". . . from here, it seems we would have to head to the Land of Needles," said Kakashi as he traced a map he had laid out. "That should be the nearest port. And since the Land of Needles is a neutral country for the past one hundred years, I don't think we need to worry about any hostility."

"Well, they are also known for trading with foreign countries. They might know the way to the Land of the Rising Sun," Obito agrees as he looked at the map with thought.

Their students nod in agreement, though deep in their minds they wondered about their journey. Traveling through land is one thing, but to cross the sea to visit a foreign land is something they have yet to experience. But the thought made them excited.

"What I don't get is how that place isn't in our records," Shikamaru remarked. His hand tapped his cheek as he squeezes his eyes to imagine and speculate reasons.

"We'll find out way later on," said Kakashi, standing up. "Our mission right now is to follow Masashi-san to her country and find out as much as we can. As the Hokage has said, we can't turn a blind eye to this. We can't wait any longer for Gai and his team. We'll just have to wait for them somewhere further. Hopefully, they'll pick up the pace."

Pulling out the kaiken from her pouch, Sakura stares at it with sadness in her eyes. Her hands grip it tightly as it reminded her the pained look Yoshie fought to hide in her eyes. Sasuke notices the kunoichi's distressed face. To comfort her, he pats her head in a blunt nature: neither gentle of rough, just right in between. The girl turns her gaze to Sasuke who simply watches their teachers continue discussing. He may hide it, but Sakura could tell he cares deeply for her. She smiles, and turns away without saying a word. Hinata saw this and turns to Naruto with a longing look in her eyes, but unlike Sasuke Naruto didn't seem to notice. It saddened the girl but she kept quiet.

In a few moments, the team was up and went on to continue with their hike.

Patches of green popped up under the cold snow. The temperature became warmer and warmer down the mountain. By the time the ninjas arrived at the foot, they felt the spring they have been waiting for. The weather was really different compared to the snowy path they had on the mountains that seemed to reach the sky. The clouds spread about like a blanket along a tatami, except that that blanket is small and torn into small pieces. 

Little birds twittered as they flapped their wings in the air, flying above the heads of the ninjas who ventured through their forest. They were on a mission to build a new home and start a new family. Through the screen of trees, a family of wild boars traveled across the stream. The little ones dashed after their parents, bustling their little legs to keep up with their parents' pace.

"Aren't those babies cute?" Ino remarked to her friends.

Sakura nods.

"I hope they get to grow big like their parents." Her reply was answered by nods from both Ino and Hinata. But the boys had a more pessimistic opinion.

"We can only hope for that," said Kiba. "I heard from the ladies at Onsen Monotagari that there are bears around the area. Though there are no reported killings so far. . ." His voice trails off when his eyes caught sight of creatures that were deemed rare.

Their dark, deep eyes observed the ninjas from a distance, as though they were watchers and arbiters. Their golden brown fur gleamed under the light. The horns on their heads had horns that spiked crowns. The deer stood proud, like rulers of the forest. Their ears carefully listened for danger around their surroundings. When suddenly hearing a crunch behind them, the majestic beasts quickly ran for it.

"Huh, so there deer here aside from the ones we have back at home," Shikamaru remarked. 

"You can't possibly assume that your clan holds the only deer here," said Shino. "It would be good to see other free-roaming deer."

"If not everyone, a lot of people assume that there are only a small number of deer here because of the sightings. No one has seen deer aside from the ones back home."

"Isn't it a good thing that there are more deer?" Choji asks.

"No one said it's a bad thing." Shikamaru looked at his friend in disbelief. Choji smile sheepishly at him. Suddenly they hear crunches ahead of them where the herd of deer came previously. Much to their horror, they catch sight of a man carrying deer carcass on his back. The man didn't notice the shinobi behind him and just trudged along the path before him.

Laughter suddenly broke up from him when a massive wolf-like dog nudges the man. They seemed to have a master and companion relationship, much like how Kiba and Akamaru had except that they seemed more formal. Their appearance quickly made the shinobi curious, and Yamato was the first to approach the hunter and his companion. But the dog barks at Yamato and his friends before the man could say anything.

"Shinobi from Konoha, eh?" The man's deep, gruff voice surprises the shinobi. "Kiyo tells me that I should feed you before you go on with your journey."

* * * * * * * *

The hunter turned out to be a kind, old man. He was generous with the food he served the shinobi who still couldn't help but be in awe. It was as though he was a master chef, cooking food as if it was no big deal while at the same time he served them delicious, exquisite food that seemed unfamiliar to the Konoha ninja. The house he lived in was a simple one: a home that was enough for a hunter and his companion, there were barely any furnishings except for the tatami and small table on the floor. There was also an *irori close by where the old man made their lunch.

But he was like an old man with a young man's body: muscular, tall without a hung on his back, and was agile. He simply had wrinkles on his skin and the sun seemed to have taken a toll on him. The ninjas would have instantly labeled him as an weak old man if he had not carried the deer's carcass like a child carrying his child on his back. He had a long beard and mustache that pointed downwards like an arrow, while his long white hair was tied to a ponytail. Even his own eyebrows had an extensive length.

As for Kiyo, who turned out to be the wolf-like companion of the old man, was a whole lot bigger compared to Akamaru. With her size, Akamaru looked like a young pup who has yet to hit puberty. It wasn't that she was a giant, but her size was unusual for an ordinary wolf. She was an old white wolf; and seemed wise and calm that Akamaru quickly found respect for her, much to Kiba's surprise. While her master cooked the meal, her watchful eyes kept the ninjas stuck to their place. They were surprised to find themselves in the old man's home. 

Earlier on, Kakashi and the other teachers tried to turn down the old man's invitation. But the wolf didn't agree with the idea and growled at the three for their behavior. They reluctantly agreed to join Kiyo and the old man.

"Don't you think we're meeting suspicious characters ever since we started this journey?" Kiba whispers to his friends.

Naruto raises his brow. "Huh? Isn't it great that we're getting free food?" He asks.

"It's not that. I'm grateful. But. . . first, we have this mysterious samurai, then we have Madame Botan who told us about the technique thing she used on Sakura, and now we have Old Man Hisao and his dog," Kiba replied. "Don't you kinda find it weird?"

"No, not really." Turning to his hands, the blond boy stares at them hard as though he was in deep thought. His best friend, Sasuke, watches him and waits for his answer as the rest of his friends are. But unlike them, he didn't wonder what Naruto had in mind. He knew what his best friend was thinking about. When Naruto suddenly clenches his fist, Sasuke understood that he already had the right words in mind. "I think that there's a purpose in all of this."

"Since when were you so philosophical, Naruto?" Sakura asks incredulously as she punches her teammate on the shoulder. Grinning, she glances at the ever-quiet Hinata. "Hinata-chan, were you aware of any of this?"

The Hyuuga shook her head no. But when her eyes met Naruto's, she quickly turned beet-red and turns away to hide her face. "B-But I do think Naruto-kun has a point though. Unless everything happened by coincidence, but I'd like to look at things with faith in my heart."

"I believe the spirits are guiding you young ones," the old man's voice suddenly interrupts. "A few days ago a woman came by here. She was extremely lovely, as though she does not belong in this world. But I smell blood on her and she had sorrow in her eyes. May God have mercy on her and show her enlightenment."

"We're looking for her!" Naruto quickly told him. "Did she ever tell you where she was going?"

Hisao ponders.

"She came here during the night when I was preparing pelt and meat to sell at the village. I fed her and gave her a place to rest since it was still snowing. She told me her name was Yoshie Masashi, although she didn't tell me where she was headed. I only saw her walk towards the closest village here, Okuro. Whether or not she managed to go there, I wouldn't know. But before we discuss anything further, come on over to the irori we'll eat our lunch there so that the soup won't get cold," said the old man.

The shinobi quickly obey Hisao, and they each sat around the hearth. The old man gives each a bowl of rice and chopsticks. And by the hearth itself were bowls of meat and vegetables they could choose from. Without a doubt he readied good food. Taking some meat and vegetables, Obito couldn't help but be in awe for the old man.

"Say, Hisao-san, why would you show us such generosity? We're mere ninjas you met at the forest. We're really grateful, but aren't we just being an inconvenience for you to feed all of us?" Obito asks.

Chuckling, the old man's reply was baffling, "Well, Kiyo said to feed you, and so I did."

Obito's eyes widened.

"What does your dog have anything to do with you feeding us?"

"Kiyo isn't just a mere dog, Obito-kun. She's an *okami. Kiyo is a wolf spirit who guards and protects me for the past so many years. I cannot turn down her requests because she barely does at all. After all these time, this was her first ever request. Spirits live all around us. And though sometimes we use them as weapons of war, there are spirits that protect us, too. I could tell that Naruto-kun," they both glance at Naruto goofing off with his friends, "has a demon dwelling inside him." 

Obito's eyes widened in horror, but Hisao only laughs.

"If you live as long as I do while learning the ways of the spirits, detecting such would be as easy as breathing. There's nothing to worry about." His smile contorts into a grim frown after he says those words. Glancing at Obito, he continues. "One thing you should be worrying about is this unsettling unbalance of the chakra that's flowing all around us."

"Chakra?"

"You learned that chakra resides in all living things, no? It is only a matter of learning how to use it. For the past ten years, I've sensed an unbalance going on. I don't know what's causing it or where the cause is. I only know that a terrible phenomenon would occur. When? I have no idea. However, I sense that it is like the birth pains a woman has. It is near, but when exactly is unknown," Hisao explained.

 "That's troubling," Obito remarked as he held his chin in thought.

"You bet it is! I told the woman this as well, and. . . strangely, you made the same face she did. Are you two lovers, perhaps?" Hisao asks innocently while stroking his beard. "With her angelic features, there is no way you two are genetically involved."

Obito felt his face and neck heat up from embarrassment. He waves his hands no, because he found his tongue tied. Like a child, he hides his face. The ninja had forgotten what it was like to feel embarrassed because of a woman. His mind instantly flew to Yoshie at that moment, and his heart pounded like a young boy who realizes his feelings for the first time.

The old man only smiles, understanding the ways of the young heart. He drinks his tea before he stands up. He doesn't wait for Obito to reply, because it was time for him to leave the house and bring the ninjas where they need to go. Tightening the looseness of his hakama and pants, the old man places on a hay cloak before taking on a bundle of skins and meat on himself. Kiyo hands him his kasa, which made him smile and he pats his snout as a reward.  

"Where did those meat and skins come from?" An amazed Yamato asks in bewilderment. "Does that meat and skin come from the deer you killed earlier??"

"I did, and Kiyo skinned and cut it up for me." The old man seemed proud. Without much to say he heads out with the ninja left around the irori, and they stare at him quizzically.

"As guests, I request that you young ones leave your empty bowls by the hearth where I can see them. I'll wash them when I get home later, but come along. I'll bring you to the village. I believe you'll find there what you need.

And they did just that.

* * * * * * * *

Okuro was a bucolic village known for its fur trade and foreign wares, as explained by Hisao. The town was located at the base of a mountain, much to the surprise of the ninja's as they had just descended one, which was surrounded by other tall ones. The old man explained that many foreigners come by here to trade and sell, and in the Land of Fire, Okuro was the most neutral during wars as they find their aesthetic nature important to the business. It was good business because there was a river that helped with the transportation from around the continent.

In the spring, the spirits would descend down the mountains and give life to the wildlife that resided in the forests. In the autumn, the leaves become gold and decay until they fall. The spirits though, as Hisao mentioned, would protect the villagers from demons and ward of bad spirits. With great faith, Hisao continued his tales of his one hundred and twenty years of living left him with no regrets.

"One hundred and twenty years??" Naruto and his friends gape at him.

He grins at them and pulls up his sleeve. Flexing his arm, he showcased the strength and power he had built from training. It bulged like a balloon, only that it was as hard as stone. An old man like him seemed to have many years more in his life if he really was more than a hundred years old already.

Ushering them close, he whispers them his secret, "I make this herbal tea which I learned from my great-great-great grandfather, and I drink it everyday."

"Well, isn't that nice?" A tired Sakura replies sarcastically.

"Yes, it is! I plan on sharing this knowledge with my family soon. I'll do that as soon as I finish trading and selling," the man patiently replies.

The young ninjas seemed disinterested in the old man's stories, although Kakashi took a particular interest for it. Whether or not it was pure interest or out of respect, no one really knew. Even if Kakashi seems all cheery and friendly, there was always a motive behind it and the man, after all, is good with hiding his emotions. Before the younger ninjas knew it, Kakashi and Hisao were the buddies of their own tales of adventure as well as their knowledge of various fields. While the younger ninjas were full of disbelief, Obito could only smile sheepishly about it.

There were a lot of people out and about. As though they spend the entire winter preparing their wares to trade. They had everything they could offer--from clothing and jewelry to pottery and other furnishings. The ninjas of Konoha couldn't help but find interests in certain objects themselves, and later found themselves enjoy buying what they found interest in.

While Naruto was examining some of the town's food delicacies, he noticed Obito inspect hairpins at a nearby stall. His curious was instantly stirred, and he forgot all about buying food as he hurried to the man.

"Who's that for?" Naruto asks the man as he walked up to him.

Obito smiles.

"No one really," he replied, giving Naruto a glance. Then looking closely at the kanzashi in his hand, his eyes were filled with awe. "Look at this Naruto." He points out the intricate designs along the steel piece. "The artisan was diligent and meticulous with the flowers and words. Even if there's no woman in my life, I think I'd like to purchase this thing."

"What do you mean 'no woman in your life,' Obito-sensei?" The boy stares at him quizzically, raising his eyebrow in pure disbelief.

The man's eyebrow raises at Naruto's reaction.

"Isn't that true?" He asks, as if Naruto would know.

Naruto grins and elbows Obito teasingly. "Don't you already have one that caught your eye?" He asks.

A doleful expression shadowed the man's face. It was hopeful, but at the same time hopeless. Pain came over his onyx eyes. A strained smile curls on his lips, while his hands quiver as they held the kanzashi. Obito's reaction was opposite to what Naruto imagined, and it made the boy regret asking.

"Naruto-kun. . . I have to confess that I feel unsure of how I really feel. I don't really tell these kinds of things to others, so let's keep this between the two of us. Since Masashi-san is in the gray view of things, I don't want to really get latched to her. I know she's having her own issues right now, but if I'm just an obstacle in her way. . . I'll just cause pain for her. And it seems she has another man in her heart," said Obito, chuckling at those words. "It's as if everything is repeating itself."

"Are you talking about Rin?" Naruto asks.

Obito nods, rubbing his neck nervously at the same time.

"And maybe I won't be able to protect someone I care for again." Turning to the owner of the stall, Obito explains to him that he won't be buying the hairpin and walks away with his hands in his pockets.

The blond boy couldn't find the courage to chase after the man. All he could do was watch him disappear into the crowd. He sighs as he finally turns his gaze back at the shop--his blue orbs scrutinize at the beautiful ornaments that were skillfully made. As he was turning away, a hand lands on his shoulder surprises him.

"Why don't you buy something, boy? I'm sure that you, too, have a certain woman in your heart. I'm sorry that I can't help lift your friend's spirit up, but I'm sure the girl of your dreams would be happy with what you would give," said the man, smiling desperately at Naruto.

Enlightenment instantly brightened up Naruto's eyes. With his lips now curled into a wide smile, he quickly picked out a hairpin before pulling out his wallet. "Thanks, old man! You read my mind!"

Later, after many words of thanks, Naruto dashed around the market to find his team. Without his knowledge, his sensei witnessed the whole thing. And like Naruto, he decides to find the rest of the team, just minus the initial idea of buying a kanzashi himself.

* * * * * * * *

"Naruto!" Sakura's shrill voice sent shivers up Naruto's spine.

"H-Hey, Sakura-chan," the boy greets her as he approached the kunoichi who was with the rest of their team. They were all assembled, and it seemed like he was the last one to arrive. The boy couldn't have been any more baffled.

The old man wasn't with them anymore though. He was already busy going on his own way, but Shino relayed that the old man said that they have a wonderful journey with the blessing of the gods. It was good having Old Man Hisao around, but the mystery of the herb tea he talked about is yet to be confirmed. 

Kiyo, the old man's companion, was still with them though. Even Kiba tried to tell her to return to her master, but she ignored all of his pleas. Akamaru couldn't get answers from her either. The massive wolf was as mysterious as the old man, but her presence didn't stir any disturbance. Rather, the villagers seemed to love her, children in particular. She would gently nudge them, and sometimes she sniff their heads and lick their faces. No matter how playful they can be, the wolf was ever so patient. She would sometimes lie down and let them pet her or ride on her back. There would only be laughter because of her.

"They're not scared?" Sakura asks a woman close by.

"No. Kiyo-sama and Toshizo-sama are respected and loved by the people here. I heard that Toshizo-sama has been living for one hundred and twenty years, and I wouldn't be surprised since my grandfather met him when he was a little boy. Even at that time, Toshizo-sama already had his long white beard. And Kiyo-sama. . . she came to our village a little after Toshizo-sama did. But she wasn't his companion at first. She was wounded and dying. They were planning to kill her to end her misery, but rumors say that Toshizo-sama came and decided to take care of her himself. They have been inseparable since. KIyo somehow acts like a guide and a protector. She keeps this village safe from evil spirits. We're blessed to have her and Toshizo-sama around." The woman was more than happy to explain.

Her reply left the Konoha shinobi shocked and awed. Maybe that tea the old man spoke of was the real deal, although despite that, he could be putting up a front and telling them tall tales. But the woman's story was something else.

"Well, that's some story," Yamato remarked nervously.

"Whether or not her story is true," said Kakashi who pondered for a plan. "We need to return her to her master. We can't have her following us forever."

Kneeling to her side, Kiba asks again. "Come on, Kiyo, what do you have in mind?"

"First we have a samurai who couldn't explain her predicament to us, and how we have a dog who's following us around with no reason why," an irritated Sasuke remarked with a loud, sharp sigh.

"Maybe she's saying something and unfortunately it's only in the way Hisao-san can explain," Shino reasoned.

"That would make sense," Kakashi replied. "I'd like to summon Pakkun to convince her for us. But it might insult her that we're using another dog to translate what she's trying to say for us when we have Akamaru and Kiba."

All this while Kiyo seemed to have her mind focused somewhere else, as though she was waiting for something to appear. Suddenly, as soon as the children let go of her, the massive wolf struts over to Kiba and pulls along his shirt. Akamaru growls at her for handling his master roughly, but a calm look from her chocolate eyes silenced him. After pulling, she nudged him on towards a direction.

At first, Kiba refused to cooperate, because he didn't understand what she was trying to do. But when he finally realized that Kiyo was trying to show him something, he let the canine take him where he needed to be. The other shinobi were confused as well, and they wondered what Kiyo had in mind. Akamaru, though, seemed pretty worried and anxious about his owner. His eyes guarded him alertly, and he readied himself for whatever Kiyo planned.

"Kiyo, what are you trying to show me?" He whispers to her. 

She stops in her tracks as though she finished what she needed to do. Her big eyes stares at Kiba and she looks past him before finally galloping away like the wind without saying her goodbyes. The shinobi watched her disappear around the corner, suspecting that she finally went to find her master. But what they showed them was a big surprise that made them wonder if she was really more than a normal dog. The baffled look on Kiba's face said it all.

Standing in suits of armor with weapons in their hands, two foreign men seemed busy negotiating with an innkeeper. They had a similar demeanor as Yoshie had: calm, composed, strict, and mysterious. They were polite and, at the same time, formal. One in particular seemed closest to Yoshie since the other man was more lighthearted.

The ninjas hurry to Kiba who points out the two men before him. Both wore cloaks and kasas that hid their faces and what they wore underneath. But they couldn't hide their weapons that stuck out like a red thumb. "Kiyo said that those two would lead us to the samurai we're looking for," He told them, although he seemed as puzzled as they are. Sakura and Naruto wastes no time. They dashed to the two men with excitement written on their faces.

"H-Hi!" Naruto stammered. "Are you two samurai?"

The two men glance at the blond shinobi and his friend; their eyes looked suspiciously at them. Their eyes dart from the two ninjas before them to the group they seemed to belong to. The taller one smiled first after sensing that the ninjas weren't a threat to them, but the other one who looked to be Kakashi's height was more skeptical. He frowned at Naruto and Sakura. His face made them both nervously when they realized how good looking he was.

"What do you want?" He asks.

"Now, now, Ieyasu, no need to be so uptight," said the tall man. His brown eyes glimmered with warmth. It reminded Naruto of Iruka back at home. Grinning at Naruto, the tall man points at himself with his thumb. "If you're no foe, mind telling me what's going on in your mind? You seem to have a lot of questions to ask. And yes, we're samurai, boy."

"Ah! Then do you know a certain samurai? A woman perhaps?" Naruto asks.

The samurai's expression frowned a little.

"Did she do something wrong to have shinobi hot on her trail?" He asks, his cheery friendliness dampened.

"No, but we do have questions for her. Are we talking about the same woman?" Naruto asks the samurai.

He folds his arms. "What's her name?"

The boy's hands clench, now feeling uncertain about the samurai before him. Are they friends of Yoshie? Or are they after her, too? Police, perhaps? Or are they something else? These words flew through his mind, but he needed to answer the samurai to determine if he's really ally or foe. He readied himself for the samurai's answer.

"Her name is Yoshie Masashi."

"Wait, you've seen Yoshie?!" The other samurai exclaimed, suddenly grabbing Naruto by the collar of his shirt. His eyes were suddenly wide with excitement--it confused Naruto. "Where has she gone?!"

"That's why we're asking you guys. We were travelling together until a few days ago. We hope that you'd know something," the young shinobi asks, trying to calm the excited samurai down.

Reluctantly,  he lets the boy go; disappointed with his answer. Naruto narrowed his eyes at him; now he's the one feeling suspicious. 

"Why are you looking for her?" He asks bravely. Though deep inside, he felt the need to defend her. He didn't know who the samurais were exactly after all.

Ieyasu, the samurai he was speaking to, seemed skeptical to answer. He pondered whether or not he should answer, because he felt suspicious of Naruto and his companions as well. His friend though didn't hesitate. And his proud answer shocked Naruto and the rest of the team he was a part of. He knew that Obito's heart sank.

"He's going to marry Yoshie-sama." 

~~~

Number of words: 5232

*irori (いろり, 囲炉裏, 居炉裏) is a traditional Japanese sunken hearth. Used for heating the home and for cooking food, it is essentially a square, stone-lined pit in the floor, equipped with an adjustable pothook – called a jizaikagi (自在鉤) and generally consisting of an iron rod within a bamboo tube – used for raising or lowering a suspended pot or kettle by means of an attached lever which is often decoratively designed in the shape of a fish.

*ōkami ("wolf") is regarded as a messenger of the kami spirits and also offers protection against crop raiders such as the wild boar and deer. Wild animals were associated with the mountain spirit Yama-no-kami. The mountains of Japan, seen as a dangerous, deadly place, were highly associated with the wolf, which was believed to be their protector and guardian.

This chapter is dedicated to Remnae for her comment on the previous chapter :) I agree with you on that, because petty rivalries don't make much of a sense. I wanted Yoshie to have a history that makes her a troubled heroine in a much deeper level, and if any of my other OCs get rivals I'd want to give a good explanation behind their motives. Though I haven't revealed everything about her yet, she's honestly my favorite OC I've come up with, or at least at the moment.

Coming up with the plot for this story was a real challenge because I wanted to give everything I've got for the story, and it makes me really happy that you guys enjoy reading this as well. I hope that the future chapters won't disappoint you, but instead make you all hyped for what's to come next :)

Also, I decided to put the first name first and the surname last because I want to keep some consistency with the rest of my stories. Though I do know that you guys understood, but maybe you guys could confirm which one you most prefer. Should I stick to the previous one? Or should I reverse the names like English style?

Please comment and share me your thoughts! I wanna know what's going on through your minds, haha!

- R