I shuffled forwards in the line wondering if I'd have another day without a mission. The small bit of training I did with Naruto yesterday went about as well as it could have. Though I couldn't recognize the nature energy around me, I could feel something there, softly calling to my awareness. It was also a relief to be quiet around Naruto; sitting close to him, being able to hear him breathe.

While I was lost in my thoughts the line cleared ahead of me, and someone cleared their throat. I step up and bow. "Good morning, Lady Tsunade."

"Good morning, Hinata," She says with a nod. Lady Tsunade leans forwards to look me in the eye. "I have a very important mission for you today: I need you to go buy me some sake."

"Oh, um... where from, Lady Tsunade?"

"Tanzaku Quarters. I'll give you the name of the shop keeper later." Of course, this is no simple sake run. The request is a code phrase meaning assassination, and the name of the shop keeper is the target. You still have to actually buy Lady Tsunade a bottle of sake, though. I bow, and take my leave. As I exit the mission room, I remember the girls headed to Tanzaku Quarters that I freed, and the two groups fighting for them. It makes sense that I would be sent for one of their leaders, in retaliation for what I did, or as a preemptive strike.

I don't immediately head home to prepare. Instead I make my way over to a small shop that sells toys and games, and purchase a shogi set. It just takes a moment to pack, and I set up the shogi board on my bed. I'm no master player, but it will help to have something in front of me to see and work with. I quickly take away a few of the lesser pieces, and look at what's left. The kings aren't exposed, so I take off two more pieces- the leaders of the two groups- and look at the board. There are winding paths to the kings exposed, and a couple pieces taking up the middle. But a veteran player wouldn't expose the kings. I look at the other pieces, the ones that can strike from a distance, and realize neither side can afford to make an open play for the king. So that's where I, the third player, come in. I'll take out the gold and silver generals, and unseen, move for the king.

I set the shogi board on my writing desk, and get up to stretch. There's still a few hours before I have to check in with Lady Tsunade, so I decide to study my water jutsu scroll. For several minutes nothing catches my interest, until I spy one that creates a vortex of water. I smile; maybe I really will create a shark tornado jutsu.

Out at usual secluded training spot I find someone waiting for me. "You're pretty hot today, Hinata!" The watched feeling sharpens, and I see Konohamaru waving. "I finally got that sensory jutsu down!"

"You mean the Fire Release one I told you about the other day?" Konohamaru nods, sweat trickling down his forehead. "That's wonderful!" I smile, and he grins back at me. "Did you sense anyone else coming besides me?"

"Nah, you were the only one. And what about the one you were working on?"

"I've learned it, it works well. I've spent the last few days working on another, though."

"Oh yeah?" I nod and form the Snake hand seal, performing the Flickering Tongue Jutsu. Konohamaru chortles. "Hate to break it to you, but that jutsu looks pretty lame."

"Says the boy who had oatmeal with chocolate syrup and raspberries for breakfast." Konohamaru's eyes widen, and I try not to laugh, barely succeeding. "I'm just trying to have all my senses covered." A short pause. "Well, if you wouldn't mind..." Konohamaru nods and wipes his brow, and departs from the clearing. The jutsu seemed simple enough on paper, only three hand seals. The first time I come close, the volume of water not being a problem, but I sense I need more velocity- like the inner rings of a whirlpool, instead of the outer. The repetition gets me slightly dizzy though, and despite having it at an acceptable place I take a break. Well, that's the water spout portion done, so I work on forming a shark. I can easily do this, but upon trying to launch it as I imagine I would with the completed jutsu, it ripples and becomes a simple jet of water. Stability. A hand seal, to circulate and lend strength to my chakra, and I settle on the Monkey seal. How to bring these two together, though? After several more tries, in which I succeed in stabilizing the shark, I get an idea. The calm sea around a whirlpool, and the vortex at its heart. I have a feeling this will work, but my first few tries fail in the same way that I did with the shark, and I decide Ive done enough for the moment and head to the Mission Room.

Tsunade is there, walking up the stairs to the room. "You're a little wet."

"I, I was practicing a jutsu that creates a shark tornado of water," I say, this time being serious.

"Ha, be serious, Hinata."

"I was..."

"If you say so," Lady Tsunade says with a smirk. She opens the door to the Mission Room and we walk in. Shizune is at the desk sorting through papers when she looks up and steps aside. Taking a seat, Lady Tsunade takes a folder from the bottom of a stack, and opens it. "Shigekuni Yamaha," She says with a finger pointing to a picture of a man. He has a strong jaw heavy eyebrows, and a patch over his left eye. "Long suspected of being a leader of a group of revolutionaries looking to overthrow the daimyo, and in general rough and gruff. He'll be in Tanzaku Quarters to meet with some of his officers, at a house close to the castle." The address is close by under his picture, and I memorize it. "Now, though they didn't specify any particular method, the contractors specifically said they want the scene to be 'memorable'."

"Who sent in the letter?"

"The Akiyama Group, the same people you worked for on your last Tanzaku mission." I nod, and Lady Tsunades continues. "From my own experience with the revolutionaries, there's a certain bar in the Western quarter that Yamaha frequents, and you maybe able to find him there and tail him. Got all that?"

"Yes." I stare at Yamaha's picture, imprinting it deep in my mind. This little game of shogi I'm playing is about to become very interesting...