I sat at my vanity, sliding the last of my hair pins into the intricate design that I almost always had my hair in. I let my hands fall down slowly through my loose dark red hair, over my bare shoulders, and over the silk of my black, gold, and white kimono. It was very loose, off both my shoulders and flowed over the ground around me, the slit allowing for my right leg to be seen at all times. My deep red obi tied tightly around my waist in a large bow that dragged in an arch on the floor. I always wore a small pair of black spandex shorts under my kimonos.

A knock sounded on my door. "Princess, there are four shinobi from Konohagakure here seeking an audience with you." Yoru spoke. Me?

I sighed, standing. I slipped onto my black heels and opened the double doors to my room. "They are aware that I am the only one in the land of fire currently?"

"Yes they are aware," Yoru nodded. "They said that they came to speak with specifically with you by request of the Hokage." Tsunade had sent them to speak with me? No one ever sent someone to speak with me.

I nodded. "I'll meet with them. Are they already in the hall?"

"Princess – you're not going to!" Yoru pleaded as I smirked and sidestepped. I was now sitting on my Mother's throne, cross legged. I often used this technique to go between where I currently was and where I had been before. It was quite handy for traveling long distances, as long as I could still envision the space.

The group of shinobi stood at the base of the steps. Their leader stood in front of the other three. He stood quite tall in green spandex, his hair cut into a bowl cut. One of the shinobi behind him looked just like a younger version of him. The last male was a Hyuga with long brown hair that went to his lower back where it was gathered together. The final member of their squad was a girl with her hair twisted into two buns. I could tell she had quite a few weapons hidden on her person. "Welcome to Taikagakure. Yoru informed me that you seek an audience with me."

The leader stepped forward and bowed deeply. His students did the same. "Princess Corrine, I am Might Guy, we've come on behalf of Tsunade – the fifth Hokage – to request any assistance that you can spare our village. We believe that soon the Akatsuki will attack."

"And what if I can't find a large number of shinobi to spare?" I mused, crossing my legs.

"Princess Corrine," Guy bowed deeper. I never liked people bowing to me. "Even one shinobi could change the outcome of the battle." Yoru rushed into the hall, panting heavily.

"Just one?" I asked, resting my chin in my palm – faking thought. "You would be happy to return to Konohagakure with a single shinobi?"

"Yes Princess Corrine." Guy said.

I smirked, rising from my mother's seat. "Then you'll have to get used to just calling me Corrine from here on out."

"My lady, you were requested by your parents to stay within the castle grounds. I cannot just let you disobey their orders." Yoru said between pants. The shinobi before me snuck concerned and confused glances.

"I cannot simply ignore a request made by the fifth Hokage," I kept my head high. Yoru's head fell, realizing that there was no way that he was going to be no way to make a stay. "Raise your heads. From here on out I am a comrade who will fight alongside you." All four shinobi slowly raised their heads.

"Prin- Corrine, thank you!" Guy cried in glee. The girl only rolled her eyes at her sensei's actions.

Yoru sighed, "I'll have the cooks prepare dinner for four more. I'll trust my lady to show you to your rooms." With that he stalked off through the same doors he had come through.

"Let me properly introduce myself, I am Corrine Ryokujyo. Nice to meet you all," I bowed my head slightly. The three students seemed a tad surprised by how casual my actions were.

"Nice to meet you Corrine, I am Rock Lee." The student that resembled his sensei bowed.

"Tenten," the girl bowed quickly.

"Neji Hyuga," the boy with lavender eyes bowed, staying for just a second before releasing it and standing upright.

I smiled at each of them, "it's a long journey from Konohagakure, please rest for the night here and recoup before we leave in the morning." I turned towards a large set of double doors, pushing them open with ease. "Please allow me to show you to your rooms for the evening." The group hesitantly followed me. They probably were not expecting me to lend myself as a shinobi. I walked just a few feet in front of them, maneuvering the complex of halls, pointing out rooms as we went. Kitchen, dining hall, my room, the like. "And these are your rooms," I smiled, tossing open another set of double doors. Inside of this room was a living room and four connecting bedrooms. We often used these rooms for visiting families or squads.

"It's gorgeous!" Tenten beamed. I smiled as I watched her eyes grow in awe as she looked over everything.

"Feel free to explore further," I continued as the rest of the team watched their friend. "Dinner will be served at seven sharp."

"Prin- Corrine," Guy corrected himself, "will you be in need of an escort?"

I let out a soft chuckle, "I will be just fine. After all, I'll be preparing my equipment for tomorrow."

"Weapons?" Tenten asked, her head peeking out of the first bedroom on the left.

I smiled, "yes, my weapons. I can't rely on jutsus to get me out of everything – can I?"

"M-may I come?" She asked quietly, trying to subdue her excitement.

She must be a weapon's expert. "Of course!" She hurriedly dropped her bag and scroll in her claimed room before standing at my side.

"I'll see you all at dinner!" She waved to her teammates as we continued down the hall. "So," she tried to begin a conversation, "what's your go to?"

"My naginata. I never leave on a mission without it." That seemed to peek her interest.

"How often do you get sent on missions?" We turned the corner down another long corridor.

I shrugged, "depends on what comes up and if my siblings are around. If there's someone to take care of any situations that arise – I'll go on a mission. It's been a while since my last one though. My brothers are almost always gone." I let out a laugh as we stopped in front of the door that lead to our own training room. "I was getting pretty bored to be honest."

I pushed open the door, allowing Tenten to walk in before me. Her jaw dropped as she took in my brother's favourite room. The floor was the same hardwood as most dojos. The ceiling was an extra story high to allow for special moves, and a special watch point for on lookers. "This is where you trained?"

I laughed, "more like where my brother's beat me up as a kid. And I beat them up now." I shrugged as Tenten smiled at the irony. I let the door close behind me as I crossed to the far side of the room. "We keep our supplies in the back here." I stood in front of the wall that was divided into three foot segments and slammed my palm into the center panel. The wall shook for a moment before it began to split at the center and fold in on itself until it could no longer. Tenten's eyes glimmered. "Feel free to try some out."

Tenten picked up a kusari-gama and twirled it in her hands with ease. "Would you like to spar?"

"Weapons only?" I asked as I picked up my naginata. The blade was curved slightly with a few dogtooth notches on its' slightly duller side – a strange quirk compared to most others. It allowed one side to rip while the other sliced. I held it by the black wood as we reached the center of the room.

Tenten beamed, "sounds fun! Normally it's Neji and I sparing with each other." I stood a few feet away from her, we took our stances. "Ready?"

"When you are," I smirked. She immediately threw the weighted end at me. I let it wrap around me left arm and gripped onto the chain. Tenten was surprised that I was going to try close combat. I lunged at her, pulling her where I wanted her. Our blades clashed, sending out sparks. She let the weighted end unravel so she could leap back. She reached into her pants pocket for a scroll. With one hand she threw it open and summoned another, much larger, kusari-gama. She held the chains, throwing the sickles at me. I used the blade of my naginata to deflect her attacks. She threw the sickles at my legs, I lunged forward as I avoided the blade. I paused with the blade of my naginata just inches from Tenten's chest. We held the position for a moment before I backed down.

Tenten heaved, staring at my blade. "Wow. You're good. Like, really good."

I shrugged, placing my naginata into my obi. I walked back over to the hull of weapons, pulling out a few basic items – shuriken, needles, kunai. "I prefer close combat rather than using nin or gen jutsus." I explained, slinging the belt of goodies over my shoulder.