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

[fieldbox=An Uchiha and Cho walk around Magnhild..., violet]
Empire of Akino,
Hon Clan Lands.
Magnhild - The Seat of the White Wolf.

A collab between Tim and Lesli
Part 1

Summary:
Two mornings after arriving in Magnhild with team 8, Aiko sets out to venture back to the 'Thirsty Boar' - where she arranged some lodges for her students. Once gathering up with Neji Uchiha, the two spend some time together. Talking, lunching as relaxing.


[spoili]
Walking down the street, Aiko did so at a calm pace. Things were going as she wanted them to go. There were just some complications that were out of her reach but nothing that gave a reason for her to worry about. In fact, there were some more pressing matters that demanded her attention. Reaching the inn, the Thirsty Boar, in which she had arranged board and room for her team, Aiko would ask the innkeeper for Neji. While the jounin waited down, the old woman would climb the staircase to the first level of the inn. Reaching the door of Neji's room, Borghildr would knock three times before she spoke up. "Dear? Your caretaker is here for you." Waiting for a moment, the innkeeper would take a step backwards and wait for Neji to respond or come outside.

Neji sat at the desk in his room, he was writing a letter to his family back home telling them about his exepriences in Amekagure and the fact that he had been promoted to a Chunin. As he was writing he heard a few knocks on his door. It was the elderly owner of the inn Borghildr or as she liked to be called "Auntie" Neji got up out of his seat and stretched before walking to the door and opening it. He smiled at the elderly woman "Thank you mam" Neji politely bowed his head, he then closed his door behind him and made his way downstairs to where Aiko sensei was. "Good morning sensei."

The jounin flashed a smile towards Neji, her head slightly tilting to the right. "Good morning Neji. Good to see you up this early. I hope you have had a good night rest." The woman said as she would quickly as subtle eye the chuunin. "I wanted to ask if you wanted to accompany me today into town. I got some affairs to handle. And despite I know you don't understand Chonobi, it might be more exciting than just sitting here and twiddle your thumbs." The jounin said, already half turning as well waiting to see what Neji would decide.

"Yes the inn has been very welcoming and comfortable, it was nice to be able to have my own room and a nice bed last night." Neji flashed a smile as he looked around the lobby of the inn. There wasn't much going on just a few inn employees trying to get their work done for the day. There was a couple probably a little older than Aiko sensei who was at the front desk checking out from what Neji could overhear. His attention turned back to Aiko sensei as she asked him if he wanted to go run some errands with her. Neji hesitated for a second, he wasn't scared by any means to walk out into the town. He was just lets say nervous, obviously the Uchiha and Hon hadn't always seen eye to eye with each other the years and while the two clans weren't enemies. they weren't great friends either. When Aiko mentioned to him when they arrived in this town to not use his sharingan or his surname, it just made him more nervous. Neji looked as he saw Aiko was already turning around to head out of the building. " Yeah of course Aiko sensei, i'd like to see the town." Neji followed Aiko as they walked out of the inn and into the street, which was already a little bit busy even though it was early in the morning.

Exiting the inn together with Neji, Aiko would lead them up the street. The cold provoked Aiko to wrap the scarf tighter to hide as protect her lower features from view and cold. "Don't fret too much. The presence of a Taika in this city or region isn't unheard of. And most won't treat you different for it." Aiko said, reckoning that being in a region that was in culture as traditions vastly different, from what Neji was used to, could be an intimidating experience. "Luckily, most also speak Taika. Without a too heavy accent that makes it quite troublesome to follow what they say or mean." The jounin added, winking towards the chuunin.
Walking further up the street, Aiko seemed to look for something. While her green eyes scanned the street, looking for where they had to take a turn, she decided to ask something. "Do you have any questions regarding the city? I take it that you're not that familiar or known with its history or people. Luckily, I can answer most questions."


Neji would follow Aiko sensei as they made their way up the street. This was foreign territory to Neji, all he was hearing was people speaking in Chonobi, every sign he tried to read was in Chonobi as well. Again some nerves crept in as he walked the street with Aiko. She then spoke up about not being nervous as most people spoke Takia as well. Neji nodded his head as they continued to make their way to their destination. " Well I am guessing this is the main city for the Hon clan correct?"
Neji was pretty sure he remembered a lesson from the academy about the Hon clan and that this city was their "capital" per se.

"Yes and no." Was the answer at first, being quite vague. "Yes, it is the capital city as it is the centre of administration of the ruling Hon House. A house is basically a regional power, ruled by a family or some families. The Hon clan is led by one person but it is actually divided in various Houses. So while the people here will state that Magnhild is the centre of power and influence of the clan, you will get a different response from asking the same question in, like," Thinking of another city, Aiko continued. "Ecla, for example. Which is the 'capital' of the House of Ecla. Ruled by another family and leader than the House of Magnhild. The only major difference is that the leader of the House of Ecla is a subject of the leader of House of Magnhild." Pausing, Aiko would wait and see if Neji was able to understand it. It wasn't easy material. Let alone to include the subtle but clear vying for political power and influence that existed between the various Hon Houses. Or the way of how the succession worked in the clan.

Deciding to ask a question in return, Aiko shot a sideways look at Neji. "You once trained and worked underneath Hiron Hon, no? How did you find that?"

Neji would listen to Aiko talk about the city and power dynamics of the Hon clan. It was interesting thats for sure, definitely much different than how the Uchiha clan was set up. " Well that is cetaintly interesting, it seems to me that, there could be a lot of power struggles and different power dynamics within the Hon clan, but obviously that is just from an outsiders point of view, I have no idea if that is the case or not. My clan is run differently. While there are those who are in the nobility of the clan, which includes myself. Lord Shozo is still the overall leader of the clan and we all follow him. It is just kind of interesting to me about the different houses and the power struggles and confusion that could cause. Neji put on a slight smile as they walked the streets. Aiko sensei then brought up Hiron sensei, the man he was under in his last squad.

Neji turned his head to her and slightly smiled. " I have nothing but respect for Hiron sensei, he is a strong no nonsense leader who I have a lot of respect for. It was my fault that it didn't work out for me in that squad, Hiron did give me some lessons though that I still use and will continue to use.

Interesting, was one way to put it. Aiko had a slightly different opinion on it. But she would keep her political opinion for herself. Listening to Neji, even though she was well aware on how the Uchiha clan was run, Aiko nodded slowly. "A lot of power pulling happens. So you understand and see that right. But it can grow quite complicated. A slight that perhaps was invoked three years ago can suddenly serve as a reason to bring up a duel between two house leaders. I could try to explain how complicated the politics of the Hon clan can get. But I am certain the same counts for the Uchiha." Aiko responded. Hearing the answer of Neji on the last question, Aiko remained silent for a moment.
"I see. I would most certainly stay true to what Hiron taught you. You wouldn't be the first to grow into a competent shinobi because of it." A warm smile crossed Aiko's lips, though it was obscured by her scarf. "I think I asked it before. But you were a genin back then. Now that you're a chuunin, things will change. You got more responsibility. I need to entrust more tasks to you. But what is that you want to aspire with being a shinobi, Neji?"


Neji nodded as he listened to Aiko sensei " Yes I can imagine that would be the case, all of the houses even though they are apart of the Hon clan they all probably want their own way. That happens in my clan as well." Then came an important question from Aiko sensei. What did Neji want to aspire with being a shinobi. Neji would think as they continued to walk through the town of Magnhild. " Well I want protect the people I care about, I want to do what I can for the empire and for my clan. I want to be like my family members before me including my brother I want to be someone that can be counted on to do things for the empire and my clan. Neji contiued to think on the question. " I guess this might all sound a little naive because as far as I know this might be as far as I progress, I might only ever be a chuunin, but even if that is the case that's okay. As long as I can do what I can to make a difference then I am okay with that. Of course I want to advance, I want to make jounin one day and eventually I want to make it into the Anbu like my brother, but if I stay a chuunin for the rest of my career then that is what it will be as long as I can do what I can to help. Neji contiued to walk " I know I am young still and that I just became a chuunin, but I am ready for more resposnability I want to be to have you count on me like the way you do Kazumo.

Aiko wondered for a moment in which clan there weren't factions or nobles that held their own agenda. Likely a clan that existed out of one family. Then again, the woman was quite well known that within a single family strife could exist or come to be. Listening to Neji's answer, Aiko nodded once but didn't yet say anything in return. Walking with Neji, Aiko continue to lead them to a more open spot. There were stands and lot of people walking around. Yet in the centre of the plaza stood a monument. The statue of a few people raising a banner together. Walking further with Neji towards the monument but the two would come to a halt, holding a respectable distance to the monument.
"You say you want to protect but how far are you willing to go for it?" Aiko began as she gestured to the monument. "Willing to sacrifice your own life? Even if it is unclear if you'll be able to achieve what you want."
Letting a pause follow her words, Aiko looked at the Uchiha. "I am not asking these questions just to test you or make you waver. You have a good heart, Neji. Despite the fact you made a wrong call before, it is clear that you want to help others. Already risked your hide for people of another province. People that weren't part of your clan and kin. The only question I have is how much you're prepared to give for those who might not appreciate your help or gestures."
Looking back at the monument, Aiko had no trouble to recognise the likeness of Hiroshi in the sculptured people. And that of Kiyomi. If things had been different during the Shoji Oppression, perhaps she had been able to help?
"If you want more responsibility then I will give you chances. I entrust Kazumo a tad more because I did more missions with him. I know what his strong suits and weaknesses are. But I will try to offer you the same chance."


The two continued to walk through thr town until they came upon a statue in the middle of what seemed to be a town square. The statue showed a few people raising a banner. He couldn't read the chonobi wiritng on it so he had no idea what it represented. He was then shook back into focus as he heard Aiko sensei speak. " I believe that part of the reason people become shinobi is because they want to protect the people we care about. I believe this is true even for people who don't know how to use chakra who are just regular soldiers and for people who aren't in the millitary at all. We all strive to protect the people and things that we hold dear to us. I wouldn't have become a shinobi if I wasn't prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice." Neji looked back towards the statue before he contiued his answer. " My father once told me that if you care for someone or something then no matter what you will do what you have to do to protect them. I will do what I can even if it appears to be an impossible situation, maybe that makes me naive I understand that. I know I made a mistake, a mistake that I regret, but I have learned from that." He let a few moments before he looked at her and nodded his head making sure she saw. " Thank you Sensei, I won't let you down." The young shinobi flashed a smile before turning his attention back to the statue. He looked it over for a few moments before speaking up again. " What is this monument dedicated too? I still can't understand the chonobi." Neji chcukled a little bit.

Flashing once more a smile as Neji said that he wouldn't let her down, Aiko gazed back at the monument. When Neji brought up the question of the meaning was, Aiko answered. "Its to commemorate the victory against the army of Shoji. During the Occupation, Shoji was unable to gain a hold of the city. The Hons drove what they considered invaders out. Which was followed by Shoji's forces laying siege to the city. That man," Aiko pointed at the sculpture that so closely resembled Hiroshi, "Was the acting commander. Hiroshi Hon. He led the initial defence and managed to keep the enemy out. I don't know how much of it is true but, eventually, Kiyomi Homura arrived. Helping and taking an important part in leading, she devised various plans and attacks on the attackers. Many consider that the city has survived the siege because of her."
For a moment, she let a pause follow her words. If anything, she wished that she could have been present at the siege. But that would have meant that she had to leave Aki and Kei alone, in Konohagakure. Which at that time hadn't been freed either.

"How about we get some lunch and discuss your new training schedule." Aiko suggested, already half turning to lead the way. "As I do think I can begin to give some trust that you will be able to train and advance in some departments."


Neji listened as Aiko explained what the monument commemorated. He had heard of the story before while he was in the academy. The Hon fought valiantly to make sure that Shoji and his forces never took the city. It was a story that all the kids in the academy heard about. " Ah, okay I have heard the story before when I was in the academy." Neji would not speak as he contiued to looked upon the monument until Aiko spoke up again abot getting lunch and discussing his training schedule. Neji smiled " Sure."

The fact that the students at the Academy were taught about it made it sound as if it had happened ages ago. But in reality, it was merely half a decade ago. There were some dark memories as thoughts boiling up but Aiko managed to subdue them quickly enough, to prevent them from reaching the surface. "Good! Come!"

Walking from the monument, Aiko seemed to be searching for something. As they were in the centre of the southern part of the city, there were quite the people around. The colourful atmosphere was created by the various banners and signs. People also seemed to prepare for something, doubling their efforts to keep the streets clean. Nearing a restaurant, Aiko would lead Neji inside. Speaking briefly in Chonobi with a waiter, they would be guided towards a table for two. Once settled down, Aiko said something to the waiter, which promptly left them.
"This is nice. Much better than to sit huddled around a campfire, don't you agree?" Aiko asked, flashing a smile as she shifted in Taika to converse with Neji. "So, they don't have much dishes that you're used to at home. I thought you would love the chance to try something new. How does," picking up the menu, Aiko searched for something, "Mashed potatoes together with some vegetables, on top of that some beef sound?"


As the two made their way away from the monument and towards the restaurants, Neji could tell that the city had a good atmosphere. People seemed happy and busy as well as it seemed that the citizens were preparing for an event of some sort. The city was decorated well with different banenrs in such, most of them being in chonobi so Neji unfortunately could not read them.

Soon they reached the restaurant and Aiko sensei would speak in chonobi to the hostess and then to the waiter. Nejo grabbed a menu but realized that it was in chonobi, he was sure he could ask for a different menu but Aiko seemed to already have something picked out which was fine with him. " Yes it is very nice to not have to eat rations by a campfire either outside or in some abandoned house. It is nice to be able relax and able to actually enjoy a meal." Neji liked the sound of the food that Aiko picked out so he was game to try it. " Sure sounds good to me.'

"Good! I also think this is a moment to truly relax. I will treat as I also suppose that under my supervision you can enjoy one drink. Let us go with some Pinedale ale. Not too heavy or bitter," Aiko replied, sounding quite enthusiastic as she continued. "Now, I do believe that we were going to talk about your future coming schedule. First off, we are going to pick up more genjutsu."

The woman briefly paused as the waiter came back. Doing the orders, Aiko would wait for the waiter to leave them again. "If you want to make your dojutsu capable of performing genjutsu, you will need to start to work more on those. I will provide soon a new technique for you to practice. Not to mention your taijutsu. We are going to work on that. Hmmm," thinking for a second, Aiko would shake her head. "I shouldn't obviously place too much pressure on you. Not to mention that I got to arrange some room for you and the others to train at the local barracks. I doubt you can train inside of the inn you lot are residing. Talking of that inn, is it to your liking?"


Neji briefly smiled as Aiko said that he could have one drink, something that he was not expecting. Neji nodded his head. Aiko would then explain some of the new training he would be doing. She would teach him some new genjutsu that would greatly increase the abilities of his sharingan and she would help train him in taijutsu. Neji chuckled for a moment " Oh don't worry about putting to much pressure on me, pressure is good something that I have already faced in the field and i'm sure I will face it alot more. So might as well get used to it now." Neji paused for a moment as the drinks came. He took his glass that had the pinedale ale in it. He took a sip and found the taste to be not bad. This was actually the first time he ever had pinedale ale and he wasn't exactly sure what to expect but he found it to be good. He would take another sip before turning his attention back to Aiko sensei. " I would also like to possibly learn a new jutsu if we happen to have the time, maybe something that packs a bit more of a punch then what I currently know, but that's only if you think we have time." Neji again would take a sip of his drink before the question about the hotel would come up.

" The inn is very nice, the room is very spacious, the bed was very comfrotable and the bath felt great. Also to not have to share the room with anyone was a nice surprise!"

She wondered how he would reply once he knew how much pressure she would place upon him with just two primary objectives. Though he had a point about facing more of it in the field, in the future.With the drinks coming, Aiko waited for Neji to take his first sip. The ale was sweet in contrast with many other alcoholic beverages. "We will have quite some time before we venture out. Which we will use to get some good training going on. Don't worry about the punch. What I have in mind will certainly be not something lightweight."

The fact that he enjoyed the inn was good. When he stated that the surprise of not having to share any room made Aiko chuckle for a moment. "I am glad. It is good to enjoy and relax from time to time. Certainly after strings of missions without little interval to take it easy." She further replied. "Though I know that it is a bit hard to not understand Chonobi, I do hope that the hostess and the personnel of the inn will treat you well. Else, I would like to hear it right away. It wasn't after all cheap to arrange the rooms, so they better make it worth my coin." The woman smiled before taking a sip of her drink.

Neji smiled as Aiko mentioned that the training would be not be lightweight. " Well I look forward to seeing what that training has in store for me." She then brought up the inn hoping that everyone was treating him well. " Of course, the staff has been very professional and have treated me very well I have absolutely no complaints about the inn or any of the staff." Neji smiled as he took another sip of his drink before their food came out. The waitress set down the big plate on the middle of the table and then Neji and Aiko would both get smaller plates for them to put their portions on. Neji would smiled as he would take his portion of the meal and start ti eat. The food was winderful with great taste as he dug in to his food.

"I am glad to hear that." Aiko responded, genuinely happy with it. There was still some initial doubt that things wouldn't go smoothly. Mostly because of Neji not able to understand or communicate in Chonobi. But as long as it wouldn't be a problem, she saw no reason to make it into a problem. With their food being brought, Aiko would dig in as well. After a few bites, she subtly glanced at Neji to see if he was enjoying his dish. Which seemed the case. "What is the most you're curious about, regarding the city or people, Neji? You have always appeared to me as somebody eager to learn. Did you perhaps know that Hiron was born and raised in this city?" Aiko asked and said, in order to strike some small talk with the chuunin.

Neji would listen to Aiko sensei ask him about what he was most curious about in regards to city or the Hon people. Neji would stop eating to take a sip of his ale as he would think about the question. " I guess i'm most curious about the Hon people as a whole. As an Uchiha we obviously have had our so called disagreements with the Hon and our clans have always been rivals and even enemies before the Hidden Leaf was founded, so I'm just curious about their clan."

She was well aware of those 'disagreements'. Likely there were still elements in both large clans that would be eager to have another go at each other. Though the jounin doubted that would be tolerated. As well hoping that it wouldn't happen for it would be a vacuum of chaos and conflict, dragging more than just two clans into the hypothetical clash. "If you have any questions, I would be happy to give an answer." She answered before taking another bite of her dinner. "Else, I hope you will accompany together with the team for the excursion I have planned."

Neji continued to eat and drink as he heard a mention of an excursion. " Hmm what is this excursion?". Neji was genuinely curious about what Aiko had instore for them. He then would think about some possibly questions he would have about the Hon clan.

"It is a tad hard to explain. But I think the best analogy is to say it is a kind of library." Aiko replied. She searched for a better analogy but couldn't come up with one. Taking a sip of her drink, the woman briefly considered to explain it more. Only to decide that Neji as the others would likely learn of the purpose of the excursion anyways in time. "Anyways, once we have round up here, we can spend some time training. If that is what you would be interested in."


Neji would take a sip of his drink as he heard what Aiko sensei would say about their team's excursion she had planned. " Hmm a library you say." Neji thought about it and wondered if this library in Hon territory would have some books or scrolls that he would be looking for. " Hmm yes I will go on the excursion, I will be very interested to see if this so called library has books or scrolls that I will be looking for." Neji would finish up his meal as he would grab the napkin next to his plate on the table and use it to wipe his face and then set it on the plate so that it will be easier for the workers of the restaurant to clear everything from the table. Aiko then mentioned that they could do some training after they were done at the restaurant if he wanted. Usually he would be all for that, but today he decided he wanted to check out the city instead, there would be plenty of time to train later. " Actually Aiko sensei if it is alright with you I want to check out more of the city. There will be plenty of time for me to train later whether it is with you or by myself, but since I am here I figured I should try and see as much of the city as I can."

Aiko was wondering what kind of books and scrolls Neji was on the lookout for. But she wouldn't yet indulge into that. Certainly not after being surprised to hear that the Uchiha was more curious about the city. A brief pause would follow Neji's words as Aiko would progress what he just said. "That is alright with me, of course. Do you want to explore it by yourself or wish me to accompany you?" The woman asked, already pulling out her wallet to pay for the food and drink.

" If you don't mind coming along I would appreciate it. It would be nice to have someone who knows the city be able to show me a round a little bit. Also since the people here are warry of people from my clan right now it might be best that I don't travel around on my own so much." Neji thought about for a moment before looking back to Aiko sensei. " But please if you are busy and have other things to do, I can go on my own I will be fine." Neji smiled as he knew that she was very busy and Neji didn't want to force her to stay with him if she had important things she had to take care of.

[/spoili]
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[fieldbox="Operation Winter Hunters - Hanaguro Team, Orange"]Yamada Suzu "Rabbit"| Akinian Empire, Near the Pink District of Hanaguro
Suzu spends her time waiting for Meilin or any member of Team 4 at the designated location for their rendezvous, a tavern known as the "Lazy Farmer". Team 4 never shows, and Suzu decides to humor a nice young gentlemen that approaches her as she waits.
[spoili]

The Lazy Farmer was crowded. Far more so than Suzu had expected at this time of the night. Every table with chairs was full to the brim, the standing tables were almost all in use, and the bar was a flowing crowd of people trying to order drinks over the low roar of all the commotion and over the top of it all was the band playing on the far side of the room some tune Suzu didn't know and had written off as something from the region most likely.

She took a drink from the glass of whiskey before her, letting out a small hiss of breath after she swallowed at the stinging sensation in her throat. She was among the many in the Inn using the standing tables, except that her table was the only one that had only a single occupant. She had been there for almost an hour at this point, and was on her sixth glass of whiskey, and still there was no sign of Meilin or either of her teammates for the meetup. Perhaps it was a good thing in a place so crowded that no one came to make the meet. She spun the whiskey in her cup idly as she watched the door for one of the three Chuunin to walk through it, but was slightly let down when time after time it was just more men getting off work or arriving already drunk from a different Inn.

Suzu took another drink of her whiskey, placing it down softly on the wooden table, the many marks of cups left too long to sit on the deep brown of the wood letting her know she likely wasn't the first to be sitting here alone, although perhaps it was just the opposite. Maybe every single one of those cups marks were just one in a larger group, coworkers or friends out for a fun night on the streets of Hanaguro. She tapped her fingers on the edge of the glass as she wondered how many people had sat in this same spot before her. She raised the glass. With another hiss of air she breathed slowly out while at the same time lifting the cup in the air and shaking it for one of the tavern girls to see. From behind her a young blonde girl, probably a few years younger than Meilin swooped by and took the glass from her hand without even asking what she had been drinking. It was the same girl from earlier, Yuki if Suzu's mind served her correctly. She had only had to ask what was in the glass the first time she had taken it from Suzu, and that was seven glasses ago.

Yuki appeared back in Suzu's periphery, a pale blonde figure dancing between drunken men and women before she expertly slid the glass across the table into Suzu's waiting hand, she stopped it with her fingertips, gently cupping the glass and following it to the edge of the table where she took its weight as it slipped off the edge. She brought the drink back to her mouth and took down half of it in one go. This time she held her breath, the burning sensation of the alcohol filling her throat and threatening to blow out through her chest as if it were some sort of wretched gunpowder weapon firing from within. She exhaled, the sudden relief of the alcohol bringing a small wave over her as she downed the rest of the glass. She studied the glass for a moment, questioning where its contents had gone before she placed it back down on the table in front of her.

She cocked her head to the side, the bright yellow glow of the lanterns on the wall casting a few sharp lines across her sight and a halo just around the fires themselves, she could swear she was seeing doubles. She leaned a bit more on the table, her head searching for Yuki before she found her talking with a group of young looking men. The smile on her face appeared genuine, but there was no way to know how good a pretty young girl like that had gotten at pretending to care about the men that no doubt lusted for her in a place like this. Yuki caught Suzu's gaze and seemed to say her apologies before whisking herself away from the group and to Suzu.

"Another Miss?" she asked as she took the glass from the table, "I don't mean to be rude, but I think you should call it a night. He's not coming." she said, a sad little undertone present in her voice as she did.

Suzu cocked an eyebrow up and her face twisted into a small smile of confusion, "I'm not waiting for any man, at least I'm pretty sure I'm not." she said as she waved at Yuki, "Another, then I'll call it a night, deal?" she asked as she slid a silver coin onto the table which Yuki quickly snatched up.

"Deal."

Suzu rested her head in her hands for a moment, her eyelids felt heavy. It'd been a long time since she'd gotten drunk, a long time since she'd let herself get drunk. She smiled at a random stranger as they looked her way and continued on by with a friend. She lowered her head back to the table in time to watch as Yuki slid the final drink of the night across the table, she caught it clumsily in her hand, a small splash of the liquid within splashing over the lip onto the webbing of her hand. Suzu raised the glass up and licked the liquor from her thumb and forefinger before taking a drink. When she placed the cup down she was no longer alone at the table.

"Evening." a man of about a hundred eighty inches with muscled arms and a bit of stubble growing around his face spoke across the table just loud enough to be heard over the dull roar of the Inn. His dark brown eyes seemed to extend forever in his head and black hair was slicked in waves that spoke of some sort of hard labor as his job, he raised a hand toward Yuki as she passed and spoke something only she could hear. Yuki smiled, turned to Suzu and smiled a bit wider as if to say 'He made it.' and hurried off. "I'm Liu, I couldn't help but notice you here all alone when I walked in." his words were crisp, his gaze was precise. He wasn't drunk in the slightest Suzu concluded, "Is there a reason a lady like yourself is all alone tonight? Can't be someone would stand you up, they'd be the dumbest man alive." he said as a different server dropped off a pint of ale.

Suzu considered her options. She could leave, make her way back to the shitty inn room her and Ino had picked out and spend the night on the bed that reeked of piss and was hard as brick, she could sleep on a park bench, or maybe find out how comfortable Liu's bed was instead of those two options. "Something like that." she managed out as she leaned a bit in towards Liu so she could better hear him, he leaned closer too. She took another drink from her glass, smaller this time, unsure if Yuki would get her another now that her second had arrived she had to make it last. "And you? Shouldn't you have gone home to shower before trying to pick up ladies Liu?" she laughed a little as Liu flushed a bit before gaining back his color.

"It wasn't the plan tonight, I just couldn't help it when I saw you all alone over here, looking like you were missing something important." he spoke a bit softer now, their new proximity lending his voice easier to her ears, "Can't leave a beautiful lady looking sad, my Dad always used to say." Suzu laughed at that one, she felt it would have been the right response.

"You must be a lot like your Dad then... He as corny as you or have you surpassed him?" Suzu asked as she raised an eyebrow and took another drink from her cup. She placed it on the table, just a small amount left for her to finish while she continued to watch Liu.

"Something like that, you could say we're similar." Liu replied as he took a long drink from his pint of ale, "So, tell me about yourself, I don't even know your name yet but by all accounts this seems to be going well," he pointed at Suzu, "Most have walked away by now. Usually the hair I think." he mused and took another long drink from his ale.

Suzu shrugged her shoulder, 'Maybe I just want a comfortable bed.', "Maybe you're a bit more interesting than your hair is disgusting." she said quietly between them before continuing, "I'm Mai, I work for a tailor some ways away from here… How about you Liu? What do you do?" she asked the relative stranger in front of her.

"I work down at the docks, loading cargo onto barges that take it across the river, hard work…" he flexed his arms in a bit of a show, Suzu snickered to humor him, "But it pays off in some ways." he finished his ale, and like clockwork Yuki was already at the table with a second which he happily scooped up and began to drink. "Been thirsty since near midday, didn't get a break since." he apologized after nearly finishing his second pint. It appeared he had pinned Suzu for the kind of girl that wouldn't mind such a thing. Hell look where she was.

"Hard working man like yourself, they don't get you anything to drink down at the docks all day? Or did your mother just forget to pack your lunch ?" she joked with him, reaching her hand out to touch the tips of his fingers. Liu raised his eyes in a question, Suzu simply held her smile. The warmth of Liu's hand caused her to lose time for a second. A wave of euphoria waned slowly across her mind as she remembered the men from earlier today, of what she'd done to them. She shivered, began to pull her hand away but Liu stopped it from leaving.

"I live alone thank you very much." he said confidently. Any other girl, it wouldn't have worked, but Suzu was hoping for this even if she hadn't expected the invitation so soon.

"Do you?" she questioned. "I'm not sure I can believe a man I just met in a tavern less than twenty minutes ago." she said as she shrugged. There was a third pint of ale empty on the table, she wasn't sure when he'd finished it. But at this point she was sure she was drunk enough to fake it tonight. She stood up and pulled him with her toward the door, she noticed Yuki nodding and smiling at another table to her as she pulled Liu out of the tavern.

Liu gasped as he was pulled along, likely surprised by her strength, "Mei?" he questioned. Was he astonished it had worked as well?

"Mai." she stated, "Aren't you going to prove you live alone?" she stopped in the street and crossed her arms over her chest, placing a bit of emphasis as she did, "Or am I going to get stood up twice tonight?". Liu grabbed her hand and led her down the road. For a moment she felt an odd sense, perhaps guilt? She turned back to the Lazy Farmer, Meilin wasn't coming, Team 4 wasn't coming, and Ino wouldn't bat an eye if she showed up tomorrow morning instead of tonight.
[/spoili][/fieldbox]
 
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[fieldbox="Beware of Your Valuables, #00B2EE"]Kukiko Yuki | Jounin of Team 17 | Republic of the Water Country, Kirigakure, Near Kitoka Square

@Walter Swan @malina
Kukiko stared for a moment at her student, a bright pink kimono strapped about her and a fake accent over her own. Kukiko sighed, shook her head slightly and smiled down at her young student, "I'm not sure at what point you decided a pink kimono was good to blend into the drab colors of Kiri... But I can't change it anymore." she stated before turning to look down the road that Shion had come from, "Any sign of Shika, Shion? It's past time for her to be here, although it's not going to break this mission if she isn't present..." Kukiko raised a hand to her temples, the idea of having to do some sort of disciplinary paperwork over this didn't sit well with the Jounin, she'd rather take her out for some "supplemental training" if she got the chance.

She turned back to Shion and nodded as if she had made up her mind on something. "Mission is rather simple Shion..." she gestured to the large square farther to their left, "There is a rather skilled pickpocket working this square, and we're here to stop them." she pointed to Shion, "Since you appear to be Ms. Rich Girl, we can use you as bait." she handed a purse full of fake coin to Shion as she spoke the weight and sounds the coins made as she did indiscernible from the real thing, "Tie this somewhere that it doesn't make it obvious you want to get pick-pocketed, and keep a good eye on it, it could disappear at any moment with how good this crook is." she said to Shion before gesturing for her to follow. As she made her way to Kitoka Square she'd fall slightly behind Shion, "I'll be in sight, but not right next to you. Don't panic if the pickpocket comes for you. Keep your head about your shoulders, and please don't use that sword in these tight quarters. Give chase only until you're clear from innocents, then you can use that sword."

With her final words to the Genin Kukiko fell back some ways and to the edge of the road, distancing herself enough to appear to be completely separate from the girl in the pink kimono.[/fieldbox]
 
[fieldbox="Beware of your Valuables – The Worm on the Hook, SkyBlue"]
Shion Kobayashi | Genin of Team 17 | Republic of the Water Country, Kirigakure, Near Kitoka Square

@FrostedCaramel @malina
_____________________________________________________________________________________

"Maybe Shika-chan's still recovering from her injuries from the test?" Shion replied as Kukiko asked about her partner, "Ahh, I hope she didn't reopen her wounds. She looks like the type to do menial labors."

The swordsman looked at her own kimono as Kukiko commented on her clothings, "Really? I saw other girls wear these kinds of clothes into the marketplace all the time."

"Pickpocket, huh?" Shion replied as she listened to the mission briefing while taking the bag of coins from the jonin, "Good thing I stand out then."

She couldn't tie the bag to the left side as the pickpocket might touch the kimono and noticed the sword hidden underneath. With this in mind, she tied the bag to the right side of her obi, leaving it hanging beside her hip. Hopefully that would be enough to draw the criminal in, she thought as she adjusted her kimono. As the Jonin moved away, Shion wandered around the square, moving from stall to stall as she checked each of their products. Although it appeared that she was windows-shopping, her mind was focused on her bag of coins, waiting for the moment the pickpocket strikes.

[/fieldbox]
 
[fieldbox=The Fourth Amekage, #4dffff]
Amegakure. The capital of the Rain province.
In the Amekage office complex.

First a collab between Chromehound and Aliceee.
Afterwards a small post to display the aftermath.

Summary:
Kiyomi and Matatabi speak about the affair, regarding the Zealots having Tatsuya Hon and thus by that extension the Kyuubi kidnapped. Discussing briefly some of Kiyomi's plan, the young empress then sets out to elect the new Amekage before setting out towards Konohagakure.


[spoili]
Many papers were spread out over the desk. Papers on the potential candidates for the next Amekage. Thus the next governor of the Rain province. Yet, on top of those were a few reports. That had nothing to do with the politics in the Rain province. They were reports on the teams that had been send out with haste to try to recover the track of a certain individual. Leaning over the desk, her hands clenched as fists and resting against the dark wood, Kiyomi's gaze raced over the last report. As much as she expected, the zealots were moving eastwards after making a feint to the west. The 'invidividual' that they had with them was more of importance though, than to try to just eliminate the last remains of the Zealots in the Rain province.

Placing the report away, on the chaotic pile of other sheets of paper, Kiyomi felt the urge once more to gear up and move out herself. The idea that the targets were moving east meant that they would try to move over the sea, back to the eastern continent. And while it was most tempting to just move out and ambush them herself, she couldn't leave Amegakure. Not just yet. First, she had to appoint the next Amekage and then try to pick up the trail of the target Zealot group. In some reports it was stated that the ANBU and other operatives believed that they could take down the target zealot group. But Kiyomi didn't consider that an option. It was personal now.

Just before she could formulate how and where she would ambush the Zealot group, the door to the Amekage office went open. The young monarch looked up, a frown present on her brow. Another Sworn Sword that allowed to pass by those who guarded the door on the other side. Carrying yet another report in his gloved fist. Mumbling a thanks as the guard handed over the report and took his leave, Kiyomi wouldn't wait to open the document. Reading through the content, the corner of the teen's lips started to lower. Slowly placing the paper down, Kiyomi felt her rage only more rising.

Suzuka Uzumaki. Killed in action.

"I hope that I don't disturb you during your beauty sleep but I could use your help right now," Kiyomi's eyes would narrow as she stared at the status report of the mission. She had some faith that Suzuka could have done something more in the Noodle province. Clearly, she had placed too much faith into the Uzumaki. At least, his body had been recovered so that his family could give him the burial he deserved.

If only he had been able to sleep, that would have been nice... Was it too much to ask for a little peace? Sighing, Matatabi raised his head slightly, letting out an exaggerated yawn and stretching out his stiff shoulders. "I know females of your species tend to be overly emotional, but perhaps you could turn down the rage a little," Matatabi lamented, sighing again. "It is like a furnace in here when you get all cranky. And believe me, I am made of fire... I should not be uncomfortable with heat." Shaking his head, his complaints all finished, Matatabi stood and stretched out his back, relishing in the feeling. "Hmmmm, how may I be of assistance little one?"

In a more normal situation, Kiyomi would have found the banter amusing. Enough to either retort or continue. But now she simply ignored the playful complaints of the Bijuu. "I need to know how well you can sense another Bijuu. I remember that you can recognise it as if it is a scent? Would it be plausible that you could in a certain sense, sniff and track it?" She asked. A plan started to hatch in Kiyomi's mind as she already worked on the next step, regardless of what her answer could be.

Matatabi did not answer right away, though she had piqued his curiousity. Summoning himself into the room, Matatabi glanced at the girl in front of him. Raising one fiery eyebrow, the feline paced in front of her dek. "Do you think I am some sort of.... dog?" He asked, shivering at the thought of those mangy beasts. Waiting another moment before officially answering her question, Matatabi would have enjoyed toying with her more, however, Kiyomi's frustration was evident. "In the right circumstance, I suppose yes. It would be possible for me to track one of my siblings... What did you have in mind?"

The green eyes settled upon the appearing Bijuu, in the size of a cat. "No, cause else I would have called for one, Lord Matabi," Kiyomi replied, a certain sliver of annoyance clear when announcing the bijuu. "I have in mind to track a certain group of Zealots. They have managed to gain hold of the Kyuubi's host. I want him back and those bastards dead. However," She would pull up a piece of paper and place it on the top, so that it was visible for Matatabi as well. "I can't move away from the city. I don't want to delegate the retrieval task to anybody just yet. And they got a hostage, more dangerous than a few platoons of jounin. Under the right circumstances, of course." Moving her gaze back upon Matatabi, Kiyomi's tone became more even. "So, I need to know. When I am going to pursue them. Will you be able to provide any support?"

Scoffing as she called him Lord Matatabi, the bijuu's head nevertheless swelled up with a hint of pride. It may have been a sarcastic comment, but Matatabi did not care. The mention of his brother, however, caught his attention and Matatabi turned, his eyebrows furrowing. Glancing towards the paper, the feline leapt onto the desk to get a better look. The nine tails and he had a... strained relationship, to say the least. A part of him wanted to refuse assistance just to spite the pretentious fox. Letting out a grumpy sigh, however, Matatabi turned back to Kiyomi. "What sort of support did you have planned for me?" he asked, "If you plan on pursuing them yourselves, which I do not recommend by the way, then I am curious as to what you and I would be doing exactly..."

When Matatabi stated he couldn't recommend to pursue the Zealots, Kiyomi wanted to sneer something. Holding her tongue, Kiyomi looked briefly back at the map. "They likely consider the bijuu to be of great importance. I want to use that against them. They could capture you in a way like you are now. But it would be just a shadow clone of yourself. Where you true self is still sealed inside of me." The teen explained as she locked her eyes back on the odd cat. "So I want you later to be of aid to track them down. Then before I will move in with some others, you will attack from the inside. Like that, they will be facing attacks coming from more than just one angle. You could even try to rescue the Kyuubi's host while I give you cover."

Matatabi's tail flicked back in forth, a sign of his annoyance. Narrowing his eyes, he turned from Kiyomi, pacing the top of the desk slowly. "And what if these zealots have some way to trap me despite just being a shadow copy? Hmm?" Glancing back at the girl, the sneer was clear in his tone. "If the Bijuu are as important to these people as you believe, would it not be possible that they have some method of capturing us? If your plan hinges upon you using me as bait with the assumption that they won't be able to do anything, then I must admit I am not overly impressed so far." He had ignored the mention of rescuing the Kyuubi's host for the time being. While it would be tempting to have his brother owe him one, Matatabi still had not made up his mind on whether or not he felt like getting him out of this mess.

"Then I either summon you or you dismiss yourself. Simple as that." Kiyomi replied back. "And what would you have me do then? I am to come with a plan before hand. I know that it is risky but so is fighting in general. The bigger risk is to let them drip off with the Kyuubi and find a host of their own. Then we will be dealing with that. So, please, great lord, do enlighten me." Speaking in a slightly faster pace, Kiyomi straightened her back as her hands clasped around her hips. "So either you help me or I will have to do this alone. Literally, your move or call. Whatever you have!"

His frown deepening, Matatabi considered his options. One way or another, this girl was going to get herself - and him - killed some day... "You really do enjoy making my life difficult, don't you?" the feline sighed. Glancing at the edge of the table where something caught his eye, Matatabi slowly made his way towards it. "I will help you, girl, seeing as I do not have much choice in the matter. Though I would like to have a little more of a plan than just, "Throw the fiery kitty towards them and hope they all flee in terror..." Is that too much to ask?"

Kiyomi's eyes narrowed as the jade green in the teen's eyes startened to grow darker. When Matatabi announced that he would help, despite not having much choice, Kiyomi remained silent. "I suppose not. But at the current situation, I don't have much else." Gesturing to the map with her right hand, the motion almost screamed frustration and irritation. "I have only some information on the size of the group and that they are moving eastwards. Likely trying to reach a spot where they can move to the eastern continent. With you being a bait, I am hoping that I could stall them enough to move in and take them down. But if you have any suggestions, then please. I am all ears."

"Well that entirely depends," Matatabi began, glancing briefly at the map, before continuing along his path, "Who are you planning on bringing with you for this? Aside from me of course..."

"Not certain. I would have liked to bring along some Guardians. Some specific in mind. But that is out of the question. The people who know me and my fighting style as having fought beside me, are gone. I could take Hiron but I don't want that. I rather not have him hear any of this, at all." Kiyomi thought out loud as she shook her head. "I could bring some Sworn Swords. But I prefer a small company. Not to mention that captain-commander Katashi would have me locked up if he knew about me planning this. Which means that I have to depend on a capable person that will cooperate. Which, sadly, is a rare combination in these times." Thinking about it, Kiyomi started to pace.

"I think I will inquire on Aiko will feel about it. She is quite competent in missions like these. I can try to see how her squad is and then perhaps one more squad. Perhaps some ANBU? I can't take too many with me or else the risks of detection will become too high." Frowning, Kiyomi stopped pacing as she turned back towards Matatabi. "So far, only Aiko is on my mind. Everybody else might sooner disagree than agree. And that means we will go straight back to Konohagakure. Without me able to do this, myself."

"Hmpf," Matatabi snorted. "There certainly are a lot of people that would not like you to do this, aren't there?" Reaching the edge of the table where a nice cup rested, filled with a liquid he could not identify yet, the feline glanced at the cup before turning back to Kiyomi. "Something tells me, however, that the more people tell you not to do something, the more inclined you are to do it. Perhaps I should just start telling you to not stay in this safe, cozy place. Maybe then we'd finally get some peace and quiet..." Lifting one of his paws, he scratched behind his ear, thinking. "Of all the people you trust, which, if I had fingers, I am fairly certain I could count on two paws, it sounds like you are not confident they will want to accompany you."

Closing his eyes as he managed to scratch the right spot, Matatabi went silent for a moment, enjoying the blissful feeling. "And what will you do then, if Aiko is unavailable?"

"Don't worry. I imagine that there is a number of people who would love to see me go as well. " Was Kiyomi's initial reply. Not wanting to reply to the comment about her seemingly inclined to do something because others told her not, Kiyomi scoffed lightly. However, the question on what she would if Aiko wouldn't be available, Kiyomi would once more lean on the desk. Bringing her thus closer to Matatabi. "I will see then. As I don't have much choice at the given moment, I guess that I just got to improvise. Besides, I got you. I imagine that you would be already quite the help in a scuffle. Or am I mistaken?"

"You have plenty of choice girl," Matatabi said, still not wholly convinced that this mission was necessary for Kiyomi to be a part of. "While I am a great and powerful warrior, a well known fact," the feline said, his flames swelling with pride, "There is only so much I will be able to do while tethered to you." Raising an eyebrow, Matatabi placed one hand on the cup, pushing gently to see how heavy it was. Turning his attention back to Kiyomi, he continued, "Why can you not trust another squad to handle this?"

"Don't think about doing that," Kiyomi shot a frowned as sharp look to the cup, expecting Matatabi to be curious if he could just push it from the desk. "And I can't. It is..." Growing more frustrated and angry, she pushed herself from the desk and wanted to kick the chair away. To curse at her heart's content. "The Kyuubi's host is a boy. A brat, perhaps. Not talented or skillful. Hell, I know of more competent shits that were spun by idiots. However," turning back to Matatabi, Kiyomi's lips were curled down once more. "He is stark loyal to me. Believed in me. Not going to save his hide is the same as squandering that. It pisses me off but I can't let him just be rescued by anybody else. There," throwing a gesture towards Matatabi, Kiyomi started to pace again. "Mock me for all you want. It is my sense of 'honor', if you would call it like that."

"Seems more like a sense of pride than honour," Matatabi teased, glancing back at the cup that she did not seem to want him pushing. Letting out a low purr, he pushed the cup again, ever so slightly shifting it. Looking back at Kiyomi, he tilted his head to the side. "So you feel you need to rescue this... boy... by yourself, in order to fulfil some sense of honour or some debt you believe you owe him?" Scoffing, Matatabi shook his head. "Is this how you will react to everyone who shows you an ounce of loyalty? People are fickle creatures and rarely appreciate what you do for them. They will always want more. If you go running off every time some helpless fool that happened to believe in you gets caught, you'll never be the leader you hope to be. You do understand that, don't you?"

Shooting a glare, at first, towards Matatabi, Kiyomi didn't react. Continuing to pace, she tried to block his words out. "No, of course not!" Was her initial response, turning back to Matatabi. "I am not going to risk my hide for just every loyal bastard. Not just for anybody. However, that boy once threw himself into a fight. Would have been his dead and he knew it. Yet without question, he did so. For me." The facial features of Kiyomi only started to show more disdain towards the current situation regarding Tatsuya. "I know how fickle people can be. But that doesn't mean that I have to be like them. I do what I deem fit. Fuck what they want." Almost spitting on the ground to strenghten her words, Kiyomi started to pace once more. "Besides, it is for my benefit to keep those Zealots from getting their hands on the Kyuubi. That is what matters even more." Though sounding confident, there was a sliver of a certain emotion ringing through Kiyomi's voice.

Her outburst clearly meant he was pushing the right buttons, but Matatabi was uncertain whether or not he should probe further. Their bond already allowed him to know much of what she was thinking. Despite her best efforts to have him believe she had ulterior motives for helping her friend, Matatabi knew Kiyomi too well. Truth was, she was different from most of the other people he had met. She could be petty, yes, she could be wrathful, that much was certainly true (though Matatabi was certain it was heavily influenced by her gender), but above all, the girl had more heart than he had seen in a long time. She kept it well hidden at most times, but it was very difficult for her to hide it from him. Letting out another sigh, the feline nodded. "Fine." Sitting, he met Kiyomi's gaze. "You will have my help on this. despite my better judgement here, I will help you."

Expecting more mockery from the bijuu, she was half considering to force him back. Though certain she wouldn't be able, it was a most tempting thought. When Matatabi, however, stated that he would help her, Kiyomi lowered her hands. For a moment, distust became visible As if she could simply gain insight on if he had other motives to give in, Kiyomi simply nodded. "Good. Makes things much easier. I might reconsider even to use you for something else as bait." A bit more enthousaism came back in both her voice and movement. Walking back to the desk, she seemed to search for something. Picking up a map from a report, Kiyomi placed her finger on a marked spot. "The last sighting of the zealots was here. They are likely avoiding the main roads and settlements. If they are heading eastwards in the same fashion, I can set up some hindrances to prevent them from moving too far. Then once we have mustered a capable group, we will move in. Picking the fight where we want it to be."

Looking at the map as Kiyomi gestured towards a specific point, Matatabi tilted his head. "Do you have a team who can run interference on this? Or even a couple of operatives you can trust to hinder their progress?" Looking back towards Kiyomi, the feline scratched behind one of his ears. "If we are to stop them before they get too far away, it will be best to get moving on this before we lose track of them. I am certain I can track them well enough, but if they have done anything to mask my brother's presence, or have been able to hide it away at all, then there is only so much I can do."

"I have a few teams of Sworn Swords who will do so without question. But Katashi or Iroh will pick up quickly. And once either of them will learn of what I will be plotting, they will be quick to act." Kiyomi thought out loud as she stared at the map, almost as if she was expecting it would hold the answer for her. "I rather not entrust this to any regular team. Loyal as people might be so far, I will need to rely on other operatives. Those who are aware of when to keep their lips sealed." She threw a glance towards Matatabi. "Seeing that the dead won't talk, I think I know a few reliable teams to hinder their progress. As for moving on, I first have to move towards Konohagakure. Settle a few things and see if anything else needs my attention. Perhaps I should state that I want a chakra tracer on the target's group. Just to be on the safe side that they are trying to cloak their presence or that of your brother's." Becoming silent for a second as Kiyomi turned her gaze back at the map.

"But first things first. Electing a new Amekage."
[/spoili]

Two days later.​


The ceremony wasn't that spectacular Held in front of the Amekage office, there were the usual guards that kept a line between the quickly build stage and curious public. The Sworn Swords were both in clear sight as having various operatives hidden in the public, still wary for any signs of hostility or unrest.

It wasn't a long ceremony, for which Kiyomi was most grateful. A herald would first announce her by her various titles and a small speech was given. Nothing special either and it all started to work on Kiyomi's mood. If anything, she wanted to continue with other affairs than to meddle in some ceremony. Perhaps on a different time and in another situation, she would have enjoyed herself a tad more. But now? She rather rode out, back to Konohagakure.

Chika Suzuhara, that was the name of the woman that was brought on the stage. After the woman took her oath, swearing fealty to Kiyomi and the Empire, the young empress would place a wreath upon the woman. The light rain pouring from the sky, made the atmosphere of the event appear a tad sombre, in Kiyomi's opinion but she wouldn't dread upon that.

Staying a brief while in the aftermath, Kiyomi wouldn't waste any chance or time to get herself ready. Most of the servants that had accompanied her during the trek towards Konohagakure were still busy loading packages into the various carriages. Kiyomi, however, had Katashi arrange a portion of the Sworn Swords be mounted as ready to travel back to the Imperial capital.
Before most of the carriages that were used for the servants as packages were loaded or done, Kiyomi was already mounted on her own steed. Riding through the rain, the young empress would travel at a quick pace back towards Konohagakure as a company of Sworn Swords escorted her.

[/fieldbox]
 
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[fieldbox="A Message?, magenta, dashed, 10, Tahoma"]
Tomiko Hyuuga | Konohagakure Genin | Konohagakure, Hyuuga Compound​
She wasn't sure how long she'd been in that garden. Tomiko only knew that by the time her tears finally stopped, the sun had changed its position in the sky. Light now trickled through the trees in small beams similar to that of a spotlight. It was truly a surreal scene, in an otherwise perfectly still garden for the dead to rest small beams of light illuminated certain aspects as if to draw attention to them. One fell perfectly upon the small statue of a fallen Hyuuga, likely a hero in some battle forgotten. Yet in this moment he glowed brilliantly, another fell upon Akio Hyuuga. The first Hyuuga, and according to some stories a prophet of Tian himself. She spotted various other statues like this, then felt a warmth spread across her features as sunlight started to trickle through and cast a spotlight around her. The shadows gripping her seemed to flow away in the warmth, and for a moment Tomiko's attention was stolen by the eerie beauty in the garden at the moment. As soon as the spectacle had begun, however, it ended and once more the garden was overtaken by the shadows. As if this had shaken her from her stupor, the girl got to her feet and looked around. Wondering to herself for a moment why the sun had illuminated all those statues and memorials. She shook her head, unsure if it was just happenstance or some sort of message from a higher power. She doubted it to be the latter, she wasn't anybody special.

Pushing the thoughts from her mind, the Hyuuga brushed off her black dress where it had gotten dirty from her falling to her knees earlier. Giving a last look towards the wall where her brother now rested, the girl turned and began making her way down the pristine stone path to lead her out of the garden. As she left, she could spot a few figures dressed in all white silently entering the garden. The caretakers, priestesses who's only job was to ensure the garden remained in a perfect condition for those who had fallen. She paid them no mind and instead continued out the gate only to be blinded by the rays of the sun. Tomiko soon realized that it was only midday, meaning she had been in that garden for about two hours. Mom and Dad must be worried. She thought to herself and started walking the familiar path back towards her home. The day, despite now being a cloudless one, seemed to hold a dreary air all about it. Not once did she hear the familiar sounds of children playing in the street, or the usual bustle of people moving about the compound. Instead, it seemed like the whole world had gone silent in mourning of her fallen brother.

It wouldn't be long before she reached her home and slowly made her way inside. Both her parents seemed to be going about preparing lunch in complete silence, the mood didn't really hold for her father's silly little jokes. Not after that day. Closing the door behind her, she drifted towards the kitchen where the strong aroma of chǎo má shi lured her in. The dish had been a favorite of Hiraku's when he was younger. Before either of her parents could speak, Tomiko pointed them towards the dining room. "I'll take care of lunch, you two go sit down." She said, thinking that it was her turn to take care of her parents in their time of need. As she went about finishing preparing lunch, Tomiko thought about what had happened in the garden. Surely it had just been a beautiful coiencidence, but she couldn't shake that little fantasy in her mind.

What if it had been some message, what did it mean?[/hr][/fieldbox]
 
Last edited by a moderator:
[fieldbox=Team Mika, royalblue]
Kirigakure, trainingfields.
A collab between Celestial, Jason, Zane and Aliceee.

Summary:
The three genin of Team Mika are subject to a harsh training of their jounin-leader. With two already late, the training becomes harder with Mika ordering the two genin to lay down any weapons or pouches, not allowed to use them. Then the warming up already shows how painful today's training will be.

Part I


[spoili]
The team had gathered. The first to arrive was Aya Oda. The girl was greeted with a curt nod from Mika. Not much was spoken between them as neither the jounin nor genin had likely something to bring up. Which was fine with Mika. The sense of peace and tranquility was more soothing than to adhere to the social norm of striking a conversation. Then Mika's mood started to drop as both Taishiro and Aito would appear late. The jounin simply greeted them with a frowned expression and silence.

"Right." She said, breaking the uncomfortable silence after both Aito as Taishiro had apologised for getting late. "You two," shooting the latecomers a glance. "Drop every weapon and pouch you have on you. Today's training will be more difficult for you two. I am tempted to have you both flogged but that will cost more time and effort." The jounin spoke with an even tone and nodded towards Aya, a sign that they would begin today's meeting and training.

"No need for introductions. We would have ample time for that but two of you screwed that. Give me fifteen push ups, thirty laps around this field. And I warn you three right now." The tone of the jounin would become colder than before. "Any slacking will be even more 'rewarded'. Now, to it."

The late arrival of her teammates was a bit unexpected, she expected then somewhat sooner but they were really actually late. Something Mika wasn't very happy with as she ordered them to drop their every weapon and pouch of items they had. A hard lesson as it would make today's training more difficult for them. She had to resist chuckling a bit as she would stand up as things were finally going to start.

No introductions as she made it known, glancing at the other two she couldn't help but be a bit relieved, it was getting rather pointless remembering all these names of people that just ended up dying. However her relaxed attitude suddenly got a bit more confused as she had to join in on their punishment. A confused expression turned to annoyance as she glared at Taishiro and Aito.

Cursing mentally she would drop and start doing the push ups, which wasn't super difficult. Annoying that she had to do them cause those two were late. In fact her anger probably made her push ups a bit easier, as she finished first and took off jogging. Thirty laps…. Well this would take a bit.

Hearing Mika's even tone, yet combined with the disappointed look from her made Taishiro worry a bit for the training. As she issued their punishment, Taishiro simply nodded in acceptance. He had after all been a part of the issue for not getting here on time. From the corner of his eye he could see Aya glaring towards the two boys and mentally sighed. Maybe she'd decide to sit out the training today as well?

Dropping his gear as ordered, Taishiro had an easy enough time getting through the assigned pushups. Getting up just after Aya finished her set, the boy started to jog around the field. 30 laps? Not as easy as the pushups. Attempting to mentally prepare himself, the genin had no doubt today would be a rather painful and exhausting lesson.

And just like that his late start meant things would be on a bad footing for now. The frown made him shift his eyes and Aito nodded as they were told today's activities. Dropping his weapons and pouch he started to do his pushups, getting lost in thought as he slowly went up and down. Glancing over he noticed Aya and Taishiro were already on their jogging, while he was still around twenty push ups. Blinking he quickly finished the rest, moving faster now as he stumbled to his feet to catch up to his new teammates. "H-hey, sorry for being late.. w-wait up!" The younger male's words soft still as he spoke, his feet hitting the ground as he ran to be on par with the others.

"U-uh hi, uhm.. I am Aito, nice to meet you." His hand went to pat Taishiro's back and the other went towards Aya. "Looks like we already are bonding over training." He laughed softly and tried to be a bit energetic. Not that he wasn't but he was also worried he already was making bad impressions. "So what jutsus do you guys know? Anything cool? Like ba bam?! Or is it more like silent and deadly?"

Crossing her arms, Mika watched how the three genin would do as she asked. Yet, the eyes of the woman narrowed. Something clearly had ticked her off and caused her mood to even grow more foul than it had been before. Slowly, the hands of the jounin would move to each other. Weaving the required handseals slowly but surely, Mika would flex the fingers of her right hand.

Just as Aito was done with his questions, a whip of water would lash out. Instead of wrapping itself around its first victim, the pressured water would slam against the back of Aito's head. Pulling the whip back, Mika already aimed her next attack. This time, she would aim for the back of Taishiro's head. "Dodge it and you deserve another one. Better thank me afterwards," the woman calmly instructed the three genin as she would aim now for Aya. There was a brief pause but then the whip of water would lash out, to the back of only female genin.

Taishiro wasnt far behind her but she wasn't going to focus on that for now, just wanted to get through these laps without any issue. Yet as she turned her head to see Aito pushing himself to catch up to them, she stared at him for a few seconds before looking straight ahead again. She could exert herself but that would make herself sluggish for the rest of her laps, wasn't worth the punishment. The boy would introduce himself which already caused her heart to started sinking a bit as she tried to focus on her laps. After his question about jutsu's ended, the only warning she needed was the Water Whip hitting Aito. The sound was enough to cause her heart to start racing.

She could hear the warning and the sound, yet she wasn't hit yet, but sure enough the sound came again and the stinging pain smacked her in the back of the head, causing her to stumble as she clutched her head. This hurt like fucking hell for sure, yet she figured if she stopped running that she would get another. So now with a little more haste she picked up her pace as she rubbed the back of her throbbing head.

Taishiro kept a neutral expression as he focused simply on jogging at the moment. No particular reason to over-exert himself when there was no doubt more to come after this. Judging by the fact Aya hadn't particular gained any distance on them, the boy was fairly confident she had decided to do the same thing. It was at that moment that the boy heard the sounds of Aito catching up with them, Taishiro wondering for a moment why the other had felt to outpace them. This wasn't a race as far as he knew. But then Aito stayed even with them and started introducing himself, a move Taishiro wasn't sure was smart. Why waste the breath and tire quicker on their jog? Though his focus was taken from that whenever the boy asked his question about if they knew any cool jutsus. Immediately the genin for a moment if this new teammate would end up like the last one.

Taishiro didn't notice the water whip until he heard the crack of it against the back of Aito's head. Looking over with a surprised expression, Taishiro didn't have a chance to react before a sudden flash of pain split through his skull. Stumbling slightly and rubbing the back of his head Taishiro was sure Mika had left a mark on his head. Picking up his pace, Taishiro aimed to distance himself from the group before settling once more into a more comfortable pace. He hoped to avoid getting smacked again for what he could only assume was Aito's talking as they ran.

As the water struck him he stumbled forward and rubbed the back of his head as he slowed down for a moment. Looking over his shoulder at Mika he was curious if this was how all training would be. Or was this the extra part from their late arrival? He shrugged before looking ahead, Taishiro now a bit ahead of him, and Aya was only a few feet in front now. Catching back up with her he wonder why they were so silent, neither speaking back. "Is this how.. normal training is?" Aito's words a mumbled question at the female, eyes shifting away as the pair jogged. Rubbing his aching head more he lost track of his footing.

In a matter of moments he was spiralling forward, face meeting the ground and a thud could be heard echoing on the field. Dust flying up as he groaned, the genin rolling onto his back for a moment then sitting up. Taking a second he stood up, looking at Mika then his teammates something was off, or so it felt. What had happened? Getting to his feet he began to the job once more, catching back up to Aya, not wanting to push too far ahead and leaving her behind him and Taishiro.

Mika watched how the genin would continue, without any complaint or attempt to stop. Then Aito fell down. The jounin's eyebrows slightly perked up. There was a brief consideration but she wouldn't yet punish the genin further as he picked himself up and continued. Keeping close watch on the three, Mika would let them finish the laps.
"Good, now that the warming up is done. Time for the training. Stand in a line. Face to the right. Back straight." The jounin instructed in a tone that marked it clear that she wouldn't accept any belly-aching. "Now, the object is as following."

Producing a small disc from one of her pouches, the jounin held it up so that the genin could see it. "One by one, you will make an attempt. Regardless of what you can or have on you, you're going to try to destroy the disk before it lands. Clear? Good."

She heard Aito collapse and braced for any whipping, yet when none came she loosened up a bit and continued running when Aito caught up to her and asked a question which she shot a look that said not now and continued her laps. No more whipping had occurred and after they were all finished, an order was dished out to which she wasn't going to half ass this time around. The next task was to destroy a disk before it landed which would be easy for her, but she saw how it could be a bit difficult for the other two.
Since she was up first, she pulled out a kunai and watched Mika throw the disk into the air. Throwing her kunai a bit ahead, she watched the kunai connect with the disk shattering it into little pieces. Which meant it was next for the latecomers.

Taishiro was more than a little grateful for the fact no more lashings from the whip came during the jog. He had visibly tensed for another whenever Aito had fallen, and whenever the boy asked yet another question. Had he not learned the first time around? Yet no lashing came, and the trio were able to finish their laps. A bit out of breath when they finished, Taishiro focused on Mika as she spoke, hoping she wouldn't get mad at him trying to catch his breath. Surely she wasn't unreasonable.

After their task was explained, Taishiro frowned at his lack of gear then immediately started moulding chakra. Watching as Aya went first, he watched how she targeted to hit the disk. Simple enough. The moment his disk was about to be thrown, he was already weaving two quick handsigns. In that moment two shuriken made of water appeared and tore through the air to meet with disk near where Aya had thrown her kunai. Watching as the disk shattered, the boy let out a sigh of relief that he hadn't messed up. No doubt sensei wouldn't have approved and he would've embarrassed himself in front of the others.

As the trio stood there, their laps finished he shifted some. Unlike most shinobi he had no offensive jutsu's. He relied more on his weapons than he did on creating some from chakra. The most he could do was create genjutsu and well, that couldn't shatter a disk of glass. Without his pouch of supplies or his two swords he had no way to break the disk. Watching Aya easily hit the mark with a kunai he tried to think of a plan. A way he could pass. Next Taishiro sent shuriken made of water out destroying the glass as well. Heart racing as it became his turn he watched as the disk went into the air.

Sighing he looked over at his teammate. Handsigns began to weave as petals formed around the trio of genin, obscuring Mika's vision on them. Quickly Aito moved to Aya and rummaged through her pouch to steal a shuriken. "Don't tell sensei.." He mumbled as he threw the shuriken at the disk. By now the disk was arcing down towards the ground in its plummet to the earth. Behind the veil he threw the weapon, making the petals disperse. Although the three would still be in their same spots next to each other. Before the glass hit the dirt the shuriken hit its mark shattering the disk, Aito sighing in relief as he felt his stomach churn.

Aya didn't receive any form of compliment or acknowledgement from Mika. The jounin just continued and watched how Taishiro would accomplish his task. The genin decided to use ninjutsu to succeed in shattering the disk. Once more, the jounin didn't acknowledge or say anything to confirm if the genin had done his task right. Then it was Aito's turn. Mika threw the disc up and waited. Upon seeing that Aito weaved handsigns, Mika's eyes half closed as her right hand balled into a fist. Waiting, she would notice the shuriken that shattered the disk.

A silence followed, plaguing the field for what seemed to be a hour as the air seemed to become heavier.

"Aya. Drop your pouches and weapons." Mika calmly stated, her gaze for a moment fixated on the girl. The tone was even but the tension that had risen, was still not gone. "On to the next," Mika continued. "I want each of you to lay out a trap. With no ninjutsu. And now none of you will be allowed to use any of your tools and weapons. But if any of you feel bold to once more disobey my commands, then go ahead."
[/spoili]
[/fieldbox]
 
[fieldbox="Beware of your Valuables – The Confrontation, SkyBlue"]
Shion Kobayashi | Genin of Team 17 | Republic of the Water Country, Kirigakure, Near Kitoka Square
Kukiko Yuki | Jonin of Team 17 | Republic of the Water Country, Kirigakure, Near Kitoka Square

@FrostedCaramel @malina
_____________________________________________________________________________________


It happened quickly. One moment Kukiko was watching Shion as she perused the stalls and shops of the square with her fake bag of coin at her hip, the next it was gone. Kukiko did a double take, her eyes burning a hole into where the purse had been before she quickly began to scan the people of the square. There was someone moving against the normal flow of traffic that caught her eye, and another with head hunched low walking completely opposite from the first. Kukiko pushed through the people in front of her to reach Shion, [color= #00B2EE]"Go for the hunched figure heading North, I'll take the one going against the flow to the South. Stay alert, and please don't kill a pickpocket."[/color] as quickly as she had appeared she was off after one of the possible pickpockets, her hands in her pockets as she pushed along against the tide of people following the person a few meters back.


[color= cyan]"Wha-that was quick,"[/color] Shion muttered as she noticed the missing bag of coins. She wouldn't even have noticed if Kukiko didn't come in.


[color= cyan]"That one, right?"[/color] the genin asked as she glanced at the hunched figure in the North, [color= cyan]"Don't worry about it. I will bring him back in one piece."[/color]


Using the crowd as cover, Shion quickly followed the hunched figure from a few meters back, all the while keeping him in her sight. While the genin would love to quickly catch up to him and capture him right now, it was possible that he could be innocent and not to mention, alert the actual pickpocket or his allies. For now, it would be best to follow him to his destination and only move in when he revealed the bag.


The hunched figure would stop suddenly, seeming to peer around and check his surroundings before he ducked into a small shop on the edge of the square. He moved quickly once inside, sliding behind the cashier's counter and into the back of the store behind a low-hanging drape. Noise could be heard from behind the drape, two voices talking in clipped voices, quick and low.


Back outside Kukiko had followed the suspected pickpocket to an alley that he dipped into. When she made her way inside the alley she found herself staring down the business end of a kitchen knife, just a few centimeters from her face it lay in the hands of a rather unstable looking man in his late twenties. "Don' move er I'll gut you myself yeah?" he asked in a tone that suggest it was more of a command than a question. Kukiko eyed him before slowly lifting her hands up with her palms open.


[color= #00B2EE]"I don't want any trouble here."[/color] she stated flatly.


As Shion saw the hunched figure suddenly duck into a small shop, she followed him up to the entrance before catching a glance of him enter the back from the cashier counter. The genin immediately moved into the back-alley right behind the shop, scanning her surrounding to ensure that no one was around before summoning a water clone, [color= cyan]"Alright, you're going enter the shop from the front door, disguised as a jonin on official business. Once inside, look for sensei's bag of coins. Be loud and act like you have backups right outside. If they are not the ones we're looking for, apologize and leave, understand?"[/color]


After the clone nodded, Shion looked into the crowd and pointed at a random person walking towards the square, [color= cyan]"Alright, transform into him in jonin gear."[/color]


As the clone transformed into her jonin disguise and left, Shion removed the sash of her kimono, wearing it like a long coat with her regular white, sleeveless low-cut kimono underneath. She removed the katana from the belt, carrying it with sheathe still on. Now all she had to do was to wait in the back-alley.


Meanwhile the disguised clone walked into the shop and brazenly entered the back, ignoring whoever's manning the counter, "Well, well, well! What do we have here?"


"You can't go back there! Miss!"


The hunched man turned to the curtain, a woman in a shinobi's gear appeared in a flash before she began yelling. The hunched man pushed the second man he had been talking to toward the shinobi with a yell before darting for the door at the back of the room. The door exploded off its hinges as the terrified man burst through it, losing his footing as he missed the small step that lead to the ground he slammed into the opposite wall of the back alley behind the shop. The man lay still for only a moment, a groan escaping his mouth before he was back on his feet and turning to see if the shinobi had followed him.


The disguised clone caught the man pushed toward her, spinning her body around to disperse the momentum of the impact. The hunched figure had escaped but capturing him was not in her orders. Throwing the man to the ground, she placed her hand by his throat, her fingers applying a slight pressure as a threat, [color= cyan]"Where is the bag of coins?"[/color]


Meanwhile, in the back alley, Shion heard a loud yell before a man broke through the backdoor of the shop. The genin could barely stifle a laugh as the man tripped and slammed into the wall. She leisurely walked towards the man, drawing her sword as she approached him. As the man got up, he wouldn't find the shinobi who had followed him but a girl wearing a pink kimono like an open coat pointing a katana at one of his eyes, [color= cyan]"You know? Innocent men usually doesn't run away screaming when they see the authorities."[/color]


The man turned to find a sword drawn on him, a rather short girl in a pink kimono with the front open walking toward her. "Damn Shinobi" he muttered to himself before he took a step back and took up an easy fighting position. He formed multiple hand seals before seeming to take a deep breath. The man's cheeks puffed up as if filling with something and a moment later he began to spill forth a large amount of oil onto the alley in front of him. He wiped his mouth of the oil and continued eyeing the shinobi in front of him. He formed his seal again and took only a short breath before he spat a small fireball at the oil between him and Shion, instantly engulfing the path to him in a wall of flames. Unseen to Shion he began to run for the end of the alley and the square beyond.


[color= cyan]"Huh, you're a-!?"[/color] Shion's sentence was cut off as the alleyway was filled with oil. The genin tumbled backwards before noticing that her kimono was stained, [color= cyan]"You bastard! Mom's gonna murder me for this!"[/color]


As the man started the next set of hand seals, the genin's mind came to a realization on the kind of jutsus that would work best with oil, Fire Release. Immediately, Shion focused her chakra into her feet and ran up the nearby wall as the oil were set alight. The genin barely managed to escape the spreading flame however her pink kimono caught fire due to its length, forcing her to discard it in the burning alleyway, leaving her in her white sleeveless low-cut kimono.


Shion screamed to the disguised clone in the shop, [color= cyan]"Forget the coins! Get everyone out! Now,"[/color] before she ran along the wall over the flame.


As the clone received Shion's orders, she released her fingers from the man's throat before dragging him by his arm towards the front entrance, shouting, [color= cyan]"Out of the shop! Out of the shop!"[/color]


As soon as the genin spotted her target, she activated the Body Flicker Technique and kicked off the wall, appearing right in front the fleeing suspect in a flash as she slid across the ground from the momentum of her enhanced speed, before she grounded herself to a stop by driving the sheathe into the ground, [color= cyan]"Phew! Gotcha, you bastard."[/color]


The man was almost free of the alley when Shion slid into his field of view at his front. Unable to stop his run he ducked low and swept his arms out the short distance Shion had placed between them allowing no time for a dodge. His shoulder slammed into the Genin's stomach and his arms wrapped around her back as he tackled them both to the ground. Landing in a splash of a puddle the man quickly released Shion and sat up above her, his body weight holding the smaller girl beneath him as he produced a short stubby knife from a pocket and grasped it in both hands, "Fucking Shinobi!" he yelled as he plunged the knife down to the center of Shion's chest.


The man that had threatened Kukiko was stuck to the wall in front of her, a large cocoon of ice holding him to it as he struggled and his lips began to turn purple. [color= #00B2EE]"Look, I just need to know who you are and if you're pickpocketing people or not." she shrugged, "I'll let the whole knife fiasco slip on by if you just tell me what I want to kno--"[/color] she doubled over in a coughing fit, turning herself away from the struggling man as he seemed to lose interest in struggling to break free of his prison and watch the Jounin. Regaining her composure she turned back to him, [color= #00B2EE]"Have you been pickpocketing people or not?"[/color] she asked simply while wiping a sleeve across her teary eyes.


"I ain't done shit!" the man spat as he struggled, only his exposed shoulders and his head showing any signs of movement. "Fuck you and fuck the damn Shinobi!" he yelled as his teeth began to chatter from the cold.


Kukiko sighed, placed a hand on the ice and increased squeeze on the man who bit his tongue from the sudden increase in pressure of the ice around him. She watched with a cocked head as he stifled a scream, his head hung low as blood flowed out in a steady stream, [color= #00B2EE]"Guess I'll need to leave you to think for a while until you feel like answering my questions huh?"[/color]


The man brought his head up and angled a bit forward, he rose and eyebrow, and spoke "A ain't tellen yoush shhiet" he managed past his swelling tongue, blood and spittle spraying as he spoke. Kukiko turned out of the alley and made her way back to the square much to the dismay of the man in the ice as he yelled obscenities and pleaded to be freed. She searched for a moment before noticing a large pillar of smoke rising from behind a row of buildings.


[color= #00B2EE]"Gods damnit"[/color] she said under her breath as she took off in a sprint.


[color= cyan]"Aww...Uugh,"[/color] Shion groaned as she glanced at her hands. She had lost grip of her sword...again. From the wet feeling in her clothes and the splash she felt, it appeared that they had landed in a puddle.


As the suspect plunged down his knife towards Shion with a yell, the genin grabbed both of his arm mid-stab to stop the blade in its track as she raised her hips to knee him in his tailbone, tipping his body forward as her hands guided his knife over her head and into the ground tip-first. Bringing her arms over the suspect's wrists and holding them down, Shion formed a hand-seal for Water Clone Jutsu, summoning a water clone from the water soaked in their clothes and from the puddle.


The clone immediately stomped on the suspect's hands twice to break his fingers and moving to his side to deliver a punch to his liver before lifting him over to free Shion.


A grunt escaped the man as he was brought over Shion and found the tables turned on himself. He tried to move, squirming in Shions grip before the clone would bring its foot down on his hands. He screamed, cut short by the burst of pain from the punch to his stomach into a series of gasping for air and sobs. He lay on the ground, his broken hands clawing worthlessly at his stomach as the pain from the hit set it.


Kukiko made her way into the alley, a wall of flame quickly spreading around greeting her with an intense heat that made her shy away and close her eyes as it stung at them. She formed hand seals, took a deep, stinging breath of smoke and air and began spraying the flames with water from her mouth. The fires roared, and spat as the water engulfed them, flaring for a moment before the sputtered out and died.


Kukiko fell to a knee, her cough only worsened by her gulping breath of the thick black smoke from earlier. After almost thirty seconds she rose and sprinted down the smoking alley, the harsh stench of burnt trash and other materials assaulting her senses and causing her eyes to water she emerged through the white smoke to the other side to find Shion over the man she had been told to go after. He appeared rather incapacitated.


[color= #00B2EE]"I guess---"[/color] she coughed again for a few seconds, [color= #00B2EE]"you got him. Good job, bind his hands if you can."[/color] she said as she walked up and knelt at his side. She reached a hand down and turned his head to face her, [color= #00B2EE]"So tell me, what made pickpocketing your choice for income?"[/color] she asked. The man didn't seem to notice her words, too focused on his own pain to comprehend her question.


[color= cyan]"Roger that…sensei…"[/color] Shion gasped as she got up and started tying his hands at his back. Meanwhile the clone grabbed her sword and placed it back into its sheathe before handing it over the genin before dissolving back into water, [color= cyan]"Thank you."[/color]


While she was at it, she also dismissed the disguised clone in the shop as she no longer had a need for her. The fire had already been extinguished thanks to Kukiko and as far as she can see, most people are safe from the fire and if there are any more need for rescuing, she can handle it herself.


[color= cyan]"And not to mention, that bastard nearly burnt down that shop and possibly with his friend inside. Even had to discard my kimono thanks to that,"[/color] she said in a grumpy tone, [color= cyan]"Oh, yeah, speaking of fire. That man casted a ninjutsu, sensei! I was even caught off guard thanks to that."[/color]


[color= cyan]"Kinda hypocritical since he's screaming stuffs like 'FUCK SHINOBI' and such,"[/color] the genin finished tying him up as she picked up his knife. She patted her hands around her white kimono before groaning, [color= cyan]"Urgh, of course. I put the handkerchief in the pink kimono."[/color]


[color= cyan]"Hold still, it's gonna hurt even more,"[/color] she warned the suspect as she straightened his fingers back into place with a sickening crunch, [color= cyan]"There you go. You should be able to move your fingers now. But no funny ideas or I will break them again."[/color]


Kukiko watched curiously as Shion seemed to fix the pickpockets fingers that she could only imagine she'd broken in the first place, [color= #00B2EE]"I'm not sure you really know what you're doing Shion…"[/color] she said quietly before she hefted the man to his feet with an arm under his shoulder. [color= #00B2EE]"Up we go, to the police station come on."[/color] she said as she pushed the man forward.


[color= #00B2EE]"We've got one cooling off a little ways off that I'll grab, can you handle this one on your own to the police station?"[/color] she asked as she left the man standing defeated in front of her and began making her way back to the man that was frozen to the wall of the alley.


[color= cyan]"Of course, sensei,"[/color] Shion replied as the Jonin left for her own captive. She looked back at the lingering smokes with a wince before lightly shoving the suspect forward, [color= cyan]"Well, off we go."[/color]


Shion stayed behind the suspect, softly pushing on his shoulder to guide him as she kept her other hand on his wrists. From the damage to his fingers, it was very unlikely that he could pose a threat to anyone even with the brutally crude first-aid she gave him. The damage was bad enough that the pain would probably deter him from forming a hand-seal and even if he braced through it, a tight grip on his broken fingers should be more than enough to change his mind. The genin stared at his back inquisitively as she thought back to their encounter in the alleyway.


[color= cyan]"For someone who hates shinobi, you sure know a thing or two about ninjutsu, eh?"[/color] the genin asked to break the silence as they were walking, [color= cyan]"Where did you learn it in the first place?"[/color]




[/fieldbox]
 
[fieldbox="Operation Winter Hunters - Kumitama Team, #5900b3"] Strife and Phoenix| Akinian Empire, Tomi District of Shimoda

The Hunt is on. Operation Winter Hunters is in full swing, and the Ghost ANBU are deployed. Moving to Shimoda, the capital of the Hotspring province, they are informed that they will gain some support of the Grey Guard.

[ Classified information. ]

[spoili]
[ Operative's objective ]
Hunt and take down all Zealots cells and allies.
Privileges and rights of citizens and non-citizens can be overridden during Operation Winter Hunters.

[ Secondary objective ]
None so far.

[ Mission launched by ]
Lord Commander.

[ Boundaries ]
Not allowing external forces, other than assigned ones, to learn about the nature of Operation Winter Hunters. Compromising can lead to punishment.

[ Members on Team Strife ]

Leader, 'Strife' :
[spoili]
[ Real Name]
Yumi Hasewaga
[ Age ]
22 years old.
[ Expertise ]
Assassination and Infiltration.
[ Record Status ]
Served in Konohagakure Team 2 of Kanajiro Hanamoto. During this early period of Strife's carreer, she showed remarkable skill on working alone. Cold and calculated, she was recruited into the ANBU after the collapse of Team Kanajiro. In the ANBU she continued to work more on her own but eventually got assigned as supporting member for Team 4 of Kensuke Nimatsu. After the latter's promotion and assignment of becoming Team 7's leader, Strife continued to work for one mission with Team 4 as the leading figure. Publicly, this mission ended in the death of the team but all members were recruited into the Ghost ANBU.

[/spoili]

Member 'Phoenix' :
[spoili]
[ Real Name]
Tsubasa Kokoro
[ Age ]
21 years old.
[ Expertise ]
Direct combat and sensory.
[ Record Status ]
Served in Team 4 her entire time in the regular shinobi corps. Was known for her different way of combat as well the use of a form of senjutsu. Her introduction into the Ghost ANBU was rather smooth and some rumours among the Ghost ANBU is that she is one of the favourites of the Empress herself.
[/spoili]

Member 'Marker' :
[spoili]
[ Real Name]
Akitoshi Nara
[ Age ]
43
[ Expertise ]
Infiltration and counter-intelligence.
[ Record Status ]
The start of Akitoshi Nara's career began in Team 15 of Hitaka Nara. Akitoshi soon, however, managed to progress to the ANBU ranks and worked for years in the ANBU corps. His particular skill and experience were the reasons he became handpicked to become a Ghost ANBU. One of his 'feats' during his work is having worked on spying on the previous Feudal lord of the Fang Country.

[/spoili]

Member 'Rookie' :
[spoili]
[ Real Name]
Ryohei Akiraka
[ Age ]
19 years old.
[ Expertise ]
Assassination and medical ninjutsu.
[ Record Status ]
Ryohei's record isn't entirely clean. Apparently, when becoming a chuunin he made a grave mistake that led to the death of his team. While this would lead to a certain punishment, he became recruited into the Ghost ANBU for his particular abilities.

[/spoili]
[/spoili]​


[spoili]
The past days had been anything but exciting. The various meetings with various contacts seemed more routine. Papers exchanged hands, code words were given and said. Nothing too strange or far apart from the ordinary when you were a part of the Intelligence Division. But thus far, not a lot of progress had been made.

"First job, huh?"

The words of Tsubasa were carried by a friendly tone, piercing the silence in a gentle fashion. Or, at least, causing a person to stop pacing back and forth. Looking up from the few knives she was cleaning, Yumi saw how Ryohei turned towards Tsubasa.

"Not as shinobi. But yes, the first operation as Ghost ANBU. When I was being recruited, I had hoped for something... different." The disappointment was evident in the young man's voice. The operative that went under the name of 'Rookie' threw a look at the door. "I thought that it would mean I could do more than as a specialised jounin. But thus far, we have just done the usual spy ring work. Nothing to hunt down the zealots in this region."

Tsubasa chuckled. Earning a glare from Ryohei. "Easy, tough stuff." The tall girl said as she raised both her hands. Leaning against the dull grey wall, Tsubasa flashed a smile. "You just remind me of a past team member. But this less exciting work is routine. Our contacts are of the belief that we are just ANBU. Not something else. It is in our best interest to keep it like that. Right, ma'am?"

Yumi just nodded as she continued to clean her knives. "Tell me about your time as specialised jounin. We ought to wait on Marker anyways." Tsubasa suggested, as she turned her attention back on Ryohei.

"Hm," for a moment it seemed that Ryohei was more eager to kick down the door and just move out. But he decided to sit down on a nearby bed and shake his head. "I managed to climb the ranks fast. Failed no mission. I had a great team. We were a bit rough around the edges but believe me," the young man grinned as he looked towards Tsubasa, "There was no mission too tough for us. Well, that was what we thought." His eyes lowered.

"Failing no mission? Impressive. Please, do go on." Tsubasa said, deciding to sit down next to the young man.

"Our last operation was to investigate the border with the Iron country. We were to inspect the perimeter of this colossal project. The folk from the Iron country were working on something. A large fortification at the Michi's pass. The fortification known as Abaddon's Gate." It became silent for a second. "We got some sights on the defences. But one of my team wanted to go closer. To inspect the terrain near the first layers of defences better. He... got shot down. Arrow to the throat. Then another followed within an instant, piercing through his left ankle. A patrol caught us off-guard."

"I am sorry."

"We tried to fight back. Expecting that they were just regulars. Nothing too tough. But they outmatched us. Horrible even. Before another of us was about to conjure up a technique, five arrows were piercing him. Two in the face and three in the arms. I decided together with our squad-leader to get on a run. I made it out. Arrow to the back. When I looked back, the patrol just stood there. Letting me go without taking me down."

Silence plagued the room for a moment. Then Tsubasa sighed as she shook her head.

"Nasty business. I once went to the Iron country as well. I can't say that I enjoyed my time there." She began, causing Ryohei to look surprised. "What? Didn't expect me to be some veteran nin? That is okay, heh."

"No, I just imagined that. You know," a gesture of Ryohei's hand followed as he tried to convey his thoughts without insulting Tsubasa. "Sorry."

"Don't sweat it. I worked with a couple of guys that were way less civil than you are. Though, they were my friends. Team members. You know." Tsubasa threw a glance at Yumi as she continued. "I served underneath the Green Falcon. We went without official orders into the Iron Country to apprehend a missing-nin. A friend of his. It took our very best to climb the mountains and avoid the patrols. Then we had to resort to staying away from civilisation to not draw any attention to us. I don't think I ever had a mission that was so intense regarding survival than that time. But we managed to get in and out, with our goal achieved." The faint smile of Tsubasa turned a bit wry. "I do wonder how he---"

The door went open. "We got a target."

"Time for business then. Gear up."

Southern districts of Shimoda
Target: The Koishi Family Residence​

"Targets are located in the villa. The complex has some household guards, servants and two guard dogs. I rank it C. The only problem is that we have four minutes. If the target isn't subdued then the local authority will be forced to move in." Akitoshi threw a sideways glance at Yumi. His code name was Marker for a good reason. "On your command, ma'am."

Yumi nodded slowly. "Phoenix," Yumi began as she looked at Tsubasa. "Take care of the guards. I want none of them able to raise alarm. Same counts for the servants. Nothing lethal. We don't need to give more reason for tension or trouble than there already will be. Rookie," Yumi turned her attention now towards Ryohei, known as Rookie. "Your task is to keep a check on the surrounding. Intercept anybody that will attempt to move into the zone of operation."

Tsubasa flashed a warm smile as she nodded, confirming that she understood her role. Ryohei had a wry expression but he didn't say anything. As Ryohei lowered his head slightly, Yumi decided to turn towards the Nara, Akitoshi. "Marker. You are with me. We will do the interrogation. We will move in after Phoenix passes the signal."


Yumi kept her gaze locked on the building from her location. Around half an hour had passed since they had moved out. Each of them was garbed in casual clothing for it would do no good to just appear in ANBU attire. If anything, nothing new to a black op. She couldn't remember when she actually had worn the ANBU gear for the last time, other than some escort or guard operation.

Suddenly the gentle as the warm voice of Tsubasa rang softly over the communicator. "The weather is clear."

That was the signal. Yumi threw a look at the older Nara. Together they would push a cart forward around the corner. Not a lot of people were present on the street and none of them looked weird at what could be a father and his daughter, pushing a cart of goods together.
[/spoili]
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[fieldbox="Quiet in the Library, #00B2EE"]Kukiko Yuki and Shion Kobayashi | Jounin of Team 17 | Republic of the Water Country, Kirigakure, Academy Library
A collab between @Walter Swan and the Frostiest of Camels

Shion is studying in one of the libraries of Kirigakure and Kukiko returning some materials spots her. Feeling a sense of duty to her young student she offers to assist with the girls study and training of chakra flow.
[spoili]
The library of Kirigakure Shinobi Academy was filled with ninjas of various ranks and even academy students, despite it being Sunday. Throughout the history of Kirigakure, many scrolls and books were gathered at the place for any registered Mist Shinobi and students to read as long as they had a library card which costs a grand total of nothing. Her father once boasted, 'You can learn anything from the Academy Library as long as it's not Kinjutsu or bloodline techniques.'

Yet 3 hours had passed and despite the mountains of books piled up on the table, Shion was tearing her hairs out as she tried to study about Chakra Flow. She assumed that the theory on flowing her chakra into her blade would be fairly simple but as soon as she opened the books, she was assaulted with foreign words such as Taiyin, Shaoyin, Jueyin, Taiyin, etc. Yes, there were more than one Taiyin and the books said they were different…somehow. With such a huge catalogue of terminologies, Shion wondered if she was reading a book from a distant continent. It did not help that the long paragraphs explaining the theory of Chakra Flow threatened to lull her into sleep and wipe away the memories of her studies.

"Argh!" the young girl threw hands up, "That's it. I give up."

Kukiko had needed to return a book on kyuujutsu she had picked up shortly after the training with her team. She knew enough about kenjutsu to be comfortable with helping Shion grow in her field of choice, but archery was something she had never had a chance to learn about or work with aside form chance engagements that included normal foot soldiers. She had only just been leaving when she heard a voice pierce the relative silence of the library. Turning her head she was a little surprised to see Shion at a table across the library, surrounded by books and appearing a little more than distraught, 'At least she's trying to learn something…' she thought as she quietly made her way across the room.

She ghosted up to the table, giving a small wave as she did and speaking in a low voice, "A library is no place to raise your voice Shion." she said as she continued to smile, "What seems to be the issue? What are you working on that's got you so riled up?" she asked as she motioned to the seat across from Shion. She glanced over the books on the table, 'Chakra control… Not exactly the easiest thing to learn alone, but not impossible.' she thought to herself.

"Eep! Sensei?" Shion jumped a bit as she heard Kukiko's voice, her face reddening with embarrassment, "S-sorry about that."

"Well about these books...you know that an ordinary sword, like mine, can't cut through something really tough, like your ice, right?" she explained as she motioned back the seat across her as a 'yes', "But if I know something like say, Samurai Sabre Technique, that wouldn't be a problem."

"So I look into it and find out that you need a pretty advanced chakra control to just learn a technique like that," she said before she gestured her hand at the books around the table, "So here I am, surrounded by these books. And they said these are just basics! Can you believe that, sensei?"

Taking the seat across from Shion she nodded along as her student told her about what she had been doing, and a seeming motivation for doing so, to cut through her ice. There was a tinge of anxiety as Shion said that, but Kukiko pushed it away, she didn't have to worry about her students turning on her, at least she was pretty sure she didn't. She raised a hand to her mouth and coughed before smiling at Shion, "I can believe that." she teased, "Not everything is going to be as easy to learn as it was in the Academy, if it was then there wouldn't really be any difference in ranks now would there?" she questioned before taking one of the books on the table.

Flipping through the pages she was greeted with diagrams of chakra pathways and the fundamentals of the basis of the technique itself. She nodded her head approvingly as she skimmed and looked up at Shion after a short time, "I can help you with the chakra flow aspect, although the actual samurai sabre technique… That'll be mostly up to you to figure out, but I can definitely lend assistance when you do get to that point."

"Really, sensei!?" Shion stood up from her chair in surprise before glancing around the library nervously as she realized the volume of her voice.

"I mean I can't even find a place to start by myself," she said in a quieter voice as she sat back down in her chair, "So your offer is more than enough, sensei. Far far more than enough."

"So where do we start, sensei?" Shion asked excitedly, enthusiastic at the prospect of learning a new technique.

"Really." Kukiko nodded reassuringly to her student while she went on. She closed the book and placed it back on the table, "We can start with something simple…" she said as she rummaged through her pocket and pulled out a coin. She stood up and motioned to the books at the table, "I'll be right back, put these away while I'm gone, you won't be needing them for this." she said before turning and making her way to the exit of the library.


Kukiko would be gone for a few minutes, disappeared into the street outside before she'd return, making her way up the stairs of the library she'd stop halfway up and wave to Shion who was waiting outside.

"Come on Shion, we have somewhere to be!" she yelled over the dull noise of the light rain and the people going about their business around them.

"Ah, wait a sec," Shion responded as she followed Kukiko back into the library. She hadn't been waiting long since putting back the books where they belong took longer than she thought. She wondered why they had to separate them into different sections considering they are all about the same subjects. At least that was what it looked like to her, anyway.

She thought that the training would be outside in the fields, but in a library? Even the rooftop wouldn't be an ideal place to train considering the small space. Regardless she jogged after Kukiko to their destination, quickly catching up to her, "So sensei, what's the big idea? I thought we would be going outside."

Kukiko shook her head at her Genin, "Not everything needs to take place outside on a damp training field." she said as she led her student to a secluded corner of the library nestled behind tall bookshelves and out of sight unless one was actively looking for it. It was a favorite place of Kukiko to do paperwork and any other job related documentation or learning thanks to the relative privacy it afforded in the library.

She leaned herself against the far wall, one foot up against it as she did. She tilted her head to the side giving Shion a questioning look, "How proficient are you with your chakra control? Can you run over water or hang upside down off of a tree branch?" she shrugged, "The more I know about what you are capable of the better an idea I'll have on where to start." She brought her other foot up against the side of the wall and extended outward, hanging sideways over the ground her hair hanging almost to the floor. She took a few steps farther up the wall and crossed her arms over her chest as she waited for her student to answer. "Don't make a ruckus, I imagine they'll kick us out if they see this…" she said with a grin on her face.

"Of course, I can," Shion replied, "It's basically part of the academy curriculum nowadays."

Focusing chakra into her feet, Shion walked up along the wall and onto the ceiling, standing upside-down over the ground with her hands on her hips and her coat hanging from her arms, "See? Piece of cake."

"The same goes for water-walking, of course," she continued, puffing her chest out with a proud grin, "I'm quite a prodigy when it comes to these sorts of things, if I say so myself."

Kukiko smiled as her student seemed confident in her ability to direct her chakra and do something like walking on a surface, "Not all students are as good at it as you upon graduation." she said, the smile that had been on her face starting to sag as her student pushed her luck and began to surpass the height of the bookshelves, "You should probably get down from there before someone sees you, we're not exactly following the rules here." Kukiko said softly as she stepped down of the side of the wall.

She raised a hand up and with her palm out to Shion and motioned for her to come close, "If you're wanting to learn something as difficult as the samurai sabre technique, then you're going to need to figure out how to mold chakra to yourself first. It's a step beyond simply focusing it on your feet like you just did…" she wiggled her fingers for emphasis and a low blue hue began to form around them as if surrounded in a cloud, "You need to focus chakra first into your hand, and then out of it, but not quite so hard that it completely leaves you like when standing on water. Instead you have to force it out just enough to coat your weapon, or in this case your hand, but not enough that it gets away from you." she turned her hand around a few times, the soft blue glow of the chakra around it moving and swaying like a particularly thick liquid.

"Ooh, right," Shion whispered as she tiptoed back down the wall nervously, "Sorry about that, sensei."

After listening to Kukiko's explanation, Shion marveled at the chakra focused around Kukiko's hand, "Wow. It's like a blue flame...no, more like water?"

"Anyway let me try this out. This should be a piece of cake!" she declared enthusiastically as she rolled up her sleeves and extended her left hand right in front of her. Sweat rolled down her furrowed eyebrows as she concentrated her chakra into her hand. After a minute of concentration, a blue aura of chakra sizzled into existence just around her upturned palm and slowly but surely forming into the same shape and intensity as Kukiko's chakra, "Ooh, ooh! Sensei, look-"

However as the chakra's color kept growing in intensity, it floated away from Shion's hand like blue vapors, disappearing into air with nary a trace, "Aww…after I already got it…"

She couldn't suppress the small smile on her lips as Shion appeared to at first begin to succeed in the chakra flow right from the start, and then exactly what had happened when Kukiko had first started learning such things began to happen to Shion. The wisps of chakra as they broke away from her hand and dissipated into nothing were intriguing to watch, but Shion was obviously not interested in their beauty and Kukiko didn't exactly need to be doing such a thing with her student.

She formed chakra around her hand once more, this time concentrating it to such a level that chakra farthest from her hand began to wisp away like Shion's had, "The key is in figuring out the middle ground." she turned her hand as the chakra floated off of it, "To figure out what's enough to get it to mold around your body, but not quite enough that it is sent completely away," as she spoke the wisps began to become less and less before all of the chakra on her hand remained in place. "It took me a few months to understand this part alone. Getting it to mold to a weapon, took me far longer. You can't control the flow over the weapon like you do over your hand. Everything you do with it… You do from your hand and in extension to effect the chakra over your weapon."

She sighed and closed her fist on the chakra, it disappeared as she did. "First you must truly become comfortable in molding it on yourself, then work to weapons." she nodded, "Try again, slower this time. I don't want to see any chakra forming on your hand for at least five minutes. Just mold it within your hand first, really feel it, then slowly move it out and try your best to keep it on your hand for as long as you can before you completely lose it." she took a seat at the table, "Don't stop until you've completely lost it."

"Alright, got it," Shion extended her hands in front of her again in preparation another attempt to mold her chakra, "Five minutes, right?"

Furrowing her eyebrows, she started focusing her chakra into her hand. While it was simple to flow chakra into her hand to form a shape, flowing just enough chakra so as not to materialize it into existence was another matter entirely. At first, it was easy. All she had to do was to keep a constant flow of chakra into her hands. However as more and more chakra gathered into her hand, it took all her concentration to adjust the flow to keep the chakra from materializing it into existence.

Around the four minutes mark, Shion's fingers trembled as she desperately focused to keep the tiny blue bubbles of chakra around her hands from fizzling into existence. Sweat poured down her face as she gritted through the suffocating heat of chakra gathering in her hand, her mind counting down the seconds.

As soon as she felt that the five minutes were up, she carefully released the chakra within her hands to let it materialize into existence. A cool, comfortable feeling spread through her hand as the tiny, blue chakra bubbled into existence around her palm, slowly forming into a light-blue bubble wrapping around her hand. Shion's eyebrows scrunched harder as she focused harder to force the chakra to float up her palm but the chakra bubble stayed wrapped around her hand as if trapped by something.

Kukiko watched patiently as Shion focused, about three minutes in she moved from her seat to sit on the table to be at a more equal height with her student. She silently observed as her student seemed to exert all of herself into the task at hand, sweat beaded and ran down her face and her hand seemed to twitch slightly at the effort. Kukiko dropped the temperature around them to hopefully put her student a bit more at ease so she wouldn't be occupied by the heat she seemed to be experiencing.

Then the five minutes were up. Shion's chakra fizzed and bubbled into existence out of her hand, the light blue glowing of it bathing the girl in a dull blue light. "Good, you're doing good." Kukiko reassured her, "Try and keep it there as long as you can now, for the moment we're only trying to improve your ability to mold chakra around yourself. Anything more than that requires a mastery of it so we can't move furth until then." She nodded and lifted her own hand, her chakra seeming to bubble out of her skin and from beneath her clothes around her forearm and hand.

"As you get more proficient you can work on extending the area that your chakra flows from, but that will only increase the difficulty of keeping it manifested on you. For now your hand is all you need to focus on." She shook her arm as if it had been on fire and the chakra dispersed and evaporated almost instantly. Kukiko dropped her arm and smiled at Shion. Her student was dedicated, and appeared to have a formidable will behind her. Both made for a Shinobi that could grow rather quickly if she put her mind to it. She was happy she'd been assigned the young girl.

"Fuuu…fuuu…got it, sensei," Shion replied as she held the bubble of chakra around her hand. It was such a contradictory method of chakra control for the young swordsman. She was trying to release the chakra out of her hand but at the same time, she was also pulling down on it to keep it from escaping her hand. It felt different from water or wall walking. There, all she had to keep the right amount of chakra in her feet, "Heh..hehehe, this is much more difficult than I thought."

"Whoa…whoa!" the chakra bubble raised up out of her hand and slowly but surely floating away from her palm, "Waitwaiwait. Not now. Not now."

As soon as the chakra bubble left her hand, it bursted with an audible pop. Shion held her arm, feeling it going numb as the stress of her chakra control hit it full force, "Ahaha, wow. Just over 5 minutes and I can't even feel my arm anymore."

Kukiko watched with an eyebrow raised as the chakra around Shions hand lifted up and evaporated into the air, it made a loud pop too. She cautiously looked down the row of books to see if anyone was coming to investigate, and after a few moments decided no one had acted enough to see what exactly was going on. "It's quite hard yes, Samurai Sabre is an advanced technique. Means that the base knowledge you need for it, and the skills you have to build are also rather difficult." She stood from her spot on the table, "This is Chuunin level stuff you're doing here. Which is why you've got to stick to it, don't feel down if you're having trouble with it on your own."

Kukiko walked forward and took Shions hand in her own, the icy touch of her hand enveloping Shions before her own chakra began bubbling forth and enveloping both hands in a warm blue haze. "Let's try something different then," she stated with a grin, "try and keep my chakra on your hand once I've removed it. Don't add anything more to it, just try and keep it there." She didn't expect Shion to be able to go more than a few seconds, holding and molding chakra that wasn't your own was far harder than what she had just done, but with practice it would make molding her own chakra a hell of a lot easier to manage.

She held Shion's hand for a minute, letting the girl get a feel for the invading chakra around her before she slowly slipped her hand away and watched.

"Ooh, owowowowow," an electrifying spread through Shion's arm as Kukiko's hands touched hers. It looked like her arm had fallen asleep back then. The warm haze of the jonin's chakra was enough to ease the numb and electrifying sensation in her arms. As her feelings returned to her arms, she could better sense and even 'touch' the jonin's chakra, "Oh, ohhh. Much better."

Yet the chakra felt like a phantom limb. She 'knew' that it was there but she was acutely aware of the fact that it wasn't real. She could 'move' it around but she couldn't feel its existence, "That felt…weird."

As soon as Kukiko let go, her chakra wavered and trembled as if it was about to slip away from Shion's hands, "Huh? Huh!?"

The young swordsman huffed and puffed as she desperately tried to hold down the chakra but unlike her own chakra, Kukiko's chakra felt like air. The genin's hand followed the movement of jonin's chakra as she desperately tried to keep its existence. When the chakra wavered left, her hand moved left and when the chakra wavered right, her hand moved right. Soon it looked less like a ninja controlling chakra and more like a circus clown balancing a pole in her hand, "Comeoncomeoncomeoncomeoncomeon! You can do this. You can do this."

"Nononononoooooo," inevitably Kukiko's chakra escaped Shion's hands, soon fizzling out into ether. The entire process only lasted 5 seconds, just barely, "What in the name of...!? This is totally different from before."

She grinned at her student as she so helplessly tried to keep chakra that wasn't hers on her hand. She knew the feeling herself, had been through these exact motions with her own Jounin almost two decades prior. The ghostly feeling, as if the air around your hand had gotten thinner as the chakra of another was left to boil on you. She remembered much more cursing than Shion had done, far more cursing. "As I said, this is about as difficult as this part can get. We can move back to your chakra, the more familiar and work from there, or continue using mine for a while to try and raise your own understanding before moving back to yours again." She nodded thoughtfully to her student, "even small victories with my chakra will pay off in dividends when you move back to your own. But the decision is yours."

She reached out her hand, once again chakra ebbing and flowing around it, Shion only needed to reach out and take it if she wanted to continue.

Shion glanced at Kukiko's hand for a brief moment before grabbing it as she let the jonin's chakra flow into her hand, "Bring it on."

As she felt the jonin's chakra entering her hand, the genin wondered if it was even possible to grasp onto a foreign chakra. But if it wasn't possible, how did the medical-nin even heal people? What they are basically doing was injecting their chakra into another body. So what could be their secrets, she wondered. She noticed that the patient's' body took the medical-nin's chakra as their own, using it to heal their injuries. Took in the chakra as 'their own'. Could this be the secret, she thought to herself as she draw in the jonin's chakra actively rather than passively letting it flow into her hands.

As the genin let go of Kukiko's hand, the jonin's chakra felt more 'solid', allowing her to hold onto it much more easily, "Whoa! Look, sensei. I got-"

However the process wasn't perfect as the chakra faded away before Shion could even finish her sentence, "Huh!? I swear I got it this time!"

And this time, it only lasted two seconds.

Smiling as Shion reached out once more, Kukiko focused her chakra in over Shions hand and dropped her hand once Shion moved hers. There was something there, a flash in Shion's eyes or in the way she watched her hand, it was like she thought she had figured something out, like something had changed between her first try and this one. Kukiko cocked her head to the side in a questions as her student called out in defeat as the chakra disappeared far faster than the first try.

"Seemed like you thought you'd figured something out? If you were doing something differently maybe think on why it was different and figure out what may have changed from the first time you held it based off of that?" She didn't want to give the answers to her students, she much preferred them parsing things together naturally. But this? She wasn't sure what had been going on in Shions mind so she could only offer a way to figure out what may have went wrong in return. She didn't hold her hand out this time.

"Well, sensei. You know the healing jutsu, right? The kinds medical-nins use?" Shion started to explain, "I was wondering how they can inject their chakra into someone else's body and let it heal the body, instead of the chakra just fizzling away as soon as it entered the body."

"So I thought maybe it was because somehow the patient's body took in the medic's chakra as their own and used that to heal the body," she continued, "I followed the same concept and absorb your chakra rather than letting it flow in into my hands."

"And it was working too. Your chakra felt more solid. It nearly felt like it was my own chakra," she finished, looking at her hand, "I wonder why it went worse this time..."

Kukiko thought for a while, covering a cough as she did. It seemed Shion spent far more time studying in this library then just today from her insights into medical ninjutsu. That or she just paid extra good attention in the academy. "It's… A bit more complicated than that? But I see what you're saying and it makes sense." She replied as she brought a hand up to her cheek and leaned on it. She coughed again, took a deep breath and continued, "You do need to see it as your own, make it your own really. It's just the action of recognizing it as yours is a bit harder then simply doing so. Your body is aware it's not from you, especially your own chakra, so you have to somehow force your body to accept it. In honesty I'm not sure how to explain, I just… Learned over time." She said apologetically to her student. Were she a swordsman she'd have been much better cut out for this sort of teaching but she dealt in fists and ice, not metal and chakra.

"Umu, umu," Shion nodded as she listened to Kukiko's explanation, "It's just as I thought. You have to be one with the chakra to control it. If not, the body would reject the foreign chakra."

"And don't worry about it, sensei. Before you arrived, I read through all of these books over and over again until I can recite them by heart but your lessons basically helped me figure out what I should do in just about 10 minutes," she explained with a smile, "And like you said, not everything is going to be as easy to learn as it was in the Academy, right? So I'll figure the 'hows' myself. Your cute student is much smarter than you think."

"With that said," the genin eagerly extended her hand, "One more time, please!"

Nodding Kukiko wouldn't hold out her hand, a little bit of a sad smile growing on her face at the words of the young Shion. There was a want to stop the training, to block every chance for her student to grow as a Shinobi. To protect her from what her past students had all come to meet at some point in their lives. To shelter her from the harsh reality of their chosen occupation.

She held out her hand.[/spoili][/fieldbox]
 
[fieldbox="A New Member?, #00B2EE"]Kukiko Yuki, Shion Kobayashi, and Yuyuko Takeda | Jounin of Team 17 | Republic of the Water Country, Kirigakure, Training Fields
A collab between @Walter Swan, @Sakayanagi Selko, and the Frostiest of Camels

Team 17 assembles once more at the Training Fields. This time to meet a new member. A short spar ensues between the two Genin followed by a spar more akin to a beat-down from their Jounin for one of the Genin.
[spoili]
She wasn't entirely sure what was going on with her team. She watched as the light, ever present rain rolled down her gray flak jacket, leaving small beads behind as it did. She wondered how long it had been since she hadn't left behind a student. Since she hadn't continued on like the rain on her jacket leaving behind small unnecessary pieces of itself as it soldiered forward. Where they really unnecessary? She shook her head, the answer to her question already known to her, but the question made her listless nonetheless.

She checked the path leading to the training field, in the distance she was pretty sure she could see someone approaching through the rain. She sighed, "Where the fuck has Shika run off to?" she asked the rain her frustration with the young genin almost as overwhelming as the relief she felt that she may be spared from the reality of their career path.

"Greetings, sensei!" Shion jogged over to Kukiko, wearing a bright yellow raincoat to protect herself from the rain. Not a very inconspicuous choice but at least it protected her from the rain.

"I thought you're busy with paperwork especially with the…" the genin shivered before she continued, "…collateral damage."

She remembered the exact expression on her mother's face when she told her that there was a fire during the mission and that she lost her expensive kimono during the scuffle. Needless to say, the genin was disciplined quite brutally by her mother after the revelation. 100 men-uchi with an oar…the thought alone caused her arms to ache.

"B-but enough about that!" she quickly changed the subject, "You mentioned there's going to be a new member, right? Has she arrived yet? Or is it a he?"

At that moment, the sound of footsteps was heard with the splashing of water as heading in the direction of Kukiko and Shion was the figure of Yuyuko in the rain, wearing a dark brown raincoat as she occasionally stepped with a bit more force whenever she was near any puddles making rather obvious splashing that the Genin and Jonin sensei could hear with a smile on her partially mask covered face until she spotted the two. After seeing them, she seemed to straighten up while picking up the speed of her walk to join the two before giving a short bow to Shion before focusing on the Jonin.

"Ummm, hello sensei, do you happen to know where is Kukiko sensei? I was told in my letter from the academy that i was to meet miss Kukiko sensei at roughly this location."

Her voice was not exactly timid but not exactly serious, granted that the reason for Yuyuko's words was due to how she did not know anything much about this aside from how her orders stated that she was to meet Kukiko at the specified area and was transferred to Kukiko's team.

Kukiko sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, a hint of frustration apparent on her face as she frowned, "It would seem someone at headquarters decided that Shika is needed elsewhere, and that a different Genin is supposed to be with us…" she closed her eyes and shook her head, "So yes, we're getting a new Genin, a girl." she replied.

As if on cue the rhythmic walking of someone having a particularly large amount of fun stepping through the puddles of the training field could be heard. Kukiko turned her head to gaze through the rain, "Looks like they're here." she said to Shion as a girl far shorter than Shion made her way up to them wearing a half-oni mask. Kukiko played with the idea of asking about the mask but decided as long as it didn't affect her ability to do her job, she wouldn't much mind it. She nodded as the girl asked for her and pointed to herself, "Right here, in the flesh. I apologize for the sudden orders, but it's my understanding that you didn't have a team before this so you had to have expected these orders to come eventually, you must be Yuyuko?"

She turned so she could be facing both Shion and Yuyuko, "Alright, today we'll be doing some more sparring, except the first spar will be between you two, whoever wins can choose to then spar me alone, or with the other as assistance." she uncrossed her arms and coughed for a few moments before getting back to what she had been saying, "Obviously don't kill each other, but you can use anything in your bag of tricks to win. If someone dies I will be supremely pissed off." she stated with her same almost carefree tone.

"Take positions when you're ready."

"Don't worry about it, sensei. We are pretty familiar with the rules," Shion replied as she drew her katana in a quick flourish, "Right, Yuyuko Takeda?"

"I knew that we will going to be crossing paths eventually but I wasn't expecting you to be assigned to Team 17 of all places," the genin said as she raised her sword above her head, "So what's with the mask? I don't remember you getting injured back in the attack. Hit your face your pebbles again?"

Upon hearing the words of the sensei, she bows. "Yes Sensei, and to be honest, it was a pain to not be on a team for a long time..I am as you have guessed, Yuyuko Takeda,DEsu."

She then begun to take her position as she nodded in response to the banter by Shion as she tilted her head and readied her own position,left hand moving past the place where Shion would remember that Yuyuko stored her pouch of pebbles before putting adjusting her stance into an Iaido stance.

"Yes, it is a surprise to see you here, Shion Kobayashi, DEsu. And I to did not expect to be put on the same team as you, DEsu. And this mask...hmm...i actually think it would make me look cuter? DEsu."

Yuyuko at that did a V sign with her left hand near her left non-mask covered eye granted she showed the back of her hand which seemed a bit more larger than how it should be. While normally she should not have said anything as it may have given away more information for Shion to figure out, to her, it was not worth keeping up any pretences due to them knowing each other's tactics rather well and both were going to be teammates with each other.

Kukiko nodded, a bit confused at the oddball of a student that had been added to her team, "Yuki Kukiko, I'm obviously your Jounin." she said before crossing her arms once more, she surveyed both students who seemed as ready as they'd become. "Begin."

Her tactics seemed to be the same as before, Iaido slash supported by pebble throws to lower the opponent's guard. The small stones would certainly be annoying to defend against always but compared to before, she was used to dealing with them now. The only wild card would be the mask.

"Get ready!" Shion dashed to Yuyuko's right, approaching the girl from the side where her mask was worn.

Yuyuko smiled as she heard the words 'begin' and saw Shion dashing at her right. Figures as much as with her unsureness of the mask,it would mean she wanted to test it as a weakness, which was in itself a wise move, plus she would be cautious as well of her movements.

As Shion continued her dash, Yuyuko waited for a moment to let Shion enter her range before with a quick flick of her middle finger on her left hand, she flicked a pebble at Shion's left shoulder. After the flick, Yuyuko unsheathed her sword with only her right hand while moving forwards slightly in a wide iaido sweep while turning it such that Shion would only get hit by the back of her blade as her left hand begun to move towards her favourite pouch of pebbles on her left hip since she did not have to worry about cutting herself.

Caught a glimpse of movement from Yuyuko's fingers, Shion slightly lowered her body to her right, feeling the pebble barely whiz past her raincoat. The genin noticed that it was much easier to dodge her pebbles compared to their previous encounters. Before she could muse on this information, Shion realized that she had now entered Yuyuko's range, barely managing to hop away from her rival's blade as she drew her sword in a flash.

As soon as her feet touched the ground, the genin pivoted on her front foot, circling around to Yuyuko's right before executing a strike aimed at the back of her neck with the blunt edge of her blade.

Yuyuko winced slightly as she saw Shion dodge the pebble she had flicked at her rival. Well with the mask obscuring half her vision and Shion being her rival, it was more or less expected as she saw Shion quickly circling around to her right to attack her flank, probably still as a test to see if that mask was blocking Yuyuko's vision, something that she would be right about as Yuyuko barely manages to grab one pebble from her pouch and chose not to sheath her blade for another iaido strike due to how close Shion could strike her, definitely faster than her readying another stance for an Iaido strike.

Reacting as fast as she could, she turned her body to the right so as to keep her left eye in view of Shion as she then moved her left hand to grip the handle of her sword barely managing to parry Shion's strike granted it was closer than she would have prefered due to how close their swords were that range. In a bid to try and change that, she jumped back using the force of Shion pushing in the clash to help her get out of Shion's range as she flicked the stone in her left hand by using her first 3 fingers aiming at Shion's stomach right to force Shion to block the strike and to get a bit of breathing room as in her bid to grab some distance, she of course would not be able to easily stick the landing as she landed on her butt and begun to get up into a stance as the stone while it would buy her time, it won't be long enough for her to get into her stance for another iaido stance either, just like before.

As Shion's sword was parried with a twang, she moved her sword back near her waist ready to intercept a follow-up attack from Yuyuko. Sure enough, her rival flicked three pebbles at her stomach as she jumped back. The genin turned her blade to block the stones before she noticed the masked swordsman landing on her butt.

With a smirk, Shion reached into her pouch and pulled out three kunai before throwing them at Yuyuko one by one, to prevent her from preparing another attack, as she charged to her rival's right again.

Kukiko raised an eyebrow as she watched, 'Are those pebbles?' she thought as Yuyuko seemed to send them at Shion who managed to deflect them with her swords flat edge causing the Jounin to smile. She searched her mind for any number of reasons she would use pebbles as a weapon, they're only pebbles after all. Kukiko decided she'd ask about them later, and barring that just spar her student for a better grip on the pebbles themselves.

Yuyuko frowned as she had begun to get up and saw Shion pulling out 3 kunais, not good at all as Shion threw the kunais at her one by one before moving at Yuyuko which meant it was not a good idea to bother trying to flick a volley of pebbles at Shion, much less reach for a smoke bomb or a kunai. With that in mind, she moved her sword with her right hand to block the first kunai with one hand while using her free left hand and her legs to jump back onto her feet before deflecting the second and third one after the other granted it made her right hand sting as it is never good to block projectiles, much less other weapons one handedly.

With herself now on the back foot and Shion heading in for the win, she knew she needed a way to force her back as she took a deep breath, she gripped her sword with both hands before raising her sword slightly above her head, blunt end aiming at Shion and slashed from her right side aiming at Shion's shoulder while breathing out, as Shion may know, Yuyuko's Father Masakage taught the Kashima Shinden Jikishinkage-ryu sword style, this breathing technique Yuyuko was using taken from that form with the idea of matching breathing with her movements to increase the consistency of her strikes without decreasing their force, granted while she had not yet mastered that skill, it should at least allow Yuyuko to force a deadlock since if Yuyuko's strike would end up being parried by Shion, Yuyuko would merely use the force from the parry to step backwards while breathing in before going in for a second or third strike, of course if Shion instead stepped out of range, Yuyuko would assume a crane stance to conserve energy.

Kashima Shinden. One of the more widely used sword styles, but rather uncommon to see it in the younger generation. Kukiko didn't know too much about it, but she was aware of some of the differences it had with other sword styles, such as a focus on breathing and a distinct set of footwork in comparison to the style that Shion was using. She raised an eyebrow, this Yuyuko seemed to be full of odd surprises.

Shion met Yuyuko's strike with her own but instead of trying to overpower her rival, she rotated the hilt of the katana along with the incoming force while her left hand pinched onto the flat of her blade and her rear foot stepping forward. This not only guided her rival's strike away from her body but also used to delivered a quick strike with the hilt aimed at her jaw, mostly powered by the force of her own strike.

Yuyuko winced as her strike was deflected the hilt of Shion came flying at the direction of her jaw. With the strike being very unavoidable, she tilted her head right and downwards with the hilt of Shion's katana square on the mask. The mask however while it did weaken the damage from the hit, it was only slightly with the mask itself cracking slightly which meant she still took most of the hit. With all the muscle memory she had, Yuyuko in a bid to get back the range advantage she had, tilted her sword's own hilt since with Shion's bid to get past Yuyuko's assault and defence, the area around her stomach was now probably the only place Yuyuko would be able to get a strike in as Yuyuko thrusted the butt of her sword at Shion's stomach hoping it would score a hit and at least force some distance between them.

"Oof," Shion stumbled backwards as the butt of Yuyuko's sword hit her in the stomach, before she grasped her stomach in pain, "Dammit…not again!"

The genin reached into her pouch and pulled out three shurikens. She already managed to place her rival in her range and she was not going to let her escape now. She threw a shuriken at her shoulder, her head and finally at the pouch of pebbles at her left hip as she charged to her left this time.

Yuyuko panted as she jumped back a few moments after Shion stumbled backwards. While she did manage to get a good hit on Shion, the hit on the side of her head was not any lesser as her left hand in the few moments she gained quickly grabbed a bunch of pebbles as Shion was busy gathering herself and drawing the 3 shurikens she was going to throw at Yuyuko from her pouch.

Yuyuko noticing the glint of the shurikens more or less figured they would be thrown aiming at her important parts. With the three being thrown with Shion behind going at Yuyuko's left side, at least it made it easier as Yuyuko moved to the right to dodge the one aimed at her pouch while flicking one of the stones in her hand to knock the shuriken aimed at her shoulder and blocking the last with her blade. As now Shion was wanting to get Yuyuko into her range, Yuyuko decided to follow by cupping the bottom of the handle of her katana while moving her right hand to the lowest part of the handle before trying to strike from the right side at Shion's left arm while Yuyuko stepped back with her left foot in a crane stance while keeping the toes of that foot touching the ground, her movements noticeably swifter and more precise than earlier due to Shion moving within the line of sight of Yuyuko's working left eye.

Surprised to see Yuyuko's sword suddenly gaining extra inches, Shion moved her body sideways to her right as she brought her sword up to parry the strike. Noticing the distinct lack of force in the attack and in turn, her rival's sacrifice of grip for reach, the genin placed her palm onto the blunt edge of her blade as she locked blades and pushed forward to break her structure before delivering a kick aimed at her stomach.

At the moment Yuyuko clashed her sword against Shion's own, Yuyuko could only smile in admiration for her rival's quick thinking. Had Shion instead chose to dodge, she would have probably been hit by her Katana due to Yuyuko's reach being extended, however it was only a good while later that Yuyuko realised the mistake she had made by gambling on the chance that Shion would dodge as the force that came when Shion pushed forward against the deadlock combined with the kick aimed at her stomach….

Came the ring of metal against metal as Yuyuko's blade flew out of her hands while Yuyuko fell backwards onto the ground as she began rubbing her stomach.

"Owwww, that hurt...ow..nice job Shion...san...this be my defeat in this match. Also that kick just now, it was nicely timed one indeed.."

Yuyuko said as she breathed in and out to try and catch her breath and recover from that high intensity spar."

Kukiko smiled as Shion took the win, knocking the new genin off balance and sending her unarmed to the ground. She leaned a little forward on the balls of her feet and kept her arms crossed over her chest, "Good job Shion." she said with a nod to the winner before turning to Yuyuko, "Always room for improvement. I'm sure you'll beat Shion a few times as well." she said. Kukiko sighed and placed her hands on her hips, "Alright Shion, you can either spar me alone, or you can have Yuyuko help you. The choice is yours."

"Hahhh...hahhh...you're...not too bad yourself," Shion panted in reply to Yuyuko as she doubled over in exhaustion, "Would've taken longer...if not...for that mask..."

Taking a deep breath, the genin straightened herself up, stretching her neck and shaking the fatigue off her feet, "No need for help, sensei."

"I can take you on myself," Shion declared as she pointed her katana at Kukiko before settling into her stance, her sword held upright with the hilt in front of her right shoulder, "Now…let's get this started."

Smiling at Shion, Kukiko couldn't help but feel like the young swordsman had bitten off more than she could chew. Two genin, even inexperienced genin vs one Jounin meant she had to split her focus, give them both as much thought as just one opponent. Versing just Shion meant it'd be easier for her, and far harder for the Genin. 'Pride.' Kukiko thought bitterly as she realized the only thing pride ever brought, the overconfidence it bred, the feelings of superiority. It appeared someone needed their pride beaten out of their thick skull, and she had had such high expectations of Shion after their training in the library too.

Kukiko formed three quick hand seals and a shard of wide ice grew flat along her right forearm and extended off the top of her balled fist to a point a little over ten centimeters from her knuckles. It formed a wide crude blade, a larger surface area than she normally liked to use by several centimeters in both directions, but she'd need something to counter Shion's blade if the Genin managed some good strikes. The hint of a smile that had been on her face was gone and Kukiko dashed forward without warning, not waiting for Yuyuko to get up or out of the way. She brought her left fist up from under her self and aimed a strike for Shion's stomach, hard and fast.

"What the-," Shion's question was cut off as Kukiko drove her fist into the genin's guts, knocking the wind out of her stomach as she dropped to her knee in pain. Realizing her impending doom, the genin threw an uppercut slash to keep the jonin at the distance while she hopped backwards, stumbling in pain as she struggled to stand up.

Yuyuko upon hearing Shion's declaration that she would be enough begun to think about this...with the end result being 'someone is going to get hurt real badly, and it most certainly is not Kukiko sensei'.

However as she did respect Shion's decision, she decided to leave it at that, granted the moment she had gotten to her feet, she barely had time to evade the punch that Kukiko launched at her rival yelping in surprise as Yuyuko more or less picked up her fallen katana before running to a much more further distance to observe the fight. As she watched, she breathed in trying to recover her strength and the wind that Shion knocked out of her earlier as soon as possible, since her rival may soon need all the help she could get.

The punch landing with a solid thud and a sudden escape of Shion's breath, Kukiko pulled it back and easily sidestepped the desperate slash to keep her back. She slowly followed the Genin forward as she stumbled backwards to a kneel. Her face turned into a frown and her eyebrow raised in a question, "I thought you were enough to take me on alone?" she kicked a leg across herself from right to left from the ground to about waist height to strike across the poor Genins face. 'Pride.' she thought as she continued the beating.

Seeing Kukiko throw her kick, Shion left her katana on the ground while bringing her right arm up, blocking the kick with her forearm while her left hand hooked onto the heel of the kicking leg.

With the jonin's right leg caught by her left hand, the genin pulled it to the outside of her body while she grabbed her katana and threw a cut at the now-exposed ankle of her left leg, stopping the blade as it touched her skin.

Her kick grabbed by her student, Kukiko very quickly realized what Shion was doing. With nothing more than a thought and a focus of chakra, a growth of ice extended off of the back of her leg growing out to meet the blade as it stopped. In a moment the ice encircled the blade and in another it was no longer attached to Kukiko, the block of ice around the blade weighing it down considerably. Shion was wide open. Her arm wrapped around Kukiko's leg and the other on the sword too far to do anything in time at a range in which they were literally touching. She looked down on her, wondering if the girl would ever swallow that damn pride as she laid a punch into the side of her head, the feeling of her fist against Shions head and the reverberation it sent through her sparking memories she'd rather forget. She followed it with a second and a third in quick succession.

Shion's saw stars flashing around her as Kukiko's fist slammed into her head. Seeing the world blur and sway before her, Shion let go of her katana to block the second and third incoming punches as she pulled onto Kukiko's leg, unbalancing her before she tackled her onto the ground.

<color=cyan>"It's not over yet,"</color> she growled as she mounted Kukiko and reached into her pouch before her exhaustion and injury caught up to her as she collapsed onto the jonin, her consciousness fading away into black.

Yuyuko looked on in awe and perhaps shock as she saw the spar, if any normal person can call that a spar. To her, it was more akin to a brawl or a teacher trying to beat some sense into her troublesome student. Granted she had seen some shades of it from her father whenever she sat in for his lessons with other students at his classes as Masakage had to occasionally show strictness when dealing with students who dragged his teachings into the dirt which allowed her to keep a manageable poker face.

However by the time she managed to have fully recovered her breathing, she saw Shion collapse onto Kukiko as she ran over to the two and begun to try to help Shion off Kukiko.

"Sensei! Shion san! Are you both alright, DEsu?" Yuyuko asks worriedly at the two.

Kukiko was surprised by her students will to continue after the hits, it wasn't uncommon for an opponent to continue through hits that would take normal people out of the fight, but Shion surprised her with her perseverance. She felt herself falling as Shion rolled into a tackle. She was looking up at her Genin now, straddled by the girls legs and held to the ground as she took a moment to shake off the shock of the sudden change in position. She looked up to watch as her students face filled with anger, as her words screamed their protest to her situation. Kukiko smiled. Shion was reaching for something. A blade hopefully. Then she passed out. Kukiko lay there for a moment, not quite sure what she was planning on doing had her student pulled a kunai on her, and not quite sure why she hadn't pulled her punches a little more.

"I'm fine Yuyuko." Kukiko replied as she lifted Shion off of herself and laid her to the side next to Yuyuko, "She's not though. She'll need a few minutes to rest probably." she said, "If she doesn't have a concussion." Kukiko was peering at her fist, the blood cracked knuckles proof of just how hard she had gone against her own student. Of how she'd lost control. "Because she sparred me once perhaps she was confident she knew me…" she said, the end trailing off a little.

"Lesson learned Yuyuko. Don't be overly confident. And never deny assistance if it's available." she stood up and peered down at the unconscious Shion and Yuyuko, "What's with the mask Yuyuko?" she asked in a tone that implied she expected an answer.

Yuyuko nodded as she help lay Shion down as she noted her Sensei's hands, her mind still reeling from the spar as she thought to herself.

'Shion...and then Sensei, both were not holding back...this…'

When Yuyuko heard her sensei's advice on this, she nodded obediently before her mind groaned inwardly hearing her sensei ask the one question she always try to avoid talking about with anyone else who was not A, her doctors, B, her teacher or C, her parents. After a quick few seconds, she breathed in before glancing around to check if anyone else was around before speaking which luckily it was just them as her right and left hand begun to reach for the mask.

"Well, Sensei...about the mask well...truth be told, it was for my special training as i felt i was not training enough..DEsu…….i assume you heard earlier Shion's words which with this….I am sure you have more or less figured that I can see both eyes….DEsu."

With that, Yuyuko removed the Oni mask revealing her other half of her face and a black eyepatch before taking it off to show her very working right eye hidden by it as she rubbed said eye as though it just woke up.

"ahhh...I have to admit at times like this when i can catch my breath, it feels really good to see normally again,DEsu."

Yuyuko then held out the mask and eyepatch for Kukiko if she wanted to inspect it directly as she said

"i believe this is the answer you are looking for, sensei."

Kukiko frowned and reached out to grab the mask. She turned it in her hand as she inspected it. There really wasn't anyway to see out of it. How foolish. [color=#00B2EE]"You willingly give up your sight, putting yourself at a disadvantage on purpose because you felt you weren't progressing fast enough? You're just out of the academy for Gods sakes."[/color] she said to Yuyuko before she turned the front of the mask to face its owner, she dangled it there and spoke again "Do you plan on wearing this on missions?" she questioned her student as she wrestled with the idea of smashing the useless mask to bits at her students feet.

Yuyuko shivered as she heard her sensei say those words, the tone in her sensei's voice implying that now was not the time for Yuyuko to be anything except frank and honest to her Sensei.

"Well…..Umm….depending on mission to mission though this extends to day to day life...yes? At worse only up until B rank missions..or when i need to fight more than 3 to 4 people at once...or if i am fighting someone who is much more skilled than me when i need to get seriously serious.…..i came up with this idea...a few days after the 6 tail's attack while i was remembering the aftermath of said attack and musing over my father...Takeda Masakage san's repeated advice to the students he taught when i sat in on them. That advice being 'If you don't regularly swing your sword, even a practice sword, you can never train past what you normal limits.' I merely figured after remembering how some people wear weights when training in taijutsu that, since weights are an inconvenience to my stamina and movement while the training lost when i never swing my sword would logically mean i have to train to get back that time, why not if i kept one eye closed all the time, i could logically be kept training at almost all moments of my life. And if i could train so fast that i can be put next to Mama, i could be able protect her until she retires from being a ninja."

As she said that, her tone became one of calm but also intimidated fear and she also noticeably dropped the use of her verbal tic to show how honest and serious she was. Granted the logic on how she took her father's advice was to a weird extreme, she tried to put it such that Kukiko would be able to see and understand the logic behind Yuyuko's actions from Yuyuko's point of view.

Kukiko sighed, and the held the mask out to the Genin. Maybe another day she'd smash it to pieces, "You wear it when I say you can wear it. Got it?" she stated overruling the young Genin's views on when she'd need to take it off, "If I say it comes off, it comes off. If I say it can be worn, you can wear it. On your own time you can do whatever you like with the mask, but if you're with me I expect you to listen." she wondered where Yuyuko had gotten such an idea. It was one thing to practice a motion everyday, or a certain technique. But to half blind yourself? Sight didn't work like that. You couldn't just increase one eyes ability to see by blinding the other. It would ruin her depth of field. Destroy her ability to aim weapons at anything but close range, and even then all it does was cut off her sight by half and make her movements that much sloppier, maker her ability to act that much slower.

She reconciled to teach the Genin a lesson about fields of view if she could. "Personally I think it's suicide." she stated flatly, "I've seen a lot of Shinobi die Yuyuko. And all of them had both eyes available to use. You'll just be dead that much faster with one less eye." she was getting impatient holding the mask out for the Genin.

Yuyuko nodded as she gently begun to grip the mask in Kukiko's hands. She did see her sensei's point which was very valid indeed, plus if it is her jonin sensei's instructions, there is not much she can do at all to override it, granted she hoped she can keep this gimmick as secret from her other classmates as possible as a kind of special training for when she is eligible to take the chunin exams.

"I understand sensei and will remove this mask when you deem it necessary that i do so."

She said as she gently took the mask back from her sensei.

"Good." Kukiko smiled and turned back to Shion, "I'll get a medical-nin to come check her out, wait here with her while I'm gone okay." she said before she began walking toward the entrance to the training fields.[/spoili][/fieldbox]
 
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[fieldbox=Questions and Katashi, #33cccc]

Kiyomi Homura I,
Akinian Empress | Konohagakure, the Imperial Akenian capital - The University


The two deep rows of massive pillars were impressive. Daunting even. Climbing the stairs that led to the main entrance of the newly finished complex, Kiyomi couldn't help but feel excited. The work on the imposing and huge complex as various side facilities was finally done.

Finally done climbing the stairs, Kiyomi walked to one of the pillars. What were they called again? Columns. She nodded subtly as if she had to confirm her own answer. The columns were made of white stone. Marble, if Kiyomi had to make a guess. Knocking on it, she couldn't resist a smile. The fact that the Homura university was finished was something she had been looking forward to. Even despite just being in Konohagakure, Kiyomi didn't want to wait a day longer to pay the recently finished centre of learning a visit.

Entering the large double door entrance to the main courtyard, Kiyomi saw the various benches. The plants and just the serene beauty of it all. Slowly she kept walking, taking in everything with a broad smile and curious glance in her eyes. The Sworn Swords that followed her were forgotten. The fact that she was an Empress, also forgotten. Taken in by the prospect of the large place being finished was what kept her attention drawn.

Spreading her arms as she stood in the centre, Kiyomi closed her eyes. Feeling the warm rays of the sun on her face, she felt the need to just shout.

And she actually did.

A day or two later.
The Homura University, Konohagakure.​

Taking a bite of the apple, Kiyomi's gaze was fixated on the group of men. Or well, groups of men. Each of them seemed to be of a more advanced age. From the looks, Kiyomi would group them around the age from forty-five to perhaps sixty. Some may be even older. But despite that, each of them held a strong voice that echoed through the large hall.

"Nonsense! There is no necessity that requires such measures! It would only bring more strife! Destabilising various regions!" One of the men shouted. Judging by his attire, Kiyomi figured that he was from a Taika origin. He was standing with various other men, who nodded and grumbled in a fashion that they agreed.

"And? For change to occur, sacrifices have to be made! You can't be serious that you lot are content with stagnation?! Have you learned nothing from history?!" Another shouted in response. This was followed by soft grumbling and some men stating 'Hear, hear'. The long beard and clothing marked that group to be of Chonobi heritage as an origin. There were smaller groups but the Taika and Chonobi group of men were the most present. The discussion had been ongoing for an hour and only showcased that none of these men had lost their voice despite their advanced age.

The topic they were arguing was regarding what culture should be praised more. With the Akenian Empire boasting so many diverse clans and cultures, there was the question brought by one of the men on what culture should be endorsed more. Something that Kiyomi found slightly amusing as it brought the obvious disagreements, discord and arguments. An almost perfect representation of what the opinions of the Akenian clans would be.

Munching on the bite of her apple, the young monarch wasn't even noticed anymore by the group of men. They were so passionate and drawn into their discussion. Throwing arguments and continue the discussion in what seemed to be able to burst out in a fisticuff, within any second. Yet, they listened to each other. Their arguments weren't personal attacks on clan, culture or person. There seemed to be a modicum of respect. But not enough to make the discussion seem less volatile.

"They are still at it?"
Kiyomi slowly nodded as she chewed slowly.
"I got to admit, I expected some of them already to be swinging fists instead of arguments. Perhaps dropping from exhaustion."
"Glad that you didn't decide to make that bet now, huh?"

Hearing Katashi chuckle as he decided to sit next to Kiyomi, the two observed the group in silence for a moment. One of the men demanded the floor and spoke on how that religion should be perhaps serve as decisive matter. But this only brought up more discussion, drawing in more groups.

"So why did you invite these... wise men, again?" Katashi asked, a frown appearing on his brow. His arms crossed in front of his chest but his tone already marked it clear that the Captain-commander didn't like the squabbling old men.

"Would you believe me if I said that I enjoy watching them squabble?" Kiyomi asked after clearing her mouth. A soft grunt from Katashi was a good answer that he indeed wouldn't buy it."These men are considered to be wise. See that man over there?" Kiyomi nodded towards one of the Taika speakers, that shook his head. "His name is Sakae from Keishi. He was the tutor of the late Fire Feudal lord. Having studied various fields almost since the day that he managed to learn how to write and read. That guy," this time Kiyomi pointed at another old man, who's beard seemed to almost reach further than his waist, "Is the venerable elder Reginn from Ironwrath. He is one of the most respected scholars from the southern part of the realm. Not to forget, Cynbel of the Nara clan. Each of these men are highly respected from where they came from. Scholars of much higher degree than your usual tutor from a city." Kiyomi said as she threw a sideways glance at Katashi.

"And what do you hope to aspire with these respectful elders? To shout at anybody who wants to spend time as trying to find education in this complex?" Katashi asked, still looking with a frown at the passionate old men.

"If it helps, yes. I invited various scholars of all cultures and possible clans to come to Konohagakure. They have their own lodgings in the eastern wing of the complex." Kiyomi began, pausing for a moment. A Taika speaker took the floor, trying to calm things down. This almost seemed to work, only for the discussion to flare up once more. "I want to use their knowledge. Each individual that we see here has studied so much that it would be impossible to learn everything that they could collectively know. They could teach me a lot, you know."

Katashi's lips parted, if only briefly and slightly. Noticing this, Kiyomi turned her gaze back to the discussing scholars. "We aren't in a formal setting. You may speak your mind, Katashi."

"I just don't see the use, your Majesty. Call me too much of a soldier but how can a group of scholars know what the common folk want? How the nobility react to certain decrees or edicts? Knowledge may have its value as use but..." The man threw a sideways glance at Kiyomi. "A farmer can't feed his family with knowing the content of a history book. Theories and ideas are nice but this is one that I can't fully grasp."

"Kiyomi." She said, not withrawing her gaze despite her tone being quite sharp. "You have a point. What should a scholar that is so drawn in his studies or books know of some more pragmatic matters? But they come from humble origins. Some were born as sons of a farmer. Of a weaver. Or a hunter. Or that of a soldier." Kiyomi said after a moment of silence. Throwing another glance at Katashi, she gestured to the men. "Hiron always told me that if you can't tackle a problem one way, try to find another. This is my other way. I am supposed to rule over a realm that is far from cohesive. The worshippers of Way of Fire are much different from how the Sarutobi honour the Gods. Then not to even mention the feuds that exist among everybody. I have no clue on how to fix all of that. Yet, it feels like I should."

The frustration and anger were clear, despite Kiyomi trying to rein it back. Sighing, she leaned forward. Planting her elbows on her knees she kept staring at the group of old scholars. "If I can't solve the matters with steel and courage, then I have to tackle it another way. These men are used to study and ponder on all kind of dilemmas. Perhaps they could figure it out, one way or another."

The guard commander as the young monarch kept watching the group of scholars. It had gotten to the point that culture, history, religion as necessities were discussed. In such a fashion that it was almost impossible to follow what was even discussed. But it seemed that the old men were more than able to follow it as there wasn't one that suggested a pause.

"What solutions have you heard thus so far? The ones that you consider reasonable." Katashi asked, rubbing his chin.

" None." Kiyomi said, once more the frustration clear in her voice. "I know some bits and parts of cultures and religions. More than the average Hon, I imagine, that grew up far from any Taika or Yakimara influenced centre. But nothing that I want to edict myself. Assimilating one culture for the greater good will just bring up resistance. Trying to expand one religion and use it as a binding matter is pretty much the same problem. It might work but it will be the reason for so much unrest. Of course, the question also on which culture or religion is considered more beneficial for the Empire. At this point, I am starting to dread the idea that separating the Empire might be the wiser choice of all."

Once more it became silent between Katashi and Kiyomi as the scholars seemed to tire slightly. Eventually, one of the bearded men suggested that they should take a break. Almost as if no heated discussion had existed, the group started to walk towards the exit of the large chamber. Friendly chatter was evident, even among those who came from a different origin.

"Seems they can go along when not being tasked to discuss important matters of state." Katashi said as he chuckled. "Though, if you would like a soldier's opinion, I am willing to give mine."

Kiyomi half turned, her expression saying already that she was sceptical. "Fine. But no jokes. I am not in the mood for jests now."

The Sarutobi grinned as he slightly raised his hands up. "I promise. I might not have enjoyed an academic study in my time but how about you tackle this differently? Cause if we take the looks of how they discussed a few minutes ago, you won't be able to create any unity in the Empire. Choosing the Taika will make the Chonobi despise you. Picking the Chonobi will make the Taika unruly. Picking neither? And well, they might start to wonder who you then side with."

"Yes, I know that." Kiyomi replied, her arms crossing out front of her chest. "So what then? Want me to pick both?"

"No. I say pick neither." Katashi calmly replied. Which caused Kiyomi's eyes to narrow. "Not funny."
"I am not joking. Think about it. You are raised as a soldier. A fighter, right?"

Kiyomi slowly nodded. One just had to know Hiron's reputation to make that assumption, she figured. "How does a fighting unit operate?" Katashi asked. "They are trained and required to listen to commands of their officer."

"Mhm. Now, does it matter what god that officer prays to outside of battle? Or what kind of cuisine he favours the most? What kind of poetry he likes to read when taking a shit?"
Kiyomi slightly and slowly shook her head. "No, I imagine not."

"So why would it matter what culture or religion a person has? The Fire country as Fire Union managed. The whole 'problem' existed back then. The Chonobi were drawn in, the Taika was passive as the Yakimara content. No Sarutobi ever considered rebelling against the Daimyo because they were busy with other matters. No Uchiha was likely ever afraid that they had to adopt the faith of the Hon clan."

Kiyomi huffed as she gestured to where the group of the scholars had stood and discussed. "Great and all but you heard how it happened when that was brought up! The Daimyo were also in most fields incompetent. Drawn into Keishi and content with a lavish lifestyle. Delegating matters to clans and kages, for as long as their lifestyle wouldn't be disturbed."

"Indeed. And are you the daimyo of the Fire country or are you the Empress of Akino?" Katashi asked, still calm. Which seemed to frustrate Kiyomi even more.
"By Bergjlot's tits, Katashi! I swear, don't jest now. What is your point?"

"Simple. You bring up that the diversity is a problem. That it threatens the cohesion of the Empire. It may very well do but tackling it directly, it doesn't seem that many will come to an agreement. Instead, try to handle it in a different manner." The guard commander continued. "Why not make an option instead of just looking at the obvious ones?"

"Cause I have no idea how to create a culture out of the ground up. It doesn't work like that from what I know." Was Kiyomi's response, her cheeks faintly growing red. "It is why I invited those scholars in the first place."

"I wouldn't know how to make a culture either. I am still a soldier and used to that particular lifestyle, your Majesty." Katashi answered, still oddly calm. As if he was just talking to a mere teenager. "But what I am suggesting is simply explained with another question. How do you call a native from the Wind country?"

Kiyomi's lips parted as her eyes narrowed. She had various arguments on how that didn't explain anything. How it only frustrated her and drove her to smack the Sarutobi on his head. To tell him that she was actually frustrated and desperate to seek an answer. A solution that would help her out. But as she thought the answer was obvious, Kiyomi's lips closed. Her eyes lowered as she tried to find the answer.

"Well? A fart? A breeze of the Wind country?" The scarred commander of the Sworn Swords would let a sliver of amusement ring through his voice.

"I... I don't know."

"Weird, right? You just call them 'a native of the Wind Country'. Or as some commoners might call them, 'desert rats'. 'Sand dwellers'. Or any of that sort." Katashi flashed a smile. "Now, how do you call somebody from the Empire of Akino?"

Kiyomi could think of a witty answer to see if Katashi had the patience to deal with her being a smartass but she felt too tired. "An Akenian. I still don't see how...." Her voice trailed off as her eyes widen. Standing up, her hands shot to the side of her head. "Oh by the gods..."

Scoffing, Katashi would lean slightly backwards on his seat. A grin visible as he closed his eyes, his chin slightly raised. "Seems to me that this dumb soldier outsmarted all those wise elders."

Gently punching Katashi's shoulder, Kiyomi shot him a frowned look. Though the big smile made it clear she found it slightly amusing as well. "You are an absolute madman. But I think I get it now. Thanks, Katashi."

"Of course. I do hope that my name will become immortalized when her Imperial Majesty will provide this so oh direly needed solution." The man said as he made a mock bow towards Kiyomi. Despite being tired and feeling some frustration, Kiyomi could not help but snicker.

"Stop it or I will have you be fed to my pups."​

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[fieldbox=Temple Raiders?!, burlywood]
Hanaguro - the provincial capital of the River province.
In the western side of the city.
Team 4.

A collab between Frost, Zane and Oetje

Summary:
Team 4 goes into the Fire Temple but don't succeed in getting the lodging inside or near the complex. Relocating, Meilin comes up with a plan that has some risks. The team discusses the plan before the move into action.


Previous Post.


[spoili]
In the brief flash Aoi could see the guards confused face as his sword glanced off of her forearm and above her head, she found herself grinning as she once again reached out and touch the plate armor on the guards chest. Once she felt the cold metal she jumped back, far enough away that he hopefully couldn't get to her before she had time to act against him. She formed another bird handseal, the grin on her face giving way to a more concerned look as the man brought his sword in and dashed for her. There was a loud crack as the arm that was holding the sword seemed to bend back in an unnatural direction, the metal at the elbow of his armor contorted in such a way that it was obvious the guard wouldn't be able to use that arm for a few months at the least.

The sword clattered to the ground, spinning noisily across it with its momentum and coming to a halt at Aoi's feet. She kicked it away from her into a pile of trash as she watched the guard writhe on his knees trying desperately with his good arm to somehow fix his now useless arm. She felt bad, unable to bring herself to watch the man any longer she felt the iron dust on her forearm creeping down to surround her balled fist. It hardened all at once, she questioned her own fist encased in iron for a moment before turning to the now defenseless guard in front of her, "I'm so sorry." she said meely and lashed out, sending the metal gauntlet that was her hand into the side of the guards face. He crumpled to the ground, the faint sound of his breath the only thing providing Aoi any sort of satisfaction in what she had just done to an otherwise innocent citizen of the Empire. She turned and started back down the alley, the iron gauntlet at her fist turned back into dust and crept back up her arm and under her shirt as she ran.

"I'm off the hook for now, what's going on?" she thought to her team as she began making her way back to Madoc's position.

Was she still in the hallway? Was he too late to warn her, yet something was off. She seemed to be laying prone with her hand and legs out, yet the priest was just walking past her? Ahhh he got what she was doing now. Good thing these guys aren't trained guards, they don't expect anyone to break into a temple of all places. Just as Meilin was in the clear, Aoi got out of her own situation which caused him use his sensory on Meilin's location.
"Well for starters, we need your input on where to go in this temple. She's on the eastern side in a hallway. I can't really describe the location, all I can do is tell her where people are located. So any information on where she could head would be great. Also Meilin keep heading down that hallway, a few guys meet up back from where you entered."

Despite what Aoi had told her before, Meilin really couldn't get a positive opinion on the temple. Likely had to do with being lost, in the dark with the objective of not being spotted. Walking slowly as silently through the hallway, Meilin would let Madoc reply back to Aoi. There was a most sarcastic comment on Meilin's tongue to add to it but she refrained herself from adding more tension to the situation.
"Are you certain that they have no guards? An awful lot of old people awake and on about." Meilin decided to ask, frowning as she came to a stop.
Standing at an intersection, she decided to wait for a moment. Hopefully, Aoi could give a hint. Else? Then they had to rely on pure luck. A resource that Meilin rather didn't depend on.

As Aoi made her way back to where Madoc was, she made sure to stick to the alleys and shadows a bit further from the commotion of the Temple. A flash of concern shot over Aoi's face as Meilin questioned Aoi's earlier statement about a lack of guards within the Temple itself, "No no, they're probably not guards, larger Temples have a lot of Priests, Monks and other volunteers. Some of the older men take a while to get to bed between chatting with each other and finishing prayers." she bounded up a wall and onto a roof before continuing her thought to Meilin and Madoc, "They're just old people, no real threat. From what you said earlier it seems like you're in their living quarters." she thought for a moment and jumped a gap between buildings, "Head to the end of the hall that is closest to the main Temple, that's where the more important Priests stay, if you can find an empty room…" she felt bad giving directions to break into a Priests room, but it had to be done.

"You can probably rummage through their desks for any documents or letters that may lead us to something more…"

"Aren't we already in the main temple? So were not even near where we need to be? Well what should I be looking for Aoi? I've just been warning her about people. Although the people around her are getting less and less. I don't see any in her vicinity at the moment. So you are free to roam a bit more Meilin."

"I will do that."

Was the sole response of Meilin. She was honestly not feeling that comfortable with hearing Madoc's response as it basically provoked a response of Aoi. Focusing on moving silently towards what she imagined to be the entrance, Meilin kept to the shadows. The chuunin was certain that she was heading to the right direction but yet felt a bit lost. There wasn't much that she could use to clarify if one of the doors would lead to what she was looking for.
Hearing some sounds, Meilin froze. Looking around as she heard impending footsteps, the Cho would move once more into action.

A dim light moved through the hallway as a bald priest yawned. Walking down the hallway, he used the light of a candle to shine the way he was heading. Slowly passing by a tapestry, he wouldn't notice anything different about it. With the light slowly fading, Meilin would sneak out of her cover behind the tapestry.
"Aoi, is there anything that I can use as recognition? Something about the doors? A lock? Anything?" Meilin decided to ask as she tried to find a way to uncover it already by herself.

Aoi jumped another gap between a building, for a moment the sight of the alley beneath her causing her stomach to sink before her feet landed on the opposite roof a shock being sent up her stomach and ending in a throb at the top of her back just below her neck. She stopped in her tracks as Madoc responded, obviously not pleased by what she had said earlier. She could feel the anger in her stomach growing and despite all she knew, she couldn't quite keep it all out of her thoughts, "I don't know Madoc, the plan wasn't exactly solid. Break into Temple. Find something. Sorry if I didn't receive the full mission order." she thought as she started off to his position once more,"Meilin, there isn't going to be anything in the Temple. It's not used for storing stuff you'll be interested in finding. Head to the end of the hall, the doors will become further apart as you go, the more important they are they bigger the room. As far as which one will have something we can use? I'd have to be a mind reader to tell you that and last I checked I wasn't. That's your issue to figure out not mine."

She turned on the roof up a slight incline, at the top she spotted Madoc in his position. Stopping behind him she'd kneel, "If there's no luck in the Priests rooms, you can try the administrative building, it was directly opposite the courtyard from the building you're in now, about half the size." she looked to Madoc and then back toward the Temple, "If you can get in there there will be a central records area and a secondary office used by the main administrator. Finding something we can use is up to you."

What did he say to invoke some sass from Aoi? Well he seemed to have that effect on people, so he just shrugged it off and kept up his sensory on where she was and where other people were. Yet the continued little taunts from Aoi certainly wasn't helping him. "Good thing being a Mind Reader doesn't matter in this situation. I'd start leaving if the room suddenly started speaking to me." he said before Aoi offered up an idea. "Well it's better than walking around aimlessly. You have a relatively clear way until that building. The Courtyard has around four people in it, but they are heading towards a hallway I think."

"Guys. Can we please argue after I am out of here? I am not certain about you two but it is hard to focus on staying silent as hidden when two voices in my head start to squabble about Mind Reader this or that."[/i]

Meilin's eyes narrowed as she was getting frustrated. She threw a look over her shoulder but saw nobody. Without hearing any sounds of movement, she decided to bring her hands together. Weaving several handsignals, while turning back, the chuunin started to make her way back from where she came.


Opening the window, Meilin let the cold breeze hit her. It was quite pleasant after inside the temple's hallway, crouching and sneaking around. Climbing out of the room, Meilin would leave the window open. Taking a deep breath in, the moulded chakra coursed through her system. It was an odd feeling but yet still pleasant. Spreading her arms, she would let herself fall forwards.

Soaring through the air, the change was more than welcome. The temptation of just fly away was growing but Meilin focused on the smaller building. Flying to the right, the raven wouldn't be able to spot any open windows. Much like she suspected, it wasn't something that was in use during the night. Then she had another idea.
Flapping her wings harder to gain altitude, Meilin would land and transform back on the roof. Rolling with her left shoulder, she threw a look at a chimney.
Walking towards it, the young woman didn't like the idea to crawl down the narrow space. She wouldn't fit in her own form through it. Inspecting it for a moment, she would inhale once more.


Coughing, Meilin would shake her head. She had moved down the chimney, using the raven technique once more. It certainly came quite useful in an infiltration such as she was performing right now.
"I am inside. Give me a few minutes and I will see what I can find." She reported.
Sneaking around, she first tried to detect any movement or signs of life inside the building. It was completely silent, however. Which did comfort Meilin slightly. Heading back to her task at hand, she was wondering what they would do if nothing odd could be found. But soon Meilin managed to stumble upon some interesting papers.
Reading through the papers, she figured out that these were notes of meetings. Nothing too strange as names were stated, with the other person's vocation. Such as butcher, carpenter and what not. Likely businesses that the Temple priests did with the local establishment to keep things running.

"Seems we found our princess," Meilin reported, her thought bringing over a grim tone. "A meeting with a guard. The name is scribbled through as if it is a mistake. The time and date is also..."
A small pause followed.
"I can hardly read it. By Valdar's balls, give me a moment." She cursed, the thought being slightly more upbeat than the previous one.

"Tomorrow night. Seems that one of the priests is meeting up with a guard. Could be nothing but it is kind of odd that it happens at midnight. South of the Temple, in front of the Tonoki's establishment. Just give me one more minute."
A brief moment of silence followed.
"Knew it. Okay, I got the address. I am on my way back. Let us meet back in the rented room."


Quite confident that they were on the lead of something, Meilin had only used the raven technique to 'escape' the temple's boundaries. Once outside, she had decided it was safer to go on foot back to the rented room. Hopefully, both Aoi and Madoc would arrive without any hassle.
Entering the establishment, Meilin didn't care much for the other patrons or people. Heading straight towards the room, she would knock three times, then wait a second before trying to open the door.

Aoi stood at the window of the hotel room. She'd been there since Madoc and her returned, staring out across Hanaguro and toward the small pillars of smoke that rose from the temple. She wasn't sure what she was feeling. Regret? Disappointment? Anger? A combination of all those and more? As she watched she heard the soft rapping of someone at the door, presumably Meilin. She turned and watched the door as the handle shifted. There was an urge to cross the room and slam the door back at Meilin as she entered. Could she take Meilin in a fight? She wondered for a moment, factoring in Madoc and his obvious choice of side for such a thing she was sure she'd lose, if she could get them both separately she could win against the blonde but together she'd be too overwhelmed by them both. But maybe it'd help a little with the confusion in her chest. Maybe she'd feel better about what she'd just done if she could bloody someone other than those poor guards that had only been doing their jobs.

She stayed where she was as the door opened, her arms crossed over her chest and her hands in loose fists as she watched, nothing but a sad little smile adorning her face as Meilin stepped in.

Their part of this operation had come to a close once Meilin got some information about a meeting at midnight. Not a lot of information was given out, yet that could be fixed at the room they were renting. So heading back with Aoi, was a rather silent endeavor. Not wanting to speak as she seemed rather irked at him at the moment, not that it was bothering him any. Whatever he said, she took out of context or something. Yet they would arrive back at the room where Madoc would lay on the bed, relaxing a bit after using a good amount of chakra on his sensory duties. He would glance at Aoi every now and then who seemed like she would throw a punch if he even reminded her he was in the room.

After a bit of waiting Meilin would arrive back at the room, where Aoi seemed ready for a confrontation to which Madoc groaned and sat up on the bed. "So what exactly did you find out in those reports? All we know is a meeting, Anything else to be exact? Names, reasons? You mentioned princess."

Briefly, Meilin couldn't help but feel a bit tense. This mission had thus far done nothing but been a wild ride. Both great and bad.
"I found some good information. Trustworthy? Debatable. But it could be a good lead." Meilin said as she walked to one of the beds. Placing her findings on the bed, Meilin would point to one of the papers.
"One of the priests is having meetings outside of the temple. Not that I would consider that evidence enough to stalk and follow the bloke on one of his trips. But during late night? If there is something shady, it is meetings at late night. Good folk don't tend to plan meetings at late hours. Unless," Meilin threw a brief glance at Aoi, "Priests aren't allowed to couple with others. Then it could be an affair."

Placing her left index finger on another note, Meilin continued.
"Now, this is where it gets weird. The time and date are scribbled through. In haste, as if somebody tried to hide it. I imagine that could have been played off as a mere mistake. Priests are human too, they make mistakes. But if it is true, then tomorrow night the meeting will take place. We could wait and oversee the meeting. Perhaps it is nothing. Perhaps it is a big lead to the Zealots."

Becoming silent, Meilin wondered if they would make it in time to alert the Sworn Swords. There was the factor that neither she, Madoc or Aoi knew if the guard came alone. Perhaps the Zealots would make sure that the meeting would be closed off. Having their own operatives on the prowl, to erase any eavesdropper.
"I want us to get some rest. We have been through... wild moments, tonight. Best if we try to contact the Sworn Swords tomorrow. Which means that you," Meilin looked at Madoc, "Will need to sniff them out. Could you recognise their chakra signatures by any chance or something?"

Aoi listened as she watched Meilin, going on about what she'd found, the only intelligence they were able to scrounge from this. The intelligence that people got hurt for, and Aoi had set her own holy place of worship ablaze for. She scowled at Meilin, her anger and disgust over the whole situation finally showing itself against her own wishes. She'd love to just let it go, to not be bothered by it all. But how could she? "Priests are allowed to have relationships with others. There's no rule against it." she replied to Meilin curtly.

Then she laughed. A questioning smile twisting her face at the final comment of Meilin, "Wild? You call this wild?" she laughed again and took a few steps towards Meilin, "What I just did is wild to you Meilin? Is what I just did is something I can just sleep off? That was blasphemy!" she yelled as she turned herself to be able to point back at the window, to be able to point at the pillars of smoke in the distance. "I trusted you enough to commit blasphemous acts against my God and what about you?" she turned her head back to Meilin followed by her entire body and once again stepped a bit closer, only a meter between them now. She could feel her face flushing. Her chest hurt terribly. She didn't want to do any of this. Not the fires. Not the guards. Not the yelling or the anger. None of it. But she couldn't help herself.

Her head swam with insults and words too fast for her to process. She began to lift a hand to point at Meilin before dropping it in a balled fist. "I trusted you enough to commit blasphemy…" she could feel the tears in her eyes now, though they weren't yet flowing freely, not like her words seemed to be, "I trusted you..." the ache in her chest hadn't left. If anything it had gotten worse with her tirade, "So why the fuck are you hiding things from me!" she yelled as she closed the gap with Meilin. Before she knew what she was doing she had pushed Meilin back across the room and against the door she had just walked through, her hands gripping the fabric of Meilin's clothing at her shoulders. The tears began to flow now just like her words had been.

"What the fuck kind of place do you come from that you don't trust someone that's willing to commit blasphemy for you!"

Aoi was smaller than Meilin by only two centimetres, and down by something near ten kilos on her, but she was strong. She began lifting Meilin by her clothes off the ground, streaks of tears running down her cheeks as she pulled, "That's the wild thing here," she managed through her gritted teeth, "You"
[/spoili]
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[fieldbox="Investigation Underway - Part Four - Team 7, green"]

Empire of Akino.

Hanaguro - River Province's capital.


A collab between Nim, Glitchybugger, Roran Hawkins and Gerontis.


After speaking to Lady Haruka, Team 7 proceeds with their investigations into the recent attack on Lady Haruka and the Okakzaki.


Knocking on Captain Aratoshi's door for the second time in as many days, he waited along with the rest of Team 7 in front of his door. He had a strange moment of deja vu as they stood there for a moment. He noticed he'd forgotten to change, and he was still wearing his gore-splattered flak jacket and bloodied shirt. He shrugged when he saw a soldier walk by and startle at the way all of them looked after surviving the leech's boobytrap.

It remained silent for a moment. Then a slight muffled answer came from the other end of the door, that of the captain stating that they could come in. Once the team entered the office, they would spot Aratoshi standing at his desk. Bowing over a map with a frown on his brow, the captain seemed anything but pleased. When he cast his gaze upon the entering team, the frustration flowed away and made place for confusion.

"You know, you three look like..." His voice trailed off as he shook his head. "Not the matter. You three should change later. I assume that her ladyship sent you three to me? Cause things are looking not too well." Not waiting for them to ask what or anything else, Aratoshi already began explaining.

"The 'sudden' burst of violence has upset some of the locals. Something that can be kept in tone and control. However, now that word is spreading out and reached the ears of Okakzaki leader, tension is on the rise. There are likely to be more than heated words between various clan heads. In light of this, there might be even a demand of bloodmoney, for a relative of an important Okakzaki clan member perished away in the violence. And I highly doubt that the demand will be met."

Kensuke didn't react to the captain's inquiry to their state and listened in silence instead. The death of one of the Okakzaki easily explained their opponent's expeditious retreat. Either he hadn't expected the shinobi to be there, or the goal of his attack was to test Lady Haruka's shinobi bodyguards' expertise. It'd be easy to divert the actual target of the attack to be one of the Okakzaki clan members should it not be safe or easy to catch her ladyship. The political instability that'd result from it would make any following attempts all the easier. "That's a problem for sure. It'll make things more difficult for us for sure. But, and don't get me wrong, this very much seems like a problem for our employer's father. It's detrimental to the Empire's stability, of course, but what does her ladyship expect we do about it?"

Kyoi found herself frowning as she heard the news and how it conveniently related to the Okakzaki. "Also, is it possible to find out whether this relative was one of the aggressors or just a bystander caught in the crossfire? I think that would help with defining whether they're to be suspected as cohorts of the zealots or not."

"Her ladyship instructed me to figure out about the Okazaki's affairs in town. I have already sent a few small groups to investigate. It will take a bit of time but if her ladyship send you lot here, it must be because you are shinobi. Gathering intelligence is one of your forte's, ain't it? If you guys could move into that part of town and look around. Clues and what not, it would help speed up my investigation." The captain responded back to Kensuke, his attention switching to Kyoi.
"It won't be easy. I already requested to investigate the bodies of the unfortunate. I only got some half and bloodied remains of the patrons that were already inside. Any fallen Okazaki member has been collected by their clan. Likely to be given a burial at their own clan lands in or with their own rites. Getting a hold of their bodies would be harder than to try to make a pissed off snake bite you."

"Gathering intel is part of our roles, yes." Karma nodded lightly, as she thought about what they were told, before looking towards Kensuke "However, we were still ordered here to protect Lady Tamiyo by the Lord Commander. It is your call as the team leader, Kensuke." She said. If all of them moved away from the residence of Lady Taimyo, it could be looked as an act of defiance, as long as the instructions did not come from their superiors.

Kensuke shrugged at Karma's remark. "Lady Tamiyo has made her stance clear." He said resolutely yet with tangible frustration. "We will see what we can learn, Captain Aratoshi." Kensuke said with a bow of the head. "Any other suggestions on where to start?"

The captain focused on Kensuke, only briefly glancing at Karma. "I would suggest to take a look around at the guest residence that Lord Okakzaki used. Perhaps there is something that you can find there. I already wanted to send a few of my own to investigate it but if you and your team would be willing, great." The captain began as he thought of more suggestions. "Then there is also the establishment where the fighting took place. Perhaps some clues can be found there. It would perhaps raise less suspicious if you would go there than a group of armed guards. I would also try to check on what Lady Tamiyo is arranging. Other than that, I will be here if you will need more from me. Passes and all those kind of arrangements."

"I can take a peek into what our lady is doing if you like, Kensuke. Otherwise I will get right to investigating the guest residence." Kyoi began, giving him a knowing glance, seeing as Kensuke already had his clone tailing Haruka they would no doubt find out what she was up to soon. But it didn't hurt to keep up the appearance that they hadn't already taken such an action in front of the captain of the family's guard.

If there was no argument or disagreement to her self-assignment she'd be on her way out to begin working once Kensuke gave her the green light.

Kensuke gave a curt nod to the captain and left the room, shrugging at Kyoi's remark. "Let's take a look at the Okazaki for now."


The servant guided the team towards the guest quarter. The young man seemed most curious but didn't ask questions when he had been requested to bring them to the quarters of the representative of the Okakzaki clan. Once they were brought to the door, the team would be greeted by the sight of two heavily armoured as armed guards. They weren't that much different from the Tamiyo retinue, who patrolled the halls in the keep. The colour of their lamellar armour was different and the small crest of a star made it clear that they were different from the Tamiyo. The stern gazes of the guards were latched on to the approaching group but neither of the two moved a muscle. The servant would greet them and enter into a hushed conversation with one of the guards. The Okakzaki first shook his head but the servant said something in a soft tone, which caused the guard to throw a glance at Team 7. Mumbling something, the guard would disappear behind the door for a moment. Stepping out, he nodded towards Team 7 as he and his comrade took a step back.

The servant flashed a smile towards the team, followed by a quick and graceful bow. The room that the team would enter was much in line with the rest of the wing that they currently were located. A tapestry depicting a scenery hang at the wall while shelves at the right were filled with books. A desk nearby made it clear that the Okakzaki was fond of studying or reading. The man in question sat at the desk but would rise up to meet his guests. A door at the end of the room was closed, likely leading to the bedroom.

"Raikichi of the Okakzaki clan." The man said with a most polite tone, inclining his head. Placing his hands at his back, he eyed the three guests as the door would be closed behind them. "I have been informed that you three desired to speak with me? I must state that I don't have ample time to engage into a long conversation. I soon have lunch with more," there was a split second of a pause following, "Prominent members of society."

The head of the Nimatsu clan bowed respectfully before their host and spoke up. "I am Nimatsu Kensuke, lord of the Nimatsu clan, and this is Konohagakure Team 7. We acted as bodyguards of her ladyship when she was ambushed while meeting with your kin." He introduced the party. "First and foremost, I would like to extend my condolences to you and your clan, since one of your number perished there today. Yet-" He continued, spreading his hands to suggest he wouldn't rather be here either. "we oughtn't let his death go unpunished. We would like to investigate his corporeal remains. I strongly suspect that it may be of vital importance to tracking down the perpetrator." He finished.

Kensuke then folded his arms and placed his hand on the bloodied bandage on his arm while meeting the man's eyes directly. His eyes betrayed that he considered much of the pleasantries he just exchanged were just formulaic in his opinion, but that their common adversary was what he was after. "And, whatever this means for this noble court, I do think both of us want to find out who was behind all of this."

A moment of silence followed Kensuke's words as it was evident that Raikichi pondered. "Thank you. The unexpected death of my kin is something that has hit me and some others quite hard. Your request, however, is something I am not keen on giving into. I am aware on how this will make me and mine look. But I hope it is quite a rash decision to just let unfamiliar folk investigate the remains of what were once my clansmen." The words were spoken with a calm and yet even tone. "If you do wish to investigate the remains, I request that one of my guards will be present. I fully intend to make sure that the remains will be brought back to our own clan lands to receive a proper burial."

He paused for another moment, his gaze still locked on Kensuke's. "I can't disagree." A faint smile, that didn't hide the pain as frustration of the man, flowed on his lips. "I do hope you'll be able to gain any proof that my clan was as much as a victim as those others who have suffered today." He remained silent, waiting if they had anything else to bring up.

"Kyoi Hyuuga, sir. We'll do everything we can to bring the true culprits to the spotlight, for the sake of all involved parties." Kyoi chimed politely, bowing with a slight flourish, mostly to provide a visual distraction whilst she triggered her byakugan to gain an insight onto the chakra signatures of Raikichi and his guards. She'd deactivate her dojutsu as soon as she rose to her original standing position, patiently waiting to be lead by either of the guards to the body.

"Very well." Kensuke replied with a curt nod of the head. He unfurled his hands and gestured for a guard to lead them. "We shall make an effort to be quick about our investigation, insofar it will not disturb it." He added.

"Thank you, Lord Nimatsu." Was the reply of Raikichi before he would clap his hands, to summon of his guards. The respective guard would be ordered by Raikichi to guide Kensuke's team to the 'mortuary'. The walk was brisk and somewhat long as the guard would lead the team out of the keep to one of the nearby buildings. Similar guards were stationed outside but not as heavily armoured or armed as the Tamiyo retinue. The guard that escorted Kensuke's team managed to get them inside the building. Lodgings for various Okakzaki servants, guards and likely some other members were present, evident as it seemed as a large house rather than just a barracks or place to serve as mortuary.

The team would be guided to a basement. The cold likely being used to keep the bodies of the dead Okakzaki somewhat conversed. The scent of various balses, however, betrayed that they likely had been treated to keep the corpses from decomposing too quickly. Two more guards joined the group but the guards remained at a respective distance. Despite their masked kabuto's preventing much sight on their facial expression, their reluctance to speak or stand close to Kensuke's team said enough about their opinion on shinobi.

On several tables, the dead were laid upon. Their clothes were removed and wounds cleaned. Most of them seemed to have died from covenential weaponry. But there were some with a small stabbing wound, the skin around ashen-grey.

The morgue where the Okakzaki's dead were being kept was pretty much as Kyoi would expect any other to be, decently guarded by the clan's own personal guard and staffed by their own as well. "I will need some time to conduct a proper inspection to determine their exact cause of death, your dead clansfolk will be left the way I found them." She calmly explained to the guards present in the room with them.

Kyoi's first precaution for the inspection was to tie back her hair and prevent any cross-contamination of the current state of the bodies. She was careful about handling them in their preserved state, gently looking over every wound on each body in turn and taking a mental note of what she could find. "Most of them appear to have died by mundane means, as one would expect getting caught in the middle of that sudden fight in the tavern. But there are strange wounds here and there that seem to have, more or less desaturated in a way, the skin surrounding the wound itself has started to grey out. As far as I can recall there's no form of poison that does that."
That bizarre fact prompted Kyoi to take a look at the bodies with her Byakugan, as if it wasn't a conventional poison it could have been something of a chakra-based nature. Doing that gave her answers that she didn't like.

"The bodies are completely devoid of their chakra, based on how long ago these people died they should still have quite a lot of residual chakra left in their systems that would slowly bleed out over time.
I believe it's safe to say that the leech that was there is responsible for this no matter how you look at it, it would need to replenish it's chakra from somewhere to maintain itself and civilians who can't protect themselves from someone with his skill would be like taking sweets from a child… Kensuke, Karma, do either of you have anything you need to look at here?" Her gaze flit between the two of them briefly as she ensured that the bodies were as they found them.

The jounin in turn carefully inspected the corpses of the deceased. His eyes followed the contours of the cuts and lacerations on their bodies in an attempt to retrace their origins. He in turn noticed the dessicated flesh around their injuries, but could offer no immediate solution. Yet it was easy to determine that the push- and draw cuts that they suffered came from ordinary weapons. "That sounds like the only plausible solution." He said after a first study of the dead.

"They were injured during the fight. But never seriously enough to lead to their deaths. You see," He said, and stepped towards one of the bodies. "This individual suffered two push cuts to his forearms, and one to his neck. The first two are the likely results of a bind where he was just a tad too late to prevent being struck. The cut on his neck is probably one of those blows he narily warded off but nicked him anyway. But it didn't cut any vital arteries. These wounds all indicate they received them during the fight, yet none of them is life-threatening. Perhaps this cut," He said, pointing at another dead Okazaki who had suffered an injury to his armpit. "could have resulted in him bleeding out over time, as it must at the very least have grazed an artery. Yet he didn't."

He straightened himself and walked back to the other corpse. "They also seem to have suffered some stabbing wounds however. As if made by senbons. Can't judge how deep, but potentially lethal if they would have carried poison or something. What disturbs me though is that all of their injuries are those you are likely to suffer during a fight." He continued, gesturing how most injuries were on their arms. "Yet these needle-like wounds are, one by one, well… too perfect. They're wounds inflicted by taking a victim by surprise. Not those from a fight." He said, still walking around the tables. "And every single one of them has at least one of those wounds."

Listening to the inspections of her team members in the room filled with corpses, Karma felt a bit useless. She was never good with the more medical aspect of the job, nor did she really know how to identify wounds in the manner Kensuke did. All she could do was watch and listen as her two team members performed a type of post-action autopsy on the different bodies. Once Kensuke was finished with his examination, Karma would slightly shake her head, indicating she had nothing to add at the current time.
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[fieldbox="A Cold Rain, #696969"] Combined Earth and Waterfall Country Forces Camp, Near the Waterfall-Iron Country Border
A tense operation is undertaken by the Waterfall Countries 2nd Light Infantry Regiment.

This post is a glimpse into the state of the world outside of the three major Countries of the RP and all of the characters within them.
[spoili]

Captain Irai Miro
Eighth Heavy Dragoons, Earth Country

Captain Irai of the Earth Country Eighth Heavy Dragoons stood listlessly in the heavy rain. The constant patter of the drops hammering against his hood and cloak drowned out his thoughts as he stared into the night and the rain ahead of him. A drop of water managed its way past his hood and onto his face, causing him to flinch and bring a hand up to adjust the hood, the rain was ice cold, and with Winter well underway Irai was surprised it wasn't instead snowing. A product of the height of the land and the vegetation of the area a Waterfall Lieutenant by the name of Shii had assured him. "Perfectly normal this time of year." where his exact words before he was dismissed. Irai didn't like it anymore because of the fact.

"Sir."

Irai turned to face the voice, his attendant, a twenty four year old Earth Country trooper by the name of Noge was saluting him smartly, the rain washing down his hand and no doubt under his sleeve along his arm but the boy didn't flinch. Irai waved a hand and Noge dropped his salute. He quickly reached into his cloak and pulled out a rolled up paper and handed it to the Captain. The rain pattered off of it as Irai broke the Earth Country seal and unfurled the paper. He read it quickly before the rain could wash away the ink and nodded to himself as he handed it back to Noge. "Ensure that gets burnt Noge." Irai told the boy who saluted once more and hurried off into the night.

"I take it we're cleared then Captain?" Irai jumped at the voice to his left. He turned to lay his eyes on the Waterfall Lieutenant Shii, his face was drawn in a weak smile and his lips were visibly purple from the cold of the rain. He wore the distinctive grey cloak of the Waterfall Countries Light Infantry unit, the hood drawn over his camouflage painted face leaving only the whites of his eyes and a few purposely uncovered areas to show his features. He was a handsome man, in his late twenties with strong cheekbones, broad strong shoulders, and eyes that spoke of a deeper intelligence than he let on. Irai knew he was university educated and his performance in the field spoke of it, he was patient and precise in their training exercises, using his smaller forces to play to their own advantages and had three times now outwitted and outfought the Sixth Infantry Regiment of the Earth Country that was currently training in the Waterfall Country as part of the Earth Countries never ending rotation of troops to its subject country. Irai was merely an observer, at least officially.

"That'd be correct Lieutenant. You have a 'Go', good luck." Irai said with a simple assuring nod to the man. He watched as Shii nodded back and turned around, his cloak sweeping slightly around as he did and the man quickly strode off into the rain. Irai wasn't sure if he hadn't been able to here Shii's command or he hadn't given one at all, but in front of him stretching in both directions as far as the rain would allow him to see the cloaks of the Waterfall Country infantry rose out of the dark of the ground as one and spread out into the darkness in front of him melting into the rain like mist. Irai had to hand it to the men, they knew how to stay unseen.


Trooper Kai Hei
Third Squad, First Platoon, First Company, 2nd Light Infantry, Waterfall Country

Kai strode through the mud of the Waterfall Country with a precision that the Earth Country troops he had been training with for the past two months could only wish they could achieve. He glided over stones and fallen branches with nary a sound to pick him out among the constant downpour. All around him his fellow troopers did the same. They moved swiftly through the dark. Their visibility was cut to only about six meters by the rain, but it didn't matter, they wouldn't get lost, they knew exactly where they were going. It'd be impossible not to reach it.

He halted suddenly, one of his squad mates ahead had stopped dead and raised his fist into the air. The trooper opened his fist flat and placed it down quickly. Kai dropped as the rest of his platoon did and lay still, peering through only a small slit of his cloak out into the rain. He watched patiently, some ten minutes passing before he watched as another cloaked individual ran from ahead, low and silently he stopped and raised his flat hand up. The Waterfall Country men rose once more and continued forward, whatever it was that had caused their halt had been deemed a non-threat.

Another thirty minutes and they were on the edge of the forest they had been moving through. Kai fell into the roots of a tree, pressing himself into it and making his silhouette scarce against the hulking mass of it, around him more troopers streamed out of the woods and did the same. A familiar face made its way down the line of Waterfall men stopping at every other to rattle off an order. Sergeant Jii of First Squad stopped and knelt at Kai, "Kai, Third is support, you follow up you know the plan boy." he said with a smile before continuing to make his way down the line. Kai liked Sergeant Jii, he was an older man nearing his forties, had served half his life in the military and had a way with the men that came off as almost too comfortable around them given his position of authority over them. Kai inched his head around the trees bulk and stared out beyond the forest, into the open land beyond and the rain that covered the wall just two hundred meters away.


Sergeant Jii Rikei
First Squad, First Platoon, First Company, 2nd Light Infantry, Waterfall Country

Jii was moving slowly, picking his way between short shrubs and stones large enough to hide his figure as he creeped forward into the night. Ahead of him, his vision of them obscured by the rain, Troopers Hikei and Chiyon; the best scouts in the entire regiment; made sure the way was clear for the advancing First Company. Jii moved along the ground to another shrub slightly farther ahead and when he raised his eyes above it it was there. No more than six meters ahead of him Cibola's Wall stared him down unflinching. The ten meter tall pride of the Iron Country stood constant vigil over him as he moved closer to it, eventually pressing his shoulder against the wet stone as he moved along it.

Further down the wall, some thirty meters away stood Fort Apylon, a massive fortification that had been erected before the original construction of Cibola's Wall, and within it was their objective. Jii stopped dead in his tracks as he heard movement above. He pressed himself against the wall and pulled his cloak around himself. The Iron Country soldiers that peered over the edge just ten meters above him were none the wiser of the Company of Waterfall soldiers beneath them.

The fortress curtain wall extended out beyond Cibola's Wall nearly fifty meters, and nestled in the corner where it met Cibola's Wall was a large spillway that connected the elevated lake of water behind the fort to the other side of the wall. A failsafe against overfilling of the huge lake on the other side of the wall, a way to flood out the plain in front of Fort Apolyn incase of invaders, and, according to a few spies on the inside, a way into Fort Apylon itself.

Jii pressed against the edge of the massive spillway, eight meters wide and about the same height. A steady stream of water flowed from it as he peered into its dark maw. There was a splash and a double slap as two more Waterfall Country troopers pressed against the wall behind him. He nodded to Trooper Higo and Gane as he turned to look at who had just arrived before turning back to the spillway. On the other side of the spillway was now an entire squad of Waterfall Country troopers. The whole of First Squad led by Lieutenant Shii and the scouts Hikei and Chiyon at their front.

The Waterfall country men didn't say a word in the rain but simply watched. The Lieutenant raised a fist and pressed and pressed it parallel to the ground a few times, the sounds of swords exiting their sheaths was heard as the men of the Waterfall Country prepared to enter the spillway. The Lieutenant pumped his fist into the air twice before disappearing into the spillway followed closely by the Scouts and First Squad, Sergeant Jii and the two troopers behind him followed shortly after, the black of the spillway engulfing them in a millisecond.


Scout Sergeant Chiyon Noseki
First Scouts, 2nd Light Infantry, Waterfall Country

Chiyon edged in front of the Lieutenant who happily obliged as the far more deft of the two scouts took the lead. Behind him there was the occasional splash as a Trooper stepped on an uneven surface, and the sloshing of their steps through the running water but none of it sounded as though it was unnatural. Chiyon grinned as he peered ahead into the darkness of the spillway. He could make out a flight of stairs leading up to the right and the spillway itself stretched farther into the darkness. He held up a fist and the entirety of First Squad came to a kneeling halt in the freezing water behind him. Lieutenant Shii was at his side in an instant, followed closely by Scout Hikei on the opposite shoulder. Chiyon only gestured, pointing to the stairs on their right and then to the continuing spillway in front of them.

Lieutenant Shii nodded confirmation and turned around in the darkness. He raised four fingers up and pointed his flattened hand at the stairwell before making a fist and placing it gently in the open palm of his other hand. Without words four troopers rose and stacked themselves along the closest edge of the stairs. Chiyon watched as Hikei moved to lead them up the stairs and they disappeared into the tunnel at the top of the stairs. He rose and continued forward down the spillway once more.

It had been almost ten minutes and still they hadn't found the exit they had been promised would be there, although where it was was unsure from the start, only that it did exist. Chiyon stopped at a slope in the spillway, no doubt leading to the lake that it could release from, to the left was a slightly raised tunnel that was wide enough for three men to stand abreast and walk through. He pointed and the Lieutenant nodded again. The entirety of First Squad disappeared down the tunnel two abreast. The tunnel itself was lined by support pillars and it seemed to stretch for only fifteen meters, Chiyon was sure that it was their exit. There was movement, a flash from his right, too close. His shoulder and neck burned and he felt something warm running down him, then cold.

Scout Sergeant Chiyon, the best Scout in the entirety of the 2nd Light Infantry stared at the ceiling of the tunnel passage as around him First Squad erupted into combat. His vision hazed and the whole of his body had become numb. He thought for a moment that maybe he'd wake up once he closed his eyes, like from a bad dream.


Lieutenant Shii Lho
Commander, First Platoon, First Company, 2nd Light Infantry, Waterfall Country

The tunnel erupted into combat as Iron Country soldiers seemed to appear from thin air ahead of them. Had they been out classed in stealth? He couldn't believe it. He redirected a slash from an Iron Country soldier, sending him headlong into a pillar before plunging his sword into the back of the man's neck, slipping between the armor of his back and his helmet. He turned intime to watch another Iron Country man jump from a position up above them, in between the pillars of the tunnel and recessed into the wall. The tunnel was a killzone. It had been specifically designed to catch enemies entering through the spillway unawares. He dodged a strike before fire shot up his side, he turned with a roar and hacked off the arm of the man that had stabbed him in his flank. He could feel the cold steel of the blade in his side, the intense fire shooting up him quickly numbing as he found no time to think on it as more Iron Country Soldiers rushed in from the far end of the tunnel.

"Forward! Push forward!" he called as he lunged forward and caught an Iron Country man in the neck as he took of the head of Trooper Higo. The man had no time to cry out as his body fell and convulsed in the water of the tunnel before stopping eerily. Around him Troopers Tai, Ichigo, Dade, and Lee charged forward into the new contingent of Iron Country coming down the tunnel, they met in a clash of steel and blood, Ichigo struck down in the initial meet and Dade fell only moments later, Tai and Lee however bested their opponents and hacked their way forward and out of the tunnel.

"First Squad! Forward!" Shii yelled as he strode through the tunnel, stepping over bodies of Iron and Waterfall country soldiers alike, "Forward!"

Around him new Waterfall Country troopers surged past him led by Sergeant Yu, the head of Second Squad. Reinforcements.


Trooper Kai Hei
Third Squad, First Platoon, First Company, 2nd Light Infantry, Waterfall Country

Kai and the rest of Third Squad had assembled just minutes after Second Squad had entered the spillway and made their way inside as the sounds of battle drifted down the tunnel. They moved quickly, splashing through the stream with no regard for stealth and rounded a corner into a separate access tunnel. They had to pick their way over the bodies of the fallen, among them was the renowned Scout Sergeant Chiyon and a few other Troopers Kai knew well.

They entered into a second spillway, exactly similar to the first and sloping up farther into the fort. As they ran for the sounds of combat ahead bodies floated past as the stream struggled to drag them away with the help of gravity. They rounded a long and lazy bend and exploded head long into a pitched battle of Waterfall and Iron Country soldiers in brutal close quarters fighting. Kai stumbled over a Waterfall Trooper by the name of Hayase as he held his severed arm against its stump fruitlessly. Kai took a deep breath and rose from the dying Trooper before moving into the thick of the combat.

A flash of steel caught his eye and he managed to just barely block the incoming blade. He stepped right and fell to a knee as his ankle fell into a culvert, a wet pop audible over the sounds of the battle around him as he did. Kai screamed in pain before swinging his sword ahead of him and taking out the Iron Soldiers knees before he could finish him. The man fell to the ground, spraying Kai with warm liquid as he flailed about in front of him with his stump legs before he shuddered and convulsed for what seemed to be forever.

Kai wasn't sure how long he had been staring but by the time he remembered he was in combat he was being dragged to his feet. Scout Hikei had an arm around him and was pulling him up, "Time to bloody go!" he yelled as he turned Kai around and began leading him back down the spillway. He tried to place his weight on his ankle, but found only searing pain in return. He hopped along as the sounds of combat grew quieter behind them.


Lieutenant Shii Lho
Commander, First Platoon, First Company, 2nd Light Infantry, Waterfall Country

He slashed at an Iron Soldiers face, leaving a deep gash where the man's eyes should have been before plunging his sword into the man's gut and wrenching it around. He pulled with a sickening sound and freed his sword in a spray of warmth. Ahead of him more Iron Soldiers were streaming down the spillway. They weren't going to make it. The entire plan counted on the element of surprise until they were out of the spillway.

He peered around, the dead Waterfall Troopers were mixed in with the Iron Country dead, some slumped over each other, some alone and pale white as the water quickly stole what heat they had left. He should have turned them around at the ambush. The mission was already finished when the fighting began in the tunnel. He should have known. He should have turned them around.

He blocked a strike and kicked the Iron soldier away, the dagger in his side screaming in protest and his mind threatening to give at the pain. "Back! Back to the forest!" he called to the Waterfall troopers as he began to block attacks and step backwards down the spillway painfully slow. There seemed to be no end to the Iron Country Soldiers.


Sergeant Jii Rikei
First Squad, First Platoon, First Company, 2nd Light Infantry, Waterfall Country

Jii clutched his arm, a flap of skin hung off otherwise. His warm blood trickled through his fingers in stark contrast to the freezing rain slapping at his face. They moved quickly through the forest, a gaggle of shadows quietly moving across the ground as fast as they could. Around them flaming arrows fell, inaccurate, but enough to unnerve some of the troopers he ran with. They made their way further into the forest and the arrows tapered off before stopping all together as they left their range.

Almost an hour later the ragged remains of the First Company, 2nd Light Infantry would return to the regimental camp they had left not two hours before. Medical staff were waiting beneath tents and rushed out to meet the injured as they emerged from the trees in slow moving masses of shadows. Jii waved off a medic and directed him to a worse off trooper behind him. He took a seat on crate in the rain and watched as the First Company straggled into camp.

It'd been a textbook ambush, and they had torn victory from the clutches of a defeat in the tunnels before they were beaten back by the superior numbers of the Iron Country garrison at Fort Apylon. He spit in disgust and watched as two Troopers carrying a makeshift stretcher emerged from the forest. As they passed he took a knee and bowed his head in respect, the troopers around him did the same as the body of Lieutenant Shii was carried into a medical tent.


Trooper Noge Hirage
Aide to the Commander, Eighth Heavy Dragoons, Earth Country

Noge watched from the entry to the command tent as Captain Irai paced anxiously as the men of the First Company returned. He had requested for Lieutenant Shii to be standing in front of him five minutes ago and Noge had just returned without him. "What the bloody hell is taking the Lieutenant?" he called to Noge as the young Trooper stood in the tents entry.

"He's dead sir, succumbed to his wounds on the journey back." Noge managed out, afraid of the backlash he would receive for simply delivering the news. He held out a paper, put together by the leading Officer of First Company.

Irai snatched it out of his hands read the numbers of casualties and survivors, his eyes were wide and his face flushed. "The numbers can't be right. We lost two whole squads? What in the Gods names where they doing out there? What in the hell happened!" he raged as he exited his tent. Noge followed closely behind as Captain Irai strode to the nearest returning trooper. He grabbed the man by the loops of his armor and shook him violently, "OUT WITH IT, TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED." he yelled at the troopers tired face.

Noge stood in the freezing rain as the Waterfall Country Trooper gave a full recount of the combat to Irai who then turned back to his aide, "Get the informant." he spoke to him as he clasped his hands behind his back, "I want him in chains, and I want the interrogation to begin immediately. I need to know why he gave us false information on Fort Apylon." the Captain walked briskly back into his tent, leaving Noge watching in the rain before he hurried off to arrest the informant.
[/spoili][/fieldbox]
 
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[fieldbox=A round and talk, Wheat]
Koike Hon
The leader of Team 6 |Specialised Jounin | Colonel of the Foot Companions - part of the Third Division | Lieutenant-Colonel of the Guardians |

Wolf Country, countryside- Allied Camp, 13th Brigade.

The snow made a soft crunching sound as Koike kept walking. Despite the cold and gloomy blanket of dark grey clouds, there was no end to the activity in the camp. Despite having returned and sent out a messenger to Hayate, with the full reports, there wasn't yet a summoning for him. Knowing fully well that Hayate was busy with a lot of matters, Koike couldn't help but feel tense. The current situation wasn't all that depressing. Their enemy hadn't made any major move or offensive action towards them. The moral of his battalion was high. And his troops had proven to be more than capable to fight with the hostiles.

Heading towards the training field, he saw how two units were working on their formations. Commands shouted by captains and repeated by lieutenants, who kept the cohesion in the unit intact. Smoothly, the group of soldiers moved over the stamped out ground. Rows of pikes were pointed at their front, their pace almost as one.

"Colonel, sir," a deep masculine voice resonated from Koike's left. Causing the respective colonel to shift his attention to the approaching captain.
The tall captain that approached Koike, making a salute, was Hallr Hon. A broad and tall man that didn't speak much. His scarred appearance was an intimidating sight, certainly coupled with his broad shoulders and arms. Koike was certain that if the man wanted, he could likely snap a neck within an instance.

Returning the salute, Koike would reply back. "Captain Hallr." He began, "I see that you're drilling the men once more. How is the status of your company?"
The question was met with a short scoff at first. "I would call some of them boys. But good, colonel, sir. I wouldn't yet entrust them to fight against the likes of elite opponents. But those who still piss green are able to pack a punch. Last battle has certainly proven that."

Koike didn't doubt the man. If there was anything he would buy, it was the opinion of the captain. He was a veteran of the Great War, the conflict against Sunagakure and even having fought in the Magnhild siege during Shoji's occupation. There was a reason why the captain was revered as he was among his troops.
"Any word of the other companies?"
"No. Do you expect we will have another scuffle with those rats?"

Koike watched the formations with pikes. The men were clad in armour and the constant instructions would certainly be tiring to follow. Yet, none of them dared to show a sign of weakness. "I am not certain. I am hoping to hear something from the commander. If anything, I am hoping that we won't be fighting to our waist in the water. Dreadfully cold."

"Aye, agreed."

The two men remained silent as they watched the two formations being drilled and following barked instructions. Koike nodded as he would throw a look at Hallr afterwards. "I am off to find Skuli." He said. Hallr simply nodded, crossing his arms out front of his chest.

Turning around, Koike would start to walk away. He wondered where he could find the other captain. Trying his luck, he would head towards the tent of the bearded captain. On his way, Koike wondered for a moment why he was pacing so much around. He had no goal at the moment, but that was perhaps caused him to just walk around? Grunting softly, the young man decided to just see what Skuli was up to.

The large man was sitting in front of his tent, on a rough wooden block, the captain was sharpening the edge of his axeblade. He softly was whistling an old war tune, clearly somewhere else with his mind. Koike would halt slowly before making a salute towards Skuli.
"Captain. Deep in thoughts, I see?"

Skuli looked surprised. In a quick reflex, the captain would rise to his feet, returning the salute. A grin spread on the man's lips as he nodded. "Aye, colonel, sir. Thinking about home, you see." He would wait for a moment. Gesturing to another small wooden box, he waited for Koike to sit before he sat down once more.

"Mind sharing?" Koike asked, genuinely curious. The older Hon chuckled. "I doubt you will find it that much interesting, sir. But very well. I was wondering how my little boy is doing. You see, I have four children. Agvar, my pride and joy. He is still a bit feeble but I am certain he will become as tall and broad as a bear! Ahaaa!" The grin on Skuli's face grew a bit. "Then I have two beautiful daughters. Oh, they look like their mother, I swear on the gods. I wish that I could take you to see them. We could tell them the tales of this... weird place. On how we subdued a huge army, driving it away as if Valdar himself was on their tail!"

Koike couldn't help but smile a bit. He was genuinely surprised to hear that the captain had children. From all of his captains and officers, Skuli was the one who made the most jokes about women. "I would be honoured. Perhaps once this is done, we should."

The surprise on Skuli's face was evident as Koike answered. Causing Koike to frown slightly. "Did I say something weird, captain?"
"No, no, no sir. It is just," Skuli paused for a moment as his eyes lowered. "Well, you see. Most of the men consider you to be this harsh and strict colonel. Of course, good ol Skuli here will make sure that they consider that a good thing. But I didn't honestly expect you would take me on that offer, sir."

"Hm, I see." Koike wasn't sure what to think of that. It was good that he had some semblance of respect with the troops. The time he had to spend with them wasn't extensive enough to really instil a sense of loyalty or deep respect, he figured. Yet, it was frustrating him slightly that they didn't consider him a true leader. Despite he didn't really have the ambition to be loved by all his subordinates.

"So what about you sir? Got any lucky lass waiting back home for you?"

The question pulled Koike out of his thoughts. He blinked once as he then shook his head. Haruka was the first to cross his mind but their fling in Konohagakure wasn't a certainty that they could continue that. She was the daughter of the Governor of the River province. A member of the Tamiyo dynasty. Doubtless, his own noble origin wasn't enough to gain the blessing from her family to couple with her.

"Odd. You know, I am saying this cause I am well familiar with the fairer sex. But perhaps if you would try, you would find a nice sweetheart. You are still younger than me, so you got time. Heh," the grin on Skuli's face returned. "I remember how I managed to 'conquer' my Irene. Oh, out of all the women I have met, she is the most fiercest and beautiful. I tell you, her bossom," the man's hands rose up as he demonstrated what he was going to say.

Koike couldn't resist but to laugh as he shook his head.
"You know what we need? Some good booze. I am certain you can be quite the romancer as well, sir!"
"Very well. I am sure you got some Pinedale ale hidden away in your tent."
"My good sir, you know me too well! Ahahaaa!"
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[fieldbox=Team Mika, royalblue]
Kirigakure - Trainings Field A.
Team Mika.

A collab between Celestial, Jason, Zane and Aliceee.

Summary:
Team 14, under the leadership of Mika Hayashi, gathers. Aya Oda arrives on time but that can't be said for the same for the remaining members of the team. This troublesome start of the training spells nothing but future doom. Soon enough the team is being subjugated to a harsh training of their jounin.

[spoili]
The team had gathered. The first to arrive was Aya Oda. The girl was greeted with a curt nod from Mika. Not much was spoken between them as neither the jounin nor genin had likely something to bring up. Which was fine with Mika. The sense of peace and tranquility was more soothing than to adhere to the social norm of striking a conversation. Then Mika's mood started to drop as both Taishiro and Aito would appear late. The jounin simply greeted them with a frowned expression and silence.

"Right." She said, breaking the uncomfortable silence after both Aito as Taishiro had apologised for getting late. "You two," shooting the latecomers a glance. "Drop every weapon and pouch you have on you. Today's training will be more difficult for you two. I am tempted to have you both flogged but that will cost more time and effort." The jounin spoke with an even tone and nodded towards Aya, a sign that they would begin today's meeting and training.

"No need for introductions. We would have ample time for that but two of you screwed that. Give me fifteen push ups, thirty laps around this field. And I warn you three right now." The tone of the jounin would become colder than before. "Any slacking will be even more 'rewarded'. Now, to it."

The late arrival of her teammates was a bit unexpected, she expected then somewhat sooner but they were really actually late. Something Mika wasn't very happy with as she ordered them to drop their every weapon and pouch of items they had. A hard lesson as it would make today's training more difficult for them. She had to resist chuckling a bit as she would stand up as things were finally going to start.

No introductions as she made it known, glancing at the other two she couldn't help but be a bit relieved, it was getting rather pointless remembering all these names of people that just ended up dying. However her relaxed attitude suddenly got a bit more confused as she had to join in on their punishment. A confused expression turned to annoyance as she glared at Taishiro and Aito.

Cursing mentally she would drop and start doing the push ups, which wasn't super difficult. Annoying that she had to do them cause those two were late. In fact her anger probably made her push ups a bit easier, as she finished first and took off jogging. Thirty laps…. Well this would take a bit.

Hearing Mika's even tone, yet combined with the disappointed look from her made Taishiro worry a bit for the training. As she issued their punishment, Taishiro simply nodded in acceptance. He had after all been a part of the issue for not getting here on time. From the corner of his eye he could see Aya glaring towards the two boys and mentally sighed. Maybe she'd decide to sit out the training today as well?

Dropping his gear as ordered, Taishiro had an easy enough time getting through the assigned pushups. Getting up just after Aya finished her set, the boy started to jog around the field. 30 laps? Not as easy as the pushups. Attempting to mentally prepare himself, the genin had no doubt today would be a rather painful and exhausting lesson.

And just like that his late start meant things would be on a bad footing for now. The frown made him shift his eyes and Aito nodded as they were told today's activities. Dropping his weapons and pouch he started to do his pushups, getting lost in thought as he slowly went up and down. Glancing over he noticed Aya and Taishiro were already on their jogging, while he was still around twenty push ups. Blinking he quickly finished the rest, moving faster now as he stumbled to his feet to catch up to his new teammates. "H-hey, sorry for being late.. w-wait up!" The younger male's words soft still as he spoke, his feet hitting the ground as he ran to be on par with the others.

"U-uh hi, uhm.. I am Aito, nice to meet you." His hand went to pat Taishiro's back and the other went towards Aya. "Looks like we already are bonding over training." He laughed softly and tried to be a bit energetic. Not that he wasn't but he was also worried he already was making bad impressions. "So what jutsus do you guys know? Anything cool? Like ba bam?! Or is it more like silent and deadly?"

Crossing her arms, Mika watched how the three genin would do as she asked. Yet, the eyes of the woman narrowed. Something clearly had ticked her off and caused her mood to even grow more foul than it had been before. Slowly, the hands of the jounin would move to each other. Weaving the required handseals slowly but surely, Mika would flex the fingers of her right hand.

Just as Aito was done with his questions, a whip of water would lash out. Instead of wrapping itself around its first victim, the pressured water would slam against the back of Aito's head. Pulling the whip back, Mika already aimed her next attack. This time, she would aim for the back of Taishiro's head. "Dodge it and you deserve another one. Better thank me afterwards," the woman calmly instructed the three genin as she would aim now for Aya. There was a brief pause but then the whip of water would lash out, to the back of only female genin.

Taishiro wasnt far behind her but she wasn't going to focus on that for now, just wanted to get through these laps without any issue. Yet as she turned her head to see Aito pushing himself to catch up to them, she stared at him for a few seconds before looking straight ahead again. She could exert herself but that would make herself sluggish for the rest of her laps, wasn't worth the punishment. The boy would introduce himself which already caused her heart to started sinking a bit as she tried to focus on her laps. After his question about jutsu's ended, the only warning she needed was the Water Whip hitting Aito. The sound was enough to cause her heart to start racing.

She could hear the warning and the sound, yet she wasn't hit yet, but sure enough the sound came again and the stinging pain smacked her in the back of the head, causing her to stumble as she clutched her head. This hurt like fucking hell for sure, yet she figured if she stopped running that she would get another. So now with a little more haste she picked up her pace as she rubbed the back of her throbbing head.

Taishiro kept a neutral expression as he focused simply on jogging at the moment. No particular reason to over-exert himself when there was no doubt more to come after this. Judging by the fact Aya hadn't particular gained any distance on them, the boy was fairly confident she had decided to do the same thing. It was at that moment that the boy heard the sounds of Aito catching up with them, Taishiro wondering for a moment why the other had felt to outpace them. This wasn't a race as far as he knew. But then Aito stayed even with them and started introducing himself, a move Taishiro wasn't sure was smart. Why waste the breath and tire quicker on their jog? Though his focus was taken from that whenever the boy asked his question about if they knew any cool jutsus. Immediately the genin for a moment if this new teammate would end up like the last one.

Taishiro didn't notice the water whip until he heard the crack of it against the back of Aito's head. Looking over with a surprised expression, Taishiro didn't have a chance to react before a sudden flash of pain split through his skull. Stumbling slightly and rubbing the back of his head Taishiro was sure Mika had left a mark on his head. Picking up his pace, Taishiro aimed to distance himself from the group before settling once more into a more comfortable pace. He hoped to avoid getting smacked again for what he could only assume was Aito's talking as they ran.

As the water struck him he stumbled forward and rubbed the back of his head as he slowed down for a moment. Looking over his shoulder at Mika he was curious if this was how all training would be. Or was this the extra part from their late arrival? He shrugged before looking ahead, Taishiro now a bit ahead of him, and Aya was only a few feet in front now. Catching back up with her he wonder why they were so silent, neither speaking back. "Is this how.. normal training is?" Aito's words a mumbled question at the female, eyes shifting away as the pair jogged. Rubbing his aching head more he lost track of his footing.

In a matter of moments he was spiralling forward, face meeting the ground and a thud could be heard echoing on the field. Dust flying up as he groaned, the genin rolling onto his back for a moment then sitting up. Taking a second he stood up, looking at Mika then his teammates something was off, or so it felt. What had happened? Getting to his feet he began to the job once more, catching back up to Aya, not wanting to push too far ahead and leaving her behind him and Taishiro.

Mika watched how the genin would continue, without any complaint or attempt to stop. Then Aito fell down. The jounin's eyebrows slightly perked up. There was a brief consideration but she wouldn't yet punish the genin further as he picked himself up and continued. Keeping close watch on the three, Mika would let them finish the laps.
"Good, now that the warming up is done. Time for the training. Stand in a line. Face to the right. Back straight." The jounin instructed in a tone that marked it clear that she wouldn't accept any belly-aching. "Now, the object is as following."

Producing a small disc from one of her pouches, the jounin held it up so that the genin could see it. "One by one, you will make an attempt. Regardless of what you can or have on you, you're going to try to destroy the disk before it lands. Clear? Good."

She heard Aito collapse and braced for any whipping, yet when none came she loosened up a bit and continued running when Aito caught up to her and asked a question which she shot a look that said not now and continued her laps. No more whipping had occurred and after they were all finished, an order was dished out to which she wasn't going to half ass this time around. The next task was to destroy a disk before it landed which would be easy for her, but she saw how it could be a bit difficult for the other two.
Since she was up first, she pulled out a kunai and watched Mika throw the disk into the air. Throwing her kunai a bit ahead, she watched the kunai connect with the disk shattering it into little pieces. Which meant it was next for the latecomers.

Taishiro was more than a little grateful for the fact no more lashings from the whip came during the jog. He had visibly tensed for another whenever Aito had fallen, and whenever the boy asked yet another question. Had he not learned the first time around? Yet no lashing came, and the trio were able to finish their laps. A bit out of breath when they finished, Taishiro focused on Mika as she spoke, hoping she wouldn't get mad at him trying to catch his breath. Surely she wasn't unreasonable.

After their task was explained, Taishiro frowned at his lack of gear then immediately started moulding chakra. Watching as Aya went first, he watched how she targeted to hit the disk. Simple enough. The moment his disk was about to be thrown, he was already weaving two quick handsigns. In that moment two shuriken made of water appeared and tore through the air to meet with disk near where Aya had thrown her kunai. Watching as the disk shattered, the boy let out a sigh of relief that he hadn't messed up. No doubt sensei wouldn't have approved and he would've embarrassed himself in front of the others.

As the trio stood there, their laps finished he shifted some. Unlike most shinobi he had no offensive jutsu's. He relied more on his weapons than he did on creating some from chakra. The most he could do was create genjutsu and well, that couldn't shatter a disk of glass. Without his pouch of supplies or his two swords he had no way to break the disk. Watching Aya easily hit the mark with a kunai he tried to think of a plan. A way he could pass. Next Taishiro sent shuriken made of water out destroying the glass as well. Heart racing as it became his turn he watched as the disk went into the air.

Sighing he looked over at his teammate. Handsigns began to weave as petals formed around the trio of genin, obscuring Mika's vision on them. Quickly Aito moved to Aya and rummaged through her pouch to steal a shuriken. "Don't tell sensei.." He mumbled as he threw the shuriken at the disk. By now the disk was arcing down towards the ground in its plummet to the earth. Behind the veil he threw the weapon, making the petals disperse. Although the three would still be in their same spots next to each other. Before the glass hit the dirt the shuriken hit its mark shattering the disk, Aito sighing in relief as he felt his stomach churn.

Aya didn't receive any form of compliment or acknowledgement from Mika. The jounin just continued and watched how Taishiro would accomplish his task. The genin decided to use ninjutsu to succeed in shattering the disk. Once more, the jounin didn't acknowledge or say anything to confirm if the genin had done his task right. Then it was Aito's turn. Mika threw the disc up and waited. Upon seeing that Aito weaved handsigns, Mika's eyes half closed as her right hand balled into a fist. Waiting, she would notice the shuriken that shattered the disk.

A silence followed, plaguing the field for what seemed to be a hour as the air seemed to become heavier.

"Aya. Drop your pouches and weapons." Mika calmly stated, her gaze for a moment fixated on the girl. The tone was even but the tension that had risen, was still not gone. "On to the next," Mika continued. "I want each of you to lay out a trap. With no ninjutsu. And now none of you will be allowed to use any of your tools and weapons. But if any of you feel bold to once more disobey my commands, then go ahead."

Taishiro was after her and completed his with a ninjutsu, yet when it came to Aito's turn, he conjured up some petals that seemed to only hang around the area. So when he then went over to her and just grabbed her own shuriken, she reached out to try and stop him, yet he had already thrown them. He mumbled to not tell sensei and she just stared at him like he was an idiot for thinking she even had to tell in the first place.

After the petals settled and an eerie silence followed, she raised her hand only to be told to drop her pouches and weapons which caused her to groan and glare at Aito ad she dropped her katana, and removed her pouch from around her waist and tossed it on the ground. Moving several feet away from Aito now, she would hear the next challenge and would just rub her temple in frustration. Now she wasn't allowed to use her own gear all because someone went and thought they could pull a fast one.

As she gazed around at the open grass plainsfield she couldn't even begin to think of what to do. No ninjutsu and now that she couldn't use her own tools, all she could do in her mind was quite literally nothing. She already braced for any punishment that may come their way.

Taishiro was a tad confused whenever the petals suddenly appeared all around, wondering what Aito had been hoping to accomplish with the technique. However, that question was soon answered when he saw a weapon fly by and cause his disk to shatter. For a moment Taishiro was worried that the boy had been hiding a weapon somewhere and that he had just angered sensei even more. Shit.

As the petals settled, Taishiro shifted nervously in the silence that followed. The air suddenly seemed heavier, and the boy could only imagine that their training was about to get much, much worse. He watched as Aya was ordered to drop her pouches, then cast a look towards Aito. Things… did not seem to be going over well for their new teammate in his first training. Then they were issues their next challenge, and Taishiro looked around at the grass field. Swallowing nervously, he looked around in a panic over the idea that he was about to get another helping of punishment.

Still, the boy did not remain idle. He looked around his surroundings, and very clearly was making an effort to figure out how to accomplish his task. No use in just giving up, right? For a moment he wondered if perhaps they could use each other as the traps. In that they could try to arrange themselves to attack from multiple sides. Though the idea was quickly dismissed from his mind as he continued to try to think of what to do.

Watching as his teammates looked defeated and began to panic at what to do he looked at Mika. Stepping forward he bowed before looking back up. "Sensei I know you are mad but.. well as a team isn't it our job to work together? Sure I used a jutsu to obscure your vision and take a weapon from Aya but do you honestly think I can do anything without weapons? I can't mold ice, breath fire and I rely on teamwork more than anything. I rely on my tools because not everyone is the same." The genin sighed as he looked around.

"Without tools I need a team, without my team I have to rely on tools. You never specified how to break the disk. You said by what we had or hadn't had. I am a genjutsu specialist so I have no way to break the disk without tools. I used what I had which was just that, obscuring vision and then using what I could. I thought of something before it landed on the ground. If we were out there on a mission shouldn't we work together? Isn't they why we are a team? Or are we supposed to just let everyone crash and burn? If we were meant to work alone we wouldn't be assigned to a jounin and two other genin." By now he was using his arms as he spoke and grumbled as he looked her in the eyes.

"I barely graduated the academy. I was able to do it because I tried but even they understand what I could and couldn't do. They pushed me sure but this.. this is overkill. It's like asking me to grow wings and fly. I was happy to be on a team but you all seem like prudes. You as a sensei lose your temper when you need to set an example. They won't talk to me and work with me like a team should. You all have a stick up your butts and honestly it's annoying because I did not sign up for this. I signed up to become a shinobi who would be like my parents and grandmother. Not some punching bag for you or them! So cut the shit!" Groaning he weaved his handsigns, petals formed around him and a second later they were dispersed at Mika as he ran off in the bushes.

Watching the genin, Mika just waited. There was nothing that she was going to say or do to give them a hint or some relief. Then Aito spoke up but Mika did nothing but just give the boy a bland look. Her arms crossed out front of her chest made it clear with her body language that she neither cared or was willing to revoke a previous order. When the boy continued, Mika's eyebrows slightly raised. Waiting further, the woman slowly raised a hand and ran it through her hair.

Then the questions started and yet Mika didn't reply. Briefly the jounin even threw a look at the side, which further seemed to cement that she didn't pay attention to the questions or words of Aito. Then the genin's anger started to show, earning once more a blank look of Mika. Watching the petals, she could detect that he was running away. Before either Aya or Taishiro could respond to the events, Mika raised her right hand and snapped her fingers.
"No." She ordered with a firm tone. A glance was thrown towards Aya, a meaningful look given by Mika. "Anyways, seems that you guys failed. Despite having odds stacked up, the new genin ran away. Can either of you guess what today's training was about?"

As Taishiro was looking for some way to make this work, Aito decided to voice his opinion on the matter. This caused her to plant her face in both her palms as he went on a bit of a temper tantrum. It just didn't seem fair for Mika, sure she was being rather harsh yet she knew as she as seen it, that she cared. So Aito going off on her annoyed her enough that she shot a glare his way as the boy ran away into a bush. That was when Mika told her no, causing her too look at her before her gaze fell back to the ground. That was when she asked if they could guess what today's training was all about. Thinking about it, it did become more unfair by the next task to the next task. Hell most of them gave…. up.
Aya now looked even more defeated as she raised her hand. "Was it to not give up, despite how bleak the situation was?"

The boy froze as Aito started to voice his opinion towards Mika, looking in his direction with a completely blank expression. As Aito continued to become more impassioned, Taishiro could only see the link between him and the last one they had on their team. The only thought crossing his mind being that they were completely screwed as he had likely just angered Mika to no end. Watching the boy dash off into the bush Taishiro wondered what the hell Aito had thought it would achieve. Hearing Mika tell Aya no, Taishiro turned his attention towards his sensei before looking away in embarrassment as she said they failed. Then hearing how she had asked what the purpose of the day's training was, Taishiro frowned. He had thought it more punishment towards him and Aito for being late, but evidently there was a purpose he had missed. As Aya raised her hand and looked defeated, Taishiro nodded with her words. They made sense in a way, and he certainly didn't have any better guesses as to what it could be. Taishiro said a brief affirmative to show he agreed with Aya before falling silent and waiting to see how they did.

Although he did take off into the bushes out of sight he quickly stopped as he got a bit of distance between them. Faintly he could hear them talking about what the training was for the day. Huffing Aito squatted down and began to play with a stick in the dirt until it was silent again. Glancing around slowly as he rubbed his eyes with his forearm he bit his lip. His eyes caught a bush and he gently tugged on it as it drew back. Shoving the stick into the ground he plucked some of the brush and tied it off. It was a trap but maybe not the best. Tripping the stick would send the bush up but that was all he had in mind. Surely Mika wanted a more in depth trap, one that could actually do something. Give up? Had he? Groaning he looked towards their direction as he moved to hide.

"Sensei help!" He shouted in a troubled voice as he positioned himself so anyone who came by would trip the stick and get hit by the bush. Aito slowly got his composure back as his little trick would prank whomever decided to come to him. To mask his frustrations he would get a good laugh and play a joke, whether Mika fell for it was a different story. Crossing his fingers he hoped she would be less on guard seeing as there would be no threat here in the city.

"More or less. The goal was to make it clear that playtime is over. You lot are part of the Republican military. Crying over how hard things seem right now is just making it clear that you're not fit to serve the Republic's interests. No enemy will hold back a killing blow just because you're a girl. Or a genin." Mika explained, in the usual cold tone. "When ambushed, you won't have time to do much. You can't always use or draw a weapon. And ninjutsu isn't always going to provide an answer to your problems. Sometimes, you just got to do whatever seems necessary."
Hearing the call for help, Mika just threw a look over her shoulder. She didn't seem willing to waste time on somebody who decided to play in the bush for all she knew.
"I was going to give you lot a new technique. But it is clear that the team isn't ready. You got your teammate to thank for that." The jounin would then half turn around.

"Same goes for a mission. You guys are far from ready. This was enough for today. Go home. Rest and consider how lucky you guys are that this wasn't a mission," she said as she started to walk away from the field. "Else you guys would have been dead."

Hearing the points that their sensei was lecturing into them, kept her gaze at the ground as she listened to them. It wasn't wrong at all, as soon as she ran out of option right away she just gave up. She didn't even attempt to try anything at all even if it was obvious. Speaking of obvious Aito was now screaming for help after he just told them all to cut the shit. Glancing over at where he last was, her expression changed to that of confusion as she saw a bush arching back. W-was he serious?
Well seems it didnt matter as Mika just ignored that and even stated she was going to teach them a new technique but that they weren't ready for it and having their teammate to thank for it.

As the lecture would reach its end and they were all excused, she would sigh and stand up. Walking over to her dropped gear she would pick them up and start walking away from the field. She hoped the next gathering would be less…. like it was today.

Sensei's words hit harder than her blows from the whip had beforehand. His gaze fell to the ground in embarrassment, she wasn't wrong. Hearing Aito call out for help from nearby, Taishiro looked over for a moment to consider if they needed to go help him. He was clearly confused, wondering what the hell would've been bad enough to warrant him needing help so soon after running away. However Mika seemed utterly unconcerned with the boy, and so Taishiro decided it wasn't worth his time. She mentioned she had been planning to teach them a technique, but then they weren't ready for it and it was thanks to their teammate. The boy was more frustrated about Mika nothing thinking the team capable enough for her teachings than he was about not learning a new technique.

As the others started to leave, Taishiro for a moment started to follow before stopping. Turning he decided to head back into the training field, looking towards the bushes where Aito had run off. "They both left, Aito. You can stop acting like an idiot." He called out, less than amused with the situation, but also as a way to check whether or not his teammate actually was in need of help.

Looking past the bushes as he was told the other's left his eyes caught Taishiro's. "So she didn't fall for the trick…" Seeing there was no point in staying he let the bush go and stood up. Stretching he moved to his gear on the ground to gather it. "I am unsure what happened before but all I know is I am me, so you all need to not think of me like your previous teammate. I am not filling in their shoes, I am filling in mine. I feel the tension, it's blatantly obvious." Sighing he moved to the other male and gave his shoulder a soft playful punch. "See ya around, maybe next time I can get someone with a trick." Aito stuck his tongue out and laughed softly as he began to leave the training field, mixed with emotions from the day. Day one and his team already disliked him but maybe this was good, not everyone had to like him, right?

[/spoili]
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[fieldbox=A drink - Training Aftermath, orchid]
Kirigakure - Centrum, the Flimsy Plank.
A meeting between Aya Oda and Mika Hayashi.

A colleb between Zane and Alice.

Summary:
Several hours after the training with the team, Mika decides to meet up with Aya in a tavern. Due to the time not being that late, there aren't many patrons. Giving the pair some space and time to talk about a certain matter.

[spoili]
She raised the mug and took a large swig from its content. The bitter taste of the ale wasn't that bad. At least, she had tasted worse. The establishment wasn't that populated. Much to Mika's preference. Sitting at a table more at the back of the room, she had a hood pulled up. Taking a glance at the current patrons that also enjoyed a drink, Mika saw nothing that raised her worries.
Seemed so far that there wasn't much more reason to hide her identity. Many likely still considered her dead or didn't understand what she had done prior to the Republic. If anything, the newer genin showcased that. Yet, Mika didn't want to take any risks just yet.

It wasn't odd to meet up with her sensei alone these days, after all most of their interaction had come from those cases. However it was the first time she's been invited to this kind of location. She remebered Kiro would often spend his time at those types of establishments. Arriving at the place, she would open the door to get a big whiff of all different kinds of smells. Some sweet, some bitter, yet she expected these places to be… more lively? Entering she would look around too see where Mika was and sure enough the best option was the only hooded woman in the back. Walking over she would give a smile before sitting down as well. "So you must have low hopes in today if this is where we are meeting up." Aya said with a slight giggle at her joke.

"Can't be lower than yours, seeing your shit." Mika replied calmly back. Raising her left hand, she gestured something. Taking a swig of her drink once more, Mika would shove the mug to the side. The barkeeper would head to the table and place two mugs on the table. Mika took one and glanced at the second.
"Drink. With your dad gone, I don't think there is anybody to teach you how to endure alcohol." Mika said, though it sounded more like an instruction than suggestion.

Well she walked into that one she supposed, wait what did she walk into to! What the hell response was that?! Yet it was amusing at the same time as she feigned pain before smiling. Yet without saying a word, she managed to order two more mugs and then ordered her to drink in a rather…. uncalled for way. "Geesh all you had to say was drink, didn't need to bring up my dad." Pondering though she wanted to ask which dad she was referring too, yet saw the response shed get coming a mile away. Taking the mug she would give the drink a sniff, as her nose wrinkled a bit from the smell. She doubted she would get away with not drinking though, so lifting the mug she would take a gulp from it only to cough a bit as she pounded her chest with her fist. "Ahh! Thats bitter!"

"So is life. Keep drinking. Won't be your last mug." Mika stated as she would take a swig of her own drink. Letting a pause follow her statement, Mika locked her eyes on Aya.
"I am going to be honest with you. Things look like crap. You are no progidy. Skillful? I have seen more skilled toddlers die than you swinging a weapon around. Then you are having that thing. Not to mention, your team members who you can barely rely on. All and all? You are about to be flushed down the toilet of life, kid. Unless you want to fight back." Raising her right indexfinger, as if she was about to warn Aya from doing or saying something naughty, Mika continued.

"And don't come with crap that you will manage or see through this all. That heroic crap doesn't suit either of us. Won't do anybody any good. What I want to know is if you are willing to keep fighting. Nail and tooth. Not that you got much to lose, I guess."

She was being rather direct today, more so than usual anyway. Taking a look at her drink she would swallow her nerves and take another swig of the drink, placing it down only after her mouth was starting to reject drinking anymore in that one moment. It made her wonder what she was drinking as she was clearing her throat. Which was when Mika was then honest with her which shocked her a bit as she was indeed being brutally honest. She wanted to know if she was willing to keep fighting through it all though. "Already got my right arm burned, ain't got a career in modeling. So fighting is all I got left to do. Even if I got nothing to fight for." Aya said taking another swig and placing it down, still not use to the bitter taste.

A light scoff escaped Mika as she nodded subtly. "True. Already got your experience with 'amazing' team members." She took another swig of her drink. "But good. Cause from here on out, things are going to change. And before anybody is going to claim that I have no clue on how to deal with cursed students, I do. I trained and mentored a dumber twat than you. Managed to even discipline as teach her some skills. Granted," a soft sigh escaped Mika's lips. "She was still far from being a decent fighter. Too naive and slow to learn. Keep drinking, Aya."

The jounin would lean slightly forward, her elbows on the table as she waited for the genin to take another taste of the ale. "I want you to pack your stuff from the orphanage and stick with me. Not to become your next mama. Not to be your big sister. But if you want to make a change, then that is the first step. If not? Then I suggest we pull you out of the military. I might even have a few people that owe me a thing or two. But I doubt you will be able to outrun the hunters. Easy to track cursed kids these days. So, what is it going to be?"

Some more blunt honesty coming from her sensei's lips although she wondered for a moment if she was just subtly called a dumb twat. Best not to ask as she ahsnt seen Mika in this kind of mood before and rather not anger her. Yet good to know she was better… at least that is what it sounded like. As she was then ordered to keep drinking, she looked at the drink and braced herself as she forced herself to drink a bigger amount than last time, with some of the liquid leaking out from the corner of her mouth. Placing it down she would start to just taste the bitter flavor in her mouth, that might make it easier to drink more hopefully.

Then she dropped the next statement, she was to pack her stuff from the orphanage she was in and to then stick with her. Already making sure she knew not as her next mom or big sister, but for a change and that this would be the first step. Otherwise she said they should pull her from the military, then threatened that cursed children are easy to track. Listening to her she would remain silent before chugging the rest of her drink and placing the empty mug on the table, even finishing with a little belch. "Well hope you are a great teacher then! Cause I aint leaving the military!"

The response of Aya cracked a small smile on Mika's lips. "If anything, I might be better than what I have shown you so far. Half the country wanted me dead not a year ago and I am still alive." Mika said, shaking her head subtly. "But good. I will make sure that you get the address where I will pick you up."
Raising her right hand, Mika would let the barkeeper bring another mug filled with ale for Aya. "Soon, we will also attend to that… problem of yours. You won't do any good if you're going to be a possible hazard. I am not that much keen on reading but I can try to pull a few strings on what I can find. There must have been others who had pulled with that shit before. Perhaps we might find even something useful, for once."

"So question real fast though. How come whenever you are out, you always keep your hood up? Like its a hell of a jacket but seems… odd mostly indoors." Aya asked before her face showed fear at the second mug placed before her filled with the alcohol again. Taking another gulp, this time she slowly lowered it to the table as she pouted at her addressing her problem. "Only hazard that will befall me is going deaf from all the damn screaming. It sounds like every time my brother got in trouble with some woman, just screaming nonstop. Yet they write books on this stuff? Kind of an odd topic to write about, doubt it made many libraries." Aya said taking another swig and this time kept holding the mug in her hands instead of placing it down.
"Hey random question, have you ever meet my brother before? Before he went psycho?"

"Because I might have been quite a troublemaker. And instead of flaunting my pretty face all the time, best to now and then just hide it." Mika replied, the smile of before vanishing.
"Not sure. I used to have a sibling. He.. died. So I am no expert on the matter. But people write about weird things all the time. If you ask me, I would have spend that time on other stuff. But to each their own, I guess." Mika said as she emptied her own mug. "And no. I never had the pleasure. If anything, I might prefer to keep it if he screams all the time. I don't like rowdy kids. Already got to deal with that loudmouth that joined the squad."

"Mhmm a trouble maker is one way to put it. Well it is always the pretty ones that fuck up other people's shit the most. Going to be really awkward though if you wear a hood in your own house." Aya said snickering as she took another sip this time humming a bit before a slight sad expression was written on her face. "Oh I apologize for bringing up siblings." she said not meaning to bring up any bad memories she may have had. As she mentioned the newest addition she let out a loud groan of annoyance. "Oh don't get me started on the little perv. Grabbing my gear from my waist…. Did you see the bush arching backwards as he called for help?" Aya said placing one hand over her mouth as her laughs stifled through.

"Not as awkward as swallowing your own teeth, genin." There was a clear sliver of a threat in the soft voice of Mika as her eyes narrowed slightly. She simply nodded as Aya spoke of Aito.
"I did. If he hadn't been late, I would have been impressed with his performances. And if he hadn't throw a tantrum, he could have been given a compliment. But he has a long way to become competent."
Taking a swig of her own drink, Mika became silent for a bit. "It isn't going to be easy, you know. You might lose something if we will try to confront your brother."

Returning a grin to her little threat feeling she wouldn't do it, yet at the same time she probably would as well. "Well that wasn't very nice sensei. Just saying you could be your pretty ol self in your own home without worry."
She couldn't help but snort at Mika saying what could have happened if the boy didn't just do everything so oddly, like throwing a temper tantrum. Like giving a compliment or even been impressed. "So the first time you were going to give a compliment was to a fresh genin? Wow you may be insulting me like crazy, but I see past all that sensei." Aya said with a smile taking a swig again as she already expected another threat.
As she brought up her brother she frowned a bit at what she could possibly lose. "What do you mean? You said it already before, I don't have much to lose. What else could he take besides my life? Only really got one thing, yet I doubt it'd be easy for him to take that too."

"It would be quite easy. One mistake and we would be both losing." Mika calmly stated before she emptied her mug. Letting out a small sigh, Mika closed her eyes for a second. Rubbing her forehead, the jounin spoke up again.
"Remember. If you go down, then your brother has basically free reigns. Can't let that happen. Again. Last time that occured, I believe that a lot of people got hurt."

"Wait you plan on us hunting him down one day? I'm not sure if with our current… team that would be wise. Even if we prepared for years. Like I'll be honest myself. Im just counting the days until the new kid dies and we get another one to replace him. Only bright side is I learned this ones name." Aya said shrugging before taking another sip bobbing her body side to side.

The jounin opened her eyes as she lowered her hand. Blinking twice in a rapid fashion, it would become silent for a moment. "I don't think we are on the same page." Mika slowly said as she leaned a bit forward towards Aya.
"I am not talking about your biological brother. But the 'slimy' one. Your biological brother? I wouldn't care five cents for that bastard's head. Most likely he is already being hunted or somewhere far away from the Republic. Not really our care."

Staring at her her facial expression would become that of sudden realization as she gently smacked her forehead."Ahhh okay that makes more sense. Sorry both kind did the same shit just on different levels. Well hopefully I never go down, cause me and my brother aint exactly on the same page. In fact I don't think we ever will, I tried talking to him being polite and all that jazz. All he cares about is tricking me and trying to get me to do whatever he wants."

"Not surprised. Last person who had a similar situation spoke me of it before. Though can you tell me about about… him?" The woman wavered for a second, even wondering if Bijuu had a gender. She wasn't entirely certain but didn't find it an interesting topic to indulge further about.
"Anything that you have noticed or consider a characteristic."

Tapping her chin as she bobbed back and forth, trying to think how one would even describe Sluggers. "Well I think its a he anyway. Saiken is the name, but I call him by a nickname which he hates. I personally think the nickname sluggers is adorable. Get it? Cause hes know for being a striker." Aya said with a wink before continuing on. "Loud, very loud. Also dumb, not very good at tricking people. Doesn't show any intelligence that I've seen anyway. Some could say Saiken is a typical male."

She named it? Mika wasn't so sure if that was a good thing. Names meant attachments, regardless if it was positive or negative. Names could bear experiences and emotions. So far she saw it, it was a beast. Nothing more.
"No. I even think you not need to give him a name." Mika replied. She thought about what more Aya told her. The last joking comment was ignored by the jounin, who wasn't in the mood to joke regarding the current topic. Her eyes were watching out for the other patrons. But nobody seemed to eavesdrop or be close to them.
"We are going to study him soon. If he is indeed without any intelligence, no reason to even feel bad for what we will invoke on him. Now, I want you to get ready. Go back home, speak to nobody about what we discussed today and be ready."

"So I don't call him by anything then? So I shouldn't communicate with him then? Is this studying going to hurt? Wait invoke on him? You have a plan?" Aya said now confused before finishing the last swig of her second mug and resting her arms on the table with her head resting on them. Being told to go home and get ready while telling no one what they discussed, she would nod her head and slide out of the chair and onto her feet where she had some issues keeping her balance. "So what about the whole leaving thing? Am I allowed to just leave like that?"

"Don't talk to him. Might be for the best of us all," Mika said as she watched with a blank expression how Aya slid from her seat.
"No, you idiot. You wait for my next instruction. Just be prepared to pack your stuff. That is all." Mika said, her eyes half closing. "Now, shoo."

Playing the hostile card as ever, it caused Aya to smile and nod her head. "I can do that." She said simply yet instead of leaving she walked over to Mika and gave a quick hug before she would let go and wave goodbye and wobbling made her way to the door, and then left the establishment.

Mika's eyes narrowed as she noticed that Aya turned around. While the jounin had more than enough experience as skill at her disposal to make Aya drop cold on the ground with a solid hit, Mika didn't prevent the genin from giving her a hug. As soon as Aya left the establishment, Mika would sigh. Raising her hand, she would order another drink.

[/spoili]
[/fieldbox]
 
[fieldbox=For the North! - Part 2, tomato]
The Wolf Country - Eastern continent.
Yumeji's unit.

A collab between FrostedCamel, Zane and Oetje.

Summary:
Yumeji Hojo has been given command to lead an unit, that of Sergeant Miu Sanosuke, to the north of the allied camps. Their task is to venture north and scout for enemy activity and how feasible it is to move more troops to that direction. As always, trouble can be expected with the presence of those damned zealots - certainly with a massive army in the region.

Part 1

[spoili]
Toshi made it across with the center of the group, stepping off the top of the river and onto the ground in a sense of relief as no enemies bore down on them like savage waves that they had shown they were capable of in the fighting before. Yumeji began shouting orders, and for a moment Toshi thought to move to the back of the shield wall to provide some form of support if he could until he was caught completely off guard by Miu patting his face. Were they not about to be fighting for their lives he may have found himself blushing a little at the gesture, but instead he nodded to Miu, to; for the time being; his Sergeant, "Got it." he replied to her as they moved off for the right side of the group, "We're the hiding group then huh? Anything in my bag of tricks you'd like me to use or keep in reserve?" he asked as they ran for the far side of their groups formation into the woods beyond.

Yumeji's grin remained on her lips as she heard Miu's response. Nodding towards the Sanosuke, Yumeji would turn around. The remaining soldiers would follow up the commands of their sergeant and seem more than ready. For a moment, Yumeji felt a cold feeling running down her spine. Gripping her blade tighter, the Hojo would slam the flat side against her shield.
"Let us show those bastards what northern steel can do when wielded by true soldiers."
More soldiers would join with the Hojo, slamming the flat side of their swords or the blunt end of their axes against their shields.

For a moment, it seemed as if the sounds of the rowdy group had driven off any enemy presence. But then faintly in the distance, they could hear it. A few roars pierced the air as a large group came into sight. Marching into vision, the enemy group was much larger. Standing on top of a hill, the enemy unit 'greeted' Yumeji's group in a similar style.
"Hold the line!"
The shouted order barely could move over the sound of the swords, axes and shafts of spears slammed against shields. Then the enemy charged forward. Shrieking battle cries in their foreign tongue, they seemed far from intimidated by the smaller unit. The first row, armed with shields and sidearms would brace themselves as the second row readied their spears. For a moment, the soldiers of the North remained silent as their enemy started to close the distance at a rapid pace. Just before the two units would collide, the battle cry from the soldiers of the north pierced the air.

"For the North!" Yumeji yelled, only for a moment later feeling the impact against her shield. Attempting to hold her ground, she still felt how she was pushed back slightly by the push of the enemy charge. Holding her shield, the Hojo had to lower herself slightly to avoid a crude blade being shoved into her face. Pushing back slightly, the Hojo would ram her own blade forward. The oddly satisfying satisfaction of her weapon piercing an enemy was enough for her. Jerking the weapon backwards, Yumeji repeated the battle cry with the rest of the unit.

While the enemy's charge wasn't that effective against the disciplined unit, a small group of enemies tried to run past to likely attack the stubborn group of northlings in the flanks.

As the group and her made it to the right side, she would get them into hiding just as she started hearing the war cries of both parties. "Well keep any explosives on the downlow, we shouldn't waste them on this. Other than that, nothing that might hit allies by mistake." Miu said as she had axe and shield firmly gripped in her hand. She heard the clash begin which bothered her as she wanted to be there to help, yet an order was an order. Good thing they were told to wait here as a enemy flanking force was sent their way. Miu then motioned for them to flank the flanking force. "For the North men!" Miu said as she and the others would charge the flanking force, who seemed caught off guard as a few projectiles found their way into them initially. Only for the rest to catch up to them, with Miu swinging her axe and catching a man in the neck with it. Placing her boot on his chest, she would yank from him and shove him back.

Toshi blinked for a moment at Miu's comment about not blowing things up if he could help it, and nodded he understood while at the same time he pulled an explosive tag off of his kunai and shoved it into his pocket. "Whatever you say Boss." he replied before noticing the flanking group of the enemy moving past. He gripped the kunai in his hands tight, the white on his knuckles proof of the fact before breathing out a slow and steady breath. Something about fighting men equipped with shields and swords didn't ever set well with Toshi, even if he stayed at range for the most part, eventually one was going to get close enough like at the battle of the river crossing.

Miu and the rest of the soldiers took off all at once, Toshi stumbling forward at the unexpected move as if he had missed the command to do so. Regaining his footing as he sprinted to catch up he'd lose the two Kunai in his hands on the enemy as the ran perpendicular to their force. He watched, a grim sort of satisfaction washing over him as blood sprayed from his target and the man collapsed to the quickly reddening snow. He reached into his pouch and pulled another two kunai, keeping them both in his hands instead of throwing them he'd wheel to his right for a friendly soldier that was locked in a grapple with an enemy. The two men rolled on the ground, the enemy placing himself over the top of the friend and drawing a long blade from his waist. The friendly soldier was holding the foes forearms as he slowly lost distance to the enemies blade. Toshi slammed into the side of the enemy, his kunai slipping easily into the side of the man's chest between the seams of what little armor he wore. They crashed to the ground, the man screaming briefly before Toshi's second kunai lodged itself in the front of his neck.

Raising her shield up, Yumeji felt the heavy vibration through her arm. Her arm still shook a bit as she lowered the shield. At the same time, Yumeji slides her own blade over the rim of the shield. Feeling a light resistance as the sharp steel pierced something, Yumeji slammed her shield forwards while pulling her blade out. There wasn't much room to move with friendly troops at her back and side as well the enemy in front of her.

The air was filled with the grunts, pained screams and battlecries but would slowly start to ebb away. The enemy started to lose some morale as their charge didn't seem to impact the Northerners much. Blocking another strike, Yumeji grunted as she slammed the lower part of her shield into her attacker's knee. It was enough to make the man growl in pain. Repeating the motion, trying to put more weight between it, Yumeji felt how her opponent sank to his knee.
Pulling her shield back, she would leave some space as her blade shot forwards. The sharp steel bite through the woolen vest of the man, shredding skin and flesh as the Hojo drove the blade deep. Only to yank it out.

They had some good initial momentum with the surprise attack on what would have been a surprise attack on their own unit. They took out a few of the attackers in the charge, and would continue dropping their numbers, before they could truly retaliate. Raising her shield to block a downwards slash, she would hear the blade scraping across her shield. Raising her leg she kicked the man in his lower region causing him to grunt and drop to his knees. Where a swipe from her axe to his face sent him sprawling to the ground. She would have to then parry one swing with her axe and punished the man with a ram of her shield into his face. Dazing him her comrade would finish it by thrusting his sword into the man's chest. As more and more dropped, the lower their own morale would become to continue fighting. This would soon be over, they just had to keep this up and not do anything reckless.

The initial shock of their ambush wore off quickly. Toshi realized this as he stood up from the man he had tackled, blood slicking his arms he had watched in a sort of haze as one of the enemy charged him. He could see he was screaming but he couldn't hear him, not yet at least. Before he knew what he'd done the kunai had left his hand and found itself embedded in the charging man's forehead. HIs body went stiff and his head knocked back from the impact. He crumpled as if he were a sack of something particularly heavy thrown haphazardly at the ground. Sound roared back into his ears. Toshi took in his surroundings in a quick glance, his group was forming back into a cohesive unit to his left, hacking and stabbing their way into the flank of the enemy. Toshi off to the right, away from the fighting to lay down the sort of support he was good at from the new flank of the enemy as they reformed to face Miu's group. He loosed his second kunai and caught another man in the neck, barely grazing him it had been enough to mortally injure the man as Toshi watched him fall to the ground sputtering.

'Just keep it together.' Toshi thought, more a hope for himself then it was for Miu and the other men, he was sure they could handle it on their own. He continued to glance around every few seconds to be sure he wouldn't be caught off guard by a straggling or retreating enemy.

Yumeji grunted as she blocked a strike with her shield. More of a reflex than thought action did the Hojo retaliate with a stab low, stabbing her opponent in the knee. As the man would drop, Yumeji would slam her shield forwards against the man's face. The enemy seemed to have enough as those in the back rows started to make a run for it.
"Don't pursue." Yumeji shouted as she would flip her blade.
Looking down on the wounded man in front of her, his fighting spirit had been slammed in. He spoke something that Yumeji didn't understand. The fear was evident in the man's facial features and more so when he raised his hand before Yumeji drove her blade into his chest.

Sighing out, Yumeji took a look at how they had done. From what she could see, a few were wounded but none of them was on the ground. Which was good. The fight hadn't lasted for long but their superior equipment had proven vital to sustaining the enemy's attack, once more. Glancing where the enemy was running off to, Yumeji's eyes narrowed. If those fools would run back, it would be easy to track where were more. Allowing them to know what area they had to avoid.
"Sergeant," Yumeji called out as she hangs her shield at her back. Crouching, she would proceed to clean the blood stained steel of her sword with the cloth of the last man she had killed.

[/spoili]
[/fieldbox]
 
[fieldbox=A Training of the Ame Team!!!, lightgreen]
Amegakure, the provincial capital of the River Province of the Akinian Empire.
Training Facility - Team Etsu.

A collab between Nimeee, Zaneee, Aliceee and Oetjeee!

Part 1!
Part 2!

Summary:
Etsu takes her team to the Training Facility complex. There she takes the bells test. The start of the test is where the three girls discuss the plan on how to take the bells from Etsu.

[spoili]
The sudden change in Etsu's movement made it so the hand wasn't even close, but it still remained present. After the sudden gust of wind from Rini pushed Etsu back, the hand would begin extending itself, seemingly aiming to still grab Etsu's foot, but in reality aiming to wrap itself around both legs. Kuni slowly rose out of the ground, maintaining a contact with the earth using her left hand while taking out a pair of shuriken with her right and throwing them towards Etsu.

Watching her weave through the paper shuriken was not the best motivator, what did give some hope although all it did was push her further way was Rini's gust of wind slamming into her. It even sent some of her paper shuriken towards her. Yet it seemed like she was simply toying with them at this rate. Deflecting all her paper projectiles and cleaving some was child's play to her. Looking at the field littered with paper weaponry only further made her sigh as she wondered what Kuni planned on doing with that hand. Wait a second. Kitana would weave some handseals as her body seemingly starts to look more like it was made of sheets of paper. Bundles of her paper would form around her back giving her paper wings, which she used to take off flying. Sending a hail of paper feathers from her wings down below towards Etsu.

"Shit." Rini cursed as she saw how Etsu managed to hold herself. Fair enough, she was a jounin but Rini had some faint hope that the move could have had more effect. It did prove that her theory was somewhat right. The jounin couldn't read her mind and react a split second later. Not that it made matters much easier but it was a start. A grin flowed on Rini's lips as her right hand would slowly travel to the hilt of her katana. "Almost had you there, Etsu-sensei!" The genin said with the border-arrogant smile on her lips. Despite acting all confident, the young girl could feel the cold beads of sweat forming and rolling over her back.

Spotting the hand made of earth move towards her, Etsu's eyes closed half. She would briefly glance towards Kitana as the chuunin seemed to also move into action. The jounin would fixate her gaze on Rini while a smile flowed on the woman's lips. "Almost."

Before the paper or the earth hand could reach her, Etsu would flow into the ground. Without any warning and in a rapid pace, the jounin used the Hidden Mole technique to evade the attacks of both chuunin as well staying out of the visual sight of Rini and Kitana. There was the fact that Kuni could trace her but Etsu was more than ready to face the Four Tail's jinchuriki underground.

Before either her earth hand or the papers landed, Etsu vanished in a manner very familiar to the Jinchuuriki. So she was a user of Earth techniques, she could try and work with that "Kitana, stay as you are. As long as you don't touch the ground, she won't know where you are, and that could play to our advantage. I can track her, but I doubt I'll be able to face her underground on my own." Kuni explained as she kept touching the ground "Any quick ideas?" She asked the two, hoping they can come up with anything.

Her paper scattered across the ground hitting the hard surface and spreading out across the area. Hovering in the air she would sigh and rub her temple a bit. She was simply toying with them, getting only a bit more serious every so often. Hearing Kuni say her idea wouldn't pan out well for Kitana in the long run, as it took her chakra to keep this jutsu going. Flying over to Rini, she would hover around her as she kept her guard up. Rini was the only one without a real way to escape. Kuni could go underground if she was suicidal, she could stay in the air for a certain bit longer. So if she needed to, she could grab and fly away with her. "Well I doubt she would let us. She's up to something. Can either of you two sense anything?"

Watching how the jounin moved underground was demoralizing. The attacks of both Kuni and Kitana had accomplished little to nothing. Narrowing her eyes, Rini would crouch on one knee as she brought her hands together. Forming the rat handsignal. "Yes. I am on it." The genin replied, gritting her teeth. It took a second but she was quick to realise something. There were two identical chakra signatures. One moving up to the surface while the other remained underground. "Mmmm. Kitana. I need you to prepare all the tags you can. Fake." Realising that the request was quite vague, Rini would get up and turn her attention to Kuni. "If you can actually keep track of her underground, that would be a boon. If this does work," Rini started to mould once more chakra at her hands, "Then you both owe me."

The jounin was moving underground, away from her students. She wondered how they would tackle the objective now. After all, they were supposed to obtain the bells. Yet, the temptation to make the situation more thrilling with attempting to drive them into their defence was quite present. Etsu, however, decided to just make some distance. Once she considered that there was ample space between them, Etsu made a shadow clone. The shadow clone would get to the surface while she remained underground.

Climbing out of the ground, the shadow clone dusted her clothes off for a second as she glanced at the chuunin and genin. "Well? Round 2?" The jounin asked, in a playful fashion.

Simply nodding in response, Kuni kept track of the movements of not one, but two figures underground. Through the vibrations she felt that one was moving up towards them while the other remained still "Incoming over there-" She said and pointed at a spot with some distance from where they were "-Now."

And indeed, Etsu would come out of the ground, dust herself and seemingly challenge the team for another round. Staying on the spot, Kuni removed her hand from the ground but slightly sunk into it with her feet, allowing her to still keep tabs on the vibrations. She glanced towards Rini and Kitana, wondering what kind of plan the two were about to perform.

Fake tags? I mean she could do that sure, but she wasn't sure how well this plan might go if she were to challenge it. That is if she was thinking about this the right way. In the palm of her hand, the fake tags would start appearing as she would continue making them, only stopping when Kuni reported that she was incoming fast towards the surface. Smiling at Rini's comment she would toss the fake tags into the air, allowing Rini to do whatever she wished to do with the fake bundle of paper.

Rini's eyes narrowed. "Sensei," she began on a strict tone, "I would surrender right now. Else Kitana will activate the explosive tags as I will fuel the ignition with my wind release. You can go underground but I am certain you're aware of how much damage this can cause. And somebody will have to pay for the damage." The genin said, her hands close from clapping. Chakra was moulding and being held at her palms, a force that was at the ready to be unleashed in a most violent manner.

Etsu's clone stared at the falling bundle of paper tags. The eyes of the woman narrowed for a moment, only to widen to notice the particular seals on the falling tags. Added with Rini's comment, the woman turned her attention rapidly towards her student.
"Oef! Blackmail!" The shadow clone said as she rubbed her neck, considering her options. The tags slowly started to descend and by the looks of it, it sure would be a hell of an explosion if the genin added a powerful gust to it.

Raising her hands up, the shadow clone flashed a somewhat nervous smile.
"Now, let us drop the fight. I guess that I am in no place to bargain back. How about you girls don't blow anything up and cause me to pay up for the repairs? Then I will consider that you guys bested me, this time. Hm?"

[/spoili]
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