Okey Dokey this wasn't a long wait was it? I'm such a lovely author ^^

anyway presenting the next chapter (and my longest)

Sashimi belongs to Sashimi-Hiryuu
Caroline belongs to moi
Mei Terumi belongs to Masahi Kishimoto and any other Naruto related things are his as well!

Now enjoy the chapter...

Weeks had passed and it seemed that the whole island had come to view the so-called deities given by the sea gods. The priest used the much earned gold from offerings to lavishly splash on the goddesses. It wasn't long before people from the other islands of Kirigakure came too.

"Arigato for your donation the gods shall surely smile upon you." Sashimi had taken to having a commanding demeanour that inspired divinity into the simple minded – which were what these people were according to her, to come all the way just to pray to her and...

"That old man was quite sweet wasn't he Onee-san." Caroline had also picked up the habit of calling Sashimi sister. It wasn't that Sashimi wasn't flattered but the girl was not that young to be talking in childish tones despite her high pitched voice.

"Instead of speculating why don't you talk to some of these villagers too?" Sashimi said in her chilling voice.

Caroline only looked into Sashimi's eyes with her hurt ones and once she heard a sigh escape Sashimi's lips she continued to play with Kin.

"I swear you care more for that stupid tiger than you do for me..." Sashimi grumbled before greeting another pilgrim.

"Pardon me priestess it's an honour to meet you." The pilgrim before her had their head bowed and was wearing a conical hat. Sashimi could see the long brown hair draping below.

"Why have you come here today?" Sashimi said in her divine voice. Her aqua blue hair weighed behind her in boredom as she yawned in waiting. The pilgrim's face was partially veiled but Sashimi could see her eyes – her alluring green eyes. Sashimi was drawn by this woman like she had seen her before...

"My request is quite a hard one..."

"Sashimi. Here. Now."

Caroline spoke in quiet sternness, she rarely used Sashimi's name – something was wrong.

"This woman isn't the usual is she?" Caroline stated matter-of-factly.

"I guess not what is your po..." Something in Sashimi snapped. Her head was in her hands as she clawed through her mind to retrieve the dream she had been having recently. She had seen those eyes before...

"Is something wrong?" The pilgrim was still waiting.

Caroline immediately attended to her.

"Gomenai My sister is having some time to think – she has seen you before you know. May I know your name?" Caroline asked in a more adult voice that was sweet to the ear. The woman smiled,

"Mei Terumi."

"What a pretty name." Caroline resumed her childish voice.

"Could I stroke your tiger?" Mei asked in gleeful tones at the furry creature that lay in Caroline's lap. As Caroline nodded in agreement Mei began stroking Kin, as she did Caroline noticed a blue mark glowing under Mei's clothes. She instinctively grabbed Mei's arm and pulled back the sleeve. It was a blue mark of a two headed dragon on a pole. It was small but its shine was noticeable in Caroline's eyes. Mei was not offended but only looked up at Caroline who marvelled at the mark.

"I remember!" Sashimi cried in her Eureka moment. But was silenced as she leaned over Caroline's shoulders to see what she was looking at. She too marvelled at the glowing blue mark. She remembered it now.

"Now you have remembered Sashimi I can tell Mei what she seeks. You seek a high position in this nation do you not?" Caroline spoke in cosmic tones imitating a street charmer as she stroked the mark.

"You already have me figured out?" Mei laughed lightly.

"That mark I have the same one." Sashimi said with realisation.

"You do? Show me." Mei's tone became more forceful as she beckoned Sashimi to reveal the mark. As Sashimi showed her arm no mark appeared.

"To be honest it comes and goes." Sashimi added in embarrassment.

Mei simply put her hand over Sashimi's arm and the mark appeared.

"How did you...?" Sashimi began.

"You must be from my clan somehow. What was your clan name? Did you have one?" Mei became more familiar and she pushed for answers. Overwhelmed Sashimi backed away.

Mei withdrew also and apologised.

"Kirigakure has been chaotic and seeing this I know you must have some shinobi blood in you. We need a new Mizukage. I want to be the Godaime Mizukage."

Mei was so sure of herself and Sashimi lightened up. She was a shinobi – a good one at that. Sashimi had always wanted to follow her father in the way of the shinobi. Caroline looked at the woman with a warm smile. She had not thought the way of the shinobi was for her but nonetheless it was a dangerously attractive occupation. It would've been her fate if she had remained in Kumogakure...

"I came here to ask you for some sort of blessing – but it's hypocritical I don't believe much in the gods. I don't know what I was expecting but after seeing this I now know." Mei spoke earnestly.

Caroline only wondered – saving a nation was not in her life's plan but it was a chance to move on from this static place of worship. She was tired of this life of luxury. But seeing flashes of Mina's dead body were engraved in her mind – she did not want to be the cause of someone's end.

Sashimi on the other hand was excited. It was her chance to move on in the world. Being taught by such a woman she would surely become great in the ninja world. She was sick of making a name among peasants – she wanted a name among shinobi.

"No-one knows our real names – but they know our appearances. We will surely be recognised." Caroline stated bluntly.

"We can change our appearance; I'll cut my hair, dye it, use charms and spells to change if I can leave with you Mei!" Sashimi exclaimed.

Mei smiled and saw Caroline still wondering about the offer.

"There is more to being a shinobi than to kill. You can become a medical ninja if you please."

Caroline still remained unsure. Her hand was on Kin and Mei caught on to this fact and continued,

"Animal Summoning – You can become the greatest in animal summons if you please. It is important and you will form great relationships with the animals from their respective worlds. It's a wonderful thing."

Caroline was slowly being reeled in by Mei's new tune.

"Besides if you become a shinobi we cannot save everyone – but you can learn to save those around you. We don't just start wars we end them and if you help me peace will come to Kirigakure I assure you."

Of course being left in this temple and not having Kirigakure as her original home, Caroline knew not the state of the country that had deified her but she listened to the moans of the peasants, their worries, their fears. If Mei becoming the Mizukage ended these things surely this was a good cause?

'For Mina's sake.'

With a painful smile Caroline nodded in agreement.

"Great now all we have to do is escape." Sashimi said with new vigour.

"We don't have time now – if we must leave soon make it tonight. We have others waiting Onee-chan. Mei please come nine o'clock tonight – just before the evening prayers. I and Sashimi will be ready." Caroline spoke quickly in hushed tones and resuming character returned to her corner and looked disinterestedly at Mei as she humbly left the temple. Sashimi too resumed her divine demeanour ready to receive the next person.

Both secretly anticipated the evening.

"We must prepare to leave behind this wretched temple!" Sashimi cried in joy within the privacy of the golden sea interior room. She was staring at the mirror imagining different ways she could alter her appearance.

"You're so well acquainted with charms and other mystical things aren't you Onee-san?" Caroline said with wonderment as she stared at the weird jars full of colourful innocuous substances.

"Don't be silly it's just dyes and so on." Sashimi said as she grabbed a pair of scissors.

"Wait! Must you cut all your hair off?" Caroline cried in slight distress.

"We must look unrecognisable so yes I must."

SNIP

Sashimi cut her aqua locks and Caroline watched them drop to the floor in amazement. She picked them all up and with fire from the oil lamps proceeded to burn the perfumed hair that gave off the fragrance of incense.

Sashimi stared happily at her new haircut and grabbed a jar of the substances. Caroline continued to watch as she coloured strips of her hair white. Then she passed a jar of another substance to Caroline and the pair of scissors and waited.

"You must be kidding me." Caroline spoke sternly.

"C'mon are you with me or not?"

Caroline's hand became shaky as she dared to chop her locks off when Mei entered.

"So you were already getting going without me." She smiled.

She saw Caroline and with a whip of her kunai cut all across her hair. Caroline cried out then whimpered as she saw the pile of hair on the floor.

"In the shinobi world vanity is not necessary." Mei comforted her.

"You have long hair!" She pointed out and Mei only smiled at her and did the same to the other side of Caroline's hair.

"Oh no it's uneven!" Sashimi pointed at the cut.

Caroline stared into the mirror and Sashimi only awaited a train of tears. Instead Caroline grabbed her hair on the top and with a swift cut of the kunai cut the hair short to form a rough fringe that lay just above her eyes. Sashimi clapped and Mei continued to partially dye Caroline's hair with dark blue dye.

"There you go. Now to ditch the robes for some more humble clothes." Mei brought out a set of travellers clothes. Both girls this time snarled at them and reluctantly slipped them on.

"We can get better attire when reach the main island of Kirigakure but for now these will do."

They burned the remaining hair and packed up the charms and dyes ready to go. But just before they left the room they heard voices,

"We will now commence with evening prayers." The priests all communed together and headed for their room. Panic shook them now.

"Isn't there another way out?" Mei asked in harsh tones.

"Not as far as I'm concerned." Sashimi answered. Caroline shrugged.

Kin, who appeared asleep in Caroline's arms, leapt from her grasp and walked towards a door. He pawed at a door. All three women turned their attentions to the door and noticed faint lines around it.

"There's our way out – good boy Kin." Caroline stroked his back.

"All push now!" Sashimi charged ahead and with a mighty push they fell through the door that soon shut behind them.

Darkness was all around. All was silent. As they struggled to see where they were Kin spoke to Caroline.

'We are underneath the temple – we must make our own way out.'

"But how Kin?" Caroline spoke aloud.

'Follow me we'll find the weakest point.'

"Caroline you alright?" Sashimi said warily.

"Kin says follow him he will lead us to the weakest point in the tunnels."

"Then what?" Sashimi cried out at her – it seemed to her she had gone mad.

"I will break through the Earth. That tiger knows where he's going let's listen to him." Mei said and with a breath of fire she lighted a torch she had found on the floor.

They travelled through the winding tunnels that seemed to them never ending. Questions never failed to come across their minds – what was this place – when will we get out – will we make it? Doubt was like a phantom in the shadows devouring the hope of those who tread through it. However Caroline trusted Kin – if it wasn't for him she wouldn't be here, they wouldn't be here.

Kin suddenly stopped. The women looked at him expectantly.

'Above us.'

"It's weakest above. Mei it's your turn." Caroline said with a smile.

"Yes, show us the skills of our future Mizukage." Sashimi pushed on.

Mei's always smiling face had turned serious as she made some hand seals too fast for Sashimi or Caroline's eyes.

"Boil release: Skilled Mist Technique."

Vapour poured from her mouth causing Kin, Caroline and Sashimi to jump back but look up as the vapour she spewed began dissolving the ground above.

"Wow."

As the acidic mist disappeared the ground above was now clear. Mei effortlessly jumped up this earned her another "wow" from the girls who she hauled up with her. They made haste and ran to the nearest dock while concealing their appearances using conical hats. As they sailed off to the main island of Kirigakure the girls couldn't be happier to say,

"Sayonara."

Yay another chapter completed - I hope it eventful enough ^^

Next chapter we are entering some new characters

Kin: We are?

Not just any characters some villains! Yay *claps excitedly*

Kin: "^^

Oh well you'll see not are beloved villains yet but anotehr set that are just as deadly :3

Please review!