I awoke to the gentle swaying of Yuuma's clone carrying me back to the training grounds and the intense searing pain coursing through my
entire body. I really overdid it... "Ouch.."
"That was stupid of you" Yuuma-sensei coldly informed me.
"I can tell," biting back the pain I stared out at the golden sky the trees were attempting to hide as the sun neared the end of its retreat back
below the horizon.
"As punishment..~" Yuuma trailed off in thought, "You must memorize seven-"
"-Buddhist mantras and recite them each the appropriate number of times tomorrow at training" the actual Yuuma continued as he
approached from the dense branches of the trail. I crashed back to the uncaring ground as his clone dissipated in a cloud of smoke. "I sent
Anju and Hadzuki home for the day. It's not safe for anyone to be out after dark~"
I picked myself up off the ground knowing it would take written orders from the Daimyo themself for Yuuma to help beyond anyone what
was necessary, "Who do you think it actually is…?" I asked addressing the pressing issue as I brushed away clingy pebbles.
Yuuma let out an exasperated sigh and shifted his gaze to the overgrown treetops, "I don't know, Suko-chan~ There are a lot of people it
could be. But, we'd like to think the best of our fellow ninjas, wouldn't we?". Yuuma's light green eyes seemed to follow something in the
distance.
I scanned the dense foliage in a futile attempt to discern what he was staring at.
* It's the Anbu that Hokage-sama sent to monitor you~* Yuuma-sensei's apathetic voice reverberated through my skull. As much as he likes
to avoid it he is still a Yamanaka..
"Head home. No late night training or any of your other genius shenanigans" Yuuma said aloud, turning to escort me down the dark path
back to the village.
No sooner had we set foot into the lighted streets of the village than I found myself alone. Walking through the quiet nighttime streets out
skirting the village the stars gleamed overhead. It might have been a relaxing stroll home had it not been for the constant feeling of the
watchful anbu eyes glued to my back. Unnerved by the suffocating atmosphere I cut into a sketchy side street promising it would get me
home quicker.
This is fine…
This is fine….
All the light seemed to be sucked out of the world at the path's entrance. The damp stone bricks making up the street teased their tripping
intent more and more openly with each step further into the void.
This is fine…
This is fine...
SLAM
Gravity neglected its oppressive hobby as a heavy door slammed shut from somewhere further in the unnervingly shadowy street and I
found myself several feet in the air.
This is not fine.
Leaping fearfully up to the rooftop I scurried the rest of the way home from the moonlit housetops as quickly as I could muster amidst the
residual pain.
Exhausted, sleep greeted me kindly that night. The velvet darkness enveloped all stress the day had thrust upon me and temporarily washed
away the unease.
The next thing I knew harsh rays of sunlight glared at me through the window… the sun usually doesn't rise thi-
Abruptly turning to my timepiece in the sudden realization I was cruelly informed that I had in fact not set my alarm for today's
training. Leaping from the friendly grasp of my warm blankets I plunged into a harsh new day.
Bypassing the time-consuming process of going through the door I made my way through the window and started my clamber up to
the rooftop to begin my mad dash to the training grounds.
"Stop" a bored male voice yawned from the roof as I popped my head over the edge. Yuuma-sensei…
"Awake on time? Two days in a row…? What's the occasion?" I taunted the tired blonde.
"Another summons from the Hokage…" another yawn interrupted his sentence, "Next time you go and get added to the 'suspected
serial killer' list make sure it's not under my watch…" stifling a yawn he drifted to his feet, "Come on, we don't want to keep Hokage-sama
waiting~".
With a sleepy wave of his hand, he gestured to follow and began his sluggish walk to the Hokage's office. Having no choice but to follow
I pulled myself up onto the roof and caught up with him. "What happened with training this morning?" I asked.
"Hadzuki and Anju managed to arrive on time.." he yawned, "Unlike some other genin I know," casting an obvious side-eye on my
direction he continued, "Then I received the summons so I left a clone to oversee the rest of training… and went to collect the lazy
oversleeping murder suspect".
We continued at the sluggish pace across the village upon seeing the roof of the Hokage's building. I posed the pressing question, "Why
are we walking so slowly..?"
Yuuma sighed and ran his hands through his hair leaving them interlocked at the top of his head, "My gut tells me today is going to be
a long one….".
Meandering through the last few streets we finally arrived at the Hokage's building. Pushing through the doors we were greeted by the
receptionist who led us up to the Hokage's office. They rapped their knuckles against the wooded door, Hokage-sama, Yuuma and Mutsuko
are here".
From beyond the door, the Hokage replied, "Come in". Passing through the door the atmosphere immediately darkened. "Yesterday,"
he began, "Several more shinobi went missing under mysterious circumstances within the village".
"But, Sir-" Yuuma-sensei began, "Mutsuko-chan was under constant supervision yesterday! It's not possible for her to have been
responsible for these disappearances."
"However, none of the individuals who disappeared yesterday were under the rank of chunin. Which goes against the trend that's been
held for the past month. Leading us to believe there is more than one culprit," the Hokage stared directly into my soul and continued,
"Meaning Mutsuko is not yet cleared."