(Welcome back! Team 3 embarks on a new mission that is pretty straightforward, but things aren't always as simple as they seem. I love feedback and constructive criticism, so please leave a review so I can improve my writing and storytelling skills. Enjoy!)
"I wonder if Naoko liked the present I gave her?" Sakura ponders as she walks along the trail, "She didn't really say anything about it the other day."
Team 3 is traveling down a dirt trail outside the edges of the border to the Fire Country. Around them are nothing but fields of various crops and tall grass. The clouds are out and there is a light rain, but not enough to warrant a cloak.
"You've been pretty quiet today, Sensei," Kuroda comments, "Something on your mind?"
"No, not really," Kayo replies, seeming distracted.
"Hmm...nobody really noticed I was gone and Sensei hasn't mentioned it, but I wonder..." Kuroda thinks, "Does she suspect me?"
"So, why are we going to this town again?" Jando asks as he folds his arms behind his head, "It is in the middle of nowhere."
"Do you ever pay attention to the Hokage's briefings?" Sakura lectures with a heavy sigh.
"Only when they seem interesting," Jando admits with a shrug.
"Why even be a ninja if you aren't going to try?" she mumbles.
"Yeah, yeah, just tell me what we have to do," he responds, waving his hand dismissively.
"Fine, but next time you are on your own," she warns, jabbing her finger at him, "A client hired us to go and pick up an item he purchased from an artist who lives in the town."
"Why did he need to hire us?" Jando questions, "He could just get it himself."
"The sculpture we are collecting is very valuable," Kuroda answers, "Mainly because the artist is a renowned master sculptor. So the possibility that someone will try to steal it is very high. Our client declined to come with us to pick it because he thought he would get in the way if we were attacked."
"I guess that does make sense," Jando agrees, "This sculpture must be priceless. Maybe this mission won't be lame after all. I could get in some good action this time around."
"Let's hope not," says Kayo, "This is a C-rank mission, but hopefully we will get the package and return to the village with no problems."
"Wait, this is C-rank?" Jando asks with the excitement showing in his eyes, "I didn't know that! Now I am really pumped for this mission."
Sakura sighs and hangs her head in disappointment thinking, "We should just tell him that all our missions are C-rank. Then he might actually pay attention."
Team 3 arrives at their destination near the end of the day and makes their way to the appropriate store. The town is a very small farming community without a lot of buildings in it, so the place is easy enough to find. The store instantly stands out among the rest because it has been carved out of a giant oak tree. All of the windows are open to let the sun in, so the illusion of being a simple tree that it would normally give is broken.
Jando eagerly runs up to the door and starts to bang on it shouting, "Hey, master sculptor guy! Open up!"
The door swings open revealing a young man with blond hair in his early twenties. His hair is unkempt and his clothes are worn, dirty, and covered with dry clay. "No need to yell," he says, "I'm not deaf."
"Sorry about him," Kayo apologizes as she steps forward, "He is a little energized."
"Ahh, you must be the Leaf Ninja that I have been expecting," the artist says, extending his hand, "Come in, come in."
As they follow him inside Sakura whispers, "He is not exactly what I was expecting when the Hokage said he is a world famous artist. He is pretty young to be so well known."
"Don't let yourself be ruled by preconceived notions," Kuroda replies, "It will only make you more unprepared when something unexpected happens."
"So are you saying I should think that anything is possible?" she asks, taken aback by the suggestion.
"No, but you should believe that it is possible that anything is possible," he replies.
"I…don't get it," Sakura confesses.
"I'll explain it later," he promises.
"So now, do you have the…?" the sculptor asks as he steps behind the front counter.
"Yes, here you are," Kayo interjects as she hands him a scroll.
"Ahh, yes, thank you," he says as he unrolls it and checks it over, "Everything seems to be in order." He turns around pulling out a key and uses it to unlock one of the plain wooden cabinets on the wall. Then he digs through the various objects inside until he pulls out a small package about a foot long and half a foot wide.
"What is that?" Jando asks.
"This is the sculpture you are here to pick up," the artist says as he hands the package over.
"What? That's it? It is so small, and we don't even get to see what it is," the Hyuga boy complains.
"Quiet down, Jando," Kayo orders, "We don't need to see it in order to deliver it."
"I knew this mission was going to be lame," he grumbles, turning towards the door.
"Sorry about that," she apologizes again, embarrassed by her pupil's behavior, "Our client sends his thanks for the item."
"Tell him that I very much enjoyed making it," the sculptor replies.
"I will," she guarantees, "Now we must be going."
"No, no I can't have that," the artist protests, "It is far too late to start a journey. It would be bad luck to go now. You can stay here tonight and set off in the morning. I have plenty of spare rooms."
"Thank you very much," she replies graciously, "I think we will take you up on that offer."
"Why don't you kids go have a look around and pick out your rooms," the sculptor says, "My wife will have dinner ready shortly."
"Free meal, sweet!" thinks Sakura as she makes for the stairs.
"Maybe I'll do a little exploring and see how this place was made," thinks Kuroda as he follows behind.
"So what did you want to talk about?" asks Kayo once Jando has gone out of the room.
"You pick things up fast," the sculptor compliments.
"It is part of the job," she replies, "Now what is going on? Why did you want us to wait to leave?"
"Someone has been trying to steal the sculpture the past couple of days," he reveals, "They haven't been able to get past the defenses I have set up around this place, but once you go out of the town you will be on your own."
"What is with all of this mist?" asks Sakura as she opens up the door the next morning. After a good night's rest and a healthy breakfast the team is ready to depart back to Konoha.
"That is pretty peculiar," Kuroda comments as he glances out, "It is pretty unusual for that kind of weather during this time of year."
"How would you know?" questions Jando, "You've never even been to this village before."
"It is called preemptive research," Kuroda responds, "I always try and find out as much as I can about where we are going before leaving on a mission. You might want to give it a try."
"I don't need stupid books to tell me what to do," Jando counters.
"Suit yourself," Kuroda shrugs, "Anyway, according to the data, misty weather is still a few months away for this area."
"Be on guard everyone," Kayo orders as she looks out into the thick mist.
"Is there something wrong, Sensei?" Sakura asks, worry blooming on her face.
"If anyone does try to intercept the package then they will surely try to use this mist to their advantage," Kayo explains, "Be ready for anything.
"Okay," Sakura says, confident in her new abilities.
"I'm always ready for a fight," Jando brags.
"Good luck on your journey," the master sculptor says as he stands with his wife and waves goodbye to the team.
"Thanks for the hospitality," says Kuroda, "We'll be sure to stop by the next time we come into town."
The squad moves through the town, heading back the same way they came in. As they go the mist only gets thicker and thicker, making it extremely hard to see anything more than four feet in front of them.
"This mist really is horrible," Sakura complains, "I hope it isn't like this the whole way home."
"Jando, use your Byakugan and see if you can guide us through the mist," Kayo orders, "It should help us travel faster."
"No problem," Jando says as he focuses the chakra into his eyes, "Byakugan!" He stares into the mist trying to make out shapes and objects, but something is wrong.
"What is the hold up?" asks Sakura growing impatient, "Take the lead already."
"This is weird," Jando says, "Something is messing with my Kekkei Genkai."
"What makes you say that?" Kuroda inquires.
"Because I can't see through this mist," Jando reveals, "It is like it is made out of chakra."
Kayo tenses up and the news and reaches for a weapon, "Everyone take out a weapon and be prepared to follow me in a sprint."
"What is going on, Sensei?" Sakura asks.
"This isn't a normal mist," Kuroda says, understanding the situation, "This is a Jutsu."
(A suspicious mist has arrived just as the squad is preparing to return home. What could it mean? As always, if you want more information on my characters you can see their bios on my profile page. Be warned, there may be some spoilers. Also I'm in the process of getting pictures drawn for the characters, but I have no idea how long that will take. If you're interested in drawing and have a DA account then send me a Message. Enjoy the next chapter, and please review.)