Chapter 1 - Unhappy Return
A flash of lightning ran through the sky, breaking into thousands of tiny little strands in the sky above Konohagakure. The storm had been brewing for a few hours now, and it seemed to have only intensified as the day passed. Tsunade was looking out of her office window with a small frown upon her lips. Many teams of ninja were outside the village, and she was hoping that the storm was not as bad for them as it was over the village. Her thoughts were upon one specific team at the moment, one that should have arrived the night before. They had been sent out a few days ago to retrieve a private scroll from the head of the tea country. It was dangerous if the information within was read by sources other then Konohagakure ninja, and that was why she sent the team to fetch it. She hoped that they were fairing well.
It was as if the idea of them needing to return brought them to the gate of their village. Another streak of lightning split the sky with a thundering roar, illuminating the ninja at the village gate momentairily. They were soaked, from head to toe, and mud was splattered over them along with another dark brown substance most would recognize as blood. For some reason, there were only two who had made it back to the village.
One had, what looked like, deep orange colored hair that just barely reached the ground. It was splattered with mud and seemed to be stuck to the girls figure. A set of thick bangs hung over her right eye, they were stuck to her face with random ends sticking out. Her visible eye showed her green iris within another flash of lightning, also showing the redness you get from crying in the white of the eye. Her headband was tied behind her bangs, a splatter of blood upon it. Her faded green belly shirt was torn and stained with blood, as well as the grey fishnet that resided beneath it. Her hands were covered by fingerless navy gloves that reached her elbow in length, both were also stained with mud and blood. Her navy colored pants were mostly mud covered, as well as her navy sandals.
Amazingly, she appeared to have no severe wounds of her own, merely scratches visible where her shirt had torn as well as her uncovered abdomin. It was thanks to her medic-nin training that her and her other female companion were doing well. Unfortunetly it had been too late for her other two companions...
The second girl followed behind. Her back haunched over from weakness and exhaustion from the jouney and sorrow. Her dark teal cloths were also torn in several places but nothing severe. Thining vines stuck out from cylinder capsules that were bound around her shoulders, ankles, and belt around her waist. Her reddish brown hair was tide in loops that touched her shoulders because of the rain and had begun to uncurl. The mixture of mud and flesh stained herself and her clothing. Her tear filled green eyes were shut tight as she followed her companion through.
The two usual gate guards had returned home to evade the storm, which left the two females no choice but to go to Tsunade-hime directly. They walked in the streets solemnly, neither seemed willing to talk at the moment, a grief on unknown lengths had been laid upon them.
The orange haired girl's fist was tightly clenched upon the scroll which the two and their late companions had been sent to fetch, at the cost of their two lives. Her face showed no emotion at this point, and if she was crying now, the rain that splattered her face was hiding it well. She cursed herself deeply for joining the fight early. She knew her place as a medic-nin was to evade battle, but she'd gotten herself caught in the middle. Her concious was heavy in her chest, she would have had a better chance to save them if she hadn't... but the fire that burned the battlefield had claimed their two bodies.
The second girl felt a deep sense of guilt overcome her that rivaled the storm above. She had made the mistake of setting too much energy into her jutsu, leaving her defensless in the middle of the battlefield. Her companion, and 'secret lover', defended her with his life. And perished because of it. Tears still streamed down her face and mingled with the rain.
They reached the Hokage's office building and made their way up the stairs on the outside of the building. The stairs were not long, but to the two, it seemed to take forever to reach the door which lead them to the Hokage's main branch.
The first girl opened the door quietly and slid inside into the much warmer and drier air. She looked down the hall to the door of Tsunade-hime's office with a light sigh. If only they knew what the cost of their easy mistakes had been before making them... they would not feel that the storm had been brewed for them, or that perhaps they wished that they had been killed instead of their late friends... They made their way to the end of the hall, and the first girl knocked on the door lightly. She sighed once more before looking back to her companion.
She tried desperetly not to break out into tears again before the Hokage would meet them. 'A Ninja never shows his emotions'. That was the rule. That was law. And she hated it. She even thought she should've taken her own life back at the battle ground, so she wouldn't have to come here.
"Come in," came the Hokage's voice, slight curiousity at whom would be arriving here in such a storm.
The first girl pushed the door open again, and ignoring the gasps from the others in the room she walked straight to Tsunade's desk and dropped the scroll upon it.
Tsunade looked to the scroll that was dropped before her, as well as the mess of mud and water that was dripping from the two.
The second girl lowered her head in what looked like a bow, but she was too tired and too full of grief to look up. "Our mission is complete Lord Hokage," she said flatly.
Tsunade looked to them, another frown upon her lips. "And the others?"
The first girl looked directly at her, "They didn't make it... we ran into enemy ninjas on the way back," she replied, her voice quivering.
"We've recovered only a few remains ...but the rest are lost forever..."
Tsunade nodded, "Your mission was successful, at a great loss unfortunetly... return home and rest... a memorial will be prepared and someone will inform you of it," she replied gravely, her frown was more evident now.
The first girl nodded and gave a nod of her head before placing her fingers together and disapearing on the spot.
The seconded girl clinched her fists for a long moment before following her friend's example and dissapeared aswell.
She arrived in her dorm room with vine, and thorn coved walls. The monsterous plants held their mouth-like flowers to catch the rain water. The organic ropes uncurled around her bed as she fell into the pillow with deep heavy sobs.
Her plants seemed to sense her distress and made sure to block both door and window from unwanted visitors and busybodies.
They were heard in the next room by her friend who had decided to wash off the filth and reminder of their battle before laying upon her bed. Or, perhaps, she was hoping to drown herself in the shower water that rained down on her.
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