A New Shinobi Era
Past Flames Ignite
Kana woke up late, and on any given day that wouldn't bother her. However, today was not just any given day. Today happened to be the day that the results for Phase One of the Chunin Exams would be posted. In other words, if by some great misfortune she failed the test, then she wanted to be the first to know about it. Or if her squad mate Yutaka failed… she wanted to be the first one to pummel him to a bloody pulp.
Leaping out of bed, she snatches a pair of white shorts from the dresser and pulls them on over her bare legs. Next, she removes her baggy night shirt, replacing it with the black kimono hanging on a nearby hook. Securing her Leaf headband into place, tightly around her waist, she then pulls on her fishnet gloves. Doing all of this in less than a minute, she finds herself out of breath when she stumbles over to the bedroom's cracked mirror.
Jeez, if Yutaka failed, I'm going to rip his tongue out! Then we'll see how many girls he hits on, she thinks to herself, seizing her long hair with a single hand. Yanking it high over her head, she wraps it into the usual long ponytail and lets it drop. Although bedhead is obvious, her deep-red hair falls into place, even her bangs.
"All right," she exclaims, flopping back onto the bed to pull on her black shin-high sandals. "Exam results, here I come!" When finished, she stands and races out the front door.
This morning the village teemed with life. Friendly faces and conversation assisted the sunny morning's glamour. As Kana ran down the stairs alongside her apartment building, she got that rejuvenating sense only the Hidden Leaf could muster inside her. The peaceful sense of home.
Reaching the stairs bottom, she sprints out into the street and weaves her way through the crowds of non-ninja. The few she knows wave and shout greetings, but she is far too invested in getting to the academy to stop for pleasantries. Again, today was not just any given day. She had places to be, people to see, and friends to congratulate. More importantly, she had to know if she passed…
Crossing through a populated intersection, she almost bumps straight into a girl of her age wearing gray. Swerving to avoid her, Kana glances over her shoulder and stops when she recognizes chocolate eyes paired with fair-skin.
"SAORI! What's up!? You going to see the test scores or what," she shouts, waving like a maniac at the blonde.
Saori's surprise is evident, her mouth forming an 'O' when she stops walking. She rubs her arm and tilts her head to the side, allowing a weak smile. "I mean yeah, what else would I be doing at this time of day?" She moves a hand to touch the blonde bun tied atop her head, as if checking to make sure her hair is in place. "You going to the same place?"
Kana grins, then puts her hands on her hips. "Of course! Come on, we can go together!" Kana's grin widens suddenly, as if realizing something. "Unless you think you failed. If that's the case, I guess it turns out you weren't worthy to compete with me after all, right?" By poking fun at Saori, she's get the response she had hoped for.
"Of course not," Saori retorts, marching over to her. "I passed, you should be worried if you did! Or more importantly, if your brain-dead teammates passed."
Kana laughs while pulling a piece of gum from her tool pouch. "Yeah, I'm more afraid of them failing than me. That's for sure." Without warning, Kana pops the gum in her mouth and grabs Saori's wrist. "SO COME ON! Let's go find out!"
Saori is helpless as the crazy redhead pulls her into a run through the streets. When they pass Ichiraku Ramen, Kana lets go off Saori, hoping the blonde is willing to follow her lead. Her hope pays off and within a few minutes the large, red academy stretches before them.
Although unspoken, both girls reflect on their experiences at the academy as students. Despite such memories only being seven years old, both girls can't deny that the academy shaped who they were today. Kana, for example, had always been spunky and impressive in school. Although her test scores weren't the greatest, she always seemed to make up for it with her physical, rambunctious nature. Such proved useful during ninja tool training, sparring, and in achieving the rank of genin. Saori on the other hand, went pretty unnoticed in her time at the academy. Her test scores were average, at best, and her physicality wasn't overly notable. In fact, most instructors at the academy doubted she would make genin. Despite such, Saori proved everyone wrong when her commitment and determination to be a ninja took over. It seemed that on sheer willpower, the girl passed everything thrown at her and became a genin. Now, Kana and Saori treated each other as equals, despite their differences.
Panting, both girls slow to a walk at the academy's entrance. They both stare up at the gate as they pass underneath, the voice of children sounds from the other side. Sure enough, the training yard is filled with future ninja about half their age.
Out of nowhere, Kana jabs a gentle elbow into Saori's ribs. "Look at all the little munchkins. Remember when we were that little?" Kana smiles, watching the children attempt to throw kunai at targets lining the brick wall. "If I recall, you could hardly throw a kunai back then."
Saori can't help but smile. "Yeah… I remember. You were pretty good."
Kana grins as they approach the academy's front doors. "Pretty good? Heck, I was the best back then!"
Saori rolls eyes. "Whatever you say, Kana. I bet I could… you know, beat you at throwing kunai now."
The redhead turns to her peer still grinning. Her thin brows raise. "Is that so? Want to prove it? Or are you chicken?"
Saori laughs light-heartedly. "Maybe another time… I'm more interested in our exam scores."
Kana laughs. "Suit yourself! But I bet I'd beat ya."
Saori remains silent as they cover the rest of the distance to the academy doors. Although such thoughts are oblivious to Kana, Saori couldn't deny that she envied Kana. The girl had extraordinary talent with her chakra nature, the wind style. So much so, that instructors in the academy had praised her. What made Saori more jealous, was that Kana wasn't from a clan of any significance. In fact, Kana had entered the academy an orphan. Saori had entered the academy as the first of her clan, completely unknown to the ninja world. Yet, by the end of their young academy years, Kana was praised while Saori was simply a surprise. Without saying, Saori hoped to prove her doubters wrong in the Chunin Exams. But she would never voice such things to Kana. She appreciated her friendship with the loud kunoichi, but didn't want to make things complicated through competition. It wasn't her style, although Kana would probably get a kick out of it. The thought makes Saori smile a little.
Walking into the academy, the temperature immediately cooled. Together, the two girls stride down the hallway, unaware of their mounting speed. Only after passing the empty lecture hall do they spy other people, a small group gathered by a bulletin board. Saori resists the urge to sprint, but Kana doesn't.
"Unless you're here to deliver some candy, get outta my way," Kana shouts, sprinting toward the group of genin at full speed. All of them make way for the kunoichi; knowing her enthusiastic nature. She practically runs into the bulletin board before stopping at the last possible moment. Scanning the sixty names, she locates her own name near the bottom. "BOOYAH! One hundred sixty-nine out of two hundred! I passed, suckers!"
Saori stands at the group's edge, watching as Kana pounces at the nearest genin and grabs his shoulders. The poor soul happens to be Foji Akimichi.
"Hear that, you lovable oaf?! I passed," Kana exclaims, shaking the chubby boy. By the time Kana is done shaking him, Foji's plump cheeks turn green.
Bending over, the boy puts a hand to his mouth. "Oh… I think I ate too much," he mumbles, then pushes his way through the group toward a bathroom.
Natsuki, who is standing next to Saori, folds her arms and sighs. "You would think he would learn not to eat so much through training. Guess he didn't get the message." She looks at Saori, then nods her head at the bulletin board. "Going to go see what your score is?"
Kaiba Inuzaka walks over from the bulletin board to join them, his small dog Abu trailing him. "Yeah or are you just going to stand there? Don't you want to know if you passed?"
Saori rubs her arm, uneasiness swelling inside her stomach. "You're both right… I should go and see if I…" she pauses to swallow. "If I passed." Moving at the speed of slug, Saori takes a few nerve-racking steps toward the bulletin board. Once within range of the tiny print, her eyes search the long list of names and scores. After a minute's examination, she finds her own name near the top of the list. Holding her breath, she exhales just before her face turns blue.
Suddenly, Kana throws an arm around Saori. "Well, blondie? Did cha pass or what?"
Saori swallows, a waterfall of relief pouring through her. "Y-Yeah, I did. I'm kind of… I don't know, surprised I guess. I did better than I expected."
Kana laughs like a maniac, then frees Saori from her grasp. "You worry too much! I knew you had it in you!" She proceeds to slap Saori in the back, perhaps with too much force. Her unsuspecting peer staggers into the wall as a result.
Regaining herself, Saori scowls at the redhead. "Kana," she groans, fighting the urge to scream in outrage. "Did you have to hit me so hard?"
Among the group of genin gathered, Foji and Kaiba decide to depart from the bulletin board. Probably because Kaiba had mentioned food. On their way out, they pass a kunoichi from the Mist village, one Saori had never seen before. Nor had Kana or Natsuki. The trio of Leaf kunoichi watch the girl draw closer to the bulletin board. Moving timid as a mouse sneaking into a kitchen, the girl halts when she's close enough to read. Moments later, to the astonishment of her spectators, she bursts into tears.
"I knew it! I failed," she wails, Natsuki, Kana, and Saori leaping backwards in shock. Eventually, the Leaf kunoichi exchange wide-eyed expressions. In unison, they all nod.
Natsuki bites the bullet first by walking forward to comfort the wailing teen. "There, there… so you failed. Oh, well. I mean, I'm sure you teammates won't mind." She looks to Kana and Saori, resembling a person in extreme pain.
She's hasn't a clue what else to say... Saori realizes.
"Besides, there's always next year," Natsuki finishes, patting the girl on the shoulder. Natsuki is about to slip in a smile, but freezes when the girl shrieks.
"NEXT YEAR, THAT'S AWFUL!"
Natsuki retreats to the hallway's opposite wall. She puts a hand to her forehead and shakes her head. "What a pain… well, I tried my best. What do you two got?"
Kana lifts her chin high. "Jeez Natsuki, you're practically tactless! Watch how a pro does it," she says, strutting toward the sobbing girl. Saori and Natsuki watch for a moment, then look at each other.
"This is going to be a catastrophe. We should get out of here," Natsuki suggests, jutting a thumb down the hallway.
Saori bows her head and closes her eyes. "We have to give Kana a chance at least… Right?" When Saori opens her eyes, the other blonde is no longer there. Confused, Saori whirls around and spies the girl skulking away. "Hey! Natuski…"
Natsuki stops sneaking and assumes a normal walk. She throws an arm up into the air to wave farewell without looking, "Well, I tried my best! I'm heading home for a nap or something. See you later, Saori!"
Struggling to keep her jaw from dropping to the floor, Saori stares after her. Ugh, that's so like her… That Natsuki gives up for a nap as soon as the opportunity presents itself! Saori has a mini-panic attack when Kana leaps in front of her.
"Uh yeah, I tried my best! There's no getting through to her," Kana gasps, giving the Mist girl a wary glance.
Saori frowns. "Um, Kana… what did you try saying to her?"
Kana grips Saori's shoulders and inches closer. "I offered her some… candy! And she said no! Who in their right mind rejects candy?" Kana releases Saori and backs away, giving the sobbing girl another wary glance. "Well, I gotta run. I have to go congratulate my bonehead comrades for passing!"
Saori gives a puzzled expression. "Wait, you mean Lee and Yutaka actually passed?"
Kana smirks. "Oh trust me, I'm as surprised as you are." Kana spins in the opposite direction on her heel, obviously in a hurry to escape the sobbing girl's presence. "Well, gotta fly! Catch you later, Saori!" Without another word, Kana sprints down the hallway. Thus, much to her displeasure, Saori is left alone with the Mist girl.
Just as Saori gains the confidence to confront her, the Mist girl runs away too. Saori's gaze follows the girl, a sadness washing over her. However, her concern for the disappointed genin ends when she catches sight of a pair of ninja with black face paint around their eyes. Their face paint resembles that of a raccoon's. Both are dressed in tan clothing, Grass headbands tied around their arms. The boy has a bundle of dreadlocks wrapped atop his head while the girl has a boyish haircut, sand-blonde hair hiding one bright, blue eye from sight. Both Grass ninja look imposing, perhaps because of the face paint.
Both strangers stop to acknowledge the Mist girl running past. They watch in silence as the girl disappears down the hallway, then the Grass girl snickers. "Psh, she must've failed the test. Poor, pathetic thing. Just goes to show you some people aren't cut out for this kind of thing." The Grass girl meets Saori's reluctant stare and smirks. "What cha staring at, princess?"
Saori takes a step back. "N-Nothing! I was just, uh…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," the Grass kunoichi mocks, moving closer. "You Great Nation ninja think you're all that and then shit like this happens and you start balling." She stops a few feet away from Saori and folds her tattooed arms, lips twisted into a cruel smile. "And when the Great Nations start balling, guess what happens?"
Saori tenses. "I don't know. You tell me."
She scoffs in response. "War starts, princess. And you know who suffers most during war… That's right. Us. The lesser nations."
The Grass boy sighs, raising a hand to stroke his goatee. In that moment, Saori realizes that the Grass ninja are at least a few years older than she is. Weird… most ninja enter the Exams as soon as they're able. These two look at least sixteen or so.
"But you Leaf ninja wouldn't understand," the Grass girl says, walking over to the bulletin board. She turns to her companion smirking. "Well would you look at that, we all passed, Muka. What a surprise." She gives Saori a wicked smile, then continues to speak in her harsh tone of voice. It was feminine, but rather husky and accusatory. "I hope you passed too, princess. I wouldn't mind shredding a pretty face like yours in the Exams."
A cold shiver passes down Saori's spine. For some reason, she can't help but feel the girl is serious. All the more reason to prove her wrong when the time comes, Saori decides in her head, but doesn't dare say out loud.
Muka, the male Grass ninja, shakes his head. "Vitani, quit toying with her and let's go. Jagaar is going to want to know he passed." His dangerous green-brown eyes meet Saori's, but only for a moment. "Besides, just hanging with you is a total drag. You're always starting shit."
Vitani glares at the boy, then gives Saori a lingering stare. "Fine. But remember me, princess. The name's Vitani… See you around." As if her work is complete, the Grass kunoichi stalks off with her companion in pursuit.
Staring after them, Saori realizes Muka has tattoos too. Black ink snaking up the back of his neck. Feeling hollow, she can only wonder about the pair.
Who raised the girl to be so hostile? And what's with all the ink on their bodies? Just who are they exactly…?
She had passed part one of the Exams without much difficulty. So had her teammates, despite her concerns that they might fail. Yet somehow, much to her relief, they both passed. As a result, Sensei Izumi invited them all to Barbeque for lunch. But Rei took a rain check on the invitation. Instead, she elected to wander the village with her thoughts for company.
She found the Leaf's cheerful, easy-going nature unlike the one at home. The Hidden Mist was shrouded in mystery and clouded by suspicion. The lack of village trust within the community was demonstrated by shop bodyguards and an early curfew. In addition, everyone knew thugs prowled the streets at night. The district Rei grew up in actually had the highest crime rate in the entire village. But here, crime seemed to be a rarity. Which Rei found relaxing, to say the least. In a way, the Chunin Exams were like a vacation, she supposed. But deep down, she was treating it like a mission. One she could not afford to fail, no matter what.
Somewhere in the world, her mother awaited her arrival. And in order to earn her mother's respect, she needed the rank of Chunin. Rank would symbolize her success as a ninja and prove to her mother that she had taken her advice. Only then would her mother deem her worthy… but for what? Rei could only wonder.
Coming to an arched bridge over what she could tell to be a man-made stream, she soaks in the scenery. Stepping onto the bridge planks, stream bubbling beneath her feet, breeze in her hair, and friendly village conversation echoing; Rei couldn't help but smile. She liked this foreign village. Walking past a man fishing, she comes to a stop at the bridge's highest point and leans over the red railing. In the water's gleam, she stares down at a girl with lilac hair and dark clothing. Then closing her deep-blue eyes, she remembers that night.
Little Rei and her brother had pressed their ears to the door. They were listening to them argue for hours. Eventually, something shattered inside and the door swung open. Both Rei and her brother fell to the floor in shock. Their angry father froze in the doorway to tower over them for mere seconds, then marched out the front door. When it slammed, their mother found them.
"And just what are you two doing up at this hour? It's late, shouldn't you two be in bed?" Unlike her husband's outrage, her tone had remained calm and kind.
"Well, um, you see…" Rei mumbled, while her brother stood and interrupted her.
"We heard you both arguing!"
Their mother had frowned at that point, and to this day Rei swore something had broken inside her. The next morning, their mother was nowhere to be found. Nor the day after that, or the day after that. After a week's time and their father's non-stop drinking, it became clear she wasn't coming back. All she had left behind, was a note for Rei beneath her pillow:
"Rei,
I know you probably don't understand, but someday you will. Pursue your dreams of becoming a ninja like your father and I. When you've become an established kunoichi… come find me. And never forget this, I love you.
Until we meet again,
Mom"
Blinking back to reality, Rei sighs in sync with the breeze. A single leaf twirls into sight above her, then dances its way to rest in the stream. Watching the leaf spin and float its way downstream, Rei disregards the elderly woman behind her.
"My oh my, what beautiful hair," she coos, getting Rei to look over her shoulder. "Ah, and those lovely eyes! I haven't seen such beautiful features in a girl for some time now. Oh, I do remember one passing through the village long ago…"
Rei's eyes widen. She turns to face the woman fully, her palms sweaty and head throbbing. Another woman with lilac hair and blue eyes… My mother? Could it be…?
"When did you see this woman," Rei demands, taking a step toward the hunched woman. "How long ago was it? Where was she from? Did you speak with her?"
The elder smiles. "So you know her I see. Well, I can't say I spoke with her long and I don't know where she was from… Oh, but she did buy a bouquet of flowers from me. She was very kind and soft-spoken." The woman tilts her head. "Just like you it would seem. Are you looking for her? If so, I saw her years ago, child. I'm afraid she's no longer here."
Rei had so many emotions wriggling within, that she wanted to scream. Heartbeat going irregular, knees shaking, and sweat propagating, the simple act of standing became a challenge. She wanted to run. She wanted to sit. She wanted to rejoice. Somewhere in the world her mother lived. Now, she just had to pass the Chunin Exams and catch up.
Fighting back tears, Rei smiles and stumbles forward. To the elder's great surprise, the Mist kunoichi's arms wrap around her frail shoulders. "Thank you," Rei whispers during the hug. Rei pulls away and stares at the woman. "You've done me a great kindness. Please take care." Hesitating, Rei then does the only thing she can think of. She runs.
The old woman stares after her in awe. "Glad I could help, sweet child," she murmurs.
"It's just a rumor, but I figured it's worth mentioning," Roku finishes, rubbing his beard. "You know?"
The sunset's final rays sparkled in the Hokage's office. Such rays blessed the room in vibrant-orange light, casting five shadows across the wood floor. Following Roku's explanation, silence plagued the room. It took nearly a minute for the Eighth Hokage to relinquish such.
"I see," the old shinobi says, closing his eyes. They reopen, meeting his nephew's uneasy expression. "However, I do wonder how you procured such concerns."
Roku's cheeks flush red as he rubs the back of his head. "Well, you see… I uh, ran into an old friend." His embarrassment fades to seriousness. "Said friend happens to know the Mizukage quite well."
Moziki, who is standing next to Roku, smirks. In other words, you ran into Izumi… Didn't you, Roku?
The Hokage nods. "The Chunin Exams do possess that rare ability to assemble ninja from other villages in one place." Slow as a tortoise, the Hokage looks to the seniors sitting on the sofa nearby. "Because of such, friends and foes from past times do appear. In this case, it would seem to be a friend… or something more. But, that is not our concern. What is of our concern, is the safety of this village during one of its most sacred events."
One of the advisors frowns. The other sighs, as if exhaling the weight of the world. The ninja give the seniors their attention.
"This situation requires extreme delicacy if we choose to take action," the female advisor says, her eyes squinty with age. "When involving questionable allies, discretion is essential."
The male advisor nods, his long gray beard brushing his knees. "I agree. Should we choose to take action, then several factors must be taken into account." He lets out a hum of thought, then studies Roku. "Namely, we have to remain anonymous in any form of investigation at all costs. Otherwise we run the risk of jeopardizing our alliance and unleashing possible conflict. Do you agree, Lord Hokage?"
The Hokage dips his head in approval, then clasps his hands together on the desk. "But you knew this walking in here. Didn't you, Roku?"
"Yeah, which is why I brought Moziki," the Hokage's nephew replies, putting a hand on the white-haired shinobi's shoulder. "He's our best when it comes to espionage."
"This is true… And what do you think of this rumor, Moziki?" The Hokage leans back in his chair, old bones cracking beneath white robes.
Moziki shrugs. "I think it's worth looking into. This is exactly the type of thing we stealth-ninja are trained for. The only issue lies in keeping such a mission secret. However, if there is a threat to the Hidden Leaf… well, it can't be ignored."
The female advisor waves a hand in frustration, "Bah! This is fickle business, but he's right. If we don't investigate and history repeats itself, we may as well kiss the Hidden Leaf village good bye."
"Then it's settled," the Hokage sighs. "Moziki Ryukoshi, as of right now, you're being assigned a highly classified S-rank mission. Using extreme discretion, you and a team of ninja are to infiltrate the Hidden Mist and search for any signs of treachery." Staring at the two men half his age, he frowns. Roku expected to go with him… I'm sorry my nephew, but this mission requires the utmost secrecy. He meets Moziki's determined expression and continues. "Tonight you will assemble a team of Anbu Black Ops to accompany you on this mission. Tomorrow, you will depart. Understood?"
Moziki dips his head. "Yes, Lord Hokage."
Roku raises a fist. "I dragged him into this, allow me to go with! You can find a replacement for the rest of the Exams."
Opening his mouth to speak, the Hokage is relieved to hear one of the advisors instead. "Impossible," the female advisor snaps, "This mission cannot fail in any shape or form. Should someone untrained in espionage go on this mission, then failure is certain. Maintaining trust is easy, but rebuilding trust is difficult. Remember that when allies are involved."
"She speaks the truth," the other advisor proclaims.
"But…" Roku begins to speak but goes silent when his uncle stands with the aid of his cane.
"Enough, Roku!" The Hokage twirls around to watch the sun sink through the office windows. "Moziki, you will lead the team yourself… Throughout its entirety, everyone taking part must remain completely anonymous. Should you be captured… well, you know what to do, I'm afraid."
"Understood, Lord Hokage," Moziki replies, while Roku gawks at him.
"Uncle, have you forgotten," Roku exclaims, "The Mist are our allies. Why don't we just let the team investigate openly? That eliminates the danger entirely!"
"And prohibits us from gathering any legitimate data," Moziki says, placing a hand on Roku's shoulder. Roku clenches his fists and grinds his teeth upon realizing that Moziki is smiling. "Besides, you were never really good at keeping secrets."
Overhearing the duo, the Hokage's dry lips merge into a smile. Childhood friends, comrades in battle, and now experienced shinobi… Yet, they remain the same as they always were.
Roku groans to himself. "Fine. If this is how it has to be… then good luck, out there. Come back alive, all right?"
Moziki smirks. "That's always the intent while on a mission. Isn't it?"
The Hokage turns back to face them, his wrinkled face now grim. "I shouldn't have to stay this… but this mission does not leave this room. Other than the team of Anbu Black Ops you assemble, Moziki, no one else should know of this mission." He looks to the advisors, then back at Roku. "Do I make myself clear?"
In unison, the two men respond. "Yes, Lord Hokage."
