As the last piece of wood was nailed into place, Mizure finally reached up to swipe at the sweat that had gathered at her brow. From 6:00 A.M that morning to the hazy afternoon of the present, she had worked alongside several of the villagers rebuilding shops and houses. Iratai had been doing the same, sometimes with her and sometimes so far away she could no longer hear his cheerful whistling. They weren't helping out because they were particularly nice people. It was because they had yet to hear from the Academy providing further instructions. As the people around her moved on to another house, she hesitated. She hung back, wavering between following them and collapsing on the ground where she stood. She compromised with herself and trailed after them about halfway before veering off and letting her body fall onto sweet, soft grass. It had been quite some time since the attack, and the end of Rue's life. The Leaf's Hokage had also died, fighting a man Mizure knew all too well about. Orochimaru. The snake had crept up on them, blinding the Sand and then leading them off a cliff. The aftermath resulted in the loss of both of their Kages'. It was his fault that her team mate had died. And the Sand's too, for being so ignorant. As much as she tried to remember Iratai's words, she couldn't help but yearn for revenge. Whenever she thought of him a hollow pain echoed in her chest. But it was accompanied by a tight ball of fury resting in the pit of her stomach. She'd never wanted to kill so badly in her life.
"Hey," a lazy voice drawled, slurring her thoughts. She cracked an eye open to spy a bored looking boy standing above her. His hair was swept up in a ponytail too short to lay on his neck. Instead it stuck straight up, spiky in appearance. For a fleeting moment she imagined his head as a pineapple before shaking the image from her head.
"You're Shikamaru, of the Nara clan." It was more of a statement than a question.
"And you're Mizure Akane. One of the final contestants, right?" he replied. She nodded her head, pursing her lips into a thin line. He laid down next to her, pining his arms behind his head, and closed his eyes.
"Been quite a flurry of activity lately, huh?" he asked. She had a feeling he wanted her to leave, but was making polite conversation nontheless. She must have wandered his territory. But she had been there first.
"Yes, there has," she answered, followed up by a yawn, as if to emphasize that point.
"Mizure Akane?" an unfamiliar voice interrupted them. She sat up, sighing.
"I am she," she answered, watching as a man of Chunin rank hovered nervously above her.
"Lady Hokage requests your prescence." Ah yes, Lady Tsunade. Naruto had gone on a journey not too long before then with one of the legendary Sannin himself. When they got back, they had that woman in tow. Everybody seemed more at ease now that she was there though, which suited her just fine. The only thing that confused her was why they all depended on this one person so desperately. It must have been a terribly tough job.
"Okay," she said, allowing the man to grasp her hand and pull her to her feet. "Bye," she called over her shoulder. She recieved a half-hearted wave in return before Shikamaru rolled onto his side and attempted to take a nap.

Once inside the Hokage's office, her guide bowed and promptly left.
"Hello Chitling," Iratai greeted her. Mizure's eyes roamed over the room, and she stiffled a sigh when she found not a trace of Tamake. He hadn't been back since the attack on Konoha. It seemed so far away, making it feel as though Tamake had been gone a millenium. If luck was on their side, he had gone back to the Academy. And yet, Mizure had a sinking feeling that she wouldn't see Tamake again in a long time, if ever.
"Hello Iratai," she answered, ambling towards the old man and sticking close to his side. The woman sitting behind the desk was...busty, to put it nicely. She had blonde hair that lay in loose pigtails on either side of her bossom, and her nails were painted a bright red.
"Miss Akane," the woman welcomed her politely.
"Lady Tsunade," Mizure said, bowing at the waist.
"Now then, enough with the chitchat. Let's get down to business," she said, leaning further over the desk. "I've been told you've gone through quite the ordeal. One team mate dead and the other missing," she said. Mizure swallowed thickly, taken by surprise at the bluntness of the statement. She nodded, inching subconsciously closer to Iratai, her instincts begging her to hide from this terrifying woman.
"We're putting up a Memorial Stone to honor those who died during the attack. With your permission, we'd like to put Rue's name on it," she told them, voice softening. Mizure's head snapped up, shock written plainly across her face.
"Why? He's not-"
Tsunade held up a hand, silencing her. "Dying for a village not your own...is a foolish thing to do. But it's also very admirable, and I won't let such valor go unnoticed." Mizure's eyes overflowed with grateful tears, and she found herself kneeling on the floor, her resolve not to cry crumbling. Iratai crouched next to her, patting her shoulder and murmuring his thanks to Tsunade, who only stared down at them.
"That is not the only business I have with you, however," she said suddenly. Her voice startled Mizure's tears away, and she wiped at the droplets still clinging to her cheeks. Besides the red puffiness surrounding her eyes, one would never have known she had been crying.
"What else is there to tell?" Iratai asked, dragging Mizure up by the elbow. Tsunade turned towards one of the elders, who whispered something in her ear. She nodded, returning her gaze to the outsiders standing before her.
"It has been confirmed by myself and several other trusted advisors, that we would like accept the treaty put forth by your oraganization, Nazomi. A woman named Kaide will be here tomorrow to confirm this, and cosign the document." Mizure's heart leapt to her throat at the sound of her Sensei's name. She would be here tomorrow to congratulate Mizure on her first serious mission accomplished.
Tsunade waved her hand, dismissing them. In a flash Iratai and the elders were gone, leaving Tsunade to flip through various piles of paperwork covering her desk. Mizure stood awkardly in front of her, switching her weight between her feet and folding her hands behind her back.
"Um..." she started, unsure of herself. The Hokage glanced up, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes?" she asked. Mizure thought back to the conversation she'd had with Naruto earlier that week.

"And the first thing she did was go into the hospital and start healing people! She even healed Sasuke!" the orange clad ninja cried, waving his hands all around. Considering Sasuke's illness stemmed more from a mental illness at the hands of the Mangekyo Sharingan, it was quite a feat.
"And to think you're the one who brought her back," she complimented him, smiling as he blushed and grinned abashadly.

Supposedly this woman could do anything. Mizure hoped the rumours she heard weren't just that-rumours.
"Well, I've been having a bit of a problem...people say you're a medical expert, so I was hoping maybe you might know what to do," she rushed out.
"Care to elaborate?" the Hokage asked, shifting in her seat and giving the red eyed girl her full attention.
"Well, I've been having these visions," she started, eyes darting around the room apprehensively. "They seem like memories. Memories of me, actually. But I don't recall the events ever happening. Does that make sense?" Tsunade nodded. "It wouldn't be so hard to ignore except for the fact that they just randomly happen, and they knock me out cold. The last few times it happened, I was in dangerous situations," she finished.
Tsunade turned away from her, stalking a few papers together. "As it is, I'm pretty busy. However, I encourage you to seek medical attention after you've returned home, especially if it could interfere with your future missions." Mizure nodded, bowed one last time, and left. She couldn't help but worry though. If Tsunade herself couldn't find time to deal with it, would it be an easy job for the second rate medic nin at the Academy?

She stood on a raised platform, doing her best to smile. To her right was Iratai, who stayed close to her, almost shielding her from the penetrating stares. The new Hokage had called an assembly, mandatory for all Shinobi, including Genin. Towards the back she could make Naruto, who was struggling to jump above the taller Shinobi in front of him to wave at her. She waved back, letting him know she could see him. She could also see the spiky ponytail of the boy she met earlier. She wondered briefly if he recognized her or not.
To her left, also standing beside the Hokage, was a tall woman with long dark hair. Her short blue dress was covered by a black knit shawl that hung above her knees. Her forresty green eyes were penetrating as they roved over the Leaf's forces. She smiled tightly, seemingly pleased with the number and strength Nazomi was gaining. Mizure looked up at her Sensei in awe. She always seemed so in control, even now as her cold gaze was met with glares from the audiance of ninja.
"Everyone, if you would please be silent. And Naruto, stop hopping around back there!" Tsunade's voice rang out. His blonde head disappeared from view, a sure sign that Sakura had yanked him down. "Thank you. I'm sure you're wondering why such a large assembly was called. I don't believe something like this has happened in quite some time," she said, crossing her arms over her abnormally large chest.
"Get on with it Granny Tsunade!" Naruto called. This earned him a well aimed punch from Sakura, and a good kick from Sasuke.
"Anyways, I'm sure most of you are well aware of the organization Nazomi. They've become quite well known in the past few years and so, we the Leaf, have agreed to join forces with them." An uproar followed the statement, several ninja shouting words of protest. Mizure shrank away, hiding behind the tall frame of Iratai. She hated large crowds, or noises as loud as these. It seemed as though they wanted to fight the union tooth and nail.
"Shut up!" Tsunade shouted, and the arguments died down. "I realize why some of you would have a problem with this arrangement," she said, voice level. "But look at Konoha! Do you see your home, in shambles? We could be attacked at any moment! We need Nazomi's help." There was absolute silence as the Leaf ninja soaked this up. Understanding flashed in a few eyes, while others set their jaws, refusing to acknowledge their weakness. "I'm doing this for my home, and to protect those who live there with me," Tsnuade finished. She turned to Mizure's Sensei, motioning her forward. She stepped closer, so that only a breath lay between them.
"Here it is," she said, smiling smugly. With a flourish of her hand, Tsunade signed her name and stood back.
"Kaide of Nazomi will be cosigning the document. If there are any questions, feel free to ask her." Kaide took the pen from Tsunade's hand and slowly signed her own name.
"Konoha," she said, facing the disgusted stares before her, "Please accept our heartfelt protection." She spread her arms out, as if embracing the crowd. "And to make the deal sweeter, I offer you a gift." Tsunade tensed at the words, seemingly prepared for anything.
'Hmph. Not even the Hokage trusts a treaty she accepted herself,' Mizure thought.
"Oh my, don't seem so restless my dear ally. It's truly a harmless gift. Well, for now anyways," Kaide said, grinning. She held her hand out to Mizure, who hesitated slightly, confusion staining her features. With a nudge from Iratai she acceptd her Sensei's outstretched hand. The woman dragged her forward. "This is Mizure Akane. She's the best we have. Take her," Kaide said, shoving her outward. She stopped in the middle, between the two women, and looked back at her Sensei with doe eyes, afraid and bewildered. Then to Tsunade, who was just as perplexed as she was. The Hokage looked behind her at the elders who stood at the edge of the platform. They nodded eagerly, using encouraging gestures. Tsunade reached forward, tugging Mizure close, and held her in front of her, gripping her shoulders. A shocked silence from the surrounding Shinobi was louder to her ears than the angry shouts had been.
"Akane, welcome home," the woman murmured as cheers erupted from the crowd.