| abstract | - "Lady Natsumi," a voice addressed, tearing the woman from her own thoughts. She jumped up and looked at the train attendant standing before her. Though, with further expection, the white, linen tuxedo, his scruffy, but neatly shaved beard, the badge he was wore upon his blazer, it was obvious that he was not the attendant, but rather the conductor. "We're nearing the estate and should be here shortly." "Thank you, conductor...," Natsumi posed her gratitude as a question. "Kuuzuryu." "Oh, the people who started this railroad, right?" "Exactly so. I thought it would be a good idea to greet you in person and say how honored we are to have you here," he continued to inform. "Well, I thank you for your hospitality," she expressed dismissively. Without further words, her eyes fell back into her book. "Though, can I ask," Kuuzuryu begun, forcing Natsumi out of her book again. "What.." Natsumi interrupted carelessly, "Kuuzuryu, I need you to be honest with me." She patted the seat next to her, and without hesitation, he joined her. Closing the rest of her book, she leaned in closer. "U-Um," Kuuzuryuu stuttered. His hands twitched, and his face became a bright red. "I-What...um, I..." It was often the occasion that one proved unable to speak in Natsumi's presence. In fact, it was a common occurrence, though a flattery nevertheless. "Please, save your tongue, Kuuzuryuu," Natsumi ordered. "I need to know why exactly, YOU, all of people are here actually greeting me. Why not your parents themselves if they knew I was arriving?" "Um..I...Natsumi-san," Kuuzuryuu choked. His face was a bright red. "I...wow, you're so...beautiful." "Shush, Kuuzuryuu." Natsumi remained unmoved. "You're just reacting to my pheromones. I need you to control yourself, and tell me the true reason that you are here." She moved away from him and picked up her book again. "This train isn't heading to the Land of Tea, is it?" "Oh my.." "Kuuzuryuu," Natsumi snapped, "Stay focus, darling." "No, there are shinobi on this train ready to assassinate you! The Kuuzuryuu are apart of the ploy!," he spilled. Yet, it was as if he didn't regret it. He had fulfilled the task she asked of him, and being able to provide her with information was simply enough to sastify him. He smiled afterwards hysterically. "Oh, my god. I can't believe I just said that." "Oh, but I can, Kuuzuryuu." She stood up, placing her book into her messenger bag that draped across her left shoulder. "Thank you for the help, honey," she complimented, patting him on his head like the dog she perceived him to be as she walked past him. "Now, stay here and sleep." With that, Kuuzuryuu had drifted into a state of unconsciousness. She left her quarters through a door, and on the other side stood a woman that she deemed unrecognizable. Yet, judging from her appearance, she deduced that she must've been one of those ninja that her sleepy informant spoke about. "I was wondering when you were going to show yourself, darling." ---Cue Scene Change--- The sky is clear, glowing like a bright blue cover. The sun illuminates the Hokage monument as the faces of the legendary Kage look at the village hidden in the leaves. The winds blow hard causing the stray leaves to dance in Konoha's air. The Hokage mansion rising high in the middle of the village. In its halls, the sound of hastened footsteps can be heard rushing towards the Hokage's office. Without knocking, the door is opened brutally. As a man with a seemingly tall figure and firm pose enters the Hokage's office. He's wearing the official attire of the Konoha shinobi and he seems to be of high importance. "Hokage-sama! I heard about the S-Ranked mission. The Assassination of Natsumi. I urge you to allow me to attend this mission. I can probably make it in time if I start moving now. Our opponent is a S-Rank Kunoichi and I hear you dispatched an ANBU member to take care of her. That will not suffice! I'll be able to make it in time, just give me your orders." The man sitting on a chair is the legendary fire's shadow. He's wearing a white cloak and his visage is completely obscured by his Kage hat, which has fire carved on it signifying the will of fire and the signature of the entire village. The man seems unfazed by Kagerō's attempts. The Hokage replies by merely smirking as he moves his lips to tell Kagerō a sentence. As the Hokage speaks, Kagerō's eyes widen and he remains silent for a few seconds. "I see, well I seem to have misunderstood your intentions, Hokage-sama. My services aren't required here, I'll be on my way." he bows and exits the room taking slow and short strides, closing the door behind him. Isshin's expressions fumes with anxiety. "I see, I was surprised when I heard that a sole ANBU is going on such a mission. However I didn't expect him to send 'her'. Even her name shivers the veterans of Konoha, despite her young age." he thinks as he exits the mansion, spacing out, not paying attention to his surroundings. His mind is distraught due to the rush of adrenaline that soon faded after hearing the Hokage's words. Strolling through the village he hears a loud voice screaming "Yoooo, Isshiiiin!!" as a man with a blue scarf lands in front of him. "From the look on your face, I think you're request was declined, no?" the man says lightheartedly. Isshin gazes at him before uttering "No ... that's not it." Konohamaru's face shifts to a rather confused expression. "Huh? what's the problem then?" he questions. Isshin pauses for a few moments. "The ANBU going on that mission ..." he says as Konohamaru's face starts to get more puzzled. The wind blows strongly. " ... is Shikaze no Fūrin!" both men stand in their place not uttering a word. ---End of Scene Change---- "Yo" the woman standing before Natsumi says. She's wearing a black cloak that's concealing her appearance. Looking around, there is seemingly no one left on the train but these two. "Since you've been waiting for me to show myself ... Let me introduce myself." the woman takes off her cloak slowly. Her height is average. She's wearing a black sleeveless Kimono made of silk that extends to her waist. Two cloths made of silk extending from her elbows to her wrist, decorating her forearm. A black short skirt made of silk. Around it is a braided black rope that goes around her waist with a Katana between its turns, tied to the lower back of the woman. Her long, black silky hair gives her a frightening yet elegant appearance. Her pose is seemingly relaxed with no tension in her stance of body language. "My name is Yokaze Fūrin of Konohagakure." she says placing her palm on her handle of her Katana. "And I'm here to take your life." she continues. "You wouldn't be the first," Natsumi quickly retorted. "Unfortunately, you won't be the last either." Her confidence was unyielding, and her will unshakable. "You'll soon realize the folly of your mission." Unlike Fuurin who had come prepared with swords etched onto the back of her uniform, Natsumi, who had given up the dangerous game of professional combat nearly two decades ago, was dressed in a white-long sleeved shirt, obviously made from spider-silk, and black-silky plants, obviously made from spider-silk as well. In truth, her outfit was no different than that of a traditional civilian, for that is what she was in her current day. Yet, for her, a former mercenary, to have came to a foreign nation unprepared would have been as much a folly as she considered the woman's mission. Her weapons remained sealed in a scroll contained in the messenger bag that rested on her side, but the time it would take for her to pull it out, and then break the seal would give the woman, whose hand tickled the edge of her sword, enough time to cut her in half. For now, she'd have to bide her time. "May I ask why did you tell me your name?" Natsumi stalled. "Does Konoha believe themselves to be that above the law that they can publicly authorize the murder of a civilian of a foreign nation....or are you confident that you'll actually succeed in this foolish endeavor?" Her tone remained calm, her eyes unwavering as Fuurin in front of her. She continued her act, all in the meanwhile her pheromones—invisible chemical signals that can subtly alter a person’s mood, mindset, or behavior—escaped her body each time she exhaled a breath. Unlike the last pheromones that the unfortunate conductor had the pleasure of being exposed too, these were not designed to serve as an attraction to Natsumi. It was clear by her voice, and by her figure that the woman before her was a kunoichi, and although her pheromones worked on all genders, kunoichi, like all shinobi, undergo training to suppress their urges. It was why they could kill a former comrade without a second's thought. Instead, these pheromones were intended to mess with her mind, and cause hallucinations, akin to the genjutsu that shinobi use. However, unlike genjutsu, their work was entirely physical, and affected the body on a chemical level. Fūrin glares at the woman before her. Her facial expression said it all, her dead eyes, her composed stance, they all signify a true ANBU member. Her red ruby eyes piercing Natsumi. "Why did I tell you my name? It's simple ... few people heard that name and lived. Konohagakure is not above the law, nor am I. However, look around you. There's no one there. We're in the middle of nowhere. And I'm certain of your inevitable defeat." she pauses for a few moments allowing her words to sink in. "And lets consider the worst scenario possible. I fail the mission and you manage to make it out. Who are the witnesses on my murder attempt? It's not that simple blaming one of the great nations for something like that, and even if you do, it'll be in vain and you know it. I doubt you'd even pursue such a thing." she pauses once more. Fūrin is one of the most successful ANBU members. She is able to destroy her opponent mentally while remaining composed at all times. She has full control on her emotions after training so many years in the ANBU Black Ops. However, she cannot control the chemistry of her body. That is something beyond any shinobi but a medical ninja. Nonetheless, she seems unaffected by the pheromones Natsumi is generating. Her expression is impassive as her pose. She stares at Natsumi for a few more seconds in order to build up some tension. "By the way, I'm fully aware of the chemicals you're producing." Fūrin says with dullness in her tone. "You see, I govern the atmosphere. I can detect any foul elements present in the air and bend its chemical structure to my will. Your attempts are in vain." Fūrin says impassively. "Enough with the chatting." She slowly draws her sword, releasing it from its sheath. She extends her arm as the sword is pointing downwards. "Lets begin, shall we?" she weaves the confrontation hand seal with her free hand, moulding her chakra. Suddenly, a green aura begins to spawn around the blade, extending its length to penetrate the floor of the train. Using Kireaji (切れ味 Sharpness) to increase the keenness of her blade, Fūrin rotates the her sword a full rotation, which slices through the walls of the train and splits it in half. The shredded areas are hot red due to cutting metal. The two halves of the train begin to grow farther away from each other. Fūrin is on the side that's moving by the engine of the train, while her enemy is on the side that will eventually come to rest. "Not done yet." Fūrin says as she uses the chakra she previously moulded to spawn a gigantic dragon made of swirling wind. "Fūton: Fūryūdan no Jutsu" The dragon goes directly towards Natsumi with an explosive speed, entering the other half of the train. Natsumi is encased by the train's walls, which makes escaping a bit harder.
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