Starring:
Maia, Kenta, Takeda, Hoiishime
Date: August 6, 2010
Summary:
Maia-sensei and Team 01 scout the ruins Professor Miyagi found.
"Exploring the ruins - Part 1"
Mountain Peak [Land of Lightning]
Kenta is doing what he normally does lately. Studying his techniques. He's been obsessed with jutsu as of late, even missing his own birthday. Much to the disappointment of his own family. Out on a cliff face, he stands on a wide flat spot. A perfect place to practice area jutsu but not someplace that anyone else would get hurt. He does a few hands signs and says in a low tone, "Tenjin Clan Technique; Sludge Emission" His hand forms the rat sign and from it and his mouth comes a stream of thick black liquid. It sprays about and goes everywhere, save for where Kenta is standing. If anyone was in front of him or below where it drops off the cliff, they would be caught in its sitcky mess. It does take a bit out of him though as he wipes his brow of sweat soon after. Sniffing, he waves his hand, "Whew, the stuff is already breaking down." Sure enough, the liquid is starting to bubble and break down turning into a thick vapor that is caught by the wind. Kenta pulls out a small beaker with a stopper and scoops up a small sample of the stuff. Then seals it.
Maia was below, walking up casually on the side of the cliff when he started spewing out the thick sludge. Her brows furrowed as she brought out a seal and captured the remnants of the sludge splattering about in one of her npatented sealing techniques. Of the Jounin in the village, she was one of the most accomplished when it came to sealing techniques now, considering nher own experimentation and studies. "Interesting." she muttered softly as she finally reached the top and peered towards one of her students.
"You know, you have to take a break sometimes too." she said firmly and resolutely. This was ironic considering she rarely took breaks as well. "Your parents told me you missed your birthday." she says before covering her nose at the noxious smell.
Kenta isn't worried about the smell, having done this before. He looks up having slipped the beaker into his coat. "Oh, Maia-sensei. Sorry you had to see that. I was saving it for our next mission." As the last bits of sludge evaporate off a minute or so later, it leaves bits of scarred and eaten earth all over. Kenta hops down off the cliff dangling his legs over the edge. "My birthday? What day is this?" he says thinking about it, "Oh yeah, that was yesterday." He smiles and says, "Sorry, guess I lost track of time." Actually, Kenta's been disappearing and reappearing for at least a week now, maybe more. He's been hard to pin down.
"Well, it would be good to let your parents know, yes?" she said with raised brows as she nose scrunched and took a deep breath while running her fingers through her hair. "But it's an interesting technique nonetheless, so I'm glad to see that you're progressing." Maia chirped cheerily as she smiled brightly towards the boy. "And it's all right, I've been really busy too, so I know what it's like." she said with a sage nod before she she formed a seal and poof, a scroll appeared in her hands. "Oh, and before I forget.."
She tosses the scroll in his direction. "Happy birthday."
Kenta looks surprised as the scroll lands in his hands. "What's this?" he says, opening the gift scroll. He chuckles, "You shouldn't have, Maia-sensei." Come to think of his birthday, Kenta is a little bummed inside he missed his 13th birthday. But all the hard work is paying off and that is what matters to him. He looks what is inside and says, "Thank you!" Whatever it is, it sounds genuine.
The pair are on topof the mountain peak on this fine late afternoon. Considering Kenta has been so focused on making various techniques, Maia was asked by his parents to try to bring him home. "It's all right." she said with a soft chuckle escaping from her lips as she motions for him to open the scroll. Inside are the instructions of how to perform various water based techniques, considering she knew of his elemental affinity afterall. "I wouldn't be a good sensei if I didn't get you anything for your birthday afterall, no?"
He looks over the water jutsu scroll with at least a casual interest. "These are some high level jutsus. Where did you get it?" he asks, though he won't be learning them any time soon. At least it's a great way to get them once he's ready. Water dragon jutsu!
"Ahhh, now that is one of my secrets." she says with a knowing grin while tapping at her temples for a few moments. She lets out a soft chuckle of amusement as it did have the water dragon in there amongst a few lower techniques as well. "But don't worry, I didn't go stealing it from any scroll vaults of anything like that, so it's yours to study and keep. I figure since I haven't heard anything about your correspondences with Tenjin Hibari of Sunagakure, I figure I would try to get you some more advanced techniques anyway." she said matter of factly.
Kenta gives a cerious look at Maia and then shrugs. "Sounds good. I want to get my clan techniques down first. Then we'll see. Oh actually I was going to ask you next time I see you. How do you do the summoning technique?"
Kawichi has arrived.
"The summoning technique?" she says with a bit of surprise as she lets out a soft chuckle of amusement. "What are you planning on summoning? Inanimate objects are quite easy, but if you're trying to have a summoning contract, that's a different matter all together."
Kenta gives a shrug, "I don't know. I don't think I'd want any animal to summon. I've never really felt a close connection with any. Was just thinking it'd be good to know should I ever run across something I could use it on." He stands up and dusts himself off, not wanting to sit on the dirty cliff face any longer. "Should we go back down?" he says pointing to the village down below.
"I don't think you should get a summon just as a backup. That would be insulting to the contract animal." Maia said with a wry grin curling onto her lips as she stretches her arms in the air and looks towards the cliff face. "But if you want to."
Kenta smiles, "Of course, take care of the summoned creature or it might not come back. Same with all pets." He watches the hands to memorize the hand signs. That's almost always the key in jutsu, hand signs. He walks back away from the cliff to watch, he's not about to be blown over in a strong wind.
"It's not like a pet. A summoned creature can view you as his subordinate." she says matter of factly, having heard a few stories of 'masters' who were the pets instead. Maia just shook her head as she took a deep breath and pursed her lips as she motioned towards the scroll she gave him. "If you want one of the interesting techniques there, I'd suggest looking at the Dance of the Swordfish. It's an interesting technique."
Kenta says with only a half truth to his voice, "Oh, I understand." He gives a small smile as his more laid back self comes to the surface in his voice, "Dance of the swordfish? Can't wait to see that one." Kenta unrolls the scroll in his hand and looks at the technique, "A technique that bonds the water to a shord bladed weapon to add length during the strike? Oh, most interesting."
"Considering I saw you training with the kodachi, I figured that one would help you a bit." she said with a sage nod. See, that's what a good sensei does afterall as she continues walking alongside him.
"Oh it will. Thank you, Maia-sensei.", Kenta says. He hops down a few rocks since there's hardly a trail, "So, what's our next mission?" Sounds like he's ready to take something on.
"Well, when I find the others, we're going back to the ruins that Professor Miyagi had discovered. The scrolls he retrieved last time indicate that there may be a powerfulartifact in those ruins." she explains as she walks alongside him, stretching her arms out into the air.
"That sounds exciting.", Kenta says, "Where is everyone, anyway?" It dawns on him he's hardly seen anyone around from team 01. Teamwork isn't something the team practices outside the mission it seems. He walks next to Maia, hands behind his back.
It was always a long way up to the peaks on which made up Kumogakure's summit, but Hoiishime seemed to make the walk rather easily. He would not mind the climb much this time around, his own efforts to get up, easing thanks to Mitsuomi's physical training. Even now, the boy, had been running up the mountain side, his every step seeming to crack the earth left behind. But had he gotten to be that powerful? It could be that he was that strong, but it had to been at least something else. He wore today, a longsleeve shirt, that seemed to be about the lengths of tunic, and shown with a bright clean white. He would come to arrive at the place where Kenta and Maia had seemed to be in discussion, and shout, panting, saying, "Hey!! Not be expectin ya two up here!! How's it goin?" His clothing would seem to bulk in the strangest of place, his normal movement in waving, and even coming to a walking place seeming to require some strain, and alittle more effort than what Hoiishime had been normally seen exerting.
"Oh! you missed Kenta's birthday!" Maia says matter of factly, giving Hoiishime a wave, "But then again, so did we, and that's Kenta included." she replies with a little snicker escaping from her lips. "So how is your training wth Mitsuomi going?"
"Huh??? Really? I be missin it?!!!", would be said with some shock as he would facepalm and hang his head in shame saying, "I be sorry…" He would look to the Tenjin, and say, "Happy Birthday to ya den!! I pray Buddha be blessin ya wit more!", coming to a stand with a tall bow. Hoiishime would think nervously for a while, saying, "I be only wishin dat I could giv- Ahah!! I got just the ting, mon!" Hoiishime would then take, and around his wrist, unloosen an extremely long pair of prayer beeds, wooden and hand made, and then string them around Kenta saying, "Deez, be abit special to me.. I be havin em since da days I be a babe at da monastery. Yuujiro-o-oji-sama be makin for me bead by bead, and I be tinkin just maybe, dey may help in prolongin dat life of yours." He would bow deeply to Kenta as he would accept them, before looking to Maia's question.
His mood would dim, before he would sigh saying, "Well da man be right.. hell ain't da only ting I be goin through. But I be likin da results." Hoiishime would then say, "So far, he be callin me weak more den da last cup of tea one me elders be havin. His remedy….", would be said, just before the small monk would raise up his shirt, showing off nothing but weights…..covering his entire chest. He would then raise up his sleeves, and show off more weights.. "And just in case I don't be havin enough..", Hoiishime's hakama being raise up to show leg weights, all the way up to his thigh. "If I take em off, he be sayin him go keel me.. I don' wan die, Mai-sensei.. I don' wan die.. ;_;"
There's a soft chuckle escaping from her lips as she looks at the various weights on the young boy's body. "Well, at least you can remain standing with all those weights on you." she says with a sage nod. "That's definitely something I know I couldn't do." but then again, she isn't a taijutsu user at all. She just sort of fakes it with her various techniques while she peers towards him. "And it was you who said you wanted to train with him, so you have to accept the consequences for your actions, but you'll be all the stronger for it. Whatever doesn't kill you only makes you stronger afterall."
Hoiishime has reconnected.
Hoiishime would sigh, and say, "Yeahyeah… you be right… I guess I don't be expectin of it to be dis..weird." He would adjust his shirt again, and smile at the woman's complements before he would then say, "Well, one ting Mitsuomi-sensei be saying, is that da only ting dat be good about me, is me bones. He be sayin I got good structure." He would look to Maia at her mentioning of what not killing him making hims stronger, and gulp fearfully, before saying, "Yeah… dat.. But I don' wan die, Mai-sensei…", the boy hanging his head once again. Mitsuomi's training was nuts, and to say the least, it /could/ cause death if he wasn't careful. Hoiishime would shrug and say, "I tink at dis point, he be wantin me to work on me stamina, and den, he be teachin from dere." Hoiishime would sigh just before see Kenta's scroll and say, "Oooo.. what ya got dere, Kenta-san?"
"It's just a little birthday present I got for him." Maia explains. She had been traveling the world for a long time now and had collected various notes on jutsu. Even though she wasn't versed in any elemental ninjutsu herself, she still had lots of notes on how they were performed and various original techniques she had met from many of her shinobi fans. "I know he has water nature, so I gave him a scroll that detailed a few advanced ninjutsu that I had seen over the years."
Kenta nods and holds the scroll open for Hoiishime. He's been reading it, even though he's learning poisons and herbalism techniques, he can't resist a new technique put in front of him. "It should come in handy when I'm ready to learn them." he says with a smile, "Once again, thanks Maia-sensei." He turns to Hoiishime, "It's ok I actually missed my birthday too."
Arriving on the scene sometime later is Takeda..The masked genin must have been off on another mission, still he flickers into the area, and walks over casually.."Greetings" heard from the masked genin
Looking to the scroll, and smiling, Hoiishime would like this. "Aaah.. nice gift indeed.. Looks like be beads be trumped.", the statement ending in loud laugh. He would then smile saying, "Well, I tink Maia be knowin dis, but me and Kenta san share a chakra nature with water. I tink he might be more skilled though." He would look to the scroll, chin rubbing a moment, still kind thinking how cool of a gift it ways, before Takeda's greeting would be hear. "Takeda-san! Hey… Ooo… Team 1 be assembled den!", smiling and sticking his chest out alittle.
"Well, it's not all the water nature techniques that I have seen. Those were techniques that I had in mind for him due to his skill with kenjutsu and poisons." she said matter of factly, even pointing out to a poison mist jutsu inside the scroll. "Don't worry, on your birthday, you'll be getting one too." How did she have all this knowledge of ninjutsu when she didn't use them herself? Who knows?
She grins as she looks around at the assembled team and hrmms for a few moments. "Well, we could go check up on Mister Miyagi, but I don't know how tired you all are.." she replies while scratching the back of her head.
Kenta shakes his head and rolls the scroll up, "No, I like the beads just as much." He runs a hand over the small beads hanging around his neck and hasn't taken them off since Hoiishime gave him them. He's been quiet about them for a little while, having not found the words to properly express them. "Actually, more. Thank you for them by the way, I'll keep them close to me." At least he'll hold onto them somewhere on his person. The neck's already got his very loose choaker with the cloud ninja ID plate on it. He puts the scroll in his coat and then takes the beads off and folds them up nicely and puts them in another pocket.
Takeda glances from person to person.."Sounds cool to me, since I missed out, whats next?"
Replying to Mai about the scroll he would probably get, Hoiishime would smile, but then his face would frown up as if his mind had though of something just that moment. "Hmmm.. well dat just be it. I don't be knowin me own birthday. Neva had a party neither. Never seemed dat important at da shrine, since everybody be treated da same, no matter what day age." Many people forget that Hoiishime had been an orphan when he was dropped on the door step of the monastery. He had been an infant still but no information had came with him that day. Just a simple note and a poison bite on his foot, along with the wooden basket he had been put in as a cradle.
Hoiishime would look to the three, and first, to Maia, say, "Hmmm.. Who be Mister Miyagi? I don't be mindin if we do it, but do we be meetin him before?" He would look to the Kenta, as he would seem to have enjoyed the beads alot, and show the Tenjin a warm smile. In the end, it seemed worth it that he had given Kenta the bead. Its stuff like this kind of generosity that made bonds stick. He would smile to Kenta, saying, "Perhaps Maia may be havin somethin for us to work on. After all, I tink if we gon' be a good team, we got to at least work on some mo of da official tings." He would look to the
"Well, Professor Miyagi is an old man and isn't able to explore the ruins he had discovered as easily as he could when he was our age. He needs a group of upstanding young genin to explore the ruins for him to see what other sorts of relics and treasures into the past we can find. It's important to the Land of Lightning before as it information on the samurai and the shinobi before the clan wars even started!" she says matter of factly. Hopefully that would be enough excitement to get the team going.
"Then your birthday is, the day you were discovered by the monasatery, easy enough Hoiishime" Takeda replies..then throws up a finger "Oh yeah, I remember him, we did a mission for him before correct?" Nods his head then exhales.."Well lets get going shall we?"
Kenta nods smiling back at Hoiishime then addresses the whole gang, "He is a professor of archeology. I remember that escort mission. Took on some bandits if I remember right." He nods and says, "Alright, let's go!" He points down the trail to the village and even takes a few steps before stopping and turning back around grinning and rubbing the back of his head, "Where are we going, Maia-sensei? Heh heh."
Kaoru has arrived.
"I already told Kaoru to meet us at the meeting point. It's at the ruins already and we aren't too far. Considering nthe nature of these explorations, the Raikage figured it would be important to keep the professor safe afterall." Maia explains as she starts heading towards the mountains where the first set of ruins were found. Considering the information she was privy too, she knew this was going to be no ordinary experience, but that's why she had prepared her team the best way she could by fighting in the dark maze.
Hoiishime would have been thinking about what Takeda said, and though the way it was said came of rather trivial, the comment seemed to hit the boy with even more questions. When did he arrive at the Monastery? Had anybody made record of the date? Who was the one that recieved him? He always remebered Hanma Yuujiro being around to actually look out for him, making sure he was never picked on and that he always had enough food and clothing, even being the one who gave Hoiishime his last name. But that was just it. Hoiishime never really wondered about who he was, and where he had come from, but it didn't seem to stick until just now. Even as saw everyone getting amped at the prospect of being able to go ahead with a new mission, Hoiishime felt himself sadden slightly. Just who had he really been? What was his family like? Had he a mother? A father? Siblings.
He had heard it all about Kaoru-sempai, one of Maia's brothers being along for the trip, and that they would be visiting the old ruins that Mister Miyagi had been to old to explore. But for some reason, Hoiishime was still sort of just frozen there. As everyone seemed to go off, Hoiishime, still found himself thinking abit more about his whole conundrum, stuck in a state of pondering. He would have to do something about this soon, or else the questions would only haunt him abit more. It would a few moments later that he would see the other disappearing down the mountain, that he would awaken, and, despite the heavy weights he wore, began to run after them.
An eyebrow raised, so maia's brother was comng, well that damn sure should make things interesting, still Takeda kinda walked along with the others.. As usual he too was lost in his own thoughts, as his goals were a number one priority. A loner, he kept to himself often, as well as his agenda..the closest friend he had was Hoiishime, whom some amount of trust had been earned and gained..
Since Kenta's turned about to look at the group, he does see Hoiishime look sad. He tilts his head and before Hoiishime runs off, he pats him on the shoulder and smiles jogging with him as well. He's not about to let a team member straggle behind. Not today at least. "You ok?" he asks softly while they jog along after the others.
The walk itself wasn't too long. These are ninja traveling about afterall, but noticing Hoiishime go quiet, Maia would let Kenta and takeda handle this for now. It would be a good bonding experience for the team afterall.
People dropping back, and words said to Hoiishime, break him from his own thoughts, as he turns to study the monk/healer.. Takeda wonders what he is sad about.."Okay so whats wrong with you?" oblivious to hos comment earlier.. since he figured, that problem was solved..
Feeling Kenta pat him on the shoulder as they moved, Hoiishime would look to the Tenjin, and smile warmly before saying, "Aye… I be fine. Just questionin alot. I just be realizin dat I don't know much me past. Stuff like where I be sent here from, and who me family be. I don't tink I even know da date when I arrived here. Dat, sir, be havin to change.", his words spoken loudly enough where both Kenta and Takeda should hear the. He would look to Takeda, and give hims a thumbs up, letting the Yamayuki know that he was fine, and he was, but still, lingerring thoughts were about.
In his mind, however, Hoiishime had also already been planning on something big. All he would need is time and oppurtunity. "When da time comes.. Just promise me, dat ya two be havin me back. I be callin on ya soon, ya got me?", a serious, determined look being now in the eyes of the monk, as he would look at his two teammates. When it was confirmed that they would be with him, Hoiishime would smile, and despite his weights, began to move any faster, his mind renewed, and his mood a whole lot better.
The current season is: Summer.
Kenta looks confused but relieved that Hoiishime doesn't have as much angst as he thought the monk did. He's glad for his friend despite the pain of not knowing the past, he can move on. He gives a shrug, "I'm in the same boat, my ma and pa didn't even tell me what day I was born on. I had to make one up for the academy's records so I choose yesterday, I just know I was born in the summer." That's what he gets for being born in the Tenjin clan. Bunch of damn tree hugging hippies.
Takeda remains quiet, as everyone seems calm now.. The masked genin looks around.."Okay, lets go in silent mode, and scout the area, or go stealthly, as Maia-san gets the info, and relays it too us?" looks at the other two
Thinking about what Tenjin said, Hoiishime wouldn't say much but in return, pat him on the back. At least he knew where Hoiishime was coming from. To Takeda, whom at this point, had been trying to figure out the best way to approach the situation, he would smile and say, "I tink we be waiting at dis point, mon. Ya see, I be figurin it dis way. Dese ruins. Dey be untread territory, as far as we be concerned. I don't be recommendin dat we just go in, even in stealth, before we be hearin any info. I be sure Maia-sensei, probably got some intel from Miyagi-ojiijii-sama." He would look to Maia and then the others, as they still would remain in route, thinking this mission might be the best test for the group.
So it took a bit longer than expected to get to the mountains where the ruins that Professor Miyagi had found. It was an uneventful trip for the most part, and it was in the early afternoon when Team 01 of Kumogakure had arrived. There were people working in the high sun, sweating as they worked on excavating the ruins buried in the mountain. There were at least sixty to eighty people working for the good professor, mostly manual laborers and there were a few shinobi guards posted.
Maia beelined towards the professor and his bodyguards, relieving them of duty for now, as everyone had needed a break. "We're all here now!" she chirped merrily.
"Wonderful!" cried the professor, placing his hands together as he looked towards the team. "COme come!" he said, starting to jump down, excited like a little school boy as he wandered down the rocky slopes of the region to a pit where one of the entrances had been recently excavated. "This is one of the entrances we found that the scrolls I have deciphered had talked about. It is dark, very dark, and every time I send in a team of laborers to go inside, their lamps are blown out. I think there may be booby trap jutsu putting out fires, which is why I think your team, with its expertise in perception techniques may come in handy." he says with a bright smile.
A rough schematic with some twists and turns had been placed on a table. "This is what nthe workers could tell me it looks like inside. There are twists and turns and various insignia on the walls. If you could etch the symbols and hieroglyphs on the walls by pressing this paper and rubbing the graphite rods over it, we'll know what's inside and I can get back to translating them." he said rather enthusiastically. "Can you all do that for me?"
Maia looked expectantly towards the group, waiting for their response to the inquiry.
Kenta isn't too thrilled about the mission since the trip seems so long. Kenta mumbles, "This is taking forever….how much further Maia-sensei?" But before she can really answer, they round the trail bend and see the camp below. "Finally…." he says giving a great sigh. As the professor leads them on, Kenta looks all about at the work being done. But when the group reaches the cave, Kenta says, "Or a series of air ducts? Jutsu would need chakra, unless it was some kinda of genjutsu. But even that might not last forever. Right, Maia-sensei?" He takes a sheet of the paper and a few of the graphite rods slipping them into a handy outside pocket on his coat.
However, Hoiishime, had been excited about the trip, saying to Kenta, "Awww… don't be like dat, Ken-kun. We be almost there, eh, Mai-sensei?" He would look to the camp and smile, saying so matter a factly, "Seee… I be right." before he would look just as Kenta did to all the work being done. He would see Miyagi approach them and wave, finally remebering the man, and smiling. "Great to see ya again, Miyagi-ojii-san. By the way ya be acting, looks like we be just intime." He would hear the man's warning and look to what had been being said by Kenta. "Well, ya gotta remeber seals be stored chakra, so.. tink dey might be related to dat. Genjutsu be mind to mind fo da most part, mon."
"You haven't been paying attention to my techniques, have you, Kenta." Maia says with a soft chuckle escaping from her lips as she nose scrunches and shakes nher head as she nods and accepts a roll of paper herself along with a rod of graphite. "We can take care of the drawings, but what about the Sword of the Lightning God that you said might be inside?" she asks with a soft whisper.
"Oh! That! Yes!" Miyagi replies, flailing his arms about before letting out a hearty laugh. "That's one of the reasons why I want to know what's on nthe walls. The scrolls say it's nhidden in the inner most chamber of the ruin, but that's all I know. Unless you stumble upon a way to the middle of the ruin, then I wouldn't be worrying about that yet."
Kenta ahs softly to the revilation, "I didn't know that. Genjutsu has never been my strong point." It really isn't, he knows about as much as a standard villager knows about genjutsu. It's not an interest to him, even with the few lessions of Maia's techniques, which Kenta just frowns a bit at. But quickly he perks up at something hidden deep inside. Treasure? Jewels? Cool new jutsu he could learn? Kenta almost tingles with the idea of learning something new. He pats around his coat for something, and pulls it out, a small clump of moss. Don't ask if it's been growing in that pocket. Best if you don't. Kenta crushes it in the palm of his hand and even in the daylight, it begins to glow an errie green. He pastes it on a nearby stick and hands one to Hoiishime, then another to Maia, before pulling another clump out of a pocket, crushing it, and giving himself a glow stick. "Much better. Let the jutsu try to blow that out." he says with a smirk.
Hoiishime has reconnected.
"You haven't been paying attention to my techniques, have you, Kenta." Maia says with a soft chuckle escaping from her lips as she nose scrunches and shakes nher head as she nods and accepts a roll of paper herself along with a rod of graphite. "We can take care of the drawings, but what about the Sword of the Lightning God that you said might be inside?" she asks with a soft whisper.
"Oh! That! Yes!" Miyagi replies, flailing his arms about before letting out a hearty laugh. "That's one of the reasons why I want to know what's on nthe walls. The scrolls say it's nhidden in the inner most chamber of the ruin, but that's all I know. Unless you stumble upon a way to the middle of the ruin, then I wouldn't be worrying about that yet."
Kenta ahs softly to the revilation, "I didn't know that. Genjutsu has never been my strong point." It really isn't, he knows about as much as a standard villager knows about genjutsu. It's not an interest to him, even with the few lessions of Maia's techniques, which Kenta just frowns a bit at. But quickly he perks up at something hidden deep inside. Treasure? Jewels? Cool new jutsu he could learn? Kenta almost tingles with the idea of learning something new. He pats around his coat for something, and pulls it out, a small clump of moss. Don't ask if it's been growing in that pocket. Best if you don't. Kenta crushes it in the palm of his hand and even in the daylight, it begins to glow an errie green. He pastes it on a nearby stick and hands one to Hoiishime, then another to Maia, before pulling another clump out of a pocket, crushing it, and giving himself a glow stick. "Much better. Let the jutsu try to blow that out." he says with a smirk.'
Hoiishime has partially disconnected.
Listening to Maia kid with Kenta was pretty funny to Hoiishime, who would tap the other nin on the shoulder. Maia affirmative of the wholetaking care of the drawings was a bit hasty to Hoiishime, who didn't know what they would encounter in the place, but he would say nothing, hoping at least that he and Kenta, with Maia's help, could last in the place. Hearing about the goodies deep within would have Hoiishime that excited, but then again, he didn't know what was so exciting about them. He would smile to Kenta and take the rod, and take the rod saying, "Oooo.. creative.", before chuckling and then saying, "So when we gon get dis thing started?"
"Well, let's head on in then! Thank you, Miyagi-sensei." she says with a bow of her head as she takes in a deep breath as her eyes dilate and form a three armed spiral, deciding that the nejigan would probably be helpful in this case. She pursed her lips and motioned towards the others to follow their way into the darkness of the entrance.
Inside was dank, dark and dry. It had a musky smell, something that just showed how old it was as the three glow sticks were barely enough illumination to really give a layout of what was in front of them. Space was tight, and at most, they could file in two by two, so she looked towards the pair.
"Stick together, no matter what." Those were her orders as she glanced around, taking in a deep breath before she winced a little. There were bats up ahead, their ultrasonic screeches disorienting nher due to her sensitivity to the sound. Soon, they screeched out and started heading towards the entrance en masse! Uh oh! How to avoid being pushed by the dozens of bats going towards them!
Maia would press up against one of the walls as she shut her eyes, not wanting to get further disoriented…
Kenta might not have good sight in there, but his hearing's never been better. He hears the massive flutter of wings and screeching, then quickly drops to the floor. "I hate bats!" he says but his voice is drowned out by the noise. He had thought of using a water jutsu here, but not being able to see very well would be a real disadvantage for aiming.
Bowing to Miyagi, Hoiishime would follow suit as he would descend into the darkness of the place for which they would search. He would look to the sides of the place the dust and cobwebs of this place showing off just how ancient, and unkept it had been. Hoiishime, to say the least was fairly intrigued, moving the glowstick he held closer to the walls, just to see what had been on them, if anything had at all. But it was tight, and if he had been claustrophobic, Hoiishime would be in the thickness of his own worst fear. But thanks to his lack of phobias, everything was fine.
To the commans of Maia, Hoiishime would answer, "Hai.", and move along with the group, looking to Kenta and Maia with quick glances ever few seconds. He would see Maia seeming to not enjoy her way down, and saying, "Mai-sensei… You be okay mon?" And then it would happen. The bats. He would duck down as the bats would fly over head, looking to Kenta, and pulling him down, placing his hand over his mouth, and saying, "Keep calm.. dey ain't go hurt ya." He would look to forward, still wondering if Maia had been okay.
Takeda has connected.
Squeak! Squeak! Squeak! The bats make their way out of the darkness, but suddenly, the low sound of something rumbling can be heard. The stones that make up the archway start to shift as when Hoiishime crouched, he could feel something give way. He stepped on something and that something was definitely causing the rumbling sounds.
Fortunately for the monk, whatever he stepped on didn't affect where he or Kenta were standing. But it did do something to where Maia stood. The wall gave way as she leaned back and she let out a high npitched squeak of surprise as she fell back towards a slippery tunnel before the wall slowly started closing up. Who knew if the genin could catch their sensei in time?
"STAY TOOOOGEEEEEEETHEEEEEEEER!" could be heard echoing as she was falling back.
He feels the hall rumble and shake as stones begin to shift. Kenta shakes his head to get the hand off his mouth, "Move, Hoi-kun, Takeda-kun!" Getting to his hands and knees, he jams one of his syringes into his neck and let's the drugs go to work. For Kenta, time to seems to slow as his body gets a sudden burst of strength and speed. Like a shot he launches himself towards Maia, hoping to catch her with an outstreached hand.
"Hmmm…", would be the only that Hoiishime would say as he would feel something beneathe his feet, push down. A switch? Then came the sound of movement from beneathe her feet, and then to the wall at his left and then it would travel, before long that same sound turning into rumbling from all over! He would look to it, and facepalm, sayin, "Aww naww…", and begining to move, just as Kenta had been shooting up, and shooting out with advanced speed, shouting for he and Takeda to come long.
Of course he wouldn't have to tell Hoiishime twice, but still the monk's eyes would be locked on Kenta, and his used of that fluid. He would see the injection and wince, trying to figure it out. Then he would remeber! The formula Kenta was working on! Had he finally perfected it? He would move behind the nin just as fast, as he would try and see where Maia was falling to, skidding to the trap door, and then reaching his hand down, just to see if he could grab an arm or anything.
Takeda somehow got seperated from the others.. Not sure when or how, thru sound and luck, managed to catch up with the others..Its when he does, that attempts something and seriously fails.., as he ehard the monk and saw Kenta
It's just not her day. It's definitely not her day. While the Hoiishime and Kenta are close, her fingers just slip through their grasp before the wall disappears and flips to the other side as she falls into the darkness. Who knows where she's gone now, as it leaves the three of them in the dark corridor alone without their Jounin sensei. what will the boys do?
There are still the various etchings on the wall. Their mission was to collect those to give back to Professor Miyagi. But there's also the deeper corridors where the laborers have yet to explore. Will they follow mission directive or what? Who knows? And who will end up leading the trio now? dun dun dun! The boys are on their own from this point onward.
Kenta gasps, feeling his fingers brush against Maia-sensei's and disappear into the wall. "No!" he says through clenched teeth, but then relaxes a bit. She's a Jounin and more than capable of taking care of herself. He looks to the other two and picks up the glow moss covered stick of his. Thankfully, it didn't die out yet. Still at least an hour of it left. Kenta looks over Hoiishime and coughs saying, "Are you two ok? Hoiishime-kun, Takeda-kun?" Almost forgetting, he pulls out a red syringe and is about to jab himself to cancel the booster coursing through his body, then changes his mind. He may need the added boost. He slips the syringe back into his coat. Hopefully, the rest of team 01 are ok. Once the syringe is safe, he pulls out the paper and graphite. There's still a mission to preform.
As Maia slips through their grasp, Hoiishime's mood sort of matches Kenta's. He would look down the whole, and punch a nearby wall in disgust before responding to Kenta's inquiry with, "Yeah.. and I be tinkin Mai be okay too.. But dat still be leavin us a leada short, and a mission still. We be still having to collect dem drawins for Miyagi san. The wearabouts of dat sword, would be needin to be discoverd too, but at hand da easiest tings be comin first. I be sure dat is Maia be here, den it'd be top priority." He would look to the two others and then see where the corridor still led, lookin on to that direction. He would gesture toward others in the dark, and say, "Take-san.. Take point. I be tinkin dat we gon need ya senses if we gone even make it through without triggerin mo traps.. I tink it be a trap that me stepped in that caused Maia to fall through the last."
He would sigh and furrow his eyebrows thinking that for some reason this episode wasn't even half way over. "I be flankin left, Kenta-san, if ya can, I be needin ya to flank right, and make sure ya keep dat glow up." Hoiishime would sigh as he would then say, "And since we be needin our forms in dis.. I tink I might be able to shine some light on da situation too." Hoiishime, would then began to glow gold with chakra in his usual fashion, the lines moving up the limbs, chest, and back of his body, moving up to his neck, back and front, before soon, his eyes, would glow themselves. His form, would glow brightly, enough so where alot of the hall they stood, would be filled with some light and visibility.
Takeda nods as he watches the team leader disappear, to what both hoiishime and Kenta, as she is strong enough to take of herself. The masked genin moves to take point. Seems he will need to augment his senses.., and focus chakra in his form.
Mitsuomi arrives from Outside Kumogakure.
Mitsuomi has arrived.
Well? What are they going to do? Surely, if there was a way to activate the booby trap, there's a way to open it up again? Or will they just finish the mission at hand and return with back up, perhaps with someone more experienced? Who knows?
Kenta really would rather finish the mission, but Maia had most of the information. Namely, where the runes and writings on the wall could be found. Kenta holds his hand up at Hoiishime and says, "No, hold on a second…let me think." He closes his eyes for a moment and replays the recent events. Hoiishime setting off the trap. Maia. The door. His breathings is slow and deep as he considers his options. "Hoi-kun, Takeda-kun, we should find Maia-sensei. The mission is important, but we should concentrate on finding our lost leader." He looks around, seeing there's no damage and nothing's been disturbed. Kenta walks over to the spot where Maia disappeared in the wall and runs a hand around it, feeling for edges. "Hoi-kun, can you find the spot you hit on the ground to trip this?"
Hoiishime has reconnected.
Mitsuomi has partially disconnected.
Takeda having kneeled down, so that he can take point, be much more observant.. The masked Yamayuki, focuses, then transforms..A glance back to Kenta "Maia, is a jounin more than capable of taking care of herself, the mission is always more important than one individual, lets continue, I vote finish the mission"
Kenta really would rather finish the mission, but Maia had most of the information. Namely, where the runes and writings on the wall could be found. Kenta holds his hand up at Hoiishime and says, "No, hold on a second…let me think." He closes his eyes for a moment and replays the recent events. Hoiishime setting off the trap. Maia. The door. His breathings is slow and deep as he considers his options. "Hoi-kun, Takeda-kun, we should find Maia-sensei. The mission is important, but we should concentrate on finding our lost leader." He looks around, seeing there's no damage and nothing's been disturbed. Kenta walks over to the spot where Maia disappeared in the wall and runs a hand around it, feeling for edges. "Hoi-kun, can you find the spot you hit on the ground to trip this?"
Takeda having kneeled down, so that he can take point, be much more observant.. The masked Yamayuki, focuses, then transforms..A glance back to Kenta "Maia, is a jounin more than capable of taking care of herself, the mission is always more important than one individual, lets continue, I vote finish the mission"'
Hoiishime has partially disconnected.
Reza arrives from Jagged Narrow Path.
Reza has arrived.
Kenta really would rather finish the mission, but Maia had most of the information. Namely, where the runes and writings on the wall could be found. Kenta holds his hand up at Hoiishime and says, "No, hold on a second…let me think." He closes his eyes for a moment and replays the recent events. Hoiishime setting off the trap. Maia. The door. His breathings is slow and deep as he considers his options. "Hoi-kun, Takeda-kun, we should find Maia-sensei. The mission is important, but we should concentrate on finding our lost leader." He looks around, seeing there's no damage and nothing's been disturbed. Kenta walks over to the spot where Maia disappeared in the wall and runs a hand around it, feeling for edges. "Hoi-kun, can you find the spot you hit on the ground to trip this?"
Takeda having kneeled down, so that he can take point, be much more observant.. The masked Yamayuki, focuses, then transforms..A glance back to Kenta "Maia, is a jounin more than capable of taking care of herself, the mission is always more important than one individual, lets continue, I vote finish the mission"'
Hearing Kenta's case wasn't pleasant, truth be told, he could understand the boy's sentiment. But he knew Maia. She would be fine. Her abilities had been saviors of his life and others from time to time. She would be good even in a place like this, her sensory abilities being at the height of what had been Yamayuki clan heritage. He would nod to him but there still was a slight sigh. "Kenta san. Though I be getting ya, I tink at dis point, she be way better off den even us actually. I be figurin it dis way. The further depths of dis place, most likely, be probably havin worst traps den even dis one. One's dat most likely, be probably even more dangerous, den da wans we be runnin cross just now. The stakes be high, dat one of us, could be caught in a trap a whole lot easier den Maia-sensei had been."
He would look to the spot that had been the trap and sigh even more, as he would think most likely of a way to at least make Kenta's way, in his mind, possible. He would think a moment saying, "And besides, even if we split up da team, as I be knowin ya, you not be havin da senses to navigate dis place alone." He would look to the trap door, den say, "I tell ya what. I tink we be probably best hat hittin two birds at one stone.. We venture deeper sure, gettin da engravin we need. While we do dat, perhaps we can have hope dat da deeper we all go, dat we be gettin closer to Maia san's location.. Do we be in agreement?"
Takeda begins moving out, taking point, in a crouch, the Yamayuki, seems to be searching for more traps.."My vote, lets get more engravings, thats where I'm headed?"
Kenta gives a slight shrug, "I wasn't worried about going down there. I'm not 'that' crazy. But seeing what's behind the wall would have been a start." He pulls out a red liquid filled syringe and injects it into his neck. His muscles slack and he looks less bulky than he did a moment ago. Kenta says, "If you both think she does not need our help currently, who am I to argue with that, yes? Maybe we'll find her along the way. For now, I agree, we should get the engravings and explore a bit more if we can. If we do not turn anything up in a short time, we get a proper team in here to find Maia." He pulls out a few more clumps of glowing moss from a coat pocket and rubs them on his stick to make it glow brighter. "So, flank right, yes?" he says to Hoiishime, a bit of calmness in his voice as he moves to that side of the hallway and starts moving down it slowly while grabbing a few rubbings of the carvings there.
There are lots and lots of engraving to copy. They stretch down the dark and dank corridor, but for now, there's nothing else that can be heard. There's no noises from Maia, meaning she probably isn't even on the level that they're on right now. Miyagi did say it was almost like a pyramid esque structure afterall. Still, the engravings they find are rather interesting. They're a series of hieroglyphs and murals of shinobi in the past doing different things. There's one putting his fingers to his lip before breathing out a cloud of flame fighting against another person who made similar seals to those of the Yamayuki with a sort of shield around the ninja. That's a rather interesting case as the sound hidenjutsu wasn't around for that long, right?
Nodding to Kenta, and Takeda, Hoiishime would then smile saying, "I do believe dat hope be more of what I be believin in rather than her actual abilities." He would smile as he would pat the Tenjin on his shoulder. He would smile as he would take placing, the engravings at his left being what would be looked to and grabbed. "I be confident that as much as Maia be teaching us, somehow, she be still holdin a few tricks up her sleave, just for tings like dis. Lets be movin slow, and remember, traps be round us.. Don't be leavin not a ting unnoticed." He would look to many of the engravings, but the one with the Yamayuki and a shielding jutsu would stick out.. He would point to Takeda. "Ya be noticin dat one? Looks lika ya clansmen.. but a long time ago."
He would press on, as he would then smile at the work they had been doing. "Countin off as ya go. I be wantin vocal confirmation of every single engravin ya be findin. At least we need to keep track of what we be havin." He would look to the end of the corridor, Hoiishime glowin form helping with some visibility, as he would tap on Takeda's shoulder saying, "Keep ya senses up. I wan know whats at the end of every corridor we run cross."
Takeda does pause and study the engraving of what might look like his kin, so.. he makes sure to copy that one, once done, he continues the search for traps or what have you.. Like most times, the masked genin is quiet, and diligent in his search..
More and more murals are passed by. One of the rather large ones is what they find as they continue pressing on. It seems that Takeda had stepped onto something this time as the faint rumbling sound of shifting rock can be heard as they find themselves in an open area now with seemingly twelve different pathways to choose from. It was a huge room, very symmetrical in shape as each archway seemed to have some sort of animal on top of it. The animals that were closest were the ram, bird and ox, who knew what else would be in the other twelve passage ways?
Still, they could feel that the ground was no longer smooth. Perhaps they were standing on one massive engraving now? Or perhaps this place was littered with traps. More and moremurals ornately decorated the sides as they explored as it each one had a different depiction of an old shinobi. The one closest to them had several more hieroglyphs.
Along with the hieroglyphs was a man holding a sword that he held up in the sky. Lightning arced from it and shot to all the enemies around him as he stood triumphantly on a bloody battlefield.
Mitsuomi has reconnected.
Kenta tilts his head looking at the weapon, "That must be the sword. Interesting." He makes a few rubs of the hieroglyphs taking care to catch all the details. "War…it never changes, huh?" he says softly to no one inparticular. He's hoping his friends are searching for traps. While he's keeping his eyes open, they're more sensitive to such things. Kenta's just the plant, poison, and water man.
GAME: Save complete.
Mitsuomi has partially disconnected.
As they would press through, many of these murals, came off as more than simply works of art. They had been a history.. seems all of them had been connected naturally to the history of ninjutsu, in the land of Lightning. He would look to the Kenta as he would speak, and nod, having much to say. After all it was true. He gesture them all to keep forward, before soon the group would then come into a large room, after which Takeda, had revealed such with the triggering of a panel. Hoiishime would look around saying, "Who ever be doin dat… good job!", before he would run into the room, and gasp in wonder. Twelve passages, all indicated with a symbolic animal. he would look around and see the other murals and say, "Ya guys be noticing a trend with this place? For one, it be seemin to chronocle the history of ninjutsu, in da Land of Lightning!" He would look to many of the murals before he would then see the lightning sword and say to the others.. "Hey… don't dat be dat sword dat Maia-sensei be mentioning?"
He would then think a moment, as he would say to the other ninja, "Ram.. ox.. rabbit, dragon… Hey! Da animals.. don't be what be namin the handseals for jutsu from? I mean dey be twelves signs dat be used to use any and every ninjutsu, right? Maybe dey be havin an order. Any body be havin ideas?"
Takeda continues to search for traps, holding up a closed fist, for the others to stop moving, hardley breathe.. While looking, smelling and listening with enhanced senses.. Takes a moment to look at the seals, seeing if he can remember anything significant, and hhmms
As far as Takeda could tell from his hearing, there were no audible traps in the room. Instead, there were just a lot of murals over each pathway. Each animal also corresponded with an element as it was over the arch as well as they explored.
More murals would be found as they continued to explore the room. As far as they saw, all the pathways were open and there were the twelve animals for the twelve seals for ninjutsu. as they passed by, the second closest mural would have someone holding a sickle with what seemed like sand floating around them as waves of earth surrounded and crushed nhis enemies.
Looking at the glyphs and animals for hand signs he rubs a chin, "Well, we're looking for a lightning sword, right?" He closes his eyes for a moment and thinks hard, but nothing is coming. It's really frustrating for Kenta to be sure. "Well, if we can't find any clues, best to do is pick a hallway and go down it. I would suggest any but the one with the sickle. Any other ideas?" he says to the pair while still feeling around the walls with finger tips.
It was funny on what would be the meaning of such illustrations. The Sickle of Sand that Hoiishime would look at. He would look to it and then look to the Lightning Sword, and it seemed self explanatory. The both had been mythical weapons. He would frown as he would look to the sigils just above the animals, and then smile for a moment. He would frown at Kenta's suggestion, before he would then say, "I don't be tinkin dat be good. Still be soundin like splittin up.. and either way, dat don' be safe down here." He would look to the walls more, before he would look to the wall and then smile.. "Just a hunch, but I be tinkin dat da signs and the animals be related to each other… We be havin to go down in a order.. It be settin of something. What else we be knowin bout dese animals that go long with some ting? Do dey be wit some ting other den the handseals?" He would look around then sigh. The key to what was next lied in the animals and the seals that be with them. What had been the importance, had been the case had been however.
Takeda continues to study the sigils, particularly looking for one associated with SOUND. Still the order, rhyme or reason finally begins to form slowly in his head.. However the Yamayuki is fully aware of the dangers of this place, so trap-searching never stops.
They pass yet another mutal. This time, it was clearly a woman, a kunoichi as she held in her hands, a strong and fine bow. The arrows themselves were made of fire as she hit the various targets around her almost instantaneously as one arrow had turned into a hundred. It was an interesting illustration, that much was to be sure.
Still, fortunately for them, they do not run into any more traps in the room. Either they're incredibly lucky or there are no traps, that is, until there's another faint rumbling that can be heard.
The center of the floor was opening up and spreading apart from the very center. It slowly moved as it seemed that more and more of the floor around them started to fall. Oh shit, what was happening?
Kenta's eyes widen a bit, "It's not a puzzle, I bet all of this is the equivalent of roadsigns. Directions where things are. This is a treasure room." He waves his hand around, "Well, treasure area…whatever." As the floor begins to fall away, Kenta leaps backward towards the hallway with a trident and a guy doing water manipulating. He likes that one for some reason. "Watch it!" he calls out as a warning, but the others probably see it already.
Meanwhile, Hoiishime is listening, and nodding.. "Well, that be seeming plausible. Probably be meanin dat da signs, guide the weapons on da walls. Which any case.. we be lookin at 12 artifac-…!", his statement being cut off just as the floor seems to cut off. He would look to the boys and say, "Scatter!", before he would seem to move toward a wall, woman with a large fan seeming to be on it, gracefulling blowing away a many of opponent on the walls. He would look to the other two, and say, "Quick mon!! Head for a tunnel!!", and with that he would move over to one of the places, the sign for crane seeming to appeal to him as he would make a flickering movement, speed in his transformed body amplified multiple times… He would come to a skid, before he would end up in that tunnel. He would shout to his team members.. "Ya too be okay?"
GAME: Save complete.
Takeda decides to go towards the anyone which would represent the guy holding the sword.. For him it was the simpler choice, or what he percieved as what that might mean.. blurring towards that entrance.
There was a reason why the floor was falling away. It was becoming stairs. Spiral stairs that is as Takeda would hear a low resonating humming sound coming from below. It was dark, but there was definitely something glowing on the bottom as orbs of red, green, yellow, brown, and blue were formed in a circle. In the middle was a faint white light.
Kenta breathes a sigh of relief, at least they're not going to die this very second. Maybe in a few minutes though. He calls over to the other two, "This has got to be a resting place of those people in the carvings. Or at the very least, resting places for their weapons. Us being in here might have triggered this…" he points to the thing now taking center stage. "…whatever it is. Did someone trip this?" He looks between the two of them because Kenta knows he didn't do it. Or did he? He considers for a moment before making a hand sign, "I'll send a clone down to investigate. It's not far away, I think it'll make it. Just a moment…" as he starts gathering chakra, then points a sleeve out. A small stream of water gurgles out pouring onto the ground which pulls itself up to form another Kenta. The real deal smiles at his double and says, "Go check it out…" The double looks down the stairs and says, "If you say so…" and steps down the stairs to check out the orbs. All the while, Kenta tries to remember important dates and anyone famous in the land of lightning. Why didn't he pay more attention at the academy?
As Hoiishime would see that the floor had been revealing stairs, he would seem to relax quite abit, even walking out as he would watch everything move to position then stop. Hoiishime would look to what had been the resonating glows of light. Colors, each representing the 5 elements. Tosai was curious about this all. He would look to what Kent had been saying, as he would nod thinking, "Perhaps.. I be tinkin the murals don't be no simple drawings.. dey be dedications.. somethin to honor dem who be usin dem weapons."
He would look to the murals, saying a prayer in reverence to the dead, before he would look to the place. To Kenta's question who triggered it, Hoiishime would shrug, and say, "Wasn't me.", before he would then look down the stares once more, as he would watch his water clone be dispatched. Hoiishime would sigh, and move in closer, trying to get a better view in account to all this, but not getting to close the water clone, just incase things went down. "Take-san.. keep ya self on alert.. Ya ears be provin to keep us quite safe so far.", a smile going to his friend.
RP: Takeda makes a Int roll and got 13.
Takeda nods to Hoiishime.."I will do the best I can to keep us safe".. spotting the balls of light, checks the stairs and ground floor of the area carefully, looking around.. "Lets be careful while here.."
As the water clone starts to go down the stairs, there's a faint wooshing sound. It should be familiar to those who have seen and heard Maia's element capturing fuinjutsu, but this one is a lot stronger as it sucks up the clone almost instantaneously as it reaches the first stair. It seems that tactic wasn't good.
Still, the room becomes quiet once more after that. Only a few moments later do they hear Maia's familiar voice, though it sounds like she's at the bottom of the stairs. "Ooop! I did it!"
