The m sunlight streamed through the small gaps in the shutters of the inn, bathing the room in a warm, golden glow. Kuro opened his eyes, feeling oddly refreshed. Uhe ms ba busy dusty town of the earth, where the air was often thick with pollution and the weight of expectations, today felt... lighter. There was a sense of tranquility in the air, something almost fn to him i few years of stant movement.

  As he sat up, a faint, glowing notification flickered before his eyes:

  > **[Your data is 78% synced.]**

  A smirk tugged at the er of his mouth. *Progress,* he thought. Good thing for him! He stood, stretg his arms and rolling his shoulders, the stiffness from yesterday’s escapades melting away. The events of the past few days—this strange, new world he found himself in—still felt surreal. At times, it was like he ectator to his own life. But the weight of the unfamiliarity was slowly wearing off, repced by a growing sense of curiosity and something else he couldn't quite pce.

  Gng at the other two octs of the room, he called out, “Hey, anyone up for breakfast outside? I hear the Hidden Leaf has some killer street food.”

  Reika, who was seated cross-legged by the window with her eyes closed, meditating, opened one eye and sighed. “Food does sound good.” She stood gracefully, brushing imaginary dust off her cloak. Her movements were deliberate and calm, the air around her always seeming to carry an aura of trol.

  Xero, sprawled on the floor with his arms behind his head, looked up zily. “As long as I don’t have to pay.” His voice had that familiar casual tone, as though nothing in the world could be urgent enough to make him raise his head from his fortable spot.

  Reika chuckled. "Always the freeloader."

  The trio stepped out into the vibrant streets of the Hidden Leaf Vilge, where the m bustle was already in full swing. Vendors called out their wares, the aroma of grilled skewers and freshly baked bread filling the air. Children darted between stalls, ughter eg as they pyed tag. The vilge seemed alive, not just with people, but with a sense of unity, a stark trast to the isotion Reika and Xero had grown aced to bae.

  They eventually found a small eatery tucked into a er, its modest wooden sign swayily in the breeze. The owners were an elderly couple, both with kind eyes, who greeted the trio with warm smiles. Sitting under a wooden awning, they ordered ptes of rice balls, tamagoyaki, and grilled fish, the simple dishes far more delicious than Kuro had expected. He could almost taste the love that had goo preparing them.

  “Not bad,” Kuro said, sav the meal. His stomach was uncharacteristically calm, a wele relief from the gnawing ahat often apanied his travels.

  Reika, chewing thoughtfully, added, “The Hidden Leaf definitely knows its fvors. Even the simplest dishes have depth.” Her voice was soft, but her words carried weight, like everything she said was measured, precise.

  Xero didn’t ent, but his quick pa finishing his pte said enough. The man had an unnerving way of silently ing food, as though it were just aask to plete. The only thing that seemed to break his stoic demeanor was the occasional goward Kuro and Reika, as if to firm that they were still in sync, still operating as one unit.

  As they ate, Kuro couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of harmony with the world around him. For the first time since arriving here, it felt as though he was exactly where he o be. This feeling, however, was fleeting, as the m's tranquility was soon interrupted by a rising otion nearby. Shouts and murmurs rippled through the crowd, drawing attention toward an alley not far from their eatery. The trio exged gnces before making their way over to iigate.

  Pushing through the gathering onlookers, they saw the source of the disturbance: a tall, broad-shouldered man in a bck, baggy full-body suit adorned with a red-and-yellow circle emblem. He was holding a young boy by the colr, dangling him off the ground like a rag doll.

  Kuro froze for a split sed, reition hitting him like a jolt of electricity. *That’s Kankuro. And that kid—Konohamaru!*

  On the grouhe man was another boy, on his knees and gring up defiantly. The familiar blonde hair and whisker-like marks left no doubt. *Naruto Uzumaki,* Kuro thought, his mind rag. *This is pying out just like in the show.*

  Kankuro’s hood, with its feline ears, added to his menag aura. His smirk was one of practiced arrogance as he held Konohamaru aloft. “You little brats o learn some manners. No one messes with me and walks away unscathed.”

  Naruto stood, g his fists. “Put him down, you oversized housecat!”

  Kankuro’s smirk widened. “What’s this? You think you tell me what to do, kid? I’m from the Sand Vilge. You don’t want to mess with me.”

  Reika grabbed Kuro’s sleeve. “Let’s stay out of this,” she hissed. “This isn’t ht.”

  But Kuro shook his head. “We ’t just stand by.”

  His words were ced with an old, familiar urge. It was the same feeling he’d gotten ba Old school days ih—when someone weaker was being bullied, and he couldn’t stand by and watch. A surge hteousness swelled in his chest, pushing him forward.

  He stepped toward the otion, raising his voice. “Hey, Kankuro! Let the kid go.”

  Kankuro turoward him, his expression amused. “Oh? And who are you supposed to be?”

  Before Kuro could respond, Xero moved. In a blur of motion, Xero drew his sword and closed the distaween them. His bde sshed through the air, f Kankuro to loosen his grip on Konohamaru and step back.

  “You shouldn’t be pig on kids,” Xero said coldly, his stance firm and his swleaming in the sunlight. “If you want to fight, fight someone your size.”

  The croed at Xero’s audacity, murmurs spreading like wildfire.

  Kankuro’s smirk remained, but there was a flicker of annoyan his eyes. He tightened his grip on the bundle slung over his back. “Looks like we’ve got a hero in the crowd. Fine. If you want to py, I’ll show you what happens when you mess with me.”

  He reached for the bundle, and Kuro’s eyes widened. *That’s his puppet!*

  Before things could escate further, Kuro stepped between them. “Wait, wait!” he said, raising his hands. “Let’s not turn this into a full-on fight. We’re in the middle of the Hidden Leaf Vilge, remember?”

  Kankuro sneered. “And why should I care?”

  “You should care because you’re already outnumbered,” Kuro replied evenly, motioning toward Naruto, who had moved beside him, fists raised and ready. “Plus, starting trouble here won’t end well for anyone.”

  Kankuro hesitated, gng around. The crowd was growing, and Kuro could see the gears turning in his head. *He’s weighing his options.*

  Reika stepped forward, her voice calm but authoritative. “Enough of this. You’ve made your point, Kan-kro or whatever. Let’s leave it at that.”

  As the tension built up and everyone braced for a fight, a figure stepped into the middle of it all, cutting through the charged air. Kuro immediately reized her—it was Temari. She had that kind of presehat made everyoake notice. Tall and fident, her long blonde hair was tied ba a high ponytail, and her sharp eyes gave off the vibe that she wasn’t someoo mess with. The big fan strapped to her back wasn’t just for show—it was as much a part of her as anything else.

  “Knock it off, Kankuro,” she said, her voice steady but with an edge. “If you don’t cut the crap, yon yourself into real trouble.”

  Kankuro’s smirk stayed, but it had a hint of frustration now. He gnced over at a certain spot—Kuro could tell exactly where he was looking.

  With a quick shrug, like he wasn’t totally happy about it, Kankuro finally dropped his ons. “Whatever. I’m not wasting my time on a bunch of nobodies,” he muttered, stepping back.

  He turned and began walking away, leaving Konohamaru and Naruto unharmed. Temari also disappeared along with him.

  Naruto turo Kuro and Xero, grinning. “You guys were awesome! Thanks for the help!”

  Kuro smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s no big deal. Just didn’t want things to get out of hand.”

  Xero, still holding his sword, muttered, “I would’ve taken him down if he didn’t back off.”

  Reika rolled her eyes. “Sure you would’ve. And then what? A full-scale fight in the middle of the vilge? You didn't got your enough beating when you faeji st time?”

  Xero didn’t respond, sheathing his bde. The mome strangely peaceful, but there was still a lingering tension in Kuro’s chest. He wasn’t sure what he expected after the frontation, but it wasn’t this sense of quiet acceptahat came afterward.