Haigakure! Race to Konohagakure!

[ZeroNumerous]

Team Tenmai - 7:30 AM

The forest is long and very boring. Little happens during your trip, and the rain only serves to create a problem in tracking where there had been none before. You strain to spot each set of boot prints, and tracking the wayward Kyusuki chuunin becomes significantly harder.

As time passes, you eventually come to rest inside a small clearing. The rain is beating down too much to continue, and the tracks are becoming almost unnoticeable. You do, however, guess that was heading toward Konohagakure. It's weird that he can get this far without the use of his eyes. Everyone but Kyoshin is feeling the burn of leaping as long as you did, and everyone's muscles are screaming for rest.

Konohagakure (Miya Uchiha) - 7:30 AM

Two ANBU openly walk you to the village's northern gate. One of them, the man carrying the umbrella and wearing the Kuma mask, is deathly silent. You can scarcely hear the sound of his boots in the dirt. The other, the woman wearing the Tora mask, makes atleast an attempt at small talk. You pass by a young kunoichi in a poncho and wearing a sakkat, which was a strange choice of headdress here in Konoha. The ANBU don't stop to look at her, and she quickly ducks into a nearby restaurant.

They stop at the village gate, and the Tora masked ANBU nudges you onward. It's all too obvious that she's telling you to leave, and fully expects you to get to Haigakure by yourself. The only thing they don't say is "don't return"..

Konohagakure (Sayuri Kyusuki) - 7:30 AM

You dodge and weave through the academy crowd to get to the front of the line, and then quietly pass the woman a 500 pound note. She calmly takes your order and then passes you change. After about ten minutes, she gives you a bowl of spicy chicken boiled with noodles. You turn around to note that the restaurant is mostly full, but there is a half-empty booth in the far back. The other half of that booth is occupied by a young boy and two girls, one of which is drawing in a large notepad. The boy and the other girl are just looking bored, and you suspect they're waiting on a jounin.

[Gengy]

"Well, this is..." Taking a deep breath for air, Kyoshin continues, "...kinda fun. I bet... I bet... *gasp* that this is what... intense training with Kurina-sensei is like."

Kyoshin stands himself up to his full height, just about six and a half feet. He leans back against a clearing and pushes his wet black hair - from the rain and from sweat - back behind his headband, trying to keep it out of his innocent looking face.

"Does anyone want something to eat?" For once, Kyoshin manages to get a whole sentence out without his nervous pausing. Partly it's because his two cell mates are here. Partly it's because the other two people have helped him train for the past week or so. But the real reason is because Kyoshin is hungry, and even though his body is one huge sculpture of muscles, he still runs on his stomach.

Fiddling with the latches of his large shoulder bag, Kyoshin pulls out a handful of succulent looking apples, offering them to anyone who wants one.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Miya
What a drag...

The sour thought was the only one going through her head at moment as Kuma and Tora lead her through the village to the northern gate. Being kicked out to live with distant relatives? There was no reason too! Sure she had gotten a bit rough with her team mate but it didn't require such drastic measures. Irately brushing some of her light blue hair away from her much darker blue eyes, the girl crossed her arms in a huff. Much of said long blue hair was pulled back into two buns at the back of her head to keep it from dangling down, a deep blue ribbon used to tie it in place and the rest of her head down. Wooden sandals were noisy on the ground but at that point in time she really didn't care.

Many people would have described Miya as 'cute' or 'pretty' but it was her personality that always seemed to inevitably draw people to her. It was infectious and made her likable, even after they found out more about the real her. A mostly empty backpack was over her shoulders only holding her 'allowance' from the clan, some changes of clothes, and some ninja tools. Eyes resolutely focused straight ahead, refusing to acknowledge the ANBU when she attempted to speak to her, acting much like an in-mate sentenced to death and walking to the noose. Only one thing drew her eye and it was the oddly dressed girl sneaking into a restaurant like she had something to hide.

Idiot...you could have at least disguised yourself or looked less obvious...how is it somebody like you gets to stay but I have to leave? It's just not fair! Teeth ground together as irritation boiled over into a burning anger but she managed to compose herself as curiousness won out over anger. Who on earth was that? It bugged her...so she stopped when she was nudged by Tora-ANBU, tapping a finger against her lips then turning around to face them.

"It's going to be a long trip to Haigakure isn't it? Can I just grab something quick to eat along the way, then I promise I'll get out. Please?" It was instinct to put a pleading tone into her voice...after all it worked on her parents. Waiting until she had their permission before entering the restaurant as well and making a bee-line for the counter while keeping an eye out for the stranger. Nothing fancy, just some riceballs to go, but she watched the oddly dressed one the entire time as her ANBU escort watched her. Finally she had her snack and stuffed the bag it came in down into her backpack and pulled out a slender tube. A flute.

Eyes glittering, wondering if this other would notice or even care, as she set her lips to it and began to play. Cheerful and upbeat, almost a marching tune, and completely unlike the dreary surroundings at all. Definitely not played at her best but it was an acceptable performance and soon she was marching right back out of the restaurant and out to the gate, glaring at the ANBU some as she took her first step out of the village...then another. Soon she was just walking along the path...well...this wasn't so hard. Maybe things would turn out for the best.

Spoiler

Show

Flute: (1d20+12)[16]

[AlienRat]

Natsumi glares openly at Kyoshin. She leans back against a tree interlocking her fingers above her head. The sudden urge to stab her teamate to see if his tough skin was still working passes. Her breath returns to her enough that she can talk. "Fun?" She shakes her head, water dropping off her green hair. "Kurina.. *gasp* Kurina would make us.. Carry a tree.. While doing this."

The tall kunoichi opens her mouth and looks up letting the rain fall into her mouth for a while before talking again. "You know, we'll probably have to face Leematsu again." She looks around at the four other ninja here. "Anyone have any ideas on how we'll do that?"

[Rejakor]

Shimura Shin

Shin sat back against a tree, head leaned back, breathing softly but obviously exhausted. He had pushed hard in the beginning, eager to catch up to Kuro, but had suffered for it as the chase turned out to be a long one. "I have a few ideas. Nothing that will work, though."

[Faithdreamer]

Sayuri

“Thank-you very much.” Her courtesy was clearly and precisely spoken soft as the music a girl was playing. Stealing her foam bowl off the counter before the cook could say anything made for a fast escape. Telling her how awful she sounded might not be the best way to have an accomplice. Sayuri had a way with getting due attention. She followed the ANBU-bad girl trio to the gate and tried to catch up before her partner in crime got away. “Please follow me I’ll be your chaperone. There’s no mistaking tatty hair with awful music.”

Through the ANBU passed the sentries with a sympathetic glance in their direction that almost showed off the smile she was trying to tug back to apathetic. She went in a direction that wasn’t Haigakure, definitely, as long as that girl followed...

[Phecto]

Shunrai looks around and then shrugs. "I'm not even sure how we'll find him if we have to deal with him again. I think if we can actually see him, we might be able to deal with him. Any ideas on how to deal with the tricks?"

[Gengy]

"I don't know of any ways out of Genjutsu once your caught... but I still think Leematsu-san isn't a bad person, just confused. Matasu, on the other hand..." Kyoshin finishes off his third apple, and carefully places the seeds into their proper place. Now rested and no longer as hungry, the large genin stands up, and turns toward the direction of Konoha. His fists tighten as he thinks about Matasu, and the innocence on his face hardens. "I don't forgive traitors."

His body relaxes as he turns back to the others. "Do the rest of you need more time, or shall we go?"

[Rejakor]

Shimura Shin

Shin stands up, breathes out, and settles himself. "I am ready." From his shaking legs, though, he is clearly not.

[Phecto]

Shunrai nods "I could probably go faster and I can ride the wind. I'll be alright, I don't think we should hurry so much that we aren't all in a condition to fight in case we do run into Leematsu or Matasu again"

[Callos_DeTerran]

Miya

"Chaperon? To where? I can't go back into the village at the moment." A bit...irately to the suggestion that she needed a chaperon to get around but she did stop to listen. After all this girl was interesting, obviously not from Konoha...where was the harm in hearing her out? Lowering the flute and only holding it in one hand, casually glancing back then to the bizarre hat and dress.

"More importantly, who are you?" Inquisitively but about with the subtly of a bull in the china shop. Best to get some straight answers right off the bat anyway.

[Faithdreamer]

Sayuri – Rain and Song and Tricks

So it was a good thing she wasn’t standing very close. She couldn’t stand gross smells and bad breath. Strolling just a bit more casually was like soaking in the hot spring.
“It’s awful walking in rain my skin crawls. During a downpour the road always looks like messy makeup, so wise travellers always find shelter before they hit stone bottom.”
If she went faster than she should the stray droplets would torture her. Too slow and everything started to look... like an old trick in the book.
“Some people would think it was rude you were asking for their names without giving your own. We’ll be polite and show professional courtesy today.”
She had to be careful not to slip on this green stuff growing on the tree. There were sticks and sharp thorns, leaves, mud; the idea of hiding from a rain storm in some damp cave was more adventurous when she wasn’t trying to find the cavern.

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+8)[25] – (Bluff) Silk sleeves for a silk smooth tongue eating silky hair

[AlienRat]

Natsumi pushes off the tree she was leaning again. Her arms go slack against her sides. "Lets atleast start walking. Some movement is better then none." One booted foot infront of the next she goes. Is it wrong that she want's to strangle her teachers? With a sigh she starts talking again. "Well, our first problem with Leematsu is knowing who is who. During his last trick he duplicated Shunrai and Kurina very well, he just didn't know their reactions well enough. So we have to know who is who. The best way I can think of to do this is number and movement code. Lets say plus three." She ducks under a low branch but continues on.

"Example being, if I verbally tell Shunrai-san the number 4. She holds up 7 fingers. Four plus three, seven. If I hold up 4 fingers, Shunrai would verbally tell me 7. The plus three may confuse him into thinking we established a code. The verbal to movement will lets us know pretty quickly if we're dealing with a fake. Most would be expecting a verbal responce to a verbal code." She looks back at the others, to see what they think.

[Phecto]

Shunrai nods and follows Natsumi "That sounds like more of a plan than I had come up with, you've proven the better ninja so far so I'll follow your lead."

[Gengy]

Kyoshin nods, "Fine with me."

The large genin keeps his eyes open for any surprises as they walk, ready to defend himself or any of the others.

[AlienRat]

"As for dealing with his Genjutsu..." She sighs, arms crossing infront of her chest. "I can remove an effect. But it's hard. I also have to be certain there is a genjutsu effecting someone. If I'm not certain, it's like washing laundry blindfolded. I can't tell if I'm cleaning dirt, or already clean cloths." Natsumi hangs back to walk with the group, watching to see when they're recovered enough from sprint to start again.

[Rejakor]

Shimura Shin

Shin nods. "I don't know much about genjutsu - and less about codes, but that seems to be a good one. We should keep going. We have to find Kuro-sama." Shin seems determined.

[Callos_DeTerran]

Miya

"Wouldn't it have been so much simpler if you had just said 'I'm looking for a cave'?" She said a bit sarcastically as as the other lead her away from the village in search of shelter. It was hard not to be when wet cold droplets of water were falling from the sky to mercilessly pelt her as if she was a foe. This was a strange strange person leading her around like she knew where she was going but it never once seemed to enter her mind it was a bad idea to keep following them.

As fun as it was to mock, sort of, this stranger the Uchiha girl was still troubled by her rather pressing problems. Like finding a place to live and getting there alive. Supposedly she had family in Haigakure...but she wasn't entirely willing to trust that information considering it had come from her own family. "Professional courtesy it is. My name is Uchiha Miya, it's a pleasure. Can I ask what your name is?" She asked overly-sweetly, the over-perceptive able to note a well-hidden hint of scorn in how she said all that.

[ZeroNumerous]

Konohagakure - 7:45 AM

Unfortunately for the pair leaving the Leaf Village, there would be little respite from the rain. Caves in the area were sparse, especially so to someone alien to the entire region. The trees offered alittle comfort, but only when traveling on foot which slowed them down considerably. Unfortunately, Sayuri simply wandered aimlessly for a time before settling on a large fallen tree trunk that had been eaten away by time and termites.

The tree trunk is as cozy as one can get inside the rotting remains of a majestic titan of the forest. The rain is no longer pelting, but most things have long since been soaked. A few scattered branches can be made into a fire, if either of you had Katon affinity.

Haigakure - 9:30 AM

The group travels slow by foot, but an hour later they're able to continue leaping. Their travel is much slower than it normally would be, as the rain has begin destroying the trail left behind by Kuro-sensei. Eventually the group comes to rest in a small clearing where you find several tattered bandages and the battle vest your sensei wore. Apparently he was shedding weight to make things easier, though the bandages appear tainted with new blood. You begin travel anew.

Konohagakure - 9:30 AM

The rain finally stops, and the two of you hear the thud of boot steps as someone stops outside the tree trunk. You sneak a peek outside, and can see a young black-haired man talking with someone hidden behind a tree trunk. The man is wearing a pair of black jeans, and the tattered remains of several once pristine bandages. His back is covered in patchwork scars, but you easily pick out four gashes that are still bleeding. The shinobi seems to ignore his wounds, and just continues a conversation you can't hear without skipping a beat. He rubs the back of his head, then lets out a nervous laugh that only barely reaches your trunk hideaway. He flashes a quick grin then follows the unseen person toward Konohagakure. You wait a bit longer for your clothes to dry out..

Konohagakure - 9:45 AM

Your group arrives just outside the gates to Konohagakure. The pathway is muddy and unclear, but you assume that this was Kuro-sensei's final destination. A pair of chuunin block your path into the city proper, but quickly produce a clipboard and pen. "Haigakure shinobi huh? Well, you gotta sign in like everyone else. And you're obligated to go introduce yourself to the Police Captain on duty. It's the law and all that jazz."

Just twenty feet away, hidden inside a small collapsed tree trunk, are two young girls who are finally dry after the downpour. They both poke out their heads and note the large crowd of shinobi gathered at the front gate, one of which is wearing an odd headband that both of you recognize as a Haigakure headband.

[Faithdreamer]

Sayuri – Rain, rain... go away...

A dish best served warm. Uchiha Miya was going to be steaming by morning and she’d savour the vengeful sweet aroma. Sayuri plucked a mostly dry sleeping bag from her sack and snuggled with her accomplice, being sure to give her the damp side so all her exile’s tears wouldn’t show up as easily at sunrise.
Sayuri jolted her awake every once in a while, after all, she was having trouble sleeping in a tree trunk too. Before Uchiha-san closed her eyes Sayuri tried to play a trivia game with her; with geography at the top of her list she was sure to learn where to find Otogakure.

Sayuri – Quiet as a Cat

She was still smiling at her own clever answer when a thump sound woke her up that meant-

Makar-sama wasn’t coming to wake her up. Relieved, she let her contented smile show. Uchiha-san was so plucky she’d asked her, ‘Can I ask what your name is?’
Inching around the side of the skeleton tree trunk would have been easier if everything was dry.
‘You should know you’re a big girl.’
Her jingasa hid her face long enough for her to recover her dignity. She wasn’t here to see her brother who’d be disappointed if he saw. Sayuri crept back into the tree trunk and listened to the rain. Before she was resting again it decided to stop. She had to imagine a swarm of termites chasing her out of shelter to walk on the slicked grass heedlessly. Sayuri sank back in the shadows and went out the other side of the tree. “Just like a breeze.” She told the Uchiha.

She’d sneak off before anyone noticed them.

Spoiler

Show

(1d20+17)[27] – Hide (Concealment +5)
(1d20+12)[15] - Move Silently

[Rejakor]

Shimura Shin

Shin shifts his weight uncomfortably, and then steps forward. "Excuse me, but have you seen a black-haired Haigakure chuunin, about so high, wearing dark colours and with wounds? May have signed as Kyusuke Kuro?" As much as Shin doesn't want to reveal their mission, a kind of desperation leads him to give them the description, hoping against hope that Kuro may have let himself be seen entering the village of leaves.

Spoiler

Show

Spot - (1d20+3)[15]

[Gengy]

"He's seriously injured... or at least, we thought he was. He left the hospital while wounded and is probably still bleeding." Kyoshin steps forward, to Shin's side, the big genin's hands visible, his face as innocent as possible. The last thing wanted here is for the Leaf Village to get the wrong idea. "We think he's probably chasing after his sister, who's also gone missing."

Kyoshin gives the guard a rough description of Sayuri.

[ZeroNumerous]

Team Tenmai

The chuunin that spoke last time scratched his chin, then looked at his companion. "Well, I remember a girl like that once.. She went outside I think, but with the rain and all she probably didn't go far, ya know?" The gray-clad chuunin butts in when his friend just shrugs and smiles. "As for the guy, no. We haven't seen a Haigakure chuunin around these parts. 'Specially not someone like Kyusuki. If we did, we'd have to arrest him, and honestly I'm not gonna try and fight a chuunin from Haigakure no matter who they are. Hell, we even let that girl go--The one with the sakkat? But I digress. No, we haven't seen the guy you're looking for, but we have seen the girl and she left with.. uh.. one of our exiles."

[Phecto]

Shunrai steps forward and signs in "Well it certainly seems appropriate that Sayuri would have been here and left a confusing mess in her wake. I do feel sorry for your exile though." She steps out of the way after signing in. "Would you happen to know anything about a Kurina that might have shown up here around a week ago? We'd really not like to stay and cause any more problems for your village searching than we have to, I very much dislike troubling others I have no conflict with"

[AlienRat]

Natsumi signs her name neatly. But remains quiet, her team mates already having asked the questions she'd ask. She does glance around though. More because she's worried about running into Matasu or Leematsu then bumping into their teachers, although that would be nice.

Spoiler

Show

Spot: (1d20+14)[4](18)
Listen: (1d20+11)[15](26)

[Gengy]

Kyoshin sighs to himself for not asking about Kurina himself, but looks over at Shin and then at Kuro. He is about to say something when he sees Natsumi sign herself in.

The big genin huddles forward and looks at his tall teammate, "Are we going in?"

Spoiler

Show

Spot - (1d20+8)[8](16)
Listen - (1d20+2)[10](12)

[Callos_DeTerran]

Uchiha Miya

It was not a very nice beginning to her exile, that's all that Miya could think as she was forced to sleep on a rather unpleasant wet side for reasons she couldn't begin to fathom. Sentiment? From a shinobi? How...unpleasant. Instead she was awake most of the night and begrudgingly played the game of geography. Why on earth would somebody actually want to go to the Sound? It was a miserable miserable place from what she had heard.

The encounter, if it could be called that, with the strangers one of whom she recognized was quickly forgotten as she watched the crowd trying to get past the gate. Konoha sure was getting busy these days...and so very interesting...but when her 'dear' chaperone turned and began to sneak away Miya figured...well...if her new friend, and she used the term lightly, didn't want them to see her then she probably didn't want to be seen with her by them either. Luck was with her and she moved nimbly after the other but quiet...not so much..

Spoiler

Show

Hide: (1d20+1)[21]
Move Silently:(1d20+1)[10]

[ZeroNumerous]

Team Tenmai

"You mean Kurina of the Makatsui clan, right? Sure, she had a house around here somewhere. I don't remember where she lived precisely, but it doesn't matter since she left for Haigakure."

Kyoshin and Natsumi hear the sound of a pair of snapping tree twigs. When they look back, the only thing they see is a large hollowed out tree. Natsumi hears the sound of footsteps heading away from the tree trunk, and picks out two distinct sets of footsteps.

Exiles

As you attempt to sneak away, you both step on the exact same moderately dry twig. The resounding snap is amplified in the confined space which makes it audible outside the tree trunk. Fortunately, they're still hidden away from the eyes of the group at the gate. Both girls sneak out the back and start heading north slowly.

[Rejakor]

Shimura Shin

Shin perks up at the mention of Kurina. "Do you know anyone who would know more about her, or where that house is? Please, it's really important!"

[Gengy]

What the...? What was that? Do we go find out, or do we go see if Kurina-sensei is here? Kyoshin turns toward the snapping sound, noticing that Natsumi heard it too. The large genin looks at his teammate, a question in his eyes. His hands reach for his shoulder sack, and deftly undo the clasps as he rummages for something. Finding it, Kyoshin inclines his head towards the sound, and raises his eyebrows at Natsumi in a 'just say the word' motion.

Spoiler

Show

AlienRat, it's your call. Kyoshin has something up his sleeve, but I'll let you decide whether or not I should let it go. It may very well be useless.