The night slipped away without a sound. Although the rainy weather kept the morning in the Land of Rain from being bright and sunny, the sky had begun to lighten, making it easy to tell that it was daytime.
A cool breeze slipped through the window and into the room. The refreshing spring air woke Jiuming from his sleep.
"The weather in the Land of Rain really is terrible." He slowly opened his eyes and gazed at the drizzle outside the window. After murmuring to himself, he sat up in bed. He looked around but saw no sign of Uchiha Fugaku or Hyuga Hiashi. After getting dressed and stepping out of his room, he found the living room empty and felt a little puzzled.
"Where did everyone go?"
He looked up at the clock on the living room wall. The hands had just reached seven.
"It's so early. Did they all go out?"
Jiuming yawned and returned to his room. He took a scroll from his ninja tool pouch and undid its seal, making a toothbrush, towel, and other toiletries appear in his hand. After putting on a pair of comfortable slippers, he stepped outside and began washing up beneath the awning.
"Uncle Jiuming, you really are up."
As Jiuming brushed his teeth, Konan approached in a raincoat. She stepped beneath the awning, took off her raincoat, and greeted him with a smile.
"Konan, where is everyone? Why are you the only one back?"
Foam clung to the corners of Jiuming's mouth as he asked, his words muffled.
"Jiraiya-sensei said he was taking us to train today, so he took us out first thing this morning."
"As for your companions, they said they were going to a nearby town to gather information."
"Sensei said not to wake you. He said