"I always felt those two clouds looked like my parents… even though I've never met them."
Hanare's voice was soft, as if she were chatting with a friend.
"When times were hard, when I was sad, I would always look up at the clouds in the sky. It let me imagine a hometown I've never been to, parents I've never seen. When the wind blows, it feels like all my troubles drift away with the clouds."
"For my village, gathering intelligence… that's my destiny."
Lock Village specialized in intelligence gathering. As experts in that field, they would never allow other villages to easily obtain information about them.
There were many like Hanare—raised far from home from an early age, never knowing where they were born, who their parents were. They had only one teacher to raise and train them, so that when they grew up, they would gather intelligence for the village.
Their lives would continue like that until the day they were discovered… and died in some interrogation room of another village.
Hanare spoke of her fate to Kakashi, who kept gazing up at the sky and quietly asked,
"Why tell me all this?"
"Because you're the one who taught me."
Looking at Kakashi, Hanare smiled beautifully.
"The moment I saw you, I knew—you were the silver-haired boy who sent me home. With that hairstyle of yours, how could I possibly forget?"
She gave a faint smile.
"Back then, I really wanted to see my real parents. Naively, I decided to go look for my village alone. But as I walked, I got lost, not knowing where to go. I cried as I wandered… and then you and your companion appeared. I can't remember what your companion looked like, but after you split up with him, you walked me back to where I was staying."
"On the way, you told me… that when I felt lonely, I should look up at the clouds. As long as I held onto hope, the clouds would answer me by taking the shapes I wished to see. I've been searching for your silhouette in the clouds ever since. Even after so many years and some changes in you, the moment I saw you again, I recognized you—because you've always been the hope in my heart."
"Can't hear too well from here… but sounds like they're having a lively chat!"
Naruto stretched his head out, trying to eavesdrop more, but misstepped and fell straight down.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!"
He landed directly on the two below.
The three others above peeked their heads out.
Kiyosuke let out a whistle, Sakura's eyes sparkled with little stars, and even Sasuke couldn't help glancing over.
Kakashi had landed on top of Hanare, their mouths pressed together through his mask.
Both their faces froze in shock. Somehow, Kakashi's forehead protector had been lifted, and his Sharingan met Hanare's gaze directly.
In an instant, Kakashi realized what happened and quickly stood up. He turned to the recovering Naruto.
"You brat! Eavesdropping isn't a good habit! And you, Kiyosuke—you actually led the way?!"
He glared up at the three in the tree.
"Don't think I didn't know you've been tailing me all this time!"
"Hahaha!"
Kiyosuke laughed awkwardly, leaping down with the other two. He snatched the bouquet from Sakura's hands and handed it to Hanare.
"We just happened to be passing by and got curious, that's all! No other intentions, hehe. Think of these flowers as an apology."
"Wait, Kiyosuke-sensei, that's my bouquet—"
"Let me borrow it for a moment. Don't be stingy, I'll give it back later."
"Thank you."
Hanare accepted the bouquet with a bright smile, glancing at Kakashi.
She blinked and looked back at Kiyosuke.
"You look familiar… I feel like I've seen you somewhere before."
"Hehe. Back then, when Kakashi was on that mission, I was one of the people with him. But I left first," Kiyosuke reminded her with a grin.
"Oh, I remember now! You're that person whose face I couldn't recall."
"Sorry… it's been too long. I just forgot."
Kiyosuke nodded heavily.
"Mm, right. Even though you saw Kakashi and me at the same time, you still can't remember my face."
"Uh…"
Hanare was left speechless, while Sakura chuckled.
"Maybe that's what they call 'liking someone.'"
"Hey!"
Kakashi sighed helplessly, but Hanare didn't deny it. She gently brought the bouquet to her nose.
"Maybe… Kakashi-san is very handsome, after all."
"You guys…"
Watching the scene before her, Hanare couldn't help but laugh softly.
A hawk soared overhead. Kakashi and Kiyosuke exchanged a subtle glance before quickly looking away.
"Alright, I won't interrupt your date any longer. I have things to do, so I'll take my leave," Kiyosuke said, waving as he walked off.
With their biggest backer gone, the three little ones also hurried away—they couldn't linger here any longer.
After they left, Kakashi said,
"Let's go too."
"Mm."
Hanare nodded, following behind him.
...
Not long after, both Kiyosuke's and Kakashi's teams were summoned. Tsunade spoke.
"Lock Village has captured our shinobi, Riichi, and wants to exchange prisoners."
"So that's it. A prisoner exchange… Didn't seem like they valued that girl Hanare much," Kiyosuke mused.
Kakashi stayed silent.
"Not sure… maybe Hanare is actually a high-ranking Lock child. In any case, I'm giving you the mission—bring our shinobi back safely."
Hanare hadn't gotten any intelligence on Konoha, nor had they gotten anything useful about Lock from her. Keeping her was pointless. Better to return her in exchange for their captured comrade.
"Alright, alright. Let's go, Kakashi."
"Mm."
Kakashi nodded, and the two squads escorted the once-again-bound Hanare to the prisoner exchange point.
At the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Keys stood a suspension bridge—the chosen location.
The one who came for the exchange was an old man in a bamboo hat, holding a monk's staff. He looked like a wandering priest, but in truth, he was Hanare's teacher and an experienced veteran spy.
Seeing Hanare safe, the old man adjusted the brim of his hat.
"Well then, let's begin the exchange."
Konoha agreed. Both sides released their prisoners at the same time.
As they crossed paths in the middle of the bridge, Hanare turned back and gave Kakashi a sorrowful look.
"I can't let you go!"
Kakashi gripped his kunai, ready to stop the two but suddenly, an explosion erupted.
The bridge had been rigged with explosive tags, and in a chain of blasts, it collapsed.