[IC] No Man's Peace, Episode 1: The Leaf

[Shimmer]

Katsumi did as Naoto-kun advised, mimicking their posture as she put her back to theirs. She didn't need to glance at the meeting to know who was speaking, she knew the voices of her clan-members all too well. Yet as her world fell apart it was Naoto-kun's steely spine against her own, their fingers lightly gripping hers in reassurance that kept Katsumi from shattering in shock and betrayal.

Perhaps the worst blow of all however, was how her Father, Fujiwara Makoto remained uncharacteristically quiet throughout the entire exchange. The two of them remained like that for the rest of the meeting, Katsumi watching in the distance for possible attackers, and Naoto-kun watching the meeting. She would play her part, play it all the way till the end of the meeting and until the two of them could slip away back to her room.

Yet as Katsumi stood there listening to the inane banter of her family, lost in her own thoughts, something beautiful and strange began to bloom from the ashes of her soul. It was not fury like she had expected, fury was a hot and quick emotion like a flashfire. No this was molten and powerful, like forged steel in a fire. It was a feeling that made her straighten her spine and lift her chin when she entered her rooms, refusing to keep her blue eyes, the surest sign of her 'frailty,' downcast as she stood in silence staring up at the stars that hung outside her window.

"Naoto-kun I have no doubt in the morning that they will send a maid to inform me of the clans decision and to take my measurements for my Bridal Kimono and Uchikake. This maid must not be you as it will cast undo suspicion upon us both if we are seen too often in each others company. However, the maid sent to dress me for my departure...and to help me hide my equipment must be you Naoto-kun." Katsumi spoke, her voice soft as she slowly turned away from the window to begin undoing her disguise that Naoto-kun might return the uniform without getting into trouble.

"I cannot count upon my Doukagan manifesting any longer. The Mibu clan are expecting to receive a pampered bloodline bride, not a trained kunoichi. They will underestimate me and I can use that to my advantage. Upon entering the compound they will no doubt check me for weapons. However, during the carriage ride I will be away from prying eyes under the guise of 'preserving' my chastity. I will use this time to hide my weapons among the carriage for retrieval later. Even if that fails they still cannot rid me of my most potent weapon, my Ninjutsu, so long as they know not of it." Katsumi explained carefully folding the uniform and setting it aside along with the gun and holster for Naoto-kun before turning and stepping into the bathroom to rinse off her disguise. She did however, leave the bathroom door cracked so they could continue their conversation.

"I will inquire in the morning on what is known about my husband to be. I cannot allow my clan to go the way of the Uchiha and if I must do so as a Mibu instead of a Fujiwara then that is what I must do. If I cannot guide my clan as clan head, then I can guide the Mibu and through the Mibu them through the ears of my eventual husband. My cousins forget that such is the strength of women. I have no doubt that unlike the other members of my family I will not be receiving a clan artifact as my marriage gift to eventually pass on to my own children. Seeing as they view doing so as only putting it in the hands of the Mibu clan and I am not worth such a risk. So I can expect to be going into this utterly alone. I doubt they will even allow me my choice of maids to accompany me or else I would request you stay with me Naoto-kun." Katsumi explained her voice barely carrying over the sound of the water. When she once more stepped out of the bathroom she was dressed in a light sleeping kimono and her hair was once more a snowy white and her skin pale.

"I...I know it's a dangerous plan and that this is a lot to ask of you Naoto-kun, but I have one more request." She spoke and for the first time her voice sounded a touch unsure, the steel that had been in it before fading slightly as a bright red blush burned across her pale cheeks.

"Can you smuggle me a stash of contraceptive pills? I...I know what happens to bloodline brides and I'd rather not end up with child until...well until I am ready and I have no way of knowing if my husband to be will respect that." Katsumi adds softly as she lowers her eyes her face practically the same shade as a tomato at the thought. She was a kunoichi and she knew what she must do, but she was also a sheltered and very pretty and well-developed woman and she wasn't so naive as to not know what would happen to her away from the protection of her clan.

Spoiler: rollz

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(1d20+11)[27]
(1d20+10)[18]

[Cespenar]

Since Aya had at least the decency of a towel, Keita doesn't resist Eiko's order too much, and instead reforms his expression into a perfectly butler-like seriousness. At least that would give the poor Senju the tiniest bit of a breathing room, hopefully.

Eiko's reasoning feels like making some sort of sense, but he can't help argue against it, at least in his head. With so many other negative feelings that could affect your performance, why focus on embarrassment anyway?

Regardless, Keita glances at Eiko for a brief second before he finally turns to Aya and nods, his gesture of readiness.

[Princess Tracy]

Eiko, Yue, Keita

"Oh, I take care of myself, thanks, though I imagine it'll be a lot harder to do from now on since I don't know when I'll ever feel safe being naked again. Honestly, is this some kind of sex thing for you, because honestly you can do better than little old -" as Eiko kicks away her clothes, the Senju falls quiet again, gritting her teeth as the terms of the game are spelled out for her. Ayameko's arms are pinned to her side in frustration. "So you're aware you're abusing me then? Is there a safeword for this or are you one of those 'hard doms'?" she says, in a classic act of wit to the policy of 'we laugh or we weep'. "Is this **** you had to do as a genin? What the hell kind of Jounin did you have?" She goes quiet when Eiko's hand rests on her shoulder imposingly though.

Aya takes a breath, no joy left as she makes eye contact with Keita. "... Under my bed. The one on the left of the window. The trunk underneath, nearest the foot of the bed is mine. The... combination is 0101. Just get one of the jumpsuits, the kind I wear to track, those will do." Sure enough if Keita enters the combination on the four tumbling locks, it pops open and he's able to pull out and open a rather intricate and large trunk packed with well-folded clothes and other miscellaneous things. You're able to find a few jumpsuits like she says, one a little worn and blue coloured that a keen eye would judge is her favourite. Of course she doesn't specify any underwear. If Eiko 'reminds' her, she closes her eyes tight. "There's... a sports bra and bloomers in the left compartment." Pulling back a flap in one of the smaller sections of the trunk, sure enough you find white silk undies.

"Can we wrap this up, I've got some medicine to take," Ayameko requests impatiently, her eyes shutting tighter as she seems ready to just ignore what was happening until it was over.

Spoiler: Eiko

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You evaluate that if there's a genjutsu at play, it can't be one the Senju is capable of using unless she's completely undersold her talents as you don't detect signs of trickery. The water simply vanished from her body

Spoiler: Communications/Intelligence DC 10

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0101, as in January 1st, is Aya's birthday, as you recall from her personnel file. A terrible combination on anything actually valuable.

Spoiler: Deduction DC 20

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Ayameko's lying, she's in perfect health and has no urgent need of medicine, she's just trying to buy herself an out.

(OOC: she would normally roll Negotiate, but PCs are immune to such things lol)

[Cespenar]

Keita follows the intricate directions Ayameko gives him as normally as possible, throwing the jumpsuit over his extended elbow, and if it goes there, the underwear over the jumpsuit. At the end, he wordlessly hands them over to Ayameko without much eye contact -- mainly for her sake.

The torrent of comebacks coming from her is understandable, of course, even though it feels awkward with just her speaking.

[ZeroNumerous]

Noise simply responds to Aya's questions as if they were real rather than rhetorical. "No, it's not a sex thing. It's just honest advice from one kunoichi to another. Besides: I'm not into women. Yes, I recognize it's abuse and it hurts. But this world is not going to coddle you, so I won't either. At least you won't be surprised if you're ever captured. Yes, I've had the same thing happen to me."

Naturally she doesn't speak of her instructor or what happened, and simply leaves the past where the past belongs. Whether she avoids speaking of it because of the pain, or simply because it isn't important, remains to be seen. Naturally Noise neglects to point out that Aya forgot underwear, and lets the young girl chafe and suffer for trying to preserve her modesty. When Keita does as instructed, then Noise pats him on the head for being a good boy before sending him away.

"Yue, Keita. You may face the wall." Regardless of whether they face the wall or not Noise does open the Senju's umbrella to give her the privacy to get dressed, and once the Senju does so Noise pats her on the head as well. She leans in to whisper something to the young girl.

"Always remember this lesson, Aya-chan. You've already been debased, so what will a little more embarrassment matter? At least I didn't make you kill your boyfriend." With her whispering done Noise closes the umbrella, hands it to the Senju, then addresses the other students.

"Come along then. We've got a shrine to get to, and then a mission to collect. We'll do teamwork building exercises on the trip there and back. Keep your umbrellas close and visible." She then leads them wherever they can get a mission at, and becomes the ditzy moron she plays in public once more.

[Princess Tracy]

Katsumi

The meeting trails off from there, discussing miscellaneous details of who gets what. As suspected, Shinichi is geared up as the new clan heir for now, and still your father says nothing, while your mother seems to have given up after hearing you described as a bloodline bride. In keeping your cool, you're able to quietly wait out the meeting until people start to disband, before swerving back around to the house in a show of knowledgeable stealth to avoid your relatives and maids. You narrowly avoid Shinichi himself who you see storming in your general direction with his hands in his pockets, and are able to return to your den with some guidance from Naoto.

Naoto waits quietly as you explain your train of thought, between looking at you and watching the door. Utterly stoic and silent for the longest time, when you ask them to prepare your equipment they simply nod. "Yes, I'll... prepare and stow that I can. But miss, are you sure you can trust me to? If the weapons are discovered, they'll assume betrayal, and going aloing with them willingly will mean nothing. I..." Naoto bites their lip and retrieves their stoic mask. "I'll take responsibility anyway. I ojnly hope they would allow me to go with you...as a bodyguard if nothing else."

They quietly nod with the rest of your plan, but at the moment your confidence breaks and you ask for contraceptives, their eyes go wide as if some reality of the situation had just struck them. Naoto gets unprofessionally close and takes your hand, their eyes looking into yours as she takes your hand. "Yes... yes of course, my lady. Anything for you... oh god, you don't deserve this. You don't deserve any of this, Katsumi. Don't deserve some boorish man who collects woman, you deserve to be left alone or with someone who cares for you like... like..." Their lip quivers and hands tighten around yours and it seems like so much more is ready to spill out but they hold it back with the tears. Naoto would do anything for you, and it would still be the least of what Naoto wished they could do.

Naoto doesn't expect their feelings returned, and after a moment if such is the case they release your hands and straighten their sash, bowing as they avoid your gaze. "I will... tend to your wishes, mistress," she'll say before moving to leave.

Keita, Yue, Eiko

"If you're not into women, you sure do a good job leading on Aka-sensei. She keeps talking about you. Maybe I should tell her how you're some two faced super genius with no interest in her." Aya doesn't allow herself to be one-upped by you addressing her questions, though does get reluctant about pressing on when you mention having a similar experience, some sympathy turning to pity in her eyes.

She doesn't ask for her underwear without prompting from Eiko, so Keita is not forced to rummage around a girl's unmentionables. She silently gets changed when allowed, not wanting to push her luck in case this drags out. She balks as Eiko mentions the murder of a boyfriend - that was so specific. "What?"

You all stand in Aya's room as she's now clothed in her tracksuit, each with a red umbrella for whatever unknown reason. Aya goes wherever Eiko leads. If Eiko goes to retrieve a mission she'll find an escort job, Rank C, is listed at the depository in the Kage building, though typically one is briefed by the Hokage or a representative, such as Shikamaru, before accepting a mission scroll. The shrine could well be scouted out today, but there's no reason to believe the contact would be there as her own mission scroll said to come in one month. Today was the 2nd of July, so the 1st of August is the time of the proposed meeting, and in any case bringing rookie genin along for ROOT business would be incredibly dangerous.

[ZeroNumerous]

Noise simply shrugs at Aya's threat. "Feel free. You'll only break a girl's heart. I play with her because it makes her happy. If you want to take that away, then that is your right." Noise makes not attempt to dissuade Aya, and allows her to do as she pleases. She plainly ignores Aya, and simply moves on.

Noise takes the genin to the shrine first, and says it's to pray. She'll make a show of praying, wishing for their success, and ultimately donates a little bit of coinage to the shrine before leaving. She then escorts the genin to the central building where the Kage resides. She heads to wherever they go to get a mission, and takes the escort mission.

[Princess Tracy]

Team One

Eiko is able to lead the group on foot to a shrine marked Kuwabara on the trail. It's a dusty old place, a little stone walkway up a little hill to a platform with a basic worn down shrine and a small hut. Hardly an impressive place and just a half hour walk from the gates of Konoha, its curious to have a civilian shrine so close to a village but it seemed to be a small place for travellers to pass by. The bricks at the edge of the stone platform break away and sink into loamy in uneven ways as if they once connected to some larger fixture, but with the pillars of wood that were the great ancient-looking trees of the fire country, such a structure would be impossibly old. Leaving a donation gets a greeting and wave from the shrine maiden from her hut.

On the walk there and back, Ayameko makes a show of twirling her umbrella and doesn't speak much unless spoken to. She stops her shivering once out among the trees though, apparently soothed by a nature walk, and doesn't even bother to ask what the point of all this was.

Spoiler: Perception DC 25

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You notice a figure following you through the forest on the way back, however if not confronted it seems absent by the time you arrive back in Konoha.

Returning to the village and the Hokage offices, you're able to find the panel distributing missions and briefings. The Hokage's presence isn't always guaranteed, but traditional in the weeks following a graduating class to give more face time to the village's leader with the youth. However, when Noise comes in with her earmark for the escort job, she just finds a more familiar face to greet her team. As the four of you file in, you see not the Seventh, but Lord Sixth Hokage sitting behind a desk cluttered with mission scrolls. "Mmm.... hm?" He looks up slowly from scrawling notes, and while his face is concealed by an ever present mask, some crease under his eye seems to imply a smile. "Ah, Eiko-chan. You wanted to meet for tea, didn't you? I may be preoccupied for a while. Lord Seventh has had some business come up. Not that I mind helping out with this, kind of relaxing. Those are some cute kids you've chosen. Team One, right?" The lanky middle aged man had a great deal of charm to him for a ragged and scarred up, masked ninja. "Imagawa-san, Senju-san, and... um..." He tilts his head at Yue. "Hello, young lady, I don't think we've been introduced. You must really have something to you." Of course the former Hokage would recognise two members of Konoha's clans and not some rando who keeps their head down like Yue.

D-class and most C-class missions were often posted around in the spaces outside the briefing rooms for Jounin to take up without needing approval, but for whatever reason the mission Noise had her eye on apparently needed some context to be collected from the Hokage's desk. "C-rank 4376... ah, here we go." Kakashi bats away a couple of scrolls to get to his target, giving it a cursory glance over before rolling it back up again. "Right... this team's not been out before has it? Well... I'm sure if Eiko-chan is handling it, there should be no trouble. This isn't a matter of stakes. We don't expect any resistance that a genin can't handle, but there are... diplomatic concerns. Most of the specifics are in the scroll, but you are to go to the Fujiwara and Ishimaru compounds and pick up the girls waiting there. In absence of further instructions, escort them to the Mibu compound. This mission is scheduled to last a few days, so make sure you bring your hiking gear just in case - bringing a compass and some rations is just good planning if you're heading out of the village. You're escorting civilians here, so no land hopping, and you're going beyond Fire Country borders so bring a map. There should be a carriage waiting for you at the Fujiwara compound - heavens know why not a car, but I guess we all have to be traditional like that." He chuckles at that, resealing the scroll and putting it out for Eiko to take. His tone is somewhat babying, no doubt to accomodate the team's first mission, and perhaps to make things simple for Eiko. "The Mibu are in talks to join Konoha. They've hired us to oversee this, we're doing it for free as a token of goodwill - not to say that you won't get your wages, don't worry."

Lord Sixth takes a long sigh and closes his one visible eye. "Just get the girls to the Mibu compound safe in one piece." There's something disapproving of the whole matter in his voice at that moment, but its gone soon enough after he shakes his head. "Is that all clear? You're expected to meet them at dusk, feel free to show up sooner."

Spoiler

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Properly formatted mission scroll to follow.

Roll Lore for whatever you like

[ZeroNumerous]

Noise waves at the shrine maiden, then when she escorts the kids away from the shrine she casually asks them. "So, Kei-tan! Why did we go to a shrine again?" She gives Keita a dumbfounded look as she asks her question, as if she herself did not know. It's obvious that she's questioning what he thinks about the entire trip, but does says nothing even if he responds. Perhaps sometime when the "truth" could be revealed she'd explain. Regardless, Noise leaves the shrine in the past with one final comment. "We should keep these umbrellas! They're useful."

---

Noise watches the person watching them, and casually remarks to the genin. "Boy, on a busy street like this it's hard to see who's following and who isn't huh? Why, there could be anyone following us and we would never know! That's scaaaary~"

---

When Team One meets with the Sixth Noise doesn't look directly at him. She looks off to the side, and fills her head with perverted thoughts. Naturally her body reacts with a blush, and for observers it appears that she's infatuated with the Sixth. Of course, in the cold darkness of Noise's rationality she's simply pulling off yet another con. Even with someone who knew her nature, even when she had little to gain by doing so, Noise needed to betray their faith. She naturally feigns the same affection teenagers did. "H-Hokage-sama! I, uh, I didn't know you would be here. I-I expected the Leaf's #1 Idiot."

Of course, when Kakashi takes note of Yue--and implies some connection to Noise's choices--the jounin gets oddly defensive. "O-Of course not! I couldn't just pick three geniuses. I-It'd be suspicious! Besides, I can train anyone. S-she's just some random loser, but I promise I'll make her into something greater. She will be my Idiot."

---

At the end of the meeting with the Sixth Noise pipes up once more. "H-Hokage-sama! P-Permission to.. Permission to approach, sir." If granted permission, then she walks up to the Hokage's desk, produces the Make Out Make Out Conclusion copy she has, and hands it over as a gift. She leans in closely and whispers to the Hokage. Once she leans away, Noise stutters out something.

Spoiler: Whatever the Perception check Trace sets

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"The roots hide knives from the mist; the Kuwabara Shrine in 30 paces."

Noise takes 10 on a Grifting check to pass a secret message to the Hokage: ROOT operatives moving to help the Mist's rebels. They are meeting at the Kuwabara Shrine in 30 days.

"N-Not that I want you there, or anything! I-It's just my b-birt--Whatever!"

Spoiler

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Noise takes 10 for 25 Perception.

[Cespenar]

Keita bows respectfully at the shrine maiden, and when Noise asks him about the place, he scratches his nonexistent stubble thoughtfully.

"Given how I could only catch a glimpse of whoever that's been following us in the relative calm and quiet of the shrine, I guess... for that reason? Could that be the fortune teller from back then or am I reaching too far, sensei?"

---

Keita salutes Kakashi when greeted, but looks skeptical when they are given the briefing for the mission. It seems a tad higher than your average C-rank job, but he keeps his mouth shut for the moment being.

[Princess Tracy]

Team One

Ayameko raises an eyebrow at Eiko's banter but doesn't comment, not in the mood for further discussion with her. By the time the group is on anything approaching a busy street, whoever was tailing them is long gone, though Keita commenting on it raises her attention. "Following us? Who's following us?" You don't notice any more unseen stalkers as you arrive at the Hokage offices, save for a vague feeling of being watched as you enter the mission distributuon office, which Eiko recognises as the Hokage Guard Squad's wary eyes.

Kakashi chuckles a little at Eiko's change in attitude. "Don't worry, Eiko-chan, I'm sure I'll win the 'number one idiot of Konoha' prize sooner or later, you can just deal with a runner up in the meantime." He chuckles as Yue faces the brunt of Eiko's scorn. "Scary, scary. Hang in there... Yue-chan," he says, eyeing a register of the new genin in the absence of Yue introducing herself. "Your sensei might be rough around the edges, but she just wants what's best for the village and her students. She'll warm up to you."

Sensing some trepidation from Keita, he seems to smile again. "Imagawa-san, do you have questions? Don't worry. Some Jounin believe in a trial by fire, but its nothing one of our genin can't handle. Team number One, right?" he says encouragingly. However, his expression sinks back to some seriousness again. "It's a bit complicated and time consuming, but ninja missions are only ranked by their threat level. D-rank missions rarely face any kind of threat at all. This might well have been a D-rank if it weren't for the political implications, but honestly don't think about those. They're... not things you should worry about as much as just getting ahead and looking after your OWN allies for now. Just do your best. I don't expect any trouble, your presence there is just ceremonious."

The Hokage nods at Noise's request to approach. "Hoh? Ah, I'm a lucky guy, Eiko-chan," he says giddily as she leans in with a deliberately perverted gift which he readily palms it, the blush on his face making him seem like much more of an old geezer than before. He lets her whisper, his one eye blinking as he doesn't give any overt affirmation that he understands her message. "Ah, thank you, that's why. I might just sneak off soon and read this. Are you sure you don't want company?" Once again he seems to be smiling under that mask. It seems you've all been dismissed without a word and at this point your sensei is just exchanging pleasantries with the village head like a high school crush.

Spoiler: Deduction DC 35 (DC 20 for Eiko)

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Secret message: Kakashi understands Eiko's intentions. If she needs to discuss details he can meet in secret later, but for now he's offering backup.

[ZeroNumerous]

Keita's response gets a smile from Noise. "Kei-tan! Did you get a little more handsome~? Maybe, maybe~ Kei-tan gets 1 point for being a lovey-dovey boy!" The undercurrent of her words are obvious: Keita's in her good graces for paying attention, and the others missed something.

Ayameko's question of being followed gets the same response as always from Noise. The impenetrable idiot persona provides her a good cover. "Huh~? I was just posing a hyperthreadical! You know, a thing that isn't real but maybe could have been~"

---

When Kakashi prompts the kids to ask their questions Noise nods. "This is an opportunity to learn from Hokage-sama directly. Do not squander this opportunity."

---

With their secret messages passed Noise looks off to the side, fidgets, and does her best to avoid looking at Kakashi directly. She seems to be getting a little carried away in the fun of playing the tsundere. "I-I wouldn't--Y-you--T-There's no--Do whatever you want! I-it's... It's only a birthday, idiot."

Spoiler: Deduction 28, technically?

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Noise takes 10 on Grifting(28) to pass the secret message: "You can act on your own discretion. It's only a mission to me."

[Cespenar]

When the Sixth apparently reads what was on his mind, Keita clears his throat and feels the need to elaborate.

"I'm sure the mission has been ranked appropriately, sir. It's just that... the Mibu possess some strong bloodlines. If I were an enemy of the Leaf, I'd definitely try to prevent the Mibu from joining them. I mean us. And the best opportunity would be an out-of-country journey like this, made on a slow vehicle.

"Maybe I'm overthinking it, Hokage-sama. I'm sorry."

He glances at Eiko to gauge her thoughts on the matter.

[Princess Tracy]

Team One

"Well, I'll gladly join you whenever invited. I'll tell you when I'm free for tea, Eiko-chan and we'll hash it out when there isn't an audience to get you nervous about your cute blushing face," the Hokage says, beaming.

Kakashi nods to Keita. "Good thought. It's a matter of information warfare, really. The client indicates to us that the arrangements for a bride were made just last night between clan heads, so a leak to make you a target is unlikely so long as you move quickly. Additionally, the failure of this mission might cast a negative light on our relationship with the Mibu, but it isn't the deciding factor in them jounin the leaf. They've been in talks with us for some time now, if you must know." He hums in thought to himself, removing the head dress of the Hokage and setting it down. "If the stakes of the mission are raised into B-class or beyond, you are free to abandon the mission from ill will. This mission is a freebie to the Mibu, but I cannot contract young genin to throw away their lives. You could always reject the mission right now and let another group handle it."

The Hokage chuckles. "Of course, Eiko-chan might take that as an insult to her judgement in picking the mission. Any number of things can happen out there, but sooner or later you need to face them, and as a beautiful and loyal ninja of the leaf, I have faith in her to decide when to engage and when to retreat."

Ayameko's being uncharacteristically quiet the whole time, standing behind Yue. Perhaps she's just being reverent of the Kage. She vaguely blushed when addressed as Senju-san, and nodded, but that's about all. Perhaps Eiko's humiliated her too much to communicate with an idol of the village.

Spoiler: Eiko

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"I'll keep an eye out. Let's meet and discuss further." Pretty straightforward

[Princess Tracy]

Team One

At 30 miles approximately to the Fujiwara compound, an average ninja's land hopping speed could reach there from the village in under 4 hours. Kakashi exchanges pleasantries with whoever cares to share them but sooner or later, it's time for the group to head out. It's 10 in the morning and the sun should set around 8pm, so you have 10 hours to get over there at whatever pace you care for. Ayameko asks to be excused to grab some additional supplies for a longer mission, promising to meet up again in a half hour, a promise she keeps if Eiko allows the group's medic to do her job. Though she also turns up with a change of clothes in that case.

As you set out into the forests around Konoha things are as peaceful as you recall, provided you have half the sense to keep to the safe paths through the canopy. Anywhere within the Fire Country's borders, in the first 15 or so miles of the journey, might be an ideal place for Eiko to do whatever sort of test she cares for.

[ZeroNumerous]

Noise allows Aya to leave, but sends Yue with her to keep her safe. When the team finally leaves Konoha Noise drops her persona to become someone else: The quiet observant ANBU she often masqueraded as. Naturally Noise dons her flame-patterned mask, and remains on the look out for any attackers.

After a couple of hours of movement Noise suddenly stops, directs the genin to do the same, and then finds a nearby clearing. Once there the jounin separates herself from the kids by walking forward. "Well, it's time to begin our first step of training." The beautiful jounin reaches into one of her belt pouches, and digs around in it for a short time. She retrieves a book covered in black-and-orange tiger stripes. It looks like a child's diary, and even has a pen attached to it. Small stickers have been attached across its front and back, and it's plainly a child's toy of some sort. Noise flips it open, retrieves the attached pen, and starts writing down inside it.

"Suiji Yue... Missing-in-Action. Lured in by an enemy kunoichi when she did not respond to a misunderstanding of the pass phrase. Imagawa Keita. Deceased. Killed by enemy kunoichi in his own home during physical contact. Senju Ayameko. Deceased. Killed by enemy ninja while in her bathroom." Naturally Noise does not write what she says, but rather begins by writing their names, height, weight, and other specifics in her bingo book.

"Congratulations kids. You all died when the enemy masqueraded as me, and proceeded to kill you one at a time. This is why the passphrase exists. Good job on remembering it, Yue-chan. Keita, Senju, I'm disappointed in you. Always be ready for the enemy to appear, and always be wary of everyone. Even your homes are not safe." Noise begins doodling in her book, trying to draw her students as best as she can.

"Now, we'll begin your combat training. Your goal is to force me to use my hands to defend myself. If I complete my writing in this book before you can interrupt me, then you all have failed and none of you will be allowed a lunch or dinner today. If you can steal this book, then I'll personally instruct whoever can keep it for one minute. Good luck." Noise both sets up a teamwork exercise, and the opportunity to shine individually within it. Naturally, the jounin continues writing in her book while she speaks and makes no allowance for the genin to prepare themselves.

"You may begin whenever you're ready."

Spoiler

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Noise takes 10 on a Deduction check, getting a 27(10 + 15 +2 vs Shinobi) to determine the genin's styles and failings during battle.

Noise uses her free readied action to use the Doujutsu Mirage of Cherry Blossoms on whoever moves first. She'll turn everyone into an illusion of that person, and then remove that person's ability to understand everyone else's words.

Initiative if necessary: (1d20+11)[18].

[Cespenar]

Keita crosses his arms as he listens to how the group are all dead, rebuttals all lined up on the tip of his tongue, but he swallows them. It wouldn't do to shake his instructor's authority any more than he had to, and he doesn't feel like the arguments would do any good at the end.

Listening Noise's instructions to the end, Keita finally speaks up.

"What happens if we damage or destroy the book?" His tone suggests that this is not a cocky threat, but a legitimate concern stemming from his abilities.

[ZeroNumerous]

Noise just shakes her head. "Don't worry about it. I'll keep this book safe."

[Overlord Rion]

"I'm not sure if MIA is any better than being confirmed dead. So what I'm hearing is I need to just punch people who don't answer properly? I can totally do that." Yue smiles and shakes her head.

Spoiler: Initiative

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(1d20+8)[13]

I'll put up a separate post for my actual combat action so it makes sense to look at.

[Cespenar]

Keita nods. "Okay, got it."

He addresses his team members as he prepares some sort of strategy on his mind. "We don't know her abilities, but she knows ours, so don't go all in, girls, okay? Senju, genjutsu and counter-genjutsu. Yue, point, go."

While Keita himself goes through some hand seals, braces against the imminent loss of life energy, and performs the technique. With several simultaneous pops, four more Keitas appear around him, ready to battle.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Kage Bunshin for 4 clones, 8 chakra. Also unsuppress Speed rank 2.
Damage to self: (4d4)[12]

HP: 31/43
AC: 26
Chakra: 34/44
Reserve: 39/39

[Princess Tracy]

Yue

"You seem quieter than usual since you graduated Yue-chan. You never seemed that enthusiastic to become a ninja, yet you still ended up here... might as well try your best, right?" Aya says, trying to start up conversation after Eiko dismisses you to go with her to gather supplies. She buys a few things from the market before swinging around to her own apartment, and once contented, she meets up with Eiko and Keita again, a full bag of medical supplies and whatnot in hand.

Team One

When Aya returns she's sneakily grabbed a change of clothes to get out of her no-underwear tracksuit Eiko conned her into, but in fairness to her the bag she has slung over her shoulder looks like it has an extra change of clothes in addition to her supplies - probably more prepared for a trip than the other genin at least. Putting on the mask gets a raised eyebrow from her. "If someone sees us with you, won't they know you're our sensei? I thought you didn't wanna blow your cover as a bimbo?" She doesn't berate much and just seems curious, and readily begins landhopping with the rest of her team shortly once you pass by the great gates of Konoha once more.

The forest rolls past you as you go by the tree tops, vast oak branches supporting you in the traditional style the genin have been instructed in to navigate the grain of the forest. The chakra required is minimal and you're about halfway there when Noise seems to find an acceptable clearing, about a hundred feet in diameter with only a few roots for terrain. As Keita's shadow clones pop into existence, Aya's nod turns into a gasp of surprise. "Whoa! Where did you learn that?!" She shakes off her impression though, and refocuses herself as she sticks in the back - genjutsu and medical support had no business being in the front line, but on the other hand, she seems rather twitchy. "Right, I've had enough of her badmouthing us... Yue, go be our bait! Let's nail her."

Spoiler

Show

Everyone pays 2 chakra to land hop for two hours.

Noise starts 30 feet away. She's concentrating on writing her report, and provokes attack of opportunity.

I'll leave it up to Zero whether using clones provokes his readied action to go off on Keita or now.

[Overlord Rion]

"I feel like I'm going to regret this, but you miss all the shots you don't take." Yue halfway gets into a runner's stance before charging straight at their teacher.

Spoiler: Yue Tries to Do Things

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Welp, Yue is going to unsuppress Speed/Strength Rank 3 and charge Noise. I'm going to PA for 6 and try to Kage Buyou Noise, though with my luck I suspect that nothing will happen.

Attack: (1d20+13)[17]
Damage: (1d6+23)[26]

Fort Save is DC 18.

[Princess Tracy]

Team One

Forming a hand seal for his technique, Keita is drawn into Eiko's gaze as cheery blossoms swirl around to accompany his clone's appearance from nothingness. If he fails to resist the genjutsu, he finds he seems to summon more clones than intended and they've taken the place of his allies, and the words of those around him become incomprehensible even by lip reading. At the very least however his clones remain unaffected and able to act.

Aya doesn't notice the initial genjutsu and seems to step up to focus on offence. She forms a hand seal and begins crafting a jutsu of her own to attack as natural ropes sprout from the ground to grab at her, green vines spurting up and lashing at the jounin and seeming to ignore Yue.

Spoiler

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Aya casts Illusionory Vines on Eiko, save DC 18, thinking she'll have a harder time writing her journal if entangled.

[ZeroNumerous]

Yue's attack just gets an almost casual dismissal from Noise, as if the jounin were responding to the flailing of a child rather than a ninja. Noise watches Keita and Aya use their techniques with casual disregard. A kid with shadow clones would just use them poorly, and genjutsu from idiots was pretty easy to work around. Though the attempt to bind her does get some small praise. "Good idea, Senju. Genjutsu to immobilize a target is invaluable. It would have made Yue-chan's attack actually dangerous. Of course, you'll need to work hard to be useful to your teammates."

Noise continues to blatantly ignore Yue, and writes in her book. Unless Yue elects to attack her, in which case Noise demonstrates the difference between them. "Power is meaningless without the focus to direct it. I'm not even burning chakra and you're wasting my time. At this rate you'll always be a loser unfit to even scrape my boots."

Spoiler

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Noise readies an action to use Kage Buyou on Yue if she's attacked. Noise will then continue writing, eliciting an AoO from Yue.

Noise chooses Yue as the target of her Unbalance Opponent feat to remove Yue's strength modifier from her attack bonus. End result should leave Noise only hittable on a natural 20 from Yue.

If Yue takes the AoO or attacks her, Noise takes a -1 penalty to increase her AC by 1, bringing her up to an even AC 30(29 vs ranged attacks) via Combat Expertise: (1d20+20)[31]. If her attack hits Yue needs a DC 19 Fort Save(10+Rank 3+Strength 6) or be sent flying (1d4+9)[11]*3 feet.

Noise will use her move action to follow Yue into the air if she fails the save, and during the trip she'll Heroic Surge to grapple Yue with her legs--taking whatever penalties she should in order to "hold" the genin down--so that Yue lands face-first with Noise standing on top of her.

[Overlord Rion]

Her heart wasn't in the punch, Yue knew it, and it was obvious Noise knew it too, so there wasn't much point in keeping her opinion on the matter to herself. "This is stupid. We're wasting time, and wasting chakra when we have stuff we should be doing. We know, and you know, that we can't beat you even if we worked together perfectly, so what's the point?"

[ZeroNumerous]

Noise smiles at Yue's words, and shakes her head in order to demonstrate her displeasure through her mask. She fakes a surprised lilt to her voice. "Eh? Does Yue-chan not want her smart teacher helping her out?" With that said Noise shrugs. "You can't win a straight fight, but this isn't a straight fight Yue-chan. You have a mission: Stop me from finishing my report. You even have a secondary mission of stealing my report. The point of this exercise is twofold: One, to show you that missions must be accomplished even against impossible odds. And two, demonstrating one simple truth."

This time Noise does stop writing, and looks at Yue directly. "You aren't adults yet. You're children on an outing with mommy: Me. So I need to show that, in a battle against people like me, you'll need to do your best to accomplish your mission. Don't attack the enemy, because they will destroy you. Instead, just accomplish your goal." Noise goes back to writing in her book.

"Unless you'd rather forfeit, but then I'd have to punish you."

[Cespenar]

Keita becomes momentarily startled as he sees everyone turning into clones of himself, and to top all that he can't understand anything anyone is saying. Fortunately he quickly infers he's in a genjutsu, and commands his clones to dispel.

When the dispel is successful, the rest of the clones charge her instructor who just powerbombed Yue to the ground. Damn, that's gotta hurt, Keita thinks, not sure of how much more punishment the girl could take. And this was Eiko pulling her punches, or rather kicks.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Swift action to draw 5(6) chakra. DC 15. CControl - (1d20+13)[15]
Clones use Genjutsu Kai on Keita one by one until one of them succeeds. Dispel DC is 22, I think. 2 chakra per attempt.
Dispel1 - (1d20+8)[23]
Dispel2 - (1d20+8)[14]
Dispel3 - (1d20+8)[24]
Dispel4 - (1d20+8)[10]
DispelReal - (1d20+8)[11]

When Keita is freed, he then moves diagonally to flank Noise and tries a Sunder attempt on the notebook with his Chakra Blast, powered to 3 chakra. That's resolved not with opposed attack rolls, but against AC, I think. A carried object's AC is 10 + object's size modifier + holder's Dex mod. But Noise is also in a grapple and normally loses his dex bonus to AC against anyone she's not grappling at the moment. So you resolve what happens, I don't know.

Also to note is the Chakra Blast not only deals force damage, but also moves the target 5 feet for each die of damage. Something else to think about if it somehow connects with the notebook.

RangedTouch - (1d20+6)[24]
Damage - (3d6)[10]

Also, the rest of the clones take a kunai, charge and melee-sunder the notebook. They don't provoke AoOs because grappling makes you lose your threatened squares. Again, carried object AC, bla bla. Let's put three rolls in there for the best case.

Clone2Attack - (1d20+2)[22]
Damage - (1d4+1)[2]

Clone3Attack - (1d20+2)[11]
Damage - (1d4+1)[3]

Clone4Attack - (1d20+2)[20]
Damage - (1d4+1)[3]

HP: 31/43
AC: 26
Chakra: 34/44
Reserve: 39/39

[Overlord Rion]

Can't finish the report if the book isn't in her hands, right? Instead of trying to attack Noise dead on, Yue decides to ignore the obvious opening Noise was giving my writing and instead go after the book itself.

Spoiler: More Trying and Failing

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Don't know whether it counts as a disarm attempt or the special grabbing an object, since it specifies worn object, but either way Noise also gets an AoO on Yue. I only mention the object thing because of that +4 bonus that goes either way depending on whether the object counts as well secured or not.

Book Grab: (1d20+14)[15]

[Princess Tracy]

Team One

Keita is able to clear his genjutsu with some luck and assistance from his clones, but his attack goes wide as he unleashes a blast of chakra aimed for the book. "WHOA CHILL," Ayameko comments, her mouth running as the beam nearly brazes her as she steps closer to get in range for her next technique. As she does so, Yue reaches out to grab the book and Eiko blasts toward Ayameko with Shundou as she avoids, bringing the fight to her. Aya forms a hand seal and seems to reel back, filling her lungs before slamming a foot and swinging her torso forward in an exagerated movement to open her mouth wide. It's not clear if such a demonstration is necessary, though Keita and Yue hear nothing, while Eiko's ears are filled with a piercing howl that would easily overwhelm the senses... of a genin, at least.

Spoiler

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Noise needs a DC 19 (level 6, +3 charisma) Will save against Hypnotism Technique: Otherworldy Scream or be Stunned and take -20 to sound based perception checks for (1d4)[1] rounds.

[ZeroNumerous]

Yue's disarm attempt gets a smile from Noise, and she nods her head to display her approval. "Good, you're learning. Try again a bit harder next time." Naturally Noise does nothing in response to Yue's openings, and simply leaps toward the Senju.

Noise watches the theatrics of Aya's technique with plain disinterest. She casually marks down the technique in her book, but waits for Aya to finish before making any remarks. When the genjutsu attacks her ears Noise simply rolls her eyes. She waits for Aya to finish huffing and puffing before placing a hand on her hip and looking rather annoyed. "Done yet? It's too obvious. You need a sound amplifier." Noise taps her forearm where the sound-nin usually wear their amplifiers. "It adds to the illusion, makes it more believable."

Then Keita tries to get cute with the rules. His energy blast zips past Noise's notebook, and the jounin looks at him with disdain. She then raises a finger, as if to casually pause Aya's theatrics like they weren't a powerful technique but rather the inanity of a child. "One second, I have to punish a clever boy."

Noise addresses Keita. "I suppose, technically, that wasn't against the rules. But I did say I would protect this book." Noise zips over to the genin, crossing the distance in less than a heartbeat faster than the kid's eyes can follow. She appears behind him, and casually remarks to the young man.

"It would be best if you grit your teeth. Young children should take their punishment honestly." She raises her leg in a beautiful arc with the picture perfect form of a Karate axe kick. In a flash her body has been charged with lightning, and the golden energy crackles and leaps into the shape of a giant axe. "Oh, and try not to die from this."

Noise performs her axe kick, aiming for Keita's side as she tries to not kill him. Maim him, perhaps, but not lethally. Once the deed is done Noise retrieves her adorable tiger-print glasses and looks at Keita. "Not dead yet, I hope? It'd be a wasted lesson if you died."

Spoiler

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Noise uses Hiryuusen to reach Keita invisibly. She'll then use Thunder Strike Axe on Keita. It does not require hand-signs, so it doesn't break the rules she established for herself. Keita takes (6d8)[24] electricity damage with a DC 24 ref save for half. He'll also need a DC 24 Fort Save or be paralyzed if he takes damage.

She'll then move action retrieve and equip her adorable physician's glasses.