(Chapter 2 - Village of the Morning Dew)

—-

Accepted the new mission, Itachi and Kisame took off almost immediately. The small, rural village, which was also known as the "Village of the Morning Dew" was just an ordinary autonomous village occupied by non-shinobi civilians. Despite being under the wings of the Country of Water, the village was left alone, until lately the Daimyo discovered that the all-natural feelings, the beauty, and the fresh air of the village was what he had been searching for. He decided to built a villa on the outskirt of the village, closer to the mountain peak, where the most beautiful scenery would be available for the eyes to see. That was why there shouldn't be any problem. At least that was what the Daimyo had thought.

Annoyed by the long silence, Kisame asked his partner while they continued to climb the path to the village.

"Itachi-san, what do you think about the incident?"

"Well.. Who knows." Itachi answered, while keeping his eyes on the path in front of him.

"It's too early to deduce anything. Just keep your eyes open," he continued.

Kisame grinned.

"You're as wary as usual. Well, i personally hoped it's just a hungry wild beast or something. Wouldn't want to stay in this country for long. Though they say this village is a peaceful one, far from the intervention of the country or its shinobi, still i don't wanna lose my head."

To his partner's word, Itachi said nothing.

"Ah, there it is, Morning Dew Village," said Kisame, putting on his cloaked hat as soon as he gained sight of the village.

—-

The village was, simply said, beautiful. Though everything inside looked very simple, or even old fashioned, everything was in order. People were smiling and laughing, chatting with each other. From time to time, people would pass carrying bow and arrow, with dead wild animals hanging on their back. Some villagers were tending to their garden and farms, picking ripe fruit from the branches of the plants.

Itachi looked around, and he felt a word sneaking up to his mind.

Peace.

If he could, he would like to savor this feeling.

But the moment the word crept to his heart, the memory of what he did to his clan surfaced. His brother's terrified face, the body of his brethren lying on the ground.. The tranquility disperse, and, Itachi began to be swept away by his thought.

Then, oranges rolled beside his feet.

Yes, oranges.

A dozen of oranges rolled down from the upper part of the sloped path in front of him. Some of them touched Itachi's feet while continuing to roll down all the way behind him.

Distracted by the unexpected touch, Itachi looked up the slope, tracking the source of this distraction.

A dark haired little girl was running, chasing the rolling oranges while carrying lots of fruits on her sash which was hanging frantically on her shoulder.

Spotting the two cloaked pair on her way, she shouted.

"AAAAAAAAH SHOO SHOO UNCLES OVER THERE, GET OUT OF THE WAAAAY"

The girl ran in full power down the slope, passing by Itachi's right side, almost bumping unto him. Itachi avoided her charge by slightly sliding to his left, where Kisame wa standing.

Above the slope, a mother and a little girl was running towards the slope and stopped right above it, shouting.

"Mitchan! Just let it go, I'll give you other later!"

The running girl shouted back with all her power while keeping her focus on chasing the fruits.

"GRANPA SAID, IT'S NOT GOOD TO WASTE FOOOOODS—-GAAAHHH!"

And while she said so, she fell down the next slope, creating some awfully loud noises of shock and surprises below.

And so the girl's figure disappeared on the path behind them. The woman who was shouting and the little girl that followed her ran panicly down the slope while shouting what apparently was the falling girl's name.

"It's peaceful, alright," said Kisame, grinning at the event that happened before them.

Itachi who was dragged out of his sad thought by this surprising event, can't help but try to hide his smile behind the cloaked hat.

Itachi's mind wandered back to the mission that they were assigned with.

He had to admit, he was glad they took on this mission. Being an Akatsuki member, where Rogue Ninja and criminals of highest rate gather, it was rare for them to get a pleasant, good-willed mission. Well, he knew that this one wasn't completely out of good will either. However.. It was a wonderful place, away from war and conflicts, where people could smile and lived their life fully.

He was glad that he could be here to protect the peace, instead of destroying it.

Whatever the cause of that incident was, he didn't want it to spread terror to that village, and them being there could stop the incident before it finally expanded and reached the village.

With a determined look in his eyes, Itachi looked up the path.

The pair then continued climbing, up to the mountain where the incident took place.

—

Author's note:
Also read on tumblr and/or wattpad for version with illustration and faster update

Illustration by
Comission type: Comic-Rough Draft

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