#reddawndistrict

It is a simple task, to wash up a little in the river as Itachi and Kisame stop during their journey. Not a full bath, but just to wash off some of the grime. And though Itachi has just started, he's just a little distracted, his eyes... someplace else.

That someplace else would be on Kisame putting down Samehada, on Kisame stretching and then taking off his shirt (!!). Itachi stares subtly.

Itachi does appreciate his partner, for more than just his looks. There's the way Kisame watches out for Itachi's help. They way they work well together. He's polite, and his battle prowess is impressive, too.

Shino looks down Deidara's pants, thinking that he might be asking for a rating. Strange, he can't see Deidara's dick... It must be very small, which is fine. He's heard of micro penises before. It won't change anything.

His heart was hammering in his chest. As if any moment it would break free of his ribs. The lantern in his hand a lifeline. A warm orange light that barely cut the darkness. He could barely see in front of him but it was better than being plunged into an inescapable darkness.

Occasionally he pulled out a kunai and marked the wall. It all looked the same. Dark sculpted tunnels. Some weaved. Others turned sharply. Occasionally there was a fork he had to pick from. His only choice was to pick blindly. Alas he usually had a nose for this kind of thing. Monsters are messy. Foul. The stench of blood and death usually clings to recent kills.

Jiraiya’s heard stories of this one. An enchanting face and sweet words. A smile that can make the most hardened of warlords smitten. Then she strikes. A flash of fangs then nothing. When Jiraiya agreed to take this bounty he figured it wouldn’t be too hard. Nagas he’s dealt with before. After all, the toad will always beat the snake.

He pauses to listen for a moment more. The soft clicks of his shoes fading into a thick heavy silence. His free hand returned to the hilt of his sword as he tried to see if he could hear anything. Slick slithering, a chuckle, or just the unnerving squishes of flesh being torn. All things he’s heard before. It didn’t shake him anymore. It was more like the prelude to battle. A prologue to another victory.

After a moment he continued on in the endless dark. Travelling deeper. Darker. Farther from the surface as he navigates the den of a monster like he was the goddamn tax collector. Eventually he kicks something. Then the crackle of bones under foot. It felt close. Close enough to put his hair on end as he held the light farther up and squinted to as far as his gaze would reach. Sometimes their scales will reflect the smallest bit of light. He heard this one was older. Bigger. But no less swift.

Itachi shakes his head. "No, it was the other thing." He's not sure if specifying would help, given the way Deidara is glaring at him. "After that." He looks at Deidara though, not with animosity, but with something like a mix of amusement and a little bit of affection.

Well, so far he seemed okay with things, but here comes the hard part...

Dirty talk.

Shino looks away from his empty bowl of ramen to look at Deidara, an elbow leaning against the counter. There's no one else here, so he must have been talking to him and... Maybe Shino is getting tired from his week but... Deidara's comment sounded... Naughty. A lot of fun tonight?

This is horrifying. No other words could describe it. Shino is horrified. Orochimaru, of all people, believes that they are texting his father... And they were texting some lewd stuff!

Shino needs a moment. He puts the phone down and takes a walk around his house to reconnect with nature. Takes many deep breaths of fresh air. Takes his time to observe the trees, the sky, the grass. Touches the grass, too!

But eventually, he needs to return... Unfortunately. Shino gets back in the house and grabs his phone.

"📲This is Shino Aburame. Mitsuki is very well behaved, does well in every subject and I greatly enjoy teaching him. I am happy to hear that the sentiment is reciprocated, I enjoy teaching and am always working on ways to make lessons interesting for the children."

At the market they first met? For a moment, Shino tries to remember who in the world he might have first met in a market... Someone who apparently likes snakes, too...

He comes up empty. Everybody he first met who likes snakes, Shino didn't meet them in a market.

"📲 Who are you?" He finally decides to send. He gives up.