Traveling alone definitely had its perks. For one, you never had to worry about people struggling to keep up. It was always such a pain in the ass to deal with overweight merchants and the sort that had never set foot outside civilization or off the beaten path. Then there was the lack of stupid questions, stuff like 'how much farther' and 'when can we stop to eat?'. Which lead to what may have been the biggest advantage of all, only one mouth to feed.[break][break]
Though she did miss having someone else around to deal with making the fires. It was so much more frustrating to try and manage with only one properly functioning hand. But eventually she would get it going, even if she had to sprinkle a bit of alcohol on the sticks to get it going. Was that a great idea? Probably not. But fuck it. She was hungry and the damn thing was taking too long.[break][break]
She leaned back a bit as the fire started to burn, narrowing her lone eye at the smoke rising from the flame. Always a shame these things were such a potential beacon for trouble. Usually it was fine, but every now and then she’d have to deal with some overly curious folks that just have to know what was going on. But the sun was still in the sky, so at least the light wouldn’t be too obvious from the distance. It wasn't much but at times like this it was important to count what blessings she did have.[break][break]
Her right arm emerged from her loose kimono, the limb's entire length wrapped in bandages. Damn thing still ached with every move, but at least she could use it a little bit without it getting any worse. While her right hand grabbed one of the fish she already had prepared, the other would draw her blade from its sheath. She took a moment to examine the weapon, one of the few remaining things that tied her to her homeland. A shame she didn’t manage to grab one of the nice katanas before ditching. But this was still a fine work of art in her eyes.[break][break]
And boy was it perfect for cooking. The fish was skewered on the tip of her blade and held out over the fire with her good arm, the other coming to rest on her knee as she sat comfortably on the mist riverside soil. Now there was nothing to do but sit and wait for the thing to cook. And less than fifteen seconds in, she remembered the worst part about traveling alone. It was so damn quiet.
"Hm?" Makoto stopped in her tracks and crinkled her nose at the newest scent to waft through the air. Smoke. Not a wildfire though. The wind carried a pleasant odor instead, like roasting fish, almost reminding her of home in a way . So what, a cooking fire? The notion didn't surprise her. Given all the hidden nooks and crannies in the forested country, camps seem to spring up everywhere.
Growling to her retinue of ninken, the group changed course, cutting through the woods with a new objective. It didn't take long before the flickering blaze became visible through the foliage, as did the lone figure seated nearby. Makoto was visibly disappointed when she realized it wasn't samurai scouts or bandits in her sights. Rather it was just...some...woman...
Wait.
Makoto grunted an order for her dogs to stay put, fulling intending to break cover by herself. Wisely, none of the ninken challenged that decision but some anxious stares were exchanged. There was no imminent danger surrounding the lone woman in the distance, though anything could change in the blink of an eye.
"So this's where ya ran off to?"
The Jounin's greeting broke the tranquil quiet as she appeared directly behind her old acquaintance, deliberately trying to catch her off guard by sneaking so close.
The rogue shinobi relaxed, tilting her head back to watch the sky as the fish continued to cook. The sound of the gently flowing river, the wind rustling the leaves all around. Nature really was a beautiful thing. At least being on the run meant she got to travel at her own pace, see the world without having to be concerned about mission objectives and all that stuff. Really take the time to smell the flowers and taste nature's sweet splendor. Her shoulders dropped as the tension flowed from her body, lips curling into a faint smile as she felt the warmth of the sun against her tattooed face.[break][break]
A shame the peace was so short lived. Her muscles immediately turned tense once more, though her expression refused to change. Her chest heaved as she pushed out a heavy sigh of exhaustion. This was not what she wanted to deal with right about now. Sneaky little mutt must've taken advantage of her new blind spot. She was still adjusting to this whole 'one eye' situation. "One of many places, actually. I never was one to sit still for too long." She kept her back to her former peer, instead simply holding her blade and tilting it toward the woman. The tip would find itself angled toward Makoto's face, which could've easily been viewed as a threat. If not for the freshly cooked salted salmon hanging from the tip.[break][break]
"If you're here to kill me, the least you could do is join me for one last meal. For old time's sake." Her smile grew into an slight smirk as she stared into the fire, her mind quietly racing with possibilities. She never did get to reconnect with her former allies. There was no telling who would be willing to let things slide or who would be seeking to avenge her lost husband. "Got enough that I could split it for two here. But if you want something for your mutts I'll have to fish em' up for ya. Shouldn't take too long, though."
"Oh c'mon, save the doom n' gloom talk for somebody else." Makoto gave a deep sigh and shook her head in disappointment. There was a reason she chose to announce her presence and it wasn't because she intended to strike down an old friend. Any ninja worth their salt would've attacked first and ignored any chance to talk. "Is paranoia part of yer new image too?" she asked in jest, trying to lighten the mood.
Truth be told, Makoto was both relieved and suspicious to see the Iron Flower of the Mist alive and unscathed. Did she know anything about the rising hostilities in the Fire Country or was it merely happenstance that she was passing by? It made her uneasy thinking about the implications, but she wouldn't make any judgments yet.
Calmly circling around the edges of the campfire, the Inuzuka woman took a seat opposite her peer, acting as if nothing was amiss. "That's not much of a meal. Even for one person," she insisted plainly. "Gunna be hard to stay on the run if ya got an empty stomach." Those words were laced with concern, as were her blue hues that looked Tsubaki's form up and down, attempting to gauge her condition.
The rogue ninja looked fine. To an extent. But given the amount of trauma she had been through last they talked, well...to put it simply, it felt surreal to be sitting down with her again.
The wandering shinobi's shoulders relaxed ever so slightly as the woman maintained a casual one, even chiding her for thinking she would be anything less. She let out a chuckle at that, shaking her head as she lowered her blade. The bandaged hand reached to take the fish from the skewer, quickly tossing it onto a clean cloth she had laid out to receive it. "Oh yeah. I figured it'd go well with the eye patch and fucked up arm. I happen to think I wear it pretty well, thank you very much." As she spoke she continued her meal prep, skewering another fish and holding it out over the flame. She was definitely gonna have to catch more fish if she was going to be having company.[break][break]
"Seriously though. I'm still trying to figure out who's an actual friendly face and who's here to rub it in before trying to rub me out. Should've known you wouldn't give a shit though." Lips curled into a more comfortable and familiar smirk as the Inuzuka settled across from her, posture shifting to lean forward a bit. As she did, her injured arm would slowly and cautiously slide back into her kimono, a soft breath of relief escaping her as it returned to its place of rest. "Don't worry about it too much. I'm not so useless these days that I can't catch a fish. I' could clear out this whole river if I felt like it. And considering I'll be feeding you and your fat ass dogs!" She rose her voice, smile growing a bit as she took a quick glance around. She knew those mutts were around here somewhere. Hard to imagine Makoto going too far without a few members of her pack.[break][break]
But as nice as it'd be to see some wagging tails, it was much more of a relief to see her old drinking buddy was still doing well. Not that she expected anything less from someone like her. Shit would've had to really hit the fan for her to be in any sort of trouble. Which was part of why it was hard to see those eyes of her looking on with concern. She could feel them looking her over, realizing that the stories were true. The Iron Flower of Mist had wilted, left a shadow of her former self. She rolled her shoulders a bit at that, letting out another soft chuckle as she let the thought roll off her shoulders. "What's the matter, Maki? Never seen a cripple before?"
"S-Shut up." Makoto quickly averted her eyes, slightly embarrassed that her concern was met with utter disregard. Despite the events that'd passed, she wasn't used to seeing Tsubaki like she was now. Crippled? Maybe. Broken? She hoped not. "The only thing crippled 'round here is yer sense of gratitude," she fired back. "Those 'fat ass dogs' are keepin' watch, y'know."
It was the only reason the furballs didn't come running in already to say hello. Somebody had to keep a lookout in case other ninja came running by. Though perhaps that was for the best anyways, since it gave the kunoichi a chance to speak in private.
"So ya can relax. I guess."
The Inuzuka gave a loud sigh, unsure of what to say next that didn't sound too intrusive. Not that she usually cared about stepping on toes, but she did care about the people she was loyal to. "Mm...I doubt ya came all the way out here for the fish." The Fire Country was a big place with lots of places to hide, yet it was the timing of upcoming events that made Makoto cautious. "These woods aren't very safe lately. I'm sure ya noticed by now, but they got ninja crawlin' everywhere."
Including herself no less.
"Ones from back home too. Yer lucky I ran into ya."
A soft chuckle slipped out from between pressed lips as those familiar eyes quickly flicked away from her broken body. There was a surprising lack of bitterness to it, her laughter sounding not too different from not too long ago when they would be having this talk over drinks. Her lone eye took another look around, this time travelling more lazily across her surroundings. It was a weird feeling, knowing that despite everything she had someone looking out for her. It had been a long while since she really felt that kind of security. "Yeah, well. Remind me to send you off with a couple extra fish for the pack." It was the least she could do for that rag tag bunch of hers.[break][break]
Her eye fell back to the flame and the fish within as it cooked, though her mind lingered on the Inuzuka sitting in her peripheral view. She could feel the questions waiting to come crashing down on their conversation. The things she had no doubt come to wonder of what came about for her old friend. It was a shame Tsubaki didn't have many satisfying answers to give. But in the end, at least she decided to ask one that was simple enough. "Trust me, I know it is. But do you really think I'm gonna spend my life being scared of my own people?" Her smile grew in both confidence and defiance as she leaned back a bit, almost instinctively trying to use her free hand to brace herself. But she knew better than to put her weight on that damn thing by now.[break][break]
"It's bad enough I gotta keep away from home. Besides, I'd like to think folks would rather save their energy for the upcoming skirmish instead of risk their necks chasing some washed up kunoichi down. Especially since there's a good chance a samurai will take my head soon anyway." She shrugged a bit, her bandaged hand slipping out of the kimono just enough to brush a stray lock of hair away from her good eye. "You know why I'm here. I'm gonna join the fight. Just cuz I don't belong to the Mist anymore doesn't mean I don't have a duty to fight." And yet anyone who knew her would know there was more to it than simple duty. Especially considering she was never one to be overzealous in the name of duty alone. But for the moment she left it at that, he eye lingering on her blade as she idly turned twisted her wrist a bit to turn the fish in the flame.
So she did know. The rising tensions, the ninja, the conflict on the horizon. Not only that, but Tsubaki planned on fighting too. "Ya sure it's really a 'duty to fight' makin' ya do this? Or is that some kinda excuse to redeem yerself?" the Inuzuka responded sharply, seeming quite defensive on the matter. Regardless of Tsubaki's former status within the village, the risks just seemed too high. Makoto wasn't going to sugarcoat her views on the topic either, that was for damn sure. "Cus it seems to me like ya shouldn't be stickin' yer neck out for a buncha strangers. Least of all when yer on the run with nobody watchin' yer back."
Even should the rumors be true about the 'neutrality' the Sound village provided within the scope of the operation, Makoto had her suspicions that something greater was afoot. Besides, everything about the mission smelled off to begin with. And if there were others like Tsubaki drawn to the call of battle, the risk they posed was difficult to ignore. Makoto believed it was all a fluke.
"What happens if somebody from outside the village finds out yer here?" the Inuzuka continued, brow furrowed and lips pressed into a dissatisfied frown. She was obviously speaking from a place of worry though it somehow looked like she was angry. Maybe even a bit angry at herself too, for not being able to help. "I bet a lotta young Cloud punks are gunna jump at the chance to get even with ya if they recognize who ya are. They've had it out for us for years, so I wouldn't put it pass 'em to try somethin'."
Ceasefire or no, any good ninja would take their chances at capturing a missing-nin from their rivals. It was a prime opportunity for getting intel or, at the very least, scoring some petty revenge.
Ok, so she saw through the whole 'duty to fight' bullshit pretty quickly. So much for this being a simple conversation. This hound's ears were too sharp for one to simply get away with such shallow responses, it seemed. This stuff was way easier when they were both drunk, the alcohol blurring the lines between fact and fiction until it was just one big messy swirl of who even cares anymore? Tsubaki let out a sigh, shaking her head as the bandaged arm revealed itself once more. The sword was pulled from the flame before the free hand would reach out to carefully tug the fish off and place it on the cloth with the other. "Alright, alright. I get it, you're worried about me." There was a faint, genuine smile on her face as she said that. Even if her tone was one of dismissal, it felt nice to receive some genuine concern. Maybe she wasn't as on her own as she thought.[break][break]
The blade was placed on the ground beside her, the properly functioning hand working to wrap the fish in the cloth and tie it off a bit. The process was a bit clumsy with only a single hand with enough dexterity to be of much use, but she got it done well enough. Once it was secure she would toss it across the fire to her guest. "Stop talking and start eating while I scrounge up some more grub." She had only caught a couple fish when she thought it would be just her. But now that there was company she had little choice but to start looking for more. All she had to do was shift her position a bit, her lone eye carefully watching the gently flowing waters for signs of life. She may have only been down to one functioning eye, but it was still as sharp as ever.[break][break]
"If anyone finds me I just kill em' before they can kill me. What, you think that just because I'm a little banged up I can't swing a sword or mold chakra? Most shinobi aren't as sneaky as you are, mutt." She shook her head, smirk returning to her face as she tucked both of her hands in, her hands disappearing within the loose folds of her kimono. "I'd bet you that there's just as many cloud kids who would rather share a drink and try to get some mist secrets out of me than would try to take my head. If they actually know anything about me they'll realize that's way more effective than any interrogation. I'm more worried about the people I left behind than the people on the other side. Kenji had a lot of friends, you know." She shot a quick glance toward Makoto, a knowing look in her eye. Her husband was a popular man. Almost too popular for her own tastes. She always figured that if anyone had to choose between the two of them they would go with him every time. But at least that didn't seem to be the case with ol' Maki.[break][break]
"You wanna know the real reason I'm here? It's cuz I hate those damn samurai. And cuz I intend to learn every single thing about the bastards so I can gut them with their own techniques." Her eye refocused on the water as she spoke, though it wasn't quite the same as when she was hunting for fish. Instead it was as if she was staring through the water itself to something beneath. Something only she could see. "This is my best opportunity to do that. And I aint gonna let somethin' as stupid as the risk of death stop me from taking this shot.
Kenji. Samurai. Vengeance. Those made for a potent mixture, no doubt about it. Feelings of hate sounded like the only reason Tsubaki traveled this far, the desire to achieve her revenge outweighing any of the risks involved. Upon hearing the gist, Makoto let out a long sigh, not the least bit relieved to learn that information.
"So it's revenge huh?" she repeated bluntly. Glancing down to the fish that'd been tossed into her lap, she felt another pang of guilt in her chest. That's when she continued angrily, "That's gotta be the stupidest thing I've heard in a long damn while. Sounds like somethin' a real dumbass would do. Like me."
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Makoto had followed that lifestyle for as long as she could remember, so she had no qualms with getting revenge. Even if it meant being reckless and risking her own neck in the process, there was satisfaction in making her enemies pay. Yet at the same time, she didn't want to see a friend throw everything away for something like that.
"But yer really gunna do it, ain'tcha?" she growled in a manner that almost sounded like a challenge. Makoto was visibly clenching her fists as frustration pinched her brow, failing to conceal the whims of emotion. "So yer gunna go fightin' those bastards alone 'til what? 'Til ya kill the whole Empire? Seems like a death wish, Tsubaki."
The moment that hound opened her mouth, Tsubaki knew exactly what was coming. That tone of voice was unmistakable, and the intentions behind it was just as distinct. Some may have thought that Makoto was being harsh, judging her for poor decisions simply because she was being something of an idiot. But if there was one thing to be gained from this conversation, it was that her old drinking buddy still gave a shit. It would’ve been kinda cute if not for the fact that this was likely about to turn into an argument.[break][break]
”Uh-huh.” She blandly nodded along, still smirking to herself as she carefully eyed the water. ”If that’s the stupidest thing you’ve heard, then I’m starting to think the only reason you’re talkin’ to me is cuz you haven’t been able to find a good drinkin’ buddy since I left.” Her smirk softened a bit as she teased the mist kunoichi, eye shifting for a moment to watch her expression. She knew the black haired broad had a point or two in there. It was just a shame that she didn’t care enough to give them much thought.[break][break]
A glimpse of moment under the water caught her attention, her eye quickly turning to focus on it. A moment later the a fish would burst out of the water, falling limp on the ground without its head. The thing was dead before it even hit the ground, maybe before it even left the water. It was all rather sudden, as there were no obvious hand seals performed beforehand. Then again, both of her hands were tucked into her kimono so it was hard to say what happened.[break][break]
She took a moment to eye the fish before shrugging, accepting the fact that she would need more than that to satisfy her hunger. But first, she had to address the growling dog. Her lone eye took a moment to examine the other woman, shoulders relaxing a bit as she quickly realized just how intense these emotions of hers were. As she should’ve expected, really. Some things never changed.[break][break]
”Now, now. Don’t be so dramatic. Relax. Have a bite. I salted them beforehand, so they shouldn’t be THAT bad.” The other’s burning hot energy was met with a cool wave, like an ocean’s waves crashing against the blistering hot sands on the shore. Tsubaki was oddly relaxed, almost at peace in this intense moment. ”I don’t plan on dying any time soon, alright? I promise, I’m not about to go charging into a samurai camp or trying to tackle the empire all on my own. I’m playing this smart. Believe it or not, I got plans. Plans that can only be pulled off by people like me. People who can act without havin’ to worry about drawing their ire to the homeland. I’m just gonna need you to trust me.”
Trust may have been a hard thing to come by in a world of ninja, but for an Inuzuka it was largely entwined with loyalty. When they found something worth protecting, they did so until their dying breath. Although she could seem no better than a cutthroat at times, there was rarely any question as to where Makoto's trust lied.
"I do!" she blurted out. Right after saying that she quickly realized how defensive it sounded, causing the slightest hesitation as she cleared her throat. "I mean...'Course I trust ya. But still..." Makoto paused. There were more words that wouldn't come out right now, mainly due to her frustration. Which spoke volumes as to how much she actually cared about Tsubaki's well-being, even if it was difficult to convey.
After a long quiet on her part, Makoto finally built up the courage to say a little more.
"Is any o' this gunna help clear yer name?" No longer did the Inuzuka's tone sound as aggressive before, but her expression remained a firm scowl. Perhaps she was trying to take her friend's advice and not be so 'dramatic'. "Seems to me like it'll just put a bigger target on yer back, makin' all these enemies." The empire wasn't known for its leniency and Kirigakure didn't tolerate traitors, but being an enemy of both sounded like a terrible idea. Although Tsubaki seemed confident that her newfound freedom was a benefit to her cause, Makoto quietly lamented the thought of facing so much alone.
"But if yer really set on kickin' on the hornet's nest these days," the Inuzuka exhaled as if taxed from the whole conversation. Frosty blue irises then glanced up with a sense of purpose, holding a meaningful gaze. "Just don't forget to invite me."
She could see the words leave the other's mouth before she could even consciously consider the thought. The poor soul was just too passionate for her own good sometimes. It was good to know that even after bloodying her blade with one of their fellow shinobi there was still so much unquestioning trust there. That even when the investigation into the incident contradicted what she said that there was at least one person in that damn village that believed she spoke the truth. It was empty comfort, something that in the long run wouldn't make a difference. But just because it was empty didn't mean it wasn't warm.[break][break]
A sigh escaped the woman's nostril as she skewered the freshly caught fish on her blade and held it out over the fire. With all this talk and emotions being tossed around it was gonna be difficult to focus on fishing. This kind of conversation demanded they be face to face. "My name aint gonna be cleared, sweetheart. I'm guilty, plain and simple. I murdered Kenji before the man even had a chance to draw a blade. And I aint about to go hiding that fact." It was difficult even for Tsubaki to place why she felt so strongly about it. She certainly wasn't one for honor or anything of the sort. So why hold on to this thing that would've been better off forgotten by the world? Why not try to cook up a story to get out of the mess and return home? Ah hell. She wasn't drunk enough for these kinds of thoughts.[break][break]
"The target's not gonna get any bigger. If anything I'll just be adding one or two more. No big deal. I'm no stranger to havin' enemies and all that mess." She shrugged casually, apparently unbothered by having both her home and her fated enemies attempting to hunt her down. And yet there was nothing dismissive about it, her tone and expression instead seeming more resolute. As if she had considered this many times over herself to reach this conclusion. Whatever the case, it was clear that her mind was set on this mess.[break][break]
Though what she had to say on top of it all caught Tsubaki by surprise. Smile grew a bit, brows raising as her head tilted slightly to one side. "...You're serious, aren't ya pup?" Another chuckle escaped her, lone eye glancing around their area just to make sure the were alone. Not that she had to worry with those trusty hounds on the watch. "...Tell ya what. If you can get yourself an extra headband, leave the dogs at home and think you can manage to keep up in a fight without your doggie style? Then maybe I'll keep in touch and bring you along for some under the table work. Pay aint great, but I might be able to find a fence to sell any loot we gather and cut you some of the profits to help make it worth your time."
Whether or not Tsubaki believed there was a way to clear her reputation and come back to the Mist, the stubborn Inuzuka by her side had different thoughts on the matter. That things would return to normal and they could simply go back to their routine of sharing drinks after a hard day's work seemed a trifle selfish. But it was exactly what Makoto wanted, regardless of the price.
So at the mention of payment for her clandestine support, she had to wave a hand in dismissal. "Eh, keep yer stinkin' money. Pay me back in drinks!" Her tone bordered on the accusatory, like the only blame she bothered to acknowledge was Tsubaki's absence. "I'm not some sellsword in case ya forgot. If ya want my help, all ya gotta do is ask, idiot." Her concept of loyalty wasn't so shallow that she'd go around asking for handout. Maybe other ninja put their trust in comrades to reap a benefit or two, but that was a far cry from what Makoto was after.
Soon afterward came a grumbling admission as the jounin recalled her other responsibilities, a hint of reluctance forming a frown. "Course, the Mizukage might not be very happy with all that. So I'll keep my trap shut as long as it's only samurai yer goin' after." It was the best she could promise on that front. Silence and support. Granted, she was ready to do much more if the situation called, as Makoto was ever the slave to her impulses.
At last the kunoichi appeared to relax, her expression softening and her posture slouching. Having gotten a lot off her chest with that exchange, she ripped open the fish that lied on her lap. "Tch! All this talkin' is makin' me hungry," she complained with a childish pout. Fangs dug into fishy flesh without a second thought, slicing the thing to ribbons as she wolfed it down in one go.
"Alright, now you're just lookin' for reasons to get pissed." A soft chuckle escaped the battered kunoichi as she idly turned the fish in the fire. Though this flame didn't burn nearly as hot as the passionate woman across from her. It was always amusing to watch her get all heated up about things that would've been so simple to ignore from Tsubaki's perspective. The two were opposite in a number of ways, but they had just enough in common to make the differences more endearing than they were frustrating. At least that was how it felt from the pinkette's perspective.[break][break]
"I wouldn't be paying you to help. I'd be offering you a token of thanks so you wouldn't be riskin' your life just for some cripple with a grudge." It would've felt wrong to get help even from a good friend without there being anything for them to gain from it. Sure it would've been a lot of fun and help cripple one of their greatest enemies, but Kiri wasn't really in their crosshairs at the moment. Not to mention the fact that ol' Blacksail probably wouldn't take too kindly to his jonin going off and doing this stuff without permission. A thought that Makoto seemed to echo just as she was considering it herself.[break][break]
Tsubaki gave her a nod in response, seeming perfectly comfortable as she did. "I aint got nothin' against any villages. Not even those Cloud kids. If I kill a shinobi, it's gonna be cuz they were the ones to start somethin'." If any of this was untrue, Tsubaki would've had to be an excellent liar. But then again it was always hard to tell what exactly was going through the woman's mind. "That is unless you've got somebody you're huntin'. I wouldn't mind an excuse to tag team some poor sucker who doesn't know how much trouble they're in." Lips curled into a wicked grin as she pulled the fish from the flame, giving it a blow to start cooling it off.[break][break]
She couldn't help but laugh a bit as the mutt across from her started to tear into the food in frustration. Sometimes she had to wonder if her dogs took after her or if it was the other way around. "Well, good to see you've still got an appetite. You're gonna need that protein witht he fight comin' up." Her gaze turned to the south, where she knew that a long ways away sat the border of the Empire's territory. "...You're gonna be on the front lines, aren't ya?"
