Chapter 192: The Agreement and the Signal
The smoke and gunpowder of the Third Shinobi World War had nearly faded.
Behind the scenes, the high-ranking officials of various nations were exchanging secret correspondence, cautiously testing the waters for a ceasefire. While sporadic clashes still occurred along the borders, the likelihood of the conflict escalating back into a full-scale war was low.
The atmosphere in Konoha had relaxed considerably. The commercial districts were bustling once again, and queues had begun to form outside the barbecue shops, the savory scent of grilled meat wafting far down the streets.
At the training grounds, Kitahara Kaede raised a hand to wipe the sweat from his chin before bending over to grab his water bottle. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone entering from the gateway.
It was Tsunade.
She was wearing deep blue civilian clothes today, her blonde hair flowing loosely. She seemed to be in a wonderful mood.
Kitahara Kaede tightened the cap on his bottle and stood up straight. Tsunade walked up to him, glancing first at his sweat-soaked clothes and then at the wooden training post beside him, which was riddled with cracks from his kicks.
"Practicing all afternoon again?"
"Something like that."
"Let's go."
She didn't say where they were going; she simply turned and began to walk. Kitahara Kaede hooked his water bottle back onto his hip and followed her.
As the two walked side-by-side down the main street of Konoha, Kaede asked, "Have missions been frequent lately?"
Tsunade glanced at him. "They're alright. Mostly just border patrols."
"And Minato?"
"No special assignments. He's been spending a lot of time at the Hokage's office lately."
Tsunade nodded. After walking a bit further, she stopped in front of a shop. It was a general store selling accessories and daily necessities, with a noren curtain hanging over the door and several small boxes displayed in the window.
Kitahara Kaede stopped beside her and looked at the storefront. Tsunade stared at the window for a few seconds before turning to him.
"Do you have a mission in a few days?"
"I do, but I leave tomorrow."
"How long until you're back?"
"If all goes well, about a day."
Tsunade crossed her arms, speaking as if she were arranging a mundane errand. "Do you have time once you return?"
Kitahara Kaede looked at her. Tsunade shifted her gaze from the window to his face.
"Accompany me to buy something. It's for a very important matter."
"Alright," Kitahara Kaede answered promptly.
Tsunade arched an eyebrow. "You're not going to ask what it is?"
"If you say it's important, then it's important."
A small smile tugged at the corner of Tsunade's lips. She didn't say anything more and continued walking.
Kitahara Kaede trailed half a step behind her, his eyes scanning the crowds on the street, though his mind was racing through recent intelligence.
Pakura, the hero of Sunagakure, had defected. Word was that she had attacked the ANBU escorting her and subsequently vanished. Sunagakure had already issued an S-rank pursuit order.
Kitahara Kaede could vaguely guess why. With her memories, she had likely discovered the plans of the high-ranking officials ahead of schedule. He recalled their clash on the battlefield of Mount Kikyo. Before leaving, Pakura had asked him:
'If a promise is broken in one lifetime... If they meet again in the next, does the vow still hold?'
He suspected Pakura would come looking for him to confirm certain things.
Then there was Danzo. He had been unnervingly quiet lately, even failing to appear at several high-level meetings. Given Danzo's personality, he was likely preparing to bypass the village and stir up trouble externally.
And then there was Uchiha Madara. Obito had already witnessed Rin's "death." Madara's plan was likely nearing its conclusion.
Kitahara Kaede rubbed his temples. One thing after another.
"What are you thinking about?"
Tsunade's voice pulled him back. He turned to find her watching him.
"Nothing, just thinking about the mission route."
Tsunade looked at him for a moment, then simply reached out and patted his shoulder. "Stay safe. Don't overdo it."
Her voice was lower than usual, carrying a softness that existed only between the two of them.
"Don't worry," Kitahara Kaede smiled. "It's just a routine patrol."
Tsunade gave a small huff and said no more. She was in a great mood because her birthday was in a few days, and for the first time, she actually wanted to spend it with someone.
***
The next morning at the entrance of Konoha.
Kitahara Kaede arrived on time, carrying his ninja tool pouch. Might Guy was already waiting there.
"Kaede! Good morning!"
"Morning."
Genma approached from the other side, a senbon in his mouth and his eyes still half-closed with sleep. "Why are you so noisy this early in the morning..."
"Genma! Youth is not noisy!"
"Alright, alright."
Kitahara Kaede looked at the two of them and got straight to the point. "Mission objective: routine patrol of the southeast border of the Land of Fire to clear out any remaining enemy shinobi. Estimated round trip is one to two days."
Guy clenched his fist. "Leave it to me!"
Genma shifted the senbon to the other side of his mouth and nodded. "Let's move."
The three of them leaped into the canopy simultaneously, racing toward the southeast of the Land of Fire. Shadows and light flickered through the trees as the wind whistled past their ears. Guy led the way, Genma guarded the rear, and Kitahara Kaede maintained the center of the formation.
The journey was uneventful. By noon, they had reached the edge of the forest bordering the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind. In the afternoon, they wiped out a small group of stragglers. The enemy were few in number and offered no significant resistance.
As evening fell, the sky darkened and the light in the forest dimmed. The trio continued to push through the treetops, looking for a suitable spot to set up camp for the night.
Just as Kitahara Kaede stepped onto a thick branch, he suddenly stopped. A bird's song drifted through the wind.
*Chirp, chirp, chirp.*
Guy and Genma continued forward. To them, it was just a bird calling in the woods.
Kitahara Kaede, however, did not move. He scanned the surroundings. Everything seemed normal, but this was no ordinary bird call. He and Pakura had used this method when they met in the Bloody Mist. Only the two of them knew it.
"Kaede?" Guy noticed him stop and looked back.
Kitahara Kaede raised a hand in a signal to halt. "There's movement to the left. I'll go check it out."
Genma also stopped, frowning as he looked toward the forest. "Want us to come along?"
"No." Kitahara Kaede glanced at them. "Stay hidden where you are. Do not leave this position. If I don't return within ten minutes, retreat immediately to the last marker point."
Before Guy could speak, Kitahara Kaede had already vanished from the branch.
Genma chewed on his senbon. "What did he find?"
Guy dropped his smile and lowered his center of gravity. "I don't know, but if Kaede says so, there must be a reason. Just stay on high alert."
Deep in the forest, Kitahara Kaede circled twice to ensure no one was following him, then paused on a tree trunk for a heartbeat. A second bird call soon followed.
Only then did Kitahara Kaede continue forward. The wind rustled the treetops, the leaves clashing together to mask the sound of his footsteps. The deeper he went, the quieter the forest became.
The shadows of the trees gradually thinned ahead. Moonlight filtered through the canopy, illuminating a small clearing.
A figure stood at the edge of the clearing. She wore a black, backless shinobi outfit, her long hair cascading down her shoulders. She was facing away from him.
Hearing the disturbance, she slowly turned her head. Her gaze pierced through the night, locking directly onto his position.
It was Pakura.
Kitahara Kaede landed on a branch ten meters away, the two of them staring at each other through the moonlight.
Pakura's lips moved slightly.
"Blank."