Things have gotten more hectic. The matrons have booted Kana from laundry to gardening, and Kai from laundry collection to delivering letters.
"And you two!" The matron took a skeptical look at them. She then paused before switching to a sweeter tone, "You little honeys have a very important job. Can you two go to the Masa's family store and bring whatever they give you?"
Ichigo confirmed with a bright grin. They were booted from laundry to deliveries, working in pairs.
With that soft strained smile, the matron took a brush and told them to spread their hands out, on which she then drew lines. "If you combine your hands," she instructed as she pulled their hand to form together, "You get a map! If you guys get lost, go to someone who looks nice and asks them to help you guys, okay?"
They both nodded again. After confirming they weren't going to follow some old man that was going to give them free kunai and ninja training, the matron pushed for them to get out the gates.
"Ban-Ban look!" Ichigo yanked, a sudden jolt of pain making Ban yelp. Did his arm just dislocate itself from that pull? "Oh! Sorry about that but look!" Ichigo did not sound sorry at all, that idiot.
He turned to where he was gesturing. Above them in the distance loomed three mountain heads. The third one was still unfinished.
"I see what you're talking about. The Hokage Heads, right?"
"Yeah!"
"It's not like you haven't seen them before."
He grinned, "But this time I'm a step closer!"
Ichigo continued his path to get closer to the mountain, but that would inevitably lead to them getting lost in the village and missing lunch if his warpath was allowed to continue. "You shouldn't take any more steps to get closer," Ban warned, seeing how Ichigo halted like a child caught with his hand in the cookie jar, "We have to find what the matron told us to get first."
Silence. Ichigo seemed to have lost all his spirits and sulked. He whispered vindictively, "Joy-killer."
Ban rolled his eyes, "We can go after we're done."
And seeming to regain all that spirit that escaped from his body three sentences before, he pumped his fists and began marching backward toward Ban, yelling "Alright!"
'My best friend is an idiot,' he shook his head at the thought as they followed the squiggly lines on his hand. After walking a while, there came a "Ban-Ban look!" Ichigo yanked and Ban yelped, again. The boy grinned at Ban's unimpressed look as he pointed to a shop down the road.
There was a little black and red stand radiating a warmth that could only be attributed to delicious food. They did have breakfast this morning, but nevertheless, the smell was absolutely mouth-watering like temptation wafting through the empty street.
"Ain'tcha hungry?"
He gave the grinning boy a questioning stare, "We don't have any money."
"Ain'tcha hungry though? If you are, I'll ask that old man for you!" He offered, referring to the vendor that was sitting behind the stand. He was a man with a slight blue tint, the same as other civilians and a white headband wrapping around the eye-catching bald head.
"You're just hungry yourself, aren't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about!" He laughed as he trotted over to the vendor who looked at them with a twinkle in his eye. Ichigo beamed him a smile that could melt ice, "Whatcha selling?"
The man exasperatedly snorted, "These are called takoyakis. Have you tried them?"
"Nope! Never!"
His amused face turned to meet Ban's own ones, and he promptly gave a frantic nod. The sight of the glistening sauce-covered balls made him curious about what could exist to have so much sauce drizzled over them, or how the sauce would taste? The smell was on a completely other level compared to the dishes in the communal hall.
"My family has been making these for generations," The man explained as his expert hands grabbed a stick and quickly flipped over the little balls in their tins, "I'll give you children each one, alright?" He handed Ban the stick with a charming, kind, smiling face.
This... was this man a sage descended from the heavens? Ban could literally see the halo shining above him.
The vendor gave a hearty laugh as he handed Ban the stick, "Are you sure it's not the white cloth I wrapped around my bald head?"
He blushed and muttered a mortified, "Thank you" receiving the treat with both hands. All the while, Ichigo yelled, "No! Sage's not bald!"
Ban tilted the stick so the other can wolf down his share first. After a big bite, sounds of absolute delight coming from the boy, he added, "And if he was bald he'd be an awesome super bald Sage who gives out ta-takoyami- to orphans!"
"Ta-ko-ya-ki," The man laughed, "And thanks for the compliments, young one. Off you go now. I heard you had something to do?"
"Ah! Shit-"
Ban paused from eating his share, "Language-"
"Thanks, awesome tayokami old man! Gotta go!"
"It's takoyaki-wahh!" Ban cried out as the other snatched his hand and sprinted, both cackling along the way.
While the wind from the sprint felt nice, "Go-Ichigo! Slow down!" He huffed as his legs failed to keep up with him. Fail anymore and they'd both end up eating dirt on the road.
"Why?" The idiot cocked his head as if he couldn't see the problem, "Running and feeling the wind against my face is awesome!"
"Yeah-" He huffed, as he leaned over his knees to take a deep breath, "But we don't have any idea of where we are!"
Ichigo looked at him as if he was some complex fuinjutsu formula from Uzushio. As it clicked, he slipped Ban's hand from his grip, "Oops…"
A feeling of unwarranted endearment rose as a response to the guilty puppy-dog look before him. Instead of reprimanding him, Ban just sighed, grabbed his hand, and focused on a solution to the problem, "Let's just ask around to see where this map leads us."
Ichigo nodded and trailed after him. The first adult they spotted sitting on the bench had no idea where it was. Even when they showed her the map, she shook her head. The standing man was doing no better; he gave the same reply. The woman with a stroller in her hand looked kinder than the others but otherwise gave the same response. Ichigo began tugging insistently on their clothes to get them to talk faster, which Ban had begun profusely apologizing for. After a few more, they both could not take it.
"I'm tired!" groaned the boy as he flopped on the nearby bench. Ban solemnly nodded along as he took a proper seat and then flopped too. The blue sky had fluffy white clouds passing by. Naptime was nearing and he was getting drowsy. The wind on his skin, the cool temperature of the sunny day, Ichigo next to his side…
"Wake up!" A hand slapped both his cheeks as he stumbled to meet eyes with Ichigo's invigorated blue ones. He had red handprints on his own cheeks. His blue eyes glared determination that bored into him, "We can't sit down now! Let's get moving!"
Ban blearily nodded along as he was pulled to stand on the hardened earth. It seems most of the adults and their children have gone away. Out of the sparse three he could count, the one that stuck out the most was the boy meandering around the same tree. He had silver hair.
"How about we go ask the Shinobi-sama over there?" Ichigo drew his attention away to where he was looking. There were two Shinobis standing, a bright blue glow wisping off each of them. They both had the markings of the Konoha Military Police Force on their attire-a rush of bolt you'll die through his head- Ban blinked that thought away. Both of them had a mop of black hair, pale skin, and onyx eyes.
One of them had bandages around both his hands.
"Hell-hello, Shinobi-sama," Ban bowed and the ground came closer sluggish- as Ichigo went over to tug at their jacket.
A lump was stuck in his throat as he tried to breathe; By some divine communication, Ichigo got the message and asked instead, "Can you help us find this store? The matron gave us this map."
One of the men with striking curly hair shrugged. Ban, shaking, interpreted, 'I don't mind.'
As the hands formed together, the officer took one look before gesturing for his partner with the bandages to come over. He cocked his head, "Do you know the store's name?"
"Macy's-"
"'Go that's wrong," He cut the boy off to which he deflated like a balloon. A pang rushed through his heart which he brushed off, "It's Masa's family store."
The officer spoke to his partner, "I'll take them there."
The other one nodded as he began walking down the path. Out of the corner, the silver-haired kid was still looking bored under the tree. His glance found his-! Ban switched his gaze to the nearby shrub. Ichigo yanked him into following the officer.
After the officer helped them find the store and Ban explained the matrons sent them there to pick up 'stuff' the three were handed boxes to carry. The middle-aged man gave Ban a head pat and Ichigo had a cheek pinch. He swore that the officer behind them laughed.
As they were walking back, Officer Kei held all four boxes under one arm and allowed Ichigo to sit on his shoulders, and Ban to hold his hand. He delivered them to the orphanage and then left with a small smile.
That brief feeling of cold sweat passed through again, but it wasn't as strong as before.
He waved Officer Kei goodbye and the world goodnight.
The boy stood over a man's corpse. His father. Lighting struck from the outside as a taste of stale salty corn stayed tangy on his tongue. Everything felt heavy. "Kakashi was really not having a great time," his? voice muttered.
Lighting struck outside his window a beat after the little window in front of him. A childish voice sounded as he mournfully recounted his tale. "My father committed seppuku because the villagers hated him. He hoped his blood would cleanse the Hatake name. I hate that coward."
The blond man in the window said nothing.
A hand ruffled his hair, and a sense of familiarity overtook him. "I don't believe that crap."
He? chuckled as a reply to the other voice, "I don't either. He gets that beaten out of him later on."
"I'd choose you over the city in a heartbeat."
"Thanks."
"Aren't you going to say the same?"
His ears picked up the continuation of the boy's tale, "In the Shinobi Handbook, as long as you followed the rules, you would be right. I'm never going to be like him. He should have left his teammate behind."
The voice above him laughed, "You and your grossly lovable greater good."
His foot was wet. Both his feet were wet. The cold wind nipped his hands and knees as his hair swayed in the morning sun's warmth. His hands were cold, numb, the pajamas unable to keep out the chill. Blearily, the sun rays penetrated his lids as he pried them open.
Ban was standing in the shallow parts of the new basin of water for the new garden. Around him were the sound of the twittering morning birds, the rustling morning winds, and the thumping footsteps of the younger, angrier Matron, and pajama-clad Ichigo coming closer. Ichigo's face was twisted sweat and panic, while the Matron's was with relief and rage.
"Ban! Where have you been!?" The tackle from the other boy knocked him off his feet and splash went the water in the basin, drenching them both. Been? Has he been there for a long time?
"I… I don't know."
The matron's sharp features were marred with concern as she asked, "Did you sleepwalk?"
"I… I don't know," Her face pulled into a further frown as he followed up with, "What happened?"
She sighed and crossed her arms, disbelief? Worry? Indicated by her actions, "You went missing at dawn. Ichigo woke up and thought you were in the bathroom." He turned to see the boy still draped over him and squeezing him as if he was a laundry shirt. "He went to check when you were gone too long and then we found you here."
Ban didn't know what happened. But whatever conspired caused these two considerate worries. He mournfully replied, "I'm sorry, matron. Sorry, 'Go." The boy just squeezed tighter in reply.
The matron sighed, "If this keeps happening, I'll get you a checkup with the medic."
"Thank you, matron."
The water sparkled under his feet in the morning light. That dream just now… he could remember it clearly. Not a single detail was missed, all the way from the nagging feeling that the window was not a window, but a box.
"Are you tired?"
He shook his head, the body leaning on him feeling heavy and cramping him up from his sitting position.
"Yes, he is!" Fingers dug into his back as Ichigo broke from the hug to sit properly, turning to face the woman and throwing her a strained smile, "I'll take him back and let him sleep and bring him out when it's time to go get the stuff again."
She nodded, and gave them one sweep of her eyes, before returning back to the building.
Morning silence descended as Ichigo pulled him up to his feet and the soaked boys headed back after the woman. Ichigo probably took it harder than the Matron when he went missing in the morning. He deserved an extra apology, "Sorry, 'Go… I-"
"It's not your fault," He spat out, the hand that gripped his turning tighter, "It was just-I lost track of you," Ichigo stopped to take a deep breath before showing him the same strained smile, "It won't happen again."
Ban nodded along. Nothing he could say would ease the boy's fear. There was no answer to the mystery of his sleepwalking he could find for now.
He winced at the slam of their bedroom door; Some of the kids inside flinched awake while the others were roused from sleep. Ichigo 'smiled' at them and said, "Ain'tcha time for you guys to get out?"
A few glared while others sleepily replied with a "yes" and moved on with their routine. Maybe it was his imagination, but the room was cleared out faster than it ever was before.
He was guided into the room and found a set of clothing in his hands, Ichigo turning his back to him. Ban changed into a set of clean clothes before Ichigo ushered him into his mattress.
Ichigo placed a hand on his forehead after he pulled the blanket over his body, "If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, I'll tell the Matron, okay? Just tell me and don't try to hide it."
He nodded, and only then did the boy, still wearing wet clothes, seemed relieved. Ban felt sleep coming back to him, "Aren't you going to change clothes?"
"I'll do it when you're asleep."
'It's not like I can run in my sleep,' He thought, 'But I can run in my sleep.'
He remembered he went to sleep the night before. Then probably sometime in the night, and the next morning, he found his feet in the newly built water basin. He probably walked into it while he was asleep. But is it possible to control yourself when you aren't awake?
"What do you think happened?" He turned to the boy who was giving him the unnerving stare. Did he think that if he looked away, Ban would disappear? He wanted him to sleep as well, or at least change into dry clothes. But in his condition, suggesting otherwise would be met with rejection anyway.
Ichigo gave an indulgent smile, "Why don't you sleep first, and think later?"
Clearly, he was not getting through to him. Ban turned the other way and let the sleepiness overtake his limbs, one by one. [1]
He woke up to the noon sun coming in through the window, something he last saw in forever. Usually, it was around the time they would have nap time. Ichigo was by his side, thankfully in dry clothes and thankfully asleep. Under the boy's eyes rested eye bags.
As he moved to get up, the other awoke as well. His red bed head fluffed up, blue eyes roaming around the room before landing on Ban's face. He yawned, "Good morning."
"It's afternoon."
"Good afternoon."
Ban shook his head at the response.
Something is coming at you duck! Instinctively he buried back into the blanket before he hurled his guts out to the side. The flurry of footsteps passed his ears as he registered being alone-and more guts spilled to the floor in the yellow and green colors that mushed into the floorboards.
Someone's hash blow landed on his back and encouraged more to come out. The snot and tears came out in droves as something urgent duck duck duck duck! Rang in his brain.
A loud cry ground him to reality when he found himself staring at the ceiling. The fear-that gnawing feeling-uncaring of the figure before him, it was connected to the dream he had.
What was it?
A sharp pain hit and he blanked.
That boy. Kakashi Hatake.
Ichigo's worried face focused, sweat dripping from his red brows as his blue eyes bore to find his. He struggled to steady his own back. Behind him, one of the matrons stood worriedly. In her hand, she held an unused bucket. Tucked under her was a mop.
Ichigo choked.
His heavy breathing permeated the room, and he was increasing aware that there was the smear of his own vomit still stuck to his face and body.
"Are you done?" Even when worried, her tone indicated it was just another passing day. Ban nodded his head and staggered out of his best friend's grip.
"Where are you going?" Ichigo keened.
He wiped the residue and stalked forward, "Bathroom."
As he closed the door behind him, the mirror showed tears streaming down his face. Curious, as if a stranger was sobbing, he wiped his own tears. "Why are you crying?"
"That boy. Kakashi Hatake. He's so pitiful," The boy in the mirror cried. "He's going to face so much misery. Please, please, I want it to stop. I want his misery to stop!"
"Why do you care so much about him?"
"Why don't you care about him?" The glare questioned, "You can feel it too. Don't you want him to stop hurting like that?"
His mind wrapped around to see its meeting. To stop-to stop the course of that dream. To stop the course of the world.
No.
He splashed water on his face, only to come and see Ichigo. The other in the mirror sported black hair and a different complexion, his face riddled with countless little scars that reopened and closed and the mangled mess of a face morphed the longer he stared.
He still had on a bright familiar grin.
"Don't you want to stop him from hurting like that?"
"Yes. I'll stop it for you."
He came back to Ichigo scrubbing the floors cleaned. They carried the mattress back together at his insistence. Ban was given lunch before being put to bed again.
When he awoke, Ichigo sat sleeping on his side. But as the sun set and the clangs of the hall echoed dinner time, he was too tired to get up.
He awoke again the next day, feeling better then. With enough energy back in his system, they went about their routine. The matron gave them a warning look before she allowed them to run their errands.
They went out. Ban spotted the teriyaki vendor and gave him a wave. He waved back. As the unfamiliar buildings trekked along, they finally reached the park where he met those Konoha Police last time. They were not there.
"Do you remember the way from here last time?" He asked. If it was the same as last time with no one knowing where they were talking about, then they'd inevitably be late.
Ichigo probably came to the same conclusion as he sighed, "Nope."
"Me neither."
"Do you see any shinobis around here?" Ichigo agreed but immediately turned around to see any of his idols. And there came his obsession, bounding like an excited Labrador. His rebound in mood was wayy too fast.
"'Go... You can't be like that," He chided. Perhaps his best friend placed too much faith in Shinobis. They weren't all-knowing, all-powerful, and one day they would fail and disappoint him. Seeing Ichigo downtrodden gave him the same feeling as the one Officer Kei gave to him.
"What'd you mean?" The boy didn't stop his outlook, "There! I spot one!"
And before Ban had the chance to react, he was dragged by Ichigo to the source of a ferocious feel or someone that was crinkling with delight. This man reminded him of... lightning. Like lying under a blanket in the night while white lighting strikes outside and knowing that one is unsafe within their own home.
Then he finally turned to see who the person was. It was a middle-aged man with white hair tied into a ponytail. Then what struck him next was his attire. The posture in which he carried himself reminded him of the old man. He had a white sleeve on his left hand and a jounin vest.
The man looked friendly enough but gave him the same impressions that almost all shinobis did. Hidden. Concentrating to see if he hid anything else, Ban could sense there was someone in the tree.
He bent down to Ichigo's level and greeted, "Hello, kids."
"Hi, Old Man!" Ichigo beamed him a grin he used to sway the Matron not to beat him, "I have to ask you can you tell us where we're supposed to go? We have no idea!"
"Oh? What's this about you boys having to be somewhere?" The man's tone, while warm, was also fake. But it was probably just the same fakeness people use with kids like them, "I might know if you can remember the name?"
"It's Macy's-"
"Again, 'Go," Maybe he should leave the talking to him if he was always wrong about the name. Ban pleaded as best he could, "It's Masa's Family Store. Please, do you know where it is?"
"Hmm..." The man rubbed his chin. He probably didn't know where it was… and unfortunately, "Sorry to say that doesn't set off any traps?"
Set off traps-you're going to die-he's going to kill you-
Ban gulped down the fear and repeated, "Set off… any traps?"
The man beamed a smile as the fear passed, "It doesn't sound like something I know."
Ichigo stopped dropping like a wilted flower as he bounced back with an idea, "How about we give him the map?"
What map? He looked at the pondering boy who was staring at dirt and not his clean skin, "... It's not on our hand anymore though."
Ichigo's loud sigh came, and he drooped down again. He looked ready to flop on the dirt of the playground and throw a tantrum right there. And before that could happen, Ban distracted him with another plan, "Last time we had a police officer help us… Should we wait until they show up again?"
A little laugh of curiosity? Came from the man. He explained, "I don't think you would see them even if you waited. They work in shifts."
Ichigo sighed then muttered a swear, earning a "hey!" from Ban and he smacked the other lightly. Maybe they have to learn the route through trial and error. Maybe the Shinobi-sama will have some super-secret memorizing techniques he could ask for so that this doesn't happen again? Or just get the map drawn on every morning until they remember?
"Hmm… Masa's family shop, right?" The man's words pulled him back, "How about I make you a deal?"
The man's smile was now suspicious. Who makes deals with children? and orphans specifically, who would have no one looking for them. Ichigo leaned in close and voiced the same thoughts, "That doesn't sound like a man trying to give us free training, right Ban?"
"He doesn't… seem to mean bad things?"
"Don't worry you little kiddies," They were whispering and he could hear it. Maybe it was just him being a shinobi, but it was suspicious he would listen to a bunch of kids talking. The man nervously laughed, "I can't kidnap you either way! I'm too recognizable."
Suspicious.
Highly suspicious.
Too suspicious.
"'Go, he sounds fishy. Let's run. I bite, you scream."
Both of them readied their stances to run, only to be stopped by the man's panicked hands gesturing to placate them, begging them to stay. "Now now, kids! I'm a totally fine adult, see? I even brought my son to play with you guys!" Suspicious he only brought his son out now when he needed to convince them to stay, - "He seems to be younger! Hey, how old are you guys again?"
A memory of the Matron came up. "When someone asks you how old you are, you say-"
"Twenty!" at the same time, "One-hundred years old!"
"-with the highest number you know!" The matron ended with a glint in her eyes. Ichigo and Ban nodded to each other in mutual understanding of the matron's teaching.
A drawn-out sigh came from the man as if being alive near both of them was the most exhausting thing in the world, "How about I help you guys track down where the shop is with my son?"
"How would you do that?" Ban voiced out.
"Clan secret technique."
"He sounds fishy. I kick him where it hurts and then you scream 'pedophile' and cry, got it?"
"Children-children!" The man frantically shushed them while glancing at others, probably to make sure they didn't hear any of the conversations.
This man was probably a public figure that they didn't know about. His reputation must be something important to him if he cared about being accused of such a thing.
Ichigo was the first to break with a loud, rambunctious, and wonderful laugh as he clutched his stomach, "You're fine, old man!"
A smile spread itself on his lips as Shinobi-sama finally understood he was being teased. He gave a tired, half-hearted smile, "Then why did you do that?"
"'Cuz your face was funny."
Ban could hear another sigh as Shinobi-sama turned to the tree behind him and called, "'Kashi come here and play with your new friends."
And from that tree, they heard the reply of a monotone, slightly annoyed voice, "I don't need friends. They disappoint me."
"Don't be like that," Shinobi-sama huffed at the figure in the tree. Ban could make out the figure's unmoving bottom half, wearing blue shorts and sandals. The leaves obscured the rest. "Just get down that tree."
After a minute, the person moved down to show his figure. It was a child who was probably around their age wearing a blue shirt and a green patterned scarf. Recognition clicked into his mind as he saw the most eye-catching detail.
He was the child he saw yesterday, the one with the silver hair!
"Alright!" Shinobi-sama knocked him out of his stupor as the child was suddenly sullenly standing before them, eyes staring back passively. He patted his son's shoulder, "We're going to be playing a game of hide-and-seek!"
"Huh?" Ichigo cocked his head, "I thought you were going to help us find the shop?"
"Yes! The hider is the shop. We are all seekers!"
"'Kashi, you go with this one," He placed his hand on his son's shoulder as he pointed to Ban. Confusingly, he also pointed to himself to confirm that… he picked him? to go with 'Kashi?
"I'll be taking-err- I mean going - I'm not forcing him into anything-he can run at any time-not to be worried!"
Ichigo laughed at the man's antics as he neared him. Being close to Ichigo makes him easy to kill- Ban blinked the thought away, but there still existed the chance he could not see his friend again if something went terribly wrong.
As a comfort that he did try his best, Ban placed on his best smile and threatened, "Sir… if I don't see 'Go at the store, I'll scream for the nice police officers. They work in shifts, that means they work in a routine." He bowed for extra politeness, "Please, take care of my friend."
Ichigo laughed and waved away his concern, "I'll be fine, Ban! I can do our third plan all by myself!"
Shinobi-sama looked a bit… miffed. One of his eyebrows unsteadily raised up as he nervously laughed, "And what's your third plan?"
"When you take me, I scream 'Mist-nin! Mist-nin! Traitor! You killed the Hokage!' really loud!"
The man's smile sourly held on. He turned to his son instead and it was the first time mirth left the man's eyes, his chakra also settling,"'Kashi, remember what we practiced."
The boy nodded, "Yes, Father."
Shinobi-sama nodded back and carted off Ichigo riding high on his shoulder, grinning about how tall he was now that he had a fully grown man as extra height.
As he waved them off, he became increasingly aware of the boy next to him. He seemed the type comfortable with silence. He also seemed to not have many friends.
To make friends with people like that, he took initiative and said, "Hello," bowing politely to the other, "Nice to see you again."
"'See you again?'" The boy repeated.
"I… saw you in that tree yesterday, when the nice police officers helped us."
The boy rolled his eyes and shoved his hands into his pocket, "Whatever, it must have been by mistake."
Uh oh. Did he take it as a signal of his skill? The boy seemed the prideful too. It was better to just explain the fact he had eyes. "I mean… silver hair and all. It's very eye-catching against tree leaves."
'Kashi's eyes narrowed, "What are you trying to say?"
"I-I meant it would be very hard to hide against a tree, right? You would hide better near gray rocks so your hair can blend," He stuttered out under the pressure to not lose the new acquaintance. It would be awkward to face his father when he got back with Ichigo and failed to make friends with his son.
"Hn."
'Kashi began walking. Ban was probably meant to follow behind, so he did. Maybe the way to befriended this 'Kashi was less talking and more silence.
"But usually around rocks, you can't hide for a long time, since you have to lay on small rocks," Surprisingly, the explanation came from 'Kashi as he kept walking, eyes trained everywhere but Ban.
"Not if you prepare the space first, though," Ban shot back at the clear sign it was okay to start talking, "If you clear the area sufficiently before you lay down, then wouldn't you last longer compared to being in a tree? Again, it's your hair. It's…" He gestured at the spikes, "gravity-defying."
The other narrowed his eyes in question, "Gravity-defying?"
"It's sticking up."
"What's gravity?"
Ban was quite confused about how a child can know that hiding in rocks for a long time would hurt but not what's gravity; What would be the best way to explain that concept?
"It's that force that makes things fall down, like how we're walking right now."
"Oh…" He nodded along and the conversation lulled.
He felt his heart skip a beat at the thought that this opportunity to talk with a loner can pass by, so he blurted out what the other boy would probably be interested in.
"Did you know? Weight is not the same as mass!"
'Kashi turned to him, a little spark in his eyes.
Ban continued, "Like some kunais are the same shape, but they have different weights, right? That's because, for some, the gravity is heavier because the material is denser."
"What's denser?"
"It means… how heavy something is!"
Something seemed to click in the other's mind as his eyes widened, "Oh, so that's why my aim has been off? Which do you think is better? A heavier kunai or a lighter one?"
"I think that depends on how you throw? A lighter kunai would need less force to go far, but being too light would make the impact softer. Maybe it can't even cut anything with the throw, right? I also think the heavier would be easier to throw too-"
"Why? Shouldn't it be the lighter one?"
"No, because of the air. When you throw the kunai, it's going to cut through the air. So if your kunai is heavier, you just have to calculate its weight when you first throw it and the air won't really stop it-"
"-Because it's heavy."
"Yes. Because it's heavy, but if it's light, the air can easily change its directions so it'll be harder-"
"What about size then? Bigger or smaller?"
"Um… That would have to depend too, right?"
"What do you think is best?"
"I think they're both good and bad, depending on the person. It's like asking senbons, shurikens, or kunais. As for me, I think the lighter one, because I'm not strong. Hopefully, my aim makes up for it."
The boy nodded along, "Strength can be fixed. You can train to be stronger."
'Kashi turned down a road, and Ban followed up with, "What about you?"
"Father said not to tell people what you can do," The other replied immediately as he looked straight ahead.
'Oh, he probably hit a nerve. The conversation was going so well too…' Ban took back his words, "Oh… then it's alright,"
The only thing he heard was his footsteps, somehow falling behind the others. Did he imagine he was being left behind? It was getting farther and farther as they were on an unfamiliar road, "It's tanto's. I like tanto's."
He blinked. 'Kashi gave him a stare that read, 'why aren't you coming? Hurry up.' Perhaps he read where the conversation was heading wrong? Taking up the opportunity again, Ban stuttered a reply, "Aren't they the heaviest of the three?"
They resumed walking as 'Kashi shrugged, "Yeah but they're also the ones Father uses."
They walked a little more, the silence between them before Ban noticed that the road was strangely empty, "Where are we walking anyway if you don't mind me asking?"
"I'm following Father's signature."
Signature? He had to mean chakra signature. His eyes lit up. This was probably the one thing he could help with.
"Oh! I think I can help with that?"
'Kashi raised an eyebrow at him, mocking, as he questioned, "How?"
"I- I can feel him," Ban flushed from the unimpressed gaze, turning his attention to the sensing. As he closed his eyes, the blue hues of the world mixed, and he could suddenly feel two streets to their right, Ichigo's bouncing blue. Then right below that… a safe thunderstorm. "I don't think he's far away from us right now. To our right."
His gaze turned from amazed to skeptical as he questioned, "How far can you feel him? How can you feel him?"
"Uh-um-he feels like being comfortable under a thunderstorm… if that makes sense."
He nodded as if he answered correctly to a test question as 'Kashi echoed, "His affinity is lighting."
That was probably private information he wasn't supposed to know, since apparently, the man taught his son not to tell other people about his capabilities. Affinities surely counted among them. Though it was purely by accident, it was still a rude thing. He apologized, "I-I didn't know that, sorry."
The other furrowed his eyebrows, annoyed, "What are you apologizing for?"
"I don't think I should have done that."
'Kashi rolled his eyes and shoved his hands in his pockets, stalking forward, "Let's just focus on finding him and get this over with."
There was no more talking for the next ten steps and one turn it took for them to reach Shinobi-sama and Ichigo, both grinning and standing underneath a shop's signboard.
"Father," 'Kashi called out first.
"Wow! You found us!" At the sound of 'Kashi's voice, Ichigo excitedly turned, eyes melting away the 'little' stress it was to talk to someone like 'Kashi. It was honestly much easier to talk to Ichigo.
"And I found the store!" The man guffawed as 'Kashi gave him a nod. His dad instinctively nodded back as the boy migrated to his father's side.
Ichigo continued beaming as he slid down down man, "The old ladies knew who the Old Man was and helped us a lot!"
Ban politely bowed to show his thanks, hand reaching out to grab Ichigo's head and forcing it to the same position, "Thank you for the help, Shinobi-sama."
"Oh! That's right! We've never introduced ourselves, have we? I'm Sakumo Hatake," The man introduced himself with a languid smile of a man who had all the time in the world. He then patted 'Kashi, to which the boy just stared straight ahead, "This is my son."
With the smoothness of a practiced introduction, he stated, "Kakashi Hatake."
"Huh? So you're not just 'Kashi?" Slipped out of Ban's mouth. Impoliteness and shame immediately burned his face as his hands came up to cover those features. Ichigo just laughed on the sidelines at his expense.
The third boy huffed and rolled his eyes offended, as he stated, "I'm not just 'Kashi."
An earth jutsu should just activate and smash him right on the spot.
Ban wished he could flee, but after one failed introduction, it was time for another. Somehow gathering the strength to be thick-faced, Ban pretended the previous exchange never happened. He took a deep breath before placing a bright smile and bowing, "It's nice meeting you, Hatake-sama, and Hatake-san. I'm Ban, and this is Ichigo."
"Yeah! The name's Ichigo and this is my best friend, Ban!" Thankfully, Ichigo went along without much fuss, though the giggling was still present.
"Do you guys want us to help with-" Hatake-sama's words were cut off by a tug from Kakashi, "Father, I want to leave."
"Oh… alright," The man looked at the boy before turning to face the other two children, "Do you boys go to the park a lot?"
"We do now! Since we have help the matron out!"
"Good. See you boys later!"
And without any more explanation, Hatake Sakumo left with his son.
Dumbfounded at the departure, he turned to look at Ichigo, only to see the boy grinning and looking at him like there was nothing wrong with how the father and son booked it out of there.
The topic was worth pursuing, but if Ichigo didn't find any offense with that, then he would rather just leave it be. Both of the orphans picked up the bags of food and groceries that the owner, Masa-sama, a middle-aged man with his son, gave them.
They found their way back to the park with the help of the man's teen son, and then had Officer Kei help escort them back. Strangely, they saw a familiar figure standing at the gate.
It was Shinobi-sama.
SOMEONE WANTS TO KILL YOU DUCK!-
Pressure burst from Officer Kei.
"There are children here, Uchiha."
Air cleared as Ban took a deep breath of fresh air. He could feel the sweat dripping down his legs, his spine suddenly losing any semblance of structure. The bag next to his side dropped as Ichigo froze upright.
Officer Kei had a smile that in no way reached his eyes. He turned to the two boys and then patted their heads then wordlessly returning back the way he came from.
Ichigo was still holding onto his knees as he huffed, "What was that?"
"That was an Uchiha's killing intent," Shinobi-sama explained, seemingly unbothered even if he received that feeling at full force. Only when his eyes beckoned for them to begin walking again did Ban realize that they needed to put the orphanage's food in a safe place first?
With stiff steps, the only thing that resounded in his mind was the question, why did Officer Kei release killing intent? It can only be Shinobi-sama. Was Shinobi-sama a bad person?
"Ban? Ya okay over there?" The worried face of Ichigo came into view, his one hand already on his forehead. Ban shook his thoughts away for later. Now, he had to pay attention to the present.
"I'm alright. Just thinking."
Ichigo obviously didn't believe him, given his furrowed eyebrows like he was about to solve the hardest puzzle he's ever faced. He didn't say anything else the entire way back.
As they arrived, the old man was sitting on the chair again. He didn't comment that they made him wait after they deposited their bags, instead, diving into another story.
The founding of Konoha was shed light upon. The first face was done without any ninjutsu, as to represent the hard work and the union between civilians and shinobis that made the village possible. It was Hashirama Senju's instructions due to his high pacifist ideals.
He paused to explain what a pacifist was, to which Ichigo didn't look too interested.
When his brother took over, Tobirama Senju could care less about meanings and just ordered it to be completed as fast as possible. Thus, most of the shape was actually done with earth release and then skilled carvers were brought in for the finer details. The second face was significantly faster than the first.
'And the third is still unfinished,' his eyes drew to half face in the distance.
Ichigo pointed with eagerness, "What about the third one? How was that made?"
The man paused, his equivalent of a squint, and asked, "How old are you brats?"
"Five," Ban gave the answer.
"It was before you children were born then. Hiruzen is also highly pacifist. The construction will resume when times are more peaceful and civilian carvers are available. He will use it to signify the end of the war."
'It seems he has an answer to every question,' Ban thought as the man continued with his explanation of how the construction of each face affected clan relations, civilian relations, and the large divide between shinobis and people with insufficient chakra.
Ichigo has dozed off by the time Shinobi-sama finished with his explanation. Taking the time that he had the man's focus, Ban told him about the father-son duo he met at the park. Shinobi-sama raised one of his eyebrows when he mentioned their names, Hatake.
They were quite… strange as they were leaving. But if Shinobi-sama didn't give them any word of caution, it was fine to continue meeting them at the park.
Shinobi-sama was just about to get up when "Ban! Right-handed Stupid! Dinner or starve!" came the yell from the door. Ban could only close his eyes and pretend that didn't just happen before his esteemed storyteller.
The raised eyebrows said otherwise, but thankfully he made no comment. He just narrowed his black eyes and motioned to Ichigo's drooling figure, "Child, smack the brat awake."
Ban complied, gently nudging the other as Shinobi-sama got up from the chair. Ichigo's sleepily tried to orient himself, eyes seemingly rolling around with no control. Trying to get him to get into a proper bow would be too much work for such little reward. Ban bowed extra low in hopes it made up the difference.
Perhaps due to some sense of discipline, Ichigo also wobbly bowed, only to end up with his forehead almost tasting the ground-A sharp smack sound rang through as Ban's palm made contact against the other's forehead.
Ichigo frantically shot up with a, "huh?!"
… They were acting like clowns before Shinobi-sama…
It was even more mortifying to see him gazing at them stonily. If he was any other man, he would have given them a very obvious disappointed gaze, but that was the best they would get from him.
"Next time, save your mercy for someone who could actually comprehend it and just smack him awake."
Ban flushed, "Yes sir," and smacked Ichigo for good measure.
After this, he trains himself to not be able to sleep if Ban is not near. He has to re-train himself when they are in split teams.