Naruto Fantasy (AU) : The Rise of the New Generation

Gerontis · Nov 11, 2017

[fieldbox=Wolf Country - Aftermath of the Allied Raid]
The Eastern Continent,
Wolf Country.

Involved parties:
- The Imperial Host under the command of Hayate Hyuzu, mainly composed out of 4th division detachments.
- The Lightning Country force under the command of Satoshi Jun.
- The Republican army under the command of Yuuki Narukami. A combination of mercenaries and Republican troops.

The raid on the enemy camp went as planned. Striking from three directions, the combined allied force would wreak havoc and death among the outer ring of the enemy camp. The fighting and issuing destruction would prove a hazard enough that the enemy defenders weren't able to fully retaliate. But even while the raid would turn out to be a grand success, the participating allied raiders wouldn't all return to their camp. Some died in the fighting while others would find themselves being pursued in the dark of the night when the signals were given for falling back over the river.

A unit from the enemy would attempt to further pursue the allied forces but would be easily driven off by commander Yuuki Narukami, who would lay in wait. As everything had gone according to the plan, the night would end with some cheers and a rise in the general morale of the allied force.
The next morning, the enemy seemed to have recovered and taken once more possession of the other side of the river. This time, their numbers doubled and appearing to be more vigilant, according to the brave few scouts who tested out the enemies security.
As a response, the allied force would also start to occupy their side of the river. Keeping a close eye on the three crossings. Those who had partaken in the last night's raid would be given leave to rest out while the rest of the allied force would conduct military manoeuvres, hold guard and continue drills.
[/fieldbox]

Gerontis · Nov 11, 2017

[fieldbox=A meeting and a decision..., wheat]
Wolf Country - The Imperial Camp.

A collab between Chromehound and Gerontis

Summary:

After the night raid, Koike heads to the commander's tent of Hayate Hyuzu. There the two have a short conversation before the meeting of the brigadier generals that are present on the campaign. The meeting doesn't go that smoothly but a plan is eventually formed on what the Imperials aim to do on a short-term period. After the meeting, Koike and Hayate have a talk as a task will be assigned to the 13th Battalion - The Disciples of Akumu.

The 13th Battalion will send a detachment over the river to scan and scout the other side, occupied by the enemy. To learn and get information on how if the enemy is gaining supplies and manpower through an established supply train while a request will be send to the other allied commanders on entrenching the allied occupied side of the river.

[spoili]
The camp seemed the same. Nothing that reflected the results of last night. While the medical tents were having more guests and it seemed as if more people were off-duty, there was still a lot of troops that were kept busy with orders and instructions. Passing the site where a small group of soldiers were retelling what had happened during the night raid, Koike's attention was all focused on getting to Hayate's tent. It was a long and brisk walk from the site where the 13th had claimed their camp. Certainly added to the ongoing activity it was just not that easy to get quickly from point A to point B without causing any hindrance to anybody else. But eventually, Koike managed to reach the tent. Guarded by various Tiger Claws, Koike felt a twinge of pain and guilt rising in his stomach. After a verification from the Tiger Claws, he was allowed to enter the tent. The thick canvas muffled the sound from outside, allowing Koike to hear himself think.

"Koike Hon, reporting in," He said, offering a short salute towards Hayate. Realising only now, Koike wondered if much of the dirt was still present in his garb and armour. Not to mention the presence of dried blood. "I hope I am not bothering you, after the eventful night. But I caught word that the brigade generals are on their way to discuss the next plan. Though," Koike flashed a weak smile, knowing very well the answer on his next suggestion, "If it would help you to get some rest, I could try to host the meeting with them? Which would allow you to enjoy some rest."

It had been a long night. A very long night...

Standing over his desk, Hayate looked down at the map without really seeing it. His mind was somewhere else. There had been minimal losses, that much was true. But that didn't stop it from hitting them hard. A few of the names rang through his mind and Hayate felt a fresh wave of guilt sweep through him. Hideki... Clenching his fists, Hayate closed his eyes. He had not known Hideki as well as some of the others, but the Hyuuga had been important to Saki. On a level, he could understand all too well. The news had devastated her and Hayate didn't know if she would ever be the same again. Saki was one of the people he trusted most amongst the current leaders. If she was unable to function, he wasn't sure who else he could rely on to take her position... Hearing a familiar voice behind him, Hayate turned.

Returning the salute, he let out a short sigh of relief. Seeing Koike unhurt took a load off his shoulders that he hadn't even realized he'd been holding. Reaching up, Hayate rubbed his forehead, only to wince as his fingers ran across the freshly bandaged wound. Upon hearing Koike's suggestion, Hayate frowned. The exhaustion was clear in his eyes, but his determination shone brighter. "Don't even think about asking me to rest right now." he replied, his tone firm. "There are many others who are far worse off right now. They are the ones who need to rest. Right now, they need us to keep going. To make sure the enemy cannot catch us unaware."

Hayate's reply kept the weak smile on Koike's present as he would nod. "Understood. I did check on the medical tents and luckily they seem to be able to handle the worst... wounds," Koike said, the last word a bit slower. Approaching Hayate, he would look at the map for a moment. "I suspect that the brigade generals will be here soon. Aside from that, I do know that morale is quite high. There is quite some spirit after the raid and from what my captains are gathering, the majority is of firm belief that we can snatch a victory. Despite the fact that the enemy has the advantage in numbers." He informed Hayate. "The only problem is that I wonder how fast we can and should strike. If we make another move, it can either end in a disaster or a grand victory."

Nodding slowly, Hayate was relieved when Koike did not try to push him to rest. Hearing that the medics were coping and that morale remained high, he let out a relieved sigh. It was a double edged sword, however. Turning to Koike, Hayate pondered for a moment. "We cannot make another push right now. While morale may be high, and that can inspire the men, I fear it can also blind them to the fact that we still don't know fully how these zealots fight. Not to mention there are some of us who are still... dealing with what happened last night."

He slowly nodded as he felt the guilt and regret building up again. "That is true. So," he threw a sideways look at Hayate. "I do suspect that one of us should be the one to talk to her. But I must be honest with you. I have seen a lot of violence, fighting and bloodshed. But never as before have I been so afraid as when she went all out. I don't even know how she is doing right now, save it for that a few Guardians are watching her. Hopefully, being able to prevent her from..." Slowly Koike halted to speak further. His eyes lowered, his gaze resting on the map. "Though we will need somebody to guide and lead the Tiger Claws. Somebody that knows them and is also compatible with your leadership, so to say."

Biting his cheek as Koike brought up what had happened with Saki, Hayate had to look away. "I... I will speak with Saki. She will need some time though. Nothing I can say or do will change that." Looking back at his friend, the pain was clear in his eyes. "We will keep her safe Koike... we have to." Hayate didn't know who he was trying to convince, but he didn't care. He hated keeping Saki under watch, but if her actions the previous night were any indication of her mindset, she was as much a danger to herself as she was the enemy... Taking a moment to consider Koike's words, Hayate nodded. "Yatori Misawa. He served as her right hand in the TIger Claws. What about him?" He asked.

He felt a bit relieved but knew that it was bad to feel like that. If anything he knew Saki longer and had worked as fought longer at her side. She had always been a calm and collective person. Next to that Koike desired to think that he wasn't easily afraid. But right now he felt quite some fear when thinking about approaching Saki. "Yes. He serves as her right hand but I haven't had the honour to meet with him. I could try to arrange a meeting and try to figure out if he can take the lead of the Tiger Claws if Saki needs more rest," the last few words were spoken in a slower pace and with more caution, clearly indicating Koike's hesitation with the situation. "I will get to it once we have had the meeting with the brigade generals."

"It will be best to give her as much rest as possible right now. Once she is... ready, she can resume her position." Hayate did not like the idea of having another lead the Tiger Claws, but he would not push Saki. Not right now. "Understood. Arrange the meeting with the Tiger Claws and we will keep moving forwards. For now, I suppose we should ready ourselves for the brigade generals..."

Nodding as he agreed, he did hope that Saki would be able to get a hang of herself. While he understood her loss and desires at the moment, there wasn't any way that they could allow her to endanger her own health. "Yes. I will brief you in on what I learned regarding the three brigade generals. Let us start with Genki Ichito..." Koike started.

A table had been arranged for them to sit at. At the head would be a seat where Hayate sat. At the right side, the seats were occupied by Genki Ichito of the 10th brigade. Otherwise known as the 'Sons of Courage'. At his side sat Fuijin Hatoshi, the brigade general of the 12th. Known as the 'Defenders of Virtue'. The left side of the table was occupied by Erling Hon, the leader of the 13th brigade. Known as the 'Disciples of Akumu'. Next to Erling sat Koike, who had made use of the preparation to be present in a clean attire. Once the leaders of the Imperial army had been informed, once more, of the situation, it remained silent. Until Genki broke that silence.

"So, what follows now? We got them probably nervous and on the defensive? Would this not be a grand time to attempt to fall back to a more favourable position? Perhaps even going to the Sky country in order to request more troops, seeing that the enemy we are facing still holds us at odds with their huge horde." The bald man asked, throwing a sceptical look around.

They had gathered around the large table and Hayate had made an effort to greet each of the generals in turn. He could not help feeling out of place amongst these men, some who had more years of experience than he'd even been alive. Listening as Genki spoke, Hayate considered the man's words. "While we certainly landed a heavy blow, we have no way of confirming that it will hold the zealots back for long. If we use this opportunity to fall back, we risk exposing our back to them and giving them the opportunity to launch a counterattack that could very well cripple us before we ever reached a more favourable position." he responded, addressing Genki before turning to the others. "I would like to hear what you all think. Your experience is valued quite highly here, so please feel free to speak."

Erling had his arms crossed out front of his chest but a calm expression remained present on his face. "I say that we launch another attack. This time with more numbers," the Hon said. This caused the other man, Fuijin to release a heavy sigh. "And risk losing more troops? I don't think that an attack would do more than giving the enemy a possible chance to get even with us. Commander," Fuijin leaned forwards as he placed a fist on the table. "I think it is best to arrange the Republicans and Lightning country forces to form the vanguard. We could perhaps attempt to persuade them to buy ourselves some more time."

"And you think that they will buy that?" Erling asked with a venomous tone. "It is of paramount importance that we strike while the iron is hot. We struck a good blow. Why stop and try to fall back or make others bleed for us? Why not ask if they will get your mothers skirt on while you're begging them?" This retort caused Fuijin to gain a red taint at his cheeks and neck as he narrowed his eyes at Erling. "I don't wish to see my men die for some vain glory! The commander is well aware without a doubt that if we cross now and launch an offensive that they will be ready for it! We must wait and time our next move!"

Sighing internally, Hayate thought for a moment that perhaps he belonged after all. For all their experience, these generals could argue like children. "Enough." He said, raising his tone and making it clear that they were to remain silent. "I asked you to speak openly so that we could make progress, not so that we could begin fighting amongst ourselves." Staring at each of the generals in turn, Hayate narrowed his gaze. "We are in no position to launch another attack with the hopes that they will still be recovering. Our men are tired and, while we have reserves, it has already been made clear that they still outnumber us significantly. What happens if we send in the reserves and they are wiped out? We would not be ready to counter anything the zealots were able to throw back at us." Pausing, he looked around again."That does not mean, however, that I believe we should simply remain sitting on our ass and wait for them to come to us. We need to continue to fight our fight. Light attacks that keep them at bay, without opening up our flanks to counterattacks. Genki, your suggestion to seek out reinforcements was not a bad one. However, we need to make it clear that we are not weak. This also means that we will not use the Lightning and the Republic as shields." Turning towards Fuijin, Hayate sent the man a stern gaze. "While I appreciate, and share, the desire to keep our troops safe, I will not allow us to form a rift with the other allied forces by putting them in danger in place of our own people."

The men became quiet as Hayate demanded that from them. Koike threw a glance between Erling and Fuijin, making a mental note. Out of the three, it was Fuijin that spoke up first. "Then what would we do? Clearly, this situation requires a good plan that should safeguard our troops from losing any more troops. Our supplies will last for some time but I think it is safe to say that if we won't move to more favourable positions where we can establish a supply route or attempt to drive the enemy force away that the morale will soon drop to a lower point. And if our supplies will start to become low, there is no telling how it will affect our troops." Genki wanted to speak up but decided against it. Erling, however, decided to speak up. "If you desire to launch light attacks, could you perhaps elaborate on what you had in mind? I don't think that the enemy will be a big fan of small screening operations."

Feeling slight relief when the other generals seemed to calm down, Hayate listened to Erling and Fuijin speak. When they had finished, he began addressing their questions in order. "First things first, we do not make rash decisions based off assumed information." Hayate said, looking at Fuijin. "You are correct that we need a plan, but we need information first." Turning to look at Erling, he continued, "We would be wise to deploy our scouts to see what the enemy is up to. While they are gathering information, we can fortify our lines and lay traps. When the zealots try to come at us again, not only will we be prepared, we will be stronger." Taking a breath, he looked around the room. "If we try to move now, we risk being picked off by the enemy outriders. Unless you've forgotten, they have troops beyond our range, waiting for us to leave our position. While the Tiger Claws may have been able to dispatch one of their groups, it would be foolish to think that is the only one out there."

"Then I suggest that we will deploy various formations to keep the crossings secured. Perhaps even attempt to fortify them. The only drawback is that it will cost time and divide troops somewhat." Genki said. He nodded towards Erling as he continued. "I do believe that the 13th has some capable members to conduct the skirmishing tactics that the commander desires?" Erling on his turn nodded slowly. Fuijin frowned, however, as he would speak up. "But what about their shinobi? They have their own force that can move over the river. And I fear that if we spread ourselves too thin that the enemy will be able to smash through our defence. They still got many more troops than we command."

Nodding towards Genki as he spoke of the 13th's ability for skirmishing, Hayate was about to reply when Fuijin raised his concerns. Glancing at the man, Hayate spoke. "We do not need to fortify the crossings too strongly. In fact, we will almost want to make them seem weak. You are correct that we remain the smaller force in this conflict. However, that gives us some benefits. Genki, while I do believe it is important to fortify the crossings, we will want to be careful not to make them so impenetrable that the enemy will simply move around them. With more troops than ours, it would not cost them that much to find another way around the river, a way we may not have accounted for. If we get caught unaware, they will make short work of us." Leaning back in his chair, Hayate scratched his chin. "If we make certain areas look weaker, but lay traps down, we can draw them in and force them into choke points. When we remove the advantage they gain from their superior numbers, our troops will come out on top."

"And for how long do you desire to fight against this force, sir commander?" Erling asked. "If we won't eradicate them with a strong blow or rout them, then what is stopping them from gaining reinforcements? We have no eyes past this river and we can't prevent them from gaining more aid." The Hon stated a concern that Genki seemed to share as the latter nodded and softly bumped his fist on the table to signal this. Fuijin seemed to consider something. "Would it perhaps not be a viable manner to draw them in with some bait. Something large, so that it won't be eroded by the enemy right away. But something that they can't resist."

Hearing Erling's concern, Hayate shook his head. "We will fight them for as long as it takes to win, General." Locking his eyes with Erling's, Hayate continued. "You are absolutely correct. We have no eyes past this river. Who knows if they don't already have reinforcements? Do you really want to send our troops in blind, to fight a battle that could very well cost all of their lives?" Placing his hands on the table, he looked between Erling and Genki. "Last night we landed a huge punch, but we barely made it past their outer defences. If we go back, now that they have had time to prepare, we are putting ourselves on the losing side of a seige." Fuijin's words caused Hayate to pause and the teen looked over to the General, nodding slowly. "Drawing them towards us, in a manner that we can control, is exactly what I would like to do. What did you have in mind?" he asked Fuijin, wondering if the General had some form of bait in mind.

"The enemy will want to take us down. So much that they risked a crossing before. If we have one part of the allied force to muster at their side of the river with enough numbers to be a slight threat, it will attract their attention. If we can manage to keep the remaining forces aside and laying in wait, we could prevent that a good portion of our troops will perish while also having some chance to eradicate a large number of their force. Perhaps enough that we could adopt a more offensive approach." Fuijin suggested. "This will require the aid of the Republican and Lightning country troops, though. I fear that one brigade of ours won't be large enough to pose a threat that will flush the enemy out of their position."

Considering the suggestion for a long moment, Hayate closed his eyes, playing the scenario out in his head. It could work, but it had its drawbacks. Opening his eyes, he glanced directly at Koike. "And what do you think, Koike? You've remained silent so far, but I would like to hear your opinion."

The heads and attention of the brigade generals would shift towards Koike. The latter had remained and opt to be silent. While he understood why he was there and willing to aid Hayate as his right hand, no word had left Koike's lips as he deemed his rank as colonel wasn't high enough to speak out freely. Perhaps he didn't heed much to ranks in battle or in some situations, this was one of the situations where ranks made it clear how much you were allowed to say. In his opinion and viewpoint, at least. When Hayate thus requested his opinion, Koike scratched his right cheek for a moment. A brief moment of silence passed before Koike spoke up. "I do think that it would be more beneficial for the campaign to get rid of this opposing force. The sooner we have vanquished it, the sooner can we establish a zone of control. The problem is that we indeed have no real established intelligence gathering on the other side of the river, much like brigade general Erling Hon stated. This makes it quite unsettling as reinforcements might be on their way to strengthen the enemy army." Introducing a second of silence Koike decided that he had nothing to lose, so he would speak further. "It might be risky but right now if we decide to wait out their next move, there is no telling either how much we will lose. Therefore, I consider a large offensive the lesser evil. Perhaps with a certain ruse or deception, we can bring them a crippling blow before routing their forces."

Listening as Koike discussed his opinion, Hayate sighed inwardly once more. What was it with Hons and thinking with their swords? He could recall several tales he had heard growing up, of the rivalry between the Hon clan of old, and the early Hyuzu clan. Some of their battles had been the thing of legends, at least, if he was to believe the people who had told him the tales. One of the best things he had taken from those stories, was the varied tactics that both sides used. Some that worked brilliantly, and others that fell flat. A few of the more successful tactics came to his mind now and Hayate pondered on them before responding. "Very well," he began, looking from Koike to the Generals. "I understand the desire to rout the enemy while we've stuck this mighty blow. I truly do. But without knowing how mighty this blow really was, we risk destroying not only our troops, but the morale they have managed to gain as well."

Steepling his fingers together, Hayate leaned forward. "I propose a solution that I think might satisfy everyone here. First," glancing towards Genki, he continued, "We spend this time we have earned ourselves to fortify the crossings. But we do so in a way that will allow our troops to fall back after phase three. The second phase will take place tonight." Glancing towards the others, he took a breath. "As you may know, during the night raid, I led a small insertion of my own. The goal of this was to plant explosives throughout the camp in different areas. These explosives are mostly hidden below the earth and can be detonated by me remotely. With phase two, we will set off the explosives in the night, causing confusion amongst the ranks of the enemy and making them think there is another raid. At the same time, we will sneak several of our scouts past their perimeters. Getting eyes on the enemy and gathering as much information as possible. We will also have a detachment of archers make their way across the river. It does not need to be a large force, and they will travel as quietly as possible. Once they are within range, they will launch as many salvos as possible within three minutes before they pull back across the river."

Pausing, Hayate took a breath and stared at the Generals, trying to judge how they were taking his proposal. "If the enemy tries to launch a counter-attack in the night, it will be disorganized and easy to pick off. Our newly fortified crossings will make it impossible for them to gain headway and we can turn the fight around. If they do not attempt to launch a counter attack, then that leads us to phase three. In the morning, we will send across a large force of the allied troops. Fuijin's suggestion was a good one. We present them with a target to take out their rage on, and then sweep through their forces as they will still be dealing with exhaustion from the night before." Finished, Hayate looked around the table and awaited their response.

It remained silent after Hayate's suggestion. The first to break the silence was Erling, who grunted softly. "I hate to admit it and some my ancestors will spit on perhaps on me. But fuck them, they are dead," the man stated with a slightly amused, yet a serious undertone being present in his voice, "But that sounds like a plan I can support. You got me and the 13th, commander." Making a firm salute, Erling would flash a grin. Genki seemed to be considering the words but would slowly nod. "Very well. It sounds solid and worth a try." Fuijin stared at Hayate. A blank expression was present on his features, not one hint making it clear if the man was for or against Hayate's plan. "I am eager to see how this will work out, commander." Though he seemed to phrase some enthusiasm, there seemed to be something lacklustre in the salute and way how Fuijin replied back.

Relieved that Erling seemed on board and Genki followed suit, Hayate turned to Fuijin, sensing some hesitance in the man. He returned the salutes of all three, before speaking again. "If you have any reservations, let them be known now. We need to go into this plan together, so if any of us are not on the same page, let us make it clear right here." Turning his gaze on Fuijin, Hayate wondered what was on the man's mind.

Fuijin just lowered his head towards Hayate. None of the brigade generals uttered a complaint or doubt about the plan. Soon enough they would take their leaves and with some of the aides cleaning the table and matters, it wouldn't take long before Koike and Hayate were alone in the large tent. Having his arms crossed out front of his chest, the Hon pondered on how the meeting had gone. "Didn't seem going that bad. You might even start to win some respect from the brigade generals," he brought up, throwing a look at Hayate. "Though I must state my worry on how the Lightning country or the Republican forces will react to the idea."

When the Generals left, Hayate felt a wave of relief wash through him. He always felt the hint of worry that none of the Generals would take him seriously. Aside from Fuijin's reaction, however, the others seemed to have taken well to the idea. Hearing Koike's words, Hayate turned to his friend."I hope you're right. Without their respect, I cannot really accomplish much here." looking away, he sighed. "The Republic and Lightning were in for the last plan. I hope we can convince them of the same this time."

Slowly nodding, Koike hoped that as well. He saw little reason for the other parties to decline to participate in the plan. This time he would keep his opinion on that the Republic and Lightning forces should adhere to them as the leading party as he didn't consider repeating his opinion would bring them anywhere. "Though I am supportive of the plan, I must say that I am not comfortable with giving the enemy a moment to breathe. Regardless of what is being planned, I wish we could take up the field and wipe them away or cause them to rout." Koike said as he would lower his arms. Releasing a sigh, he briefly threw a look at the opening of the tent. "But I suppose this is the better approach. Even though I feel less good about it."

"I can sympathize with that Koike, I really can. But all we need to do is look at some historic battles to realize the folly in that plan." Glancing at Koike, he raised an eyebrow, "Do you remember the battle of Sizurn's Keep?"

Clicking his tongue, Koike shot a Hayate an amused look for a moment. "I have been taught history at the inner circle of Magnhild. Though I wonder how much of the battle of Sizurn's Keep is known with the Hyuzu. I remember it as the battle that was accounted as the first defeat of the Hons during their struggle against the Hyuzu. Though I was taught it was mostly because that by that time nobody was believing that the Hyuzu had dragons. Or that they would be effective in warfare." Turning towards Hayate, Koike considered something. "But something is telling me that the Hyuzu have a different source on that clash."

Nodding his head, Hayate smiled. "Sizurn's Keep was a similar situation to what we are in now. A large Hyuzu force resided within the keep itself, using it as the staging ground for a fight against a smaller yet exceptionally skilled Hon force." Pacing, Hayate glanced over at Koike. "I cannot remember the name of the Hon commander at the moment, but I do know he was revered for his many victories. A lot of those coming against Hyuzu forces. During the battle at Sizurn's Keep, the Hon commander organized an unexpected assault, similar to the raid we just performed. He was able to push through the main defences at the keep, taking the Hyuzu by surprise and dealing a massive blow. The Hyuzu managed to repel the assault, but it cost them heavily. They had lost a large portion of their troops, leaving them as the smaller of the two forces. The Hon commander sensed blood in the water and quickly regrouped, planning another full scale offensive, meant to utterly destroy the remaining Hyuzu forces."

Hayate stopped pacing and turned. "There were several things that the Hon commander failed to realize in his eagerness to sweep the opposition. First was that the Hyuzu knew the terrain like the back of their hands. Second was the ingenuity of the Hyuzu commander, Kel'var Hyuzu. See, when the Hon had launched their surpsie attack, Kel'var did not simply panic and hide. He instructed his men to make note of exactly how and where the Hon attacked. With that knowledge in hand, they planted several traps within the keep, pulling back to areas that were far easier for them to defend. At the same time, Kel'var ordered a large contingent of his men to remain hidden at the rear of the keep. When the Hon forces attacked, they did not anticipate the traps, assuming that the Hyuzu would still be reeling from the initial assault. They did not know the area and the Hyuzu took full advantage of that. Despite the losses the Hons were suffering, Kel'var instructed his men to continue falling back, making it appear as if the Hons were forcing them to rout."

Folding his arms across his chest, Hayate raised an eyebrow. "The Hyuzu forces fled from the keep into the fields behind. When the Hons followed them out, believing victory just within reach, Kel'var unleashed the final part of his plan. The Dragons." A slight smile became evident on his face as Hayate began to pace once more. "The Hyuzu forces that had fled the keep suddenly turned to face the pursuing Hons. The Hyuzu in the rear of their ranks summoned three Dragons, sending them over the Hon forces who had never seen such fearsome beasts. The Dragons reigned fire down upon the Hon troops, breaking their morale and causing them to rout. The Hon forces fled towards the keep, hoping to find shelter within its walls. Unfortunately for them, this was exactly what Kel'var had anticipated. The Hyuzu troops he had ordered into hiding were now blocking the path back to the keep. The Hons, with nowhere to run, were forced into a fight on both sides and were quickly defeated." Stopping once more, Hayate faced Koike and tilted his head to the side. "Without knowing the enemy's capabilities, the Hon's eagerness lead them to their own defeat."

He listened. Both interested and somewhat amused. A light scoff escaped Koike as he shook his head. "You should read the history of how some of my people have it written down. It certainly fails to mention the traps. From what I can recall it stated that the Hyuzu were being battered and starting to lose their ground. Only to put the favour of the fight on their side with their dragons. Which was what we could use right now, as well. Seeing that neither Einar the Bold or those bastards across the river know how to deal with a dragon," He gestured to the opening of the tent. "I can't also deny that most are eager. Not just the Hons or the Sarutobi. We won two victories against the enemy. They are ill-equipped and seeing I don't see myself as a swordmaster but being able to cut many down? I say that we got only the numbers against us. Don't get me wrong. I am in to use the tactic that completely defeated the likes of Einar the Bold but it doesn't make me feel comfortable. We got no eyes on the other side yet. We also, much like you said, don't know the capabilities of the enemy."

Pausing for a moment, Koike would fold his hands behind his back. "I did not suggest this at the meeting. Pure for the reason that I am nothing but a colonel. Or lieutenant-captain of the Guardians. Anyways, I would like to request the chance to lead scouting operations across the river. While you and the brigade generals build the fortifications and make certain that the enemy won't cross over, we will need to know what they are capable of. Not to mention to establish confirmation on if they have a supply route and who their allies might be. I know that I need to lead my battalion but I am bold enough to state that you won't find anybody better in this army than me being capable. Saki would be better but she is best to remain here. Making certain you won't hop on your dragon and start to roast the bastards yourself. All I will need is a company of skilled and willing troops. Already I have Katsu, the men of Torrad Sarutobi and the Guardians. If the Lightning and Republican commanders would lend some of their capable operatives, I am certain I can come back with information on the enemy. Without rampaging or stacking up the kills, of course."

A grin grew on Hayate's face as he heard Koike's explanation of events from the Hon's point of view. Chuckling softly, he nodded his head. "It would not surprise me if there were many tales from our history that our two clans tell differently." he said, shrugging. "Perhaps one day you and I could relive some of those tales and see just how different the Hon and Hyuzu saw things. For now though... I suppose we should focus more on trying to get through this damned battle." Letting out a sigh, he turned away, thoughts filling his mind. Hayate listened as Koike explained how eager many of the men were to get back into the fight. He could not blame them, not really. There was a part of him that wanted to continue to push against the enemy, riding the high from their previous victories. Getting this whole thing over quickly so he could get back home, back to... Sighing again, Hayate closed his eyes. Taking action rashly was not really his style. Despite the temptations, Hayate had to trust his gut. Time would tell if he had made the right call or not. He only hoped by then it wouldn't be too late...

Turning to face Koike again, Hayate nodded. "It would feel damned good to get rid of these bastards..." he said, a hint of regret evident in his tone, "but let's do this right. I both respect and value your opinion highly Koike. If you have doubts about any of my decisions, please let me know. I don't claim to be the most experienced guy here, not by a long shot. So... thank you, I suppose. For being here to have my back when I need it." Meeting Koike's gaze, Hayate held it for a moment, offering a slight nod of respect. Listening as Koike made his request, Hayate considered it for a long moment, pacing back and forth slowly. He was not fond of the idea of Koike leaving him for an unknown amount of time, especially when Saki was basically out of commission. The Hon had a point, however, and Hayate knew his own discomfort paled in comparison to the value such an operation could provide. "You'd better come back," he said slowly, turning to stare at Koike. "Else I will come find you and kill you myself." The ghost of a smile was present on his lips as Hayate nodded. "You have my permission to form a company for this. I want to be informed exactly who you are taking with you. The Lightning Commander and the Republic Commander should also be included to increase the chances of this thing succeeding."

"We could. Perhaps soon enough once we have cleared this mess up. I would like that," was Koike's initial response. Though he nodded as Hayate stated that they had to get through this clash. Watching how his friend and commander was in thought, Koike remained silent. He knew that the burden was heavy on Hayate's shoulders. A burden that surpassed his own in weight without a doubt. Yet, Koike couldn't think of anything to lift that burden more than he already was doing. With a calm expression, he just listened and waited for Hayate to make a decision. Nodding to indicate that he understood the request, to speak up when he had any doubt regarding Hayate's decision, Koike would flash a smile. "I fear I have to. I don't like this land and continent. The cold does remind me of my homeland when the cold of winter arrives. Then again, I would like to see you try, commander. Never fought a deathmatch with royalty before." Though glad that he would be allowed to be occupied with organising and leading such an operation, it did sting Koike's pride to include the Republic and Lightning country forces. But he wouldn't argue against the fact it would most certainly improve the chance of success. "Very well. I will make certain both commanders will be informed. Though, when I am gone, I would like to request that we communicate through the summoning technique. Katsu can summon himself back and forth between us, giving thus a fairly trustworthy form of communication."

Smiling slightly when Koike replied that he would enjoy continuing their conversation about clan history later, Hayate could not help the worry that clouded the back of his mind over sending his friend behind enemy lines. As Koike mentioned royalty, Hayate's eyes narrowed, but his tone retained a hint of amusement. "I'd be careful, Koike, else the only thing royal you'll receive is a royal ass-whooping." Relieved that Koike agreed to inform the Commanders of their plans, Hayate nodded slowly, glancing away. He considered Koike's proposal to use Katsu and the summoning technique for communication. It was an ideal way to keep a trusted line of information, yet Hayate still worried about this enemy's capabilities. If they had any way to trace chakra signatures, that could cause further harm to the mission and to his friend's themselves.

Biting his lip, deep in thought, Hayate finally sighed. "Very well. Let's keep communication to a minimum until we know more, however. I do not want to risk their sensors picking anything up and discovering what we're up to. Understood?"

A grin would dawn on Koike's lips on Hayate's first retort. As Hayate stated that they would have to keep communication to a minimum, Koike wanted to agree. But he thought about it. It was true that it could be really working against them if the enemy had long-range sensors that could pick up what they were up to. "Understood. I will begin preparations right away. Is there anything you still want to discuss?" The Hon asked, feeling a bit eager to get to work and at the same time not too anxious to deal with the Republicans and Lightning country forces. There was even some hoping that the commanders of those respective forces would abstain aiding with troops.

Thinking for a long moment, Hayate shook his head. "Tempting as it is to stand around here all day discussing tactics and past battles, I am afraid we will indeed need to save it for another time. Go. Keep me informed of your progress. And Koike," he began, looking at his friend, "Stay safe."

"I will do, commander," Koike would gain a wry smile on his lips as he actually felt to talk a bit more but they did not have all the time. Perhaps later. Saluting with a closed fist against his chest, he nodded. "I will do. Don't get killed yourself, Hyuzu." Turning around, Koike would exit the tent as he bites his lower lip. There was no doubt that he should start with the 13th battalion and then head to the other allied camps.

[/spoili]
[/fieldbox]

Winter · Nov 11, 2017

~"It is by faith that poetry, as well as devotion, soars above this dull earth; that imagination breaks through its clouds, breathes a purer air, and lives in a softer light"~

Journey to Amegakure: Day One

'Clack'

The sound of her black heeled boot striking the stone floor announced her arrival as she met with the caravan, offering her usual gentle smile to those who turned and offered their greeting. It was a long way to Amegakure, around two weeks of travel if nothing problematic occurred between now and then. She expected that everything perhaps wouldn't be as straight forward but maybe that was the more cynical side of her infecting her thought, causing her to doubt the succession of her mission. "Welcome young miss, we were informed ahead of time that you'd be joining us for the trip to Amegakure, it's a pleasure to have you with us" a tall thin man, elderly with a white bushy beard and matching eyebrows spoke, a welcoming smile resting on his aged features.

Satia inclined her head politely, "Thank you" she replied, her tone soft and smooth with a some what refined edge that threatened to betray her privileged upbringing. "But please call me Satia, if we are to travel together over the upcoming weeks then I believe we should probably get to know each other, starting with names". The eldery man seemed pleasantly surprised, often more used to youths who displayed an obvious lack of respect. "That'd be a welcome idea, but right now we're about ready to set off. So if you'd like to take a seat in one of the forward carriages, we'll get this caravan on the move" he smiled and Satia nodded before making her way to a seat before the elderly man stopped and called over.

"My name is Tabrook, by the way" Satia stopped and smiled warmly before giving another nod to acknowledge the offered name. She climbed up and took a seat as did the rest of the caravan before Tabrook made his way to the forward carriage and rang a bell, signaling for the caravan to get moving. Satia reached into her sleeve, pulling from it a small brown book held shut by an elasticated black colored band embroidered with a decorative pattern. Inside she'd made a few notes and annotations around her task including a list of villages they were due to pass though. It was the same little book she used to archive plants and flora native to certain parts of the world, having a vested interest in botany and herbalism.

The young Genin let out a small sigh as she closed her eyes, steeling her nerves and anxieties about the mission ahead. She of course was eager not to mess this up and wanted to prove that she was more than up to the task, even if the task itself didn't have much in terms of taxing demands on her. Never the less, every great Shinobi had started at the bottom and if she expected to be among them some day she would have to start from the bottom and put in the hard work necessary to climb and better herself, in every sense. She opened her eyes again and exhaled, her resolve held firm as she turned her attention to the passing buildings as they made their way to the towering main gate of Konohagakure.

It took some time for the guards to walk through and process everyone's papers, even stopping and double checking hers with surprised expressions before they nodded and signaled the gate control guards to let them pass. The creaking sounds of wood once again filled the surrounding area as the carriages put the gate and Konohagakure behind them. This was it now, the first step upon a two week journey and her first serious mission asked of her by her superiors. 'And so it begins' she thought to herself as the gate became smaller and smaller, eventually concealed behind the natural outside lands. Satia once again turned her attention back to her little book, placing a finger down on their next destination.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Half a day went by after leaving the capital before they found themselves surrounded by the beauty of nature, vast woodlands, hills and winding rivers that split through the land. Birds sang their songs high above the canopies of trees that split the rays of the sun which in turn fell upon the rich green grass flanking the caravans path. Such natural beauty had been a thing Satia had only heard of and read in books and the young girl was so taken by it that she'd left her seat to walk beside the Caravan, her hands held neatly behind her back as she allowed herself to indulge in it, calmed internally by the rich floral colors.

"Quite the view isn't it?" Tabrook had noticed her departure from her seat and only when he spoke did she realize that she'd walked herself to the front of the caravan. "Indeed" she replied with a smile as she turned to look up at the elderly man whom appeared to be holding the reigns of the horses pulling the carriage. "Having lived in Konohagakure for so long, I haven't had much experience with this kind of environment" she confessed as she once again allowed her eyes to look around and absorb her surroundings. Tabrook seemed surprised by that and looked to be in thought about it for a moment as a hand rustled his beard.

"I see. Well frankly I think all youngsters should experience the outside at least once in a while. Between you and me I think it does wonders for the soul and the mind" he opened honestly as he eyed her for a response. Satia nodded, "Based on what I'm experiencing now, I have to agree. I feel as though I've missed out" she gave a small chuckle to company her words and the elderly man simply smiled. "I reckon you have. Enjoy it while it lasts though, it doesn't stay like this for the entire journey" he said as his expression dropped to convey he was being serious. They would be passing lands of much less beauty, some of which would be considered wasteland.

Eventually they began to pass through various small villages, the children that belonged to these small settlements running from their homes to greet the caravan and wave from beyond the perimeters of their homes. A small boy even ran up beside the carriage and handed a picked flower to her, which she took with a smile, waving to the boy as fatigue took him and he could no longer keep up. She observed the flower, a beautiful choice to be sure with subtle violets and pinks pigmented on it's petals. She opened her hand and flexed her wrist causing a thin metal knife to slide into it, she cut the stem short and slid the flower into hair to sit beside the band holding her hair into a ponytail.

A week had come to pass and the caravan had moved on to break free of the rural lands and into a more open and wild environment, a mountain range standing tall and strong in the distance. "See that?" Tabrook pointed towards the mountain range, he'd offered Satia to sit with him so they could continue on their long conversations which both of them appeared to enjoy. "That there marks Nimatsu Clan territory and the boarders of the fire and rain provinces" Satia raised a hand and squinted her eyes to get a better look at the range standing tall in the distance. "I see, you know these lands well then?" she asked, looking back to Tabrook. He gave a small chuckle.

"That I do, it's a necessary part of the job you see" he replied before handing her the reigns, "Here, if you wouldn't mind. Your wrists are a lot younger than mine" he said with another chuckle. Satia took the reigns and nodded with a smile, "Of course" she replied. Tabrook reached into a bag of his personal belongings and took out a small wood pipe, lighting it with a match as he relaxed himself with some tobacco. "So I have to ask, but you seem a bit to... fair, for a Shinobi, why did you sign up?" the old man had paused to find words that wouldn't offend her. Satia could sense it and so didn't raise issue when he posed the question, after all they had been traveling for some time now which had allowed them to build a friendly relationship.

"Honestly, I at times ask myself the same question" she confessed honesty, "Perhaps it is the prospect and the allure for adventure that initially drew me. But since joining I've met some truly amazing people and shared in experiences I wouldn't change for the world" Satia smiled, realizing there was no hesitation in her response. Tabrook eyed her as he puffed on his pipe before eventually nodding, "I see, a good answer miss Satia, a good answer indeed" he replied as he looked back to the road ahead. After a few hours he sat up in his seat before he motioned for her to hand the reigns back. "Let me take those, this road up ahead can be a bit of a doozy".

The days went by and they soon found themselves entering the former independent land of rain, a dull land that many would refer to as 'barren'. Tabrook reached up and pulled a hood above them to shield against the drizzle, mentioning that at any moment they could be assaulted by a fall of rain if they weren't careful. Compared to the start of the journey Satia saw very little to look at as they ventured through, but fortunately they were much closer to Amegakure as the boarder would come into view after several more days of traveling through the land of rain. Satia had left the the Caravan briefly a few times to retrieve flowers native to these parts.

"Phitalis Aglamae" Satia mentioned as she showed the cut flowers to Tabrook who seemed to have no idea what she was going on about. "They're a plant specific to this land, it can be used to treat burns due to high water supply secreted with it's sap. The consistent rain here is what allows these plants to thrive" Satia cut the plants open and drained the sap into a small empty glass vial, you never know when that sort of thing might come in handy. "You know your plants then?" Tabrook asked curiously. Satia nodded, "It's a genuine interest of mine". Tabrook said no more and turned his attention back to the road, "There, the boarder of Amegakure" Satia put the glass vial away and looked up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two weeks later, Amegakure

The city of Amegakure was unlike anything Satia had been expecting and it was vastly different from Konohagakure in almost every way. The city appeared to contain towering buildings that rose up as if to attempt to break free from the never ending onslaught of rain and Satia couldn't help but stare at them in awe as the caravan skirted the outer perimeter of a lake which served to defend against the south. Large fortification had been erected and the guards stationed at them looked like they meant business. It took them a full half hour for them to check everyone's papers and to check every carriage for contraband items before they were eventually allowed to proceed through the checkpoint. The guard had given her a hard stare when he checked her documents as if to scare an admission of a lie out of her.

Once they had entered the city it was here that she would be parting ways, which she was honestly genuinely sad about. She'd enjoyed the company of the old man for the last two week and the two of them had enjoyed many in depth conversations during their journey. She'd learned that Tabrook had once been a soldier himself, but retired after an almost fatal injury that meant he couldn't continue on without risking more severe injury. He had a wife and two sons that made a living as successful fishermen out in Oakrath. He had told her many stories from his youth and some of those stories were had learned morals that'd stay with her for many years on. "Goodbye Tabrook, and thank you for making this journey comfortable" Satia once again inclined her head respectfully. "Likewise miss Satia, good luck on the rest of your journey" he smiled warmly.

With that she departed, heading through the dull wet city towards an office complex which appeared surrounded by a large wall, it's entrances defended by some serious looking guards similar to the ones that'd checked the caravan earlier. "Papers" one of the ordered. Satia pulled them out for the guard who looked them over, even showing them to his colleague who stared at her for a moment. They held the documents for enough time that Satia was actually starting to feel nervous before she was eventually let though with a wave of the hand. Once inside she was directed towards the barracks where she was ordered to wait for the arrival of Team Eight, the team where she was instructed to deliver a message to their leader. Once in the room she allowed herself to enjoy the comfort of the offered bed, setting her bags down for the night after lighting the small lantern.

'Well... I made it'

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Aliceee · Nov 11, 2017

[fieldbox=A fierce investment!, #33cccc]

Kiyomi Homura I,
Akinian Empress | Konohagakure, Royal Palace.

Summary and explanation!

I realise that some of you don't know Kiyomi Homura that very well. And then reading the post is about her painting her nails and thinking: "Why was that fluff needed or good for?"
First, to obviously drive my word count up! Second, and more seriously is because Kiyomi has always been the more girl who didn't concern herself with her appearance. However, she is slowly becoming more self-conscious and becoming inquisitive if she will appreciate these things. In other words, she is developing out of the tomboyish girl attitude to a certain degree.

Furthermore, the post holds a training that Kiyomi uses to practice and hone her skill with Blue Fire, chakra control and accuracy. Only to finish it off with some rough taijutsu practice on her own.

[spoili]
Narrowing her eyes, the young teen would hold her breath in. With her best attempt to deliver a strike of utmost precision the little brush would colour the nail dark red. The jade colour eyes would widen slightly as the tips of Kiyomi's lips would curve upwards. Excited she would hold her right index finger up and admire the fact she had delivered a good brush for the first time. Then again, this was the first time that Kiyomi indulged in such 'trivial' matters. Almost had she bumped the vial in front of her on her bed. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea to paint her nails on her bed but at the current Kiyomi couldn't care less.
The joy wasn't, however, just a sporadic feeling. Though she didn't imagine that it would be so much fun, she had overheard two maidens yesterday. On about that they wondered if Kiyomi ever did pay attention to her appearance with small things, such as make-up. It made her feel slightly insecure and while she remembered that she had given it a try before, the young teen felt that she could try to take a few more steps. Her first idea was to ask Saki for some advise and aid. The Yamanaka always managed to look in great shape and Kiyomi didn't know who else she could approach, without feeling like an idiot.

"Okay. Let's try it again," She whispered to herself as she continued to paint her nails. There was something satisfying about it all. Once done with her right hand, Kiyomi raised her hand and observed her 'handiwork'. Growing quite content she carefully picked up the vial and would put it on the nearby nightstand to then get off her bed and scurry to the nearby mirror in her chamber.
In the tail mirror, she noticed that she looked like a mess. Her jade green eyes caught the messy and poorly executed knot that kept her hair together. The loose hanging shirt and pants certainly didn't inspire anything of beauty or grace either. Yet Kiyomi focused on her right hand that she held up together with her left hand.
The dark red polish gave it something, even if Kiyomi couldn't put it in words. A frown would grow on her brow as she wondered if it had been great to paint her fingernails with dark blue. Would Matatabi find it nice? Probably he wouldn't pay it much attention. Maybe she should also paint his claws? The idea provoked a smile to grow on Kiyomi's lips as she turned on her heels.

It didn't take long before Kiyomi had managed to paint the fingernails of her left hand. Only for a problem to occur. She realised that the paint had to dry and the teen wasn't sure what she could do. Sitting on top of her bed, the young Empress frowned. Eyeing the paint on her fingers, she briefly considered to just ignore it. How bad could it be if she would like read a book? But if she would get finger paint on it, then she would have ruined a book.
More options would follow but she shot them also down right after. Eventually, becoming frustrated. Only to come up with a way to speed up the process. Sitting upright, Kiyomi would regulate her breathing in slow paces. With each breath, the young teen focused on her chakra control. Slowly but surely she would apply the same control that she had to perform the basic training of learning Fire chakra. By heating her body temperature she felt the comfort and snug sensation of her chakra starting to shift slowly. Slowly but surely she would let the chakra flow through her body towards her throat and onwards to her mouth.

Breathing out, the warm breath would flow through the air and reach her hand. Repeating the process, she enjoyed the warmth flowing over her hand. After a minute she would carefully try to see if the paint was now dry.
"Huh, that went great." Kiyomi mumbled to herself. But now that she had a good taste, why stop? A smirk grew on the thin lips of the young teen

It was odd. Kiyomi didn't feel that much better as she observed herself in the mirror. The dark lines at her eyes had something but the light blush that she had applied on her cheeks was something that she didn't like. It made her seem as if she was blushing the entire time. Her left eye twitched as she decided to 'correct' it with a wet piece of paper. Just as she was finished, there was a soft audible sound of somebody knocking on the door to her chamber. Kiyomi's head turned as she would see the door opening. A servant stood bowed, stating the following: "The equipment stands at the ready, as you request, your majesty."

" Thanks!" Was the rather bubbly response of Kiyomi. Deciding to get properly dressed for what she had planned, the young teen would see leave her chambers. Not in any kind of attire that was perhaps befitting a ruler of her standards, though. Deciding to gear up for some training, Kiyomi had figured it was time for some perhaps mundane training. But in a different style than she had done before. Not paying much attention to the servants and guards that she met on her way outside, Kiyomi rubbed her fingerless gloved hands. In less than twenty minutes she had reached the reserved field that she used for herself to train. Probably one of the best perks of owning a large palace complex and exterior.

At the field, there were a few people. A male servant held various discs with both hands while there were others that stood at the ready to serve Kiyomi. Only for the young teen to consider it was silly that she would need servants. Besides, hadn't she requested them to leave her to it? Knowing fully well that they were just trying to do their job, Kiyomi would engage in a conversation with the servants.

"I know that you all want to help but I will be fine on my own," was the start of the conversation. Kiyomi flashed a warm smile to the man, who bowed deeply towards Kiyomi.
"But your majesty, we are here to aid you. Captain-Commander Sarutobi requested that you would not be just left alone," was the polite and yet soft-voiced retort of the servant. An answer that irritated Kiyomi as she imagined that Katashi didn't want to leave her alone and kept under watch. There were enough reasons that she didn't deem it necessary to hear out the servant.
"Really. You can leave me to it. I will stay on the field for some time. If the captain-commander has a problem, he will not need to punish you. I told you, after all, that it was okay." Kiyomi tried. She immediately noticed that the servant wavered. Which meant that he was actively trying to stay around. Perhaps it was a Sworn Sword recruit, tasked with this objective? Both as insurance for Katashi and as a test on how effective they were to pose as something else than a Sworn Sword?

"As you wish, your majesty," the servant made another deep bow as he and the others left. Kiyomi watched how they would leave the field, bowing several more times to her.
"Tch," the soft irritated sound escaped the lips of the teen as she hoped that Katashi wouldn't become too overprotective. Glancing at the items she had requested, the young teen stretched her arms and legs. The attire she wore was close - the big difference was the brown scarf and long sleeves - to what she used to wear when leading Team 2. How long had that actually been? The question bothered Kiyomi and delayed her from starting the training. Releasing a deep sigh, the teen created two Shadow Clones. One would pick up the disc as another created some distance from the original Kiyomi.

"Great! Time to get this started!" Kiyomi muttered to herself. The plan was in theory as simple as one could imagine. One shadow clone would throw up the discs into the air. The light material would let the discs soar for some time into the air, becoming moving targets for the original to blow them out of the air with a focused blast of fire. The second shadow clone was there to make things harder, with the usage of lightning release. This perhaps extravagant training was for a good reason as she remembered the training of Hiron and how they kept pushing her. Even when she managed to get used to some.

Breathing in, Kiyomi would ready herself. Then she nodded, which was the signal. The shadow clone with the discs would throw the first one up as Kiyomi could already hear the lightning crackling from the distant shadow clone. Her own hands raced towards each other to perform the sequence of eight hand signals. By the time that she had sped through the required hand signals, a hound of lightning was racing towards her.
Narrowing her eyes, Kiyomi would experience the sensation of chakra building up in her stomach and rush upwards as her hands would distance from each other.

Spitting out a small ball of blue fire towards the disc, Kiyomi was forced to evade the impending danger of the large hound of lightning - controlled and manipulated by a long and thin stretch of visible lightning by the distant shadow clone. Managing to quickly skid to the right, Kiyomi quickly looked at the result of her first attempt. The small ball of fire would graze the disc before blowing up into a small explosion. The result was not, however, in Kiyomi's opinion a success. But she wasn't given much time or the shadow clone with the discs threw another one up.
Keeping the chakra at her stomach moulding through focus and dedication, Kiyomi caught some movement in the corner of her eyes. The hound of lightning was still running but was making a long-winded turn to charge her from the back. In a true combat situation, Kiyomi would have little trouble to counter or dispell the impending danger. But she wasn't allowed to actively engage the hound of lightning.
Performing a cartwheel at the last moment at a rapid speed, Kiyomi would bend through her legs when she quickly performed the manoeuvre. Looking up to the second flying disc, Kiyomi would spit out another ball of blue fire. Watching the trajectory for a second, she noticed with her sharp gaze that she would miss the disc. Causing her to curse softly.

Not much time was granted to spit out another small ball of blue fire. Detecting the lightning hound to make another steer, this time shorter than the previous manoeuvre, Kiyomi found herself forced to evade the being of lightning.
A quick jump was in order to move out of the hound's charge. Skidding to a halt, Kiyomi quickly shifted her attention to the soaring disc. Narrowing her eyes, the teen would spit out another ball of blue fire. But once more she found herself forced to move aside as the lightning hound was already charging at her, thus unable to see if she had hit her mark.

"To think that I would be irritated at myself one day," Kiyomi thought to herself as she would attempt once more to dodge the lightning technique. Just as she threw a glance at the disc, she was in time to confirm the successful hit with her own vision.
"Hell yeah!"

Before she was able to do something, a shock would emit through her body. The hound would discharge as lightning violently expanded at a fast pace, lashing out in close vicinity. Caught at the perimeter of the small electrical discharge. Managing to come to a skid, Kiyomi felt the painful sensation over her body.
Without waiting for the original to be ready, the shadow clone with the discs threw another up as the second shadow clone would commence a new attack.

"Damnit."

Breathing heavily, Kiyomi felt the cold sweat running over her back. Her left eye was closed and a light burning sensation ached from her stomach. Various piles of ash laid on the field, remainders of the burnt discs. The protective gear had managed to take the brunt of the attacks, showing various burnt marks and cuts but Kiyomi was certain that she had gained some bruises from the exhaustive training. Trying to straighten her back and trying to regulate her breathing Kiyomi didn't want to keep it at that. But she was certain that if she kept pushing herself to continue the same training, that she would suffer 'chakra burning'. The phenomenon where one's body would have been so strained by constant chakra usage that the person would suffer a heavy and painful aching through their entire body.
Gritting her teeth, Kiyomi would still force herself to continue training. "If I can't use more chakra then I will train something else," she thought to herself in a bitter fashion. The two shadow clones of before were still left standing. They seemed to be simply waiting for the original Kiyomi to be ready for the next part.

A moment of silence passed the field, Kiyomi and her two shadow clones. The shadow clones would slowly and almost cautiously close a bit in on the original Kiyomi, yet try to spread some distance. All in order to force the original Kiyomi to be wary of two directions.

No warning was given as Kiyomi noticed movement from her right. The first shadow clone that came charging in would go in with a kick.
This was dodged with a quick sidestep of Kiyomi. But she wouldn't lash out with a counter-attack. Instead, she was forced to pay attention to the left as the second shadow clone came for an attack.
Beset from two directions, Kiyomi felt the blunt trauma from blocking the punches and kicks. Some punches did manage to break through defence nor was she able to evade them all.
The shadow clone to the right would attempt to go with a high kick, trying to connect her foot against Kiyomi's head. This would be evaded by the original, bending through her own legs. Placing her hands on the ground, Kiyomi would make a sweep with her left leg. Causing the clone to the left to be tripped forwards.

Resulting in that the high kick would connect but to the face of the other shadow clone - to the left. In the ensuing chaos, the original Kiyomi would surge upwards with an aimed punch to the clone to the right. Feeling the satisfying sensation of her blow connecting, the clones would reel backwards from the blows they had received in the last three seconds.
Deciding to not give her clones the time to recover, Kiyomi lunged forwards to the clone now in front of her. Throwing a punch, she wouldn't cheer or grow content that the attack had landed and would see the already unbalanced shadow clone fall to the ground. Hearing something behind her, Kiyomi tried to step aside but would instead feel how a weight crashed against her. Dragging her to the ground and proceeding to fall on her stomach.

A gasp for air was the natural reaction, only followed by the clone attempting to gain a hold of the original. A struggle issued between Kiyomi and the shadow clone on top of her. Managing to lay on her left side, Kiyomi was about to retaliate against her shadow clone. Only to receive a punch to the side of her head. Dazed by the blow, her own right arm up as an instinctive reaction to impending attacks. Blinking rapidly twice while feeling how the shadow clone was lashing out, punch after punch, Kiyomi would try to lay on her back while keeping her arms up.
Enduring the punches of her clone, Kiyomi noticed that her clone was about to strike again with her left arm. Waiting for the punch to be thrown, Kiyomi would lean to the right and grab the left arm of her clone. Before the latter had time to react, Kiyomi already pulled and initiate a roll. Thus dragging the clone to lay on the ground with her. But instead of trying to get up and repay the shadow clone's assault with one of her own, Kiyomi would roll backwards - thus towards the clone. During the motion, she would raise her elbow and smash it into the throat of her shadow clone. A gasp escaped the shadow clone before it vanished into a poof of smoke.

Grunting, Kiyomi would scramble on her feet. Before she had even a second to regain her earlier composure, the remaining shadow clone moved in to attack. The first two punches were barely deflected before Kiyomi managed to defend herself properly. Being forced back and giving up ground, her irritation started to spike. And at the same time her joy as she refound her eagerness to push beyond her limits as she once had done day in and day out.

"Gotcha!"

The triumphant shout escaped Kiyomi's lips as the teen would dodge with a perfectly timed sidestep. Before the shadow clone would be able to react, the shin of Kiyomi's right leg connected a harsh blow to the shadow clone's stomach. Causing the clone to bend forwards.

"Down!"

Slamming her left fist into the back of the clone's head, Kiyomi put all her strength behind the punch as soon as her left foot had connected to the ground. Before the shadow clone would connect to the ground, it disappeared into a poof of smoke.

Panting, Kiyomi let her fists hang at her side for a moment. If it wasn't for the fact she was in a bit of pain and exhausted, she would have sported a big smile. Letting herself fall on her rear, Kiyomi would release a sigh before allowing herself to lie down. Regardless of what anybody would think when spotting her like that. All sweaty, dirty and not dressed as one would expect of an Empress.

A chuckle escaped Kiyomi. She couldn't care more or less. From today there wasn't going to be any slacking around, any longer.
[/spoili][/fieldbox]

Aliceee · Nov 15, 2017

[fieldbox=Operation Wasp Nest, royalblue]
Mika Hayashi,

| Leader of Kiri Team 14| Republic of the Water Country | Kirigakure, capital of the Republic - In the Oda Compound |

This was bad. The genin were struggling and their foes had caught them off-guard. Mika's eyes narrowed as she quickly tried to think of a way to regain control of the situation. But regardless of what she would do, it would likely cost her a lot of chakra to take these creatures out. Not to mention that her genin weren't ready for a prolonged fight against such foes. There was the second that the jounin wondered if she should try to let the two take one of the beasts on while she would concern herself with the remaining but that was taking a risk. And clearly, they had not luck on their side.

Releasing the water whip Mika's hands raced towards one another while hand signals would flow in a rapid succession. "Aya, Taishiro, rally with me." Mika would command before taking a deep breath. Ending the streak of hand signals at 'Bird', the jounin would spit out water once the genin were out of the danger zone. The spit out water would start to expand quickly and flow with a hard current against all that was on its path. Wooden furniture cracked and broke underneath the heavy pressure and slammed aside by the strong force. Muffled roars of the two beasts faintly broke through as they would be slammed against the wall. Not yet ending them. One of the beasts already jumped on its feet, teeth baring and eyes narrowed of anger. Yet, there was no Kirigakure shinobi anymore in the room.

The retreat from the Oda compound had gone smoothly. The first that Mika did was to deliver her team to the hospital for them to be patched up. Right after that she would drop off a report at the Jounin commander's office. It was clear that there was some enemy movement going on in the Oda compound but that the team wasn't prepared to venture into it.

During the briefing, Mika would receive the news that a new genin was scheduled to be assigned to her team. While the jounin wasn't fond of receiving another genin in particular, she was well aware that complaining or arguing against the decision was futile. Given the profile of the newcomer, Mika would head towards her home. It was clear that the mission was either on a standby or a failure. Usually, that would irritate Mika to no end but this time she felt no big regret over it. If she had pressed on then it would have cost the life of a genin and that wouldn't have been a pleasure either.

But as Mika went home, she already would plan a second expedition. This had just begun...
[/fieldbox]

timv999 · Nov 15, 2017

Neji Uchiha
Konohagakure Genin
Team 8

The rain, the ever so present rain in Amekagure fell as Neji stood hunched over. The young genin tried catching his breath as he stood panting on one of the many training fields that Amekagure offered. Neji had been in the training field for the past few hours working on a few things. After they got back from the prison, Neji got his cut and wounds patched up. The most serious injury he had was from a cut he had gotten on his arm from a kunai blade. It was a deep cut, but luckily it ended up not being very serious. Deciding to walk over to a nearby tree, Neji stood under it shielding himself from the rain for a moment. He continued to catch his breath as he leaned his back against the tree he stood under. When they got back from the prison, Aiko sensei told the team to relax for a bit until they went out on their next mission. Neji did that for a while, but soon enough he felt like he couldn't just sit in the room anymore. He decided to get a little training done which is why he was out on this godforsaken training field in the pouring rain at the moment. He wasn't doing anything real hard, he decided to work mostly on his body, doing some pushups, situps, running and some other training exercises. He also worked on the new jutsu that Aiko sensei taught him the other day. Mostly though, he needed to clear his head. Sitting in the silence of his room back at the barracks was not helping any, he needed to be doing something.

Neji had so many questions about the last few missions as they fought against these zealots and whatever the hell those "things" are. He had never felt anything like the feeling he got around those things before. He didn't know exactly how to describe what he felt. These beast, these things give off such a cold and dreaded feeling that Neji had never felt anything like it. He wanted to know how to really stop them, and what they are exactly? Why were they helping the zealots? Did the zealots control them? Or were they partners with them? So many questions that would probably go unanswered. He sighed as the young boy looked out onto the empty training field as the ever present rain kept falling out of the sky.

Neji continued to look out onto the field as his mind started to wander, memories of his brother Nadaki started to flow through his mind. He remembered the day when Nadaki taught him the right of passage in the Uchiha clan, that being the Giant Fireball Jutsu. Every Uchiha child needs to learn that jutsu before they can become an adult. Nadaki took him out to the training field one day when Neji was still a very young kid and would not let him leave until he was able to complete that jutsu. Neji was so excited when he did that jutsu for the first time, but not as excited as Nadaki was. His older brother had the biggest smile on his face and ruffled Neji his kid brothers hair as they walked their way back to their house.

Some tears rolled down his cheeks as memories of his brother came rolling through his mind. Neji still struggled with the death of his brother. His talk with Aiko sensei definitely helped, but he still hurt, and he wasn't sure when he would stop hurting. Neji snapped back into focus. A small smile crept across his face as memories of his brother faded from his mind. "Well I better get back to the barracks." Neji looked up into the sky "I'll see you again one day brother, but I don't plan on it being anytime soon. I am going to make you proud and become the kind of shinobi that people look too, just like you were." Neji grabbed a jacket out of his bag and put it on, he put up the hood of the jacket and made his way back towards the barracks. He was excited for their next mission, and he was ready to see what it held in store for him.

Lesli · Nov 15, 2017

[fieldbox=Two Butterflies, violet]
Amegakure,
Team 8 - Barracks.

A collab between Winter and Lesli.

Summary:
Aiko receives word that somebody has arrived at the barracks with a sealed message for her - and only her. Deciding to see the person, Aiko decides to head out for dinner. And as a polite and friendly gesture invites Satia Cho to join her. The two Cho start to converse as Aiko also learn and share that Satia will be the next addition to team 8. The two Cho continue talking for a bit longer before they call it the day.

[spoili]
Running a hand through her hair, Aiko released a heavy sigh. The jounin walked through the halls of the barracks to her own assigned room, as she was considering what to do. The fact was clear that this operation wasn't going as well as one could hope for. Almost an entire had been wiped off and she was now trying to lead the remains, three genin. Or two, as Aiko remembered that she shouldn't rely too much on Tomiko. The loss of her brother had impacted her and while the woman understood it. Losing a loved one was never a fun process. Certainly not when it happened right in front of you, watching helpless at how they breathed their last breath. Then again, such was the risk of their profession. Hiraku knew what he had signed up for and so should Tomiko know that death was always lurking around the corner. The military wasn't a place where you could just go through without losing a friend, relative or loved one. If there were such person then Aiko had never met such a person.

Once Aiko had reached the room that had been assigned to her, she would be approached by a member of the guard. He would explain that a 'Satia Cho' had arrived. A frown appeared on the brow of the jounin, who couldn't recall of hearing a 'Satia Cho'. A mental sigh escaped shortly after Aiko thanked the guard for the message. Deciding to check out the room where she had been told where this Satia was staying at, Aiko wondered if this would turn things around. Hopefully, she would gain the aid of some chuunin or higher ranked. To prevent the mortality rate of the mission to raise even higher. Reaching the room, Aiko would knock on the door and wait for a response - before entering.

Satia had been sat on the edge of her bed for some time now, contemplating the journey from Konohagakure to Amegakure. It'd been a long two weeks but now that she was sitting here it felt like she'd got here in almost no time at all. She inhaled a long breath before exhaling, attempting to clear her mind to prepare for a good nights sleep. She expected she would find Team Eight tomorrow, or they would find her. In any case she was about to start readying herself for sleep when a loud knock startled her, causing her own brow to furrow as she approached the door.

Twisting the handle she opened the door, her eyes setting upon an older woman with long red hair. Satia blinked for a moment, her mind working to realise that the woman standing before her was the very person she'd came all this way to meet, Aiko Cho. She looked tired, likely having not long returned from a recent mission and Satia knew better than to waste her time. "You must be Aiko Cho" she said softly before taking her left fist and pressing it against her right palm, tipping her head forward slightly as she gave her respectful bow.

"My name is Satia Cho, I was tasked to rendezvous with your team and deliver a message. Please, excuse me one moment" she let the door open wide and walked towards her belongings before taking the sealed message and handing it to Aiko, after which she would stand attentively with her hands held neatly behind her back, awaiting any such order that the clan leader might have for her.

Staring at a young woman, Aiko would take a step back. The young woman responded and the greeting brought the ghost of a smile on the lips of the jounin. Forming a fist with her left fist and placing it against the palm of her right hand, Aiko would return the bow. A subtle nod followed to indicate that Aiko would give Satia a moment. For a moment, the jounin eyed the other Cho in hopes to recognise any insignia that would betray the younger Cho of any rank or position. Not catching any visible that gave an idea of what division or rank Satia had, Aiko decided to not go off on any assumption.

"Thanks," she responded, after accepting the sealed message. Weighting the piece of paper in her hand, Aiko thought about something. "I imagine that you just recently arrived in Amegakure. Not sure if you had any dinner but I sure could go for something. Would you mind to accompany me?" Aiko asked, already taking a step to the side while awaiting what Satia's answer would be.

The young Genin couldn't help but wonder what might have been in the message that warrented her to journey all this way to hand it personally to Aiko. She'd been given strict orders that it was for her eyes only, which to Satia meant it must contain information of reasonable importance. Of course she didn't dare to defy an order to strict, but never the less she couldn't help but find herself curious.

When Aiko asked for her company to dinner she found herself surprised, expecting to merely deliver the message and to likely recieve and order to make her way back to Konohagakure. She gave a small genuine smile and nodded, "I'd be happy to" she replied and stepped out when Aiko offered her room, closing the door behind her. In truth she'd been so concerned by her arrival that she'd completely forgotten about food.

"Great," Aiko said as she would start to walk once Satia had closed the door behind her. Walking through the halls of the barracks, she considered where they could sit and eat. There was the fact that Aiko had no clue what was in the sealed document but with everything had happened Aiko first wanted to sit down and eat something. "I am not certain how much you have been informed but the city has lately experienced some trouble." Aiko spoke in a calm and casual fashion as if it was only to be expected from Amegakure.

As expected, the weather outside was rubbish. The constant hail pour didn't invite many without a rain coat to go outside but seeing that she knew of the existence of a restaurant around the corner, Aiko would exit the barracks without seemingly caring about the rain. "Where are you from, Satia? That is if, you don't mind me asking," Aiko asked, switching to Chonobi as she assumed that Satia was most likely capable of speaking and understanding the language with a surname as Cho.

Satia listened carefully as Aiko spoke about the current condition of Amegakure. She had to admit she was some what on edge around the Jounin, not because she was afraid of her but simply because of her reputation among the Cho and given Satia was eager not to ruin a one time opportunity for a good first impression, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous, not that she'd dare to let it show.

"My mission breif consisted only of delivering the message to you. I'm afraid I'm unaware of the current toruble you speak of, though it explains why you're here" Satia replied, following Aiko out into the city. Unlike most of the inhabitants she was unprepared for the rain, hense her choice in in clothing. However thankfully Tabrook had parted her with the gift of an umbrella.

When Aiko began to speak in fluent Chonobi Satia felt some what more at ease, feeling more at home as she recognised the very familiar dialect. Respectfully she too switched and proceeded in Chonobi, "How long have you and your team been out here?" she asked curiously.

Was her mission just that? If that was the case then Aiko already could rule out various departments and units Satia could be part off. But it still gave some hope that the younger woman was above genin. Walking and pondering on what she should as next step, Aiko almost missed the question of Satia. Throwing a sideways glance, the jounin flashed a polite smile. "Longer than I personally desired. Roughly a week or two. Over two days, it will have been around three weeks." Aiko replied, holding on to using Chonobi to communicate with Satia.

"Here it is," she nodded towards the small and rather cosy looking establishment. The name of the restaurant wasn't that clear due to the sign being rusty. Entering the place, the interior didn't entirely match the exterior. The quality and looks of the furniture were more than decent and almost immediately a waiter came to the two Cho's. Ordering a table for two, Aiko picked a table that was more at the back. Being guided through the small establishment, it was rather desolated at such a late hour. Two other people were sitting at a table near the window and front of the restaurant.

Once settling down on a chair, Aiko released a soft sigh. "I think I am going for some roasted pork and rice. I would love to eat something more filling, such as potatoes but I doubt that they will have some good dishes with potatoes," Aiko stated, throwing a look at Satia. "I do need to apologise somewhat though if I skip some formalities. It has been a long and tiring day. Not to mention that I don't think we will need to use a lot of formalities. Unless you prefer them."

Satia nodded in response to her question, glancing at Aiko for a moment before setting her eyes back to their surroundings. Almost three weeks went far to explain why she'd been ordered to come out all this way to deliver a message. Whatever business Aiko and her team had here must have been important if they'd been around Amegakure for that length of time. That being said it wasn't that uncommon for lengthy missions depending on the nature of the mission itself.

Satia's eyes moved towards the establishment after noting Aiko's gesture, the outside was much like the rest of the city but the inside was indeed quite nice. The young Genin took down her umbrella as they entered into the resturant, handing it to the waiter with a thankful smile when he offered to take it from her before they were lead over to their table for the evening. Satia took her seat opposite Aiko and gave a small amused smile when Aiko mentioned about the potatos.

"That's quite alright, I can understand and appreciate the exaustion of hard labour" the end of her response was said with a knowing expression, deciding it was probably best not to openly mention their work out in public, after all Satia was unaware of the situation within Amegakure and thought it wise not to make any assumptions that would otherwise compromise any of the work Aiko had done here over the previous weeks. "I think I'll go for Katsu chicken and rice".

"Glad to hear that. Not many that seem to appreciate that," Aiko replied, a sliver of amusement resonating in her reply. There was the temptation to just read the sealed document. But that wouldn't exactly be professional. "Good choice. I do think I will drink some alcohol. I am not certain if I forgot to mention it but my treat. So feel free to partake," the jounin stated.

The return of the waiter meant that they could order. After having ordered her dish and a bottle of sake, Aiko would wait for the waiter to leave their table. "Know what? If your mission was to deliver me a message, I might as well just check it. I take it if it is for my eyes only then it might be something of paramount importance to read it as soon as possible," the jounin stated in Chonobi. Taking the sealed document out of her jacket's pocket, she broke the red wax seal. Opening the document, the green eyes of Aiko glanced at the content.

"Seems you're out of luck, Satia," Aiko said on a softer volume, still speaking Chonobi. "Your mission wasn't just to deliver this document. From today, you're part of my squad." Reading the short 'summarized' information on the girl's record, Aiko felt like just throwing the towel in the ring. "Not that it is a bad thing but let's say that the labour has been a bit... troublesome." Aiko further added in Chonobi, pocketing the document away.

The young Genin tipped her head courteously when the Jounin offered to handle the bill. "Thank you, that is most kind" she replied, still maintaining fluent Chonobi which she was more than happy to do. Like Aiko she too ordered sake, the rice wine being something she was partial too herself and in colder climates such as the one in Amegakure, it worked well in warming the body.

Satia was once again surprised when Aiko took the message form her pocket and broke the wax seal. Her curiosity peaked and when Aiko mentioned she was out of luck she felt her heart drop inside her chest, fearing the worst for a moment, despite not knowing the contents of the message. "Part of your squad?" Satia blinked and leaned back in her chair as the information settled in.

That'd make this not only the furthest she'd been from home but also her first proper assignment. "I see" she recomposed her thoughts and considered that for a moment, listening as Aiko went on once more to mention the troublesome situation. "Well, I will do everything within my power to be an asset to your mission and not a burdan" Satia replied with renewed determination and resolve.

To be under the direct command of the clan leader was not something to consider lightly and not something Satia would shy away from. The work would undoubtedly be difficult and the challenges more than she'd dealt with in the past, but this would be the chapter of something new for her. "I am at your disposal".

"Yes. You're were send to reinforce the squad. But last action we lost somebody. You will take thus take his place," was Aiko's initial answer. A calm expression was plastered on the woman's facial features but she was curious how Satia would handle this new development. The fact that Satia was a genin and even an inexperienced didn't do much to improve Aiko's mood or motivation. Yet, it was a good sign that Satia didn't panic or question if it was real or not.

"Glad to hear so. Though convenient enough, this setting will allow us to talk and get to know each other a bit. I will start that I don't need to be impressed. As your team leader, I demand that you follow my orders and not try to do anything radical to impress me or anybody else. That is the golden rule," Aiko's tone gained a sharper tone but it would become less present as she continued speaking. "Furthermore, you're new to the whole deal. That means that I am not going to exert too much pressure on you. But if you have a question or the need for some advise, you just need to say it. I will do my best as long as you will do yours to follow the rules and just give it your all. Which is rather simple, agreed? Now, do you have any initial questions for me?"

"Understood ma'am" Satia tipped her head respectfully to confirm she'd recieved the information. Although she couldn't help but feel a little out of place, to be settping into the shoes of a dead team member who from the sounds of things, had passed very recently. She hadn't had a lot of experience dealing with loss, though she could only imagine how much it hurt to not only lose someone, but to lose someone under your command. It must be a difficult experience and it explained why Aiko was determined to stress her lack of desire for would be heros.

"In our line of work, it doesn't pay to pretend to be a hero. I will act only in accordance to my training and your orders" she replied, her tone remaining soft but edged with it's own serious edge to match the tone of the conversation. "I appreciate the gentle ease into the team with the proposed abscence of pressure, however I would hope that over time you will be able to place your faith and your trust in me, of course I intend to work to earn it". Satisfied with her response to that, she gave consideration to any questions she could have.

"It goes without saying that I'll require a more in depth brief of the current situation and mission objectives. Though I must confess my concern at why they would send me to replace your fallen team member rather than someone with more experience, expecially given the severity of the situation" Satia would add, "I understand it is not for me to question orders, I just think that perhaps you are in need of someone who has more to offer you at this time". Was she modest or was she being honest, despite her young age Satia would at times show an older womans head on her shoulders.

"It really doesn't work like that, yeah," Aiko said, agreeing with Satia that the work of shinobi wasn't really that of heroes. "Well, you already show that you got the right attitude. It is refreshing to see a genin with such a mature and serious attitude. But I take it has to do with the age, which I only see as a benefit."

Before Aiko could give a response back to the question of how the situation was at the moment, the waiter came back with their beverages. Politely waiting for the waiter to place the cups and bottle on the table, Aiko would take it upon herself to open the bottle and pour some of the liquid into a cup, that was more in front of Satia. "It is currently shit. I started this operation with around eight people. Two were on borrowed time, in the sense that they could only remain around for some time. Two chuunin died and then two genin are missing for more than a week. Likely dead by now," Aiko said in a calm fashion as she started to pour sake into the cup she designated for herself. She didn't bother much with keeping information behind as she hadn't reversed from Chonobi to Taika.

"And correct," Aiko said as she placed the bottle on the table. "I would be more content with somebody of a higher rank. However, I am in no position to complain about any aid that is given to me. If I have to make a guess on why you sent instead of somebody with, let us say," Aiko picked her cup up and threw a glance at the content inside the cup. "With substantial experience and skill, it has to do with that there are other areas of operations which require more operatives as well. But don't worry too much," a smile flowed on the woman's lips as she raised her drink towards Satia.

"I will do my best to keep you from harm as trying to mentor you. You got my word on that," after that declaration, Aiko would take a sip of the sake and let the flavour roll over her taste buds. "Not the worst I ever drank."

Satia had to steel her resolve for the second time after hearing the full extent of the losses during their time out here. It seemed the situation was far worse than she'd been previously lead to believe. She couldn't help but feel a modicum of empathy for Aiko and those whom had been lost, especially the Genin missing in action. To die alone, cut off from everyone else in the field was a truly scary end, though it was one more common than people liked to admit.

Her explination for why they probably hadn't sent someone better was more than likely and it made a lot of sense, although it did make her wonder how stretched thin they were to be sending their forces to cover so many situations at the same time. To be honest it was for people far above her to contemplate, but it was a reasonable thought none the less. The young Genin nodded towards Aiko and took up her own cup of Sake to mirror the kind gesture, "Thank you, I look forward to serving under your able command from here on out" she added.

She took a sparing sip of the liquid, allowing it to warm in her chest before flowing through the rest of her body. She nodded in agreement, "Not bad at all" she said before setting the cup back down. "Likewise though, should you have any questions about me I would happily be forthcoming with the information. I imagine it'd help to know my capabilities so that you can better utilize me in the field, unless of course you'd prefer to glean this while on duty?" she asked.

Aiko gained another faint smile when Satia mentioned that she was looking forward serving under her 'able command'. While she was confident that the younger Cho had no ill intention with it, Aiko did feel a bitter sting of the disappointment of her own failings. Sure enough, Hiraku and Shizu hadn't shown the competence that she would expect from experienced chuunin. But that didn't take away that she did take some of the blame for their death on herself.

"I would normally like to put you to some test or study your profile. Then again, we don't have that luxury so if you could inform me then that would be much appreciated," was Aiko's reply. She also thought of something else. "Not to mention why you decided to join the shinobi corps as what your ambition is. Once I know that I can figure out how I can aid you in the best way possible. Or who I should seek to enlist to make sure that you will be able to have a chance to reach your ambitions."

Taking another small sip of her drink Aiko would let the alcoholic liquid roll over her tongue. The pleasant feeling of the alcohol was certainly welcome and while Aiko wanted to take another sip, she would restrain herself to take it easy.

The young Genin paused and allowed herself a moment to consider how she would answer those questions, taking up her cup for another sparing sip as she contemplated the best way to summerize her skill set. After a moment she decided to simply start at the top and work her way down in her mind, starting with where she came from. "Well, I come from a noble house within Konohagakure. One might say it was a very... traditional house" she implied much but decided to elaborate further.

"Strict education, pressure to conform and to emanate an appearance of perfection. To act a certain way, to stand a certain way, to speak a certain way and ultimately suffer an arranged marriage which I'm sure would work to benefit the family. If my father had his way I would have grown to be the perfect serving young wife" it was clear from Satia's tone that she cared for none of it. "Eventually I challenged them, I wanted my own path of independance and after a lengthy battle of the words I set out on my own".

"I met up with the Shinobi shortly after and worked using my educated background to make poisons, toxins, salves and healing remedies from local flora and plant life. I have a vested interest and talent for botany and herbalism you see" she smiled as she spoke recounting a time when her life changed and truly became her own. "I was soon inducted into the Shinobi after deciding I could offer more than just my skills to create weapon accessories, besides the adventure and the company of good upstanding people is a plus".

She let out a small sigh, "So that's how I came to join the Shinobi, as for what I can do, well I already mentioned some of it" she adjusted herself in her seat before continuing. "I have a good comprehensive understanding of plants and how to use them to make useful items, from poisons that carry various effects to healing salves and remedies" she continued to add and explain about her choice in weaponry and how she tends to fight, choosing to give the shorter versions of her explinations so she didn't overload the tired Jounin.

"As for ambition, right now I simply aim to improve and better myself. Long term, hopefully one day I can make a name big enough to make a real difference" she finished and took another sip from her cup.

Listening, Aiko was curious which noble house Satia was from. There were the various noble houses who were holding on to the position of jarl in the Cho heartlands but those weren't the only noble houses and lineages in the clan. Instead of asking, Aiko would wait and hear what more would be said by Satia. Making mental notes, Aiko would lean a bit back in her seat.

"Most interesting and curious," Aiko replied after a second of silence, that echoed after Satia's detailed answers. Evidently content, Aiko would take a second to once more reflect upon what Satia had told her. "Seems you do have some luck with being placed on my team. One other member is quite interested and adept at creating and using toxins. I like to dabble myself now and then at herbalism as toxins, even though I am aware it isn't that," the woman briefly sought for a good word, "Fitting for a clan leader. Then again, I once had the same ambition. So not adhering to the norm doesn't mean that you won't succeed. With the attitude I so far have seen from you, I am gaining some trust and faith that you will be likely to make it far. Just need the right opportunities and training. But you can leave that up to me. It is my job, after all."

Before Aiko could add anything, the waiter came with their dishes. Pausing once more, Aiko would state a thanks to the waiter and inform him that they wouldn't need anything more. As the waiter left their table, Aiko would nod towards Satia. "Dig in. Though," she shot a curious look at the younger woman, "Have you already in mind what kind of difference you aspire to make?"

Satia was pleased to hear that her newly assigned unit posed opportunities for her and that the Jounin herself had some experience with various toxins herself. "Then I am fortunate indeed" she replied with a genuine smile. She inclined her head respectfully at the compliment, "Thank you, as I said before I'm more than willing to accept anything you might have to offer in terms of training and advice".

The food arrived, filling the space between them with the vapour of their chosen dishes as well as the alluring aroma of freshly prepared food. Satia took up a pair of chopsticks and using her knack for dexterity, plucked a small piece of chicken and brought it to her mouth. The dish was as delicious as she'd expected, being one of her favourites. The question from Aiko gave her pause as she considered it for a moment.

"Without trying to appear overly humble, I haven't the experience to say for sure what changes I could or would make given the chance. I believe I have much learning to do before I'd be able to find myself in a position able to make positive differences. Although... " she paused to consider her words carefuilly for a moment. "Perhaps offering more relief to poverty stricken areas would be something I'd be interested in".

Aiko thought for a moment. She wished that she could have been given a full report or profile of Satia. Would have certainly aided in knowing what kind of training would be fitting as most beneficial for the younger Cho. Yet with the current attitude, Aiko felt somewhat confident enough that Satia wouldn't pose much of a difficulty in terms of training. While Satia answered the previous question, Aiko would already take a few bites as she listened to Satia's answer.

Clearing her mouth, Aiko would speak afterwards. "We all do, regarding learning. Even I believe that I have still some learning to do, jounin or not. There is a lot that I don't know much or anything about, after all." The fact that Satia wanted to offer more relief to poverty-stricken areas was something Aiko hadn't expected. Perhaps it was because most people held ambitions that were focused on evaluating their own standing or increasing their own influence, power and wealth. Not to aid others. "That is a noble goal. Perhaps you should consider aiming to become part of the civic council of the empress," Aiko would respond. "Then again, there are many ways to go about that, I figure."

Satia's brows raised when Aiko mentioned the civic council, it was admittedly something she felt was unreachable despite her ambition. Although hearing someone else mention it as a possible option gave her a little more hope for more opportunities further down the line. She decided not to think to far ahead though, after all she was still young and only a Genin. She took another bite of her chicken as Aiko spoke before she replied.

"Indeed" Satia gave a small sigh, "But that is the distant future, right now I must be concerned with the path that'll enable me to get there" she gave a small smile of amusement, "After all, if I become complacent and get myself killed I'll be in no position to help anyone. Therefore my focus right now must be to train and learn" she paused for a moment, "That may have been in poor taste, please excuse me".

She'd forggoten that Aiko had recently lost people under her command and in hindsight her attempt at humour could likely be a salt on the fresh wounds Aiko might be attempting to heal from.

Staring at the young woman for a second, Aiko would blink twice before releasing a snicker. Shaking her head lightly, Aiko would reply in a friendly fashion back to Satia. "Don't fret too much. It's all fine."
Taking a sip of her drink, Aiko would once more speak up. "Part of the job is to get used to death, after all. Not that it makes it less hard but it is okay."

Taking another bite of her dinner Aiko tried to think of a question. This was perhaps the only good time for a while where she would be able to learn about Satia without interference or somebody else influencing the atmosphere, perhaps prohibiting an honest answer. "But what about hobbies? Some people do tend to keep some hobbies aside from being a shinobi. Do you have any?"

Satia brightened at the question and was greatful for the interest. She hadn't expected Aiko to be so friendly, not that she'd heard anything bad about her but when you hear of the Jounin's acomplishments and prowess in the field you expect someone more grizzled and cold. Perhaps in a way that went to make Aiko that much more frightening in a way. She was someone who was both friendly and an efficient killer.

"Well, I can play the Ehru. As I mentioned before in explaining my fighting method, I can dance. I'm... told, I can sing but I very much lack the confidence to sing in front of others" she gave a soft chuckle. "Plants are a hobby of mine too" she took out the small book and opened a page to show Aiko a detailed lsiting of plants and their uses, even notes of their genus and of which family of flora they stem from.

"What about you? you've heard much about me, tell me more about you" she said with a small smile.

"The Ehru? Oh, that is quite nice," Aiko stated with a genuine tone. Listening to what more Satia had as a hobby, Aiko would nod before taking another bite of her dinner. When Satia opened a small book and show a page in which plants and their uses were detailed, Aiko caught herself getting a bit more curious about which plants Satia was already familiar with. It seemed, at least so far, that the younger Cho was certainly a person who seemed eager to learn about various fields.

The question that Satia returned earned the younger Cho a snicker from Aiko. "I fear that I don't have much of a hobby these days anymore. Next, to being a jounin and clan leader, I also participate in the civic council. Trying to aid her majesty in giving advise and helping on some matters. Then I am also a mother of two. As you can imagine, I am sometimes happy enough that I have a moment for myself to sit back and just read a good novel or enjoy a nice warm cup of tea at home. But I used to have this small bakery, when I had resigned from service," Aiko glanced at the surface of the sake of the cup she was holding.

"I used to bake a lot of things. The more mundane things such as bread. But I enjoyed making small sweets and hearty things. Now and then I try to bake cookies with the twin. Though it has been some weeks since I have been able to be both at home and able to spend a full day with them," a second of silence stalked the last words of Aiko. Taking a sip of her cup, she would place the cup on the table before refilling it with sake.
"Other than that, I fear that I didn't really have much of an excitement life. I do believe that my aunt and uncle still run the bakery these days. I haven't yet had much time to check that out."

The Genin listened intently as Aiko went on to explain a little about her background, finding herself genuinely surprised at just a few of the details Aiko spoke of. Satia had no idea she was a mother and had no idea that she had the skills of a baker. The younger Cho finished her food and took a sip of her sake to wash it down before taking a napkin to clean her mouth. "That is quite interesting, more so than you give yourself credit for" Satia grinned.

"To have acomplished all of that alongside your duties is impressive. I would have been overwhelmed by that much responsibility" she confessed. "Once all this is over perhaps I could sample your work myself, I can't remember the last time I even stood inside a bakery" she gave a small laugh. "Though that's due to other obligations and focuses as of late".

Finishing the last bite of her food, Aiko couldn't suppress a smile following Satia's words. "Well, thank you. I usually find it less impressive than hearing what some other jounin have to say or offer about their past. Filled with glory and hardship," the woman took a sip of her sake afterwards.

"Oh, you can get used to it. Besides, I have managed to gain a lot of help to make it more bearable." Aiko said as she briefly scratched her neck. "And I wouldn't mind. Once this is over I will be more than welcome for something less exciting for a change of pace. As talking about a change," she said as she remembered that they would have an early day the next day. "We ought to get going. Tomorrow I want to assemble the team at an early hour and I need everybody to be well rested." After stating that, Aiko would pull out her wallet to already pick out the money for the dinner. She had spotted that the waiter had seen them rise and heading their way, likely to handle the transaction.

"Good idea" Satia agreed before she took rose form her seat. "Thank you for the dinner, it was wonderful" she said politely before walking back with Aiko to the barracks. Once back inside again she'd say goodnight before heading to the offered room where she'd left her belonings. The nights sleep would be a welcome one considering the long journey here and it didn't take long before she was swept away into a deep sleep.

[/spoili]

A talk.

A collab between Jason and Lesli.

Summary:
Shortly after Aiko's dinner and talk with Satia, Tomiko searches and finds the jounin. Tomiko and Aiko briefly talk about loss and how Aiko dealt with her losses. The conversation, however, is ended when Aiko considers that Tomiko needs some more rest.

[spoili]
Emerging finally from her cocoon in the corner, Tomiko looked around the small room ccnfined herself in. Neji was gone, who knew what he was doing. She was pretty sure Kazumo wouldn't give a damn about how she was doing, and instead just opted to head out of the room. She wanted to talk with somebody, anybody who would listen. As such the genin was heading towards Aiko's room. Figuring that if nothing else, she might have some advice on how to handle losing somebody so important. Stopping before the door to her room, Tomiko knocked lightly on the door. Hopefully, Aiko would be around and willing to speak with her.

"Come in," was the faint audible answer that resonated from the interior of the room.

Sitting on her bed, Aiko was reading a small book. The eyes of the jounin briefly perked up from the pages of the small book to see who entered the room. Noticing who it was, Aiko would slowly close the book and eye the genin. "Tomiko," Aiko said in a calm tone, subtly nodding towards the young girl. She wasn't entirely certain why the genin had come to visit her but she had a hunch of what it could be.

Tomiko entered the room and quietly let the door close behind her. Whenever Aiko spoke her name, Tomiko nodded. Looking towards her feet, she spoke in a soft tone. As if she had not the strength in her to hold a more confident tone. "May I ask you a question, Ma'am?" She said, not once looking up towards Aiko.

"You may," was Aiko's answer. She was tempted to state that Tomiko already had asked a question but this wasn't the moment for some humour. There was some consideration if it wasn't better to leave Tomiko behind on the following assignment or even send her back towards Konohagakure. Which reminded her that she should check how far the preparation of the sending of Hiraku's body to Konohagakure was. Considering that she didn't want to make a decision, she opted to do so the next morning. After all, she would need to think of how Satia would be introduced into the group.

"Have you ever lost somebody close to you?" She asked, knowing it was a personal question, but she needed to know that she wasn't alone. It was silly, because she knew that others had certainly lost somebody close to them. But she wanted to know somebody around her knew, and to know how they dealt with it.

The question was to be expected but Aiko still didn't answer it right away. Briefly the jounin cupped her chin with her left hand as her gaze traveled upwards, to the ceiling. "I lost both my parents as many youth friends. Then I have seen various students and comrades die on and outside of duty. Both years ago and recently," was Aiko's answer. Though she could easily expand and keep the conversation going, the jounin decided against it. She would led Tomiko lead the conversation and see where it would go.

"Did it feel like a part of you died with them? How did you deal with it? Do you still miss them?" She said suddenly, the trio of questions spilling out before she could moderate them. "Sorry..." She apologized, in case Aiko would be annoyed by her prying.

The questions of Tomiko weren't answered right away. The jounin slowly shook her head to indicate that it was no problem. "Of course, I do miss them. I often have wondered how my life would have been if my parents hadn't died during the Great War. What they would say of my achievements. How badly they would spoil their grandchildren, watching them also grow up and being there for them. The same goes for those who I lost. The point is," Aiko said in a soft voice, "Is that you shouldn't let yourself weight too much with 'what if'. It is good to remember them but I doubt that any of my passed friends and family would want to see me sink to the bottom," she concluded her answer as she didn't fancy holding a monoluge.

"How did you handle it? I... I have trouble getting to sleep at night or even relaxing. I just... I keep seeing it." She says, looking towards Aiko finally and trying to keep herself from crying. She didn't want to be left behind on the next mission, and she remembered how she had been sent back after scouting with Koike. That had just been for being scared, now? She figured she might be completely removed from the operation if she looked too fragile.

"Time and patience," Aiko answered back. "It might never go fully away but I put faith that my parents have been welcomed by ancestors in the afterlife, being in peace in the domain of Lord Akumu. Most of my friends might await me there or else have found their own peace. Hopefully, knowing that I am still kicking and going on," the woman said. She wasn't entirely certain about what the Hyuuga believed in. It had never interested her and she couldn't be certain if her words would provide any kind of comfort. Then again, she was certain that she wouldn't be able to comfort the girl with just one talk. "Perhaps you need to find a way to remember and honour your memories to Hiraku. I used to light two candles for my parents for a long time, hoping that the Valvravens would bring them as quick and safe as possible to the hall of Lord Akumu."

The girl nodded as Aiko told her about what she did to handle everything. "Time and Paitence." The girl said softly, looking down for a few moments as she recalled something. "Hiraku said he wanted me to lead our people now. I think doing that would make him proud." She added, a sad smile appearing for a moment. "I think, the best way I can honor his memories is trying to help my people, and those in need as best I can. Like he did. Do you think he would have liked that?" She said, ending with a question as she figured Aiko at least somewhat knew Hiraku. He had been her student after all.

He had done that? Aiko wasn't so certain if that was a good decision but she was a bit on unknown terrain when it came to Hyuuga politics. The question further about if she thought that he would like that caused a second of silence between Aiko and Tomiko. "If he asked that of you then I assume he would be happy about it. Though, how much experience do you have with leading people?" She decided to ask. Where Aiko was certain that it wouldn't improve the morale of the girl with doubting her capability to just take the leadership of a clan there was also no benefit to sugar-coat or lie about it.

"None, yet. I don't know much, so I'm going to need to learn. I know why he did it. I want similar goals to his for the Hyuuga. I guess he trusts me. But I will need to learn." She said, but didn't want to hear what she thought might be coming next. "Ma'am, I first need to get through this mission. Can you help me get stronger? I don't want to repeat this again." She said, changing the subject and doing her best impression of somebody who wasn't still hurting over a loss.

Similar goals for the Hyuuga? If anything, this was becoming ironic. A Hyuuga talking about the succession of their clan to a Cho, a member of the Chonobi culture. The request of Tomiko to help her to become stronger was once more a question that Aiko didn't answer right away. "I will have to see. You're not officially my student and there is no telling where you will be transfered to once this mission is over. So saying yes would not be a possible answer for me now," Aiko answered. She wanted to further state that it would likely happen. In their line of work it was just a matter of when and not 'if'. Or was that her own pessimistic viewpoint?

"Then before the mission is over. We've trained a couple of times. Can we train again? I don't want to be weak anymore." She said, keeping quiet that she also wanted something to distract her from the pain inside of her, and to repay the enemy for her brother. She'd only be able to do that if she got stronger.

Mentally, Aiko released a sigh. She understood where the request came from but if anything, Aiko didn't want to train or spend more time into anybody anymore with how the operation was going thus far. "We will have to see. I have to see when we would have time. I need to recover from the last few skirmishes too. Then again, I doubt I will be able to even do that as we haven't fully taken down the Zealot and insurgent threat." The jounin answered back to Tomiko.

"Oh. Right. We're allowed to use the training fields on our own then, right?" The girl asked, thinking she might go on her own anyways. Just keep everything off her mind, until she was ready to handle it all at least. With a slight frown, she considered everything that happened as another question began gnawing at her mind, but she didn't give it any voice as of yet.

"Usually, yes. But after tomorrow, we will be not have much time for a training. I want the team to be on the ready for a next calamity. There is no telling what the insurgents or zealots might be going for next time," Aiko replied back. She wasn´t entirely certain what to make up from the question but deemed it better than the girl mobbing and sobbing all the time. "I suggest to rest and recover as much as you can, Tomiko. Right now, that is the best you can do if you want to perform better next time."

"I don't want to! Then I start thinking and get depressed and lonely!" The girl said, emotion creeping into her voice as she went one, before she stopped herself and fell silent. She shouldn't get emotional like that, Aiko might remove her from the team if she seemed unstable. Recalling her acting lessons from when she was younger, the girl forced herself to appear calmer. "I don't know how much good I'm doing just sitting around."

Slowly the right eyebrow of Aiko perked up by a bit. "Within a room with two other people? That is almost an achievement." Aiko slowly said, almost as if she wanted to mark what kind of impact the first comment had made, regarding Aiko's opinion of Tomiko. "I don't know either but I do know that I want everybody fit and able for tomorrow and the days to come. I can't have that if I train or allow you guys to exhaust yourself with training. So my answer stands at no. And that is the end of it," Aiko locked her eyes on Tomiko as her tone had grown sterner with the last sentence.

The girl froze slightly at the first comment, trying to play off that it didn't bother her. When Aiko's tone became more stern, the girl's face turned a bright red in embarrassment. She'd overstepped her boundaries. "Y-yes ma'am. Sorry ma'am." She said quickly, becoming suddenly quite interested in the ground. "I didn't mean to across as rude, I apologize again." She said in a small voice, not overly eager to annoy Aiko further.

"Perhaps it is time to take some rest," the woman suggested. Or so did the phrasing go. The tone made it clear that Aiko didn't seem to be much interested to continue the conversation past what they already had talked about. "For what awaits tomorrow, you and everybody else will need their rest. Good night, Tomiko." Picking the small book of before up, Aiko would flick it open and try to continue from where she had been before the conversation with Tomiko.

The girl nodded before turning towards the door. "Goodnight Ma'am. I'm sorry for how I acted, and thank you for talking with me. I think it helped a little bit." She said before heading back towards the room with the others. Heading inside and going to her own bed, the girl promptly fell into it, expecting another sleepless night. Yet moments later she was fast asleep.
[/spoili]
[/fieldbox]

Oetje · Nov 16, 2017

[Fieldbox=Team 4 - Operation Crazy Devil, #007dba]
Starting in Konohagakure but heading towards the city of Hanaguro.

A collab between FrostedCamel, Inzane and Oetje.

Summary:
The members of Team 4 arrive in Hanaguro, the River Province's capital. There they don't waste too much time to establish a certain base of operations. Once they have gained a base to operate from, the team decides to venture on the first 'recon expedition' inside of Hanaguro.

Part 1! Travel towards Hanaguro.

Part 2 - Establising the (Temporary) base of operations.

Part 2.5 - A walk about Fire?

[spoili]
Once the two girls had returned to their room at the Inn, Aoi had quickly changed, making good use of the time it would take before their male counterpart had returned and then promptly took a seat at the window on the far side of the room that commanded a decent view of the street outside. She had spent the better part of the last half hour with her face pressed against the window to get a better angle at the road below, watching the people of Hanaguro go about their late night business like a kid staring through the window of a bakery watching the bakers skillfully executing their craft.

She had even let out a few exhilarated noises as strangers below exchanged intimate moments when meeting their significant others, the idea of being so out in the open to carry out such acts oddly polarizing for Aoi. She had at one point turned to Meilin to try and get her to come and watch with her but had decided against it as she had seemed busy with some of her stuff at the time.

Meilin also made use of the time to get changed by a bit - such as putting her jacket off. Folding and laying her gear in a most serious and disciplined manner, almost as if the act would mean the difference between a punishment and an easy night. Once done, Meilin would take some time for herself. Certainly, after spotting that Aoi's curiosity for the urban life in Hanagoro hadn't vanished, it seemed a good time for one of her rituals.

Kneeling in front of her backpack, Meilin would pull out a cheap looking necklace. The item, however, was treated as if it was made of the most vulnerable material in the world. Wrapping it around the fingers of her right hand, she would engage in a soft prayer in Chonobi, sending basically a good night to her mother and hope of bringing back the rest of her missing family. Ending the prayer with a soft request for Valdar's blessing, Meilin would place the necklace back into her backpack.

"I hope Madoc returns back soon. With some news," Meilin said out loud, stretching after getting up. "Not to forget, we should see if Team 7 entered the city. Before we get lectured on that we don't hold ourselves to the mission's protocol."

Madoc entered the room seeing Aoi enthralled in the life of the urban city and Meilin looking a bit more relaxed, yet somehow still serious. Entering the room he would give the two ladies a smile as he sat down on his bed before speaking. "Well ladies, I got some intel some possibly useful and some that sounds like a drunk would say it normally. It seems like the thieves guild is plotting something huge, which should be impossible as the watch reported that they took out the headquarters of the guild. Something huge would make sense with what Team 7 is doing which is guarding someone who could possibly be stolen. The monks have been more secluded as of late as well, although there seems to be multiple rumors on why. Such as only allowing those that practise the faith near, while another was only letting them in if they knew a secret saying that only the truly faithful would know."

Madoc let them process that bit first since its what they were most curious about when they were discussing what to do. "Then we have some nobles complaining about high land tax which hasn't been raised at all, so most likely attention seekers. Then the Pink district had some murders happen as of late when its a low crime rate area." Madoc paused and briefly wondered if he would have to explain what the Pink District was to Aoi but hoped she knew what it was. "And the craziest of all. A brown bear and a large one roaming the areas as of late. Now I don't know about any bear mostly large ones getting away easily. Yet Meilin you spoke of a large savage beast that was a human at first right? I think it's more plausible that this "bear" isn't actually a bear but one of these things you fought before and how its getting away is by transforming back into its human form."

Aoi perked up as the door to their room swung open, she spun around on the small table she had claimed as her seat at the window and smiled at Madoc as he walked in the room, "Madoc! Welcome back! I was starting to think we'd need to look for you passed out and penniless in a ditch or something soon." she teased playfully before she held her tongue as he began to tell them what he had learned. She listened intently as he went over the Thieves Guild, which wasn't new information although he had come up with a bit of an idea of what just might be going down, 'Kidnapping the Tamiyo heiress? Isn't that a bit extreme? Even for something big?" she thought to herself as Madoc went on.

She kept quiet as Madoc went over the odd information on the Priests of the Way of Fire in Hanaguro, and turned to look wide eyed at Meilin as Madoc inferred that whatever people may have been seeing might have been one of the monsters that Meilin had fought before. She shook her head nervously as Madoc finished and raised her hand as if in school, the sleeve of her shirt falling down to her shoulder as she put her arm up high, "That can't be right! They Way of Fire would never shun anyone, doesn't matter what you practice… They'd let an invading army into the the Temple and feed them if they had the chance! It's not right, it's completely against what we're taught, what we practice, what we do…" the concern in her voice was nothing short of intense as she spoke, "I think they're a good place to start! I can probably get us in if they're really asking for a password or someone of the Faith, and then we can figure out what's gotten into them. They've either been intimidated by the Zealots or…" she shivered where she sat , shaking it off to look back toward the two, "Or they've been replaced." she said seriously.

Madoc entering the room gained Meilin's attention instantly. Listening to what the Yamanaka reported caused Meilin to cup her chin with her left hand. She felt the need to pace through the room but it wasn't that spacious to allow her to do so freely. Resulting in that the Cho frowned while pondering on the report of Madoc.
When Madoc brought up the bear, Meilin wanted to wave it off as some urban legend. Some crazy tales of a flying bird dropping babies down the chimneys existed in Keishi and she wouldn't be surprised if this was a similar urban myth that couldn't be real. That was until Madoc stated about her encounter with those beasts. The hair on Meilin's neck rose as a cold shiver ran down her spine. She was still able to relive the moment when she had been close to death's door thanks to those abominations.

"Easy, Aoi," Meilin said, flashing a warm smile towards the other. "So far, there are just some rumours. We can figure out if they are true or not."
Though not really eager to head to a temple filled with monks and priests of a different faith, Meilin couldn't argue that it wasn't a good place to continue their search. But the temple was at the other side of the city than they were.
"The situation is that we likely have to move to the other side of the city. The Pink District and the Temple are on the other side of the river. Seeing we don't know where the Thieves Guild is operating, our best bet is likely to figure out about these clues before trying to probe in the dark."
Becoming silent as she considered what she had to say about the 'bear', Meilin's nose wrinkled at the bridge while a frown appeared on her brow.
"Possibly. Let us keep vigilant for this 'creature'. If we come across one, there are likely more of those mongrels around. So if that is all, I suppose we should get some rest and then tomorrow morning head to the temple. I figure we will need to pay somebody to ferry us over the river. Which comes to the next question," Meilin turned her gaze towards Madoc.
"Were you able to win any money in the gamble?"

The information he told them was sinking in the best it could, it might be hard to process or even believe since it was all based on rumors basically. Although he kind of predicted Aoi not thinking very well on what was told about the religion she chose, she reacted a bit more strong then he thought. Meilin was quick to try and relax her, reminding her they are just rumors at most, but that they can figure it out if they are true or not. So they were going to head on over to the other side where The Pink District was, along with the temple which was rather funny now that he thought of it. Meilin suggested they keep vigilant for this bear or monster in Meilin's case which was wise but what would they even do if they found it? Although it didn't seem like a good plan so far to him, he really hoped they came up with something better than possibly entering a temple full of zealots.
This would be when he was ready to start heading to bed when Meilin asked if he won any money, a smirk appeared on his face as he reached over to his bag and pulled out the pouch of money that was double its size from a few hours ago. "It's not was I able to win any money, it's how much did I earn…. But I suppose I can pay for this fare but there will be interest in the future~" Madoc said a bit teasingly, yet agreeing to pay for their fare. He had to admit to wanting to see what this religion was like in person.

Aoi waved her hands in apology to the other two, "Of course right, I shouldn't have let my imagination get the best of me." she said apologetically before perking up at the talk of a creature, "If you've encountered the creature before, then I think we'd have a better chance at identifying it as either being one of them or not. Otherwise it could just be a bear or some or wild animal that the city isn't used to seeing… Being a city and all."

She leaned back against the window, listening once more as the her teammates spoke. She would find herself leaning forward as Meilin asked if Madoc had had any luck winning back their money, only to find herself grinning as the real question became how much more Madoc had managed to get from the men at the bar. "Oh ho." Aoi laughed, "It would seem you're looking for something in return then?" she asked the blonde as she would get up and move to her bed, laying down in it before continuing, "I've heard there are plenty of girls to warm you bed in the Pink District if that's what you're after you lecher."

An amused snort escaped Meilin when Madoc gave an answer to her question, stating that there would be an interest in the future. She would throw a glance at Aoi, as the latter spoke up.
"Yeah. Though that is the problem," Meilin thought for a second how she could explain it. The memory was still fresh in her mind. Of how grotesque the transformation had been and just how terrifying those creatures had been.
"Those creatures have shown the ability to appear as human as you can imagine. They morph into creatures that just seem the stuff of nightmares. We could very already have encountered the rumoured beast without knowing it."

Realising that she had spoken with a most serious tone, Meilin would run a hand through her hair. She didn't want to make the mood too gloomy. Their situation and odds could be as serious as anybody could imagine. Luckily, Aoi managed to produce a comment that saw to it that a smile grew on Meilin's lips. Only for a laugh to escape the Cho's lips shortly afterwards.

Aoi's comment produced even a smirk from Madoc himself, even when Meilin seemed to find the retort amusing enough. "I think someone just volunteered to find another way to the temple. Yet you wound me Aoi. Thinking me to be such a perverted male to even indulge in something like paying for pleasure. I know damn well I wouldn't need to pay to get pleasure. Yet we can discuss that later. I think we should get some rest ladies, tomorrow sounds like a busy day."

Aoi laughed slightly at Madoc's comment, "So you really are a playboy huh?" she said before shaking her head slightly, "I agree with you on one thing though Madoc, we should get some rest, probably going to be an early morning." she said before laying down completely in her bed staring at the ceiling. She snickered to herself and turned her head to Madoc once more, "Don't any funny ideas sleeping in the same room as two maidens. I swear I'll lock you were you are if you do." she said before turning on her side the opposite way of the other two beds.

Meilin watched the exchanges between Madoc and Aoi going back and forth. When Madoc stated that it would be a good idea to tuck in and Aoi agreed, Meilin wouldn't argue. Stretching out, the Cho would nod towards her two team members.
"I am going for a short walk. Helps me sleep better. I will have my earphone communicator with me in case you guys will wonder where I am."
That having said, Meilin would pick up the sheathed shortsword, strapping it to her back.

[/spoili]

A collab between Roran Hawkins and Oetje.

Summary:
Meilin Cho meets with Kensuke Nimatsu as they had agreed upon. The two briefly talk before departing back to their own teams.

[spoili]
The cold of the night didn't do much to reduce the rush that Meilin experienced as she made her way to the Tamiyo keep. It was certainly as imposing as it had seemed from a distance. The stout defences were even by night quite well guarded and manned by more people than Meilin had assumed. Climbing higher into the dark night, she didn't fear much from being caught or gaining attention.

Nobody would expect her until it would be too late. Or that was she assumed.

Soaring through the air, there was still a certain sense of caution present. The technique that allowed her to perform the current feat to transform and use the form of a raven was one that she hadn't fully mastered. Flying was something not too troublesome but landing was a different story. If it hadn't been for the fact she usually dressed in long pants and sleeves, Aoi and Madoc would have perhaps spotted her bruises from earlier trials and attempts to master landing.
Trying to find a suitable roof, Meilin would circle above the higher levels of the keep before deciding to land on a flat part of a rooftop near a tower. The landing went as she had feared, quite clumsy and painful. Reversing back to her own original form, Meilin softly grunted. Feeling the pain in her right knee and shin, she decided not to check it for any bruises. Instead, the chuunin would activate the spare ear communicator that Kensuke had given at their previous meeting, in Konohagakure.

Starting with a simple code to request the presence of the leader through channel A, Meilin would wait for a few seconds before repeating it. She hadn't really thought of how many times she would try the coded signal on each channel before calling it the night as she figured that sensory guards could perhaps find it odd to locate a humanoid chakra signature suddenly on a rooftop.

Having sent both Karma and Kyoi on their way to guard Lady Haruka Kensuke observed a ground plan of the citadel which he had procured after fifteen long minutes of arguing. He had taken his time to memorise the rooms and hallways of the palace, specifically those surrounding Haruka's quarters. He had taken special care to both record the lay of the plans of the floors above and under Haruka's quarters in addition to the floor her chambers were located on. Once he'd made quick but accurate copies of the plans on a piece of paper he'd brought along he began looking for a suitable roof on which to meet with Meilin in the coming weeks, as soon as they'd establish contact. It needed to be a place that was both out of view and easily accessible. Not an easy feat in a fortress. He had isolated two potential locations, but each had downsides to match their merits. One was an old tower that was left obsolete after an expansion of the fortifications, meaning it was most likely no longer patrolled. It was a relatively good position, provided that that'd be the case. Yet it was not immediately easy to reach for Meilin, who would essentially be an intruder and would have to negotiate an entire layer of manned defences. The second was far easier to reach, but the warehouse just outside of the palace gates was right underneath the walls. An overeager or bored guard looking straight down might consider shady individuals meeting there suspicious.

The second headset he had brought suddenly reported an incoming message when he was looking for a third location. Kensuke raised his brow at the familiar notification and replaced it with his team's one after a quick glance to see if there was anyone around. He folded the plan and handed it back to an impatient and worried clerk outside the door and thanked him with a nod. "Your cooperation is most appreciated." He said, and walked into the nippy evening air. He walked around the barracks, heading back to his room while his eyes scanned the rooftops around him. "This is Team 7, come in."

Meilin's patience hadn't to endure much before she received confirmation of Kensuke's voice resonating over the communicator. A mental sigh followed by Meilin as she would walk a bit closer to the edge. Being on a high rooftop meant that she was more prone to the cold winter breeze. Making Meilin briefly wonder why she hadn't decided to pack thicker clothes. Making a mental note, she would reply back to Kensuke.
"Team 7, this is the support. I am in need of a rallying point. Can you specify one?"

Glancing over the edge, she had the view and could see most of the island on which the Tamiyo administration was located. But she wasn't entirely certain where she expected Kensuke to meet up. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to enter any building as she doubted that her technique would make it that much easier. Shifting back and forth wasn't a real joy, so far at least.

"Support, stand by. How easily can you access the citadel's roofs?" He said, and changed his route towards the old guard tower. On the way there his eyes kept scanning the rooftops above him. It quickly came into view. Apart from a servant carrying a heavy basket of cottons out of a nearby building the tower was abandoned, as he had hoped it to be. "There is an abandoned tower in the South-Western side of the citadel, part of an older ring of defences. Can you make it there?" He said as he looked around, stretching his arms with unfeigned fatigue. It had been a long day. The servant had disappeared around a corner, and noone was watching. With quick and deliberate movements he then silently scaled the side of the tower, using chakra to speed up the proces there we he didn't find ridges and gaps between the stonework to hold on to.

The question wasn't answered right away. Meilin threw a look around as she tried to spot potential guards on the roofs but couldn't find any from her spot.
"Not much of a problem. I have my ways." Was Meilin's answer.
Listening to the instruction, Meilin threw another look around as she tried to find the tower he spoke off. Trying to find north, she was certain that the direction she came from was the west. Concluding thus that she was facing south, she spotted a tower. Walking to the edge Meilin would take a breath in before she would allow herself to fall forward. In mid-air she would utilize the technique, experiencing the alien sensation that cloaked her with chakra before she would gain the form of a raven.

Soaring through the air, she first circled around one tower but wasn't too entirely certain if it was the one that Kensuke spoke off. There wasn't any light coming from the interior, which gave her the idea that it was abandoned. Deciding to land to the rooftop next to it, Meilin would attempt a landing. Much like before it didn't go that smoothly. Half landing and half crashing, Meilin managed to revert back to her original form. Rubbing her right knee, the chuunin wondered if she was at the right spot.
"I think I am at the good spot? I am just outside near the windows of the tower without any lighting." She would state through the communicator, hoping that she wouldn't have to do another landing for a short while.

Cresting the top of the tower and finding it empty he gave his surroundings a quick scan. He thought he'd heard something strange just as he climbed the last few steps, like a bird being caught by a cat, but all thoughts of it left his mind when he spotted Meilin standing on a nearby rooftop. "Support, I have a visual." He said, and crouched down on the roof of the abandoned tower.

Dusting off her pants Meilin whispered some curses. When she heard that Kensuke had visual, Meilin straightened her back and looked around. Spotting the tall blonde man, Meilin was wondering if she should stay formal or just raise a hand and wave. Turning towards Kensuke, Meilin would take a few steps towards the jounin.
"I hope I am not arriving at an uncomfortable time," Meilin said, the amusement evident in her tone as phrasing, "Anyhow, I can already start that I and the others are moving underneath the radar. We are staying at one place only for a day or three before moving to another spot."
Meilin then became silent as she wondered if Kensuke would even desire to know that. Perhaps he just wanted the information on what Team 4 had managed to gather so far?

"Not at all, I was just going to try and establish contact with you." He said, waving her concerns away, ignoring her tone. He was too tired to deal with subtleties right now, and he had no clue what Meilin could be getting at. She then summarised their activities thusfar and paused. "Good. Stay mobile and hidden." He added after a moment's thoughts. "I'd like to know when and where you move, every time you do. It'll be hard to contact you or help you otherwise." He said. "If you find information, bring it here," He began, and stepped on a loose roof tile.

Meilin remained silent for a good few seconds after Kensuke last words. Slowly her lips parted before the words would leave her mouth.
"I am afraid I can't do that. Informing you when and where we move."
Letting that sink in for a second Meilin's facial expression matched her serious tone.
"Team 4 is operating underneath the radar and I already take a risk of meeting you here. Though we could try to inform you and go out of our way to keep you briefed, I don't see a big benefit for either side. You and your team are here in this fortress while we are outside. If the Zealots are aware that we are out there, we either get hunted down or you could be lured away. So I can't brief you in on the team's location or direction. The gained information, however," a wry smile crossed Meilin's lips, "That is a different story."

She nodded towards the western side of Hanaguro.
"We have managed to gain various interesting rumours that might give some insights on what is going in Hanaguro. Such as trouble at the temple of the Way of Fire. The Thieves guild might be plotting something big. Then also rumours of various nobles being pissed off by a rise in tax. But trouble doesn't end there. As there is a rise of murders in the Pink District. Most odd of rumours is this talk of a large brown bear stalking the streets at night."
Letting Kensuke process the information for a few seconds, Meilin would speak up again with a light shrug of her shoulders.
"Of course, the team is aware that some are just rumours and not worth spending time on. There hasn't been any raising on the taxes, so we disregarded pursuing that lead. And the Thieves Guild has been cleaned up by the city watch not too long ago, so that might be also not worth the time to chase after. And the big bear might just be some surfacing urban myth."

Kensuke gave her a slow nod when Meilin said she couldn't disclose their location. It was a risk either way, and no longer her teamleader it was hers to take. He could order her to disclose the information and she would be required to give it, but he knew Meilin well enough to know it'd give bad blood. And despite her tendency to do whatever she wanted to regardless of his opinion, he knew she wasn't incapable.

"Good to know." He said, pursing his lips in thought. None of those things, horrible as they might be for those involved, had little do to with the safety of their employer. Those were problems the shinobi of the local ninja village should be hired for, as their task only extended to anything that could threaten the daughter of the former daimyo. The bear sounded most troubling if anything. Reports and personal experience had shown that the zealots had shapeshifters among their ranks. Easy to mistake for a bear. "Keep at it. I'll hear of you later." He said, mentally filing the information away. "If Team 7 is for any reason unavailable and the situation is dire, there are two dependable contacts inside the palace. Hallbjörn, a guest and guard of the lady, and Aratoshi, an officer of her guard."

Meilin would remain patient, waiting for Kensuke to progress the information and see what he had to say. She was wagering that he would likely pass on an order or a set of instructions. There was even a moment she wondered why he hadn't already argued back on her decision but found herself quite content that it seemed to be no problem.
When Kensuke spoke up, Meilin focused on what he had to say. For a moment, she found herself surprised. Blinking once in a rapid fashion Meilin wasn't too certain on how she should respond. The lack of a true authoritative response on what she should do with her team and following a certain set of instructions made her wonder if Kensuke did have some faith or trust in her.

Memorizing the names that Kensuke gave her, Meilin would nod to indicate that she understood it. She wasn't entirely certain how she would contact those two men. Then again, that was only in need of emergencies or when Team 7 was unavailable, for whatever reason.
"Understood."
A second of silence followed the word as Meilin would scratch her neck.
"So, I suppose that was it then? I will try to reach out once I have more information."
Taking already a step back, Meilin would wait to see if Kensuke had anything to say.

"I will hear from you." He nodded her a goodbye and perked his ears again. During their conversation, the same servant had appeared again, so returning unseen would require more of an effort this time around. He formed the seals for the camouflage jutsu and turned around, walking back to their rooms for a moment of rest. He still had to check on Karma and Kyoi at Lady Haruka's chambers before midnight, but that'd have to wait a little while longer.

Seeing that the meeting was over Meilin would walk towards the edge, weaving a few handsignals, and take a deep breath in. Allowing herself to fall forward, the chuunin would vanish into the dark of the night.
[/spoili]
[/fieldbox]

Fieryfly · Nov 18, 2017

To the Housha's Defence, Part 2

A Collab between Jason and Fieryfly

Part 1

Summary:
Eiji and Ryu fight against the Zealots in the Housha Compound. During their fight, however, Eiji gets hurt and Ryu unlocks something special.

[spoili]
Ryu stayed by Eiji's side, as he had instructed her to do. As he approached the gate, the Uchiha closed her eye for a moment. When it opened once more, the haunting red of the Sharingan had replaced the pleasant blue. Gripping a kunai tightly, the girl watched as Eiji blew the gate clear off its hinges. In the seconds after, Ryu burst into the compound with Naomi growling at her side. Almost Immdiately she spotted an attacker nearby, weaving what seemed to be hand signs as he prepared to ignite another family's home. Slinging the kunai in a quick blur, the man staggered as he found a sudden amount of metal buried deep into his side. Drawing another Kunai, Ryu snapped her fingers and Naomi was suddenly growling at her side. Muscles tense as she was ready to pounce. "Am I interrupting something?" She taunted, as she snapped once more and the panther burst into a charge towards the opponent as Ryu slung another kunai to keep him off balance.

And immediately Ryu was gone. Eiji didn't know why he was actually surprised. He should have seen this coming. Annoyed at her and at himself for not telling her three more times to stay at his side, preferably behind him and stay in line, he followed the girl inside with the rest of the army behind him. With a tap at his ear he notified the rest that he was in as he rushed forward too. In sync with the other shinobi next and behind him they launched an attack on the Zealots that came to meet them. Eiji found himself unconsciously keeping an eye on Ryu who was fighting together with Naomi, but his mind was primarily focused on the enemies and the position of Commander that he had taken up so naturally. Spinning poi might not be useful with so many allies around, but they were still good blund weapons that could be stored with explosive chakra. And he wanted to be heard. Let them come to him. Let them run themselves dry on this first wave of attack, only to be cut off by the others. So with the two iron balls in his hands he faced his first enemy. A carefully contained explosion aimed at his abdomen kept him from standing. A blow to his head made sure he didn't get up again.

Raising his arm to catch the thrown Kunai with his forearm, the man staggered back and desperately swung an axe towards the panther rushing towards him. Naomi hung back for a second before lunging in under his attack and sinking her teeth into his leg. With a brutal snap of her head, the man screamed out and collapsed with a nasty chunk missing. Ryu in the meantime had closed the distance, and without any ceremony yanked the kunai from his forearm. The man desperately flailed in an attempt to fight back, only to be silenced as Naomi once more lashed out to protect her companion. This time aiming towards the throat. With her current opponent dispatched, Ryu turned to look for Eiji. Running towards the man, Ryu felt a sudden impact in her side as she tumbled to the ground. Whipping her head to the side, she noticed first Naomi standing over her, then a small blade buried in the ground nearby. Looking the other way, she noticed the source. Another attacker, this weilding twin axes. Pushing herself to her feet, Ryu gripped her kunai and began to circle the man. Even as Naomi began to circle in the opposite direction, intent on pinning him between two opponents.

As Eiji dealt with annother opponent, the shinobi around him did the same. It might not be possible to use large scale fireballs right in front of them, but other clever uses for large scale ninjutsu had been found. To Eiji's left a group of four people send a large waterwave towards the Zealots' frontline, pushing them back and sending some down to the ground. This salvo was followed up by whisps of fire that would come from another group which would bombard the now disoriented Zealots, trying to fight of the water. As long as the Amegakure shinobi didn't run ahead too far and kept line, techniques like there were possible. Of course, close range fighting was also happening everywhere when the Zealots managed to get in close, mostly from the sidelines.

Eiji's head shot to the left when he saw Ryu crashing down near him, Naomi saving the girl from a blade to the back. He made quick work of his current opponent. Three hits. Down. His hand went to his pouch and, letting the poi dangle on his wrist, he took out a kunai. For two seconds he looked at the three now circling each other. Naomi was lower and thus his best bet. He took a step forward to be out of Ryu's direct path and threw the kunai at the man she was facing.

The man twisted to the side, avoiding the kunai and spotting the panther starting to charge in. With a deft swing of his left axe, he forced the feline to back off to avoid an attack. She growled in a low tone, circling the man as he moved back and to the side. Hearing the sound of somebody charging, he whirled to the other side in a vicious strike towards Ryu who had tried to exploit an opening. If she hadn't a Sharingan, Ryu was sure her head would've been on the ground at the moment. Thankfully, she was able to spot the attack early and dropped down, sliding under slice. Lashing out quickly, the Uchiha managed to kick the side of his leg as she passed. Getting to her feet, Ryu's eye went wide as she noticed the man hadn't gone down, and seemed quite upset that she was still alive.

Eiji was already behind the man, having made his way through the fight towards Ryu. The man reacted far too late as Eiji pressed his hand against his back and released the exploding palm technique he had been holding. There was a violent shock that erupted in the man's body and without another sound he slumped down onto the ground, a trickle of blood leaving his lips. Eiji shot Ryu a look that seemed to ask 'are you okay?' but he didn't actually get a chance to speak those words as other enemies were already upon them. By coming forward to help Ryu, Eiji had technically broken formation though of course the hole had been taken up smoothly. Adaptation was key in situations like this. Eiji dodged an incoming sword slash as two individuals now forced themselves upon the teacher and his student.

"Thanks." The girl quickly said to Eiji, as she turned to take on the other enemy. She could see Naomi pacing behind the man, growling in a low tone. With a sudden movement, the panther lunged towards the man's side. Predicting the attack, he made a quick slash with his sword and caught Naomi along the side. It wasn't deep, but the sword drew blood, causing the panther to recoil sharply and let out a pained yelp. Ryu lunged towards the attacker in a vengeful fury, hoping to return the favor. Instead the man took advantage of her blindspot, launching a counter attack of his own. Noticing his sword coming towards her at the last possible moment, Ryu attempted to dodge, succeeding only in getting a shallow cut along her cheek. The girl lashed out and forced him to dodge away, before raising her hand to the wound. Her hand came away wet with blood and Ryu's eyes widened, a strange feeling coming over her. Turning her gaze towards the man, a slight grin grew across her features. Something unsettling in the expression...

Letting out a soft giggle, entirely devoid of humor, Ryu narrowed her gaze and dove back into the fray. The grin becoming manic as she renewed her attack with increased fervor.

Eiji meanwhile was trying to gain overview over the battlefield while preferably not dying himself. So far it seemed like they were managing to push the enemy back and in that way, hopefully, containing the situation. Some of the Housha fighters who had been close by had closed ranks with the rest of the Amegakure shinobi. While it was a gruesome display Eiji was glad that they had managed to at least arrive somewhat on time. If they could save many people, then that would be a win for him.

The world seemed to fade away as she focused in a single objective, ending her opponent's life. Adeptly dodging a sloppy strike, a resultant from the man's unease, she lashed out with a vicious cut along his arm. Watching the crimson liquid coming from his injury only urged her along as the girl giggled once more. Another cut at the man, after which a burning pain went up her own side but she did not care. "Come on, don't be boring! Gonna let a girl stop you!?" Ryu demanded of her opponent. Her freehand lashed out to punch him in the throat as she side stepped another swing of his sword. Another fit of giggiling overtook her, oh this was so much fun.

Something was wrong, Eiji could see it in the way Ryu was fighting. There was too much noise around him to make out what she was saying to her opponent, but he didn't need to hear them. In a split second he made a decision and moved away from his position towards Ryu. He blocked another sword strike and flashed a couple of seals. Within a second an earth wall rose up between Ryu and her opponent, forcing the man to jump backwards. Eiji pulled the girl towards him. "Focus," he ordered her. "Whatever this is, I want none of it. We are not here to play."

Ryu froze at the site of the earth wall. A slight pout developed, and then she was suddenly pulled towards Eiji. His voice cutting through her mind, Ryu's whole face flushed with color. "S-sorry sensei!" She yelped out, then frantically began looking around. "Sensei, let me past please! I want to make sure Naomi is alright!" She said quickly, gripping a kunai tightly as she began to try to peak around and spot her companion.

"Listen, I have no time to keep runn-" His phrase was cut short when both fighters found their way back to the duo. Eiji shot to the side to block an incoming attack, driving him away from Ryu, allowing her to pass by him and search for her panther if she wished to do so. He dodged again, moving further away from his student and suddenly finding himself in the thick of the crowd again. Annoyed at his own incapability of using techniques that were contained besides the limited explosions he could do, Eiji planted his feet in the ground and focused his mind. Block, punch, small denotation, block and punch. Step back, turn around, continue. It was a routine Eiji had practiced many times. He was a defensive fighter after all. Like stone, he would stand his ground.

When the two enemies came around, Ryu wasted no time turning to engage one, only to watch Eiji engage them both and move past her. Looking between Eiji and where she thought Naomi might be, the girl turned towards the group around her sensei. Sorry Naomi. She thought before slinging her kunai into an opponent's back. Heading into the battle behind it, she dodged to the side to avoid attack from the very one we had just hit. He went for another swing at the girl, weilding a simple club. However Ryu saw this, and his attempt to fake her out coming. As he switched his attack, Ryu sprung off her right foot drove a hard fist into his gut, followed by a knee to the groin as the man stumbled back. Keeping up her assualt, she hit him in the gut again, before slamming a nasty right hook into his face. As he stumbled once more, Ryu dodged around behind him and yanked the kunai from his back before driving it home in the base of his skull.

Without hesitating she plunged further into the crowd, aiming to find her sensei. As she made it to Eiji, she yelped in pain as a sudden pain flared through her back. Wheeling around she noticed another enemy with a club, having just managed a glancing blow on the girl while she was distracted. Ryu managed to back up towards Eiji, holding a bloodied kunai as her opponent closed in.

They were winning, Eiji realised slowly as he fought. They were pushing the enemy back and no one else was arriving as back up. It seemed like the planned tactics were working out. Wham! He took a blow to his left arm from a club, moving too slow for the incoming attack. It stung and Eiji spun around to slam his poi in the face of his attacker. The woman, however, dodged out of the way, stepping back as she readied her own attack again. Eiji's eyes shot around as he waited for her to come at him again, assessing the situation. Ryu was making her way over, but not without getting hurt. Still she was up and fine. The lady with the club came at him again and this time, Eiji loosened his poi and used the iron chain to wrap around the weapon as he stepped aside to avoid the blow. He yanked the thing down, forcing the woman to stumble. One step closer. Eiji brought his hand down on her back, slamming her into the ground as she tried to get up. His other poi spun around as he spotted a kunai coming for him from the left. The iron projectile slammed against the spinning iron chain and fell on the ground a couple of feet away from him.

The woman tried to get up as his attention was on the projectile and Eiji shifted his attention back to her. He slammed the iron ball against the back of her head and she stopped moving. Panting, Eiji got up from his kneeling position, turned around and stared right into a sword coming for his face. He cursed and stumbled back, not prepared. The sword came slashing down and cut through his flakjacket. He had to regain his footing, his solid stance, but the swordman wouldn't let him, stepping closer everytime Eiji tried to make a move of his own. He ducked to the side. But the swordsman had anticipated his move and moved along in a fluid motion. The man dragged his own hand past his sword, coating it with a glow that Eiji recognized. Wind chakra. He needed distance.

In an attempt to create said distance Eiji lashed out the ball and chain in his left hand. If he missed then the attack should still take effect as the thing was charged with chakra which would detonate as soon as the thing would slam into the ground. Sure, the explosion would no doubt send him back too, but he could brace for that.

The swordsman shot to the side and brought his sword up. And then down in a straight slash.

In slowmotion Eiji watched the poi sail through the air. It took him a moment to realise that the thing was flying far further than it should. It took him another to realise that something was horribly wrong. And then the pain hit him like a explosion of it's own. Caused him to stumble. In horror he looked down at his left arm, which, because of the coated blade, had been chopped clean off just above his elbow.

The genin watched as a hulk of a man, the one who had hit her with his club, steadily closed the distance between them. The girl gripped her kunai to prepare for a fight, yet one did not come. The man did not make another step, as his legs were suddenly yanked out from under him. Followed by a brief of pain then a loud snap as the panther snapped her prey's neck. Ryu nodded towards the animal before wheeling around to help Eiji, with her side being mostly clear.

"SENSEI!" The girl shrieked in horror as she saw Eiji's arm sailing through the air. As her eye locked onto the culprit, Ryu felt only a burning rage. How dare he cripple Eiji in such a manner. Deciding that she would be repaying the favor, Ryu gripped her kunai tightly as she started to move in for the kill.

As she closed on the swordsman, the world suddenly seemed to slow. Dashing in past Eiji, the girl saw the sword coming to meet her in a slow arc. Once again, the blade glowed with energy. Yet she easily side stepped the attack, the blade whizzing just past her and taking some of the girl's hair with it. She lashed out in turn with a savage punch to his gut. The man bent over and Ryu kicked hard into the side of his leg. Collapsing to a knee, the swordsman gave a wild strike towards the girl. Yet again Ryu saw the slow-moving strike and was able to dance back out of its way.

Exploiting this chance, the swordsman was on his feet and the two locked into a short bout. Ryu managing to dodge or deflect most of his attacks, yet some made glancing blows off the girl. Still, she managed to hold her own remarkably well against her foe. As the swordsman managed to exploit her blindspot, coming at the girl from the side missing an eye. In an attack that was a sure kill, the swordsman's eyes widened slightly as he noticed her reacting already. Ryu, in a rash decision from noticing the attack coming in so suddenly raised her kunai to block the attack. The sword, still covered in chakra, cut through the weapon. A wicked smile appeared on the swordsman's lips as he swung at the girl once more. As the attack came in its slow, yet deadly, arc Ryu dropped down below the attack. She swept at his legs, and the man went down. Rolling quickly away, the man made a move to get away from the girl. However, as he started to get back to his feet, Ryu was on top of him. Slamming her broken kunai into his eye, the girl then slammed his head back to the ground, where he lay unmoving.

Ryu turned back towards Eiji, rushing over towards the man and immdiately pulling out her medical supplies. First she tightly wrapped above his room, making a torniquet as best she could at the moment. Looking towards Eiji, she tried to catch his gaze. "Focus on me, stay concious, you're going to be alright, promise." She said firmly, deciding it best to first get him out of there. "We're going to move you. Naomi, keep the enemies off of u-" She began, but was cut short when something hit her from behind, knocking the girl out immdiately. Before the opponent could do much else however, he was set upon by a rather enraged panther.

Shinobi of Amegakure swarmed around the two, shielding the Assistant of the Amekage and his student from further danger. Eiji had tried to catch his student and drag her out of the way of the thing that had knocked her out, but his own dazed state had made that impossible. She had fallen limp past his no longer existing arm. Despite the pain that raged through his body and the general sense of confusion, Eiji's gaze was locked on Ryu's form. On her face. She had looked at him with her red Sharingan eye, but he had seen something there he had never seen before. It had been different.

Before he could think about it more, he was pulled back. A shinobi appeared in his field of vision and asked him if he was okay. It was a stupid question, but Eiji replied yes anyway. He didn't know why. There was so much wrong right now. The shinobi didn't grace him with another word, but instead pulled of her own jacket and pressed it firmly against... the wound he had sustained. She tightened the make-shift torniquet Ryu had already created and muttered something under her breath. Despite Eiji's vague words that others probably needed help more, she didn't let him get up.

"You've done enough."

Not much later it became clear that the Amegakure forces had totally overwhelmed the Zealots. All those resisting were killed. Those who surrendered followed suit.

[/spoili]

Oetje · Nov 19, 2017

[fieldbox=A Smelly Operation, orange]

Nishi Hirashima,
Leader of Team 17 | Ex- ANBU member,
Kirigakure, the eastern gate of the city.

Waiting near the eastern gate, Nishi noticed that it was quieter than usual. Likely had to do with the fact it wasn't yet the afternoon. When most farmers from the pastures east of the large city came in to deliver their food and goods to the market, to sell it to their usual merchants. Who would then try to sell it on the market. Or was it perhaps due to the latest events in the Republican capital? Nishi mentally shrugged the questions off as she was leaning against a grey wall of some building. Eyeing those who went through the gate and its security.
Briefly she wondered if she had made a mistake. The suggestion to join the regular Republican shinobi corps was something she hadn't expected. It first had made her wary on why such a suggestion had been made. She hadn't known anything else but the ANBU division her life. Yet the transition hadn't been that bad.

From what she had been told she would lead Team 17. Existing out of her and two more members. One chuunin and another genin. Nishi had some reservations about the fact that the chuunin was one of rich origins and a clan. But the woman wouldn't allow that to be leaked through her actions and words. And if the chuunin would notice, then it wouldn't be a big problem anyway. They were in the military to serve their country. Not to make friends and start a friends club or something.

Glancing up at the sky, the jounin noticed that it wasn't that late yet by the position of the sun. Hopefully, both members wouldn't take too long to get themselves ready. The mission that Nishi had been given wasn't a rough or high ranked one but it would allow her to test the genin and chuunin. See what they would do under stress and how good their cooperation would be. Even though the irony was that Nishi couldn't care much. If anything, she was confident that the given mission was one that she could do herself without breaking as much as a few drops of sweat.

Yet, orders were orders. She had to wait for her team to rally.

[/fieldbox]

Celestial Scorpio · Nov 19, 2017

[fieldbox="First Mission, Purple, solid"]

Claire Rose,
Genin of Team 11,
Kirigakure, traveling to the eastern gate of the city.

"I'm late, I'm late. This isn't good for my first mission. I need to hurry!" Oversleeping had cost her time and Claire was not happy. Today was the day she would meet her team and the first mission she would be a part of. She couldn't be late. The blonde ran down the streets bumping past civilians on her way to the eastern gate. "Sorry! Excuse me! Pardon me!" All she could do now was hope the other's weren't already there and she wasn't as late as she thought. This could make her look bad, make her look like she wasn't serious. Even though she had just become a Genin it was a dream of hers for years. Ruining her future as a ninja would be detrimental for her. It would be the death of her if she couldn't live this path.

Soon the crowds thinned as she grew closer to the eastern gate. Claire could see a figure in the distance standing near the gate and she figured it was someone from her team. She slowed down once she got closer and took a breath as she bent over huffing. "Sorry I am late, I hope you weren't waiting long." Looking back up she caught the gaze of the other. A woman who put off a strong stern presence, one that said don't mess with me. Claire had assumed this would be their leader and looking around she did not see anyone else. Great she wasn't the only one late.

"Nishi sensei? Or are you another member of team 11?" Claire was only given the names of her team but no picture or any other information. It surprised her how quick she was assigned a team especially since she wasn't the best genin of her class. I am Claire Rose but I prefer to be called Rose by most people. It is nice to meet you." The young woman smiled and held out her hand so the two could shake. Something in the back of her mind told her to be cautious and she slowly pulled her hand back, pulling it up to scratch the back of her head.

Claire tried her best not to stare as she tried to take in the other's appearance. Unlike Mishi her outfit had a bit more color. Her shirt sleeveless revealing her shoulders, the fabric made of durable but flexible material. The color was a light rose, the trim a darker red. The back had a golden rose stitched into it to represent her last name, her sister have a similar symbol on her clothing as well. The neck was cut into a v that stopped a few inches above her breasts. The lower half draping a few inches over black shorts which stopped mid thigh. Wearing a pair of black ninjatabi revealing her toes and the back of her heel. She wore a similar light rose colored pair of stockings that stopped a few inches above the knee. A belt secured itself around her waist and held pouches for her shuriken and paper, a loop held her sickle.

[/fieldbox]

ChromeHound · Nov 20, 2017

Defend the Compound
Part One
Joint Operation - Ame Team 15 and the ANBU Operative | Housha Compound

A collab between Jason, Con and Chrome

Summary:
Upon leaving the Amekage's Office, Ferra Arkos sends out for her student, Chu Omari, and together (reluctantly) with Sairento Shi, the trio infiltrates the Housha Compound and begins ridding it of zealots, one battle at a time...

[spoili]
Once it had been decided which approach they were taking, Ferra had formed a shadow clone and sent it to find her student. With any luck, Chu would be able to ready himself quickly enough to take part in the mission. If not, well then she was confident she could handle things herself. She did her best to ignore the fact that Sai was here. With any luck, he'd be galavanting around on the other side of the compound and she wouldn't have to see him at all. That would suit her just fine.

Waiting for the official decision to be made, Ferra could feel herself itching to get into the fight. She had wanted to chime in her own opinion on how to approach the compound, especially after Sai had chirped up in agreement with the Jounin Commander, however all it would do was delay things. The Commander's idea was not a bad one, it was just not how she would have done things. Being so used to running her Godai team, it was weird following a leader again. As the group received their orders and began to move out, Ferra turned, readying herself to leave.

He was not looking forward to these next few moments. Approaching Ferra, the man kept his mask off for the time being. Figuring he at least owed it to her to meet her face to face. "Ferra. It's been decided I'll be providing support for your team." He said, defaulting to a professional tone. Figuring that might be the better option at the moment. "What's the plan?" He asked, keeping a neutral expression.

Great... She thought to herself as she noticed Sai approaching. Wanting to simply leave rather than having to stay and listen to the ANBU, Ferra clenched her fists and turned to face him. Hearing his words, she frowned, not bothering to disguise her distaste. "Decided by whom?"

"The Amekage Assistant." He said firmly, easily picking up on her distaste. Sairento felt it hit him, how much he'd upset her. "Ferra. We've got a job to do. Just tell me where you need me and I'll keep them off you." He said, falling silent for a few moments before quickly speaking up. "After this mess, can we talk?" He said, fumbling for a few moments as he tried to search for the right words, he'd never been overly good with handling emotional things like this.

Tempted for a moment to argue for the sake of arguing and go to ask the Amekage's Assistant herself, Ferra realized she was acting petulant. "Despite what you may think, I do not need your help. Nor do I want it." Her frown deepening, Ferra glanced away. "If you're going to follow us, then just stay out of our way. Make sure nobody escapes behind us." She didn't bother answering his last question. Everybody always wanted to talk. Talking never solved a damn thing.

"I was sent to help you, because I've seen the enemy. You heard my report, there is alot of them. I can help more than making sure nobody escapes." He said, wondering if perhaps she was letting emotion rule at the moment. Letting out a small sigh, he shook his head. "Make sure nobody escapes then. Though I'm stepping in if you guys start looking like it's getting hairy." He said, turning away and grabbing his mask. Before he put it on, the man said quickly. "And Ferra. I'm sorry." Before placing the mask on and taking a few steps back. Figuring it best to give Ferra some space at the moment.

Sneering as Sai mentioned he could help more than just by making sure no one escaped, Ferra shook her head. Turning to snap a response, she managed to bite her tongue. Now was not the time, or place. His apology barely even registered for her as she walked away, exiting the office. She began pacing back and forth, wondering how long it would take for her message to reach Chu. The sooner he could meet her, the sooner they could start helping.

Chu appraoched the office at a run, slowing down a few yards away from it and walking the rest. His sword rested on his hip, per usual, but unlike usual he wore his shinobi jacket, something he only did if he knew there was going to be fighting. He arrived just as Ferra was leaving, a sneer was still stuck to her face, and it puzzled Chu to see such an expression. He looked at Ferra and nodded. "Sensei, I came as soon as I could." Chu let his right arm rest casually on the hilt of his sword as he waited for a response.

Seeing her student, Ferra nodded and the sneer disappeared from her face. "Thank you for coming so quickly. It will be best for us to move out and I can explain as we go." Not bothering to wait for Sai, Ferra knew he would catch up. And if he didn't, then frankly she wouldn't mind that too much either. She took off at a fast pace, expecting Chu to fall in place behind her. Glancing back over her shoulder, Ferra began to fill him in. "There has been an attack on the Housha compound. The enemy is still there, causing serious damage to the compound and killing the residents." A hint of anger was clear in her tone as she thought of the cowards attacking innocent civillians. "Our mission is to move in and take those bastards out, stopping any from escaping."

Chu nodded at Ferra's words, falling into step behind her at a quick pace. It seemed an enemy was in the nearby Housha compound, the enemy he could only assume was the same that had been attacking them in the past few weeks and causing trouble for the entire shinobi corp here in Ame. Of course, that didn't mean he wasn't going to ask though. "Alright, what are our rules of engagement and do we know what to expect from the enemy?"

"At least Chuunin ranked, though some higher than that in skill. Some using melee, others casting ninjutsu. Outnumber the Housha two to one. They're killing indiscriminately and burning down homes. Not a good situation. I would assume Miss Arkos has the rules of engagement." Came sudden voice from behind Chu, the ANBU agent having taken then to speak up despite the fact he'd been following since they left.

Chu cast a glance back to the Anbu. He had no particular liking for their kind, elite though they may be, they were to shadowy and secretive for his taste. Of course, that was the purpose of the unit they made up, but still, didn't mean Chu had to like them. This particular one had the arrogance to fail to introduce himself and then speak for Ferra, whom he was certain was more then capable of speaking for herself. "I appreciate the information, but it was a question I asked sensei Arkos, not you." He looked back to Ferra. "Since he's already covered that though, the rules of engagement?"

Hearing Sai speak up in her place, Ferra glanced at him over her shoulder and shot him a glare. Clearly he did not understand the meaning of staying out of their way. Before she could respond, Ferra heard Chu speak up and had to turn to hide her amusement. It was not, perhaps, appropriate for her student to speak that way towards a senior nin, but it was certainly satisfying nevertheless. After a few moments, she would reply. "Rules of engagement are to eliminate all hostiles with extreme predjudice. We must stop them before they can cause further harm to the Housha compound." Picking up speed, Ferra continued to push them towards the compound. Eager to get towards the fighting.

As they moved, she turned to Chu, speaking quietly, "Take care to remember that Sairento is an ally and a shinobi who has been around for quite some time. Even though he will only be in the background for this mission, I ask that you treat him with the respect you would show any senior shinobi." She stated, locking eyes with her student. "If you have a concern, we can speak about it afterwards, but for now, the mission is the most important thing."

Chu nodded. He knew the man was an ally of course, and Chu recognized the man was his senior, but if his senior failed to have any manners Chu didn't plan to keep his mouth shut. But of course, it seemed that Ferra saw otherwise, and so out of respect for her he would, for now at least. "Of course sensei." Then Chu turned back to running.

Sairento first looked at the chuunin. A rather rude comeback in his opinion. He did understand the whole asking Ferra the question thing, but it didn't exactly warrant that kind of response. Sairento just shrugged, he had never been good with people anyways. Noticing Ferra speaking quietly to her student, Sairento slowed for a moment to give them more space. Wondering how long it would take to reach their destination, the man wasn't overly keen on letting hostile elements run rampant in the compound.

Satisfied by Chu's response, at least for the moment, Ferra turned her attention back to the mission ahead. They would be facing some serious opposition. Not something she had ever shied away from, but Ferra could not be certain how her student would fare. He had proven capable of taking care of himself, however, the boy had a long way to go before she would be truly comfortable sending him into a combat scenario. As it stood, however, they did not have the time, or the luxury to worry about whether or not they were prepared. The people within the Housha compound needed them and Ferra would be damned if she let uncertainty stop her.

It did not take long for the sounds of combat to become evident, ringing out in the distance. They could see the smoke in the air as it rose above the Housha compound. Her eyes narrowing, Ferra quickened the pace, "Chu, when we get inside, stick close unless I say otherwise. We will push forward together, watching each other's flanks. Sairento will cover our backs and make sure nothing gets past us to the exit." With that said, Ferra took two more long strides and propelled herself up on top of the wall to the compound. She could already see one group of four hostiles pushing towards an older couple who were clearly terrified. Two of the hostiles carried torches, and it was clear their goal was to torch the home that this older couple had been dragged from. Pulling out two kunai, Ferra whipped them towards the enemies carrying the torches. One struck home, embedding itself deep into the man's throat and he toppled over, clutching his throat and dropping the torch upon himself in the process. The second kunai was knocked out of the air as one of the remaining enemies had withdrawn a sword and deflected the projectile. Narrowing her gaze, Ferra would leap from the top of the wall, weaving handseals as she fell.

Chu was the next onto the wall of the compound. As he dropped he saw two older people, each of them looking terrified, a mortally wounded combatant with a kunai buried in his throat, a man with a sword and a torch also a hostile, two other hostiles nearby, and Ferra weaving handseals. Chu was the next to throw Kunai as well, two of his own to be exact, thrown at the two that had been with the torch wielding me. Then he dropped down next to Ferra and began weaving the handseals he'd need to start unleashing his water style Jutsu. It'd be best employed here to prevent and put out any fires, and not just mainly as a means of combat.

Third up on the wall, the man looked over the situation at hand. He noticed two enemies, each armed with crude knives slowly making their way behind the other two. Not heading for the exit, but he was closer to them than Chu or Ferra. They seemed focused on the other two, and the ANBU drew two kunai. He whipped one down towards the man in front. A shout of pain and surprise left his lips as the weapon embedded in his shoulder. Jumping off the wall, he landed between the two and Immdiately the other kunai slammed into an opponent's stomach. Yanking the weapon free, Sairento spun around to catch his other opponent's blade with the kunai. Dodging quickly to the side, Sairento slammed his weapon into the man's side and kicked out his leg. He fell down on top of the other man, both taking their last breaths as they lay in the dirt.

The kunai that Chu had thrown, sped towards the two assailants without torches. The man with the sword grinned and deflected the first with his sword. Moving to parry the second, a look of surprise fell across the man's face as he suddenly toppled off balance. Ferra had released her technique, causing a torrent of mud to kick up under the three enemies. The man with the sword was struck by Chu's second kunai, caughing up blood as it pierced a lung. He went down, struggling to regain his footing. The man with the second torch managed to roll aside, avoiding the mudslide and regaining his balance. Glancing from the two shinobi that had arrived suddenly and back to the frightened old couple that had tried to turn and flee, the man grinned wickedly. Shifting his grip on the torch, he leaned back and launched it in the air, aiming for the elders still trying to make their way back to their home. Weaving handseals rapidly, he inhaled and then exhaled suddenly, blowing a large gust of air towards the torch, causing the flames to triple in size as they came bearing down upon the old couple and their home.

The third assailant was tossed backwards, flowing along with the mudslide. It pushed him back several meters before he managed to kick himself to the side and get to his feet. Drenched in mud, the man drew two vicious looking handaxes before quickly charging towards Ferra. He surged forwards, propelling himself at a speed that was surprising given his size. Leaping into the air with a snarl, he brought his handaxes down, attempting to cleave her in two. Ferra leaned backwards and pivoted at the last second, grabbing hold of one of the man's arms and his waist and using his own momentum to launch him past her several feet.

Chu's hand quickly shot up to his mouth, forming the small O-ring that he needed as he finished his handseals. Chu then aimed towards the man that was grinning at the older couple, and spotted him throw the torch and weave handseals. Rather then aim for the torch, Chu aimed his jutsu so that it would land just in front of the old couple, then unleashed a large amount of water from the O-Ring in a pressurized stream, which then quickly expanded into a larger flow that ended up being just enough to protect the two old people from the flames, but not enough to protect the house. Thus as the fire blasted the area a large amount of steam would be produced from it's collision with the water.

aThe ANBU noticed the man making the handsigns and knew he had to stop him. Pulling a kunai from his belt, he launched the weapon towards the man with as much power as he could. Unfortunately Sairento was too late, and the jutsu was already being cast by the time he threw the weapon. Still, just after the man did his technique, a kunai buried itself up to the hilt in his skull. At that same moment, the man attacking Ferra landed in front of Sairento. The man quickly wove handsigns, and from the water of Chu's technique a second version of himself emerged. This version went to grab the old couple and guide them somewhere away from the flames, meanwhile the real ANBU drew his tanto and looked at the man slowly getting up.

"Big guy attacking an old couple, you must be really compensating for something." He said in a calm tone, trying to anger the man. Angry opponents always got sloppy.

The man who had launched the fire attack, barely had time to register his anger as Chu's attack blocked his own. Sai's kunai embedded itself in the man's skull, sending him into oblivion. Out of the corner of her eye, Ferra watched this happen. She was relieved to see that Chu had managed to block the attack on the old couple, but the kunai had come from behind her, where Sai was supposed to be staying back and keeping to himself. Turning to face the man she had thrown, Ferra clenched her fists. The assailant rose to his feet, halfway in between Ferra and Sai. Turning as the ANBU drew a weapon of his own, the axe wielder snarled at Sai's insult. Raising his axes, the man leapt forward, intending to cleave through the ANBU's mask.

He never got the chance.

Ferra slammed into the man as he leapt, burying a kunai into the back of his neck, killing him instantly. The two of them crashed to the ground and Ferra withdrew her kunai, rising to her feet slowly. The glare that she sent towards Sai said enough. Turning away from him, she caught sight of the assailant that Chu had hit with a kunai, standing slowly. He had pulled the kunai from his chest, causing blood to seep from the wound, drenching his shirt. The man did not seem to notice, however, as he stumbled towards them. Glancing down, Ferra saw the kunai in his hand, a tag wrapped around it. Shit...

Chu's attention was grabbed by the movement of the ANBU as he confronted the assailant that was left, the axe wielder who had been fighting with Ferra. Strangely enough, the man chose to taunt the man instead of attacking him or dealing with him in some other manner. Of course, Chu did appreciate the fact that the water clone was dealing with leading the old couple away. Chu was about to turn to deal with the assailant when Ferra jumped into the man who had jumped at Sai, stabbing him in the back of the neck. Chu's attention was briefly caught by movement in the corner of his eye, and he turned to see a man with an explosive tagged Kunai stumbling towards him. "Damn." Chu immediately formed the seal of tiger and used the little water he had remaining to fire a condensed orb of water from his mouth aimed at the man's head, executing his water release gunshot jutsu. Hopefully it would neutralize the man before he could do anything with that tag, if not Chu would have to jump backwards quickly.

Sairento watched Ferrra take out the man he had taunted, then the glare she sent in his direction. Were one able to see his expression, they would notice a slight frown of confusion. He didn't understand what had upset her. His attention turned towards the man attacking Chu once again, and Chu's response. Sai wondered why you wouldn't just kill the man outright, but figured Chu would be safe from imminent explosion. Scanning the area, he didn't see any new hostiles making their way towards the exit. He figured after the glare from Ferra, likely enough he should stick to not even helping them beyond what she had told him.

Not that he'd listen if they really needed the help or anything.

The water gunshot took the man by surprise and knocked him backwards. Glancing up from his spot on the ground, he realized that his situation was hopeless. With a wicked grin, he raised the tag. At least he could take some of them with him... A flash of light emanated from the tag an instant before it was set off. The explosion never reached them, however, as a dome of earth formed around the man and his explosive tag, protecting Chu, Ferra and Sai from the blast. The dome took the brunt of the explosion, crumbling inwards as smoke began drifting from inside. Raising so that she was standing, Ferra took the kunai from between her teeth. She had been forced to place it there in order to weave the handseals in time.

Glancing towards her student and then back to Sai for a moment, Ferra quickly turned forwards once more. She heard an explosion in the distance, not far from their current position. "Sai, keep your clone behind to take care of the fires." Was all she said before taking off at a sprint towards the area where the explosion had come from.
[/spoili]

Jessie Targaryen · Nov 20, 2017

[fieldbox="Another Team?, #33cccc, dashed, 10, Tahoma"]

Yukimi Yuki | Team 11 Chuunin | Kirigakure

An annoyed sigh left her lips as the girl wove her way through the streets, a hint of displeasure evident on her features. As she saw a group of workers at a local shop clustered in front of her, the chuunin continued on her path through the middle. When none moved out of her way as she approached, she rolled her eyes in annoyance. Shouldering past them, she checked to make sure her outfit wasn't ruined at all. Father had just bought this one, it'd be a shame if some... vagrant dirtied it with their revolting touch. Whatever. She'd just ask Father to buy the shop they worked for and then see to it they knew who she was from now on. With that annoyance out of the way, Yukimi continued her path towards the meeting point. It was a peaceful enough walk the rest of the way, the only sounds really being her heels clicking on the ground. She was able to enjoy a bit more of the cold weather, something the Yuki found rather pleasant. She thought a bit about what her new team might perhaps be like. She hadn't heard of the sensei before and hoped that none of the higher-ups had the gall to stick her with some newly trained Jounin. Hopefully, the other members of the team would be a bit more tolerable than that dreadful little genin from her previous formation.

Thinking about the new team, Yukimi was reminded that this would be her third team in her career. Hopefully, this wouldn't become an overly common occurrence, it was so inconvenient to be switched between teams. Now closing on the gates, Yukimi thought she could make out two figures in the distance. Both women, from the looks of it. Neither struck Yukimi as overly pretty or impressive, but one of them was a jounin so the girl knew looks must be deceiving here. The brunette seemed older, so Yukimi approached her first. For a brief moment, Yukimi wondered if she had seen this woman somewhere before because something struck her as familiar. Yet she couldn't place it and shrugged it off for now. Stopping and giving an elegant bow to the woman, Yukimi spoke in a dignified tone. "Hirashima-Sensei? Yukimi Yuki reporting in." She said before casting a look towards the other girl. While Yukimi's expression was completely void of emotion, she quickly decided that this other girl was likely going to be another annoyance. Hopefully, she at least wouldn't make Yukimi debate the merits of turning her into a popsicle like the previous genin.[/hr][/fieldbox]

Aliceee · Nov 26, 2017

[fieldbox=Team 14 - Part 1 - Kirigakure, royalblue]

A collab made by Spectre, Zane, Jason and Aliceee.

Summary:
Team 14 gathers after been forced to fall back out of the Oda compound. Gaining a new addition to the team, Mika decides to give it another try as it is rather vital that some knowledge can be obtained about the odd events that have transpired in the compound. Certainly after the clash with the unknown beasts.

[spoili]
It was somewhat early in the morning. The reason why Mika found it 'somewhat early' was because she had been awake for almost a good two hours and didn't consider it that early. The sun was barely up, however, and she was well aware that some people found it troublesome to rise up early in the morning. But it both showed discipline and the eagerness of wanting to succeed. And what better time than at the dawn of the day? Knowing that her students wouldn't likely think along the same pattern, Mika scoffed lightly. The sound had a ring of amusement present. Leaning against the tree behind her, Mika wondered who would be first and who would be last. The gaze of the jounin casually moved over the flat field of grass that formed the trainingsfield that was dubbed as the team's rally point for today.
There was the thought that the team had to retreat during the last mission but she didn't consider that it was anybody's fault. It was necessary to preserve their own hide and it wasn't as if they could have continued on in a wounded condition. Slowly Mika's right hand rose up to her nose, pinching the bridge briefly.

Placing a fist into his opposing hand's palm before him, he gave a quick bow to his eldest brother.

"Your team will be proud to have you. Don't fail them." Was the last thing that was said to Saizo, before he gave a quick agreement and was dismissed from his morning training routine.

Quickly scurrying out of their clan's dojo- he made his way to the main house- threw open his room's door, grabbed a quick shower, and was out again. The sun was almost up- and his eyes started to feel heavy. Early morning routine was rather easy, and he went through the motions still mostly asleep. Just going through solo routines, getting the blood moving. It used to be the equivalent of family meetings, but now it was really just he and his elder brother.

Zipping up his jacket, the large collar started to droop slightly with the weight of the sewn-in Kirigakure signet. Out the door he went, strapping on his kunai holster, and absent-mindedly double checking his belt pouch. This would be the first day of the rest of his life. Assigned to a team- Team 14. Lead by a Mist Jounin of incredible skill and a long resume. The current members he didn't know much about- as the assignment notifications didn't state much detailed information other than when and where to report, and that he was proudly assigned to Team 14, under Mika Hayashi. Quick info digging, he was able to get the names of the current existing teammates. Neither of which he had heard about- other than the familiarity with hearing about the Oda clan.

He tried not to think about it too much. The only thing he thought about now- was what sort of first impression he wanted to make on his new sensei. His stomach felt tight- excited and nervous at the same time. The ninja shoes were near silent in the street as he zipped from street to street before it opened up into wider fields and unpaved roads. Then trampled grass paths snaked out through treelines, before it opened up into the training field that he was instructed to meet. As he passed under a tree, he slowed his ascent, and saw a lone figure beneath a tree on the opposite end of the open field from him...

Taishiro didn't mind being up early all that much, so the meeting time was fine for him. After checking to ensure his chores around the orphange were done, and that father was doing alright, the boy made his way towards the rally point. It wouldn't be long before he arrived in the clearing to find Hayashi-Sensei, and some guy on the opposite end of the field. Keeping a watch out of the corner of his eye on the other, he approached Mika and gave a polite bow. "Goodmorning Sensei." He said politely, before taking a step back. Absentmindedly her rubbed his arm where that... thing from before had gotten him. The wounds had been healed, but that certainly didn't stop his arm from being sore. He watched as the other from before came closer, wondering now if that was new teammate. Not anybody Taishiro recgonized, and it certainly wasn't Aya. Hopefully this one wouldn't be as over-the-top as the previous teammate. Either way, Taishiro nodded his head towards the other person as a greeting, curious to see who they were.

The young woman would have surely been late, if it hadn't been for her foster father waking her up, informing her she was going to be late if she had slept any longer. This of course made her groan from the sudden awakening and her back still being sore as hell from being slammed against a wall, with enough force to break said wall. Having to get her gear ready and in a hurry, she took off with a muffin in her mouth. Zipping past people, she would get to the location to find Taishiro there along with sensei and some other guy. This one had no giant sword so she considered him better already. Granted she didn't even know if he was a new teammate, but with how things have been and how many she has seen come and go. She kind of figured when a new face was around they were most likely a new teammate. Finishing off the rest of her muffin she held her bandaged right hand up to give her a second to swallow. "Mornin sensei! Mornin Taishiro. Mornin.... other guy." Aya said being a bit more nicer today, maybe she was a bit happier they were going to clear out this threat in her clan's abandoned plot of land.

Mika was sunken in thoughts but that would be interrupted as she caught sight of a figure approaching the field on the opposite side of where she stood. The jounin didn't say a word nor made any gesture for the other to come close. Instead she observed the boy from where she stood, silent and still. There was the wondering of Mika of how long the boy would stay there. From the looks of the boy, she formed the assumption that it was the newest addition to the team. Mika's eyes half closed as she decided that it would else be benefical if she would make the first move, with a simple greeting. However, before she was able something else caught her attention. It was the sight of Taishiro approaching. As the genin greeted her, wishing her a goodmorning, the response of Mika would be a simple nod back.

Her attention then went back to the other boy, only to be once more drawn to another approaching figure. Nodding to Aya, Mika would remain silent. Seeing that the girl had wished the 'other' guy a good morning, Mika would push her back from the tree and straighten herself. "Saizo? Come over here. Bit easier to communicate," Mika said on a louder volume, to make herself clearly audible for Saizo. Waiting for the newest addition of the team to close in the distance, Mika would throw a quick glance at Taishiro and Aya. They didn't seem to be too much affected on how the last mission had ended. Which was a good sign for today. "Saizo, mind to start with introducing yourself? Then one of you two," Mika shot a meaningful look at the other two genin, "Have to follow suit."

Making his way closer as the other two zipped past him, he made no effort to boil over with great amounts of enthusiasm. He gave a polite tilt of the head, and a smirk to the other two teammates as they met eyes. Though continuing to walk over, he couldn't help but feel a little relieved when the Jounin did speak up. He made his last few strides over the grass and gave a polite bow.

"Of course, sensei." His posture straigntened, and gave a casual look to the other two as he began. "My name is Saizo of the Urabe clan. I'm thirteen, and just graduated the academy recently. This is my first team assignment- and looking forward to proving myself to you."

Eagerly awaiting the next genin to introduce themselves, he looked over each of them quickly. Sizing them up in his own analytical way, silently judging them for how they appear. Appearances and first immediate interactions do, in fact, tell a lot about a person. Plenty of people in their violent world had backgrounds and histories allowing a wide spectrum of experiences and special stories. Though since almost everyone in their shinobi world was 'special' in their own ways- really, that means none of them were. Sad really, that a thirteen year old was already jaded about the world around him- trying to avoid surprise rather than experience it.

Simply nodding towards the one introducing himself as Saizo, Taishiro waited until he was finished speaking before following up as sensei had requested. "Taishiro Kanai, I'm not actually from a clan or anything. Welcome to the team though, hope we work well together." The genin said, giving a friendly smile before looking towards Aya, seeing as he imagined it was her turn now. He was a little bit curious about the newcomer, particularly just hoping this one wouldn't get so... upset if somebody didn't particpate In a training. He certainly hoped he would be able to hold his own if they ran into those... whatever they were again. Rubbing his arm as it flared slightly in memory of those things, he instead decided to focus on the moment at hand.

Sensei told the newcomer to introduce himself and then one of them would follow in unison. This was becoming a almost daily kind of meetup at this rate, except this time they were skipping training together. Which might be wise, cause last time they did that two idiots got a bit upset she didn't participate in getting her ass whooped. Saizo did a quick to the point intorduction and Taishiro did an even quicker one. So rip the bandage off so to speak. "My name is Aya Oda, from the now basically dead Oda clan. Which is also I believe the same place we are going back to today." Aya stated after Taishiro had finished, closing her statement by looking at Mika to signal that she could resume doing her sensei duties.

Watching the genin introduce themselves to each other, Mika remained silent. The jounin wasn't in any particular way interested what the genin told each other. It was the manner how they did. It could reflect already some wriction or worse but luckily enough, there wasn't anything like that. So far Mika could, at least, spot. Once it seemed that the genin were done with their short introduction, Mika concluded that they wanted to move on to business. Shooting a glance towards Aya, Mika frowned slightly under the cover of her hood. "Easy, Aya. Seeing how it went last time, I want us to approach the ordeal differently," the jounin told the three genin. "Now that we have intel that hostile contacts lurk around in the area, we will have to move in a cautious formation. I want two volunteers to be the front. One person trailing them and I will keep the rear. Don't think that this formation will be widespread but we will move around in such a fashion. Considering that Aya and Taishiro have more experience, you two will form the front. Aya probably knows the way in the area better than any of us, anyways."

Shifting her attention to Saizo, Mika would speak up once more. "You're in a bit of bad luck, seeing that we are going to skip some training. I reckon that the Academy did teach you some basics of how to fight. But you will stay in the middle of the formation. Making it easier for me to aid you, in case we encounter any hostile contact. Now, anybody any questions?"

Listening as each spoke, he wanted to make sure he remembered their names. Never having met them before, heard nor seen them before He found it odd that his captain didn't introduce herself formally. The thought was fleeting, as she sped right into business. His heart began to race at the thought of going straight into his new assignment with work- rather than 'more of the same' with training. He has spent his whole life training- he wanted to get out and actually do something. Though admittedly after Mika assigned him a backseat position in their team, he couldn't help but grit his teeth behind his closed mouth. It was natural, to gague the operation level of a new trainee, it was good to keep a close eye on them. Though in his mind- as is the mind of most new graduates- he was 'ready' to fist-fight the kage.

[color=4b5c77]"Bad luck? This is basically what every Genin wishes for."[/color] With a devilish grin... Masking his immature frustrations with excitement. Unable to contain thoughts of being unable to gague his abilities without putting him into the gray. In the hindsight he lacked, he had no idea what they were going to put them up against. As Mika asked if anyone had any questions, Saizo couldn't help himself to quietly ask- [color=4b5c77] "When do we leave?"[/color]

As Mika told her to ease up a bit, she would rub the back of her head with a pout. "Was just saying.." she would think to herself as Mika would devise a new way to head into the situation. It honestly didn't seem that much better if their most experienced was the farthest to the back. After all those two beasts were basically beating on her and Taishiro the entire time. Sure they had another person with them this time but he was still just a fresh out of the academy genin. Although he sure talked a big game, hopefully it wasn't all just bark. Sparring was way different than actual fights that could lead to death, and him being eager to head in wasn't exactly very motivating to the plan that Mika had laid out. She didn't exactly like the plan laid out, but she couldn't think of one better, so she just shook her head to show she had no questions to ask.

Taishiro simply shook his head towards the newcomer. "Wouldn't count it as good luck, bud." He said softly, more to himself than anything before looking towards Aya. Giving the girl a slight nod, he quietly wondered how well the two of them would fair up front. No doubt she better than he would. For a few moments he wondered why sensei positioned herself towards the rear, wasn't she the best of the fighters among them? Still, he trusted her judgement more than his own. With a small sigh, he was ready to head out again and silently hoping they managed to not run into any of those things again.

The response of Saizo made Mika lock her eyes on the genin. She wouldn't respond or show any expression that could betray her thoughts on Saizo's response. "We leave right away," was the answer of Mika. "I will need to implore each of you to remain cautious and not to break formation. If you get separated then I can't promise that you will make it out." The woman let her gaze travel over the three genin before she turned around and gestured them to follow her.

The sun still hang low in the horizon when the team reached the perimeter of the 'abanonded compound'. It never occured to Mika before why nobody had the plan to repopulate it or seek a way to clear the area inside the city. Of course, she could come up with various reasons on why it hadn't happened or wasn't going to happen until some other matters had been dealt with. "Remember your position," Mika ordered her genin as she threw a look over her shoulder. There was a light fog over the area, giving it a mystic appearance. As if it was a forbidden place from a heroes story. Yet Mika wondered if it was artifical, conjured by ninjutsu.

They had arrived once again at her clan's abanonded compound, to think that once these streets were full of people. She wondered if the military even thought of her clan as a loss, her people were so proud and happy to defend and fight for their homeland. For now though she would lead the way inside as it was true that she knew the compound better than anyone here. Leading them through the empty streets, they would pass empty houses and stores that her family had once indulged in. In fact one was a rather nice clothing establishment that had all sorts of pretty dresses, her sister Chie loved that store more than anyway and would constantly drag her along whenever the owner got in some new selection. It was good times, yet now the compound belonged to no one not even those who dared to take up residency in what used to be her clan's. Yet how were they to find them? They didn't know how many, or if they were all like those beasts.

Keeping pace with Aya, Taishiro felt a bit of unease building in the light fog. It gave an eerie air to this place, as if these abandoned buildings were each their own enemy. Watching him, and waiting to let loose their hordes of minions. Taishiro shook his head quickly, that wasn't possible. They were just buildings, and he was just letting his imagination run. Forcing himself to focus, the boy instead decided to watch their surroundings. Keeping a careful eye out for any disturbances in the fog, or signs that something was nearby. The genin sincerely hoped that they wouldn't run into those beasts again, but this certainly looked like the place for it. Where monsters might lurk in the background, hopefully that would not be the case. Beast things, or whatever that memory was from orphanage, he'd had his fair share of monsters as of late.

Having nearly no idea as to why they were here, Saizo followed along blindly for now. The area seemed thick with tension, and Saizo wouldn't be the one to break it with questions just yet. He allowed himself to fall behind the other two teammates. Their footfalls really seemed to be the only thing making noise in the entire area. The floating mist seemed apt, given the time of day, though it laid a silver shear over everything in the distance- making visibility slightly more difficult. Unsure what to keep an eye out for, he just kept alert for anything.

Letting his hand float nearby his kunai holster, his eyes remained mobile, and he kept his mind clear to allow his reflexes a cushion if anything may seem... 'out of the ordinary', in a place he's never visited.

Following the team as the rearguard, Mika kept a close watch on the surrounding. It was obvious that the atmosphere hadn't changed. The knowledge, however, that there were indeed enemies lurking in the shadows meant that pulling an ambush should be less prone to be succesful. Eyeing the genin for a moment, Mika couldn't notice anything that worried her. As the group ventured further into the Oda compound, some faint sounds became audible. Wood cracking and something scraping softly over tiles. "Keep on walking. Aya, try to find some place where there is less room. Easier to defend," Mika ordered in a firm but soft voice. The jounin's eyes were scanning the visible surrounding but who- or whatever was attempting to close in on them, they had no visual on it. Yet.

Less room and easier to defend? That was a bit hard to say when these things could bust through walls, although there was this one area that might be able to do such. She assumed Mika didnt want her saying anything and to just go there, she hoped it would be acceptable enough, she never done anything like finding a place that can be defended easily. So she kept leading them until up ahead was an area with what looked like a natural little hill enclosure around this wide open space. The hills were to steep for anyone to climb up without sliding back down, so maybe the beasts would have the same problem? Which would force them to take the path way to this open space hopefully. The area used to be used for any celebrations their clan had, why they picked such an area she would never know. She just looked back towards Mika then back to the front to signal thats the location she had in mind.
[/spoili]
[/fieldbox]

Aliceee · Nov 26, 2017

[fieldbox=Numbers and a plan?, #33cccc]

Kiyomi Homura I,
Akinian Empress | Konohagakure, Royal Palace - the Council Room.

Leaning with her hands on the edge of the large, painted table Kiyomi let her gaze travel over the territory that belonged to the Empire of Akino. The young empress gained a frown on her brow as she considered what she had heard around an hour earlier. The Kazekage of the Wind Country had been assassinated, together with a few of his personal guards.

Something that shouldn't concern her or the Empire that much. The Kazekages were from the Wind country. No concern to the Empire, who was anything but on friendly terms with their western neighbour. In fact, this should represent a perfect chance to cripple the Wind country or be able to weaken them in a lot of ways further. If it weren't for a few factors.

One was that the assassination was blamed on the Akinian Empire. There was no evidence that could legitimately support the claim of the Daimyo of the Wind country and no other big political entity supported the claim. However, there was the fact that both Hisoka Uchiha and Meisa Ichi weren't back. Though so far nobody of great political importance other than Shozo Uchiha had been gravely worried about the governor of the Fire Province being on some secret diplomatic mission, Kiyomi wished more than ever to have Meisa back in Konohagakure. The woman's expertise on subterfuge and knowing how to organise operations to counter enemy intelligence gathering or subterfuge could prove to be pivotal. And it was almost a certainty that the Wind country would build up some form of evidence to use it against the Empire.

And if that wasn't worrisome enough, there was Shozo Uchiha. The 4father of Hisoka Uchiha leader of the Uchiha clan. Which made Shozo one of the most powerful people in the Empire. The Uchiha clan importance didn't just lie solely on their kekkei genkei or prestige. Their economic and military importance overshadowed many other clans and even a few provinces. Then there was the fact that the Uchiha clan had many ties to Taika clans, meaning that their influence wouldn't halt at their clan borders or in Konohagakure. Kiyomi was convinced from reports and personal belief that the Uchiha wouldn't desire to destabilise the Empire but the majority was likely without a doubt loyal to Shozo. Even if it meant that they would be against the Empire they were part off.

Biting her lower lip, Kiyomi's gaze went to the large expense in the north-western area of the Fire province, detailed on the large table. It was without any question that she had to try to keep the Uchiha clan into the fold without giving an opening for those blasted Zealots or the Wind country to make things worse.

Throwing a look over her shoulder, Kiyomi spoke up to Katashi.
"What does the report state?" She asked the Sarutobi and captain-commander of the Sworn Swords. The man was dressed in his armour as if he was ready to depart for war and battle. A calm expression didn't betray any of his thoughts or opinion as he would read from a scroll.

"The military strength of the provinces and clans are roughly estimated, your Majesty. The intelligence division is still researching more before they will land a final verdict. Not to mention that levies and the capability to enlist mercenaries aren't taken into consideration. This report also doesn't include the garrison forces of the various researched sources," Katashi read at a calm pace, his eyes focused on the content of the paper. "Currently the Imperial military has four divisions with a total of around ninety thousand combat-ready personnel. There are various battalions that aren't fully filled up or have other matters that prohibit them from operating in full force. The camps and fortifications in which the Imperial military is stationed do report that more volunteers are arriving to enlist in her Majesty's military, " Katashi paused for a moment before he continued. "Then there are the provinces. The River province is capable of fielding on its own a force of around fifteen thousand troops, loyal to the Tamiyo dynasty. The Rain is capable of fielding a force of around six thousand combatants. The Grass is capable of fielding a force of around eight thousand combatants," Katashi continued as Kiyomi's attention was back at the large table.

She listened as Katashi stated the provinces and to what they currently were able to field as their own military force, in the service of the Empire and outside of the Imperial military, Kiyomi wasn't that surprised by the data. The River province was the richest and largest province outside of the Fire province. After that came the Hotspring and Grass. The remaining provinces had around an equal amount of troops that they could field. Most had to do with the amount of wealth that they could distribute to their own economy and military as their focus, not to mention their favour of martial pursuits. The western provinces, such as the River and Rain, were likely more aimed to keep their own military as strong as much as their local economy could make it practicable where the eastern provinces weren't required to have a large regional military - due to the lack of neighbouring threats.

Once Katashi was done to sum up the military strength of the provinces, he would go on about the large clans. Cause while the Fire province was the largest province and was the host to the most fundamental administrative organs of the Empire, the Imperial military was mostly compromised out of the large region's population - supplied by forces of the provinces and clans.

"The Tokugawa clan has a standing military of twenty-one thousand troops. The Uchiha clan has a standing military of twenty-four thousand troops. The Cho clan has a standing military of thirty-two thousand troops. The Hanta has a standing military of sixteen thousand troops," Katashi summed up as Kiyomi suddenly spoke up and interrupted the Sarutobi.

"The Uchiha have how many?" Kiyomi asked, a frown once more appearing briefly on her brow. Katashi repeated and remained silent, an echo following his answer. "This is without taken in consideration of levies or forces that could be conscripted in situations of emergencies or war?" Kiyomi asked, throwing a look at Katashi. The captain-commander simply nodded. "Continue."

"The Hon clan has a standing military of nineteen thousand troops. The Sarutobi has a standing military of fifteen thousand troops," Katashi continued, only for Kiyomi to speak up as she turned around.

"Hang on. You mean to tell me that both the Hon and Sarutobi clan currently field less mobile military forces than the Uchiha? That can't be right. The Hon clan is one of the biggest clans. Not to mention that both clans are both known for their martial pursuits and ---"

"Your Majesty, you must understand that this is a rough estimation. The research isn't yet done. Not to mention that both clans aren't entirely functioning in the same fashion such as the Uchiha. Both the Hon and Sarutobi are further divided into smaller factions that have their own forces with their own leaders. If anything, you can easily add a few more thousands of troops that are enlisted in the service of smaller factions within the Hon or Sarutobi." Katashi answered, looking up from the report. Kiyomi nodded as she turned around to face the table. Her gaze moved to the area in the Fire province that belonged to the Hon and Sarutobi clan. She knew the political situation and structure of both clans to the heart. Yet, she had expected an equal to the Uchiha or even larger. Perhaps it was her own pride in her cultural heritage and desire to not see them wind up as second place. But she would just listen as Katashi continued to list more clans that resided in the Fire province. But none that came close to the already summed up clans.

"How do I manage to unify them further?" Kiyomi thought to herself. If she could unify the provinces and clans to follow the banner of Akino as one then the Empire's future would be consolidated. It was already the most powerful nation on the western continent. But it was also large and its strength was thus stretched out. So she had to seek out on how to make it stronger at the core before looking outside the Imperial borders.

"The Chonobi will be easy to unify altogether. The Sarutobi are without a true central leadership but they will stand with the Hon and Cho. Meaning that I won't need to worry about them as much as the others." Kiyomi pondered as she would cross her arms out front of her chest. Her attention moved to the region that the Yakimara clans reigned over.

"The Yakimara clans shouldn't hard to unify together with the Chonobi. Already they have various ties together. However," her gaze went towards the various large Taika clans such as the Tokugawa, Hanta and Uchiha. "The Taika clans are heavily divided. Unifying the likes of the Tokugawa to the Chonobi and Yakimara will be relatively easy. But I doubt that the Hanta or Uchiha will be eager to call the Tokugawa or Hons as their 'brothers'. Not to mention that various other small clans have their own opinion."

The silence in the Council room continued with only Katashi witnessing the frowned and frustrated Kiyomi bending slightly over the table. Suddenly, the voice of Kiyomi shattered the silence. "Katashi. Inform the Lord Commander and Hon that I desire to hold a clan meeting in Magnhild. He has around a month or two prepare for the meeting. Already extend various invitations to large clans. And make it clear that I desire to see a representative of each invited clan. Not to mention that I want a message to Lord Hyuzu that I would be delighted to receive him to enjoy dinner with him, whenever feasible for him." Kiyomi instructed.

Katashi bowed and without a question he would leave the room. As the door closed behind Katasahi, Kiyomi half closed her eyes. She had an inkling of how she could create a tighter cohesion among the Akinian clans but she would need to curry for some favours.

[/fieldbox]

Jessie Targaryen · Nov 26, 2017

[fieldbox="A Busy Day, green, dashed, 10, Tahoma"]

Mizuchi Hojo | Team 3 Chuunin | Wolf Country, Lightning Country Camp

A resounding thud tore through the air, followed mere moments later by a jolt of force as the sword slammed against her shield. Immediately she lashed out with a violent thrust forwards, only to watch her opponent dance away from the point of her spear. Circling the soldier, the Hojo kept a keen eye on his every movement in anticipation of the next attack. At that moment, she saw just a hint of an opening starting to appear as the man turned to keep with her. Taking a chance, Mizuchi took a single step forward and drove the weapon forward in a violent thrust once more. Yet he seemed to anticipate the move, as the soldier deftly crossed her spear and shoved the weapon to the side. Exploiting the opening he now created, the soldier surged toward to get inside her range. The chuunin's eyes widened as she used the shield to bash towards him and stop the man's momentum. Taking those few precious seconds, Mizuchi choked up on her grip of the weapon. Now bearing the spear closer to the gleaming head of the weapon, she once again tried to thrust at her opponent.

Yet again, he was ready for the girl. This time catching the blow on his own shield and shoving roughly back at the girl to cause her to stumble. Before Mizuchi even had a chance to recover, he closed the distance and she instantly felt two surges of pain up her sides as the practice blade slammed into her from his vicious attacks. "Dead." The man declared simply, as Mizuchi let out a frustrated sigh at her own performance in the brief spar. "Oi! You weren't half bad there, lass. Ya held your own in that fight, bit more practice and you just might get the hang of it." He said, which only caused the girl's frustration with herself to grow. With an irritated sigh, she nodded towards the soldier who had been helping her for much of the morning. "Alright. One more spar?" She asked, to which the soldier gave a slight nod. "Maybe make it a challenge this time, eh?" He joked, which caused Mizuchi to grit her teeth slightly despite it being just a joke. "Fine." The Hojo said, turning away to drop the spear and shield. Instead drawing a practice Katana. "A challenge it shall be." She said simply, watching as the man got ready for their final spar. "

Standing over the man now sitting in the grass, Mizuchi extended a hand to help him to his feet. "You wanted a challenge." She said calmly, as he took her hand and was pulled to his feet. "Aye, can tell you're more used to a sword than the spear." The man said, walking over to pick up the spear and shield they'd been practicing with. "Though if you're bent on learning how to use this, a few key points you should be focusing on." The man said, taking the time to show Mizuchi some of the weak points he'd spotted in her form during their spar. After around another hour of training, the two decided to call it day. "Thanks again for helping me." Mizuchi said, flashing a kind smile as the soldier simply laughed. "No problem lass. You helped me and the boys during the raid, don't mind helping you out here and there. Though I think I need to be heading back about now. Remember what we worked on today, and keep up the practice." He said, getting a nod and final thanks from Mizuchi before she headed off her own way.

The encampment seemed rather busy today, with soldiers and various others bustling here and there. Whether to train or take care of some other business, Mizuchi did not know. Heading back through the crowds, she rather enjoyed the crisp air. The cool air relaxing after having just worked up a sweat during the previous training. Stopping in a less crowded portion of camp, Mizuchi let out a long sigh. It was a rather beautiful day out, with only a few clouds drifting lazily through the sky. The chuunin wondered for a few moments how such beauty could follow so soon after the horrors of war. Seeing the battles that had taken recent place, and which still had lingering memories running through her mind. Yet now everything seemed so peaceful and still as if the violence of war were completely forgotten.

Not terribly long after that point, Mizuchi was on her way to the smiths in the camp. She'd left her armor and sword in their care, seeing as she didn't have the skill needed to fix the damage in her armor from fighting the beast in the first battle or from the ambush. Since she had already been getting the armor repaired, Mizuchi had also asked the smith if he were able to make sure her sword was in good condition. Something which he didn't seem to mind too much. It didn't take very long for the Hojo to get her armor and weapon back from the man. Both seeming to be in much better shape than they had been when she had turned them in. Thanking the smith, Mizuchi went to stow her gear back with the rest of her items. Though she kept the sword with her as a reassurance. Not that she particularly expected anything to happen, but in an environment such as this, that little bit of reassurance helped put the chuunin's mind at ease.

Taking care of a few other tasks, such as pulling a shift guarding the camp, Mizuchi kept herself busy for most of the day. As the sun started to sink in the sky, Mizuchi made her way off towards a more isolated part of the camp once more. Stopping this time and searching for chakra signatures immediately around the area, Mizuchi smiled when she found only one other heading towards her. Turning to face the man approaching her, Mizuchi gave a sweet smile towards him. "You're a little late." She teased him, stepping up to him and placing a brief kiss on his cheek. "How are you holding up, Yuuta?" She asked, studying his face closely with her storm grey eyes. "Holding it together. The battle was a bit rough. How about you, Mizuchi?" He replied, looking at the girl and noticing a second scar running across her cheek. "Another one? Maybe try avoiding the hits?" He teased only to grunt a moment later when she punched him in the side.

Taking a step away from Yuuta, Mizuchi nodded in response to his question. "I'm fine. This isn't my first time away from home." Mizuchi said, having been part of the force that helped push the oppression back not terribly long ago. "Though I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss home." She said with a light laugh, before giving a slight shrug and changing the subject to be significantly less depressing. The two talked for about an hour before each deciding to head back. As they were about to head off their own ways, Mizuchi stepped in and gave Yuuta a proper kiss this time. "Stay safe, alright?" The white-haired Hojo said, as Yuuta gave a slight laugh. "You as well, Mizuchi." He said before heading off. Mizuchi waited a few moments before heading back, to give her slight blush time to disappear. As she started on her way, the girl's stomach growled and she decided it time to go get some dinner. Her thoughts torn between Yuuta and the recent battles.[/fieldbox]

Oetje · Nov 26, 2017

[fieldbox=A Smelly Operation, orange]

Nishi Hirashima,
Leader of Kirigakure Team 11 | Ex- ANBU member,
Kirigakure, the eastern gate of the city.

The first to arrive was Claire Rose. Nishi had, obviously, studied the profiles and hadn't find anything that had stand out with the girl. She was practically like many genin. Not yet influenced or shaped by experiences of missions or assignments. But that would follow soon. Of that, Nishi was certain.
Briefly, Nishi's eyes lowered from looking at the girl's face to the stretched out hand of the genin, a friendly gesture. If this Claire was only aware how far one would get with being friendly, she would have reconsidered that gesture perhaps three times before doing so.

"I am Nishi," the jounin replied as she would raise a hand at first to shake the hand of Claire. Seeing that the genin pulled her hand back, a polite smile crossed Nishi's lips. "I am the leader of the team. Seeing it is your first day, don't fret too much over it all. That is my job, after all."
The jounin would want to see if she could strike a conversation, in order to learn more about the genin and verify various points of the genin's profile. Not to mention to kill some time, seeing that the second member hadn't yet arrived.

However, that soon changed as the second member of the team arrived. Yukimi Yuki, the chuunin and last to arrive member of the team. Nishi's polite smile would vanish as the chuunin would give a graceful bow. This sign of respect would be repaid with a subtle nod from Nishi. There wasn't much on the Yuki that had attracted the jounin's attention. Other than that she came from a wealthy origin and her personality wasn't described in a positive manner. But Nishi would see what it would do to the chuunin's efficiency.
"Good, you came just in time," the jounin told the chuunin in a calm tone.

"Now that you two have arrived, it is time to get down to business. We will go to a small village that is just outside the perimeter of Kirigakure. There was a report of some highwaymen preying on the farmers and likes, who come to Kirigakure to sell their wares. Nothing too troublesome but I do demand that each of you keep your guard up."
Already turning around, Nishi casually beckoned them to follow her. The guards at the gate didn't make much of a fuss as the jounin provided the right papers. Thus allowing the team to leave the safety of the Republican capital's walls and gates without any hindrance.

Walking in front, Nishi would throw a look over her shoulder to speak up to her team.
"It is around an hour or two walking. What do you guys have as ambitions or goals? What made you decide to become a kunoichi, hm?"
[/fieldbox]

Celestial Scorpio · Nov 26, 2017

[fieldbox="First Mission, Purple, solid"]

Claire Rose,
Genin of Team 11,
Kirigakure, traveling to the eastern gate of the city.

Highwaymen huh. This definitely was a D ranked mission and Claire didn't expect anything more to be asked of her. After all Genin rarely were sent on anything above a C rank mission. The task was simple, deal with the highwaymen and that was it. She knew her guard should stay up and she should remain alert, never underestimate anyone. That surely would lead to death and she couldn't die on her first day on the job. She felt a bit more safe knowing that the other member was more experienced than her but they were a member short so even then it could prove difficult.

Claire looked at Nishi and wasn't sure how to answer. Should she be truthful and tell the woman about her reasons for becoming a ninja? Or should she make an alternate answer that was normalized for any Genin? Grabbing her left bicep with her right hand she thought for a moment as she looked at the ground. "Why I became a kunoichi? Simple. Revenge. My older sister and I were close and she became a ninja. I wanted to follow in her steps regardless but a few years ago she became ill from a mission. She passed away and I used that to fuel my wants to be a ninja. I want to find who killed her and make them have the same fate. It is more than just a simple wish to be a hero who protects and helps the village like every other Genin. I seek revenge and until I get it I won't stop. I was one of the worst in my class, my sister one of the best. I know I am not strong enough now but one day I will be and when I am, I will put her soul to rest."

That was a mouth full and she was starting to regret she even was honest. She remained gentle and humble. Kind and nice but her revenge was seeded deep in her soul. It could be seen as good or bad but to her she wouldn't use it to become a mindless soul who kills all that come her way. Her sister remained kind and determined even though she knew the horrors of the world. Her sister was pure and innocent, only doing her job and her fate became death. "So yeah that's the truth. Everyone sees me as nice and kind, and I am, but deep down I have this revenge and negativity that I let no one see."
[/fieldbox]

Jessie Targaryen · Nov 27, 2017

[fieldbox="Cold, #33cccc, dashed, 10, Tahoma"]

Yukimi Yuki | Team 11 Chuunin | Kirigakure

Nishi? Yukimi didn't recognize the name, but that didn't come as much of a surprise to her. Once she was back from this mission, however, Yukimi decided she might need to pay her aunt a visit. Perhaps Kukiko might know about Yukimi's new team leader. It'd be nice to know what she could expect out of the new jounin. Turning her attention away from her thoughts, Yukimi regarded Nishi with an emotionless gaze. Their mission today seemed easy enough, and one that father might even be pleased to hear was dealt with. Though she doubted father would say as much, his work was certainly more important than anything else. With a light sigh from her own thoughts, Yukimi followed after Nishi as they began to head out. Shortly after they made it through the gate, and Yukimi heard it would be about an hour to village. An easy enough walk, especially since the day wasn't particularly dreadful and the temperature was quite comfortable for her.

Then Nishi asked her question, and the genin chose to respond first. As the genin went on about wanting revenge, Yukimi's jaw set slightly. Just great. The moment the genin finished, Yukimi gave her a look as cold as the ice she wielded. This was pathetic. Waiting a few moments before speaking, Yukimi's tone would remain neutral and dignified. "Simple. I chose to become a Kunoichi to serve a country I love." She said, opting for a standard awnser that wasn't exactly the truth. However she gave no hints whether or not it was why she had become a Kunoichi. "My goals are to grow stronger to protect those I care about, and to stop those who would harm my home." She said, opting once again for a more general and standard response. She assumed that Nishi might be able to see that this wasn't entirely the truth, but it didn't matter to Yukimi. Her reasons for joining and goals did not matter. All that mattered was how well she could preform the mission.

Looking then towards the genin, Yukimi debated addressing her yet held her tongue. For now, she wanted to see how Nishi would respond to them. "May we turn the same question back to you, sensei?" She asked with a polite smile as if she were interested. Of course, she couldn't care less, but it might keep the genin from opening her mouth about revenge more. Emotion only clouded judgement, slowed you down and made you stupid. The chuunin only hoped that the genin wouldn't get in the way with her drive for emotion. Yukimi most certainly did not have the patience for dealing with such an attitude.[/hr][/fieldbox]

ChromeHound · Nov 29, 2017

[fieldbox='Shikaroku Nara | Konoha Genin | Team 9, #4B0082']

Eyes in the Dark

As the trio continued on in relative silence, Shikaroku kept an eye on the surroundings, doing his best to remain out of his own head. It was easy at first, the beautiful scenery a welcome distraction. As they moved off the road, however, Shikaroku began to sense that Hiron was growing tense. He knew the Jounin well enough to see that something wasn't right. Deciding against asking his sensei what had caused the sudden shift in his demeanor, Shikaroku instead increased his focus on their surroundings. If there was something out there, he wanted to be ready. This wouldn't be like the last time...

As they moved further from the road, Shikaroku kept an eye on the Aburame. She was sending out her bugs in a fairly regular pattern, but so far had not alerted them to anything out of the ordinary. Instead of comforting him, however, it caused his concern to grow. Something had put Hiron on edge, something that Tentou's bugs could not detect... Shikaroku didn't like this.

Reaching up subconsciously, he placed a hand on the mark that remained hidden beneath his clothes. Shikaroku's eyes narrowed and his breath caught in his chest. The mark felt as if it were pulsing, a strange heat emanating from it. Drawing his hand away quickly, Shikaroku realized that the temperature around them had dropped several degrees. Zipping his jacket up further, the Nara reached into the pocket where he carried his lighter. Gripping the lighter with one hand, he felt comfort in the small object. He didn't dare pull it out or light it. If there was something out there, drawing further attention to himself was the last thing he wanted to do.

As a fog began to settle around them, Shikaroku felt the hairs on the back of his neck rising. Hiron ordered them not to use any ninjutsu, but Shikaroku barely nodded in response. His mind was occupied with something else. The mark began pulsing even more now and the Nara did not need to touch it with his hand this time in order to feel it. Gritting his teeth silently, Shikaroku adjusted his pack, trying to shake the feeling coming over him. As he glanced around the fog, he could swear he saw movement. Shadows merging with the mist and flowing around them, never forming a solid shape. A low, unsettling laugh gnawed at the back of his mind and Shikaroku realized that the shadows, like the laughter, were all in his head...

He could feel his hands shaking and quickly shoved them in his pockets to avoid the others noticing. The shadows grew larger in the fog, beginning to take form. Every time Shikaroku thought a shape would emerge, however, the shadow would disappear and a dark laugh would plague his mind. He could tell by the other's reactions that they were not seeing what he was seeing, were not hearing the strange laughter. Whatever this was, it was in his head. Closing his eyes, Shikaroku reached into his pack with one hand, trying to be as subtle with his movements as possible. Reaching into the pouch that contained his pills, Shikaroku withdrew one and pulled his hand back, resealing the pack.

Opening his eyes to make sure the others were looking away, he quickly swallowed the pill, waiting desperately for the effects to take hold. After a few minutes, he felt the familiar numbing sensation and the laughter faded. The shadows too, disappeared. The fog, however, remained.

Moving on in complete silence, Shikaroku felt a strange sense of relief when they finally exited the fog. Hiron turned to them and the Nara could see the wariness clearly on the man's face. Hiron spoke again and it did little to settle Shikaroku's nerves. However, the boy nodded and continued to follow his sensei and teammate. The medicine had done its job and Shikaroku could no longer feel the mark pulsing on his chest. Continuing to move at the pace Hiron had set forth, Shikaroku wondered briefly if he should have brought more of the pills...

~A few days later~

The next days had passed with a lack of excitement, but even still, Shikaroku had found himself taking at least a couple pills a day, wanting to make sure the strange sights didn't come back. He couldn't afford to be compromised, not while they were on a mission. If he let his guard down and something were to happen...

He would not let it happen.

When they made camp, Shikaroku set his spot up, placing his pack down and trying to get as comfortable as possible. Tentou set up nearby, adjusting the straps on her bug jar. Shikaroku watched for a moment, still rather curious about the Aburame and her bugs. They were certainly useful, and something that an inexperienced opponent would likely underestimate. The way Tentou interacted with her bugs reminded Shikaroku of how the Inuzuka interacted with their dogs. Curious indeed...

Hearing her question, Shikaroku was surprised at first. It had been some time since they had actually spoken. The journey had put them all somewhat on edge and they usually traveled in complete silence. Thinking for a moment, he shrugged. "I have been a genin for just over two years..." he said, realizing that he had almost forgotten when everything had started. It had felt like so long ago... "How about you? And no, I have not really traveled to the Hanta lands before."

"I have been a kunoichi for about five years now, and a Chuunin for a year and a bit." Tentou replied, "I have heard the Hanta lands are quite beautiful. I doubt we will really get a chance to see them much, however. Hiron seems to want to get through them as quickly as possible."

Shikaroku nodded, glancing over at the Jounin. The man was busy tending to his weapons and Shikaroku furrowed his brow for a moment before turning back to Tentou. "It is likely best for us to continue moving quickly and avoid being seen. Something has him on edge and that is enough to make me worry." Tilting his head to the side, Shikaroku chewed on his lip a thought striking him. "Your bugs have not detected anything odd, have they? Any unknown presences...?"

Tentou stared at him for a moment before shaking her head. "No, they haven't seen anything and with Hiron ordering us to not use any form of ninjutsu, I want to keep them close, just in case..." she trailed off for a moment.

"In case something is out there tracking us?" Shikaroku finished, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.

Tentou nodded slowly, remaining silent for a moment. Placing a hand on the bug jar, she felt a brief comfort in knowing they were there. "I am sure Hiron will let us know if there is cause for us to be on guard. For now it would be best to not be too paranoid. It can cause more harm than good."

Nodding his agreement, Shikaroku laughed internally. That was easier said than done. Glancing over at his pack, he pondered something for a moment. The temptation to take another pill was getting stronger and Shikaroku didn't like it. He normally didn't have this kind of urge to take the pills. Shaking it off, he turned to Tentou. "Just let me know if they pick anything up that seems off, even something small. Better safe than sorry." he said, gesturing towards the bug jar.

Tapping the jar with one hand, Tentou nodded an affirmative. "Let's hope that doesn't become necessary," she replied.

Let's hope indeed... Shikaroku thought to himself, looking off into the distance.

[/fieldbox]

Naruto Fantasy (AU) : The Rise of the New Generation

"Teddy Bears never forget."

"Teddy Bears never forget."

Queen of cold.

Fierce Rebel

Fierce Rebel

Edgesquire

Secret Shadow

Stormraven

Fieryfly

Guest

Stormraven

K-Pop Addict

The one who gets stabbed a lot...

Jessie Targaryen

Guest

Fierce Rebel

Fierce Rebel

Jessie Targaryen

Guest

Stormraven

K-Pop Addict

Jessie Targaryen

Guest

The one who gets stabbed a lot...