The eighth day out of the village. Morning.
They had reached the last stretch of the coastal road.
They had crossed the bay yesterday morning, and the boat had dropped them on its eastern shore. It had taken all of yesterday to reach this final stretch.
Shrubs crowded both sides of the road, narrowing it the farther they went. Branches reached in from either side, still holding the night's rain. A brush against them sent water spilling down.
After the rain, puddles covered the low ground, one after another across the road. Their surfaces gleamed. They had to walk around them.
Dawn came slowly. Gray light crept in from beyond the sea, and the first things to brighten along the road were those scattered pools of water.
Tazuna walked among them beneath his load, the carrying pole pressing into his shoulder. His steps were a little heavier than yesterday.
In the days since leaving the village, he had spoken less and less. This morning, he had fallen completely silent. Only the carrying pole creaked.
Their formation remained unchanged.
Sakura led, Naruto brought up the rear, and Kakashi moved between positions, holding the formation together.
Sasuke walked in the middle, his eyes passing over the branches on both sides. Once he finished one sweep, he started another.
Sakura's steps were deliberately even.
As they walked, Kakashi slowed by half a step.
He said nothing.
Kiyoshi noticed.
His feet moved in response. Two small, unhurried steps brought him half a pace ahead of Tazuna on the left.
From beside him to ahead on his left-it looked like a natural adjustment.
He evened out his breathing, making those two steps seem like a coincidence.
He shifted his weight slightly onto the balls of his feet. A position like this only counted once he