Night was a time of mystery and of enigmacy. And Umeda knew that, in addition to solace, she could get most of her thinking done at this time - a time where next to no one would bother her. And in an even more insular and remote area was the Training Grounds of Konohagakure no Sato. It was far off from the Village, quiet, had solitude and tranquilty, offered some semblance of peace, and it was just plain quiet and inviting. Sitting atop a gnarled tree branch under the pale moon light was divine.

A silent hush would always fall over those who entered into the area. A quiet breeze would rustle the leaves, being the catalyst to myriads of sounds which reverberated through the forests and infringed upon the proclibity for silence which the night held. Umeda herself had breathed coincidingly with the slight overtures of breezes. It was also a practice of concentration. The ironic thing of nature, was that it held an immutable propensity for changing whimsically - caprisously. The visscitudes of fate decreed that Umeda would not be alone that night, for, atop the scattered branches came a young child into the training grounds. As to why he was there, she would just have to find out.

"Eh... eh... eh..." Umeda said, twitching her finger. It was a comical scene, to say the least. Umeda, a hardened Jonin, was lying prone on the hard cold ground of the Training Area, her butt sticking up unsightly in the air. Her shirt rode up a little, revealing her lower back, and her pants were abnormally stretched around her posterior section. Her left arm was lying out, directly in front of the Genin's feet, while Umeda's right arm was propped up, her pointer finger extended - twitching. Her sandals were askew, and her hair was strewn about; however, one would most likely be attracted to her face.

Absent of its normal beauty, it was... natural. Various leaves coated it, framing her forehead - right where her hair started to sprout - and around her eyes, with a lot of debris around her chin. Her eyes were darting back and forth, personifying her I can't believe I just did that feeling. "Uuuh..." she grunted in pain - not that the pain was major, but the fact that it was hurting everywhere. First she upturned her midsection, revealing a slightly cut abdomen, not to mention that fact that it was caked with dirt and dust. It was then, when her face turned to meet the boy that they widened in surprise and she accidentally let out an "Oh!" of surprise.

Immediately, decorum resumed and she was up, her back erect and trying to salvage any shred of respect she could muster. And then, once more, an epiphany reached her, and she hastily brushed off all the debris on her face and stomache, getting her clothing back to how it was before her... uh... rather graceful fall. You didn't see anything. was all that she could think of to say. And even as she said it, her eyes became as round as quarters and a sweat drop appeared at the back of her head and she could imagine what the Genin was thinking. Speaking of which, realizing that she was still in the prescence of said Genin, she said, So... uh... what were you doing out here... Sorry, kid, I don't know your name. Her mouth twisted into a diagonal, all but a question mark over her head.

The boy transversed to the training ground, already dead set on what to do. The boy obviously had a reason to go to the place; Umeda was naturally curious. Yes, we know: curiosity killed the cat. It wandered too far into it's own self-exploration and somehow died, with no real explanation; however, seldom few know: satisfaction brought it back. She had seen this boy - this Genin - throughout the Village, and he had no reason to be here. This training ground was for the Jounin's and a Genin like him would only hurt himself than actually get something done. So many avenues to go through.

She could go through the traditional ANBU-style method: wait and see. There was no way that a Genin, in a foreign situation, with their divided attention, would ever be able to discern her from the background, and from that, she could watch the boy. It would reveal the reasons for why he was there - to simply train, or some other, more maleficant reason? Only Kami knew at that point; the boy did too, and no matter how much Umeda would plead to Kami, she'd still be out of the loop.

She could go through the amusing way - shadow the boy, but risk getting caught. She was tired, and the weariness showed in her movements, but she was still considered semi-pristine in condition and could most likely muster it off. With a few Kawamiri's and Shunshin's, she could easily make a mockery out of the boy and make him plead insanity. But of course, that would mean breaking a potential soldier in the ranks of Konohagakure's military, and she - and the ANBU - would not want that.

Then, there was the direct - possibly the funest approach - in which she would Shunshin down behind a tree that was behind the Genin, making the line of people Umeda, tree, Genin, and then she would easily pin him to the tree from behind with wires. Then molest his mind with Genjutsu and torture. And although she didn't have an aptitude for Genjutsu, the boy didn't have to know that. And with a rather evil glint in her eye, she stood atop the branch and prepared to make the handseals. Then... it happened.

In her fatigued state, she forgot the fact that the branch she was sitting on only allowed her to do so because she was leaning abainst the trunk and sitting at the thickest part. When she stood up, she inadvertantly moved towards the end and... the branch - with a loud SNAP - it broke, sending her toppling down. Her eyes widening comically and a gruntled "EEP!" she tumbled down on the trunk and into the mass of thorny bushed then somehow made it to the otherside... directly to the side of the Genin. Wonderful and ow were the only things her mind proccessed.

---

She smilied. There he was walking down the street, in full uniform for the date. Ah... such a misnomer - uniform. It could be used so ambiguously it was funny. A simple tee-shirt and jeans. That was the uniform that the off-duty Hokage had decided to wear. Hm... A kunai could easily cut through those if she wanted her way with him or if he wanted his way with her, she could use some... persuasive methods to deter him from his course of mind. She grinned. Of course, he would think she was happy that he was finally here, but she was ginning at something much more funny: a mental image of the Hokage screaming like a little girl while running through Konoha... naked. Oh... she would win and he would be an epif phail then.

Anyway, she was far too indulged in observing her target. Umeda summed it up in about an instant, and than another to proccess it in her mind. He was tall; taller than she by at least a couple inches or more. He had blonde hair, something that she would expect of a fictional character to have, but it was stylish none the less; his dark, inviting, eyes intranced her for but a moment, until she looked away. His fair face was illuminated brilliantly by the red glow surrounding them, and it felt as if they were the only two people there. A simple teeshirt and jeans - that was all he had to grace her with, and it would be enough.

She was determined to have a good time - if nothing else, establish good relations with her new Hokage. Umeda decided to treat it as a mission - a do or die - in which she would put forth all her effort to try and like this guy for what he was, not what he became. Kind of a backwards thought, she knew, but what else could Umeda hope to do? She hoped to one day be a Sennin, and a powerful one at that. She had never wanted the mantle of Hokage because it meant that she would become higher than those whom she loved and those whom she was supposed to protect - the citizens of Konoha. It was the Will of Fire that burned within her family, and she would serve it and Konoha from afar... when the time came.

In the mean time, she openened her eyes, the grin still plastered on her face, and moved towards Riko with grace and finesse. She lightly slapped him on his chest with the back of her left hand, while she put her Kunai in her right pocket with her right hand. When she hit Riko, she realized how fit he was, and how much the tight shirt was revealing. Resolved not to let her cheeks blush, she said coyly, You're late. She jabbed him in the chest, playfully and trying not to cause too much pain. We said seven; as far as I know, it's seven oh one. Her hand moved up towards the bottom of her right eye and pulled down while sticking her tongue at him. C'mon! I do have reservations, you know. Even though there's no one in there at the moment. She laughed and winked at him.

Balance was a state of equilibrium or parity characterized by cancellation of all forces by equal opposing forces. But what does that really mean? Many forms of balance have been incorporated into society. Yet, who's to say what is what? It was a matter of personal preference. Umeda believed in Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang describe opposing qualities in phenomena. For instance, winter is Yin to summer's Yang over the course of a year, and femininity is Yin to masculinity's Yang in human relationships. It is impossible to talk about Yin or Yang without some reference to the opposite. Since Yin and Yang are created together in a single movement, they are bound together as parts of a mutual whole. A race with only men or only women would disappear in a single generation, but men and women together create new generations that allow the race they mutually create, and mutually come from, to survive. The interaction of the two gives birth to things. Like an undertow in the ocean, every advance is complemented by a retreat, and every rise transforms into a fall. Thus, a seed will sprout from the earth and grow upwards towards the sky - an intrinsically Yang movement. Then when it reaches its full height, it will begin to weaken, and eventually will fall back to the earth in decay - an intrinsically Yin movement. Yin always contains the potential for Yang, and Yang for Yin. Yin and Yang is a dynamic equilibrium. Because they arise together they are always equal: if one disappears, the other must disappear as well, leaving emptiness. This is rarely immediately apparent, though, because Yang elements are clear and obvious while Yin elements are hidden and subtle. But what does this have to do with life? It has to do with Fate and the primary battle of Good and Evil. Fate coincides with destiney, a predetermined course of events. But, it was her own betrayl that would imbibe words on her that would stick with her forever.

It's the sunrise in Konohgakure no Sato, and a girl and a boy can be seen, sitting on a rock, enjoying the view. The girl appears to be very tiried, and bruised, having stayed up all night training. It's Umeda, only about four or five years in age. Her eyelids flutter, her vision slowly slipping in and out. She could do nothing as she's engulfed in her friend's bodyheat. It's comforting to know that in a world where you were almost alone, there was someone beside you to hold you up. Ureda... Umeda breaths out quietly. I'm so... tired. I wish we could just stay like this forever. The boy is about her age, give or take a year or two. His hair is ruffled and spiky, a dusty brown in color. Goggles rest upon his head and a toothpick in his mouth. Clothes as plain as day, with eyes as cool as the sea.

Me too, my Umeda-chan, her friend replys. Yet, you must now leave me. We must part to become a whole. It is the inevitable that must happen. Now, as you fall into your sleep, let me fill you with some parting words that were given to me by my father:

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”


That is the advice I give you. And in a moment, he disappears, Umeda in asleep on the rock, only to awaken to find herself alone. Of course, Ureda really didn't leave her, but he did, in a way. That day, they were supposed to be fighting against each other, until one of them was so broken, they couldn't even stand. However, they defied Yoshimitsu's orders and spent the night together. Well, not together, but... together. In the end, Umeda won.

It was morning in Konohagkure no Sato, a plethora of birds producing miraculous music tones and weaving through the air. The Village was very large in nature, resting right in front of the Hokage Mountain, which held the face of Yoshimitsu, her father and the Hokage. Many shops were littered upon Main Street and you could tell a certain fire was in the air. For some reason, the Village seemed to be enticed with their own energies to stimulate their own excitement. The lucious trees of the village were prosperous, only five or so years old, providing shade and comfort to those that dwelled around them. It was a bit of regressive pull, in the fact that many of the most unenthuiastic were feeling it. One such dwelling, rather than a person, housed a Kage and his family. It was the Hokage's Mansion, which served a dual purpose of housing the Kage and his family, whilst simultaneously being able to handle the administrative duties of the Village in the same area. The building itself was made of a very sturdy wood, with the roof a rusty red color. There were a pethora of windows and entrances to the lower levels, however, there was one such window that was pretty flamboyant. The curtains were a disgusting mustard yellow, and the inside was a lime green. They were clashing colors at best, and it housed one of the most beautiful and skilled females in all of Konohagakure no Sato: Naminori, Umeda. Now, why would the Kage's daughter have a different surname than her father? It's because she changed it herself, after finding that she didn't have the Uchiha Bloodline within her.

In her room, it was the epitamy of clean, to a certain degree, as you can't really get clean with mustard yellow and lime green. The floor was a soft, shallow rug, which comforted even the most calloused of feet. The rug had a more subtle effect too. In layman's terms, a shallower rug makes stains go out easier. And when you're a girl who goes out partying with other Jounin, a rug can easily get stained with vomit. But, I digress. There were fine dressers and a nightstand in the far corners of the room, conforming like paper to the walls. There was a mirror connected to the longest beurau. On the nightstand was a simple lamp, and connected to the wall was a fan, blown by the wind produced from outside, yet still not having any of the impurities from the outside present. All of these were a nice and deep brown color. And finally, there was the bed. It was in the shape of a wide circle, a little eliptical, but more of a circular in shape. It was raised by a frame at the bottom, and ontop of that was the matress. It took much time and effort to produce a suitable matress for the frame, but it was done. Not to mention the fact that Umeda's linens were made of silk, which felt like clouds, or so the merchants told her. However, Umeda couldn't care less, for when she was enveloped in those sheets, it felt as if she was wrapped in the ocean's loving bossom.

Umeda herself was at that moment enveloped in the sheets. Her figure was strewn about, personifying the fact that she had had a rough night. Her eyes fluttered beneath their lids, while her hair was laid out in a perfect fan atop the many pillows raising her head. She was peaceful, serence; however, everyone must wake up. And she did, spontaneously, not to mention abruptly, opened her eyes. The black pupils gazed up at the fan slowly turning, and with a slight groan, Umeda propped herself upright and moved her legs to hang over the side of the bed. At that time she was wearing a bra and very skimpy shorts. She didn't sleep in much else, not liking the fabric of the sleeping garments her father had originally arranged for her. Chirp. Chirp chirp. Those musical melodies had woken her up, she decided, pulling back her hair in a futile attempt to tame it before her shower. As she got up and stretched, Umeda could already tell what she was going to do today. Yoshimitsu had been very meticulous in the choosing of teams in which the Jounin's would have. For you see, the nurturing of young shinobi often entailed some of the most dangerous missions, masked by the easiest. So to guide those young shinobi, a Jounin, such as herself, imposed their expierience upon the young. Because her father was stumped, she decided to look at the dossiers herself and amptly decide who she wanted. She had hoped her father was done by now, but nothing could be certain.

After her shower, Umeda got dressed quickly and walked through the mansion. Her first stop entailed a knock on her father's door to see if he really was up, or if she was just hoping for too much. Luckily, after creaking the door open just a bit, she found her father's room bare and tidy. Good, she thought, easing herself. So, she decided to sedate her rumbling stomache and go find something to eat. As Umeda strode through the empty halls of the mansion, she wondered as to why it was empty. She didn't check the clock on the way out of her room, so she had absolutely no idea as she yawned shamlessly while entering the kitchen. Strangely enough, there was eggs and potatoes on the kitchen table. Gazing around to make sure no one was there to claim that it was there's, Umeda began to promptly scarf it down. "Ah." She said with a mouthful of egg. It had that peppery taste that came from only her father's food. She savored every last bit of it. When you're twenty, your father doesn't usually make any meal for you, so Umeda felt blessed. Being careful to clean up after herself, Umeda brought the plate and glass, before filled with water, to the sink to clean them.

Finally, she was ready to go. With her stomache filled, her body in pristine condition to work, Umeda began to descend from the lower levels into the Main Annex of the building, where all the administration duties were held. The first thing she saw was a mass of Academy teachers at the front desk, impatiently talking with the receptionist. After a minute or two, they slowly proceeded out, a little more sedated. One of them approached Umeda after she waved. Hey, Umeda-chan. said the teacher. It was a guy, toned and muscular, with a forehead protector around his eyes, wearing the standard Chuunin garb.

"Yo, Rendan," she replied, smiling slightly. She always felt a little uncomfortable with those that were blind. Not because she felt that they couldn't see, but the fact that they could see so well. In that sense, the art of balance started to trickle in. By losing his sight, Rendan had gained advantages in his other senses, allowing him to aptly tell who someone was. "Were you submitting the final notes for the graduates?"

Yep, he replied briskly. They're a bunch of great kids this year. Their skills are phenomenal, but...

"But...?" she inquired, leading him on with a hand gesture before she recoiled and blushed, not that he could see, which was why she was blushing. Umeda was a bit eccentric, but who wasn't? She often used hand motions or gestures to help get her point across, which was futile in this situation.

We're a bit concerned about their maturity level, Rendan said, rubbing the back of his head. You know yourself! It doesn't matter how well you are with your skills if you can't be mature enough to use them properly. It's a sure fire way to get yourself killed! He chuckled a bit and then died down when he couldn't hear Umeda laughing with him. Rendan had known Umeda for the past couple years, working closely with her on a couple of key missions. Although he was only a Chuunin, Umeda felt that he could be a Special Jounin, considering his stealth and manuverability almost matched hers. In fact, they had together infiltrated a Village and stolen a key document without ever raising a single alarm or suspicion, to the amazement of Yoshimitsu.

"Well, I gotta go myself," she said, patting Rendan on the shoulder. "I have last minute preperations for the Jounin." After a hearty good-bye, she ascended up the stairs to have a little chat with Daddy dearest. Looking at the recepsionist that was there, Umeda's stance pretty much asked the question.

Yes, she said. He's in there. It always intrigued Umeda, the Hokage Office. It was so barren really. It only looked cluttered because of the amassing paperwork that always accumulated in there. In reality, there was a mahogany desk, sturdy and strong, with a long glass pane as a window. It was unique in shape, conforming to the curve in the wall. Back to the Office though. Offices were always a sign of authority and leadership, basically a way of saying "I'm better than you". In Yoshimitsu's case, Umeda sincerely felt that he didn't use it like that at all. In fact, Umeda thought that her father used it as a focal point for all the kindness and generosity he provided the Village. For, without him, there really wouldn't be a functioning Village. It was almost a hard choice to decide what to do with that door. Should Umeda break it down with a fist or a kick, or maybe just politely knock? Considering the fact that the Jounin's had been waiting a whole month for the Genin Exam results and Team assignments, Umeda decided to go with the one that involved more... physical activity, also known as "fun". Rearing her leg back, Umeda prepared.

With an evil glint in her eye, Umeda proceeded to kick the door through and say loudly, "Are the teams done yet!?" The door itself swung against the metal hinges and made an irritable creaking sound and then abrubtly stopped when hitting against the wall. And, by Newton's third law of motion: "with every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction". Again, this formed the theory of balance. Although... Newton didn't exist. However, the door collided with the wall and proceeded to bounce off of it and promptly hit Umeda in the face, flattening her to the ground. Twitching, she pretended it didn't happen and stood up, straightening her hair while simultaneously closing the door. At this point, all she could do was gaze at her father and awaite a response. Her stance was that of rigidness, a little embarrassed about the incident beforehand, but still a little flared considering she still thought that the team assignments weren't done yet. Umeda's leg stance was wide and locked, one arm propped against the wall, another making a ninety degree angle with her elbow, her hand laying on her hip. Umeda's hair was fine again, back in it's usual position. Less than a second later, she decided to light up and smoke. So, taking a cigarette from her back pocket, and a lighter too, she lit the cigarette and took a long drag from it. After a moment of rolling the tobacco over her tongue, she savored the taste of it and closed her eyes. Then, she opened them and was prepared to listen.