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Sunagakure.
After Chiyo’s burial and a few lingering affairs, Kakashi’s squad and Guy’s team were ready to return to Konoha.
Not many ca to see them off, just Gaara and his siblings, but considering Gaara was the Kazekage, that was still the highest honor.
Naruto and Gaara t each other’s gaze. No words were needed. Both smiled, nodded, and clasped hands.
"Take care."
"You too."
As they turned to leave, Sunagakure grew smaller and smaller behind them, swallowed by the endless, scorching desert.
Guy was half-carrying Kakashi at the back of the group, sweat pouring in the blazing sun.
Up ahead, Tenten glanced back at the lagging pair and sighed. "Sensei, you two are so slow!"
Kakashi felt a stab of embarrassnt. He was utterly drained, body still weak.
"Sorry, Guy... after using the Sharingan like that, I can’t move for a while."
Guy trudged on with a limp, supporting Kakashi. The pace was so slow, even an old granny with a cane could have passed them.
For a training fanatic like Guy, being pitied by his own students was unacceptable.
"Argh! I can’t take this anymore!" Guy roared.
Before Kakashi could react, Guy shoved him upright, swung his pack around front, ducked down, and without warning, grabbed Kakashi by the thighs and hoisted him onto his back.
"Wha—?! Wait! Hold on, don’t—!"
In one fluid motion, they were "combined," Kakashi clinging with a dead-eyed expression of pure resignation.
The rest of the team stared. Two grown n. One carrying the other. Words failed them.
Lee’s eyes lit up like fireworks. He clenched his fists, voice brimming with understanding. "I get it! This is special training, right?!"
Guy flashed his trademark blinding grin. "Exactly, Lee! Now ti to pour all this pent-up frustration into speed!"
With that, he launched into a full sprint, his laughter echoing behind him. "Let’s see if you can keep up with now!"
The others exchanged a collective look of =_=
Sakura internally sighed, watching Guy thunder ahead. ’This... this looks so wrong.’
Lee spun toward Neji. "Neji! Let’s do it too!"
Neji stared at him flatly. ’This idiot again.’
Of course, Lee was the only one who wasn’t afraid of him and he’d never stopped challenging Neji over the years.
Before Lee could insist again, Neji calmly grabbed a chuckling Naruto and shoved him toward Lee.
"You’re up, Naruto."
"Wait—what?!"
Too late. Lee caught him in an instant, eyes gleaming, and took off like a green-clad freight train.
"AAAHH! Noooo!" Naruto’s wails trailed behind as he flopped helplessly on Lee’s back like a limp seaweed strand.
Tenten and Sakura wore the expression of people watching an unfolding disaster. Yup. Still the sa Neji.
"Well, let’s move. The sooner we get back to Konoha, the sooner we can rest."
"Right."
They pressed on, sand swirling into plus behind them, turning the desert into its own strange parade. But even with their efforts, a two-day trek wasn’t ending in one afternoon. By nightfall, they had to make camp.
---
After a quick al and rest, Neji rembered Izumi’s earlier request. Leaving a clone in camp, he teleported straight to the Country base.
---
The base was quiet, lit brightly as if it were still midday. Stepping out of the teleport chamber, Neji had a feeling he knew why Izumi had called him.
He took a quick shower to wash away the day’s sweat and sand, changed into casual clothes, and went to her room. He knocked softly.
"Izumi it’s ."
With a soft chi, the door slid open.
Inside, Izumi knelt on a tatami mat, dressed in a flowing kimono, clearly waiting for him.
"Welco back, Neji-kun."
"What’s with the outfit all of a sudden?"
Even as he spoke, the faint aroma of sandalwood incense drifted to him. Her hair was swept up neatly, framing a face more striking than usual.
"Please, have so tea."
She poured, the steam curling from the cup mixing with the incense’s scent.
Neji sat, turned the patterned side of the cup toward her, blew gently, and drank in one smooth motion.
Bitterness gave way to a subtle sweetness that cleared his mind and left him refreshed.
"Good tea," he murmured.
Izumi’s lips curved slightly. She refilled his cup. "It’s my own cultivation Clear Heart Tea. How does it taste?"
"It’s like washing away fatigue itself. The bitterness fades into pure sweetness."
She sipped her own cup, smiling softly. "I’m glad you like it."
Neji exhaled, shoulders loosening. "With you, I can put down my guard and actually enjoy so peace."
He’d never hidden anything from her except the deepest truths about his reincarnation. Here, he could truly rest.
"Sa as always tonight?" she asked. "Mhm."
He lay down, head pillowed in her lap. Her soft hands began to massage the stiffness from his muscles, the rhythm soothing.
Since the incident with his clones overexerting him, she’d often done this for him.
But tonight felt different. The kimono. The careful makeup. The way her eyes lingered.
"Neji-kun..."
"Mhm?"
"I’m... a little scared."
He opened his eyes, eting hers. "Scared of what?"
She didn’t answer right away only smiled faintly, cupping his face in both hands. The distance between them shrank, her hair brushing against his skin, carrying her scent.
Then, without another word, she closed the gap.
It caught him off guard, but he understood. She’d been watching over him all this ti always close, even from afar.
And tonight, she’d decided to step even closer.
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