Katsuro took the map from Jun without much hesitation. He gazed over at the pack of cigarettes she had put down, recognizing the brand with ease. Those were premium cigarettes, far more expensive than what he smoked. They tasted better, burned smoother, and even smelled better. This was because they used high quality tobacco and far less other additives than the cheaper brands. It made him crave another smoke, in spite of just finishing one less than an hour ago.
Quietly, he gazed down to the map and eyed it over while thinking over the situation. Like his student Tetsuo, the news of Hanahime falling into a disturbed state didn't sit well with Katsuro either. Knowing that a child her age was this disturbed was unsettling even to Katsuro. But there was another odd feeling he couldn't shake. For some reason he felt like there was some key piece of information being left out. Specifically the idea that an entire wing of the house would be shut down because of a hole in the wall didn't sit well with him. Closing off a room or two would be understandable. But an entire section of the mansion? What were they so worried about?
Mizu froze for a moment upon hearing one particular detail of the mission. "Elephants...?" She muttered under her breath in excitement. In spite of her soured mood, the news of her favorite animal sparked an excitement within her. For a moment or so, her face was visibly happy to the point she had to curl her lips together to contain herself. Before now, this seemed like it was going to be just a boring mission. But now Mizu had a chance to see the majestic, gentle giants she had read so much about and watched on old VHS tapes her mother gifted her a few years back. Suddenly a long trek through the rainforest didn't seem all that bad to Mizu.
By the time her excitement had toned down, Jun broke the news about Hanahime's mental state. Poor girl... Mizu thought to herself, gazing back in the direction where she last saw her. Mizu had somewhat of an idea of what the girl was going through. It had been just a little over a month since Soruto's death. But Hanahime and herself clearly had two extremely different relationships with their parents. What Hanahime was going through must have been even more gut-wrenching than what she had felt since then. The feeling of loss, of emptiness, and of unfulfilled futures.
Before Mizu could reflect on her own loss any further, Katsuro finally spoke.
"I don't have any other questions." Katsuro said. "We're heading out now."
Just like that, Katsuro was motioning them to go. Without hesitation he turned his back to the group and started making his way out of the room.
"If any of you have questions, ask them now. Otherwise meet me outside as soon as you can. We have a storm to beat."
Katsuro then left the room. He followed the same route they had taken through the mansion to leave. On his way through the hallways, he made sure to pick up his shoes and put them on once he was outside. Patiently he waited for his genin while smoking a freshly lit cigarrete.
Mizu awkwardly stood in the study despite Katsuro's absence. There was one pressing question on her mind. She gazed at the floor as she forced the question out of her mouth.
"Um...You mentioned that elephants made the path we're taking." Her eyes finally looked up to Jun. "Do you think we'll see any along the way?"
Upon getting her answer, Mizu promptly bowed and exited the mansion.
Quietly, he gazed down to the map and eyed it over while thinking over the situation. Like his student Tetsuo, the news of Hanahime falling into a disturbed state didn't sit well with Katsuro either. Knowing that a child her age was this disturbed was unsettling even to Katsuro. But there was another odd feeling he couldn't shake. For some reason he felt like there was some key piece of information being left out. Specifically the idea that an entire wing of the house would be shut down because of a hole in the wall didn't sit well with him. Closing off a room or two would be understandable. But an entire section of the mansion? What were they so worried about?
Mizu froze for a moment upon hearing one particular detail of the mission. "Elephants...?" She muttered under her breath in excitement. In spite of her soured mood, the news of her favorite animal sparked an excitement within her. For a moment or so, her face was visibly happy to the point she had to curl her lips together to contain herself. Before now, this seemed like it was going to be just a boring mission. But now Mizu had a chance to see the majestic, gentle giants she had read so much about and watched on old VHS tapes her mother gifted her a few years back. Suddenly a long trek through the rainforest didn't seem all that bad to Mizu.
By the time her excitement had toned down, Jun broke the news about Hanahime's mental state. Poor girl... Mizu thought to herself, gazing back in the direction where she last saw her. Mizu had somewhat of an idea of what the girl was going through. It had been just a little over a month since Soruto's death. But Hanahime and herself clearly had two extremely different relationships with their parents. What Hanahime was going through must have been even more gut-wrenching than what she had felt since then. The feeling of loss, of emptiness, and of unfulfilled futures.
Before Mizu could reflect on her own loss any further, Katsuro finally spoke.
"I don't have any other questions." Katsuro said. "We're heading out now."
Just like that, Katsuro was motioning them to go. Without hesitation he turned his back to the group and started making his way out of the room.
"If any of you have questions, ask them now. Otherwise meet me outside as soon as you can. We have a storm to beat."
Katsuro then left the room. He followed the same route they had taken through the mansion to leave. On his way through the hallways, he made sure to pick up his shoes and put them on once he was outside. Patiently he waited for his genin while smoking a freshly lit cigarrete.
Mizu awkwardly stood in the study despite Katsuro's absence. There was one pressing question on her mind. She gazed at the floor as she forced the question out of her mouth.
"Um...You mentioned that elephants made the path we're taking." Her eyes finally looked up to Jun. "Do you think we'll see any along the way?"
Upon getting her answer, Mizu promptly bowed and exited the mansion.
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