They arrived at the merchant's house after dark. The merchant and his wife showed them to their rooms as they would leave for Wind Country in the morning. Shirakumo and Gisuke were given a room separate from Atsuko and Yukina. This gave Atsuko the opportunity to talk to Yukina one on one.
"I love travelling," Yukina said as they lay their packs against the wall. "Seeing new places, trying new things. Have you travelled much?"
Atsuko paused. "Not really." Best not to spring her Sound-country origins just yet. "I am excited, though. Finally getting out into the world."
Yukina smiled sympathetically. "I remember my first mission. I was so excited but very nervous about my performance and leaving the village for the first time. One minute I could take on anything, the next I wanted to hide under my bed and hoped it was a dream."
Nodding, Atsuko was surprised Yukina had the capacity to be nervous, but what she described was exactly how Atsuko felt.
"Shirakumo-sensei told us you've had a little bit of combat experience. What happened?"
Atsuko told her the truth, only emitting anything that hinted at her and her father's origins, as well as any connection he had with Orochimaru. When Atsuko mentioned her chakra shield, Yukina leaned forward.
"A pure chakra shield? Can you show me?"
Atsuko obliged with a small version. Yukina stared, analyzing it from every angle then reached out to touch it. She jerked her hand back, but out of surprise rather than fear. She reached out again, marveling.
"I can feel it, it feels like warm metal. It's strong. I'd love to be able to practice my fire sword with it. That is, if you don't mind," Yukina added hopefully.
Atsuko smiled. "Sure. I haven't been able to really use it in combat since then. Well, except for when Genma-sense spat a senbon at me yesterday."
"Genma?" asked Yukina. "So that's what his name is. We always called him the Senbon Ninja. What's he like? Does he always have a senbon in his mouth?"
Laughing, Atsuko said, "Yes, he always has one in his mouth. He's very serious but he seems a strong ninja." She allowed herself a smile, thinking about how she was one of the few who knew enough about Genma to talk about him. Oh, but he wouldn't like it. "But I think it's time to eat."
With a promise extracted from her to share everything about her chakra shield and about Genma later, the two girls headed for the kitchen, Atsuko warm and content with the prospect of friendship.
=/=
The meal was simple, but the merchant and his wife were kind. The evening was filled with laughter as the merchant, Yuudai, told funny stories about the people he had met on his travels.
"There's getting to be more and more trouble with thieves on the roads," Yuudai said after they were done eating. "They've always been a problem but lately they're becoming more aggressive, setting elaborate traps. It's getting to the point where I cannot look for and avoid traps while minding my cart. We'll run into them at least once, I figure. But they'll probably be no match for you."
"What sort of weapons do they have?" asked Shirakumo.
"Anything from swords to scavenged ninja weapons. On that front, I'd expect anything. As for how they use those weapons," he shrugged. "It depends on who uses them."
"Can you give us an idea of how many thieves we might expect?" asked Gisuke.
Yuudai thought for a moment. "Most reports I've heard have been one or two, but three or four is not unheard of. These reports are weeks old, though, and circumstances have made life more difficult since then. They may be banding into larger groups to survive."
Yukina shifted. "You sound almost sorry for them."
The merchant sighed and glanced at his wife, who was washing dishes. "It is not their fault that times are rough around here. Most of them are young, no older than you three. They simply do not know any better. However," he added, his tone taking on a harder edge, "the choice to steal from an honest person is inexcusable. I only ask that my goods remain protected and my journey unhindered. How you accomplish that, I leave in your hands."
=/=
Shirakumo called a quick meeting in the boy's room before they went to bed.
"Since we now have Atsuko," he began, "the group dynamic will change. Gisuke can sense chakra, so he'll be in front. Yukina had a sharp eye and quick battle reflexes, she'll look for traps, possible ambushes, and the like. I will use my katana and Wind to back up any offensive or defensive action. Atsuko can back up with her chakra shield, so she'll stay behind with me. Remember," he added, holding up a finger, "this isn't only about protecting one merchant. We are showing these thieves that their actions will no longer be tolerated."
"Yeah, Team Shirakumo!" shouted Yukina, thrusting her fist into the air.
"Be quiet, Yukina! Everyone else is sleeping!" hissed Gisuke.
"How dare you…" Yukina started to say but Shirakumo suddenly reached out to grab her by her shirt, preventing her from diving onto Gisuke.
"Just go to bed, Yukina. Jeez, you're louder than a siren!"