Chapter 23
Chapter twenty-three
“That was the coolest…thing…ever!” Taiga shouted as he jumped into the air for what had to be the fiftieth time since they’d landed on the other side of the Waygate.
Nearby, Momoka and Iruka exchanged a glance, both trying to play it cool and failing. Momoka crossed her arms and huffed as Iruka pretended to examine his gear, their mouths twitching as if fighting back grins.
Aimee nudged the girl with her shoulder. “Come on, you know that was pretty cool. I mean, we practically flew here at hyper-speed!”
Iruka’s lips quirked upward. “Yeah, fine.” His voice couldn’t quite mask the excitement. “It was…okay.”
“Okay?!” Taiga whirled around. “You guys are nuts. That was amazing!” He spread his arms wide, moving in quick bursts around the clearing, mimicking the sensation of the Waygate’s flight.
“Whatever.” Iruka rolled his eyes again.
Mouth turning up as she watched her friends, her gaze found Kiba standing a little ways off, studying the map with Oba-chan. No doubt, he was already plotting out the next leg of their journey.
She sauntered over, rising on her tiptoes to peek over his shoulder. “Where to next, boss?”
Kiba tensed at her proximity, his shoulders stiffening for just a moment before he relaxed. Aimee noticed the way his hand hovered for a second, like he was about to reach for her but thought better of it.
“Aimee, do not call me that. I am your Squad Leader or Ryōsh.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
He isn’t just going to pretend last night didn’t happen, is he? she asked herself. She hadn’t been able to sleep a wink after Taiga’s sleep-talking had disturbed whatever the hell had been happening between them.
Oba-chan grumbled about kids not respecting their elders anymore, then winked at Aimee, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes.
Kiba ignored them both, focusing on the map. “It looks like we need to follow this tributary of the Great River for maybe two or three days. It’s hard to tell.”
I guess so. He ignored her, as usual, as if the moment in the barn had never existed.
Aimee leaned in, trying to control her annoyance with the man. “Hmmm, so why isn’t Midoriko clearly marked? We don’t want to just stumble onto the bandits.”
“Excellent question, my dear,” Oba-chan interjected, shooting a pointed glare at Kiba.
“Because, Aimee.” Kiba glanced up as the rest of the squad joined their huddle.
“The independent territories between the Havens are often not considered when making things like maps. Their borders change with every conflict, and their villages, often caught in the crossfire, are left to fend for themselves while the Havens negotiate treaties.”
“That’s one way of putting it,” Oba-chan snorted. “We pay for most of your precious missions, but since we aren’t shinobi and have no Mana, you don’t give a rat’s ass what happens to us.”
“We’re not all like that,” Momoka squeaked, her voice small.
Oba-chan’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, it looked like she was about to unleash a tirade on the girl. Her lips parted, her face hardening, but before she could speak, Kiba intervened.
“There are enough people among the Havens who think this way, Momoka, to make life difficult for non-shinobi villages.”
Momoka’s brow furrowed, her hands twisting together nervously. “It can’t be that bad…”
“It is,” Iruka said quietly, his words drawing surprised looks from the group. His face remained unreadable, but there was a tension in his posture, his arms locked over his chest.
“Go on.” Kiba-Sensei turned to him.
Iruka hesitated for a moment before speaking, his nose crinkling. “Their food and homes get taken for our armies, and their villages become battlegrounds. We protect our own, but they’re left to pick up the pieces. We’re not always the good guys, no matter what the Hi Seishō says.”
“I don’t believe it.” Momoka looked around the group.
Aimee glanced at Iruka. She knew his parents had been killed on a mission when he was small, which explained why he was always so serious and dedicated to his training. But this…this wasn’t anger at some foreign enemy. His frustration seemed directed at Hi Haven, maybe even the Hi Seishō himself.
What’s his story? she wondered.
“It’s not…untrue,” Kiba said softly, placing a reassuring hand on Momoka’s shoulder. “But we haven’t had a war of that scale in over forty years, and Hi Haven has made many changes since then.”
Iruka turned his head slightly, his jaw tightening, but he remained quiet.
Oba-chan gave the boy a small nod. “At least some of you young ones see the truth. Perhaps things will change in the future.”
“They will,” Taiga said, his wide eyes full of serious resolve. “You have my word, Granny.”
The old woman gave a respectful bow before turning and walking down the path Kiba had pointed out earlier.
They hiked for most of the day, their footsteps taking them into the wetlands that stretched between Ten Haven’s towering forests and the wide, open plains of Mizu Haven. The air grew thicker as the landscape morphed to a sprawling marshland.
When the sun hung low in the sky, casting long, golden beams that slanted through the trees and hinted at the approach of late afternoon, Kiba finally stopped them.
“This is a good place for camp,” he announced.
“But we’ve got a couple more hours of light,” Taiga protested, his voice edged with weariness as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “We could make it there before tomorrow.”
“It won’t do us any good if we arrive exhausted,” Kiba replied, his tone firm. “The bandits may not have Mana, but there’s still too much we don’t know. It would be unwise to reach them and not be ready for a fight.”
“But…” Taiga started.
“He’s right, kid,” Oba-chan said, sinking onto a nearby rock with a weary sigh. “As much as I want to get there as soon as possible, we’d be putting the people at more risk if we show up unprepared.”
“If you say so.” Taiga shrugged off his pack.
The group set to work setting up camp on the edge of a steep drop, where the land sloped into the swamp below.
They laid out their bedrolls cautiously, the dampness from the nearby marsh clinging to the air, making everything feel slightly sticky.
The earthy scent of moss and wet leaves filled her nose as they searched for dry wood along the rocky outcrop, the crackle of twigs snapping underfoot breaking the evening’s quiet.
The view from the precipice stretched far across the marshes, but the Tanshi were too tired to appreciate it. They settled in quickly, the tension of the long hike easing from their shoulders as they began to relax, pulling out rations to eat.
“Oh.” Kiba looked up from where he was spreading his own mat and blanket. “You didn’t think we were done for the day, did you?”
Is he serious? Aimee thought as Momoka groaned beside her, tucking away the rice ball she’d been about to eat.
“What now, Kiba-Sensei? No more map lessons, please,” Taiga complained, joining the others as they gathered around their Squad Leader.
Kiba scratched the back of his head, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Well, you’ve all been hounding me to teach you more about Mana and the various shinobi techniques that use it. But you can have the rest of the day off if you're too tired.”
Aimee watched as the three younger Tanshi practically exploded with renewed energy, springing to their feet and assuring Kiba they were more than ready.
Up until then, Kiba had focused most of their training on formations, teamwork, and recognizing the flow of Mana within their bodies for better control.
It was basic work they’d covered in early training, but he pushed them further, making them repeat the exercises in challenging environments that tested both their concentration and stamina.
One session had even involved maintaining focus while balancing stacks of books on their heads and being chased by a herd of wild horses.
“All right, if you’re all sure you’re up to it, we’ll get started,” Kiba said. “As you know, there are three main methods for using Mana as a shinobi.”
“Mind, body, and element,” Momoka chimed in immediately.
“Yes.” Kiba nodded. “Simply put, mind techniques allow you to sense and confuse the enemy.
Body techniques can enhance speed and strength, sometimes to very dramatic results, or be used to aid a comrade's recovery. And element techniques harness the five elements and their combinations to manipulate the external environment.”
“Fireball!” Taiga shouted, his eyes lighting up. “Are we going to learn how to throw fire like the Great Phoenix?!”
“No,” Kiba replied, his tone dry as he began pacing around them, his hands clasped thoughtfully behind his back. “We’re going to learn something much more difficult.” He paused for effect. “And far more useful.”
“More difficult than a fireball?” Brows furrowing, Taiga crossed his arms.
Kiba stopped at the edge of the drop-off, leaning back on his heels, eyes gazing out over the expanse.
“The challenge with fireball techniques isn’t about performing them,” he said, his tone more measured now.
“It’s about knowing when to use them.” He glanced back at them with a wry smile.
“But for today,” he continued, taking a deliberate step backward.
Momoka gasped as he went over the edge. “Kiba-Sensei!” She ran after him. Even Aimee’s heart picked up a beat, though she knew he was likely fine.
They rushed to the edge after him.
This better be part of the training, Squad Leader, Aimee thought, her stomach twisting in a way it hadn’t in a very long time.
When they peered over the edge, Kiba sat there casually, his back resting against the cliff wall, one hand raised above him, fingers skimming the rock. No handholds or ledges were visible, and nothing explained how he was suspended in place.
“Sensei!?” Momoka called. “Are you okay?”
“What?” Kiba glanced up, blinking as if just noticing their presence. “Oh, yes. I’m fine. Just observing the terrain below.”
“Show off.” Iruka crossed his arms.