It had been nine years since Ayaka was murdered. Nine years had passed since her best friend swore she would become a kunoichi because of it. It was eight long years since she took the first step towards her goal by setting foot in the Kirigakures ninja academy.
And now she was standing here in front of the grave of her best friend on the day she died and weeping. Miru knew that a ninja shouldn't show emotions as they made them vulnerable, but this was an exception! Who wouldn't cry when a loved one died? - Cold-hearted monsters only.

A few tears drip down onto the grave of the then 7-year-old girl, which was planted with evergreens. “I miss you.” Was the sentence that was repeated on most of the graves. But what should you do if it was true?
Ayaka had been Miru's first and best friend in as long as she could remember. They knew each other from an early age. Both girls were overly interested in the various flowers that bloomed all over the little island they grew up on together. Even if it was terribly foggy at times, the two found the meadow of flowers that had been spared from the fog.


Another tear dripped down onto a blue-violet blossom of the periwinkle when Miru heard someone call her name. The green-haired woman turned to inquire who it was. But the voice told her immediately anyway.
Red hair, freckles, free arms packed with muscles. That was clearly Masaru, her teammate. Yes, Masaru, the Masaru, who always annoyed her as a child, was her teammate since graduating from the academy. She would have wished otherwise, but the gentleman had nothing better to do than sit down while she, studying hard, could skip a class. Sometimes Miru really wondered if he had only done this because he knew that it would safely land them on a team, as their skills complemented each other: He - a Taijutsu ace with an insane strength and agility that he did too Hard trained and good with weapons, especially his beloved katana; You - good at nin- and taijutsu, but with little initiative. The third and at the same time youngest in the group was the rather shy Taki, the medicin of the group, also very skilled in genjutsu, but not the best in taijutsu. All in all, they made a good team that had successfully completed many missions. So all three had z. B. passed the Chu-Nin exam on the first attempt, although Miru had doubts about it, since she had passed the second round with noises and her boss was not without it in the third round. Taki had been no less nervous than she was, while Masaru seemed to be the calm person. In the end, however, they all passed, albeit by a hair's breadth.Not a bit out of breath and not a pearl sweat on his forehead, Masaru arrived at his teammate. She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks. "What's up?" She asked now that he had reached her. "Imagine, Miru, someone stole the Kubikiri Hôchô from Zabuza's grave!" Replied the boy, gesturing wildly with his hands.
Miru brushed a strand of hair from her face behind her ear. “And do you know who?” She didn't sound really interested, Masaru didn't have to know that it was her after all, because she only knew one person who was keenly interested in Momochi Zabuzas, thedemon of Kirigakure, sword could have. "No, but there is a witness who says that there were two youngsters. I don't know more either, but that's why we should come to the Mizukage as soon as possible." The girl just nodded in understanding. "Well then go."

It took about two hours for the two teenagers to reach Kirigakure, as the ferry only drove every hour and also took their time over to the main island of Mizu no Kunis. They found their teammate Taki at their home and took him with them because the Mizukage had ordered them as a team.

Masaru knocked on the heavy wooden door, then they entered. The Mizukage was sitting behind her desk, her elbows on the table and her hands clasped in front of his face. Her face looked very serious. "It's good that you are here," she began and the Chu-Nin stepped closer. "As I already told you, the Kubikiri Hôchô was stolen. Since Zabuza had no descendants, it could not be passed on, which is why we left it at his grave in Nami no Kuni. Zabuza was a nuke -Nin, but this theft must by no means be tolerated! "She hit the table with the flat of her hands, some documents flew to the ground in the gust of wind, and got up with a jerk. You could see how angry she was, really scary, which is why Taki grabbed Miru's arm and clung to it. She just giggled and ruffled the younger boy’s hair, she was used to him doing something like that and didn’t blame him.
"And now you want us to bring the sword back?", Masaru asked hopefully while the Mizukage walked to the window and looked out, crossing her arms behind her back. When she heard Masaru's question, she turned and looked at the redhead sternly. "Are you insane, boy?" She began. Masaru looked slightly confused, because he actually thought that the head of the village could not have asked anything else from them. "Such a mission would be far too dangerous for Chu-Nin! Especially since our witness seems to have recognized the symbol of the Uchiha clan on one of the thieves!"
"Uchiha?", Miru asked confused, because the name really didn't mean anything to her.“Man, Miru!” Masaru blew the air out of his lungs and nudged his teammate on the upper arm. "It was clear that you had no idea about anything again! - Uchiha were a large clan in Konohagakure, who were murdered from within their own ranks one night! Have you really never heard of Uchiha Itachi? Heard? He didn't let anyone live, except his little brother - what's his name again? "-" Uchiha Sasuke ", Taki answered immediately to the redhead's question. "Exactly! - In any case, Sasuke is said to have sworn revenge on his brother", Masaru said to the end. Miru listened to him with interest and nodded in understanding.
The Mizukage, who had taken a seat behind her desk in the meantime, also nodded. "Three years ago it was rumored that Uchiha Sasuke had gone to see Orochimaru, one of the three San-Nin Konohas who became apostate. This rumor was finally confirmed. Recently the rumor has been going around that Orochimaru was dead, killed by the hand of his student. If that is really the case, we can assume 50% that Uchiha Sasuke was one of the thieves. But we are not sure who the second person is, so I hereby give you the mission To track down both thieves and to gather information. If you should be discovered, flee, because a fight against one of the Uchiha brothers could cost you your life. "
Masaru sighed in frustration, because he had imagined everything very differently. Because of fleeing. He was strong enough to take on both of them at the same time! Yup!
Again he gesticulated wildly while he had done both Uchihas in his mind. Miru only shook her head because she could guess what he was thinking. Why did he have to be one of your teammates? So she punched the redhead hard on the shoulder. "That won't happen anyway," she said simply.
While Masaru was now complaining why Miru had to hit him again and again - although it was probably on his hand - Miru and Taki bowed to the Mizukage and, with Masaru in tow, set off to pack their things for the mission.

Miru had everything she needed with her father, who lived in West Kirigakure and with whom she spent the days - Monday through Friday - when she trained with her team. It was Saturday, so he was initially surprised to see her, but he thought that she would have to go on a mission again. So Miru's things were all packed quickly and she made her way to the meeting point that she had arranged with her comrades shortly before.


"Ah, there you are, Masaru!", Miru shouted when the redhead finally arrived at the meeting point. "You're 30 minutes late!" She scolded. "Yes, yes, relax, Miru! I just had to have something to eat beforehand," replied the boy and waved his hand away."Ah yes, well then," the 16 year old grumbled, annoyed. It was always the same! They made a time out and Masaru always came - but really always! - at least 30 minutes late. Does he think that's cool? , Miru had asked herself very often, but she certainly didn't think that was cool. "If we miss the next ship to Nami no Kuni because of you ..." she growled. "Then what?" He laughed. But Miru just turned his head and walked, Taki in tow, towards the harbor. Masaru followed.



"Great Naruto Bridge", Miru read from a large sign that hung over a large bridge at the beginning. They had been on the road for four days, first two days by ship, then another two days to get from Nami no Kuni's east to the west, where Momochi Zabuza's grave was supposed to be. "This is where we should meet the witness or not?" She asked her comrades. Taki rummaged in his hip pouch and pulled out a scroll which he eventually pulled apart. "Yes, it should be here. And we are even on time," he replied after making sure he was sure, and glanced at the clock. "We should meet him here in about 15 minutes." - "So we can take a break and chill a bit!" Said Masaru, went to a stone and sat down. He put down his backpack, rummaged in it for a while, before finally pulling out a bento. His comrades nodded and joined him.

After about 15 minutes a person came walking over the Great Naruto Bridge. "That will be him?" Said Miru and the team went to meet the man.
"Ah, you must be the shinobi from Kiri, am I right?" Said the man, whom Miru estimated to be around 50 years old, and looked at the headbands. He nodded in confirmation when he saw the sign of Kirigakure on the metal plates. "What do you want to know?"
All three also nodded. "Well, you've seen the two thieves. Can you describe them in more detail?", Miru simply asked off. The man nodded and seemed to think for a moment. "Well, the one boy was from the Uchiha clan, the mark was on the back of his collar. If I hadn't worn my glasses, I probably