The House on the Bay

Meeting Akio

For many, the Sahara Desert is a place of immense heat and sometimes, death. However, for the people of the New Village Hidden in the Sand, it is home. To them the vast ocean of sand is their sacred grounds, their traditions, their hopes and dreams, their strength and will to live.

The sand village has existed for over three hundred years now. In fact, the entire village was preparing for its third centennial celebration. Men were putting up decorations in the streets, while women and children made cakes, pies and other treats. The streets of the village were extremely active with children playing and couples walking together, sharing each other's company. Merchants were preparing and cleaning their booths in preparation for the party later that night.

Akio Kankurō was minding his own business, walking down the street and taking in all the festivities. He was dressed in a simple standard issue shinobi attire with the sand village head band tied around his left arm, just above the elbow. On his back were two large, gourd shaped containers. One was a sand color yellow, the other a simple brown. He was fairly tall and in his early 20's. He had long red hair and light green eyes. He wore sleek, rectangular glasses that turned to shades when in the sun.

He turned left into a side street and began to scour the back streets. He was looking for his students who were supposed to meet at the the village HQ.'You know, when they moved me up to the rank of jōnin and gave me my own genin squad to lead. I didn't think it would be this much trouble keeping them in line,' he thought with an irritated look on his face.
'Oh well... Guess it can't be helped. Besides, I was just as wild when I was in their shoes... I just can't wait to get back to Megan...' Akio reached for the pendant that dangled from his chest and opened it, revealing a black and white picture of a very attractive female with the warmest smile you would ever see. Megan and he had been dating for three years now, and next week was their anniversary. While looking for his delinquent students, Akio thought of potential gifts for his love. 'Flowers...? Nah, too cliche...A necklace maybe...? Crap! No, I gave that to her last year. Hmmm... Oh! I know! She's been dying to go on vacation! I'll head to the travel agency to try and book a trip. I'll have to take off work though... I hope she'll like that..' He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black ring box. 'In any case, good present or no, this anniversary will be one to remember.' He smiled at the thought, staring at the tiny box that meant so much more and then put the ring away to look for his students.

When he finally turned back on a main road, he heard sounds of chaos, crashing, and a lot of screaming coming towards him. He sighed, shaking his head, already quite aware who the most likely culprits were. He casually leaned against the alley wall closest to him. 'What did those idiots do this time!?' he thought exasperated. Akainu was the first to reach him with Kirito and Kuzan at his heels. The short, raven haired boy bowed deeply and pleadingly begged to him. "Akio-sama, help, please! It's trying to kill us!"

"What happened?" Akio asked, becoming more annoyed than he already was.

"We didn't hurt anyone," Kuzan, who was slightly taller than Akainu with blond hair butted in, " we were merely playing a joke!"

"Besides," Kirito, the shortest of the group with brown hair defended, "those melons weren't even fresh enough to sell. We just wanted to practice our Jutsu..."

"Where did you..." Akio questioned before thinking for a second. When he finally (and unfortunately) put two and two together, he began to turn an alarming shade of white. "Wait a second! Please don't tell me you pissed her off! Did you?" he asked desperately, hoping his students weren't stupid enough to incite the rage of the most fearsome woman in the village.
Akio didn't need an answer when he heard a loud voice behind him screech,

"THERE YOU ARE, YOU LITTLE SHITS!... OH! WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT!? IF IT ISN'T LITTLE BRAT AKIO, HELPING THEM VANDALIZE MY STORE HUH? WELL THEN, I'll JUST HAVE TO BEAT YOUR ASS TOO!"