[center][img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjcyLmZkNmRjMS5UVzl0YnlCVFlXdDFjbUZwLjAA/eutemia-i.italic.png[/img] [color=hotpink][h2]Hidden Sand Village - Morning[/h2][/color] [img]http://i405.photobucket.com/albums/pp133/Hademaru/SunagakureAcademy-1.jpg[/img][/center] When she was a little girl, Momo had always wondered why the Hidden Sand Academy was located at the outskirts of the village. It was perched high on a cliff at the west end of the village, over looking a large crater that was said to have been created when the First Kazekage protected the village from a star that fell from the sky. That was the story at least, though she never believed a word of it. Stars didn't fall from the sky. As Momo grew older and entered the Academy, even then she never knew why that had been the place it was built. The five story building was separated by floor, depending on what year you were in. Typically one would spend five years at the Academy, learning the ways of the ninja. Those who were smarter and stronger than others skipped years, and those who were the class clowns and unmotivated slackers would stay a year longer. The very top of the building was set in place as a training area, where students could spar against one another, and served as a place where teachers could better demonstrate techniques rather than in the classroom. It was all so... perfectly thought out. Even way back then. Currently, she was walking away from the large building and making her way towards the center of the Village. She had walked her father to work after the two took Ayama to afternoon day care. They chatted about her late mother and how she used to hate days that were especially windy, like this one. The two had laughed for a short while, until the feeling of sadness would wash over them and they fell into silence. Her mother's death was still a fresh wound. Not even a year had passed... Her thoughts were interrupted by a shrill squeal coming from behind her. It was short and then immediately cut off into a muffled sound followed by whispers. Momo turned, her hair blowing into her face as she did. [color=hotpink]"What the hell was that?"[/color] she wondered aloud. There seemed to be no one around. The village was still a walks away, and the students should have all been in class. A single eyebrow raised and then she shrugged and turned, continuing her slow pace towards town. It was when shuffling, obvious sounds of a struggle started to pick up. Sighing, Momo would turn again and walk towards the sound. She looked around, not seeing anyone at first, until a gust of wind blew a bit of blonde hair out from behind a fallen stone structure. Crossing her arms at her chest, she would walk over there, thinking there was going to be a group of little kids trying to ditch class. When she neared the structure however, she was surprised to see a pair of teenage boys, likely still students since they bore no village symbol, crowding a younger girl who looked totally terrified. Momo rolled her eyes at the sight. [color=hotpink]"Get back to class. All of you."[/color] she demanded, uncrossing her arms and placing them at her hips. It was then that she noted both boys were much, much taller than her. And so did they. Smirking, the two turned from the blonde girl who sank to her knees once the attention left her. Glancing between them, Momo repeated herself. [color=hotpink]"Are you deaf? I said get the hell out of here."[/color] she demanded again, her tone more forceful this time. The two boys, clearly thinking she was someone younger than them, burst out laughing for a few moments. Momo just stood there and waited. Her jaw clenched. [b]"Why don't you listen up little girl?"[/b] one of them said, stepping right up to her. She had to crane her neck back just to continue looking him in the eye, but she didn't back down despite his height difference over her. [b]"You should stay out of this. Its none of your business so just keep it moving, princess."[/b] he added, smirking like the glorified asshole he was. His buddy walked over then and nudged him out of the way, stepping closer to her. [b]"Hey man I dont know,"[/b] he started, reaching out to touch a lock of Momo's hair. She let out a breath. [b]"This girl looks like way--"[/b] Before he could finish his sentence, Momo lashed out and punched the kid in the gut, sending him stumbling back and falling on his bottom. He groaned and clutched his belly. [color=hotpink]"Don't you ever,"[/color] she pushed her hair over her shoulder. [color=hotpink]"touch my hair."[/color] she finished, cracking her knuckles and glaring at the guy still standing. He looked pissed and made a move to swing at her. Not even a second passed before she brought up a hand to block and extended her foot backwards for a moment before bringing it forward and kicking him hard as she could in the groin. The pathetic shreik that tore from his mouth made her feel a bit bad, but one glace at the wide eyes blonde girl quickly made that dissapear. With the two guys on the ground, Momo went over to the girl and helped her up. A few seconds later, a gust of wind it them all from behind before she heard a voice. [color=crimson]"And what's going on here?"[/color] said a familiar woman's voice. Turning, Momo was looking right at their Kazekage. The woman descended from the sky accompanied by a large gust of wind. She was wearing the white hood worn by the previous Kage, but instead of the normal blue garmet, she wore what appeared to be her regular combat gear. The look on her face was displeased, and Momo assumed she has seen what had just happened. [color=hotpink]"Sorry Kazekage-sama. There was a little misunderstanding. These three were just heading back to class."[/color] she said, turning her gaze to the boys and glaring at them. [color=hotpink]"right?"[/color] They nodded and scrambled to their feet, bowing before making their way back to the Academy building in the distance. Momo's focus returned to the red haired woman as she stepped over to the blonde girl who still looked shaken. [color=crimson]"Are you alright?"[/color] she asked, looking and sounding concerned. The girl nodded and gave a small bow. [b]"Y-yes M'lady."[/b] she said softly. [color=crimson]"Alright then, run along."[/color] she said, giving the girl a pat on the head. The blonde complied, blushing and giving another bow before running off. An annoyed sigh from Momo made the woman look at her. [color=crimson]"Hm? Is something wrong?"[/color] Crossing her arms, she wasn't going to say anything at first, but decided to answer. [color=hotpink]"Stuff like this is just annoying."[/color] The Kazekage's brow raised. [color=crimson]"Oh? What do you mean?"[/color] she asked the shorter girl. [color=hotpink]"I's a pain when I have to stick up for a girl who should be able to protect herself."[/color] she said truthfully. Her only response to that was a light smirk. Then the subject was changed. [color=crimson]"Why haven't you come to my office yet?"[/color] she asked Momo, turning and started to walk away. For a moment, Momo just stood there with her arms crossed before following the woman. [color=hotpink]"I was planning to head there now."[/color] [color=crimson]"I had expected you would have come right away. We had this meeting planned a day ago. You should have gotten my message."[/color] she said. Momo couldn't see her face, and her tone didn't sound angry. She wondered if the woman was upset. [color=hotpink]"My apologies. I shouldn't have taken up your time."[/color] she paused. [color=hotpink]"Wait, were you waiting for me?"[/color] she asked. A light chuckle was heard from the woman. [color=crimson]"Yes but don't worry about it. Until recently I had plenty of work to do."[/color] Momo nodded, thinking she was going to continue, but she didn't. In fact, she said nothing else during the half hour walk to her office. Once they were inside though, the woman went to sit behind her desk while Momo stood at the center of the room. She was waiting for the woman to speak. It seemed she was keen on taking her time. [color=hotpink]"M'lady?"[/color] she asked impatiently. This made the woman's lips tug into a smile. [color=crimson]"Right to the point then? I received your application to Yoru and I wanted to tell you in person that I plan to accept you into the organization. Though there is something you must do before you can officially start. I looked over your file..."[/color] she said, shuffling through some papers before getting to a book and flipping through the pages. After a moment she reached what appeared to be Momo's profile. [color=crimson]"Your file is exceptional despite you actually being in the field a short number of years. You've completed the required number of missions, except for one. To be accepted into Yoru, you must complete one more A-ranked mission."[/color] she paused and closed the book, leaning back into her chair. [color=hotpink]"So you have a mission for me? I'm no longer assigned to a squad though."[/color] Momo told her. [color=crimson]"That's right. I was going to make an exception for you then considering that, however..."[/color] she paused and crossed her arms. [color=crimson]"Due to the fact you've been out of work for the past seven months or so, I need to make sure you are still at the top of your game. A shinobi who's good at weapon mastery is hard to come by. I need to make sure you still have confidence in yourself... even after what happened."[/color] she said. Momo felt as though a trap had been sprung around her heart. The only outward sign of it was the lowering of her eyes to the ground. Silence filled the room for a few moments before the woman spoke. [color=crimson]"Your mother was a good friend of mine. I miss her as well. Though you see... in this world, people die and kill every day. This line of work requires that you accept that, and do not take your personal feelings with you during a mission. I need to make sure you understand that."[/color] she said. The woman didn't continue until Momo's eyes met hers. [color=crimson]"Which is why I'm sending you on a mission alone. If you return successful, you'll be accepted into Yoru as a Combat specialist and assigned to a squad. Is that clear?"[/color] Momo nodded. [color=hotpink]"Yes ma'am. So... what do I have to do?"[/color] Moving through some more papers, the woman would pick up a folder and extend it out towards Momo. She took a few steps forward and took it. [color=crimson]"This is an escort mission. The woman is [url=http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/narutooriginals/images/0/08/Freetime_sakuya_by_uchihapuchiha-d59vda2.png/revision/latest?cb=20131025135706]Sakuya Nyoto[/url], a resident of the Land of Fire who has been staying with us for quite a while. Due to the fact bandits are still roaming about at the border, its not been to safe to return her to her home country. However, recently our scouts discovered a pattern and the best possible path to take to get there. If you're smart, you won't have to do anything other than walk."[/color] she said, pausing to give Momo time to look over the map with the path drawn on it. [color=crimson]We've run out of time and have gotten word that we can no longer keep her here. We must act now, but I'm sure you can understand the risks in sending a large group of people, correct?"[/color] Momo nodded. [color=crimson]"Well, that is why it will just be the two of you. I expect you'll carry this mission out with ease. You will meet with Sakuya at the village gates at dawn tomorrow."[/color] she said, sitting back and crossing her arms. [color=crimson]"That is all. If you have no questions, you're dismissed."[/color] [color=deeppink]"Thank you, Kazekage-sama."[/color] Momo said, and with that, vanished from the office in a puff of smoke.