[Sairin Zakuro]

The weather in River Country was generally pleasant, too much so for Zakuro's tastes. Of course, he had lived in a village where it rained practically 24/7 for most of his life, so his preferences were most likely skewed, but this was certainly pushing it. The sun above was nice and balmy, though leaning a bit on the hotter side, which meant that today was a reasonable enough day to be outside doing the laundry.

The village Zakuro resided in now was small and insignificant, which meant that there weren't quite as many technological comforts at his fingertips. And so the former ANBU operative found himself squatting beside one of Kawa no Kuni's several rivers, a basket of dirty clothing by his side and one such outfit in his hands as he aggressively washed it in the cool water. Despite performing such a mundane task, Zakuro made sure to be attentive to his surroundings. Just because he had made a new life for himself in this country didn't mean he was completely safe. He was certain the day that he let his guard down would be the day that he found a JITE kunai in his back.

Aside from general caution, Zakuro needed to keep his eyes out for a potential contact from Uchiha Hotaru, or the man himself he wasn't actually sure how the leader of the mysterious organization would get in touch with him. Whatever form it took, Zakuro wanted to make sure that he was ready for it, especially after waiting this long for his first assignment. The young man sighed as he carefully stretched one leg at a time, attempting to remain squatting as he continued to do his laundry. A slight cramp in his foot led to a hasty overcorrection, however, and with a groan Zakuro realized he had just knocked his hamper over. Several, identical outfits splashed into the river and began rushing away. Certainly not a challenge for a shinobi to deal with, but definitely an inconvenience for someone attempting to continue posing as a common, peasant farmer.

Zakuro began noisily splashing down the river, gathering up articles of clothing as he went when he suddenly spotted a figure not too far away downstream. He raised a hand and called out inconspicuously, keeping his guard up and straining to get a better look at them.

"Hey! A little help?"

He pointed to the various articles of clothing that were flowing in the stranger's direction, and he slowed his approach just to be extra safe. His disguise was rather well done, a simple samue with longer sleeves and a handkerchief tying his hair down. But more discerning eyes would pick out a few oddities in his appearance. Hair that didn't look completely natural, potentially dyed? And samue typically had short sleeves, why were these long? And his build did seem to indicate he was a bit better well off than the average peasant.

490 ♦ Omori Natsuki

[Omori Natsuki]

Fortune is Not Universal

I Will Be There for the Lesser

Not the closest region to which she normally stayed, but perhaps not too far when it came to traveling… River Country was nations away from Kaminari no Kuni though with friends and whimsy she was often out of those borders… Dangerous to remain within, yet it was still the people she loved and longed to care for.

All people deserved their own sort of help though. Small villages weren’t lacking and people in need were never scarce, the unfamiliar territory she found herself walking through was at least pleasant. A town a few day’s journey from her present location was where she had last visited. Helping their doctors, tending to those who were in most need of help, then moving on. It was always amusing to see those new faces and to let a little bit of glow come to those who had once lost hope…

That wasn’t quite the situation here though. A young man up the river was gesturing towards her and calling for help. The cry of which she normally felt any easy answer for, she was one that tended to help. Red flags though… The young male’s details weren’t completely seen by her for the distance… something soon rectified. An activation of her clan’s eye, a black and swirling iris appearing for a few moments as she practically magnified the details of the poor lad. It wasn’t a skill she often used. But things feeling just off enough that she didn’t want to walk into the embrace of someone hunting her down.

Still… he didn’t seem to be an enemy. A hand to her head and faint rubbing to her temples to disguise the shift in eyes back to normal, golden hues returning as if some headache had passed over her. Something was amiss with the lad, surely secrets to be had, but he didn’t have any specific signs towards that of a hunter from Kumogakure. Natsuki wasn’t so foolish to think that was all who could be hunting her, but River Country? Even she didn’t know where she was going…

"Sure.”

The word falling from her lips more for herself than the lad, movements graceful and fluid even with those few steps that would have had herself launching into the waters. Being wet hadn’t been on her intended activities for the day but seemingly wasn’t going to stop her. Articles of clothing that had been swimming on their own through the river would be caught up one by one. Some difficulty… though a river of its depth wasn’t exactly the match for either shinobi.

Just as he hadn’t walked atop the waters though, she hadn’t either. A little bit of secretiveness and hiding between the two of them, yet still with obvious hints towards something more. Natsuki didn’t hide her physical capability or withhold practiced movements, but the obvious skills of chakra usage were kept at bay for now… It was silly to suggest she would keep those hidden away forever, a medical doctor that traveled the lands and obviously used Medicinal Ninjutsu, her craft didn’t have her hiding something that could so easily help others.

Clothing gathered up, a favor that was outside what she normally did, but all the same the dark clothes were held in her arms and golden eyes flitted about looking for more. With nothing to be seen, she planned to exit the water, hike back up the riverbank and take a short leap to stand on dry land… her own clothing drenched, though the way they typical tugged close to her figure didn’t suggest that she would seem embarrassed for how it stuck to her as a second skin now. Short and glimmering icy locks, golden eyes that snapped to the male again, features of oddly ornate and professional attire, though worn with some age and wear.

"Laundry day? Or a clever trap to meet a stranger?”

A faint smirk to her lips as she meant to approach, at least friendly enough in her own way. Life was its own moments of strange.

Omori Natsuki

MADE BY VEL OF GS