Into the Nature [Yahiko]

[Jun]

Koushoku Outpost.

Or that's what Tarou had identified this place as anyways. The gray haired youth and I approached a salmon colored gate along an uneven cobblestone path. Both showed signs of age - the paint on the high wall long chipped away and invaded by moss. To me the gate seemed out of place, hidden unnaturally among a green mixture of trees, grass, and shrubbery. Even the stone our sandals trekked along gave way to nature; plant-life too sprouted from between cracks we tried our best to avoid. Besides the kodachi toting Chuunin to my left, two more souls accompanied us on the lengthy expedition. A mere merchant and his son - both left under care of Tarou more so myself. The Amegakure emblem he displayed casually around his neck was proof enough of that we were foreigners to Kusa no Kuni - the Land of Grass. We'd last seen my brother back in Ame and it was his wish for me to help his old friend out on a small escorting assignment while he tended to his own affairs. There weren't any major threats to be faced with, or I'd been told, only common bandits at worst.

"So you've been to Kusagakure before?"

[/color] I asked my lackadaisical mate.

"I have. This one is a beautiful country, though not nearly as alluring as her Kage. Lady Blanche I believe they call her. She's an angel in my eyes."

Tarou exhaled, another cloud of smoke drifting from his lips. He flicked his cigarette and allowed the trail of ash to fall from its tip. Our client, Hiroshi-san looked pleased to have made it when I glanced over my shoulder to check up on him. The child seemed a bit more restless however - well, either that or curious.

"I believe we're in the clear. They'll probably only ask us where we're coming from." The old man spoke up, addressing the small group of souls up ahead. There were two lines, each not too long, but both were handled by a duo of shinobi on patrol.

"Correct. Seeing as Kusa is a bit of a minor nation like my own, I guess they like to take extra precautions to ensure the saftey of their people." Tarou shrugged.

Our own party soon arrived near the rear of the crowd. Little Eiji had to work overtime to see what was occuring up front. Yet, his peeks from beyond our backs did little good. On the other hand, there was a short, stone idol resembling that of a two-faced fiend a little ways away from the gate arch. It gave a devilish smile that Eiji-san apparently couldn't help but be captivated by. He ran off to stick his tounge out at the statue while us adults waited our turn in line. Kusa no Kuni was a lovely country, no doubt. The air here was warm and buzzing with dragonflies. I scanned the crowd around me and took in the multiple conversations going on at the same time. Then, squinting, I tried to get a better picture of who was up at the head of the line. I wondered just how long we'd be standing around as Tarou released another plume of smoke.
Kota-san had been a nuke-nin hailing from Kusa. Could those loyal to Grass measure up to him?


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