After a short rest, they stepped out into the lively night streets of Kusagakure. The market was bustling with vendors calling out their wares, lights strung between stalls, and the mingling scents of spices, grilled meats, and sweet pastries filling the air. Now that their escort mission was complete, the group no longer had to concern themselves with the safety of Mr. Baki; they'd safely delivered him to Kusagakure, and from here, his journey was no longer their responsibility.
The four of them wandered leisurely, taking in the sights of Kusagakure's vibrant nightlife. Inoiki's gaze was drawn to a small stall where a vendor was skillfully grilling chicken skewers over an open flame. His eyes lit up, and he turned to the others, grinning. "Let's try those skewers," he suggested, nodding toward the stall.
The others chuckled, sharing a knowing look—they'd seen that glint in Inoiki's eye before. Together, they made their way to the stall and each ordered a plate of skewers. After a wait of about fifteen minutes, the vendor set steaming plates in front of them, four skewers per plate, the aroma enticing them to dig in immediately.
As they began to eat, Inoiki looked around thoughtfully. "Honestly, this doesn't even feel like a mission," he remarked between bites. "Aside from staying alert during the journey, we haven't exactly faced any big threats. It feels more like a vacation from Konoha."
Izumo nodded, chewing thoughtfully. "That's why it's only a C-Rank mission," he replied with a grin.
Kotetsu leaned in, smirking. "Missions are the best, if you ask me—less work, full payment. What's not to love?"
Inoiki chuckled, nodding in agreement. Just then, a young voice called out from nearby, breaking their relaxed banter.
"Dad, look! There are Konoha ninjas here too!"
Izumo and his team's attention snapped to the source of the voice. They turned to see a girl, about Inoiki's age, standing beside a towering figure—a man easily over seven feet tall, broad-shouldered and intimidating, clad in the unmistakable attire of an Iwa shinobi. Though the girl seemed unremarkable in terms of threat, her companion's sheer presence set every nerve on edge. Izumo, Kotetsu, and Kosuke tensed, hands instinctively moving toward their weapons.
Inoiki, uncertain but feeling the tension in his teammates, followed suit, his senses sharpening. Before any of them could make a move, the man raised a hand in a gesture of calm. "We're not here to fight," he rumbled, his deep voice commanding without being confrontational. "Just like you, we're here to enjoy the market. No need to stir up any trouble."
Izumo, Kosuke, and Kotetsu exchanged wary glances, but they relaxed their grips, though their alertness remained. Meanwhile, the girl kept sneaking glances at Inoiki, her cheeks faintly pink. Inoiki looked over, scratching his head, a little baffled by her lingering stare. In Iwagakure, most of the boys she knew were rough-looking, and Inoiki's soft yet handsome features were a rare sight.
After the pair moved on into the crowd, Inoiki turned to his team, still looking puzzled. "Who were they?" he asked. "That guy's power—it was... well, way above ours."
Inoiki, using his sensory abilities, had already picked up on the intense chakra of the towering Iwagakure shinobi. He could tell immediately that this man wasn't just any Ninja.
"That man," Izumo replied, glancing at Inoiki, "is Kitsuchi, a Jonin of Iwagakure. And if my guess is right, that girl with him must be the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage."
Inoiki nodded, his expression thoughtful. As a reincarnator, he knew all too well just how formidable Kitsuchi was. The casual encounter had left a lasting impression, and his senses remained on high alert.
Kotetsu shifted uneasily. "Honestly, I've lost my appetite after that. I'm heading back."
"Good idea," Inoiki agreed. "Let's call it a night and prepare to head back to Konoha at dawn."
Izumo and Kosuke exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement. The sight of a powerful ninja from a rival village had drained any remaining appetite they had. Together, they made their way back to the inn, but none of them truly relaxed.
That night, they took turns standing guard, each remaining alert in the quiet darkness. Inoiki and Izumo took the first half of the night, eyes sharp, listening for any signs of danger. In the second half, Kosuke and Kotetsu stayed vigilant, keeping a watchful eye over their surroundings.
As the first light of dawn broke over Kusagakure, they didn't linger. With silent resolve, they gathered their belongings and left the village.
The team moved swiftly but efficiently, maintaining a steady pace without expending too much energy. Free from the earlier need to escort the caravan, their natural ninja speed propelled them far from Kusagakure; within an hour, they had put a solid 50 kilometres between themselves and the village. Yet, just as the mountains started to roll into the distance, Inoiki suddenly felt a prickle of awareness. He slowed, holding up a hand.
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