Chapter 62: The Sushi Truce
"I'm hungry. Did you bring any sushi?"
The tense standoff was shattered by Hechi's abrupt, almost comical display of "honesty."
Hearing this, Kin scrambled to her feet and ran to the side of the training ground. She retrieved a small, checkered cloth bundle hidden behind a wooden post and brought it back.
"I made it this morning before coming here. Should still be okay to eat."
Hechi grinned. "Yeah, it'll do."
He plopped down on the grass, opened the bundle, and grabbed a roll of eel sushi with his bare hands, stuffing it into his mouth.
"What are you two standing there for? Aren't you hungry?" he mumbled through a full mouth, looking at a bewildered Matsushita.
"...I am."
"Then come eat."
After a simple, silent meal, the sky had fully darkened. The three of them lay sprawled on the cool grass, gazing up at the starry tapestry beginning to emerge overhead.
The world was quiet, the training ground empty and still.
Hechi suddenly spoke, his voice tinged with embarrassment. "...I'm sorry."
Kin: "…?"
Matsushita: "…?"
"I realized just now," Hechi explained, staring at the stars, "I was too impulsive this afternoon. I shouldn't have attacked you guys."
Kin smiled softly in the dark.
"I… also want to apologize," Matsushita said quietly. "I shouldn't have doubted you like that."
"But… do I really have a hot temper?" Hechi frowned, still looking skyward. "I always thought I was pretty easy-going."
"Shameless!" Kin giggled.
Even Matsushita let out a soft snort, giving Hechi a sidelong glance that said, figure it out yourself.
"What? I am easy-going!" Hechi defended himself, then lay still again. "I'm only tough on outsiders. When have I ever been like that with you two?"
Silence settled over them again, comfortable this time.
It was only broken when Liumu materialized on the wooden post above them. The three scrambled to their feet.
Before Liumu could speak, Hechi stepped forward. "I failed. I didn't get the answer."
"Me neither."
"Same."
Hechi: "…???"
Hechi looked back and forth between Kin and Matsushita, utterly confused. Hadn't the rule stated one of them had to know?
Seeing his baffled expression, Kin and Matsushita exchanged a knowing smile. In unison, they each gave Hechi a light punch in the arm.
"You really are an idiot sometimes!"
It turned out, the moment Hechi dropped the interrogation and asked for food, both Kin and Matsushita had already suspected the truth: there was no answer. Liumu's "answer" was just a ruse, a test in itself.
"Then why didn't you tell me earlier?" Hechi spluttered. "I must have cursed you guys a hundred times in my head…" He trailed off, suddenly aware of Liumu's presence, and ducked behind the smaller boy.
"Now that you've all… seemingly failed," Liumu said, pulling the sheepish Hechi back in front, "do you have anything else to say?"
"Nothing. I accept the result," Matsushita stated simply.
"Me neither," Kin said, though a shadow of disappointment crossed her face. Failing the evaluation meant another year back at the Academy.
"And you?" Liumu looked at Hechi.
Hechi looked a little frustrated, but there was also a strange sense of relief in his eyes. "Actually… I get it now. This test is like a battlefield. If even one of us has a crack in our teamwork, we'll be in trouble sooner or later. It's better to realize it now than later."
"I'm not afraid to go back to the Academy for another year. Wherever these two go, I'll go."
Liumu laughed.
He paced a few steps, then sat on the post before them. "Making a mistake isn't terrible. What's terrible is having no chance to correct it. You're all older than me, so it feels odd to lecture you. But after passing this assessment, I hope you remember this moment—the moment you faced off against each other."
The three exchanged glances, then looked back at Liumu, nodding solemnly.
"In that case…" Liumu hopped down, dusting off his pants. "Jonin Yuhi Makoto will conduct your first team training in three days. Don't be late. He's very serious."
Hechi: "…?"
Kin: "…?"
Matsushita: "…?"
"We… we didn't… fail?" Kin asked, her voice trembling with hope.
"Who said you did?" Liumu scratched his head, feigning confusion. "I don't remember saying that."
"Then what does this mean?" Hechi pressed, his eyes wide with anticipation as he crowded closer.
"Back off. I'm not interested in guys," Liumu grumbled, shoving away the sweaty, smelly boy. "Since you recognized your mistake, why would I fail you? Just remember to do better next time."
To Liumu, trust was a mysterious thing. Sometimes, it could be built or broken in a single glance. This ninja team had a bond forged through years of shared struggle. Even though a crack had appeared, they'd managed to mend it in the end. If even brothers could come to blows, what were these three compared to that?
"I want to eat the eel rice from Aunt Isora's place."
"I just want a bath."
"Then come to my house. Bathe first, then eel rice."
Watching the three bicker and walk away, Liumu allowed himself a small, genuine smile.
"They're gone. You can come out now."
With a soft shunshin, a white-haired boy wearing a red-striped ANBU mask appeared beside him.
"I heard you're leaving again?" Kakashi's voice was muffled by the porcelain.
"Yeah. Decided recently. Leaving soon." Liumu kept his gaze on the fading horizon.
"They came to apologize. The Third Hokage… he even personally bowed before my father's memorial tablet."
Kakashi's voice was low, heavy. "The Third intended to step down… but was stopped by the two clan advisors."
"They? Those two… your father's former teammates?" Liumu turned, his eyes sharp.
Kakashi gave a slow, silent nod.
Hmph! Liumu's snort was icy. The man is already dead. Pulled back from the gates of hell by Sakumo himself, and all they offer is an apology? What does an apology mean to the dead? The Third's bow? Is this just another patronizing trick from those in power? Why is it the same, no matter which world you're in?
His frown deepened, his fists clenching at his sides.
"Let it go."
Kakashi's voice cut through his dark thoughts. He looked at Liumu intently, and even through the mask, Liumu could sense the wetness in his eyes.
"If it were him… he definitely wouldn't want his death to bring blame or hardship to anyone else."
(End of Chapter)
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