Kakashi Hatake is known throughout the shinobi world for his visual prowess and devastating past. He's a loner, figuring it's easier to exist in solitude rather than form a bond that he knows can so easily be severed by tragedy. However, after a new...
Finding the rogue ninja was easy enough. It only took a few days for her to track him down and dispose of his body.
Mare was good at her work, and the role of hunter-nin suited her perfectly. Her solo missions allowed her to travel the nations independently in search of missing-nin. She was free to follow her own will without taking regard for others. Teamwork had never been her strength. Anything that needed to be done, Mare could do by herself. In the past, teamwork had done nothing but groom her for psychological trauma. She wanted no other lives in her hands except for her own, as it was obvious she couldn't protect them.
As she lay on the thick branch of a tree, legs stretched out in front of her with Nuibari strapped to her back, she sighed gently. She had kept the intrusive thoughts away for the majority of her mission, yet as she laid to rest, her mind became boggled with pain once more.
Seeing her parents' die.
Murdering Hamako during the graduation exam.
Losing her younger brother to Zabuza Momochi in such a cruel fashion.
And then finally her eldest brother's reckless abandonment of her and the Village Hidden by Mist.
These were all things she could suppress by day, but once night settled her thoughts began to spiral beyond her control. She felt angry, mostly at herself, for allowing these things to happen. Maybe if she had been better, stronger, smarter, faster, her loved ones would be with her. However, they were all gone.
Mare was utterly alone, save for Ao, yet nowadays they rarely even saw one another. She would always be thankful for the shinobi that took in her brothers and her, trained them, and gave them a place to lay their heads at night. However, she wouldn't go as far as to call Ao her father, nor his house her home. Ao was often on missions as a hunter-nin, leaving the kids to care for themselves, but he made sure they had what they needed, and for that she was eternally grateful.
She lay silent through the night, drifting off to sleep, but quickly waking due to the nightmares that tormented her. It was rare that she had a good night's rest, and recently her dreams had become more terrifying and frequent.
As the sun began to peek above the horizon, bathing the world in a soft orange light, Mare listened as the birds began chirping and the critters roamed about. She closed her eyes and cursed herself for not getting any sleep before going into Konohagakure. Nevertheless, she strapped on Nuibari and bounced through the tall trees in the direction of the village.
At the gates of the village, she was met by a pair of jonin. One with a senbon stuck between his lips stepped forward and watched her come near with a smooth grin. She carefully approached and greeted him before he asked who she was and the nature of her business in Konoha.
She told him her name and then added, "I've been sent by the Mizukage to deliver a message to the Hokage."
He smirked and said, "I'll show you the way then, miss."
She raised a brow to him before glancing over at the other jonin standing guard. "Shouldn't you stay at your post?"
He chuckled and shifted the senbon between his teeth as he replied, "The quicker we leave, the quicker I'll be back." He winked as he finished speaking.
Mare chuckled dryly and shrugged, allowing him to show her the way to the Hokage's office. The shinobi introduced himself as Genma Shiranui as they walked through the busy village streets. She watched the people milling around and going about their everyday lives.
She immediately noticed that Konohagakure was completely different from Kirigakure. She couldn't put her finger on what separated the two just yet, but the atmosphere of the Leaf felt immensely more welcoming than that of the Village Hidden by Mist. It was vibrant and filled with life, unlike her village that was weighed down by fog and a bloody past.
Their walk was silent, save for Genma flirting with Mare. She barely acknowledged his pick up lines, instead casting her gaze around the busy city. The village and its sights were far more interesting than this jonin, although she wouldn't deny that he was very good looking.
As they neared the Hokage's office, Genma stopped and turned to her and said, "You know, I can tell you're from Kirigakure."
"Hmm," she hummed, "And how's that?"
"You're not very friendly."
Mare narrowed her eyes at him slightly as she responded, "It's not like I know you or really care to."
Genma smiled, unaffected by her words, "Not knowing someone is even more reason to be friendly, no?"
She pushed her long dark hair away from her face and shrugged nonchalantly, "Thanks for showing me the way. I can take it from here."
"Of course, Mare. It was good to meet you, even if you didn't enjoy meeting me."
She turned to look at him once more and hummed in acknowledgment. He was wearing a warm smile, that damn senbon still stuck between his teeth. She nodded her head and left the jonin standing in the middle of the street while she entered the Hokage's office.
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