I knocked on the door, somewhat softly, but with enough determination to show that I was supposed to be here. The entire building was creepy, and made you want to leave quickly. 'Maybe that's the point. Would make you get going on your mission sooner.' "Come in." I heard a voice on the other side of the door. I stepped into the room. It almost seemed like... a private office. It was large and circular, with a desk in the back with bookshelves lining the walls. The entire back wall was a window, over-looking our village. 'Pretty impressive... for a room that isn't even meant for the head honcho.' "Ah... Akako Himura. I've been expecting you. Welcome." "Thank you, Kabuto. I was told you had a mission for me." "I did." He always seemed to talk in that voice... a frigteningly knowing voice, as if there was something going on that concerned you, or everyone, that he didn't feel like sharing. I found it creepy, but I didn't let it bother me. "Your mission requires you to go to the Valley of Shadows. I trust you know of it?" I nodded. I had heard of it before. 'An entire valley shrouded in shadows... it sounds unreal...' "Well, your mission is to go to the main village in the valley. There you must ask to see their Council of Elders. They will debrief you on your mission there." I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard that. "I won't be debriefed here?" "No. But this mission is very important to the Hidden Sound Village. I trust you will conduct yourself in an appropriate manner?" "Of course." 'Why would I have reason to act in a non-official fashion? I wouldn't know anyone there. The fact that I was alone with Kabuto meant this would be a solo mission. I wonder why they would trust a mission so important to the Hidden Sound Village with a single genin. Didn't matter. Whatever the job was, I'd get it done.' "Very good. You are expected to leave the village within the hour. Do you need an escort?" I shook my head no. 'If there's one thing I don't need, it's someone giving me the cold-shoulder... or worse... for hours on end.' "Good. Leave quickly, so that you may back anything you'd need from home." "Yes sir." After I had told my parents what I had known about my mission, and packed a few kunai and shuriken, I was on my way. "If I need more shuriken or kunai, I'm sure I'll be able to get them in the Valley of Shadows.' Before I left, I made sure to pick up my favorite drum-sticks. Most Sound Ninja used sound as an attack, and even implanted their body with upgrades to use even more sound jutsu. People in my family didn't get implants until they were 13, which I would become in a couple of months. Because I wasn't able to have implants, I had trained my hearing to detect minute frequencies, ones I could exploit with my drum sticks, but that wasn't important now. I started walking towards the exit of the village, my heavy Greatsword occaisionally hitting me in the back. I had trained with it so often, that I didn't ever really notice the extra weight or the times it would bounce on my back. In fact, it was more comforting than a hindrence. 'I wonder what sort of mission is waiting for me in the Valley of Shadows... Whatever the mission is, Kabuto trusted me, and me alone, to get it done. I won't let my village down... but I'll do it my way. Not their's. I only wonder what sort of people will await me in the Valley of Shadows. Only one way to find out.' And after that, I just focused on moving through the forest...
I was stunned when I first entered the Valley. 'It appears like it's night time... all the time here... Must be easy to lose track of one's sense of time.' I was able to adjust to this strange Valley, for the most part, by the time I approached the village walls. As I was passing through the village walls, there was a stand with guards there. 'Makes sense. Anyone who enters the village must check in, or make a scene.' I walked up to the counter. "Hello, traveler. What business do you have in the Valley of Shadows?" "My name is Akako Himura. I'm a Genin from the Hidden Sound Village. I was told to come here and seek out the Council of Elders." "Oh yes... you check out. Welcome to the Valley of Shadows. Will you need an escort to the Council Chambers?" I looked around the village, at least as far as I could see in. "Would it happen to be the large Building at the far end of the village?" "Yes, actually." "I think I'll be fine, thank you. Good-day. Or... Night, it's hard to tell here..." "Thank you for your sentiments. It's 3 PM, by the way. Good Day to you. "Thanks." I continued walking into the village. It was strange here. The guards I had seen at the gate had eyes different from those in my village. They seemed kinder, in a way. I made my way towards the large building that housed the Council Chambers. It was very different from my village. Mother's had their little children with them, and they were laughing, and seemed to be having fun. People weren't looking down on me here. They seemed to have kinder eyes here, even more so than the guard at the gate. While I was walking, I thought I saw a girl about my age looking at me for a moment. She was leaning against a tree, and seemed to be different from the other people here in a way. 'It doesn't matter. You're here for the mission.' Shrugging, I kept walking to the Council Chambers. When the guards at the door saw my Sound Village forehead protector, they let me in.