Reina's second mission

Reina woke up early in the morning. The moonlight was streaming through her window and landed on her face, which made sleeping any later impossible. She yawned and decided not to fight the moonlight. Reina got up and quickly got ready for the day. She had done her first mission yesterday, and her sensei had told her that her reward was that she wouldn't do a mission today. Reina didn't think that was much of a reward. Expecially because she needed to do missions to get experience. She sighed and pushed open her sliding door that led to one of the side hallways.

Reina slipped out of her room and into the ajacent hallway. She slowly and quietly headed towards one of the hallways that would lead her to one of the gardens. Reina knew that most of her relatives would be asleep still but she didn't want to chance it so she continued walking slowly and quietly. She ignored the branch family members that stood guard at periodic points throughout the maze of hallways. The branch family members returned her courtesy and ignored her too. Reina was glad, she hated talking to people early in the morning. It was early too, Reina noticed as she finally reached another sliding door that led to a garden. She softly slid open the door and stepped outside.

Reina sighed audibly when she felt the fresh air brush against her. She looked up at the sky and saw that it was still dark out, she estimated maybe four in the morning. Reina grinned in delight. Her relatives most likely wouldn't be waking up for at least an hour. She had a whole hour to herself. Reina felt like twirling around in glee but held herself in check. She needed to act like a proper Hyuuga no matter if no one could see her. If she indulged in herself some day she'd slip in front of others.

Reina quickly reined in any of her treacherous thoughts that dared to remind her how much fun twirling around was. She shoved those thoughts in a courner of her mind way in the back. Reina smirked when she succeeded in controlling her whim. That proved that she was getting better with her self control. Reina flounced into the garden and over to one of the flat rocks. This rock was situated right next to the koi pond. Reina loved koi ponds, they were very beautiful and calming. She sat down on the rock and stared at the koi.

Reina watched the koi swim around each other. The moon was still up and its light was reflecting off of the surface of the water and the scales of the fish. Reina continued watching the beautiful spectacle. She slowly took in a deep breath and then exhaled. Breath in. Breath out. Breath in. Breath out.

Breath in. Breath out. Reina exhaled one last time and then tore her eyes away from the koi. She turned to look at the moon and noticed that it was lower in the sky than she had thought. Reina lay back on the rock and watched the moon. Bit by bit it lowered itself in the sky. Soon the sun was peaking the forest line casting a pale pink glow over the area. Reina sighed when at last the moon dissapeared behind the treeline.

She quickly sat up when she began to hear the muted foot steps and monotone voices from inside the Hyuuga Main house. Reina swiftly resituated her clothing to make sure that she looked proper. She checked her reflection in the koi pond. Reina quickly flicked some dirt off of her left sleeve and then started to walk back to the house. If she was found outside this early in the morning it could be trouble. Reina almost sighed when she reached the porch and stepped past the Branch family guard. He luckily seemed content to ignore her as usual. She wondered what would happen if they ever changed their minds and reported her activities to the Clan leader.

Reina shook her head. She needed to stay focused on the here and now to get to her room undetected. She paused by a doorway that led to some seldom used hallways. Reina checked to make sure no one was looking and then quietly opened the door and slipped into the hall. She activated her Byakuugan and crept down the hallway. After a few minutes of scanning the adjacent hallways through the walls she deactivated her Byakuugan and continued on. Reina finally made it to another doorway which led to the hall where her room was. She reactivated her Byakuugan and checked to make sure no one was around.

Then Reina stepped silently into the hallway. She quickly walked to her room and opened the door. Once she as safely inside her room she shut the door quietly. Reina went and sat down on her bed. She thanked whatever entities presided over her for letting her once again not be noticed. Then Reina lay down and stared at the ceiling. She had another hour or so before she was expected to be up. So she reached over and pulled a scroll from her table and began to read.

Reina was facinated by the contents of her scroll. She continued reading enraptured by the politics behind the Third Shinobi War. Reina knew that the reasons behind wars were important for someone like her to know in her choosen profession. She would not doubt run into situations where she would need to know how to diplomatically deal with things. Well that is if she became a proficient shinobi. Reina got up and swiftly changed into some different clothes. She brushed her hair and quickly tied it into a bun. Then she left her room.

Reina decided to avoid breakfast since it wasn't a mandatory meal. And she didn't want to have to face her relatives. She quickly walked to the front door that led to the streets of the Hyuuga district. A Branch family member was standing near the door. He bowed when Reina came into view and she bowed in return. Not that she had to but she felt the need to pay the Branch family members back for their kindness.

"I'm leaving to go see my cell-mates and sensei," she told him. He nodded and opened the door.

Reina slipped outside quickly. She started walking through the streets of the Hyuuga disrict. After a few minutes she had past through the branch family houses and made her way to the main gate that led to Konoha. She quickly explained her destination to the Branch family member that stood guard there too. She then walked sedately into the busy streets of Konoha. Reina swiftly made her way to where her sensei had said to meet him. She arrived at the bridge early it seemed since no one else was there. That's when Reina noticed the piece of paper stuck to the railing.

Dear Reina-chan,

I lied. You actually do have a mission today! Go see the man at the vegtable stall on the main street. The one with the cabbages. He'll tell you more.

Have fun!

Kurimiya

Reina scowled at the letter.

Did her sensei think he was funny? Reina fumed to herself as she walked back towards the market district of Konoha. She tried to think of an upside to this situation. Finally she came to the conclusion that at the very least she would be doing another missions and thus getting more experience. Although she wondered at the fact that she had yet to really talk to her sensei or teammates. Let alone actually do a team mission with them. Was her sensei trying to slack off? Reina continued pondering these thoughts as she walked slowly calming down.

She tucked the letter in her pocket before looking around. She was only a few blocks away from her destination so she started to pay more attention to her surroundings. Reina quickly turned a corner onto another street listening to the bustle of Konoha in the morning. There were people running around no doubt buying things for breakfast since most of the people were women. Children followed a lot of them clutching at their clothes and staring with wide eyes. Reina perceptably spotted a few shinobi amongst the crowd. Some were flitting across the rooftops, but they were acting normally as far as she could tell. Reina turned again and walked onto the beginning of the market street.

Reina looked around curiously. There were just as many if not more people on this street. Although it was much louder with many people yelling at store venders and many store venders yelling back. There was a wash of colors both from the proffered products and the clothing of the people shopping. Reina quickly tried to locate a stall that sold cabbages. She easily spotted one but then to her horror noticed that there was another one down the street and then another and another. Reina whipped out the letter to re-read it and see if there was any more details about which vender she was supposed to go to. Upon spotting none she crumpled up the letter and stuffed it back in her pocket.

Her sensei obviously thought that it would be funny not to mention the fact that there were many cabbage sellers here. Reina fumed once again that morning as she came to the conclusion that she would have to ask each and every one of them if they had hired out a ninja for something. Her face got red as she blushed at the indignaty of this. But she was a shinobi of Konoha and she would do her duty no matter how annoying and unflattering it was. She marched towards the nearest cabbage stall. The streets were packed but Reina managed to squeeze her way through. She wasn't that used to large crowds as even though the Hyuuga family was large there was never very many people in the halls at the compound. So it was with slight difficulty that she finally made her way over to the first cabbage seller.

He looked up from his cabbages and smiled winsomly at her. Reina nodded as was befitting her status as both a Hyuuga member and a shinobi.

"Excuse me sir. But have you happened to have paid for a mission today?" she asked. Reina tried to calm her blushing, but really! This situation was so demeaning. It made her look like she was incapable. Or worse that Konoha was incapable.

And on such a low rank mission too! Or at least Reina believed that it was a low ranked mission. She truthfully didn't know. But since she was recently graduated from the academy it couldn't be more than a D rank.

The man looked at her funny as he stopped smiling when it was apparent that she wasnt there to buy his cabbages. Cabbages which he personally thought were the best in the market. They were so much greener, and the taste! Obviously people should be flocking to his cabbage stall and not the others.

He was shaken out of his musing when he realized that the girl was still staring at him. Rather ardently too if anyone was to ask him.

"What was that again?"

Reina continued staring utilizing all of her Hyuuga training to send as much disdain into her facial expression as possible. She sighed a long suffering sigh. This may take awhile.

"Did you or did you not hire a shinobi of Konoha today?" she asked again. The man blinked.

"Oh, goodness no! Where ever did you get that idea?" he asked.

Reina felt elation and irritation war withing her. She had to go ask someone else but at least she wasn't stuck with this obvious idiot.

"I appologise then. I'll leave you to your work," she mummered shortly. Then she spun on her heel and marched off. Reina scanned the street for the next cabbage vender.

There was a man standing only a few feet away. He was surrounded by carts overflowing with cabbage. Reina waded through the crowds as best she could. When she reached him he looked up from one of his other customers.

"Yes? Is there anything I may help you with?" he asked her.

Reina nodded. "Did you by any chance hire a shinobi for something today?"

The man looked at her funny. "No. I haven't."

Reina nodded. She had been expecting that answer. "Well then, I'm sorry to have bothered you. Thank you for your help." She nodded again before turning away. She quickly scanned the street for the next vender again.

This one was manned by an old woman. It was nestled across the street inbetween a man selling chickens and a lady selling yarn. Reina made her way through the crowd. There were a few customers so she had to wait while they picked and bought their cabbages. Finally they finished and the old lady looked at Reina expectantly.

"Excuse me. But you haven't by any chance hired a shinobi for something today? Have you?"

"Why no dear. I haven't," she said. She clearly looked puzzled.

Reina sighed. "Thank you for your time. I am sorry to have bothered you." With that she ducked away melding back into the crowd. Reina looked around frustratedly.