Suna was a place known for heat, despite its name "Wind country". Sometimes Misoka wondered just who had come up with that title, especially on days like this.
She sat under a huge tree near to Suna's gates. It was the meeting point of the mission she had signed up for. Two male genins would help her bring a little boy back to his parents.

Misoka took a look at the scroll in her hand, more out of boredom than a sense of duty. "Hashimoto Naruto," she read out loud, raising an eyebrow.
The boy had seemingly been named after one of Konoha's former Hokages. As she continued to scan over the mission profile, another fact caught her eye. That Naruto had run away from home for three times in total, this being the third. Something was definitely wrong in the family.

With her right hand, Misoka wiped some sweatdrops from her forehead. How could it still be so hot in the shadow? Her short pants and sleeveless shirt cooled her down at least a little bit. On the other hand, though, she felt almost exposed in her clothing. A light blush crept up her cheeks. Damn heat. And why would anyone choose such a day to run away? This was rather a time for swimming or something.

WC 223/1000

With the sweltering heat of the day set firming into place, Suna was busy as ever. The shops were full and the road side vendors were available only to the patient. Asura on this lovely day had been assigned to a team of three for a small outside the village's boarder mission. The task was simple enough, track down a runaway child and bring him back to his parents by whatever means necessary. While this wasn't the most prestigious of missions, it was in fact the first one Asura had been allowed on that would get him outside of the village.

Details were thin as his father had brought the job to him and Jiga had made it very clear. His words echoed through Inari, 'Meet your two allies at the gate, greet them nicely, then track down the little trouble maker.'

With that command firmly in place, Asura made his way to the villages gate. With a flat affect and an expression that lacked definition he gazed about the area trying to find a pair of ninja he felt matched him for the upcoming event. His bright pink hair set him apart, but the only marker he had as a shinobi was Suna's insignia between the eye pieces of his goggles. It was nice having the freedom of choice in attire, but the reason most Genin look so different is because the elders understand the need for proper protection. That is what makes scanning for your fellow low ranking shinobi so difficult.

WC: 256/1,000

The young boy walked through the hot streets of Sungakure as though the heat did not affect him. Mainly because he didn't let it get to him. The shade provided from his hood and his large hair kept him from feeling too much of the sun's rays, but also made him sweat a bit. The green hood also covered his face from the loose specs of sand. His expression, as usual, remained relatively the same, his eyelids half-closed and his arms swinging loosely on his sides. He was walking through the streets for a short time before he finally reached the gates.

Once he arrived there, he looked around quickly, trying to spot his teammates. He sort of just wanted to get this over with. Besides, he hadn't really met any shinobi his age who he'd gotten along with besides his brother, and today would likely be no exception. However, he did like the idea of dragging some kid back to the village. At least they'd have something to do. Heihachi, his arms at his sides and his sleeves falling over his hands, scanned the area for his two teammates. There was someone whom he'd noticed right away, from behind. It was the beautiful kunoichi, Misoka Karisuma; long wavy blonde hair trailed down her back, and the way it shined was unmistakable.

Heihachi would blush for a moment, but then quickly shake his head and clear his throat. He walked over to Misoka, tapping her on the shoulder. "Hey. I think our teammate's over there." He pointed over to the only other young shinobi in the area.

[wc-277 words]

Misoka couldn't help but jump a bit when she felt a sudden tap on her shoulder. She whirled around, staring at a boy slightly shorter than her.
"Hey. I think our teammate's over there."

Her expression still drenched in surprise, the young girl gazed in the direction he had pointed until she set eyes on a boy with bright pink hair. He was seemingly scanning the area for someone; on top of that, he wore a Suna headband. There was no mistaking - He had to be one of her male teammates.
So they were all there, now.
She looked back to the boy with the green hood and tilted her head slightly. His face was more or less shaded under his hood, but there was something about his voice or general appearance which seemed vaguely familiar.
It wouldn't hurt to take a guess.

She stood up in one single graceful movement and casually brushed the sand off her butt.
"Heihachi." With curious eyes, she looked over the boy.´"Is that your name?" She added, not wanting him to believe she could only say one word at a time. "If I'm not mistaken, we've already had a mission together."
A slight smile spread across her lips, remembering their successful capture of the bandit.
She always felt less nervous if she knew the person already. Well, knowing was an overstatement, but it was the familiar look that counted.

"Okay, let's get our teammate," she said friendly and then approached the pink-haired boy. Pink hair? Better not to dwell on this thought.
"Um, over here!" Standing a few feet away from him, Misoka waved, a nervous smile on her lips. It still sparked a dull feeling of uneasiness in her to be the only girl on a mission with two boys. However, she was determined to let go of these childish fears.


WC: 333 (+223)

Eight ninja, two gate guards, seventeen civilians. No groups formed beyond a pair of families. 'Names or some means of identification would have been useful' Asura pondered before two of the shinobi had stepped to one another. 'Is that my group?' Choosing to continue watching instead of jumping at what could be a pair of friends catching up before splitting ways again, Asura gave no attention to the pair until a voice came his way.

Casting a glance back to the pair as the woman came towards him. Asura stepped forward to meet her and did his best to smile, though his suppressed state would leave just a faint upward angling of his lips. "Good evening, you are here for the job outside the walls, yes?"

WC: 123 [TWC:379/1,000]

"Yeah." Was the simple answer to all of her questions. Heihachi expected that Misoka already knew that Heihachi remembered her name. Who wouldn't remember her name? As they walked to the other genin with the pink hair, Heihachi put his hands in his jacket pockets. He felt left out, as his teammate only seemed to notice the female. He couldn't blame him, though.

"Yeah, that us." He looked upwards towards the two genin, Misoka on his left and the other on his right. They were both slightly taller than him. He then pointed his own thumb at himself."Heihachi. We shouldn't stand around in this heat forever. C'mon, let's go get this kid." Heihachi then started in the direction that the kid was likely located.

Misoka saw only a faint smile appear on the pink-haired boy's lips as he greeted her. She cast a glance at Heihachi next to her and couldn't help but grin in the slightest. Okay, her teammates didn't seem to be the joking type; they looked rather serious to her. They were at least determined to finish that mission as fast as possible.
Misoka nodded and followed Heihachi quietly. It then occurred to her that she didn't know the other guy's name yet. This would be a bit uncomfortable if she had no idea what to call him. Pink hair? Pinky? With no doubt his hair colour was outstanding.

"So... what's your name?" She inquired casually, throwing a sideglance at the boy.

WC 128 ; total: 683/1000

Taking the verbal and physical que and following under Heihachi's banner as the leader, the three worked their way out of the village through the nearby gate. Just past the village's outer walls the madam's question passed by Asura's ear. With a flat tone and a gentle turn towards the kunochi as he spoke once more, "Asura, Inari." Turning his head slightly once more to better face Heihachi who seemed to have something planned out for his role as the leader, Inari spoke up once again, "With the heat and bright sunlight, footprints shouldn't be too difficult to spot if you have an idea where he might have gone."

WC: 114 [TWC:493/1,000]

OOC: I'm sorry, I have to drop out of this mission since you can only take one at a time!

Suddenly, a caw could be heard as a crow flew over their heads, letting a piece of paper drop in Misoka's hands.
"Huh?" She murmured, raising an eyebrow and stopping in her tracks. She quickly read through the message, recognizing her father's handwriting. He wanted her to back out of the mission and come home as soon as possible. It seemed very urgent since her father would always let her finish a mission first before questioning her about something.
"I'm sorry, guys." Misoka looked up and smiled apologetically. "You have to go on alone. My father just sent me a message and it's really urgent. I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you somehow!"
She waved once more and then made her way back to Suna's gates, back home.

[Exit thread]