Victor's team was at the land of the sea, and they were at a building that was a tea shop, Victor was sitting next to Sakura and Anko was next to Leo, and she has her arm around him.

"You know for a book worm your cute." Anko said.

"Well, thanks, some say I got my eyes from my mother." He said.

"Well." Anko said as she looks at them. "They are interesting, ever gotten lucky."

"Well…"Leonidas said.

"He did." Victor said.

"Victor!" Leonidas exclaims.

"Shame I wanted to be the first." Anko said, and he shivers a bit.

Victor looks at Sakura and says, "Okay I just gotta ask. Why do you like about that guy?"

"Who Sasuke?" She asks Victor.

"Yes." Victor said.

"Why wouldn't I, he's one of the greatest guys." She said.

"Well do you actually love him?" He asks.

"What?" She said confused.

"Like do you actually love him or is it some crush that you have? Because I know what love is and I lost it once." He said, and she was surprised.

Anko and Leonidas were stunned. Leo got the message and says, "Say Anko let's go check something out." He takes her away with him.

"What happened to her?" Sakura asks.

He sighs and says, "My worst enemy took her life." She gasped. "Yeah it was hard for me, but I had my friends and I found someone else that reminded me of her." He then thinks about Orihime. "I might be the bad boy but I guess I'm a bit of a romantic."

Sakura smiles at him and says, "Thanks, I'll think about what you said."

"Think very carefully." He said, and she chuckles a bit. Victor then saw a girl with bandages around her face and he got curious.

"Wait I heard from the villagers that they treat her as some kind of monster." Sakura said. Victor frowns and takes a drink, that is one thing he doesn't like, judging others for who they are. He then hears voices of different people in his mind.

"Freak."

"Spawn of Hell."

"Monster!"

"Bastard of a demon."

He then slams his fist surprising Sakura and gets up. He says, "Sorry just had twitch."

"Oh okay." She said. Victor goes out and sees the girls walking forward.

"So." He said as it got her attention, and she looks at him. "Lonely today?"

"Well yes." She said as she looks down. "I never seen you before."

"Oh I came to see the village with my group." He said. "So need someone to talk to, I'm Victor by the way."

"Oh well I'm Isaribi, and I really need to go." She said as she then runs off and he frowns.

"She needs to accept that theer might be others that can help her, but the guy we're after did this to her." Victor said.

With Leonidas

He and Anko were together, and she asks, "You want to sign the snake contract?"

"Of course, only you can know that can summon them outside of Orochimaru and his little goon." Leonidas said. "If I can master my techniques with them I can surpass him."

Anko got worried but she bites her thumbs before putting her hand in the floor. "Summoning jutsu." Puff of smoke appeared and from it came a small white snake.

"Well hello." Leonidas said as he smiles as the snake as it stares at him.

With Shiro and Team 1

They arrived at Port Degarashi in the Land of Tea and are now meeting with the head of the Wasabi clan Jirocho in a meeting room complete with tatimi mat floor and shrine.

"Hello Shiro, Yuto, and Kurumi it is nice to see you and again and who are these two ladies?" He asks.

"I'm Yakumo Kuruma." Yakumo said.

"Oda Kaguya." Oda said.

"Now that the pleasantries are over who are we escorting?" Kurumi asks. Jirochi has someone go get the person they are escorting.

"While we're waiting for them, please take a seat and I'll explain the history behind the reason why we hold a dedication ceremony at the Great Todoroki Shrine using the Ryoko jewels." Jirocho started as the five sits down for the story.

"It all started long ago. The legend goes that in ancient times there came a terrible storm. In desperation the people dedicated the Ryoko Jewels to the Great Todoroki Shrine, and it worked. The storms subsided and now the ceremony is repeated every four years. At first it was just a rededication of the jewels, then it became a festival, and a race, with the winner of the race being hailed a great hero. In recent years, however, what once was a friendly contest has become much more serious. For generations Port Degarashi has been divided between two gambling Clans. The Wasabi and the Wagurashi. Both Clans wanted control of the town, which naturally led to disputes. These disputes became increasingly violent, sometimes resulting in all out battles. The rest of the townspeople were caught in the crossfire. Many were injured, or worse. Finally, in an effort to end the cycle of violence, our Daimyo called on both sides to get together and come to an agreement. Henceforth, control of the town would be decided not by street brawls but by a competition."

"The race." Yuto said deducing the race was the competition chosen. Which meant it was a lot more important that 'just a race'.

"Indeed." He said as he smiles. "Four years ago, the Wagurashi beat us soundly by hiring a ninja and we found out they've done the same thing this year."

"That is why we sent messengers to you so we can with your help level the playing field, but our messengers were attacked." Jirochi said before bowing to them.

"I beg you. Please lend us your strength. If we lose again then the Wagurashi Clan will control this town for four more years." Jirochi said begging for their help.

"We will." The five said in agreement,

"Thank you." Jirochi said gratefully. Then they heard a knock.

"I'm here." A familiar male voice said.

"Ah Idate please come in." Jirochi said. The boy from either came in shocking them and he was shocked at seeing them as well.

"I guess we were right Yakumo." Oda said quietly.

"Of all times to be right." Yakumo mutters. The two and Kurumi were not looking forward to having to deal with him.

"This is Idate Morino the runner you'll be escorting." Jirochi said introducing the runner to them. Idate when Jirochi was giving them a less then friendly look. Yuto and Kurumi using their ability to sense Negative Emotions sensed he has more Chakra than an average civilian so maybe he was a dropout Genin.

"Morino? Like the proctor of the Chunin Exams first test Ibiki Morino?" Kurumi asks. He looks at her surprise.

"Yeah, he's, my brother. He's alive?" He asks hopefully.

"He is." Shiro said.

"That's good to hear." Idate said in relief. The five decides to hear his story later.

After going into town for a bit and dealing with some idiots they rest for the night.

The following morning, they were woken early and proceeded to the harbor with the Wasabi Clan. It was dark and still a little cold, but it seemed like the entire town had turned out to watch the start of the race. There was music, and fireworks, and plenty of cheering.

Yuto and Kurumi sensed four Chakra signatures. Three they recognized and one they didn't. They informed the others about them.

"Not too surprising this race is a big deal." Yuto said as cogs start moving in his mind.

"I don't care what you guys do." Idate said with a bitter tone as he went to line up by the starting block. "But whatever happens, just stay away from me."

"I've got a race to run. I don't want you in my way." He said.

"That's what our job is." Oda said with a raised eyebrow. "To stop people getting in your way."

He scowls and bitterly mutters "Damn Shinobi."

"Attention, attention," The loudspeaker chimed. "The Great Todoroki Shrine race is about to begin! Running for the Wasabi Family; Idate Morino!"

"Running for the Wagurashi Family; Fukusuke Hikyakuya. Runners, take your marks!"

Fukusuke was older and taller than Idate but Shiro and Team 1 knew that didn't mean he was faster

The two crouched into a runners start as the gates to the dock swung open. Over the water, we could see the sun beginning to rise.

"GO!"

They burst into action, tearing out the gates and then towards the waiting boats. Well, Fukusuke did. Idate curved around, running along the dock and parallel to the water.

"The ocean is the other way. Where is he going?" Yakumo questions as they follow him

"What's he doing?" Oda asks vexed.

"Maybe he's got a plan," Yuto said. "Nothing in the rules says he has to leave from Port Degarashi."

The flat concrete of the dock ended and gave way to dirt paths. they followed Idate up into the trees instead of curving around the bay.

"Genjutsu." Yakumo mutters a few minutes in feeling it.

"Release!" Yakumo exclaims dispelling not one but two Genjutsu.

"They did a double layered Genjutsu." Yakumo said. "You dispelled the first layer and then got caught by the second."

"Are they making their move?" Oda asks quietly.

"I can't sense anyone around. Either they're hidden from me and Yuto, or that was just a delay tactic." Kurumi said as they would have had to have been close by to set it, but that didn't mean they'd stayed.

Idate seemed sure of his path, but he didn't let Shiro and Team 1 in on where he was going. Yuto and Kurumi kept checking to see if the enemy ninjas were close by or if there were any traps, but nothing showed up.

"I assume you have a reason why you're not using Degarashi Port?" Yakumo asks Idate with a raise eyebrow.

"At this time of year, there are some pretty strong seasonal winds blowing hard across the sea," Idate explained. "Back at the starting point, I could see the clouds. I noticed the wind was blowing towards us. On top of that, from that bay, the current flows directly onto Nagi Island. It's much faster." He tapped his temple. "You should use your head a little more."

they crested over a hill and found themselves entering a small hidden bay. They see a boat prepped and ready on the water.

"Smart." Shiro said as he notices the outline of Nagi Island. "Nagi Island?"

"Yeah," Idate said, losing some of his aggression. "And the halfway point. We can probably get there in an hour from here."

Idate didn't head straight for the boat but turns towards the small shack set by the forests edge and he knocks on the door. "Hey, gramps. It's me, Idate of the Wasabi!"

"Hey there, I've been waiting for you," the old guy rasped as he answers the door. "I've got things all ready for you. There isn't a faster boat around."

"Thanks a lot," Idate said.

"It's not a problem, Jirocho has done a lot for me, over the years. Just make sure you don't lose to the Wagurashi, I've had about all I can stand from them." The old man said

"Don't worry about a thing," Idate said confidently. "I may be the underdog, but I won't lose. You can count on it."