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‘I knew I could leave this up to you,’
Kentaro still wasn’t exactly sure how he’d gotten himself into this predicament. One moment he was heading towards the Ramen stand to have himself a bowl for his lunch. The next he was taken to the side by his former Jōnin sensei, Shigeru Sarututobi, and made the temporary leader of Team Star! How did that happen?
‘Slow down a minute and get your ass back here!’ Kentaro even hauled him back forcibly by taking hold of Shigeru’s long scarf. ‘Why aren’t you heading up your own team?’
‘… Remember the conversation the Jōnin where having yesterday at Akimichi Chow?’ Kentaro nodded in the positive. ‘The Hokage has decided to send a team to investigate. I was chosen to lead it.’
‘Who’s going with you?’ Kentaro asked in a serious tone. It was amazing how quickly seriousness entered his tone.
‘Shin and Teruo,’
Images flashed through Kentaro's mind of two individuals he knew rather well. Shin Takahiro was a member of the famed Kazuki Clan and a remarkable swordsman, while Teruo Hyūga was a member of the noble Hyūga clan.
‘At least you’ve all worked together before. Have you anything set up for the kids, or am I to wing it?’
‘Use that big brain of yours and come up with a plan!’ Shigeru even patted him on the head like an adult might a child. ‘… There was an interesting mission I spied earlier about hawks though… But my eyesight might be failing me in my old age.’
Kentaro watched his sensei depart with a mixture of annoyance and excitement. Was that strange? It certainly felt that way. He disliked teaching. Maybe it was the fact he grasped things so quickly himself, and thus got impatient with someone when they failed to do it as quickly as he himself might? Or maybe he just didn’t like children. It was all too troublesome for him.
‘Trust that annoyance of a man!’ He barked to the air. ‘Now I’ve got three hormone-addled kids to look after… This is perfect. It couldn’t possibly be any better.’ His heavy use of sarcasm showed well his displeasure.
Kaede hadn’t been too happy when her son had landed back home with only a single working eye. He and Sanada had literally switched: one working for one that didn’t. She ranted and raved, screamed and raged, but in the end she congratulated her son on a good well done for standing by his friend and team-mate. Only she stressed that he wasn’t to go throwing away his other eye anytime soon. That event had also resulted in them having to attend a thank-you dinner on behalf of Sanada’s parents, which Kenji was looking forward to a lot more than Kaede was.
‘Dinner’s ready,’
‘So am I!’ Kenji raced into the room and skidded across the floor into his seat. ‘This smells delicious! What is it?’ The droll was practically dripping from his mouth.
Kaede sat down beside her son and accepted her own plate; which held a smoked salmon. The other plate she set in-front of her son. Opposite Kenji was where Sanada sat himself a little more graciously than her son managed. Further up the table sat Sanada’s parents. Kenji knew them solely as Mr and Mrs. Sarutobi. Kaede knew them by their names but he hadn’t heard them before, so all he done was thanked them before digging in!
The meal was accompanied with pleasant conversation. Apparently Kenji was growing into a fine young man, though Kaede was quick to note he could learn a few things from Sanada.
‘Hey!’ Kenji objected with his mouth half full of tasty fish.
‘See what I mean? His manners are atrocious.’
‘Just remember that half of what I am I got from you, my dear sweet mother.’
‘Can it you,’
Night had fallen and the stars were out. Throughout Konoha families were huddling close to one another, sharing stories, or simply talking. It was a different existence for Harumi Amaterasu. Her family was in a different country, and her father was travelling the world, leaving her alone. During the day there was always someone to talk to, always something to do, and always something to take her kind of the fact she was helplessly alone. At night the loneliness was especially strong.
‘Who…? Oh! Heya, Harumi.’
She quickly whipped her eyes of tears before turning. Kenji wore a slim vest that exposed his arms and some of his chest, accompanied with a pair of scuffed trousers he probably used for training. A bandana was tied tightly around his forehead to keep his hair off his face and he wore thick wristbands on either wrist.
‘Hello,’ she greeted.
‘I didn’t know you came out to watch the stars too,’ he motioned to take a seat and Harumi budged over to make room on the bench.
‘I find them… Oh, never mind.’
He merely smiled. ‘It is comforting.’ He concluded softly to which Harumi nodded reluctant agreement. ‘You know… there is a better place to see the stars.’ When she turned her head towards him Kenji was standing over her with his hand outstretched towards her. ‘You wanna see it?’
She took his hand.
Immediately he vanished via the Body Flicker Technique. He never stopped until they reached the top of the mountains where the faces of the previous Hokage stood vigilant, carved into the very landscape. Perched atop the head of the Third Hokage – also known as the God of Shinobi – Kenji spread his hand towards Konoha and the sky that lay out before them. The night was without a single cloud. The moon dominated the sky and the stars twinkled with it.
‘If I’m troubled I come up here,’ he revealed. ‘I must’ve spent about a week up here when I first came to Konoha, just thinking things through.’
‘… What was it like in Kirigakure?’
He could’ve told her it was a living horror. The Sixth Mizukage had restored many of the reasons the country was referred to as the Bloody Mist… yet he instead smiled and remembered the good things about the country where he had been raised.
‘I grew up with my father’s clan. Everyday was different; filled with all types of adventures! The things I learned from them all.’ The memory warmed his heart. ‘It rained a lot though. And I mean a lot! Sometimes I wondered if I’d ever see the sun again. The food was… well, memorable certainly. They do have wonderful fish, though. What about you though? You bound to have stories to tell.’
Harumi was at a loss. So she told him of her predicament s he had told her of his some days ago. It felt good sharing her troubles.
‘… I’m sorry.’ He whispered. But then he smiled. ‘Tell you what, though. I’m still learning all there is to know about Konoha, and you know what type of explanations Shigeru-sensei gives. I’m not going to that man with questions if I can help it.’ Because his explanations went on forever! ‘I’m your team-mate… that means we work together, right? I’m also not from this village originally just like you… so we have quite a bit in common, don’t we? What I’m trying to say here is… uh… you know… if you ever need to… well, talk or anything… You can,’ he gulped visibly, ‘come to me?’
She silenced him by putting her finger to his lips. ‘Thank you, Kenji.’