บท 43: Return to Konoha
Agreements reached and details discussed, the meeting adjourned on a hopeful note. The Kages had much to contemplate, many discussions to have with their advisors and clans. Yet, they knew that the potential benefits of this daring venture were too significant to ignore.
Ryomaru found Temari in the courtyard, her gaze fixed on the setting sun that painted the vast desert landscape with a cascade of fiery hues. His footfalls barely whispered against the coarse sand as he approached, stopping beside her.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Temari asked, her voice soft. She didn't turn her gaze from the horizon.
"Very much so," he agreed. His eyes, however, weren't trained on the scenery but on the young kunoichi beside him. The fading sunlight ignited her blonde hair with a warm glow, accentuating her serious yet delicate features.
They fell into a comfortable silence, the kind fostered by shared experiences and mutual respect. Temari finally turned to look at him, her teal eyes searching his ice-blue ones. "So, it's decided then? You're heading to Konoha?"
Ryomaru nodded, "Yes, it seems that way."
"You'll...do well there," Temari said. There was a warmth in her voice, a genuine concern that Ryomaru appreciated. "You're adaptable. Strong."
Ryomaru inclined his head, a soft smile playing on his lips. "You sound like you'll miss me, Temari."
She looked taken aback for a moment, then shook her head. A faint blush colored her cheeks. "I...maybe. A little. You're...not bad company."
"Not bad company?" Ryomaru echoed, chuckling softly. "High praise, coming from you."
She shot him a mock glare that failed to hide the pink still gracing her cheeks. "Don't get cocky, Ryo."
His smile widened, "I'll try."
The silence that fell between them was different this time, charged with an unspoken understanding. Temari broke it first. "I...may be going to Konoha, too."
Temari's admission hung in the air between them, a confounding revelation that caught Ryomaru off guard. He blinked, looking at her with wide eyes. "You're going to Konoha too?"
She nodded, her gaze averting to the ground, her cheeks painting a vivid contrast against the golden hue of her hair in the setting sun. "Gaara's going to Kumo. Although I'm already a Genin, I think it would be good to strengthen our relations with Konoha. And...you'll be there, too."
It was subtle, the way her voice hitched at the end, but it wasn't lost on Ryomaru. It dawned on him then, the underlying reason for Temari's decision. She wanted to be in Konoha because he would be there.
For a moment, Ryomaru just stood there, processing the revelation. The thought of having a familiar face in an unfamiliar land filled him with a sense of comfort, even relief. He wouldn't be alone, and that in itself was comforting.
"That...that's great, Temari," he finally found his voice, the words coming out softer than he intended. "Konoha won't be so alien with you there."
Temari finally looked up at him, her teal eyes meeting his. Her cheeks were still flushed, but there was a certain relief in her gaze. "I'm glad...you think so."
Ryomaru offered her a genuine smile, his ice-blue eyes sparkling in the dimming light. "I know so, Temari. We'll face the unknown together."
A soft smile tugged at her lips, her gaze softening. "Together," she echoed, her voice barely above a whisper. But it was enough, it was a promise.
From the distance, a call echoed, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. It was time for Ryomaru to leave. He glanced at Temari one last time, etching her figure against the backdrop of the setting sun in his memory.
"Until we meet in Konoha," he said, a note of promise in his voice. With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Temari standing alone in the courtyard, a hopeful smile playing on her lips.
As the Kage Building's towering form came into view, Ryomaru's steps slowed. The structure represented power, respect, and the responsibility of the highest order. He had been in the building many times before, but today held a different meaning, a different weight.
At the entrance, his ice-blue eyes found Raikage A, flanked by Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kazekage Rasa. Among the heavyweights of the shinobi world, a small figure with striking red hair seemed oddly out of place. The boy, Gaara, didn't seem to notice or care about the uneasy glances thrown his way. His gaze was distant, as if lost in a world of his own. Ryomaru felt a pang of sympathy for the boy, eight years of age and burdened with the weight of a Tailed Beast within him.
Joining the group, Ryomaru bowed his head in respect to the Kages. "Raikage-sama, Hokage-sama, Kazekage-sama," he greeted.
Raikage A grunted in acknowledgment, his gaze hard but not unkind. "Ryomaru."
Hiruzen offered a gentle nod, his wise eyes holding a trace of warmth. "It's good to see you, young man."
Rasa remained silent, his gaze shifting to Gaara, who had acknowledged Ryomaru's presence with a mere flicker of his gaze.
Sarutobi Hirzuen, broke the tension. "We'll be heading out soon. We have one more stop to make at Konoha to collect Naruto. After that, Kakashi and Raikage-sama's team will go straight to Kumogakure."
"Kakashi-san is escorting Naruto?" Ryomaru asked in surprise, his ice-blue eyes reflecting the curiosity twinkling within. He knew Kakashi was one of Konoha's most respected shinobi, a man of character and strength. The choice seemed fitting, yet unexpected.
Hiruzen smiled slightly, nodding. "Indeed. He was particularly interested in this initiative. Kakashi has always believed in fostering bonds between the villages. I believe this venture is close to his heart."
Ryomaru's gaze fell on Gaara again. He wondered what went through the young boy's mind, what he thought of this venture. Deciding to break the silence, he extended a hand towards Gaara, a friendly smile etched on his face.
"Gaara, right?" He began, attempting to infuse his tone with warmth. "I look forward to learning alongside you."
Gaara turned his gaze towards Ryomaru, the lack of emotion in his eyes somewhat unsettling. After a moment's pause, he nodded slightly. "Likewise," he murmured, his voice soft, almost distant.
Ryomaru felt the awkwardness that fell over the group, but he chose to stay silent, respecting Gaara's reserved nature.
"Let's go then," A commanded, resolute as ever. With a firm nod of agreement, Baki, the ever-present guardian shadow of Gaara, joined the group, adding to the unique mix of characters setting off on the journey. There were many of them; A, the stern and formidable Raikage, his aloof son Ryomaru, the kind-hearted Hokage Hiruzen and his competent escort Kakashi, the young, ever-enigmatic Gaara and the dutiful Baki. Their destination? Konoha.
Temari, however, would follow them at a later date. There were no elaborate farewells, no promises scrawled on the sand. Just a silent understanding that hung in the air like an unspoken pledge.
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