The sound of an alarm echoed within the dark room. Kiba stretched his legs to feel Akamaru curled up right at his side and growled lightly from being woken so early. Giving Akamaru a pat on the head, Kiba grumbled, "Time to get up, buddy. I'll give you an extra snack today if you can keep up with me today."

The early morning hours were the best time to go for a few laps around the village. The air was still crisp and there were hardly anyone else up to look out for. Kiba felt the pull of his muscles as he lunged into the air, forcing himself to leap to new heights that he had never reached before. Even Akamaru was pushing himself to his limits. Kiba smiled as he gazed down at the village. This was definitely the best part of the day. As soon as he feet touched the top of the building, he was once again in the air to feel the rush as if he were flying. Once his feet were back on solid ground, Kiba and Akamaru continued their race until the sun began to rise and finished in front of Kurenai's apartment. Kiba wiped the sweat from his brow before noticing that Shino and Hinata were already waiting for their sensei as well.

"Good morning, Kiba," Hinata spoke softly before going to pick up Yashamaru, "Good morning, Akamaru."

"Morning guys," Kiba smiled as he stretched his legs, "How long have you two been waiting?"

"Kurenai isn't home," Shino approached the two, "We were hoping you had an inkling of an idea as to where she could be."

"How the hell would I know?" Kiba sighed as he glanced around, "It's not like her to be late."

"Maybe something important came up," Hinata looked to Kiba, "Perhaps we should train on our own until she returns."

"Good idea," Kiba agreed, but noticed Shino wasn't too pleased at the idea, "If Kurenai returns, she'll want to see that we kept up our training."

"I didn't disagree, i'm just wondering what made her leave on such short notice," Shino commented as he followed the other two to their normal training grounds.

"You are absolutely serious about this?" Kurenai, still uncertain about her new role, was apprehensive at how calm the Hokage was, "There is no way we can put our faith in the hands of someone like this. For Kami's sake, they're from a village of prostitution!"

The Hokage took a deep inhale from his pipe before releasing the thin smoke into the room. Even in the early hours of the morning, the room held the thick, stale air of summer. Someone really ought to open the windows, but the information gathered around himself, Kurenai, and the few other ANBU allowed to view this information were far more important than a breath of fresh air. Sarutobi eyed Kurenai. She was a gifted Jonin with her genjutsu. Nothing really could get passed her without her noticing some type of trick. This is why she would be best for this operation. Sarutobi gave a brief nod before asking, "I'm sure you know what a lotus is, Kurenai."

"It's a flower. Not exactly of much use, and-"

"It blooms in the mud and the murky water. Though surrounded by such filth and ugliness, it blooms with beautiful petals and provides beauty for the world to see," Sarutobi explained before taking another drag from his pipe, "I will not deny that there are times when another village's business income is overlooked due to it's profitability, but we cannot judge their situation now. There is someone that we need from that village and i'm trusting this mission to only you."

Kurenai was still skeptical on the entire situation. If the Hokage trusted her so much, why were there three ANBU in the same room listening to him? She glanced back down to the scroll that held the mission she could always refuse. This wasn't like Sarutobi to seek out a single Jonin to do a mission even the ANBU were interested in. Why not go to someone who has more years under their belt? Kurenai felt a bead of sweat drop down the back of her neck. The air was too thick with the tension and the humidity was killing her. She glanced up to see Sarutobi seemed perfectly comfortable in the room. Then again, this could be in his favor and she was simply doing something blind-folded. She paused for a moment, catching her breath and removing such a thought from her head. The Hokage was someone she could always trust, there was no way this mission was covering up something else. Kurenai gave a brief sigh before rolling up the scroll and holding it in her lap, "I will accept it."

Sarutobi smiled as he waved his hand for someone to open the windows as the ANBU stepped into the shadows to go about their business. He then stood up as he felt the morning breeze cool off the room, "The travel shouldn't take you very long. Their village is about a day's walk if you head North of here."

"Shall I be escorting my Genin team as well?" Kurenai, thankful for the breeze, also stood up.

"I would not want to get them too involved in this mission, but it would be a good learning experience for the three of them," Sarutobi answered, he knew Hinata needed to come out of her shell and the other two needed more experience on the field as trackers, "Oh, Kurenai, one last thing."

Kurenai had just taken a step towards the door to leave when she turned slightly to look at the Hokage. Something inside her froze when he stated, "You are not permitted to tell anyone else about this mission."

Neither of them had to say anymore to know that the meeting was finished. Kurenai left his office with a sinking feeling in her gut saying that perhaps this wasn't the best idea. She glanced over her shoulder a few times thinking there were others watching her, but only to see no one was there. It still puzzled her, as she walked out of the building to go outside, why the Hokage would trust a new Jonin with this mission if he had thousands of other experienced jonin to accomplish this. Besides, it would end up like any other escort mission so why give it to her? Kurenai slipped the scroll within her outfit before she decided to seek out her team.

It didn't take her long, she knew her team would be training as she would have them on days like this. She was pleased to see that they were doing far much better than they were before. Perhaps if something were to come up she wouldn't have to worry if they would die. When she approached them, the elated expressions Hinata and Kiba had were flattering, and even Shino seemed pleased to see her. The first time she came across these three, she had known at they would go far. Kurenai gave a half smile as she approached them, "How goes the training?"

"You should've seen Akamru!" Kiba beamed as he picked up his pup, "He kicked some hard, dummy ass today!"

"You have a scroll," Hinata noticed a piece of the scroll sticking out of Kurenai's uniform, "Did the Hokage give us a new mission?"

Kurenai had to remember that she had the new tracking team. Their eyes were keen on noticing the small differences. She wanted to keep the mission a total secret from them, but unlike the Hokage, she wanted them to know everything that was going on. If she was to have them go with her on this escort mission, they ought to know the real reason. Kurenai slipped the scroll deeper into her uniform before saying, "Yes, and I will gladly explain it on the way. We leave tomorrow morning. Pack lightly and don't forget the special training i've taught you."

It would be the best time of her life, some had said. Others had said that it was an experience that should remain unspoken of. To the women of the village it was simply a job that brought in a bountiful amount of money. A young girl, no older than 14, sat on her mother's cushion as her mother brushed her hair in front of several mirrors. She gazed into her own eyes as she kept her hands on her lap, her heart unable to describe to her what was happening. Her mother drew in a long breath before speaking, "Your hair is like mine when I was young, a dark silk. Customers loved my hair and they are surely going to love yours as well. Kasami, you are going to make our family very wealthy."

Being the only female born in this generation, her family took great pride in providing only the best since her birth. Her mother's sister had given birth to only boys and they would eventually leave the village unless they could bring in some type of money without attracting too much attention. In their village, the boys who were born into the village ended up using drug cartel to bring in a good form of money. Those who wanted different pursuits were cast out and sent elsewhere. Kasami applied a small amount of pale white powder to her facial features and her neck to appear paler, "When will the first customer come?"

"In a few days," her mother carefully placed a lotus in Kasami's hair, just above her ear, "There are things that have been taught to you, but your mother has given you special lessons. You are to use those special lessons."

Kasami gave a hint of a smile as she applied a small amount of blood red gloss to her lips, "Yes, Mother."

During the day's travel, Kiba had a bad feeling about this mission. From what Kurenai explained to him and the others, this wasn't going to be a simple escort type of mission. The person they were taking from the village actually had no idea that she was being taken at all. Kurenai had further explained that the Hokage was acting as a 'customer' and having the person brought to the village to be kept there. To Kiba, this sounded a lot like kidnapping and had questioned the mission silently. Shino was the one who protested the idea to Kurenai, and even Hinata didn't like the mission either. But Kurenai seemed to be confused about the mission as well. Kiba kept ahead as Kurenai led the way as Hinata and Shino kept the back covered. From what he could sense, there were distant chakras.

"Kurenai, I don't think we're alone," Kiba stated as he noticed Akamaru give a slight growl, "I don't think they're friendly."

"They're the ANBU," Kurenai noticed them as well, "I don't know what they have involved in all of this, but I can only say that they must want something as well. Just don't give them any attention. The Hokage must have something important in mind."

At least, Kiba thought to himself, he hoped the Hokage knew what he was doing. The team kept going until the sun was beginning to set and the village was within eye-sight distance. Kurenai had them hidden within the forest as she went off to change her clothes. Kiba sat on the ground to give Akamaru some food and water as Hinata gazed out into the distance towards the village, "I can't see much chakra in that village. Why would the Hokage send us to bring a person back if they're not dangerous?"

"Perhaps they're not the dangerous person, but the one in danger," Shino commented as he leaned against a tree, "This all seems...off."

"Look, if the Hokage is the one who wants us to do this mission, then that's enough of a reason to say that we should be doing this mission," Kiba stood up and placed his hands in his pockets, "Has the Hokage ever betrayed us before?"

There was silence among the three Genin before Hinata and Shino glanced at each other before turning their gaze back to Kiba. With a grunt, Kiba then glanced towards the village as well, "I don't know what exactly we're getting into, but I trust the Hokage."

"We don't exactly have a choice."

The three turned to see Kurenai dressed in a business attire, a black blazer with a white button up beneath with a knee-length tight black skirt. Though she was their sensei, Kurenai looked quite attractive in her outfit. Even Hinata couldn't look her sensei in the eye. Kiba turned his gaze away as he pulled the hood of his jacket down to scratch the back of his head, "What's with the get-up?"

"It's apart of the mission. You three are to stay here and i'll bring back our person. Once I get back, we need to make a fast pace back to the village. Am I clear?" Kurenai's voice was sharp, giving each a look that promised no mercy if they did not comply.

Kiba watched as Kurenai walked on the dirt path towards the village. If she was supposed to be dressed as some type of 'customer', he was wondering what that type of village was. He turned his gaze back to Hinata who seemed uncomfortable from seeing their sensei in such a look, "She's not single, right?"

"I don't exactly keep a track of her dating schedule," Shino shrugged as he noticed a ladybug on his finger, "Either way, we better get ready to make our way out of here. Kurenai isn't one to just sit around."

"Ah, they're early," the female Elder pointed out as they watched a woman in the distance, "Our Lotus is surely lucky. This one is rather young."

"Too young," the other Elder woman commented, "How are we to know she has any money?"

"She paid upfront without even looking at Kasami," the first female Elder stated as she fixed her hair bun before stepping forward, "M'lady, we did not expect you for another day or so. Perhaps you should stay the night and look at your prize."

"I didn't plan on staying the night. My escort is just up the rode, i'll take my prize and head back," Kurenai stated, unsure of what type of person they were speaking of.

"Ah. I will see to it that she's ready," the first Elder woman bowed politely and took the other Elders with her back to a very ceremonial decorated house.

'She'? Kurenai's breathed hitched, she had to remember that this was a brothel type of village. However, it didn't look like a ghetto or a slum compared to other related villages. This one was rather clean and orderly; it had food stands just like the Konohagakure and well dressed people that were rather polite. If she weren't here on a mission, she would say that this was any normal village. Perhaps the Hokage was right. A village like this would have been outlawed and dismissed, but the Daimyo wanted the revenue this place made and kept it low-key. No wonder there were very little neighboring villages. Kurenai waited patiently with her arms crossed until she noticed the Elders emerge with a cloaked female who seemed awfully young to be prostituted out.

'This village must start them out young to bring in the biggest amount of cash,' Kurenai thought as she glanced at each of the women, 'No men, huh? Probably for the best, they may not want the younger ones to be picked off before they're ripe.'

"Here you are, m'lady," the first Elder woman smiled a gapped tooth smile as she held out at arms reach a young girl with dark, raven hair.

The girl's hair was the most noticeable due to it's length and volume. Her skin was quite pale, was she locked in doors all her life? But her eyes were a deep shade of amber, there was something off-putting about them as well. The young girl wore a see-through shawl over her head that reached her waist-line and a white silken dress that left very little to the imagination. Kurenai felt sick to her stomach to think this girl would've been sold to a person that would do worse to her. She felt a new tug on her heart wanting to save this girl from such a life. Was this what the Hokage wanted? To start saving the girls that were born here so they wouldn't have to live such a lifestyle? If that's what the Hokage wanted, Kurenai knew she would gladly take each and every mission to save those lives.

"Kasami is our latest purity," the Elder woman ushered Kasami closer to Kurenai, "She has not seen any man or woman. Your payment was rather large, so we are assuming you will be taking her for a few days."

"A few days only," Kurenai reached out and took Kasami's shoulder, only to feel Kasami take her hand and place a kiss against her palm, "Ugh.."

"It is an honor for me to be taken by a beautiful woman," Kasami gazed up at Kurenai, "I will cherish these few days for a lifetime."

Kurenai felt the urge to pull away, but it may cause the other women to become suspicious. Instead of acknowledging Kasami, she turned her attention back to the women, "I will take my leave."

"I know this sounds awfully not charming, but we do expect our Kasami to return in three days," the Elder woman stated as she put her hands behind her back, "If she hasn't returned, we will fetch her on our time. It's mostly to keep our best in the best of shape."

"Understood," Kurenai kept a firm hold on Kasami's hand as she began to turn away, "She will be brought back before three days."

Kurenai couldn't leave that place fast enough, but she couldn't exactly run off with Kasami still holding onto her hand. She glanced at the young girl a few times to see that each time Kasami would make direct eye contact and return with a smile. It wasn't hard to notice the obvious. Once Kurenai had made it back to the forest, she pulled Kasami deeper in, "Do the other villagers know of your chakra?"

"M'lady," Kasami glanced away, a small blush tinting her cheeks, "It's so dirty out here, couldn't we-?"

"Don't play this game, Kasami," Kurenai pulled out her headband from inside her blazer, "As a jonin, highly trained in the arts of genjutsu, I can see that you've been suppressing your chakra as to not have the other villagers sense it. Or are there others that you don't want to know about you?"

Something changed in Kasami the moment Kurenai pointed out her chakra. Kasami smiled before standing on her tiptoes, her lips forming a smile as she then whispered, "Maybe."

Kurenai then leaped away as a giant snake's head emerged from beneath her feet and snapped it's large jaw attempting to devour her. She leaped onto a tree as she saw Kasami beginning to run back to the village in a fury. Though she was just about to go after her, she saw Kiba running at full speed with Akamaru towards the girl. Kurenai pulled out her kunai as she went back to fighting the beast Kasami must've summoned. She watched as best as she could as Kiba raced through the field and easily tackled Kasami to the ground.

"Get off of me!" Kasami writhed and tried to wiggle her way out from his grasp, but Kiba pinned her down, "Ma-!"

Kiba covered her mouth as he growled, "Just shut up! We're trying to help you and you're making this difficult!"

"Cover your ears, Kiba!" Kurenai appeared behind him.

"But she'll scream!" Kiba retorted as he fought Kasami's strength to free her mouth.

"Just trust me," Kurenai prepared herself for performing a sleeping genjutsu.

Kiba agreed and covered his ears, watching as Kasami slowly fell asleep. He removed his hands from his ears as he got off from on top of Kasami, "So, who is she?"

Kurenai picked up the girl's body and started heading back to the forest where Hinata and Shino took care of the snake Kasami had summoned, "I'm not so sure anymore."

Once the four returned to the village with Kasami, Kurenai went straight to the Hokage. Sarutobi looked over the girl a few times before the ANBU came in from the shadows. Kurenai kept a firm hold on Kasami's body, "Where are you taking her?"

"Kurenai," Sarutobi eyed the kunoichi, his tone reproachful, "Give them her body. She will be under a watchful eye until we know what to do with her."

"I trust in you, Lord Hokage," Kurenai made sure each ANBU were at a distance with her, "But I'm not understanding why this girl is important. Yes, she can perform jutsu and summon a snake, but that hardly comes up as important when more than half our village is capable of doing the same thing."

Sarutobi could see that Kurenai wasn't giving up without a fight. He wouldn't have her any other way though. Sending Kurenai was a risky place to begin with because he knew it would strike a cord with her. This was the price he had to pay in order to send his best genjutsu kunoichi. He would have to work around it somehow. Sarutobi released a long sigh before waving off the ANBU and stepped towards Kurenai, "I then give you this request. Place her within your household and within your team of Genin. Be watchful of her and have her accustomed to our shinobi ways. It may take her awhile, but I have plans for her and her village. This is just a start and a trial."

Kurenai felt relieved. She wanted to help this girl and her village so maybe one day they wouldn't treat their women like fodder for the world. Before she was about to leave, Sarutobi held out a scroll, "This will limit her chakra to that of nothing. Use it as much as you wish, but don't rely heavily on it. We are not trying to cage a bird, just taking the venom out of a cobra."

Taking Kasami back to her apartment, she placed the girl on her bed and waited. The girl had to wake up some time and in the mean time she had to suppress the girl's chakra just enough so she wouldn't be able to use her own strengths just yet. Kurenai opened the scroll and performed her scroll's intent to keep Kasami from hurting others or herself. The jonin then went to make dinner in the kitchen when she heard the knock at her door. Kiba, Hinata, and Shino stood outside with curious eyes as they tried to peer in. Kurenai, not too sure if it was okay for them to look at Kasami, ushered the back slightly, "I will bring her to our training tomorrow. As of today, she will be apart of our team. The Hokage has plans for her and her village, we might be able to help them if things go well with Kasami."

That seemed enough to keep her team at bay. Well, for now at least. She could see Kiba was none too trusting towards Kasami and he had a right not to be. Kurenai closed the door and turned to see Kasami sitting up in the bed, "I was worried you weren't going to wake up."

"What did you do?" Kasami's voice was sharp as she held up her hands, "Why can't I use my powers?"

Was this girl not taught of chakra or what she was able to do? Kurenai went over to Kasami, but she stopped when Kasami pulled a kunai from beneath her dress, "Now hold on, Kasami. I'm here to help you."

"Do you think you're the first to come after me?" Kasami stated as she stood up on the mattress, "Do you know how many people i've killed that tried to exploit what I can do?"

Kurenai sighed, she was getting tired of this girl's attitude. With ease, she appeared behind the girl and held her wrists. Forcing her to drop the kunai, Kurenai then spoke calmly, "Whatever you have done before won't be brought up. You were brought here to be trained properly and hone your skills. You have a special gift for summoning a creature as easily as you did. Don't you want to be stronger?"

"I want to go home!" Kasami seethed as she tried to pull away from Kurenai's grasp, "When the others come for me, they'll kill this entire village just to bring me back!"

Kurenai didn't trust what Kasami had to say, but she didn't want to take that risk. She would inform the Hokage on what the Elders had said and hope that something like that didn't happen. As Kasami continued to struggle, Kurenai waited until Kasami acted as if she had given up before leaving the bed, "Are there any more weapons on you?"

Kasami blatantly lifted her dress, revealing her naked body to the woman. Kureani glanced away when she made sure there wasn't another weapon on her, "There isn't a need for your attitude."

"Oh? This isn't what you wanted?" Kasami flung off the dress as she crossed her legs as she sat on the edge of the bed, "I'm what you bought, remember? You still have me for three days before I find a way to get my powers back and then my village will kill your village."

"First of all, you need to be taught about your chakra," Kurenai pulled up a chair, "Second of all, here's a shirt. Put it on and keep it on until I find you suitable clothing. You're a person, not an item. Your body is a factor of you not your entire persona. Lastly, you will lose the attitude immediately. Obviously you have lost this battle and you won't win this war under my roof. You will either straighten up and act like you have an ounce of self-respect or I will have the Hokage take you and keep you wherever he pleases. Quite frankly, living under my roof is probably the best option for you."

She could see that she was breaking a wall Kasami had placed up as she watched the girl pull on the rather large shirt. Kurenai then sat back in her chair. It was going to be a long night if she was going to have to teach this girl all about chakra, jutsu, and her summoning techniques.