Despite everything that had happened, the ninja from Tanigakure had forgotten most of their worries. Exhausted from two restless nights and the journey, the demands from their Daimyo to return as soon as possible were slipping from their minds as the hours passed in company with the kunoichi from Konoha as Tashi relaxed in the baths. Eventually, their worries returned and after getting to know each other more casually as well as intimately, Marise and Kaname extended their offer to see them out to the village to Tashi as well.<br/><br/>While they reached Konoha in record time, the Tani shinobi were afforded a little more time to take it easy on the way back- travelling by road would conserve their strength if they needed it. The four ninja continued to make idle talk as they went, fast on the way to becoming friends. The journey was pleasant, as the Land of Fire was host to beautiful scenery. Along the way, they stopped for dinner at a small roadside Inn- eating outside underneath a great tree owing to the place's strict 'no dogs' policy.<br/><br/>It was getting late, the sun descending underneath the canopy of tall trees and bathing the sky in an orange glow. Soon they'd have to settle down and get some rest before nightfall- Marise and Kaname had told the others that this was a place where demons and yokai were wont to lurk, even if it was unlikely. In truth, it was a ruse to spend just a little more time with the lovely kunoichi and handsome shinobi of Tanigakure.<br/><br/>Luckily they were already full from their last meal, so Jun didn't need to hunt down any more fearsome pigs like before. Finding good kindling for a fire wasn't so difficult either, but still Marise's quick scan of the surrounding area with her byakugan revealed all manners of harmless critters, rabbits and squirrels, a few snakes, a pond with a mother duck and her little chicks... all easy to spot from their chakra signatures, glowing brighter than the faint chakra emanating from the trees and vegetation. But also there was a large river from nearby, so far away that she couldn't even hear it.<br/><br/>What caught her attention was a concentration of faint chakra on the side of the river bank. The ground itself, though devoid of grass or life, seemed to be charged with energy. On top of it, Mari saw... a travel pack, laid on its side, half opened. Strewn on the sand, clothes... Looking further, Mari saw the outline of a figure bathing in the river... a feminine figure, by her chakra. Unfortunately for Mari, at great distances her Byakugan could only see that- chakra... shapes, vague outlines.