The weather was the worst, with heavy rain pouring down the village. Despite the unfavourable condition, the Yamamura mine workers slaved away. Gold, silver, iron... All sorts of metal used by the country came from Yamamura, making their village one of the most prosperous around. They were far from the richest though, and as such, the miners were still forced to work day in and day out no matter the weather. The miners gathered the materials, and the traders made the trecherous hike down the mountain. That was where the Tetsume clan of ninjas came along.

"Shiori, are you sure you're prepared for this?" Ren Tetsume, the leader of the Tetsume clan and Shiori's father, asked, a concerned look marring his usually cold face. The huge warrior cared for very little except for his family and village, and his youngest child was his most beloved. To see her take up her very first mission as a ninja was something that truly horrified him. He'd worked hard to make sure that this event wouldn't happen for years, but he couldn't truly postpone it, especially when it was Shiori herself who wanted it.

Shiori, dressed in her Tetsume clothing, shot her fist to the air, a bright smile adorning her face. "I have never been as certain of anything in my life before. Allow me the opportunity to show you what I am capable of."

Seiji, the oldest of her brothers, patted the short girl's head affectionately, earning him an irritated growl from Shiori. Seiji ignored it and continued to say to their father, "Shiori has trained for years. She can handle a simple mission."

Ren, despite still deeming that situation awry, had no choice but to sigh. He knew he couldn't deny his daughter of something as this. No, he couldn't coddle his daughter. That would only drive her away and he didn't want that. "Very well," he grumbled.

A sharp and excited squeal filled the room next as Shiori jumped towards her father, engulfing the huge man in a hug. "Oh, great thanks, father!" she exclaimed, pure joy coating her features. Hee childish actions earned her affectionate smiles from the rest of her family. Their little Shiori was taking her first steps into becoming just like them. Shiori waved her goodbye to her father and brothers before heading out to find the man she was meant to protect.

The man was a middle aged trader who frequented the villages in the east. He was an abrasive and harsh man, someone Shiori used to avoid a lot whenever he was in the village, but for the sake of her very first mission, she had to bury her discomfort. She sucked in a deep breath, and greeted her charge. "Mr. Takada, shall we head out?"

Takada offered her a few choice curses before shouldering his bag filled with the materials he would sell. He took up his cane and headed out, leaving Shiori in his wake. With a sigh, Shiori followed, double checking her equipment all the while. She already had a bad feeling about her first mission.