Comrades may summarise a group of shinobis on a mission, but they can consist of individuals who do not necessary get along with each other. Yet when friends merge as comrades, the bonds strengthen and the paranoia to protect heightens.
Three days after Shisui's discharge from hospital, an assignment awaits. Itachi and Izumi have been tasked to form a three-man team with Shisui as Captain. And though such formation may be out of pure coincidence, there is an element of suspicion that cannot be dismantled from Izumi's mind.
Before the commencement of said mission, Nanami and Yuki suggests a comrade-bonding break by the village river.
"Considering you, Itachi and Shisui are not on mission for the next couple days, it will be good to have a bit of a break with friends," Yuki says.
She looks to Nanami for reinforcement.
"Yes," she answers quickly, then glances at Shisui, "It will also be a good celebration for your discharge from hospital."
"Oh, no need for that, really," Shisui waves airily, "Leaving that dreaded place is a celebration."
There is minimal response on Itachi's end. The expression he gives suggest an agreement with the group's decision, unless an errand appears.
Izumi knows him well, but she gets the strange feeling her judgements have been inaccurate as of late.
"Well, it's decided then," Yuki says.
"Has it really?" Izumi asks.
The question is redundant. And it seems the passive protest on Shisui's face is doing little to quell the doubts of the get together's suspension.
Nanami, however, sees through this.
"Yuki and I thought it would be something nice to celebrate. I mean, it's okay if you aren't feeling up to it, Shisui."
Her tone is meek and obscured by a veil of disappointment.
At her comment, Shisui softens.
"If that is important to you," he says kindly, "then thank you for your generosity."
Nanami does not seem to have expected the response. Her face turns a dark shade of demure that manifests in red streaks.
"A prodigy who can't seem to read between the lines," Izumi mutters so that only Itachi can hear.
The comment evokes a short inward breath from him, as if he is mid-way through suppressing a chortle.
"We will see everyone by the village waterfall tomorrow afternoon then!" Yuki cheers.
x
In the shades of their surroundings, the temperature hits an uncomfortable thirty-five degrees Celsius. Though a mellow breeze provides temporary respite, its transiency is dishearteningly swift.
At Konoha's only waterfall, they congregate by the bank that intersects the Naka river. Here, the atmosphere breathes a contentious heat of discomfort, yet the falling aqua is a tranquillising offset to the unease.
Izumi takes her seat beneath the shades of an old oak tree, followed by Itachi, who seems to have wandered in absent-mindedly with a peculiar expression on his face.
"You look stressed," Izumi frowns.
Itachi glances uncertainly at her before speaking in a surprisingly exhausted tone.
"I don't think I have ever done this before."
He stares in the direction of the remaining three individuals. Yuki busies herself setting up the tables, perhaps in a carefully planned manner that allows some proximity from Shisui and Nanami.
"You mean a get together like this with everyone?" Izumi asks.
"No," he replies, "this feels like an undeserved vacation."
"Your perfectionism is getting out of hands," Izumi sighs, "what makes you think you do not deserve this?"
Itachi does not speak, but his features command a non-verbal answer. He should either be on mission, training, or at least completing errands.
Despite recent inaccuracies, (courtesy of Izumi's instinct), today marks the first time in awhile that her intuition may be correct.
"Time for lunch!"
Nanami's propinquity draws Izumi from her muse. Like Itachi, her reaction is puzzled, as if they have lost track of space and time.
"Right," Izumi answers.
As she makes to follow Itachi, Nanami takes her arm.
"Izumi, can I speak to you for a second?"
For a brief moment, there is a bemused expression played across Nanami's face. The component may have been short lived, but Izumi can see specks that have receded into the deeper layers of a very composed look.
"What is it?"
Nanami is looking wary.
"Shisui…has he said anything to you about…anything…?"
The fleck of inquisitiveness may have been obvious, because Nanami quickly speaks.
"I just…" she looks to Shisui, who is chatting animatedly to Itachi, "ever since his discharge from hospital, he is a bit…different."
She stares gloomily at the ground.
"Different?" Izumi repeats, "How so?"
Nanami shakes her head.
"I don't know how to explain it. I mean, he is the same but not the same. I'm worried about him."
Nanami is looking sad, and for the first time ever, Izumi senses a heighten level of fear exuding from her.
"Maybe you are overthinking it too much? Shisui has only just left the hospital. He was poisoned so there may be some residual effects we don't know about."
Nanami is looking slightly perturbed, albeit there is an element of relief that may have quelled doubts about some other unknown.
"You think so?"
Izumi may not be precise with her theories, but she does not want Nanami to fall into despair should Shisui have other intentions unrelated to his recovery.
"Don't worry. We will all keep an eye on him to make sure he is okay."
x
They spend their afternoon in crystal waters, a last attempt at cooling off before sundown.
Izumi is dragged into the river for the third time, although it takes her less than three minutes to remove herself from the waters.
"I'm not sure if I like being in there very much," Izumi says.
She submerges her feet into the placid coolness by way of compromise.
Itachi and Shisui have outright refused to join them, so they are standing by the riverbank, deeply immersed in conversation.
Yuki, however, has other ideas.
"Hey you two!"
Then, she sends a tidal wave of water in the duo's direction. Judging from its height and strength, there is chakra intermixed within. And despite anticipating the attack, only Itachi decides to move away.
"Hey that isn't very fair," Shisui says.
He gives a short broken laugh that sits somewhere between amusement and confusion.
"Yuki! Don't do that," Nanami says reproachfully.
She approaches Shisui with a towel.
"Here you go."
"Thanks," he answers gratefully, "I'll just…take this off..."
In the midst of removing his shirt, Nanami lets out a brief shriek-like gasp.
"Are you okay?" Shisui asks.
Nanami nods. And at this point, Izumi is unsure whether her sunburnt skin is redder, or the shade across her face.
Surprisingly, Shisui swiftly reaches into his bag and draws out another shirt.
"Aren't you prepared?" Izumi smirks.
"Thought I should, considering we are here," he answers sheepishly.
"How interesting."
Her tone borders smugness.
"Why would that be? I don't really like walking around shirtless," he replies confoundedly.
At his comment, Izumi glances in Itachi's direction. Whether it was an automatic move, she cannot shake the disconcerting feeling of disappointment.
Why did you have to move so quickly from Yuki's attack?
And in that simultaneous moment, there is a very slow sudden-like motion to her left.
Honoka.
She is sitting on the far end of the riverside, looking awkwardly out of place with her long skirts and overall insipid outfit. Beneath the scorching sun, her hair reflects a duller shade of brown - a perfect mimic of the bland appearance she radiates.
From her bag, Izumi watches as she draws out two books, each with numerous tabs sticking from all directions.
For a fleeting moment, Izumi gets the peculiar feeling Honoka has been in the area for quite some time. Perhaps she epitomises the notion of 'blending into the background,' but her entirety does very little to stand out on its own.
"Get lost!"
"Yuki! No!" Nanami cries.
Izumi has little time to process the sudden sounds, let alone comprehend sentences.
There is a tidal wave of water, stronger than that previously, originating from Yuki. The immense force tear at branches, propelling them towards the manipulated waters in a mass of spikes.
Honoka, who is looking remarkably unnerved in the seconds before the attack, barely moves from her position.
Though she is visibly hurt, she shows no signs of overt protest. Her only reaction is the very brief glance she sends Shisui, who is watching the situation with an inexplicable expression.
Without a word, Honoka departs the scene. Her features remain monotonous, but Izumi senses a flicker of terror beneath that very stoic composure.
On Shisui's end, the unreadable expression lingers. Perhaps lost in his own thoughts, he does not immediately respond to Nanami's calling.
"Shisui?" She says quietly.
Only when Nanami takes his hand does he seemingly break from his reverie.
"Sorry," he says airily.
Nanami is looking unconvinced.
"How about we take a walk?"
"Oh I'm okay really-"
"I think that's a brilliant idea. A nice sunset stroll," Yuki interjects.
He breathes in resignation.
"Sure, why not."
Yuki parts way with them thereafter, leaving Izumi and Itachi behind.
"Is everything okay with Shisui?" she asks.
Itachi does not immediately respond. There are traces of uncertainty suffusing his expression, however, he seems unwilling to express them.
"He's probably still recovering from that poison is my guess."
Despite the pragmatic answer, intuition tells her that Itachi may not be entirely truthful.