"Kanna, what happened? Where did you get all these scars?" She stared, and gasped as realisation dawned. She grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled. I stood still, offering no help or resistance. Soon I was standing in my bra and undies, watching while Kureha circled me, her face a mask of horror.

When she stopped, I grabbed my clothes and put them back on, feeling a little uncomfortable. I wasn't embarrassed about my beliefs; I just didn't feel comfortable showing skin after hiding it for so long. I poured Kureha another cup of coffee and grabbed some more sake. We sat in silence, each battling with our own emotions.

Finally, Kureha spoke. "That big scar on your back, where did you get it?" I stood and headed to my bedroom. I picked up my staff and took it into the kitchen. Kureha looked a little puzzled, until I twisted the middle of it. The twin blades sprang out of either end of the staff, glinting in the light. She still looked a little confused, but I didn't elaborate. "Where did you get that?" she asked quietly.

"My guardian gave it to me. She was the closest thing I had to a mother." I didn't tell Kureha that I'd killed her when she'd protected another of her students from me. I didn't regret my decision to kill her and her student, and found no reason to continue to think of it.

We sat in silence again, tension in the air. I watched as Kureha struggled with herself, clearly trying to decide how to ask the next question. "How did you get all those scars?" she asked finally. I paused, trying to decide how much to say. I was saved by a knock on the door.

"Kanna!" a familiar voice called. "Hurry up! We've got a mission briefing!" Kureha stood and finished her coffee.

"I'll wait for you outside, Kanna." I sighed, and downed the rest of the sake. This conversation wasn't over.

I left the apartment after cleaning the blood from the floor and brushing my hair. Straightening my clothes, I walked out the front door and joined Kureha. I jumped when my other teammate put his hand on my arm.

"Geez, Kanna, why so jumpy?" I glanced at Kureha, who flinched. Takuya, our teammate, laughed. "Come on guys, we're already late. The Mizukage is waiting for us." I rolled my eyes at Kureha, who giggled and stuck her tongue out at Takuya's back. We followed him through the village until we reached the Mizukage's office. Once in his office, we joined our Sensei. "

Glad you could join us," Mei said, an edge to her voice. I winced, knowing we were going to cop it later.

"Mei, you and your team are being assigned a B-rank mission. I know that you are relatively new Chūnins," he said to Takuya, Kureha and I, "but I believe that you are capable of taking on this mission."

Takuya bowed his head, and murmured, "We're honoured that you think so highly of us." I glanced at Kureha, who rolled her eyes and waggled her eyebrows. A sudden coughing fit overtook me, which sounded suspiciously like laughter. What the Mizukage said next wiped the smile from my face.

"You are to capture the head monk of a Jashinist temple and bring him here, dead or alive."