Reborn in the Mist

“Lay a hand on her and I won’t even let you keep the ashes.”

Shizuka had dreamt, fantasized, and even written of the day Maita would say something like that and for her. In that moment, the Iwa-nin’s raised hand froze, as if held up in the air by the threat of combustion itself. Her heart beat from startlement and excitement all at the same time.

Shizuka let out a thin breath and backed away from the Iwa-nin. Maita didn’t let up his killing intent and she pitied the customers caught in the middle, even more so the servers that had nowhere to go to— they looked more exhausted than scared though.

“Maita-kun…I’m sorry I…” she shut up once she noticed his eyes weren’t on her. They were pinned on the trio, his chakra rising with each second.

She felt a tinge of disappointment. Knowing Maita as well as she did, this was less about keeping her safe and more finding an excuse to do something fun.

I’ll count it as a win either way!

The one who tried to slap her scoffed, looked back at his teammates and started laughing some more. “I don't know who you think you are but do you think we won’t crush you and your little puss right here? Right now?”

Posturing, the three Iwa-nin flexed their chakra outward, in the same oppressive manner Maita had except it wasn’t targeted. Everyone present was subjected to the pressure of their strength.

“Hahaha, orange bitch thinks he’s the only one that knows how to project intent! How’s it feel, huh?”

Customers emptied out of both stores, leaving unfinished plates of food and surely several unpaid bills as they escaped what was increasingly becoming a dangerous space. Maita still had his hands stuffed in his pockets, his frown gave way to an equally arrogant smirk as he somehow managed to look down at the man a head taller than him.

“Go on, kill me if you can.” Maita beckoned him to, gesturing at his unprotected chest. “I dare you, freaking rock for brains.”

“You-!” Chakra surged as the Iwa-nin moved his fingers into hand seals.

Shizuka quickly set her items aside, cursing under her breath for not thinking to bring even a single senbon out with her. By the time she turned around there were two more faces she recognized and two others she didn’t standing behind the Iwa-nin.

A pipe rested against the Iwa-nin’s neck, halting him mid handseals. His other teammates had their faces in a drawl and hands held up in surrender as Mangetsu and two Suna-nin cornered them.

“There’s no reason to cause a scene just because you’re hungry. You’ll be lucky if you aren’t disqualified for this.” Utakata warned darkly, his brows furrowed in a frown that looked entirely out of place on his usually peppy features.

“Lucky? Keh, there’s no show without Iwa.” The Iwa-nin gloated at Utakata as he dropped his hands and turned, dismissing the threat of the pipe on his neck. Utakata took a step back but his eyes hardened, lips thinned to a line.

Shizuka noticed the Suna-nin buckle, their teeth grinding on a sliver of restraint. They already had their weapons drawn, one armed with an odd sickle and the other a scorpion type puppet that crawled over her shoulder.

They weren’t alone. Cornering the other two of the Iwa team was Mangetsu, he hadn’t drawn the blade from his sheathe but his glare had them sweating. It wasn’t long before one of them swore.

“Dogan, let it go already, damn it.” He scratched the back of his neck and looked away as soon as Dogan looked up at him.

He growled and clenched his fist at his teammate before looking around, even glancing back at Shizuka before twitching a smile. “There better be food.”

Dogan walked out, ignoring Utakata and everyone else as he did, even leaving his teammates still cornered. The pair awkwardly relaxed their guard and the one that spoke out began to beg.

“We were robbed in Fukasa, everything. Most of our weapons, all of our money. We couldn’t even buy another desert cloak.” Shizuka had noticed theirs were little more than shorn tatters. Hers still felt new and she already had an outfit planned for it. “Please understand.”

The Suna puppeteer spat at their feet. “Sounds like good news, you’ve been punished enough but that doesn’t mean word of this won’t make it to the Kazekage.” she nodded at the establishments employees, only a handful had stayed but none of them looked pleased.

“Foolishness.” Maita snorted, his hands stuffed back in his pockets as he eyed the Suna and Iwa teams. “If this is the competition the other great villages have to put up then these will be a breeze. Let’s get out of here, Shizuka.”

Shizuka blinked rapidly as the next thing that happened was— his arms are so strong. Bliss was her state of being, the only one she needed for the rest of her life. Suddenly the world was brighter, the dull brown of the village glittered golden and the sun’s otherwise bleaching rays felt like a lucky break of dawnlight back in Kirigakure.

This was the perfect date. And now they’d go back to the lodge and have ice cream and chat until their lips— “Oi! You guys!” Utakata called out behind them.

Maita’s arm loosening around her waist was the first crack in reality, next was Mangetsu’s unexpected bark. “Team 8! We’ve been looking around for you. Where’s Tamura?”

Maita let her go completely and shoved the ice cream and smoothie in her hands as he turned around with a sneer. “You really want to bother me while I’m in a good mood?”

Shizuka tugged on Maita’s sleeve, praying to hold him back from clashing with either of their supervisors. Maita didn’t talk much but Tamura observed a lot more than she did, he told her what it meant to him to fight Mangetsu, no, to kill him.

This just isn’t the right place or time!

“We need to return, now.” Utakata said as they caught up. His furrowed brows hadn’t left but they’d eased up at least. Maita ignored him, content with glaring down at Mangetsu while he spoke. “As much as I want to enjoy it out here…we have to be careful. Besides, we have to make sure we don’t rub them the wrong way.”

Maita snorted. “What’s there to be worried about some sand moles? They can’t even get Iwa off their backs, they’re weak.”

“Just like you.” Mangetsu chimed, not helping the situation one bit.

Utakata sucked his teeth and put himself between them. “Let’s go, now. I’m not going to let you disqualify yourselves.”

The edge in his voice left no room for argument, Maita glanced back at Shizuka and she nodded desperately. “I’m getting hungry…”

Maita scoffed and walked away. “Fine, whatever.”