Sitting still was pretty hard for most 12-year-olds but not for Hotaru. She sat very still as Kin finished braiding her ponytail. The millions of little braids all had a little metal bead on the ends, just before the ties, and were Hotaru's favorite accessory-aside from her headband. Kin tied a cameo hair ribbon around the base of the ponytail and then fixed Hotaru's cameo jumper and black t-shirt.
"There, I'm all done and you're ready for class." Kin told her sensei's daughter. "Don't forget your lunch but you had better hurry up before you're late. You don't want to do the punishment drills on such a pretty day."
"Thank you, Big Sister Kin." Hotaru gave her a smile before she ran into the house and gave her father a good bye kiss. "See you at sunset, Papa! I'm off to be the best Ninja I can be!"
"Be good and mind your surroundings, Sweet Pea." Soichi cautioned his child as she pulled on her sandals then ran out the door. "And be home before dark falls! It's not safe with the demons out there!"
Hotaru let her chakra build up and assist her into jumping into the trees and on to the rooftops. She leapt from rooftop to rooftop and then had to skid to a stop to avoid hitting one of the Otokage's agents.
"Uh, good morning, Oto Yakunin." Hotaru greeted nervously. "Did I disturb your rounds? If so, I'm really sorry. I'm headed to meet Roku-sensei and my teammates in th e woods so I'll just continue on my way. Bye!"
Oh, how she feared the Oto Yakunin! They were the Otokage's agents and they did jobs similar to the Anbu unit of the Hidden Leaf Village but they didn't just stop there. You cross their path and you could die. She tried to run away but the Yakunin grabbed her by her upper arm.
"The Otokage would like to see you, Hotaru Tomoe of the Village Hidden in the Sound." The Yakunin said icily and without feeling.
Hotaru swallowed hard. Well, if she didn't reach her team, at least she would have a good excuse when Roku let her have it.
She's goin' somewhere but I won't say where!