Ibiki usually didn't meet anyone during his little walks - the patrolmen knew to stay out of mundane sight and the civilians who lived in their part of the village, many of which were working for the Hyuga in the first place, tended to keep their distance. None wanted to be flagged as potential spies and held to closer scrutiny than they were already as part of the paranoia-cultivating shinobi world.<br/><br/>On the rare occasions that he did encounter someone, they usually didn't speak and made certain to either get away as far as possible or bow in reverence and then do the exact same thing. Most of the non-shinobi populace was cowed by the powerful clan - whether by their influence, their wealth or the mystical ninja abilities they were said to possess. And those who didn't care often found them creepy, with their strange eyes that never seemed to miss anything. Of the larger clans, only the Aburame had a worse reputation with their retainers -- very few people liked insects, after all.<br/><br/>All this was why Ibiki was rather surprised when he spotted a girl about his age walking alongside the same wall as he, just in the opposite direction. She had a peasant-like look about her that didn't blend well into the area and, he noted, seemed rather tired. The young heir wasn't sure what to make of her -- on the one hand she might be one of those spies he was always warned to be careful of, on the other she didn't really move the way a trained ninja did. Plus, if the girl was just walking around in the open like this, their sentries had definitely locked onto her already -- that she was still walking on meant she hadn't been judged a threat.<br/><br/>He had folded his hands together in front of him, uniting the long sleeves as he had been taught was proper -- and often practical if one had weapons hidden inside or strapped to the lower arm. He had neither at the moment, though of late he had received more lessons in light weaponry -- a practice considered 'lesser' by his teachers when compared to the Juuken, but still one that was necessary. His eyes focused on her briefly, though their color-less nature made it difficult to tell, and he simply kept walking towards her.<br/><br/>By all accounts he expected her to either shuffle away once he got close enough or pass him quietly, so when she suddenly addressed him -- albeit from a distance -- he stopped and almost looked startled. Not sure whether and how to reply, he simply stared at her for a moment a moment that she took to introduce herself. Though still baffled, that at least made the question of how to respond a simple one: "Hyuga," he said, his tone one of guarded curiosity. "Hyuga Ibiki."<br/><br/>His confusion only increased when she stated that she was completely lost and had no idea where she was. If his features hadn't given her an idea where she was or whom she was addressing, his name likely didn't mean much to this Midori either. He could only assume from her words and the mention of a gate she had entered together with her father that she was a foreigner to Konoha.<br/><br/>Ibiki lowered his head a little, closed his eyes and considered the information contained in her words. The name Yuhara Kanetaro meant nothing to him, but there was only one way an outsider merchant could enter the Hidden Village: the main gate. How the girl had gotten turned around this far he couldn't even begin to guess at, considering the Hyuga grounds laid on the very opposite side, but it was little wonder then that she looked so tired.<br/><br/>"… the gate is in that direction," he finally said after awhile and raised his arm to point towards the south. "Stay on this side and don't cross the ri--"<br/><br/>He was about to say 'river', but stopped when a figure dropped in between the two of them. It was a short but somehow still gangly man with a long braid running down his back, wearing a Hyuga Chuunin uniform with a somewhat unusual addition: one of the new forehead protectors that were being introduced to signify unity among the Leaf ninja. Ibiki immediately recognized the man as one of the guards. Veins were briefly visible around his eyes, but faded almost immediately as he came into sight.<br/><br/>The guardsman, whose name Ibiki vaguely recalled was something that began with a J -- Jin, or perhaps Jun -- turned towards him. "I will handle this, young lord. Please return inside."<br/><br/>The boy didn't protest, just took another look at Midori, perhaps a second longer than was strictly necessary, then turned away. Ibiki assumed the guard would simply make sure she left in the proper direction and that was that. It was about time for him to return, anyway, his lessons would begin soon.<br/><br/>Hyuga Junji, spelled with the characters for 'pure' and 'conduct', quickly turned his attention towards Midori. "I know where your uncle's shop is located, girl -- you may follow me there."<br/><br/>He shifted into a standing posture, examining her and waiting for a response. Junji intended to bring her to her uncle and make certain to have a calm talk with him to make sure that the child would not be left to her own devices until she learned the rules of the place. Walking in on the wrong sort of people or situation could be deadly in a Hidden Village.<br/>