Chapter One

A story about two girls on a search for a dangerous man.

Warm sun shined down and warmed the faces of two girls sitting on a rock under some trees. They wore the forehead protector of Iwa. “Let's go, Akito,” Akane said to her friend, both girls stood up and looked at their former home. They were leaving in search of someone from their village that went missing long ago; an terrorist by the name of Deidara.
They both looked onward to the road out of their village, and took a deep breath. And stepped forward, it took them nearly two hours to get far enough to stop. “I can't believe we left home.” Akito said quietly, Akane shook her head. “Will we be back again, Akane?”
“I don't know, I hope so. Come on, let's keep going.” They both starting running and didn't stop until nightfall. The tired girls set up camp and ate some of the little bit of food they had packed for their journey. They both took equal turns keeping watch and at dawn they set out again.
Akito stopped abruptly, “hey, Akane! Do we even know where this artist/terrorist guy is anyway? Is he even still alive?” She looked at her friend who had stopped too. She had a thoughtful expression on her face. She shrugged and continued walking, Akito running to keep up.
At midday they stopped at a small village and rested for a while. Looking into their money pouch and saw how much they had. “Okay, we have enough to buy some food, more clothes, and other unnecessary things that are small.” Akane said in a matter of factly voice. Akito looked up at her friend with amazement. On their way to a store, they passed two men in black clouded cloaks and triangle shaped hat with a small ringing bell. “Excuse me.” Akito said as she bumped into one of them.
One of the cloaked men stopped, and looked at the girls, Akane froze beside her friend and stood in a defensive stance, ready to defend if necessary. The one that seemed hunched over, had made an impatient grunt. “Sorry, Sasori-Dana, Yeah. Let's continue, un.” They continued walking, the hunched over one...seemed to be...dragging.
“That was strange, don't you think?” Akito asked; Akane seemed in some kind of trance. Akito tapped her on the shoulder. “Hey?! Are you alright?”
“Yea. What was that you were saying?” Akane said distractedly, and placed a hand on her head and swayed like she was dizzy.
“Come on let's go find a hotel or something, you need to rest.” Akito wrapped an arm around her shoulder and walked towards an inn. It cost them almost nothing because the inn keeper felt sympathetic towards them. In the middle of the night, Akane awoke and shook Akito awake.
“Let's go, we still have our mission, remember?” Akane said quietly and they stood up and grabbed their backpacks and headed out the door. The cool night air greeted them with open arms, and Akane sighed deeply.