*With Cyrus, Lucas, and co.*

"Alrighty then." Age responded when Cyrus had made his decision known. It really made no difference to Age, save for now he might have a conversation partner along the way. "Hey Mr. Escort, try not to make the fight you're trying to stop bigger... we're running on ahead." It was unfortunate but Age only remembered how to get to their destination from the main road through the village, they'd need to back track a bit before they could actually progress forward. With that being the case they weren't making any progress just standing there and Age slipped a hand into his jacket pocket and started walking ahead. "Ya know I'm still surprised they sent anyone else out on this delivery, given how well traveling incognito worked out this time." He said, assuming that Cyrus had stuck right with him.

~At the gate~

As the illusion came crashing down around the young Iwagakure ninja, Durako was silent. That didnt mean he did not respond however. The daggers he was staring at Yasunari were response enough. it was a look that held no condemnation, but clearly said 'You messed up, this is important, Do NOT do that again'.


*Snap*
The book Durako had been reading closed in his hands as he inclined his head to Erimaki. "Of course. Lead on." he agreed, motioning for the others to follow.


~Inside the Village~

As they moved through the city, they eventually came into view of the disturbance taking place on the roof of one of the rooftops. Durako stopped to look up at them, a expression of distaste on his face.
"How disgraceful..." He said, scowling up at the two fighters as they refused to be dissuaded from their course, and threats were made. " You'd think any ninja worthy of the headband would know enough not to engage in such shameful behavior...," He narrowed his eyes slightly, " Or for that matter, that at least one worth his salt would do it far more discreetly, where they would not be seen, not out on the rooftop to show their shameful display to everyone. Im surprised the ANBU haven't carted them off by now. It makes me appreciate you a little more, Yasunari."
As clumsy as the boy could be sometimes, he was overall good at his job, and at least conducted himself correctly. Which is more then he could say of these two chest thumping thugs on the roof.
Durako didnt even feel the need to keep his voice down, his disdain was so obvious.

_________________

*Training Grounds*

The winds flared up as Yuki turned to glare. "I've been installed as a peace keeper here and I'm doing my duty. You are guests and expected to act as such. You may not like it but I've been given authority and I'm acting within my limits. Now get your hands off of me. I don't care what you think is the right thing to do." He shrugged off the man's grip and turned back to the fight. As Lucas stepped forward, Yuki pressed some kind of button on his gauntlet. The shuriken suddenly launched forward, moving so fast it was a blur. Unlike Lucas's blade, it was not set to 'dull'. Yuki meant business, though, unless Lucas had a death wish, it was unlikely to kill him.

From the distance, a dust cloud came closer...

*Escort*

Erimaki sighed. "Yeah, unfortunately, having so many people here makes the chances of having no trouble close to zero. I might have to help... nevermind." A small figure zoomed past them, leaving behind a dust cloud. "He should be able to help Yuki... if he can keep focused on it. Anyway, this way to the Hokage's office." Erimaki led them to the large building, then to the office. The other group was still there. "Oh, hello Sakura, I assume our leader is taking another nap?" Sakura sighed and nodded. Erimaki led them into the room filled with papers and gestured toward the 'Emergency' bin.

_________________
Final Fantasy IX was the best Final Fantasy game ever and if you think otherwise you are WRONG!

My fanfiction account. Comments and criticisms are very welcome.

~ Musei Souon ~
~ Rooftop near gate, then with Yuki & Lucas at the TRAINING GROUNDS~

The young Hyuuga's words made the pale ANBU frown, her shoulders tightening. She could smell Rai's approach on the wind...she didn't need one of his family members to warn her about his meeting with Akemi, especially since such a warning implied knowledge of who she was and how she was connected to Rai. Such a knowledge was all well and good...when she wasn't on duty in the uniform that marked her as a faceless, nameless member of the Special Assassination and Tactics Squad of the village.

Even so, she stood, tilting her head and listened for the 'youthful warriors' that he'd also spoken about, and it took her a moment, brows furrowed under the mask of her station, to understand what he'd meant. But while Yuki's winds garbled the sounds of the imminent clash, they were also unnatural and a marker of where she might start looking.

Despite her personal interest in how the reunion between Rai and Akemi might play out, she did have a duty to her village...and with a small sigh, she leaped from her perch, the sound of the day's breeze against the rooftops marking for her sharp ears where each safe landing would be.

***

Yuki's shuriken was deflected with a loud high-pitched metallic sound that continued to ring until the tuning fork hit the ground. Only a moment after, the bird-masked ANBU girl came to rest in a crouch some yards to the side of the two nins, the eyes of the mask directed to the ground.

She said nothing. She didn't really feel that she needed to. Instead, she gently tilted her head, as if asking if all of this was entirely necessary.

_________________

Official Forum Mom

~ Chou Nijishi ~
~ Konohagakure, with Iwagakure team & Erimaki ~

She bit the inside of her cheek hard when Durako chastised Yasunari. It was really her fault for not being prepared for such a thing, but she didn't want to argue with Durako, who was essentially the closest thing to a leader their group had.

It was awkward walking for a while, but she quietly fell back in next to Yasuun as they headed into the building, and glanced up at him with a tentative look that said (or was meant to say) 'It's okay.' She even went so far as to gingerly pat his arm, which was odd for Niji. She usually went out of her way to avoid having to touch people, or even talk to them. In this instance, though, it seemed like the right thing to do to her socially underdeveloped mind.

_________________

Official Forum Mom

-Rai-
=Gate=

Rai wasn't sure what to expect from this encounter, a reunion after a year with so much having happened in between. He knew that he had changed and for some reason he could sense that Akemi had made a few changes as well. She could have been angry or disappointed with him, scolded him for what had happened before or just completely ignore him. But that's not what happened, the woman walked forwards, obviously trying to make eye contact with him the whole time, and she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. This was by far the last thing that Rai would have expected from the woman, though it immediately became apparent that she had indeed changed from before. It wasn't a bad thing though, for a moment Rai's body tensed up from the surprise but then it relaxed a great deal into her arms. It was comforting, to be hugged like that, something that Rai didn't really do very often, or ever for that matter. She had been gone for so long and since then so many things had changed, but it seemed as if she didn't feel any hostility towards Rai after how they parted ways. For a moment Rai could feel a small smile on his face, his heart felt at ease and his mind was at peace for the first time in a long time. However that feeling only lasted for a moment as reality came rushing back into his head. Akemi had been gone for a long time, she probably hadn't heard about what had happened to the rest of the team.

"I'm sorry... for everything..." Rai said quietly as a frown formed onto his face, his hands reaching up and gently pushing himself away from the woman's embrace. For a moment Rai looked into her eyes, it was obvious that something was troubling him and that he didn't quite know how to break it to her. Guilt was overwhelming him, just like how it had been since the mission that went horribly wrong for their team. His head looked away from her once again, he was ashamed of himself for not being strong enough to protect his team and it was killing him inside that now he had to tell her the bad news.
"Akemi-sensei... a lot has happened since you've been gone... and I don't know how to say this, but... there is no more team two... Hinote is in a coma and Rin is missing, probably dead... It's all my fault ... there was a mission and... " Rai stopped himself from going on, he just couldn't go on after saying all of that to her.

_________________

-Lucas Slade-

Vaguely aware of the Shuriken but very aware of the sudden sound attack that deflected it, Lucas took the momentum of his swing and sent it spinning behind his back in a controlled rotation before bringing it back up to swing around his neck, as the blade made 2 full rotations Lucas grabbed the hilt and spun it to clang into it's sheath harmlessly in a display of balance, skill and showmanship.
Nodding his head to the sudden interference from the strange ANBU woman and her odd tuning fork attack. The metallic sound didn't bother him as much as it would most other people since Lucas had grown accustomed to the sound of ringing steel while working in a smithy.

With a bow, he turned to look at Yuki but quickly found attention in the odd gauntlet and shuriken. With a flick of his foot the large Shuriken was harmlessly in the air in a lazy rotation with Lucas looking at every inch before walking over to Yuki, ignoring the fact that he was invading personal space. His interest in the craftsmanship of the gauntlet had him completely absorbed now.
"Who made you these weapons? The skill and care put in both the creation and maintenance is incredible. Not a single blemish.." Rubbing his chin casually Lucas mulled over the requirements and resources put into such a unique gauntlet. Not unsimilar to his own.

_________________
"But when one of it's baby chicks is in trouble, Momma comes a run'nin' and a squawkin and a run'nin''." -General Treistar

Yasunari + The Hokage Offices +

Yasunari flinched away from Durako's glare, his face flushing. Durako's message had been clear, but Yasunari still had not gotten used to his teammate's frank expressions of disapproval. Somewhere in the back of his head, he knew Nijishi felt that way with him too sometimes, but Nijishi was...nicer about it. On the rare occaisions she expressed anything at all, that was.

And so Yasunari spent the rest of the walk concentrating on memorizing chakra signatures around him. This was good. He could understand people when they were nothing but chakra and far away from him. He heard Durako speaking about the people he had felt upon the roof - Some not Konoha he noted - and he gave Durako a large grin before resuming his duties with a new vigor.

He felt Nijishi approach and muttered a small, "Sorry," to her as she fell into pace next to him, but avoided her touch almost without thinking - the crashing genjutsu still fresh in his mind.

When the Iwa ninja finally arrived at the Hokage's office with their escort, he was almost stunned by the sheer volume of paper that littered the room. His stomach twisted uncomfortably as his eyes and chakra sense scanned the room quickly. His gaze lingered for a bit upon a spirals that made the center of the Konoha insignia, but he turned his gaze away and opted to stand outside of the cluttered office. He could not control the destructive seals he created when he touched paper and he had long ago learned to stay away from quantities of paper that were liable to turn into grenades at any point around him. So he instead stood in the hall outside, slowly expanding his sensing to engulf the village.

Bradao
-leaving the fight-

Before everyone began leaving Brad's stomach began rumbling again. "Ugh, .ever mind, I'm too hungry, see you guys later, maybe." He then jumped off thw roof and ran for a ramen stand, and ordered a big bowl of beef ramen.

_________________
Hey everybody, PandaBrady here, with more roleplaying!

Also, please support Monty Oum, his work is amazing, especially RWBY. I wish I was that good.

Hokiro nodded grimly and followed Ikazuchi closely, not bothering to remain hidden. He saw Odella's shadow up ahead but she was being arrogant and playful, and acting like she didn't care if they were behind her or not. If Odella went too far ahead and got lost, she would deserve whatever slow, agonizing death awaited her.

Even so, a small part of him felt bad about the thought of her being killed.

_________________

Akemi Saotome: With Rai

She was feeling a whirl of emotions, but only a few were showing through actions and words, and the unspoken communications that all humans posses. She bit her lower lip as he started to leave the embrace and let him go. It was still very difficult for her to verbally express her feelings, but she hoped that he received the message she was trying to send. Then what he said started to sink in. "Forgiven and forgotten." She said quickly, sensing that there was something on his mind that wasn't a fond memory. "Where's the rest of the group?" She asked, softly, the slight frown on her face matching his.

She saw that Rai was filled with guilt and tilted her head downwards a little bit with one of those 'tell me everything' looks, and she raised an eyebrow slightly while still managing to maintain a concerned look in her eyes. She was inwardly steeling herself for the worst when she say how reluctant he was to say what happened. She waited for it patiently and then when the words 'there is no more team two' were spoken, she felt as though the wind had been knocked out of her. While she wasn't quite ready to be a teacher when she took the position as their teacher, she was quite fond of them, and couldn't help but feel that it was her fault, as their teacher, that the team was no longer together. She knew that something bad had happened, when Rai wouldn't explain further. She gave a long sigh, and looked back at Rai, and something was growing in the pit of her stomach and she felt a slight pinching at the sides of her eyes.

"Walk with me to the Hokage's office." She said softly, gesturing with a slightly pained look in her eyes. She was hiding her inner panic quite well. While she hadn't gotten as close to the other two of her team, and she always felt guilty about it, those feelings were starting to rise up again as she prepared herself to hear the worst. She didn't pressure Rai for more information, if anything, the Hokage would tell her what happened, and she'd face the consequences, as well as take the paperwork that she'd need to do.

_________________
Doctress Who-CURSE YOU AKAINE AND FENIX. *Shakes fist*
Musicmac-INNUENDO... STRIKE!
Innuendo Squad Leader
Dare to join?

*Training Grounds*

Yuki took a bewildered step backwards. "What the-?" Then his head turned "Aww... not again..." From the dust cloud came the words "Momiji..." Then a small figure launched out of the cloud "Kick!" The attack was blindingly quick and struck Yuki in the face. Everything paused for a moment, then Yuki was launched backwards, flying into a tree which he slid down, knocked out. The boy pulled out a pad with some marks on it and scratched it with his abnormally sharp fingernail. "That makes..." He counted the marks slowly, then brightened "41 connections and 0 misses!" He looked around and said "Sakura said that Yuki might be making trouble so Momiji came over here to make sure he wouldn't!" He looked at the others as if asking for praise for a job well done.


*Near the Hokage's Office*

Yasunari could feel bursts of chakra being released all over the village. Obviously people were showing off or training. In addition, he could feel some kind of pressure building over the village. It wasn't coming from anywhere inside the village.

_________________
Final Fantasy IX was the best Final Fantasy game ever and if you think otherwise you are WRONG!

My fanfiction account. Comments and criticisms are very welcome.

~ Musei Souon ~
~ Training Grounds ~

"You did well, Momiji-kun," she said with a soft smile, rising to pad almost silently to where her tuning fork rested. "You should take him to the hospital now, just to make sure you didn't crack his hard head." While her words themselves may have been insulting, her tone was affectionate.

Her strange weapon retrieved, she straightened and returned it to its home in the pouch on her leg as she turned her half-masked face to Lucas and sketched a sharp little bow, her tone changing to a more respectful businesslike flavor, "Please forgive him. He is very passionate about our village. Please let me extend a less-violent welcome to you. Do you require guidance to your destination?"




~ Chou Nijishi ~
~ Hokage's office ~

Niji deflated as Yasunn avoided her touch, and she averted her gaze as she mentally chastised herself for her boldness. Boldness usually led to being noticed, and being noticed never led to anywhere good, she reminded herself. So logically, she shouldn't want anyone to notice her.

She sighed ever so softly as she drew the small scroll case from where she'd hidden it under both layers of clothing and her layer of illusion; there was more rustling of cloth than there had right to be when she extricated it, but it was a small inconsistency.

She held the case protectively against her chest as they were ushered into the Hokage's office, and she spared a little glance behind her for Yasunari before she returned her eyes to the front and reminded herself to take deep breaths, attempting to appear calm in front of the foreign leader.

_________________

Official Forum Mom

Jin - Hokage Office

Trying to get away huh? No way was she letting that slippery sneak out of her sigh again. "You're not getting rid of me that easily." she whispered in Malkizid's ear as they entered the large building. The place looked pretty much like she had expected of a Hokage office, lots of crap stuffed in a small room.

With the exception of the Hokage sleeping in the middle of a pile of papers. Jin raised an eyebrow, this seemed highly unprofessional. Wasn't he supposed to be running a village, instead of simply dozing off during work? Hmm, from this range she could easily plant a kunai right in his skull and nobody would be able to stop her. Now there would be an achievement that would make Katsu jealous, killing a Hokage. Of course she wouldn't live to tell the tale, but the option was there.

She gave Malkizid a shove in his back and gestured towards the inbox "Come on slow poke, drop the message so we can get out of here." Oh how she longed for a comfortable bed. More people were pouring into the office now, other villages?

_________________

-Lucas Slade-

Removing his hat and smiling politely, Lucas bowed to the ANBU soldier whom had apparently wrapped this whole thing up nicely before simply shaking his head and putting the hat back on neatly. "My companions carry the message to your Hokage and require a guide, If you could find them and give a proper escort to the destination I would be very grateful."
Rolling up his sleeve to reveal the Iron gauntlet, raising his arm for the ANBU woman to get a better look. "My brother wears an exact copy of this at all times, that's the best way to identify him." Concealing it behind his clothes he gave a look at Katsu, no doubt bored to death by all of this by now. "If it is alright with you madam, would it be alright for me and my friend here to continue our friendly spar?"

-Malkizid-

A nudge in his back and a whisper in his ear gave Mal a shiver for what he assumed was a promise. It was either going to be painfully enjoyable or enjoyably painful. Both prospects were unsettling considering who it was he was talking about.
Shaking off such thoughts, Mal placed the message in it's proper place amongst the paperwork only to realize it wasn't likely to be answered anytime soon considering all of the papers already here both unanswered and still being read through. What the hell was going on that so many people needed Konoha?

_________________
"But when one of it's baby chicks is in trouble, Momma comes a run'nin' and a squawkin and a run'nin''." -General Treistar

-Rai-
=Walking to the Hokage's Office=

He tried several times to look at the woman, however his shame was too great for him to maintain any eye contact. All of the pain and agony that he had felt from the loss of his team felt worsened by the fact that his teacher was only now learning about it. The moments that Rai was able to look back up at the woman didn't bring much comfort to the young man. He had never seen much emotion from the woman before, in fact that hug was probably the first time that she had expressed such a thing around him. Rai wasn't sure how she would react to the news, however he knew that there wasn't any way to make things any less painful. When he saw the expression on her face, he wasn't quite sure what to make of it. She didn't seem to have shown much of a reaction, but her eyes showed that she definitely felt the blow of losing one's team. However despite the news she still seemed to show such strength after hearing something so terrible. He was suddenly reminded of why he had admired her so much before.

It wasn't easy for him to continue on with the details, they were something that played over and over within his head, however he just couldn't bring himself to tell his teacher about them. The young man took a deep breath, knowing that showing nothing but shame wasn't something a man should be doing at a moment like this. He had to be strong, or at the very least look stronger than he felt right then. Inside he felt as if he had just let down the first person that he had ever trusted in a way that could never be repaired, however that deep breath the man took filled him with a new courage to face the situation. Rai stood himself upright and looked his teacher in the face solidly, a serious expression upon his face as if he was ready to accept any consequences of his failure to protect the team from his instructor.
"Yes, of course." he said to the woman in a neutral tone, his expressions no longer showing the pain that he was feeling.

_________________

Akemi Saotome: En Route-Hokage's Office

She felt Rai taking peeks at her, and after a minute or two, she finally turned her head to catch his eye. This feeling of foreboding in her gut was giving her slight pain with each step she made..or maybe that was a pocket of gas. Either way, she wasn't feeling good about things, and had a feeling that whatever this bad news was, things would only get worse from there. Slowly steeling herself for whatever information would be given to her at the Hokage's office, she had to control her steps so that she wouldn't walk any faster. She was walking instead of transporting because she needed to get rid of some of the antsy energy that was building up in her system before she saw the Hokage.

She noted the silence in their walk, but wasn't disturbed by it. It was obvious that Rai was fighting some of his own demons as they walked, and she could tell that it was too soon for him to talk of it. Akemi looked at her feet for a moment, and took in a deep breath, smelling her village for the first time in a long while. It really had been too long, but what she had learned was crucial. If only she wasn't too late to teach what she had learned to what was left of her team. Taking another look at Rai as he spoke, she noticed that his attitude had changed drastically, as if he had come to some sort of decision. He really had grown a lot on his own, and it almost surprised her. It was almost as if she hadn't expected her pupils to change over the time that she was gone.

Giving a nod of acquiescence, she turned back to the path that lead to the Hokage's building and was startled for a moment to realize that she had walked almost the whole way without really paying attention. Getting the door for Rai, she held it open. "After you." She said softly, tilting her head downwards slightly in the direction of the door as she did so, her ponytail falling over her shoulder in the process.

_________________
Doctress Who-CURSE YOU AKAINE AND FENIX. *Shakes fist*
Musicmac-INNUENDO... STRIKE!
Innuendo Squad Leader
Dare to join?

Brad
Done with Ramen

Brad finally finished his ramen finally and began walking around, "I wonder how everything is turning out around town." Brad spoke to himself, "I also wonder if I'm going to get another mission sometime soon." Brad stopped for a moment and looked around. "This is the strangest bit of downtime I've had in a while."

_________________
Hey everybody, PandaBrady here, with more roleplaying!

Also, please support Monty Oum, his work is amazing, especially RWBY. I wish I was that good.

*Training Grounds*

Momiji looked very pleased to be praised but tilted his head at Sounon's suggestion. "Oh, Momiji's done this plenty of times and it hasn't seemed to hurt him yet." He goes over to the unconscious Yuki and taps his head. It flops to the side and a little drool runs out of his mouth "But Momiji thinks he may have hit him too hard this time. To the hospital!" He grabbed Yuki, threw him on his back, apparently not bothered at all by the boy's weight, and ran towards the medical center. The shuriken trailed behind him, still linked by the chain, and bounced off things as he went.


*Hokage's Office*

The Hokage was still asleep but he seemed to somehow sense the presence of the many ninja in the room and lifted his head. A piece of paper stuck to his cheek as he rose up and stretched. "Mmmmm... that was a good nap." He blinked at all of his guests and said "Welcome... people..." He frowned and looked at a piece of paper "Ah, you must be the messengers. Thank you." He pulled out the messages and began browsing them. "Rai, it's good to see you. Akemi, it's been a while. Sakura, thank you." It was almost like he was reading off a checklist to deal with each of them. "What can I do for all of you?"

_________________
Final Fantasy IX was the best Final Fantasy game ever and if you think otherwise you are WRONG!

My fanfiction account. Comments and criticisms are very welcome.

~Yasunari~ Standing Outside the Hokage's Office.

Yasunari stood with his eyes closed but his sixth sense's radius just continued to grow as he stood still. Soon he had encompassed the city and stopped expanding the range of his sense.

Chakra was a wonderful, mysterious thing. Everything that had a life had it, and it could be imbued into the inanimate to give them life for just a few moments. And, apart from the Hyuuga, no one would truly be able to feel the sheer multitude and brilliance of life as it marched on through time. But watching that march was where Yasunari felt truly home, and he contented himself to standing in the hallway, ignoring passers-by, and feeling a small world of people going about their daily lives.

And then he "looked" up.

Something was forming there. He could feel it, heavy and dense. It felt like the low-hanging overcast just about to burst into an inevitable shower of rain. And his senses couldn't penetrate it, and no one within the village was sending off the same Chakra signature. He needed to expand it, so he sat down, ignoring the guards who gave him funny looks, and assumed his posture for meditation.

Before he started, however, he rapped a knuckle with a particular beat on the door. Code. He needed to talk to his team.

-Katsu, fighting Lucas-

A grin had spread into something that truly reflected an inner madness as Lucas charged him, he originally had intended to nimbly dodge the blow and counter it with a swipe with his scabbard but the interference by the Konaha shinobi had caused him to alter his focus. His eyes angrily shifted to this interloper, perhaps he was foolish enough to think that by threatening him and his opponent would stop their sparring but in actuality it spurred Katsu's desire to fight further, were they afraid of them? Were they so cowardly to assume that he was unskilled? This information was what the chief wanted, possible weaknesses that may allow the shadow village an advantage should the need ever arise...

As he flexed his muscles he could her the disdained comment from somewhere below, the comment about what that person believed to be 'shameful'. The aspect of what this person claimed caused Katsu to burst out in laughter, a twisted sense of glee could be heard in his cackling as he spun his blade in his left hand, almost out of some obsessive reflex, "The tweeting sounds of complaints from scum and the weak amuse me so, those who believe themselves to be 'oh so high and mighty'." He almost shouted between his laughter, slapping his right knee with his free hand, "Shinobi, no, all of those 'normal and free' people who believe me simple are all the same, blind, ignorant and utterly naive. They think and know everything, to be able to judge on mere sight. They are truly no more scum than those whom they see as such." Again he broke off in laughter, "It matters little in the end, don't you think, swordsmen, after all, in the end we all shame the gutters together in death!"

Katsu prepared to leap into the fray when one of his guides suddenly silenced the interloper... causing Katsu to simply stare forward in a mixture of confusion and utter amusement, "My, my, credits are due, boy, that's a good kick. I wonder how well he'll complain now... hopefully his jaw's broken. Would make our fight much more... enjoyable." He leveled his still sheathed sword at his opponent, "So now that the pest is out of the way, shall we start? I believe it was your move!"
The battlelust began taking Katsu once more as the nor familiar maddened grin appeared on his face.

-Lucas Slade-


The ANBU woman gave no sign of disapproval for the spar between Lucas and the large swordsman infront of him, as far as he was concerned that may aswell count for a flag being dropped to begin and begin he shall. Picking up the same laughter that Katsu had earlier displayed but in a more jovial tone with a hint of confidence behind it.
"I'm gonna tear you apart piece by piece!" The battle hungry Lucas was swelling forward, his brother no doubt could feel it even from such a distance.
With well trained movement and coordination, Lucas lunged forward and brought out 'dull' with a grip so strong it made his hand turn white at the knuckles. A standard attack like the one from before, left leg to right shoulder but it was a feint as the real attack came from his armored left hand opened like a bird swooping in for it's prey.

In the feint there was a whisper of defense, though it was fast it did not overshoot it's intended mark even if it were to be swatted away. Always kept in a position where it could easily be put back into harms way without risking the wielder too much.

_________________
"But when one of it's baby chicks is in trouble, Momma comes a run'nin' and a squawkin and a run'nin''." -General Treistar

-Age, Almost there-

Since his traveling companion hadn't started up a conversation, Age opened up his newspaper again picking up from where he left off. Though he did manage to keep half an eye on the road, as they walked given they he was supposed to be leading the way. Still it had been a number of years since he'd had to personally deliver anything to the Hokage's office and some of the stores he'd remembered had changed; at least the street layout remained about the same. Age eventually spotted what might be a lucky break in the form of a couple, a Hyuuga and a scarred woman, he'd seen near the gate earlier. Though it was only a guess on his part he decided to follow behind them at a distance, hoping they were going to the office and not a hotel.

Once the pair entered a building he confirmed his surroundings, this place did match up with his memories of it. Only then did Age keep following them, glad that this mission was coming to an end without a hitch.

-Rai-
=Hokage's Office=

Upon entering the room Rai noticed a few unfamiliar faces right off the bat. He had known that a few foreign ninja would be arriving that day on business, however this was really the first time that he had paid any mind to it. The man didn't notice while they were at the gate simply because of the reunion with his teacher, but now he was more than aware of the presence of the foreign warriors, especially the female one standing out like a sore thumb with her revealing outfit. He nodded slightly towards Akemi as she held the door to the office open to him, still carrying the resolve of staying strong no matter how badly he felt about things.

Rai glanced around the room, first eying up the foreign ninja, then the others in the room, and then finally the Hokage. He certainly seemed to be busy at the moment, however Rai was determined to let Akemi know all of the details about what had happened to their team. The man couldn't quite put things into words just yet, even if he was acting tough and strong there was still definitely a sense of unease about him. There were files about their mission's failure, ones that Rai had written for himself after the incident, those files would likely help explain what happened better than any words Rai could say at this point.
"Lord Hokage, if it's alright with you I'd like to see the files for the last team two mission on record, Akemi-sensei has a right to know what's happened." Rai cut right to the chase without wasting much time.

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Akemi Saotome: Hokage's Office

Akemi was nervous, and she didn't show it aside from the biting of the corner of her lip and the glance at Rai to see how he was doing. The Hokage's nonchalant attitude wasn't helping the tension that she was feeling. It was kind of like a visit to the principal's office, you never know whether or not you're in trouble or not. "That it has, Hokage-sama." She showed the proper politeness, as per usual. She almost ignored the foreign ninjas, but remembered that it would be a good idea to get a look at their faces and stature. Giving each of the a quick one-over, like an opponent eyeing up the competition, she turned her eyes back to Rai as he spoke about what they were here for.

She was curious as to why they were only asking for the last mission files, and not more, and considered a few reasons why those files would be the most important. She would, of course, want to know what happened in the time between her departure and her return, but it seemed that this file collection is the most important of the collection. Giving a nod to the Hokage, showing that she agreed with everything that Rai had said without verbalizing it. she pushed the pigtail off of her shoulder and looked into the Hokage's eyes, seeing if anything would be given away there while keeping her senses open to the foreign ninjas and Rai's fluctuating emotions.

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Doctress Who-CURSE YOU AKAINE AND FENIX. *Shakes fist*
Musicmac-INNUENDO... STRIKE!
Innuendo Squad Leader
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