On the way back to the village.
The Five Kage each had their own route. They parted ways at the crossroads outside Amegakure, each leading their own forces in a different direction.
Konoha's contingent took the middle road, with the most people and the grandest procession.
Hashirama walked at the front, his hands clasped behind his back, like an old man out for a stroll. Tsunade followed beside him. She still looked unhappy, but she was considerably more relaxed than on the way there.
Jiraiya and Kakashi walked behind them. Jiraiya had a grass stem between his lips, while that little orange book had reappeared in Kakashi's hands. Who knew where he had dug it out after the battle?
Genya walked to one side, with Konan beside him.
Konan followed in silence. Ino and Hinata walked on Genya's other side. Ino kept stealing glances at Konan, while Hinata kept her head down, her cheeks flushed.
Genya could feel it.
Several gazes kept lingering on him from different directions.
A little behind him to the left was Kurenai Yuhi. She walked with several jonin, her eyes drifting toward him now and then, a faint smile playing at her lips.
It wasn't a happy smile. It was the teasing kind that said, Let's see how many more you can bring home.
A little ahead of him to the right was Chinatsu. She was walking among the Uchiha clan members, ostensibly watching the road, but she kept glancing over out of the corner of her eye. Her gaze was like a knife, digging into Konan again and again.
Akari and Akane were beside her. Neither looked particularly pleased, but neither said anything.
Ino noticed it too. She leaned toward Genya's ear and whispered.
"You're done for."
Genya's expression didn't change.
"What do you