After finishing their meal and a hot bath, the warmth and satisfaction from the delicious Yakiniku served as a comfortable cushion against the cold night air. They parted ways in the inn's lobby, each heading to their respective rooms to rest for a moment before the night-time adventure Tsukasa had promised. The inn was simple yet clean, with wooden hallways that creaked softly under their footsteps.
Yuji slid his room's door shut, and the sudden silence felt deafening after the hustle and bustle of the restaurant and the Capital's streets.
He switched on the light, its warm, flickering glow instantly chasing away the shadows, painting an intimate atmosphere in the small room. It had been a long time since he'd been in a situation like this. A strange rental room in a strange city.
A strange and unexpected wave of nostalgia hit him, so strong that he had to pause for a moment and lean against the door. He remembered a time long ago, when his name was still David.
This feeling... it was exactly the same feeling David had when he first stepped into his first apartment. A small, empty room, a blank canvas that would be his home for a while. David, at that time, had felt a thrill of anticipation, an excitement for new freedom and the adventures that awaited. Yuji, on the other hand, just felt a weariness that seeped deep into his bones.
Yuji placed his deceptively light backpack on the table. He walked to the window, opened the wooden shutters, and the cool night air of the Capital immediately greeted him, carrying with it the constant hum of city life. And the view...
He saw a multitude of lights, stretching as far as the eye could see like a sea of man-made stars. Lanterns from shops, lights from the windows of homes, and the mysterious glow from the more bustling districts in the distance. The city was still crowded, still alive and breathing, even when the moon hung high above.
He could see the silhouettes of children still running around in a distant square, their energy seemingly limitless. He saw a man and a woman walking hand in hand, their world seemingly containing only the two of them. On a street corner, he saw a teenager leaning against a wall, crossing his arms in annoyance, clearly waiting for someone who was late. It was a scene of life so normal, so mundane. A scene that had long been lost to him, making him feel a sharp and unexpected pang of loneliness.
Today, their plan was to spend time outside. Tsukasa-sensei, with his uncontrollable enthusiasm, had promised to show them a legendary night market, filled with all sorts of sweet treats and silly games.
Their mission, technically, was already complete according to the contract. They only had to escort Koji and Akane to the Capital. They had succeeded. So how would Koji get home? It was simple. As Tsukasa had explained, in the Capital, there were still many Konoha ninja who were off-duty or waiting for missions. They could easily hire new bodyguards for the journey back, as they wished.
Yuji shook his head, trying to dispel the fog of nostalgia from his mind. Lingering in the room would only make him sink deeper into useless thoughts. He decided to join the others.
He stepped out of his room, closing the door softly behind him. Just as he turned, the door to the next room also slid open, and Masami stepped out.
They looked at each other for a moment in the silence of the dimly lit hallway. Masami's long, black hair cascaded down her back, shimmering under the light.
Yuji didn't know what prompted him. Maybe it was the strange atmosphere of the city, or maybe he was just tired of being his quiet, cynical self. A small, crooked smile played on his lips, an expression that felt foreign yet strangely natural on his face.
"Ready to win some of those cursed dolls?" he asked, his flat voice sounding oddly light.
Masami blinked, looking slightly surprised by Yuji's unusual tone. The silence lasted for a second or two, then, a barely visible, ghostly smile touched the corner of her lips.
"I'm more interested in the goldfish that are doomed to die within twenty-four hours," she replied, her tone just as flat, but there was a glint of amusement in her dark eyes.
Yuji let out a small laugh, a sound hoarse from disuse. "Of course. And they usually end up in a plastic bag."
"You sound like you've been to a night market like this before," Masami said, as they began to walk side-by-side down the quiet hallway. Their presence together felt comfortable, two islands of silence in the sea of noise they were about to enter.
"I have a feeling," Yuji replied. "There will be a lot of noise, overly bright lights, and very unhealthy food. A paradise for Kiba."
"And hell for tranquility," Masami added. "I hear Sensei is very competitive in the ring toss game. I'd like to see that."
"I'm not surprised," Yuji said. "He probably has a complicated theory about the rings and their relationship with fate. And he'll probably still lose."
"As ninja, we should be able to win all those games easily," Masami said, her tone sounding like she was contemplating a tactical problem. "Chakra control, precision, timing... it can all be applied."
"That would ruin the fun," Yuji retorted. "And it would probably get us banned from all the night markets in the Land of Fire. I'd rather watch Tsukasa-sensei fail. It's more entertaining."
BANG!
The door at the end of the hall flew open violently, and Kiba's head popped out. "FINALLY! You guys are so slow! I can smell the burnt sugar from here! Let's go!"
Tsukasa appeared behind him, ruffling Kiba's hair. "Patience, patience, my little soldier. The night market isn't going anywhere."
As they all gathered in the narrow hallway, Yuji felt a slight reluctance to actually leave. The silence he had just shared with Masami felt precious.
"Wait," Yuji said suddenly.
Everyone looked at him.
"Before we go," he continued, searching for the words. "I'm just... curious." He looked at Tsukasa. "Sensei, about the mission earlier. Did you really not know what we were carrying beforehand?"
The question instantly changed the atmosphere. But Tsukasa's smile didn't disappear. "Of course I knew," he said lightly. "The mission scroll mentioned 'a valuable artisan's item'. I did a little research before we left. I knew Koji-san was one of the best blacksmiths outside the Capital. I suspected it was a weapon. But I didn't know it was that good."
"Then why did you leave us in the dark?" Masami asked, her question sharp and direct.
Tsukasa leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Another lesson," he said. "Always treat every escort mission as if your client is carrying a state secret, even if they're just carrying a bag of radishes. Never underestimate the stakes. If I had told you from the start that we were protecting a super-secret weapon, you would have been tense. You would have been nervous. And a nervous ninja makes mistakes."
"But by not telling us, you put us at greater risk," Masami retorted.
"Did I?" Tsukasa smiled. "Or did it make you react based on your instincts and your training, not on the fear of what might happen? You all acted admirably. Kiba, you protected the client instinctively. Masami, you disabled your opponent efficiently. And Yuji," he looked at Yuji, "you ended your fight quickly and decisively. I couldn't have asked for a better result."
Kiba looked a little proud of himself. Masami just stared, processing her teacher's logic.
"So it was all just another test?" Yuji asked.
"Every mission is a test," Tsukasa said. "And life itself is the final exam. Goodness, I sound like an old philosopher." He laughed, breaking the tension. "The point is, you succeeded. You proved you can handle surprises. And now, as a reward, we're going to go and eat cotton candy until we feel sick!"
Yuji still wasn't completely convinced. Tsukasa's logic had merit, but it also felt incredibly manipulative. His teacher was a puzzle wrapped in a joke and tied with a ribbon of strange philosophy.
"So," Kiba said, impatient to get back to the more important topic. "The night market?"
Tsukasa grinned. "The night market."
Yuji sighed. It seemed the serious conversation was over.
Stepping out of the quiet inn was like jumping into a rushing river. The night air of the Capital, which had been a distant hum, was now a vibrant, pulsating symphony. A few minutes later, they arrived at the main street where the night market was held, and Yuji's world seemed to explode in color, sound, and aroma.
The street itself was barely visible, covered by a slow-moving sea of people. Paper lanterns of various shapes and colors—red, yellow, blue—hung overhead in tangled strings, bathing everything below in a warm, festive light. On both sides of the street, wooden stalls were lined up tightly, each a small island of activity. Smoke billowed from grills, carrying the savory scent of grilled squid, sweet corn slathered in butter, and sweet, sticky teriyaki sauce. The sound of traditional music played on bamboo flutes and drums from somewhere in the distance mixed with the laughter of children, the shouts of vendors promoting their wares, and the buzz of a thousand conversations happening simultaneously.
For Yuji, it was a magnificent sensory assault. It was organized chaos, a celebration of life that was so noisy and carefree. It was the opposite of everything he had trained for—silence, vigilance, control. And for some reason, it didn't feel threatening. It felt... alive.
"Uwoohh!! TAKOYAKI!"
Of course, Kiba was the first to succumb to the siren call of street food. His sharp eyes had spotted a stall across the street, where a middle-aged man with a towel tied around his head was skillfully flipping golden balls of batter on a special black iron griddle. Without warning, Kiba immediately dashed towards the stall, weaving through the crowd with the agility of a ninja chasing the most important target of his life: a hot snack.
"You just ate three servings of Yakiniku," Yuji commented, more to himself than anyone else, his voice barely audible amidst the din. "What is your stomach made of? A storage seal?"
He thought he and the others would wait reluctantly as Kiba satisfied his craving. But then, Masami, who was walking calmly beside Yuji, stopped. She looked towards Kiba who had already reached the stall, then she murmured softly, almost inaudibly, "I want some too."
And with that, she began to walk gracefully across the crowd, following Kiba's trail.
Yuji could only stare at Masami Ichihara in silence.
"Well, you see that?" Tsukasa-sensei said, nudging Yuji's arm with his elbow. "Come on, let's not get left behind."
Having no other choice, Yuji followed. As he approached the stall, the savory and slightly fishy aroma of the octopus from the takoyaki grew stronger. It was an appetizing scent, a scent that reminded him of the summer festivals he vaguely remembered from his previous life.
Kiba was already at the front, his eyes sparkling as he watched the vendor's nimble hands. "Give me one serving! Uncle!" Kiba smiled widely, taking out his wallet. "The biggest one!"
The vendor, a friendly-looking man with muscular arms from mixing batter all day, laughed. He glanced at Akamaru, who was sitting sweetly on Kiba's head, his nose twitching. "Aren't you buying some for your dog too, kid?" he joked.
"Of course not!" Kiba replied, as if the question was the most ridiculous thing in the world. "We'll share! Always!"
The simple, sincere statement made the vendor laugh harder. "Alright! One super portion for the enthusiastic boy and his partner!"
He worked with the speed and skill of a professional. He poured the batter into the hemispherical molds on the griddle, dropped a small piece of boiled octopus and some chopped green onions into each, then with two long skewers, he quickly flipped the balls until they were perfectly round and golden brown.
Masami, now standing beside Kiba, ordered in her calm voice. "One serving for me too, please."
The vendor handed a boat-shaped paper container to Kiba, filled with eight hot, steaming takoyaki balls. He then generously drizzled thick, sweet takoyaki sauce over them, added a squirt of mayonnaise, and sprinkled dried bonito flakes and green seaweed powder on top. The thin bonito flakes immediately "danced" from the heat, writhing as if they were still alive.
"Here you go! Careful, it's hot!"
"Thanks, Uncle!" Kiba took it happily, handed over a few coins, and immediately speared a ball with the provided toothpick. He blew on it impatiently before popping it into his mouth. "Wow! Hot!" he exclaimed with his mouth full.
Akamaru barked, as if to say, "I told you so."
After a few careful chews, Kiba's face lit up. "This is delicious! You're good at this!" he praised the vendor.
"This is a recipe passed down from my grandmother!" the vendor said with pride, his chest puffing out. "Only using the best ingredients!"
Masami received her portion, and it turned out to be quite a large serving. She didn't eat it immediately like Kiba. Instead, she blew on one takoyaki ball slowly and patiently. Once she was sure the temperature was just right, she took a small bite.
As she chewed, Yuji saw her eyes widen slightly. Just a little, but it clearly showed she liked it.
Then, Masami turned towards Yuji and Tsukasa, who were just standing and watching. She offered the takoyaki container to them.
"Try some," she said simply.
Tsukasa looked like he had just seen a goddess descend from heaven. His eyes sparkled, and he placed his hand on his chest dramatically. "Ah! My student is so kind-hearted! I'm touched!"
He took a new skewer from the container at the stall and, without hesitation, speared one of the takoyaki balls from Masami's container. "Thank you, Masami-chan!"
Yuji hesitated for a moment. But then, he followed suit. He was just curious. He took a clean skewer and speared the takoyaki ball closest to him.
Then, he ate it.
And the world seemed to stop for a moment.
It felt like magic. The outside was slightly crispy, giving way to an interior that was incredibly soft, hot, and almost molten. The savory flavor of the batter blended perfectly with the chewiness of the octopus piece in the center. Then, the next wave of flavor came: the sweetness and slight tang of the sauce, the creamy richness of the mayonnaise, the smoky umami flavor of the bonito flakes, and the fresh touch of the seaweed. It was an explosion of flavor and texture in one bite.
He didn't realize it until he had swallowed, but he had closed his eyes while chewing.
When he opened them, he saw Masami looking at him with the same ghostly smile as before. Tsukasa had already finished his and was now eyeing Kiba's portion with a hungry look.
"How is it?" Masami asked.
Yuji couldn't find his cynical words. He could only give the most honest answer.
"It's... really good," he said, and he truly meant it.
Kiba, who had managed to finish half his portion, with Akamaru getting the other half, swallowed and grinned at Yuji. "Told you, right?! The Capital is great!"
After the Takoyaki, they walked on, letting the flow of the crowd carry them deeper into the heart of the night market. Kiba, now re-energized by octopus batter and sweet sauce, was back to chattering non-stop, this time about his plan to try every sweet food at the market. Tsukasa happily encouraged him, adding his own absurd suggestions about flavor combinations that would probably make a normal person sick.
Yuji walked slightly behind them, an island of silence in a sea of noise. He watched the flickering lights of the lanterns, reflecting in the eyes of the people passing by. He watched the laughter, the smiles, and the lively conversations around him.
Then, between a gap in the crowd, he saw him.
In the distance, at the threshold of a dark alley where the festive lights of the night market couldn't reach, a hunched figure sat huddled against the wall. It was a man, probably in his forties but looking much older from a hard life. He held an empty bowl in his lap. His clothes were dirty and tattered, and even from a distance, Yuji could see how thin and miserable the man was. His unkempt beard covered part of his gaunt, dirty face.
The sight was like a bucket of ice water thrown in Yuji's face, instantly extinguishing the momentary warmth he had felt. All the conversations from the restaurant last night came crashing back with full force. Broken dreams. Desperation. The sewers. This was the face of that failure. The face of someone who came to this city with hope and now had nothing but an empty bowl.
He stopped walking, his feet seemingly rooted to the ground. He just stared.
Masami, who was walking beside him, noticed Yuji had stopped. She followed Yuji's gaze and saw the man too. Her calm expression didn't change, but Yuji saw something flicker in her dark eyes—a flash of recognition, maybe sympathy.
Without a word, Masami reached into a small pocket on her belt. Then, she walked calmly through the crowd, towards the dark alley. She didn't draw attention. Her movements were smooth and inconspicuous. She knelt in front of the man, who flinched in surprise, looking at her with dull, wary eyes. Masami said nothing. She just gently placed a few coins into the man's empty bowl. The soft clinking of metal was barely audible amidst the market's din.
The man stared at the coins, then at Masami's face, his previously dull eyes now filled with disbelief and deep gratitude. He bowed his head repeatedly, murmuring inaudible thanks.
When Masami returned, walking with the same quiet grace, Yuji quickly looked away, towards a brightly lit game stall, pretending he hadn't seen anything. He didn't know what to say.
Masami stopped beside Yuji, not trying to start a conversation about what had just happened. Instead, she pointed across the way, to a stall surrounded by gleefully shouting children. "Look," she said, her calm voice cutting through Yuji's thoughts. "We can catch fish."
Yuji looked at the stall. It was a goldfish scooping game with a flimsy paper scoop. An exercise in futility and disappointment for most people. But for him, right now, it was a welcome escape from the reality he had just witnessed.
"Let's try," Yuji replied, accepting the unspoken offer to change the subject.
They played with skill, a sharp contrast to the ordinary children around them. Masami, with her smooth movements, was deft. She didn't chase the fish. She just waited, reading their movement patterns, and with a single, gentle flick of her wrist, she would scoop a fish from the water, her paper scoop barely getting wet. She managed to catch five before her scoop finally gave out. The other children stared at her with open-mouthed awe, as if she were a water magician.
After that, they moved on to a ball toss game to knock down a stack of cans. The stall was surrounded by a group of older boys who looked frustrated, their balls bouncing off the stack of cans that seemed to be glued together.
"Hah! Move aside, move aside! Let a professional handle it!"
Kiba pushed through the crowd with Akamaru on his head, radiating an aura of excessive confidence. "Let me through, kids!" he said with a cocky tone.
The stall owner, a pot-bellied man with a bored expression, glanced at him. Then his gaze focused on the glittering Konoha headband on Kiba's forehead. His expression immediately changed. His face turned pale. He knew that letting a trained shinobi play his possibly rigged game was a very bad idea for his profits.
Kiba took three balls, weighing them in his hand. He grinned at the stall owner. Then, he threw.
It wasn't just a throw. It was a projectile. The first ball shot out like a bullet, hitting the base of the stack with enough force to make the whole table shake. The cans flew into the air. Before they could land, the second and third balls were already flying, hitting the cans that were still airborne, creating a satisfying clang of metal.
All the cans fell. A total victory.
Kiba stood there, his chest puffed out, his hands on his hips. He was so proud of himself that Yuji was sure he could see his nose grow a few inches. The stall owner could only sigh in resignation, having accepted his fate.
"I win!" Kiba exclaimed. "Give me the prize!"
Reluctantly, the stall owner reached for the grand prize from the top shelf. It was a large, fluffy, bright pink teddy bear.
"Eww, what's this?" Kiba looked at the doll with disgust as it was handed to him. "It's pink!"
"It's yours now," Yuji teased from behind him. "You won it fair and square. And now you have to take care of it, give it a name, and bathe it every week."
"Blewhh!" Kiba shook his head in disgust, as if he had just been told to eat broccoli. He held the doll awkwardly, as if holding a dirty diaper. Then, an idea seemed to pop into his head. He looked at Masami, who had been watching the whole thing with a hidden expression of amusement.
"Hey, Masami!" he said, his face flushing slightly. "It's for you. You want it?" He offered the doll to her.
Masami looked at the pink teddy bear, then at Kiba's hopeful face. She thought for a moment, tilting her head slightly. Then, she nodded. "Thank you, Kiba-kun," she said, taking the doll. She held it in a way that looked strangely natural, not awkward at all.
After playing a few more games and winning more useless prizes that they ended up giving to other children, they finally decided to head home. With large, sticky cotton candies in hand, they walked back to the inn. The night air felt cooler, and the night market crowd had started to thin.
Yuji walked in silence, licking his cotton candy. Between the sweetness of the sugar and the fading noise, he felt something strange. And he was thoroughly enjoying it.
As they approached their inn, Yuji saw a figure in front. It was Koji. He wasn't sitting or standing still. He looked anxious, pacing back and forth in front of the inn's door.
Yuji could sense something was wrong. The warm feeling in his chest vanished instantly, replaced by a familiar chill. Of course. Of course, there would be another problem after they'd relaxed for a moment. This world would never let him have peace for too long.
Koji finally saw them approach. His face, illuminated by the inn's lantern, was deathly pale and filled with panic. He staggered towards Tsukasa.
"You!" he cried out, his voice hoarse and desperate. "I... I was looking for you everywhere!"
"Calm down, Koji-san," Tsukasa said, his smile vanishing instantly. "What's wrong?"
Koji gripped Tsukasa's arm, his eyes wide with terror.
"Akane! Akane... she's gone!"