Konoha Park.
Oto Uchiha stood on tiptoe and looked around for a long time, but the person she was waiting for still hadn't arrived.
Zou was an hour late. Counting the hour she had arrived early, she had been waiting for two full hours.
Zou shouldn't be this late. Had something else held him up?
Worry showed on Oto Uchiha's face. She couldn't help recalling Zou Hyuga's grave expression and serious tone when they had arranged to meet.
With a sigh, Oto Uchiha left the park. Waiting wouldn't solve anything.
She intended to go to the Hyuga Clan Compound herself and ask what had happened. She had taken that route several times and was reasonably familiar with it.
Leaving the quiet park, she stepped onto a bustling street and joined the crowd.
Oto Uchiha keenly noticed that many of her ANBU colleagues were mingling among the people, making her frown inwardly.
With so many ANBU here, was something major going to happen tonight?
Yet the Fourth Hokage hadn't issued any orders to her squad. He had even specifically given them several days off.
Her thoughts in turmoil, she stopped dwelling on it and continued toward the Hyuga Clan Compound.
Just then, Oto Uchiha spotted two familiar figures approaching and slowly came to a stop.
"Kakashi, don't be so cold! Has the darkness of ANBU gotten to you?"
Guy spoke as he walked beside Kakashi. He had finally happened upon his dear friend on the street, only to be greeted by Kakashi's indifference.
But there was more helplessness than indifference in Kakashi's eyes.
He really didn't know how to refuse Guy's challenges. Their usual sparring was one thing, but why did even rock-paper-scissors have to be a challenge?
If he refused, Guy wouldn't feel discouraged. It would only fire him up