The simple, unremarkable dessert was easy to eat, and this kind of high-calorie food was well suited to shinobi who had to travel long distances.
After wiping his mouth, Rikusei saw the eager, troublemaking look in Madara's eyes. He quickly slung on his pack, picked up the scroll beside him, and followed Madara out onto the street.
Sunlight fell on them, kindling excitement in their hearts. Battle-fire danced in Uchiha Madara's eager eyes, while Rikusei, following close behind, smiled as he watched Madara's back.
Feeling the gaze behind him, Madara knew this wasn't the best place to fight. He could only hold back for now and head toward the middle of the village.
"Excuse me, sir. We're visitors. Is there a resting plaza in the middle of the village?" Rikusei ran over to an ice cream shop and asked the owner, who was sitting inside reading the Konoha Daily.
The owner handed the boy a frosty ice pop and kindly pointed ahead. "Follow this road and walk a little farther. You should see the plaza."
After thanking the owner, Rikusei returned to Madara's side. Feeling the coolness seep from his mouth to the depths of his being, he narrowed his eyes and asked, "Teacher, you're not going to tear down the whole village, are you?"
The man took the ice pop and shot him an exasperated look. The chill on his tongue dispelled the heat on his face. "This time, I'm only going after the Raikage."
"That's good."
Rikusei quietly shut his mouth and crunched on the ice in silence, savoring the coolness as it went down.
The glow of early autumn still carried the lingering heat of midsummer. The plaza lay beneath the blazing sun, and most people had retreated to the shade nearby, leisurely taking in Kumogakure on