Beyond the village boundary, the woods thickened on either side of the main road, keeping the heat at bay.
Half an hour into the journey, their formation settled into place on its own.
Tazuna led the way with his luggage slung from a carrying pole. His pace was slow, his right foot dragged slightly, and he never once looked back.
Kakashi brought up the rear, his stride casual but his position never a step out of place.
Sakura walked second with the large pack on her back, its straps digging into her shoulders. Every so often, she shifted it to the other shoulder.
Naruto sidled up beside Sasuke and asked him something. Sasuke moved half a step toward the roadside.
Another question, another half step.
By the third time, Naruto realized he was standing beside the tall grass, his head covered in grass seeds. Sheepishly, he shuffled back to the middle of the road.
Kiyoshi stayed in the middle.
Once his pace settled, he freed his hands to attend to his own business.
The booklet in the inner pocket of his clothes had been resting against his right ribs.
He opened the pocket, took out the booklet, and slipped it into the left inner pocket, laying it flat against his left ribs.
Into the space on the right, he slid three kunai.
His left side grew a little heavier; his right was clear for action.
He lowered the front of his clothes and kept walking.
Along the way, he studied each of the other four travelers' strides.
Tazuna took short steps.
Sakura switched shoulders at roughly equal intervals.
Naruto's mouth never stopped, but his footing was steady.
Sasuke always kept an arm's length from the others, approaching no one.
After watching them all, Kiyoshi turned his attention to the road.