Journey to Great New Opportunity

Early morning would rise in Harikengakure, as the sun made itself known to the towers that hung like icicles. It was a rather warm morning with a cool breeze, the best comfort rested in the shaded areas. On this day, a young green haired shinobi made her way through the bridgeways and spiralling paths. She would making her way to Ao Phalanx Harbor on a journey to new horizons.

It wouldnt be long before her feet graced the streets of Ao Phalanx, as the young one known as Lacey Edrick would take the path that led to the port. As she took her route, she thought of who she was leaving behind. Hitomaru, Yuki, her dad. These feelings saddened her, but she knew she was going for the best training in the world. She would reach the port and search around for the ship she was supposed to take. Looking around, she spotted a yacht sized vessel, with an Oashisu ninja waiting next to it. This had to be the person her dad told her about. Lacey made her way over to the yacht sized ship, making sure it was the one she needed to be at.

As the young jounin approached the yacht, the Oashisu ninja locked eyes with her and gave a friendly smile to her. The Oashisu nin was a female that looked to be around 25 or so with blonde hair and blue eyes. Quite beautiful to be a ninja in fact. As Lacey approached, she spoke, her voice stern with no hint of nervous feeling in it.

"I take it by your smile and your headband, that you are the one who is to escort me to the Land of Red Sand? I am Lacey Edrick, daughter of the Shiokage, and new student of Nahaji Sankuro."

"I must say young one, you definitely have the personality that my master told me you would. It must run in your blood. My name is Nara, jounin of Oashisugakure and I will be your guide to your destination."

Nara extended her hand towards the ship for Lacey to board, grinning once more as she finished introducing herself. Lacey would nod with a cheesing grin of her own and make her way onto the vessel. She would press her feet on the dock and immediately, the ship started to disembark. It was at this moment that Lacey realized they were doing this on purpose. Nara would follow the ship out before jumping aboard. Apparently they were trying to get Lacey out of Ao Phalanx before any intruders could catch wind of the Shiokage's daughter being out at sea. That part was successful, and they began to navigate out of the Sound of Pisces.

It would take 2 days and one full night to navigate from the country of Tides to the chain of islands south of the country of Red Sand. It was here that the ship would navigate towards the northwest, attempting to use the chain of islands to elude any would be hazards such as pirates. Lacey during this time would pass her time by listening to the shinobi stories told by Nara, who was quite the accomplished ninja.

The crew navigated excellently through the islands and finally pulled up to a place with soft shores. It would be here that Nara would inform Lacey of their anchoring procedure. The pair would have to travel through the desert by foot. Nara, while the anchoring was in the process, opened a map to the young Edrick and went over the direction's in which they would take. Once the ship was at a full stop, Nara and Lacey would jump from the ship, landing softly on the salt waters. Nara would lead the way, the journey through the Land of Red Sand was official.

As Nara led the way, they reached the shore and traveled through the beach shores which would ascend for a few hundred yards. The two would reach the top of the ascension and Nara would stop, putting her hand out to signal Lacey to stop as well. When Lacey did stop, she was right the edge of a massive cliffside, staring out into what seemed like an endless desert. Nara would then point to the northwest, speaking to Lacey as if an instructor.

"Just like I showed you on the map, we need to go northwest for a few miles, but not far. Just make sure you have plenty of water on you."

Lacey traveled light on her journey, so she nodded in understanding as the woman began to make handseals. Lacey would watch as the woman created some sort of block of earth that peaked outside of the cliff. Nara then took Lacey by the hand and walked her on it, making another single handseal. The block then began to rumble and descend. Nara had made a makeshift elevator from her earth style.

Once the pair descended safely on the sandy terrain below, the journey would become swift but treacherous. The two would run through the dry heat, Lacey not used to the conditions. She began to bead sweat, but was trained well enough to overcome minor heat overload. As Lacey ran, she would throw her arms up and place her hair in a ponytail, using a rubberband that she always kept on her wrist. Now that she was free of her hair becoming a pain, Lacey could focus on the destination.

Lacey couldn't believe Nara as they continued through the plains of gold, the woman hadnt even broke a gland of sweat. It was as if she was in full control of her body, so Lacey could tell that only only was she earth style, she was an Ijutsu specialist. This made the sweat filled Lacey smirk, for this is the very reason she was coming here in the first place. To become like this Nara of the Red Sand.

After a quick hustle through the desert, Lacey started to think she was seeing shit when a random boulder came into view. However the closer they got, the more and more it was becoming real. Lacey would watch as Nara stopped at it in front of her. Puzzled, Lacey continued to watch as the female sent chakra through the rock, activating some kind of seal. The boulder started to move, surprising Lacey yet again. Was this some kind of setup? Had Lacey taken the bait on some kind of hoax? She instantly squatted into a stance, placing her right hand on her Heitekei Semei and glared at Nara. Maybe it was the heat, but Lacey was losing it. She thought that something wasn't right...

A familiar face would pop from where the boulder was sliding form. Haji, the red haired desert king, would stare at the two with a smile on his face. He hadn't seen his granddaughter in a while, so it was nice to have her here finally.

"Lacey Edrick, you come give your grandpa a hug young lady, and take your hand offa that sword."

He knew the heat had gotten to her, not many that were used to the humid and cool breezed environment of the Hurricane were able to cope with the immense dry heat of the desert. There was not shade, there was not water for miles, and most of all, the only breeze that came through was not a pleasant one, for it offered more heat than it took away. Haji would stand from the hole and widen his arms so that his granddaughter could be swept into them.

As Lacey prepared to strike due to her mind being played with by the heat, a man came from the rock, and spoke out to her. The one thing that convinced her that he was true in body, was,his extreme kindness. That was what separated him drastically from any potential illusion. Her heart warmed in his presence, and she immediately rose from her stance and let go of her blade. She took a deep breath and smiled. She then walked up to him, and gave him a fat hug, squeezing him as tight as possible, attempting to show him how much stronger she was. Of course he was built like a rock, so maybe he wouldn't notice at all.

[Exit]

[End of Topic]