"Why are you causing trouble in my village?" He took off his mask. Gaara.
Hannah wished for death as she stared in wide eyed horror at the leader of Suna. "I-I didn't mean to cause trouble," she stuttered, sounding more feminine than she'd intended.
"What were you doing?" His aqua marine eyes were piercing. Hannah cursed their brightness.
She lowered her head, staring fondly at the dirt to her left. "I-I was howling a-at the moon." Hannah kept her voice girly-shy. For once she was glad she stuttered when embarrassed.
Gaara took several steps forward, causing the wary American to press her backside against the wall. He stood before her, tight black ANBU suit and all. Naughty Hannah was having a fiesta. "Why were you howling at the moon?" he whispered, leaning forward so his eyes were level with hers.
Too close! Hannah was silently, repetitively screaming to herself inwardly.
"I-I-I-er….depressed," squeaked the flustered American. Her face was a brilliant shade of scarlet as smoke streamed from her ears all due to embarrassment.
"What is your name?" Gaara whispered in a way that made Hannah think of dirty things.
Crapcrapcrapcrapcrap! Er, uh… "Pallid Obscurity," she squealed in a high pitch tone, using her username for websites.
"Pallid Obscurity," Gaara repeated slowly, taking in her features. Hannah trembled under his gaze. What is he up to? "You may refer to me as Obsidian Luminosity."
Obsidian Luminosity. Exact opposites. "You may leave, Pallid Obscurity," the Kazekage said, gesturing toward the direction she had been creeping.
"A-Arigatou, Obsidian Luminosity," Hannah thanked him as Gaara replaced his fox mask back on his face. Foxy, purred Naughty Hannah. The American decided, since she was screwed anyway, to ask Gaara, "Obsidian Luminosity, p-please teach me how to dance."
Now he knows I'm one of the two hundred competing for his hand in marriage.
Lifting her hand, Obsidian Luminosity kissed her knuckles. "Only if you show up at the Hot Springs every night until the night before the first round."
Blushing a hundred shades of red, Pallid Obscurity wordlessly nodded and ran down the alley.
P-p-P-p-P-p-P-p-P
Gaara stared after the fleeting girl. Pallid Obscurity was quick. She was thin, shy, beautiful, curvy, and one of his potential brides.
She had blue eyes like Uzumaki, the Kazekage mused. This is the howler. The depressed one who cries to the moon.
Obsidian Luminosity jumped on the roof top and signaled the ANBU. They encircled him.
"Did you find Howl?" That was their nickname for the target.
"Yes, she is harmless. Did you capture the other?" Gaara asked.
"No. Unfortunately, the target vanished," a cat-faced female reported bitterly. "That one is not harmless."
The Kazekage stiffened. "What happened?" he asked tersely.
"A contender was murdered. Naestis, the Egyptian representative of the twenty, had her throat slit in her sleep. The assassin left no clues."
This is the same murderer who attempted to kill Hannah, Gaara estimated. She wants to kill off the competition.
"Inquire if the other nineteen are trained. If not, train them. I want one ANBU member shadowing the nineteen around the clock. Members may take shifts. Create a password or gesture to avoid imposters," Gaara ordered. "Dismissed."
P-p-P-p-P-p-P-p-P
Hannah woke up to something persistently shaking her shoulder. Groaning, she peeped open an eye to see a masked person hovering over her.
The American fell out of the bed, too surprised to yelp. Ksoh, they know!
"Wh-what do you want?" Hannah croaked.
"I am to train you, Hannah, number seven." The ANBU member gave a quick bow. "Come with me. Now."
"It's four in the morning!" The American shouted as quietly as she could without waking Maite- an interesting feat.
"You have several hours of training to accomplish today," she said coldly. "Hurry up."
Hannah hurried as if she were late for school. It was a montage of getting on clothes, rushing into the bathroom, eating, brushing hair, brushing teeth, and plain running around with 'All Star' by Smash Mouth in the background.
The ANBU female dragged her to a hotel named Golden Geysers. Hannah found herself in one of the fanciest, penthouse-like rooms, gaping.
"Shut up and listen up," ordered the rough female, throwing Hannah onto a comfy white futon. "Chakra is the energy required by a ninja to perform ninja arts and techniques called Jutsu. Chakra is produced within the body by the combination of two elements:"
A chart with a person spewing fire with a word bubble and the Sprite logo tattooed on their belly popped up out of nowhere.
"Physical energy drawn from the body's cells and spiritual/mental energy that is acquired through much training and meditation."
The chart vanished. Another screen with a ninja with his hands twisted appeared.
"Seals, known as special hand signs, transfer Chakra into specific Jutsu. Jutsu can be categorized into 5 major elements: lightning, wind, fire, earth, and water. Depending on the Jutsu, the type and quantity of Chakra used differentiates," lectured the professional.
"On to ranks. There are five ranks. Academy students enroll in the Ninja Academy to learn fundamental techniques and philosophies mandatory to become a ninja. When they graduate, Genin are akin to apprentice ninjas."
Another picture popped up.
"In groups of three man cells led by an elite Jonin, the Jonin trains his students. Genin usually are given menial, routine missions. Upon completion of a taxing three part exam and judged worthy, Chunins are able to accomplish solo missions and lead other teams."
Hannah wasn't surprised to see the next chart pop up. She listened intently.
"Jonin- privileged, exceedingly skilled ninja. They are sent on the riskiest missions. A Jonin is regarded strong enough to instruct a team of three Genin. Then is the Kage. Highest status among ninja, Kage is reserved for the leader of the ninja village. The leader has achieved the highest levels of skill and wisdom."
Hannah jumped as the ANBU female snapped the chart shut. She didn't seem pleased about coaching the American.
"Show me your skills," she demanded.
"Al-alright," Hannah sighed, positive she wouldn't get a hit.
She cleared her mind with a deep exhale and charged. Just as she predicted, Hannah couldn't land a blow on the superior ninja. She got close a few times or almost nailed the ANBU female who moved just in time.
Hannah dropped into a crouch and swung one leg out as she spun. The female jumped in the air, flipped and landed with catlike grace. I'm so worked over, up the creek, screwed.
"Stop," she commanded, holding up a palm. For a moment, Hannah thought of Barbie.
"You are not a complete waste," she sighed wearily, giving her protégé a second glance over. Hannah stiffened. "Quick reflexes, basic taijutsu knowledge, sharp eye, and has a brain. Although, stiff form, weak blows, and no Jutsus."
The American noted the light blue hair. It seemed familiar. "Do I know you?" Hannah asked, squinting as though X-ray vision would suddenly be granted to her. "What is your name?"
"Yuri, the manager of the paint shop."
I thank the story Pallid Obscurity by supplicatory.dark.horse. or I would never have thought of the name Pallid Obscurity or the opposite Obsidian Luminosity.
Arigatou- thank you
