The morning was late, the village was bustling against the high sun and the grass blew against the soft wind. Down in one of the common streets of Konohagakure walked a young seventeen year old in a silken kimono in a short suitable length for the hot weather, her black shoes lightly tapped against the dirt clad ground with each step. The young Chūnin slightly smiled, feeling the warm breeze blow back her ebony locks softly as she came to reach her destination.
In front of her stood tall and proud was the Hokage's building, the place where she was to meet her brother as he got off work, only to spend the rest of his time training the younger sibling to become a Jōnin. The young blind female waited, looking around at the scenery of her own darkness as the time slowly ticked on, she knew she was early, however she was too eager to wait the extra ten minutes of time and spent it walking and currently waiting.
It is a nice day, she thought, feeling the fresh breeze once again caress her fair skin before a scuffing was heard in front of her. The blinded one snapped her head to the source, forgetting all about the peacefulness of day to become alert of the intruder before relaxing at the voice,
"Kazuki, you're early." Her older brother, Souta, spoke kindly. Gently looping his arm through hers, they began to walk from the building towards the training grounds they knew all too well.
"I just couldn't wait Souta." The soft-spoken girl giggled with him.
"You say that every time." He retorted with a chuckle, and he was right. Every time Souta had a day off, he would spend the rest of daylight and even occasionally night into training his younger sister, and every time it was one of those days would he look outside a window and catch her patiently waiting outside the Hokage's building, a few minutes early of course.
After what had happened those three years ago, Souta took it in his power to train Kazuki and take her under his wing as the older brother he had failed to be for most of her childhood. He did not want to lose her again, and if she did happen to get in such a situation as the last, then at least she'd be more prepared. Their parents were obviously in doubt of their youngest offspring, but he wasn't, and he was going to help Kazuki reach her goal of proving them wrong, that a blind can become a ninja; a strong one at that.
The faint laughter of children could be heard nearby at the Konohagakure Academy, where Souta could spot ninja-in-training run around on the grass and play while others ate their lunches. The young children happily played and did untrained attacks on each other as if it were the most amazing thing to do, before screaming and running away while their opponent would conjure up a different move. Little did those younglings know that those very moves, the more advanced versions of course, would and could save their own lives someday.
"Kiki!" A familiar voice to both the siblings' ears rang throughout the open air from behind them. Kazuki immediately turned at the hyper yet oddly mature voice and smiled at her friend. Michiko too smiled and ran to the duo, momentarily forgetting about her priorities.
"Michiko, hello." Kazuki spoke softly, yet not nearly as soft as she would have in her past. "What are you up to?"
"The team and I were just given a new mission; we are now heading out to complete it." She said, gesturing to the three-man team walking up behind her. All three genin were now familiar with Kazuki, and even Mei for their Sensei-Michiko would often stray from the task at hand to talk to them, but all-in-all would prevail in what had to be done. "Where are you guys going? Training?"
The duo nodded, sending a snort from the brown haired boy of Michiko's grouping; Group 5.
"Can we just get on with the mission already?" He rudely asked, crossing his arms. Michiko growled with clenched fists,
"No! Part of being a ninja is communication! You can't have communication without communicating! Communicate damnit!" She ordered, pointing to the siblings while not only eyeing the boy but the two other girls in her squad. Len, Kaoki, and Ria all nodded and said hello to Kazuki and her brother; earning two polite greetings in return.
"It's alright Michiko, we must get going anyway, have a good day." Kazuki waved before turning herself along with Souta around and began walking to the previous destination set, letting Michiko wave excitedly and usher her group in the opposite direction hastily.
By the time the Hitomi siblings reached the training grounds, it was into early afternoon and the sun had just risen over its hottest point of the day, letting little reassurance on cooling their bodies during the workout. Kazuki didn't wait for Souta to set his ANBU mask and back-pack down before activating her Kage no Kokoro and seeing that same male standing just a few feet from her with katana in hand. This man she had never seen before until the age of twelve just after they had started the training sessions, seeing his long black hair tied in the usual ponytail that was now gliding with the breeze, his emerald eyes glistening in the rays of sun beaming down on them, his tan skin with calloused hands firmly gripping the freshly sharpened katana, and all tied together in the ANBU uniform that seemed to have been made for just him. Kazuki, at first, couldn't comprehend that the man who had been standing before her was in fact the brother she had grown up admiring, but he was and she had learned that he was exactly the person she should look up to.
With the swipe of a blade, Kazuki narrowly avoided the metal weapon as her brother attacked, snapping her from her thoughts to the scene around. She slid her feet against the dusty ground, each time sliding away from Souta's blade and keeping her shadowed hands up as a form of protection despite her non-solid body. Suddenly the black haired man smirked and turned around, running towards her dormant yet solid and living body with a new tactic forming in his mind. Kazuki immediately froze, yet composed herself from the shock and activated two of her hidden shadows and sent them launching from the trees and down onto her brother whom easily blocked them but in turn slid away from Kazuki's real body.
Over the past three years of non-stop training, Kazuki had learned to control each of the different shadows one at a time, instead of having to control all at once; she had also learned to animate all the shadows just like the one she currently used and learned to choose how many shadows she needed to release. Right now she only used 3.
Souta slashed at one of the two shadow bodies who had attacked him, letting the other have an opening at his waist in which they sent a kick. In a flash Souta had blocked the kick and gave the body one in return only to swing at thin air as it had jumped up.
This continued for some time, dodging and attacking between the two nearly transparent females and the one human male while the body that Kazuki was inhabiting was guarding her dormant form in case her brother would try his previous attempt again. Kazuki knew that Souta was going easy on her, he is an ANBU of course he would go easy on a Chūnin or else he could pumble me in a matter of seconds, she thought while watching the fight roll on. Suddenly the two shadow bodies were knocked away and Souta was bee-lining straight for Kazuki and her dormant shell of a body. Shadow Kazuki launched for her brother and jumped above the weapon aiming for her stomach, sending a kick towards his face in which he blocked and pushed her away. While in the air she did multiple fairly knew hand signs and launched a jutsu,
"Possession's Shade!" With the words spoken, Souta braced himself at the jutsu he already knew of. The shadows all around, from the trees, the rocks, the few stray leaves blowing in the wind, even from the waves that were rustled in the large pond not too far away; the shadows all reached out furiously and desperately towards Souta as though angered with him, wishing to drag him into the darkest depths of hell.
The man from his place on the dirt washed ground, jumped into the air, soon followed by the scrambling shadows as they peeled off the ground and rushed after him. Souta raised his blade as to attack towards the shadow engulfed body of his sister's soul that now held her arms in defense but immediately regretted her move as he flung his sword, with a smirk, down towards her dormant body on the ground just a few feet away. Of course Kazuki hadn't expected that and with a sigh she watched the blade harshly stab into the earth just mere inches from the unmoving foot of her real body as she landed on the ground, followed by her brother.
"I win." He exclaimed, prancing over to his blade and lightly grasping the wooden handle of his katana, feeling the hem of the tightly wrapped silken fabric as he watched Kazuki leave the shadows behind to come into the peacefully, yet nearly wounded, human body of her own. Once inside, her blind and dull grey eyes looked up into his bright green ones that were illuminated with the high sun's rays and she smiled knowing he was doing the same. She could feel it.
Over the years her senses were trained, heightened, and she could now barely feel the chakra waves in the air around; something that her brother had taught her to do, as an ANBU a lot of his job relied on such a skill.
"I almost had you." She replied, standing up to stretch her skinny limbs. Souta was now placing the porcelain ANBU mask into his back-pack gently, before turning to the younger girl,
"Almost can potentially cost you your life." He spoke placing the dull brown bag against his back, "Now, I am sorry Kazuki but we must cut the training short. I need to go back to work to get ready for the banquet tonight." Kazuki hadn't heard of this,
"What banquet?" She asked with a disappointed expression, she had hoped to get in more training today. Souta looped his arm with hers and softly walked with her back to the heart of the village.
"The banquet to celebrate Sunagakure's new Kazekage. Gaara is his name. He, his siblings, the advisors of the sand village and a few others are coming here to Konoha, we are giving them this banquet as a congratulations. Also a chance for Lady Tsunade to meet him, and get on good terms. Gaara will be inaugurated tomorrow in Suna." Souta explained quietly, watching the scenery pass by with each step taken. The sun was now far past noon, yet still beaming its heat down harshly upon the inhabitants under it, letting them bask in not only the crisp rays and shy breeze but also the cloudless sky it brought along.
"But why do you have to go too?" Kazuki whined, her head tipping back ever so slightly as she groaned to the sky.
"I'm part of the ANBU; we protect the Hokage and not just them but the welcomed guests who come into the village. Since Lady Tsunade will be there, and citizens from Suna too, then we need to as well." Souta watched as they left behind the soothing, calm, tranquil area of the village to meet its counterpart of the bustling streets and growing markets. Kazuki on the other hand, let her shoulders slump in frustration while listening to the many different voices of the people around them,
Some were sweet and kind,
Some were deep and gruff,
Some were shy,
Some were loud,
Some were smooth,
And some were even frail, sounding a bit weak and small; which must've meant it was a child's voice. Kazuki couldn't shake the feeling of the small sound, the not-fully-developed voice as it spoke to an older one; it reminded the seventeen-year old of herself three years ago. How she was so weak back then, yes she was still weak, but in nearly every aspect of her emotional and physical being had she grown stronger and no longer held that same mouse like voice, but a soft yet firm sound.
"Does this mean Mei will be at the banquet?" The young adult asked to the slightly older one. He nodded out of habit, not that she could tell,
"Yes."
"Are just the noble's and more governmentally advanced people attending the village, or will more lower class ones be allowed as well?"
"By governmentally advanced, the village elders, ambassadors, and advisors will be there from both villages. Jōnin, Tokubetsu Jōnin and Jōnin Commanders are required to be there along with few high-ranked Chūnin. All members of the village's council will be with the Kage's as well.
And as for nobles, yes nobles will be there too due to their high ranking. Clan's such as the Hyuuga, Chinatsu, ours and a few others." He explained, the apartment he shared with Kazuki coming into view further down the road.
"So Michiko will be there as well? And does this mean I have to go too as part of the Hitomi clan?"
"The Chinatsu clan is not only highly respected as a noble clan but Michiko's mother has ties with Konohagakure's council, so she is required to be there. Michiko doesn't have to be there but I have word that she is going to. As for you, the same applies, you are invited as heir to the Hitomi clan, but you don't have to go."
Kazuki thought about it, her two close friends would be there even though one is there for work, but at least she would get to see them.
"Will it be fun?" She asked,
"I would assume so." He asked, unlocking the dark wooden door to their home and leading his sister into the cooled atmosphere.
"Are you sure Michiko and Mei will be there?"
Souta chuckled, "Yes, Michiko is going with her mother and Mei is going with the ANBU, and if I'm not mistaken she is on the second division group. That's one of the groups that's backup protection for Gaara and his group and scouts the whole party. So either way you will see both girls. The banquet will be held in a large building just a few steps south of the Hokage's, be there at 7. Love you, be safe." With those words spoken, the elder male left to get prepared.
And Souta was not mistaken about Mei's place. There she stood in the midst of the banquet hall, not too far from Gaara and his siblings sitting at the large crescent shaped table that faces the filled room of smaller circular tables. Lady Tsunade also sat at this table to the left of Gaara, right in the middle, while on either side of the two were his siblings and the members of both village's council. The crescent table sat on a small stage, able-ing its inhabitants to have a better eye at the room filled with people from either village, mingling, eating or celebrating Sunagakure's accomplishment.
Mei silently watched the scene, from behind both her blindfold and mask, her group members were near her along the back wall just a few feet from the head table while all other groups were placed along the surrounding walls of the building. She recognized Souta's mask as he was placed in the first division group, they were the ones to stand in front of the small stage while not only guarding the head table but also watching over the entire building, as the second division does too.
Not far away at one of the many well-dressed circular tables was Michiko, clothed in a soft blue kimono patterned with numerously colored butterflies and hair tied up in an elegant bun with silver accents. Around the table were family friends of neighboring nobles, all dressed highly for the current occasion and wearing large smiles with proud gleaming eyes; Michiko however, held one of boredom. Chin placed in the palm of her hand and elbow resting against the pearl-white table cloth, she fiddled with the ebony painted chopsticks next to the porcelain plate designated for the young girl. Food was served yes, but she had no desire to eat any of the still steaming fish, miso soup, or freshly tossed vegetables; she had her eyes set on looking at the numerous people around the room, often trying to find Mei, but she had never seen Mei's mask so therefore couldn't tell which ANBU member she was. However the young girl had spotted Kazuki, at a table closer to the front of the room eating the soup politely with no help whatsoever, but every-time Michiko would stand up to walk over, another member of the table would ask her a question or speak something in her general direction as if purposely trying to keep her from any sort of fun.
At the front of the room was Kazuki, enjoying her meal and smiling as her mother complimented the sterling silver bracelet holding one small amethyst jewel, thanking her and responding that Souta had given it to her as a birthday gift. Sure, her and her parents weren't on the best terms, but in the terms of power had her father reconsidered Kazuki as one of the family after seeing her train with Souta one day. Kazuki didn't know this though, she only thought her parents were actually considering her as the daughter they never acknowledged they had.
"Excuse me, excuse me." A familiar voice yelled, echoing throughout the large room and capturing the attention of its inhabitants. Lady Tsunade stood from her seat with a smile, looking over the many people who were doing the same to her before speaking again,
"I'd like to thank everyone once again for attending such an occasion. The village of Konohagakure welcomes Sunagakure, and its new Kage." She then gestured to Gaara before raising the finely patterned glass filled to the brim with a red liquid while all others followed in her actions before taking a sip. Mei, underneath her mask smiled at the gesture but all-in-all kept her composure with hands straightly by her side, spine as though a broomstick were placed there and head held forward. The tight gray chest armor she wore would contract even more so with each silent inhale she took as she watched Michiko scowl at the bitter taste of her drink and tried not to chuckle at her friend but resulted in depressing it with deep breaths to keep the composure her job so desperately required.
The night was young and she had to keep this posture the whole time,
Good thing I'm used to it, she thought to herself. However a slight mischievous thought nagged at her from the back of her mind and she couldn't help but to hope that some action would happen tonight. Not something too big, not something to cause harm to others, just something to get her from such a statuesque pose.
As if on cue with the nag in her mind, a sudden boom of noise reverberated throughout the room accompanied with a burst of smoke originating in the midst of the newly made disarray and fanning out like fog on a fresh day. Screams were heard and panic hit the room, while all others braised to protect the village heads.
Yeah, betcha' wasn't expecting this, or was, I don't know. I hope the banquet didn't seem too formal, I was watching The Princess Diaries at the time of writing it so it may seem, too formal and royal writen/described.
Whatever...