[Sunagakure, lands of Wind]
"Are you sure you don't want to come?", Ryu asked, "This is a free meal, you know?"
Yuki met his gaze, and answered coldly: "I am not like Seok. My family might not be as wealthy as yours, but we do not lack money. Also, considering your horizontal height, I would suggest you skip eating for a while. You slowed us down in the last mission"
Her words were hurtful. As always.
But Ryu kept smiling. He was a happy fatty, who enjoyed eating as much as he enjoyed puppets.
As for Seok, hurtful words from a child would never hurt an old man like him. Whether he was reborn in a youthful body or not, this did not change his maturity.
In a way, the higher-ups had been right in their judgement to team them together.
Seok asked: "Let's meet tomorrow for training, at least"
Yuki hesitated for a while, but nodded: "You do need training, weak as you are. It would be a shame to see you dying. You would stain my military record if you did"
As she left, Ryu sighed: "How come she worries about you dying while she calls me a fatty?"
Seok scratched the back of his head: "She just described me as weak, which is not exactly how I would define worrying. Anyway, shall we go to the Ichisand district?"
Ryu's belly growled: "Ramen? Good choice as always. I knew I could count on you, friend!"
Seok smiled.
This was his routine.
Mission, training, eating.
There was little room for anything else.
As they walked, Seok noticed familiar faces. A genin from their class: Toku. A taijutsu specialist. His other two teammates were blown by Iwagakure explosive tags. Since then, he went into depression.
'A pity, he was pretty talented', Seok judged.
Then there was the Chikamatsu Clan Compound.
The Chikamatsu Clan crest, two crossed marionette strings, was embroidered on the banner. Founded by Shanon, the second Kazekage, the Chikamatsu was the pride of Suna.
Ryu, oblivious, wiped his brow, "Do you think they serve extra-large bowls at the Ichisand?"
Seok did not answer. He was deep in thoughts.
The Ichisand district welcomed them with the familiar scent of simmering broth. Ryu's pace quickened, his earlier hurt from Yuki's words already forgotten.
Seok's mind, however, lingered on the Chikamatsu Compound. The crossed strings of the clan's crest seemed to tighten around his thoughts. Shanon had built something extraordinary—puppetry as an art, a weapon, a legacy. But legacies were only as strong as the hands that wielded them. And Seok wasn't sure Sunagakure's hands were steady enough for the storm ahead.
Many clans central to Sunagakure would not survive the incoming war. Not the Taka clan, using falcons as their ninkens. Not the Shikabane clan and their blood manipulation kekkei gekkai. Not the Hao clan and their strong genjutsu and infiltration skills. Not the Hojo clan and their fuinjutsu expertise, the very one that turned the hidden village into a mirage, preventing enemies from locating it. Not the Kusarigama clan, despite their overwhelming chain-sickle and poison mastery. Not the Sensu clan, and their fan fuiton ninjutsu.
All of those clans were extremely strong, comparable to some of Konoha's. Yet they were unheard of in the series.
"Seok! We're here!" Ryu's voice was bright, pulling him back to the present.
The ramen shop was packed, as always. Shinobi of all ranks filled the tables, their conversations a low hum beneath the clatter of bowls and chopsticks. In the corner, a group of Chikamatsu genin ate with their puppets next to them, their fingers moving with incredible precision as they ate at incredible speed.
Ryu ordered enough food to feed a small army. Seok ordered his usual.
The old shopkeeper, Tei, brought their bowls personally. They were regulars, after all.
"For the village's finest," he said with a wink.
Ryu laughed, already stuffing his face. "That's us, alright."
Seok didn't correct him. Because in that moment, with the warm broth in front of him and his friend beside him, he allowed himself to believe it might be true.
And for now, that was enough.