Makoto took a long, deep breath and let the air slowly escape in a quite useless attempt to relax herself. This was ridiculous, why was she so nervous and jittery? Argh, this wasn't okay, not okay at all- especially for a kunoichi! Well, a retired one, but still! She had been a defender of Konoha, a preserver of peace and stability, a warrior. She grinned at her thoughts. That, she had to admit, sounded pretty neat. She had made it to Chunin level, she knew that it wasn't the highest rank but she was quite proud of it, since it was rather apparent that she hadn't been born to be a ninja. She was of a small frame and now, more than ever, lacking in the fitness-department. Also hurting people, that was another thing that had made her stop and travel the world…
Oh no, she had to stop thinking about that, it would only make her nervousness worse! Alright, she had to focus on something she liked, she liked Gen-jutsu, she had been good at that. Yes, that was her strong point. Gen-jutsu. She smiled reassuringly to somehow comfort herself. Gen-jutsu! It was actually working! Her body seemed to lose a bit of that tension.
Tomorrow was going to be her first mission in four years after she had put down her activity as a ninja and she was surely going to enjoy it! "That's the spirit!", she told herself and clenched her fists. A sudden wave of enthusiasm overcame her and nearly took away her breath as she seemed to drown in it, heart beating fast in her chest. She had forgotten this feeling, she had missed it, mindless joy, stupidity really, but in this moment she didn't care and let herself fall backwards onto her sofa. There she lay staring at the ceiling over her which was plastered it photographs and pictures she had collected on her journeys. Those were pretty much why the Hokage Lady Tsunade had summoned her back to Konoha- to help with a mission. She was merely an advisor in this case. Makoto had a rather wide knowledge about history and a certain artefact that seemed to interest Tsunade quite a bit- a bracelet that would grant the one wearing to store unlimited chakra and then later use it. That could be a useful asset to Konoha's ninja forces or could be sold for a good amount of money but it had disappeared centuries ago and people came to believe that it was just a myth- but it wasn't, she was sure of it, especially because she had found a map. Yes, a map, and it was real! After travelling for years all alone tomorrow she would meet people again, and not only that, she would have to accompany them for days! That's where her main problem lay but she pushed it away as she felt how that jumpy feeling again took over her stomach. She wasn't good at stuff like that… Oh, she should make herself a tea, a nice hot cup of soothingness! That was what she needed right know and tomorrow she would get up early and would have tons fun! It couldn't be all to bad!
It had been a weird feeling to sleep in her small apartment in Konoha again , nothing had been changed in the years she hadn't been here, at least furniture wise, but it didn't seem homely really. Makoto had awoken in the early hours of the day, way before the time they had arranged. It was six currently so she had three hours left. She was incredibly tired, but she wouldn't be able to fall asleep again, so she stood up, showered, packed her bag and put on her everyday dress. This wouldn't be an incredibly dangerous mission so ninja clothing wasn't really called for. Pffff, Tsunade would probably only spend the bracelet on her gambling or something. But Makoto could not possibly let this opportunity slip: Searching for the mysterious artifact with some experienced ninjas at her side. Awesome! They would probably walk a lot, she was used to that, so she needed her trusty pair of sandals. Where were they? There. Shoes-check. Oh, breakfast, right. Let's eat something! Makoto wasn't really hungry but she forced in some bread and drank some of the leftover tea from yesterday night. Now it was seven, two hours still. She sighed. She wasn't one for time schedules, too much pressure, annoying. So she had time to look at the map again, safely stored in her bag. She had studied it so many times before that she probably could have led the ninja to the place by heart. The lines- all so familiar, how the dark ink slightly thickened at certain spots, where the pen had been forced onto the yellow, brittle but through some kind of spell, really well preserved paper. The faint colors that indicated the woods and the sea and the sand and mountains… and then it happened: she had fallen asleep again.
Annotation: Hey, this is my first ever attampt at doing something like this. If you have any advise, I'd lovee too hear it! Hope you kind of liked this first chapter :D