Striking Flame

Cast
Ken Matsumune

Katsu Unmei

Shizuka Unmei

Three days in the Land of Iron and Katsu had still hardly said a word to his sister outside their short briefing sessions at the end of each day. Shizuka wondered if he was still upset that the mission turned out to be nothing more than information gathering. Maybe he was mad at her for letting him go on a wild goose chase for the Hokage. Maybe he just got a glimpse of that scar, the one just under his collarbone that she had given him, every time he got up to shower in the morning. Regardless of the reason, Katsu seemed to do his best to avoid Shizuka. She couldn't help but worry about her younger brother when he was out of sight, capable shinobi as he may be. They were doing delicate work and delicate was never a word Katsu had been fond of. Every time one of the revolutionaries pasted Katsu's gaze Shizuka saw her brother's eyes scanning them up and down, trying to gauge their strength.

"You fancy that there kitchen knife?" A pot bellied man asked Shizuka.

"It's quite nice," Shizuka replied with a smile. "Much nicer than the one I have at home. A little pricey though."

"Can't help that," the man said. The man leaned back in his chair and crossed his feet up onto the wooden desk he sat behind. "Been selling cutlery in here for about a decade now. This revolution got the prices on good steel at an all time high. Mining villages like this are gonna become boom towns once this is all over."

"I'll bet. Maybe I'll move her permanently after all the fighting is over." Shizuka put the kitchen knife back in its place among a variety of blades.

"Where you from girly?" The man put his feet back down and leaned forward.

"Chichibu village. You probably haven't heard of it. Pretty small place." Shizuka told the lied just like she had been doing for the past three days. Chichibu was indeed a real place, though Shizuka had never been there herself.

"Actually, I have a brother currently living in Chichibu."

"Is that so?" Shizuka began repeatedly curing in her mind.

"I actually plan to visit him soon. He usually invites me up to take part in that little festival they have at the beginning of next month." The man's words seemed void of compassion and Shizuka immediately began feeling uncomfortable, though she did not show it. The intent had been to probe the store owner for information on the revolution. Now the best course of action seemed to be to exit the store as quickly as possible without drawing any extra attention.

"The end of the month? I think you're mistaking sir. The Cherry Blossom Festival is at the end of next month."

The man eyed Shizuka for a moment before smiling. "Well, guess you saved me from heading out a little early. I'll have to give my brother a call, tell him a pretty young thing stopped me from making a huge blunder."

"Indeed you will. Take care now."

Shizuka made her way around the tables of cutlery and passed the man behind the desk. Out of the corner of her eye Shizuka spotted a strange piece of wood poking just over the other side of the counter. It was within arms reach of the man and Shizuka could have sworn his hand inched towards the weapon when he mentioned his brother in Chichibu village. As she exited the store, Shizuka determined that the piece of would could be nothing but the stock of a Gelel Gun.