Chapter Text
“So, you’ve come.”
The woman bowed her head.
“You know what must be done,” the hooded figure wasted no time, their voice dark and unwavering. “When the time comes, seize the boy.”
“I understand,” she replied simply and turned to leave, just as quickly as she arrived. The cold sensation of their eyes boring into her back made her shiver.
“And…beware of his father.”
The woman halted upon hearing them speak once again. Closing her eyes, she let out a small sigh.
“You hesitate. Why?” Demanded the hidden voice. “Perhaps you are afraid, child?”
“No.” She replied immediately with a newfound confidence. She opened her eyes and turned back to face them. “From now on, I will control fear.”
The figure chuckled. “Very well. Do not fail me, Kurihnda,” they warned before beginning to vanish.
“Do not fail yourself.”
“Hold it, Akamadume.”
Though he’d done it many times before, stealing jogans remained a difficult challenge for Ezra Inuzuka. He glanced at his canine companion, a thoughtful gleam in his eye. “Look, remember what we pulled off last time? That was convincing! But, if you keep barking, there’s no way we’ll get anything free to eat today!”
The people of Clonoha were bustling as always. The boy sighed loudly. It would be difficult to carry this mission out without at least half the village noticing the ruckus.
Ezra slowly crept up the jogan stand, blinking several times to recompose his annoyed expression into one of believable innocence. As he approached the stand, Akamadume stayed behind, a few feet away. “Hey mister, spare a jogan?”
The stand’s worker didn’t even look his way for a second. “Go away, kid. You’re nothing but trouble.”
“Trouble? Oh, no, no, no, my friend!” Ezra peered over his shoulder to glance at Akamadume, giving him a short nod—their ready signal.
“ That looks like ‘trouble!’” In order to distract the jogan vendor, Ezra pointed down the road at nothing in particular. He smiled with satisfaction as the man looked away, distracted for only a moment, and Akamadume sprinted into the jogan stand, sending the fruit flying everywhere. Ezra caught two—one in each hand—before heading out on his way, ignoring the seller’s cries of anger.
“Sorry!” He called, without turning around. “A kid’s gotta eat! And, so does his dog!”
Rather incredulously, the jogan vendor pointed at Ezra and Akamadume’s retreating forms. “You did this!” He shouted at their backs.
Ignoring their angered victim, the pair sprinted away, weaving in and out of the crowd. People scowled and stopped to give them sharp looks. Ezra didn’t pay them any mind. He was used to it all as it happened so often. When it came to people whose opinions he valued, there were none. Everyone he cared about was long gone—most importantly, his parents. Of course, he cared about Akamadume’s opinion, too. After all, the dog was his best friend. For as long as he could remember, Akamadume had been at his side.
When they were out of sight of the scene they had caused moments earlier, Ezra paused to catch his breath, and Akamadume slowed down beside him, tilting his head in questioning.
Ezra shot the dog a look of agreement. “You’re right Akamadume, we can't hang around here much longer. They might catch up with us eventually. You know how this always goes!”
Akamadume barked, echoing his sentiment.
Ezra grinned. “Come on. Let’s go somewhere.”