"Gnash," Kael said. "Silent patrol. Stay hidden. If you see any strange chakra, mark it. Don't fight unless they start something."
There was no reply, but Kael knew Gnash heard him.
He turned toward the well in the middle of the village.
"Graveborn."
The huge armored creature turned its head slowly to look at him.
"You stay here. Guard the center. If anyone tries anything… remind them this land belongs to me now."
Graveborn bowed its head once, then became still again. Like a statue.
Kael stepped off the stone path, barefoot, his shadow moving like smoke.
He turned back to the small village and gave a small smile.
"I'm heading out. Just want to see what the world looks like."
Some of the villagers glanced up, wide-eyed.
"Don't worry," he added, his voice calm but firm. "No one touches this place while I'm gone."
Shadows stretched along the homes and the well, like they were protecting everything.
At the edge of the village, Kael stopped and looked back one last time.
"And if someone's dumb enough to try…"
His silver eyes glowed.
"Let them find out."
He turned and walked into the forest. His bare feet made no sound.
Behind him, the wind stirred. But the village stayed calm.
...
The sun was low in the sky when Kael reached the nearby town.
It was small but full of life. Lanterns hung on ropes between buildings, glowing with soft orange light. People walked through the stone streets, stopping at food stalls and shops. Laughter came from an inn nearby.
Kael walked in quietly. He looked calm and normal, like any other traveler. No one paid much attention to him.
He passed a group of teenagers near a market stall. They were talking quickly and excitedly.
"—she's really from the Hidden Cloud!"
"For real? A real kunoichi?"
"Yeah! She's at the inn near the square. Her name's Samui or something."
Kael stopped walking for a moment.
He tilted his head slightly.
Samui.
He knew that name. A top ninja from the Hidden Cloud. Calm, smart, deadly. One of the best.
And she was here?
A small smile appeared on Kael's face.
"Well," he said quietly, "didn't expect that."
He turned and walked toward the town square.
Town Square – Evening
The square was busy. Merchants called out their prices. Music played from a corner. Travelers chatted and moved around. A fire pit glowed in the center of the square. Not far away stood a small inn. It looked old but well-kept.
Kael walked past a board outside the inn. A few notes were pinned to it, but he didn't stop to read.
He stood at the edge of the square, half-covered by shadow, and looked at the inn's front door.
Then the door opened.
Samui stepped out.
She walked calmly, standing straight. Even without trying, she stood out.
Her long blonde hair hung down her back, smooth and neat, even in the warm air. Her ninja uniform—tight, gray and black—had the Hidden Cloud symbol on one shoulder. There was no doubt she was a shinobi.
What most people noticed first was her chest. It pushed lightly against the zipper of her flak jacket. She didn't try to show it off. She didn't try to hide it either. It was just… part of her.
She looked confident. Calm. Strong.
Kael raised an eyebrow a little.
He watched as she spoke briefly with a local shinobi, then turned to walk toward the main street.
She didn't smile. Her face stayed cool and serious. But her eyes were sharp, alert. Like she was always thinking ahead.
Kael leaned back against the wall, smiling just a little.
"She looks even better in person," he said quietly.
Then, with a small nod to himself, he added,
"Now I'm interested."
Samui's steps were steady as she walked across the square, heading toward one of the merchant stalls. She didn't look around much—didn't need to. Her presence alone made people move out of her way.
Kael's gaze followed her, silent, unblinking.
Then—
Her pace slowed.
She stopped.
Her head turned slightly, just enough for one sharp blue eye to glance in his direction.
Kael didn't move.
She stared for a second longer than necessary.
Then her voice cut through the market noise. Flat, uninterested.
"What are you doing, shirtless, in the middle of the square?"
She didn't raise her voice, but people around turned to look.
"Looking for attention? Or just being a creep?"
A few chuckles rippled from the crowd. One woman whispered something and laughed behind her hand.
Kael didn't respond. Just stood there, arms loose at his sides, his pale skin catching the last bit of fading sunlight.
Samui gave him one more glance—eyes narrowing, just a touch—then turned and walked away without waiting for an answer.
The breeze caught her hair as she moved, the golden strands swaying against the curve of her back. Her uniform fit like it was tailored to her bones—smooth, snug, all business. Her hips shifted slightly with every step, calm but firm.
Kael watched her go.
He tilted his head again, that small smile still on his lips.
"She didn't sense anything," he thought. "That's good. My presence is well hidden."
From her perspective, he was just another odd civilian. A weird one, sure—but harmless. And that was perfect.
He kept watching her until she disappeared around the corner.
Then, softly:
"Yeah… definitely her. Samui of the Hidden Cloud."
He turned his head slightly toward the fire pit, where the light flickered low. His tone dropped, a bit colder now.