It was around this time of the year that platoon formations would be rearranged to account for the graduation of new students and the promotions earned by officers on the field. Within the Hidden Rain proper, there were around five platoon leaders which stood out as powerful favorites, sought eagerly by their underclassmen for a number of different reasons. There was Anotsu Uchiha, for example, a tall and handsome man who was said to be as mighty with his words as he was with ninja tools and techniques. Mysterious and, above all, wise, he had an air around him that easily conquered the hearts of others, making them feel safe under his wings. There was also Mai Aburame, a much shorter Jounin with an outstanding resume in spite of her young age. Rumored to be as kind and strict as one's own mother, and as reliable and meddlesome as one's ideal big sister, there were few in the village with reason and courage to affirm that they held a grudge against her. [break][break] That day, she was in a particularly good mood. So much so that she had been early to rise from bed -earlier than usual-, humming a cheerful tone all throughout the morning as she prepared for the day ahead. One could tell meeting new platoon members was something Mai really looked forward to with all her heart, so much that her smile might have been responsible of casting away the bad weather that commonly surrounded the village. That's right, very few clouds in the sky that day. In any case, these were just the final steps. The truth is, she might or might not have simulated this scenario hundreds of times within the confines of her mind, resembling a teenager in love planning an utopian date. Naturally, she had read the dossiers of those involved in search of hints that could give her an edge but, as it was to be expected, what little info was on them was hardly important to her case. The best way to get to know them would be in person. [break][break] The chosen method? A double interview, that is, two underclassmen talking to their new senior at once, sharing their goals, their way of the ninja and their likes and dislikes. It was rare and chaotic, with a chance of backfire, but it was exciting nonetheless. While that had been the initial premise that was communicated to the two Genin who would be a part of the team from that day onwards, what they found was far from what was promised. [break][break] Mai Aburame wasn't there. Instead, a box the size of a soccer ball had been placed on the spot she would otherwise occupy. There were a few notes attached to it with sticky paper, the most notorious of which read: 'Dangerous! Do not open!'. Strangely, the package appeared to be as harmless as it comes... It was warm and even smelled good. Some desert, perhaps pastry...[break][break]
[attr="class","boxo-notes"]Let's put you to the test!
Sunlight squeezed through the curtains, splitting itself with the dust that floated around the room and creating a veil of angel’s dust. Socks lay strewn about on the floor and toys and books littered the desk and nightstand. A typical young boy’s room.
Bright yellow eyes opened. Jin swore he could pluck at the rays and create the most harmonious melody. It was the sign of good weather, and that was enough to excite him. The young Uchiha boy had places to be today and nothing about walking around in the rain would have gotten him our of bed any quicker.
After an oversized yawn and extended stretch, Jin rolled out of bed, his bare feet touching the cold wooden floor with distaste.
Cold.
Jin didn’t like the weather in Ame. He was born in the Suna sands, despite the strange snow that covered it during his mothers’ travels. He struggled past the initial dislike of the cold wood and pushed himself to get ready.
As soon as he walked outside, the mugginess of Ame struck him. Even on a rain free day such as this, the thickness of the air was enough to drawn you. Likely everyone born and raised in Ame were so used to the humidity that they wouldn’t think twice about it. Jin, however, felt the need to take a deep breath as he again pushed onward. Arriving at his destination, he found that no one was in site. The boy pulled out a small tab of paper from his pocket. On it was written the instructions for his first day in his squad. Strange. He was at the right place.
Great.
The Uchiha’s brows furrowed. Perhaps he was just early. Perhaps they were just late. If there was anything that Jin hated, it was being stood up. Though, in truth, he had never had to deal with it. Golden eyes stared blankly at a box on the ground that stood in the place of his instructor and teammate. The Uchiha boy leaned closer, eyeing the scribbled message. In his getting closer, a satisfying aroma filled his nostrils.
The sweet aroma didn’t bother his stomach. He had already eaten, but Jin’s obsession with sweets and love for cooking made it more difficult to resist. More curious that hungry, he continued to take a guess at its contents. It was a desert of some sort, but more than that he couldn’t tell.
Jin stood back up, eyes scanning the area for any sign of his instructor, but there was so far nothing.
Late.
Last Edit: Sept 15, 2021 23:39:59 GMT by Jin Uchiha
[attr="class","APP3"]Pink stretched as far as the eye could see. Mystical glittering clouds were everywhere, hiding the sharper details of the mysterious landscape before her. She floated aimlessly in this unknown realm, but soon found herself a new goal in the distance. Beyond the pink and the glittering clouds was a gigantic piece of grilled pork chop. Her heart started racing, adrenaline rushed inside her veins and she soon found herself bouncing from one cloud to another, desperate and ready to dig in the juicy meat. So close, so close!
THUD.
"Uuuu..." A painful groan escaped her lips. Alas, she's met with the cold harsh reality of a wooden floor face first - a sweet dream, gone in an instant. Truth be told, the pain wasn't even physical because she had plenty of cushioning to soften her fall. Instead, it derived from her heart, shattered in pieces by the prospect of giant piece of meat-kun being just a projection of her desires. After a few moments of sincere lamentation over her loss, the Akimichi's two brain cells connected with one another at long last; she was late! An audible and guttural gasp later, she rushed to get ready.
.⠀.⠀.
From within a mad labyrinth of iron she emerged, rushing and jumping over metallic stairs, sometimes even sliding down the hand rails to propel herself faster towards their rendezvous point; a huge radio dish northeast of the village. It was one of many devices that allowed the cutting edge communication technology of the rain to thrive, hidden amidst a maze of disorderly misaligned buildings. The fear of arriving late had clouded her mind, and she spared no brainpower to wonder if she would get along with her fellow platoon members or not.
Hands up and waving in the air she arrived, "I'm sorry buddy...! Platoon two... right?" The greenette exclaimed as her sprint came to an abrupt end near her team mate. Hands resting on her knees and panting like her life was on the line, only then did Ichigo realize she had no breakfast. "... Uh? Where's our sensei?" Her red hues scan about, looking for the one responsible for both of them. Nothing.
"It's, uh, m-mighty nice to meetcha. I'm Ichigo, uhm, Busujima I...chi...go?!" Her attention slipped away from Jin, as her head bobbed and her nostrils sniffed the inviting smell somewhere nearby. To an onlooker, she could easily be mistaken for an Inuzuka clan member. At long last the kunoichi found the source, but seriously pondered whether or not to open the box. Ichigo stared, poked, bonked, and even rolled around the box, the inner workings of her mind running at an impressive rate of two brain cells per second. Finally, she comes to a decision.
"Team mate-kun, forgive meself...! If Jin, or nobody else stopped her, the scatterbrained kunoichi would open the chest without pondering about the consequences of ignoring the sticky note. Her stomach roared for something, anything to eat.
"You ain't a ninja if yer not willin' to take risks, right?!"
Lured by an entrancing aroma, and driven an ever-present hunger befitting the Akimichi clan, the genin gathered all the courage needed in an instant and exposed the contents of the mysterious box. You could see this action from every possible angle and conclude that, no matter what they'd find, giving in to curiosity was a reckless and foolish action. For starters, it was common for Shinobi to be asked to take scrolls or other items from point A to point B without knowing exactly what they were carrying. If this was anything close to a work interview, wouldn't Ichigo's reaction lead to an immediate fail? Then, What if its contents were actually dangerous, like the note claimed? With nobody in sight, could the pair actually handle that scenario on their own? Finally, if the box held within what one would expect given its sweet scent... What was the rookie going to do? Steal her superior's dessert?! [break][break] Regardless, it was too late to go back. Ichigo's action could not be undone. She had chosen to take a perhaps unnecessary risk and now had to face the consequences. [break][break] The inside of the box was surprisingly dark, as if it had been especially crafted to keep the light away. Even in daylight, a first glance wouldn't allow the Akimichi to tell what lie within. What she would notice almost immediately, however, would be movement. What she was dealing with was definitely not pastry, unless someone had discovered a technique to bring such caprice to life. [break][break] In spite of her renown, the truth was that they knew very little about their assigned platoon leader. With that said, there was one key clue hidden in plain sight that could turn out to be very relevant in this situation. She was an Aburame and the Aburame are known for... [break][break] Forcing bugs to do their bidding-! [break][break] At that moment, in spite of whatever the grass haired girl attempted to do, be it attempting to close the box or letting go of it in sheer panic, something would escape its prison. It was sudden, ephemeral, but perhaps not as gross as one would have expected. On the contrary, the ascent of a flock of butterflies could not be anything but beautiful and charged with symbolism. To them, it must have looked like a magic trick. [break][break] Before they knew it, the insects were already gone. Fluttering their wings towards freedom, they left the teenagers to wonder exactly why they smelled so good. [break][break] "Ah, my deepest apologies~" As if timed by the devil itself, it would only be a few moments later that their jounin instructor would finally arrive. "You see, I came here early, but had an emergency to attend to so I had to be away for a bit. Way to leave a bad impression in the eyes of your underclassmen, huh...?" [break][break] Her laments were quickly replaced with a beaming smile, hinting that was ready to turn the page and start anew. This was the beginning of their journey together as a team, so she had to give it her all! [break][break] "Anyways, I'm Mai from the Aburame Clan. You can call me sensei, big sis or simply address me by my first name! I hope we can get along. I am itching to hear a little bit about yourselves..." [break][break] It would seem that she had yet to notice the absence of the butterflies. Perhaps her mind was somewhere else today? But she was at Jounin level, so she would find out what had transpired sooner or later. Sooner, if the duo didn't make an honest effort to hide the fact!
[attr="class","boxo-notes"]Oh dear, what have you done...
It wasn’t hard to notice the energy-filled presence approaching. Jin’s golden eyes locked her own as she waves. He stood straight, stuffing his hands into his pockets with a yawn. Maybe he didn’t sleep as well as he though.
Jin was the type to keep his emotions under wrap. He hid them away, placed them in a tiny box under his bed. That didn’t mean he didn’t feel anything. In fact, he felt. Anxiety played a large role in his life whether he let those around him see it or not. Self-doubt and worry had no place in the ninja world. He knew, even at his young age, that decisiveness and clarity is what won battles.
The Uchiha boy remained polite, managing an awkward and shy smile, followed through with nod. “I’m Jin.” Gold eyes searched the grounds again. “I haven’t seen anyone yet.”
The boy turned around to face the girl, finding that she was hunkered over, getting uncomfortable close to the labeled dessert. He reached out, placed his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. “You don’t know who that belongs to. That’d be stealing.”
That was his excuse to stop her, but truthfully something felt off. Why would someone leave their sweets in such a random place like this? Jin was a child, but he wasn’t stupid, and he wasn’t about to steal someone’s food either.
It seemed it was too late, however. Butterflies came pouring out of the small container, filling the air with their bright fluttering. His first reaction was the cover his face, but he quickly peeked through and stared in awe. It was perhaps one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen. A wall of mosaic patterns filled to the brim with life and peace. A butterfly or two landed on his shoulders and arms, taking him as their perch.
A small laugh escaped him and a genuine smile. This smile quickly turned to wonder. Why did they smell so tasty?
His eyes lifted to meet the purple hues of what he presumed to be their sensei. Jin straightened himself, trying his best to not let too much excitement flow through. In truth, though, he was ready to begin his training. The sooner, the better.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” he said respectfully, but he wasn’t going to be the first to spill his guts. His eyes floated from his sensei back to Ichigo, praying that his other teammate was more outgoing than he was.
[attr="class","APP3"]Red eyes peer deep into the unbreacheable abyss of the box — and to her surprise, it looked back. One of her eyebrows raised up in response to an itty-bitty drop of curiosity growing larger with every passing moment. The salivating smell of something delicious was in there, but… There was no food-
“Ahbuhagabbhuga!” at first the kunoichi instinctively tried to scream, but soon finds herself holding the box with one hand while the other shooed away the butterflies so none of them entered into her mouth by accident. Listen, she was an Akimichi and the glutton of a green haired girl could eat just about anything there was within this shinobi world, but insects were NOT in her menu.
As beautiful as the display of butterflies may have been, the buffoon of an Akimichi was far too busy spitting on the ground. None of them had managed to become her next snack, but she was just making sure. Then it seemed the world had transpired against her poor sense of judgment — which apparently was in her gut rather than her head — as their sensei had just arrived. At this point, even the intelectually-challenged Akimichi could connect the dots. An impressive amount of anime sweat stormed down her fair visage and she recklessly closes and puts the box back where she picked it up, taking advantage of Jin’s brief introduction. With a crooked smile as wide as that of a cheshire cat, she tried her best to greet Mai. When their eyes landed on her, it’s obvious something was up in the air. You see,
Ichigo was a terrible liar.
“G-good morning Jin-kun, Mai-sensei-sama!” In fact, the green-haired kunoichi was so tense that even her thick accent seemed to take a brief holiday in some beach episode, “I’m Ichigo, B-busujima Ichigo, sir! Looking forward to work with you two! I’m from Kusagakure, and want to become a strong kunoichi so I can get big just like grandpa one day!” she stood straight, one of her arms on her back and the other saluting them both. An awkward salute, typical of someone who totally did nothing wrong. It would have been the perfect introduction,
— If only a sticky note, stuck to her salluting hand, hadn’t unceremoniously fallen right before the platoon’s eyes. A long silence fills the air… Until a hungry stomach decides to interrupt it.
“Uuu…” Her little act fell apart as Ichigo hugged her belly for dear life, her face red-hot like chili peppers out of sheer embarassment.
"..." [break][break] It couldn't have lasted more than a couple of seconds, but it was there, and both rookies were able to see it. Mai's expression, a symbol of warmth and tranquility, suddenly twisted into a grimace uncharacteristic for a talented ninja such as herself. Within her eyes there was an ocean of shock, urgency and fear, as if she had seen a ghost. It was so vivid, so clearly genuine that whatever hopes the Genin must have had of this being some sort of exercise quickly scattered into the winds. The experience would have been a lot less scary if the Jounin simply scolded them for their misbehavior. Instead, they were met with a silence so sharp it could cut them down instantly if they dared to do something as simple as taking a step forward. [break][break] "... Do not move." [break][break] With a deep breath, the Aburame discarded panic and entered a state of absolute focus. The woman they had met only a few moments prior, the charming and lovely big sister... Just where had she gone? When she raised her right arm, it almost felt as if she could grasp their hearts with her hand in spite of the undeniable distance that separated her from the other ninja. Tension would linger in the air, the sunlight already eclipsed by how overwhelming her presence had become in just a blink of an eye. Was she going to hurt them? No, it was not killing intent what leaked from her fragile figure. [break][break] "Secret Technique: Insect Luring Technique." [break][break] There was at least one butterfly on Jin's shoulder, which had chosen not to leave its perch even after the boy straightened up to introduce himself. In a matter of seconds, that same butterfly landed on Mai's index finger, attracted by the girl's sweet chakra. It was clear that at the very least up to that point, the Jounin was the only one who comprehended exactly how dangerous of a situation the two underclassmen had managed to get themselves into. [break][break] "Huu..." The platoon leader breathed out, somewhat relieved. It was far too soon for the rookies to relax, however, as she was now frowning. "This is a rare breed of parasitic destruction butterflies. Those seen in nature merely store and carry pollen within themselves, but an Aburame can raise them to become literal weapons. What I am trying to say is... Children, I don't want you to get anywhere near them without both my consent and supervision. You are lucky to be standing here in front of me and not on the way to the Hidden Rain's hospital." [break][break] There were several arguments the genin could make to help their case or rather to push the blame on their instructor. Teenagers making mistakes was not something out of the ordinary, after all. Nothing of this would have happened if she had simply taken the box with her or had never brought it to the meeting in the first place. Sadly, it was easier to think than to say. A verbal fight with a superior could easily spell out the end of one's career. [break][break] "What am I going to do with you? You disobeyed a warning, put yourself and others in danger and, most importantly, tried to keep the truth away from me. Ichigo, your ideals are noble, but you are unfit to be a part of my platoon." [break][break] Mai did not lecture Jin directly, but it was clear from her glare that he wasn't in a much better position that his companion. The relationship with their sensei had started off with a wrong foot, and now it was unclear if there was a way to make amends. With their dreams on the line and a number of dangerous butterflies on the loose, what would their response to this cruel turn of events?
The sound coming from Ichigo’s stomach made Jin wince. He bared his teeth one side as his lipped curled upward in embarrassment for the girl. Jin had enough sense at least to eat before heading out for the day. The growling of Ichigo’s stomach spoke otherwise for her.
In that moment though, the entire atmosphere changed. Pressure was placed upon him in a form he’d only ever known one other human being able to replicate: his mother. The wrath that Jin felt was otherworldly. A cold sweat dripped down the back of his neck. The boy followed the butterfly in thought only, daring not to move a muscle or even allow the twitch of his eyelid. The smile on the woman’s face had only just seconds ago been warm and inviting. Now, though, he could feel the cold breeze of a seasoned kunoichi. Her chakra, swirling and whirling around wreaked of the oddest threat.
In that moment, Jin wanted to crawl back to the Academy and perhaps drag his new teammate along with him. As the threat vanished, the Uchiha boy turned to the green haired girl. It appeared she was going to be the trouble making of the group so far.
Despite being rather bright for his age, Jin couldn’t for the life of him figure out what they had done wrong. He wasn’t going to sit by idly either and just take it. No, he had to open his mouth. He was skeptical and opinionated by nature.
“With no disrespect, I don’t find our actions entirely wrong," Jin paused, briefly wondering if his own curiosity would soon cause him more trouble than it was worth. He made sure to include himself in the equation, however. After all, he didn’t physically stop Ichigo from opening the chest. His intentions, though, were purely educational. “A note was left on a box, but we would have had no idea who wrote that. As far as I knew, it was a child not wanting someone to touch their sweets. That doesn't make it dangerous.”
His sweat died down as he rose in confidence with his confrontation. “You were intentionally deceptive."
Truthfully, Jin didn’t like being deceived by his new sensei. It was certainly not giving him good vibes. “If you’re here to teach us, do it open faced so that in the future I don’t have to question whether something is a test or if it’s actually dangerous.” She’d already set bad precedent. Jin saw it as a childish attempt to gauge their intellect. In a way, he was offended…and slightly worried. She was in charge of them?
Last Edit: Oct 15, 2021 16:44:33 GMT by Jin Uchiha
[attr="class","APP3"] “I’m sorry…” arms still firmly latched around her belly, the apology slipped from her lips out of habit. Though this was the first time her fellow platoon members had seen her hunger-driven antics at play, this wasn’t the first time the akimichi had found herself into trouble because of food — it probably wasn’t going to be the last time, either. Alas, when the torturous grumbling of her stomach subsided and her gaze fell upon her sensei again, her features switched colors like a morning dew at the perfect angle of light and despair. Trembling in place as though her body fought against the cold of a blizzard, she was reminded of her grandpa’s warnings; one of them to never disobey their instructor.
Ninjas were military personnel. To defy orders wasn’t unlike defecting one’s country. The shaky mess of a genin was ready to bow and properly apologize after the butterfly had gracefully landed near her sensei, but her superior’s voice rang out first. Piercing deep into her mind, the words of criticism were not easy to bear. It wasn’t because Ichigo couldn’t handle it exactly, but rather, to consider her unfit was the same as calling her grandfather’s assessment of her skills as inaccurate. Each of the harsh syllables drowned her in worry not for herself, but for her family and especially the old man Akimichi. Would they have to respond for her crimes if she couldn’t find herself useful to a platoon?
Mai’s lecture caused emotions to stir within, something the akimichi always struggled with — no matter how harsh or haunting they were, they never truly surfaced. For soem reason, perhaps by instinct, Ichigo knew letting them take control of herself shouldn’t ever happen. To an onlooker, her inner reflection resembled a simple dispirited gaze towards the ground. It all changed, however, as the weight and meaning of Jin’s response to their superior registered on her high-speed pocessing, ultra-fast noggin.
“Ah! Jin-kun, don’t!” Honestly, she had already messed up. She had to at least keep him from getting dragged down because of her mess. “Mai-sensei, please don’ mind the stuff he’s sayin’! I’m sure he ain’t meanin’ it!” she walked forward and in front of Jin before bowing. “P-please, I’m the one who was openin’ stuff without knowing anythin’ about it!” Unless stopped by her team mate or after receiving a word from her mentor, she’d remain bowed forward.
"..." [break][break] The Jounin did not speak a word as the Genin spoke their mind, staying true to their character. The first to respond, Jin, showed outstanding confidence, going as far as to openly tell his superior how much of a fiasco he believed this exercise to be. He was able to push forward because, ultimately, most of what he said was true. His attitude left a lot to be desired but no one could fault him from reacting the way he did at that stage of his life, much less when his dossier anticipated this behavior. Ichigo, on the other hand, opted for the polar opposite, desperately begging for the blame to be placed upon her so her companion would be spared. Despite her clumsiness, her heart possessed a strength that was very rare and valuable. [break][break] Unfortunately, neither of them answered like a proper Shinobi would. Drowning in the chaos birthed by their own actions, they were unable to see the bigger picture. But one couldn't really fault them. They had just started walking their path and might had not yet defined their own ninja way. From where they stood, it might have even been natural for them to find Mai's behavior to be lacking for one who held such prestigious position. It was a real shame that at that point in time they could not hope to reach an understanding. [break][break] "... That's enough." When there were no more words to be said, the Aburame urged the green-haired Akimichi to straighten up. Then she would speak to the both of them, erasing any misconception they might have brought to the field. "I am not your Instructor. I am the Leader of Platoon Two and you respond to me. If you are unable to handle this level of misdirection, you are ill prepared to leave the village on any assignment, where no one will warn you whether you should be careful or not." [break][break] It was the cruel, harsh truth. No matter the number of valid arguments Jin or Ichigo could come up to condemn the artificer of this predicament, what she said acted as the final wall that not even their combined effort could bring down. It was rare to see the elite Kunoichi be this cold, and with underclassmen of all things, but if they were to work together, they needed to know what they were getting into. There were a minimum set of rules they needed to follow and they needed to understand that the line of work they had chosen was often not forgiving. [break][break] "With that said..." Mai took an even larger breath, releasing the tension in the nearby area with a discrete sigh. Then, she would do the unthinkable. "I apologize. A whim of mine has put you both in needless danger." [break][break] This time, it was her the one bowing down. A Jounin... Was bowing respectfully to two Genin... [break][break] "I never expected you to open the box." She confessed. "In doing so, you completely changed the nature of the exercise I had in mind, creating a scenario I did not expect to face. So, as you can see, this little klutz is responsible for this mess, as well." [break][break] Then, with a rather uncommon shaky voice, she moved on to a little plea that pointed the entire argument to the topic that was truly important. [break][break] "S-So... I would be g-grateful if you helped me find the missing butterflies before the K-kazekage finds out..." [break][break] Oh yeah, she had said they were poisonous, had she not?
Jin was taken aback. Although they hadn’t known each other but for mere minutes, Ichigo was already willing to stick up for him and take the blame. It already seemed as though their squad was falling apart. Jin was big on first impressions, and so far, he wasn’t too impressed. As always, there was more to it than that. Maybe everyone was just a bit nervous. This entire situation was new to him, and he assumed it was for Ichigo as well.
“You don’t have to defend me, Ichigo, but I appreciate it.”
He wasn’t aware of Mai’s status as a Jounin or if she had trained other squads before. She seemed young and if Jin had to guess she was perhaps in her early twenties. She looked even younger than that, but as a Jounin, Jin had a hard time believing she would be much younger. If she was, that would have only meant she was incredibly powerful.
Instructor? Leader of their platoon? Honestly, Jin didn’t see much of a difference. Perhaps she was right though. Jin lowered his eyes a bit. He had been too quick to jump on his new teammates. He bowed apologetically to both Mai and Ichigo. “Let us start over then.”
He listened closely as Mai explained the situation and how it was drastically changed due to the opening of the box. “You want us to …. Find butterflies…?” Jin was slightly confused. Couldn’t she just ask them to come back? That’s how that worked, right? Truthfully, he didn't know much of anything about the Aburame clan other than their association with bugs.
He scanned the area, several butterflies fluttered around, but none with the enchanted appearance as the ones that left the box earlier. The stutter on Mai’s lips made Jin uneasy. She seemed worried. Was she scared of the Kazekage?
“Alright. How are we supposed to catch them though? I don’t want to accidentally hurt them,” Jin asked as he rubbed the back of his head. They were small and delicate, bending their paper thin wings even just a little would cause them irreparable harm.
“Any ideas, Ichigo?”
Last Edit: Oct 15, 2021 16:44:20 GMT by Jin Uchiha
