Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Mar 26, 2007 23:56:03 GMT -5
The afternoon passed excruciatingly slowly, the heat only seeming to get worse as the hours wore on. Kaori and Akina had had to treat more of their number for heat exhaustion, though thankfully not as many as Kaori had feared, considering the number of inexperienced shinobi in the group. Laughing softly to herself, she wondered how Kozuki was dealing with the heat. Upon hearing the news that they would arrive in full uniform, her cousin had not been particularly happy. Kaori had considered inviting her to try on the Hokage's robe in this heat, but decided against it in the end. After all, how would that look if someone had decided to burst into the wagon just then? Shouting voices snapped Kaori out of her world of silent thought. "We're here! We're here!" some of the voices shouted. "Everyone stay close to your caravans!" an older, more experienced voice said, carrying over the delighted shouts of some of the others. "Stand up straight! Hold your head high! You are representatives of Hidden Leaf Village, so act like it!" It sounded crazy out there. Kaori could only imagine what it was like out there..... * * * * * * * Akina wove through the lazily ambling crowd, keeping her eyes out for anything that looked amiss. She had already had to treat a few more victims of Heat Exhaustion, she and Kaori-sama had seen to the injured, and she herself had dividing the rest of her time between resting in the wagon with Kaori-sama and managing the general affairs of the caravan. Among the more unusual problems that had required her attention were a lost Ninjutsu scroll, petty arguments about who sat next to whom instead of next to someone else and why, someone wanting her instruction on how to cure perspiration - like she would teach a Genin a technique advanced as Touonna Jikokisei, when she herself had not yet mastered it! - and one female Genin who wanted a medicinal salve for acne. Sighing, she was just about to begin another round of the caravan when a cry rang out ahead. "The Village of Sand is up ahead! We've arrived!" Instantly the whole caravan exploded into chaos. Some ran around screaming "We're here! We're here!" over and over again at the very tops of their lungs, others simply cheered, and one of the more experienced Shinobi began shouting about how to act properly. Akina just sighed. She would have to see each and every one of them as soon as they entered the village gates if this kept up. Well, she would have to do something about this. Shooting one of the ANBU a "Help!" glance, she set about getting the caravan in order. "Tuck your shirt in! You, put your forehead protector on! No, not upside-down! Pay attention! Hey, quit running around, you'll make yourself sick!" On and on she went, giving various instructions as they were needed. She knocked on the doors of each of the wagons, rousing unhappy Shinobi from their cool resting places, even tossing one or two out. The injured, of course, remained where they were. Akina was glad to see some of the Chuunin and Jounin stepping up and corralling the more energetic of the group. In short order the whole Caravan was sorted out, with Shinobi walking proudly outside the wagons, the shouting from earlier reduced to the chatter of many talking voices. This portion of her work complete, it was time to take on her most important role. Heading to the head wagon, Akina ducked inside. "We're here," she announced with a grin. "I thought you might not have heard the announcement." * * * * * * * Kaori couldn't help but laugh softly at Akina's wry comment. It seemed the rest of the group were as excited to finally have arrived as she herself was. It had been a long journey, too long, and she would be glad to stay in the same place for a few days. Even if it was infernally hot here. She hoped there would be something left of her to greet her old friend. As Akina ran a brush through her hair and otherwise made herself look more presentable, Kaori glanced unenthusiastically at what lay in the corner waiting for her. She wasn't going to enjoy it, but that hat was as much a part of the Hokage's ensemble as the silk coccoon. Sighing, she set it on her head and dabbed the perspiration away from her face. Looking at Akina, she smiled genuinely for the first time in quite awhile. "It's time."
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Mar 26, 2007 23:59:07 GMT -5
Originally Posted by Chuwawa Kiyo was literally baking in the heat. Never in his entire life had he ever felt such pure misery. This had to be the absolute worst thing he had ever experi- "We're Here! We're Here!"Kiyo's head shot up, his thoughts shifting from his inner monologue of complaints. He'd heard some of the others talk about a "Village of Sand," or something, but he had no idea what that was. Grams never really talked about anything outside the forest before. It seemed odd, through everything they'd done. Apparently some of the others in the caravan he was riding in had some issues with sitting next to him. Kiyo didn't really care, in that regards. It was just he couldn't help but hear their whispers. "He just popped out of nowhere!"
"Ewww, you mean he's lived in the forest all this time?"
"I don't think we should trust him. Who knows what his real intentions are?"
"This heat is delicious!"Kiyo chuckled at the last one. That must have been the man that conjured fire, from before. Peeking out the window, Kiyo knew he was right. But upon further inspection, he saw Nada-Chan, walking with him as well. "Nada-Chan!" he called, and quickly hopped out of the caravan, running over to her...quite possibly stepping on the shadows beneathe him. "Nada-Chan! I haven't seen you for a bit. What's this sand village thing all about?"
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Post by Kiri on Mar 27, 2007 0:01:57 GMT -5
A feeling of relief flooded Nadameru as she heard the exclamations that they were finally arriving at their destination. The relief was followed by anxiety as utter pandemonium ensued. Akina was darting to and fro giving orders. Noticing that the group was growing a little too chaotic to handle, she joined a few other jounins and chuunins in getting everyone to settle into some semblance of order. Although the task wasn't exactly the simplest, they managed it without too much of a fuss.
That taken care of, Nada heaved a small sigh, tying her forehead protector on. The trip certainly had not gone how she had expected it to, and she was looking forward to it coming to an end.
"Nada-chan!"
Nadameru frowned a little, recognizing the voice almost instantly. Uteke Kiyoshi. Although she hated to admit it, she had been avoiding him ever since he had shown up. After the incident with the missing-nin she wasn't feeling up to trying to work out whatever was going on with him, even though once the discord had been settled she had remembered who he was. She had known him as a child, long before her days at the Academy. It had been over ten years since she had last seen him.
In spite of her lack of response, he went on.
"Nada-chan! I haven't seen you for a bit. What's this sand village thing all about?"
That was right, she supposed he wouldn't know. "It's pretty simple. We're going to the Sand Village to improve diplomatic ties between our villages," she explained. "We owe them a lot."
Tilting her head to the side, she frowned.
"Uteke-san," she found herself unable to address him any less formally, "where have you been all this time? You just... disappeared so suddenly."
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Mar 27, 2007 0:03:06 GMT -5
Originally Posted by Chuwawa "It's pretty simple. We're going to the Sand Village to improve diplomatic ties between our villages. We owe them a lot."Kiyo nodded. It made sense, he supposed. Of course, he'd never actually been around enough people to understand things like "diplomatic ties," but the point had gotten across. "Uteke-san," Kiyo gulped at the formality. "Where have you been all this time? You just... disappeared so suddenly."Kiyo stopped dead in his tracks. "I....I don't really know, Nada-Chan," he said, insistant on breaking through the formalities, "I...don't remember much. I remember...darkness....Grams taking me somewhere...and then some awful fire....flashes of what could be memories....but not much else. The past few years have all been...a bit of a blur," he chuckled, "But, then again, everything's gone crazy since Makoto came back."
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Mar 27, 2007 0:04:04 GMT -5
Originally Posted by Sorien The combination; silent and vocal conversation continued in with Mazrakiel for a short while longer. Soon shouts were heard, indicating that they were near the Sand Village. Soriens heart was somewhat set a flutter with emotions: Anticipation, nerves and so many more. His mind clicked back into his more serious side after the light hearted conversation with Mazrakiel and he shot a look at Maz, who was emerging from the caravan bottom out of Kagetokeru. "Right man, I'm gonna find my team, I don't know how they want us assembled or anything, but I figure if I organise myself somehow, at least its some form of organisation...if that makes any sense." He nodded at Maz, and set off to find Masato and Yaku. Walking, not running, which would add to the commotion. Silently he wished that his team could communicate like he and Maz could, like in the last team...He abruptly ended his thoughts there, not wishing to dig up the past.
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Post by Kiri on Mar 27, 2007 0:05:16 GMT -5
"I see," was Nada's only reply.
She really wasn't in the mood to be having this conversation, and so she said nothing more. Makoto was an especially unpleasant turn of topic: one that she would prefer to stay away from. In her mind, he was as bad as a traitor. At least Kiyo had only abandoned her, and unintentionally. Makoto had abandoned the entire village of his own volition.
She knew she probably shouldn't be so hard on either of them, but what had happened was hard for her to accept.
"Sorry, Ut--" she stopped herself and took a deep breath. "Kiyoshi... kun," she finally said, with some level of difficulty. "I should try to find my team. Don't get into any trouble, alright?"
With that, she broke away from him, giving little more than a half-hearted wave upon her departure.
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Hatake Hiroshi
Lieutenant Hokage
Konoha's #1 Hunter-nin
Beat me brother, with a solid four!
Posts: 1,194
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Post by Hatake Hiroshi on Mar 27, 2007 0:07:19 GMT -5
We're here! We're here!
Kohana shot upright, her eyes widening as she tried to focus her vision. We're here?! Finally! she thought to herself, trying to gather her unraveled bandages and digarded forehead protector and sandals. Pulling on her shoes and wiping the sweat from her forehead and face, she scrambled from the wagon into the sunlight.
She frantically began winding the massive amounts of bandages around her arms again, having to try several times before they looked right. She flung her forehead protector around her back, fed one end under her right arm and the other over her left shoulder, and quickly tied the ends of the fabric into a tight knot at her chest before pulling the shiney metal plate around to the front. Smoothing out the fabric of her outfit, she stood up straight and looked around.
The entire caravan was a mess. The young shinobi ran around, cheering and hollering at the tops of their lungs, overcome with excitement that they had finally reached their destination. She spotted several ANBU and other high-ranking shinobi, including the Hokage's assistant, Akina, trying to get everyone in order. Aijou was chasing down a young boy who was running around swinging his shirt above his head, Haruki was busy trying to get a little girl who had been shoved into the dirt to stop crying, and Ryuji...where was Ryuji? Then Kohana spotted him... He was trying to break up a fight that had broken out between a couple of boys near the wagons at the rear of the caravan.
Reaching down, he grabbed hold of one of the boy's shirts and hoisted him to his feet. He struggled, flailing his arms and legs around, his eyes shut tightly. The other kid stood up and brushed himself off before trying to flee, but Ryuji caught him by the shoulder.
"And where do you think you're going?" he asked the boy, pulling him back towards him.
The boy hesitated, then responded. "Back to the wagon?"
Ryuji chuckled. "I don't think so. You two are coming with me."
The two youngsters were pretty banged up, both with a split lip and several scrapes and bruises on their faces, arms and legs, and one of the boys had suffered quite a bloody nose. Ryuji shook his head. "What exactly were you two fighting about?"
The first one spoke up. "He stole my spot in the wagon!"
"Did not! You got up and left!" the other retorted.
"Did too!" "Did not!" "Did too!" The arguing went on for several moments before Ryuji interjected.
"HEY!" he shouted over their quarrel. "I don't care who did what. You shouldn't have been fighting at all in the first place!"
"But he started it!" the second boy protested, pointing a finger at the other.
Ryuji sighed. "Well, you shouldn't have fought back. Now, I'm taking you both to Akina-san so she can take a look at what you've done to yourselves. We'll figure out your punishment later. Come on!" He took them both by the arm and pulled them along towards the head wagon.
"Akina-san! Akina-san!" Ryuji called out as he approached the wagon. "Stop dragging your feet and come on! You're not getting out of this," he huffed, then continued. "I have a couple of troublemakers here that need to be looked at."
He waited patiently for the redhead to respond.
~*~*~
Kohana sighed. Eventually, the chaos began to settle, and she thought maybe she should go find her teammates and her sensei before they entered the Sand village.
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Mar 27, 2007 0:08:05 GMT -5
Akina sighed heavily when she saw the state of the two boys. Running a hand through her hair, she looked them up and down with a steely emerald gaze. "You two were fighting.... weren't you?" she asked them coldly. Neither one seemed to want to respond, so she asked them again. "Weren't you?" They both nodded. Akina sighed again, crossing her arms and looking them both dead in the eye.
"If it weren't for the fact that we need to look presentable for our allies," she told them, "I'd leave you like that as a punishment. However..." she held out her hands - one to each boy - and, using her chakra as carefully as possible, she healed the worst of their injuries. The minor scrapes and bumps she left as a reminder of their little tussle.
"Playtime is over. If you cannot act like shinobi, then you do not deserve the title. Do you understand me?"
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Hatake Hiroshi
Lieutenant Hokage
Konoha's #1 Hunter-nin
Beat me brother, with a solid four!
Posts: 1,194
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Post by Hatake Hiroshi on Mar 27, 2007 0:13:01 GMT -5
Ryuji smiled behind his mask as he watched Akina step into view. Letting go of the two boys, he let Akina take it from there. He sighed and lifted his mask, just enough to wipe the sweat from his face with his gloved hand. Replacing the mask, he watched intently as Akina dealt with the two troublemakers.
Playtime is over. If you cannot act like shinobi, then you do not deserve the title. Do you understand me?
Ryuji grinned as the two boys nodded to Akina's question. "Thank you, Akina-san! I'll make sure these two rascals get a fair punishment, if I may."
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Mar 27, 2007 0:13:34 GMT -5
Akina smiled grimly, a gesture that turned the boys deathly white. "Of course," she replied. "I leave it to you." Just then a shriek rang out across the caravan. "Stop it! That's my hair! Let go, let go! AUGH!!! SENSEEEEEEI!" Akina wanted to collapse. "Anyways, I have to go see about that," she told Ryuji. "See you around. Good luck with our friends here." And with that she set out in the direction of the distressed cry.
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Hatake Hiroshi
Lieutenant Hokage
Konoha's #1 Hunter-nin
Beat me brother, with a solid four!
Posts: 1,194
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Post by Hatake Hiroshi on Mar 27, 2007 0:15:41 GMT -5
Of course. I leave it to you. Akina said with a grin spread across her face. Just then a shrill scream rang out through the air. A couple more youngsters seemed to be having a bit of a snit. Anyways, I have to go see about that. See you around. Good luck with your friends here. she finished as she ran off to fix the problem.
Ryuji smiled deviously as the two already distraight boys looked up at him. He let out a mischievous chuckle before placing a strong hand on either of the boys shoulders. "Oh, this is going to be soooo much fun!"
The color drained from both of the boys' faces as they stared back at the haunting ANBU mask, shivers running up their spines. "Do you boys know how many wagons of cargo we have with us on this trip?"
They didn't answer.
"Quite a few, actually," Ryuji continued, pushing the boys towards the rear of the caravan. "Once we arrive at Hidden Sand, and find where we're going to be staying, you two are going to be unloading every single one of those wagons and making sure that all the cargo gets where it needs to be. And, once you've done that, you'll be confined to your assigned living quarters with no social interaction until myself or a higher-ranking shinobi says otherwise. I'll be informing them all of your little squabble and how you're being punished, and once we return home, your parents will be notified of your behavior."
The two boys looked absolutely horrified.
"I'll be keeping an eye on you..." Ryuji said in a high voice, then set them off on their way.
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Hatake Hiroshi
Lieutenant Hokage
Konoha's #1 Hunter-nin
Beat me brother, with a solid four!
Posts: 1,194
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Post by Hatake Hiroshi on Mar 27, 2007 0:19:21 GMT -5
A small group of elite shinobi stopped some ways off from the caravan, and turned to face each other. “It looks like everything is clear, and we're safe. I will go report to Hokage-sama, and the rest of you can join the caravan,” one of the kunoichi among the group said, looking over her shoulder at the travelers off in the distance. The rest of the group nodded in agreement before bounding off towards the group, led by the buxom, white-haired ninja.
Approaching the Hokage's wagon unnoticed, she knocked before stepping into the wagon with the village's leader. “Yanagawa Miyuki reporting back, Hokage-sama...”
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
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Post by Tensei Kaori on Mar 27, 2007 0:19:59 GMT -5
Kaori nodded when Yanagawa-san stepped into the wagon. "What do you have to report?" she asked.
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Hatake Hiroshi
Lieutenant Hokage
Konoha's #1 Hunter-nin
Beat me brother, with a solid four!
Posts: 1,194
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Post by Hatake Hiroshi on Mar 27, 2007 0:21:24 GMT -5
Miyuki flipped her hair back over her shoulder and replied, her voice calm and quiet. "After the attack on the caravan, we spread out to scout the area for any more threats. We would have returned sooner, but there was a possibility of further enemy attacks on the group. Fortunately, we found nothing, so we are in the clear. We're safe...at least for now."
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Tensei Kaori
Hokage
Konoha's #1 Henge Master
Taking over the world, one bishie at a time...
Posts: 7,888
|
Post by Tensei Kaori on Mar 27, 2007 0:21:54 GMT -5
Kaori nodded, allowing a slight smile to cross her face. "Excellent. That's exactly what I was hoping for. A job well done, to your whole team." She paused, wondering whether to leave it to Aijou to recount the events of the attack, then continued. "You may want to check on Aijou-kun and Kohana-kun. They're all right, but they were caught up in the very heart of the attacks."
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