The sweet smell of vanilla lingered in the air. It was familiar, nostalgic, warm and comforting. Yet it was nothing more than a distraction, so Shiro ignored it as she let a deep breath pass out of her lips. Waiting for a few moments she inhaled yet another breath of sweet air, blocking out the world around her. Her focus centered on her chakra, she felt it flow through her body like a stream. Slowly she brought it up, feeling it rise from her core. It seeped off of her skin gently and spread into the air, into the scent. Even still she could feel it as it continued to spread out on the smoke and unseen particles in the air. Finally it touched an unlit brown stick that she felt instead of saw, and with a violet spark that incense lit aflame while the smell of vanilla vanished. It was quickly replaced by the scent of lavender.
Letting out another breath the young girl let her chakra recede back to her core. Taking in another breath and ignoring the subtle scent she started the process over again. From the outside she looked to be meditating in a closed off room, with no windows or doors. About five feet away from her, placed in a circle, were five long sticks of incense. Although only one was burning all had evidence of having been lit, and whenever she would light a new one the one that had previously burned had went out. Lighting and extinguishing these again and again was her training, her meditation. Sitting with her legs crossed and her eyes closed she let her chakra spread out over the scent yet again, searching for her next target rather than trying to remember where it was. Sometimes her Mother would move them or remove one in order to test her, insisting that memorizing was cheating.
"Shiro." The voice that spoke her name was so not unpleasant. Most would even describe it as beautiful, but Shiro cringed upon hearing it. Opening her eyes she saw her mother standing over her. Her Mother's voice was peaceful, yet distant. Patient, and yet deprived of feeling, passion, or affection. "The Madam has called for you. Gather your things; she has a mission for you."
"Yes Mother." Shiro said obediently. Without waiting for anything else her mother turned and left the room. No good luck or good bye left her lips. Although she wouldn't admit it this bothered Shiro, or rather Shiro had no one she could admit this too. Shiro waved her hand in front of the burning incense, which had a violet ember slowly eating at it. That ember quickly and silently died.
Her things were easy to grab, most of it was held in individual pouches already prepared for travel and held in the same room. She was out of her house in minutes, stepping into the clear bright day. Too bright, in her opinion, but they often were when you had spent all of your day inside to this point. Shiro let out a tired sigh as she realized that she might be on her way to being a shut in. Despite being very, very well versed in social etiquette she had no social life to speak of. A twinge of guilt stopped her heart for a half beat as she remembered that she didn't have the right to complain.
Miserably she made her way through the familiar town. As one might expect the grass village was located in grassland, a plain that had grass around its edges. The houses were made of stone and brick, as opposed to wood. Aside from some planted for decoration within the city there weren't any trees nearby, which made hiding all the harder. The village had its defenses but it didn't look like much when compared to the great villages. In fact it was almost embarrassing how small and insignificant it seemed. The village was unassuming yet hiding in that mundane appearance countless threats and secrets. Shiro liked to see it like that, although that was a bit presumptuous.
The Madam's chambers looked more like a city council than the office of their leader. At least from the outside, once a person walked inside there were greeted by darkness adorned by countless shimmering lights. Gems and glass, that glowed on their own, the entire building had them intermediately strewn about. Around the walls there was a flower garden held about three or four feet off the ground. There were several flowers planted within, yet none ever bloomed.
Ahead were several more closed plots containing flower gardens, and placed in them were glittering gems. How they glittered considering the room had no windows or discernible source of light was strange. It also raised the question of how the flowers grew, but despite the lack of sunlight they seemed to grow healthily. There was a stone path leading towards the center of the room, which had a single tree with red and green and blue gems hanging from its branches and several glowing white flowers blooming on it. It offered a pale, meager light.
Sitting in a cross legged position was an old woman, and standing in front of her was a child younger than Shiro, although she couldn’t see who it was she had a good idea.
Shiro started down the path with a confident stride. As she passed each garden the flowers in it bloomed, revealing their glowing white petals. Despite her projected confidence the walk seemed to take forever, but she finally reached the two. Shiro respectfully bowed to the Madam, the older woman adorned in robes of white and red. Her attire was almost ceremonial, but her position was revered.
Shiro then bowed to the child, hiding her reluctance. The child had short black hair and was dressed as most typical jounin were, a vest, headband, ect. She was only twelve, and yet she was one of the most respected shinobi in the village, and Shiro’s instructor. She was also the granddaughter of the Madam.
“N..no, you don’t have to…” The child said too late, her fluster showing. Despite her abilities and rank she was still only a child. “Umm… right, today we have called you here because we have a mission for you.”
After the child’s brief attempt at professionalism the room remained silent. Shiro waited for the details, and quickly became aware that nobody was speaking up but was in too important of company to say anything. Several long awkward moments passed before the old woman finally broke the silence.
“Did you want to tell her the details, dear?” The Madam said with a smile.
“I thought you were going to Grandma!” The child protested with an immature voice before regaining her composure. “Right, earlier today the Shukaku’s flow vanished. Your mission will be to infiltrate Konohana and…”
The girl proceeded to give Shiro the details of her mission, some involving information that she shouldn’t be aware of yet. The girl, the next heir of the revered and mysterious Dharma clan, had an authority that rivaled the Kage’s within the grass village. This applied even more towards her mother, the current kage, and the old woman who was simply called the Kage. Within this village that family was treated as royalty, as near divinity even.
The meeting lasted for only thirty minutes or so. It was a dangerous mission, frighteningly dangerous, but her teacher had vouched for her. Besides she couldn’t let this chance pass, this was what Shiro had been training for. If she completed this mission then her family would gain a great deal of recognition. All she had to do was not get caught, and not mess up this mission. With her skills she couldn’t see herself losing, infiltrating Konohana would be a breeze. Even though they were likely going to be on high alert now and more xenophobic than usual, if it was her then she could do it.
At least that is what she told herself.
