The Dragon Queen // (Under Revision)

Outsiders

The temple room was pretty but bare, large and airy. The powder pink-washed walls stretched into a high arching ceiling. Encircled by windows set in deep brown mahogany casing on three sides, the room allowed one to gaze about and take in the beauty of the untamed Gigakubwa surrounding the monastery. There was no furniture except for the pillows the outsiders and the patrons sat on now and a few candleholders that still smelled of incense.

"My name is Kakashi Hatake," the white-haired man introduced himself and bowed low before the Patrons of the Malkijoo Monastery. Head Lady Chizu and the two younger women, Lady Tomoe and Lady Fukuo, had led the outsiders into the master temple room, where they held their meetings. Meetings that usually didn't involve Tsuyoi. Or newcomers, for that matter. Tsuyoi had never read about visitors at the monastery before, at least not that she could recall.

Fukuo fidgeted with the end of her garment. She had hurried and put on a kimono, but Tomoe still had on her sundress. Chizu wore a white yukata, so the whole ensemble looked off. Chizu, with her weathered brown face, filled with wrinkles like dried mud under the hot sun, and her white hair pulled into a tight bun, sat at the forefront, her hands folded in her lap. As much as Tsuyoi hated to admit it, Chizu held a regal air of beauty about her, even in her old age. It was jekuudi, annoying yet admirable.

Tomoe Senotataki had her long fern-green hair braided down her back. Her sharp eyes scanned across the outsiders, digesting them, scanning them for strengths and weaknesses. Fukuo Senotataki had olive-colored hair that now cascaded down her back in soft waves but had a face identical to her sister Tomoe's. She just looked nervous. This event was blindsiding to say the least.

Tsuyoi knelt beside the boy named Naruto, a roll of bandages in her hand. She felt Chizu's eyes staring pointedly into her back. She ignored her despite the heat that rose in her face and unrolled a stretch of bandage.

"Sakura Haruno," the pink-haired girl spoke up, offering her own name, along with a bright, slightly forced smile. Tsuyoi watched from the corner of her eye as the girl nudged the pale-skinned boy with an elbow.

"Sai," Sakura said simply, a single word of warning and introduction. Tsuyoi noted their body language and the silent code flowing through the four of them. There was a tight bond between the entire band of outsiders. She had also noted the headbands they all wore and the matching symbol on the metal plating. It looked vaguely familiar. She must have read about it somewhere before.

Tsuyoi turned her attention to the pale boy. She eyed him. No last name? Maybe an orphan. He had stark black hair and his shirt was cut above his belly, showing off taut muscle. She noted the pack on his hip; it looked lighter than the Kakashi man's. Does he use some other form of weaponry or a different battle skill? Sai caught her looking and turned his head towards her, returning her cool stare.

For a moment, Tsuyoi panicked. His eyes were dark and brooding, deep like a pot of fresh-brewed tea. She thought she'd get lost in them. Thinking fast, she hoped to intimidate him, to hide how fragile and wavering her own eyes must look. Smirking, Tsuyoi parted her jaws and let a stream of black smoke drift from her mouth. This startled him for the briefest of moments, but his face immediately froze into its cool glare again. Nevertheless, Tsuyoi was satisfied. Being the Dragon Queen certainly has its benefits. She was new to them as well, she had tricks they hadn't seen before. She wondered what they thought of her.

"Please contain yourself, Tsuyoi." Chizu's voice made her startle.

The boy Naruto was trying to turn his head at the smell of smoke, but he was hurting his torn neck. Tsuyoi frowned and gently but firmly held his jaw with a hand and turned it so his head was facing forward again. Bajin.