CHAPTER 38

Darkness

"Yuyan, why hasn't Bai Ye arrived yet? Weren't you supposed to come together?"

Obito grumbled at the village gate. Everyone from both teams had already assembled, ready to set off—everyone except Bai Ye.

Obito, who was usually the last to arrive, was ironically experiencing the frustration of waiting on someone else for once.

"He said he didn't want to wear my clothes anymore, so he went to pick up the ones he ordered three days ago."

Yuyan's tone was tinged with annoyance. She thought Bai Ye looked adorable in the clothes she'd lent him and couldn't understand why he insisted on returning to his "old-fashioned" style.

What she didn't know was that Bai Ye's new clothes weren't the typical conservative shinobi gear. The difference in style between what he used to wear and what he had chosen now was stark—practically worlds apart.

"I must be seeing things... Is Bai Ye really dressed more pretentiously than Kakashi?"

Obito squinted as he spotted a figure approaching in the distance. He even rubbed his eyes, suspecting he might be hallucinating. He had always found Kakashi's mask a bit over-the-top, but this—this was something else.

"Bai Ye, are you sure you're not heading to a festival?"

As Bai Ye got closer, Obito couldn't help but reach out and feel the Shiba-style outfit he wore. The flair, the length, the unusual cut—it all felt strangely ceremonial.

"Yeah, why aren't you wearing your old tights anymore? Wouldn't these loose clothes get in the way during combat?"

Yuyan also ran her fingers across the fabric. It was surprisingly soft and high-quality—too fine for rough battle. She imagined herself in such attire, only to wince at the thought of it getting torn.

"I had the shop make this specifically. If you wear this headband high on your head, no one will recognize you as a Hyūga."

Ignoring their teasing, Bai Ye handed Yuyan a pure black forehead protector.

Yuyan had a habit of not wearing her protector traditionally, making it easy for people to identify her as a Hyūga—especially those familiar with the clan's features. On a mission near the border, that could be fatal.

If someone with hostile intentions discovered her identity, not even Hizashi's protection would guarantee her survival.

"Don't worry—it's matte black. Once it's tucked under your hair, no one will notice it."

Bai Ye noticed her hesitation and sighed inwardly. Girls really did care about appearances—sometimes more than safety.

"We can talk on the road. Let's move. We're scheduled to arrive in Qianyu Town in three days. If we fall behind, we'll have to make up for it later."

Hizashi spoke up, cutting into the chatter. He wasn't impatient, but as a commander, he knew better than to waste time. Their pace was calculated based on the Genin's endurance—particularly Bai Ye and his team.

Minato and Hizashi could handle an accelerated pace, but the younger shinobi couldn't. If they ran into enemies while exhausted, they might not be able to protect them. In such cases, the Genin would have to hold their own.

On the road, Yuyan eventually chose to wear the black headband Bai Ye gave her. She didn't want to endanger her teammates over something so trivial.

Over the past few days, Hizashi and Minato had shared stories and lessons while traveling. Most of the advice was directed at Bai Ye, Yuyan, and Yue—since Kakashi, Obito, and Rin had already experienced several missions and learned the basics.

"Ah, finally. I need a real bath."

After three days camping outdoors, Yuyan looked utterly drained. Now that they had safely arrived in Qianyu Town, she was ready to unwind.

Yue's expression mirrored her own. She was a dignified girl, and clearly not used to this kind of hardship.

Rin, though, took it in stride. She had endured rough missions before and considered this a relatively easy trek.

"You can go relax. Just don't go overboard—we're splitting up to reach our assignments tomorrow morning."

Hizashi caught the hopeful glances from the girls and gave them a casual wave of dismissal.

They were still within the Land of Fire, after all. It wasn't wartime, and they hadn't encountered resistance in the last three days. The territory was relatively safe, so there was no reason to restrict their movements.

"Long live sensei!"

Yuyan cheered and pulled Yue and Rin toward the bathhouse. She felt like she'd earned this break.

After a brief discussion, the three boys decided to head to the men's bathhouse first. Three days of travel had left them grimy and sore.

Hizashi and Minato exchanged a look and silently vanished from the area. They were far more cautious than their students, taking time to covertly scout the town for any hidden threats or suspicious presences.

"Hey, what do you think Minato-sensei and Hizashi-sensei are doing?" Obito grinned mischievously as he soaked. "You think they went to some adult-only place?"

"I didn't expect this side of you, Obito. Weren't you the one always helping old ladies cross the street?" Bai Ye smirked. "You're definitely not the heroic guy people say you were before you turned bad."

Obito's usual kindness was being undercut by his current pervy grin. Bai Ye felt like he was talking to a doppelgänger.

The two troublemakers kept teasing each other until Kakashi—still masked, even while bathing—was reluctantly drawn into their antics.

"The girls are taking forever. Should we just head out and explore on our own?" Bai Ye asked, restless.

"Hold your horses. It's rude to leave first."

Obito wasn't ready to move. His real reason was Rin—he couldn't wait to see her in a yukata. The steam around his nose was practically a giveaway.

Kakashi sat quietly, flipping through a small book. Since Jiraiya hadn't published anything yet, it definitely wasn't Icha Icha Paradise—but whatever it was, Kakashi read it like scripture.

They laughed and joked, unaware that a shadow was already creeping toward them.

---

Konoha Village – Unknown Location

"The message has been delivered successfully."

"Withdraw."

In a dimly lit chamber, a man sat draped in shadows, half his face obscured in bandages. The atmosphere was chilling.

It was Shimura Danzō—the man who controlled Root.

"If you've begun to develop thoughts unfit for the village, then your continued existence is unnecessary."

He stared at the photograph in his hand—a young shinobi named Swift, currently deployed on a mission.

The picture curled and blackened in his fingers as flames devoured it.

"I'll reclaim your eyes one day. They'll serve the village better in someone else's body."

Danzō's expression twisted into what should have been a smile, but it radiated only cold malice.