It's the most peaceful mission she's ever done. And, Kami, if it wasn't ridiculously slow. They had been on the road for two weeks now, and they were on a low ridge now. She listens as Gandalf encourages the rest of the Fellowship, telling them that they were doing well and that the path they were going to take was called Darkbrook Valley. The dwarf looks decidedly excited about this, for some reason. Kana contemplated the two topics of conversation she now had – one about Holly, where they currently were, and another about this Kheled-zâram the dwarf seemed so excited about.
"If we go up the pass we call the Pass of the Redhorn, under the slope farthest from Caradhras, we'll go down through the Stairs of Darkbrook, into the valley of the Dwarves. There lies the Mirrorpool, and there the Silver Vein flows in its frozen springs."
"Dark is the waters of Kheled-zâram" – Said Gimli – "and cold are the springs of Kibil-nâla. My heart flutters when I think I might see them soon."
Gandalf smiles with Gimli's excitement and then speaks:
"I think we'll rest here, not only during the day but also at night. There is a beneficent air in Azevim. Much evil needs to happen in a region before it forgets the Elves if ever it was inhabited by them."
"That is true. But the elves in that region were different for us Woodfolk, and the trees and grass don't remember them now. I only hear the stones mourning them: they dug them from the depths, molded them into beautiful shapes, and built them into tall buildings, but they are gone. They are gone. They left in search of the Grey Havens long ago."
The Uchiha really wants to ask about that place. She had heard about it briefly when she was in Rivendell and even during her encounter with Namo, but she still wanted to know more. Mainly because It had left the prince looking melancholy.
"I can ask about that later, privately." – She thinks, a bit of nervousness and happiness building up whenever she thinks about spending time in the elf's company.
"Now, however, I want to know why the dwarf looks so excited."
"Can you explain to me your joy with this place? I am still poorly versed in important places on Middle-earth." – Kana asks, curious and the dwarf looks at her in surprise. Members often forgot about her presence, and how discreet the woman was. The redhead, despite his caution with the strange figure, was satisfied with her question and explained how it was a place considered sacred to the dwarves.
"In the First Age, Durin, eldest of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves, wandered through the valley of Azanulbizar and saw in a small still lake a reflection of himself wearing a crown of seven stars, a reflection of the constellation that would become known as the Crown of Durin." – The dwarf starts to explain and Kana approaches, staying beside him. The dwarf realizes, of course, that this means she is at least trying to get a little more involved with the Fellowship, in a subtle way, as he was beginning to understand her to be.
"Because of that sign, Durin chose to build his great hall in the mountains above that valley, but after that, only he could see his reflection in the lake."
Kana pays attention to the story the dwarf develops, reflecting inwardly on how, since landing in Middle-earth, she has found good storytellers and that each one of these stories seems full of meaning and value. Her favorite was still Creation when Gandalf spoke of times before Middle-earth existed.
"Speaking of stories..."
"Legolas." – She whispers, walking beside him, watching his profile curiously.
"Yes?" - He asks, thinking it was odd of her to hesitate.
"Could you tell me more about the Grey Havens? You don't have to if you don't want to. I'm just curious."
"It's not a problem. Although, I'm curious how you seem to not know a lot of things that would be considered common knowledge. I would also be delighted to learn more about where you came from."
The elf tilts his head and smiles softly.
"How can he be so adorable?" – Kana thinks, feeling a brief heat in her cheeks.
"Mn… Sure, I could tell you about that." - She agrees, surprising herself with the easy acceptance. Talking about Konoha seemed less and less of a risk in her paranoid mind. She had avoided talking about her house before, hidden village and all, but how could she refuse when everyone was so nice? Also, elves.
Elves had some kind of kekkei genkai to make her so comfortable and willing to share her life, that was the only explanation.
"This is wonderful!" – He answers with a radiant smile, almost childlike. – "I'm glad you're more open, Kana. Perhaps another time, share it with others as well, I bet they are as curious about you as I am."
The Uchiha blinks and scratches the back of her head, not knowing what to say. She sighs in resignation and silently agrees when she notices that Legolas expects an answer to his suggestion.
"Maybe. One of these days." – She answers, softly and looks away, immediately regretting it when she catches the amused expression of Gandalf watching them.
"Uh. Why does the old man look so proud of me?" – She thinks, embarrassed and grateful when Legolas' voice distracts her from the strange wizard, telling her about the Grey Havens and a little more about the elven culture.
Even on the journey, her hygienic habits have not changed. Kana got up before everyone else in the Fellowship and chose a place a little far away to take a bath; she preferred it when there was a lake, but when that wasn't an option, her chakra technique was enough: she manipulated the humidity in the air and filled a hole made with an earth-style technique. She was returning from her ablution to the deep ditch they had chosen as their resting place, overshadowed by large boughs of holly.
She hears the sword of the hobbits: Merry and Pippin fighting with Faramir. Faramir and Aragorn are teaching them to fight, a routine she very much encouraged, though she did not say it aloud. Sam is cooking, Frodo is watching his friends and Gandalf and Gimli seem to be discussing something. To the South, in the distance, a dark patch appeared, and grew, drifting north like smoke blown by the wind. Legolas was attentive, watching, as she did, the approaching black mass.
"Crebain! Hide, quick!" – The archer exclaims and soon everyone was doing exactly that.
"What are you doing?" – Legolas whispers beside her as if they had hidden in the same place, and Kana ignores the shivers his voice causes, mentally cursing her decision to always gravitate toward the elf.
"Putting us in a genjutsu; will ensure that they don't see us and feel that nothing is interesting here." – She answers him in a low voice, activating the Sharingan and forming a hand seal.
When they pass and she finally looks up at the elf, he's staring at her with alarming intensity and something like fascination.
"What?" – Kana asks, very aware of the small distance between them, especially when the elf reaches out and places his index finger on her chin, urging her to look directly into his eyes.
Kana thought she was reasonably immune to his handsomeness at this point, but she found herself completely wrong in that regard when she couldn't look away and her heart started beating a little faster than normal. Hopefully, he'd blame adrenaline and not her ridiculous hormones showing at the most inopportune time.
The blonde meticulously studies her eyes, but soon gives the same attention to what he could see on her face. This close, he could appreciate the long black lashes that framed her eyes, the porcelain skin on her face, the well-defined and delicate eyebrows, as well as a glimpse of the shape of her nose, which he was almost certain to be. small and tall. He almost wants to trace the shape of her face, imagining how it is. His thumb resting where her lips should be. He inhales and notices that there is a faint, pleasant scent of honey and lavender coming from Kana and he notices that she always looks clean and fragrant, something that made him curious, though not as much as those exotic eyes.
"Your eyes. They are red." - He says, perplexed.
"O-oh. Sorry, I forget how scary they can be. I'll try to let you know next time I need activate the Sharingan." – She says quickly, pulling away and not thinking about how her voice sounded a little disappointed.
"No, they are..." – Beautiful. – Legolas did not finish his sentence, as Kana was already meters away, talking to Gandalf.
The elf sighed softly and put a hand into his lips, a little uneasy with what he had almost said and how he had behaved. There was nothing wrong with thinking there was beauty in her, but it was still absolutely inappropriate for him to touch her without permission and invade her personal space like that just because he wanted to better admire those scarlet eyes.
The part that stunned him the most about it all was that he wasn't sure he wouldn't do it again.
"They won't endure It." – Kana thinks, worried about the hobbits shivering with cold. The Mountains were covered with snow on the path they took after the incident with the Cebrain.
Frodo stumbles; she is helping him stay up in an instant. The hobbit thank her with a smile, but soon look for the artifact they needed to destroy, without finding it. Kana, the hobbit, and Aragorn - who was a few meters behind away - look for the ring with their eyes, finding it up with him in a snowdrift near Faramir.
The man with dusty blonde hair reaches down and picks up the ring, and Kana sees the influence of the object trying to persuade him. The Fellowship refuses to let her contain the Ring's influence every day (they felt bad because she hurt herself and she ended up giving up after a while, now she contained it every three or four days).
"Faramir." – Aragorn says, after a few seconds that the man doesn't say anything, just looking at the object, but Aragorn's voice takes him out of his enchantment. He takes a few steps towards Frodo and hands it over, without looking back, quickly pulling away and stepping forward. The hobbit is relieved when he returns it, as well as the rest of the Fellowship, but Kana watches him for the rest of the day with concern and is alert to any threats he might cause.
She knew that genjutsu here was stronger than in her world and Faramir did not have the same training as she had in resisting influence, nor the natural disposition of hobbits to be less affected by genjutsu.
Night arrives slowly, bringing a snowstorm and an argument between Gandalf and the Fellowship members on how to continue down this path was madness, especially when Merry passes out from hypothermia, and Kana manages to warm him up with an incomplete version of the technique of the fireball, using only the hot breath.
She's pretty sure she'd be as displeased as they are if she didn't have the chakra to regulate her temperature and make her walk on snow – how the elf managed it, she had no idea.
After some shouting, Gandalf turned to Frodo, saying that he must choose the way.
It's a difficult decision for Frodo, she knows. The quest leader – Gandalf – was reluctant to go into the mines, but at this rate, Kana can't imagine how much worse it could be if they went the route the dwarf and Aragorn were suggesting. Faramir also suggested his city – which she would really like, however, her purpose didn't coincide with what was best for the quest, only for herself, as she wanted to find her brother.
"Let's go through the Mines." – Frodo decides and the Uchiha feels it is the best decision, although she throws worried looks at Gandalf all the way back.
In the days that follow, Gandalf's dark mood is noticeable, and the journey is silent and brooding for the most part. He strays away from the Fellowship several times and Kana would, under other circumstances, respect his space without disturbing him, but there was something about the way he seemed almost anxious that just… unsettled her.
She was worried about him. So even when he mumbled something about wanting to be alone the first time she approached his bubble of seclusion, she stayed.
"I'm not leaving." – She said, resolute. There were just the two of them now, separated from the rest of the Fellowship, a few meters ahead in the shelter they found at the base of the mountain. They enjoyed a bonfire as the storm increased in intensity.
Gandalf's expression scared her a little – and he was certainly about to scold her impatiently and tell her to leave him alone when she cuts him off before he's even begun:
"I know you must have your reasons for not wanting to go that route. It's probably more dangerous than they're giving it credit for." – Kana says. – "But even if you're upset, don't…don't push us away." – She is a little embarrassed to include herself, but did it anyway. "Frodo is inconsolable and the rest of the Fellowship feel his disapproval deeply, even if they don't say it aloud. And… mn… I could listen to one or two more stories from you."
She glances over briefly and notices that there's a decidedly softer expression on the mage now and a little wistful.
"You are right. I must not withdraw from my friends. Not now." – He says, contemplative, and Kana recognizes that expression.
It's the same one she saw in partners who knew they were going on a suicide mission.
It's the same one she saw in herself before entering the front lines during the war.
A chill runs through her then, and she has nothing to do with the storm, but with the prospect of losing Gandalf.
"No." – She thinks, in a somewhat visceral way, the mere possibility of something that leaves her with a sour taste in her mouth.
She wants to say something but can't and the opportunity passes as he gets up and walks towards the bonfire made by the Fellowship. He stops just to look at her inquiringly and with a gentle smile:
"I may not have a story to tell today, but I would love to hear one from you."
She nods silently, already slightly regretful that she'd practically promised to share more of herself.
"I'm not good at telling stories." – She starts, embarrassed and a little nervous with all the attention she is receiving.
"Me neither." – Frodo smiles at her encouragingly. – "But they haven't thrown it in my face yet, so I believe you'll be safe to tell it however you feel comfortable, Lady Kana."
"Just Kana. Lady Kana is... so formal." – She says to him and then looks at the others to make herself clear.
"Well then, Kana! Tell us about your land!" – Pippin says excitedly and she stirs thoughtfully before taking her sketchbook and some graffiti out of her bag. She starts to draw, to focus less on the watchful eyes.
"Where I come from, there are Five Great Nations: the Land of Earth in the northwest, the Land of Lightning in the northeast, the Land of Water in the east, the Land of Wind in the southwest, and the Land of Fire in the center. They have these name due to the predisposition of their inhabitants to have affinities with techniques from their respective countries. Here, in the Land of Fire, is located Konoha, my homeland. As the name implies, most of us have a predisposition to master fire techniques, although we can manipulate other elements with effort."
She hesitates, unsure how to proceed, and Sam comes to her aid.
"Are these techniques possible due to the chakra you mentioned?"
"Mn-huh. Chakra is the energy that every living being where I came from has. It's like blood, only invisible most of the time, and it's through this energy that I can manipulate elements of nature, which is essential for Shinobis like me."
"Shinobi are the warriors of their nation, correct?" – Faramir asks and she nods.
"Currently, there is relative peace between the five nations, but there have been many wars due to the power that chakra provides and the inherent greed of humans. I think what most keeps this peace was the founding of organized military villages, not long ago. The first of these villages was Konoha, founded 60 years ago."
"Woah. Not long ago, indeed." - Says Gimli, surprised.
"The territory already existed, but many conflicts were going on between clans, for hundreds of years, until the Senju and the Uchiha - clans with the greatest rivalry and most numerous, at the time - signed a peace treaty and decided to found a unified village, protecting civilians and stopping the unnecessary internal killing. This allowed independent clans to be a viable form of an army for the Fire Nation, more complete than small concentrations of warriors scattered haphazardly across the territory. Other Nations quickly embraced the system of a single military village serving the entire country. So... mn... sometimes I can say or do something that makes you... well." – She gestures vaguely, pointing to the other notebook, where they knew the dissection notes were.
Legolas was thoughtful, looking at her. If he remembers correctly, Eiko was an Uchiha and therefore Kana should be too. For the most part, a founding clan is generally held to be nobility. Somehow it made sense, and at the same time, it was strange to think of the woman as being of the nobility.
"So most of Konoha's population are Shinobi?" – Faramir asks.
"Yes." – She says and starts to answer and relax as the hobbits encourage her to ask more about what Konoha was like lighter issues than wars and conflicts – simple things like the weather, typical foods, and dances.
Each engaged in conversation and talked about their own lands, there was a moment when they were talking about important historical figures. Gimli told the story of Thorin and how he was a hero figure during his childhood and each spoke of the people they most admired.
"And you, lass? Some childhood hero of yours come to mind?" – The dwarf asks and Kana ponders and shyly nods.
"Ohhhh, that must be interesting! What kind of hero is there in your land, Kana?" – Merry asks, excited. – "What are his accomplishments? Or hers!" – He adds.
"Mn… well… actually, he wasn't seen as a hero by most of my people. People called him a coward. He didn't have a very happy ending either." – She begins. – " But I believe he was a hero."
"It starts with a mission." – She says. – "A mission that goes wrong and there is only one choice to make: go ahead with the mission and complete it but abandon his partners, or save his team but fail the mission. We are Shinobi." – Kana speaks with a distant look. – "The mission must always come first. Before our own feelings, before our partners, and even before our lives. We should kill every weakness, every affection, and everything that makes us human in order to do our duty." – She says a little bitterly and then closes her eyes. – "And he chose not to abandon them. He chose it, knowing that he would never receive a thank you and that in the years to come he would have all manner of humiliation to endure. One of those people he saved was the mother of the only true friend I ever had in my life. If he hadn't done what he did, I would never have met her. His name was Sakumo Hatake. And he is my childhood hero."
Kana opens her eyes, lingering a little longer on Gandalf.
"And it's because of him that I will never leave a partner behind."