"A very small village that has been hidden from all knowledge of existence has reavealed its location, unwillingly." Kakashi said. "Unwillingly?" Sakura reapeated. "Why?"
"They needed to reveal themselves in order for us to help them get rid of thier problem." Kakashi replied. "Which is?" Naruto mused. "Gid rid of an assassian." Kakashi said gravely. Sakura and Naruto cringed, Sasuke raised a brow. "How come they can't do it themselves? Or better yet, why do we have to?" Naruto complained. 'Damn it, I hate assassains. Freaky peopleis what they are.' thought Naruto. "Because we're supposed to. That's why."
"How come this place isn't on a map?" Sakura asked. Kakashi smiled down at her, "It's so small. It's called 'The Irrelevant Village of Smoke'. People used to think it was only a legend. A village that only lost travelers could find, and was always mysteriously surrounded by smoke. They would say that the smoke is actually departed souls haunting the village to protect it." Naruto interuupted, "Protect it? By haunting it?" Kakashi chuckled softly. Then he explained saying, "In olden ages it used to be nothing but a shrine where people could pray, up in the mountains and all. Until it was all destroyed, now it's just a small village."
'Hmm... sounds interesting.' Sasuke thought to himself. "For an unknown village you sure do know a lot about it." Sasuke told him. Kakashi glanced at him and laughed. "They're just wild tales that the elders would tell." He told them.
"So how come you never forgot?" Sakura asked. Her teacher just shrugged. "The thought of a sared village welcoming lost travelers and only those who were truly lost. A place that's protected by souls of smoke? It's just something that stuck with me. Though I've never thought much about it."
The four continued on thier journey to the Irrelevant Village of Smoke. They didn't have much trouble getting there, except for the act of actually finding it.
"We're lost!! How are we ever going to get back home? Aww man!! I knew we shouldn't have come!" yelled Naruto. "Get a hold of yourself. We must be close, otherwise there wouldn't be this smoke everywhere." reasoned Sasuke. Kakashi agreed. "Yes. The trouble is actually finding the gates to the village." Naruto's head dropped. "This sucks..."
"We're definatly close. We'll get there in no time. We just have to find the gates, so stop dragging yourself around." piped Sakura. (Inner Sakura: No!! We are lost! Oh man! This bites! But at least Sasuke's here, so maybe there is a good side to all this.)
"You there! What business have you here?" a voice called. "A guidance person!" Naruto cheered. Sakura jumped up with him in shouted in cheer. "Yay!! We're saved!" Out of the smoke walked a figure. "What the hell? It's just a brat." Naruto groaned. "We're here from Konohagakure. Are you from the Irrelevant Village of Smoke?" Kakashi introduced and asked.
The figure was indeed, a small kid. It was a young boy with pale skin, a few freckles scattered across his nose, dark brown eyes, and black hair that was pulled back into a ponytail. He was dressed in a grayish blue yukata with brown trimming. His feet were bare. He carried a lantern. "Yes, my name is Kohaki. I take it you are the Shinobi hired to get rid of our assassian?" The boy said. Naruto smiled and boasted his chest out. "Yep! I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" Sakura pushed Naruto out of the way. She knelt down to Kohaki as Naruto toppled over. "What are you doing here all alone? You can't be no older than five."
"I happen to be six and a half. This is my job, so I have to." Kohaki said. Kakashi nodded. "I thought this assassian was a night worker, not known to all. So how come you know about him?" Kohaki turned and began to lead them to the village. "Everybody in the village knows, except for the children." Kohaki said. "So how come you do?" asked Sakura. The little boy turned to look at the four. His face seemed a sudden gray and lifeless. "I've lived there."
"With the assassain?" Sasuke asked. 'Why would a child live with an assassain, if he's as dangerous as we were told?' Sasuke asked himself. Kohaki nodded. He turned back forward and continued on.
Nothing was said until they reached the gate. It was a tall wall made of bamboo poles. They looked ancient but still sturdy. A sign hung on on the gate door. Kohaki paused before entering. "What are your names?" Kohaki asked.
"I am Kakashi, this is Sakura, and Sasuke. You already know Naruto." Kohaki nodded. Slowly he turned to face them. His face wsa still that death-like gray. 'Is this kid a zombie?' Naruto wondered. "Before I let you go in, please, let me ask a request." he said. "Sure, kid. What is it?" Naruto said to him. "Will you promise to keep it?" Kohaki asked. Sakura smiled. She patted him on the head kindly. "Of course we will," she replied truthfully. After affirming himself that they would, Kohaki nodded and stared straight into thier eyes.
"Please, don't hurt her." He opened the gate and walked in.
"Her? The assassain's a she!? No way!" Naruto exclaimed. Sakura blinked, "How could that be?" she asked. "Why would a woman resort to assassaination? Usually they would hire others, men assassains to do thier dirty work." Sasuke pondered aloud. Sakura stared at Sasuke. "Well, I don't know..." (Inner Sakura: What!? Sasuke! How dare you say such a thing!? I'm right here you know!!)
"This is unusual." Kakashi whispered and followed Kohaki in with the others behind him.
"Thank you so much! We can't express our gratitude!" Sakura blushed. 'So many people, thanking us for something we haven't even done yet.' (Inner Sakura: Oh yeah! Let the priases be heard! your beautiful ninja girl will prevail victorious!)
'This is odd... How harmful can one assassian be? Much less a girl assassain?' Sasuke wondered. "You're welcome!" Naruto shouted, as if he had already defeated a montrous killer.