Hana let slip a quick laugh, "Ha!" and smiled, "Well, I'll always be around if you have more information to share, Tashi."<br/><br/>Tashi had little problem bounding over the roof and hopping the fence, he landed in the hot springs just behind a boy. When the youth whirled around, Tashi recognized it as Marise's cousin. His forehead was marked with a Manji symbol, though its significance was lost on Tashi. He scurried backwards away from Tashi's dynamic entrance, and then scratched his head as his mouth widened in confusion.<br/><br/>"Umm... I think your friends are with Marise-sama..."<br/><br/><hr/><br/>"Hrmph." Chiyo sardonically smiled, "That lecher? She's even younger than<em>you.</em>"<br/><br/>She shook her head, "He'd have his hands full, though... You know, you're wasted with him. Only two kinds of ninja have lived to see our age- those who fight until they are the last one on the battlefield... and those who hide until the bloody work is all done."<br/><br/>"I would just like to retire... I'll be a grandmother before this year is done." She only looked to be around forty, but Hitomi knew how manic some shinobi could be about passing on their bloodline- even if it didn't matter at all to Bontenmaru and her. She remained silent, almost stoic. Her mind still remained a brick wall to Hitomi's efforts.<br/><br/>Growing nearer, the two heard the sounds of rushing water. The forest began to clear at the side of the river, a large wooden bridge resisting a torrential onslaught of flooding waters. Hitomi barely noticed when Chiyo ducked behind a tree and produced a scroll, "Four ninja ahead. On the bridge." She said, concentrating on her third eye, "-Tanigakure."<br/><br/>From the scroll, the humanoid puppet emerged in a puff of smoke before the woman, wood and segments, with waxy straw-like hair. Another moment later and she was a beautiful blonde woman, with chiseled abs and voluminous breasts. The puppet strode up beside Hitomi and said, "I want to see what they're up to. Will you join me?"