"Welcome to Konaha Lady Silver I hope your trip was pleasant."
Bowing respectfully Kurine smiled at the stunning woman, " It's a pleasure to meet you Madame Hokage. My trip was fine but I must say I am glad to see the end of it."
That glassy glimmer and the plastered smile said differently but the sanin wasn't going to press the issue, for now. She was sure that the girl has seen more than enough for a day.
'Probably more than enough for a lifetime.'
"Well you must be exhausted from the long trip. So why don't a show you to your room and then we can have some tea. I would love to hear your first impression of Konaha."
Sighing the overwhelmed girl nodded and followed her buxom host into the airy winding maze, not missing the quelling look the woman shot her guardsmen as they passed by. Reminded of her trek through the sea of animosity she couldn't help but click on the fact that these three men where the only ninja in she had seen so far. Did they live and work in a different part of the village? Or maybe they were really that good. Giving into the urge to glance out over into the forest looming out the high curved windows, she giggled inwardly at the thought of masked figures wielding katanas on their back skulking through the swaying branches.
"Once we get to the top you can feel free to burn those shoes if you like."
Kurine liked her already. Basking in the warmth the woman portrayed the red head let the smile melt and creep up into her eyes, " that obvious huh?"
"Only to those of us who relate. I'm Tsunade by the way, please feel very free to address me as such."
Dark circles, a recently healed cut on her face and the weariness that she was desperately trying to hide was calling out to the older sanin making her already want to protect and support her. She just couldn't help taking an instant liking to the girl, much like a rather dimwitted blonde that had blown into her life just weeks before she returned to the village to accept her fate. Which had turned out to be one of the best decisions she ever made honestly. Lost so deep in thought Tsunade almost stumbled herself when the red head suddenly stopped.
" I'm Kurine and It's a deal. And you know you really do have too many stairs in this place."
Oh yea they would get along just fine.
Relishing the freedom that real clothes brought her, Lady Kurine Silver was taking in the exquisite surroundings, ones far more lush than she had ever been housed before. Silk the color of mint lined walls on opposite sides of the room illuminating a center wall where a lavish tapestry depicting a lake scene so realistic and stature that she could have jumped in for a swim hung framed on each side by dual sets of curved picture windows that opened to a long wide ledge practically built for someone to climb out and gaze out over the picturesque scene below.
Desperate not to disturb the tranquility provided by her room the usually messy girl quickly picked up the discarded items tucking them away in the adjoining closet and took one last wistful look over the clean soft futon nestled in the center of cherry floors polished to mirror like shine.
' I just might like it here'
Still shaken from the strife of having to deal with yet another in a long line of vicious villagers the red head treaded gratefully towards some tea and a leader who seemed not to hold the same bigoted ideals as those in her care.
Three minutes, that was all it took before Kakashi pocketed his book and lept into the sanctity of some nearby trees. Rumors were running rampant and unfortunately for their new guest they were far from flattering. A good number of people were even considering her some sort of spy or worse a weapon sent from another village in order to infiltrate and destroy their own. Having the sand invasion still fresh in their minds added to the hysteria, but he knew that had the red head looked any different then she would have been given the benefit of the doubt. Personally though the witch hunt that was gaining strength as big idiotic mouths kept throwing fuel on the fire was getting tiresome, if not a bit disturbing as well. Much to his own disgrace he had watched numerous times as the mob had turned on Naruto for no real reason except their own fear. Picking up the pace more to clear his head than any actual time related reason, the copy nin faded into a silver blur glinting out from the leafy darkness.
"He's late. Again."
Keeping downwind Kakashi took a moment to watch his once students, a habit he had picked up from his own sensei and had perfected over the years. Lately though the once vibrant, outgoing nature that they once exuded from 50 feet away had cooled to a depression that both Sakura and Naruto failed to hide behind their fake exuberance. Sasuke had left a hole there that Sai and Yamato could never fill. For this reason as much as anything else he questioned the hokage's reasoning at having his team meet Lady Silver right off the bat. His brilliant cherry blossom wasn't too worrisome.
Gawking would probably be the worst she would do before smoothing into a diplomatic politeness. Sakura's training over the last few years would assure that. Naruto well he was a different story entirely. The legendary loudmouth of Konaha may be friendlier than a new puppy but having such a blatant reminder of his own shackles might be that the straw that breaks the camels back. Slipping down to get a better veiw Kakashi couldn't help but smile. It seemed so long ago when he took on the most hormonal, aggravating bunch of genin that had ever crossed any sensei's path. Despite all the petty squabbles and emotional episodes over the years, they remained loyal to each other above anything else, which in the end was the redeeming factor that started them all off in the first place. A steady breeze dipped down, ruffling the cropped cotton candy strands causing the aspiring medic to glance back at nearby tree just missing him.
'Your catching on blossom'
Sakura had been the one to have visibly changed the most out of the pair. After being taken on as the hokage's apprentice she had seemed to bloom overnight without the distraction of the stoic uchiha heir quickly becoming one of the most sought after medics just under Tsunade herself. Under that meticulously constucted shell still lay that hurt empty girl who had been left shivering on a cold bench while the her love walked willingly away from her. On the second look the sliver haired man knew he was caught.
'At least Naruto is still oblivious.'
He had been the only one that Sakura had allowed herself to lean on, even more so after her parents death was added to the bitter cocktail she had to drink everyday. Seeing the blank vacant expression on the once lively glowing face had sent chills down his spine. Not one tear had fallen from those eyes as the last Haruno stared down into the final resting place of the couple which had given her life. There was no mourning, no reaction at all, nope ever dutiful to the cause Sakura wiped the dirt off her hands and took up the night shift. Naruto had truly stepped up then and made sure to schedule as many training sessions with other teams and of course dragging her to Ichiraku's twice a week in order to make sure that his friend and partner didn't fall completely apart. He himself had still trained with the same ferocity but had lost the wide eyed innocence somewhere along the way. Three years with Jiraya had sharpened his skills and made him a powerful force to be reckoned with. He would easily pass for chunin, and possibly even jounin if the "pervy sage" left him in the village long enough to test. Ether way the village owned quite a debt of gratitude to the jinchuuriki, one that would most likely never come.
' Your parents would have been so proud.'
Shaking his head at the two lumps leaning haphazardly on a recently fallen log Kakashi vaulted down. Neon colors had never looked so sad.
"Yo."
Eyes and temper blazing Naruto found himself chunking the rock he's been worrying at the apathetic man casually strolling up three hours late. Year after year of this treatment was maddening, and he was over it.
" Your over three hours late! That's sad even for you!"
Caught between amusement and amazement at the boys gall, Kakashi flicked the stone away.
" I have a good reason this time."
Sakura rolled her eyes disgustedly. This man's excuses were pathetic even at the best of times and she really didn't want to see what asinine situation he had formed this time.
" No comment their Sakura?"
Glaring scathingly at the crinkle mocking her from underneath his eye the livid medic forced her temper down.
" Nothing I could say in front of you Sensei."
' Ouch little one your tongue is lethal.'
This was ridiculous! Why did he get to get away with such obnoxious, infuriating behavior while they both had to crawl out of bed at the crack of dawn in order to be on time. Sakura may be able to brush it off but there was no way in hell he would.
" What was it now Sensei? Black cat? Old Lady? Lost on the path of life?! Your such a damn hypocrite!"
The former anbu flung a bored look over at the ranting boy.
" If you really want to know. I was in Lady Tsunade's office. She has invited us to meet Lady Silver this morning."
Working in the hospital brought you more than just sick patents, it also made the cherry blossom privy to all the latest gossip and said lady had been floating around on peoples lips for quite some time.
" I thought she wasn't going to be here until later in the week."
Smirking at the reaffirmed proof that konaha nurses really did have the biggest mouths around he shrugged, " obviously her trip was shorter than originally thought."
Arriving early wasn't so much of an issue as the other things she had heard. Open mindedness was essential to all ninja due to the peculiarities common with the major clans but Sakura had heard things said that went far beyond unuseal eyes and hosting beetles.
"Umm sensei, have you seen her?"
Kakashi didn't need the Sharigan to read the thoughts loomed behind the uneasy question.
" Yes in fact I happened to run into her right before heading over here. Seemed to be normal as far as I can tell."
Coming out of his daze Naruto was psyched. No training today! Sure they had to go play host to some new Lady but anything that didn't involve sweat and pain was top of his list.
" Well what are we waiting around here for?"
'He wouldn't be so enthusiastic if he knew.'
Unable to shake his concern the older nin feel in behind his overanxious charge, hoping for the best.
