Chapter Eighty-Three: The Puppet

“As expected of you, senior!” Once again, Kato Mikaze couldn’t help but admire inwardly, then turned and addressed his two seniors, Kamizuki Ryuun and Kaneko Dou, stationed at the gates of the Leaf Village.

“Once again, I find both of you on duty at the village gates. I seem to run into you every time, and both of you are always so diligent and conscientious. It’s really hard work, I must say.”

At Kato Mikaze’s words, Kamizuki Ryuun replied, “Kato, you’re already a Jonin of the Leaf now, and you’re still calling us seniors? That’s too polite. Come over here and I’ll handle your entry paperwork.”

While Kato Mikaze was completing his entry procedures with Kamizuki Ryuun, he chatted amiably. “Even though I’m a Jonin now, I’ll always be your junior. There’s still so much I can learn from seniors like you.”

He didn’t forget about Kaneko Dou, who was standing guard on the other side of the gate, and called out, “Isn’t that right, Senior Kaneko?”

Kaneko Dou, on the opposite side of the gate, didn’t answer, but his stance became even straighter, and he shifted the conch-shaped ninja blade on his back to a more upright position.

“Kato, you’re as courteous as ever… What’s this?”

According to procedure, Kamizuki Ryuun inspected Kato Mikaze’s belongings and discovered a delicate little bottle containing a lilac-colored liquid. Next to it was a pair of exquisitely crafted, crystal-clear figurines.

“Hmm? Oh, you mean these? They’re gifts I brought back for Tsunade from the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind,” Kato Mikaze explained, realizing that Kamizuki Ryuun had found the presents he’d bought for Tsunade.

“This little bottle contains a specialty perfume from the Land of Rain. It’s said to be extracted from a rare plant that grows alongside salamanders…”

“And these figurines—I specially commissioned a craftsman in an oasis town in the Land of Wind. Their carving skills are superb. The figurines were carved in the likeness of Tsunade and myself, capturing the scene when she came to see me off a few days ago.”

“Take a look at the craftsmanship, senior—doesn’t it really capture that moment when Tsunade was saying goodbye to me? You were here that day, after all. Give me your opinion.”

With enthusiasm, Kato Mikaze picked up the figurines and held them up close to Kamizuki Ryuun, even making sure to bring them right to his eyes in case the dim evening light made it hard to see.

By now, Kamizuki Ryuun could clearly see the delicate gifts, especially the figurines, which appeared to be carved from some kind of gemstone. Their crystalline texture shone brightly under the lanterns at the gate, nearly dazzling his eyes.

Just as Kato Mikaze had said, the craftsmanship was remarkable; the figurines perfectly captured the likeness and attire of Kato Mikaze and Tsunade, their poses frozen at that very scene of farewell—Tsunade grabbing Kato’s collar and bending down to kiss him on the brow, a blatant display of affection.

“…Yes… It’s very accurate… Quite impressive…” Kamizuki Ryuun stared blankly at the figurines, answering mechanically.

“Is there no justice left in this world? Isn’t there anyone to stop this?” he thought. “I even changed my shift from day to night, and I still can’t escape from them? Kato Mikaze, are you really going to feed me this much dog food all by yourself tonight?”

“I’m not even single—I’ve got a wife and child… Can’t you make someone else do this? Isn’t Kaneko Dou standing right there?”

“Right? I thought so too—they really look just like Tsunade and me!” Kato Mikaze continued, oblivious to the change in Kamizuki Ryuun’s expression. “Let me tell you, the craftsmen in the Land of Wind are truly skilled. I just described the scene, and they carved these so perfectly. Maybe it’s because the Sand Village is so good at making puppets.”

“If you ever get a mission in the Land of Wind, you could get one for your wife, or maybe I could bring one for your son. I’m sure they’d love it.”

Kato Mikaze kept on enthusiastically introducing the figurines, even recommending that Kamizuki Ryuun get some for his own family, completely unaware of his senior’s increasingly strained expression.

“…That’s a good suggestion. Next time I go to the Land of Wind, I’ll definitely get one for my wife, carved to look like the two of us,” Kamizuki Ryuun replied, his voice barely steady. “And when I do, I’ll make sure to bring it—just—for—you—to—see!”

“Hey! Hey! Senior, you must be joking—why would I want to see you and your wife showing off your affection? I’m not a single guy, you know!”

“I’m not single either! And you know not to flaunt this in front of others…”

Seeing that Kato Mikaze was about to continue, Kamizuki Ryuun couldn’t take it anymore and cut him off, his words slow and deliberate:

“Kato, your entry—paperwork—is—done. You—can—go—now!”

“Aren’t—you—going—to—see—Lady—Tsunade? I—won’t—keep—you—any—longer—from—your—date!”

“…Huh? Haha… You’re right! I almost forgot, I need to go see Tsunade.”

With that, Kato Mikaze quickly gathered his belongings, bid farewell to Kaneko Dou, and hurried off toward the hospital.

Feeling pressed for time, Kato Mikaze cast a Wind-Light technique on himself, his entire figure glowing with a faint bluish-green light, looking quite striking as he vanished from the village gate in a gust of wind.

Within moments, he was completely out of sight, leaving Kamizuki Ryuun and Kaneko Dou standing in silence at their posts.

Time passed quietly.

“Kamizuki… are you full now?”

“…Yeah. I get the feeling Kato did that on purpose. What do you think, Kaneko?”

“Did he? Kato’s always been so polite, ever since our days at the ninja academy. Even now that he’s a Jonin, he treats us with the same respect. He even complimented me on my dedication to duty just now.”

Speaking of duty, Kaneko Dou glanced around and, seeing no one approaching, took out the copy of “Her Intimate Love” he’d hidden earlier and began reading, resting his conch-shaped ninja blade against the gate.

Kamizuki Ryuun, hearing his companion disagree, spoke again. “That romance guidebook—does it work? I need to understand how young people think about love these days. Lend it to me when you’re done.”

Kaneko Dou, absorbed in the racy content, flipped another page and replied without looking up, “No way, I’m not finished yet. When I’m done, maybe…”

…

PS: New author seeks support, recommendations, and collections!