The commercial district of Sunagakure moved in layered rhythm. Fabric awnings snapped in the dry wind overhead. Vendors called out prices across trays of spices and dried fish. The scent of oil and iron mingled with sun-warmed stone. Children darted through narrow spaces between adults, their sandals kicking up fine grains of sand that glittered briefly in the light before settling again. Life. Noise. Commerce. And beneath it all, tension. Not visible. But present.
Near the edge of the square, where a sandstone column cast a narrow sliver of shade, stood Rakujo Reika. Her cropped jacket, dust-stained and reinforced along the seams, hung open over a sand-colored wrap top that clung close to her form without restricting movement. Bandages wrapped her forearms and hands, half-hidden beneath fingerless gloves worn smooth from long use. Utility straps crossed her hips, securing tools and sealed clay pouches that rested against fitted trousers tucked neatly into boots built for long days and longer ground. Nothing ornamental. Nothing accidental.
Her black hair fell straight down her back, dark against the pale stone of the village. Healed scars traced faint lines across exposed skin, old wounds carried without apology. She stood still. Too still for someone merely shopping.
The air around her felt… cooler than it should have under the desert sun. Not cold enough to draw alarm, but enough that those passing through her orbit noticed it subconsciously. Conversations dipped in volume. Steps unconsciously redirected. The current of foot traffic curved around her in a subtle crescent. Reika’s ember-toned eyes moved slowly across the district. Counting. Measuring. Three rooftops with clear sightlines. Two alleyways narrow enough to funnel attackers. One elevated walkway that could become a problem if someone clever occupied it. “Acceptable.” she murmured quietly to herself.
A child barreled through the crowd too fast, colliding against her hip before stumbling backward. Her hand shot out on instinct, steadying him by the shoulder. The contact was controlled, deliberate. No heat. No burn. The boy blinked up at her, wide-eyed, as though expecting something harsher. “Watch your footing,” she said simply. Her voice was low. Even. Unhurried. He nodded quickly and ran back toward his friends.
Reika let her hand fall. For a fraction of a second, the air around her shimmered, not visibly aflame, but dense, restrained. Something held tightly in check. She exhaled slowly. A faint curl of warmth escaped her breath, visible only because the air immediately around her remained just a touch too cool.
Across the square, raised voices sparked — sharp enough to cut through the market noise. Not panic. Not yet. But pride bruising against pride. Her gaze shifted toward the disturbance. The smallest tilt of her head. The subtle shift of weight onto the balls of her feet. She did not move. Not yet.
“Sunagakure,” she murmured under her breath, more observation than challenge. “Show me what kind of fire you carry.” And she waited.
Near the edge of the square, where a sandstone column cast a narrow sliver of shade, stood Rakujo Reika. Her cropped jacket, dust-stained and reinforced along the seams, hung open over a sand-colored wrap top that clung close to her form without restricting movement. Bandages wrapped her forearms and hands, half-hidden beneath fingerless gloves worn smooth from long use. Utility straps crossed her hips, securing tools and sealed clay pouches that rested against fitted trousers tucked neatly into boots built for long days and longer ground. Nothing ornamental. Nothing accidental.
Her black hair fell straight down her back, dark against the pale stone of the village. Healed scars traced faint lines across exposed skin, old wounds carried without apology. She stood still. Too still for someone merely shopping.
The air around her felt… cooler than it should have under the desert sun. Not cold enough to draw alarm, but enough that those passing through her orbit noticed it subconsciously. Conversations dipped in volume. Steps unconsciously redirected. The current of foot traffic curved around her in a subtle crescent. Reika’s ember-toned eyes moved slowly across the district. Counting. Measuring. Three rooftops with clear sightlines. Two alleyways narrow enough to funnel attackers. One elevated walkway that could become a problem if someone clever occupied it. “Acceptable.” she murmured quietly to herself.
A child barreled through the crowd too fast, colliding against her hip before stumbling backward. Her hand shot out on instinct, steadying him by the shoulder. The contact was controlled, deliberate. No heat. No burn. The boy blinked up at her, wide-eyed, as though expecting something harsher. “Watch your footing,” she said simply. Her voice was low. Even. Unhurried. He nodded quickly and ran back toward his friends.
Reika let her hand fall. For a fraction of a second, the air around her shimmered, not visibly aflame, but dense, restrained. Something held tightly in check. She exhaled slowly. A faint curl of warmth escaped her breath, visible only because the air immediately around her remained just a touch too cool.
Across the square, raised voices sparked — sharp enough to cut through the market noise. Not panic. Not yet. But pride bruising against pride. Her gaze shifted toward the disturbance. The smallest tilt of her head. The subtle shift of weight onto the balls of her feet. She did not move. Not yet.
“Sunagakure,” she murmured under her breath, more observation than challenge. “Show me what kind of fire you carry.” And she waited.