WAP Aiko 26 preview

The Uchiha arrived first, but they didn’t do it like any well-adjusted ninja Aiko had ever heard of. Clanking heralded their arrival. The sounds of men marching in heavy metal armor echoed through the maze of trees when they were at least a kilometer away.

Aiko tried not to let her judgment show on her face as the standard bearer came into view.

His face was mostly hidden, but he stopped in his tracks for a second when he saw her.

She crossed her arms. Then she uncrossed them, because she was trying to look dignified, not sullen.

“Aiko-sama!” Izuna blurted out. He dashed to the front and came to an abrupt stop in front of her. His speed sent her hair and clothes fluttering back in a gust of wind. He gaped down at her. She had the impression that he was holding back the urge to grab her. “Why did you- why are you here?”

“Priestess.” Madara and a man that Aiko didn’t know came to stand with Izuna. Madara subtly elbowed his little brother back and then scowled down at her. “Does this mean that you convinced the Senju not to come today?”

“No, they’re coming,” Aiko said. “Tea?”

Madara blinked. “Tea?”

She whipped her head around to look at Grandmother Kasumi. “He wants tea,” Aiko called out.

“He can come and get it,” the old lady said dangerously. She lifted a ladle at him.

The Uchiha gaped. Madara’s mouth was hanging open.

“Izuna-kun, please come over and help me.” Grandmother Michiko didn’t leave room for argument.

He looked at his brother helplessly. He was clearly wavering and just needed a nudge.

“Do you know her?” Madara hissed.

Izuna nodded. Of course he did, he was their favorite fool to wrangle into climbing roofs and trees.

“My arm is tired,” Grandmother Michiko said, feeble but noble in her suffering. Aiko made a small, pitiful sound that made the young man jolt.

Izuna went.

“Izuna-sama,” hissed the third man, tone dangerous and eyes wild. But by the time Izuna was moving to do something, there was no changing his course. Aiko didn’t hide her satisfied smile.

“I have to, Hikaru-san,” Izuna whispered frantically over his shoulder, and then Grandmother Kasumi patted him on the head and bullied him into an apron. While he was tying it, Hana swooped over and started filling more cups with tea in preparation for giving them to the whole contingent. They had brought every teacup in the village for this event.

“Why is this happening,” Hikaru-san asked, sotto voice, to Madara-san. “What did you discuss with-”

Aiko interjected. “Tea or amazake, Hikaru-san?”

He fixed an incredulous look at her. “You brought amazake to a battle?”

“He wants amazake,” Aiko called cheerfully. She turned away in a bouncy gesture so that her hair swung out and she looked thoroughly distracted.