Book 2: Chapter 3: The Second Day Part II

                                    

                                          
Book 2: Land of Sand

Chapter 3: The Second Day Part II

1
We followed Kabura to a river, where he stopped next to the bank. The river was calm, and the short grass sounded like crinkling paper as we stepped through it. I hadn't noticed any villages along the way, nor were there any trees nearby for coverage, so I wasn't exactly sure why Hiruzen would be taken to a river. Then again, we were in the Land of Rivers.
Sui crouched down next to Kabura. "So what you're saying is the trail stops here?"
Kabura barked with a nod as he laid down in a flattened spot of grass.
"Wow! They really did the old geezer in," Tayuya said, laughing. "Dropped his body in the river and everything."
"Or they knew we could track him, so they took him to a river to wash off his scent."
"What makes you so sure he's not dead?"
Sui went silent while I pulled the scroll off my back and went to the: Stress and How to Manage It section. Hiruzen really thought I needed something like that to help with my Danzō obsession. Which wasn't an obsession. In fact, it was the other way around. He was obsessed with me! Though he recommended things like drinking tea to calm your mind or going out on nature walks. Old-time sayings like that. And if I were to assume he took his own advice, then—
"He's not dead," I concluded as I put the scroll back on my back. "This is where the old man fell asleep."
Tayuya stared at me with question marks floating above her head. "What? How would you even know that?"
"Because when you need a breather, what better place than next to a river where you can see the moon clearly."
"The scroll said he takes nightly walks to open fields after a long day's work, didn't it?" Sui said, seeing through my BS.
"Not verbatim, but yeah, something like that."
Sui facepalmed. "This better not be some dumb goose chase."
"Ok, we got he slept here and whatever, but the trail stops here meaning...." Tayuya paused before falling on her back laughing. "The old man slept rolled into the river! That fucking idiot!"
"Yuki don't tell me that's the case," Sui said, slapping her forehead again.
I chuckled. "Well, when was the last time you think he slept?"
"Yuki..."
"Alright fine, Kabura did you pick up a scent of another person or group of people?"
Kabura stared at me for a moment before yawing and closing his eyes.
"Was I just ignored by a dog?"
Tayuya laughed even harder while Sui chuckled. "I don't think Kabura likes you very much."
"Well the feeling is mutual. I'm more of a cat person—"
Kabura sprang forward like a ninja and bit my hand. Have I ever said that I hate dogs? Especially ones with a grudge. The fucking bastard.
"Ow!" I glared at Kabura as he dangled off my hand. "You little piece of shit! Don't think I won't toss you in the river."
Kabura released his jaws of death from my hand and grumbled a hmph while Sui pulled out some kind of salve from her pocket. After twisting the cap open she grabbed my hand and rubbed the white ointment on my cuts. I clicked my tongue as it burned while Sui giggled.
"You're such a baby."
"A dog just bit me. He could have rabies for all I know."
"And now it's all healed, even the nonexistent rabies. You're welcome."