Souta let out a quiet sigh.
For all the talk about running away and starting a peaceful life, she sure was making it difficult for him to even get out of bed.
He reached out, placing a hand on her waist, rubbing slow, lazy circles against the fabric of her clothes.
She didn't react.
"Pakura."
Pakura let out a small sigh but still didn't lift her head. Instead, she tugged the blanket up slightly, pulling it snug around herself.
"Go back to sleep," she mumbled against his chest.
Souta huffed a quiet laugh. "It's morning."
"Don't care."
He shifted slightly, trying to move her leg off him, but she instinctively tightened her grip around him.
Souta exhaled. "You're really sulking, huh?"
Pakura didn't respond.
Shaking his head, he leaned back against the pillow, staring at the ceiling.
"Forget it. I'm taking a bath," she muttered, grabbing her things and heading toward the washroom without another word.
Souta remained on the futon, staring at the ceiling.
Well.
...
The cold morning air bit at Hana's skin as she trudged through the town's narrow streets, her cloak wrapped tightly around her shoulders. She was exhausted, her feet ached, and more than anything—she was pissed.
She had trailed Souta the entire night.
And for what?
So she could end up in some random town on the outskirts of the Land of Fire, only to realize she had lost sight of him hours ago?
Her jaw clenched. This was humiliating.
If she returned to the compound now, she'd have to deal with endless questions. "Where did you go, Hana?" "Why did you leave without informing anyone?" "Were you following someone?"
Hana groaned, rubbing her temples. She could already hear the elders nagging about duty and responsibility.
"I swear, if I find him sleeping peacefully somewhere, I'm going to—"
She exhaled sharply, cutting herself off.
There was no point in getting worked up. First, she needed to find him. Then, she could be mad.
Her stomach growled in protest, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since yesterday afternoon.
"Great," she muttered. "Just great."
Shaking off the irritation, she adjusted her hood and activated her Byakugan.
Souta wasn't a shinobi, which meant he wouldn't be camping in the wild. He had to be somewhere comfortable. An inn, maybe? A teahouse?
Her vision expanded, cutting through walls and crowds as she scanned the town.
Another thought crept into her mind.
Why was she even doing this?
Here she was, wasting an entire night chasing after a man who probably didn't even realize she was on his trail.
...
Danzo's fingers drummed against the polished wood of his desk, a rhythmic, calculated tempo that barely masked his growing frustration. The dim candlelight cast flickering shadows over his stern expression, deepening the lines on his face. Across from him, a kneeling Root operative remained silent, awaiting further instruction.
"Missing?" Danzo's voice was a low growl, each syllable edged with restrained fury. "Explain."
The masked shinobi didn't flinch. "The squad sent to retrieve the target never returned. We lost communication with them shortly after they engaged. Their tracker seals have gone dark."
Danzo's single visible eye narrowed. Missing wasn't the right word—eradicated was more likely. And that meant someone had interfered again.
His fingers stilled.
"Who?" he demanded.
"We suspect Uchiha involvement."
Danzo's jaw tightened. Of course. It always came back to them.
And if they were, then Mikoto Uchiha was undoubtedly involved.
His grip on his cane tightened, the worn wood creaking under his fingers. He had tolerated the Uchiha's defiance long enough. This would not continue. Not under his watch.
"Double the surveillance on Mikoto Uchiha," he ordered coldly. "She's to be watched at all times. If she makes a single suspicious move, I want to know immediately."
The operative bowed. "Understood. What of the target?"
Danzo was silent for a long moment, calculating.
"He's a liability. If the Uchiha wish to protect him, we will make it costly for them. Prepare another unit. This time, there will be no mistakes."
His lips pressed into a thin line as he watched the agent vanish into the darkness, leaving him alone in his silent chamber.
Danzo exhaled slowly, his mind already shifting gears.
If the Uchiha wanted to play this game, then so be it.
He would ensure they lost.
...
Pakura emerged from the bath, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders as she tightened the sash of her yukata. The scent of fresh herbs and steam clung to her skin, and she let out a small sigh as she stepped into the room. Souta remained on the futon, propped up on one elbow, watching her in silence.
"You're staring," Pakura muttered, wringing out the last bit of moisture from her hair.
Souta smirked. "Just appreciating the view."
She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Instead, she walked over to the small wooden dresser, retrieving a kunai and fastening it to the inside of her sleeve. Even in an inn, she never let her guard down.
Pakura finished securing the kunai, testing the weight in her sleeve before turning back to Souta. "I'll go first," she said. "I'll check the path ahead, make sure there aren't any traps or Root shinobi lurking around."
Souta nodded. "Be thorough. If Danzo has set up an ambush, we'll need to find another way back."
Pakura smirked. "Don't worry, I'm not getting caught." She pulled her cloak over her shoulders, adjusting it before moving toward the window. "Stay put until I come back."