Chapter 1

My name is Artemis Elara. In order for you to understand my present, you need to understand my past. I must warn you, it isn't going to be pleasant. Oh, I had a good childhood. At least until it was ripped from me and flaunted in my face. You see, I come from a clan known as the Elara clan, or the People of the Moon. We belong to no village and no land. We belong to ourselves. I guess you could call us a true hidden village. We were happy living in secret. Some in our clan possessed a kekkei genkai known as the Korigan. Now, I know what you're thinking, and you're right. There are only 3 known kekkei genkai that gives power to the eyes. The key word is known. We've done a good job passing of the Korigan as a myth. A story to scare kids into behaving their parents.

The thing is we'd become complacent in our secrecy. We grew arrogant. We grew careless. We were discovered and everything I knew was destroyed. Why I survived is a mystery in itself. You can decide whether what I'm about to tell you is true or not. You may choose to discard my past as trauma induced memories. Whatever the case, I will tell you about my life and how I got to where I am now, standing outside the gates to the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

"Artemis, dear, come inside or you'll catch your death." I could hear mother calling me from a distance. I was training in the woods surrounding our house. I loved winter and I loved the snow even more. I found that the cold whether didn't bother me as much as some of my people. It bothered my mother more than she would ever dare tell me, but I knew how to read people and I knew my mother.

She was worried I would catch cold and die. She was worried there was something wrong with my body. Mostly, she worried it meant my chakara was compatible with our clan's kekkei genkai. All others who possessed the Korigan tended to not be affected much by the cold weather. She worried that if our village was ever discovered, I would be targeted for my kekkei genkai. I knew as well as she did there were only a handful of my clansman who possessed this trait and could use it well. I knew that if I ever awakened that trait, I'd be the first female to possess it. For some reason, the Korigan didn't pair well with females. No one knew the affect it would have, although Elder seems to think it will be much more powerful. I didn't care. I didn't show and signs of awakening it and I was already 16. Past the age when it normally awakens in my clansman.

My mind went back to training. When it came to target practice, I was always on the mark. My close combat skills could use some work, but it was difficult to get anyone to come out and train with me in this weather. Maybe I could as Yuki. He always did his best to help me when he could. He was one of the few clansmen who possessed the Korigan, as his parents wished for when they named him. He was also my best friend.

"Artemis." My mother sounded more frantic at this point.

"Fine, I'll come in." I rolled my eyes as I stomped back towards our home. Looking back on that day, something strange had been going on, but I had been too naïve to notice.

"Dear. You need to be more aware of your health. Just because you don't get cold easily doesn't mean you can't die of pneumonia. Now get ready. Your father has already gone on ahead to meet Elder."

I know my face must have looked confused because my mother gave me an exasperated sigh well practiced with my father. He said he fell for her determined attitude just as much as he fell for her beauty. "You're being assigned your first mission alone. It's a big deal for you. Your father is helping Elder pick out the right one for you since he's the one who's be training you."

"Oh. That." I wasn't looking forward to my first mission. Our missions were typically ones that were requested directly from our village. We couldn't risk exposure so we kept our own currency and kept our village afloat in that way. We were self-sustaining. I didn't really feel like leaving the village just to hunt. That's really what this mission likely was going to be. "I'm ready, I'll go on ahead." I shouted as a ran out of the house. I love my mother, don't get me wrong. I just prefer time to myself to think and if I had waited on her, she would have talked the entire time.

It was already getting dark by the time I reached Elder's home. Father was waiting outside, arms crossed, his eyebrows furrowed. His white hair was ruffled, as though he's been running his hands through them. He probably had. It was a nervous habit he had that I doubt he was even aware of doing. "Artemis. Do you know how late it is?" He dropped his arms and looked around. "Where's your mother?"

"She'll be along, I'm sure." I said.

He studied my face for a few seconds before saying, "Come inside. Elder is waiting."

Elder was sitting on a brown mat in the middle of the room. The room was small and quaint with a small fire on one side of the room. Elder himself was dressed in a tan outfit with red frills wrapping around it. It had always looked like a dress to me, but when I had said that to my mother, she had scolded me. It was fine. I could think what I wanted as long as I didn't say it out loud. "Child. Sit down." For all that he looked old, with his silver hair braided to his waist and the wrinkles marking his face, his voice carried a rich baritone that had no mark of age.

"Yes, Grandfather." I suppose I forgot to mention Elder was my grandfather. I never really saw him the way. We never had that kind of sweet grandfather-granddaughter relationship that so many others seemed to have. It was all the same to me. He was kind enough, but no one could ever blame him for playing favorites. Perhaps that's why he distanced himself as he had.

"Child. Your first mission has been decided." He stopped and looked questioningly at my father before continuing, "You are to take this letter to the Village Hidden in the Leaves."

"What?" I stood up abruptly, "Grandfather, we strictly avoid all interaction with outside ninja. Why would you send me there?"

He looked at my father again and nodded. It was my father who had spoken this time. "We have decided it's time to begin interaction. Father has foreseen the end of our seclusion and wishes to take matters into our own hands first. This letter is for the eyes of the Hokage and the Hokage only. You may know the contents once she has read it. You are to tell her of our kekkei genkai only when she and you both can be sure of no prying eyes. Be sure to use all the sensory techniques I have taught you. You will leave immediately and return as soon as possible with what we hope is a favorable answer. We don't live far from the village. You're faster than most of our people and should arrive there by tomorrow night. I have faith you'll do us proud, daughter."

"But why the Village Hidden in the Leaves? The only reason can't be that they're close by. In fact, being close could put us in more danger. There must be a reason this is the village you have chosen for a first ally."

"My granddaughter, always the sharp one." I jerked my head in his direction. He rarely called me granddaughter, let alone let the affection that was in his eyes show as he was now. "Yes. There's a reason. Several reasons. Let this suffice. The Hokage is an honorable woman. I met her once in my younger years. During the Third Great Ninja War. I doubt she'd remember me or what she'd done for me but I'll never forget.

I was perhaps 20 years old and on a mission. You know that we must never look or act like ninjas so we don't give ourselves away. What this accomplished is that I looked like a defenseless civilian in the middle of a war that I wasn't aware was going on. I was attacked by several ninja, unable to defend myself well. I had a lot of growing to do still at that point. I knew I was going to die. That is, I thought I was going to die until she saved me, what could have been an enemy, because it was the honorable thing to do. At least, that's what she told me. Tsunade.

I didn't make the connection until years later that the new Hokage was the same woman who saved my life. I know she'll give my request serious consideration and will have her reasons for not helping if she so chooses. I also know she will keep our secret even if she does not accept what is in the letter. My child. This mission is much more that what is asked for of first mission, but you are the fastest member of the clan and more powerful than many. I know you will make us proud. You'll make me proud. You make me proud. I await the good news." With the subject clearly closed, I stood up without saying a word and left into the night.