Expedition to Undershore

The morning light streams across the horizon, banishing the cloistered clouds in a splash of gold. The rippling waters to the east seem to dance in joy at her arrival, as her warm rays penetrate the clear waters of Kirigakure. The sun, the source of all life in the world, begins her cycle of transmigration once again across the blue skies and white clouds of the Ninja World.

Blissfully sleeping beneath this magnificent display of nature, ignorant of anything but the dream of sweets she's envisioning, lies Himiko. Occasionally, a crosswind tousles her hair, and she stirs in the warm sand. A crab, irritated by the intruder lying atop his home, pinches her left foot with his sharp claw. With a startled yell, Himiko leans up suddenly, banging her head on a low branch of the tree standing above her. She winces twice and holds her head between her hands, once for the injury, and once for the overwhelming pain of the migraine overtaking her. A plethora of empty sake bottles lie randomly in the sand around her.

"That's it. I'm swearing off juice for good. I don't care how good it tastes." Himiko mumbles, rubbing her temple wearily. Stumbling to her feet, narrowly ducking another branch, she rummages dejectedly through her empty food sack before yawning and stretching. Her eyes glance up behind her, to the small fishing village she'd arrived at the following evening. After she'd rescued one of their fishermen from drowning, they had offered Himiko as much sake and food as she could eat... their mistake.

Her stomach already grumbling threateningly, Himiko sets off to the fishing village in search of breakfast.