The wind whispered at his vest as Hachiro Rinha reappeared with a muted whff atop a narrow, arched rooftop nestled perfectly between the Main Gate and the East Gate of the Hidden Leaf Village. The ceramic tiles beneath his sandals were warm and sun-drenched, plus their red hue faded with time. From this height, the village unfolded in soft layers of bustling life and shadowed alleys, which was pretty much a living maze of movement. He stood upright, hands still tucked into his pockets, dark brown bangs fluttering against his brow. The Main Gate loomed to his left: tall, imposing, manned by two Leaf shinobi whose silhouettes remained steady in the sunlight like well-trained statues along with a few others. But then a sudden movement caught his eye, and off in the near distance, hopping along rooftops toward the East Gate, a familiar figure moved briskly; It was Soma. Even from this distance, her small frame and outfit was unmistakable.
Hachiro: Guess she’s got the route handled. Cool
He could’ve used the Body Flicker again. Reappeared at her side but he didn't. Instead, Hachiro crouched lazily at the roof’s edge, one knee pulled up under his arm as his sharp gaze surveyed the layout below. This was only his second "real" day in the Leaf—and if he was going to be living there, he might as well get familiar with the village’s veins. With a push from his heel, he dropped down—not with a dramatic landing, but a silent one, touching ground in a narrow alley between two tea shops. The aroma of dried leaves and steamed buns drifted in the air, mingling with laughter and the soft clink of ceramic. He wandered without urgency, drifting from stall to stall as his eyes skimmed signs and symbols.
Hachiro: The Hidden Leaf’s definitely got layers.
The stone walls along the side grew taller, moss clinging to their bases. The crowds thinned. It was less marketplace, more old residential, the kind of place shinobi clans tucked their homes into with purpose. He passed by what looked like a silenced training field, its wooden targets cracked and burned, before finally spotting the East Gate’s shadow rising ahead. Far off in the distance, just before the last curved rooftop disappeared from sight, he saw a glimpse of Soma again. Hachiro smirked, and with one last glance back at the village, he descended the slope toward the East Gate, his pace relaxed but intentional. Behind him, the great village of Konohagakure continued to breathe and bustle… and before him awaited both Soma and Shijo.
Hachiro: Alright then, we're all here. I guess it's time for us to go.
Location: Konoha Eastern Gates
Posting Order: Soma Chinoike → Hachiro → Shijo
Post Time Limit (PTL): 3 Days.
Skip Points: lll