
It appeared that everyone, with the exception of Naruto who always seemed to have a barrage of questions, grasped the concept. Soifon couldn't help but be reminded of a certain orange-haired teenager who also had a tendency to involve himself in everything.
While Jushiro and Rukia provided explanations, Soifon trailed a bit behind, keeping a watchful eye on the rear alongside Renji, who remained silent throughout the explanation.
Suddenly, Soifon began to experience an unexpected headache, prompting her to occasionally rub her temples. She wondered where this sudden discomfort had originated from, and so she kept her gaze lowered, avoiding direct sunlight.
Soifon despised this situation, particularly when the discomfort extended to her eyes. She couldn't determine the cause, but speculated that hunger might be a factor as she hadn't eaten anything since their departure from the Soul Society.
She massaged her temple once again, attentively listening to the conversation between Jushiro and Kakashi. Kakashi suggested, "There is a small dumpling shop just ahead where we can take a break." He glanced back at the others as he spoke.
Soifon swiftly withdrew her hands from her temple, directing her gaze towards the gray-haired man, and nodded in agreement. "That sounds acceptable," she responded, marking the first time in quite a while that she had consented to taking a break.
Ignoring the curious gazes from her companions, the petite captain continued to follow the ninjas. Jushiro turned his head and inquired, "Soifon, are you alright?"
Soifon gave the white-haired captain a piercing glare in response. Why would he question her well-being? Was it truly so astonishing that she desired to halt and rest?
The woman shook her head, indicating that it was not normal for the small and short-tempered captain to agree to take a break. However, there were times when Soifon did choose to take a break, but only when not in the presence of others, especially strangers.
"I am fine," Soifon responded after a significant pause, trying her best not to show any signs of discomfort as she glanced at the sky and then back at the others.
"What I meant to say is that we could consider taking a break because I am aware that Jushiro would need one," she continued, acknowledging that the long walk must be taking a toll on the older captain.
"I am fine," Jushiro replied with confusion, prompting Soifon to give him a look as a reminder that he should also take care of his health. He nodded in understanding and narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the small captain.
With a glare from Soifon, Jushiro refrained from further argument, not wanting to upset her. He nodded and said, "Yes, I am hungry."
"Okay, sounds good," Kakashi remarked, observing the entire interaction between the two. His eye narrowed as he witnessed Soifon rubbing her temple once again.
Kakashi commenced leading the group towards the small dumpling shop, periodically glancing back at their new comrades, particularly Soifon.
Despite his lack of knowledge regarding their origins and purpose, he sensed that something was amiss. However, he dismissively shook off these thoughts and redirected his attention forward.
Soifon, on the other hand, trailed behind the others deliberately, avoiding the spotlight, particularly when Jushiro persistently bothered her.
Was it a wrong doing to simply experience hunger? Yet, she knew that her headaches and the discomfort in her eyes were not due to a mere need for nourishment. She pondered the days when she occasionally skipped meals and never encountered such symptoms.
"What could be the cause of this pain? It only appeared after we arrived here," she contemplated. She wondered if the atmospheric conditions in this realm differed from those in the Soul Society or even the world of the living.
"However, if that were the case, wouldn't the others be exhibiting similar behavior?" Soifon pondered, stealing a glance at Renji, who walked slightly ahead of her, in order to assess his demeanor. "No, Renji appears unaffected, as does Rukia," she concluded.
Soifon observed Rukia and Jushiro's behavior, noting that they were not acting differently. She also noticed that the white-haired captain had not coughed for a while, but she attributed this to his good and bad days.
'Why am I the only one experiencing this?' Soifon wondered. The constant thinking was causing her head to ache more and becoming increasingly frustrating.
When everyone stopped in front of a small shop, Soifon noticed and paused. Kakashi suggested resting and eating there before continuing their journey to the village. He approached an old woman who was sweeping the ground.
Soifon sighed and agreed, saying, 'Can we please hurry instead of walking?' She was eager to reach the Leaf Village as soon as possible, preferably before it got dark. She didn't want to delay their mission for another day.
'Someone is in a hurry,' Naruto muttered to Sakura, who exchanged glances with him. 'She does have a point,' the pink-haired girl remarked. 'I want to make it home as well.'
Kakashi acknowledged the Captain's words while disregarding Naruto's remarks. "I concur, we have wasted enough time," he stated as he placed an order for dumplings and sat down on a bench next to Jushiro and Rukia.
Renji seated himself beside Sai, while Sakura and Naruto joined Sakura on the other side. Soifon stood and leaned against a pole that supported the shop's roof.
Soifon observed as the dumplings were brought out and placed on a table for everyone to enjoy. She nodded at the old woman, who smiled back at her.
As the others began eating, Soifon looked away. "Soifon, you should eat as well," Jushiro's voice interrupted her thoughts. "No, you guys go ahead," she answered, looking away again and closing her eyes.
Jushiro was about to argue with the young woman but instead sighed, realizing that Soifon would be too stubborn to listen. He couldn't understand what had gotten into the second squad captain, but assumed it was just her usual self. "I wonder if it was a wise decision to bring her along on this mission.'
With Sasuke and his team*
Sasuke traversed the small village accompanied by his team, who followed behind him. It had been several hours since their arrival at the village, and he observed the villagers deliberately avoiding them, casting disapproving glances as they passed.
" These individuals certainly do not seem pleased by our presence," Karin remarked, walking closely behind Sasuke, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized the villagers.
" They likely caught sight of you from quite a distance!" Suigetsu retorted, a smirk appearing on his face. "Silence, Suigetsu!" the red-haired woman snapped angrily, her eyes ablaze with anger. "Perhaps they noticed your arrival!"
Sasuke rolled his eyes in annoyance at the ongoing argument, increasing his pace as he remained focused on the path ahead. "Will the two of you kindly cease your bickering?" Jugo's voice interjected, effectively silencing the quarreling pair.
Sasuke felt grateful that Jugo had managed to quiet them down. "The villagers may be apprehensive simply because they seldom encounter rogue ninjas," Jugo continued.
Sasuke proceeded to walk ahead, instructing his comrades, "Why don't you all gather the necessary provisions? I will proceed and formulate our plan."
Jugo nodded in acknowledgement as he prepared to respond, 'You are in charge, Jugo,' Sasuke stated before swiftly moving away from the group, disregarding the ongoing argument between Karin and Suigetsu.
Once Sasuke had distanced himself from the group and left the village, he found solace in a tree. A slight headache made its presence known, as if signaling the proximity of something important or foreshadowing an imminent event. 'What is this?' Sasuke pondered, leaning against the tree.
He contemplated the information Itachi had shared about meeting someone, but Sasuke questioned who this person could be and how Itachi possessed such knowledge.
'Itachi is indeed astute, often grasping concepts ahead of others,' Sasuke acknowledged. If his older brother deemed this individual significant, Sasuke wondered about their worth and why Itachi believed their presence warranted his attention.