Snippet #2624989

Anyone looking at the speeding blond running through the village would have realized something was not exactly right with her. Mito could not suppress the puzzled frown on her face, nor her reoccurring but suppressed childish instinct to bite her lower lip. All these symptoms along with her nervous body language where a sure sign that the girl was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she wasn't paying attention to anything else.

In her mind the same thoughts repeated like clockwork; why had Bato left so suddenly? Did Sensei see something they hadn't about their relationship? Why was she reacting like a bloody fan girl to all of this?

Bato of all people catching up with her and… touching her on the shoulder didn't put any of these thoughts to rest, but at least her senses where brought back to earth.

"We should head back to that arse now. Unless you got something important to be doing. In which case, I'd rather help you out than be with that guy... those guys". Said Bato, noticeably more levelheaded then Mito was at the moment.

Mito could not help but ponder the meaning of "I would rather help you out then be with them" in light of recent events. After a few moments of mutually embarrassing silence, Mito cursed herself for her silliness realizing that Bato simply didn't like the other half of their team and probably didn't mean anything else by his words.

Taking a deep breath, Mito decided she would put away her thoughts for the time being and focus on getting ready for the mission. She didn't know yet how what her feelings where for Bato at the moment, but she could not deny that her original curiosity about the "mystery boy" may have become a little more than that over the year since she had come to know him.

"I am on my way to the clan compound to pick up my gear, I already had things packed just in case but I didn't think we would be ordered out of the village so soon so I did not bring my bag with me. You can come with me if you so wish.

The remaining journey didn't take long and after several minutes the Fujimori clan compound came into view. Unlike other clans such as the Uchiha which valued their privacy at the village's outskirts, the Fujimori compound was only a mile away from the village's center.

This wasn't the original clan compound, but the Fujimori had owned this plot of land since the founding of Konoha. The original compound had been destroyed during the Kyubi attack, the lands of the old compound had since been leased to the village to construct subsided housing for the many orphans the demon attack and the Shinobi lifestyle in general created for the village.

Like most clan compounds a nine foot adobe wall separated the area from the rest of the village. Vines and hanging baskets in full bloom adorned the barrier setting it apart from the Uchiha and the Hyuga clans which neglected such finery. The compound didn't have a reinforced gate like most of the paranoid Ninja clans; instead a fine marble archway marked the entrance to the compound, protected by village Shinobi the clan routinely employed for the task despite the relatively high cost for their services.

The old groundskeeper, a clan member and retired ninja, identifies Mito and let her and her guest pass with a small smile upon noticing his kinswoman's new headband.

Inside the walls, the compound seemed and was in fact smaller than its counterparts. The clan gardens bustling with trees and flowers of every shape, color and kind concealed somewhat the confining fortifications and filled the air with the exotic odors of all five of the elemental nations and dozens of smaller countries.

Mito crossed a stone path passing by the various wooden houses of the clan members; the main house in comparison to these small buildings was something of a disappointed to the onlooker – it wasn't unique and in terms of size only slightly larger than the other clan homes. The thatched roofed building was none the less adorned by golden wooden planks and symbolized the social hierarchy through a modern clock tower rising through its second level – making the building significantly taller than its brethren.

As she entered her home, Mito suddenly came to a stop clearly disturbed by something. She could not yet hear the exact words but she recognized the monotone voice of her father talking with someone – probably Sasuke. The Fujimori looked over her shoulder at her teammate, a concerned look on her face silently telling him to avoid catching attention.

"...Why are we paying such an extravagant sum for these mercenaries? I thought the previous contract would be renewed ". Said the younger voice, clearly her brother who though still learning was no novice to economics.

"Our trade routes where vulnerable; the quality of the last company did not answer the full range of threats". Replied the elder voice patiently but finally, her father didn't really want to discuss his decision then.

"Most of this trade route passes through Fire Country; bandit activity was contained by the previous contract and the threat of missing nin's activity is kept to a minimum thanks to Konoha's patrols. Why pay more money for a company with a ninja beating capacity our own village ninja already supply?"

Mito didn't pay much attention to her family's conversation as she walked into the dining room where her brother and father where seated. Her father had made a habit of going through the family finances with his heir so that the latter would be able to take over quickly should anything befall him – a sensible precaution even for a civilian clan head.

"Mito, I see you completed your graduation exam successfully. Please forgive me for not meeting you afterwards; I was otherwise engaged in important clan business".

Mito nodded, she knew her father was a busy man but it did hurt her sometimes not having the close attention of a parent to congratulate her on her exploits.

"Hai father, I understand. I must inform you that my team shall be sent for a mission away from the village, I suspect I shall be absent for several days or more".

The father looked at her with a probing gaze, others would think cold but privately the Fujimori leader worked hard to restrain his emotions. His daughter so reminded him of her mother, and though he did not approve of the ninja lifestyle he knew that his late wife would have been proud of their daughter and accepted her chosen path.

If only the Demon had not taken her away, he knew he would never get her back but at least he could see to it that the demon was dealt with while bounded by the weakness of mortal form.

The Fujimori clan head's gaze drifted away from his daughter and to her companion. He was aware of his identity and did not approve of his daughter's friendship with the foreigner. His earlier attempts to dissuade his daughter from befriending the boy only made her more curious about him. He had since given up on separating them and settled for treating the boy with a passive aggressiveness or ignoring him altogether

"Himura-san, I extend my congratulations to you on passing the final exam. My daughter would be offended if I asked you to watch out for her but please be careful, both of you". Said the eldest Fujimori, containing his usual displeasure for his daughter's sake. He then left the room leaving his children and their guest alone.

Mito seeing that she had been dismissed walked into her chambers and picked up her already prepared bag. The ninja manual said an active shinobi had to always have his basic provisions ready for a two week assignment and Mito was quite rehearsed in these rules.

The two boys where left alone in the room, Sasuke chose the moment to hand Bato a small parcel still warm from the oven, he had planned on giving it to a wandering trader he knew but decided he could always prepare another package.

"There are some sweet rolls in there, now that you are my sister's teammate I must insist on looking out for you too. I know you live alone so don't be afraid to ask for the help of the Fujimori clan if you need it, we take care of our family and our allies".

As the ninja left the clan compound Mito looked at her home one last time, promising her mother's spirit and the dead of her clan that she would give them reason to be proud of her.