"It's the festival again," Uzumaki Kushina said, looking at the lively scene around her, her mood low. "Jun didn't come with us again this year."
She heard he was busy acting in some big play.
When she went to look for him earlier, she was shooed away.
"How annoying!" Kushina stomped her foot angrily. "There's only one festival a year."
Last year was the same, and this time too, even when he went to the battlefield...
He came back the very next day.
She... she hadn't even gotten to do anything yet.
"It's alright," Kyoko said, patting Kushina's head gently. "Jun must have something important to do. Otherwise, he wouldn't miss spending time with you."
"Kyoko-nee and Nono too," Kushina pouted unhappily. "If I hadn't dragged you out, you'd still be working overtime at the hospital."
"Work is important," Kyoko said with a helpless smile. "No matter what, patients come first. Besides, Nono and I are still..."
"Alright, alright," Kushina quickly interrupted. "Even though your medical ninjutsu is great, why do you still call yourselves beginners?"
"If you ask me!"
"There aren't many in the hospital with better skills than you two. Even the director and patients say so."
"Well..." Kyoko shook her head helplessly, about to say something.
"Kyoko-nee, no need to explain. I get it," Kushina said with a grin, hugging Kyoko's arm. "Kyoko-nee is perfect in every way, just a bit too naggy, like my mom—but gentler. You'll definitely be a great mom someday."
Hearing Kushina's words, Kyoko stiffened slightly before smiling. "Kushina, do you want to eat something?"
"Since Jun isn't here, the three of us can just stroll around."
"It's been so long since we've gone out together like this, relaxed and carefree," Kyoko said softly, as if reminiscing. "Back then, we were only seven or eight years old."
"Yeah," Nono glanced subtly at Kyoko, adjusting her glasses. "I hope we can always stay together like this in the future."
These glasses were a birthday gift last year. She still remembered Jun saying back then that despite being so smart, she still studied so hard—proof that even geniuses don't take shortcuts.
Thinking of this, Nono couldn't help but smile slightly, murmuring, "I wonder if I look better with or without glasses."
Meanwhile...
"Hey, hey!" Kushina tugged at Kyoko excitedly. "This way, this way!"
"I remember Jun saying there are lots of new foods and games this year."
"If he won't come with me, we'll just go ourselves."
"Hmph!" Kushina snorted. "Let him regret it later."
"Hey, slow down," Kyoko said, pulled along by Kushina. "Let's take our time."
Then, her gaze met Nono's, and they both sighed before sharing a smile.
There was just no helping it.
Kushina was always so lively and full of energy.
...
"This path..." Yōya muttered, glancing carefully at Hoshigaki Fuguki in the distance. "It's really strange."
"What are you mumbling about?" Pakkun Jūzō frowned, sensing Yōya's unease. "As long as you don't cause trouble, given how we've gotten along these past few days, we'll let you go once we escape Uzushiogakure."
Even though this traitor's lifestyle was truly enviable—no, despicable!
He hadn't done anything too terrible to the Kiri-nin. After all, they had endured four to five months of ideological and moral education. Killing him so casually wouldn't be right... Bah!
Pakkun Jūzō's expression darkened as he glared at Yōya. What was he thinking? The shinobi world was kill or be killed. How could he even consider letting him go?
Uzushiogakure...
How sinister!
Especially a traitor with a wife and daughter—he ought to be cut into a thousand pieces as a warning to all shinobi!
"Uh..." Yōya had relaxed slightly upon hearing he might be released, but...
In just a moment, this sharp-toothed bastard's gaze had turned hostile again?
"Don't worry, I'll cooperate," Yōya said quickly. "After all, we're... well, almost fellow traitors. No need to fight each other."
He was just puzzled why that sleazy fatso had chosen this route...
If he remembered correctly, this path... Yōya secretly glanced at the crystal-tipped cylinder hidden in an ancient tree.
It was covered in surveillance cameras.
He'd heard this monitoring system was adapted from Konoha's Telescope Technique. It didn't require a shinobi to actively use ninjutsu—just fixed crystal receivers at each location to capture the surroundings.
So this fat guy...
Had he really been an intelligence operative before?
Yōya gave Hoshigaki Fuguki a strange look. "Could he be one of ours?"
But...
"One of yours? Who's one of yours?" Pakkun Jūzō snapped angrily. "I'm an elite shinobi of Kirigakure. I'd never betray my village with such despicable acts."
"You disgrace of the shinobi world!"
"Fine, fine," Yōya said irritably. "I'm the disgrace, okay?"
He really didn't want to argue with this conflicted, sharp-toothed idiot. The guy was clearly jealous but still pretending to be righteous.
What an annoying face!
All he had to do was stall. Based on routine patrols, the police should have already received the surveillance feed and sent people over. Soon...
These Kiri-nin wouldn't escape!
Especially since there were a few among them who...
"That all-beef banquet at noon was amazing," one Kiri-nin said, wiping his drool. "Especially that ribeye—you could tell it was freshly butchered."
"And those beef meatballs! I heard they're a Uzushiogakure specialty. So springy, bursting with flavor in one bite. So satisfying!" another short-haired Kiri-nin agreed. "The only downside was eating too much. There was so much left I couldn't try. Otherwise, I could've eaten till nightfall."
"The beef noodles were great too," a long-haired Kiri-nin nodded. "I had three big bowls. I wonder if I'll ever get to eat them again."
"Want more? Keep dreaming," the short-haired Kiri-nin scoffed. "We probably won't ever come back to Uzushiogakure."
The food...
What a shame. He'd heard dinner was another feast—a full seafood spread. But Jūzō-taichou wouldn't let them stay for it.
"Honestly, copying books isn't so bad," the long-haired Kiri-nin said after a pause.
"Yeah—"
Before another could reply, Pakkun Jūzō's face darkened. "Shut up!!"
What was wrong with them?!
Were they really swayed by just one meal?
He... he hadn't even eaten lunch yet!
"Hurry up, we're almost there," Pakkun Jūzō growled. "Once we pass this road, we'll be near the shore."
They couldn't stay any longer. Otherwise...
These Kiri-nin would all become traitors.
Almost there, almost there!
He could already hear the waves of the sea!
Pakkun Jūzō's eyes grew slightly moist.
Mizukage-sama...
I've brought these jōnin back safely...
But just then—
"Kiri-nin ahead, please..."