Forest Inn [Private]

[34 Summer, 419 AV] [Forest Country]

The caravan of civilians required few stops along the trek south of Haven Country’s border. The multitude of trees provided ample shade from the sun’s rays as myriads of feet tread the beaten path. Satoru himself leaped from branch to branch, sometimes creating one or two shadow clones when the area seemed more unsafe. Among the caravan are a few infants and one or two seven-to-ten year-olds. Other than these, all of the civilians were quite capable of walking for one or two hours without stopping to rest. An inn was reached within two days, with the group arriving near midnight.

“Myself and fifty others. Do you have enough room to accommodate us?” The Nara asks simply. 

The inn-keeper is a bearded man somewhere between sixty and seventy years old. His hair is grayed, but his eyes are attentive. His age is more graceful than debilitating.

“What a rarity.” The older gentleman whispers slowly. He brings his voice up to normal volume to respond. "I’m about one room short. A day earlier, and you would have filled the entire place. None of the rooms will be open any time soon. The shortest wait for another room is one week.”

“Fine.” Satoru then extends his hand and the inn-keeper gives it a shake. “I’ll pay you the fee after I make sure everyone is settled.” Turning to his caravan behind him, the Nara addresses them in a voice loud enough for even those in the back to hear. “Spread yourselves evenly among the rooms, they should hold everyone comfortably.”

“I think you’ll be one room short.” The man reminds Satoru, who turns back and gives him a grin.

The group is off, filling the empty rooms by family. However, the Nara approaches one room with a dress tie hanging around the door handle. He knocks, immediately followed by a warning.

“I’m coming in, make yourselves decent.” He states in a voice loud enough to be heard from within the room. There is little time between the end of his sentence and the sound of shredding wood as shadow tendrils whip in every direction. Originating from the Nara’s shadow, the eight black threads tear the door to mere wood chips. Naturally, the tie is left unscathed.

Satoru enters, finding the two original renters of the room. The woman screams, an expected reaction, and the man stumbles up from the bed located in one corner of the room. Quickly, the two walk around Satoru to the door after hastily grabbing their belongings. Both of them grab towels with which to cover themselves as they run out. In Satoru’s hand is the tie that was hanging on the door.

“I told you to make yourselves decent.” The tendrils still move around him, their motions much slower. In a moment, they do the same to the tie that had been done to the door. After a minute of looking around the room and taking in the surroundings, the Nara lies on an ivy-green couch and makes a verdict. “I’m not sleeping in that bed.”

(509/509)
[Enter and Exit]
[Claims: 2 stats, 250/250 words to master Quiet Footsteps for hand seals and AP reduction, 250/250 to learn Genjutsu Release]

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