Chapter 55
Tomo led the way as they re-entered the large building. She seemed very excited- but then again for several of the last months she had only been training. Sakaki had also left to train and Osaka had been in the infirmary so now Tomo found herself itching slightly for the adventure. But at the same time she felt the same niggling doubt at the back of her mind…more then that- she felt a slight fear. A fear of herself.
But she chose to ignore it, and instead waved at the guards who nodded back to her. They opened the door and allowed her through, the others following behind her. She stepped back into the new Hokage's room. Only Kimura senior was present. He looked up from his book as Tomo's heavy footsteps alerted him to her presence.
"Ah so nice to see you be prompt. First times for everything huh? Ah and hello son, I hope you like the new student?"
"Oh yes I do" said Kimura junior, the pair sharing a lecherous look.
"So I heard something about a mission?" asked Tomo loudly, wanting to interrupt the duo before they scared Fuka away.
"That's correct" said the older Kimura nodding. "For there is a mission."
He paused, silence falling across the large room.
"And what is the actual mission?" asked Tomo.
"Oh right! It doesn't seem to sound too complicated, but it will involve a bit of travelling" replied the man. "This mission will probably be the furthest you've ever had to go from this village. Even for you Fuka. We've received a message from a village asking for assistance. They don't seem to have mentioned any specifics, but it would appear someone is insistent on attacking them. Of course they want us to stop them." Kimura came to a stop and glanced across at his son. Only Sakaki noticed the faint nod her teacher gave.
"Oh can't these guys ever look after themselves?" asked Tomo.
"I thought you wanted a mission?" asked Fuka.
"Oh yeah. Woo! Go mission! Where exactly are going?"
"A moderately sized village that is about five days journey from here. One side faces the coast, and to another side is a particular large collection of mountains."
"Five days? That isn't too long" replied Tomo. "Sure it's a bit too much walking…"
"Well walking is only part of the journey Miss Tomo. Two days of your trip will be spent on a boat travelling down the great river. You will cover quite a lot of distance and will find yourself far from home. Luckily we have received payment for use to get on the boat, though it seems we were given enough for four people."
"What's the problem with that?" asked Fuka, unsure of the customs of the village.
"Yeah, there are us three and the perve" said Tomo. Kimura senior again looked across at his son who coughed once and then stepped forward, having been standing the furthest away.
"What's going on Kimura-sensei?" asked Sakaki.
"You've been training independently for over a year now. You have mostly matured, except for Tomo. And Miss Ayase I have heard many positive reports from your former teacher. We believe it is time to step back and see how well you perform working as a unit without me. The other teams will have this happening soon too. And though I'd like to see the possibility of you getting wet on the river ride, this seems like the ideal mission to stand back and let you have a go by yourselves."
"So we'll be on our own?" asked Sakaki.
"You and Tomo handled yourselves well when I was separated from you" replied Kimura.
"Yeah" said Tomo uneasily, memories of her lust to kill Osaka returning to her.
"The main question is, are you comfortable with this Fuka?" asked the elder Kimura. "You've only just joined your team. Are you happy to proceed without the presence of a teacher?"
Fuka nodded once. "I think I'll be fine. You said this would be a suitable mission for this to happen right?" she asked.
"That's correct" replied the Hokage. "You have been training at the higher level for almost two years now, and this does not appear to be a difficult mission."
"I was just wondering something" said Tomo.
"Yes?"
"Can we still have the money for all four people?" asked Tomo. "As a treat or something…?"
"Fine" grumbled the Hokage. He pulled out a small sack from his chair and gently chucked it to Tomo, who caught it, feeling coins through the thin fabric. However it was slightly warm- but Tomo decided against asking where it had been.
The next day
Tomo quickly checked her bag before gripping hold of her headband and tying it around her head. She had allowed her hair to grow longer, thinking it might look better this way. Now it almost reached her shoulders, still much shorter then Sakaki's (red) hair. She finished tying it in place around her forehead, keeping her hair out of her face. Gripping a pouch used to hold weapons she clipped it to her belt and looked in a slightly wonky (and ever so slightly cracked) mirror. Satisfied she turned back to her worn bed.
"I get to go on a mission with no Kimura!" she sung to herself happily, picking up her bag. Checking that everything was ready she then left the room and stepped outside.
Hoisting the bag up over one shoulder she almost skipped along the pathway, thinking about the mission ahead. A mission they should be able to succeed in, with adventure and even a boat trip! Osaka would be missing, but there was the new person. And this time Tomo wouldn't be treated differently by someone new. The days of being the classroom outcast were over- she was certain of that.
"So I hear you're off for a while" came a voice from the path beside her, drawing Tomo back out of her dreams, and face to face with Yomi. Kagura stood beside her.
"Yeah, I'm going off on a mission- and Kimura isn't coming with us" boasted Tomo. "They think we're mature enough now, and can do it."
"Maybe you're just being used to take care of the boring, simple missions" suggested Yomi.
"Nah, that's for you" said Tomo grinning.
"Of course it is" replied Yomi dryly.
"So how long are you and the others going away for?" asked Kagura.
"I don't know at the moment, however long it takes" said Tomo. "But I get to go on a boat!"
"Cool" replied Kagura. "What about Sakaki? I know she arrived back here a few days ago, but I haven't seen her yet."
"Yeah she seems good, good" replied Tomo. "Oh but you won't believe what she did!"
"What?" asked Kagura. "Won a tournament? Killed someone? Broke an arm?"
"No, none of that" replied Tomo giving the tanned Kagura a strange look. "She went and dyed her hair red. Even Yukari made fun of her…actually Yukari makes fun of most people so I guess that isn't too amazing. But yeah her hair is red now."
"Oh really?" asked Yomi.
"Does it suit her?" asked Kagura.
"I guess so" replied Tomo. "I wonder if I would look any good with red hair?"
Kagura shrugged, Yomi decided not to answer the question. Tomo stood looking around for a moment as the silence became more and more awkward. Finally she tugged on her bag.
"Better get going, don't want my team to wait around!"
"Remember not to be stupid out there Tomo" said Yomi. "And keep an eye on the new person. It may have been a while ago, but this village was attacked. Who knows…"
"You're so paranoid Yomi, it's doing nothing for your figure" said Tomo before skipping off, leaving an enraged Yomi and a still Kagura who was busy pondering what Sakaki must now look like.
Tomo continued onwards through the village, forgetting where she was meant to be going before remember and finding herself going too far west. Quickly turning back she walked at a slightly faster pace, gripping her bag tightly as she passed other villagers who seemed to pay little attention to her. She quickly checked- yep the headband was still on her head.
"Vanishing off for a trip are you?" caused Tomo to screech to a halt as Yukari beckoned her. "Thought you could disappear without saying anything?"
"Actually I forgot about having to say anything to you" said Tomo, instantly regretting her words, waiting for Yukari to start moaning.
"I hear you're going without Kimura? You lucky girl. So it'll just be you, Sakaki and the newbie huh?"
"Yeah it sounds cool!"
"I guess so. Well I thought I just stop you to say…well to suggest. Erm."
"What is it?" asked Tomo who totally failed to notice how awkward Yukari was acting.
"Well good luck and don't screw up Tomo" said Yukari finally. "If you mess up I'll be pissed with you. Understand? Really annoyed."
"I don't intend on messing up, I'm gonna do really well and surprise everyone."
"Well I wasn't suggesting you will, I was just telling you not to or you'll have to face me."
"Ok, I guess I'll see you later" said Tomo, before sprinting off to try and find the others.
"I hope so" replied Yukari, standing and watching until her former student vanished from view. "You better come back you idiot."
"Do you know where we are supposed to go to get to the boat?" asked Fuka, following Tomo along a worn dry path.
"Yes…I think. They gave me a map."
"But do you know how to read it?" asked Fuka.
"Yes…I think."
Sakaki said nothing while both Fuka and Tomo tried to study the map. Instead she paused for a moment, turning to look behind her. Just normal bushes and trees.
"Did you see something?" asked Fuka.
"No…no I don't think so."
A short distance behind the trio of girls the person moved quietly through the undergrowth, remaining hidden from view. The person didn't want to be revealed just yet.