Chapter 323 – A Day's Outing (Part II)
To be perfectly honest, the "movies" of the Shinobi World left Uchiha Kei utterly dumbfounded.
The childish plotlines, the absurdly exaggerated action—
he was fighting off sleep within minutes.
As someone who had actually been on a battlefield, he could only stare blankly at the screen.
A single Fire Release killing four or five people? Seriously?
Please.
Kei was a solid Fire Release user himself,
and the only times he ever burned someone to death were:
1. After capturing them, extracting intel, and needing to dispose of the body, or
2. When the target had already fallen under genjutsu and just stood there eating the jutsu head-on.
Under normal circumstances?
Who in their right mind would stand still and let a fireball kill them?
Yet in this movie, the moment a Fire Release appeared, villains lined up like brainless targets.
No one in the audience seemed to find anything odd about it.
Probably because this was a youth-oriented film.
Kei glanced around—
and realized that was exactly the case.
Ninjas came with their families.
The families were thoroughly enjoying the show, even cheering when the final boss got defeated.
The ninjas, meanwhile, were either dozing off or wearing forced smiles.
"…I think I've made a terrible choice."
Kei rubbed his eyebrows, then smacked Kimimaro lightly on the head.
"Remember, all this is fake. No ninja is stupid enough to stand there and let a Fire Release roast them alive.
—Well, assuming you even learn Fire Release someday."
"It's just a movie. Why are you taking it so seriously?" Ayaka glared at him.
"This is entertainment. What did you expect, realism?"
"My bad, my bad." Kei lifted his hands in surrender.
He was not about to argue logic with a woman.
"But honestly… it is ridiculously fake."
Ayaka added her own complaints immediately—something Kei hadn't seen coming.
"That so-called stealth technique? Worthless. And that 'lure tactic'? That's how you get your teammates killed."
Kei shot her a look.
Sometimes this woman was impossible to understand.
Is her mood still swinging from her last period or what?
Although to be fair, the three of them had pulled similar nonsense during missions.
He still remembered that "suicide-mission" two years ago.
They ran into a squad—maybe two squads—of Iwa-nin.
Kei intentionally attacked first, forcing Imai Kenta out of hiding.
Then that little bastard immediately threw a kunai at Ayaka's ambush point,
dragging her out too.
Fortunately they had come out, or Kei wouldn't have gotten the opening to assassinate that jonin.
It had been almost two years, but the memory still made him want to laugh.
"What now?"
Ayaka's voice suddenly drifted into his ear.
"The movie ended. Glorious finale.
Are you staying for round two?"
"It ended already?"
Kei glanced around, then stood up with a stretch.
"Good. Let's go. I couldn't take another minute."
"If you can't take it, why come in the first place? You're hopeless."
Ayaka seemed to be in a good mood today. She was talking more than usual.
"So, what next? Straight to the Uchiha clan district?
Going to look for that 'foster family' you mentioned?"
"Are you in a hurry?" Kei shot back.
"Look—
We already have everything we need.
Some steps even require your preparation beforehand.
It's rare we have free time.
Why rush?
Unless you really have something important to do."
Kei genuinely felt there was no need to keep himself wound so tight right now.
They had captured Kimimaro.
They had a working plan.
The activation of his kekkei genkai would take time regardless.
Even without their intervention, Kimimaro would eventually awaken it on his own.
It wouldn't take long.
So why rush?
Tension was necessary in the shinobi world—
but Kei understood the concept of controlled relaxation.
Especially since he had just stirred up enormous chaos in Kirigakure.
Even if no one connected the incident to him,
he had still used techniques unique to himself.
It was best to lie low for a while.
Besides…
a bit of real rest was also a form of training—
a way to keep one's mind from freezing into a block of ice.
Counting this year, Kei had been on the battlefield for eight years.
At fifteen, he was practically a veteran.
His mind had warped long ago, numbed by death and war.
Even now, although he controlled his emotions well,
the coldness inside him never really went away.
His chakra itself had grown icy and dark.
It wasn't necessarily dangerous—
but it wasn't exactly healthy either.
"I'm not busy," Ayaka replied after thinking a moment.
Then she smiled faintly. "If Kei-kun insists, I'll accompany you."
"It's not about insisting," Kei stretched his back.
"Yes, we have our objectives. But—"
He looked up at the dusky theater lights.
"Our future will only get better from here.
And we've become far too cold.
Consider this… adapting to the life we're fighting for.
Take off the mask for a day. Rest like a normal human being."
"…Kei-kun, you're surprisingly thoughtful sometimes."
Ayaka paused a long while before speaking again.
"As for taking off the mask—
Kei-kun taking it off or not doesn't seem to make any difference, does it?"
"No wonder you won't get married," Kei said bluntly.
"With that personality… unless some poor bastard has no other choice, who would pick you?
By the way—sure you don't want me to help you with that?"
"Shut up."
"What a pity."
By the time they stepped out of the theater, the sky had already turned orange with approaching dusk.
Kei thought for a moment, then simply led Ayaka and the now-slightly-defrosted Kimimaro toward Konoha's biggest barbeque restaurant.
Most of the barbeque shops in the village were run by the Akimichi clan—
the perfect example of "I love food so much, I might as well open a restaurant."
What Kei didn't expect was that it wasn't until they left the theater that people finally recognized him.
The dim lights inside, plus their mediocre choice of seats, meant no one had paid attention earlier.
But now, in the open street?
Completely different story.
Ninjas who noticed him naturally walked over to greet him with respectful bows.
Kei could only smile politely and respond a few words before quickly pulling Ayaka and Kimimaro away.
Kimimaro secretly watched the young man beside him—the one who didn't look much older than fifteen or sixteen—being treated with such respect by everyone.
He couldn't understand it.
Why was this young "big brother" so revered by the entire village?
And why wasn't the white-eyed older sister receiving anywhere near the same level of attention?
More strangely—
she looked completely accustomed to Kei being treated that way.
What exactly was their relationship?
Friends?
Superior and subordinate?
Something else?
Kimimaro had no idea, and Kei and Ayaka didn't bother explaining.
To be fair, even they weren't sure what to call their relationship.
Partners?
Certainly—they worked together out of mutual benefit and had weathered many storms side by side.
But only partners?
Probably not.
Superior and subordinate?
No—they were equals.
Even if Ayaka sometimes felt like Kei's subordinate, in Kei's eyes she was still someone indispensable.
Without Ayaka, he might not even have these eyes today.
Her combat power was indeed falling behind,
but her contributions—big and small—saved Kei untold trouble again and again.
Friends, then?
Hard to say.
Maybe yes.
Maybe not.
Maybe a complicated in-between they themselves couldn't define.
They trusted each other,
yet also guarded themselves against each other.
It was complicated.
Even they couldn't fully untangle it.
But…
Whatever their relationship was,
both of them were enjoying this rare moment of peace.
---
When they reached the barbeque shop, Ayaka immediately spoke up:
"Let's get something straight—you're paying. Don't forget, you said you're treating us."
"Of course. Do you think I'd dine and dash?" Kei shrugged.
This woman… honestly had issues.
"Eh?"
At that moment, a voice called out:
"Kei-kun? Ayaka-senpai?"
Kei turned around—and blinked in surprise.
Behind him stood a whole group of people.
And they were… his classmates.
What, a reunion?
But what confused him even more were Kakashi and Might Guy's expressions—
a weird mixture of relief and… something else.
"Long time no see, Kei-dono."
Morino Ibiki stepped forward and gave a small bow.
Kei forced a smile.
"No need to be so formal, Ibiki."
This version of Ibiki still had his hair, his face unscarred—
but his exaggerated formality made Kei a bit uncomfortable.
Kakashi stepped in and patted Ibiki's shoulder.
"Come on, he was our classmate. You're making things awkward."
"Exactly! If you act like that, how are you supposed to get along with Kakashi?"
Guy laughed and came over—eyes shining way too brightly.
"Kei! It's been so long! What have you been up to? And who's this little guy?"
"Some things happened—let's just call it special training."
Kei rested a hand on Kimimaro's head.
"This kid's had a rough life. No family. I'm planning to find a household in the Uchiha clan to foster him."
"Amazing! Truly the Kei-kun I admire!"
Guy clenched his fists, radiating pure burning passion.
"Such kindness! Such dedication! Kei-kun, let's have a youthful duel!"
Every time Kei saw Guy, he felt like he'd accidentally stepped into a genjutsu.
Beaches, sunsets, heroic poses—
the whole package.
He instinctively took a step back.
Ayaka did too, frowning.
She had heard of Might Guy—
even admired his perseverance.
But in person?
He seemed…
broken in the head.
"Ahem… Guy, can you calm down a little?"
Yamashiro Aoba sighed.
Ebisu dragged Guy away.
"Save your challenge for later. We're having a reunion today!"
Guy froze.
"Oh—right! Sorry! I just felt relieved seeing Kei-kun and Ayaka-senpai together, so I—mmph!"
Kakashi slapped a hand over his mouth before he could finish.
Kei and Ayaka both paused.
Their eyes met—
—and immediately turned away as if nothing happened.
Expressionless.
Calm.
Totally normal.
(Only they knew what flickered through their hearts in that moment.)
---
"So this is a class reunion?" Kei asked.
"Yeah," Kurenai said quietly, her mood oddly low.
"We tried to contact you, but… well, you're never around. Aside from Shizune—who's gone with Lady Tsunade—you're the last one."
Kei glanced at the group.
Only around twenty remained.
Not because the class had been small—
but because the war had been brutal.
He recognized almost all the future "big names" among them—
Kakashi, Guy, Kurenai,
Ibiki, Aoba, Raidō…
A group with ridiculous future résumés.
Ebisu popped out next, sunglasses gleaming.
"Well then! Kei-dono must be busy. Let's not bother him further. We'll have more reunions later!"
"I agree," Kakashi said lazily.
"Now's not the best time."
Kei stared at all of them, baffled.
What were these weird expressions?
Especially Guy's:
Seeing Kei and Ayaka together makes me feel relieved?
Relieved about what?
He had no idea.
And frankly—he didn't care enough to figure it out.
---
Inside the restaurant, Kei chose a secluded corner.
Both he and Ayaka were used to staying out of sight.
After ordering a few dishes, they settled in to wait.
Ayaka broke the silence:
"Looks like the 'persona' you've built for yourself is working well.
They all seem to like you."
"Maybe." Kei shrugged.
"Hard to say who actually likes who. At least for now, everything's working.
Speaking of which—what about your classmates? You never mention them."
Ayaka rested her chin on one hand, eyes drifting slightly.
"Still alive?
Maybe… ten of them.
From my entire age group, not just my class."
"I see." Kei nodded, then smiled faintly.
"Even so… you survived."
Her hazy expression cleared.
She nodded.
Survival was the only path.
She still had dreams.
She still had desires.
Dying on the battlefield would accomplish nothing.
"By the way, Ayaka—" Kei suddenly asked, "Why didn't you correct their misunderstanding earlier?"
Ayaka blinked.
"Why didn't you?"
"Because I don't care."
"Oh? Coincidentally, neither do I."