Chapter 26 Jiraya On Hunt

One evening, after several days of travel, they arrived in a small, bustling city nestled between two mountain ranges. 

The city was a welcome sight after the harsh wilderness, offering warmth, food, and a brief respite from the cold. As they settled into an inn, Mikoto saw an opportunity to bring Pakura and Hiro closer.

"Hiro," Mikoto said casually after they had finished their meal in the inn's cozy dining room, "why don't you and Pakura go into the city and gather some supplies? I need to check in with some contacts here, but we'll need provisions for the next leg of the journey."

Hiro glanced at Pakura, who seemed slightly startled by the suggestion, but he nodded. "Sure, we can do that."

Pakura hesitated, feeling a flutter of nerves. She wasn't sure if she could handle being alone with Hiro, not with the way her feelings had been growing. 

But Mikoto's warm, reassuring smile gave her the courage she needed. "Alright," Pakura agreed, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.

As they left the inn and stepped into the bustling streets, Pakura found herself hyper-aware of Hiro's presence beside her. 

The city was alive with activity—vendors calling out their wares, children running through the streets, and the scent of street food filling the air. But all Pakura could focus on was the man walking next to her.

They visited several shops, gathering dried meats, herbs, and other essentials. Hiro handled most of the transactions, his easy manner and confident presence making him a natural at bargaining with the merchants.

Pakura admired how effortlessly he moved through the crowd, how he seemed to bring a sense of calm wherever he went. She couldn't help but feel drawn to him, even as guilt gnawed at her.

At one point, as they paused by a stall selling warm pastries, Hiro turned to her, offering a small smile. "You've been quiet today. Something on your mind?"

Pakura froze for a moment, caught off guard by his directness. She struggled to find the right words, not wanting to reveal too much. 

"Just… thinking about the journey ahead," she said, her tone careful. "And about how we're going to get through it."

Hiro nodded, his expression thoughtful. "It won't be easy, but we've come this far. We'll make it."

She quickly looked away, pretending to examine the pastries, but Hiro wasn't fooled.

"You've been different lately," Hiro observed, his tone gentle. "Is everything okay?"

Pakura's heart raced. She hadn't expected him to notice the change in her behavior, but of course, he would. Hiro was perceptive, always attuned to the emotions of those around him. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

"I'm just… trying to make sense of things," Pakura admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's been a long journey, and I suppose I'm still adjusting."

Hiro studied her for a moment

"You're not alone, you know. We're all adjusting."

The sincerity in his words made Pakura's chest tighten. 

As they continued their errands, Pakura found herself relaxing, bit by bit. Hiro's calm demeanor and kind words made it easier for her to push aside the guilt, if only for a while. 

By the time they returned to the inn, their bags full of supplies, Pakura realized that she had enjoyed the time they spent together. It was a small step, but it felt significant.

When they rejoined Mikoto in their room, Pakura felt a mix of relief and regret. Relief that the tension between her and Hiro had eased, and regret that her feelings were growing stronger despite her best efforts to suppress them.

Mikoto greeted them with a knowing smile, her eyes flicking between the two of them. "Did you find everything you needed?"

"Yes," Pakura replied, her voice steady. "We're all set for tomorrow."

"Good," Mikoto said, her tone warm and approving. 

As they settled in for the night, Pakura's thoughts were a tangled mess of emotions—guilt, longing, confusion. She knew she couldn't let these feelings get in her way, but the journey ahead seemed more daunting than ever.

 ...

In Konoha Village

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat at his desk, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across his office. 

His eyes were fixed on the intelligence reports from the Sand Village, his brows furrowing deeper with each line he read. The news was startling—two Uchiha, and one of them wielding the Mangekyō Sharingan.

A grim silence filled the room as Hiruzen processed the implications. His heart pounded as he thought about the implications. 

The Mangekyō Sharingan was not something to be taken lightly. It was a power that could turn the tide of battles and cause immense upheaval.

He slammed the report down on the desk, his face a mask of concern. "Two Uchiha, and one with the Mangekyō Sharingan? This is beyond serious."

His hands shook slightly as he reached for the communication scrolls, summoning his trusted advisors with a sense of urgency. Danzo Shimura arrived first, his expression as inscrutable as ever. 

He took one look at Hiruzen's face and understood the gravity of the situation. "Hiruzen," Danzo said in a cold, measured tone, "you believe this information to be accurate?"

Hiruzen nodded, his eyes narrowing. "Yes. We have multiple sources confirming it. The fact that one of them has the Mangekyō Sharingan changes everything. 

We need to confirm their identities immediately and assess their intentions."

Danzo's gaze turned sharp and calculating. "If these Uchiha are alive, they could disrupt the balance of power significantly. We need to consider all possibilities. 

If they have survived, they could have been hidden or protected by someone with a vested interest in their existence."

Kakashi Hatake entered next, his usual calm demeanor replaced by a rare hint of anxiety. 

"Kakashi i want you to go and find jiraya as soon as possible and tell him that i summoned him urgently"