A/N Well, That was a good break, but now that I'm, back... and work hasn't killed me... heres the next chapter. Now this one is kinda slow to me, but I think you guys will see why and enjoy it all the same. So get to it Fuckers. Peace Fuckers - Two
Training Field 18 23:36 | Monday 2nd April 13 aNb | Konohagakure
The Rakuyama and his partner land in a lone clearing. The clearing often frequented by them in Training Field 18, but not the one used by them and Anko, no this one is far more secluded. A small portion of the forest that even the best Genin and Chunin could get lost in. Of the two only Yuta looks even remotely rested and one had spent the last two weeks completely out of it, while the other worried relentlessly. No matter the small serpent slithers off of Kaii's shoulder and down to the ground, letting the jutsu go that reduces his size. The Genin does the same and sits himself onto the ground, crossing his legs and relaxing his entire body.
As Kaii relaxes himself, Yuta slides over to his front and coils around his own body, resting his head on his body to keep an eye on the boy. Just like clockwork, the Rakuyama envelopes his whole body in his muted grey chakra. The chakra flows around him before finally entering his seal as it has many times before. The whole process is laboured, longer than usual and the sweat falling down Kaii's temples indicates as such. In total, the two spend over three hours in the small clearing before the shallow glow of the grey chakra fades and Kaii lets out a small breathe. A short period of laboured breathing passes before the two. Kaii still sweating heavily from the exertion of the training, but one he's missed.
"Yuta… do you know what happened to me?" Out of nowhere Kaii looks to his partner, asking a question that the young snake knew would come.
"I do. What did you want to know?" Yuta replies after only a moment after the question was issued.
The boy thinks for a moment, figuring out what he'd like to find out first. "What really happened to me? What's my 'true self'? Before you answer though, Yuta, if you can't tell me I'll just ask Sekien. I understand unlike my summon, you are bound by Rakuyama clan law."
If a snake could smile Yuta's face would have a sly one upon it. "I cannot say a word, but it seems you already know a way around it… I should really stop you, but I feel you should know. Though you'll find Sekien, even if not bound by our laws, still one to honour them if he can."
Kaii too makes a sly smile as he forms a set of hand seals, those used in the summoning jutsu. Despite his preparation, just as he is about to bite his thumb he and Yuta both disappear in a thick cloud of chakra smoke. A smoke so potent even after they find themselves somewhere else the smoke used to hide them shields their line of sight from anything more than a foot in front of them. Time passes and the smoke slowly dissipates to reveal an extremely dimly lit cave-like room. The size of said room, however, is unidentifiable with each direction falling to darkness before anything can be seen. All Kaii and Yuta can see well is each other.
For a few moments, they share the darkness, slowly looking around their immediate surroundings while trying to not stray too far into the void. Quite sounds resonate around the cave. Each one different to the other, but only slightly. They both try to process the sounds, what they could be or what purpose they fulfil, but neither can really place them. The sounds volume along with the structure of the cave distort whatever the sound is beyond recognition. After a while of finding nothing the two look to one another. Both agree without any words that the best option is too let the sounds be and go back to trying to summon Sekien. A summon like him should know where they are or at the very least how to leave.
He repeats the hand seals and performs them slightly faster than before. For each hand seal, the sounds begin to get closer and the less distorted. After the last seal and right as Kaii is about to bite his thumb a pair of eyes pierce the darkness. The eyes are angular in shape with deep golden irises and a slit pupil. Their gaze is fixed onto Kaii, watching as he slowly moves his thumb away from his mouth as he is fixed on the eyes. Seeing The eyes after shifting his position, Yuta inspects them for a second before speaking.
"Sekien-san." The words get Kaii's attention as he changes his gaze to his partner, slightly confused.
"That's Sekien?" Kaii questions Yuta while he slowly moves towards the pair of eyes. "Wait!" His mind clicks as he remembers stories told to him as he grew up, prompting him to stop in his tracks. "Is this Ryuchi Cave?"
The boy takes a second look around, again ignoring the eyes in favour of trying to make out anything else in the void. He quickly finds results as more eyes begin to break through the darkness. Small pairs to those larger then Sekien's, but above them all, at the pinnacle of Kaii's view is the largest pair. Those too are a deep gold but the pupil is so thin it's hard to make out at first glance. For only a moment Kaii looks deep into those eyes until his mind becomes clouded and his chakra begins to spike at an unprecedented level. His form quickly changes into that of his 'true self' and within a moment he sends a wave of chakra outwards before falling to his knees.
"Welcome home… my child." A voice booms around the cave, resonating inside of Kaii and Yuta both. "You remind me greatly of your mother, Kuroyuri, though your power is dwarfed by hers. In time you shall grow and surpass her."
Kaii's eyes ease open with them immediately returning to gaze at the large eyes above him. A few questions enter his mind, the first being 'what the hell is this?' and a second 'who the hell is that?'. Neither finds themselves to his lips, instead, the booming voice continues.
"No doubt you have questions, but first look upon us for the first time." As the last word becomes silent, the darkness fades, replaced by a dim light that reveals all of the figures. "This, my child, is as you guessed Ryuchi Cave. Home to the serpents and those bound to them such as you."
In front of the Rakuyama is a large chair-like structure adorned with bright colours and patterns. Atop it is the large figure, a huge white naga whose body is so large not even the chair it rests upon can't contain it. Stacks of coiled snake body lay behind the chair as a true show of its complete size. On the upper parts of its body and an equal distance apart are golden circular bands, each with a varying pattern. On the snake's head is a large grey turban which has an ornament at the front in the shape of a crescent. A red coloured orb sits upon the crescent while a green orb is attached, by what appears to be a thick rope, top the serpent's neck. The last notable feature to the dazed Kaii is the long cigarette holder in its mouth, lit and smoking.
As time passes and no single word has yet left Kaii's mouth, Yuta takes it on himself to coil around his partner. Releasing a wave of reassuring intent while simultaneously suppressing the power released by the seal. The effects are near instant as the boy begins to feel better, his mind able to process what has happened. He first takes a look at a small puddle a few meters to the side of him. The reflection revealing to him for the first time what his mother truly meant. What his 'true self' is.
"What the hell am I?" Kaii questions to no one and yet he is given an answer.
"That, Kaii-san, is what you really are. One of us, or at least the closet your kind will ever truly get to it." The smaller of the white snakes explains while slithering over to the boy.
Kaii looks as if he fails to understand what Sekien says. "One of you?"
"Yes, my child. For now, that will have to suffice, for more pressing matters require your attention. That of your open, or more aptly, exposed seal." The great white naga pushes onto the next topic, it's voice filled with cadence. "As you have just experienced, locking gazes with a snake causes your seal to open itself."
"I… I don't understand, but that voice… you are the one I heard before." Kaii looks up at the great naga, many times the size of a human and even a house. "You saved me?"
The naga's face contorts into a sly smile, it's long cigarette moving to the side of its maw. "I did, or at least my chakra did. When you were born, here in Ryuchi Cave, my chakra was implanted into the seal just as it was for all Rakuyama before you. Yours, however, is the only one that's ever had to use it to keep the user alive."
"T-thank you… I guess. So… I'm one of you and if I ever lock eyes with a snake ever again…I turn into this?" Kaii slowly collects his thoughts along with the newfound knowledge ahead of questioning the naga.
"That's correct. Yuta, as he is at the moment, will help suppress the power allowing you control over it if the situation arises." The White Naga's word carry over to the boy, who in turn looks to Yuta before returning his gaze to the great snake. "Now, I believe it's time you returned home. If you ever have further questions, summon Sekien and he shall answer them. I hope to see you again soon, my child, hopefully when you have full control over the seal. Oh, yes, one last thing my child, someone wishes to speak to you."
Out of the dimly lit void comes a small black snake. The size reminiscent of his tracker snakes with the exact colour reminiscent of Gaidoku. It slowly slithers up to the Rakuyama, his small eyes looking right at him. Kaii slowly notices the similarities and a small smile forms. One happy to see his old friend… or what he believes to be him.
"Gaidoku? Thank Kami, I… I thought you died." A tear runs down his cheek, glad to be released from at least one of the memories.
The snake doesn't reply until it's directly in front of its summoner. "Ssssumoner… I'm not Gaidoku." Kaii doesn't react outwardly, but inside his chakra begins to flare again and this time not even Yuta is able to restrain it. "Ssssumoner… we know it'sss, not your fault. You tried to ssssave him and for that we forgive you."
The chakra buildup doesn't stop. His skin darkens and markings slowly form around his eyes in a deep crimson. At first, it's simply around his eyes, spiking down next to his nose and off from the sides towards his ears. But after a few moments, it becomes a deeper shade of maroon and its spikes thicker. His sclera also darkens while his pupils thin and nearly close. His aura alone enough to choke anyone too close to him, a fact the poor serpent is finding out first hand. Sekien, seeing this unfold, looks to the Great White Naga and awaits something from the wise snake. A lone nod is all he gets, but it is all he needs to act, coiling around both Yuta and Kaii. Helping to suppress the out of control seal.
The aura recedes slowly with Kaii slowly returning to himself. Both Sekien and Yuta sigh as only a snake can, with the larger serpent uncoiled from his summoner as soon as he's fully suppressed. With another nod from the White Nage, before Kaii can ask another question, he and his partner are engulfed in a cloud of thick chakra smoke. Not waiting for the smoke to dissipate, the Rakuyama runs in a single direction. Out of the smoke, to find he's back in the clearing of the training field. He falls backwards onto the ground and crosses his legs. His chakra now back at normal levels, but why it is, he has no idea. He did nothing before the White Naga sent him home. Nothing as his entire appearance was different and his feelings sat on the edge of his mind. Ready to burst out at a single provocation. The thought of his altered appearance prompts him to check his head for the four horns he saw in the puddle in the cave. He runs a single hand through his hair, but to his surprise finds nothing.
"Yuta, does my seal really contain what I saw?" Kaii relaxes on the ground, resting his arms behind his head.
"It was, and it all is as the Great White S… Naga, said. You shall find out more when Kuroyuri-san deems you ready. I don't foresee it taking too long, so we should return home. Anko-san will no doubt expect us early for training." Yuta answers the question and fills in another small gap before prompting the boy to return home.
"You're right Yuta, let's go." Kaii leaps to his feet, with Yuta still wrapped around his body as he was ordered so back in the cave.
Without any hesitation, Kaii jumps to the nearest tree branch and makes his way towards his home.
Konoha Market District 14:27 | Tuesday 3nd April 13 aNb | Konohagakure
Kaii rests at the ramen stand down a shady back alley. The smell of the ramen enticing all who pass by. In front of him is a large empty bowl, with a small number of leftover ramen bits and a slither of the soup. Content with the meal, he pulls out his wallet from his pouch, counting the money to pay the elder man behind the counter, Teuchi. The elder man smiles at the boy when he notices he's ready to pay for his order, but after a second his face turns sour.
"Excuse me, erm, are you Rakuyama Kaii?" He asks though he treads carefully, not wanting to anger the shinobi if he calls him by someone else's name.
Kaii doesn't immediately react, trying to recall if he told the man his name just less then a month ago. "How do you know my name?" Under the table, he slides one of his two tantos out of its sheath.
Teuchi sighs and runs his hand over his face. "Listen, kid, you need to know this. I assume you know of the Hyuga right? Well, they've got it out for you, so... watch yourself. It'd be sad to see a kid like you tread on the wrong people's toes."
The blade re-enters it's sheath as quietly as it came out, not alerting the man to it at all. "I couldn't care less about them." Kaii returns, taking out his money, now that his other hand is free, and places the money on the counter. "I'll be seeing you." He waves back at the man as he leaves the small ramen stand.
The elder man sighs, he wants to help but even if he tried the boy doesn't seem like the type to allow for others to help him. He picks both the empty bowl and the money off of the counter, placing the bowl in the wash and the money into a small pot next to the register. A tiny label reads 'money left by customers' on it. The younger woman working the stand with him shoots him a look, but Teuchi ignores it and continues onto his work.
Further down the road, Kaii walks casually with his hands in his pockets. As he gets back to the main street, he notices quite a weird occurrence. Every person he passes avoids him more than usual. Not content to move out of his way, none now will even look the boy in the eye or in his general direction. Even if they were going that way, to begin with.
'Looks like it's not just the damned Hyuga that have a renewed problem with me. Or did they simply grow bolder?' Kaii musses to himself as he continues down the main street, soon coming up on the blacksmith's shop.
He moves the curtain out of the way with ease. The shop is exactly as it was before, with only a few new weapons in place of ones he must have sold. However, the proprietor does not seem happy to see the young Rakuyama. More then anything he looks conflicted, no doubt due to the Hyuga's condemning. Kaii takes a few steps in the store and notices a few others looking around for equipment, one browses a rack of kunai and shuriken on the left side of the door.
Before he can take another step the owner pipes up, enough to garner the attention of all in the shop. "Hey, you." He points directly at Kaii, who at this point has stopped in his tracks with a look of hidden anger on his face. "I don't serve outcasts here."
Kaii reads the man's features with a quick glance. It doesn't take much to realise why the owner, who was once so glad to have his patronage, is suddenly against him. At least on the outside. The noble clans have a lot of clout as Teuchi had told him only moments ago. He takes a few moments to look around him and gauge the opinions of the others. They all share his anger at him, 'an outcast in a shop they want to use. How dare he!' The thought sits at the surface of his mind, but they truly mean it, they hate that he is allowed to live a free life inside the walls. Facing no punishment for simply being like the Snake-sannin, a possible missing-nin in hiding.
"Don't make me tell you again boy! Leave my shop at once!" He shouts again, his voice cracking as each word leaves his maw.
Kaii fixes his glare on the man, his eyes shifting to those of his 'true self'. "I'll go, but you make yourself look the fool for bowing to those Hyuga scum." He turns on his heel and leaves with everyone in the shop shocked and their anger stoked further at his words.
'The Hyuga will burn, mark my words.' Kaii notes to himself as he leaps to the nearest rooftop to go to his training field. His eyes filled with a freshly stoked hatred for those of the Hyuga and those who'd follow their lead. The little black snake on his shoulders smiles for a second, happy at his partners choice...
Undisclosed Location 16:02 | Friday 6th April 13 aNb | Konohagakure
Light finds itself alone in this small room. Unable to break the shadows control over anything but the single wooden desk atop spiral floor tiles. Two figures reside in the shadows, one sat at the desk, their hands arched and leant on said desk with the other crouched just out of the lights reach. For a few moments, they sit in silence. After another few moments, the one at the desk voices something.
"Report, Yamazaki Takumi. I want to know everything about this operation of yours, and don't leave anything out now." The man's voice is beyond cold, calculating and a small hint of a threat. One his apparent subordinate takes to heart.
"The operation is going splendidly, as my written report indicates. All the products are selling as fast as I had estimated when I brought you the proposal, but I do have a minor issue. The two leading the day to day are… how shall I put it, not the quietest shinobi." He stops, thinking of how to elaborate. "As such, they have attracted attention from the locals who have done what they can to stop our illicit goods from selling. Leaving only the hard to get products to bring in any income. If I may, I'd request permission to journey to Konohagakure for a special substance that should fill in the gap until I am able to reign the two in."
In the matter of a second, the room falls to cold. "You said the operation is going splendidly… then tell me, Yamazaki, how could it be going so well if such a problem exists. One that causes the only goods worth anything to be removed from your hands?"
"My apologies, this problem has only just arisen in the last fortnight. I believed it best to find a solution and ask for permission, as opposed to bringing an issue to you which falls far below your purview." The room cools slightly, but a slight tinge of cold remains, lingering around the man.
The man at the desk sits forward slightly, his mouth now lit by the light as it rests in a slight grin. "I'm glad you understand your position… now leave me and get this issue of yours resolved. I will have need of you soon… for a special mission, but we can discuss that when the time is ready."
"I understand, I will leave for Konohagakure and find the supplier of the product." The kneeling man stands and within the next moment vanishes with nothing remaining where he stood.
The last remaining man smiles at his words, leaning back in his chair to return to the work situated on his desk.
Training Field 18 06:45 | Tuesday 10th April 13 aNb | Konohagakure
Kaii rests on the ground of the small clearing in his usual training field. His snake partner coiled around his crossed legs with his head on Kaii's lap, looking out into the forest as Kaii funnels his chakra into his seals. It doesn't take long for the chakra emitted to subside and for Anko to drop from a nearby tree, a rather large scroll in hand. The boy doesn't move from his position, his eyes still closed as the kunoichi strides over to his front and copies his stance, sitting on the floor. She then moves the scroll to her front and unrolls it, showing the contents to both her student and his snake.
"Oi, Kaii, open your eyes. You can't read with them shut and you've got a lot of reading to do if you are to be ready for the Chunin Exams… oh yeah, you're entering the exam. Should have probably led with that, ah well, I've been busy trying to find this." The woman ignores the newly shocked face ahead of her as she gestures to the scroll.
Kaii tries to voice some words, hoping to string together a sentence but fails and Yuta responds for him. "Why the sudden decision Anko-san? I would have thought from the last mission, you'd have recommended he skip it and continue to train."
The woman sighs, looking up from the scroll to make eye contact with the snake as Kaii continues to fail at finding even a single word. "It wasn't my choice, nor would it have been. Team 14 is technically still a recognised team with Team Iku and Team Anko simply being sub-teams of it. Iku, as the leader of Team 14, chose to put them forward early to give us some notice. So my hands are tied, hence the vast increase in training and this." She again gestures to the scroll hoping they finally look at it.
They both do with Kaii now done fumbling over his words. The scroll from a quick glance seems like a simple set of instructions on how to perform a jutsu. Looking further, Kaii is able to read the name of the jutsu right at the top 'Fire Release: Crimson Earth Spider'. He then moves to the small summary underneath it, which describes the jutsu as 'The user spews out fire that both surrounds the enemy and then transforms into a spider that attacks the enemy. This technique effectively traps and attacks an opponent at the same time.'
"A fire jutsu? This sounds complicated just from the very descriptive summary… wait a second, no other jutsu scrolls look like this, why is that Anko-sensei?" Kaii looks happy at the idea of learning a new jutsu, though still finds a question at the front of his mind.
Anko looks away innocently. "No clue, now how about w-"
"You wrote it didn't you… I never knew you could be so serious or well descriptive." Kaii cuts his Sensei off while watching her visibly cringe as he catches on. "Actually, could the jutsu form be changed from a spider to, well a snake?"
A glimpse in Anko's eye shines in the small light let through the tree line. "What a good question. Yes, that was exactly what I was going to explain, that form of the fire can take any shape the user decides on. Now, I'm going to jump over there and wait for you to read the scroll and well… attack me with it."
Anko leaps from her sitting position, going a simple flip over her student as she does so. Landing exactly where she said she would. The boy and his serpent ignore the obvious display of skill from the kunoichi and begin the process of learning the hand seals. First, following the instructions, he performs the Tiger seal. Next, the Horse seal, followed by the Rat then Dog and finally a second Tiger seal. He fills his lungs with air as he lets a small portion of chakra out of his tenketsu, after a few moments he releases his breath spewing fire right out of his mouth into the space ahead of him. The fire reacts as if commanded by the heavens, and surrounds both him and Anko. A few moments pass and the fire right behind Anko forms into a mix of a snake and spider, a crude first attempt at the jutsu.
The snake/spider hybrid changes at Anko, who as she did before, simply jumps over it to dodge it. The hybrid then falls in on itself in a somewhat small explosion-like event that chars the ground and everything a good five feet around its centre. Within a few more seconds the fire ring that encompasses the two fades and leaves only the charred ground behind. The sound of clapping fills the emptiness. Kaii hops to his feet and turns around to find it's Anko whose clapping.
"Well done, Kaii. That's an extremely good first attempt, though the blast radius and intensity of the flames need to be adjusted. Still, I can't take away from the attempt, but it's not enough for the exams and you can be sure both your teammates have equal jutsu mastered already." Kaii for a second felt proud of his skill until Anko mentions his teammates.
His anger stokes slightly and his eyes change to their 'true form'. "Then I'll train non-stop, I'll push myself beyond my limits. I'll not fall behind those scum again!"
Anko body flickers with ease to her student's side and places a hand on his shoulder. "Having goals is good, but don't take it too far. They are still your teammates and you have to learn to trust them despite what they do, or else you or even Iku could die because you refused to see past a petty difference. Before you even bother using the excuse 'The Hyuga don't deserve my trust'. You'd be right, they have wronged you but I'd say your life is more important right? So leave it at home and control yourself, okay?"
The boy tries to calm his inner fire but fails too with his seal flaring up as his anger plateaus. "I can't even buy equipment in my own village, and you want me to ignore it?"
"I do." Anko answers with ease, her stare fixed on her student as her eyes harden. "Now, do the jutsu again and again until you can fill the entire ring you create with the explosion of the creature."
Kaii nods, but his mind fixates on the former topic. The fixation, however, helps his focus. His mind doesn't wonder and with each attempt, he is able to further the jutsu by larger bounds then even Anko expects from him. Within a few hours, he is able to fill the ring with the attack and create a perfect replication of a serpent. The only thing that has fallen short is the intensity of the flames. Though they have improved they pale in comparison to Anko's simple fireballs she flings at him as he tries to pin her with the jutsu. A fact she neglected to tell him ahead of attacking him on his third attempt at the jutsu.
The training continues until late into the day. Only stopping every few hours to stop any out of control flames. Both student and Sensei rest on the floor, both with sweat dripping down their foreheads as Kaii alone breaths laboured breaths. His black snake slithers down his shoulder and reverts to his usual size ahead of coiling around his partner's form.
"Well done, Kaii. Kuroyuri-san will be pleased with your growth, though I'm sure she wouldn't be happy with your reliance on your emotions and seal." The black serpent comments making himself comfortable.
"I improved, that's reason enough to use them." Kaii's reply is cold and to the point. "Anko-sensei, is there time for a D-rank?"
She looks carefully at her student, assessing his mindset ahead of responding. "Why not, can't just practise non-stop as much as you'd like to. Come on then, let's get to the mission desk before all the good ones are taken by other genin teams. Can't be doing the really boring ones this late in the day can we?"
The two take off into the tree line in the direction of the academy. Keeping the usual running order, which has become more and more streamlined and well executed. It doesn't the two long to reach the small training area at the back of the academy's main building. The area is filled with a few souls, all without headbands. Kaii watches as they poorly perform hand seals and practise shurikenjutsu, the scenes provoking thoughts of his own time at the academy. From practising alone in the small amount of spare time he had and all the time he spent focusing his chakra into his seals.
The thoughts are forced from his mind as he and Anko land on the balcony attached to the mission office. The doors are both open and a small amount of chatter can be heard coming from the dimly lit room. The elder of the two strides into the room first, leaving the young Rakuyama on the balcony for a few moments before he too enters the room. All eyes turn to the two. They linger there for a second before returning to looking at their scrolls or back to their conversations. However, a single pair of eyes stay on Kaii. He locks with the glare and returns one of his own. The man clicks his tongue and picks up a scroll with a large 'D' imprinted over its back.
With the room back to normalcy, Kaii and Anko move over to the mission desk, stopping in front of the man who appears to hold some disdain for the Rakuyama. He places the scroll back down and waits for Anko or Kaii to start the conversation.
"So Kaii, what mission do you want?" Anko asks with a hint of sarcasm, after the few months she's been training him she knows exactly what missions he prefers.
Kaii keeps his gaze on the man, dissecting his features as a feeling scratches at the back of his head. "Deliveries will do for today, I'm not in the mood for the usual."
"Alrighty then. You got any delivery missions… er… Hyuga-san?" Anko asks hesitantly as she catches a glimpse at the shinobi's eyes.
"No we don't, only trash collection are free… a suitable mission for an outcast don't you think?" The shinobi sounds proud of his comments as he finds a scroll and throws it carelessly at Kaii.
Kaii nearly lashes out at the shinobi, but a wave of reassuring intent from Yuta and Anko both, calm his nerves as he catches the scroll. Without as much as a single word the Rakuyama turns and leaves out of the same door he entered through. His mind focused on the same thoughts as he thought on a few days previous.
'All Hyuga will be crushed under my heel. I'll spare none of that trash if I can help it.' Kaii seethes out as a rather vocal Anko can be heard muttering curses as she too leaps from the academy.
He continues at a rather fast pace until a good distance away from the academy. Once stopped he unfurls the scroll and reads the mission description. As the Hyuga had stated, it was a trash pickup mission, but not only that. No, that wouldn't satisfy those with a grudge against him. The mission orders the holder to clear an entire district and to have the Jonin-sensei inspect it to ensure it's done. Kaii grits his teeth and nearly crushes the scroll in his hand as they form into fists. Luckily Anko lands next to him and places a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"Let it go, Kaii, they want you to lash out at them. That's the only way they can get rid of you. Prove them wrong, work on doing everything you can to show you are more than worthy of the title you hold as a shinobi of Konohagakure." Her words find a place in Kaii's heart, but they are surrounded by doubts and a deep-seated anger.
"I'll try Anko-sensei." Kaii returns, re-rolling the scroll and placing it into his pouch. "We need to clear the second district by morning."
No more words need to be said as they both head in the direction of the second district.
Hyuga Branch Residence 21:12 | Thursday 12th April 13 aNb | Konohagakure
Kaneto and Taisuke rest in the former's room as the sun slowly retreats from the sky. The two genin conversing lightly with the smell of freshly cooked ramen and some expensive foods still lingering but slowly fading. A knock comes at the door which quiets the two boys as they turn the heads to the door. An ageing woman pokes her head past the door after opening it slightly, her features largely reminiscent of Kaneto's.
"Iku-san has asked me to remind you that you two will be preparing for your first C-rank starting tomorrow. So get some rest and make sure you have all of your things." As soon as she finishes she closes the door and leaves.
Kaneto sighs at his mother's peculiar actions and turns to his friend. "Well, Taisuke, looks like we are finally getting a real shinobi mission."
"It does… I'm kinda scared though. I mean Ka- the outcast went on one a month ago and look how it turned out. He was barely alive when he got home, and on top of that, he spent nearly a fortnight in the trauma wing of the hospital. That could be u-" Before Taisuke can finish his friend cuts him off.
"We're stronger than that outcast. We've both trained non-stop for this and on top of that, we are both far superior shinobi when compared to him. He may have grown when we trained together, but without Iku-sensei he'll have fallen behind again." Kaneto's words are bolstered by his confidence and it doesn't take much for Taisuke to change his demeanour.
"You're right, Kaneto. Well, we best get to bed so we can get up in time to eat before training with Iku-sensei." Taisuke comments, moving off of the bed and onto a small futon.
Kaneto sighs for the second time before he lies himself down in his bed. "Her mood is something I can do without so let's."
The night envelops the sky as the two shinobi drift off to sleep ahead of their week of preparation.
