The White Flash

To Catch an Assassin

8:15

Ayumi strolled through the forest towards their designated meeting grounds. Today would be the day that would officially classify them as Genin. If she passed this test. She did not know what to expect from this Jounin. Hisaya seemed-almost-too nice for Leaf Jounin; the ninja hardened by battles and matured from experience. Then there was the fact that Ayumi has never met her, yet there was a certain familiarity in the way she spoke. Even after she asked Kakashi if he knew Hisaya, his only response was a warning. "Don't get in her way during a fight". From what she has seen of the kunoichi so far, Hisaya seemed even more carefree than Asuma and rather empty headed. For Kakashi's only words on the matter to be ones of warning. How dangerous is she?

The question was one she has asked many times on the long walk across the village to Training Grounds 11. There was no denying the certain spark of excitement that ignited in her veins. If her Sensei was as dangerous as her father-the Kakashi Hatake-advertised. Just thinking of the learning opportunities she would have, had her in a tizzy. After all, only chasing dangerous people, hard missions, and enduring rigorous training could get her to that high pedestal she longed for. Where the heroes of blonde, white, and black reigned over the rest of the shinobi below; only toppled by the five Great Shadows themselves.

Ayumi had the hours of training under Jounin to fall back on. The scars on her arms proof that she put in the work during her time at the academy. That she deserved to become a full fledged Genin. Whatever obstacle was ahead, she had to be ready to face it. To grab it by the horns and throw it aside. That's what shinobi do.

"You're late!" Hiro exclaimed, angrily pointing his finger to the Hatake. "You were supposed to be here twenty minutes ago!"

"Well I saw a dog had his paw stuck in a tree," she lied rubbing the back of her head. "I just had to help it."

"I thought you were getting some beauty sleep." Kohei drifted over the grassy terrain, his wooden hand popping the hood of his jacket and his shoulder leaning against Ayumi. "Since you look even more ravishing than yesterday."

"Put a cork in it," she grumbled placing her hand against his cheek and pushing him aside.

"I see you've picked up on Bakashi's habit," Hisaya chuckled. She stood in front of a large mat covered with different ninja tools: shuriken, kunai, and smoke bombs. The trio settled. The boys standing on either side of Ayumi as they faced their teacher. Hisaya's hand left her hips, slapping together in front of her chest, "alright. Leave all of your weapons here."

"What?" Hiro voiced.

"Drop your weapons," Hisaya reiterated. "Bags, kunai, smoke bombs, paper bombs, shuriken. I bet you can see where I'm going with this. Oh, but leave your weapons pouch, you'll need them." Slowly the three obeyed. Ayumi removed the weapons from the pouch on her right leg, letting them fall in a pile on the ground. Followed closely by the bag on her shoulders and her sword. Once they were clean, Hisaya explained the day's activity. "Behind me are weapons made with durable rubber. Each tool is covered with a different colored paint. Kohei, you're green; Hiro, your weapons are blue; and Ayumi, you're red." She pointed to herself with a smile, "your mission is to locate me somewhere in this village, chase me down, and get at least one of each of your colors on my clothes."

"So basically, like Ninja?" Ayumi pointed out. A children's game often played by the kids in the village. The goal of the game is for the seeking team to find the hidden opponents and hit them with makeshift shuriken constructed from cardboard or flimsy wood. She didn't play often as her, Choji, and Shikamaru had more fun watching the clouds or exploring the woods, but she had a basic grasp of the rules.