After learning who I would be training under I was no longer nervous, but terrified. How would I be able to compete with or even be on their level? Yes, I am a princess and a Chunin having had great training under Masao and other great Jonin but the Copy Cat and Legendary Sannin? Oh boy…
"Come in." Tsunade's voice brought me back to reality and I turned to face the door. Here comes my new team… In came two people, the first whom I assume to be Kakashi Hatake had silver spiked hair, his ninja band was over one eye and he hid most of his face with a mask. The second was a girl with pink short hair, a tad shorter than I, and bright green eyes.
"You summoned us, ma'am?" Kakashi said, he sounded very bored but his one eye was taking in every detail of the room. Sakura was looking around as well and looked at the 4 of my clan in the room. I smiled at her and she smiled slightly back obviously confused as to who I was.
"Yes Kakashi, do you remember what we discussed a week ago?" Tsunade asked standing up.
"Of course, I am guessing that it was all agreed upon?" Kakashi asks now turning to my mother and me.
"Yes, Kakashi, Sakura, please meet the Queen and Princess of the Hyohaku-sha clan, this is Beradon'na and Shinokane. Princess Shinokane is to be temporarily added to your team. Princess this is your new team, Kakashi Hatake and Sakura Haruno." Tsunade informed all of us. Kakashi was not surprised this was discussed with him, but Sakura was shocked.
"New team member? My Lady…" She seemed to come to her senses then and turned to me. She bowed. "Queen, Princess it's nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you as well Sakura, but please I may be a princess, but I am going to be a teammate and a fellow Kunoichi, no need for formalities," I say smiling. I then turn to my new Sensei. "Kakashi Sensei, it will be an honor training under the Copy Cat Ninja of the Leaf."
"Thank you Shinokane, it will be an honor to train you." He says respectively. He then turns to Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade have we found where she will be staying? Are we to help her settle in here?"
"Of course, Shinokane, I hope you don't mind staying in an apartment? We don't have anywhere else open for that long."
"No ma'am that is perfectly fine, being on the road a lot doesn't leave much for belongings. It will suit me just fine. My bed carriage and horse are to go back with my mother of course." I smile. I didn't mind one bit, the chance at normalcy was finally sinking in. No more guards twenty-four-seven, No more constant formal wear. This may just be exciting and fun after all.
"Right you will be in the same apartment complex as Naruto, your other teammate though we don't know exactly when he will be back from his training. You are in Number 3. Here are your keys. Kakashi, Sakura please take Shinokane to her apartment and help her fit in here if you have no other questions?"
"Seems all straightforward." Kakashi answers. Sakura just nods tightly, I was worried if she was ok with this arrangement. I turn to my mother.
"Well, mother, will I meet you at the gate later to say our goodbyes?" I ask.
"Yes, Shinokane. I will see you then. Have fun with your team" She smiles at me. I bow and turn towards my new team. Now I was terrified again.
Kakashi leads us out of the Hokage building and back into the town. He walks us silently to a tall building a few blocks down. It was a small cute building with a lot of balcony areas. We go up to the 3rd floor. There was only one door and I realize that it was small one-bedroom houses stacked on top of one and other.
"Naruto's apartment is the one on top of yours. This is your apartment." Kakashi says.
"Thank you," I say as I open the door. The inside was simple it had a small genkan and a medium guest area off to the side was the small kitchen, a bathroom, and what I assumed a small bedroom. The apartment had simple furniture as well. A low dining table with 6 cushions to sit at, 2 bookshelves, a small writing desk, the room had a bed and a wardrobe and other shelves on the walls that were it. That was all there was to it, simple and clean.
"It's so simple, I like it. I wonder if Tsunade will let me use all this balcony area to grow some plants?" I ask as I look out a window.
"You may be able to ask her tomorrow. I'm sure she won't mind." Sakura answers, both of them were still standing in the genkan.
"Would you two like to come in and sit for a while? Get to know each other a little bit?" I asked feeling awkward.
"Sure… umm… Sensei we can do the same warm-up we did the first time we met with Naruto and Sasuke." Sakura answered looking at her Sensei for confirmation before she came into the apartment. He nodded and both took off their shoes and came to sit at the dining table.
"Kakashi Sensei you go first," Sakura says. As I wonder who this 'Sasuke' is.
"Well like I answered last time… I'm Kakashi Hatake. I have no desire to tell you my likes and dislikes… My dreams for the future… Hmm… As for my hobbies… I have lots of hobbies…" He didn't tell me much about himself I realize.
"Sensei you don't say much do you. Well, Shinokane, what you should know is he is always late, he likes his pervy books but he is a great teacher." Sakura says as she shakes her head at her Sensei, I could tell she had respect for him.
"Thank you Sakura, and how about you?" I ask
"Yes well, I'm Sakura Haruno, I like studying medical Ninjutsu, I dislike spicy food, My dream is to bring Sasuke home with Naruto, My hobbies are puzzles and trivia games." She answers. I was starting to get that this Sasuke person was important to the team. " And how about you Shinokane?" She asks me.
"I am Shinokane Hyohaku-sha Princess of the Clan, but please just call me Kane, I like studying plants, herbs and poisons, My dream is to one day be like my mother, the best Queen for my clan, my hobbies are gardening, reading and relaxing by a river," I answer just like they did. "So what now?" I ask still awkward…
"Well, what are your abilities and Jutsu?" Kakashi asks.
"Well, my Kekkei Genkai is the Kogosei, meaning I can grow plants and herbs with my blood. I am great at defensive Taijutsu, good with normal Ninjutsu like substitution, I don't know any Genjutsu and I am great with Tessenjutsu." I answer him honestly he nods.
"I will have to test you tomorrow. We should all meet at the training grounds tomorrow, Sakura will you please come to get Kane tomorrow morning?"
"Yes, Sensei, but I do have to ask, umm… not to be rude or anything but just to know…. Umm…" she hesitated for her words as I laughed slightly I knew where this was going.
"Yes Sakura the rumors of my clan drinking blood are true, you're not being rude I understand your needing to know and curiosity, however, we are not vampires, we don't burn in the daylight, we don't have fangs and we don't eat our victims. We need blood to create our chakra and sometimes grow plants, it's how our Kekkei Genkai works. Any other questions?" I ask her as she stares at me expecting me to be mad.
"So, you don't drain people dry as others say? Oh… I'm sorry."
"It's ok Sakura, and though we can drain someone dry of their blood and kill them we rarely do, only our enemies get that treatment, we work with all the village hospitals to get donated blood bags for our supply of blood."
"Do you have that arrangement here?" Kakashi asks and I just nod. "Right well we should be heading to the gate now to say goodbye to the Queen and get your things."
"Of course."
The walk to the gate was quiet again but it gave me a chance to see a lot of the village and its people. Kids ran around the streets happily and most people were going about their business peacefully. I did get a few stares as I walked by but I just smiled at them. As I approached the gate and saw my mother, our guards, and Guy there with my carriage and all of my belongings loaded on a small wagon to be taken to my apartment, I finally realized this was it. I didn't know how long it would be until I saw them again. My eyes began to water but I blinked back the tears. I wouldn't cry here, I told myself as I smiled at all of them.
"Mother, Masao, Hogo-sha how did it go with Tsunade after I left?' I asked trying to get my mind off of things.
"It went fine everything is great with the contract. Did you like your apartment, is it comfortable?" My mother asks.
"Yes, it's simple and cute. So I guess this is goodbye then?" I ask dreading this moment, all of my concerns were coming back and I knew that if I didn't get ahold of myself I would breakdown. This would be the first time I ever was away from my mother and clan for more than a week or a month at the most.
"It is not goodbye Musume, we will see each other again. It is a "see you later". I know that you will make the clan proud and I know that even though I can see your scared and worried that you will be just fine, and most of all I know that you will make me proud." My mother says as she gives me a tight hug. I smile at her and only nod trying desperately to not let my tears fall.
I now go and hug Hogo-sha. "Please protect my mother and be careful yourself."
"Of course Princess, with my life." Is all he says.
When I get to Masao a tear escapes as I realize he will never be near me anymore, even if I did sometimes get annoyed at the little privacy I did get, I would miss him.
"Come, dear child, no crying. I'll see you later, and remember even if you do mess up it's ok cause we all make mistakes, we are only human." He says as I hug him.
I let go and step back next to Sakura. I wave goodbye to them, once out of sight I wipe my eyes and remember that Kakashi, Sakura, and Guy are there.
"Shall we get you and your belongings to your apartment now, Kane?" Sakura asks politely with a sad smile.
"Yes, thank you, Sakura." Is all I say.
We get my small amount of belongings into my apartment and I say goodbye to them. I get dressed in comfortable clothes and decide I'll get things put away tomorrow after training. In my bed, I take a while to fall asleep.