The fields of canary grass typically spread far and wide across the outskirts of the Bird country. It was here that Izumi was dispatched to search for some important goods. After not returning for some time though and not sending one of her falcons to send word back to Konoha, it was natural that someone would come looking for her. Question was, when?

Since the death of a fellow ninja and the humiliation that came to her upon not assasinating a missing nin, Izumi was finding it rather hard to show her face around town. Everyone knew of the hidden shadow now. More so how she allowed the missing ninja to murder her team mates sent to help in battle. The building was not in range and besides, what could she do to stop an explosion? Maybe a clone could of sent beforehand but it didn't matter. Nothing was prepared and they headed straight in, their worst and costly mistake.

As Izumi sat cross legged in one of these fields of grass, she waited word from Konoha yet again while she thought over many new jutsu ideas and items she could help forge. She sipped green tea, a white cup held in her grass as a small line of steam rose off the liquid. The air was nice and the sky was bright and blue in bird. The songs of the country's symbol filled the air as well, the occasional indigo bunting or scarlet tanager flying over. The area around Izumi was flat and open, a purposely cut circle in the grass for training purposes. Izumi had had her fair share of practice punches and kicks but for now she simply sat and waited. The chances of someone finding her here were slim to none unless they arrived by chance of asked the local citizens if they had seen her. After all, she came here every day.

But when and who would come? More so, would they even try to find her? Surely she would find out soon enough.

Shiro had been in the Bird country for about a day now, on the search for Izumi. She was sent for a mission, which should have been completed now. He was on the search for her as a sign of trust for Shi and himself. If he could find Izumi, he would gain Shi's trust, for now. Shiro had asked for information about her from him, so that he may be able to possibly gather a psychological profile on her, as to how she would act after her recent failure when the missing ninja attacked. such. Upon gathering the information, he gained a good idea as to how she would possibly act, what kind of place she might go. But in order for him to get an accurate assumption, he would have needed more time, which he didn't have. So he gathered what he needed for travel and set off for the Bird country, and now he was running by a small town, looking for some answers.

Like he did with most people, he put on his emotional mask and fake personality, a warm smile across his face. He paused near a woman, and while holding a picture of Izumi, asked the woman. "Excuse me ma'am, I am looking for a friend of mine who has come to the bird country and hasn't come back. Have you seen this woman, or know anyone I might be able to ask if they know?" The woman looked at the picture for a few moments, looking as if she had seen her before but couldn't quiet figure out where. "Oh, yes, I've seen her around before. A few times actually. But only passing by is all. You should ask Hiroshi if you want a better kind of answer. He tends to know a lot of the people that come around here. He is right over in that shop." Shiro bowed to her quickly with a smile. "Thank you Ma'am, you have been very helpful."

He walked into the shop, hearing the small bell ring over his head as he opened the door. The place seemed somewhat old, but not really run-down either. It had a small bar on one end, which probably made it a local pub, but Shiro didn't spot any beer kegs or anything of the sort around, so maybe it was just a diner. The shopkeeper, who had a few grease stains on his apron which was white with red vertical stripes, looked up after hearing the bell, and while cleaning a glass with a rag, put on a smile and spoke with a resonating, cheerful, and slightly gruff voice. "Well, can't say that I've seen you around her before! Is there anything I can get ya to eat? I'm able to whip up just about anything you can think of." "Umm, no thank you, but I do appreciate the offer. I am looking for a man known as Hiroshi? I was told he knows the most about people who come by in town." The shop keeper perked up a bit at the mention of the name and let out a hardy chuckle. "Well, thats me! I don't mean to brag, but I would say that I do know the most about who comes by here in town, this here is the only shop this place has!"

Mitsu made his way over and showed Hiroshi the picture and asked if he had seen her as Shiro took a seat on a stool near the counter. He took a good look at the picture and after a moment he spoke. "Yeah, I've seen her around. She stops in about once a day and orders a cup of tea. I really don't know much more about her, other than that she stays at the Inn down the street, and that she is only there at night to sleep. Sorry I can't really offer anything else to help you find your friend. But honestly I don't know where she'd go around here, all there is for a few miles are just fields and meadows. I'll bet that's where she goes though." Being handed back the picture, Shiro put it into his pocket and almost turned to leave. "Thank you sir, I appreciate your help." The bell rang over his head again as he left the shop.

He knew she couldn't have gone very far if she would keep returning to that town, so Shiro wandered the fields for a few hours until he came across the sight of someone sitting in the field. Shiro had his orders, so he began making his preparations during his approach. Shiro stopped four meters from the woman and put a smug-like smirk on his face. "So, I've finally found you, Izumi. And here I thought that it would be harder to find someone like you, miss 'hidden shadow'. I have orders to bring you back to konoha, as told by the big man himself. You could come back peacefully with me, or I can take you back with force. Either way, I've been told not to kill you. So why don't you make this easier on the both of us and just come back. I'd rather not harm such a delicate beauty such as yourself." He was prepared to move at any given time while he spoke, figuring she would possibly make some type of move. But he didn't know what state of mind she was in. Perhaps anger? Depression? It could have been anything really, but he made sure he was prepared to counter a first move, or be ready to make it himself.

She barely seemed to acknowledge the ninja as he approached. She sipped once more when he threw out her nickname. She truly didn't seem to care that he was there at all. Almost as though she were caught up in la la land. Truth is she had been paying attention to him since he came near her. How he walked, his stance, the tone in his voice, all of it. She made sure to study every aspect of him that she could. She sipped once more before she spoke, nearly finishing off the cup.

"It's rather obvious that I wanted to be found" she said before moving about to rise to her feet. "After all, I'm a Jounin. I know fully well how to hide my appearance but I chose not too. So tell me, what do you think this means for you? What was I thinking the moment you walked up? Did you care to take a look at our surroundings?"

She smirked some as she finally looked at him, turning her head to her left side while her body faced away from him. In other words, her left side was towards him. Her grey eyes appearing to have a glow to them as she gazed into the ninja's eyes. She gave an expression of hysteria but one look into her eyes would reveal how much she tried to peer into his soul. The piercing gaze, it was probably obvious what she wanted.

"Such a waste of tea" she mumbled to herself before suddenly she turned her body towards him, her arm lashing out as she did while the free hand dove into her pouch. The cup flew towards him as she removed a kunai; the tea within would spray out towards the ninja's body when it was within a range. Once she had thrown the cup at him and removed the kunai she drew back her arm and threw this as well. By then the tea would spill out towards him as the off sounding kunai made its way forward. Her eyes never once left him as she waited to see what he would do; her mind mentally prepared to advance with her next attack but open to what the opponent may due in the meantime.