Returning the Scroll (P - Souless and Akane)

Wow, Konoha is so big! Akane thought as she gazed in awe at the village center. It was bustling with happy looking villagers, ninja and children alike. The complete opposite to Kiri. Yet the village carried a sense of pure happiness and comradeship. She made a mental note to compliment the Hokage on this. The villagers obviously felt safe within their village. She could only hope Kiri was once like this instead of the fear that generally ran around the misted village.

She had gotten into the village easily - it wasn't hard to pretend to be a villager from Kiri and since there hadn't been a war for the past 50years they hadn't even searched her. Maybe she should tell the Hokage that he tell his gate-keepers to be more cautious. She wandered aimlessly around the village, stopping at various shops and sampling the food - she'd even bought even more accessories for her outfit that she'd put on later. She had also asked a few of the villagers where she might find the Hokage and they'd kindly directed her to the Hokage Tower.

So now, she stood before the huge red and while building, the Raitei Sumiyaka scroll clutched tightly in her hand. She was afraid of the Hokage's reaction. He was newly appointed and she hadn't been able to gather much about him during her time in the village. She'd have to be prepared for anything - a fight might even occur. She prayed that they'd be-able to avoid any pointless conflict though.

She bravely made her way up the winding staircase and into the main building. Once here she found a reception room where she requested to see the Hokage. She stated that she had vital information from her travels that would be important to the Hokage and then she was led to the doors of his office. They opened and she bravely stepped inside.

"Good afternoon Hokage-san, I'm Akane Mitsukai of Kiri and I have come to return something that rightfully belongs to Konoha."

It was a lovely day in konoha, the sun was shining and the little kiddies were playing out side Zamaz's window. Birds could be heard as they chirrped and sat on the branch of the tree that stood right outside the open window. The wind that blew lightly through Konoha ruffled his soft white hair as it blew over his shoulders. There was papers after papers stacked on his desk that he did not know what to do with it all.

He did not like all the responsiability that came with leading a village. All the lives he had to protect and all the orders he had to give. but something about it made him feel at home. Suddenly he could hear voices out side in the reception room. It sounded like some one was here to see him. He tightend the black sash around his cloak and stacked the most recent paper work he was working on. He placed the files in the desk and stood right as a woman entered the room.

He stood attentiave as she introduced who she was. Zamaz and smiled. Nice to meet you Akane of the mist, how do you like Konoha?" Zamaz was always joyed to have forign tenders come to his village. He alwasy wandered how his village was becaus ehe did not like a sloppy town. but something about this woman made him feel like this was of importan matter and not just to say hello."So what brings you t my lovely village?" Asked Zamaz as he took a seat and motioned for Akan eto take one in the soft green chairs that sat in front of the desk. He reached over and slide a bowl of peppermints close to akane as he took one himself.

She smiled at the Hokage and bowed in respect, "It's a pleasure to meet you to Hokage-san," she replied. "And Konoha is a beautiful village, you can feel the pride the villagers feel as soon as you walk into the village." She then then complied to his request for her to sit and she did so elegantly - a member of the Mitsukai clan was always taught to be graceful. She politely declined the peppermints and pulled the scroll from her pocket before placing it on the table, "This scroll contains the jutsu Raitei Sumiyaka," she informed him, "I'm sure you are familiar with it and it's disappearance eight years ago."

She didn't wait for his reply before she proudly lifted her head, "I am the one who stole it all those years ago and, after some personal experiences I won't mention, I've come to return it."

Zamaz sat intently as akanes story played out. He was aware of th emissing scroll and the information it had contained. "What a risky move" thought Zamaz to himself, the stealer of the sacred jutsu was returning it, in open day. But Zamaz felt compasion for her, she had the pride enough to come on her own and willing give up the scroll to its rightfull owners.

"Why yes, i was just becoming a jounin when it was stolen, how ever i was not given the chance to hunt it down. Fancy how things play out like that huh?" Zamaz reached out his hand to obtain the scroll, with his fingers reached out the scroll fell gently into his palms."no need to worry akane, i respect this descion and fin dit very honerable." He stood and reached out a hand to shake."you are welcome in konoha my friend Akane."

With a smile on his face he expressed great honer his face and mood, Zamaz was not a disrespectfull man nor was he a unfair man.

Akane blinked in shock and surprise before slamming her hands down on the table, getting out her seat and leaning towards the white-haired Hokage, unaware that she was giving the Hokage an eyeful of the little cleavage her outfit allowed to show. "Really Hokage-san? I was willing to take on any punishment you deemed fit," she stated while looking at him curiously.

"I was fifteen when I stole the scroll and I feel horrible for the deeds I committed with the jutsu," she turned her head to the side in shame. "I'm sure you've heard of the Kiri Massacre where the Hokage was killed by a man named Kiyoshi and his student, which would be me," she bit her lip as the words left her mouth. It was painful to repeat the story.

She quickly put on a smile to hid her pain and turned to the Hokage, "Thank you Hokage-san, I'm grateful for your forgiveness and I'm happy to be allowed into Konoha," she truthfully said. "But I feel I should at least offer something in compensation for my deed. I belong to no village so I'd be more than happy to complete a mission for the village of Konoha." She waited for the Hokage's answer and she hoped he would be in favor of her decision.

Zamaz giggled a little as he heard Akane get a bit enraged. He stood up and held his palms out.:Calm down, calm down. You didn think i was going to let you go free did you. HAHAH no you will be assiting me in cleaning up the town tomorow, you know it does get dirty around here."

Zamaz sat back down and awaited the look on the young womans face. As so he took out a map of the town from his desk. he placed it down on the desk and pointed out the area in which they would be cleaning. He sat back and placed his hands behind his back.So what do you think akane, up for a liitle dept to socity?" Zamaz found it a bit commeical, but he was still all serious.

Akane backed down from her position and raised an eyebrow, "Cleaning duty?" she repeated, feeling a vein twitch. Cleaning duty was what she hardly had in mind as compensation. Maybe going on some A-ranked mission or something like that. But cleaning. Yet she sighed in defeat, "Hai Hokage-san," it then occurred to Akane that she didn't know the Hokage's name, "Wait, if I may ask, what is your name Hokage-san? Or do you want me to keep calling you Hokage-san?"

She then looked at the map he pulled out. The area was largish to say the least but she'd face her punishment willingly. She could just use her jutsus to help with the cleaning. This brought a small smirk to her face, "So when do we leave tomorrow morning?"

Zamaz smiled as Akane looked bit ticked, he knew this was not what she would have thought of, but he needed it done and she had a dept to pay, plus Zamaz found it funny. 'I am so sorry, where are my manners. My nake is Zamaz."
He smiled and took a seat.

He then marked out the streets with a marker and poited. "I would like u to meet me in front of this shpo. It an old carpet shop, we will start there. And as for the real punishment. You must carrier a small bag an dhand put all the trash into bag.' Zamaz knew that this would tick her off, becaus emost ninja saw this as a degradeing job, so usually the academy student did it, but he felt this would make Akane rember not to steal.

Akane could sense the Hokage's amusement, it was one her of clan abilities, and it ticked her off slightly yet she kept her mouth shut and gave the Hokage a forced smile when he introduced himself as Zamaz. It was a strange but unusual name. Yet his features were exotic too. She sighed and flopped back into her seat, rather ungracefully, and placed her head in her hand.

She frowned when Zamaz began marking out locations on the map. Her frown only deepened when he announced that she'd actually have to touch the trash. She folded her arms over her chest and bit down a harsh response, "Yes Zamaz-san," she bitterly hissed through her teeth. She could feel Mitsukai Ken throbbing against her back. Her anger was transfered to the blade and it longed to be released.

Crime didn't pay.

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It was the following morning and Akane lazily raised herself from her hotel bed. The first signs of dawn were only beginning to show and she groaned. It was insane to be awake at this time of the morning, this freezing cold time of the morning. She forced herself out of the bed and hurriedly dressed in her ninja attire but she moaned when she realized she had forgotten to pack any form of jersey. Her soft skin shivered in the cold morning air before little marks showed.

She swiftly rubbed her arms with her hands before turning to the map Zamaz had given her and memorized the location of the old carpet shop. Then she went to the window of her room and leaped outside into the frozen air before flashing toward the shop's location.

Akane had failed to realize the area she and Zamaz would be cleaning was deserted.

The morning was crisp and welcoming for Zamaz. It was a bit chilly and the air had a bite to it, but overall it was a good day in konoha. He had been up since four trying to get some papers filed. He had a wram cup of tea with some rice cakes, but that did not kill the hunger. His stomach growled a bit as he put on his cloak and sashed it up. His shoes were cold to his bare skin and a little moist. but he could not do anything about it.

With a small chunk of bread in his hand he walked out the door of his office and looked around. The sun was barely up and little to no people were found walking around outside. He smiled to the young lady sitting behind the counter. "Hold my messages will you please?"

Zamaz was just upone the spot where they intended to clean up. He could smell the fresh scent of food starting to warm up for the days shops. In the distance he could see Akane waiting for him in the spot he had asked. Some part of him thought that she would have dicthed the whole thing, but she was up to her word.

"So you ready to do a little cleaning?" Asked zamaza as he walked up, two plastic bags in his hands now. A long stick with a nail on the end straped to his wrist. Akane would use this to clean up.

Akane shivered as she waited for Zamaz. 'Where is he? Is part of the punishment me freezing?' she asked herself and continuously rubbed her arms for warmth. She wasn't used to cold mornings. Being a Wanderer, she mainly only stayed in places with warm temperatures. This was definitely not her thing and she breathed out a sigh of relief when she felt the Hokage approaching. She looked at him hopefully and hoped this would be over soon enough that she could go and climb back into her warm hotel bed.

She stood up properly as he approached yet she closed her body up and her teeth chattered slightly, "Yeah... I'm ready..." she mumbled through her clattering teeth. "But please can we hurry this up? I am absolutely freezing!" she exclaimed and eyed the two plastic bags in his hand.

Zamaz could see akane shaking in place as the obvious cold was attacking her. He tried not to smile but could not help it. He was used to the cold weather, and ws not bothered by it in any way. So as he came up to her he dropped the bags."Hahaha, here Akane take my robe, you look extremly cold. I wont mind im use to it." Zamaz slide the robe off and reached it out for her to grab. He did not want to seem pityful, but he was a nie man and did not want her to frezze.

"so if you are ready take a bag and head off in that direction." Zamaz sat a bag down at her feet and pointed up the street. "Dont froget anything. and you can stop when you get to that ramen bar." His finger was outstreacthed pointing to a ramen stand about thirty feet down the road.

She first gave him a blank stare at his amusement at her suffering but she took the robe nevertheless and happily slid it over her frozen limbs. It was like being Hokage for the morning and she smiled at that, "Thanks Zamaz-san!" she brightly smiled, "I'm not really used to the cold... I'm a Wanderer and well I usually only stay in warm places so this is different." The robe was still warm from being on Zamaz and it was nice to feel the heat on her skin. It was a little bit too long but she guessed they would just be-able to wash the dirt off.

Akane hesitantly reached down to pick up the packet and frowned in disgust before a plan began to formulate in her mind. 'I wonder...' she then smirked to herself. "Zamaz-san, I'm going to go start!" she then quickly slid away to went behind the old carpet shop. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu," she whispered and clone immediately appeared beside her, dressed exactly like her, even with the Hokage's robe. She quickly handed over the bag and stick to the clone before ordering it to clean.

She then headed into the nearby woods. She'd come back and replace herself with the clone in about an hour but right now she was going to that hot spring she'd found on her way to Konoha yesterday. She figured that no-one knew about it since it was rather deep in the forest. It'd be her little secret she decided. And the best part was that Zamaz wouldn't even find out...

Zamaz smiled as she put on his cloak and took up the bag. She looked ready to work and anxious to get it over with. As she headed off to begin the job zamaz took up his bag and head off. He knew that akane would try something so he did a clone justu and allowed it to garb the bag and begin the work. As he did Zamaz closed his eyes and did a seal. A mirror arose from the ground in front of him. Zamaz stepped forward and was instantly covered in his glass armor. Blending in ot the area he followed Akane down the street.

He sat and watche dher work she seemed to be doing a great job. all the trash was getting picked up and she was moveing at a fair pace. But he knew that something was out of the norm so he just stood agasint one of the wooden fence post and watched, his armor reflecting the fence and him being completly invisable. Zamaz glanced over and saw that his clone was just about done, soon it would dissappear and it would look like he had left her. But it would work out.

The Akane clone dutifully and loyally picked up all the pieces of paper without rest. It was going too perfect, and the Hokage wouldn't even notice a thing. The clone stabbed at a piece of paper but a mysterious wind blew in at that moment and picked up the paper. The clone slightly followed the paper, not watching where it was walking, and jammed itself into the edge of a nearby building - it instantly disappeared in a cloud of smoke and the bag and stick fell to the ground.

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Akane sighed as she blew bubbles in the hot, relaxing water. It was a gorgeous temperature and she had lost track of the time completely and she'd forgotten all about her clone so that she didn't even feel the chakra re-enter her body when it disappeared.

'This is absolute bliss' she thought and looked over to make sure her clothes were still were she last left them. She was relieved to see them, especially Zamaz's robe. She didn't think he'd be too happy if she lost it. But she re-focused her attention on the hot, steamy water. The water relaxed her completely that she blanked out her thoughts - forgetting about her 'community service' in an instant.

She wasn't getting out anytime soon - and nobody was going to make her.

Zamaz watched intently as his clone finshed the job. He did just as Zamaz had planed. but akane was doing just as good as a job. she was almost done when a strong wind blew by. she ran after some paper and bam! Was up in smoke. Zamaz knew exactly what had happened. He was tricked, a clone. but he was impressed also, she did the same thing he did and actually fooled him. But now it was his turn to play some games. He had an idea where she was at, a small hot spring just a ways from this area. Most shinobi did not know about this area, but he used to hise from the hokage in the exact spot. she fell for the same trick he did.

As he walked down the dirt path that lead to the forest. His armor played of the leaves giving him a chamloen look. He knew exactly how to get there and what path to take not to be seen. As he got closer he could see her clothes before he saw her, and his robe sitting there all nice like. A smile grew across his face as he thought of a plan. He inched up and took the cloak, makeing sure Akane was still relaxing. For she would not be much longer. He stepped back and crouched, now he would blend and wait, while she enjoyed what was left of her vacation.

Akane sighed into the water again before looking up and the sky. Her crimson eyes widened wildly, as she realized she'd been in the spring for nearly two hours. 'This is not good' she thought in a panic and quickly raised herself from the hot-spring (Perverted Hokage! ) and hurried to where her clothes were - she didn't exactly like running around a forest butt-nude.

After pulling on her usual outfit and fastening Mitsukai Ken to her back she reached down for Zamaz's robe, expecting to touch the soft fabric, yet all she felt was grass. She felt around the ground before looking down. She wanted to believe that the robe was there she just wasn't touching the right place. But a feeling of doom filled her body and she looked down.

The robe was no-where in sight

She could've screamed but that would've alerted Zamaz to her position and that's not what she wanted but he'd probably already found out that she had created a clone. Damn, she was going to be in some trouble when she returned... But first, she'd have to find the robe...

With a sigh she began looking all around the area, hoping to find it lying around randomly somewhere and that it had magically walked to its new position by itself. 'Yeah... like that would ever happen...' then a thought occurred to her. 'I might have pushed it into the spring somehow!'. She raced over to the water's edge and crouched down but she couldn't see anything due to the steam.

So she bent down lower, face mere inches away from the water - she had to find the robe here!

Zamaz smiled greatly as akane began to freak out. He did not much like seeing her nude, but he lived long enough, it was not a rare sight. He stepped away as she ran over to the spring and began to look for his robe. He climbed the tree just across from the spring and sat on one of the branches. Now his armor was enough to see as the tree stoped and the sky covered the other half of his armor.

"Hey akane, looking for this?!" Yelled out Zamaz as he held the robe out over he spring. He was going to play with her for a bit. He waved it over and over like a doll. "Now how did this get out here. someone wasnt skipping the job were they. Naughty naughty.' Zamaz chuckled a little as he hoped it got her attention. his feet hanging over the brance, swinging back and forth. He was enjoying this a little to much.

Akane froze as she heard Zamaz's voice and she got away from the water before turning to see where the white-haired man sat. Yet she couldn't see anything beside the robe wavering in the air and she figured it was probably some sort of jutsu and she clenched her fist. She wasn't angry that he was taunting her, she was pissed because he'd been watching her in the spring while she'd been naked. 'Doesn't he have common courtesy?' she asked herself and glared at the robe.

It was then that she noticed she could see half of his feet hanging off a branch where the robe was wavering and she frowned - what the hell was this? "Zamaz-san," she said, "I know I skipped out on my job- she suddenly paused as a devious thought came to mind, "But I'm sorry," she even hung her head to show her 'shame'. "I didn't think you'd notice that I disappeared," just to add effect she fell to her knees, "Please forgive me yet again Hokage-san!" She dared not look up to him in fear of giving herself away, she just hoped her voice sounded sincere enough!

Zamaz smiled a bit more, and he was glad it was hidden under his mask. He saw what Akane was trying to do and thought it was a good try. But atlast he knew that she was only trying to get out of more work. But he would play along with it just a little more. He jumped to the ground right next to Akane and pleaded for her to get up. "Its ok, get up get up and put my robe back on, you must cold again." He draped the cloak over her body before she had a chance to stand.

He looked at her and extened a hand to help."Come on, lets head back to the village, we can eat a bit." But as he spoke a mirror arose from the ground behind him and a clone of himself walked out and headed back to the village the way they came. He would stay in his armor so that the villagers would not see him and think that there were two hokages. But the clone would run back and dump all the trash that akanes clone had picked up. Zamaz would have her pay her debt before she left konoha.

Akane was surprised when she felt Zamaz's robe touched her body and truth be told, she actually was getting cold again. "Thanks," she mumbled. 'Okay so maybe he isn't as bad as I thought he was,' she thought and gladly took his hand when he offered it. All thoughts of her plan had disappeared from her mind when Zamaz mentioned food, "I'm up for food anytime of the day or night!" she exclaimed while grinning.

But to her surprise a mirror appeared from the ground and she stepped backward in surprise, nearly falling into the hot-spring but she grabbed Zamaz's shoulder just in time. "What is that!?" she asked when a clone appeared. She then turned her face to him, an expression of utter confusion on her face.

The clone took off in the oppsite direction as akane looked at it in confusion. She seemed to be surprised of it appearing from nothing. "Well akane, that is a clone, from my mirror. You see i am a special type of ninja, i can clone things and make reflections. They are not real but exact copies of what ever im coping." He looked back as the clone dissapeard from sight.

"Just dont worry about it ok, i need some stuff done in town so the clone will take care of it while we eat." He was glad to see her face go in starnge by his techniqu, this meant he had shown what he could do. As they walked the village was getting closer and the noise of people could be heard. There were a few more than there were when they left the first time. but they seemed distreesed. Zamaz knew why. by this time his clone had scattered thousands of pieces of trash all over the place from their clean up hours before.

'Okay yes I realized that as a clone but the mirror is pretty cool,' she thought, tempted to touch it but she decided not to - it might just have some side effect she didn't know of. She'd rather not face the consequences of that type of action. "So you can copy anything? Even a person and then use that copy to your command?" she questioned. She was glad she now knew the Hokage's technique, it could come in handy later. Besides, he didn't know her Kekkei Genkai so she could always surprise him later.

At the mention of food again, Akane's stomach rumbled, quite loudly. She blushed at this and tried to hide her face. She hadn't eaten yet due to the cold but she could've kicked herself for it now. "Where are we going to eat?" she quickly asked. Luckily her attention was taken away from her stomach when they walked to the village, only to be greeted by the masses of paper their clones had cleaned up before.


"Um Zamaz-san," she said weakly, "I have a suggestion," she then prepared to make a clone, "Can we just let another round of clones deal with it while we eat?" Her stomach rumbled at that exact moment as to show why she wanted to eat.

Zamaz hated being a nice guy sometimes. He laughed a little as he saw the clone terroizing the street with trash, and his original goal was to make Akane clean it all by herself. but as the came up to the street she began to complain about how hungery she was and how she didnt want to clean again. "Alrighty, but be glad im a forgivin gperson, or i would have made you clean up the whole street. Now come on lets get some ramen."

Three more clones appeared and walked over to where the first one was. As the four began to clean Zamaz walked with akane over to a ramen bar just down the road. The sun had come up alot since that mornaing and it was starting to get warmer. He could feel soft rays of heat falling through his armor.

"Well what would you like Akane?" Asked Zamaz as they approced the ramen shop. the sweet smell of juice and spices lifted up into zamaz's nose as he eyes the bowls behind the counter."It is all on me so get what you want."

Akane smiled in delight and nearly clapped her hands, but she decided against it. "Thanks Zamaz-san," she replied and happily followed him, watching as the clones began to picking up the scattered papers and she was glad she'd gotten out of it but Zamaz would surely find some other sort of suitable punishment... She gulped at that.

She could feel the sun beginning to shine on her back, through her own clothes and Zamaz's robe. Yet she wasn't willing to return the robe just yet, it was comfortable along with being warm... No wonder most Kage's never took them off.

Akane eyed the ramen bowls with a careful eye and gulped, she'd have to watch the way she ate today - she couldn't just eat the way she did when she was alone. She was pretty sure it wasn't normal for a woman in Konoha to eat more than five bowls of ramen. "Um I'll take a bowl of miso ramen please," she said politely as they both sat down at the ramen stall.

She was so going to go on an eating rampage when she got back to the hotel.

"So Zamaz-san..." she said, trying to create conversation, "Do you have any family?"