The ANBU girl panted hard, the green flak jacket over her chest heaving.
Rain and sweat mingled on her face, and two drops of mud clung to her eyelashes.
I leaned against the back of my rocking chair, picking wood splinters out from under my nails.
"So you found him. Why are you panting like that? You look like there's a stray dog snapping at your heels."
She wiped her face haphazardly with her sleeve, smearing mud straight across her cheek.
"Lord Sen! This isn't a joke! Big Sis wants you to leave right away!"
She stamped her feet in agitation, her leather boots squelching in a puddle.
"He's hiding in the tallest stone tower south of the village! There's no mistaking the signal!"
I let out a huge yawn, squeezing two involuntary tears from the corners of my eyes.
Then I fished a shriveled orange out of my coat pocket and dug my thumb into its hard, yellowing peel.
"Not going. Auntie can take her own people to raid the place over that old man's bullshit."
"Those punches took a lot out of me. I need a nap now. Whoever wants to go can go."
Her eyes widened, their bloodshot corners frighteningly red as she gasped for breath.
"Big Sis said that's the Rinnegan's real body! You're the only one who can completely overpower him! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
I tossed a small piece of orange peel beside my feet, where it landed face down in the mud.
"Quit buttering me up. That cripple can't even walk. Auntie could punch his head straight into his stomach."
"Just listen to what's happening down there! The village is almost gone!"
Tears welled in her eyes as she pointed at Konoha below Kage Rock.
My hands stopped peeling the orange, its