The Wolf Howls: Enter a Stranger

There were only a few days left before the exams, and already was beginning to fill from shinobi from surrounding lands. The residents of the hidden village, generally superstitious of outsiders, raised their noses at the newcomers and tried their best to avoid them. Nevertheless, the influx of travelers was good for business, and even as the sun began to set the streets were filled with customers looking to buy equipment for the upcoming event, or simply to find a good meal before nightfall.

A lanky youth carrying a giant shuriken on his back fell into the latter category. He tossed his hands behind his head as his stomach growled loudly, and muttered under his breath.

“Can’t find a decent meal around this place.” He cast his gaze up at the towering, cylindrical buildings that surrounded him, silent sentinels that loomed over the town. They were strange to him, with thick groves of plants spilling over the sides of their roofs. He had never seen buildings like that in his home land, and he found them slightly monotonous and eerie. As it continued to grow dark mist began to fill the streets, and the lights of the town shone in murky, glowing pools in the dusk. Following the delicious mingled scent of dozens of mouth-watering dishes, he at last found a street filled with food vendors.

“All right,” he said, casting his gaze around to find the cheapest establishment. He had been given a limited budget by Jinsei, and the money would not go far, especially considering the amount he would need to eat to build up his energy reserves. He cursed his own immense appetite, and felt a pang of homesickness as he thought of his sensei. He had accompanied a group of genin from Tanigakure, but aside from them all being from the Land of Rivers, he held little in common with the others. Since there were ten of them and he was from outside the official hidden village, he was the odd man out. Tanigakure’s jonin that was in charge of the group had promised him that he would find him a team, but so fart that prospect seemed to be growing slimmer and slimmer.

“Stay with the group,” the jonin had told him. “Don’t wander off on your own.”

“Hmph.” he curled his lip as he remembered the instructions. “Like hell.” He was not a part of the group to begin with. As usual the other genin had excluded him. Not that he cared. He rarely cared about what others thought of him. But it was that which had prompted him to explore the town on his own, orders or no orders.

At last he stopped in front of a small, dingy noodle stand He stared at the board advertising the prices for a moment before he sighed. Although he was sure the owner had done his best to inflate the prices for the exams, it could not be helped. He was hungry, which meant he was in a bad mood, and he did not care enough to bicker over the prices.

“Might as well,” he grumbled as he stepped under the grease-stained curtain and took a seat.