Ravens Requiem

The forest was alive with the sounds of nocturnal creatures, the rustling of leaves, and the occasional crackle of the campfire.

Yume Hatake sat perched on a high branch, her piercing azure eyes fixed on the full moon that hung low in the night sky.

Her silvery hair, tied back in a high ponytail, shimmered faintly in the moonlight, while her dark gray mask obscured most of her face, leaving only her sharp, determined gaze visible. The sleek, dark blue ninja outfit she wore hugged her form, designed for both agility and durability, with subtle silver accents that mirrored her hair.

The crimson sash around her waist added a bold splash of color, a contrast to the muted tones of her attire. On her back, the kanji for "Yume" was proudly displayed on her flak jacket, a symbol of her identity and pride.

Below her, her teammates were busy setting up camp. Akira Namikaze, the elder of the two Namikaze siblings at seventeen, was a striking figure with sun-kissed blond hair that fell in messy waves around his face.

His eyes, a deep cerulean blue, carried the same intensity as his father's, Minato Namikaze. He wore a dark green ninja outfit with golden accents, a nod to his lineage, and a white scarf draped loosely around his neck.

His demeanor was calm and focused as he worked to secure the perimeter of their camp, his movements precise and efficient.

Ninato Namikaze, the younger sibling at fifteen, was a mirror image of his brother in many ways, though his hair was shorter and spikier, giving him a more youthful and energetic appearance.

His outfit was a vibrant red, reminiscent of their mother Kushina Uzumaki, with black accents that added a touch of seriousness to his otherwise lively personality.

A pair of goggles rested on his forehead, a habit he had picked up from his father's stories of his youth. Ninato was busy tending to the fire, his hands moving quickly as he adjusted the wood to keep the flames steady.

"Yume, are you going to sit up there all night?" Akira called out, his voice calm but carrying a hint of amusement. He glanced up at her, his cerulean eyes catching the firelight.

Yume didn't look down, her gaze still fixed on the moon.

"The view's better up here," she replied, her voice muffled slightly by her mask but still carrying a soft, melodic tone. "Besides, someone has to keep watch."

Ninato chuckled, his youthful energy evident even in his laughter.

"You're always so serious, Yume-chan. We're in the middle of nowhere. Who's going to find us out here?"

Yume finally glanced down, her azure eyes narrowing slightly. "That's exactly the kind of thinking that gets people ambushed, Ninato. Stay alert."

Akira smirked, shaking his head as he finished setting up a tripwire along the edge of the camp.

"She's not wrong, Ninato. Better safe than sorry."

Ninato sighed dramatically, throwing his hands up in mock defeat. "Fine, fine. I'll stay alert. But you could at least come down and join us for a bit, Yume. The fire's warm."

Yume hesitated for a moment, her gaze returning to the moon.

"Maybe later," she said softly, her voice barely audible over the crackling fire.

The three of them fell into a comfortable silence, the camaraderie between them evident even without words.

The mission ahead was dangerous—rescuing a priestess from a group of rogue shinobi was no small task—but for now, they found solace in the quiet of the night, each lost in their own thoughts.