We all stash our headbands into the tree hollow. Obviously Sensei doesn't want anything to get out about our affiliation, at least that's according to Dosu.

"We will scout out a campsite today. Then we plan the best course of action, finally today we can rest."

Zaku and I assent to that course.

"This shit is dumb, I mean, c'mon, we have to find these people all on our own? What do we do, walk in a random direction?"

"We should keep our whining to a minimum, as not to alert anyone to our presence Zaku. You wouldn't want to have your throat slit, Sensei once-"

"Sensei isn't here right now!"

Zaku storms off into the woods.

"Wait!"

I attempt to run after him but Dosu appears in front of me, blocking me from following after the rash teenager.

"Let him cool off. He won't go far, he isn't stupid."

I take a step back. I don't know if I can believe that or not, I barely know these people.

"Do you really think that?"

"How about this, if the monkey doesn't come barreling out of the treeline within 30 minutes." Dosu takes out a stopwatch, "then we go looking."

He clicks the start button.

"This mission sure is turning out to be a mess."

"Hm, indeed. Though it's much less action-packed than I anticipated."

He isn't even regarding me, just staring at the watch.

"Well, maybe the abductions will be more 'action-packed'."

"Yes, hopefully."

'Either he doesn't get sarcasm or he is willing me to be quiet.'

'Well, maybe he just doesn't care either way.'

I take out one of the books I brought with me and start to read it. I might as well get some studying done if we are to sit in stifling silence.

Genjutsu is useful for more than just small parlor tricks that target base senses. Indeed, higher levels of Genjutsu can target specific emotional drivers. As an example, the effects of adrenaline are well documented: it essentially raises heart rate and helps to constrict blood vessels so that blood can be directed to major muscle groups and through the cardiovascular system even more quickly. But the other, more emotionally notable, effects such as a dry mouth, anxiety, and sometimes euphoria are merely the result of this chemical doing its job of keeping the animal experiencing them alive.

How would one go about inducing adrenaline to an unwilling target, however? This question can be answered at least two different ways using only Chakra, even at a distance, dependent entirely on the caster's level of Chakra control. The first method is to use frightening or otherwise high-intensity stimuli applied as a conventional illusion, which can be flexible and effective if the right stimuli is used. The second method is to directly tap into the target's adrenal glands (located just above the kidneys in humans), but this method requires intimate knowledge of how the body is structured and can be permanently damaging if administered incorrectly. As an example, the adrenal glands also control production of cortisol, another important hormone; if a technique causes the production of this hormone to fall too low Addison Disease can occur, which overtime causes intense craving of salt, depression, high levels of fatigue, emesis and nausea, and weight loss among other troubling symptoms. This second method also has the disadvantage (as in any other Genjutsu technique) that it can be easily disrupted by someone experienced in sensing Chakra, and in fact can be turned back on the caster. Use at your own risk.

"What the hell." I whisper softly to myself. 'That's serious... well, I guess at this point I should expect this type of thing.'

Before I could get back to my reading however, Zaku came crashing out of the treeline.

"Hmm, 13 minutes. I suppose 30 minutes might have been a bit off as an estimate. I apologize, Kin."

"It's fine." I close my book and put it away sans any bookmark. "Are you feeling alright, Zaku?"

He kicks at the dirt. "Yeah I guess so, less angry I guess. I'm getting a vacation from Sensei, at the very least."

"Good. Well, for the next stop on our vacation, let's head toward the edges of a major town. Most homeless either live within the heart of city parks or in the outskirts in little shanty towns. We can find a nice enough place to camp out, then we scout out the settlement."

"You are certainly knowledgeable about these things."

Dosu chuckles slightly then finally regards me with his singular visible eye.

"That's my business."

"Alright, alright, let's just get on our way guys. The sooner we get some rest the better, right?"

"Indeed." Dosu begins walking along the river.

-xxx-

The very first thing I notice as we approach the capital, Hidden Hot Springs, is that the air is becoming increasingly humid and dense. But as they say, it's not the heat... the next thing I notice is that it seems to be structured on a suburban system. We even walked through a few of what I would consider little neighborhoods, or well, collections of houses. None of them are notable apart from one another aside that some were advertising as little bed-and-breakfast deals. We passed by at least nine advertisements within two minutes of our leisurely ninja pace.

After about an hour of following the road we three manage to stumble on a collection of homeless men by pure accident. The few dozen or so meager old men are milling about a graveyard at sunset, taking the offered alcohol and food from gravesites. We observe our potential targets from a bush in the hedgerows.

"Why don't we just grab some right away and tie 'em to a couple of trees? If we feed and water them at least once a day then we can relax for the majority of the mission. Maybe even hit up a hot spring!"

"But what if our hostages are discovered? Even if they are bound and gagged, there's still a chance of someone stumbling on them."

"Not if we tie them to a tree or have Kin keep up a Genjustu."

"I don't want to maintain a technique for days at a time Zaku. I can barely manage an hour as is."

"Whimp."

"Don't you dare-"

"Let's all keep our composure here."

"Fine." I look out at one of the closer old men. He is grinning a mostly toothless grin at having found an alcohol bottle then downs it right away. Another man punches him mid-stream and starts to then drink the rest of the bottle's contents.

"So, do you guys want to stick around for the bum fights or do ya wanna get some rest already? I mean we need to be well rested if we are going to catch us some of these hobos."

"Well, you certainly are bringing up a valid point Zaku. We need to find a suitable location to hide."

"We could rent out a bed-and-breakfast if we had some cash... at least for the night."

"Man that'd be nice, a home cooked meal, a real bed... C'mon Dosu! I know you brought a little cash too, we could just have Kin own us her part!"

Dosu is glaring at us. "You seriously think we aren't extremely conspicuous people? Zaku, for example, your shirt has the word death on it. Little much for a nice old lady, wouldn't you think?"

"I can change my shirt, dude. Think about it! You could even get a room of your own."

"No, that'd be too expensive."

'A weakness!'

"I don't mind splitting the cost at all, Dosu." I give him a grin. "We deserve it for at least one night right?"

Dosu turns his head to regard the homeless people, who are beginning to mill toward the horizon and to the not too distant treeline off to the west.

"Well, team leader, we can go to the trees for a few days or we can get at least one night of quality sleep at an inn."

He stares at the figures, darkening by the minute.

"Fine. We can split the cost for a room. If anyone asks I'm your brother Kin, and we are going to a healing hot spring recommended by a relative for my skin condition. Zaku, you're going to be her boyfriend... or cousin or something, I don't know. We'll have to walk a couple minutes in the direction of the capital for our cover to be believable... but we should be able to double back in time."

"Hell yeah!" Zaku pumps his fist. "Real food!"

I laugh, "Yes the bed is certainly a perk. If I'm to be honest, camping and I-"

A man stares at me over a campfire. He looks disappointed but resigned in his expression.

I shake myself, and manage to stammer out something. He couldn't even use his other options with me-

'How do I know that!?'

"Hey, you OK?" Zaku touches my arm.

I pull back, "yeah, thanks, I'm fine. I just... It's fine." I manage to give him a smile.

"Thanks. Can we just head out?"

"Yes, let's abscond." Dosu stalks out of the bushes toward a business advertised as being owned by a young couple at the bottom of a valley.

-xxx-

"Welcome!" A young lady holding a rabbit in her hands sits at a small counter in the entrance. We all take off our shoes and place them on the communal floor shelf.

"Please, please, use these slippers! We don't want your feet getting cold, you cute kids."

She places a set of slippers, two larger and one small pair.

"I hope these are comfy! I learned how to hand crochet these from my grandmother so please consider this complementary for your first stay here. In fact, if you have these slippers any future nights, you get 10% off!"

We walk the two steps to the counter and each take a pair. I guess I should start.

"Hey these are pretty neat." I put it on my feet, it's super soft cotton.

"So, how many nights do you kiddos need? Do you have a parent with you?"

"Ah, no, our family is too busy with work you see... but anyway we were sent out here for treatment for my brother. It has something to do with the hot spring water out here. We just need the night, since we are headed into the city itself tomorrow morning."

"Oh you poor dears! Such brave young people you all are! Is he... going to be alright?"

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern. Just a particularly irritating skin condition, nothing fatal."

She gives a sigh. "Oh, where are my manners... I am Yamashita Megumi. My husband Yamashita Kiyotaka, myself, and of course little Puff here, all opened this little paradise! We have so much fun entertaining guests, oh but of course you're certainly too tired from traveling! It's awfully late you know."

Zaku pipes up, "I can pay for the night. Um... How much for one room for three?"

"Oh! Yes, well... for you three I can do 3,000 Ryo. We serve a meal for our guests between 6:00 and 8:30 in the morning. Oh, yes, here have this key. Your room is just up the stairs and two lefts down the hallway. Sleep tight!"

"Thank you for having us." We all reply, Zaku pays and I take the key.

I walk up the stairs and see a room with a window on the inside of the house. It is filled with around thirty romping rabbits.

"Oh I forgot!" Megumi shouts from the bottom of the stairs, "feel free to pet the rabbits! If you want we do sell them, but it's so hard to part with my little babies!"

Sure enough there is a sign on the door at the top of the stairs asking customers to "please wash their hands before entering the 'rabbit room'".

Dosu peers at the glass, "I can firmly say that this couple are ruthless capitalists." He has his attention glued very firmly to a particularly small and floppy eared rabbit.

Zaku snorts, "I don't care if they want to sell us stuff. Look at the rabbits all you want, I am going to our room."

"You know Dosu, we could get a team mascot here."

He spins his head around so fast that he should have gotten whiplash. "If you're serious about it, I'm serious. I have always wanted a pet, and rabbits can live up to ten years in captivity... and they are so cheap compared to a dog or cat..."

I am a bit taken aback that Dosu the 'animal lover' Team Leader thought I was being serious. "I don't think I have the time for a pet personally. But, if you got a rabbit I wouldn't stop you."

Dosu turns his head back to the glass. He huffs out, "hmph! Maybe Sensei will let me pick one up on the way back..."

I... well, he does favor Dosu but that man seems to enjoy causing misery.

"Yeah. Maybe."

-xxx-

The next morning I wake up as the light touches my face. I'm in an unfamiliar room for a brief moment. Then I see a wall hanging of a quaint garden, ink on paper, directly in my line of sight and remember that I am in an Inn for the night. I turn my head to see Zaku snoring in his sleep in the bed with me.

Dosu is already out of bed... well, no longer sleeping on his mat on the floor.

I get out of bed, stretch and yawn.

'That was certainly worth the 1,000 Ryo.'

I look at the clock, 6:11... I guess I could get some of that breakfast.

I put on an overshirt and slip on a new pair of pants before padding out of my team's room and into the hallway. It is a traditional seeming house, though the doors all have locks on them and cute little epitaphs and drawings of rabbits romping.

"This place really is going overboard with the theming... hopefully they don't serve rabbit meat."

I approach mahogany stairs, my slippers are softening the sounds of my steps as I descend. I can begin to smell the scent of... something nutty that I can't place.

As I walk into the dining area, located just off the entrance room, I see Dosu petting a rabbit with one hand and eating with chopsticks with another.

"Good morning. Did you rest well?"

He regards me before turning his attention to the rabbit. "Yes I did, and the food here is excellent. You should eat before the meat gets cold."

I sit in seiza next to him, and the rabbit wiggles out of Dosu's grasp to nuzzle its head against my lap. Dosu huffs but doesn't stop the little creature.

A few seconds after I start eating, the meal is pork and rice with egg and vegetables on the side, the lady of the house pokes her head out of the kitchen.

"Good morning sweetie!" The woman gives me a wave, "dig in! The capital is a half a day walk from here so you need your strength!"

I manage a smile, "yeah we certainly have a bit of a way to go until we reach our destination. Thank you for making the food, it looks very good."

She giggles. The matron then goes back to whatever she was doing in the kitchen. She is probably cooking more likely than not...

"What time did you want to head out?" I take my first bite of savory bliss. The pork cutlet is drenched in a sweet tasting sauce that is faintly almondy, which brings out the pork's lean quality.

"I was thinking we could at least stay for breakfast, then we can head on our way. The earlier we leave the better, but it probably won't make a big difference in the end since we have plenty of time."

Zaku walks in and plops down across from us. He seems excited and digs in without acknowledging either of us.

"Mmm!! I wonder if I could get this sauce's recipe!"

"Not a chance, cutie!" The lady yells from her kitchen.

Zaku shrugs and happily digs into the rest of his food. "Can't blame a guy for trying."

-xxx-

A/N: Thank you for reading! Apparently to stay a Japanese Ryokan (a traditional hotel essentially) it is around 15,000 to 25,000 JPY per person. 10 Ryo are worth 100 JPY. This chapter really turned out to be a fluff-fest... sorry if you were expecting gripping action.