the storm bringer | ✓

VI

six.

(—of waterfalls and ramen)

When the giant gates of the Leaf Village came into view, a figure was visible leaning against the outside. The closer they got the more details Winter could see; the green Jonin jacket, the purple hair. A small grin broke out on her face and Winter found herself losing her calm composure. "Ina-Sensei!" She yelled out catching the others by surprise. Forgetting she was in the company of others Winter sprinted towards the one person she could truly be herself around. The Jonin glanced up and her mask tilted upwards indicating she was smiling. The two hugged and started walking inside Kohona.

"Winter, I heard your mission turned A-Rank?" 

Winter nodded, "Yeah we ended up fighting Zabuza Momochi." Jerking her thumb towards the sword on her back Winter continued talking, "Before he died he ended up entrusting this to me, I need to find a body seal to store it in so I don't have to lug it around everywhere. It's super heavy." 

Inazuma glanced at the sword before doing a double take. "Holy shit kid. I let you go on one mission without me outside the village and you get one of the most wanted weapons in the world. C'mon, let's go celebrate."

"Suki's?" Winter questioned as they left her temporary team behind them dumbfounded by the sudden emotion Winter displayed. 

"Of course." Inazuma smiled down at her student. Soon a small restaurant came into view. It was painted black and a light purple with the calligraphy sign showing the name Suki's Sushi. Going inside a waitress sat the two nin down at a table in the back.

Without looking at the menus once the two ordered and made small talk before their food was brought out. "So do you think I should go see Ten-Ten about a seal?" Winter asked before delicately picking up a piece of her simple sushi and eating it. Afterward, she let out a small hum of delight. 

Inazuma nodded, "She is the most logical answer. She knows more about seals than most Jonin know. Another option is the Hokage but he'll probably send you to the library." After they finished eating, the duo parted ways with Winter heading out to find her friend.

***

"Let the youthfulness shine!" A boisterous voice reached her ears and Winter knew she was heading to the right place. 

"Right Gai-Sensei!" Another voice yelled. 

Coming across a training ground that had lots of wide space in it Winter stood amused hidden in the shadows as she watched one of the most stoic people she knew frantically run away from his green-spandex-wearing teammate while his identically dressed sensei cheered on his carbon copy to wrestle Neji Hyuga into an also green spandex suit. 

In the background, the only girl in the team was stealthily sneaking away before she became a victim. 

"I see you guys haven't changed much." 

The Jonin spun around and started running towards her, "Winter! You finally came to see your uncle Gai!!!!" He screamed. 

Her eyebrow twitched, "For the last time, YOU ARE NOT MY UNCLE!" 

The Jonin fell to the ground crying. "Oh no, Gai-Sensei!" Rock Lee yelled out, giving up on forcing Neji into the spandex suit in order to comfort his sensei.

Sighing heavily Winter strode over to the only two sane people in the team. "Hey, Ten-Ten I need a favor." She said reaching them. 

"Sure, what's up Winter?" The girl asked happily.