Chapter 1
“Wait!”
Moegi swiftly halted at the nearest tree branch to stop her momentum before accelerating further.
“What is it, Miss Haruno? ” she gritted a yell between her teeth. It would be lucky enough if she didn’t hit a tree in the middle of a race back to Konoha but the girl knew her luck had run out at this point when she noticed the herbs scattered on the forest floor-the ones they had painstakingly sought in the northeast part of the Forest of the Land of Fire were spilled out of her pouch. She glared at the drooping white petals of the Japanese Honeysuckle, all their hard work now haphazardly strewn about. They were short on supplies of these herbs back in the village, Miss Haruno had informed her many times before this mission as well as telling her that Japanese Honeysuckles were great medicinal choices for healing arthritis and joint pain: symptoms that have been occurring in the elderly shinobi ranks recently. With winter approaching and the year close to drawing to an end, Lady Tsunade agreed that it was an opportune time for restocking supplies in public facilities such as hospitals and shops. Moegi hastily landed herself amidst the messy scene, scrambling across the slippery terrain to scoop up a fistful of the honeysuckle.
As she scooped up the last flower from the ground, Moegi cautiously glanced over her shoulder; her dilated dark eyes betraying fear and uncertainty; beads of sweat trickling down her forehead; her orange ponytail hanging limply behind her head like deflated balloons. The lady whom she shouted to uttered no response. Moegi clenched her sweaty hands into fists, anxiously awaiting Miss Haruno's arrival in the clearing. She had told her to wait but given no further instructions since that; should I go and check on her? Moegi rubbed her cheek with the back of her hands, leaving a faint smudge of dirt below her eyes.
“Miss Haruno?” Moegi pondered if Miss Haruno could even hear her from this distance. Separated from the person she was meant to assist on this mission and hindered by an incomplete ability to sense chakra, Moegi grimaced at her helplessness as she navigated through shrubs and bushes. Recalling from memory, her mission partner was last seen in the four o’clock direction. Moegi pounced onto the nearest branch and began her search for Miss Haruno.
The noon sun's radiant heat was blanketed by the layers of pale clouds; breaths of the chilly wind swept through the forest, alive with the sound of running creeks and leaves that rustled stiffly when one brushed past them. Dappling the green canvas was the black spot of the shadow that stretched and squashed beneath Moegi as she hopped from branch to branch until she finally caught a glimpse of pink, far to her right.
“Miss Haruno!“ Moegi exclaimed, popping down a few meters behind the pink-haired figure in a quiet ‘thud’, “what’s going on? Let’s get back to the Leaf village before the blazing heat in noon ends and the freezing thaw of night comes!” She exclaimed wordily. Her heels bumped against the sandy field producing loud hisses as she raced towards her mission partner.
“Moegi…” Miss Haruno whispered, Moegi abruptly stopped talking as she saw Miss Haruno gesturing for her to quiet down.
Miss Haruno was kneeling beside a figure, her back to Moegi. Her white cloak weighed down on her back as the maiden leaned forward, the glow of green light shone brighter in her hands. Moegi observed the pool of light, Miss Haruno was tending to some injuries, and judging by the brightness of her chakra’s radiation, the wounds on the person’s body must have been quite fatal.
A few minutes ticked past as Moegi stayed rooted to her spot, breaking out inaudible gasps while Miss Haruno continued to pour chakra into the wounded body, until Miss Haruno sighed grimly, “Moegi, you’ve been quite active with assisting and completing missions lately. Thus, compared to me, you might have known more about what has happened outside of the village.” Moegi fell silent, unsure if she should proceed any closer. It was her first time hearing such grimness and wavering concern in Miss Haruno’s voice, Moegi wondered if her presence had become a disturbance.
“No, Moegi. I need your help for this instant,” as if reading her thoughts, Miss Haruno interrupted before Moegi could open her mouth. “Seek for the nearest lodging or village around us. Once you get there, send a bird back to me about the location—don’t worry about me for now. (Moegi's frown ceased a bit. The sign of a victim lying in Miss Haruno's arms could mean that the perpetrator could still be near but now that Miss Haruno is waving off her worries...then this is an entirely different case from the old trickeries she had seen before like rogue ninjas trying to attack on passers-by. Yet Miss Haruno is a prominent figure in the Fourth Shinobi War! Moegi reminded herself, even if there was still potential danger lurking nearby when it comes to the real battle, it would be child's play for Miss Haruno).
“—Then send another letter to the Leaf’s hospital with the request of one ANBU member and if permitted, Lady Tsunade…to come to the lodging immediately!”