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[b]"Izo, calm down. You both are jumping at the mission without a thought of preparation. Kohaku is allowed to prepare herself shortly. Rush into this mission and die because we are unprepared is an outcome I would like to avoid."[/b]

After Izo's quick telling off, Kohaku could feel a strange sense of triumph. Sure, she didn't want to have [i]too[/i] much of a bitter relationship with anyone on her team nor antagonize them, but out of Inori and Izo it was the Kirigakure boy Kohaku found herself to have a slightly stronger distaste for. She always constantly reminded herself to keep an open mind about things, people especially, but sometimes she wished that someone would just smack the sour arrogance right out of him. If Kohaku could recall, it was Haitani who was to be their temporary squad leader. 

[b]"You have 20 minutes. Meet me at the front of the village. Now go,"[/b] was Haitani's final instructions to Kohaku.

[b]"[color=E0A11A]Yeah. Cool. I can do twenty minutes no problem! I'll see you guys soon, yeah? Promise I'll be there on time![/color]"[/b]

[centre][i]♪[/i][/centre]

[b]"[color=E0A11A]Grandpa![/color]"[/b] Kohaku shouted, bursting through her apartment door. As she scrambled towards her bedroom she slammed her foot into a box of books in the narrow hallway, though her pumping adrenaline after [i]sprinting[/i] for five minutes straight kept her focused. Kohaku knew where she kept her stash of ninja tools, and thank goodness she was orderly enough to organize her things beforehand for future use; when you lived in such a small home, it was either you let things pile up and risk smashing into things or actually sweep stuff to the side and get organizing. Kohaku preferred the latter.

[b]"[color=LightSlateGray]Jeez, you all right Kohaku? What's with the rush?[/color]"[/b] her granddad asked, peeping his head out from the kitchen door. 

[b]"[color=E0A11A]Well in short, if I'm late for this new mission your granddaughter is gonna have [i]both[/i] feet in the grave and it's not gonna be because she bravely fought on the front lines for the sake of her village! And didn't you say you weren't gonna store our stock in the hallway anymore?[/color]"[/b]

[b]"[color=LightSlateGray]Well since no one's buying 'em, gotta put 'em somewhere, right? I don't want customers trippin' over boxes of books like I heard ya just did back there, Kohaku,[/color]"[/b] the elderly man chuckled, sipping on his tea. [b]"[color=LightSlateGray]Also, got anything to tell me about this new mission o' yours?[/color]"[/b]

After attatching her kunai holster and pulling on a new shirt, Kohaku ran into the kitchen. [b]"[color=E0A11A]So we're [i]basically[/i] escorting the Fire Daimyou's daughter to some place down south and if our team screws up I think her father is gonna have our heads. And if I'm late to the rendezvous point then my team will have my head. They weren't lookin' so bright today so I don't wanna make any trouble for 'em by being even a second late.[/color]"[/b]

[b]"[color=LightSlateGray]Well, that sure sounds like busy day,[/color]"[/b] Noboru replied in a wheezy laugh. [b]"[color=LightSlateGray]D'ya know when you'll be back?[/color]"[/b]

[b]"[color=E0A11A]No clue but I'm guessing a couple of hours,[/color]"[/b] Kohaku said, sinking her teeth into her nutritious lunch for the day — an apple. 

[b]"[color=E0A11A]Well I better run off now 'cause I do not wanna be late![/color]"[/b] she shouted as she ran for the door.

[b]"[color=LightSlateGray]You got everything?[/color]"[/b]

[b]"[color=E0A11A]Yeah![/color]"[/b]

[b]"[color=LightSlateGray]Listen to your sensei, yeah?[/color]"[/b]

[b]"[color=E0A11A]Got'cha![/color]"[/b]

[b]"[color=LightSlateGray]And take care of yourself, Kohaku.[/color]"[/b]

[b]"[color=E0A11A]You too Grandpa![/color]"[/b]

[centre][i]♪[/i][/centre]

Jogging managed to get Kohaku to her destination quick enough; she didn't want to start this mission all sweaty and exhausted before anything had even started. Plus, she didn't want to look any more flustered than she did twenty minutes ago in front of her team again. Unsurprisingly, her two other teammates were at the gate, Izo having just arrived from a different route.

[b]"I guess we are once again stuck waiting for Kohaku to arrive,"[/b] she heard Izo say. Letting out a small sigh before stepping out of the shadows, Kohaku jogged towards her squad. 

[b]"[color=E0A11A]Not quite![/color]"[/b] she interrupted, her flashing a bright smile. [b]"[color=E0A11A]I'm all packed and ready to go. And uh, Izo? Is that a twig in your hair? D'ya run into a bush on your way here or somethin'?[/color]"[/b]

[@Gowi] [@Kal-El] [@Weird Tales]