Shota followed the matron through the village.
'She could have at least told me that we would be walking so much and to the outskirts of the village at that.' Shota thought with a tired look on his face as the sun beat down on him.
The matron noticed his tired look and angrily grunted,"Boy, Are not you supposed to be a shinobi and a good one at that? You are getting tired of walking a few steps? Sometimes it makes me wonder who is the real older one, me or you."
"Duh, I have to walk or run during missions because if I don't then I could lose my life. The adrenaline keeps me from getting tired." Shota replied.
"Is that so? We can sure change that." Matron said with a look that send shivers down Shota spine. Though, it was usually the case when the matron looked at him angrily.
"Where are we heading to anyway?" Shota asked. He tried to change the topic.
The matron did not even turn her head. She kept walking as if he had not spoken.
Shota pouted. He crossed his arms and muttered under his breath. 'I was just asking for her sake, you know. She is talking so much at her age. But damn, she has got some stamina. She was definitely some shinobi back in the day.'
He watched her back. She moved like someone who had marched through deserts and battlefields without breaking a sweat.
They reached the outskirts of the village. The matron turned toward one small, plain building.
Shota's senses sharpened the moment he saw it. Several Anbu stood in the shadows around the house. He identified them as the Anbu from Suna's internal security division.
'Internal security division Anbu? And so many of them? Why the fuck are there so many of them on the outskirts of the village?' Shota thought.
He scanned the area more carefully. Seals covered the ground and there were some paper tags that could activate a Fuinjutsu barriers with some chakra into them.
'They are trying to contain something in here,' Shota thought. 'And there is only one thing that comes to mind that Suna would contain with this much security. Shukaku.'
Two Anbu dropped down from the roof in front of them. They bowed low to the matron. One of them spoke in a calm but firm voice. "Outsiders are not allowed here, Lady Chō."
Shota blinked. 'Chō? Is that her name?'
It was the first time that he was hearing her name.
The matron grunted. She frowned deeply. "I have brought him so he is not an outsider. Besides, you recognize him right? The boy has been trusted by the Kazekage in various matters. And besides, 'he' needs some company now and then."
"But—" the Anbu started.
"Was I asking for your permission?" the matron said. Her glare could have melted stone.
The Anbu bowed again quickly. They stepped aside without another word.
Shota patted the Anbu on the shoulder as he passed. He leaned in and whispered, "Jeez, she is the scary one, is she not? One time, she glared at me for skipping my chores and I am pretty sure that I peed my pants. Can you imagine the great Eraserhead of Suna wetting himself at her glare?"
"There is no way it's natural. There is also the time when I accidentally broke one of her favorite pots. She made me scrub the entire kitchen floor with a toothbrush. A toothbrush! I thought my arms would fall off. And don't get me started on the time I tried to sneak extra dessert. She caught me mid-bite and lectured me for twenty minutes about responsibility. Twenty minutes. I still have nightmares about that lecture."
The Anbu stared at him. His mask hid his face, but Shota could feel the mix of fear and amusement. Shota grinned. "Seriously, if she ever glares at you, just run. Run far. Run fast. Don't look back."
The matron turned back suddenly. She saw Shota still chatting with the Anbu. Her eyes narrowed. "Am I the old one or you? Get quick on your feet."
Shota snapped to attention. "Yes ma'am!" He jogged to catch up with her in two quick strides.
They stepped inside the house. A simple bed stood in the corner of the main room. An old man lay on it. His skin looked thin like paper. But he had a peaceful smile on his face. His eyes opened slowly when they entered.
Shota recognized him instantly. Every Suna Anbu knew that face from old mission briefings and history lessons. This was Bupaku. The first and only Jinchuriki of the One-Tail that Suna had ever sealed.
He had carried Shukaku inside him for nearly eighty years. Longer than most villages had existed.
The matron walked to the bed. Her face changed completely. The hard lines softened. Her eyes filled with warmth. She reached out and gently took the old man's hand. "My love," she said softly.
Shota had to run his ears for some time to see if he was hearing correctly. "I came as soon as I could."
Bupaku's smile grew wider. "Ah dear. It's good to see you again. I have been longing for hearing your voice for some time."
He chuckled weakly. The sound turned into a small cough. He patted her hand. "It has been some time that I am only hearing Shukaku. Sometimes I consider him as my wife since he is always nagging at me like you."
The matron laughed. It was a soft, warm sound. "I don't nag at you, my love. I am just worried about your health."
Bupaku squeezed her hand. "You worry too much. Look at me. Still handsome after all these years."
She rolled her eyes but smiled. "Handsome? You look like a wrinkled prune left too long in the sun. But you are my prune."
He laughed again. "And you are still the most beautiful woman in the desert. Even with that glare you give everyone else."
She leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Flatterer. You always knew how to make an old woman blush."
Bupaku winked at her. "Old? You are timeless. The sun rises every day just to see your face."
She swatted his arm lightly. "Stop that. You will make me cry in front of the boy."
Bupaku glanced at Shota. "Ah, yes. The boy who makes you yell more than Shukaku does."
The matron turned to Shota. "This is Shota. The lazy one I told you about. "
Bupaku chuckled. "Ah, laziness, a crime."
Shota stood there feeling his face heat up. The two old people kept talking about him as if he were not in the room.
The matron continued. "He peels potatoes like he is fighting a war, but ask him to sweep the floor and suddenly his arms stop working. He can erase jutsus with one look, but he cannot erase the mess in his room. I swear, if laziness were a kekkei genkai, this boy would be the clan head."
Bupaku nodded slowly. "Such a waste of talent. The Kazekage trusts him with important missions, but he cannot be trusted with a broom. Tragic."
Shota crossed his arms. 'Oi oi oi, they are talking as if my feelings do not matter at all.'
The matron turned back to Bupaku. "See? He pouts now. Like a child caught stealing sweets."
Bupaku laughed softly.
Shota sighed. He looked at the ceiling and wondered how he had ended up here. The great Eraserhead of Suna, reduced to being teased by two elderly people who clearly loved each other very much. He could not even be mad. The love between them was real and warm.
--------Author Notes---------
I have decided to increase the number of extra chapters on patreon from 15 to 20. Thankyou.
Thankyou Dylan S for supporting me!
Y'all can now read the next 20 chapters of the fanfic on my pat*reon.
https://pat*reon.com/Charizard6
[No star]
Thankyou for your support!