The wind blows steadily, the breeze is nice, and is ruffles their hair as they get a good look of the village from the vantage point. This isn't the tallest structure around but it's close so the view is beautiful. Skies overhead are overcast but there doesn't seem to be any approaching rain. Passersby down below pay no attention to the upper level of their village and thus none seem to notice the pair of children watching them like absentminded hawks. They're lost in thought the longer they look so when they snap back to the present there is only one thought to be had.
However, they're beaten to the punch. "Brother, I think we should go home now so mom doesn't worry about us being out this long."
Their pride isn't hurt from hearing it from him first. He's right all the same though, so they nod and agree. "I think you're right." A quick survey around tells them they might be in a bigger situation than they realized. "Uh. Might be a problem with that."
"I dunno if I know how to get down exactly. Getting up was easy, but it's kind of steep to go the other way."
"Uh oh. What do we do now?"
"Probably wait for someone to figure out we're up here and then get yelled at for it." Their voice is a mix of guilt and nerves.
The two exchange a look and then a matching heavy sigh. Knowing this place, that could take a long time or it could be 15 minutes from now. Generally the residents were mostly private people but somehow they also didn't much like trouble being stirred up in town. As long as you kept yourself out of trouble and out of the business with others, you were fine. But this violates that first unspoken rule. Unminded children were very likely to get up to no good and they were proving that correct with this stunt they had pulled. Still. Yelling for assistance was asking for a more harsh reprimand and each of them knew it so they were quiet as they sat up on the roof waiting for someone to figure out what was up.
It was indeed more like 40 minutes before something of nite caught their intention. A voice they thought they recognized could be heard asking people on the street a question that could not be fully made out from this height. It was loud enough to register to them but not loud enough for all the words to come through clearly. Taking the chance was a little risky, but it was better than nothing. They looked over the ledge quickly and recognition lit up their face immediately. "Dad, up here!"
Their yelling and waving had their desired effect and the man caught on easily. His gaze tipped towards the upper level of the village and he locked on to who had been calling him. Heaving a sigh, he rolled his shoulders and made for the building he knew he had to get up if he was going to get them back. Thankfully his skills were much more advanced than theirs and he was able to scale the structure by walking vertically up the side without missing a step.
"How did you two get up here? And what were you doing?" He tried to put some authority into his voice as he spoke when he arrived at their location but it barely managed to make it past the clear worry.
"That's a long story. I'm sure you don't wanna hear it." They were trying to deflect and lessen the blame sure to come down on the both of them."
"Uh huh, I'm sure it is." He sighed hard again. "No matter. Tell me later at home. We need to go right now, mom has been looking for both of you. Time to leave."
"Okay. Sorry we were gone so long."
"Don't worry about it too much, Sai. Neither of you were hurt and I don't think anyone noticed you up here so you're probably not in trouble."
Sai gave him an innocent smile in return for the reassurance which helped soften the tension in his shoulders from the worry. However, turning to his oldest, it seemed this was gonna be a tough conversation to have later. "I know you're not happy about all this but don't think about it too hard. C'mon."
The hears in his head didn't start properly turning until it hit him just why his oldest was probably not looking at him just then. In order to get down safely, Hyakutori would have to carry them both. It was no trouble for him since he was a grown adult and capable of carrying bigger and heavier things with little problem. But this wasn't such an easy sell. "Don't give me that look. I know this sort of thing bothers you, but it won't be for long. I'll put you down as soon as we're back on the ground."
"I'll hold you to that then."
"You have my word." To diffuse the tension, he gave a faint but genuine little grin before turning to the younger boy first. "Okay Sai, you first."
Hyakutori knelt down quickly and Sai hopped on his shoulders with little fuss. It was no trouble at all carrying the five year old and thankfully he never seemed to put up a fight. His seven year old sibling, however, would always be a different story. "Come on, Shin." He stood up again, one hand firmly holding his youngest, and kept the other arm outstretched.
Dark eyes stared him down for a moment before the child grumbled under their breath and approached him. Hyakutori knew he probably should have stayed kneeling because he once again had to lower himself, but it was of little consequence. The repetitive motion did not bother him. And once he had his free arm around his other kid, he stood up once more. The looks each of the children wore could not be any more different but there was little time to focus on that. "Okay, I'll make this quick."
He found the easiest path down and set foot on the street below in relatively no time. As promised, he immediately set his oldest down and carefully lifted his youngest to join his brother in the next motion. "See? Not so bad. No damage done."
"That's some pride you have there." Another sigh, this time through his nose. "We should get going home now."
"Fine, fine. But I don't wanna talk about this right away when we get back. Please do not tell mom too much about it."
"Yeah, I don't wanna get in trouble."
"Neither of you are in trouble. But okay. I know this has been stressful for you two so I'll go easy and not say anything that'll give it away. But I need you two to get clean when we get home so your mom doesn't ask questions."
"Deal. I'm not going first though."
He laughed just then. It seemed there would be no winning for him today even though he's the one who did the hard word. "Okay, have it your way. Just don't blame your brother if he uses most of the hot water."
"I can handle it if it's cold."
Stubborn pride. He knew it was all for show, but it was impressive anyway. But the time to keep talking about it here was over. Later they'd be telling him all about it at home. So he led them back in that direction now. For a change it was his youngest who took out in front of them, in high spirits despite the events of the day, while his brother trailer behind them both. They would need a good few hours to shake off this embarrassed feeling incurred from needing to be carried down off the building. It was for their own safety but they still played it off like a personal slight against them. Good to see they hadn't changed after all this time.
Surely this would not be the last time he'd have to do something like this. And one day he would probably ruffle more than a few feathers in the village from those who liked to keep mischief to a minimum. But if they had such a problem, that was on them. He didn't like the idea of imposing those same stuffy values on his kids. Kusagakure had to change one of these days. 'Mind as well start here and now.' He internally commented, taking his boys home with peace of mind.
