5.7

5.7

Years of partial isolation and unusual communication methods left me at a loss on how to approach the local kids. Did they know how to read? Should I just approach, write on my board and demand they tell me all the rumors around? The things adults thought kids wouldn’t know or understand?

I looked between the kids and the boring conversation Hayase was a part of. Considered if I should really approach the locals.

Why was I hesitating? When did I become this timid?

I steeled my resolve. Tapped Hayase’s arm. Pointed at the kids when he looked. Got a nod from the chunin. I got this. It was just a bunch of kids. I was a strong, independent kunoichi. I knew how to interact with people, I knew how to charm people. I knew how to extract information from people. It was a class subject in the third year of the academy. My grades were almost top of the class on that one. I can do this. No backwater peasant would scare me into timidness.

...

I approached the group of huddled kids. It drew some attention, but it wasn’t until I was right by their side that they became aware of my presence. I flipped the board I had been carrying under my arm, and under the curious gaze of the small crowd, I wrote. “Hello! I’m Hinata. Is there anything fun to do around here?”

The gathered kids were what you would expect from a small town. The boys had an assortment of gray, browns and earthen tones: loose-fitting coats and pants, simple sandals made of straw. One of the five boys also wore those socks with separated toes, tabi. Another one barefooted. The barefooted one was also the biggest of the lot, with worse looking clothes, a crooked nose, and a nasty smile. The leering grin she shot my way earned him the name of Jerkface.

Among the small crowd of boys, there were two girls. One was as thin as a bean pole, tall and long faced. Sun tanned skin, pockmarked with acne and smeared with a few spots of dirt. The second girl looked younger than me, maybe nine or ten, dressed in fancy looking and colored clothes. She wore the full regalia: a light pink kimono, the skirt-like hakama, the wide sash over the kimono, the toed socks and wooden sandals.

It wasn’t a surprise when the gathered kids turned to the smaller, better dressed girl and stared at her. The younger girl looked around, wide eyes, almost as if looking for an escape route. She stammered her way through reading what I wrote. Poor girl.

I glanced at Linlin. If before I thought I saw stars in her eyes, now it was whole galaxies. Sasame, that name sounded familiar, even if I couldn’t place it. The kid didn’t seem to notice my confusion.

“She’s like, super strong as well, and not afraid to boss that big bully around.” Her face fell, and her voice lost a bit of fervor. “He’s been so annoying ever since they left.”

My kunoichi-y senses tingled. I knelt in front of Linlin, tugged at her hands gently, coaching her to release me. When I was free, I took my board, wrote on it. “Where did they go?” I didn’t know yet who ‘they’ were, but I was about to find out.

“Sasame-chan wouldn’t tell me.” The girl pouted. Kicked at the ground. Looked away. “Clan secrets.”

Instead of taking Linlin back into the market proper, I took a turn toward one small park-like area I’d seen when moving with the other brats. There was this charming wooden bench made from a fallen tree, and a few other rustic looking tables. I sat, and Linlin did the same. I considered what to do. After thinking about it for a bit, I wrote on my board.

“You promise to keep this a secret?”

The girl nodded. Head bobbing up and down so fast I could barely keep with her movements. It was kinda cute.

I took one of my mini seals from the pouch on my skirt waistband. Under the kid’s curious gaze, I placed it on the table and my finger on the center of the seal. There was a puff of smoke, a gasp from the kid, and out popped an assortment of cupcakes, sweets, and pastries. As well as a thermos with tea. The surprised squeal from Linlin when she saw the sweets brought a smile to my face.

I took my board again, wrote for the girl. “Eat, and tell me everything about Sasame-chan.”