The Great Dig-Out: Finishing Tocuhes (Flashback)

As Nakaba walked the same route he had for the last few weeks, he already seemed warmed up. He stretched his limbs, his joints popped and creaked, and he could feel his early morning work out pangs all pleasantly singing all throughout his body. Already lightly sweating, the genin was beaming as the sun slowly rose over the village wall. He could tell before he could see that someone was waiting in the path up ahead. Before trepidation could kick in, a bright smile spread across his face. "Hey Hibiki!" He'd wave at her. "You're up early."

It was a sincere sign of Hibiki's friendship, from his perspective, that she would continue to toil instead of summoning her chakra and making the problem go away. The people of the Land were important to him, and he cherished that Hibiki went out of her way so many days in a row to help them. It was a quality that he didn't believe existed in ninja a month ago. He would slow to a stop as he got to Hibiki. Today he had two swords strapped to his waist.

Inherent Duality:

Shinobi's Paradox:

A huge smile spread across Nakaba's face. "A training session? Yeah, but I also have to work on these." He would tap the two swords. "I bought them, but I was unhappy with the aesthetics, so I'm doing a little work on them in my shop later." Nakaba would lock his gaze back onto Hibiki as she said his name. It was nice to be regarded that way every now and then. As Hibiki stuttered for a moment his face would grow into a softer kinder smile before receding into a more attentive face. Mmm, a commemoration gift. How thoughtful.

Exited by the mischievous grin, but attempting to appear neutral Nakaba's eye's would wander looking for what may have been openly hidden, landing on the cloth covered miniature. Look at that! The man's face would light up as the figurine presented to him stood tall. She remembered so many of my features. Amazing. "Hibiki this is beautifully made." He'd reach out stopping just short of the figurine almost as if to ask with his body language, 'may I hold it'. "Wow." If Hibiki gave it to him, he'd grab it with his left hand. Regardless he'd say. "I was actually hoping to give you something too." With his right hand he'd reach into his left pocket, awkwardly to pull out a small box. Inside were a pair of black gloves with gold trim [I acknowledge because of the weird timeline shenanigans you may not get to use these during the exams].

"These won't help you not hurt people, but they will be a nice reminder to remain mindful. I have something else for you in case of an emergency, but it isn't ready quite yet." His mental attention would wander towards his swords before he would continue. "I really do appreciate this. I love this kind of thing." He motioned towards the miniature as he spoke.

Gloves:

Hibiki's heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nervousness as Nakaba examined the miniature she had bought for him. She watched his expression shift from a soft, kind smile to one of attentive curiosity. Her cheeks flushed slightly as he praised the figurine.

"Of course, you can hold it," she said softly, feeling a sense of pride as Nakaba reached out for the miniature. His genuine appreciation was evident, and it warmed her heart to see how much he liked it.

When Nakaba mentioned he had a gift for her, Hibiki's eyes widened with surprise. She hadn't expected anything in return. The small box he pulled out intrigued her, and she felt a rush of anticipation as she opened it to reveal the black gloves with gold trim.

"They're beautiful, Toru. Thank you," she said sincerely, carefully running her fingers over the fine details of the gloves. His thoughtful words about being mindful resonated deeply with her. She knew how important it was to stay grounded, especially during the intense training and exams.

"I'll cherish these," she added, looking up at him with gratitude. "And I'll make sure to use them as a reminder of your kindness and support."

Her eyes followed his glance towards his swords, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of curiosity. "I'm looking forward to seeing what else you have in store. And if you need any help with your swords, I'd be happy to lend a hand. I'm not a craftsman like you, but I could assist in any way you need."

She gave him a warm smile, feeling a deeper sense of connection with Nakaba through their exchange of gifts. "Thank you again, Toru. This means a lot to me." Hibiki took a deep breath, feeling a wave of emotions wash over her. She looked up at Nakaba, her eyes filled with gratitude and determination.

"Before we get to work I need to say something," she began, her voice steady but tinged with emotion. "I really appreciate your patience with me. I know I'm not the easiest person to deal with sometimes, especially with all the challenges I face. But you've never given up on me. Your guidance and support mean more to me than I can put into words."

She paused, gathering her thoughts before continuing. "I've learned so much from you. You've taught me not just techniques and skills, but also how to believe in myself. It's made me want to call you 'sensei,' because that's what you are to me. You've been more than a friend—you're a mentor and a teacher."

Hibiki's eyes shone with sincerity as she spoke. "During the exams, I want you to know that I'll do everything I can to protect you. You've done so much for me, and I want to repay that kindness. If there's any way I can help or shield you, I won't hesitate."

She smiled warmly, feeling a sense of resolve. "Thank you, Toru for everything. I hope we can continue to learn from each other and support one another. You're not just someone I admire; you're someone I deeply respect and care about."

[3]

As Hibiki spoke, she'd see the man nod. Taking in everything she said before chiming in. "I think you've hit it right on the mark Hibiki. Everyone has things they can do and things that they can't. Your instincts and wit are pretty peerless. I know that you can see your weaknesses and places that you struggle, but it's not my place to hurt you by emphasizing them. If you know that you want to grow those then do so, but I thought it would've been a shame for you not to polish the strengths that were even apparent to me first."


Nakaba would take a moment to reflect on his emotions before they would crystallize into words. "Seeing you give your 110% has been valuable to my personal growth as well. I used to be disgusted by ninja and war and violence. Seeing tools that I think are meant for protection take the lives of another feels like a gross misuse of them. I hadn't found a home as a ninja before this, but this time things are different. I can see that it's not someone else's home that I'm protecting. That is to say, working with you has helped me feel like this place and the ninja world could be my home."

He would smile warmly at her. "I will also do everything I can to protect you. I'm excited to see you prove yourself to our peers as well. The feeling goes both ways. I have been blessed to meet you as well Hibiki. I think that you're amazing. If I need you, I'll do my best to rely on you. If you need me, rely on me."

"I guess that's the paradox. How do we peacefully interact with those who have decided war is the only path?" Nakaba would pause looking away from Hibiki as he took just a moment to recollect himself and his emotions. "I am excited to see the change that you will bring to the world. I hope that you can untangle this paradox, and show me the answer to this riddle."

His eyes would land back on Hibiki who was confident and sure, while he wasn't sure what kind of face he was making. It would be easy to see wonder and conviction in his eyes as he processed Hibiki's words, leaving no room for doubt or despair. Doesn't it feels like something is nearby. Like something I've lost is right in front of me. If only I knew what it was. He was half right. Nakaba could sense something that he had decided that he'd lost forever when he was a boy.

It wasn't just him, but, speaking to Hibiki, he couldn't help but to smile back. That smile was a treasure worth protecting, and Hibiki an ally and guide in this world darkened with hate and fury. Was it true that the world was like this? Was it true that Hibiki was one of a kind? Nakaba would never know. He'd never sought out this hope from others before. Someone was working towards the same cause as him, and that was more than enough to get Nakaba fired up. An orange glimmer lit in Nakaba's dun eyes, like a small ember on dirt, as the sun caught his irises just right.

Nakaba met Hibiki's grip with his own. He'd squeeze affirmingly, but not so hard that Hibiki might over reciprocate. He'd seen what feats of power she was capable of, and he was a fragile flower. A little chuckle would loose from his lips, and more teeth than he could hold back as pearly whites betrayed his emotional state. "Together."

Nakaba's blood was boiling. He could feel his focus sharpened like a knife as the duo dedicated the day to finishing their repairs. This was some of the most fun he'd had as an agent of a ninja village. It was also the first time he'd felt the echoes of something long lost.