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Fandom The Village Hidden in the Leaves

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Sei Teshima, Squad 5
Cautiously, Sei crossed to the tree and pulled the note down. She read over it again, taking note of their sensei's tone and word choice. They describe it as a game and make a joke about their sensei. . . so whoever this is, they're playful. The tone is more formal so it's not likely to be a really young jounin; unless they're trying to hide their age. And the instructions. . . She frowned as she read over them again. It's like a riddle but we have to do things before we can figure it out.
She turned to her teammates. "It doesn't sound too hard. Get the lit candles from here to the ruins." Picking up the pouch and candles, she offered them to her teammates. "We should come up with a strategy for dealing with whatever they have planned for us. These lines about meeting people who'll try to trade for our candles or whatever's supposed to be chasing us." Her mind was racing. She was nervous and it was making her talk too much. Come on. You won't be able to pass this test if you're a nervous wreck. Just follow these instructions and rely on your teammates and you'll be perfectly fine. Hopefully.
The trees that lined the path creaked a little. Sei frowned. It wasn't a frightening path, but something about it felt . . . off. "We should get going. The rules say not to stay in one place too long."

Lord Potato Lord Potato Monokuma Monokuma Orikanyo Orikanyo
 
Hideki Ukita

​
Hideki stood at the edge of the training grounds, abit at a loss, only one of his teammates had showed up... And she was already trying to read. Guess it was cute in a way, he only hoped she'd focus on missions as much as she did on reading. "...Well... Guess there's no helping it then." the young man walked towards Matsuri, eager to meet up with his teammate once more. "Hey, still got your head in a book eh bookie?" he asked, giving her a pat on the head once more. Why? Because her head was oh so very pattable.

Only reason he could think of really, pattable heads had to be pat.

Simple logic.

"So, has bandages showed up yet? I think he's the one that owes us lunch, be a shame if he ditched just because of that." he gazed around the area for their resident mummy, but he couldn't quite find him... Shame. "Plan was for me to come last and treat you both... But if he doesn't show... Guess it'll just be us and sensei." he shrugged, turning back to the young woman before him, tempted to try and sneak yet another pat. No, he must keep them with a time in between, lest he over do it and ruin it entirely.

"..Have you seen our sensei yet by the way?"
 
Yuuki Uchiha: Squad 4
"Well, let me explain something, sensei does not fight. Why I used a clone, I doubt I could have blocked a blow like that if I tried. At least not without serious effort. Why do that when I can just have a dopple take it."

So it seemed their sensei wasn't really one for direct combat... interesting. At least Yuuki had already figured he'd continue getting all of his kenjutsu training from his family. It was a bit a downside to your clan using their own sword style. Though the genin couldn't help but wonder just how Nobushige fought. He'd mentioned being an assassination specialist, so... backstabbing mainly? Guess he'd just have to wait and find out.

"As to why it's so lifelike, I'd prefer my students to know damn well what they are dealing with."

Yuuki hesitated then sighed. "...fair enough." He couldn't help but shift slightly, his gaze shifting towards the ground. "...So does my reaction mean I'm not really cut out for this?" He murmured, glancing at his hands.

Seeing movement out of the corner of his eye, Yuuki's gaze snapped up in time to see the kunai embed itself in their sensei's arm. Okay, now that you could have blocked... Or dodged even. Suppressing a sigh, he watched Nobushige toss the weapon skyward. "An S-Ranked jutsu?" That in itself sounded interesting, more so if he'd actually created it like he said. How do you even go about creating a jutsu like-

Wait, that kunai never came back down... The boy glanced up to see a bird plummeting right for him.

"Gah!" Yuuki jumped back just barely avoiding getting hit. Reflexively searching the rest of the sky, he caught sight of the kunai headed back for Hitomi. Snatching a shuriken from his pouch he threw it at the falling blade. If anything, he'd at least deflect it from his teammate.

Had it been another bird, he might have just let it hit her...

Muttering something under his breath, Yuuki turned his attention back to Nobushige. He just wanted them to hold the paper? Wait- why was grabbing it going to hurt? Must have had something to do with the seal drawn on them. He watched the papers flutter to their ground and their sensei turn to leave. "Uh... Nobushige-Sensei? Shouldn't you dispell your clone?"

Because there was bound to be a commotion if someone happened upon... that...
 
Hitomi Hoki: squad 4
Hitomi inwardly cheered as her kunai hit, though realized her sensei likely let it. Probably to lazy to move. Her theory was proven basically proven when he admitted to not fighting. Lazy bastard.

He created an S rank jutsu? Cool. Hitomi admitted to herself eyeing their sensei. She doubted she could ever create a jutsu, or at least not for many more years. When she has a lot more experience. If I don't die before then, she added on. Well aware of the high death rate among ninjas, especially genin. She had seen many of them die at her family compound when their injuries proved fetal and they couldn't be saved.

"So does my reaction mean I'm not really cut out for this?"
Hearing Yuuki's mutter she felt bad about her earlier harsh words and scolded herself. Yuuki had just been doing what sensei said to do. Besides none of them thought sense would just let himself be killed. None of us knew about the jutsu. Plus, Yuuki likely hadn't ever killed before. Remembering her own shock when she awoke to discover what she had done she decided that when the sensei let them go she would apologize to Yuuki officially. No need for them to start on the wrong foot.

Hearing Yuuki shout followed by the sound of metal against metal Hitomi was brought back to the present. Jumping to her feet she made sure Yuuki was alright before looking for the source of the other sound. Her kunai and a shuriken landing a few feet from her told her the answer. Glancing around she realized what must have happened. Grabbing the Kunai and shuriken as she listened to sensei she knew that even if she hadn't planned to apologize before she definitely would now. He could have let it hit me after all.

Pocketing them, planning to return the shuriken when she apologized she turned her thoughts to her sensei and the task given to them. A piece of paper that can cause pain? Sounds an awful lot like the chakra controlling technique Aunt had told me she was planning for me to begin next time I went to Suna. I guess now is as good a time to begin it as ever. I'll have to confirm the technique with mother though, make sure it is what I believe.

"Uh... Nobushige-Sensei? Shouldn't you dispell your clone?"
Looking at the forgotten clone she wondered at how life like it seemed. Except for the blood I couldn't even tell it wasn't real. I wonder if sensei would let myself or my clan study it. I bet they would be equally fascinated by it. And knowing how to tell the difference could prove useful of sensei likes using the huts a lot.

​
 
Takara Himura: Squad 6
The Jounin stood silent and unmoving as her students finally began to arrive at the training field. The first was quick to bound up into the same tree she was perched on, too distracted by the novel in her hands to take in her surroundings. At least the Hyuuga girl had decent taste in books. Not the author's best work, but still an alright read. It wasn't long after that the second strolled in. He was certainly friendly to his new teammate. She'd admit it was the first time she'd seen a shinobi carrying a shield on their back.

"..Have you seen our sensei yet by the way?"

"Safe to say neither of you are sensory types..." Takara said with a slight sigh as she stepped out from her hiding place. She clung to the trunk of the old tree with the help of chakra focused towards her feet. Hands tucked in her pockets, the jounin studied the pair with dark violet hues. "Seems your friend is late."

With a kick, Takara vaulted over the genin to the grass below. "I'll be nice and give them a few extra minutes, though they'll miss out on some important information." She turned back towards them, "Their fault for being late..." What was the Hyuuga girl trying to hide with that blindfold? It was plenty obvious to her classmates she could see considering her obsession with books.

"Now then," Takara ignored the wind that worked to blow her hair into her face. "Seeing as you two already know each other, there's no sense in wasting time over introductions. I'm Takara Himura and I'll be in charge of deciding whether or not you kids are actually cut out to be genin." A sigh left her lips as she combed her cyan hair from her eyes. "And no, you guys aren't really genin, not yet at least. The Academy exam is mainly for weeding out the truly hopeless cases.

"So here's the deal, I'm not going to tell you what my test is going to be, not yet. You're going to have to make a choice first: give up now and go back to the academy for another year, or take my test. Should you fail, you're done. You won't ever be a ninja." Takara's icy gaze studied the pair, "So, what's it gonna be?"
 
Dotou Hayashi Squad 4​
"Heh. That is funny."
His sensei seemed to be the only one who'd heard the joke. Well at least he has a sense of humor. Hitomi threw a kunai at their sensei. Perhaps, she suspected they were still supposed to follow through with their previously given order. Dotou doubted it would hit the man though. However, to his surprise, the jonin proved him wrong. He blocked it with his hand, and it seemed the weapon had even managed to draw a small amount of blood. This made Dotou more curious then anything else. While it was obvious their sensei was a master of ninjustu, they still had no way to gauge how fast and strong he was. The boy shrugged. We'll find out eventually. On the bright-side, with our similar skill sets, I think we'll get along we- His thoughts were interrupted by the unexpected landing of a dead bird on his head. I take it back. All of it. Everything nice I ever thought about him. He did his best to get the bird blood out of his hair. Douche sensei then sent Hitomi's kunai flying back at her. Dotou would have tried to deflect it with one of his own, but he was just as likely to hit his teammate as the other kunai. His shurikenjustu wasn't the best, so he was glad Yuuki was able to.

"So does my reaction mean I'm not really cut out for this?"
Dotou frowned slightly. He'd talk to Yuuki after their sensei left. The man didn't exactly seem like an optimist, and Dotou didn't want to have to respond to every negative comment he brought up. "I can tell he put a lot of thought into our training for today." He muttered sarcastically. In his mind, their sensei was just putting off teaching for another day. While he wouldn't usually act or think like this, their sensei had put him in a bad mood. Maybe it was unusual, but dropping dead birds on his head and throwing kunai at his teammate tended to do that to him. He walked over and grabbed one of the paper dolls without putting much thought into it; he didn't particularly fear pain, and he'd dealt with plenty of it before. It was a bad move on his part. His large chakra pool made it difficult to control, and the combination made the paper-doll even more painful. Pain coursed up into his arm and through his body. He felt like he was on the wrong end of one of his classmates' lightning justu. "Yow!" Not expecting it to be quite so painful, Dotou dropped the paper. "What the hell is this thing made out of?!" He took his time to study it more closely now. Is this another one of Sensei's strange, self-made justus?
 
Hideki Ukita

​
His hand instinctively went to his shield, though leaving it when the woman introduced herself as their sensei... he scolded himself slightly for being so foolish to not look around first, he expected Matsuri to have done so, as such he didn't bother... How stupid of him.
​
His sensei was... interesting. Seemed to have a slight flair for the dramatic, and a whole head of cyan. She looked pretty cool admittedly, though he wasn't fully sure if cyan was the best color to hide one's self... then again, he wasn't a jonin, so what did he know? "So that's the true face of the place huh? Guess that's simple enough to understand." Hideki took her words in stride, naturally, the deal however was a bit unexpected.

But then again, as ninja, they should be on the top of their game. they should have no second guesses about their skills and abilities.

A true mission is do or die, this reflects it.

So his father explained at least, the old man was atleast good for something other than the faintest hint of familial bonding. No, there was time for that type of thought later, he had to speak to his sensei, the woman he knew would be his teacher henceforth. He knew that they would be able to do whatever she has in plan for them, he and matsuri were capable ninja, worthy of the title genin. He knew his answer, no matter what Matsuri said in her case he would go through with this test regardless.

He had to trust in his skills, he had to succeed, there was nothing else but to succeed, thinking about the alternative only invited it to come into being.

He had to look ahead.

His dream would not stand for anything else, he was strong.

And the strong keep marching forwards.

No matter what stands in their way...

"I'm not about to run back to the old man at the academy, I accept this test." his smirk still present, but his tense arms were crossed before him, his nails digging into the skin slightly...
 
Nobushige Toyotomi - Squad 4​

Nobushige was stopped in his walk by a few of the reactions of the genin. He gave a heavy sigh. Why couldn't he just walk off, he had given the day off... minus the paper.


"Uh... Nobushige-Sensei? Shouldn't you dispel your clone?"
Click to expand...

"Can't. The clone dispersed when you killed it. The corpse left behind is a corpse. Also why I never have to worry about my technique being stolen. I don't care for making a shallow grave, that's for Earth Release specialist. Police chief is used to my crap."

He thought about Yuuki's earlier comment as well. Nobushige was going to ignore it, but found himself returning to it.

"As far as not being cut out as a ninja, that's exactly what that reaction means. You're a human, no human should ever have to do what we do. We do it anyways. I bawled first time. It was rather... personal on top of that. Do I think you, in particular, will ever get used to it? No, not really. People who care tend to realize what they are fighting for. People who don't tend to go rogue, then I kill them and its a real pain in the ass. I passed you, suck it up."

And then there was the first, and only person, to actually try and pick up the paper seal. Nobushige would have to give him a gold star.

"What the hell is this thing made out of?!"
Click to expand...

"Paper. And some ink. Bit of chakra.

What it does? Well, that's anyone's guess. Maybe it shocks you? Maybe it does something weird with your body? Maybe it backlogs systems? Maybe no matter how you touch it it hurts and I'm just sucking it up. Either hurt yourself a whole lot til you figure it out, find someone who knows seals intimately, find someone else with a high pain tolerance, or work together. Half of the test with that is figuring out what it does. The other half is getting past it. That seal is unique, I do actually spend some of my time being productive. Anyways, Apt #8, enjoy."

He disappeared with a body flicker.

===============

Matsuri Hyuga - Squad Six​

Matsuri turned slightly red at being patted on her head.

"W-what are you doing?"

She readjusted her headband and blindfold as he finished. That was... random? Not that she disliked it, but...?

Thankfully she'd read enough in her book to sate her curiosity. She could guess where it went. It was a good thing Hideki had gotten her attention, as their jonin appeared right near her. Matsuri jumped a bit.

"Safe to say neither of you are sensory types..."
Click to expand...

"Thankfully..."

It was probably an insult, but anything that made her not a Hyuga was A-okay. She listened to the jonin's instructions.

"So here's the deal, I'm not going to tell you what my test is going to be, not yet. You're going to have to make a choice first: give up now and go back to the academy for another year, or take my test. Should you fail, you're done. You won't ever be a ninja. So, what's it gonna be?"
Click to expand...

The Jonin's gaze was so cold, so freightening. The prospect of being kicked out as a ninja more so. Yeah, Matsuri had sucked outside of tests, but did that mean she wouldn't get the chance? It felt like they were playing with her heart strings saying she passed, then saying she didn't. Why lie?

Matsuri gulped at the prospect, setting down the book. She didn't take much time to reach her decision though.

"I'm pretty weak in the class... But if I give up now, what would stop me giving up next year? I'd be just as scared then. I can't afford to give up, I'm in. What's your test?"
 
Shikakazu Nara
Squad 4
​
Shikakazu was grinning cheerfully with Koutaku even lightly hitting him back; until he heard a geyser of water erupt nearby. His eyes snapped to it in an instant, only to see a column of water and his second teammate take flight on it. After listening to their new sensei's advice to catch him and bit on how attacking sleeping women was vulgar. Noted. "Oh crap." He muttered, pushed up his left sleeve, and prepared to jump to intercept Kiyoshi mid air.

His focus was diverted to Koutaku's lightning fast chakra work, his jaw clenching from the impressive display. And so he instead watched as Kiyoshi rolled and landed safely, leading to the deconstruction of the impromptu structure. "Showoffs." Shikakazu chuckled, half relieved his teammates were competent and skilled enough to not die and cover each other.

He then listened attentively to Kiyoshi's report on what he had seen whilst airborn. The latter's overbearing confidence and lack of forethought and tact was something Shikakazu would have to get used to. Kiyoshi may have been convinced he had figured out their sensei's trial, but he wasn't as sure.

It seemed as though Koutaku wasn't so certain either, or keen on Kiyoshi's catapult plan. The former laid out his alternative plan, something that centralized around his skill set of chakra control. Shikakazu liked the idea over launching one of the group at the seal past a Jonin level opponent, but something told him that their sensei would just halt the kunai mid flight. "I think that is a much better idea, but me and Kiyoshi will have to distract her enough to prevent her from interfering with the kunai's path." He quickly suggested to his teammates.

Shikakazu then turned to Kiyoshi and added his idea for how to trap their sensei: "I can trap her with my shadow imitation, but I would need you to distract her so she can't just dodge it. My guess is I could hold her for a minute and a half tops, but I doubt it would even be that long." He stated, with serious doubt in his voice. The minute and a half was an insanely optimistic guess, as the strongest person he had previously trapped in his technique was his mother, and he was guessing his sensei was more powerful.

Shikakazu began to fidget with his tanto and kunai pouch on his back, feeling the pressure of his own idea. If they agreed to the plan, he was going to need to execute or else fail. Why did you volunteer yourself like this? You could've just fought with Kiyoshi, he silently thought to himself as he gripped his weapon.
 
Takara Himura: Squad 6
Takara quirked an eyebrow at the pair as they considered what they had been told and quickly accepted. Hideki seemed rather confident in his abilities, at least more so than the Hyuuga. It was simple enough to see she was rather intimidated. Perhaps the Jounin could have chosen her words a little more carefully?

No, she wasn't about to hold their hands. Today was a time to see if they could think not only for themselves but for each other as well. Only time would tell whether or not they would be cut out to be genin. "Then let's get started, hm?" Takara wove five handseals, ending with rat. As her chakra flared red crystals burst from the ground around the trio, growing and spreading until the area was enclosed in a barrier.

Crystal Release: Jade Crystal Labyrinth.

Jutsu complete, a flower of indigo crystal blossomed in her hand. "Somewhere in this maze, I've hidden a flower just like this. Whoever brings it to me at the exit will pass. You'll have two hours, not that it should take you all that long." Another handsign, "I'll see you outside." In a burst of shimmering dust, she vanished.

The test had begun.


Yuuki Uchiha: Squad 4
"Can't. The clone dispersed when you killed it. The corpse left behind is a corpse.... Police chief is used to my crap."

Yuuki glanced over at the slain double before glancing back in Nobushige's direction. Just what kind of sensei did they end up with anyway? Especially if the Military Police Force were used to dealing with him.

"As far as not being cut out as a ninja, that's exactly what that reaction means. You're a human, no human should ever have to do what we do. We do it anyways. I bawled first time.... I passed you, suck it up."

At first, the boy couldn't help but flinch at the start of his response. So even his sensei seemed to think Yuuki wouldn't make it as a shinobi... Though just a few second later the jounin admitted to having cried the first time he'd taken a life. Nobushige definitely seemed to be the type that was good at sending mixed signals. Even starting to figure him out was likely going to be a nightmare in and of itself.

A slow sigh left Yuuki's lips as the Jounin took his leave. Frankly, he wasn't all that sure what to think at the moment. Not even noon and it had already been a hell of a day. He wordlessly moved over to the fallen clone to retrieve the sword still lodged in its body. He couldn't keep himself from cringing as he pulled it free, blood still dripping from the blade.

"So... what are you guys planning on doing?" Yuuki rummaged through a pouch, withdrawing the cloth his whetstone had been wrapped in. While not really big, it would have to do for cleaning the weapon off. Before this whole mess, he'd toyed with the idea of suggesting they get something to eat afterwards. Though now... he didn't exactly feel like eating.
 
Sei Teshima, Squad 5
Sei waited for someone to take the candles but no one did. Seriously? She hesitated before tossing the candles to them before lighting her own candle and turned to the path. Leadership was not what she wanted to do but if no one else was going to take control she would do it.
The path before her was inviting. It was nicely lit and there wasn't anything to obstruct the path, making it easy for her to walk with the candle. Of course that's until sensei's rules kick in. Taking a breath, she stepped onto the path and started forward. The others would have to follow at their own pace. Could all of this be a genjutsu and they think they're already on the path? She tested her chakra control. No, it's real. Kind of. The forest was becoming otherworldly as she walked. Unless sensei is really good at genjutsu and I'm not strong enough to break it. The idea excited her and she sped up. Maybe they'll be able to teach me.
The candle light bounced and flickered on the wick. Sei frowned and cupped her free hand around the flame to protect it. She slowed a little and looked around.
"Come on, you guys," she called back, fighting the urge to look behind her, "it's not so bad. Hey Hanayo, can you see anything ahead?" No one answered. "Guys?"
She started to turn her head and stopped. Sensei said not to look back. Is it a jutsu to keep us from communicating? In that case, we should walk side by side to make it easier to help each other. But how do I tell them that? She slowed a little, waiting for them to catch up. "Park, Hanayo, hurry up already. I'm not failing now because you two got cold feet." Still no answer.
A strange whistling sound came from the trees to the left. Sei tensed and glanced that way. She wasn't a strong fighter and her ninjutsu was average at best. Lowering her hand to her kuni belt, she quietly slid one free before raising her hand to the candle flame again. It never hurt to be prepared. "Park, you're going to back me up if something happens, right?"
Whatever their sensei meant by knowing when to run couldn't possibly happen so soon, right? They were no where near the ruins yet and the danger usually didn't appear until they neared the goal, right?

Orikanyo Orikanyo Lord Potato Lord Potato Monokuma Monokuma
 
Ao, Kiyoshi: Squad 3

"I think she's asleep to be honest guys, but I can keep her busy if she wakes up," Kiyoshi had sobered his attitude to address his teammates, his eyes were on his new sensei. Kiyoshi had a large amount of faith in his teammates being able to accomplish their goal, and he had a feeling that they would keep an eye on him if he were to get into any serious situation. If he was being honest, Kiyoshi was lucky to have two of the smartest shinobi in the academy on his team. The platinum haired genin brought up a kunai from his tool pouch and kept his gaze on the lazy jonin.

He didn't say anything more as he dashed towards his teacher, he wasn't planning on attacking her. He was more so was trying to divide her attention, even if it seemed like she wasn't thinking much at all. Kiyoshi wouldn't take that chance. He wanted to pass her test, so he could prove that he hadn't worked hard in the academy for nothing. Kiyoshi knew that he wasn't the only shinobi to feel this way, but he didn't care, that wouldn't stop him from pursuing his goals. He needed to prove himself for reasons beyond those other genin. "Don't forget to watch out for geysers! She can make them come out of practically nowhere!" , Kiyoshi shouted to his teammates, throwing the kunai in his hand at the foot of his sensei.
​
rooke rooke Ganryu Ganryu yoshua171 yoshua171
 
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Nisekuru, KōtakuTraining Grounds​

Nodding thoughtfully as Kazu explained his addition to the plan, a smile eventually formed on Koutaku's face and he nodded once more, extracting a kunai and wrapping an explosive tag around it. “Nice suggestion, I like it. Let's go with that!” He responded with vigor as he wrapped a wire through the hole at the end of the kunai, before looking up at them.

Kiyoshi spoke, agreeing with their Nara. Smirking a bit to himself, whirled the kunai on its wire for a moment, before snatching it from the air, weaving handseals with his left hand, and then activated his technique.

'Shinku-shitsu(Vacuum Chamber),' he thought with a smile as the two began their distraction. With them in place, he made his move, throwing the kunai through the thin vacuum, bereft of air, before fluxing his chakra, one his right hand keeping a hold of the wire loosely so the kunai wasn't held back as the chamber collapsed, sending a blast of air behind the kunai.

With its trajectory made to carry it through the large bubble, Koutaku watched as it was rocketed at high speed towards its target, its path clearly one that wouldn't strike their lazy-sensei. Hopefully this worked out, but if not, well...that was why he had the wire.
 
Umichi Kamimizu - Squad 3​

Umichi laid, faking sleep as badly as possible. She eyed Kiyoshi's coming towards her. Wasn't he gloating a minute ago with his facial expressions about having figured it out? The kunai fell at her feet. Didn't he know she could send him even higher? She eyed the teammates working in the distance, and sighed. Why would she stop them? She was honestly tempted to, taking out three genin and saying they failed would be way too easy. Way too satisfying. Still, she promised old man Gou a fair test. They'd figured out her jutsu, something alot of other ninjas had failed to do. Even if it was with an... accidental assist.

The kunai of Kōtaku pierce straight through the bubble. The kunai shot straight through the bubble. Still the bubble did not fall. The seal in the middle held with a hole through it, then it began to dissolve as blood in water. The bubble dropped all at once, likely to give the genin a final bath. The cloud above slowly started to disperse, lightening and lightening the rain, til a beam of sunbeam burst through to the training grounds.

Umichi sat straight up, giving an obviously fake yawn and stretching.

"Huh, I guess its not raining anymore. That was good sleep. What's wrong wuuith you lot, you look drenched. I can't be training my genin when they are wet like that. Maybe they'd get a cold. Go home and change. Meet me here tomorrow and we'll try again.

Not sure what old man Gou is thinking, a beautiful fair maiden training strippling boys.

Oh, and so you know, there maaaay have been a test there, and if you'd failed, I maaay have had to sent you back to the academy. I don't remember what the test was, but it stopped raining, I had a good sleep, you probably passed whatever it was."

Umichi waved to dismiss them. She stood, walking out from under the leaf, as dry as a candle.

"Well, glad that's over now, I almost missed the sale at my ♪favorite shop♪."

She snapped open a fan, and pointed it skyward. Water gathered under her feet, and shot off like a bullet, Umichi riding atop it. As soon as she was atop it, her happy go lucky smile faded to snarl, though it was only for a second anyone might have seen it. She muttered to herself, her water drowning it out.

"Bloody beast. Why me?"

yoshua171 yoshua171 rooke rooke Retro-Grey Retro-Grey
 
Squad 6
Matsuri waited apprehensively for the test to begin. She got on guard as sensei started a round of handsigns, that couldn't be good. A kingdom a crystal began to emerge around her. At first, it looked beautiful, but the larger it grew, the more and more it messed with her eyes. She began to feel dizzy from all the reflections. Her Byakugan, weak as it was, was also constantly active, it made it all the worse. Matsuri stumbled a bit before she reached behind her head.

"Well, shouldn't keep sensei waiting..."

Despite saying that her hands lingered a minute. Finally, she untied her blindfold, letting her see normally. Her white eyes looked around, readjusting to the light. She looked at Hideki for a second with natural vision before looking away. She really didn't like her eyes.

"It's bright."

Shaking her head, she thought to the test. She'd hidden 'a' flower, which meant only one would pass. Matsuri really wanted to, but Hideki was a strong ninja, she didn't want to try and step on his dreams... not that she thought she could stop him. It sounded a lot like a riddle she'd heard, but she doubted sensei had the same tastes in books as her. Still, failing or passing didn't mean too much. Matsuri WAS going to be a ninja, she'd just have to do it in her own way if she failed here.

"What if we both presented it? Still, Hideki should carry it, just in case"

"Hey Hideki, let's start looking for that flower, but... if we don't find it... this might be a good backup. I really want to get out here and put my blindfold back on. It's probably weird, but, well... Sensei did say she expected us out quickly, right?"

Matsuri pulled out a shuriken and started several handsigns.

Transformation Jutsu

The shuriken turned to glass it seemed like, flowering out. She handed it over, before beginning a frantic dash around the cave. Matsuri didn't have any clue of any way to find it other than the old fashioned way. She didn't have a minute to lose.

"L-let me know of any ideas you have."

Hideki watched as his world became covered in brilliant crystal. "Wow...." was all he really could get out of himself, it was frightening, but yet beautiful at the same time. Like watching the blooms of nightshade coming to life, dangerous to touch, but beautiful to behold. Or.. Could he touch it? Well, she didn't say they couldn't so best he keep that in mind.

Though.. from the way it sounded there was only one goal in the place.

But before he could speak up, it seems Matsuri had already begun to rush her way through. How cute she looked, like a skittering gray-eyed mouse frantically looking for her way out. He'd admit, this was a bit of an anxious situation, but there was no need to panic. Panic was for people who weren't ninja, or those that were going to die, or going to fail a test that might influence the rest of their lives.

However, Matsuri handing him the flower was a curious thought, yes, it was good to have a backup plan but this was a test... And there was no cheating this one he'd wager. Regardless, he placed the transformed shuriken into his pocket and took a slow good look around, looking through the various reflections and glass walls, as if nothing more then taking in the view from his point.

"Should it come down to it, we could always show sensei while both holding the flower I suppose, small loophole there I guess." the young man spoke to himself, as he shuffled slowly along in his slower attempt to map the place, a hand gliding along the left side of the maze, always following the corridor the left lead him to.

"Don't go too far Matsuri!" he called, but expected to be ignored... he only hoped she didn't get lost already.

A crash was heard as Matsuri ran headlong into a wall. She'd been a little too enthusiastic. She felt her face, a star impact print left there. Thankfully she'd not been running too fast. With mirrors everywhere, even without the byakugan, it was confusing to the eyes. She heard Hideki call after her. She'd be alright, jut had to wait for him a second.

"Alright. I'm right here."

She rapped the wall 3 times to try and give away her direction. She gently reared her foot back, and kicked the floor subconsciously. She heard an object clatter. She looked at it. It was a crystal flower.

"Hideki, found it. Can you come pick it up?"

She knocked on the crystal again. She felt like she was being too loud, it was above an indoor voice.

"Ah, found it have you? I knew I could count on you Bookie. Try not to strain yourself too hard in here." his voice echoed through the halls as he made his way towards his partner, in front of him the whole time during his small walk kept him from walking into himself, or any mirrored reflections of Matsuri.

"I do so wonder where bandage-hands went... If he won't be here when we complete this test... hmm..." the young man mused as he came up behind the young woman... or.. so he hoped? Maybe? To be certain he moved to give her another pat on the head, feeling no cruel bump of crystal and the soft strands of hair between his fingers, he realized he was indeed in front of the genuine article.

His eyes looked towards the small crystal flower... as beautiful as the rosey crystalline structure that encircled it. "No sense staying here any longer, grab hold, but lightly, we don't want to break it." he plucked the flower up in his hands and held it towards his teammate and newly gained acquaintance. "No sense we cannot share eh? I've never heard of any squad being made of one person, as long as you wish, I shall be right here to help you, that sound good?" He asked with a smile, accentuated with a playful wink...

wait...

That was kinda cheesy.

Like, really cheesy.

Hell, his mind was screaming at him saying THE HELL DID YOU JUST SAY!?!!?? THIS AIN'T SOME DUMB ROMANCE NOVEL DAMN IT!! but if anything he kept a small smile on his face, hiding his inner cringing very well... Hoping to whatever god was watching he wasn't being seen as some prink now.

By Matsuri or Sensei... who was no doubt watching...

....Now that he thought of it this place was rather... beautiful... slightly romantic if they were to walk out with a flower between the two of them...

....

..........

................

Hideki rubbed his face with his free hand, barely able to cover the blush appearing on it as he blushed from nose to ears. this must be some stupid trick by their sensei to get them all flustered! It must be!!

...that or Takara was a hidden romantic...

...

No this must be all a coincidence!

....

Right?

Matsuri turned red as a tomato at the comment. The fact she'd read that very line not 10 minutes ago did not help.

"R-right. Well, l-let's go."

She looked around the crystal palace, she wished she could appreciate it more.

"Stupid Byakugan."

And so, the duo made their way towards the exit of the confounding labyrinth of crystal...

Wherever said exit was...


Several bumps to the noggin later.


If Matsuri thought the crystal palace was bright, she wasn't prepared for outside. She hoped there was no surprise second round, but getting jumped sounded very, very possible. She took hold of the flower with Hideki.

"We have your flower, sensei. W-what's next?"

"Nothing," Takara stood in front of them, her arms folded in front of her chest. The crystal flower turned to dust in the genin's grasp, vanishing in the faint breeze that moved through the training field. "You've passed, you're now officially genin."

"...That's... all?' Hideki blinked a few times, looking at the dust collected upon the ground that was once a beautiful little flower. "...Well then, I suppose... uhh..." he felt a tad awkward, really he expected to come out of this with a few new bruises. "Well then! Good work Bookie, without you I think I woulda still been stuck in that maze by now, bumping into walls and acting like an idiot." He flashed the young woman a smile before turning once again to his sensei.

"Well, since our last friend ain't here, I'm the last to come. And a promise is a promise, and since he Isn't here why don't you come along with us Sensei? We only really know your name, and the fact you can make this amazing crystal stuff. Maybe break ground on future training and stuff? Plus, if it was just me and matsuri people might get to talking that we're on a date... And I don't think she'd like being thought of going out with a punk like me."

Hideki laughed a bit, before looking expectantly at their teacher. "That's.. if you want anyways." he scratched his head, mellowing out the slight air of confidence he gave beforehand.

The jounin quirked an eyebrow at the offer before her expression mellowed. Wasn't all that often a genin offered to treat their sensei to lunch. "I suppose I could tag along if you want."

Matsuri re-tied her blindfold as Hideki made the offer. Was he still willing to pay? That was nice of him. Hideki's explanation, however, made her mind trip over herself, how was she supposed to respond to that!?

"I mean, not too much a punk. But yeah... Sensei, we'd really like for you to come along.I mean, we don't know much about you, and I'm sure this'd be good to get to know each other. I wonder where Satoru got to though? I-I hope I didn't hurt him, and he's alright. I-I'll meet you at the restaurant, where are we going, a-any suggestions Takara-sensei, or Hideki?"


The building filled itself with the hot and sweet smells of curry, a man behind the counter worked away making orders and meals with stunning speed and skill.

Hideki sat in a booth, he wondered if he scared of Matsuri with that earlier talk, maybe he was a bit strong there? he certainly made a lasting impression, perhaps he may just be well on his way to actually getting the girl out to dinner with him. Without their sensei. Nah, he shouldn't think of that stuff, it's far too early for that type of crap.

Though having a Hyuuga on his side... may come in handy down the line... He should thank whatever god gave him a teammate such as her and such an interesting sensei. He need only keep playing his cards right, his desires are not something to be gained within a day or even a year. He must keep at it, keep playing the long game, slowly get stronger, find means of gaining more and more strength until he can finally make something of his miserable....

...

What use was it thinking on it now?

The young man thought this as he clenched part of the table he sat on, nails cutting slight marks into the wood's surface.

Matsuri sat with a book in her hands as she waited for her food. She still wore the blindfold. She finally came to the end and hadn't brought any others with her. What would she do now? She'd been reading to try and distract herself, Satoru disappearing bothered her. She'd looked all over for him, no one had seen him since. He wasn't that hurt, she at least knew that. She needed to get her mind off of it, the book wasn't helping. With a sigh, she put it away.

"So.... sensei? Would you tell us a bit about yourself? I mean, Hideki and I know each other from the academy. What were your teammates like? What do you specialize in as a ninja? What do you want to see us become? I-I hope I'm not asking too many questions."

"Hm?" Takara glanced over at the genin from her glass of iced tea. "Well I mainly specialize in ninjutsu and genjutsu, you've already seen just a little of what my Crystal Release can do. As for teammates..." She shrugged, "we didn't exactly get along, and it showed, unfortunately." Violet hues glanced between them, "What I want to see you become doesn't matter so much as what you want to become. Do either of you have a goal or specialty in mind?"

"I want to become ruler of the world."

The young man answered immediately, putting his fingers together in front of his face as he leaned upon the table with his elbows.

"Hah, yeah like that'd happen. Nah I'm just looking to become stronger all around. better to have a lot of tools then having one you can use really well right?"

Matsuri perked up a bit at the mention of her sensei not getting along with her teammates. Part of her was curious, there had to be an interesting story, but, it was the first day, maybe she'd hear about it later. She hung her head at a mention of a specialty.

"I'm still trying to figure it out, I don't know yet. My chakra's pretty poor, and my byakugan's worse. The only thing I have going for me is I've got the basics down pretty well. As far as a goal, I just want to keep pace with certain people."

Those few people were all Hyuga. She wanted to at least figure out some way to stop people laughing at her byakugan. Sure, she was a Hyuga, but it wasn't like she'd chosen it. Was it too much to want to be stronger than her uncle?

"So... I guess neither of us has a specialty or specific goal. That's got to be annoying to you sensei. I still want to work hard, a-and I know Hideki's a pretty amazing ninja though."

Well, wasn't that interesting? A Hyuuga that wasn't all that skilled in her clan's arts. "You are fresh out of the academy, not everyone knows what they want to focus in just yet. We'll find one before long though, I'm sure."

"...Alright." Hideki shrugged, in truth that's... the best he could do. He expected a lecture of how he should specialize and do something. But nope, got you'll find it someday thing. "I'm nothing special, Bookie." he gave his partner another pat on the head, something he swears he will never get enough of. "Just remember your more then a Hyuuga, that's all I gotta say." the young man added before gazing towards the cook.

"Man, taking awhile to get it ready huh..?" He immediately tried to change the topic, hoping there would be no more talk about Hyuuga, or any clan for that matter. "Should be ready soon. Can't wait, got it really hot today~!" His tone rose as he remembered. "Don't tell me you two chickened out, how'd you get it?'

Matsuri nervously scratched her cheek.

"A-a little less hot."

It sounded better than 'mild.' Or with a glass of milk.

Takara shrugged, "I've always preferred a savory curry over really spicy." The jounin would admit she wasn't all that sure of what to make from this pair just yet.

Hideki gave a wave of his hand. "Whatever, it ain't curry unless it burns on the way down," he smirked, before silently wishing he was able to switch one of their orders on them... maybe he could convince them to try his?

Hmm...

Not likely...
 
The first mission
  • Index
    • -Timeskip 3 weeks-

    Umichi Kamimizu && Gou Uchiha     ​

    "Tch, I'm still not sure what to think to be honest. It's been three weeks, they show much more promise than they should as genin. All of them are doing well. Nara's as brilliant as you'd expect. Foriegn kid's got a hold on elemental chakra. And the idiots training hard. Still, why do I have to babysit the beast? Like, to be honest, I thought being a Jonin-sensei would be cool and everything, but if I have that one, it means more work for me. I'm not exactly that trustable, am I? Ugh...
    Probably in trouble for admitting it, but I tried to fail them, I honestly did. What sort of kids did the other three get? Still weirded out that ANBU guy's got students. I hear your kid's one of them. Poor kid."

    Umichi sat on the corner of the Hokage's desk, venting her frustrations. It was, perhaps, not exactly professional, but Umichi wasn't either. She'd known Gou for a while, it wasn't any skin off her back about appearances. Besides, it was a report, wasn't it?

    Gou sighed, how many times had they been over this now? "You're a fuinjutsu expert, one of the only left in the village at the moment." He shook his head, leaning back. "Not that I'm surprised you tried to fail them." She always was one of the more hotheadded jounin. "You aren't the only sensei with an interesting student or two though, it'll do you some good in the end too."

    Umichi raised an eyebrow.

    "Really now? What did the other three get that's interesting? Give me a laugh, tell me your son's teammates are as weird as his sensei. Considering Jonin you have, it'd take alot for an 'interesting student'. Hell, I swear I'm the only normal one of the bunch sometimes. Takara's not that bad, but I've seen her library."

    She rubbed her temple, reaching over on the desk and picking up various missions, looking for something nice, easy, and not boring. So far all the missions she felt were too boring. Walking dogs, pulling weeds. All the teams so far had been doing as much. Maybe something out the village? Gou was there, she couldn't exactly pick too exotic, but a nice C-rank could pull her over.

    "One of Nobushige's students is rather... fascinated with the Swordsmen of the Mist."     A slight shrug, "all in all, Koma likely has what would be considered average genin. Of course, he's by far the most unusual of jounin." Someone had to balance him out. Even if just barely.

    Dark eyes watched Umichi pick through the available missions, noting she seemed more focused on something outside the Hidden Leaf. "Here," Gou offered a sheet, "it might do all of you some good to spend a little time outside of the village."

    Umichi picked it up, a faint smile coming to her lips. She couldn't exactly be happy about a genin's mission, but at least it wouldn't be boring, or demanding. Just surveying a town that'd long since been destroyed.

    "Yeah, I could see that. Thanks Gou-sensei. Ugh, I'd kill for more free time. Well, I've gotta train the little brats until this."

    She pushed off the table, walking to the exit, but paused.

    "So, you figure all those Bijuu around the villages are going to mean way more work soon? I guess at least I'm not Hokage. I'd hate having to actually worry about them."

    "The Bijuu never were known to be peaceful creatures. Though whatever has their attention is just as concerning, if not more so..."

    Umichi waved him off with her fan dismissively as she walked out.

    "Yeah, yeah, and don't worry about ours, I got it, though don't expect me to quit my bitching."
     
  • Index
    • Nobushige Toyotomi
    Yuuki Uchiha
    "What the hell?" Yuuki growled under his breath as he rummaged through his room for what must have been the twentieth time. When he'd gone to bed the previous night - following several unsuccessful attempts at handling the paper seal - his katana had been resting on its stand where it belonged. Come morning, the blade was nowhere in sight. "Where could it have even gone?" Not like the thing could just get up and walk away.

    "Yo."

    A voice called out from the door to Yuuki's room. Nobushige opened it without much thought, walking into his student's abode. In his right hand, he carried a cardboard box. He still slouched and walked as nonchalantly as ever. He watched Yuuki's scramble with amusement.

    "You know how hard it is to sneak in here? The Uchiha clan are a real pain, the sharingan can even see through transformation. Wouldn't a problem, but some of your clan won't turn the damn thing off. So, tell me, how's the training with my little seal coming? Hehehe."

    The genin scowled at him, "Why are you even sneaking into our compound in the first place?"

    "Tsubaki."

    "...Yeah, she didn't exactly have the nicest things to say about you..."

    "It was one time! Anyways, seal training, progress?"

    Yuuki rolled his eyes at the excuse, "I know why it shocks you now, but can't stop it from doing that."

    "No. No, it doesn't. If it was electricity, I would be affected. Nice to know you figured it out. Good luck actually touching it. Well, that brings us to your next training. Yuuki, your clan trains you in swordsmanship, correct? Who do you train with."

    Please don't say that witch of a sister of yours.

    The genin eyed him warily for a moment, where was he going with this? "Dad or Tsubaki if they're home, I've worked with Uncle Kojiro a lot too. Otherwise, it's whoever has free time."

    Nobushige sighed at the mention of Tsubaki. It meant he'd actually have to talk to her. "...great. Well, I'm adding a stipulation on this training of yours. Listen up, these are orders: you are not to draw your blade anymore-"

    Yuuki blinked at the sudden order, "Wait, what?"

    "-except when you are going to kill. You struggled after you killed that clone. It's a little bit hard to realize a blade can kill, most people don't think about it. I don't think it's a bad thing you reacted as you did. So, you need a paradigm shift. Blades kill. When you draw, you should have already made that choice. That way you don't hesitate, you already made the choice. If you hesitate, you might get killed, or worse, kill your own psyche. I've already made preparations to this."

    Nobushige tapped the band on his wrist, and Yuuki's blade appeared from a seal. It had a chain wrapped around it, and a seal in the middle.

    Nobushige threw him the sword and a knife.

    "Now, if you wouldn't mind completing the seal, sign with blood."

    Yuuki fell silent at the jounin's mention of his reaction to the slain clone, his gaze moving to the floor. He still wasn't sure what bothered him more about it, the sheer amount of blood and gore from the blow? Or the fact it was so easy? Catching the thrown sword, dark eyes looked over the chain that locked the blade in the saya. A tag not any bigger than a paper bomb had been attached to the chain.

    "What's this seal even do?" He murmured, laying the katana on the floor as he knelt. The sunlight that filtered in through the window glinted off the kunai's sharp edge.

    Nobushige made his way over to the wall, leaning lazily against it. "Well, you could not sign it. Then you just have chains on that sword, and that might make things harder. To think, sensei worked three hours to make it for you. Not sure. What it should do is a surge of chakra will unsummon the chains for one minute. One minute should be enough to use your sword, you shouldn't need more than that, I don't care what level they are. The chains will reform afterward. Your blade is only to kill. Don't forget that.

    I plan on talking to Gou and... Tsubaki. If they spar with you, it will be with a clone. I don't want them getting hurt... Well, I don't want one to get hurt, and the other is unethical, so whatever. I can't sword train you, but I can make that little strain of yours a little lighter. I know what it's like. Hopefully, they don't turn you into me, but you're the idiot who signed up to be a ninja. I'm not about to honey coat any of it."

    Quiet for a long while, Yuuki looked between the seal and the held kunai. Letting out a slow breath, he let the sharp blade draw a small trickle of blood before signing the seal's contract.

    "Great. Well, that was most of my business here. And, uh, Yuuki ?"

    The genin glanced up from the seal on his sword, "Yeah?"

    "Just keep up the good work. We have a mission Saturday, don't screw it up. Well, time to meet the demands of a witch." Nobushige mumbled as he walked out the door.

    Koma
    Yukari Hyuuga
    “My my… I wonder what has been keeping my dear student.” Koma took a moment to gaze at the sun’s position before looking down to the creature laying atop of his crossed legs.

    The small feline creature purred softly as a hand ran along its silken fur. “You think she went off a took a cat nap nya?” the creature asked whisking it’s two flame tipped tails in the air.

    “Hmm, not certain. I have not heard much about this one.”

    “Ah, a wild card nya? Should be fun.” the cat stretched as it finally stood up on its four legs to walk around the sitting man.

    “True enough, not often do I get tossed surprises, purrrhaps I should count my blessing hmm?” Koma smiled towards the cat as it made a noise that sounded somewhat like a snort.

    “Your puns are worse than mine nya!”

    “I try, I try.”

    At the training field, number 45, or was it 46? He wasn't fully certain which one he said to go to right now… but he was certain he was at the right one.

    Maybe.

    “Koushirou-Sensei wasn’t kidding when he said you could be hard to find.” A kunoichi called as she approached, milky white eyes studying the pair. Was that a summon? Didn’t seem like anything she’d seen before. “At least, I’m guessing you’re the jounin I was sent to find.” She folded her arms in front of her chest, her lavender jacket still seemed a tad big as it hung on her form. “Koma-Sensei, I hope?”

    “The one the only, or so I hope.” the man joked as he rose to meet his student. “Yukari yes? A pleasure to meet you. Good to see you are just right on time.”

    The nekomata at his feet thought differently. “Watch this one Nyah, looks like she's got some cat-ittude.”

    “Oh? Are you, Paw-sitive on that? Ohohoh~!”

    The nekomata looked up towards Yukari and shook its little kitty head. “I un-pur-stand you're a kunoichi but yea gotta at least wear more than that!”

    “Now Senshi, there's no problem with it.”

    “No pur-oblem? She's got nothin' to carry her tools in nyah!!”

    “Ah, that's what you meant- Ehmn! Regardless, it is fine…. What… did I bring her here for…? Ah yes, the training.”

    The man’s rambling finally came to a point as he straightened himself out. “Now then, As you know, it is due to your special condition that you cannot use elemental jutsu. Which admittedly, is quite a bit of jutsu out there. Well, not a lot, more about most, if not 97 percent of jutsu.” He waved a hand before getting to his point. “As such, I thought of a purrrr-fect plan for you to get around such an issue. IF, you are willing to learn it.” He procured a scroll and tossed it up and down in his hand.

    “Well?” he asked once again, a slight smirk on his face. “It is a rather special opportunity I might add.”

    The genin could only blink as the pair went back and forth. Sure, her clothing wasn’t exactly… common for a shinobi of her lineage. But the weather was warming up and she barely carried any tools to begin with.

    Bah, she’d worry about it later.

    “Didn’t take you long to find out about that…” She didn’t really need to be reminded of the vast majority of techniques that were out of her reach. It was beginning to feel like maybe Gentle Fist would be her only option. Yukari sighed, studying the scroll he’d produced. “Alright, what’s this jutsu of yours?”

    “Today you will be learning something a tad… well.. Somewhat advanced I’ll admit.” He chuckled before tossing her the scroll. “That scroll is a contract you will need to sign, with blood, don’t worry it’s not much. You should also put your fingerprints within the blood as well.”

    He paused as Senshin looked at him and hissed. “Hey! You purr-omised to pull the prank with the butcher knife! It was gonna be paw-some! Make her believe she’s gotta lose a finger or something!”

    “I was going to make the joke, but you spoiled it.”

    “EH!?”

    “That's what happens when you don’t wait. Now then, that contract will allow you to summon a creature that can use a great deal of jutsu, mostly fire I’ll admit, especially at this stage. Don’t worry, the one summoned won't be too powerful, well within your realm of control no doubt. Just… do make certain to remember to be polite. Like making a new friend, that's a cat that can cause blazing infernos.”

    His expression didn’t change from an earnest smile, like a parent coaching their child into riding a bike for the first time. “Gets easier each time you do it. But for this time I’ve prepared an area with the least amount of flammable objects.”

    Yukari glanced at the scroll in her hands, to summon a creature that could use fire release techniques… One hell of a first lesson, that was for sure. Ignoring their comments on the attempted prank she glanced around their surroundings, noting the numerous trees and that this was one of the training fields without a river.

    “So, I need to sign this?” She mused, breaking the seal on the scroll and opening it.

    “Yep, just prick your finger, draw the blood along the scroll and dip your fingers into the line you’ve made. Easy enough.” Koma was rather nonchalant about the whole thing. “Be ready to back off once you’ve done it, not fully certain which one of Senshin’s family you’ll summon,” Koma warned as the cat-demon spoke up.

    “He's right, but I all told 'em ahead of time, here's hoping she doesn’t cat-call out that one nyah?”

    Koma nodded in response, “indeed, that one with be paw-sitively bad news… Oh well, we’ll see how it goes!”

    “You two are pretty upbeat about the whole thing, you know?” Yukari muttered before reaching into a pouch and retrieving a kunai. Letting the sharp blade draw blood, the genin signed the contract with her name and fingerprints. “So… that’s it?”

    “Now, you must follow my lead. First, make the sign of the boar, dog, bird monkey and then finally the ram. Placing your hand upon the scroll will help, but any flat surface will do.” He went through the steps and then placed his hand upon the ground, not using any chakra he didn’t produce any effect, but still, it gave her something to follow.

    Yukari watched him weave the hand seals before moving to mimic them, her chakra flaring as she placed her hand on the scroll.

    Summoning technique

    A cloud of smoke obscured their vision for a moment before fading. A small, fluffy white cat sat where she’d laid her hand. Her paws, ears and the tips of her forked tail were an inky black, standing out against the white coat.

    Koma and Senshin stared at the newly summoned nekomata before them… “...Ah….” Koma gasped slightly, as Senshin also voiced his displeasure. “...Damn it…. Nyah.” the white haired nekomata before them was indeed the one they spoke of… Guess they really shouldn’t have said anything if they didn’t want it to be true.

    Koma chuckled slightly, “Well, introduce yourself Yukari…”

    Well, their reactions were… comforting. They just had to go and tempt fate, didn’t they? Of course, she had to be the one to pay for it. The Nokemata’s tails flicked as she looked up at her with golden eyes. “Yes, just who was the fool that ruined my catnap?”

    A soft sigh slipped through the genin’s lips before she offered a slight bow of her head. She was already kneeling in the cool grass after all. “I’m Yukari Hyuuga… I summoned you.”

    “You? You’re just a kitten!” The nekomata shot Koma a venomous glare, “Is this some kind of joke, nyah?”

    “Oh, wonderful…. Hikari, you’re the one who is the best fit for her. You know how it works, Senshin told you all how it works, especially this type of summoning. Can’t rightly just bring her around to all of you to make some sort of interview now. Especially since I have tea with a friend later.” Koma basically admitted this was done this way to save time. “That said, I am most certain you two will become fast friends. You already share the same glares!”

    “You likely just rigged the contract.” Hikari hissed, “I have half a mind to claw out your eyes for this little stunt.”

    Yukari glanced up at Koma with a quirked eyebrow. The hell did you just get me into?

    Koma waved off the small angry little twin tailed kitty. “Oh pish posh, it’ll be fine I’m certain of it. You think me and Senshin got along well at first?” He asked as the nekomata shook his head.

    “..We did Koma, we made cat puns that whole evening without a single paw-se nya.”

    Koma gave pause for a moment before continuing. “Regardless, you two shall henceforth be part of a great team. Aside from the one you are already, Yukari. I trust you both become well acquainted with one another… As you won't be going home until a week has passed~!” He announced, a mischievous smirk appearing upon his face.

    Yukari stood, “Wait, what’d you just say?” She tried not to visibly tense, but there wasn’t any shaking the bad feeling that came with the little comment.

    “I said, she will be with you for a whole week! Isn’t that great? Think of all the time you will have to bond.” his eyebrows lowered, but his smile still present. Without a word it was as if he was saying to the bother of them “And you two will damn well like it.”

    “At the end of the week, you shall be free to return home Hikari. I trust Yukari that you know how to treat a cat? Good! Now if you have no questions…” he trailed, awaiting the obvious backlash that will be coming.

    “This has to be a joke,” Hikari’s glare never left him, her fur standing on end. “You can’t really expect me to stay with that mewling kitten a week.”

    Stunned into silence, Yukari could only watch the furious Nekomata. She idly wondered what the clan would even think of her coming home with…well, it wasn’t exactly a cat…

    “I expect you to do so… and like it…” a sudden intense glare came upon the cat, he stomped the end of his staff upon the ground for emphasis. “Make trouble, and you will know fitting punishment. Should you two wish to be rid of each other fully by the end of this week, I shall null the contract myself. Alright? Alright. Now, Senshin I think we can leave it off here.”

    “Rightly so, this will go down splendidly nyah.”

    “Of course, I put a lot of planning into it, now, if you both will excuse me.” Without another word, Koma flash stepped out of sight.

    “You two play nice now! No cat and mouse! Nyahahahah!!!” Senshin hopped off into the woods all but disappearing from sight… leaving to two new BEST friends alone with one another.

    Hikari grumbled under her breath at Koma’s warning. It wasn’t long after he vanished that she realized the scroll under her paws had vanished with him. “Dammit, that lousy…” She snarled before turning towards Yukari. “Listen, you, I only eat the finest fish. Understand, nyah?”

    The genin’s eye twitched slightly, “Behave and don’t burn my house down and we’ll see.”

    “I’m sure that hut isn’t passable for a ‘home’.”

    Yukari turned to leave, “Welcome to sleep outside, furball.”

    “Excuse me!?”
     
    Hitomi Hoki
    "Hitomi grab his legs!" Her mother ordered as their patient, a distant cousin, began to convulse. The jutsu placed on him to keep him asleep couldn't help with any abnormal brain activity. It would make it difficult to observe any activity or damage. Setting the file she carried down Hitomi hurried over and grabbing the mans legs began channeling chakra into her arms. Giving her the strength to turn the man onto his side and hold the legs down as her mother held his upper body. The seizure calmed fairly fast and Hitomi with held her sigh of relief as she gently placed the man down onto his back and began helping her mother clean and care for the man once more. Tiboshi Hoki and three other Ninja's had come back from a mission that had left one mortally wounded and two with severe damage. It was a miracle they made it back.

    The Clan had taken them into their compound and family clinic to treat them as a favor to the other two ninja's. So far all three were still alive. Arm's aching from the sudden influx of chakra she had pushed into it Hitomi withheld wincing as she helped her family treat the men. She would need to soak after her shift was over. It was dangerous forcing chakra through her arms so suddenly and forcefully. Luckily she knew from experience that there was no nerve damage. Her mother caught her slight wince as she helped move a man and sent her the stink eye. Clearly, she had realized what had happened.

    Three hours later the man with the fetal wounds is in surgery and the other two are in stable condition. Stepping out from the clinic she takes a deep breath of the fresh air and shifted the kinks from her shoulders as she headed for the bath house. Since her first meeting with her sensei and team mates a few weeks before Hitomi had busied herself. When she wasn't in the clinic helping her mother and family she was at the training fields trying to increase her chakra strength and control. The seal sensei had them practicing with helped, especially when she had confirmed what it was for. Arriving she found it empty and spared no time undressing, tying her hair up and sinking into the hot water.

    Muscles relaxing immediately Hitomi bit back a moan as the heat did its job and she let her mind begin to go blank. The door opened and water shifted as her mother joined her. "Hitomi, you need to take more care of yourself. You haven't even participated in your first mission but already you are getting hurt, by your own hand yes but my point still stands. You need to take things easier and stop putting more stress on yourself then is needed. And I don't care if your aunt say's otherwise."

    She wasted no time I see. She thought in fond annoyance. Reluctantly opening her eyes she met her mothers. Hitomi had gained much of her coloring from her father and contrasted sharply with her brown haired blue eyed mother. Though she looked almost identical otherwise. Even with the wrinkles gracing her mothers face. "I know, and I'm trying. I take many breaks and don't do anything to strain my muscles more then needed. Today was an accident I swear. I know I should have been more careful."

    "You could have hurt yourself badly." Her mother pressed eyes narrowing. Ducking her head Hitomi nodded her acknowledgment peeking up through her lashes sheepishly. She had read up on using chakra to increase strength for a while before attempting to. She knew the risks. But hearing her mothers shout for help had pushed her into action and she overestimated herself. Eventually she'll be able to push chakra through her limbs like that effortlessly with no strain but she was a long ways off. Deeming Hitomi properly admonished she changed the topic. "So how id it going with your team?"

    After her sensei's test she had been found by a family member and taken back to the compound. A band of shinobi had just arrived back to the compound and more hands were needed immediately, they could have gone to the hospital but a few were cousins and Hoki rarely let others treat them. She hadn't been able to apologize to Yuuki and hasn't found time to spare since. "I was actually going to ask for the day off tomorrow to go see them. I figured that if sensei didn't call for a training session or assign a mission we could spend the day getting to know each other. "

    "Good." Her mother nodded relaxing, she had worried her daughter would allow her caution to overcome any friendships she could have. "It's always good to know the people who your trusting with your life. Now who is your sensei exactly? You never told me."

    "Like you don't already know. Don't think I don't know about those you have watching me."​
     
    Dotou Hayashi of Squad 4​

    Anyone who had been watching him for the past couple of weeks could already guess what Dotou was doing now. He was training in his own little training area. He was standing in the middle of a small clearing in the forest with a few crude targets hanging on various trees. The paper doll was hanging from his bandages. Dotou had merely stubbornly learned how to ignore the pain rather then stop it, so he could now hold the seal for short periods of time. He formed hand signs and focused his chakra. He had noticed that whenever he was focused like this the paper doll seemed to hurt less, but he'd written it off on pure focus rather then anything else. "Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang!" A small amount of lightning formed on his hand. "Tch, come on!" The lightning shifted around a bit as the boy struggled to make it take form. Dotou lost control of it, and the lightning dispersed through out his body shocking him. It was notably more painful in the area his paper doll was hanging. "Yow!" The shock nearly caused him to fall over. "Dammit!" He shouted angrily as he patted down the hair on his head; the electricity had caused it to stick out wildly.

    Dotou had been practicing this technique for days now. He'd been practicing it since his father had come back. "A Hoki and the son of the Hokage who's also an Uchiha? You've really got your work cut out for you." His father had said. Dotou remembered the smile on his father's face. "But don't worry son. Luckily for you, you inherited one of your chakra natures from your old man, so I'll show you one of my favorite moves from when I was genin." Dotou's father had described to him how the lightning chakra should feel. Dotou had learned how to change his chakra to lightning surprisingly fast. Fast enough in fact that he learned how to do it before his father was sent off on another mission. His father then showed Dotou the hand signs of his justu and demonstrated it for the boy. Ever since, Dotou had been trying to perform it. Although he could produce a small amount lightning, it seemed he wasn't able to control the lightning he produced. After observing his son, Dotou's father gave him as many tips as he could, but he wasn't the best teacher. "When you produce the lightning, instill it with your primal instincts. Allow that primality- is that a word? Never mind, point being you need form your lightning into the shape of a beast, both body and soul, and then release it upon your target."

    When Dotou's father demonstrated the technique, the lighting took on the form of what looked to be a wolf or a large dog. This didn't surprise Dotou at all. His father seemed to have an obsession with canines. He summoned them, had many ninjustus like them, and even his ANBU mask was modeled after a dog. "With how much you love dogs, I'm surprised you didn't marry an Inuzuka." Dotou's mother used to joke. She'd always been more of a cat person. "Wouldn't it be boring to fall in love with someone who is just like you?" His father would always reply. Dotou shook his head. This was no time for reminiscing. Wincing through the pain, he began shakily making hand signs again. His father had warned him about overexertion, but he wasn't about to stop now. I bet everyone else is learning new justu. I can't fall behind! "Lightning Release: Lightning Beast Tracking Fang!" He attempted to perform the justu again with similar results to his first attempt. The only difference was that this time he managed to produce a bit more lightning. The lightning crackled through his body, and Dotou quickly found himself losing consciousness. As the light faded from his view, he felt body sway as he fell, collapsing in the dirt.
     
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    Kiyoshi's Training ​

    They were better than him. Those damned teammates of his were damn geniuses. What could Kiyoshi have that they didn't? Nothing, that's what. Everything that he could do, those two always seemed to do it better. Eventually it got tiring to watch them succeed so effortlessly.

    "Shikakazu is smarter than I am," Kiyoshi muttered as he ran his usual course around the training grounds, striking targets with his kunai all while pulling some sort of super-flashy flip or spin. His aim was never dead on, but he was getting better. "Kotaku is the best I know with chakra control, maybe besides Lazy-Sensei."

    Kiyoshi stopped to rest on a tree branch, he had been running the same course for a few hours straight. But at this moment that he had began to pant, he had an epiphany. "They can't move like me..." His lips pulled into an overly large grin.

    For the next few hours that Kiyoshi had spent alone training, he pushed himself to make sure he is able to build upon his agility. It's become a regular thing, and if someone were to walk in on Kiyoshi's training, they'd notice how unusual of a genin Kiyoshi was.

    On the way home one night, Kiyoshi had stopped near his favorite restaurant. He had been carrying his feet heavily through the street, much unlike a ninja. But considering how hard Kiyoshi had been working lately, there was a legitimate excuse.

    "Hey, beast, come with me."

    Umichi had seen him from across the street. She'd been looking for Kiyoshi for a bit, well, half looking. The main reason she was making an effort was she herself having been chewed out. The other two student's she'd had didn't seem to need too much training. One was part of a clan, and the other was just plain weird. Umichi noted Kiyoshi looked positively exhausted. Seemed he'd been doing some of his own. Still, here he was, and here she was, what more was needed.

    "Old man Gou's on my ass to train you guys. The other guys are ahead of you as far as chakra, I'm dragging you off for half an hour. Restaraunt can wait. A little extra training never hurt anyone. Besides,

    I am your sensei for a reason, I get to steal some of your time. "

    Umichi's general airheadedness was gone at the moment. She was much more direct, and alot less pleasant when dealing with Kiyoshi specifically.

    "Would you look that, Lazy-Sensei is actually doing her job... Well too late! I'm getting myself some food, then I'm going to go home. OK? OK!"

    Kiyoshi didn't spare a glance in his sensei's direction as he continued on, trudging along the street more so than before. It was obvious that he had wanted to annoy the woman. He took pride in being able to indent that cool demeanor she always seems to have up. Kiyoshi's eyes were slowly starting to droop more than they had before. The lids were halfway covering his eyes as he continued on his way to pick up his food.

    "Also, I don't know what you get off from picking on me,"     Kiyoshi turned his head when he said this, a large smirk on his face in the pale moonlight, "Maybe it's because you recognize that I'm gonna be a better shinobi than you"

    Umichi followed, her eyebrow visibily shaking.

    Just a snot nosed kid, just a snot nosed kid.

    In the end her expression settled at his last comment, and she wrapped her arm around him, a large, creepy smile on her face.

    "You're right. I'm jealous, I've never met Amaratsu, or Tsukiyomi in person, and yet you've met both."

    She took the arm off, and pointed her fan at him, water spilling out one of her sake bottles.

    Water Release: Great Geyser.

    She watched the geyser erupt towards the moon, following its path.

    "I might be in trouble if old man Gou hears of that, but man did it feel good."

    The young genin shot into the night sky, immediately woken by the surge of water that had shot up from under his feet. This wasn't the first time this has happened, and it doesn't seem like this is going to be the last. Kiyoshi let the geyser carry his body into the air, on his way down he did as he always does. Kiyoshi bent his legs at the knees as his feet hit the floor, from there he rolled into a somersault to distribute the impact.

    "For somebody so high and mighty, you sure do act childish when someone pushes your buttons!"

    With that, Kiyoshi pulled at his bottom eye lid while his tongue stuck out. But that moment of teasing passed. The young shinobi placed his hands behind his head while he yawned and started walking back to his sensei, soon walking past her.

    "Hurry up before you make me regret getting my food instead."

    Umichi's psychotic smile brightened, but it was more her holding herself back

    "♪Somebody should be lucky I didn't summon him to Ryujin's palace instead of Tsukiyomi's.♪"

    She calmed herself.

    "Alright, we're working on chakra control, because, frankly, your's sucks. Normally, I wouldn't care, but you, more than either of your teammates needs to know how to control it. You need to know that, and seals down the road, because not all of your chakra is normal. But, I don't think you're bright enough to understand seals."

    She pointed to the nearby stream with a bridge over it.

    "I want you to walk across this."

    Umichi leapt from the bridge, landing on it perfectly.

    "Now you try. Just put some chakra at the bottom of your feet. Me having Water Release has nothing to do with this."

    "Why don't I just dry up the river with my fire style?" It was an idea that was fueled by a complete lack of brain cells, Kiyoshi didn't seem to mind asking it though.

    "But if you want me to walk on water somehow, why not?"

    Kiyoshi stared at the water, he furrowed his brow while he placed his foot on the face of the river. He shifted his weight and watched his foot dip into the cool stream.

    "Now how exactly do I do that? I only know how to charge up my chakra, or let it all go"

    His eyes found the woman attempting to teach him, he had no idea what he was doing. However, after a few brief moments, Kiyoshi backed up from the water. It seemed as if he had an idea. He brought his hands together and began to infuse his chakra, he was great at gathering huge amounts, he was even better at letting it all blast free, but this time he had another use for it. Well he had had an idea... it was gone now.

    "Screw this"

    Kiyoshi backed up a few feet so he could get a running start. No tangible thought was running through his mind, it was obvious when he came to the edge of the stream and leaped.

    It was a pitiful moment, for a minute Kiyoshi had stayed atop the water's surface thanks to how light his steps could be and how fast of a start he had. But he soon lost whatever footing he had before and flew halfway across the river, splashing loudly. His arms flailed a bit as he came up for a gasp of air, pure annoyance in his gaze as he glared at his teacher.

    Umichi raised an eyebrow, and looked like she wasn't going to do anything, then sighed.

    "I guess I'm obligated to help, aren't I? Hilarious as this is."

    She drew her fans, and for a minute it looked like she was dancing across the water, opening and closing her fans in precised ways. The water under Kiyoshi would start to bulge, and then seemingly a million hands would pop out of it, grabbing him from ever angle, and holding his feet only a few inches in the water. It also dragged him closer to Umichi.

    "Now listen up, this is harder than most other trainings, probably should have had you start on trees, but water is kind of my thing. Once you can figure this out, you can climb vertically across anything too. You have to expel chakra from your feet in exact ways, matching the current of the river. The same method, flat, lets you climb trees. If you put too much chakra, you'll break the surface tension and fall in. Too little and you'll just fall in.

    It's more important for you, beast, to get this than your teammates. You have to know your chakra intrinsically. Now, keep trying to step on the water, Grand Summons of Ryujin will keep you from actually falling in. ♪Good luck♪", you have half an hour, as promised. The jutsu will fade then, so either you walk or swim over to the restraurant."

    Umichi began to walk off towards the shore.... and then towards the restaraunt Kiyoshi was going to have gone to earlier. Umichi kept her fan pointed at him the entire time. She fancied some noodles.

    "What were those exact ways sensei? Huh? Blah blah blah. I'm Umichi, I'm a water style user, blah blah blah"

    Kiyoshi was certainly upset, he had listened to his sensei explain the lesson in a way that made even less sense than before. Now he was trying walk on the surface of the element that completely opposed his. Kiyoshi rolled his eyes as he began growing hungrier and hungrier thinking about how his starvation could be avoided if he were just do what he was asked of. Yet, this was supposedly harder than walking on a tree. Last he checked, he could only climb those.

    "You enjoy watching children die slowly don't you Lazy-Sensei! You sadist!"

    He was hollering at a woman he didn't even know was still there or not. It didn't matter though, he began infusing chakra once more, actually taking his time for once to think about it.

    Now how do I move my chakra to my feet?

    The time limit was up and Kiyoshi had barely managed not to get completely soaking wet. He was on his way to the restaurant. And while he was able to walk on the water, he was no near mastering the jutsu, but each time he began to do try, it became easier. Good to know he wasn't completely imcompetent.

    "Lazy-Sensei, if you can hear me, you're paying for my food!"

    Umichi sat content over an empty bowl as she heard screaming outside. Oh yeah, she had a genin outside. She'd almost forgot. That's probably why her chakra felt so taxed.

    "What was that? I couldn't hear you."

    Behind Kiyoshi a wall of limbs began to slowly rise up out of the water.
     
    Sei Teshima, Squad 5
    Koma

    One Week Ago
    ​
    No answer. No matter how many times she called out to them, her teammates didn't answer. I'm on my own. Sei scanned the trees that lined the path, keeping an eye out for any kind of danger, her steps slowing a little more. "Come on. Don't chicken out. You'd never hear the end of it if you got this far and . . ."
    The path rounded a large tree. Sei kept to the far side, peering around the thick trunk as she walked. The candle flame flickered a little. The path was clear, passing under a large tori gate, its red paint chipping away to reveal the ancient weathered wood underneath. Sei stopped just in front of the gate and peered ahead. Shade from the trees darkened the path a little but it looked clear. The candle light flickered again. Sei looked down at the candle. Being alone didn't bother her. Being alone when her teammates were supposed to be supporting her did. They'd been put together as a team for a reason, right? Maybe there's a good explanation. She wasn't sure. The flame flickered again, a little more aggressively than before. Sei fought the urge to turn and look back. "I can't. Grandmother would be furious." She looked back up at the gate, hesitated for another second before hurrying through. There's no going back.

    Once past the gate the air felt... Different...

    Each breath taken in held the crisp chill of a chilly morning breeze, yet when exhaled it produced no visible breath. The world was not cold, yet the air would evoke a chill within one's body. A simple look around showed that the world, by simply walking through the gate, had transitioned from a warm, slight humid Spring day to the vibrant crimson of mid Autumn. Leaves fell from the immense trees above, dancing upon unfelt winds as they fell upon their brothers and sisters.

    The forest was silent, save for the rustle of leaves in the trees and the chirping of unseen birds.

    A path lay ahead of Sei, the dirt path barren of the multitudes of leaves that litter the forest elsewhere, the light brown dirt left undisturbed, yet a keen eye could spy two tracks, one of four pawed feet and the other one of geta.

    The path lay open for the new pilgrim, should she choose to walk it.

    However, should she take a moment to listen, there can be heard no footsteps behind her, just the trees, the leaves and the sounds of chirping birds.

    Shivering, Sei sped walked along the cleared path, forcing herself not to run, kunai at the ready. Just in case. If it weren't for the sudden season change and the strange silence that lingered despite the subtle rustling of wind in fall leaves and the bird songs that followed her. "This has to be a genjutsu. It's the only explanation." She tested her chakra, trying to break her sensei's jutsu while she walked. Nothing changed. Sei frowned. "Okay, so what else could it be?" Of course, she acknowledged she wasn't especially strong compared to a jonin but she still considered her chakra control superior than a lot of her classmates, though there were a few who could give her a run for her money.
    Sei started to relax a little as she walked. There didn't seem to be any immediate danger. Maybe that'll come up towards the end. She lowered her free hand and checked the pouch that she kept with her at all times. Traditionally, her clan used similar pouches for herbs and medicines that they could use in the field at any moment. Her's, however, contained a variety of poisons and their antidotes. Her grandmother had almost been as mad about that as Sei's choice to become a shinobi instead of a doctor, but everyone acknowledged a poison expert was useful. Not that she wanted to hurt people, but sometimes a little discomfort was necessary.
    Satisfied that her pouch was still there, she continued on, vaguely wondering exactly how far away the ruins were. "Why haven't I ever heard about these ruins? You'd think they'd teach about it at the academy at least in passing." A breeze rustled the leaves and sent another shiver through her. "Maybe there's a reason they don't. Maybe whatever this dangerous thing that sensei mentioned is enough to keep them from mentioning it." She could name a few of her classmates who would have wanted to go find the ruins once they learned about it. Honestly, I'd probably do the same thing. I wonder what kind of plants could be up there.
    With no immediate danger, Sei relaxed enough to return her kunai to its pouch, though she made sure it was still loose, just in case. She looked up at the leaves, admiring how the light danced off of the multicolored leaves. Returning her attention to the path, she stopped. Ahead, the path split and someone sat at the fork. Sei studied him from a distance for a moment. Dressed like a monk, the man was enormous, much larger than most of the men in the village. Is he my sensei or is he one of the people the note warned us about?
    Her candle began to flicker again. Taking a deep breath, Sei cautiously approached the man. "Hello," she called, making sure she kept out of his reach. "Could you tell me which path leads to the old ruins?"

    A harsh grumble came from the monk as his one, large, eye opened to gaze upon the genin. The stare was harsh and frightful as the form stayed still upon his spot. "A stranger walks the wood. The old ruin is what you seek, but you know not where it lays? An intruder is what you must be." the large now angry monk glared down upon Sei the brow furrowed and the eye examining her every move.

    "Who are you? Speak your name so i know whom I shall destroy."

    Sei took a step back, staring at the figure. It reminded her of the spirits and creatures from her uncle's stories; it wasn't human. Where the hell am I? Sei's hand twitched towards her kunai but she thought better of it. Whatever this thing was, there was no telling what its strength or power might be. This has got to be a genjutsu. There's no other way . . . She wasn't so sure anymore. Buying time to find her voice, she cleared her throat before speaking. "I . . . I apologize, I'm just a traveler. I was told to go to the ruins but I have no map." She glanced between the two paths, trying to calculate how far she could get if she just sprinted for one before the monk caught her. The two paths looked the same. If I just choose one and run, I might not pick the right one. "My name is Se . . ." she remembered her sensei's instructions and quickly changed what she was saying "Seshiru. What may I call you?"

    "I am called Goro, and you Seshiru say you came without a map? That is a grave mistake, or a foolish lie. with either case, you have said enough to warrant you this last chance." the angered monk rose from his sitting position and brought his fist into his palm, a loud smacking sound filled the air as the two tree truck line arms came together. "One path shall bring you back here, the other, shall lead you towards the destination you seek. Should you know of the ruin as you say, you should know the path to it as the mistress would have told you the key to finding it. As such, you have one chance." the large monk's feet stomped upon the ground as he finally stood.

    "Walk down the path you choose, should you return here, i shall crush you without another word! Choose rightly, and you shall begone from here. now do so!" the monk's voice echoed in the air, the birds chirping had begun to quiet slightly under the roar of the being's yelling. very little told of the way forwards, the monk proved to be not very helpful at all.

    "Choose wisely traveler."

    The warning echoed, as the world shook slightly under the being's presence.

    Not much told the genin where to go, she had nothing but the trail before her, the leaves, tracks and an angry one eyed monk... who apparently was fond of situations with a 50/50 chance to get it right.

    A keen eye would note, the tracks from before split into two paths; The geta, moving left, and the paws moving right. But where was both going? Who was walking the right path?

    Sei paled as the monk stood and threatened her, though he was courteous enough to give her a chance to escape. Looking at the paths, she took in everything, the direction the paths seemed to take, the trees, the leaves, the diverting footprints, and tried to find something that would tell her which path was correct. Why would the animal and the person take different paths? Were they traveling at different times and the prints are just there? She shook her head. No, focus. Sensei would have to have come through here so which one did they take? Glancing at the path with the geta prints, she considered that path but didn't feel confident in that choice.

    Looking back at Goro, she wondered if she would be able to defeat him if she did take the wrong path. Probably not. Do poisons and genjutsu even work on . . . whatever he is? If her uncle's stories were right, a genin like her wouldn't be able to do much against a giant. Darn it, sensei, what clues did you leave me. She looked down at the candle in her hand. the wax was smooth and warm in her grip and the flame flickered excitedly. I'm taking too long. Sensei warned me . . . she thought back over the rules and smiled. Of course! Looking back at the monk, she bowed slightly, careful not to take her eyes off him, and moved to the path that followed the paw prints. "Thank you Mr. Goro," she called back as she walked.

    It wasn't until she'd gotten further away that she had a sickening thought. Did the paw prints belong to a fox? Oh please let this be the right one, she quietly prayed as she continued walking. It took a long time for her to relax. Every time the path disappeared around a corner, she slowed and crept forward, half expecting to see Goro waiting for her. But he never appeared. "How much further to the ruins?" She didn't know.

    As she walked the world seemed to grow a bit... Darker. as if the sun was setting, as much as the sun's rays didn't pierce to much through the massive rooftop of branches above the path, what was left was dimming somewhat. the further she went, the darker it became, darker and darker, until nothing but the path was given light, by the bright silvery moon high above.

    The sound of birds did not cease through this, the trees still rustled above in the unprecievable wind as a leaf strayed from the others, falling just short of the young woman's path. Even within the pale moonlight, it's colors remained vibrant and warm, almost as if it was the only color in the vast pathway of greyed dirt and soil, tainted that way by the great moon's light.

    "...Who is there?"

    A voice called from the woods, a harsh voice called suddenly from the right of the path.

    "Life Stirs in the wood? Who comes?" An answer from the left.

    "Smell it? it's blood still flows, the living do not walk these paths anymore." Said the right.

    "That they do not, forgotten are the lands here, left to rot are we." the left hissed.

    "Living one! Why do you walk upon this long abandoned path?"

    "What do you seek here? there is naught but the dead here!"

    "Do you seek to join them?"

    "We can grant you this!"

    "Yes indeed!"

    the creatures laughed, mocking the young woman in the middle of the path their forms hidden by shadows... But their eyes began to glow, a sickly yellow pair upon both sides, watching her every move...

    Sei's uneasiness grew as the voices continued. She sped up, drawing her kunai as the threats started. And then the eyes . . . Shuddering she started to run. Whatever they were . . . the dead or spirits or whatever . . . they were watching her. She needed to get away, just to get somewhere where she could see . . . anything! There was nothing. The forest just got darker and darker the further she ran, the path and her candle were the only light. The voices laughed at her, the eyes appearing all around her, growing in numbers.
    Get away. Just get away and hide.
    "Join us," the voices taunted, "It will only take a minute."
    Where can I hide? Sei searched for a place. the path was the only place with light. Can they reach me? Should I hide in the dark? She'd have to hide her candle light somehow.
    "Living one!"
    Sei took the corner, turned off the path, took a few steps off the path and crouched at the base of a tree, trying to block the candle light with her hand. She looked around, kunai at the ready in her shaking hand. Stay calm. Just stay calm and alert. You have two minutes before. . . the light from the path began to fade.
    "We can smell you," a voice tickled her ear.
    Sei shrieked, bolted and ran to the dimming pathway. Something cold caught her hair. "No!" She spun, knocking away the hand. She saw the eyes close to her face, and fell onto the path. The eyes stared down at her, just at the edge of the path. "Get away from me!"
    The figure leaned forward, still barely out of sight.
    Scrambling back into the middle of the path, Sei threw her kunai at the creature. It passed through and thunked into the tree.
    "Stay back!" Feeling for another weapon, she found the small pouch that her sensei had given her. Whatever it was, it was supposed to help, right? Grabbing it, she threw it at the creature and ran for it.

    A ear piercing scream echoed through the woods. "it burns! it burns!" the being screeched, it's horrid yelling telling tales of the effectiveness of what was in the pouch. A loud sizzling sound could be heard even by the running young woman as she bolted her way down the path. the white powder lay stretched across the pathway and trialing off the creature as it ran into the darkness, burning with hatred and pain.

    As she ran the world began to shift once more, trees became slightly sparser, the moon's light shone through more with each footfall. the sound of the birds continued as she made her way down the path, haste and fear loosening it's grasp as finally, finally she broke open into a large clearing in the woods.

    Within the clearing lay a large manor, the lights on and glowing with an aura of warmth and safety. And before her, in front of the doors that lead into the building, stood a tall priestly looking fellow, with shaggy hair and a mischievous smile across his face. His even closed eyes peered upon his singular student with pride.

    "Glad you could make it, Seshiru." he chuckled, a hand motioning her forwards. "I'm glad you made it, at least one of you had the heart to go through, you have the makings of a great ninja already." he stepped forward a few times before continuing. "I am your sensei. You may call me Koma, or sensei if you so care for honorifics. Today has been a hard one hasn't it? So many things happened to you, and yet you still persevered over the things that were in your path. Good thing I gave you that salt, didn't think they were out this time of year... Hmph, better prepared then caught unawares.

    Ah, you must have questions.. Feel free to ask them, you are safe here.    " he eyed the woods after saying such. "...Or.. perhaps we should talk closer to the building."

    It took a moment for Sei to completely grasp what had happened. She'd made it to the ruins, she was safe, and her sensei was there greeting her, albeit, using her fake name. "I . . . What . . .?" She looked back at the forest, uncertain what exactly she'd just gone through. "Genjutsu? The whole time? But . . ." She wasn't going to risk anything. Following Koma closer to the buildings, she looked at the old structures. "What . . . is this place? And what the hell were those things?" She wasn't so sure she wanted to know. "And my name's not Seshiru." Glancing back over her shoulder, she lowered her voice, "do we still need to use a fake name here or is it safe to use real names?"
    They stopped just outside of the wooden doors. "And what happens now? I mean, how do we get home and training and . . ." She shook her head and sat down. She hadn't realized she was still trembling.
    "I'm sorry, Koma-sensei. I wasn't expecting . . . any of that." Taking a shaky breath, she looked up at her teacher. "Are . . . are you a genjutsu master? Is that how you made me experience all of that? Can you teach me?"

    Koma chuckled a little bit at her protests against being called Seshiru. "A nickname is always useful, seshiru is a good name, use it while you are in these types of places henceforth. It helps in case you meet one of the same Oni again." he mentioned before moving on to her other questions. "This is all very confusing for you, that is certain. in truth you've had an easier way of it then I did when I first learned of these types of places. Certainly less dangerous I might add." he went on.

    "This place is a curious realm, not many learn of it, and those who do often wish they never did. I am one of the few who traverse these places willingly, encountering the denisens and interacting with them daily. This, is the Yokai Realm, or one of them anyways." he motioned to the area around them. "Strong concentrations of spirits create such places, shrines, old ruins, any where with history of some sort has a tendency to create one. A little bubble of space, where spirits and all manner of things roam..." his words came with a series of... Rather cute diagrams involving a bubble labeled real world and little bubbles within it, along with a few little fox charactatures.

    "They can be large like this one. or small as a single room in a house. typically it is hard to get into one, the gate needs to be opened for normal people to get through. Thanks to yours truly, this one was opened for you. And had it's denizens talked to before hand. You've met goro, good man, a bit of a dramatic I'll admit. The ones you say in the woods however, not mine. but that's why i gave you the salt." he appeared very... nonchalant about the whole thing.

    "It's... hard to take in all at once. it took me years before I understood everything about it. So i don't expect you to fully know whats going on. This is a whole new world, in the middle of your own. Beings here are like you or me... But not at the same time. Like the creatures somebody can summon, they are beings that have emotions, feelings, can even be summoned into the real world if a contract is made. Something I can, indeed teach you. But.. not right now... You are tired, and my friend has been so very nice to let us borrow her place for awhile."     he motioned to the manor before opening the door inside.

    "After dinner, we will make our way out of the place, place your candle atop of the shelf there, with the other two. "     stepping inside the room looked quite well decorated, art mounting the walls filled with scene of mountains, rivers and all various types of natural art work. two small bonsai stood vigil on each side of a large doorway in the middle of the room and at the shelf Koma pointed to lay dozens of similar candles, each with a still lit flame atop of them. Some short and melted, some tall and barely fazed by the flame within.

    "Toa! Toa! we're here! Where is that old fox?" the jonin asked, scratching his chin. "Perhaps getting the dinner sorted? maybe... hrmm...." the curious man thought about it, letting Sei get her bearings a bit.

    Sei couldn't wrap her head around it. A Yokai realm? That couldn't be possible. Yet she'd seen Goro and those . . . things. The only other explanation was it was all a trick but Koma wasn't acting like it was or-- if it was-- he wasn't going to end the joke just yet. She followed him inside the manor, alert for any new surprises. The house was surprisingly quiet. Well what did you expect? It's not like it's a normal house with lots of people living here. The house was simply and beautifully decorated. Grandmother would like this place.
    Koma directed her to the shelf of candles and Sei slowly approached. What could they mean? Were they from other travelers who made it out of the forest? "Who do these belong to?" She set her own candle down near the edge of the shelf, careful not to knock over any of the others.
    Looking up, she noticed Koma walking further into the house and had to hurry to keep up. "So," she turned her head left and right as they went, trying to take in the entire house as they walked, "who is this Toa person?" Please don't be another spirit. Please don't be a spirit.
    Sei was surprised at how large the manor was. As they walked, she noticed an indoor courtyard garden with moss covered stone paths leading through carefully raked sand, decorative stone structures, and delicate plants. There was also a small pond and a miniature waterfall. Sei craned her neck to see if she recognized any of the plants as they passed. She couldn't tell from a distance.
    Koma led her to a large room, the paper doors, decorated with ink images of trees and cranes, were partly open.

    "The one who owns this realm. Shes an old... Friend, of mine." he trailed off as he relented in his small search for the spirit in question. "Seems she has stepped out, or is drunk again. As such, lets head into the dining room, I wish to speak to you about something, a reward, for passing this trial all on your lonesome. Those two.... Well, they have received my assessment." he proceeded down the hall and motioned for the young lady to follow him.

    "You parents are doctors yes?

    "Yes. Most of my family are doctors or work in the medical fields. I guess you could call it a family business."

    "Though I do hear you've become interested more so in poisons hmm? Though, in my experience its the same thing in the end, poisons can still be used for medical purposes, no doubt you know." he chuckled before continuing. "Seems we've both gotten into the family business in a way. At least you got up and are trying to make something of yourself, unlike my daughter." he huffed, before opening a door to a small hallway.

    "I do hope they didn't change around the place on me since last time.."

    Sei eyed her sensei, wondering which clan he was from and who his daughter could be. "My family don't really approve of my decision to be a shinobi or the fact I use poisons. It goes against everything they've done."

    "We must all walk our own paths, easy enough to say but no doubt it is quite hard on you." he stole a quick pat upon her head before continuing. "Sorry, force of habit. I promise I shall help you in whatever path you choose to walk. You want poisons? i shall teach you the path of poisons. if you want to summon creatures from the beyond? i can do that. Within reason of course." a slight chuckle before he opened yet another door.

    Within was a grand display of still steaming hot food laid all along a immensely long table. "Ah, so they were expecting us, guess they must've stepped out." he took a moment to read a small note that read. "Help yourself"

    "Come, lets eat while we wait for our hosts, I'm most certain they will just love to meet you, when they get here of course."

    Stopping in the doorway, Sei stared at the meal. Everything looked beautiful and delicious. Beautifully painted ceramic bowls held soups, platters of fish and vegetables, there were noodles, and cups of tea, all steaming. We must have just missed them if everything is still warm. She waited for Koma to sit and begin eating before taking her own seat and picking up the provided chopsticks. Not sure where to start, she hesitated for a moment before starting with the noodles.
    "Genjutsu and poisons are really the only things I'm good at. I'm pretty useless at close combat." Koma would already know that from when she was assigned to him.

    Koma sat across from the young woman and watched her speak for a moment. "Genjutsu and poisons hmm? You sell yourself short, in youth there is great potential to go many different places, but no doubt you've heard of your potential a thousand times by now, if not, well." he gave a small shrug before continuing.

    "My expertise is Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, the mixture of both is what I specialize in. Namely I do employ a great deal of summons, being friends with the many beings in places like these helps greatly I assure you. As such, I think it best that I gift you your first jutsu," rummaging around in the pocket of his robes he procured a small scroll. "it shall take some time to get right, but it is well within your capabilities. Within that scroll is a contract of sorts. Should you sign it with blood, just a prick will do don't go cutting your palm open, you will be able to make a connection to a type of spirit. The spirit, is up to the contract in question."

    He motioned for her to open the scroll. "It took some time to get this one, Serpents can be.. capricious at times. But should you should be fine, they may help immensely with your studies into poisons might I add. We shall get to the intricacies of the signs and such later, but i am most certain you shall have no trouble." he took a moment to gaze around the room.

    "...How odd, usually more active around here." he sighed slightly, spying a streak of silver fur returning back into hiding. "Ah well, once you are finished, we shall take our leave. They mean no offense, it is often a busy time for them this time of year."

    Sei nodded, eating the rice from her bowl before drinking some of the tea. "I can imagine." Though she wasn't completely sure what he meant by that. Did spirits have jobs like normal humans or were they more along the lines of scaring little kids and haunting ancient places? She decided it would be rude to ask. "Perhaps I'll have the pleasure of meeting them some other time."
    Taking the scroll from Koma, she opened it and read over the contract. It was pretty self explanatory. Blood offering, signed contract, etc. though she was a little nervous about working closely with venomous snakes. She wasn't well-versed in dealing with snake bites.
    As she read, her eyes started to droop. Why am I tired? Shaking her head, she tried to focus on the contract but she only managed to read the same few lines over and over until she dozed off.

    "Indeed you shall, they tend to stay around me, causing trouble as such." he chuckled, before giving her a warm smile as she floated off to sleep....

    The slight breeze tickled the young woman's nose, the few hours of sunlight left shone into the forest clearing, the slight sounds of birds chirping and the real world finally returned to the young woman's senses. The only signs of the young woman's trial lay within her hands, the scroll that was gifted to her that held to key to her next jutsu. Along with a small note, that had been apparently taped to her forehead.

    It was a bird's song that woke her. Opening her eyes, Sei looked around the forest, unsure of where she was or what had happened. The paper on her forehead distracted her. Sitting up, she pulled the paper off and read it. "Thanks for going through this, see you tomorrow for your first training session." Sei rubbed her eyes and looked around again. So it was a dream? She stood and the scroll Koma had given her fell to the ground. I guess not. She turned around, searching the forest. Koma wasn't there. Through the trees, she could barely see the gate she'd passed through only a few hours ago.
    I need to get home! Bowing once towards the ruins, Sei picked up the scroll and ran back towards the village and home.
    Orikanyo Orikanyo
     
    Aiko Uchiha

    "This time, you're allowed to use all of your Jutsu against our friend here. Don't hold back, he is much more skilled than you."

    The Uchiha instructor had been working Aiko to the bone. She had been sparring with another Uchiha boy who was much more skilled than she. He was a chuunin, so Aiko had a tough time landing any hits with the wooden practice blades. The room they practiced in was large, and had a high roof. Normally, many Uchiha would be in this room training. But at this abnormal time of day, most young Uchiha were at the academy or with their squads.

    "Begin!"

    The instructors command echoed briefly. A split second later, Aiko made a hand sign. Two Water clones appeared. One stood behind her, and one in front of her. The chuunin grinned with confidence. Aiko's clones dashed to opposite sides to surround the chuunin. They each created three ice shurikens, holding them at the ready. Aiko herself formed six ice shurikens, and threw them all in a quick succession at the chuunin, who deftly blocked and evaded them all. Just as he returned to his position, six more ice shurikens flew at him, three from each side from the water clones. He blocked three with his wooden blade, then did an athletic flip over the second three. When he landed, he yelled, "Fireball Jutsu!" A ball of fire flew directly at Aiko. She leapt into the air, barely avoiding the fireball. She realized her mistake when she saw the chuunin dashing forward, practice blade at the ready. Aiko tried to draw her own practice blade as she landed, but was too slow. The chuunin dashed forward and landed a blow right to her torso. Aiko was knocked off her feet, and landed hard on the ground.

    "Enough. I expected to see you use what you learned from us. However, I see you prefer your own tactics. We will resume two days from now. Go home child," the instructor stated before exiting the room with the chuunin following close behind.

    In instructor was an Uchiha who looked like he was getting quite old. He walked slowly and stiffly, and had primarily gray hair. Aiko disliked him, because he hated it when she used her ice Jutsu. However, Aiko couldn't perform fire style Jutsu to an effective degree. So training focus primarily on kenjutsu.

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

    "Idiot. Like I'd use something I can't properly perform. Fireball Jutsu my ass."

    Aiko stomped in a puddle, water splashing onto her bare feet. "I should've dropped an ice Trap in front of me after I made the clones. Aggression wouldn't have worked, would it have?" Aiko pondered, looking up at a gray sky. She was nearly home, yet she was still upset over the fact that she was beaten so easily. It was a long walk home from the compound, since her father lived on the edge of the village.

    Passing by a memorable red bush, Aiko came upon her small comfy home. It was dinky looking, but it did its job. She knocked on the door and called out, "I'm home!" Opening the door, she stepped inside, and took a deep breath. Her father stepped out from behind a doorway. "Hey! How'd it go today? Learn anything new?" He asked obliviously. Aiko shook her head. "I just got my ass kicked by some chuunin who made me look like a fool," she stated, followed by an angry 'humph'. Her father nodded slowly. "Well, I've been thinking that I outta teach you a new Jutsu. You see, I think you fight a lot like your mom did. She always won against her fellow Uchiha, even when they tried to use their sharigans against her. She was so tricky that even they couldn't handle her!" Her father explained, slamming his fist into his hand. "We can get started later tonight or tomorrow morning if you'd like."

    "Let's start now."

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

    "Now you know how you focus Water to create a water clone? Well this time, your going to use Ice. It will take more chakra, but it will be worth the effort," Aiko's father was a good instructor, and helped her learn Ice Shurikens Jutsu, and a few other non combat Jutsu that were just for fun. So far, this was the most difficult Jutsu he'd taught her. "Got it," Aiko said, before forming the hand sign for the Jutsu. She held it for a few moments, before her clone appeared. It was sickly looking, but it was formed nontheless. Suddenly, a shurikens flew through its head. Aiko kept back, and the clone dropped into a half frozen slush. "You see? You didn't focus enough into it. Clear your mind, and forget about anything troubling you." Aiko father said from his seat in a lawn chair. A kunai spun around his finger. Without a word, Aiko formed the handsign again. She took a deep breath, and as she exhaled, the Clone appeared. It was perfect. Another kunai flew through the air, and struck the Clone in the torso. The kunai struck a few inches deep before the Clone froze into ice. "Perfect. You're a quick learner. However, for combat usage, you'll have to be able to do this much faster. Preferably in a second or less."

    "No problem, I'm going to keep working on it. You can go sleep or something."

    "Alright, I'll make some dinner for you before I do. Love ya Aiko!" her dad said with a cheesy grin.

    "Love you to dad..."

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

    "We'll be resuming where we left off two days ago. Aiko, I'll give you another chance to use what I've taught you to defeat our friend here. The goal is to use what you've learned in a combat setting. Begin!"

    Aiko already had a plan formed. It wasn't fool proof, but she could see overconfidence on the chuunin's aggravating face. "Idiot," she muttered to herself, before forming a series of handsigns. Mist began to rise in the room, and vision quickly became less and less viable. The chuunin grinned, and once again yelled, "Fireball Jutsu!" The blast soared directly towards Aiko, however, she wasn't there anymore. She had quickly skittered to different portion of the room. Forming a handsign, five water clones appeared all around her. The each had practice katana as well. The began dashing around the thick mist, confusing and surround the chuunin. The chuunin stood in a stance in which they could quickly draw and strike with their blade.

    Suddenly, all movement stopped. Ice shuriken flew at the chuunin from all directions. He drew his blade, blocked and parrying the projectiles away. As he did so, the water clones dashed towards him from all directions. Their practice blades were drawn and began attacking the chuunin all at once. The chuunin had minor difficult fending off the five clones, and sent each of them back into puddle of water. More footsteps, moving towards him rapidly. Three clones were moving in from the direction he was facing. He leaped backwards, to avoid another ice shuriken, but when he landed, his left foot was stuck. An ice trap had frozen itself around the chuunin's foot!

    Aiko grinned, and formed another hand sign. This time, she made an ice Clone and two water clones. They quickly dashed through the mist to where she had determined the chuunin was trapped. She herself moved forwards herself, following her clones at a distance, the thick mist still covering their movements.

    As the chuunin finished off the three water clones, he cursed upon spotting three more of those annoying water clones. With his foot still trapped, he struck down the water clones, and brought his blade down on the third. Much to his surprise, his blade had become trapped in the third. He gasped in surprise. He tried to pry his blade free, but it was no use.

    Aiko saw her chance. She could vaguely see him struggling through the mist. Drawing her wooden blade, she quietly sprinted forwards. At a certain distance, she forcefully launched herself into the air, near the roof and above the mist. Doing a mid air flip, she brought the blade above her head. And dropped back down into the mist, the chuunin directly below her. At the last second, Aiko swung the blade down, just as the chuunin looked upwards. The wooden blade struck the chuunin's shoulder with such force, that the sword wasn't the only thing that cracked. The chuunin yelled in a sudden jolt of pain. He held his shoulder, with a face contorted in pain.

    The mist cleared, and the Uchiha instructor sighed. "Good work, Aiko Uchiha. You exceeded expectations. You even made use of one of the kenjutsu you were taught. Next time, however, our friend here won't no going easy on you." The chuunin looked away, still holding their shoulder. Aiko sheathed her practice blade, and nodded.

    "We'll end training early today. Go ahead and return home, Aiko."

    "Idiots.."

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

    Aiko was enjoying extra time at home. Her father was out in town, so she had the whole house to herself. Learning a new Jutsu really took the energy out of you. As she paced through her home, she noticed a latter had been slid under her door. She reached down, and picked up the letter. She examined it, then opened it. She read the letter, and scratched her head. "Reassignment? Squad 6?" Aiko spoke aloud. She didn't know that the sensei of her previous squad's accident had been so bad. His ability to 'perform' would likely never be the same again if he would no longer be able to mentor.

    "Tragic. What an idiot."
    ​
     
    Last edited:
    Nobushige Toyotomi
    Yuuki Uchiha: Squad 4
    Nobushige wandered the halls of the museum, looking frantically. Eventually, he found the owner of the museum. Nobushige looked absolutely murderous.

    “Hey, bub, what’s up with the missing collective scrolls of Tenjin? They aren’t anywhere to be found, weren’t you supposed to have them here? I saw the flyer, are you telling me you lied to me…. Again? Remember what happened to your pet hamster last time.”

    The poor man looked terrified. “I-it was stolen on its way here.”

    “What?”

    A low sigh left Yuuki as he stepped inside. He never was a fan of museums, always so stuffy. Maybe it’d be more interesting if someone was willing to discuss it and not just give a dry lecture… Nobushige was easy enough to spot, always being covered in bandages.The genin was only able to catch the back end of the conversation as he walked up. “What was stolen?”

    “Tch, just some of the most important scrolls relating back to the days of the sage. Ones I would have thought would be better guarded. They relate of a man, Tenjin, who followed him for a time. Some say Tenjin was secretly a god who left the writings as a gift to man, knowing the importance of the sage.” Nobushige said to Yuuki without facing him, sharpening parts of the sentence towards the owner before finally turning to Yuuki.

    The owner ran, mumbling about protecting Mr. Stubbles.

    “Uchiha-boy, how can I help? Surprised to see one so young in a museum. Are you interested in the artifacts here? I could show you some things here, like the horn of the Oni of the North. Or the teapot once used to seal the ninetails. The place still has a few things interesting.”

    Yuuki shifted slightly, “Can’t say I’ve ever been a fan- They sealed the Ninetails in a teapot? Isn’t supposed to be taller than the village walls?”

    “Didn’t I seal your sword in my wrist before? Anyways, what are you here for? It’s obviously not history, seems they aren’t teaching that anymore.”

    The genin glanced away, trying to figure out how to go about things. “Since my sword’s kind of… limited. I was wondering if you had any thoughts on a jutsu I could use instead.”

    Nobushige looked at him.

    “Well, let’s get out of here. Don’t think Miyamoto would appreciate you burning his museum to the ground. It makes a good threat though. Heh, like that time with his hamster. Anyways, let’s go change location.”

    Nobushige quickly made his way with a body flicker out the museum, though he made sure to slow down for his student, making it a leisurely ninja run.

    “Alright, I told you, your goal in training is a paradigm shift. When you draw that sword, you are determined to kill. So you should use something other than that in other circumstances. Can you use your fire style without fear of killing someone yet? And killing, not hurting. You aren’t required to be nice in a fight. What jutsu do you know, how’s your control?”

    Yuuki shifted slightly, “I… Actually don't really know that many jutsu outside of the basic academy ones… Just body flicker and great fireball like the rest of the clan. Though I did figure out how to use the fireball more like a wide stream of fire instead of… well, a giant ball. Should be good for cutting off a path…”

    “Yeah, but considering your hesitation to kill, burning people to death hardly seems couth.”

    Nobushige landed on the training grounds. “Hmm. I have an idea. Today you will make your own jutsu. Uchiha boy, show me your strongest fireball. Just fire it away from me. I need to know what I’m working with. If you have figured out the doll, or been training with it, you should be aware of your chakra flow at least a bit.”

    “Make my own jutsu?” Yuuki landed beside him. Wasn’t that something only jounin could do? Nobushige seemed to already have an idea of some sort. It was probably best to just go along with it. “Yeah, I’m still training with the doll. Hurts less, but still can’t hold it.” He grumbled while weaving handsigns, it had been a while since he’d last used this jutsu. He could feel his chakra much better than before, letting it build in his lungs with a deep breath.

    Fire Release: Great Fireball

    It started as a small stream of fire leaving his lips before erupting into a ball of searing flames just a few feet away. The resulting fireball easily a foot or two taller than the jounin.

    Nobushige eyed it.

    “Pretty good chakra you have there. Alright. That technique will definitely kill someone if it hits directly. Alright, got it.”

    He formed an earth Clone which walked to the field.

    “You are going to hit this clone without a killing blow. I want you to do that jutsu again. This time, make it smaller. I want you only to hit this clone’s leg. Oh, and if you use any less chakra or power than you just did then, I will slap you with the paper doll. I don’t care if you mess up, I do care if you try and make it easier. There are no shortcuts kid.”

    Part of Yuuki wanted to smile at the compliment. But the genin figured he'd only get flak for it from his sensei. He gave a low hum in thought as he studied the clone.

    Same power but smaller…

    He started the series of handsigns one again. So I'll need to compress the chakra more. Yuuki took a breath, again filling his lungs with air and chakra.

    Compress.

    Fire Release: Great Fireball

    Once again a stream of flames left his lips before expanding into another fireball. This one was smaller than Yuuki, bursting on impact with the clone. “Whoa,” he wasn't expecting the blast even if it was small.

    Nobushige looked at the clone, or rather the smoldering pile of earth left. What was the head was intact, that was something. The person was totally dead, but at least they had the head.

    “Right idea at least. You need even smaller than that, by several fold. As it is, Mr. Miyamoto is very dead still, just less dead than by a fireball jutsu. Hmm. The burst at the end is nice, I guess that’s what fire style is. Never quite used it myself, no idea what it’s like.

    Well, this’ll take a few tries. Developing a jutsu to its full potential takes years. This is what I see. You need to compress it til Mr. Miyamoto here is only hurting in his leg. That should be small enough. Any more than that is expecting a little too much. Once you have this done, there are two more stages for you to have it as a success. One, accuracy. A nonlethal tech isn’t worth much if you keep killing them. Two, range. If it's more compressed, you should by far have the greatest range of you three."

    Yuuki quietly sighed, studying the destroyed clone. It was a start, at least. But he needed to seriously compress the fireball if he didn't want to kill the target. He recalled his dad describing fire style as wild, not wanting to be reigned in and contained. It was probably why it burst the moment it hit the clone.

    “Right, let’s try it again…”


    Hours passed before Yuuki dropped to his knees, gasping for breath. He'd managed to compress the fireball down to a fraction of its original size, but it still seemed too big. He slowly pushed himself back to his feet, weaving the sequence of handsigns once again. He was running low on chakra, probably should have stopped sooner.

    The resulting fireball was… pitiful at best.

    “Dammit…” Yuuki began the handsigns again. His vision blurred.

    Before he knew what happened, the boy found himself on the back of Nobushige.

    “Good enough work, kid. There are no shortcuts, doesn’t mean you can’t get ahead. Never did take after your style.”

    Nobushige sighed wondering what Tsubaki would say. Oh well, he’d trained hard, time for a rest. It wouldn’t be much longer til he got the basics of this technique down, not that he’d tell Yuuki that. His student had done well for the day. Maybe Nobushige could get used to this teacher crap. Sure, it had interrupted his museum time, but that had been a bust. A grin came to his face, he knew what the next mission was.

    “Hey, sensei…?” Yuuki's voice was low, the exhaustion from using nearly all of his chakra evident. “You think next time you go to the museum you could show me that teapot?”

    “Kiss-ass. Sure. I’m a better presenter than that retard at the museum anyways.”
     
    Timeskip​

    After 3 weeks of diligent training, the young and growing Genin have shown remarkable progress. Many of them have developed new techniques, and continued to work hard. They aren't the only ones learning, as many of the new Jonin are learning how to instruct as well.

    This week is the first real mission these Genin have to prove themselves, after several minor ones. After such mundane tasks, its a relief to Genin and Jonin alike. These tasks should prove challenging yet doable.... if all goes as planned.

    Each team is to meet their Jonin by the gate of the village.
     
    Kurēn Kinoko: Squad 7


    Kurēn woke up early, hoping to get an early start to his day. He was greeted by lonely quietness and the echoes of birds from outside his window. He got out of bed and stretched his body a little before making his way to grab breakfast. “Mom! Grandfather! Anyone home? I guess not.” It seems that grandfather and mother are becoming even more distant ever since father's death. Kurēn couldn’t help but feel a little depressed that they weren’t here to wish him luck on his first big mission, but at the same time the excitement to finally have a real mission was outweighing the sadness. He freshened himself up and got started on making breakfast for himself. I wonder if I should make some breakfast for Sensei? He looked at the clock on the wall and Kurēn knew he wouldn’t have time to make double the serving for both ninjas. I’ll just make something for him when we get back from the mission. He sits at the family table with his food in front of him and begins to eat, mindful of the time so he can get to the gate at a punctual time.

    He begins to get himself dressed and mentally prepared for this upcoming mission. Kurēn wants this mission to be prefect and doesn’t want one mistake to happen. He pushed his white hair out of his face and wonders if he should tie his hair back today. Staring at his unearthly-green eye, he decided against the idea.Kuren was now ready to leave his home. Sadly, still no sign of his family and he didn’t have time to wait for them to make an effort. Kurēn got to the gate at a decent time and looked around for his Sensei. “I hope I’m not here before him.” Retro-Grey Retro-Grey
     
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