𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘉𝘌𝘋𝘌𝘝𝘐𝘓𝘌𝘋 𝘓𝘌𝘎𝘈𝘊𝘠 | ⁿᵃʳᵘᵗᵒ

Fuma Jin

FUMA JIN

✧

The next morning before they set off to the Fuma, Asami had Hikaku summon one of his hawks to send Madara the letter about the scroll they found on the Shimura. She could have waited till she got back to the compound, but she felt it was important to alert Madara of their enemy's conniving as soon as possible. They needed time to come up with their course of action, and waiting however many extra days while she was dealing with the Fuma wasn't something they could afford. That wasn't even taking into account the possibility that she could be killed while away from the compound, and the information would die with her.

The possibility was unnerving, but it was still a very real one.

Asami stood at the balcony of the room they rented for the night, Hikaku beside her. Izanami was inside, straightening up and gathering their things to prepare for the group to leave.

It was early morning, a cool summer breeze blowing through her hair, some of it pulled over her shoulder and the rest loose down her back. She was dressed in a black high-neck yukata, for once free of the chokuto that usually sat around her waist. Instead, the weapon lay inside on the bedroll she had used for the night, deciding she didn't want to put it on until she had to leave. She would probably need to be armed the entire time she was with the Fuma, including while she slept if they were to stay the night. She didn't want to wear it now if she was going to have to constantly for the next two days.

Asami wasn't sure how friendly the Fuma were going to be with them when they showed up. The Uchiha and Fuma were distantly related, but still only allies and nothing more. It's not as though they were closely tied or trusted them enough to be completely relaxed in their presence. Even when you had allies, you still had to watch out for yourself and cover your own back. You couldn't afford to be too comfortable with anyone outside of your clan, no matter who they were.

It was one of the pains of living in a war-torn time. There was no true loyalty other than your own clan. Truthfully, Asami thought it was a shame. Not that you were forced to trust your own clan, because frankly, that was a given. You should trust your clan without a second thought. But it was a shame those who claimed to be allies would be quick to stab you in the back just to gain the upper hand. You had to be on guard 24/7.

It was like that anywhere you went, really. Even straying from your compound could result in death. She had learned that the hard way as a child, and if Izuna hadn't come to her rescue back then, she probably would have died. Hell, you couldn't even stand by the river and clean your things without someone leaping out of the trees and stabbing you to death in one clean swoop. Those Shimura from the day prior were a demonstration of that.

There was the possibility the Fuma would find it insulting that their party was going to remain armed the entire time, but they were going to have to get over it. The Uchiha didn't wear heavy battle armor anyway, so it was a fair compromise if they kept their weapons on them. If they were given lip about it Asami had the intention to shut it down. Politely, that was.

Asami held the letter bound into a scroll for Madara. She scrunched up her brows, staring down the hawk that sat perched on Hikaku's arm like she was scoping out the enemy. Slowly, she extended her hand, holding the scroll out to the bird. She waited, getting ready to yank her hand back in case the stupid bird decided to scratch her like they usually would.

Hikaku stared at Asami with an amused expression, finding her hesitancy around the bird a little funny. Especially when she was usually pretty neutral. "Not a fan of the hawks?'

Asami frowned. "No."

The bird suddenly snatched the scroll from her, scratching the top of her hand with its talons. It bristled its feathers as though it was offended by her comment, before taking off without further instruction.