Hikari focused her mind on the mission, not letting her thoughts wander back to Kuro, or Arashi. She felt Arashi's presence once more, along with another, the girl, she assumed, as it was a familiar presence now. But she didn't alter her course this time, instead she carried on towards her destination. She leaped from tree to tree, this time at a faster pace. She felt restless, she needed to move, to get this done. She didn't know why she felt so restless, although she might suspect the reason, but she did, so she moved quickly through the trees, her movements faster than the normal eye could follow.<br/><br/>She traveled to the next camp and, upon finding it empty and clean just like the last, she continued on, not lingering for more than a few seconds. She made her way through three locations before she knew it, and she felt herself getting closer to the presence of Arashi and the girl, but it wasn't just them. There were several others she didn't recognize, and in the distance another familiar presence. She was still a ways off, and she had several more locations to observe before she'd be close enough to see them. She'd just have to trust Kuro to keep an eye on them while she finished going through these sites.<br/><br/>Oddly enough, it wasn't as hard as she thought it would be to relinquish that control and trust that he was capable of handling it on his own, and trust that he wouldn't miss anything. Of course, she knew he was capable, she had always known that, and it was the most logical course of action to continue the search and let him handle the observation of those who were closer to him than they were to her. Still, she didn't enjoy giving up control, and trusting didn't come easy. She had no reason to believe she could trust him, but he hadn't yet given her a reason not to, either, she supposed, aside from the fact that he hadn't been entirely honest before. But whether or not she actually trusted him on a personal level was irrelevant right now. She trusted that he was capable of completing the task before him, and she trusted that he wanted to be finished with this mission as soon as possible. Everything else was irrelevant. He wouldn't screw it up, of that she was certain, so she could continue on with her task without worry about him.<br/><br/><br/>Arashi knew his words had likely confused her, as he had offered no explanation, but she hadn't asked for one, so he hadn't given one. Of course, it was pretty much expected that she wouldn't ask for one, even if she was confused, but that wasn't really his concern. She would find out soon enough, so that was all that mattered.<br/><br/>They walked through the quiet, empty streets, and before he knew it the girl had quickened her steps so that she was now next to him instead of behind him. Curious. He wondered why, glancing her way for a brief second before returning his gaze to the road ahead. He could tell she was thinking. She had that focused, determined look in her eyes. And it didn't take long for him to figure out why, as she soon spoke. He looked her way once more when she spoke his name, this time not looking away as she apparently gathered the courage to get the words out.<br/><br/>He smiled lightly at her words, as she told him with determination that she wouldn't screw up, and that her could count on her. "I'll hold you to that." he replied, but his words were light rather than stern as the words might have suggested. "I know you won't let me down." he assured her, a small smile still lingering on his lips. He had to admit, he admired that she was so determined, and that she had finally found the courage to speak up. He had chosen her for a reason, and before it was over, she would see what he had seen in her from that first day.<br/><br/>They left the village and made their way to the same place they had been the previous night, and this time there were men waiting for them. The leader of the hidden grass village, along with several others, body guards, probably. "Hello." Arashi greeted him. "Thank you for meeting us here." he smiled lightly, making his appearance much less threatening. "We have much to discuss. Lord Orochimaru is very grateful for your past support, and would like to know that he can count on your continued support." he began, eyeing the man who was obviously the leader. His face held a calm look and an apparently friendly smile, but his words had a hint of a dangerous undertone to them, a threat that warned that they were not asking. If the leader made the wrong choice, this night would end very badly for him.