The click-clack of wooden geta sounded out as a teenage girl of small stature took a few steps forward. She was garbed in a simple yet elegant pink kimono embroidered with a subtle flower pattern. A ribbon of the same color held her brown hair up in a ponytail. "Wow...~" Her large dark-colored eyes drifted upwards, widened in awe at the sight before her. For awhile she simply stood there. Shocked. She had never seen anything like it in her entire life! "They're huge!" Of course she was referring to the massive gates that guarded the entrance to Konohagakure. All manner of people were coming and going as she stood and stared. Merchants, farmers, tourists...and even shinobi! Several Leaf ninja were going about their business, some on guard duty, some leaving to or returning from missions. She had never actually seen a real ninja before. Sure her father and brothers were trained in the usage of chakra (and secretly, her too), but they weren't exactly ninja. Her two older brothers were about as stealthy as a rock through a window, and her younger brother was a brat! Well...in her mind, anyway. Suddenly, a thought came to her mind and she pursed her lips in pouty fashion. "I can't believe Father and Tōsō didn't tell me about this!" They knew she was excited about the big city! How could they forget the humongous front door?!
It couldn't be helped. They weren't here with them now so she'd just have to yell at them later. Actually her father and eldest brother had traveled to Konoha about a month ago to visit and take care of some business matters. When they returned was when the news came that the family was moving. About a week ago was when they left their home nation of Ta no Kuni. The clan traveled together for most of the journey but both her father and eldest brother went on ahead and were already within the village getting things prepared for the rest of the family. They It was just her mother and two other brothers with her at the gates. Her uncle and a few members of the extended family were supposedly coming to join them a few days from now. It was a bit jarring to have been uprooted from her place of birth so suddenly...but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't excited. A part of her had always wanted to go out and see the world. Some of that wanderlust had been sated on the trip here. From Rice Country to Fire Country was no small journey, and the family got to see many sights along the way. Turns out the world was a lot bigger than she thought! But that wasn't the only reason she was so optimistic about this move. On the way here her brother Yasu told her that villages like these were very accepting of women warriors. Apparently female ninja were called "kunoichi", and Ninja Villages all had them in abundance. Gender didn't matter here. Girls trained alongside boys, and could rise through the ranks based on nothing more than merit. Needless to say this was a very exciting prospect for her. Maybe Father would relax his ironclad rules about women now that they were here? A girl could hope.
Another had overheard her comments and approached, coming to stand at her side. "Just wait 'til you see the inside." A voice chimed in. Its owner was a young man who looked to be in his late teens. Long black hair was tied in a ponytail and draped over his left shoulder. His eyes were just as dark, but despite what you would think, exuded a slight warmth. Standing side-by-side now, a family resemblance could easily be drawn between the shorter girl and himself. A small smile took hold on his face as he shot the brown-haired girl a sideways glance. Immediately she furrowed her brow, her face growing more pouty by the second as she turned to face her older brother. "What does that mean?" she asked folding her arms and narrowing her eyes. "Don't tell me you've already been here too and didn't tell me about it?!" A response chuckle only served to wrinkle her forehead even more. "No." he began, his smile remaining as his gaze fell upon the ajar village gates. "A trader back home told me about Konoha once." Rice Country wasn't the most busy nation in the world, but it did have its share of traveling traders. Occasionally they would bring back news from the world along with shiny new trinkets that were much too advanced for a country of grain farmers. Many a time Yasu had his interest piqued by tales from the bigger world. "Apparently they have a cliff that they carve their leader's face into." At this the girl's frown immediately reverted to an expression of shock. That couldn't possibly be true...could it?! "Really? That's crazy!" Another chuckle escaped the male's lips as he shook his head. "So is your talking to yourself a few seconds ago." This caused the girl to grow flustered and deliver a swift, ineffective punch to his arm. Still, even her brother's teasing couldn't erode the excitement she was feeling. None of the family was really keen on picking up and moving to a different country out of the blue...but so far things were looking up! Just from the outside alone it seemed like the village was huge! There would be plenty of people from all different walks of life to meet and mingle with. And if things went well she might even be able to try to become one of these kunoichi Yasu told her about. Having her two older brothers train her in secret paid off. Even though she's not as good as she could be if she was allowed to practice openly, she had already become skilled in shurikenjutsu and Genjutsu. If her father allowed her to follow her own path, there was no telling how strong she could become!
And yet...a part of her still missed Rice Country. Because for all this excitement, all these new avenues of possibility, her home was still her home. She could no longer walk the low rolling hills of Ta no Kuni, admiring the rice fields that stretched for miles. No more were the days of going to the market along with her mother and talking with the shopkeepers. Heck, she'd even miss chasing Kyō down the roads whenever he was being his usual annoying self. Apparently, her thoughts had transferred themselves unto her facial expression because a hand gently came to rest on her shoulder. Looking up she would see her brother, a sympathetic but warm look on his face. "We'll be alright, Saya." he said, giving a slight squeeze. "We always will." His words seemed strong and encouraging, but he too would miss their home. Reading to the village children, helping the farmers tend their fields. Not only was it the place where they were all born, but it was the place where they were molded into the people they were today. The Ōta clan wouldn't be who they were today without Rice Country...but it's not like they were gone forever! They'd return one day. When? He couldn't say for sure...but he knew it in his heart. Yasu smiled and turned his eyes once more to the village before them. So this place was their new home, huh? Konohagakure. The Village Hidden by Tree Leaves. Hopefully they would find their place amongst the leaves...
...but only time would tell as to whether or not that would happen.
[mft]
It couldn't be helped. They weren't here with them now so she'd just have to yell at them later. Actually her father and eldest brother had traveled to Konoha about a month ago to visit and take care of some business matters. When they returned was when the news came that the family was moving. About a week ago was when they left their home nation of Ta no Kuni. The clan traveled together for most of the journey but both her father and eldest brother went on ahead and were already within the village getting things prepared for the rest of the family. They It was just her mother and two other brothers with her at the gates. Her uncle and a few members of the extended family were supposedly coming to join them a few days from now. It was a bit jarring to have been uprooted from her place of birth so suddenly...but she'd be lying if she said she wasn't excited. A part of her had always wanted to go out and see the world. Some of that wanderlust had been sated on the trip here. From Rice Country to Fire Country was no small journey, and the family got to see many sights along the way. Turns out the world was a lot bigger than she thought! But that wasn't the only reason she was so optimistic about this move. On the way here her brother Yasu told her that villages like these were very accepting of women warriors. Apparently female ninja were called "kunoichi", and Ninja Villages all had them in abundance. Gender didn't matter here. Girls trained alongside boys, and could rise through the ranks based on nothing more than merit. Needless to say this was a very exciting prospect for her. Maybe Father would relax his ironclad rules about women now that they were here? A girl could hope.
Another had overheard her comments and approached, coming to stand at her side. "Just wait 'til you see the inside." A voice chimed in. Its owner was a young man who looked to be in his late teens. Long black hair was tied in a ponytail and draped over his left shoulder. His eyes were just as dark, but despite what you would think, exuded a slight warmth. Standing side-by-side now, a family resemblance could easily be drawn between the shorter girl and himself. A small smile took hold on his face as he shot the brown-haired girl a sideways glance. Immediately she furrowed her brow, her face growing more pouty by the second as she turned to face her older brother. "What does that mean?" she asked folding her arms and narrowing her eyes. "Don't tell me you've already been here too and didn't tell me about it?!" A response chuckle only served to wrinkle her forehead even more. "No." he began, his smile remaining as his gaze fell upon the ajar village gates. "A trader back home told me about Konoha once." Rice Country wasn't the most busy nation in the world, but it did have its share of traveling traders. Occasionally they would bring back news from the world along with shiny new trinkets that were much too advanced for a country of grain farmers. Many a time Yasu had his interest piqued by tales from the bigger world. "Apparently they have a cliff that they carve their leader's face into." At this the girl's frown immediately reverted to an expression of shock. That couldn't possibly be true...could it?! "Really? That's crazy!" Another chuckle escaped the male's lips as he shook his head. "So is your talking to yourself a few seconds ago." This caused the girl to grow flustered and deliver a swift, ineffective punch to his arm. Still, even her brother's teasing couldn't erode the excitement she was feeling. None of the family was really keen on picking up and moving to a different country out of the blue...but so far things were looking up! Just from the outside alone it seemed like the village was huge! There would be plenty of people from all different walks of life to meet and mingle with. And if things went well she might even be able to try to become one of these kunoichi Yasu told her about. Having her two older brothers train her in secret paid off. Even though she's not as good as she could be if she was allowed to practice openly, she had already become skilled in shurikenjutsu and Genjutsu. If her father allowed her to follow her own path, there was no telling how strong she could become!
And yet...a part of her still missed Rice Country. Because for all this excitement, all these new avenues of possibility, her home was still her home. She could no longer walk the low rolling hills of Ta no Kuni, admiring the rice fields that stretched for miles. No more were the days of going to the market along with her mother and talking with the shopkeepers. Heck, she'd even miss chasing Kyō down the roads whenever he was being his usual annoying self. Apparently, her thoughts had transferred themselves unto her facial expression because a hand gently came to rest on her shoulder. Looking up she would see her brother, a sympathetic but warm look on his face. "We'll be alright, Saya." he said, giving a slight squeeze. "We always will." His words seemed strong and encouraging, but he too would miss their home. Reading to the village children, helping the farmers tend their fields. Not only was it the place where they were all born, but it was the place where they were molded into the people they were today. The Ōta clan wouldn't be who they were today without Rice Country...but it's not like they were gone forever! They'd return one day. When? He couldn't say for sure...but he knew it in his heart. Yasu smiled and turned his eyes once more to the village before them. So this place was their new home, huh? Konohagakure. The Village Hidden by Tree Leaves. Hopefully they would find their place amongst the leaves...
...but only time would tell as to whether or not that would happen.
[mft]