"Shoi..." she whispered, still processing the scene. "That weapon... it's... incredible."
The sweet scent that accompanied the staff's appearance seemed to catch everyone off guard, adding to the surreal atmosphere.
The wind stirred slightly around them, almost as if nature itself was reacting to the staff's presence.
Shoi turned his attention back to the bandits, his voice low and brimming with confidence.
"This," he said, giving the staff a light twirl, "is the last thing you'll see if you don't back off."
Shoi's gaze hardened, and he rested the golden staff on his shoulder, exuding an air of calm authority. The bandit leader, still trembling, seemed confused by the sudden change in tone.
"Never Mind," Shoi continued, his voice low and resolute.
"If I let you go now, you'll just go on terrorizing others, thinking you got away. That's not going to happen."
The air grew still, the weight of Shoi's words hanging over the clearing like a storm cloud about to break.
The remaining bandits glanced nervously at their leader, who seemed frozen in indecision.
It was clear that their chances of escape were slim, and any hope of out-muscling Shoi had long since evaporated.
Hinata, still standing to the side, sensed the shift in Shoi's demeanor. He wasn't just showing off anymore—he was serious.
Her Byakugan scanned the area, ensuring no reinforcements were lying in wait. With a steady voice, she spoke.
"Shoi, end this quickly. There's no need to drag it out."
Shoi nodded, acknowledging Hinata's words without taking his eyes off the bandits.
"You had your chance to walk away," he said, his tone colder now. "But since you made your choice..."
In a blur of motion, Shoi spun the Ruyi Jingu Bang around his body, creating a golden arc of light that cut through the air.
The bandits barely had time to react as the staff elongated with blinding speed, sweeping through their ranks like a wave crashing through fragile sandcastles.
One by one, the bandits fell—disarmed, knocked unconscious, or sent flying into the trees by the sheer force of Shoi's strikes.
The leader tried to make a desperate last stand, lunging at Shoi with a wild swing of his blade, but Shoi effortlessly sidestepped and delivered a final, crushing blow with the end of his staff, sending the man sprawling onto the ground.
Shoi stood over the fallen bandit leader, his expression unreadable. "Next time, think twice before picking a fight," he muttered, retracting the staff with a quick flick of his wrist until it vanished entirely.
Hinata stepped forward, surveying the defeated bandits with a calm gaze. "That should teach them," she said softly.
Shoi let out a sigh, his earlier bravado gone, replaced by relief. "Yeah... let's hope they learn from it."
"Not bad for a warm-up, huh?"
Hinata gave him a small smile, her usual composure returning. "You did well, Shoi. But next time, don't let your guard down. There could always be more lurking in the shadows."
Shoi chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, yeah, I know."
With the bandits finally defeated, Shoi and Hinata refocused on their mission. The tension in the air eased, though they both remained cautious as they resumed their journey, guiding the merchant Haruto safely toward the Hidden Sand.
...
casting a glance at the endless sea of sand. "Great… more sand. My favorite."
Hours passed, and finally, the massive walls of the Hidden Sand Village came into clear view. The sight of the village's protective gates brought an undeniable sense of relief, especially to Haruto, whose nerves had been frayed after the ordeal with the bandits.
"We made it," Shoi said, his tone triumphant. "Safe and sound, just like I promised."
Hinata gave a quiet nod, her eyes scanning the path ahead one last time to ensure they weren't being followed. "Our mission isn't over yet. We need to deliver the merchant to his contact inside."
As they approached the gates, two Hidden Sand shinobi stepped forward, their faces obscured by the wrappings typical of desert warriors. "State your business," one of them commanded, eyeing the trio cautiously.
Hinata stepped up, pulling out a scroll bearing the mark of the Hidden Leaf. "We're here on a mission from the Hidden Leaf. Merchant Haruto is under our protection. We're here to deliver him and his cargo safely."
The guards exchanged a glance before nodding. "Follow us."
The heavy gates creaked open, allowing Shoi, Hinata, and Haruto to enter.
As they followed the guards through the village, Haruto's tension began to ease.
They were soon led to a large building near the village center, where an official from the Hidden Sand awaited them.
The man stepped forward, giving them a nod of appreciation. "Thank you for bringing the merchant safely. We've been waiting for this shipment."
Haruto stepped forward, bowing slightly. "I'm just glad to be here in one piece. These two were… quite something."
Shoi smirked, crossing his arms proudly. "You hear that, Hinata? We're 'quite something.'"
Hinata simply smiled, her usual calm demeanor unchanged. "It's good to know the mission is complete. We should head back to the village and report to the Hokage."
The official handed Hinata a scroll as proof of the mission's success. "Safe travels back to the Hidden Leaf. And thank you again."
Shoi pocketed the scroll and glanced at Hinata. "So, ready to head home?"
Hinata nodded. "Yes, but we need to remain vigilant on the way back. The desert isn't the only place that can hide threats."
as they were heading back Hinata finally coudent contain her curiousity "Shoi what was the jutsu you used to.. make that staff become big and small again?"
He glanced at her Jutsu? How should i tell her that that wapon was Ruyi Jingu Bang not any ordinary weapon...
Shoi hesitated for a moment, his mind racing. How could he explain that the Ruyi Jingu Bang wasn't just a technique or jutsu, but a legendary weapon?
He scratched the back of his head, his usual cocky grin returning, but there was a hint of nervousness in his eyes.
"Well, uh… it's not exactly a jutsu," he began slowly, trying to choose his words carefully. "It's... the Ruyi Jingu Bang."
Hinata's brow furrowed slightly, her calm gaze fixed on him. "Ruyi Jingu Bang? I've never heard of it."
Shoi let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, it's, uh, not something you hear about every day. Let's just say it's a weapon with some pretty unique properties."
Hinata raised an eyebrow, still intrigued. "And you can summon it from your ear?"
"Yeah, it's… kind of a special ability tied to the staff itself."
"It can change size, stretch out, shrink back—whatever I need it to do in a fight."
"That's quite the tool to have," she said finally, her voice thoughtful.
The two continued walking in silence for a few minutes, the desert winds stirring around them as they made their way back toward the Hidden Leaf.
As they neared the edge of the desert, Shoi finally broke the silence, his tone a bit more serious than usual. "You know, Hinata… I didn't choose this staff. It kind of… chose me."
Hinata glanced at him, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Chose you?"
"Yeah," Shoi said, shrugging as if it were no big deal. "One day, it just… appeared. I don't know why, but I have a feeling it's connected to something bigger. I just don't know what yet."
Hinata studied him for a moment, her Byakugan picking up the faint trace of energy that still clung to Shoi from the staff's use.
There was definitely something unusual about it—something ancient and powerful.
"Well," she said softly, "whatever it is, I'm sure you'll figure it out. But until then, just make sure you don't rely on it too much. Your own strength is just as important."
Shoi looked at her, his usual grin returning. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Don't worry, I'm still awesome without it."
But then he suddenly grabbed her by waist and pulled her against his chest "But i am not awesome without you..."
Hinata, already familiar with Shoi's antics, let out a small sigh, her lips curving into a soft smile.
She had long grown accustomed to his playful ways, and while his bold gestures used to catch her off guard, now they only brought a sense of warmth and comfort.
After all, their wedding was just a month away, and she had come to understand Shoi's heart better than anyone.
She didn't resist when he pulled her close this time, though she raised a brow with a teasing look.
Hinata playfully narrowed her eyes at him, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "You know, if you don't stop… I might just tell Hanabi you've been bullying me," she teased, her tone light but mischievous.
Shoi raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Oh? And what would Hanabi do, exactly?"
Hinata's smile turned smug as she leaned in closer. "She'd make sure you regret it. You know she's scarier than me."
Shoi laughed, his grip loosening. "Hanabi? Oh, come on, she knows I'm harmless... most of the time."
Hinata's smile widened, a playful glint in her eyes. "Harmless? You? I think she'd disagree," she teased, gently pushing at his chest but making no real effort to move away.
"Alright, alright, maybe 'harmless' is a stretch," Shoi admitted, his grin returning. "But you know she can't stay mad at me for too long. I've got that charm, remember?"
Hinata chuckled softly, her fingers still idly tracing circles on his chest. "You do have a way of getting yourself out of trouble," she admitted. "But don't forget, next month, you'll have two of us to answer to."
Shoi blinked, then smirked. "Two wives, huh? I must be doing something right."
Hinata blushed faintly, though she was too used to his teasing to be embarrassed for long. "You're lucky we both love you," she said softly, her tone more serious now. "But that doesn't mean you can slack off."