"Guys! The Chunin Exams are coming up! I'm so excited to go watch! It's going to be great!"

"Calm down Asahi!" Izumi-sensei shook her head in exasperation. "Now I know how Kakashi felt training Naruto."

Riku and I grinned at each other, knowing exactly what she meant. We had trained with Kakashi's team frequently over the past year, though Sakura and Naruto also spent a lot of time with their other teachers. Occasionally we had been joined by another shinobi called Yamato. He and Kakashi had known each other for years, and they worked well together.

"Are we going to watch the Chunin exams, Sensei?" Riku asked, distracting me from my reverie.

"Of course we are," she replied, grinning at our excitement. "It will be an excellent opportunity to learn a thing or two in preparation for your own exams. And before you ask, I will enter you when I am sure you are ready, no sooner. So don't pester me," she added, glaring at Asahi.

He closed his mouth, smiling sheepishly.

"Are any of our classmates entered this year?"

"Team 6 has been entered. Personally, I think it's too early for them, but they're Sensei would know them best."

"Oh, that's Haru's team!"

"Is he a friend of yours Miya?"

"Yeah, he, Asahi and I were always hanging out together in class."

Riku shifted uncomfortably at my statement, looking a little downcast. I patted him on the back, smiling.

"Thank Kami we have Riku, I need someone to help me keep Asahi in line."

Riku smiled gratefully, and I punched him lightly on the shoulder.

"So, Izumi-sensei, what's the plan? Do we get to learn our chakra natures yet?"

It was incredible how quickly Asahi could change the subject, it really was.

Izumi-sensei looked thoughtful, pondering the question. Finally, she shrugged her shoulders and grinned.

"Alright, you guys do have the basics mastered. I'll get everything set up for tomorrow."

"Finally, the good stuff!"

Izumi-sensei frowned at Asahi, and he wilted a little.

"I, uh, I mean, we mastered the basics! Woohoo!"

Izumi-sensei shook her head as Riku and I sat down hard, the laughter causing tears to come to our eyes, it was so strong.

"I think that's enough excitement for one day. You guys have the afternoon off, I need a break from you anyway," she teased as she walked away, waving to us over her shoulder.

"Hey Riku, did you want to go grab some ramen? I know the best place!"

Riku looked at me, and I shook my head.

"You go on with Asahi, I have things to do this afternoon for my father. I'll catch up with you guys tomorrow."

I wandered through the village streets, trying to decide what I should do first. Suddenly I found myself in front of the library, and smiled to myself. Research it is.

Once through the doors of the library, I made my way towards the section on chakra natures. Though I didn't know what mine was, I was determined to research them all and absorb as much information as I could. Thankfully, the library was well-stocked with books regarding chakra natures, perhaps a little too well-stocked. Before I knew it, the sun was setting, and I had yet to do the grocery shopping.

Hurriedly I placed the books I had been reading back on their shelves, and raced out of the library. I made it to the grocer's 10 minutes before closing, and managed to finish my shopping in record time, to the relief of the man behind the counter.

"Sorry I'm so late," I gasped, apologising to my father as I burst through the front door. "I was doing some research at the library, tomorrow I found out what my chakra nature is. Father?"

The unit was silent and dark, with no sign of anyone having been there for a few hours at least. Shrugging, I put the shopping away and sat on the couch, pulling out one of the books I had borrowed from the library. This was not the first time Father had disappeared for a few days, and I doubted it would be the last. It was a good thing Mother had taught me how to look after myself in case I found myself living alone. Though I doubt this was what she had in mind at the time.

The book I had picked up proved to be very useful. It discussed the five elements associated with chakra natures in great depth, and even touched on a few well-known and not so well-known kekkei genkai. I was so engrossed in the book that I jumped when someone knocked on the door.

"Be right there!" I called, placing the book on the coffee table. I walked to the door, trying to work out who it could possibly be. My friends didn't even know where I lived, so it must be one of Father's associates.

"Hello Miya, may I come in?"

I stood to the side, letting Kakashi into the unit.

"Have a seat," I murmured, pointing to the couch. He sat, and picked up the book I had been reading.

"Izumi told me she had organised for you and your teammates to learn of your chakra natures tomorrow. Is there a particular affinity you would prefer to have? A lot of people have favourites."

"I think they're all pretty good to be honest. I can't pick one, they all have benefits and drawbacks. It doesn't matter if I have a favourite anyway, I don't get to choose."

"It's good that you're not getting your hopes up. So many students do, and are disappointed."

There was a moment of silence as I pondered this, perched on the couch beside Kakashi.

"Can I ask what you're doing here, Kakashi-sensei?"

His mouth twitched under his mask, and I could have sworn that he'd smiled, just for a second.

"That is your right as host. I have a proposition for you. I need someone to fill out a team for a mission, and wanted to offer the position to you."

"I'm in," I responded quickly, surprising both Kakashi and myself with the speed and conviction of my answer.

"We leave in three days," Kakashi replied after a moment of hesitation. "Meet us at the front gate by 8am."

With that, Kakashi stood to leave. I opened the door for him, and he exited the unit.

"I'll see you in three days."

I watched Kakashi walk down the hallway before closing the door and returning to the couch. What was I going to tell Izumi-sensei?


Asahi could not sit still. We had been waiting for Izumi-sensei only a few minutes, and his impatience was already driving Riku and I crazy. It didn't help that I had decided to talk to her about the mission I was going on in just a couple of days. Kakashi had told me that he'd asked her about taking me along beforehand, but I wasn't sure how she'd react when I told her I'd agreed to go.

"Izumi-sensei!" Riku exclaimed, and I looked up.

Izumi-sensei was walking towards us, carrying some sheets of paper. Beside her was a shinobi I had never seen before. He looked like he worked in administration with the Hokage. Something about his manner and posture screamed bureaucrat. With them was Kakashi, silver hair still glowing like a freaking halo.

"Alright guys, are you ready?"

"Yes! For the love of Kami, let's start already!"

The bureaucrat with Izumi-sensei frowned disapprovingly as the rest of us started laughing. Excluding Kakashi of course.

"If you'll please step forward one at a time, I'll record your name and chakra nature for the village records," the unknown shinobi sniffed, pulling out a clipboard and pen.

"Who wants to go first?" Izumi-sensei looked like she was struggling not to laugh at the actions of the man with the clipboard.

Asahi stepped forward, as we knew he would, bouncing in his excitement.

"Alright Asahi, take this piece of paper and channel your chakra into it. The way it reacts to your chakra will tell us what your chakra nature is. Go ahead."

Asahi took the piece of paper, somewhat gingerly, and focused on it. Within seconds the paper caught fire and turned to ash. Well, everyone knew what that meant.

"Congratulations Asahi, you have an affinity for fire. Try not to burn too much of the village down," she deadpanned.

Asahi stepped back, looking smug. I nudged Riku forward, and he stepped up to take a piece of paper from Izumi-sensei. The piece of paper he held wrinkled, and I saw Kakashi twitch slightly in response.

"Would you look at that Kakashi, you've picked up another part-time student," Izumi-sensei teased. Turning to Riku, she added "You have an affinity for lightning, Riku. You'll be training with Kakashi to learn more about that."

Riku went white, looking absolutely terrified at the prospect.

"Don't worry Riku, he's not as scary as he looks," I teased. "He'll look after you."

Riku stepped back, still looking nervous, but also proud that he had an affinity for the lightning chakra nature. Now it was my turn, and I stepped towards Izumi-sensei. She handed me a piece of the paper, which was surprisingly rough to touch. Concentrating, I focused chakra through my hand and into the piece of paper. At first nothing happened, and as I began to think nothing would happen, the piece of paper grew soggy and wet.

"Water?" I asked quietly, looking up at Izumi-sensei. She nodded, smiling, and I felt a huge sense of relief. Excitement followed as I realised that without knowing it I had picked a favourite of the chakra natures, and was lucky enough to have an affinity for it.

"That's the easy part over. Now that you know your chakra natures, it's time to start training."

Asahi cheered, causing everyone to stare at him with deadpan expressions.

"Miya, can I talk to you about your training for a minute?"

I followed Izumi-sensei to a location a small distance from everyone else, attempting to prepare myself for the conversation that was about to follow.

"Kakashi told me he's offered you a spot on his next mission. Have you decided on whether or not you will go?"

"I want to go," I said, feeling a little guilty.

"That's great!"

"Huh?"

"This will be a wonderful opportunity for you! And now I can spend a little more time on Asahi and Riku, I'm sure they'll love the extra training," Izumi-sensei grinned evilly.

"Oh, I'm sure Asahi will be thrilled," I laughed.

"Great! Well, now that we have that settled, I did want to talk to you about your ninjutsu training. I have an affinity for fire, so I'll be working with Asahi, and Kakashi will be working with Riku. In your case however, we don't have anyone to properly teach you. We haven't had a water jutsu master for quite some time in this village, and the few users we have aren't much more than beginners. You may have to travel elsewhere to find yourself a teacher."

"That sounds like it would be amazing! Oh, but I'll worry about this after I get back from the mission, if that's ok?"

"Of course, the mission takes priority right now. After training today, I'll help you pack what you need and ensure that you're ready for it."


The day of the mission was gorgeous, with clear skies and a light breeze. There was a slight chill in the air, but that would pass as the sun rose and burned it away. I was finding it difficult to enjoy the weather however. Each step closer to the villages gets heightened my nerves, until it reached a point where, surely, they could not take the strain anymore.

I was wrong. When I saw the team waiting at the gates for me, I could have sworn my heart moved up into my throat and took a high dive into my stomach.

"Miya, glad to see you. Are you ready to go?"

"Yes Sensei," I managed around the lump in my throat.

Naruto grinned at me, and Sakura smiled reassuringly. I smiled gratefully, some of the tension leaving my body at the friendly faces. I turned back to Kakashi, who had begun to brief us on the mission.

"This is a simple guard mission. We are meeting our client at Kisaragi Village, where you will be assigned your positions. Everyone clear on that?"

We nodded, though Naruto looked a little sullen for some reason. Perhaps it had something to do with the other shinobi with us, whom I'd never met before. Just as I was thinking of introducing myself, he turned to me, quietly confident.

"You are Miya, correct?"

I nodded, not sure I could trust my voice just yet.

"I am Neji Hyuuga." I waited, expecting more, but he said nothing further.

Now that the somewhat awkward introductions were out of the way, we headed out, using the treetops to travel. I found myself capable of keeping up with the others, and suspected they may have been slowing the pace for me. Since there was no need to rush, I didn't call them on it, and instead used the time to enjoy the scenery.

A flock of birds climbing into the sky, shrieking loudly, caught my attention, and I halted just before Neji signalled a stop. I waited patiently as he conferred with Kakashi, listening to the sounds of the forest around us. Suddenly, the birds stopped singing and the cicadas stopped chirping. In the sudden, deafening silence I heard quiet footsteps in the leaf litter below us.

"Are we close?" one voice whispered, almost whining.

"Shut it!" another voice hissed in response. "We need to be quiet!"

The men passed below our trees and moved on. Releasing a breath that I did not realise I had been holding, I glanced at Kakashi, who signalled that we keep moving, quietly.

Once we had placed some distance between ourselves and the strangers, Kakashi signalled another halt. We gathered around him, awaiting further instructions.

"How many were there Neji?"

"There were five men directly below us, and three scouts around their group at a distance of 200m. One in front, and one on each side."

"They're prepared for something. Perhaps our client knows more than he is letting on."

Neji scowled at that statement for just a moment, before his features returned to their smooth mask.

"What does that mean for us?" I asked quietly. Naruto nodded at my question, clearly wondering the same thing.

"It means this mission may be more than this team can handle. We'll continue to the rendezvous point and get more information from the client. From there, I'll decide whether or not we continue. Is that understood?"

This last bit was aimed at everyone, and we all agreed to Kakashi's conditions.

The rest of the trip proved to be short and uneventful, much to Kakashi's relief, though he would never admit it. We made it to Kisaragi Village by sunset on the day after we left Konohagakure, and spent the night in the motel. Our mission was to begin the next morning, if it went ahead, and that was when we would meet our client.

"Hey Miya, did you want to get some ramen?" Naruto interrupted my thoughts, grinning.

"Lead the way."

I stared at the daughter of our client, bemused. My job was to stay with her, and take her place if necessary. How anyone thought that would work was beyond me. Contact lenses and dye would fix the hair and eye colour issues, but even with those changes we looked nothing alike.

I turned to face Kakashi, eyebrow raised. He shrugged at me, and I could have sworn I saw his mouth twitch beneath his mask. Naruto was bright red, desperately trying to hold in his laughter, and even Sakura looked on the verge of giggles.

"Well, she's not as pretty as me, not even close. But I suppose she'll have to do. Make it quick Father, we need to get moving soon."

With that, the girl stepped up into the carriage, struggling a little with her size. The carriage steps groaned in protest as she ascended, and I found myself wincing in sympathy. For an inanimate object. Dear Kami why me?

"Not one word," I glared at Naruto, who was biting his lip in an attempt to hold back his laughter. Tears leaked from his eyes from the effort.

Sakura helped me to put my hair up in the same style as the girl's and did her best to make me appear similar.

"It's too bad a transformation jutsu won't work for such a long trip," she sighed. "Things would have been much easier."

I don't think the hidden compartment in the carriage is going to work anymore," Naruto snickered.

I had to agree with him there. The original plan had included a hidden compartment under one of the seats in the carriage that could be used to hide the girl if necessary. A false bottom was to be placed over her once inside so that anyone who lifted the seat would hopefully look no further than that. However, there was no way that she would fit in such a small space, and so we had to hope for a peaceful journey instead.

I climbed into the carriage after the girl, looking as close to a thin version of her as we could manage. She glared at me as I sat next to her, and I sighed, resigning myself to a long and uncomfortable trip.

"Hi, I'm Miya. May I ask your name?" I asked politely. She had yet to give it, which seemed foolish if I was to pretend to be her.

"Reiko," she sniffed haughtily, before returning to ignoring me.

I leaned back in the seat, trying to enjoy the ride. I had never ridden in a carriage before, much less seen one as fancy as this one was. I watched the scenery pass by, finding myself growing bored very quickly.

"Would you care for a game?"

I looked up at our client, who was gesturing towards a board he had on the table in front of him.

"Of course, uhhhh…."

"Jiro."

"I would love to play Jiro-san."

I had not played Shogi in quite a while, and found myself enjoying the match. Jiro proved to be quite the formidable opponent, and quickly defeated me. We began another game, which lasted a little longer than the first, though I was still beaten soundly.

Reiko had started to show interest in our games, and I offered to play her. While not at the same level as her father, she proved to an excellent strategist. After a long, drawn-out match her strategy fell into place and I found myself completely outplayed once again.

"That was brilliant Reiko! Would you teach me a little about the game?"

She smiled at me, flattered, and became much friendlier towards me after that. The next few hours were spent learning more about Shogi. Reiko was an apt teacher, and her father threw in a lesson or two as she taught me. Unfortunately, the peace could not last.

The sun had just set when I heard something that piqued my interest. In the next moment there was a yell from outside, and the sounds of fighting broke out. I held Reiko's hand, comforting her as the fight continued outside.

The door was yanked open on Reiko's side, and she was pulled out of the carriage, screaming. Reacting quickly, I leapt out after her, ready to protect her. Immediately I was grabbed by several pairs of hands, and had my own bound behind my back.

"Leave her alone!" I shouted at the men providing Reiko with the same rough treatment. "It's me you want, not her! Release her at once! She is of no use to you."

The men holding Reiko hesitated, revealing their lack of information regarding Reiko's appearance.

"Are you alright Miya?" I asked Reiko forcefully, praying that she'd get the hint and play along.

"Y-yes ma'am, I'm alright."

I sighed with relief, hoping that it would be enough to fool the men into letting her go.

"Leave her," the leader said, indicating Reiko. The men holding her dropped her to the ground, hands still bound.

"Thank Kami we don't have to carry that much useless weight," one of the men smirked, eliciting a laugh from several others. Tears began to form in Reiko's eyes, and I promised myself that I would hurt as many of them as I could.

"Apologise to Miya at once!" I demanded in my haughtiest tone.

The leader of the group spun around and slapped me, leaving my ears ringing. I could taste blood, and felt a burning pain in my lip where it had split. I glanced at him but stayed quiet, unwilling to provoke further attacks on myself or Reiko.

"Time to move," he ordered, turning his back on me and racing into the forest. I was thrown over someone's shoulder and carried away with them, watching as Reiko, the carriage, and my team grew farther and farther away.

I was jostled awake when the man who had been carrying me dropped me on the ground. It was still night, though judging by the position of the moon we had been travelling for a few hours. I wriggled closer to the campfire that had been built, shivering. It was a cold night, and I was definitely not dressed for the weather.

"Don't worry sweetheart," one of the men leered at me. "I can keep you warm tonight."

The others laughed, several echoing his offer. Shuddering slightly, I moved closer to the leader, the only one who had not made a lewd comment regarding my company that night.

"She seems fond of you, Seiji. Perhaps she'll let you keep her warm tonight."

The man who had made the comment seemed to wilt under Seiji's glare, and instinctively leaned away.

"No one will touch her," Seiji announced, before lapsing back in his brooding silence.

I decided to stay near him, though I did not relax my guard even around him. He felt dangerous, and I didn't want to be caught unawares by anything he might do.

As it turned out, I needn't have worried. Mere moments after everyone but the scouts had settled down to sleep, fog rolled into the campsite. I watched as it snaked its way around the men, wrapping tendrils around exposed limbs. No one else seemed to be aware of the fog, and I watched in fascination as it solidified into water, yanking men along the forest floor.

Two men walked into the clearing, admiring the chaos. Again, it seemed I was the only one aware of their presence, and the black-haired one seemed just as surprised as I felt. He looked familiar somehow, though I could not work out why. Putting his fingers to his lips, he faded back into the forest with the other shinobi and left me alone in the clearing. All the men I had been sharing the clearing with had vanished into the forest.

As soon as they had disappeared, I heard footsteps racing towards me, and got to my feet. Kakashi and Neji burst into the clearing, Naruto and Sakura close behind. Kakashi moved behind me and untied my hands, checking for any other injuries.

"Miya, are you alright?" Sakura asked between gasps for air. I nodded, rubbing my wrists. I was too overwhelmed to speak just yet, and wanted a moment to collect my thoughts. So much had happened, and in such a short period of time.

"Reiko?" I finally managed to croak out.

"With Jiro, at the carriage. They're both fine, though Reiko was almost hysterical when they carried you off. I think you've made a new friend."

We headed back to the carriage, much faster than the journey to that forest clearing had been with bandits. There we met up with Reiko and Jiro, and their remaining guards. As soon as she saw me, Reiko leapt forward and hugged me, sobbing. Awkwardly, I patted her on the back.

Kakashi coughed, and Reiko let go, doing her best to regain her composure. She looked me up and down, checking for any injuries, before finally relinquishing me back to Kakashi.

"Well, there was a bit of a hiccup, but I suggest we get back on the road and get the two of you home in one piece," Kakashi deadpanned, breaking the tension.

Reiko insisted I continue to ride in the carriage with her, and I was quite happy to. She'd turned out to be a good person after all, and I was keen to learn more Shogi strategy.

Thankfully, the rest of the trip was peaceful, Reiko creating the only moment of excitement when she offered me some of her jewellery as thanks. I declined, saying that her friendship and safety were more than enough, and endured another round of hugs and tears.

Our reception upon arriving back in Konohagakure was very different. Kakashi had sent a messenger hawk ahead of us, and when we arrived we were immediately escorted to the Hokage's office. I waited outside with Naruto and Sakura, pacing the small room we had been left in. The Third Hokage had wanted Kakashi and Neji to debrief him on the mission immediately and we had been asked not to leave just yet.

The door opened, and Kakashi stuck his into the room.

"Miya, the Hokage wants to see you."

I followed Kakashi to the Hokage's office, mind whirling. What had everyone so worked up? And why did they want to see me? Unless it had something to do with the two strange shinobi who had rescued me. Come to think of it, Kakashi and the others had left Jiro and Reiko with only their own guards in the wake of the attack when they came looking for me. That seemed like a rather severe reaction.

"Miya, I would like you to tell me what happened when they took you."

Looking up, I realised I had been so deep in thought I hadn't noticed that we had arrived. Taking a deep breath, I recounted my story, from the moment I pretended to be Reiko, up until the moment Kakashi and Neji found me.

As I described the events regarding the two strangers, The Hokage shared a look with Kakashi. Pretending not to notice, I finished my report and waited patiently. The Hokage sighed, and rubbed his temples. He looked exhausted and I found myself wondering why he hadn't retired yet. Surely there was someone else around capable of the job.

"You're sure no one else saw them?"

"No one reacted until they were grabbed, and even then, they didn't seem to notice that two strangers were standing in the middle of their camp, directing the attacks. I'm sure no one else knew they were there."

"Thank you, Miya. You may go."

I bowed my head and walked out, just as confused but sure of two things; the two mysterious shinobi were trouble for someone. And I wanted to learn from them.

Now free to leave, I made my way home. I was desperate to put on clean clothes, maybe even take a long, hot shower if Father wasn't home. I was in luck, Father wasn't home. In fact, it appeared he had not been home all week. Once I had had my shower, I could clean up a little. Then maybe take a nap.

I dumped my bag on my bed, grabbing some clean clothes from my drawers while I was in there. Humming to myself, I jumped in the shower, eager to wash all the dirt from the road off my skin. I spent ages in the shower, soaking in the warmth. Stretching like a cat, I turned the shower off and climbed out. As I began to dry myself, I thought I heard a noise in the lounge room. I paused, but hearing nothing, returned to drying myself.

Wrapping the towel around myself, I wandered into the kitchen looking for a snack. Spotting Kakashi sitting at the kitchen bench, I shrieked and sprinted into the bedroom, holding the towel around myself. Slamming the door, I sat on my bed, trying to calm myself down. Slowly I got dressed, having forgotten the clean clothes I'd already grabbed in the bathroom. Calm, I walked into the lounge room, glaring at Kakashi. He looked not the least bit embarrassed by what had happened. Nor did he look apologetic.

"What do you want?" I grumbled, still embarrassed by the intrusion.

Kakashi chuckled. "I wanted to make sure you were ok, after that mission. And congratulate you. You did well out there, the Hokage was very impressed. As was I."

I sat on the couch, motioning for Kakashi to do the same. He joined me, and we sat in silence for a moment.

"Is there anything you need?" Kakashi asked, breaking the silence.

"Just a nap," I sighed, knowing it wouldn't happen anytime soon. "I have to clean and do some shopping first though."

Kakashi stood, offering his hand. I took it and he pulled me to my feet.

"Come on, let's go do your shopping. We can get this place cleaned up afterwards."

Too tired to argue, I allowed Kakashi to lead me to the grocer's and help me with my shopping. I was sure that it should have been odd he was helping me with this, but I was too tired to figure out why. Not to mention I was still getting over the shock of having him see me in a towel. Maybe that was why it should be weird.

Before I knew what was happening, the shopping was done and Kakashi was helping me put it away.

"You're exhausted Miya. You should get some sleep. Come on."

I was tucked into bed before I knew it was happening, and fell asleep watching Kakashi clean the unit. Too late I remembered Father's warning not to let anyone in the unit, and definitely don't let anyone touch anything. Oh well, I trusted Kakashi. And I was just so tired….

I woke to a dark room and an empty stomach. Sitting up slowly, I turned on the lamp on the bedside table, stretching. It dawned on me that I wasn't wearing my pants or jacket, both things I was sure I had dressed in after my shower. Shaking my head, I told myself that I took them off when I got into bed, and walked into the lounge room. Everything had been cleaned, and I freaked out for a moment before remembering that Kakashi had been cleaning earlier.

Admiring his handiwork, I grabbed some instant ramen and juice and sat at the kitchen bench. Looking at the clock, I realised it was only 7:30pm. Finishing my dinner, I threw the rubbish in the bin and headed back to the bedroom to get dressed. I grabbed a jacket on the way out of the front door. It was a chilly night.

Not sure where to go, I wandered the night markets, browsing the good available to purchase. Still hungry, I grabbed a snack from a nearby food stall before sitting on a bench to eat. I relaxed and watched the crowds move around me. I saw groups of teens admiring the jewellery and weapons on sale; mothers with young children looking haggard as they tried to get home through the crowds; older couples enjoying a stroll through the markets together.

Finished eating, I decided to have one last look at the wares on sale before heading home and curling up with a good book. A stall just down the road caught my attention, and I decided to start there. The stall sold jewellery, and glittered in the light provided by the street lamps. I noticed a rack of weapons at the stall as well, and was immediately drawn to them. There were swords, kunai and shuriken; glaives, spears and polearms; and many more weapons I did not recognise.

The man running the stall smiled at me, noticing my interest.

"See anything you like, Miss?"

My gaze wandered over the weapons, stopping suddenly when I spotted a pair of fans. At first glance they looked no different to the fans used by most people to cool themselves when it was hot, albeit slightly more expensive. On closer inspection, I noticed their worth as weapons. The edge of each fan was tipped with metal that had been sharpened to a razor's edge. The spokes on the fans were also steel, where a normal hand fan was wood or bamboo. The fans were beautifully painted, depicting tigers in a bamboo forest.

I looked at the fans longingly, doing the maths in my head. I had made enough money on the mission I'd just returned from to buy them, but that left me with very little food money if Father did not return soon.

"I got those fans from a village near the western coast of the Land of Wind. I am yet to find another pair like them," the stall owner announced, seeing where my attention lay.

"They are very beautiful," I murmured in reply, admiring their workmanship. "A little too expensive for me though, unfortunately." I sighed, turning away.

"I can give you a good deal!" he called after me, and I paused. "I can knock the price down by 15 ryo."

I turned back, smiling gratefully. "Oh, that would be fantastic!" I handed over the money, and carefully placed the fans in the pocket of my jacket. "Thank you so much!" I gushed, and the stall owner smiled at me, happy to have made some money.

I headed back to the unit with my prize, eager to get a better look at them. Rushing up the stairs, I nearly tripped in my excitement, but I stopped when I saw light coming from under the front door. Making sure the fans were still hidden, I opened the front door and walked into the unit, expecting to be yelled at. Instead, I found Father on the couch, bleeding heavily from a cut in his side.

"Father! What happened?" I exclaimed, rushing to his side. He groaned in response, face deathly pale. Jumping to my feet, I grabbed the medical kit from the kitchen cupboard and knelt beside him again.

"This is going to hurt," I warned, and lifted his shirt and jacket. He hissed in pain, face turning green. I grabbed a bucket and put it in front of him, before returning to administering first aid. Gently I cleaned the wound, taking note of its depth and severity. Fortunately, it was shallow, but was almost 20cm in length, reaching around his waist. I applied pressure pads and a tight bandage after stitching the wound closed. It would need to be looked at again in the morning, but right now Father needed rest. I helped him into the bedroom and onto his bed, where he quickly passed out.

Returning to the living room, I grabbed a book and attempted to read, but could not focus. I gave up quickly, choosing to go to bed instead, where I could keep an eye on my father. He had caused me so much pain and misery, but I couldn't just let him suffer like that, could I?

When I woke the next morning, Father was gone again. As he'd most likely gone to see a medic, I shrugged it off and decided to continue with my day as normal. After a quick breakfast I headed out to the training fields to meet up with Izumi-sensei, Asahi, and Riku. It had been a few days since I had last seen them, and I was keen for a good training session.

"Miya!"

I ducked reflexively, narrowly avoiding a tackle from Asahi. Riku came running up to us, laughing.

"Still not good enough Asahi," he teased, dancing away from Asahi as he attempted to pull him down to the ground with him.

"Good to have you back Miya."

"Good to be back," I answered, smiling at Izumi-sensei. "Hope these two knuckleheads haven't been giving you too much trouble."

"Oh, we nearly burnt down the forest, but nothing too major. You're going to be a bit behind, I'm afraid. They're both well into learning how to master ninjutsu," Izumi-sensei smiled apologetically.

"I suppose I should start that journey soon," I sighed. Home for a day and already I was planning on leaving again.

"Take some time to rest first," Izumi-sensei advised. "Besides, you still need to work out where it is you're going anyway. Have you thought about that?"

"Not really," I admitted. "I have some vague ideas though, I just need to do some research."

"For now, why don't we focus on your training here."

"Oh, that reminds me," I murmured, pulling my newly acquired fans from my belt. "I picked these up at the markets last night. I was wondering if you knew someone who could teach me to use these."

I handed the fans to Izumi-sensei, who turned them over in her hands, looking at them closely.

"You could ask Tenten, she's familiar with quite a few weapons. There's also Temari, in Sunagakure. She uses a fan herself, she might be able to help you. Sunagakure is in the Land of Wind, to the west. If you decide to go that way on your journey, you should go see her."

"Thanks, Izumi-sensei. Now I have an idea of where I want to go."

Izumi was watching me, a mixture of pride and sadness on her face. "I'll help you to plan your course when you are ready, if you will accept my help," she murmured.

"Thank you, Izumi-sensei, that would be wonderful."

She nodded, and smiled again. "Right now, though, we'll focus on your training here. And you can tell me all about you mission and how it went. Kakashi hasn't said a word about it. He can be quite annoying like that."

I giggled, and began to tell her of how the mission went. In a spur of the moment decision I decided to tell that I was rescued by Kakashi and the others, leaving the two strange shinobi out of the story. I did not feel it was my place to tell her. Besides, it did not appear they were on friendly terms with the village, and if I wanted to see out the water jutsu user as a teacher, it might be better that Izumi-sensei didn't know. I doubted she would approve, and I did not want her to worry about me.