"The price? From just the two of you?"
Mikazuki Rukuu stopped in the doorway, his fingertips still resting on the frame. He glanced back toward the end of the corridor. It was quiet. Only the evening breeze rustled through the window lattice, and not a sliver of light escaped Asuma's room. He was clearly still absorbed in cycling his Chakra.
Only then did Rukuu relax. He gently pulled the door shut behind him, then looked back at the heap of objects on the bed. His frown deepened.
"Aren't you afraid someone will find out?"
Rukuu lowered his voice further. As he approached the table, he took care to skirt the bottles and jars hastily gathered together. "
Last time you secretly set up an array on the training ground, Kurenai-sensei nearly caught you. If I hadn't pulled you away in time, the whole team would know about these 'unorthodox tricks' of yours by now."
Kawaki Aoba was crouched on the floor, gathering scattered talismans. His hands paused. His fingernail pressed a crease into the edge of the white paper he held, its surface covered in twisted markings.
He looked up at Rukuu. The dim lantern light fell across his face from behind, casting uneven shadows that made his expression hard to read.
"I'm not doing anything bad. I just want to see if there's another way to get stronger."
He folded the talisman and tucked it into his clothes. As he stood, he pushed a wooden carving toward the pile on the table. "
You know how it is. Asuma-sensei is an Elite Jonin. You're good at Wind Release and tracking. Even Mizuno, who only just joined us, has her family's secret Water Release techniques. I'm the only one..."
He stopped halfway through. His throat bobbed, but he said no