As the days hurtled along and the month before the final task was coming to an end, it stirred the jitters in Nishira's belly. Her distraction cost her as Kabuto easily knocked her over. Accepting defeat she splayed onto the dirt, breath coming in large heaves, her chest rising and falling with effort.
"Giving up already? Or am I boring you?"
Nishira just groaned. He held out a hand and hoisted her up.
"If you go in like that, you'll likely to fail before you even start."
Nishira simply grumbled in response, dusting off the dirt.
"Maybe you'd even join my team. My sensei seems to have taken a liking to you."
There was a curious tilt to his voice, like he was teasing. Nishira frowned, she hadn't met Kabuto's squad leader, but she shrugged it off ready to go again. But Kabuto held his hands up in apology.
"I'm done for today, I think. I heard Lord Hokage is supposed to be arriving later."
She shrugged and turned away from her partner, until a tingling at the back of her neck caught her attention, like someone was watching them. Nishira looked around the large barren training room, evidence of her handiwork the only smudges on its monotone grey surfaces. No one other than her and Kabuto was visible, but she couldn't shake the feeling.
"What's wrong?"
Nishira took one more good look around.
"Never mind, I thought I saw someone watching us. You coming to watch tomorrow?"
She knelt to clean up her things.
"You'll do fine tomorrow, Nishira."
"You sound like you're leaving soon."
"Maybe, I guess we'll have to see."
Nishira smirked, Kabuto was so aloof, never a straight answer out of him, but it kept things light and fun. And she needed light and fun before such a big event.
"Want to get a drink with me later? I need one."
"You don't want to be with your teammates? It seems like they are much better at giving you what you need."
Without asking, she knew exactly what Kabuto meant. The memory of her every groan and satisfied moan, which had not reoccurred since that first time. But she side eyed him to gauge his reaction. The tone had been surprisingly neutral, a betrayal from his normal teasing voice. She couldn't resist the opportunity to tease him back.
"What are you jealous? Does the idea of me being with someone bother you that much?"
"No. But it's a distraction from your goal, you should be focused."
"Will you be there tomorrow?"
"Does it matter?"
His voice was beginning to give way to something more heated, bubbling from somewhere.
"It matters, Kabuto. You've helped me this whole time, I would think you'd like to see the results of your work."
"Well you've given me everything for my card, so our deal is complete."
Nishira pursed her lips.
"I'd like you to be there, if that changes anything."
"I guess we'll see won't we."

Nishira watched from the window of the Tsuchikage building as hordes of impressive travelling troupes arrived through the gates. The colourful robes flourished as they broadcasted their status and wealth to any who watched the procession. Despite the dread of the events that would happen tomorrow, the first day of a round robin tournament, there was one thing she was a little eager to know. Her eyes scanned every arriving group, looking for any hint of that white hair. Recognizing that she craved to know the answer made her frown with embarrassment, turning away from the window with a scoff.
"I'm such a cliché."
The idea of a teacher/student relationship was something from a smutty novel. This was real life, she lamented, it doesn't work like that. Muttering under her breath, she drew Hibi's attention.
"Hey, how are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Where are Sekawa and Toma?"
"Oh those two will never change, they'll be here at the last possible second."
"Sensei, have you been their teacher since they graduated?"
"How old do you think I am?" she laughed behind her hand. "No, not since the beginning, more as a favor to Lord Hokage a few years back. All my students had graduated and these two, well they needed a bit more of a gentle hand."
Nishira's face froze in her polite smile, the memory of Hibi screaming at them during training, the unflattering expression etched in her brain as a core memory of Hibi's 'gentleness'.
"What will you do if they become chunin this time?"
Hibi pondered the question for a beat.
"Probably go back to mission work, and maybe travel for a bit. There's some friends I've been missing out there. I know its surprising to hear someone having a life outside of the village,"
"That's not crazy at all."
"Right, I forgot who I was talking to. Then you get it, sometimes I just want to leave and never come back. Give up being a shinobi and, I don't know, maybe be an actress?"
"An actress?"
"Yeah, star in a romance with a hunky muscled guy who sweeps my off my feet."
"Not a bad ass action star?"
"I've had enough action for a lifetime, but," She smirked. "Maybe like a Mafiosa or something. The ice queen who calls the shots. Ha! That would be something."
Hibi's smile lingered as her eyes flicked seeing something in her mind. Nishira looked back to the sight below them.
"I used to feel that every day I wanted to run away, but truthfully, I had nowhere to run to. But sometimes I also wonder maybe if I left, I'd find something. Something better than this."
"I know about your contract."
Nishira's head slowly swiveled to look at her.
"I think it's bullshit. In my opinion anyways. I don't blame you for wanting to leave." Hibi frowned. "How do they justify it? It's like a prison sentence. That doesn't even make sense, we'll train you to be a deadly weapon but if you decide to quit and leave you die?"
"Not to mention, what happens if I become too powerful."
"I want to ask you something, I keep getting this feeling when we work together. Are you holding back on what you are capable of because of that?"
Nishira looked away.
"Listen to me now. When you go into that arena tomorrow, don't hold back. I want you to go for it. Show them the force you are. Show them they can't tame you."
Nishira mulled the word 'tame' in her mouth, surprised she'd never used it to describe this situation. She took a shaky breath, looking down she spotted the humble procession of Lord Hokage with his entourage, which didn't include anyone with that recognizable white hair.
"Hibi sensei, thank you."

It was early morning, some early morning clouds of mist lingered around the village like a gentle cold kiss. Nishira had aimless wandered from the ryokan, unable to take the tension roiling from her teammates. Crossing bridges, she found herself on in places she hadn't been in yet, admiring the landscapes, and meeting some people along the way with a polite nod. Nishira entered a large stone courtyard. Her gaze admiring the intricate pattern work of the cobblestones, cleared of the snow, making colourful mosaics and archways with stories depicted of great battles and the power of water over the stone, but the strength always prevailing. The Will of Stone, she thought. Her surroundings were empty. It was different than being tracked, allowing her the freedom to take everything in at her own pace. Everything since arriving at Iwagakure had been so quick, sweeping them along like the rapid waterfalls they'd seen. Nishira let out the first deep breath she'd been able to release since that moment. But the longer she lingered, slowly like the mist that evaporates with the coming sun, a creeping sensation of being watched became stronger. Nishira glanced around the place to see if anyone had joined her but found no other soul. Nishira decided she didn't want to linger there much longer.

Nishira approached the arena, an empty body that will be brought back to life in a while. But for now, only some workers were sweeping the ground and the smell of hot oil being warmed up for concessions. Nishira avoided them and moved into the stands, stone seats cut into benches that formed half rings around the center at the bottom, the stage where she'd be on display for all to see, all cleared of the evidence of winter. The opposite of them was the mountain face that the arena was built into, the natural fractures of the mountain displayed for the audience, competing for the attention. Nishira lingered over the light that came from behind it, still a deep orange that stretched to wipe away the evidence of the night sky. The ring below her was filled with a dirt floor that was full of rocky pebbles, and a small bit of foliage existed with a pond. Nishira wondered if that was to give all combatants something to work with regardless of the type of elements they could wield. Nishira was lost thinking about how to maneuver the arena when a set of long legs sat next to her.
"Busy studying as ever, I see."
Nishira looked up to see the tired face of Kakashi. His angular face always half hidden behind a mask, but his one visible eye half lidded as he looked at her. His white hair was as choppy as ever, if not a little dirtier. His hands still in his pockets as always.
"Wha- when did you get here? I didn't see you yesterday."
"Just this morning, I needed to get team seven settled before I could leave for a week."
She took in his backpack still on his back and the exhaustion that was plain in his face and body language.
"Did you run all the way here?"
With a nonchalant chuckle, he looked away to hide a small blush.
"Maybe. I couldn't let my student become a chunin without me."
She let out a deep sigh and rested her head on his shoulder.
"I'm glad you're here, Kakashi."
He patted her head with his hand, and they sat there comfortably for a moment before he asked after her training. The conversation continued as the arena began filling up with people. Nishira excused herself as the hour was fast approaching, heading towards the back to take the stairs leading under the arena where she would meet the others. As she passed the lobby, Nishira's eyes caught some candy-coloured tickets sticking out of someone's pocket. Kabuto had mentioned the rampant betting, explaining that sometimes, spectators would throw things into the arena to try and influence the outcome of the matches.

Nishira was no stranger to seeing the horrors of betting. Men and women who couldn't resist the urge to try and triple their money by placing long bets, or bets they believed were a sure thing. People who had lost their life savings, their homes, their families, and even their lives over one unknowable event or another. It was frustrating to watch, even sadder to see everything slip from them. The moment they realize they've lost, the colour drains from their face and they stare as though their souls had vacated the physical body. And yet, as soon as some more money passes their palms, they are back in the casinos, the horse tracks, the underground dog fighting, wherever will take that money to do it again. And every time they'd say this time for sure.

She descended the stairs into the belly of the arena to join up with the other fighters and their teachers. Along the walls, lined at perfect intervals stood men and women wearing the deep burgundy that most Iwa shinobi wore, but their faces were covered in masks. While different than the ones in Konoha, it was immediately identifiable that these were ANBU operatives, meant to make sure no one misbehaved. Nishira took in their stylized masks, the lines matching the designs that filled the village, before turning back to the other members of her team. Toma stood in all his splendor, blindly looking into space with headphones on. Sekawa paced in front of them in short ovals, muttering under her breath. Hibi sat on a chair nearby happily observing them. Hibi's words rung through her head. A heaviness swelled in her chest at the idea of doing just that. But behind it was fear. Fear of the shackles that would come if it were too much. But the temptation was great, and a chance to show strangers how much she'd learned on her own, through reading and studying, was a satisfaction she licked her lips for hungrily.

As the din of the crowd threatened to overwhelm them despite being deep in the stone, the Tsuchikage and his assistant emerged from another door. He glared at all of them, even the shinobi from Iwa. Nishira believed he probably looked like that all the time. He didn't even address them, instead the assistant requested their attention.
"One of the Sun shinobi succumbed to his injuries and has been disqualified from the competition."
Nishira frowned at the callous statement but allowed him to continue uninterrupted.
"As such, Nara Toma? You will only have your match against Kajeoki Sujini. And you'll be first called, so prepare yourself."

And with that out of the way, the pair emerged into the direct sunlight of the arena to thunderous cheers. Toma gave them a cheesy grin and a thumbs up, Sekawa frowned, and Nishira looked towards Jori, noting that they were last.
"This is it, guys. You ready?"