The Six-Tails Appears
Outside the council hall, the autumn rain had stopped, and the mountain mist was clearing.
For the first time, mist no longer hid the long ridgeline of Mount Katsuragi. Its full outline emerged in the morning light.
Sōji stepped out of the council hall and stood on a boulder beside the cliff. His Six Eyes pierced the mist in the valley as he looked toward Kusagakure.
Ye Tong came up silently behind him, her dark brown ponytail swaying gently in the mountain wind.
Nearby, Utakata leaned against an old pine at the cliff's edge. He turned a bamboo tube absently in his hand, his amber eyes fixed in the same direction.
After last night, his presence had clearly changed. The distance of a man who lived alone had given way to a dignified calm.
Suigetsu came running out last, half a rice ball still stuffed in his mouth. "Captain, when are we leaving?" he asked, his words muffled.
"Three days from now!"
Sōji turned, the hem of his Divine Robe brushing the moss on the rock. "Suigetsu, spend these three days helping the clan's Sealing Squad check the Barrier nodes. While you're at it, get over that habit of turning into water whenever a spider scares you, like you did at Hidden Mist Port."
"Captain! You promised you wouldn't bring that up!" Suigetsu's face turned bright red.
Karin pressed her lips together to hold back a laugh, but her shoulders shook.
"Karin, help Hotaru sort through the clan's texts and ninjutsu scrolls that need to be moved. They'll form the foundation of Kusagakure's future Ninja Academy." Sōji continued assigning tasks, his voice back to its usual composure.
"Understood!" Karin pushed up her glasses and answered earnestly.
"Ye Tong, spend the next few days finding suitable ambush sites