Akito sped through the forests of the Hi no Kuni. He was heading West, towards the border with Aroma Country. His mission was a relatively simple one on paper. He was to move with haste to one of the border crossings. There, he was to wait for the arrival of a Suna shinobi who was escorting a young woman from the Heart Empire through the Land of Wind and through Aroma Country. Upon their arrival, he was to take over the mission and escort the girl back to Konoha. Usually, this would not be a task for a jounin, but with the political situation between Iwa and Suna the way it was, Konoha had decided to err on the side of caution and send one. Because of his experience with long-range scouting, Akito was chosen, as he would be able to travel the distance quickly and efficiently, and possibly pick up some intelligence from the border post along the way.
He thought back to the dossier on the girl, going over the details in his mind. Suzuko Fukazawa. Age eleven. Member of House Mizutane. Currently a student at Doushikai Academy, shinobi academy of the Heart Empire. She was recently selected for an exchange program which saw her traveling from land to land and hidden village to hidden village. As such, she has just finished her time in Suna, and the next leg of her program is in Konoha. That is, I suppose where I come in. I need to wait for her Suna escort, then bring her back to Konoha unharmed. The dossier was light on details about her combat readiness, but given her age and academy status, it is doubtful that it is going to be high.
After a while of traveling, Akito could tell he was getting close to the border. He ran up a tall tree and looked out over the forest canopy, using his Byakugan to extend the range of his vision. He could just barely see the border crossing – a small wooden fort with a few outbuildings clustered on the Konoha side, a banner bearing the kanji for fire flying proudly from the highest point of the fort. Akito scanned the intervening forest: no obvious threats. He would continue to be cautious, obviously, but would be able to move relatively quickly towards his goal.
Akito jumped down from the tree, and continued running through the forest, jumping over roots and brambles, and ducking down under low branches and fallen logs. When he approached the clearing cut around the border post, he slowed to a walk. Upon exiting the cover of the forest, he heard a voice call down to him from a nearby watchtower.
“Who goes there?” called the man. With his short-cropped hair, brown tunic with small plates of metal sewn in, and the quiver of arrows on his back, he was clearly one of the soldiers manning the post. He had a bow in his left hand, and his right was reaching toward his quiver.
“Hail fellow, and well met,” Akito shouted up, walking slowly towards the tower. “My name is Hyuuga Akito. I am a shinobi of Konoha, here on a mission. I am supposed to present myself to your commanding officer, and then await a young woman who will be arriving soon.”
His story was clearly a believable one. The man had likely been told to expect someone, and between his flak jacket, forehead protector, and white eyes, it would be apparent that Akito was, indeed, who he said he was.
The guard took his hand from his quiver. “Very well, the commander’s in the fort. Right up at the top. Go on in, just stay out of trouble.”
Akito smiled up. “I would never dream of starting trouble here. Thank you!” He continued walking through the outpost, attracting a few curious glances from the soldiers stationed there. When Akito got to the entrance of the fort, he was stopped and questioned again. He gave these guards the same answer and was led into the fort and up to the commander’s office.
“Good afternoon,” the commander said gruffly as Akito entered. “You’re here for the girl?”
“Yes sir,” Akito responded plainly. “When her escort through Wind and Aroma countries arrives, I will be taking over and bringing her to Konoha. Until then, I will wait here.”
The commander sighed. “Very well, you may wait on the observation platform if you wish. Otherwise, you can wait near the crossing itself.”
Akito told the commander he would wait on the platform, before bowing and taking his leave. He got there, and activated his Byakugan to better watch for their arrival.
When I can see them coming, I’ll come down and greet them.