-Hey Kimito!, Mina says.
-Hum? What is it?, Kimito asks.
-School's out for the summer! Finally! All those homeworks I had to do...!
-Yeah, my clone had a lot of homework too, but hey!
-What?
-You're starting highschool next year!
- I know...! I think I'm gonna like it. So, what do you wanna do this summer?
-Beside being ninjas? Well; camping, swimming, you'll go to summer camp again, canoeing, hicking...
-Maybe we could go on a vacation...In Quebec maybe?
-I guess so...I we have the money for it.
-Well, it would be a very small one, like in Rouyn-Noranda. And we could bring Sab if she has the money.
-Meh, sure.
Yuki came and picked them up so could go to their campground, which is beside a lake. They were installing their camper properly. At the same time they see Keith*, who also camps there. Despite being the slight end of June it wasn't the first time Mina went to swim in the lake. She had went there in the end of April, while there was still ice in the lake.
*In case you forgot Keith is the guy in Mina's band.
Yeah, this chapter was just to tell you where summer started for Mina and the others. Very short.
Miharu had been told that she, along with Gaara and his family, would be teaching in the upcoming Ninja academy. Of course she was exited because the academy would opened in less than a month.
-''I have a bad feeling bout this sweetie...'' the deep female voice said.
-Really? Why?
-''It's not about the Academy in general, I just feel like something bad will happen to one of the kids there on its opening week...''
-Um...I can't really help you there. Maybe they'll hurt themselfs with a weapon I don't know..!
Miharu had decided to go see Nakamura and Naruto at the same time. She had found out a little bit before the summer that Naruto and her were cousins, therefor, he was part of her biological family. Since Mina lived close to the village she decided to go see her too, if she wasn't camping. She knocks two times then Mina opens up.
-Hi Mimi!, Mina says.
-Hi, what are you doing?, Miharu asks when she hears screaming and roaring coming from the inside.
-Meh, just watching Jurassic Park 2 with Hebi...i got it for my 8th grade graduation.
-What's that?
-...I'll watch the series with you one day, it's a movie.
-Yeah, that'll be fun!
-Do you want a cookie? They're gingerbread mans...
-Nan, I was wondering if you could tell me where Nakamura and Naruto are right now, if you know of course...
-Yeah, they're training by the river...
-Alright thanks. Bye.
-Sayonara my pretty.
Those last words made Miharu chuckle as she walks toward the village to see her sibling. When she arrived by the river she could see Naruto and his 20 clones trying to get through Nakamura's water shield.
-Hi! she says.
-Miharu?, Nakamura says. What are you doing here.
-Well, since I don't have any missions, I came to see you...
-Why don't you have any mission.
-That's a secret, I'll tell you when it'll be official.
Three weeks later, despite clearly stating that she didn't want any mission for two months, Mina got an emergency call from Tsunade. She had to go help catch a criminal that was threatning a rich man from Iwa. The team is composed of Mina, Nakamura, Itoe and and Tenten. They leave as soon as they,re ready and head for the village. They then arrive to the village. They get greeted by the man then Mina asks:
-What's you're name? And why does that guy wanna kill you? or hurt you?
-Mina that's disrespectful!, Tenten says.
-No no..., the man starts. I don't mind...I used to be like that when I was your age...
-See?..., Mina says.
The man, named Tukama explained that Kishimo, the criminal, wanted to kill Tukama, because a few years ago, Kishimo had apparently killed Tukama's daughter, son and wife.
-How did he get in your property...?, Nakamura asks.
-he was already in it...You see...He was my worker. He fell in love with my doughter and when she refused to matty him, he killed her. He killed all the others...I hated this man but he worked haiàrd so I endured him. But when I saw him with my daughter I-
-Alright, just let's do what we gotta do., Mina says.
The following week was annoyingly boring and calm so Mina decided to 'enjoy her vacation' by acting as a tourist. that made the team's presence look lesss suspicious to the villagers and Kishimo. Mina was enjoying the food, until she heard a scream coming from 3 meters away, where Tukama was. Inside four seconds the entire team were there. Tukama was rolling on the ground holding a wound on his abdomen. Mina kneels beside him and starts to heal him. She says:
-Itoe find the curlprit...He can't be far away... tenten go with her. Don't attack though, just following him.
Itoe uses her byakugan and both girls take off as they find the man, Kishimo. Mina brings Tukama to the hospital. Tukama then asks:
-How will you find your friends?
-With this!, Mina says showing something Tukama had never seen before.
-What on earth is that?
-That, my friend, is a walkie-talkie.
Mina then arrives to Tenten and Itoe, followed by Nakamura. Kishimo doesn't seem to know that the girls are following him. Mina decides to make a trap for him: a classic. It'll be a hole in the ground covered by branches and stuff, and hopefully he'll litteraly fall for it.
-This will never work!, Tenten says.
-Yes, we just have to lure him to it..
-And how will we do that?
Next thing you know Tenten was chasing Kishimo with her threatning weapons, and Kishimo, to concerned by the weapons, fell in the hole. Mina was, well, proud.
Once the man was tied up, Mina got him out and was surprised to see that he didn't seem like a typical criminal, he seemed rather desprerate. Mina decided to speak:
-You're Kishimo right...
-Yes., Kishimo says. And who are you?
-My name is Mina. I'll go straight to the point: why did you try to kill Tukama?
-This man deserves to die! He killed his own daughter!
-That's not what we were told.
-I know what he told you! He told you I killed her...I DIDN'T! He did it! Why would I want to kill the love of my life? HE wouldn't let us be together so when we decided to marry each other, he strangled his own daughter in front of their family, then killed them. He tried to kill me too but I escaped. And that night I promised myself I will venge Tsugumi.
All of the girls were speachless, until Mina broke the silence:
-Well, I guess I'll have to verify if you're telling the truth, because your version makes more sense...
She then shows him pictures of the dead victims, because she learned that when someone kills like that the killer enjoys to relive the momment. As she expected he doesn't want to look. She says:
-He's telling the truth.
-What?, both Nakamura and Tenten say.
-I said he's innocent. I learned my technique from one of Yuki's collegues. Police officers and criminologists.
-So what will we do with him?, Itoe asks.
-Uh...How about we let you go and you never come back?
-I guess I could do that..., Kishimo says after a short while.
-Mina! You're letting him go?, Tenten says.
-Yeah Mina! Our mission was to capture him!, Nakamura says.
-They never said we could release him after we captured him...
But Kishimo suddently seemed to change his mind:
-Girls!
-Hm?, Itoe says.
-Take me as your prisonner...
-Whatever is more comfortable for you buddy..., Mina says.
Once they're back at the village Mina convinces the Tsuchikage to keep Kisimo alive. Nobody know how she convinced him, but after only 5 minutes the stubborn man accepted. While Kishimo was being led to the prison, Tukama came and pierced Kishimo's chest with a katana. He wanted him dead. Kishimo fell to the ground and Mina runs to his aid. Though she couldn't stop the bleeding, she wouldn't stop trying. Then his eyes grew wide. Mina turned around only to see that Tukama was holding a kunai and had an evil grin on his face. He raised the kunai, ready to kill Mina when at the last momment Kishimo took the katana that Mina had put beside him and the japanese sword went directly through Tukama's eye. Blood dripped on Mina's face and Tukama dropped dead to the ground. She turns around and sees that Kishimo is dying.
-Hey!, Mina gasps.
-I'm fine...I'll be fine. Now I just wish I could be with my Tsugumi.
Mina smiles and says in a comforting tone:
-Don't worry, you'll be. Trsut me.
Not a single tear rolls down Mina's cheek when he dies, then she closes his eyes. Some of Iwa's ninjas arrive to take over the situation, so Mina and the team head back for their home. Tenten asks on the way:
-But, Mina. How can you watch someone die and then just get over it inside a minute? And not be...Well, traumatized?, Itoe asks.
-I guess I'm used to it..., Mina says, shrugging.
Tenten's face changes for a horrified expression, but Mina just turns her head toward her and smiles.
Alright, the next chapters will be in italic since they're all flashbacks.