To Konohagakure it is then

It was too much, staying in the land that was where her family has died had taking over her. With the help of her father's old friend, Takeshi, they decided to head towards Konohagakure no Sato. Hina didn't want to belive her older sister was dead, she wanted evidence. She won't belive anything without evidence, that's how she knew about her mother, father and little brother. The cloak she was wearing covered her face, but her eyes were set on her feet. Meanwhile, Takeshi was beside her, looking forward, his eyes glancing at Hina from time to time but always staying on the road. How many years has passed since the killing of Hina's family? 9. Nine, gruesome years, nine years of not hearing her mother's laughter, nine years of not hearing her father's rare fights with Yoshiko. It must still be a shock towards her, even now, being at the age of 14.

Hina was thinking diffrently, though. She's been able to supress all those feelings; sadness, anger, etc. But they still got to her late at night, and each and every time Takeshi would be there, having his arms opened and welcoming into a hug each and every time. Hina considered Takeshi as a father, as a friend and also an ally in this Shinobi world. Of course, Takeshi told Hina about his secret, seeing as she remembered Shitake very well. Of course, this put a dent for Shitake, he didn't like Hina that much, but he learn to supress the slight hatred he had for the girl and learned to accept.

Shitake and Takeshi were diffrent, sure if anyone looked at them seperately they could be called siblings, from the way they looked, except Shitake had his hair white while Takeshi's is a dark brown. They both had very diffrent personalities, those said personalities would clash every once in awhile when they had their talks, but they learned to get along. At the moment, the two of them were walking a path. The path, for the moment was covered by slight trees, meaning they were close towards their destination: Konohagakure no Sato. The reason that they were going to Konoha was to try and find info on Yoshiko, Hina's older sister. Even though Takeshi told Hina that Yoshiko could be dead, she refused to accept it since there was no evidence, and no evidence meant she was still out there, and Hina was determined to find her sister and stick with her until the end.

As they walked the path, Hina got out her notebook and her pen, she moved the black elastic strap away and opened the notebook and started writing. Takeshi's eyes wandered towards the fourthteen year old girl, wondering what she will tell him. After she was done, she looked at Takeshi, turned her notebook towards him. In dark grey letters it said 'Takeshi, do you know how Konoha is like?', Takeshi blinked in response to Hina, then turned his eyes towards the road, he chuckled. "It's a nice village, I'm sure you'll like it alot, Hina. That's all i'm saying". The young Chuunin pouts, as if saying "tell me!". He was glad she seemed to be enjoying herself while travelling, now onto more business, how to find information on Tomoko Yoshiko in Konoha? Surely, if she's alive, she must've travelled to Konohagakure no Sato, or somewhere, and there could be people who know her.

Come to think about it, Hina and Yoshiko are almost like twins, almost. They have the same hair color, only Hina's is a bit lighter, the same eyes except Hina's eyes are a light purple, not a dark one. Maybe if anyone looked at the young girl, they'll recognize Yoshiko in a way... Or not, they'll just have to wait and see when they get there.

Yoshimaru was on his daily walk along the roads around Konohagakure. He had just dropped off Yoshidoku to the Academy, since it was a training day with the Chuunin and Jounin there. Yoshimaru himself wasnt a qualified Jounin sensei just yet, but he definitely wanted to. Yawning, he stretched and walked around the streets of the village. Everyone was just opening up their stores and going shopping or work. Yoshimaru was wearing his regular jounin outfit, not feeling very enthuised to be wearing Hashirama's armour. That was usually on special occasions, though. He wasnt on Gate Duty either, it was his free weekend, as he calls it sometimes.

Wondering if he could take a stroll outside of Konoha for a while, he grabbed a cart and began to push it around the streets, making his way to the gate. Yoshimaru always had some excuse to leave Konoha for a while, but only because was so fascinated by the other parts and the nature outside. He was truely one with the tree's and nature around him, and he loved it all. But making his way outside, he passed through the gate with the wheel burrow, nodding to the jounin above him, and they nodded back, as he went through. He got as far as he could, making sure that he was out of sight from the guards and the gate. Yoshimaru then pulled the cart over and put it into the woods, then walking back out and looking around, moving onwards.

He was a pretty far distance at that. Breathing in the fresh air, he sighed and grinned ad he was walking slowly. Yoshimaru was thinking about all the great things about life and how he was happy where he was right now, but also some of the bad things that had happened to him, but he always refrained from thinking negatively. Yoshimaru was very good at hiding his emotions at that. It came in handy whenever he was meeting someone for the first time. Some people had said that he trusts people too easy, but he just see's the good in people, unlike most people usually judge them for how they act and how they are in organizations like Akatsuki. Its accually been a few months since Yoshimaru had been in a fight with another shinobi, seeing how he tries his best not to even spar with people. He hates the feeling of hurting someone.

Breaking the trail of thought he had going on, he had heard someone infront of him coming closer and closer. The foot steps sounded uneven as if there were more than one. He stopped and quickly appeared behind a tree, using his camoflauge jutsu to blend into the scenery much better. Both of the people ahead was accually a small girl and a man. Yoshimaru looked closer, seeing as one looked almost like Yoshiko, and the other he didnt recodnize what so ever. The words replayed in his mind from a week or so ago, "She... Well, looks like me." Suddenly, he just had that feeling, that this was Yoshiko's sister. It had to be, no doubt.

Appearing infront of them, his camoflauge fading. "Well, hello there."He said in a very polite voice that he normally had and smiled. "Sorry for the abrumpt appearence, but im a Konoha Jounin, and I couldnt help to hear you guys talk about it. It seems you are headed toward it, ne? May I escort you to it? There are some windy path's."He offered and looked down at the girl, and leaned down to her. "You dont happen to be... Yoshiko's sister, ne?"Yoshimaru asked and chuckled.

Hina and Takeshi were close to Konoha, he could feel it. Finally, they could rest in a village, how long has it been?Maybe a few weeks, he can't estimate how much they've been away from a village. Hina seemed pretty calm towards the whole walk to Konoha, but her calm expression turned quickly to an expressionless one. Wasn't both expressions almost the same, in a way?

A man appeared in front of then, making Hina step back and take out the sword from her back; the biggest one from the three and glared at the male while Takeshi seemed ready to attack if he tried anything, but he laid a hand on Hina's shoulder, calming her down with his touch. "Hina", Takeshi warned, trying to make her lower her weapon. In which she did in return but kept her stare at the man. Takeshi bowed, "Hello, sir". Both heard the man asking if they could escort them to Konoha, seeing as there is windy paths. Takeshi's face became a bit distant, as if thinking. 'So, he was the one you were sensing, Shitake?', 'Eh, more or less. The only person that was around, after all. Now, hurry up and get info on her sister before I become annoyed!', Takeshi rolled his eyes at him.

The man looked at Hina, making her back up a bit and glare at him.You dont happen to be... Yoshiko's sister, ne?", her eyes widened at his words as well as Takeshi's. "Excuse me", Takeshi butted it as he looked at him. "How do you know about Tomoko Yoshiko? We would kindly like to know where she is at the moment, thank you", meanwhile, Hina looked at the man as her eyes went back to her normal size. Quickly, she got out her notebook, oepened it and started writing, making Takeshi look at Hina. When she was done she turned the notebook towards him and it said: 'Where is my Onee-chan? Please, tell me where my Onee-chan is..' The look she had was serious. She wanted information about her sister as quickly as possible. One, it would mean Takeshi was wrong about her sister's death and two, Hina knew her sister was alive, she wasn't dumb.

Watching the young girl draw the sword made Yoshimaru slightly nervous, but he knew that she wasnt going to attack him. The man she was with obviously could have held her back, in which he did. Yoshimaru looked at them both with a smile, his long brown hair moving in his ocean blue eyes, moving the hair out of the way. "Hello, again, and hello ma'dam" He chuckled and stretched his arms. 'Everyone around here tends to just not trust anyone these days.' Yoshimaru thought and looked at the man, as he spoke, asking for information about Yoshiko. He was gladly able to speak about her, since they look somewhat like relatives to the young woman that Yoshimaru had talked to.

"How do you know about Tomoko Yoshiko? We would kindly like to know where she is at the moment, thank you." The man asked, as then followed up by the young lady writing in her notebook. 'She hasnt said a word.. I wonder if shes a mute..' Yoshimaru thought and tilted his head. Once the girl had shown him the book, he leaned down to read it, his tall stature making it hard for him to read from above them. 'Where is my Onee-chan? Please, tell me where my Onee-chan is..' The notebook had written, as he smiled and told them, "Yoshiko had came here about a few days ago or so, and we chatted for a while. She gave me this, just in case you didnt believe me." Yoshimaru told her and took out a small flower, one that only grew in the village both of them came from. "She trusts me to bring you to her, you know." Smiling softly, he lowered his arm and showed her the flower.

"I honestly wish I knew where she was going to, she disappeared before I could ask, and she didnt tell me anyways." Yoshimaru had told them and looked around, sighing. "I did happen to give her a scroll for her to summon me, but I have no way of getting contact of her, I apologise."He told them. First, he had found her little sister, and the huge problem... Trying to get her back to Yoshiko. This was going to be a tough one for sure, but he cant give up now. Yoshiko is counting on him.

Hina's eyes widened at the flower Yoshimaru had in his hands, she looked at it and her eyes started to water. "...O-Onee-c-chan...", she whispered, making Takeshi look at the flower then at the man holding the flower. "I see...", he sighed. "Honestly, where IS that girl going..?", he shook his head. Wherever she was, he hoped she was allright. 'I wonder where she went... or who's she with..'

Meanwhile, Hina kept looking at the flower, and at the same time she wiped her tears away. "Were back at square one, it seems", Takeshi sighed, making Hina turned to look at him and tilt her head to the side and blink. Takeshi looked at Hina and smiled, he placed his hand on her head. "We'll find your sister soon enough, allright?", she nodded in response as she looked back at Yoshimaru. "Well, the names Takeshi and the young girl is Hina Tomoko, as you already must know in a way. We have come to Konoha to find any info on her older sister, Yoshiko... And we were right on the dot"

"Nonetheless", he placed his hand under hsi chin, going deep in thouht. "Did she say she'll come back in any way? Hina has been searching for her sister since she was five years old.. I just wished she'd stay still", he sighed in annoyance and rubbed his temples.

[e.e short..]

Yoshimaru felt disappointed in himself, but also successful. He had gotten to the point to where he has the younger sister, but no Yoshiko. He sighed as well, and began to think. But, the man interrupted and introduced himself. Yoshimaru bowed and put out his hand, "Glad to know your name, im Yoshimaru Kangai." introducing himself to them both. "Yoshiko said she'd return to Konohagakure soon enough, but I have no clue when." Yoshimaru told them and smiled awkwardly, wishing he knew when and how much more he could help these people, but there was only limited things he could be able to do.

"But... Until then, would you like to stay in Konoha until she returns?"Yoshimaru asked and ran his fingers through his hair. Of course, they didnt seem like any bad people, they just wanted help finding Yoshiko, and Yoshimaru can provide that for them. 'I know the Hokage-Sama and other Jounin get tired of me bringing in outsiders... but... this is something I need to do.' He thought to himself and sighed. Looking into the sky, he asked them, "You two have a lot of persistance to find this girl.. And thats one thing you all should be proud of." Yoshimaru said to them and grinned. "Because for those long hard years, you finally came to the right place at the right time." He said and smiled.

"Now... Onward to Konohagakure?"He asked them and began walking slowly, wanting them to follow.

Takeshi looked at Yoshimaru with a careful look in his eye, as if he couldn't just trust him yet. Being with Hina all these years had made Takeshi feel like a father towards Hina, which is why he was wary of Yoshimaru. His dark red eyes looked at his hand then at his face, a calm expression was on Takeshi's face but inside he was pondering whether or not to go with him. Would he ask Shitake for some wisdom? 'Do not add me to this little 'reunion', Takeshi', Shitake snarled at his other self while Takeshi mentally sighed. This was going to be a pain, 'But... Shitake-', 'Do not "but" me, Takeshi. I.Said.No. Get it through your head, oh wait, you can't. I wonder why, hmm?'. Sarcasm oozed from his words, Shitake just really hated moments like this, it didn't get on his nerves like years ago, but he still felt annoyed.

Meanwhile, Hina looked between Takeshi and Yoshimaru. Inside her mind she betted that Takeshi was having a "mini" fight with Shitake, as usual. But, about what though? The young chuunin shook her head and then walked over to Takeshi, and poked him a few times, making the said male snap out from his little "fight". Takeshi looked down and blinked in confusion while his face remained the same. "What is it, little one?", Takeshi lowered more to Hina's height as she whispered something in his ear, it was barely audiable to his ears, but he got the message.

Takeshi straightened himself up and then looked at Yoshimaru, he bowed in apology. "Forgive us, but Hina-hime wishes to go and find her sister on her own. She can't sit still and be patient, I'm sorry but we cannot go to Konoha". Hina turned his head towards Yoshimaru and she bowed in apology as well. Even if she couldn't talk that much, the way she acted now must've told everything that needed to be told to Yoshimaru. Her purple eyes fell on the flower then looked at the ground, that made Takeshi look at Hina and then at the flower, his expression got serious. "Um, Yoshimaru-san..", Takeshi coughed as he tried to start a conversation once again. "Do you think it's possible for Hina to have that flower?", that made the young girl's head turned swiftly towards Takeshi. "T-Take...S-Shi...", she let out in a whisper, but it was a harsh one. She didn't want to take anything from Yoshimaru, sure she was somewhat glad that she found about her sister again, and she sorta wanted the flower, but she didn't ask Takeshi for this!

He played with a lock of his hair while looking at Hina, then at Yoshimaru "Are you sure this is wise, Hina? You don't have any keepsake of your older sister; something that'll keep you from crying every night when you have 'that' dream again. I think it's a wise idea to ask for the flower, don't you think?", it was amazing that he know what she was thinking. Probably because he's been with her for a long time, and had gotten to know how she acts when she does certain things like the look in her eyes when she seems determined, the look sometimes she has that she wants to tell something to him, it was obvious to him but to others.. It would take awhile, Hina only opens up to Takeshi, and her sister, if she finds her of course. 'Where are you...', she thought as she looked at the sky as Takeshi looked at Yoshimaru, waiting for an answer, seeing as Hina said nothing to stop him.

Yoshimaru stopped once he knew they werent following, turning on his heel and looking at them from about two feet away, then getting closer. Takeshi seemed to be spacing out every now and then, and Yoshimaru would tilt his head to the side slightly in confusing in to why he is doing that. 'I wonder if he's contemplating on whether or not he should go with me to Konoha... I dont see why he shouldnt.' Yoshimaru thought and ran his fingers through his hair. But after a while, Hina and Takeshi started to have a conversation with eachother, the little girl seemed to be hardly even speaking, "Forgive us, but Hina-hime wishes to go and find her sister on her own. She can't sit still and be patient, I'm sorry but we cannot go to Konoha" Those words really got to Yoshimaru, but he did have reasons for them to stay.

Immediantly, Yoshimaru spoke up and told them a fact. "I hope you know you're wasting a great opportunity for you to stay and wait for Yoshiko to return," He got closer and sighed. "If you go now, she might come back, and you'll be gone. Its a simple game of cat and mouse, bird and the worm. You're chasing eachother down. But now, I believe its you who is chasing after her, and Yoshiko going somewhere in order to settle something." He informed them with a very serious face, an expression he hardly shows around people. Yoshimaru wasnt the type of serious person, but he was serious when he needed to be, no doubt.

After a few seconds, Takeshi asked for the flower that Yoshimaru held. It was very precious to Yoshiko, and Yoshimaru, but this is what Hina wanted. "Of course she can have it." He told them, being his generous self and leaning down, handing it to the young girl. 'I hope we get these kids back together...' Yoshimaru thought and smiled at them, trying not to be creepy but lighten up the mood just alittle. He liked it when people around them were happy, especially on a beautiful day like this. It seemed as if the two were trying to get away from him, but he wanted to try his best for them to stay, because Yoshiko might show up again one day. "I also hope you realise that Yoshiko can summon me whenever she wants... What if she summons me when you guys arent here... Then both of you wont be able to be with me, or her..." He sighed and fixed his long bangs that kept flying in his face, "All I want is for you guys to be reunited again."

Takeshi coughed a bit, his eyes looking at Yoshimaru's as he talked. The way he was talking about Yoshiko as if he knew her; which would probably be the most crucial key here at the moment. But, Hina said she did not want to stay in Konoha, she wanted to travel and find her sister on her own. "Listen, Yoshimaru-san. It is not my choice whether or not we stay. I know you want them to be reunited once more, but it is her choice; not ours

When they stopped talking, Hina took the flower hesitantly, then bowed. She quickly stood at Takeshi's side, her purple eyes looking at the flower she held in her hands protectively. The flower itself was a white color; as white as the snow it seemed to Hina's eyes. Takeshi decided to keep talking. "Even if she did summon you, you could always tell her we were here, and we could even tell you our next destination, if you would like to know. But..", he looks at Hina. "It depends on Hina, Yoshimaru-san"

"We would really love to stay on Konohagakure, it really is a loveley village. But... were better off traveling and finding her on our own. But.. if you want", he sighed and rubbed his temples. "We could stay for awhile, seeing as Hina seems tired, even though she will never admit it. How does that sound, little one?". Hina turned her head at Takeshi, his dark red eyes meeting her light purple ones as she clenched the snow white flower in her hands. She nodded slowly, making a somewhat visible smile. Takeshi turned to look at Yoshimaru. "Well, I guess there's your answer, Yoshimaru-san"

Yoshimaru was trying his best to convince them to stay to help them find Yoshiko, and he knew he would risk his life for just that. He is a man of his word and there wouldnt be anything keeping him from doing this. Takeshi said something about it being Hina's choice, which he understood completely. Yoshimaru didnt want to push them into doing something against their will, but if he had to, he definately would. He wasnt scared of either of them, but he knew that both of them could be powerfuller than him.

Once Hina took the flower, he directed his attention to her. She seemed to love this flower as if she has always treasured it. But of course, it came from her sister and homeland, so he had some understanding in why she wanted it so badly. It made Yoshimaru smile brightly just seeing that happen. But then, the man asked Hina what she wanted to do. Stay here or go searching again. It was their choice and not Yoshimaru's. It made Yoshimaru slightly nervous to know what the little girl's decision, but either way, if she said no, he wouldnt be able to do much about it anyways.

It came intensly, a small silence between Hina and Takeshi. Once she looked into the man's eyes and nodded, Yoshimaru celebrated inside his mind. His big smile turned wider. "I promise, you wont regret your stay here."He told them and clapped his hands together, turning to meet at the little girl's side, then walking forward, "Onward to Konohagakure?"He asked and looked behind them, waiting for them to follow as he walked slowly.