[A/N: Hey y'all! I would love comments! Tell me what you like, say hi, whatever! TIA! I have so much love for everyone who takes the time to read or interact. It's been a wild ride publishing for the first time in a long time. Scary but so far so worth it! Thanks again!]

The following morning, Nishira found herself at the gate, leaving the village once again. Her backpack, hoisted on her shoulders, was covered by the white winter cloak she'd purchased. Accompanying her was the rest of team twenty-two and two other squads of Konoha shinobi. It was time to travel to Iwagakure for the chunin exams, and the energy was mixed among her cohorts. Nishira looked among them and found the jonin chatting easily, but a subtle nervousness was betrayed by the deep frowns of their foreheads. Sekawa wore a similar frown, mouth puckered. Others were freely and openly excited. Toma danced around people, going to the front and then the back of the group, giddy and chattering non-stop like the chittering of a squirrel.

Back at the gate, there was a small crowd sending off the travelers. Nishira didn't spot anyone who might have been there to see her, team seven had an early mission, so she waved when everyone else did to no one in particular, following the others away.
"Man! My mom, she wanted me to unpack like half my stuff to take all this food with me. I need my stuff, it's not like I can throw sweet buns at an opponent and hope they take those instead of beating me!"
"Shut up Toma, at least your mom cooks for you, mine just wants to make sure I don't bring shame to the clan again this time! She's already decided I'm a disgrace, because of, you know." She gestured to Toma, and herself.
Sekawa walked with her hands clasped behind her head, frowning in irritation. "What about you Nishira?" After a beat, she realized her mistake. "Oh wait, I'm sorry! I totally forgot."
Nishira smiled, her hands in front of her, waving off Sekawa's apology.
"It's fine! Toma, if your mom wanted to give you that much food, I would have packed your stuff in my bag, for a percentage of the goods of course."
"Extortion! From my own teammate!" Toma clutched his chest, frowning dramatically.

When the sun had fully disappeared, the group stopped for a rest at the side of the road in the shelter under a canopy of branches that held off the snow. Nishira, propped on her bag and covered with a cozy blanket, stared into the sky as the first stars began to show themselves. Her comrades sat around a fire that flickered a warm yellow light across their faces, as they shared rations.
"What are you looking at?"
"Huh?"
Sekawa frowned. "What are you looking at? You're always looking at the sky back home."
"Oh! It was something my mom and I did. A long time ago, we would sneak outside and lay in the field, sometimes during the day, sometimes at night, and we'd talk about everything and anything. Our dreams, gossip about the other priestesses, laughing for hours. But at some point, when it was time to go back, we would look up in silence and think about real life outside of the bubble of peace we'd made. She'd say to me 'Nishi, I saw a long time ago that you would leave this place, and you'll face impossible hurdles. But every time you think that, or feel sad or lonely, I want you to look up at the sky and know that somewhere I'm looking at the same sky and it'll be like I'm right there with you.'."
Nishira curled up her legs and hugged her arms around them.
"I was just thinking that my life is very different than it used to be, and I wish she was here with me. I don't know if she'd be horrified or proud, but at least she'd be here. Whenever I think about something I would have wanted to tell her, I just look up at the sky and tell her everything."
Sekawa looked at the dark ground beneath them. "Man, now I just feel stupid complaining about my mom!"
Nishira laughed.
"She could be really strict though, and I fought a lot with her too! And when I was being a jerk, I'd pilfer an extra dessert from the kitchen and sneak into her quarters and immediately be forgiven."
"She sounds really nice!"
They sat in silence with only the crackling fire breaking the sounds of nature, a deep whooshing of frigid air, the snow dampening the activity of nocturnal critters, undisturbed by their presence.
"I stole one of Toma's mum's buns, you wanna share it with me, Kawa?"
"Ha, you jerk! Give me that! I used to think you were some loser washout, but you're actually alright, Nishi!"
Nishira thought of many different sarcastic responses but something stopped her tongue, so she just stupidly grinned back at her. Behind Sekawa, something caught Nishira's eye. The flames glinted off the spectacles of another genin traveling with them. A boy, almost a man, his hair greyed and pulled back off his face, the flames reflected off his round glasses on his face, blocking his eyes from view. He smiled at her, so she raised a hand back. Sekawa looked over her shoulder spotted the spectacled shinobi.
"That's Kabuto."
"Who?"
"He was also in the last three chunin exams, but he never passed. I've never talked to him."
"Wait, you've done the chunin exam three times?"
Sekawa growled. "Don't push it. Or I'll beat your face!"
The dim chatter around the fire was interrupted by their bellowing laughter.
"For real, Kawa, I think you and Toma are genuinely good people." Nishira looked at her incredulous face. "I mean it. I've met a lot of bad people, people only in it for themselves. But you and Toma, you're one the good ones."
Nishira looked back at the sky, and Sekawa joined her, snuggling close for warmth. Nishira wrapped her arm around the girl's shoulders and told her the stories her mom had told her all those years ago until deep into the night.

In the afternoon of the third day, the travelers from the Konohagakure arrived at the edge of a forest leading onto a steep incline of rocky terrain, the foliage fading into the cold harsh grey of slate stone, even the snow seemed unwilling to rest on the rock face. They looked onto the great expanse of bare mountain, with only the sturdy bushes intermittently scattered along the scenery. A freezing wind blew through them, howling at the emptiness and undeterred by any strongholds. The looming jagged peaks of the snow crested mountains made them feel unwelcome. It drew Nishira's attention when Hibi looked up to a boulder that was jutting out. An irritated voice hailed them from there.
"You're late."
The man, dressed in maroon with a brown flack jacket, emerged from the boulder. He scowled at them, arms crossed over his large chest, muscles bulging out from the sleeves.
"Follow me."

He led them wordlessly through the terrain. they climbed and the air thinned out gradually, an ache in the lungs stirred up panic in one of the female genin, Marutaki. A teammate slapped her heartily on the back. Nishira thought she spotted their guide smirking as they paused for a moment to let the group catch their breath. Nishira silently coached herself to breath, desperately not wanting the others to notice her struggling as well. The fatigue was setting in like a wet wool blanket on their shoulders.
"The air is thin up here, you Konoha shinobi are nothing without your plentiful forests full of oxygen. Keep up or I'm leaving you behind!"
Nishira looked at his back as he continued to climb unaffected.
"What's the deal with him?"
Kabuto slid on next to her.
"You really are an outsider, aren't you? The Konoha shinobi and Iwa shinobi have had many battles in the past. This is part of an alliance agreement that Iwagakure is hosting their first chunin selection exams. At least that's what they're saying, the only reason anyone allows these things is to scope out other village's strength. And for the business of the feudal lords and such. These tests are more of an inspection queue for those with money to hire shinobi."
Nishira contemplated the feelings of a cow bred for slaughter.
"There is some curiosity about you though. The idle gossip is you're a dunce who took this long to graduate from the academy."
Nishira's face tightened. It wasn't the first time someone had mentioned that idea.
"But, there are other rumors, of course."
Nishira couldn't contain her curiosity.
"Like what?"
"Some say you're a spy, others say you're a demon in disguise. and the last rumor…"

"They say you're the secret love child of the Hokage, hidden away until now."
Nishira turned away with her hand curled by her face, trying to contain the slight blush creeping into her face. She wasn't any of those, none of them flattering. Kabuto observed this bashfulness.
"Well I don't believe any of it to be honest. The ANBU cleared you when you came to the village, and they're thorough. You don't look like any demon I know, you're far too pretty."
Nishira wondered if he spoke in jest mocking her. She was surprised to see he smiled down at her, but it didn't reach his eyes. They remained cold and intrusively taking her in, analyzing, Nishira had the sensation that he could see right through her, almost intimately. The intrusion made her blush even more.
"Hey Nishira, give me a hand?"
Sekawa had lagged slightly behind, so Nishira gave a small bow of her head to Kabuto and turned to see what Sekawa needed.
"Nishi, are you ok?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"
"You're red in the face, you sure you're ok?"
"Yes, I'm ok! Thanks for your concern, Sekawa."
"If you're sure, he must have really rattled you, you just called me Sekawa."
She was met with silence, as Nishira speculated at this new information Kabuto had delivered.

The traveling troop wove through mountain passes until they came to a thick smooth cliff face as high as the eye could see with no visible way to go around. The visitors were thoroughly lost, suspected that their guide had intentionally led them around in order to keep the location of the village secret.
"Aw man, are we there yet? I'm starving!" Toma slumped in an exaggerated way that provoked Hibi to sigh in exasperation. The guide just scowled over his shoulder, but they followed the worn stone pathway until the entrance came into view from its place in what looked to be an illusion. A masterpiece of steel and stone met them in an archway impossibly high as it almost touched the sky. Nishira looked upon the landscape, the village, if you could call such a large place a village, appeared to be hand carved from the side of a mountain by some masterful deity. The buildings were lit from the descending sun, cast a burning orange, the beginnings of a rich sunset, with what Nishira guessed was an unparalleled view to anywhere else in the vastness of world.

"The Tsuchikage has set up a ryokan for your convenience in the Southern District."
He took them along bridges that passed through the open air and around buildings of all sizes as they travelled down a few levels into the stone. Nishira wasn't convinced about staying so low to the bottom away from the open air, a small pang of anxiety tickled in her belly. At the bottom level, after passing the levels of mostly residences, they stood in front of a modern building made of sculpted stone, and polished edges of steel. It still somehow managed to look like a traditional ryokan with additions of pillars and coloured panels. As they approached the door, an older lady slid open the front door and greeted them politely, if not a little curtly.

Nishira turned to the guide shinobi to see him scowling at the weary travelers that entered, most of them bearing neutral faces lined with evidence of wariness as well as fatigue. Nishira didn't fully understand the coldness between the shinobi, but she bowed to him anyways and thanked him for guiding them here safely. The shinobi seemed offput by her formality and manners, he muttered something of a "You're welcome".
"I am Imai Nishira, what is your name, so that I may thank you properly.
"Igaroma Gesake." he looked away when he said it.
"Thank you, Igaroma Gesake, for guiding us safely."
He studied her a moment.
"I will come and grab your teachers in the morning."
She smiled at the change in his tone as it was less hostile, but a degree of uncertainty lingered. He turned to escape her radiance, leaving them at the ryokan.

Toma sidled up to her, laying a large arm over her shoulders.
"You know, I find it super weird how you talk sometimes. You're so polite it's disgusting. Why don't you talk to me like that?"
"Because you're you."
"Ouch!"

Old Lady Suzunagi, the owner of the ryokan, moved at a glacial pace, leading them through the building. she smiled with very few teeth left in her wrinkled maw, eyes half closed, and her back hunched like a crooked moon. She looked down as she showed each of them their rooms. When they left Nishira, Sekawa, and a leaf shinobi named Marutaki in a panelled room, the soft tones of beige carried the feeling of loving care, the wood worn from the years of visitors staying in this place, a stark contrast to the cold stone exterior. Nishira took a few steps into the room and as soon as she thanked and saw Lady Suzunagi leave, she threw her bag to the side and flopped onto the ground face first.
"Ugh, I'm exhausted, and hungry! I need a nap!"
Sekawa nudged her with her slippered foot.
"Get up, I want to soak!"
"Go by yourself! I'm tired!"
Sekawa responded by flopping on top of her, throwing elbows.
"Kawa! Stop it! Ow ow ow! Get off you're heavy!"
"Are you calling me fat?!"
"What are you two weirdos doing?"
Sekawa and Nishira looked at their unwilling roommate, Marutaki. She was a petite ninja dark coarse hair pushed back from her face, she wore a poncho of emerald green, the symbol of her clan stitched onto the back, matching her brilliant green eyes.
"Lighten up Marutaki! I want to go to the hot springs!" With that statement, Sekawa removed herself from on top of Nishira. Hibi knocked on the doorframe.
"Ladies, we have an important mission!"
"What is it, sensei?" Sekawa rolled off Nishira and sat up.
"Well, I was just told that there are some hot springs to explore! No but seriously, everything hurts, I'm too old for these missions, why would you guys make me walk all this way and then not even offer to massage my tired feet. Everything I do for you guys, and you can't even show a little gratitude… huh?"
Nishira's bag had burst open and scattered on the floor lay papers and books, one scroll had unrolled until it hit the wall.
"What is this?"
"They're my notes." Nishira began to blush. "For training if we make it to the third task."
Sekawa slapped Nishira on the shoulder and cackled.
"That's the stupidest thing you've ever done! Carried that all this way? Maybe you should be a librarian instead, nerd."
"At least I can read, you dunce!" Nishira hip checked Sekawa knocking her off balance. "You're just mad I'm better than you!"
They broke out into laughter as Sekawa came to half heartedly retaliate, but it appeared to the outsiders that they were simply hugging aggressively. Hibi crossed her arms and a smile formed on her face. Sekawa had warmed up to Nishira and adopted her like a sister, making Hibi's job much easier. Toma stuck his head around the corner.
"Hot springs? Yes! That sounds like heaven! Let's go, ladies! Post haste!"
"Toma, I don't think it's a mixed gender pool. You'll have to go with the boys."
"What? No fair!" he plopped down sitting cross legged and folded his arms like a petulant child.
"Children, straighten yourselves out and let us go!"
"Yes, sensei!"
Nishira politely declined to go with them, insisting on bathing solo. It was, after all, taboo to have tattoos in the public bath.

Tomorrow would be the first day of the chunin exams, after a long sleep to rest their weary bodies, the young genin were left to their own devices. Before she left, Hibi presented Nishira with an envelope, the paper slightly creased from being transported in her pocket for three days. Hibi threw Nishira a wink and followed the other Jonin to meet the Tsuchikage.

Nishira watched them leave, before opening the envelope. inside were just a few words:
Do your best.
No signature on the page, nothing on the back, it didn't surprise Nishira; Kakashi was not always the most talkative type, but a warm feeling in her chest felt what the words meant. He had probably always known she would go through with it. Her hand on her chest anchored the decision to come, and she grinned stupidly at the paper.
"Come on, Nishi! Chaperones are gone, let's go explore before they come back!"

They entered the open market space. The shops and buildings were molded directly from the stone, but the monotone of the rock and snow was disrupted by many bright colours and movement. Nishira was drawn in to one Sekawa spotted with a glimmering and intricately engraved naginata in the window. Her teammates watched as the curved blade attached the wooden pole base reflected in her eyes. Toma leaned over.
"I should go make sure she doesn't spend all her money in one day, or she'll be mooching off us the rest of the time."
Nishira giggled as she watched Toma tug on Sekawa's arm, trying to lead her away but she'd just slip from his arms and go back. The shop owner watched with an amused smile and eventually asked her if she wanted to see it, and Toma knew in that moment he had lost her to the beautiful and deadly weapon. Nishira decided to leave them be and look around.

At the end of her exploring, she'd found a few gifts for team seven back home, an engraved bracelet for Sakura, a unique kunai for Sasuke, and Naruto, she'd had fun shopping for, some sweets, a tiny stone carving of a fox curled up sleeping, nestling its nose into the bushy tail. It lay flat on her palm, absorbing some of her body heat. The fox had called to her among all the trinkets, and she thought Naruto would probably like it. Picking something for Kakashi was more difficult. She'd found a few items, some items in the weapon shop, the bakery, and handmade candy shop.

Nishira grimaced at the conflict between picking a safe boring gift, or something more personal, but might border on inappropriate. Entering a small fabric shop, Nishira was greeted with a rich spruce tree scent, like the mountains near her hometown. Inhaling the smell deeply, she longingly looked at the beautiful silks and patterned textiles, dragging her hand over them gently. Her hand instinctually stopped on a silk, blues and golds interwoven in a masterpiece that took Nishira's breath away. Something grabbed her attention, some of the lines made up the side profile of a noble hound. She'd almost missed it, but when she saw it, it seemed as obvious as the act of breathing.

A young lady, the shop girl, had approached quietly from Nishira's side.
"Oh, that is one of my favorites. My father made this specially, and he vowed he would never replicate it, too much work he said. I always loved looking at it and hoped someone would buy it. Is it for your husband?" Nishira felt her face cloud up and suspected a blush was creeping in her neck. "No? Boyfriend then?"
"Uh, no, just a friend."
"Ahhh, I see." she had a coy smile that made Nishira turn away with her flushed warm face. The girl pulled the fabric down and Nishira saw that it was a man's yukata. "I believe this was made just for you, the gods made this moment happen and it needs to go home with you."
"How much is it?"
"Great deal! 2,500 ryo!"
"Oh um, sorry. Please put it back." A genin pay didn't allow for such luxuries
The shop girl looked at the fabric in her hands and back at Nishira who was trying not to look at beautiful fabric.
"Listen, I can't put it back, it was meant to be, I just know it. What can you offer for it?"
Nishira grabbed for her wallet and opened it, the robe was worth a third of the contents, but she counted the bills and decided she only needed a little for the rest of the trip anyways, she would just hit up the convenience store down the street and pick up some cheap dry ramen to eat.
"I can offer 1,500 ryo. Does that work?"
"Done!"
Without another word, the girl whirled around and strode to the back of the shop where her cash register sat and began wrapping it delicately. Nishira saw the beautiful fabric almost disappear as it was folded into a box, like water running down the shop girl's arms. The item was exquisitely made, but her concern was whether or not Kakashi would like it.

Nishira met up with her team as they stopped at a ramen stand. Sekawa and Nishira both looking guiltily when Toma inquired to the amount spent in the very first day. He rolled his eyes and let out a deep groan.
"What am I ever going to do with you. I'll buy today, but when we go home, you guys owe me big."
The treat of ramen led them to the bar, Sekawa and Nishira picking the special of the establishment.
"For courage!"
They tipped the neon-coloured drink back.
"To success!"
Another shot. Toma lifted their third round, the last before they agreed to go back to the ryokan.
"To two broke bitches! May we go home early so I don't go broke too!"
Toma's eyes twinkled with mischief, Nishira shrugged at the truthful statement. Sekawa scowled not drinking the glass.
"Come on, for real Toma."
"Fine, to team twenty-two! To kicking ass, and finally becoming chunin!"
"Hear, hear!"
With the final shot, the team, arms linked returned to the ryokan, a mixture of nervousness and eagerness among them.