"You're not from Konoha, are you?" she asked, her tone casual.
Souta blinked, tilting his head slightly. "I've been here long enough to call it home."
"Not the same thing," she murmured. "Where were you born?"
He chuckled. "Somewhere boring. I doubt you'd care for the details."
"Try me."
She wasn't letting this go.
Souta exhaled, letting a hint of amusement flicker across his face. "A small village near the border. Nothing special. No noble clans, no secret techniques, just farmers and merchants trying to get by."
Hana hummed thoughtfully. "And yet, you're here."
"People move around," he replied easily. "I wanted something different. A tea shop seemed like a nice change of pace."
She glanced at him. "A tea worker with interesting… acquaintances."
Souta smiled. "I'm friendly."
"Too friendly, maybe."
"Should I be less so?"
Hana's lips pressed together slightly. "Most civilians wouldn't be so composed."
"Maybe I'm just good under pressure."
"Maybe." A pause. Then, she added, "Or maybe you've been under pressure before."
Souta smiled. "Life has its moments."
She was digging. Carefully, subtly, but digging nonetheless. She wanted to know what he was hiding—if he had some bloodline, some ability, something beyond the surface of a 'simple tea worker.'
Souta had no intention of making it easy.
"You seem awfully interested in my life," he mused. "Should I be flattered?"
"You should be careful."
"Why? Am I in danger?"
Hana's gaze lingered for a second too long. "That depends."
"On?"
"What you're hiding."
Souta let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head. "You've got the wrong idea. I serve tea, I sweep floors, and sometimes, I chat with interesting people. That's all."
She didn't react outwardly, but he knew she wasn't buying it. That was fine. Doubt was useful—it kept people guessing.
"I suppose we'll see," Hana murmured.
He glanced back at her, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Looking forward to it."
She didn't reply immediately, but as they moved through the road, she gave him one last glance—calm, measured, but with a trace of something else beneath the surface.
Then, without another word, she walked ahead.
Souta let out a breath, running a hand through his hair. Things were getting more complicated.
And somehow, he didn't mind.
As the village came into full view, Souta allowed himself a brief moment of satisfaction. The gates of Konoha stood tall, familiar yet imposing. He wasn't home—Konoha was never truly home—but it was where the game unfolded.
Hana remained beside him, her gaze scanning the early morning activity with practiced ease.
The guards at the gate recognized him with little more than a nod. Being a tea shop worker had its advantages—no one suspected the man who poured their drinks of anything beyond idle gossip. Hana, however, was another story. The moment the guards spotted her, their posture shifted ever so slightly, acknowledging her clan's influence.
"Hyūga-sama," one of them greeted politely.
Hana gave a small nod in response, neither warm nor dismissive.
The guards turned their attention to Souta. "You've been gone longer than usual."
Souta offered a casual shrug. "Got caught up in some unexpected travel."
One of the guards frowned slightly but didn't press. Souta had built his reputation as a simple civilian—one who wasn't worth the extra scrutiny. That was precisely how he needed it to stay.
They were waved through without issue, stepping into the bustling streets of Konoha. The familiar scent of fresh bread and morning dew filled the air, mingling with the distant sounds of shopkeepers setting up for the day.
"Where now?" Hana asked, her voice neutral.
Souta glanced at her. "I head back to home. You?"
"I have my own business to attend to."
That was expected. Hana had done what she came to do—assess him. Whether she was satisfied with the results remained to be seen.
She lingered for a second longer than necessary before finally turning on her heel, walking away without another word.
Souta exhaled slowly, watching her disappear into the crowd. He had managed to keep her curiosity contained, but not extinguished. That was fine. Curiosity was inevitable. As long as she didn't uncover too much, she could be useful.
For now, there were more pressing matters.
Danzo was still a problem. Root was still a threat. And his own position within this web of power was still precarious.
Souta turned, making his way toward the home.
...
The moment he stepped inside, he shut the door behind him, exhaling softly.
"Pakura…"
As soon as he spoke, a sharp sensation pressed against his neck. His breath hitched, a bead of sweat forming on his forehead.
"…Pakura…" he muttered again.
A soft hum came from behind him.
"Are you angry?" he asked, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.
Pakura didn't move the blade immediately. Instead, she let the silence stretch before finally withdrawing it, stepping in front of him.
"Who was that woman?"
Souta raised a brow. "You'll have to be more specific."
Pakura's gaze narrowed slightly. "The Hyūga woman."
Souta sighed. "…That was Lady Hyūga. I don't know what she was doing in that town, but she saw me, recognized me, and asked me to return to the village with her."
Pakura hummed, her expression unreadable.
"I had to be extra careful while i was following you," she muttered. "The Byakugan is really annoying."
Souta smirked at her irritation, stepping closer. "You sound jealous."
Pakura scoffed. "I sound cautious."
"Right, cautious," he mused, closing the gap between them in a slow, deliberate movement.
Before she could react, his hands slid around her waist from behind, fingers pressing lightly against the curve of her slim figure. He could feel the tension in her body—the way she stiffened slightly at the sudden contact.