The White Flash

Search and Report

The village was a bit larger than she had anticipated; seeming to be a famed tourist spot, the streets buzzing with life. Every store along the main road was open, each decorated with colorful streamers and posters of a star. Families passed by the numerous buildings, couples laid claim to the benches outside, and children ran amuck, holding mini concerts on the small, outside stages set out on the right corner of each store. The roofs above her had railing holding back built-in benches.

              "It seems like they're getting ready for something," Pakkun voiced. He remained on her shoulder, supported by the flat of Onimaru's blade. He sniffed the air. "There's a faint trace of strong chakra here."

              "The group could have just passed through, or it might not be them at all. It seems this village attracts a lot of visitors." Green eyes scanned the crowd, a slight tingle nipping at the back of her skull. This wasn't like her other missions; where if she messed up a Jounin would be there to fix it. She was alone. Aside from Gaara, who was waiting for word about fifty meters outside of the village with Bisuke; although, from what she could tell the kid didn't seem much stronger than her to begin with. She couldn't afford a mistake. Not with the already fragile alliance with Sunagakure on the line. She had to get this right. She had to...

            "Calm down, Ayumi." She blinked. Pakkun placed his paw against her cheek, "you're going to be alright. You've had lessons in reconnaissance, right? Calm down and think."

            "Thanks, Pakkun." Ayumi took a deep breath and calmed the sensation. When it comes to gathering information the best people to consult with were shopworkers since they knew the customers. The shops were standard gift shops, boutiques, restaurants, and bars. Each had the same outside stage, some were hosted by humanoid stone statues. She stopped in front of one. The stone was light grey, small translucent veins ran along its hardened skin; carved into the shape of a woman wielding a recurve bow. The tip of the arrow was a sharpened gem the same translucent color as the veins. "What is this?"

            "It's spectacular, isn't it?" Ayumi turned her head to a young woman, her hair long and black and her eyes a beautiful magenta. "It's a festival carving."

            "What festival?"

            "We call it the Shooting Star Festival." She motioned to the other stores, "everyone has a statue to put out the week leading to Heaven's Night. Then, when they're all in place, a member of the Mattsukawa family comes down from their residence and activates the statue at the village gate." Her finger moved from stage to stage, "a light travels from one statue to the next until it reaches the large star statue the Mattsukawas keep in their estate." Crossing one arm in front of her chest, she rested her elbow in her palm and her chin atop a curled knuckle. "The festival brings more and more people every year. It's taken us from a small, poor village to what you see now."

            "Nao! I need some help in here!" A male voice shouted from inside the shop.

            "Coming, hun!" With a small wave the woman returned to her shop. Ayumi turned back to the statue. Transfers a light? Curious, chakra pooled into her hand and she placed it against the stone. A dim glow spread along the veins, a numbing sensation prompted her to remove her hand.

            "The veins absorb chakra," she whispered to Pakkun.

            "I've never seen a stone like that."

            She turned her back to the shop and continued down the street. "These Mattsukawa representatives are able to mold chakra, a significant amount in order to activate the entire stone."