мοrι ηo κο 『森の子』

Twelve || A New Mission!

》Dιsсlαιмεя: I own no Canon characters that shall be used within this story。Only the OCs, as well as the setting in which the beginning of this tale has taken place。 All other things within the Narutoverse belong to none other than the marvelous, Masashi Kishimoto! READ ONWARD, LOVELIES!! ( ' ▽ ' )ﾉ《

～～～＊～～～

After successfully passing their new sensei's test, Squad 11 had been sent on multiple missions, all of which hadn't required them to leave the village or engage in legitimate combat. Almost an entire month had passed, yet they were beginning to wonder if the Hokage was ever going to assign them a mission that sent them away from the village.

Standing outside of Hiruzen's office, they waited for Toru to come back out and give them their next. Although Aoi and Midori were still not on the best of terms with Ken, they somehow managed to work as a team, which surprised them all. The boy rarely spoke to either of them, but when he did, it was in an orderly and almost professional manner.

"Hey Blondie," said Aoi, her deep blue eyes focused on Midori, her eyebrow arched. "Any idea what this mission'll be? I mean I'm tired of doing all this community service---that's what non-shinobi are for, right? To take care of all the jobs like plucking weeds or fixing a leak."

Sighing because she knew how the other Genin had been done as well, Midori looked over at Aoi. "Maybe this is what being a Genin is supposed to be, that we'll only go on an actual mission when we rank up." She sighed and coyly shrugged. "Or maybe I'm wrong and they--"

The door suddenly flung open and out trotted Toru, a broad grin spread across his unwrinkled face. "Shall we get right to it, you three?" he said, causing them all to perk up.

"Heck yeah!" exclaimed Aoi, fist pumping the air. "It better be something awesome, RuRu-chii!"

Midori nodded and glanced over at Aoi.
"I couldn't agree more."

"See for yourself!" chirped Toru. "I think you'll absolutely love it." The blue-haired Jounin unrolled the scroll in front of their faces; the trio read it in wonder. "I'll meet you guys there!" he exclaimed, giving them a quick wave once he'd rolled back up the scroll. Performing a swift, single handed seal, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

〜〜〜＊〜〜〜

As they arrived at the Leaf Village's main gates, Midori, Ken, and Aoi all spotted three familiar, young faces: three of their peers whom had graduated with them.

"Tenten!" exclaimed Aoi, exaggerating the girl's name, as she rushed up to the brunette with the two buns on opposite sides of her head.

The girl turned to face the oncoming ravenette, then raced over to her. "Aoi!"

The two embraced each other in a joyous hug.

"I thought we'd never get to see each other again!" Aoi cried, causing Tenten to pat her on the back.

Midori watched the two girls with confused eyes for a moment, before they glanced over at her and smiled. "Well, Blondie, are ya just gonna stand there and stare at Tenten like she's a disease, or are ya gonna give her a hug?!" asked Aoi, causing the blonde to wave.

"I don't like hugs, so ... uh ... I think I'll pass on that offer, Aoi." Midori awkwardly rubbed the back of her head and chuckled. "Don't get me wrong---I'm really happy to see you, Tenten!"

Aoi gave Midori a flat expression before stomping over to her blonde friend. Latching onto her wrist, the girl lugged the protesting blonde over to Tenten. Once she was in front of the brunette, Aoi pointed her finger at Tenten. "I don't care how much you hate hugs --- embrace!"

Midori attempted to walk away, but Aoi placed her back in front of Tenten.

"It's okay if she doesn't want to, Aoi---"

"No." Aoi said, her voice stern. "Blondie needs to learn that hugs aren't gonna kill her." The girl closed her eyes, stood upright, and raised her index finger as if to make an important statement. "Your actions speak louder than words, therefore, your friends must be showed, not told, that you still love 'em."

Once she opened her eyes, she noticed that Midori and Tenten had already walked away and were leaving the village entrance, following behind the others. Slightly offended by them, she ran back and snatched her backpack, hefting it over her right shoulder as she chased after them. "You guys! Wait up! I was in the middle of my lecture; why would you leave without even telling me?!"

Midori and Tenten shook their heads at their friend, then waited on her to catch up. Once Aoi had, they continued on their way.

〜〜〜＊〜〜〜

Aoi propped her hands behind her head as she walked and heaved out a sigh. The brisk wind danced gracefully with her long, dark scarf, keeping the garb well-entertained, while its wearer was ... not so much.

Midori raised an eyebrow at the ravenette, before shifting her emerald eyes upward. She marveled at the wispy clouds as they drifted slowly through the late afternoon sky.

"Tenten!" chirped Lee, causing the brunette to groan and roll her eyes.

"What is it, Lee?"

Midori and Aoi fixated their attentions on Lee, who was running towards them, an expression of happiness etching his cheerful, exaggerated features. He jogged in a pace not as fast as the three girls' walking once he arrived in front of them.

Tenten had told Aoi and Midori about Lee not long after they'd left, couldn't help herself from smiling at him---she'd never seen someone with such an eccentric attitude before.

The boy, his black, shiny hair cut in a bowl-shaped manner, grinned at them all. His round, onyx eyes glancing between the blonde and ravenette on opposite sides of Tenten. "You are Aoi-chan," he said, pointing to said girl.

Aoi nodded, an excited gleam in her blue eyes and a grin plastered goofily on her face. "That's right, Lee-san!"

His finger's aim dragged over to the other and he narrowed his eyes. "I remember your face, but not your name." He jogged over to the blonde's side and smiled. "What is your name?"

Tenten waved her hand dismissively ar Lee after noticing the offended expression etching the girl's face. "Her name's Midori!" The brunette shook her head in disdain. "Lee I even told you about her and Aoi-chan way before this mission even started."

The boy slumped his shoulders as he sent the lecturing girl an apologetic glance. "I am sorry, Tenten."

Tenten massaged her temples and grumbled. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, Lee."

Lee perked up and stopped in front of Midori, bowing. "Please forgive me, Mido-chan. I could not remember your name and for that I am sorry!"

The blonde stared at him in confusion before awkwardly looking away and chuckling. "It's a-alright, Lee-san. We're even because I didn't know your name until this mission started." She rubbed the back of her neck and sighed, her green eyes slowly drifting over to Lee.

The boy's eyes were wide and brimming with grateful tears. "Thank you, Mido-chan." he said, causing the girl to pause right in her tracks and stare at him.

His demeanor had reminded her of someone she'd once held very dear, yet had tried to disperse from her memory: Masahiko.

The way Lee had said that ... the very manner he'd held ... it only made her remember the time her late best friend had done the same: when she had defended him from two older boys who were bullying him for such a pathetic and ignorant reason.