...….
The sun was setting over the Hima Clan village, painting the sky in hues of orange and red. Yamamoto stood by the main gates, adjusting the straps of his travel pack. Akiko stood nearby, trying to suppress her nervous energy as she triple-checked her own supplies. Yasuke leaned against a post, his bandaged hand resting lazily on his knee as he smirked at the duo.
"So, Akiko," Yasuke said, his tone teasing. "Ready to go on your first big mission with the Inferno King?"
Akiko rolled her eyes, though her lips twitched upward in a smile. "You make it sound like I'm going on a field trip. I'm ready, thank you very much."
Yamamoto glanced at her pack and frowned. "Not with that mess you're not."
Before Akiko could protest, Yamamoto stepped forward and began rearranging her gear. "You don't need three flasks of water in the Land of Water. It's everywhere. Pack more rations instead. And your kunai pouch is too exposed—if someone gets the jump on you, it'll be gone before you even react."
Akiko huffed but didn't argue, watching him work with a mixture of frustration and awe.
Yasuke grinned. "See? He's already treating you like his apprentice. Next, he'll start lecturing you about sword maintenance or how to 'channel your flames properly.'" He mimicked Yamamoto's gruff tone for the last part, earning a sharp glare from the man himself.
"Yasuke," Yamamoto said flatly, "don't you have someone else to bother?"
"Not at the moment, no," Yasuke said with an exaggerated shrug. "But don't worry—I'm just here to see you two off. Someone has to lighten the mood around here."
Yamamoto shook his head and handed Akiko her pack. "There. That's better. Remember, we're not just traveling; we're walking into a potential war zone. Stay alert."
Akiko nodded, gripping the straps of her pack tightly. "I won't let you down."
Yasuke pushed off the post and sauntered over, his grin softening into something more genuine. "You'll do fine, Akiko. Just don't try to outshine Yamamoto. It's bad for morale when rookies start showing up the veterans."
Akiko smirked. "I'll try to keep that in mind."
Yasuke gave her a playful salute before turning to Yamamoto. "Take care of her, yeah? She's still green."
"She'll be fine," Yamamoto replied, his tone resolute. "I'll make sure of it."
As the gates creaked open and the two stepped out onto the forest path, Akiko glanced back one last time at Yasuke, who waved lazily.
"Don't forget to write!" Yasuke called out, earning a chuckle from Akiko and a tired sigh from Yamamoto.
.....
The Kaguya clan's war chamber was a grim and imposing hall, its walls lined with skeletal motifs and trophies from battles long past. The air was heavy with the scent of iron and the flickering light of torches cast eerie shadows over the gathered warriors.
At the head of the chamber, Kaguya Takero stood, his hands gripping the edge of a stone table etched with maps and battle plans. His eyes burned with anger as he addressed the gathered leaders of his clan.
"The Hima Clan," he spat, as if the name itself were an insult. "A fledgling group with no legacy, no true history, dares to strike at us. One of our own lies dead because of them."
There were murmurs of agreement, but also undertones of disbelief. A younger warrior, Juro, frowned as he leaned forward. "The Hima Clan? The ones we heard about during the war between the two cities? Weren't they supposed to be nothing more than a small group of fire-users?"
"They were," Takero growled. "And yet one of them managed to take the life of a Kaguya warrior." His voice grew colder. "Whether through trickery or luck, they've challenged us. And now, they must pay for their insolence."
Kana, a sharp-eyed kunoichi with a cruel smile, crossed her arms. "They're bold, I'll give them that. But they're new. Their numbers are small, and their reputation is built on nothing but hearsay. What can they really do?"
Another voice cut through the room, older and more cautious. Renji, one of the clan's senior strategists, stepped forward. "Rumors or not, Kana, we should tread carefully. Their leader is said to be a tactician, and these whispers of a man called 'Yamamoto'… they're troubling."
Juro scoffed. "Yamamoto? The so-called 'Inferno King'? Stories to frighten children. If he's so powerful, why is their clan still nothing more than a speck on the map?"
Renji's expression remained steady. "And yet, he reportedly clashed with a tailed beast and lived. Would you dismiss such a man so easily?"
Kana laughed, leaning lazily against the wall. "A tailed beast? Please. If he really did that, wouldn't the whole world know his name by now? These are just tales, Renji, meant to inflate their standing."
Takero raised a hand, silencing the debate. "Enough. Whether this Yamamoto is real or not, the Hima Clan must learn their place. They insulted us by killing one of our own. They dared to stain the honor of the Kaguya. We cannot let this stand."
The room fell silent, the weight of Takero's words settling over them.
Kana's grin widened. "Then let us crush them. Show them what happens when a fledgling clan tries to bite the hand of giants."
Takero nodded. "We'll strike hard and fast. Send a vanguard to test their strength. If they crumble, we burn their village to the ground. If they resist…" His eyes glinted with a dark intensity. "Then we'll see what they're truly made of."
Renji hesitated, then spoke cautiously. "If I may, Takero… it might be wise to gather more intelligence first. The Hima may be new, but their flames are dangerous. Their unpredictability is a threat in itself."
Takero's gaze hardened. "Are you suggesting we fear them, Renji?"
"I'm suggesting we respect the unknown," Renji replied evenly. "Underestimating them could cost us dearly."
There was a long pause before Takero answered with a sharp nod. "Very well. We'll send scouts ahead of the vanguard. But make no mistake—this insult will be repaid in blood."
As the clan members began to disperse, preparing for the looming conflict, Kana turned to Juro with a smirk. "I almost hope this Yamamoto shows up. It'll be fun to watch the flames die when faced with real power."
Juro chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "If he's anything like the rest of his clan, he won't last long. They're a spark, and we're the storm."
But as the Kaguya prepared their forces, Renji lingered in the chamber, his unease growing. The Hima Clan's rise was rapid, their reputation small yet compelling. Something about this situation felt… off.
And though the Kaguya didn't yet know it, the flames they sought to extinguish burned brighter and hotter than they could imagine.