[A/N : tell me what you felt about this chapter, ]
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After the battle, Indra and his team were seated inside a wooden carriage, its wheels creaking softly as it rolled along the dirt road towards the capital of the Land of Fire. The late afternoon sun cast a warm orange glow across the landscape, with forests stretching endlessly on both sides.
Inside, the atmosphere was far more relaxed compared to earlier.
For some reason, the two merchants they had escorted began showering the team with praise.
"Lord shinobi, your battles were truly splendid!" one of them said, leaning forward eagerly. "To think you handled those attackers so easily…"
The other merchant quickly followed up, his tone turning opportunistic.
"Say… my two daughter is single. A fine young ladys! How about you meet her?" he added with a wide, flattering smile.
Indra and Masao both froze for a second—then sweat-dropped.
"No, thank you," they replied in perfect sync.
The merchant's smile twitched, his confidence instantly crumbling as he leaned back awkwardly.
The second merchant, however, wasn't discouraged. He glanced toward Himawari, who was quietly sitting by the window, her attention completely focused on the passing scenery outside.
Just as he opened his mouth—
Indra's Sharingan activated with a faint glow.
Without saying a word, he turned his gaze toward the merchant. The look in his eyes was calm… but carried a clear warning.
The merchant stiffened and shut his mouth immediately.
"…I'll just sit quietly," he muttered, lowering his head and staying silent for the rest of the ride.
Himawari remained completely unaware, still watching the outside world with quiet curiosity as the wind gently brushed against her hair through the slightly open window.
Only Kakashi and Masao noticed what had happened.
Both of them exchanged a brief glance—then sweat-dropped at Indra's reaction.
The rest of the journey passed without incident.
Soon, the large gates of the capital came into view. Tall walls surrounded the city, with guards stationed at the entrance. The streets inside were lively, filled with vendors, civilians, and the distant sounds of chatter and footsteps.
The carriage came to a stop.
Indra and the others stepped down, escorting the merchants safely through the busy streets until they reached their destination—a well-established trading building.
After ensuring everything was settled, the mission was officially complete.
Kakashi stepped aside and performed a quick sequence of hand signs. A small summoning seal appeared, and in a puff of smoke, a messenger animal appeared briefly before vanishing again—carrying a letter addressed to Naruto.
Indra watched this with a slightly annoyed expression.
Seriously… in this Boruto era, we already have computers, communicators, CCTV cameras, refrigerators, and even advanced scientific ninja tools… but still no proper cell phones?
The technology here is completely inconsistent, he complained inwardly.
Kakashi, as if nothing unusual had happened, turned toward the team.
"Alright," he began casually, hands in his pockets. "The mission is complete. And since you all performed excellently…"
He paused slightly.
"…more like monsters," he added under his breath.
Then he gave his usual closed-eye smile.
"I've decided to give you all a break. Since we're already in the capital, you're free to enjoy yourselves for a while."
For a brief moment, there was silence—
Then—
"Seriously?!"
Masao and Himawari immediately lit up, their faces full of excitement.
Indra, standing slightly to the side, let out a small breath and allowed a faint smile to form.
Even he couldn't deny it—after everything, a break was necessary.
Not long after, the team split up, exploring the bustling streets filled with shops, food stalls, and colorful displays.
At a clothing store, Himawari stood in front of a mirror, holding up a kimono with bright interest.
"Indra-kun, what do you think of this one?" she asked, her voice full of enthusiasm.
Indra, who had been glancing around the store absentmindedly, turned toward her—
And froze.
For a brief moment, his thoughts went completely blank.
Himawari wore a deep navy blue kimono that resembled the midnight sky. The fabric was decorated with delicate silver-threaded patterns scattered across it like stars. As she moved slightly, the patterns shimmered softly under the shop's light.
A pale obi wrapped neatly around her waist, complementing the darker tones perfectly.
Her long, midnight-blue hair was carefully braided and rested over one shoulder, while a few loose strands framed her face, softening her appearance even more.
It was simple. Elegant.
And undeniably beautiful.
Without thinking, Indra spoke.
"Absolutely beautiful…"
The words slipped out naturally.
Himawari blinked—then her cheeks turned a soft shade of red.
A gentle smile formed on her lips.
"Then I'll take this one," she said immediately, clearly pleased.
Indra suddenly snapped back to reality.
Realizing what he had just said, he quickly covered part of his face, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Well… I'm kind of thirsty. I'll go get some water," he muttered.
Before she could respond, he had already turned and walked away faster than usual.
Himawari watched him go, her smile turning slightly amused.
Indra-kun can be surprisingly cute sometimes, she thought quietly.
Meanwhile—
"Kakashi-sensei, how do I look?!"
Masao's voice echoed from another section of the street.
He stood there proudly, wearing a bright Hawaiian-style shirt covered in toad patterns, matching shorts, sandals, and two round sunglasses.
He even struck a pose.
Kakashi stared at him silently.
There was a long pause.
Then—
"…I see."
His expression remained completely blank.
I should have refused to come with him, Kakashi thought tiredly, letting out a quiet sigh.
Meanwhile, far away in Konoha—
Naruto had just received Kakashi's message.
As he read through it, his expression slowly grew serious.
Shinobi dressed in black…
Fighting like machines…
The description stirred an old memory.
Root.
The secretive organization once led by Danzo.
Could it be…?
Naruto frowned.
No. Root was disbanded. Its remnants were absorbed into the Anbu. It shouldn't be them.
Then that only left one possibility.
Another hidden force…?
His gaze sharpened.
But why now?
He exhaled slowly.
"No matter… I should inform Sasuke."
His voice was calm, but firm.
"I've got a bad feeling about this. And with the Chunin Exams coming up… having him around would make things easier."
Forming hand signs, Naruto used reverse summoning to send Sasuke a letter.
Once it was done, he walked toward the window and looked outside.
The village was peaceful.
Children played in the streets. People moved about their daily lives.
Everything felt normal.
Naruto rested his hand lightly against the window frame.
"…I hope it stays this way," he murmured.
Meanwhile—
Sasuke stood alone when the letter arrived.
He opened it without hesitation.
As he read, his expression darkened slightly.
A mysterious force moving in the shadows…
Even with Naruto's leadership, someone was still daring enough to act.
But then—
Indra's name appeared.
Sasuke's eyes paused on that part.
His expression became complicated.
For years, he had been traveling, tracking the traces of the Otsutsuki.
Because of that…
He hadn't been there.
Not for their birth.
Not for anything after.
A faint bitterness settled in his chest.
What kind of father does that make me…?
He closed his eyes briefly, letting out a quiet breath.
"…Tch."
After a moment of silence, he spoke.
"I should visit them."
And with that decision made, the stillness around him seemed to shift slightly—
As if something long overdue was finally about to happen.
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