Ishiaki moved much faster than a blind man should, easily dodging a variety of obstacles as he lead his new students to their training grounds. He leaned against the tree, reveling in it's shade as he waited for them to catch up.
Kaminaricould hardly wipe the awe off her face as she followed Ishiaki Sensei to the training field. She felt so far from home but felt more determined to make her village proud.
Akane hustled behind her teacher, on her toes of course. She saw the log dummies and got a little excited. She had been traveling all day and was ready for some REAL practice. She wondered how different training here would be from her hometown.
Oita arrived a few moments later, however much slower than everyone else. He shifted his pack up higher and looked around the field they were on, seeing how if he went between two dummies he'd probably wind up getting stuck. He wondered how the others would work, what they'd be like in a fight.
Ishiaki stopped leaning when his team arrived. "Alright then. Now that you're all here, we can begin." He pointed his sword scabbard at Oita. "Oita, tell me what you know about genjutsu."
Oita blinked in slight surprise and pushed his glasses up his nose, sliding down because he'd suddenly broken out in a cold sweat from being pointed out. "G-genjutsu is the art of i-illusion... Usually performed with seals, not only written or hand ones but ones inside the body of the user; this can result in hypnosis and hallucinations in the victim."
Akane listened intently. Illusions and puppetry really weren't in her skills at all. She cracked her toes by pressing them onto the ground. This loosened up her joints. She was wondering what they would be doing, not to mention what the other group was up to.
"Very good. Now here's why I bring it up. I'm a genjutsu user, so primarily it's going to be my job to make sure that you guys are capable of detecting and defending against genjutsu assaults. I'm going to cast a pretty simple one over us and I want for the three of you to find the real me."
Ishiaki explained with a smile. He held up his hand, revealing 3 kunais on a string. "There's one for each of you. During the genjutsu, each of you needs to obtain one of my kunais in order to escape it. Sound good?"
"By any means necessary? Or are there rules we must abide by?"
Akane asked, still walking on her tippy toes. It was curious however if she was even touching the ground. She pondered if they get to keep the little black knives. Personally, she didn't feel that she truly needed one. Feathers were more aerodynamic as it was.
Kaminari was still keeping quiet though her heart skipped a beat or two when their sensei mentioned that he specialized in genjutsu. She'd been working on one for a while with little success. Too bad the ninja of her village didn't teach by example.
"Any means necessary, or you'll be trapped in the jutsu for eternity."
Ishiaki made that point extra clear. If they could not obtain the kunai from him, then they had no place in his ninja order.
"This seems like an all for one effort..."
Akane smirked. She spun and in spin, pulled out three feathers between her fingers like knives. At the end of the spin, she threw them as hard as she could- aimed at the black knives on the string. "Hah!" she grunted.
Effortlessly,
Ishiaki swatted the three feathers out of the air. "I didn't say start yet. I haven't even initiated the genjutsu yet. Jeez, a little impatient aren't you?"
"You said 'any means necessary'... so wouldn't be attempting to get it no matter what count too?"
Akane said, crossing her arms and pouting a little. "Hurry up already then- I'm sick of standing around like a herd of sheep."
"I said you had to get them while under the influence of my genjutsu."
Ishiaki clarified, apparently somebody hadn't been listening. "I applaud your enthusiasm though." With that said, he took a deep breath and focused, his hands quickly forming the necessary hand signs. A wave of energy passed through him, striking each of the students at the same moment. When they opened their eyes, there was no longer one Ishiaki Hirameki, but rather 7
"Why did I think there where only going to be three?"
Kaminari said but shrugged it off and rubbed her hands together, as if overcome by static electricity her hair began to slowly come alive and her eyes crackled a bit with blue sparks. She wasn't attempting to call anything too big and dangerous, just trying to see what would happen when she tried her most useful and easiest to perform jutsu. She didn't even know if her lightening would have any effect on another lightening ninja any way. A crackly blue bow appeared in her hands as she separated them and she reached behind her as if she actually had a quiver to pull an arrow from, an arrow appeared any way and she knocked it to the 'string'. She aimed at where she figured their original Sensei stood and let it fly, wanting to see what would happen.
Not fully paying attention to Kami,
Akane spun around like a ballerina with her hands outstretched up. An enormous gust of wind circled her figure and lifted her slightly. Feathers seemed to be engulfed by the gust, spiraling around her. Planting her hands together, forming an open triangle in the curve of her thumb, she shot her arms down and aimed at two of the teachers on the left end. The feathers were moving so fast that they acted like razor-sharp knives and were practically invisible as they headed to the Ishiaki(s).
Seeing as it would be impossible to hide out here, at least straight away,
Oita took his time. He settled his pack down with a surprisingly loud thud and stood there, eyes closed and thumb slowly running over his chin. Well it must be more of an excercise to see what they could do... But to attack all of them at once may be foolish, he'd be able to dodge blades easily, even in a fight he'd probably be able to defend the kunai from them. Oita opened his eyes, then reached out to the pack and undid a clasp; something wooden and half complete landed with a clatter from the bag, a half made puppet he'd been working on before he'd entered the city. That was why his pack was so heavy. Beneath the puppet were some sturdy scrolls, thick and covered in writing. He picked one up, ran his finger up the edge of the pack where there was a slight razor, and then smeared his blood across one scroll. There was a flash, and a tall cylindrical puppet was standing in the midst of everyone; it had a large bulbous head directly connected to the body, not the same wooden color as the body or spindly arms and legs but a deep burnt red. It raised one arm and pulled off a mock salute, it's hands and feet just red nubs at the end of the limbs. "This is candle..."
The
Ishiaki that was struck by Kaminari's lightning arrow didn't even flinch. His sword unsheathed slowly and bluish yellow lightning coursed down it's length. A smirk formed on his lips. "That won't work on me." He held up the sword so that she could see it easily. "Raikou Tsurugi, the sword of Raiza, the Lightning Samurai."
Of the two that Akane attacked, only one fell away. His body scattered like dust on the wind. The other looked up and smiled. His sword unsheathed and he held it up, small feathers and leaving blowing around it's length in a gentle flow. "Kaze Tsurugi, the sword of Nisashi, the Wind Samurai. Nice job taking out my partner, wind does scatter earth afterall. But don't let that think that you're going to escape this jutsu."
Ishiaki looked at the puppet and smirked another time. This sure was an interesting assortment of abilities his students had. But they needed to figure out just what they had to do to end this jutsu, and they needed to work together to do that. He had already sowed the first seed of knowledge, but would they understand it?
Kamanari was a little disheartened that her attack fell useless, she pulled a hand full of shuriken from a pouch on her hip and bounced up into the trees, utilizing their cover so he might not exactly know where she was attacking from.
Akane wasted no time in celebration. She ran forwards with wind jolting her faster. Perhaps some hand-to-hand would work better? She spun and flew at him, aiming a kick at his head.
The wind
Ishiaki quickly re-sheathed his sword as Akane came in for hand-to-hand combat. He sidestepped as she kicked for his head, his hands reaching out and grabbing a hold of her leg quickly. He used her momentum against her and swung her to the ground.
The lightning Ishiaki's eyes darted around as Kaminari took to the trees. He kept his sword out, believing she was going to be going for more ranged attacks.
Oita seemed to stare for a moment as Ishiaki battled his team mates, biting his lip slightly as he listened hard to what their sensei was saying. Wind shatters earth, lightening... earth takes out lightening doesn't it? Hmmmm... "Wall fo flames!" Oita called out, the mouth of the puppet opening up and producing a small hiss before flames roared from it's mouth and began to rain down across the Ishiaki's not near his team mates, he didn't want to roast the new people after all.
There were 3
Ishiakis nearest to Oita that had been engulfed in the puppet's flame. One burned and vanished in a poof of ninja smoke, clearly defeated without even indulging it's element. One remained unharmed by the flames, walking out of them as though it was nothing, brandishing his sword. "Kaji Tsurugi, the sword of Kamon, the Fire Samurai." He declared with a smirk as he moved closer to the puppet master. The remaining Ishiaki seemed to sizzle as steam poured off of his body as he too walked out of the flames unharmed. He held up his own sword and declared it, "Mizu Tsurugi, the sword of Yaichi, the Water Samurai." He swung his sword through the air, "Water Style - Raging Tsunami!" A great wave of water issued forth from the slash of the sword, surging forward and crashing into Oita's Candle puppet.
There! We! Go!
Oita grinned widely as Candle's feet lifted off the ground and the fire and water blasted him backwards; the feet slammed into the floor again as it skidded back slowly until it stood in front of Oita. "KAMINARI!" Oita suddenly barked out from behind Candle as his left hand whipped out "LIGHTENING ATTACK ON THE SIZZLING ONE!" Or the water one as he knew it. She shouldn't question him, he knew what was going on. Now, there was a fire one... Akane was against Wind though, Wind against wind and the sensei would surely win. Wind and electricity beside him, the things to fight would be the fire.
Kamanari immediately dropped from the trees "Thundering Buffalo Stampede!" She shouted, bringing a crackling ball of electricity down with her as she came. AS she landed she brought her fists swiftly down to the ground. She was hoping for more than one buffalo but that was all she could muster yet. Big and raging, electric blue and menacing the buffalo charged, picking up speed and heading right for the sizzling Ishikai.
With an updraft,
Akane lifted herself with pure air. She was quiet fast. Reaching her arm back, feathers swirled around her fist. Creating what looked like a giant hawk's claw, Akane jumped and slashed at her enemy's direction. The feathers worked together to form four, claw-like talons in mid swipe.
Quicker than anyone would have expected, the fire
Ishiaki darted before his water-self, taking the lightning attack head on. In a burst of flame, he vanished, having been defeated by sheer force. There now stood only four of the original seven. One seemed to have been forgotten by all. He drew his sword, a remarkable black blade and rushed up behind Kaminari. He brought his blade up and around her throat. "One false move and you fall prey to my Yami Tsurugi, the sword of Irou, Samurai of the Darkness."
The wind Ishiaki that was being attacked by Akane met her claw attack with his sword. However he was being forced back by her assault, much to his dismay.
Kaminari already had her hand behind her, poised on the scroll in her belt, she sliced her thumb on the razor's edge and let the blood drip onto the paper while still remaining nearly perfectly still, aside from her breathing. "Master Risu!" She called hoping by the tone of her voice he brought more than just himself. She'd never called for him while in the thrall of a Genjutsu but she hoped it worked nonetheless.
Like a series of tiny pops of smoke, a dozen squirrels appeared led by one that looked particularly distinguished with little black markings on his face and down his back to his tail. He was wearing a green vest and the tiniest forehead protector one could imagine. His ninja froze, assessing the situation. He stroked his mustache like whiskers as he said "Genjutsu." In a voice much too deep and commanding for a squirrel. There wasn't much he could do, save sending his ninja at the original Ishiaki. "Smell him out." He ordered and twelve little red bodies darted to work, trying to find the original Ishiaki. Meanwhile he asked Kaminari "School is going well I see?"
Akane did all she could to avoid looking at the rampaging squirrels that ran past her feet. Now that the wind Ishiaki was falling back, her momentum was a little lost. However, with her free hand she was able to hold up a long, crow-like feather. "HAH!" she grunted, jolting the long, thick feather at her enemy's chest. Since it wasn't the real teacher, she had no problem 'killing' it.
Now that Kaminari had concentrated on the water and destroyed the fire the electric sensei was exposed; with a soft twitch of his fingers
Oita made the large wooden puppet lunge violently forwards. With a small symbol and a muttering of "Propelled fist" the base of the puppet opened up and with an explosion the rock solid puppet was sent flying forward towards the lightening sensei.
The Squirrels who'd decided to check out the lightening ninja immediately stopped, seeing the puppet being propelled. They darted out of the way and took cover, not wanting their charred little bodies scattered over the ground.
The wind
Ishiaki vanished in a poof of mist as Akane's feather slid through his chest. The lightning ninja quickly ducked out of the way of the now flying puppet. He rolled and came back up, astonished to see that one of his students was able to summon an army of ninja animals, even though they were squirrels.
"Animal summoning, well color me impressed." The Dark Ishiaki said with a smirk in his voice. "But I've still got you firmly in my grasp. Not to mention they can sniff all they like. I bet they won't figure out how deeply this Genjutsu goes."
Seeing as his wind brethren had just been defeated and the one who was attacking his was incapacitated at the moment, the Water Ishiaki took it upon himself to confront the now victorious Akane. "Let us see what happens when Wind meets Water." He told her as he walked over cautiously in her direction, ever mindful to not step on any squirrels. Ninja or not, they still were but tiny creatures and no doubt it would hurt them immensely to be stepped upon. Of course they would probably have swords to ram into his foot should he have the unfortunate luck to attempt to step on one however accidentally it was.
Akane stood her ground, crouched a little. She would wait for this water enemy's attack first before deciphering a way to counter it. She took long, focused breaths, evening the airflow in her body.
"Then you should like this."
Kamanari said, with her hand behind her she'd had time to figure out where his kunai was, placed her hand on it and winked at Master Risu.
The Ninja Squirrel Sensei sprang into the air and among the trees darted quickly threw the branches to land on top the Dark Ishiaki's head. All Ninja Squirrels where trained in the art of what they had learned to call Frantic Jutsu. This is when the Ninja leaps into the clothing of an attacker, biting scratching and causing as much mayhem beneath the attacker's clothing as possible. As his name states Master Risu is an expert in this technique.
Meanwhile as a dozen other ninja squirrels darted across the ground in an attempt to confuse the remaining Ishiaki(s) they where working their tails off with their own minuscule kunai by stealthfuly destroying their sandals in and attempt to trip the Ishiaki(s) up as they began their attacks.
Oita was not out of this yet however, he didn't like how much his sensei was over looking him. His fingers twitched and danced in front of him as he worked, the puppet spinning around once it skidded to a halt and took off into the air again to try and produce more confusion. It began to curve around in the air, aiming for the lightening ninja with it's extended fist; it anticipated the dodge however and spun in the air, aiming a blast of fire towards where he suspected his Sensei would dodge as it was pushed forward at speed again towards the approaching water sensei. It was either him who was real or... but he wouldn't do that would he?
The dark
Ishiaki only smirked as Master Risu began to move through his clothing. For as soon as Kaminari had touched his kunai, she was released from the Genjutsu. In a poof! of smoke the Dark Ishiaki simply wasn't there anymore and neither was his student.
The Lightning Ishiaki however had dodged the other direction, having anticipated the puppets movements. Oita was certainly very skilled at control for one so young. He smiled fondly as he moved with the speed of lightning and slid in past the puppet to attack the master head-on. "Remember what I said before starting this, Oita? 3 Kunai to pass my little training exam." He motioned with his head to the now settling smoke only a few yards away. "One down and 2 more to go. Can you diffuse my genjutsu?" He asked him urgently as he unsheathed his sword. "Can you puppet make it back here in time?"
The Water Ishiaki ran quickly towards Akane, completely ignoring the puppet behind him, trusting fully in the other Ishiaki who was left to handle that situation. Unlike the others so far, he did not pull his sword from it's sheath as he moved in to attack his student. The kunai on his belt glistened in the light as he moved closer towards her.
Come on...I've made this easy enough... he thought to himself. He really had hoped they'd figured it out by now. The longer he went on with this jutsu, the weaker he would become. Genjutsu were especially exhausting, and on this level as well...
Kaminari looked at the kunai in her hand, not exactly believing what had happened.
The Ninja Squirrels where a bit perplexed as well, seeing as there where no more feet to dodge and sabotage. "Away." Master Risue ordered them and complimenting they all popped away in little tufts of ninja smoke. Master Risu stayed behind however, eager to see what his favorite human's new surroundings where like.
"I wasn't first but I did it!" She said excited holding the kunai in the air. "Maybe I might ask Ishiaki Sensei if I may keep it. To remember my first victory."
"It would make a splendid spearhead." Master Risu said climbing up Kiminari to perch on her shoulder. He sat proudly with his arms folded over his chest. "I like your Master." He said with a stroke of his whiskers "He seems to have style."
"You think I need both hands for control?"
Oita smirked slightly as he kicked aside the other blood smeared scroll which flopped lazily around "I just needed you to attack me!" The ground began to shake suddenly beneath them before exploding upwards beneath Ishiaki and trying to throw him upwards; long, thick arms shot upwards towards the flying sensei as a dark chasm seemed to open up below the air born teacher.
Candle wasn't out of this though, even as a small explosion erupted out from the ground in front of Oita he didn't seem phased, his fire based puppet still flying towards the water sensei. The move was different though, the stance as it flew changed to a grabbing preparation; he just wanted to hold Ishiaki.
Akane kept her ground until the water Ishiaki was close enough. Using a jolt from her feet, her legs shot up and helped her slip completely over her enemy. Her body was kept stiff like a board. When her head was close to his as she was in mid-flip, Akane grabbed a hold of his outfit. On the ending of the flip, she whipped him over her head and used a burst of gust to toss him.
The water
Ishiaki smirked as Akane grabbed a hold of his clothing. "Think you've figured it out yet? Care to give it a try?" He asked in a mocking tone, but before he had even been given a chance to finish, she tossed him with the wind. With a sickening THUD! He hit the ground. As the dust settled, he was still lying there, sprawled out and motionless.
The Lightning Ishiaki that Oita was assaulting grew an even happier smile across his face as the boy launched a larger attack on him. Truly, this one was promising. They all were, especially to be keeping it together for this long. He slashed at the massive arms that began to close around him. It wouldn't do very good for him to get defeated without the kunai being taken.
The arms were long and very thick however, the sword that the lightning Ishiaki slashed at the arms stuck there solidly with a thick
THUD! The arms reached around and the hands snapped closed around the sensei's arms; immediately he was dragged downwards, towards the hollow puppet far below.
Oita was smiling slightly as Ishiaki was dragged closer towards him.
The Lightning
Ishiaki couldn't help but smile as he was immobilized and brought closer to Oita and the hollow puppet below. He had gotten a magnificent team and despite the fact that they had just thoroughly beaten him, he was glad for it.
"What is style?"
Kaminari asked, not being familiar with the term.
"Style is..." Master Risu stroked his whiskers, thinking "It is maintaining honor and perseverance while having fun." He answered.
"You can have fun and honor at the same time?" she asked
"When one has balance with the world around them one can accomplish anything." The wise old squirrel answered.
Oita reached out slowly towards the puppet's arm as they finally stopped just in front of him, tapping lightly at the kunai at his sensei's belt.
With a bright Flash the lightning
Ishiaki vanished, as did Oita. With the kunai being touched, he was defeated and Oita was released from the genjutsu. Now there was only Akane and the Ishiaki of Water left.
Kaminari jumped when Oita appeared "You succeeded too!"
"Congratulatio
ns, young Ninja." Master Risu giving Oita a respectful nod of his tiny head.
"So which one is Akane facing?" She asked
"Come on! You are defeated that easily?! My own element was killed faster though." Akane shouted, a bit offended that she knocked him out with a swift toss. She hadn't noticed that all of her comrades were gone. "What the-" she had completely forgotten up until now that she was sucked into an illusion. Smacking herself in the forehead, she cussed to herself, pissed that she was the last one in.
Oita blinked slightly, twitching his fingers instantly as he reappeared in the real world. His puppets stopped doing whatever they were doing and moved sedately to stand next to him like soldiers after battle. "She's facing the Water one... I just hope she doesn't kill it or she'll be in trouble" Oita sighed softly as the large puppet held out it's arm and he examined the nick in the wood "I'll have to fix you up later.."
The remaining Ishiaki slowly got to his feet, his entire body trembling. "Not so easy of a toss, young one." He cracked his neck and then leane dover backwards to pop his back as well. With a sickening crunch sound, he smiled and let out a long sigh. "Much better. Now where were we? Oh yes, think you can escape from this jutsu? It would seem that your comrades have and you are the last one remaining." He leaned heavily to his sider, using his sword as a crude cane. "Have you figured it out yet?" He asked her, hoping that the answer would be yes, he was growing more and more tired by the minute. His chakra was running out quickly.
Akane truthfully wasn't sure. I mean the plan was simple enough- touch 3 of the little stabby knifes right? But the fact she was constantly being asked this was starting to get on her nerves. Was there something that she missed? Ignoring the question, she said, "Well I could wait until you tire yourself out- but that's no fun, is it?" she jolted forwards and went again to hand to hand combat, trying to find where he was hiding the knifes. She kept crouched as she went to circle him, "You better have 3."
"I hope she succeeds quickly." Kaminari said, she'd hate for Akane to be stuck as the last one for too long.
"I was attempting to help her... but when I touched the kunai I lost track of her" Oita looked around at Kaminari as his fingers still played over the wound in his puppet's arm. "She should do alright, she's quick enough and the sensei's being kind to us today."
"Ohhh." Kaminari said "So this is him going easy on us?" She took it upon herself to sit down in the grass. She plucked a blade and handed it to Master Risu. "I see... The Ninja of our village don't teach this way, but I think I like it."
Master Risu took the blade of grass and absentmindedly munched on it.
Ishiaki made a small motion with his head down towards his belt. He wasn't sure if she'd see the motion or not, but he was about to give up on her. This jutsu was taking far too long. He had hoped that they'd be able to do an additional jutsu training afterwards, but he'd be far too drained for that now.
Oita's eyes finally turned downwards towards... the ninja squirrel sitting in the middle of the field with them. He coughed slightly and turned away only slightly, buffing up the already shining wood with one sleeve; it was a "I'm not even going to ask about the killer rodent" position.
Akane didn't see the head jerk but caught sight of the little back knife and grabbed it. As she 'poofed' back to the others, she crossed her arms, "He wasn't even trying, was he?" she asked, a bit offended.
When Ishiaki reappeared, it was beneath the shade of the lonely tree in the field. He pressed his hand to the trunk and leaned against it hard. He took a few deep breaths, holding his head with his other hand. "Sorry about that Akane. I cannot sustain that jutsu for very long and I had reached my limit. You did very well against my elemental selves though. All of you did." He coughed then and slowly slumped down until he was sitting.
"So- you seemed to have taken over various elemental qualities when you split. Do you have those powers as your normal self or it is only part of the jutsu?" Akane asked, brushing herself off.
"Through the power of my genjutsu I am able to utilize all of the elements. Also, my sword is specially crafted." Ishiaki explained, holding the scabbard up for them to see. "All along the scabbard are summoning symbols. For each one, I am able to summon forth a different blade. Each blade is of a different elemental nature. This is the real key to my genjutsu." He looked at his students carefully. "Can any of you tell me why those three specific elemental versions of myself held the kunais?"
"Because they where the elemental natures most consistent with your own chakra?" Kaminari said, standing, nearly knocking Master Risu off her shoulder.
"You're half right, Kaminari. My elemental natures are Water and Lightning. Both of those elemental versions carried a kunai, but there was another. Anyone care to understand why that one had the kunai?" Ishiaki asked, relishing in the questions really. "Knowing your enemy is an excellent way to decipher a genjutsu like that one."
Oita rubbed at his chin slightly, he supposed it was only a guess but... "Those were the elements you knew we'd have trouble with? We could defeat the others easily enough because of an advantage in element but those we had to actually work at to fight?"
"That's a pretty good assumption, Oita." Ishiaki said with a smile, but he shook his head slowly, "But that is not the reason."
Akane's stomach made a hungry growl. She hadn't eaten in the village like some of the other ninjas. "Master? When is dinner?"
"We could break for dinner right after this lesson. Surely one of you can figure out why I had the darkness elemental hold the third kunai." Ishiaki said, leaning back against the tree and looking upwards at the sky he couldn't see
"Consider the obvious." Master Risu said wisely, he of course knew the answer and was confident that he was correct.
Kaminari thought for a moment, taking in account what Master Risu said "Oh! Because your blind! Darkness is the one element that your attached to that isn't exactly part of your chakra."
Oita simply nodded at this and wondered where he was going to get his food from, after all he was new to this place. He gently tapped on his puppet's injured arm and looked up at the empty looking eyes of the large hollow puppet as if inquiring if it was ok. The puppet's head turned slowly and gave him a small nod, face blank and expressionless as it did.
Ishiaki nodded and smiled as Kaminari deduced his reasoning perfectly. "Very decisive of you Kaminari, well done." He got to his feet and adjusted his tunic. "Since I'm worn out, I guess we'll conclude this training session. Anybody else hungry? I'm famished."
Oita raised his hand only slightly, the large hollow puppet known as casket extended a finger as he did so and pointed straight Oita as well. It looked like it was saying "He's hungry"... which was very strange really; Candle did not point obviously, as he had no fingers.
Kaminari beamed, her cheeks flushed as she not only passed the first test but she earned praise for it as well. She didn't want to make a big deal out of it so changed the subject as the boys discussed the teams lunch plan. "So how did you do it?" She asked Akane, eager to get to know her better.
"Hm? Do what?" Akane asked, steering her eyes away from the skies. Figuring she meant getting out of the illusion, Akane explained, "Well, he was pretty exhausted so it was too easy." She released the air around herself and rested flat on her bare feet.
"No doubt you have been to the Ramen shop already...it's rather a famous one. Hmmm I suggest we try the hibachi shop. They let you grill your own meat, it's really quite delicious." Ishiaki considered thoughtfully. He had thoroughly drained himself with that genjutsu and truthfully, it didn't really matter where they ate
Oita nodded slightly and turned his back to them, heading off towards where he remembered the ramen shop was. His puppets didn't dissapear though, as many would do, but followed him in a slow trudge to try and keep in time with him smaller footsteps.
"You utilized your youth and stamina to beat him." Kaminari said "I understand, I must remember that."
"AhmmMmmm." Master Risu coughed as he noticed Kaminari had not yet introduced him.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Master Risu this is Akane of the Village of Quills, Akane this is Master Risu of the Hidden Acorn Tribe."
"Uhm. Nice to meet you." Akane bowed her head respectfully. "So...exactly where were you hiding? I mean- Kamin didn't really summon you, did she?" Akane looked to her. She thought it best not to comment on the species separation.
"She did." Master Risu answered "My clan and I have a blood contract with Kaminari ever since she saved the life of my beloved daughter, Otome. I am glad to share elegance with such an honorable two legged being."
Kaminari blushed a bit "It was nothing."
"Nothing? You also avenged her mother's assassination by those dishonorable grackles."
Akane was silent and just watched the two go back and forth. This was probably the most weird thing she has seen all month.
"Your embarrassing me." Kaminari whispered with her teeth clinched.
"Oh yes, not in front of the new friends I see." Master Risu turned to Akane and bowed "I wish you the best of luck in all your training. Sayonara, don't have too much fun." Then in a little puff of smoke he vanished.
"Huh...a portable master. I bet that is useful." Akane commented, her stomach grumbling once more.
"Yes but all his Jutsu are Squirrel style." Kaminari told her.
Ishiaki clapped his hands together and got to his feet. "Alright team. Chow time! Oita's already left you ladies behind and I have half a mind to join him. Enough chit chat. Let's go and eat." He didn't even wait for them to respond before he set off for the inc village
Akane jerked her head in their sensei's direction before sprinting off behind him.
<hr. Kaminari quickly followed.
Stumble!