The afternoon New Team 7 set out.
On the second floor of Ichiraku Ramen Shop.
Son Goten sat in his usual spot by the window, a bowl of noodles beside him, his chopsticks resting across its rim, untouched.
For two whole hours.
His eyes were half-closed, his web of ki perception silently extending southeast, passing through Konoha's walls and the sea of trees to cover the life energies of the four people traveling dozens of kilometers away.
Everything was normal.
Temari came over with a third cup of tea and gently set it on the table.
"How is watching them like this any different from following them yourself?"
Goten opened one eye and glanced at her.
"I'm not watching them."
He fished the Chip Fragment out of his trouser pocket and casually placed it on the table.
"I'm watching this."
Temari put down the teapot and bent over to examine the shard.
"This is what you took from Sasori?"
Temari reached out to touch it, but the instant her fingertips met its surface, she pulled them back.
"It's so hot... Its energy fluctuations are far more complex than an ordinary chakra crystal's."
"And this thing became more active after entering Konoha."
Goten picked up the shard and held it to the light.
"It's like... it's communicating with something underground."
Temari straightened, the apron across her chest stretching into a full curve.
"Are you going to investigate?"
Goten tucked the shard back into his pocket, stood up, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Of course. I've got nothing else to do anyway. Want to take a stroll with me, wifey?"
"Can you be serious?"
"I am serious. Taking my wife on an adventure-how romantic."
Temari swatted his hand away, but her ears reddened.
In the hills behind Konoha, directly beneath