善狐・ZENKO

７章・Chapter 7

Hues of deep blue washed over the small town, indicating the coming of night. Amongst the indigo veil floated a sea of glowing golden lights encased by deep red lanterns, its lustre illuminating onto the streets and people below. The crowd of pedestrians bathed in its glow, strolling and chatting through the bustling roads freely.

You and your superior contently watched the three genin mill about the various stalls all lined up in a series of neat rows. Naruto had been the most ecstatic of the three, jumping from store to store with stars in his eyes. Following the small blonde was a mildly indifferent Sasuke, with Sakura stuck closely to his side.

"This is nice," Kakashi mused, "Didn't think you'd be the sightseeing type, though. How'd you find this place?"

"I've been assigned missions to this area in the past," you recalled while watching Sakura save Naruto from being swindled, "I've come here enough times to know this town fairly well."

Kakashi hummed in acknowledgement, "Thanks again for taking the kids here. They look like they're having fun."

"No need for that," you averted your eyes, "As I've said before, it's my apology for my shameful performance in the previous mission. But while we're on the topic, you've yet to explain yourself—who had sent you after me? I can't imagine how anyone would benefit from that."

"I'm surprised you have to ask that. I answer to only one person, after all." Your superior regarded you with a tilt of his head. "Lord Hokage had asked me to ensure you wouldn't harm Yūtako. From past records, he'd noticed that any cases dealing with rogue Inarinomiya clan members would be assigned to Inarinomiya shinobi. And without fail, those very missions would always end in some kind of failure or death... Naturally, one would come to suspect that those Inarinomiya shinobi had been eliminating their rogue brethren behind the scenes."

You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion, "Lord Hokage is the one assigning us these missions. If he's so suspect, then why does he continue to do so?"

"That's the thing," Kakashi scratched the back of his neck, perturbed, "He'd never wanted to give you those missions in the first place, but Lady Tamamo was insistent. And I don't have to tell you about the lingering influence she still possesses among the council, even though she's no longer part of it..."

You nodded, grandmother never trusted others to do her work for her, much less Leaf shinobi. "They are our family affairs, after all."

"Sure, but..." The silver-haired man sighed as he crossed his arms, "Lady Tamamo should never have known about these sightings of Inarinomiya members in the first place. Lord Third has made it strictly confidential to withhold this information from her, in fear that involvement from your clan will only end in more deaths for those sighted... Do you get what I'm saying?"

You stared up at him, the gears turning in your head. "Someone who has access to that confidential information is leaking it to grandmother? What would they gain from that?"

"Think about it. If that person knows that your clan has secretly been killing off their own members for years, and still chooses to inform Lady Tamamo of these sightings..."

You stopped in your tracks, the world around you slowing to a stop. The idle chatter of the people around you slowly faded into a soft hum to accommodate for the blaring static reverberating in your ears. A cold chill swept down your spine as you processed the information.

Is it possible that... someone is planning the extinction of our bloodline by manipulating our honour? I should not be surprised—our clan is largely feared amongst the village but... ah, am I actually a little afraid right now?

Watching your expression change, Kakashi gently placed a hand on your shoulder and guided you out of the walkway to allow others to pass. He could see your thoughts running a mile a minute, your eyes glazed in deep deliberation.