Gin entered her own office earlier that day and sighed. The room had been set up so that she could have a proper business meeting with the board of elders that ran Sunagakure's budget. The room was dark; the curtains were pulled over the large window in order to keep the sunlight from overheating the room. God forbid that the men in suits begin to sweat. Candles on a long wooden table lit the room, setting the atmosphere for what was likely to be a hellish encounter. Due to some recent expenses, the group of men had decided to cancel the village's budget. She had asked Jurou if that was bad and if they needed it, to which he replied that yes, it was quite important. Gin hardly ever dwelled in things concerning the village's budget. She let other people handle that part of her administrative duties in order to keep herself as far away from the paperwork as possible. And now she would face the consequences of her actions, of her neglect. She had invited the group over to establish what they were going to do to reinstate Sunagakure's monetary funds. She wondered if this would be worse than the paperwork itself and sighed as she sat at the head of the table and waited for the men to arrive and enter the room.

Several men in suits filed into the room and sat around the table. Might was well start this quickly so tht she could get out of there as soon as possible. She had other things to tend to, namely a doctor's appointment. Her hands drifted over to her stomach briefly, caressing it. "Hello gentlemen, thank you very much for accepting my invitation." She began, keeping herself calm and composed. She knew that if she was to be impulsive and rash, this would only drag out. She had to be professional about this. "Well, considering the direness of your financial security, we thought it was the least we could do," One of the men piped up. Gin nodded. The village was virtually bankrupt. "Now, before we begin, I was under the impression that our budget was handled directly by the Daimyo," Gin commented. They had never had such problems before. She didn't see why they should start now, under her reign as Kazekage. Frankly, it was bullshit. She didn't have to put up with this. Her hands briefly clenched into a fist before she resumed her calm composure. "Oh it is. However, we’re having a distinctly difficult time justifying some of these expenses," One of the other men commented. Gin quirked an eyebrow, but her unasked question was soon answered. "Most of them under the name Trilby," Another one of them said.

Gin's eye twitched. So he was the cause behind all of this. Ah. Wonderful. Her former student had let the power and authority of his new rank go to his head. She let out a deep sigh. "Continue," She said simply."For example, some of them were frankly labeled entertainment," Said the first man who spoke. Gin once again cocked an eyebrow. "Entertainment?" She repeated. She didn't quite see Trilby as the type of person who would spend so much of the village's budget on just entertainment. "Quite, like in my report, 20000 for Candi," Said one of the men that had remained quiet until now. "And that’s Candi with an i, by the way," Another one clarified. So he was whoring around then. Great. Just. Great. Sunagakure's defense budget was virtually gone because he couldn't keep it in his pants. "I see," Gin uttered, the tension was now notable in her tone of voice and her tense posture. However, the men wouldn't notice. Their eyes weren't trained to seek these things out. They were businessmen, not shinobi. "Not to mention the priceless antique gourd. I believe the not on the claim was I thought I could fill it with blood but I couldn’t find enough goats, so I scrapped it,” Said another man. Gin's suddenly had a realization. Her tension eased up slightly. "So that’s why we found Gaara’s gourd filled with blood and shoved up someone’s ass..." She said, mostly to herself. It made sense now. Trilby had never quite been able to control his temper. Like her, he was rash and even impulsive at times. Gin shook her head slightly. She sat there and bit her thumb as the men continued to speak. "Yes, and then there’s also that person, who’s hospital bill amounts up to…" Gin began to zone out by this point. This was going to be a long meeting. "I would do fucking anything right now to get out of this." She thought to herself as she listened to the men drone on and on.


“… and while the mime did survive, he’ll never walk again!” The man uttered. Gin was about to smash her own head against the wall. She had had enough of this. At that time, the door burst open. Ah. The man in question himself dared to show up in the middle of the meeting. This was bound to be interesting. Gin simply sat there and watched how he picked up one of the men and flung him out of the door and down the stairs. She winced. That was another hospital bill that would likely come out of what was left of Sunagakure’s budget. Oh well. Gin would deal with that later. She didn’t stop the men from filing out of the room. She was rather glad that they left, in fact. Once they were all out of the room and she heard the door click closed behind her, Gin sighed and slumped into her chair. Her posture immediately relaxed. “Thanks, I owe you one,” She said as she ran a hand through her silver hair. But of course, he wanted to talk business with her. Great. Well, in any case, this was something she was willing to discuss. The day before, Trilby had sent her a request for a mission; one that pertained to something that she could only guess was personal. He hadn’t quite said much, but she didn’t expect him to do so either. He was reserved. She would have been in fact surprised if he had actually explained why he wanted to raid this mine. Sure, the place was illegal and run by a gang, but it wasn’t Suna’s priority, especially now since they had no budget at all. And not only that, but he had requested that Gin accompany him. “You do understand that I’m currently pregnant, right?” She began, looking at him in the eye. She looked somewhat annoyed. “I can’t risk directly involving myself in a fight right now, much less something of this caliber. This is at least and S rank mission that you’re asking me to partake in, you know this, right?” She asked. There wasn’t anything derogative in her tone. She was actually curious to know how he planned to work around the fact that the Kazekage was unwilling to get herself in harm’s way.

[1185/3000]

Gin listened intently to Trilby. She bit her thumbnail as she did and kept her eyes fixed to his. So he was a slave... She couldn't quite picture him as one. She had always seen her former student as someone who was free spirited, someone who couldn't be controlled by anyone other than himself. How could he have spent most of his life imprisoned? The idea felt strange to her. She took his hand and examined it closely. She traced the tips of her fingers over the logo. Yes, she did recognize it. She had a very good memory for these sorts of things. Many thought that she completely disregarded whatever form of paperwork she read. That was a common misconception. She took the time to memorize almost every report and profile. She had to keep herself informed, after all.

Gin slowly let go of Trilby's hand and looked at him. Her gaze was soft and understanding. It was one of those rare moments where she would allow herself to lower her guard and let her softer side show. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. "I would like to say that I understand your pain, but I'd be lying if I did," She began. She walked towards the window in the far end of the room and pulled the curtains open. She let the sunlight flood into the room once again. She kept her eyes fixed on the view of Sunagakure as she spoke. "I had a peaceful upbringing, that of a merchant. There's nothing quite interesting about it." She paused for a moment. "I do, however, know of hatred and pain and what those two things can lead to. You'll end up hurting those you love if you don't keep your anger in check. Wouldn't want to tear off a loved one's limb, now would you?" She said, finally turning around and heading back towards the table. She sat back in her chair and propped her feet on top of the wooden furniture. She stretched and adjusted her usual outfit. Best to wear it while she could, seeing as she would need to start covering herself up soon enough. Such a shame, really. "In any case, I know that you've already decided that you're taking this mission. So the way I see it, we have two options. One, I go with you, let you do most of the work and step in only if the circumstances are dire; or two, you leave and I'm forced to brand you as a nukenin. And we wouldn't want that second one, would we?" She explained.

Gin turned suddenly, watching Trilby kick the stool and almost run out the door. So the man was back to his usual self. Wonderful. For a second there, Gin had thought that she had reduced him to wallowing in his own misery and self pity. It was good to know that he was back to being an asshole. Gin couldn't help but roll her eyes. The tone and mood in the room had both changed completely. They had been calm; both had dared to shed a small light to their vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Gin had shown an uncharacteristic sense of compassion, one that she only ever showed her children, only to have Trilby react like that. This was exactly the reason why she never showed anyone this side of her. It made her seem weak, like someone that could easily be exploited. In her position, she couldn't bear to be seen like that. She held an entire nation on her shoulders. If she looked weak, so did Sunagakure.

The young Kazekage crossed her arms over her chest. She didn't bother to look over to Trilby. She found that inspecting her nails was more amusing. "You want us to leave so soon?" She asked, sounding unamused. Had he just assumed that she had denied his request altogether? He was an idiot, if so. Gin had practically said that she was going along with him, did she need to spell it out or something? "I had an ultrasound with Hikari scheduled for this afternoon, but I suppose I can postpone that if your bloodlust is this overwhelming, or do you just want to get yourself uselessly killed?" Gin's voice was full of sarcasm. She still didn't look at him. Frankly, she was rather pissed off at the fact that he didn't appreciate her brief show of sympathy and affection.

The young woman stood up from her chair with a loud sigh. She was going on this mission with him, so she might as well make it clear. Her eyes narrowed down on Trilby as she finally looked at him. "Let me make one thing about this clear," She began. Her tone held a high level of authority in it. She was overly serious. "Despite whatever your personal reasons might be, I'm still leading this mission. So stop being a hardheaded prick for once. You're following my orders. I don't want to lose my child because you let your anger take over, understood?" She said. Was she implying that she would sacrifice her unborn child in order to save his ass? Maybe. To be honest, she didn't quite know. He rhead was pounding. She had just spent over three hours listening to old men drone on and on about Sunagakure's monetary problems. She couldn't quite think straight.

Gin raised an eyebrow as Trilby stopped in his tracks and turned to look back at her. She still looked utterly bored, maybe somewhat annoyed at Trilby's hardheadedness. She understood that his emotions were getting the better of him, but that was still no excuse. He couldn't let go of his rationality because of his anger. Gin was impulsive most of the time. She let her instincts guide her actions quite often, but never when it came to missions and the protection of Sunagakure. Her impulsive behavior was more of a trait found within her personal life. Despite the way she often acted, so easy going and nonchalant, there was a cold and calculated plan behind almost everything she did. But Gin never cared to explain that. She cared little for other people's opinions about her. But she clearly understood that not everyone shared her mindset. People reacted differently to what happened around them. She therefore understood or at least tried to understand Trilby in his moment of weakness.

The young Kazekage's gaze momentarily softened as she heard him speak. She could sense a mixture of anger, sadness and frustration in his tone of voice. She knew those feelings quite well. She took a step towards him, closing the distance between them. She extended a hand towards his face and wiped his tear away with her thumb. She let her hand cup his cheek momentarily. She smiled kindly at him, trying to convey that she understood his pain, his fear of loss. She let her hand linger there for a moment, as she looked at him in silence. The moment ended soon enough, however. It was time to take care of the matter at hand. Gin retracted her hand from his face and walked past Trilby and out the door. "Come," She ordered simply as she adjusted the empty scabbard that rested against her back. She had Soul Cutter by her side, though she doubted that she would need to use it for this.

Gin's attitude shifted away from her former kindness. She was no longer his teacher or his friend. She was the Kazekage of Sunagakure, the most powerful shinobi in the nation. She commanded respect and held her authority in her tight grasp. She was a kunoichi leading a mission. She walked down the halls of the Administration Building, her pace was quick and purposeful. It was best to get this over and done with quickly. She assumed that Trilby would follow behind her or walk next to her. "Now, the mission's real objective is to wipe out the gang running the mine. Understand that there will be casualties. They will likely try to use the other slaves as human shields as soon as a fight breaks out. You cannot hesitate, regardless of the fact that these may be people you knew. If you let them see that weakness, they will exploit it. Of course, we will try to save as many people as possible, but understand that trying to save them all is a fool's errand." She stepped out of the building. She instantly felt the change in temperature. There was nothing quite like the heat in Sunagakure. Gin sighed happily. This was only a reminder that she was back home and not in the frigid winter of Konoha. She shuddered at the thought of being back there. She continued to wlk towards the northern gate. She knew where she was headed. The dessert was her home. She knew how to navigate it perfectly. That ability served well while strategizing. As they walked through the village, Gin stopped at the local market. She bought several supplies, mainly food and a small bag to carry it all. She estimated that this would take around 3 to 5 days. She bought enough food and energy pills for six days, just in case. She swung the bag over her shoulder and continued to walk. "I trust you have everything that you need?" She asked, just as she stood next to the gate. Might as well make sure that he was ready before they left.

Gin listened carefully and took mental note of what Trilby was describing. Her gaze softened slightly once again. Had he really been through such hell his entire life? She still couldn't picture it. She knew that once she saw the setting, the actual mine, the people being forced to give their lives for the greed of one sadistic man, the idea of it all would sink in. "I say we strike at night. Using darkness as a cover always works best. To be honest, I'm not the stealthiest person out there. All of my techniques are based around strength, not silence or speed. In fact, most of the weapons I make are rather... flashy," She said, pursing her lips. There had to be a way that they could work around that. She could infiltrate the mine as a slave. Her acting skills were decent. She would be able to lure them, take them down separately. It made sense that she do it. There was a risk of them recognizing Trilby. He was already branded. They would likely try to kill him or torture him for having escaped. She was set on the idea.

Gin was about to explain her plan to Trilby when he set off to find something. Gin shrugged. She didn't mind the short wait. She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall that led to the dessert outside of Sunagakure. She sighed. What had she gotten herself into? She was a pregnant woman, for God's sake. She shouldn't even be allowed to leave the village, let alone take on an S rank mission. Gin sighed and ran a hand through her hair. She still couldn't let her former student walk into his own demise like that. It would be cruel, really. There was a reason why missions like this one were reserved for the ANBU and the Jounin elite. The fact that she was going instead of a well-organized team compensated for that. Her hands drifted protectively towards her stomach. But something felt odd. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. But at that time, a feeling of emptiness invaded her. It almost felt like loss.

The young Kazkekage was broken out of her train of thought by Trilby's arrival. She looked up at him. He was now wearing... a hat? "You look ridiculous," She said. She wasn't holding back on her honesty. "Come on," She said, motioning for him to follow her outside of the gates. "Do you have a kunai on you?" She asked. If he did, and once he handed it to her, Gin would hold her hair in a ponytail and slice through it. She let go of her long locks of hair fall into the sound below her and continued walking towards her destination. She would only explain the reason why she'd cut her hair if he asked.

Gin ran her hands through her newly cropped hair. It felt strange, but she supposed it was necessary. She might as well go for a change in style, after all. Her hair used to nearly reach her ankles. It often got in the way of fighting. The hair style was rugged and uneven, but that only added to the effect that she wanted. She noticed that Trilby took off his hat and raised an eyebrow. She quickly caught on to his train of thought and chuckled. He was self concious, wasn't he? She found the idea funny. She had never taken him to be that sort of person. Maybe this was just a personal quirk or maybe it was her opinion that was different. She wondered. "You didn't have to take it off," She said, nudging him with her elbow. "I was only teasing you," She explained. Before she answered his question, she untied Soul Cutter from her waist and handed it to Trilby. She proceeded to disarm herself completely, handing him all of the weapons she had on him. Maybe he had already caught on to what she was planning. In any case, she would explain anyways.

She looked at Trilby. Her expression left no room for questioning. She was giving a direct order, and he of all people would know what that meant. Ignoring it was a death sentence. "If this place is the way you've described it, stealth won't be enough. The place is large. Taking down the entire guard will take time. They'll find out what we've done soon enough, in which case they'll alert the rest of the guards. The slaves will instantly become human shields and there will be no way to avoid a massacre. That's why I'll be infiltrating them as a slave, understood?" She explained. She half expected him to protest, to tell her that doing so would be foolish, that she would place herself in unnecessary danger. But then again, this was Trilby. He hardly cared for anyone within Sunagakure. Even know Gin knew that he was just using her to achieve his goal.

The young Kazekage let the information sink in before she kept on walking. "We're about a day away from roughly getting within their range. By then, I'll have dressed for the part I have to play. We can discuss the fine details such as communication methods and how we'll meet within the mine. I just figure we'll cover more territory and take care of the guards quicker if you take the ones on the surface and leave me the ones below the ground. I'll make sure to learn the mine's layout before I do anything." She added. She needed to refine the plan's details, but so far it sounded like the best solution to her. Gin looked at the kunai, which she still had in her hand and extended it towards Trilby. "This is yours," She said as she handed it back to him. "Also, if anything happens to Soul Cutter, I'll kill you, got it?" She said, though she hardly sounded menacing. Quite the contary, actually. Her voice was easy going, friendly and laid back.

Gin shook her head. The expression on her face was serious. "It's exactly because you're branded that I'm the one infiltrating them." She began. She kept walking on the sand, heading towards their destination. Her stamina was greatly reduced, but maybe that was because there were twins inside her. She had been ordered to rest, after all. But still, she wasn't about to spend nine months inside the hospital while Jurou and Trilby took turns watching her. She wouldn't let herself be reduced to such a weak state. She was pregnant, not mentally crippled. She could still do everything she needed to do on her own. But she knew that running through the sand like that would take its toll on her. She would start panting and sweating eventually. How humiliating to be reduced to such a state. She had made Trilby carry her weapons and items for a reason, besides the fact that she would have to be unarmed to enter the mine. "Do you think they would simply capture you and force you to work if they saw that mark? You escaped. They would either try to make an example out of you through public execution or you would be punished and tortured. You would be forced to fight them and you would blow our whole cover. You are emotionally attached to these people. Seeing them whipped and overworked would make you lose your composure in minutes." Gin explained. Again, her voice left no room for question.

Gin cocked an eyebrow at what Trilby said. She would have to be topless? Strange, but alright. She would deal with it. It wasn't like she was self-conscious about her body anyways. Besides, he had already seen her practically naked back at the hospital, even though she was still covered in wounds then. "I'll dress the part when we get closer. There's no need to walk around half naked through the desert right now," Gin said, shrugging it off. She didn't mind Trilby removing the seal he had placed from her sword, as long as he put it back when this was done and over with. Sunagakure was no longer in sight. They had walked for some time now, though they still weren't close enough to their destination. If they kept up this pace, they would likely get there by the following day, probably during the afternoon. "We'll set up camp as soon as night falls. We'll take turns sleeping and on the lookout." She instructed. It was nothing out of the ordinary. That was the way things usually went during a mission. However, it was best to establish it beforehand.

Gin stood by as she saw Trilby set up camp. She would have helped him, but he seemed to have everything unde control. Watching the sun set hehind the dunes was lovely and relaxing. It was the calm before the storm. Fro a moment, she wanted to light up a cigarette and sit and watch the darkening sky. But alas, she was pregnant. Her next two bundles of joy wouldn't quite enjoy her smoking or drinking anything for the next 9 months or so. Gin sighed. It wasn't that she didn't want to be pregnant. She was glad that she was having Sake's kids. It was just... It was just a little too soon. She wasn't ready for another set of kids. Yet these things kept on happening to her. She had bad luck with romance. First she had scared away Jurou and now Sake was nowhere to be found. Gin caressed her own stomach gently. She noticed that there was a small bulge forming already. It was hardly noticeable, but it was there. The young Kazekage barely noticed when Trilby finished setting up camp. "I'll take the first shift," She said. She wasn't feelinf very tired. Standing guard for a couple of hours would help lull her to sleep. She kept on staring blanly at the sky, admiring the stars as they began to appear. The view was beautiful, uninterrupted by the city lights of Sunagakure. She did that until it was her turn to sleep, and again when it was her turn to stand guard once again.

Gin sat, hugging her knees to her stomach as she watched the sun rise into the sky. This time she helped Trilby pack up the tent and the rest of the supplies. She didn't carry any of them, though. They were aleady half way there. Only a few hours of walking and they would reach the borders of the desolate town. Gin could see in lying in the distance. It was almost a baren wasteland. It seemed empty and void of life, though she couldn't exactly see the details from where she was. She turned towards Tribly and smiled, though there was something off about the expression on her face. The smile seemed halfhearted. "You're half of the mission is simple. Just take out the guards on the towers outside and infiltrate the cave whenever I give you the signal. I'll meet you near the holding cells. By then, I'll have taken out the guards down there. You'll stay to protect the slaves, I'll deal with the rest of them, understood?" Gin explained. She expected Trilby to protest. He wanted revenge, that was clear, and Gin was basically taking away his chance at it. But she couldn't take the risk of having him lose control over his anger. She would have to take care of this mostly on her own. She already expected him to go against her orders, though, and had already set up several back up plans in her mind that could easily adapt to the situation. "The signal I'll give you will be a simple handsign. The sign for dos should do it. Keep a close eye on me while they're moving the slaves. I'll let you know by then. if you don't see me in line for two days in a row, go back to Suna and get backup. You not to go there on your own under any ciscumstances. When I give you the sign, take the guards out on that night." She ordered. Now it was time for her to dress the part. She took one of Trilby's bags off of him. She had bottled some of the ashes from the campfire for this. She took out the bottle and began covering herself in soot. She ripped the pants that she had on her and covered them in ashes as well. Without hesitating, she took her top off. "There, that should fit your description," She mumbled. "Now I want you to zoom in on the town, let me know where the new slave supply is so that I can get in there before I miss my window of opportunity," She intructed and waited for his input, crossing her arms over her now bare chest and fidgeting slightly. She felt somewhat anxious. It had been a while since she had been on the field, though her skills were as good as they had always been. The fight with Jurou was proof of that.

Gin kept her eyes fixed on the edge of the town. It seemed empty, desolate. She waited for Trilby’s answer. Her expression was uncharacteristically serious. The mood around them both was somber and tense. But then again, what else could you really expect? This was a dangerous mission. Gin knew the risks and she could only assume that Trilby did as well. She kept her arms crossed over her chest. It felt strange to be uncovered in the middle of the dessert. She shifted slightly in place. She felt an all too familiar anxiety wash over her. It was thrilling and nerve wracking at the same time. The young Kazekage almost always felt that way before a mission, especially one of this level.

Gin nodded as Trilby directed her towards where she needed to go. She smiled. She hadn’t really expected him to be concerned for her safety. “I’ll be fine,” She said, smiling broadly at him. She was confident, or at least she pretended to be. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was bound to go horribly wrong. Without looking back, the young woman set off. Night was falling already. The timing was perfect. Gin ran towards the town. Her steps were swift and silent. She moved through the small town, above the rooftops. She spotted the cart in the distance and watched as people were being slowly hauled onto the cart – a large cage, placed on wheels and driven by horses. Gin scowled. The guards were whipping people, pushing them forcefully onto the cart. Her eyes narrowed and her fists clenched. She couldn’t do anything about it, not yet anyways. She had to be patient. If all went well, this entire operation would end. She nodded to herself. She couldn’t let her emotions take control. That was exactly what she had scolded Trilby for doing. It would be hypocritical of her.

Gin had to look at the situation from a rational point of view, lest she get too emotional. She closed her eyes. Her expression became composed, calm. She could just slip into the crowd of people being loaded onto the cart. Yes, she would do that. It was simpler than trying to slip into the locked cage once it already set off towards its destination. She slipped through the shadows as silently as she possibly could. She jumped from the ledge of the roof, into a narrow backstreet. The slaves were pooled around the edge of the alley. Gin took a deep breath. She looked at the guards, waiting for an opening so that she could slip into the crowd unnoticed. It didn’t seem too difficult. Their guards were lowered; they seemed at ease as they forced the people into the cramped space. It was now or never. Gin took a step out of the alleyway and into the moonlit street. She blended into the crowd of slaves easily, or at least she would as long as she kept her head low and her gaze fixed on the ground. She understood well enough that she had to act submissive, broken and afraid. She could manage that. However, there was one small thing that irked her.
The young Kazekage specifically remembered Trilby saying that women were required to be topless. Lies. She seemed to be the only woman who wore nothing to cover her chest. ”I’m going to kill him as soon as I get out of this,” She thought, making an effort to keep her facial expression from changing. She crossed her arms over her chest, pretending to shield herself from the cold. She didn’t want to attract any unwanted attention. Fortunately, the other slaves were huddled closely together as they entered the cage. Gin listened to the loud clanking noise that came from behind her. The cage was closed and locked. The first step of her plan was over. Nothing that came after it would be easy, now, would it? Gin sighed and slumped against the edge of the cage, looking at the town pass by as the cart set in motion. She felt someone tap her shoulder and dismissed it as an accident. “Hey, you,” Someone called to her in a gruff whisper. Gin turned around, showing a mixture of fear and uncertainty in her expression. She hadn’t expected someone to address her, nor was she planning to address anyone until she entered the mine. She was taken aback slightly.

A young man stared at her. He seemed to be around her age, maybe a few years younger. He was well built for his age. Several scars littered his skin, maybe a couple of injuries intertwined with the old marks. He squeezed past the other people in the cart until he was next to Gin. His stare was calm but stern. “You’re begging to get raped if you stay like that,” He said, motioning to Gin’s bear chest. A couple of snide remarks crossed her mind. Whoever tried something like that was just asking for a painful death. But of course, she wasn’t the Kazekage of the Hidden Sand, not now. No, she was supposed to be a lowly slave, powerless against the circumstances that surrounded her. She stayed silent and covered herself with her bear arms. She didn’t look at the man. She kept her eyes fixed on the ground. She heard him scoff. “Here,” He stated. Gin looked up hesitantly. The man was offering her his shirt. Gin looked at it for a moment, her stare blank and confused. “Why would you give this to me?” She asked.

The man shook his head, looking annoyed. “Just take it,” He insisted. Gin took the tattered piece of clothing. With one last glance, she slipped it on. It was old and torn, but at least it was something. “Thank you,” She muttered. He nodded at her in response as they both turned silent. Gin once again turned to look at the scenery outside. It was better than keeping her eyes fixed on the people around her – cold, resigned, miserable, afraid. The mere thought made chills crawl up Gin’s spine. “Can you at least tell me your name?” She asked the man. She saw him nod from the corner of her eye. “Haruo, yours?” He asked back. Gin knew full well that she couldn’t give her real name. That might arouse suspicion. She would have to give a simple name, an alias. “Hana,” She said simply. She wouldn’t forget that name; it was her mother’s after all. The silence that followed was shot lived.
The cart came to a sudden stop, startling most of the people around Gin. Several guards stood around them, each branding their own sets of weapons. It was difficult for Gin to stop her mind from picturing how she could take them all out right at that moment. She smirked, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to, not for a while. The cage came open with a loud thud. “Move,” One of the guards growled. It took a couple of seconds for Gin to react. She had failed to notice that she was holding the others behind. A large man with dark skin approached her. He extended his hand and grabbed Gin’s hair tightly, pulling her onto the ground. The young woman groaned as she fell on her knees. The man had yet to let go of her hair. He pulled at her once again and dragged her several feet away from the cage and closer to the mine’s entrance before letting go of her. All the while, Gin bit her tongue to prevent herself from saying anything that would make the situation escalate. “Get up,” The large brute ordered. Gin slowly stood up and dusted off her knees. They were lightly scraped. As she straightened up, she felt a sharp pain on her back. She felt her skin split open and grunted. She heard another man chuckle. “No one ever said you could rest,” He said, sounding amused. Gin’s posture tensed on instinct. One of the guards seemed to notice. His eyes narrowed on Gin. He sank into a stance. He placed a hand over the hilt of his sword. He began to draw the sword, ready to strike.

Gin’s thoughts raced. Could she risk being hit by a blade? No, not likely. The look in the man’s eyes was murderous. If she took the hit, she would likely be crippled for the rest of the mission. And so help him God if he tried to aim anywhere near Gin’s stomach. But blowing her cover now would mess the mission up beyond repair. The casualties would escalate beyond what she could count. “Settle down,” She heard a booming voice say from the entrance of the mine. She instinctively turned towards the source – a large man with a disgusting appearance. Gin’s posture relaxed, nonetheless. “Now, what seems to be holding up my new batch of workers?” He asked the guards, eyeing the cowering group of people that were still held up in the cart. This was him, the Baron, the one who led the entire operation. Gin kept her eyes fixed on the ground below her. [b]“This woman refuses to collaborate,” One of the guards stated.

The Baron approached Gin slowly. She could feel him staring at her intently. It was eerie. He grabbed Gin’s chin and forced her to look at him. She made her expression blank, unreadable. He chuckled. “A fine specimen we have here. She seems healthy, well fed, looks strong – more so than most of the men – and she’s even beautiful.” He liked his lips. Gin’s instincts acted for her. She spat in the man’s face, knowing that she would have to pay for that some way or another. The Baron grunted “You little bitch!” He yelled as he slapped her across the face. She felt the whip land across her back once again as the man dragged her by her hair onto the ground. She felt her back split open one time after another. She bit her lower lip to hold back a scream.
Gin Kuroka was the Kazekage of the Hidden Sand, a shinobi of the finest caliber. She knew pain. Yet still she had a difficult time trying to keep herself from screaming as the whip hit the skin on her back repeatedly. How could these people – simple civilians, weak women and children – bear this on a daily basis? When the whip crashed against her back for the tenth time, against the other injuries, against the remnants ones of her fight with Jurou, she cried out and collapsed on the ground. The baron chuckled as Gin lay panting on the ground. As she tried to get up, he kicked her down once again. “Let this be an example to all of you. Work for me as you should and I will be a kind man. I will provide you with clothing, food, a roof over your head – anything that you will ever need! However, fail to do as much and this is what will become of you,” He said as he placed a foot on Gin’s back. He pressed his entire weight on her injuries, making the young woman cry out in pain. He quickly let go of her and started walking back to the mine. “Brand them. Put them to work.” He ordered as he disappeared into the cave.
Gin was breathing heavily. She stood up slowly and followed the rest of the slaves into the cave, only to have hot iron pressed against the base of her neck, leaving the ouroboros on her skin. In place of her name, she was assigned a mere number – 341. She couldn’t help but think of Trilby, going through this exact same process when he was just a child. She had only seen a brief glimpse of what life as a slave could be. How could she have let this operation go on for so long? Her heart sank. This was partially her fault, she knew that much. At least her brief descent into this hellhole would break them free, if all went well.

Day One…

Gin had barely been given time to sleep. Even when she lay on the small space on the ground that she was allowed, she couldn’t manage to even try to sleep. The wounds on her back, the sounds of the other slaves working, the other bodies piled around her, the smell of death and blood and the overwhelming heat kept her awake all through the night. “You’ll get used to it eventually,” She heard a woman mutter, though she couldn’t quite tell if she was the one being talked to. In any case, as soon as morning came, the guards woke the rest of the slaves up, yelling and whipping those that took too long to get up. Gin was quick to get up and follow the rest of the slaves. This was what Trilby had described. They were being moved over to the actual mine. It was time for her to work, then and scout information while she was at it. She already had a jutsu in mind in order to sense what, exactly, mine’s layout was. It would be simple and quick. She wouldn’t have to keep Trilby waiting for long. Just a day or two would be enough to get the information she wanted and needed.
Gin extended her hands and felt the metal shackles wrap around her wrists. They dug into her skin, making her wince, slightly. She kept her gaze fixed on the ground again. She couldn’t let her temper get the best of her, it would slow things down, not to mention the added injuries to her body. The lashes on her back were already enough. She walked at the same pace as the other slaves as they exited the shaft and came into the sunlight. Trilby should be watching her by this point. No doubt he would notice the wounds on her back. She wondered how her former student would react and chuckled. There was really no telling, was there? She had always thought that he was reserved, that he never portrayed any emotions. Yet in only a few days he had managed to show a different side of him. She shook her head. At least this experience would help her get insight on him. She looked around, towards the higher places with higher ground to see if she could spot a trace of him. She didn’t. Good.

They arrived at the mine soon enough. She was let out of her chains, handed a pickaxe and pushed towards one of the lower levels of the mine. Gin had no idea what she was supposed to do. She looked at the people around her and tried to copy what they were doing. She had no problem lifting the pickaxe and swinging it against the hard stone. She tried to ignore the people around her. All she needed was an opening, a moment of distraction so that she could move form a handseal without arousing suspicion. She waited for hours, keeping her attention focused on the ruthless guards. Every time one of them went off either on a break or to terrorize one of the slaves, another took his place, actively watching over the workers.

Gin had lost track of time. She was hungry, she knew that much, but she didn’t know how much time had elapsed since she began working. “Such a pretty little girl,” She heard a gruff whisper in her ear and gasped. One of the guards was standing directly behind her, pressing himself against her. Gin was tempted to throw him off of her and kick the living shit out of him, but the pain in her back reminded her that she couldn’t. She needed to keep her cover. The guard placed his hands over Gin’s hips. The feeling was disgusting. It made Gin’s skin crawl unpleasantly. She clenched her eyes shut as his hands roamed further up her body, towards her chest. Gin breathed heavily, trying to keep herself calm. She wanted to use the pickaxe that she had dropped on the floor a brief moment ago to tear the man’s skull open. But she couldn’t… Why? Why couldn’t she? She was the Kazekage of the Hidden Sand. She didn’t have to take this… this… humiliation. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists as the man started groping her. She forced herself to think of the casualties that would occur if she burst out now.

And yet the young woman couldn’t help but think of the children inside her and of their father. Even though it was against her will, she felt like bearing this was nothing short of betraying the man she loved. One of the guard’s hands moved to her face as he whispered in her ear. “So submissive… Tell me, are you used to being a common whore?” Gin snapped. She bit down on the man’s finger, effectively tearing it off. She spat it to the side before she had realized what she had done. She had basically signed the death warrants of each slave on that level. And yet none of them moved. It was as if they didn’t even notice the screaming man, the rest of the guards moving in towards Gin. The young Kazekage took a step back, only to be reminded that there was nothing but solid stone behind her. She sighed, closing her eyes briefly. She was doomed, wasn’t she? “I’m going to fucking kill you, you little slut!” Yes, yes she was. “No, you won’t,” Said a familiar voice, one of the guards from the day before.

“You know how the Baron feels about new property. He’s a merciful man. He likes to give the newcomers a chance to get used to things before dispatching them,” He looked at Gin carefully and smiled devilishly. “Yes, that should do… Solitary confinement should work wonders,” He said as he motioned for two other guards to approach him. The latched steel chains onto Gin and began dragging her through the tunnels, the deepest levels of the mine. Gin didn’t struggle.

The young woman kept her eyes open, taking note of every detail that she saw – the number of guards on each floor, the weapons most of them carried, the winding layout of the tunnels. Everything that she could use, Gin took note of. Her memory was impeccable. She wouldn’t lose track of any of it. The two men ultimately threw her in an empty cell without removing the shackles from her. They latched a collar onto her neck and left her in there. Gin sighed and slumped against the wall. Well, at least she had her opening now. “Wind Style: October,” She whispered. She had never actually tried out this jutsu. She had the concept in her head and she was quite sure that she had a firm grasp of it. Her chakra left her body and expanded through the air, lacing with the wind currents everywhere in the mine. Gin closed her eyes, focusing and taking note of whatever she felt.

There. Perfect. She had a decent mental image of what the mines looked like. This had worked even better than what she had planned. She even had time to rest, now.

Day Two…

Every time Gin tried to fall asleep, the collar on her neck would send powerful shocks throughout her body. She only let it happen once, not because she wanted to avoid the pain, but because she was afraid of what could happen to her unborn babies. And still, the shackles around her wrists and ankles burned. What had she done? What had she gotten herself into? She hadn’t eaten anything in over a day. Her children needed food. All she had was a single food pill that she had kept in her pocket. She dug a trembling hand into it. She needed it now, though she was afraid to take it. She had lost track of time. She didn’t know how much longer she would be in there, how much longer she had to go without food. But she had no choice. She was starved. Gin chewed on the small pill and sighed. That would keep her going for a while.

She stared at the wall for hours, pinching her skin to keep herself from falling asleep. She couldn’t take that again. Time in there was endless. It almost drove her mad. In fact, it might have if the guards hadn’t pulled her out of there a few hours later. Gin’s expression was completely blank as they dragged her towards her working place, the same spot as the day before. She hadn’t gone back to the shaft the day before, meaning the Trilby hadn’t seen her either last night or this morning. She hoped to whatever deity she could think of that he didn’t do anything stupid like try to break in there on his own. That would make all of Gin’s sacrifice up until now useless.

The young woman picked up the pickaxe once again and began swinging it against the stone. Her motions were mindless, as if they had been programmed into her. The food pill would give her enough energy to get past the day. It was more than she could ask for. She spent the entire day on the task, once again losing her sense of time. Her arms were sore, as was most of her body. She was tired. She needed sleep. The sharp whip on her back reminded her that she couldn’t slow down. Gin grunted, going back to her initial pace. She was panting now. Only hours later would the guards finally call it a day. It was well past sundown.

Gin had to pause several times as she walked towards the shafts. Her pregnancy meant a significant reduction in her stamina. Sure, her body was strong. She could take the physical labor in this state. But she tired easily, more so than she would under normal circumstances. She had to stop to regain her breath several times. To do so, she stepped out of line while she thought the guards weren’t looking. However, one of them managed to notice that she had stepped several feet away from the main group. A whip came crashing across the young Kazekage’s back. Without a single word, the guard approached her, grabbing her by the hair and kicking her to the ground only to lift her back up and punch her face directly. He laughed at Gin’s expression – frail and broken. He kept on beating her, repeatedly kicking her torso. Gin’s first reaction was to cover her stomach. He couldn’t let him – No! If he kicked her there she would lose her twins. Her weakened body and her sustained injuries would force her to miscarry if he did. Tears welled in Gin’s eyes. She was scared, terrified. She couldn’t bear losing her kids. Two more guards joined the first, kicking and punching the young woman repeatedly.

All the while, she couldn’t help but ask herself why. Why was she doing this? Why was she risking the safety of her unborn children? Why was she taking blow after blow without doing anything about it? Was it for the slaves? No, she could have sent a handful of Jounin to deal with this if that was the case. They could set them free just as well as she could. But that would have meant going against what Trilby wanted. Was she… Was she doing this… for him? She pondered the thought for a moment as she shielded her stomach from another blow. She grunted. That kick had likely broken her forearm. She could feel her face bruising and swelling. At least the day was over. At least she wouldn’t have to work now. She could rest until tomorrow. As she tried to get up once again, still holding a hand over the slight bulge in her stomach, she looked towards the high ground, where she knew Trilby would be. She knew she wouldn’t find him, but she knew that he was looking at her. She smiled as if trying to tell him that she was alright, that she would be fine. Yet she seemed broken and tired. She breathed heavily, only to have the wind knocked out of her once again as one of the guards kicked her chest. She collapsed onto the ground again. She needed to rest. She needed to close her eyes and sleep, if only for a while. Her breathing eased. She closed her eyes slowly. In her delirious state, she saw the face of a man. Her heart leaped in joy. Yet as her vision cleared she noticed that it wasn’t Sake but… Trilby. How odd… how very odd indeed.

Day Three…

Gin didn’t know where she was anymore. She woke up slowly, feeling groggy. Her entire body was terribly sore. She wanted to go back to sleep in order to avoid the pain and discomfort, but she knew she couldn’t. “Sleep, child,” She heard a woman whispered. She recognized the voice. It was the same one that spoke to her on the first day. The woman hovered over her, pressing a wet cloth to her forehead. “I.. I can’t” Gin stuttered. The woman sighed, mumbling something about Gin being stubborn. The young woman sat up and looked around her. She was in the shafts once again. For a moment, she wondered who had brought her there. The old woman answered her unasked question for her. “A young man carried you here. I believe his name is Haruo. He claimed that he knew you,” She explained. Gin nodded. Now that she took a closer look, she noticed that the woman wasn’t old. Like Gin, she had silver hair. Her pale skin was worn, more so by labor than by age itself. Her light green eyes looked tired, hopeless. “Lie down, lest you reopen the wounds I managed to stitch together.” She ordered. Gin did so with a sigh. Great. A medic.

The woman eyed her carefully. Her eyes narrowed, looking over Gin’s wounds. “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” She asked. Before Gin could say anything, she elaborated. “Your entire body is covered in wounds, mostly your arms. Your stomach isn’t. I can only assume that you have an important reason to guard that area,” She explained. Gin nodded slowly. “I’m having twins,” She whispered. Before the conversation could continue, the guards started waking up the rest of the slaves. It was time to start another day. Gin stood up slowly. The woman helped her up. Despite how callously she spoke, her actions were kind… somewhat. Her grip was forceful as she made Gin stand. “Eat this,” She ordered as she handed Gin a food pill while they walked towards the guards, only to be latched in chains and dragged towards the mines once again. “Thank you,” Gin whispered to the woman, who only scoffed and rolled her eyes in response. “Can I at least know your name?” Gin asked the woman. She chuckled in response. “A name? How naïve of you, child. You no longer have a name, nor do I. I am but a number – 57, if you must know. People around here just call me “The Healer” and I’d like to keep it that way.” And with that, she was lost in the crowd. Gin sighed. Number 57… They were mere numbers, pawns who’s lives became meaningless. The mere thought of having to live the rest of her life like that made Gin want to die. She had to break these people out of there.

Tonight would be perfect. She had the information she needed. She would begin the final phase of the mission. She would take out the guards from within the mine while Trilby took out the ones on the surface. As she walked, she moved her hands into the signal they had both agreed on. There was no need to wait anymore.

chakra: 260/275

Kami no Me:

Just one more day left. One more day of mindless labor and she would be able to go back to Suna. She could go back to Chie and Reiko. She could rest for the next nine months while she was still pregnant. She would be fine. She would be fine. She kept on repeating the phrase in her head, hoping to whatever deity would hear her that she, or rather, that her two unborn children survived this ordeal. Carrying out the day was difficult, more so than it had been the last couple of days. She was almost sure that one of her arms was broken. She couldn't risk injuring it further or else she would be unable to wield a sword properly. That could cost her the entire mission if she wasn't careful. She weighed her options in her head. She could ease her pace and likely be lashed for the entire day or she could keep up her usual pace and shatter her arm. She sighed. She would have to take the lashes. It would save her from further injuries.

Gin clenched her eyes shut tightly whenever the lash hit her back. She would only grunt. She didn't want to give the guards the satisfaction of hearing her scream. She could bear the pain, she had gone through worse. She had been driven to the brink of death several times. She could... She could stand this. But in the back of her mind, she heard her own voice whispering. "You'll make it, they won't," She clenched her eyes shut. She could feel her eyes stinging. Tears welled in them. Her hand went to her stomach, caressing it lightly. She hadn't noticed that she had stopped until she felt the whip cracking against her back again. She winced and went back to work. She took a deep breath. She could last the day. She could bear it. And once night fell she would end these people. She would slaughter them like animals. She would have no mercy.

The slaves were slowly being dragge out of the mine. Now was her chance. Gin had to slip into the shadows if she wanted to conduct her plan the way she wanted. Once she disappeared, the guards would simply assume that she had gone along with the other slaves. She looked around her briefly. The guards were distracted, hauling off the other people towards the surface. The timing was perfect. She dropped the pickaxe by her side and looked around again just in case. She coated her hands and feet in chakra and climbed the walls. She would hide within the shadows. She estimated ten minutes would be enough. She had to wait, she had to be patient. As she watched the last of the slaves being dragged out of the mine, she smiled. The torture was over, or at least it would be soon. "Yami no Katana: Yajirushi," She whisperes. A pure white blade appeared in her hand.

Gin swung the blade. Its afterimage solidified into five different blades made purely out or fuuton and raiton chakra. Gin smirked. The five different blades flew towards the guards in sight. Their speed was incredible. They wouldn't see it coming. The blades cut through their armor effectively, skewering them. They didn't even have time to scream. Whenever one of them came across one of the bodies, the blades of chakra would slice through them before they could react. Gin moved through the tunnels, repeating the process through each floor. She would be done soon. This would be quick. The difficult part would be taking down Baron Yoku and his guards. Gin would likely need Soul Cutter for that. But to get it she had to rendevous with Trilby beforehand. She needed to send him some sort of signal. She smirked, knowing exactly what to do.

Gin dropped from the ceiling and dusted herself off. She walked towards one of the bodies on the ground. With her sword in hand, she sliced the man's limbs and piled them into one the small carts. She pushed it outside, towards the entrance where she assumed that Trilby would be. That signal would be clear enough. She smirked. All she would have to do now is wait.

Gin still held Yajirushi in her hand. The wounds on her back stung. They were likely infected by now. She had lost count of how many lashes she had received over the course of just these three days. Her broken arm wasn't being any help either. She would be unable to hold her swords properly. She would have to use them with just one hand, not to mention the fact that she was short on stamina. Maybe this hadn't been such a great idea after all. She chuckled. It was much too late to think of that, wasn't it? Honestly, she wouldn't mind the pain or the circumstances if she wasn't pregnant. But the fact that she was going to have twins made all the difference. She stopped for a moment, leaning against the wall. She winced slightly as she did, but she didn't care at this point. She was panting. She needed rest. But she had to keep going. She could only allow herself a very short amount of time. She couldn't risk the alarms being set off before she reached the shaft. She had to keep going.

Gin pressed her hand to her forehead. She was sweating lightly. From what she could tell, she had a fever. Wonderful. Fucking wonderful. That could only mean that she was infected, could it? Gin sighed in frustration. She kicked herself off the wall and continued walking down the mine's tunnels, towards the surface. She allowed herself to stumble slightly. She could afford it now that the mine was empty, cleared of every one of the guards. She used the wall to hold herself straight until she reached the antrance. She headed outside, towards the shaft. "Gin Kuroka," She heard someone call to her. She recognized that voice. It was that woman, the one they called The Healer. Gin turned towards her. She hadn't noticed that the woman was following her. Frankly, it startled her. "How do you-?" Before Gin could finish the question, the woman interrupted her. "or should I say Gin Nanahara?" Gin's eyes narrowed, to which the woman only smirked. "You're wondering how I know your name, the one that you never use. It's a shame, really. A shame that you don't recognize your own mother," She said, though her voice didn't sound sadened, rather... entertained. "M-m-mother?" Gin's stomach sank. An overwehlming mixture of guilt, joy and disbelief. She didn't know what to do. She hadn't seen her mother in years. She felt like a fool for not recognizing her. But life as a slave had aged ehr, changed her almost beyond recognition - her green eyes, silver hair, her knowing gaze. Gin didn't know what to do. "You have a job, I believe. There will be enough time to catch up later," The woman ordered her, sounding strict. It had been a long time since she had last heard her voice. But she was right. Gin still had a job to do.

As the young Kazekage started moving towards the shafts once again her mother trailed closely behind her. Well, it wasn't like she could just leave the old woman behind. Well, truth be told she couldn't quite be called old. She was what? In her mid thirties? She was shorter than Gin, though, and had a skinnier complexion. Gin's projectiles still followed closely behind her as she moved towards the entrance of the shaft. She closed her eyes for a brief moment, trying to keep herself calm, trying to forget about the fact htat she felt overwhelmingly sick and in pain. She had to keep going. She had made a promise. She opened her eyes once again and leaned over the entrance of the cave, spotting the guards. She needed the element of surprise if she wanted to get this over with quickly. She fixed her gaze on each of the guards. Once they noticed her there, it was already too late. The five projectiles moved rapidly inside the cave, decimating every one of the guards in it. The slaves remained in shock. Some screamed and cowered in fear. Gin stepped into the cave slowly. She wiped the sweat from her forehead. Now all she needed to do was wait for Trilby to unlock the cages and that would get this over and done with. And not a single casualty so far. Gin leaned against the wall. She was still panting, holding Yajirushi in one hand. She slumped against the wall and hugged her knees to he chest. There was only a little bit to go. It would all be over soon. She could get some rest. She would be fine. She felt like she should say something to the slaves, who were now saring at her intently - some with fear, some with hope. But honestly, she couldn't find the energy. She just smiled at them confidently.

Gin smiled. He was finally here. He was safe and apparently uninjured. Gin's heart skipped a beat. She was happy, incredibly so. It surprised her really. She was getting a little too attached to her student. She closed her eyes and smiled to herself. She was relieved. The young Kazekage stayed slumped against the wall, trying to calm her erratic breathing. She looked at Trilby and her mother hugging. Of course they would know each other. It made sense that they would know each other. After all, the timing fit. Gin had left her mother about 7 or 8 years ago. Around that time, Trilby was still a slave. Gin chuckled. Trilby was her replacement. It was ironic. "Her name is Hana," Gin said as she stood up. She used Soul Cutter to support her weight as she did. She had managed to calm her breathing. She could get past the fever. She would be fine. She would be fine. "And she is my mother," Gin finished her sentence. She shivered. The fever was making chills run up her spine. She sighed in annoyance and frustrarion. This would only make things more difficult.

Gin took the food and energy pills that Trilby offered her. They were a temporary solution. They would work for now, five her enough time to get the mission over with. As she took the pills from him, she looked at him in the eye and smiled. She threw her arms around him and enveloped him in an embrace. "I'm glad you're safe," She said. All the while Hana looked at them curiously. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Is this the man that got you pregnant?" She asked, rather bluntly. Gin had forgotten where her straightforwardness came from. She sighed as she withdrew from the short embrace. "No, he's not," Gin said simply. She heard her mother mumble something, but she couldn't quite tell what it was. She thought she heard the word slut in there but she brushed it off rather quickly. She had a job to do, still. "Come on," She ordered Trilby, walking past him and towards the entrance of the shaft. "I'm not staying behind while you have all the fun. I need a chance to test Soul Cutter out anyways," She said. She wouldn't let him go alone. She wouldn't risk losing him.