Time is a tricky thing; sometimes it feels as slow as a snail's pace, and other times it feels as fast as Shuriken, disappearing in a flash. Especially in Konoha.
Every day when I open my eyes, before it's fully light, my body automatically remembers which training ground I need to go to.
I could almost hear Teacher Kai's loud "Youth Morning Exercise" slogan, which could scare away even the sleepiest of sleepyheads.
Then it was a whole day, sweat poured out like it was free, my arms and legs ached and then got better, then ached again, I don't know how many footprints I left on the sand, and how many times the wind flattened them.
But Tenten, I repeated this routine, crawling back to the guesthouse exhausted like a dead dog, falling asleep the moment my head hit the pillow. A week passed by quietly and without a sound.
It was another evening. The setting sun painted the sky with orange-red, crimson, and pale gold, layer upon layer, so beautiful it seemed unreal. Shira dragged her feet as she walked from the training ground to the guesthouse.
The green bodysuit she was wearing was soaked with sweat several times and then half-dried by the evening breeze. It clung stiffly to her body, stained with salt, and was not very comfortable, but Shira seemed to have gotten used to the feel of this "battle robe of youth".
My steps were a little heavy, the kind of fatigue that comes from deep within the muscles after a good workout—a heavy, satisfying exhaustion.
With each breath, I felt my lungs expand further, filled with the unique scent of wood and smoke that lingers in the evening Konoha.
The words of Kai-sensei, "Let's continue tomorrow! Let the flame of youth never go out!" still echoed in his mind. Before him was Naruto's face, exhausted but still grinning foolishly, and Rock Lee's bright eyes, which were also on the verge of collapse, yet still encouraging him.
Such days are simple, fulfilling, and the sweat flows freely without any messy thoughts in my mind. It seems pretty good.
Pushing open the somewhat worn wooden door of the guesthouse courtyard, the familiar, subtle atmosphere of daily life belonging to the Sunagakure squad rushed towards me.
Asuka is probably fiddling with his fancy ninja tools again, Sasori is definitely polishing his precious puppet, Sada is likely reading or meditating. Captain Reppu... well... he's probably studying maps or mission scrolls again, right?
Shira had just walked to the well in the middle of the courtyard, intending to draw some water to wash her face, when she heard the door of the room next door, which served as the temporary captain's office, creak open.
Captain Reppu emerged, holding a scroll in his hand. He looked no different than usual, though the lines of his face appeared somewhat rugged in the twilight. He glanced at Shira, who was soaking wet and whose hair was still dripping, his gaze lingering on her green bodysuit for a moment before quickly shifting away.
Reppu's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, but he maintained his composure perfectly.
"You're back?" Reppu's voice was as calm and steady as ever, without any inflection.
"Hmm." Shira responded, put down the bucket, and straightened up.
Reppu walked over a few steps and handed him the scroll. "It's an emergency situation assessment report from the Hokage Building, just sent over. I've read it; those troublesome spots along the way are mostly cleared."
Shira took the scroll but didn't open it immediately, instead looking at Reppu. He noticed that the captain used the phrase "I've already seen it," instead of "You take a look."
Reppu met Shira's gaze, paused as if organizing his thoughts, and then spoke in a tone that conveyed facts rather than a suggestion, "The goods on the caravan have been handed over and inventoried. What needed to be replenished has been replenished, and what needed to be sold has been sold. The biggest obstacles on the road, according to intelligence, have been removed. So," he took a breath, then slowly exhaled, "It's decided that we'll set off back to Sunagakure early the day after tomorrow."
the day after tomorrow.
Shira's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly as she held the scroll. The rough edge of the scroll felt slightly uncomfortable to the touch.
His face showed little change in expression, but the lingering heat in his eyes from training seemed to have been somewhat dispersed by the cool evening breeze, slowly settling away.
It seems to have happened a little faster than he expected. But it seems... it's time to go.
No matter how good Konoha is, how enjoyable the training is, how interesting Guy is, or how close Rock Lee and Naruto are, this is ultimately not Sunagakure. He is Sunagakure ninja, out on a mission.
Now that the caravan's business is finished and the road is safe, there's no reason to linger in someone else's village. Captain Reppu is right; it's time to go.
For a fleeting moment, he felt a void in his heart. It was like being suddenly told to stop after charging forward, leaving him feeling unsteady on his feet. But it was only for a moment. He quickly suppressed that inexplicable emptiness and returned to being the Sunagakure Genin, Shira, who knew where he was and what he was supposed to be doing.
"Okay, Captain." Shira nodded, her voice steady. She handed the scroll back to Reppu. "I'll be there on time the day after tomorrow morning."
Reppu took the scroll and carefully examined Shira's face. The boy's face was half-lit and half-shadowed in the afterglow of the setting sun, his sweat was still damp, and he had a flush from training, but his eyes were calm. There was no surprise, no reluctance, and no complaint. He simply accepted the arrangement calmly.
This sense of propriety slightly eased the unease in Reppu's heart caused by his subordinates' recent "sudden change in style."
Fortunately, this time he wasn't completely blinded by Konoha's "youthful passion" and still knew which side he was on.
"Hmm," Reppu nodded, his tone softening, "Don't schedule any high-intensity training tomorrow. Pack your things and check your equipment. Things you bought in Konoha, things given to you..."
He glanced again at Shira's green dress, his expression complex. "... Take care of everything. Get plenty of rest; the journey back might not be smooth sailing."
"OK," Shira replied.
Reppu seemed to want to say something more, but in the end he just waved his hand and said, "Go wash up, you smell all sweaty. Dinner will be brought in a bit."
Watching Reppu turn and go back into the house, Shira stood there for a few seconds. The evening breeze carried the coolness of well water. He looked down at the slightly worn but still resolute green bodysuit he was wearing and reached out to touch the texture of the fabric.
It was a gift from Teacher Kai, who said it was "the battle robe of youth." Wearing it, you can feel Chakra flowing under your skin.
He definitely felt it. It wasn't just Chakra, but also a kind of forward momentum.
But as Guy said, youth comes in many forms. In Konoha, it's about burning alongside him.
Returning to Sunagakure might mean enduring the wind and sand, honing one's skills alone. The paths may differ, but the will to move forward should remain the same.
He walked to the well, drew up a bucket of cool water, and splashed it over his head and face. The icy water stimulated his skin, invigorating him. It washed away the sweat and also that faint sense of melancholy.
I'm leaving the day after tomorrow.
I need to say a proper goodbye tomorrow. To Guy-senpai, Rock Lee, and that kid Naruto. Hmm, maybe I'll run into Uchiha Sasuke and have a heart-to-heart with him.
Shira shook the water droplets off her head and looked up at the lights that were beginning to illuminate Konoha.
The direction of the training field has already faded into twilight, but the sweat and footprints left there will forever be remembered by the body.
What's meant to come will come, and what's meant to leave can't be kept. What you can take with you is stronger fists, faster legs, and that little flame of "effort" and "perseverance" ignited in your heart by the " Blue Beast of the Hidden Leaf " of Konoha!
That's enough!
Shira picked up the bucket and turned to walk towards her simple guest room.
His steps remained steady, and his figure, silhouetted against the deepening night, seemed even more upright and solid than when he first arrived in Konoha...