"Alright, everyone! We've arrived at Osaka, let's stretch our legs a bit."
The bus hissed softly as it came to a full stop.
Haru stirred first, blinking slowly before noticing the weight on his shoulder. Aiko, still fast asleep, her head resting comfortably against him. He hesitated, unsure whether to move or let her rest a bit longer.
Shino noticed immediately, already half-standing with her bag slung over one shoulder.
"Well, well, look at you two," she said smirking. "Didn't know we were doing couple seating."
Haru gave her a sleepy side-eye. "It's not like that."
"Uh-huh," Shino replied with mock seriousness. "Totally innocent. Just two classmates... sharing body warmth… in silence… for hours."
Aiko, still only half-awake, mumbled something incoherent against Haru's shoulder.
"Wow," Shino whispered. "She even sleep-mumbles cute. That's lethal."
Haru tried to gesture some kind of rebuttal, but ended up sighing and rubbing his face instead.
"Relax, lover boy. I won't tell anyone," Shino added with a grin. "Unless they ask."
With most of the students now groggily gathering their things and shuffling off the bus, Shino paused where Eichi sat completely out cold, head tilted slightly against the window, arms loosely crossed. He didn't even stir at the announcement.
She blinked, surprised. "Wow. And here I thought you were the light sleeper."
She bent down slightly and gave his shoulder a light nudge.
He opened his eyes wide for a few moment, staring intently at Shino as his eyes tried to focus. "…Did we crash?"
Shino blinked, then snorted. "Yeah. We're ghosts now. Welcome to limbo."
Eichi groaned softly, rubbing his eyes as he sat up straighter. "Could've given me a gentler wake-up, y'know."
"I did," she replied, slinging her bag onto her shoulder. "You just ignored it like a champ."
He glanced around, still blinking off the last traces of sleep. "Everyone else already off?"
"Yep. Except for you and the lovebirds beside us. Haru's pretending he didn't enjoy that nap arrangement."
Eichi raised an eyebrow. "Aiko's head-on-shoulder situation?"
Shino grinned. "Complete with a side of sleep mumbling and denial. Grade-A comedy."
Eichi gave a lazy smirk, finally standing and grabbing his bag. "I sleep through one bus ride and miss all the good stuff."
"Oh?" she said as they stepped into the aisle, "And here I thought you aren't one to watch romence."
Eichi glanced. "I'm not. But I do enjoy a good train wreck."
Shino snorted. "That's cold."
"Hey, I call it like I see it," he replied, slinging his bag over one shoulder.
They stepped off the bus into the warm, late-morning Osaka air. The city buzzed in the backdrop as they arrived at a bus stop in the center of entrence of Osaka. Students from both classes were already stretching, or cracking jokes.
"Still," Eichi added as they started walking toward the gathering area, "if they end up together, at least we'll know it started with snoring and drool."
Shino grinned. "Romance at its peak. Bet they'll tell their grandkids."
He gave a quiet chuckle, then nudged her lightly with his elbow. "Don't tell them I laughed."
"Too late. Already filed under blackmail material."
"You've got folders for that?"
"Oh yeah," she said proudly. "Color-coded."
They reached the group, just as one of the teachers started giving directions.
"Everyone, do your thing and explore the area a bit, I am going to confirm our seating on the final destination before we continue, Alright?"
"Alright!" a few students called back, already drifting toward shops and vending machines nearby.
Aiko stretched with a groan, rubbing her eyes. "Ugh, why does sleeping on a bus feel like a fight with a raccoon?"
"Because you lost," Haru replied, still fixing his hair with one hand and yawning.
Shino passed them with a smirk. "You two done playing nap Tetris?"
Aiko shot her a sleepy glare. "Did you take pictures?"
"I should've. The world needs to see your 'travel pillow boyfriend' setup."
Eichi, walking just behind her, shook his head lightly. "You're relentless."
"Someone's gotta document the class memories," she replied innocently, clasping her hands behind her back.
"Uh-huh. Totally not for leverage later."
"No comment."
A breeze passed through the plaza, and the city's sounds picked up—a mix of distant horns, shopkeepers prepping their stands, and early foot traffic.
"Alright, let's not wander too far," Eichi said, scanning the area. "We don't know when we're hopping back on."
Shino gave a casual salute. "Got it, boss."
The group naturally formed. Haru, Aiko, Shino, and Eichi falling into step as they broke off from the rest of the students.
"Anywhere in mind?" Haru asked, slinging his backpack over one shoulder as he looked around the bustling plaza.
Aiko pulled out her phone, squinting at the map. "How about Hankyu Ferry? Could be cool to check out, right by the water."
"Ferry?" Shino raised an eyebrow. "Are we gonna get on or just stare at it dramatically?"
"Depends," Aiko smirked. "You bringing the dramatic music?"
"Always," Shino said, patting her pocket.
Eichi gave a small shrug. "I'm down. Sounds quieter than shopping strips and loud food courts."
"Wow," Shino said mockingly. "Eichi choosing the peaceful, scenic route. Are you sure you're not just secretly 70 years old?"
"No comment," he said flatly, though the corner of his mouth twitched.
They made their way to the train that would take them close to the ferry in Rokko Island, chatting idly and blending in with the morning crowd.
By the time they reached the ferry terminal, the smell of the sea hit them first—salt, and engine oil.
The Hankyu Ferry stood tall and sleek at the dock, the huge white and blue ship loading vehicles and cargo.
"Okay, this is kinda cool," Haru admitted, leaning over the railing as he looked down at the shimmering water.
"You act like you've never seen the ocean," Aiko said, elbowing him gently.
"I haven't. At least not this close."
"Seriously?" Shino blinked. "City kid life, huh?"
"Pretty much," he grinned sheepishly.
Eichi stood quietly a few steps back from the railing, gazing out over the bay with his hands in his pockets.
Shino walked up beside him. "You look like you've been here before."
"I haven't," he replied. "Just… familiar feeling."
She gave him a quick side glance, as if filing that under something to ask about later.
Aiko, meanwhile, had found a vending machine nearby and came back with canned coffees for the group. "One for each of us. Don't say I never spoil you guys."
"You're the best," Haru said, cracking his open immediately.
"You just want caffeine," she shot back.
They hung around the ferry dock for a while longer—laughing, sipping coffee, and watching the slow rhythm of the ferry workers below. It was peaceful, in a way none of them realized they needed until that moment.
"Hey," Haru said suddenly, pointing toward a nearby boardwalk. "I think I saw a takoyaki stand down there."
"Oh no," Aiko muttered, already walking toward it. "I'm gone."
Shino looked at Eichi. "Coming?"
He nodded once. "I mean, why not."
Shino smirked. "Pretend all you want. We all know you've got a soft spot for food."
"Of course," he muttered, following after the others.
As the group strolled down the boardwalk toward the takoyaki stand, the scent of grilled octopus and savory batter filled the air.
Aiko was already halfway into listing what toppings she was going to ask for, and Haru kept pace beside her, eyes darting between the ocean and the stand with growing hunger.
Then, mid-step, Eichi suddenly came to a stop.
Shino noticed first and turned around, slowing. "Eichi?"
He didn't answer at first, just stared down a narrow alley between two buildings. Then he muttered, "Sorry. I need to hit the bathroom," and without elaborating, he stepped off the boardwalk and disappeared into the alley.
Aiko blinked. "Wait—what? The public toilet's is just there."
"Yeah," Haru added, turning to follow. "It's not even close to—"
Shino stepped in front of them, her arm subtly blocking the path. Her expression was no longer playful. "Let him deal with it."
Aiko and Haru exchanged uneasy looks.
"If this is what I think it is," Haru said, voice low, "he's in danger."
Shino didn't budge. "Maybe. But charging after him won't help. If it was just a bathroom trip, he wouldn't have taken that alley."
Haru looked like he was about to argue again, but Aiko placed a hand on his shoulder.
"She's right," Aiko said quietly. "If something's going on… we'll only get in the way."
Reluctantly, Haru clenched his jaw and nodded, his eyes still fixed on the alley where Eichi had vanished.
The takoyaki stand's sizzle and chatter now felt oddly distant as the three of them stood there, trying not to let the tension sink too deep into their field trip day.
Shino kept her eyes on that alleyway, just in case.
---
In the shadowed alley, far from the open sounds of the boardwalk, two figures emerged cautiously from the darkness. Their hooded forms glanced down the path where Eichi had vanished, the area still and quiet like he'd never been there at all.
"…Did he just disappear on us?" one of them muttered, scanning both ends of the narrow space.
"Don't underestimate him. He's a Shinobi too, remember?" the other replied, his voice clipped, eyes sharp behind the cloth mask that obscured half his face.
"But still… there's no cover in here. No smoke, no trick. Just open concrete and metal walls."
"Could be a jutsu, be careful. He may be—"
The man didn't get to finish. He stiffened suddenly, feeling a cold pressure tap lightly against his lower back, right where it would hurt most if driven even half an inch deeper.
"Don't move," a calm voice warned, low and close to his ear. "Don't move. I got y'a."
It was Eichi.
The other man flinched and took leap foward, instincts kicking in, but hesitated mid-motion. "What the hell?" he muttered, eyes widening. "I didn't even feel him…"
Eichi held his stance with ease, kunai pressed gently against the man's kidney. His tone, however, remained as casual as ever.
"Now, now. I've got a few questions for you boys," he said. "Why were you following me?"
The man under his grip didn't resist. In fact, he almost seemed amused. His voice remained unnervingly calm. "I would assume you're the boy named Eichi?"
"And who," Eichi returned, "am I taking hostage of?"
There was a brief silence before the hooded man spoke again.
"Isshin-sama sends his regards."
At that, Eichi tilted his head slightly, a faint frown forming. The name didn't ring a bell. Not from this world, and definitely not from the one he left behind.
"How careless of me," Eichi said, loosening his grip for a fraction of a second, just enough to make the man think he'd gained ground.
"I would like to apologize…"
The second man relaxed just slightly, breath easing.
"…Because I nearly gave a fuck."
Eichi's voice turned cold. Flat. The kunai pressed in just a hair deeper.
"So… who. the fuck. are you?"
The second man lunged forward. "How dare yo—!"
But before he could finish, the one under Eichi's hold cut in, voice no longer composed. It was tighter now—less sure.
"Shino-sama's father."
The air in the alley went completely still.
Eichi didn't say anything at first.
He just stared, body still like the moment before a blade drops. Shino had told him, after all. About her father. About the real reason for the Osaka trip. About the meeting.
But even with that context, he hadn't expected it to begin like this—cornered in an alley, flanked by two unannounced strangers like some back-alley setup.
"…He could've just waited like a normal person," Eichi muttered.
The man under his kunai exhaled carefully. "Isshin-sama doesn't do 'normal.' And you weren't exactly going to show up without a nudge."
Eichi gave a humorless smirk. "You're not wrong."
He stepped back just enough for the man to breathe fully again, but the blade didn't vanish. His stance didn't drop. He wasn't letting go of this moment yet.
"You're early," Eichi added. "The meeting was planned. Agreed upon. This wasn't part of the deal."
"We know. He said that you'd want to see what kind of men were standing behind the name."
Eichi clicked his tongue. "Cute."
The second figure, the one who hadn't moved since Eichi got the drop on them—finally spoke again. "So you already knew."
Eichi didn't answer directly. Instead, he slowly glanced down the alley toward where the street noise carried on as usual, light and casual.
Shino was probably still near the ferry stand, keeping Haru and Aiko from panicking.
He sighed and turned back to the men. "So why come now? You got orders to spook me?"
"No. He wanted to see if you'd notice us," the calmer one replied. "That was the test. Your reaction is his answer."
Eichi narrowed his eyes. "And?"
The man tilted his head slightly. "He said if you handled this calmly, you're worth the conversation. If you didn't... we'd report back accordingly."
Eichi stared a beat longer before finally sheathing the kunai. "Right. Well, good news. I'm in an incredibly patient mood today."
The man allowed himself a small smirk. "Then Isshin-sama will be waiting, as agreed."
"No sudden changes," Eichi warned, stepping away and adjusting his sleeves. "And tell him if he tries anything else weird before we meet, I'll cancel. For good."
"Understood."
Without another word, the two teleported. Gone like smoke.
Eichi stood there a second longer, exhaling quietly through his nose. "Fuck me self."
He already knew this wasn't going to be simple. Shino may have trusted him enough to say what little she knew—but even she hadn't been told the full truth.
"...Better get back before someone sends a search party."
He stepped back toward the street, hands in his pockets, face relaxed again. Just another student on a field trip.
Only this student was about to walk into a meeting that could change the future of Japan.
---
"Yo."
At the sound of Eichi's voice, all three heads turned toward the alley entrance, eyes snapping to where he stood casually, hands in his pockets, as if nothing had happened at all.
Aiko stood up so fast her chair scraped loudly against the ground. "Don't 'yo' me. What was that?"
Eichi gave a lazy shrug, walking over and dropping into the seat they'd saved for him. "Don't worry about it. Just some big brothers making sure their little sister's in good hands."
There was a brief silence.
"Excuse me, what the fuck?" Haru blinked. His entire thought process came to a crashing halt as he slowly turned to Eichi, then to Shino, then back again. His brain clearly buffering. "Wait… you and—?"
A long sigh came from Shino as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "We're not."
But that didn't stop Haru's expression from going full cartoon. He pointed between them dramatically, lips twitching like he didn't know whether to panic or tease. "You're telling me that line didn't mean what it sounded like?!"
Shino didn't even get to reply before Eichi leaned back, stretching his arms behind his head with a grin. "Why would you say such things, darling?"
Shino whipped her head toward him, glaring. "Don't you dare use that against me—!"
Aiko snorted, covering her mouth to keep from laughing too loud. "Oh no. We are in a drama now."
"You started it!" Shino pointed at Eichi, then looked at Haru and Aiko. "For the record, I'm not dating him, and he's being an idiot."
"Affectionate idiot," Eichi corrected, still grinning.
"Do you want to get hit right now?" she deadpanned.
Haru, finally recovering, leaned forward. "Okay, but real question, if that wasn't a secret date-meeting with her relatives, then what was it?"
Eichi just smiled, resting his chin in one hand. "Just something I had to confirm. Nothing dangerous."
Shino glanced at him out of the corner of her eye but said nothing. Aiko exchanged a look with her, catching the quiet understanding between them.
"…Well," Aiko said, scooting her chair back in, "if everyone's done being mysterious, I vote we actually go back to the bus."
"Agreed," Shino said quickly, already walking away to avoid any more comments.
Eichi followed with an amused hum. Haru lagged a bit behind, leaning toward Aiko and whispering, "Do you believe them?"
Aiko gave a half-smile. "I believe that if we keep poking, Shino's gonna throw you in the water."
"…Fair."
And with that, the group moved on toward the docks, the warm air carrying the sounds of distant waves and ferry horns across the harbor.
As they walked past the two buses, the group spotted Kenta sitting alone on a bench just off to the side.
Haru blinked. "Ey, you good?" he asked, stepping up in front of him.
Aiko tilted her head, and Shino raised a brow. Eichi just stopped with his hands in his pockets, a smirk already forming.
Kenta looked up with a face so serious, it belonged in a courtroom. Elbows on his knees, hands folded, head tilted like he was having an existential crisis.
"Yeah," Kenta said, deadpan. "Something happened to me."
"You need to talk?" Haru asked, now genuinely concerned.
"Yes. Please." Kenta nodded solemnly. "Sit and let me explain it to you."
Eichi chuckled under his breath and stepped past. "Let's go," he told the others, waving them on. "Deal with it, Haru."
The rest of the group followed, but not before throwing one last look back at the oddly intense scene.
Haru sat down beside Kenta without hesitation.
Immediately, there was a loud squelch.
"What the—?" Haru's eyes widened. He stood up, slowly turning to check behind him… only to find streaks of red paint across the back of his pants.
Kenta didn't move.
"I knew this bench felt weird," Kenta muttered, still staring straight ahead.
"You—why didn't you say anything!?" Haru yelled, horrified.
"I was already committed," Kenta said, like a man who had accepted his fate. "Besides, I didn't want to be the only one."
"You dragged me down with you!"
"Misery loves company."
"You mother fu—"
From a distance, Eichi cracked up laughing as Aiko and Shino turned back and stared at the two of them—now both standing with wet red streaks on the back of their pants like walking warnings.
"Don't say a thing," Haru called out flatly.
"No promises," Shino said, barely holding in her laughter.
"Hey, it could've been worse," Aiko added cheerfully. "At least Eichi didn't fold you this time around."
Kenta nodded solemnly. "Growth."
They all kept walking, two with damp backsides, the rest trying not to laugh loud enough for the teachers to hear.
---
Arriving at Mount Daiko, the students stepped off the bus and were greeted by a stunning view—lush green trees lining the base of the mountain, cool fresh air brushing past their faces, and in the middle of it all stood a large, traditional Japanese building.
The dark wood panels, tiled roof, and paper sliding doors gave it that classic, almost nostalgic charm. It looked like something straight out of an old travel poster.
"That's the hotel?" Haru asked, eyes wide as he adjusted the straps on his bag.
"Looks more like a dojo," Eichi muttered, tilting his head as he scanned the building.
"Or a haunted inn," Kenta added with a shiver. His pants were still slightly stained from earlier, which only added to his tragic aura.
"Please don't jinx it," Aiko said, rolling her eyes. "I came here to relax, not get cursed."
Shino stepped forward a little, hands behind her back as she looked up at the structure. "This is supposed to be a hot spring hotel. They say it's super popular with tourists who want the 'authentic Japan' experience."
"And UA booked it out for a school trip?" Haru said, blinking. "We must've lucked out."
"Or the principal owes someone a huge favor," Eichi said casually, already stepping ahead.
As they moved toward the main entrance, a couple of staff members in yukata came out to greet them, bowing politely. Teachers gathered the students to hand out room keys and go over the schedule.
"I better not get paired with a snorer," Haru muttered, eyeing Kenta.
"No promises," Kenta replied. "But hey, we match now," he added, patting Haru's shoulder and glancing at the still-wet bench mark.
The group chuckled as they followed the rest of the class into the hotel. The sliding wooden doors opened with a soft rumble, welcoming them with the earthy scent of tatami mats, old wood, and a faint trail of incense that hung gently in the air.
It felt like they'd stepped back in time.
The trip had only just started, but something about this place made it feel… different. More than just a stop on a school itinerary, it had atmosphere.
As they stepped into the main hall, Eichi suddenly slowed down. His eyes widened slightly.
Somewhere in the air, beneath the sounds of footsteps and chatter, he heard a song.
It started softly, a mix of shamisen strings and the soft breathy tone of a shakuhachi flute. The melody swirled together into something hauntingly beautiful, so familiar it stopped him in place.
Shino, walking just ahead, turned when she noticed he wasn't beside her. "What," she teased, "did the song go into your soul that much?"
She smiled, but even she could feel it. That sound, while gentle, had a way of sinking into your bones.
Eichi didn't reply at first. He was looking around slowly, his eyes scanning the lantern-lit corners of the inn, the paper walls, and old beams that creaked softly with each step.
The music wasn't coming from one place. It was everywhere, blending into the air itself.
It wasn't Genjutsu as well, he would've noticed it.
"Can you tell me the name of the song?" he finally asked, his voice low and slightly unsure, like he was trying to make sense of something that didn't belong.
Shino nodded, folding her arms as she listened again. "Yeah. That's the Traditional Song of a Thousand Nights. They updated it a bit, made it more modern for places like this, but the base melody's the same. Its real name is—"
She paused, caught off-guard as she heard Eichi mutter under his breath.
"…Senya."
Shino blinked. Her words caught in her throat. The way he said it, sent a shiver through her.
The look on his face was full of nostalgia.
Eichi stood there, looking around the inn, but not really seeing it. He looked like he was somewhere else, like the music had reached into a part of him he hadn't visited in a long time.
"…You know the song?" Shino asked, her tone shifting, quieter now.
He didn't answer right away. The melody wrapped around them again, calm and steady, as if the whole building had been built around it.
Eichi finally gave a small nod. "My aunt used to hum it… whenever she came back from Konoha."
Shino's eyes widened a bit, her newly found teasing faded.. "So it's not just a classic for you…"
He gave a faint smile, almost sheepish. "Didn't think I'd ever hear it again. That's all."
"Guess this place has more than hot springs and ghosts after all," she said gently, bumping her shoulder into his with a light grin.
Ahead of them, Aiko and Haru had wandered further into the hallway, but when they noticed the two lagging behind, they turned.
"Oi," Haru called, "don't tell me you got lost already."
"We stopped to appreciate culture," Shino called back casually, waving him off.
"Let me know when it starts appreciating you back," Aiko muttered with a smirk, though she slowed her pace to let them catch up.
As they rejoined the group, the soft creak of the wooden floors mixed with the ever-present hum of the melody. The hotel felt alive—quiet, yes, but not still. Every breeze that slipped through the cracks carried the song with it.
Eichi walked quietly next to Shino, his hands in his pockets, but his eyes were still distant.
"Was it popular… on your side?" Shino asked carefully. She didn't need to explain what she meant by your side—they both understood.
"Yeah," Eichi replied after a beat. "It was written by the Uchiha. A long time ago."
Shino looked at him, brows raised. "Really?"
He nodded. "Legend says it represented one of their lost powers—Tsukuyomi. It was the strongest Genjutsu. One that could trap someone in a dream… for days, even years. All while only an instant passed in the real world."
Shino whistled quietly. "Sounds terrifying."
"It was," Eichi said simply. "But the song… wasn't made for fear. It was a lullaby. A memory. Something to remind you what was real before you woke up."
That made Shino pause.
"…Then I guess hearing it again means something."
Eichi didn't answer. He just let the music speak for itself as they continued walking forward.
But then, he stopped.
His steps halted mid-way through the polished hall, just as the soft creak of the wooden floor faded behind him.
Slowly, he turned his head toward the entrance. Standing just inside the open doorway were two women in elegant yukatas, quiet and graceful… and staring directly at him.
They didn't speak. They didn't even move.
But Eichi knew.
He didn't need a second guess—they were with Shino, even if she didn't know it herself.
There was something off about them, something that should've stood out immediately. Yet he hadn't noticed them until now.
That was the first warning. The second, he couldn't feel their life force. It wasn't just faint—it was barely there, as if they didn't exist.
No sound from their steps, no presence in their breathing.
Kunoichi.
He glanced toward Shino, who had tilted her head slightly at his sudden stop.
"I think it's time to meet your father," he said plainly, then turned and started walking toward the teacher without waiting for her reply.
Shino blinked. "Wait, what?"
But Eichi was already moving, cutting across the hallway and heading straight to the front desk of the inn, where their teacher sat checking names off a clipboard.
"Sensei, I'm stepping out for a few hours," Eichi said as he stopped behind the man.
The teacher looked back slowly, eyes narrowing just a little as he studied Eichi. For a moment, he didn't say anything. Then, with a quiet sigh, he nodded.
"Alright," the teacher said. "Try to come back before dinner."
Eichi dipped his head slightly. "Got it."
He turned to leave, already making his way back toward Shino—who was still trying to figure out what had just happened—when the teacher called out one more time.
"Also… a piece of advice," he said, a small smirk forming on his face. "Don't add to the population, and don't subtract from it, alright?"
Eichi glanced over his shoulder, one brow raised. The teacher didn't elaborate, just waved him off casually, like it was a joke.
He knows. Or at least, he knows something.
Still, it didn't matter much to Eichi. Whatever the teacher suspected or guessed, it wouldn't change what he needed to do now.
Without another word, he reached Shino's side and gently pulled her by the wrist.
"Come on. Time to get some answers."
Shino blinked again, then finally followed.
Behind them, the two silent women in yukatas turned in sync and slipped out through the back corridor soundless, like ghosts returning to the shadows.
As Eichi and Shino stepped outside, the warm mountain air met them again. The sky was starting to take on that soft golden hue of afternoon, with distant cicadas chirping from the trees.
But something new was waiting at the entrance.
A black SUV.
Big, sleek, and out of place.
It hadn't been there before, they were sure of it. The spot had been empty when they arrived.
Now, it idled quietly, engine running. Its windows were tinted pitch black, giving nothing away. The doors didn't open, no one stepped out. It just waited, like it had been expecting them.
"…I take it this is for us," Shino muttered, staring at the car.
"Unless there's another pair of shinobi with unfinished family drama booked at this inn," Eichi said dryly.
She gave a small, stiff laugh, then looked at him seriously. "Are you sure you wanna do this?"
Eichi nodded. "Of course I do."
They walked down the stone steps together. The moment they reached the curb, the rear passenger door clicked open, still no driver or passenger in sight.
---
The ride was quiet at first. The only sounds were the faint hum of the electric engine and the distant buzz of cicadas outside the tinted windows.
No driver. No map. Just the winding mountain road ahead, with the SUV steering itself like it had done this a hundred times.
Eichi kept his eyes forward, arms loosely crossed. He hadn't relaxed, not since the music and the yukata women. And definitely not now.
Shino sat beside him, hands in her lap. She glanced at him once, then twice, chewing on her bottom lip before finally speaking.
"…I guess I never told you my real name."
Eichi blinked, then turned slightly toward her. "No. You didn't."
She hesitated, then looked out the window, watching the trees blur by.
"It's Shino Hattori."
He raised an eyebrow. "Hattori?"
She nodded. "Yeah… I dropped it when I got into U.A. Said it was to blend in. Truth is, I didn't want the name following me."
Eichi leaned back slightly, thinking. The name Hattori did ring a bell. It carried weight, even in his world.
Eichi leaned back slightly, arms crossed as he looked at her. "Hattori, huh… You mean like Hanzo Hattori?"
Shino blinked, caught off guard. "How do you know that name?"
"Hattori Hanzo," he repeated, eyes narrowing slightly. "He was known as Hanzo the Salamander. A Kage level shinobi from my world, feared across the Shinobi world. He guarded Amegakure, and was strong enough that other Shinobi Villages avoided war on his land entirely. Even the most powerful Kage were careful around him."
Shino's eyebrows furrowed, her voice dropping a bit. "That… doesn't match what I know. In this world, Hattori Hanzo was still a shinobi, yeah. But the history books say he served Tokugawa Ieyasu. Helped him rise to power. He was like a shadow leader, almost myth, almost man. They called him a samurai too, but not many believe the full stories."
Eichi tilted his head. "Then maybe it's the same man… or the stories just split somewhere along the line. Either way, he existed in both our worlds."
She didn't reply right away, but her eyes stayed on him, thoughtful. That piece had been bothering her for a while now. And it made something click.
"…You really are from another world, aren't you?"
Eichi didn't answer immediately. He didn't deny it either.
Instead, she spoke again. "So, you said Hanzo was powerful. What kind of power are we talking about? What's this 'Kage' level stuff?"
Eichi gave a small shrug. "The shinobi world had a rank system. Lowest was Genin. Then Chunin. After that came Jonin. There were Tokubetsu Jonin too—kind of like specialists. And at the top were the Kage. They were leaders of the major villages—each one strong enough to fight entire armies alone."
Shino let out a low whistle. "And Hanzo was stronger than them?"
"Yeah. Most of them, at least."
"And you?" she asked, glancing sideways.
Eichi sighed, leaning his head back slightly. "Tokubetsu Jōnin."
"But… I remember you said you were a Chūnin," she said, her brow furrowing. Her thoughts drifted back to the Genjutsu—specifically, the black man in the white uniform who had called him that.
He glanced at her, then back out the window. "Yeah. I was a Genin, then got promoted to Chūnin during the war. The reason was simple, too many casualties, not enough people to fill the gaps."
She blinked. "So it was like… a rush job?"
"In some cases, yeah," he said with a small shrug. "But in mine, it was a bit of both. I had the strength for it. But our village… it didn't just hand out ranks for power. You needed experience, missions, leadership. You could be Jōnin-level in skill, but still get stuck as a Chūnin if the higher-ups didn't think you were ready."
Shino looked down thoughtfully. "So... basically, it was political."
Eichi gave a short laugh, but it held no real humor. "Maybe in other villages, yeah. But not for me."
She looked over at him, puzzled.
"I'm the son of the Uzukage," he said plainly. "Politics weren't the problem—expectations were. Everyone already knew my name before I could even hold a kunai. No one cared about how strong I was. They just wanted to see if I'd live up to my bloodline."
"Oh…" she said softly, sitting back a little. "So, you didn't get stuck because of paperwork?"
"No. I didn't get stuck at all. I got promoted fast, Genin to Chūnin during the war. But before the war, I wasn't officially Chūnin. Not because I wasn't good enough. It was because they expected more."
He gave a dry smirk, eyes half-lidded as he looked out the window. "Strength wasn't enough. You had to be a leader, a symbol. Some even thought I'd become the an Elite Jonin someday."
"Did you want that?" she asked, curious now.
"…No," he said simply. "I just wanted to protect those I saw as family."
Shino nodded slowly. "That makes sense."
"You never mentioned your family much," he said.
"That's because I didn't know much," Shino admitted. "Until six months ago. That's when I found out the real reason I was sent to watch you… and why he wanted to meet you."
Eichi's gaze narrowed, but he said nothing.
"He never gave me the full picture," she went on, "just said there was something only you could confirm. Something even I shouldn't know until the time came."
Eichi looked out the window now. The trees were thinning. Stone lanterns began lining the side of the road, and ahead, the outline of a traditional compound began to appear—old wood, sloped tiled roofs, gates that had probably stood for generations.
The SUV slowed as they approached the entrance, the iron gate creaking open on its own. The gravel road inside was lined with pine trees, the branches heavy with age and silence.
So this was the Hattori estate.
The car came to a smooth stop just outside the main house. The engine cut off without a sound.
Shino let out a breath, then opened the door. "I guess you don't need to get the usual 'Good luck', yeah?"
Eichi followed, stepping out beside her. "Yup yup."
Shino gave a faint smile. "Yeah… figures."
And with that, they walked toward the large wooden doors of the compound, the sound of cicadas fading behind them.
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A/N: I had to add the soundtrack "Senya", for the life of me I don't know how is it this ethereal. I wrote the chapter while vibing under it.
Also please throw some stones to the chap and a review, it would help.