1 Chapter 1

"Lady Utatane, the gathering is about to start. Aren't you coming in to watch the dancing ?"

"I planned not to. I disagree of this expedition of which this celebration is about. I consider this tour alone into the desert with no chaperon or attendant of her own sex, with only native camel drivers and servants, Hana Inuzuka is behaving rather reckless and with impropriety that is sure to smudge not only on her own reputation, but also on the prestige of her country. I feel ashamed to think of it. We Konoha, from the Fire Country, cannot be too careful of our behavior abroad. No amount of opportunity should be given to our neighbouring nations to question our sense of decency and adherence, and yet... this outrageous escapade of hers is too huge it can't be hushed nor ignored about which will definitely give them leverage to look down on us. It is the most unthinkable and absurd piece of unprincipled folly I have ever heard of."

"Oh, Lady Utatane, please calm down! It's not quite so bad as it sound. It is indeed unconventional and—er—maybe not entirely wise, but please remember Miss Hana's unusual upbringing——"

"I am not forgetting her unusual upbringing," interrupted Lady Utatane. "It has been pitiful. But it's no excuse for this revolting idea. I knew her mother years ago, and I took it upon myself to discuss this with both Hana and her brother, but Sir Kiba is enclosed with an egotistical complacency that would defy a bullet to penetrate. According to him an Inuzuka is beyond criticism, and his sister's reputation her own to deal with. The girl herself seemed, frankly, not understanding the seriousness of her position, and was very obnoxiously conceited. I wash my hands of the whole affair, and will certainly not tolerate tonight's entertainment by appearing at it. I have already warned the manager that if the noise is kept up beyond a reasonable hour I shall leave the inn earliest tomorrow." And, drawing her wrap around her with a little shudder, Lady Utatane strut majestically across the wide verandah of the Rock-Village Inn.

The two men left standing by the open window that led into the entertainment hall looked at each other and smiled.

"Some highly rhetorical speech," said one with a marked Lightning Country accent. "That's the way scandal's made, I guess."

"Scandal my foot! There's never been a flicker of scandal attached to Hana Inuzuka's name. I've known the child since she was a baby. Curse that old woman! She would wreck the reputation of the Kaguya Otsutsuki (the goddess believed to be the mother of ancient Ninjutsu in the world of Naruto) if she came down to earth, let alone that of a mere human girl."

"Not a very human girl," laughed the man from the Lightning Country. "She was sure meant for a boy and changed at the last moment. She looks like a boy in kimonos, without a doubt a pretty boy—and a damned haughty one," he added, chuckling. "I overheard her this morning, in the garden, making mincemeat of alocal officer."

The Konoha (called for people from Fire Country) laughed.

"Been seeking to gain her affection, I expect. A thing she does not understand and won't tolerate. She's the coldest little fish in the vast ocean, without an idea in her head but only sport and travel. Clever, though, and spirited as they are made. I don't think she knows the meaning of the word fear."

"I heard somebody's yapping the other night, claiming for the Inuzuka family to be a little eccentric. Father got mad and almost blew his brains out."

The Konoha shrugged his shoulders.

"You can call it mad, if you like," he said slowly. "I live near the Inuzukas' in Fire Country and happen to know the story. The Head of the family was passionately devoted to his wife; after twenty years of married life they were still lovers. Then this girl was born, and the mother died. Two hours afterwards her husband shot himself, leaving the baby in the sole care of her brother, who was just nineteen, and as lazy and as selfish then as he is now. The problem of bringing up a girl child was too much trouble to be solved, so he settled the difficulty by treating her as if she was a boy. The result is what you see."

They moved nearer to the open window, looking into the brilliantly lit entertainment hall already filled with animatedly chattering people. On a slightly raised platform at one end of the room the host and hostess were receiving their guests. The brother and sister were so much so unlike. Sir Kiba Inuzuka was very tall and thin, the pallor of his face accentuated by the blackness of his smoothly brushed hair and heavy black goatee. His attitude was a mixture of well-bred courtesy and listless boredom. He seemed too tired even to keep the eyeglasses that he wore in position, for it slides off continually. By contrast the girl at his side appeared vividly alive. She was only of medium height and very slender, standing erect with a countenance of a vigorous posture of an athletic boy, her small head poised proudly. Her scornful mouth and firm chin showed plainly an obstinate determination, and her deep brown eyes were unusually clear and steady. The long, curling black lashes that shaded her eyes and the dark eyebrows were a foil to the thick crop of loose, brown-gold curls that she wore short, clubbed about her ears.

"The result is worth seeing," said the man from Lightning Country admiringly, referring to his companion's last remark.

A third and younger man joined them.

"Hey, Shino. You're late. The red stringof destiny is ten deep in would-be partners already."

A dull red crept into the young man's face, and he jerked his head angrily.

"I got ambushed by Lady Utatane—poisonous old woman! She had a great deal to say on the subject of Miss Hana and her trip. She ought to be gagged. I thought she was going on talking all night, so I fairly bolted in the end. All the same, I agree with her on one point. Why can't that lazy ass Inuzuka go with his sister?"

Nobody seemed to be able to give an answer. The entertainers had begun playing, and the floor was covered with laughing, talking couples.

Sir Kiba Inuzuka had moved away, and his sister was left standing with several men, who waited, a fan in hand, but she waved them away with a little smile and a resolute shake of her head.

"I can almost smell the pressing anticipation and competition in the air," said the Kumo (a person from Lightning Country) with eyes twinkling.

"Are you going to try your luck?" asked the elder of the two Konoha.

The Kumo bit the end off a cigar with a little smile.

"I sure am not. The haughty young lady turned me down as a dancer very early in our introduction. I don't blame her," he added, with a rueful laugh, "but her extreme straightforwardness is a little infuriating. She told me quite plainly that she had no use for someone from The Land of Lightning who could neither ride nor dance. I did explain to her, very gently, that there were a few little recreations my country can offer for men beside cattle-punching and cabaret dancing, but she froze me with a look, and I faded away. Ha-ha-ha! Anyhow, I'd rather go and entertain Sir Egotistical Complacency (Kiba) who will be having some bridge later on, which will suit me much better. He's not a bad fellow underneath if you can swallow his peculiarities, and he's a sportsman. I like to play with him. He doesn't give a damn if he wins or loses."

"It doesn't matter when you have a banking account the size of his," said Shino. "Personally, I find dancing more amusing and less expensive. I shall go and take my chance with our hostess."

His eyes turned rather eagerly towards the end of the room where the girl was standing alone, straight and slim, the light from a lantern has added attraction to the thick dark curls framing her beautiful, haughty little face. She was staring down at the dancers with an absent expression in her eyes, as if her thoughts were far away from the crowded lively hall.

The Kumo pushed Shino forward with a little laugh.

"Run along, foolish moth, and get your poor little wings singed. When the cruel fair has done trampling on you I'll come right along and mop up the remains. If, on the other hand, your brazenness meets with the success it deserves, we can celebrate suitably later on." And, linking his arm in his friend's, he drew him away to the card-room.