Who are you?

Part 19

Shiori was instantly alert, but she didn't pick up any weapons. She didn't have any on her person since they'd changed her clothing, and if she wanted one, she had to lounge for her bag.

Of course, there was always the option to use chakra scalpels. But she didn't want to pick a fight if the other party was not hostile. So she stayed seated.

The man who entered the room was tall and lean, probably in his mid-thirties. He had long, flowing hair the color of midnight, which cascaded down his back in soft waves, and black eyes. He looked beautiful. His features were more feminine and soft.

He wore traditional robes adorned with intricate patterns and symbols, reflecting his role as the head of the Raven Temple. He wore a simple pendant around his neck, which was barely visible as a bump under his clothing.

Shiori stayed silent, analyzing him. His hands were in his sleeves, so he couldn't say much about him. His skin was pale, so he must not spend a lot of time under the sun. There was also no spotting on his skin due to the sunlight.

Someone with his skin tone should be more susceptible to it since she doubted he would be a fanatic about sunscreen. His posture was very relaxed, and he screamed with confidence.

He must have known she at least had some shinobi training, so leaving himself so relaxed meant he was confident he could take her down easily if she made an attempt. It also meant that she had to be cautious.

His eyes were definitely those of a worrier. He was trying to keep his aura open and friendly, but Shiori could feel something dark underneath it, fighting to get out. She did not want to anger this man. His chakra was very strong. Even though he was holding it back and hidden, and she could barely sense it, it was very refined and steady.

Tsunade-sensei once taught her about it. Shinobi may be able to hide their chakra and make the amount of their reserves undetectable. Still, there was another indicator that could give them away if they were unaware.

Using chakra would strengthen your pathways, so the flow of chakra in your body would become smoother and steadier. A person with no training may still have large reserves, but their flow is shaky. There would be waste and sparks, especially in the tenketsu.

But someone who trained their chakra regularly didn't have the same problem. Their chakra would flow more smoothly. Of course, chakra control was also a factor, but density and flow were also critical.

This man had a heavy and smooth flow. It was like a high-quality honey or syrup if she had to make the comparison. It also seemed lazy and curious at the surface. A curiosity about her as if he was aware she was assessing him and waiting for her reaction.

The only thing she could think of was that he probably had the letter Tsunade-sensei gave her. It was in her clothing, after all. So he was either the person she was looking for or at least knew why she was there. It could be the reason he was so relaxed around her.

When Shiori didn't do anything, he decided to come closer and sit in front of her. Shiori immediately noticed that she hadn't heard a single sound as the man moved. No footsteps can be explained by some shinobi training, but she also didn't hear the fabric of his clothing make a single sound as he sat in front of her.

His movements were smooth and calculated. He seemed in control of every little movement. Shiori felt slightly uncomfortable. She was sure that if this man wanted anything from her, he would have no problem getting it. She had no chance against him.

Shiori was sure that he could see through any act she may put up, so she decided to be honest. After all, it was easier to withhold information from the whole truth than to make a lie.