Chapter 24: A Long Way from Home
I growled frustrated punching a tree as I walked by it in the forest plopping down on the ground taking a deep breath. I was in a sour mood, in fact, I had been in one for weeks since my training with Reno and Hayner.
"We are needed by the Hokage, hurry up." I heard going past me feeling steam begin to leave my ears squeezing my eyes shut he was the root cause of all my anger.
Opening my eyes, I saw Shino continue to walk without waiting for me as I got up punching another tree, but he didn't even look back. I had been trying to be civil towards him, I thought since I helped his team get their sensei back, he'd be nicer. But no, evidently, I wasn't much of a help at all in fact I was the least helpful person on the mission.
Of course, I knew that wasn't entirely true, but it still stung none the less to my ego and drive for helping as a shinobi. Finally making it to the Hokage tower Shino walked through the door without waiting for me letting it hit my nose as I walked in looking towards him angrily.
"Glad both of you could make it, I'm sending you on a mission." she said looking between us hearing her say, "As I understand there has been some hostility between the both of you."
"Lady Tsunade whatever do you mean." I said as my eyes glared towards him, and I knew he was doing it back.
"Think of this as a chance for you both to act like professional shinobi and be a team, I will not tolerate my Genin not getting along with one another." she said sternly as I looked back at her while we said together, "We understand."
"Good because I have chosen the best two to come with you and make sure you get along." she said seeing a smirk form behind her hands feeling my body tense up hearing the door get kicked open.
"Guy-sensei and Rock Lee reporting for duty!" Lee said over enthusiastically seeing Shino's shoulders slump in distress.
"Now that you are all here, I can debrief you on the mission." she began looking towards us saying, "Years ago the Third Hokage entrusted a scroll to another village that contained important information as a sign of goodwill towards them. Now that I am the Hokage I wish to get it back from them as per the agreement when a new Hokage is initiated."
"So, a simple diplomacy mission." Guy said seeing her nod saying, "Precisely, but there are some in the village who I'm sure would love to get their hands on it so be cautious and trust no one but each other."
"Sounds easy enough." Shino said while I saw her smirk widen replying, "Also as a sign of good will you all will stay for their festival to show our village still holds them in good regards by helping."
"What's the festival?" Lee asked curiously seeing her smirk go down replying, "The Blood Moon festival."
I felt my body go cold hearing the thumping in my chest as I barely heard Shino say, "What village celebrates that?"
"The Hidden Grass Village." I said hollowly as they all looked towards me hearing Tsunade reply, "Yuna is correct, now don't let me down."
We all nodded as I turned to leave hearing Tsunade say, "Yuna a moment."
Shino looked towards me suspiciously as I waited for them all to leave hearing her say, "I understand this may be difficult for you but I'm trusting you with this."
"I understand…" I began saying somberly putting on the best fake smile I could muster turning to her, "Besides it will be nice to see the festival dedicated to my clan again."
I walked quietly behind the others deep in thought not even hearing the commotion between Lee and Guy. I suddenly noticed a pair of feet walking alongside me knowing who it was but not wanting to look up.
"Are you going to tell me why Lady Tsunade wanted to speak with you alone?" he said sternly while I said quietly, "Not really… I'm sure you'll find out when we get there."
"Why all the secrecy, and why do you know about a festival in the Grass Village?" he pestered making me look up at him and stop saying, "It's none of your business now drop it."
"Hey you two none of that we are supposed to be a team, loyal and kind to one another no matter what." Guy said coming over and putting his arm around us.
"Fine… let's just get this mission over with, the sooner we get there the sooner we can go home." I said pushing away from him now taking the lead.
Once we reached the village people were already getting ready for the festival, everything looked the same as I remembered. I kept my head down gripping my pack as we walked along the village feeling my body stop for a moment looking at a broken-down building in the distance.
No… mommy I don't want to go back in, the bugs will get me!
My stomach felt sick as I tightened my fist on my strap looking away from it continuing to walk until we reached the Kage's tower.
Before entering his office, I stopped saying, "May I wait here?"
"Are you feeling unwell Yuna?" Guy asked concerned while I nodded replying, "Yes, I'm sorry Guy-sensei..."
"Why don't you wait with her Shino, I'll debrief you all when we get to the hotel." Guy said seeing Shino not say anything, but I could tell he wasn't happy about it.
As soon as the door closed, he looked towards me saying, "What's wrong with you, ever since Lady Tsunade brought up the Blood festival you've been acting weird."
"It's… it's a long story..." I said quietly not meeting his eyes hearing a deep voice say, "Yuna is that you?"
I turned my eyes seeing an older boy with long red hair kept together with hair bands going down it, his open shirt showed off scars littering his body while his yellow eyes pierced my own saying emotionless, "Hello Yuri."
He went to speak as the door opened seeing Guy and Lee walk out with the scroll noticing the boy beside me as Guy said, "Greetings from the Hidden Leaf village, sorry we'll be on our way."
"Oh, you're the ones they sent to help out for the Blood Moon Festival, it's a very big deal for our clan." Yuri said proudly with a smirk seeing his eyes look towards me for a moment while Lee said, "What exactly is the festival?"
"Yuna didn't tell you?" he said feeling his eyes on me while I replied, "The Blood Moon Festival is an all-night event where members of his clan compete to become champion, they are well respected and known in this village for bringing them great honor and many shinobi to their knees. They all serve food and such for those who can't stomach all the blood…"
"Wow Yuna you know so much about his clan." Lee said surprised while Yuri put his arm around me laughing as he said, "Well I'd hope so she's my little sister after all."
They all zeroed in on me as I pulled away from him saying, "Come on we should head to the hotel before it becomes too dark."
As I walked, I could feel Shino staring into my back hearing Yuri say, "I'll see you again real soon Yuna."
We ended up getting two rooms, one for Guy and Lee and another for Shino and me to share since it was Guys way of making us get along.
"Well Lee and I are going to look around we'll leave the scroll in your safe hands." Guy said as I took the scroll putting it into my pack hearing the door close.
"You have a lot of questions to answer." Shino said as soon as the door clicked shut making me sigh sitting on one of the beds replying, "Where should I start?"
"Who are you?" he asked making me lay on the bed saying, "My name is Yuna Ketsueki, and I originally hail from the Hidden Grass Village."
I saw him sit on the opposite bed of me patiently waiting for me to continue, "My clan is a big deal here not only for their blood technique but for their lust for power and control. Ever since I was a kid, I was told I should enjoy killing and if I didn't, I was punished for it."
I undid my coat standing up as I turned around showing the open back to my shirt seeing my scars in the mirrors as I said, "I can't even remember how many times I almost died from blood loss, but my family is the head of our clan and they viewed me as too weak… I needed to be stronger."
Putting my coat back on I turned towards him saying, "So one day I ran away… I didn't even know where I was going, I just knew I needed to get far away from the violence and killing..."
"You ran all the way to the leaf village as a kid?" he asked making me nod saying, "Yes, some shinobi from the Grass tried to stop me but the Third Hokage saved me… he gave me a home… a real home."
"Why all the secrecy?" he finally asked while I shrugged saying, "I'm just private about it, it was a dark time in my life… besides… we aren't friends remember?"
He was quiet for a moment as we looked at one another until he said quietly and almost with a hint of sadness, "No… I guess we aren't."
Who better to bring two people together than those with the power of youth!