The rain beat down on five cloaked figures as they leapt from tree to tree. A rumble of thunder echoed through the forest as the lead figure signaled to the others. They all jumped to the ground, splashing in the soaked turf.
One of the group stumbled but was immediately steadied by his neighbor. The leader in a hound mask surveyed the clearing before them, looked into the distance in the general direction of home, and then back at his ragged team.
It had been a long, difficult mission, but with only minor injuries. The leader mentally reminded himself not to scratch at the bandages around his arm. His burn wound itched, his team was exhausted, and the rain wasn't helping anything. He sighed and turned. "We'll need to stop for the night. We can build a shelter but-"
Cat spoke up at his elbow. Hound hadn't even realized he was there. He mentally shook himself. He needed to be more alert if they were going to make it home. Then he frowned. It wasn't like Cat to interrupt him. He started to wonder if he'd spoken aloud at all when he realized that he hadn't heard what Cat said.
"Sorry, what was that?" Hound gave Cat his full attention. His subordinate fidgeted under his gaze.
"I'd like to try something senpai, for shelter."
Hound regarded his subordinate in the cat mask before nodding a go-ahead.
The cloaked team watched through the rain as their youngest member ran through a dozen seals. Then he crouched down and sunk his hands into the mud. With a rumble that rivaled the thunder, wooden beams and planks rose out of the ground, interlocking and morphing until a cabin took shape in the clearing before them.
Kakashi's eyes widened behind his hound mask. The cabin had a door with wooden hinges and a door knob but no windows. There was also a wooden chimney with a cone top perched at the peak of the roof.
Kakashi was very close to expressing how deeply impressed he was. He might have even used the word wow. However, when he looked at Tenzo, the teen was slumping over where he was crouched. Kakashi lunged and caught Tenzo before he could faceplant in the mud. With a jerk of his head, he ordered his team inside.
They filed in, Kakashi leading the way with Tenzo in his arms. The inside was all raw, clean wood but more importantly it was dry. There was a circular hole in the center of the 12 by 12 foot cabin just large enough for a fire pit. Kakashi glanced up and sure enough, the chimney was directly over it. Tenzo had been practicing this, he realized. There was even a stack of wood to burn and large rocks arranged to make a barrier between where the fire would go and the plank floor. The teen had literally created a wooden structure from combining earth and water natures, so what were a few extra stones to him? Yet it was a nice touch, a thoughtful one.
Kakashi shrugged out of his cloak and saw that there were pegs along the wall by the door. Members of the team were already utilizing the pegs to hang their cloaks to dry. Kakashi almost shook his head in exasperation. Tenzo didn't need to take on all this trouble, especially when it'd made him pass out. As team captain, he'd have to chide him for that later.
The medic of their group, Owl, helped Kakashi get Tenzo into his bedroll. Then their cloaks were hung with all the rest. Bull started a fire, effectively banishing the cold and wet outside. The warm glow of the fire lit their faces and relaxed sore muscles.
The rain hammered on the wooden shingles but it couldn't get to them now. The rest of the team spread out their bedrolls with walking space in between. Rations were passed around and Kakashi assigned watch shifts. Those without extra duties started bedding down, eager to sleep.
Owl walked up to her captain and crossed her arms. Kakashi gazed at her for only a moment before his shoulders slumped and he held out his left arm. She felt out the wound with her chakra before applying a salve and changing the bandages. It was too dangerous to waste chakra on a healing session mid-mission. On ANBU missions the medic's chakra was saved for life and death situations which included checking for infections. Owl was used to working with Hound and knew he'd rather hide an injury than have her use up her chakra on him. He was easiest to work on when he was unconscious which, she regretted, happened all too often.
Her job finished, Owl climbed into her bedroll like the rest of the team. Kakashi took first watch. He used the mental scenarios of his team dying due to his negligence to keep himself awake.
Kakashi's shift was almost over when Tenzo stirred. They'd removed their ANBU masks and Kakashi glanced over with just one tired eye.
Tenzo looked around sleepily, then his eyes widened. Before he could say anything, Kakashi spoke. "You did a good job," then he elaborated, "on the house."
"Thank you senpai," Tenzo looked at him with wide, innocent eyes.
"Of course it could use some improvement," Kakashi went on, his mask hiding his smirk. He glanced around. "If you can manage a fire pit then why not an actual fireplace with a stone chimney? And why are there no windows? How am I supposed to keep watch with no windows? It's very inconsiderate of you."
Tenzo smiled. "Sorry senpai."
"However, we're all grateful that we're out of the rain, so we agreed to cover your watch tonight. Don't let it go to your head."
Tenzo ducked to hide his smile now. It pleased him, more than he cared to admit, that the others were starting to accept him. Kakashi had vouched for him when he'd joined ANBU and allowed no hazing, but that didn't make Tenzo a part of the group. This was a general acknowledgement and it meant a lot to him.
Kakashi went on. "It'll make us soft if you spoil us like this again, but if there is a next time, be sure you have enough chakra to build a house without fainting. I can't have you taking my title of: most chakra exhausted per mission." Kakashi gave Tenzo an eye smile before turning to look into the fire. "Now go back to sleep, we'll watch out for you."
Tenzo felt a warm glow in his chest. Unable to voice any of his feelings coherently, he simply nodded, turned over, and let the sound of the crackling fire lull him to sleep.