Special part 1
Six months earlier
Dressed in brown leather armour the man with the eye patch stepped forwards. In front of him sat Kline at a desk, not particularly fussed about being in plain view to anyone who entered the building.
"You called for us?" asked the man, his one eye intently studying Kline.
"Yes, yes I did," said Kline sliding forward a piece of paper. The man picked it up and studied it. He seemed surprised at the scarcity of information, having to double check the back of the paper to see if there was anything else on the other side.
"Is this all?" he asked, holding up the paper. On it was written the name of a village, and below that a hand drawn image of a young girl. Kline nodded.
"We wish for you to go and collect that girl for us Hoxha," said Kline.
"Five of us to go and collect one girl?" asked the surprised Hoxha. That certainly sounded a bit odd.
"She possesses a tremendous power, a power she can't control," replied Kline. "We seek to…help her. There is a chance some very dangerous people are looking for her. Without our help this power will overtake the poor girl and it will take the very life away from her."
Hoxha looked concerned, while Kline merely felt sick at having to fake such concern. How very trite.
"Our forces are currently stretched, so we had to seek others to help us. And I am well aware of your reputation Hoxha. I have heard a great many of your stories. We do share the same homeland," said Kline. "And there is one more thing- despite the danger she could be, she must be brought back alive."
"The Hoxha fighting squad never kills," replied the man. "And we would certainly never kill a little girl." The man almost looked horrified at the proposition.
"Very good," said Kline. No further words were spoken, and rolling up the piece of paper Hoxha left, pausing momentarily before realizing he had nothing to say. As the man vanished, Shuzo appeared from out of the shadows, releasing his grip on a sword of ice.
"Do you think they'll be able to do it?" asked Shuzo.
"I'm certain they will, as long as they don't find out what is planned to happen to her," replied Kline with a smirk.
"And of course with her down, there would just be the one left," said Shuzo. "And finally it will all be over."
"I would prefer to say that it is just beginning," said Kline.
It was a particularly hot and windless day as Team eight lazily made their way towards the village. Kagura led the way, striding forwards, while Yomi slowed her normal pace so Chiyo could keep up with her. Minamo Kurosawa, leader of the team marched behind the trio; managing to maintain a healthy walking speed while also rereading the letter their group had been handed.
"We're…almost…there right?" asked Chiyo, the group having been walking for several hours now.
"We should be arriving soon," replied Minamo. "If you want to have a break all you have to do is ask," she added in a caring tone.
"No…I'll be fine," said Chiyo with an obvious lie.
Team eight had been experiencing a lean spell of activity, reduced to training exercises and far too much free time, when they had been approached with a new mission to undertake. One of the smaller villages in the outlaying lands, a minor ally to their own village of Konoha, had been experiencing odd and damaging events. The travel-worn messenger had relayed messages of buildings set on fire; animals slaughtered and even a general odious feeling throughout the village. They did not know what was responsible, but had asked that Konoha send someone to investigate. Instead of receiving one ninja to check over the area, they would be receiving an entire team.
"So what are we expecting to find?" asked Kagura as she continued to lead the group forwards.
"I'm betting bandits, or something like that," said Yomi.
"But why would they kill animals?" asked Kagura. "That seems a bit mean."
"They could have a problem with the village. Maybe they think the villagers owe them something, or they disagree with them over something or another," said Yomi with a shrug. "Who can tell?"
"I'm just surprised they haven't found anyone yet," said Chiyo. "Surely they'd notice someone setting the buildings on fire?"
"Well they did say that all of the buildings set on fire were just out of the village," spoke up Minamo, "a tiny bit closer to the wild."
"So what are you expecting to find sensei?" asked Chiyo.
"I dunno, bandits or something like that," replied Minamo.
"I think we're getting closer!" called out Kagura.
"Yay," said Chiyo in a sincere manner, her feet long since beyond the point of merely hurting. Even now, over a year on from the attack on the village she still hadn't increased in strength. Minamo always highlighted her age and how she would improve, and Chiyo knew she was younger then the others, but she just couldn't see how she could ever reach the levels of the others.
"Hey Chiyo, when we get there I'll buy you a drink or something," said Yomi.
"Oh t-thanks," said Chiyo, slightly flustered.
"Thank you very much," said the short man as the barkeep handed him the drink he had ordered. With a swish of his head the long blond hair moved out of his eyes and he took a sip. His lip twitched slightly as he swallowed. Subtly he tried to wipe his eyes which had watered up from the strength of the drink.
"Ah yeah, the stuff's a bit strong out this way," said the barkeep.
"So I hear you've been having trouble out here," said the man.
"Oh news has already spread has it? We've lost animals, buildings. One person was even left in a coma. Her poor daughter had been all by herself while her mother's been recovering."
"By herself?" asked the man, slightly curious.
"Yeah, but it was strange. We all offered to help her, even offered her a place to stay until her mother got better but she insisted on being alone. I swear…I think she said something like 'I need to be alone- I have to'. A girl that young, all by herself- it just isn't right."
"Well I guess she's fine at the moment?"
"Well yeah. Of course we all alternate between going up there and checking on her. Half the time she's outside reading. Sometimes she'll see us and wave, but she never comes over to say hi. It's odd. She was always much more outgoing. It's just lucky there hasn't been too much happening just recently. No burnings or killings, which is a plus."
"Hey, we should be leaving now," said a man with a very deep voice, placing his hand down on the short man's shoulder. The short man jolted in shock, while the barkeep merely looked up with a wide mouth at the size of the man behind him.
"Very well Dubois," said the short man. "Do you want the rest of this before we leave?" he asked holding up the glass. Dubois took it and drank it in one large gulp, his face unchanging.
"Very good."
"Well I guess I'm on my way then," said the man standing up. Even moving from the chair did little to change the difference in height.
"Wait before you go, can't I at least get my new customers name?" asked the barkeep.
"My name?" replied the man, Dubois looking down at him. "It's Farkas!" he said, holding up one hand and promptly giving a victory sign with his left hand. As the two left the cramped building the barkeep looked very confused.
Standing outside with his arms crossed stood Hoxha and two others. To his left stood a giant of a man, taller even then Dubois.
"So, did you find anymore information during your pit stop?" asked Hoxha.
"It would seem she is by herself," replied Farkas.
"How sad, how very very sad for such a young child to be all by her lonesome!" said Hoxha. "Oh how glad I am that we were sent here to help her!"
"I thought you said that she had a…power of some sort," said Farkas.
"That is true, but we cannot judge such a young child for such things," said Hoxha. "Hoxha fighting sq-." From the direction of their intended destination a loud explosion roared.
"That can't be any good," said Dubois.
"Onwards Commander Hoxha?" asked the shorter of the men who had been with Hoxha. At his side hung a sabre.
"Of course, of course!" came Hoxha's reply.
"Woah that was a big explosion!" said Kagura.
Chiyo glanced down at the splitting path in front of them, one heading down into the village, and the other leading off in the direction of the explosion.
"I guess we aren't going into the village yet are we?" asked Chiyo almost with a whimper. Her poor feet.
"Not just yet," replied Minamo.
"I guess I'll have to get you that drink later," said Yomi as Team eight set off.