So the time had finally come...to deliver messages. As the first sounds of real fighting echoed throughout the neighboring regions, Makoto was stuck racing back and forth like some dumb animal. It made her blood boil knowing that she was reduced to a supporting role. There was a certain chuunin - hell, maybe even the Hokage herself - to thank for the assignment. Both of them would pay sooner or later.
"Rrgh. Dammit." The Mist Jounin snarled when she noticed the first batch of hostiles galloping at her squad. Were they scouts? Or did one of the Sound's 'skilled' teams really let riders slip by that easily? It didn't matter much either way. "Close formation!" Makoto barked to the foreign ninja at her heels. "I'll make a path! Don't stop for anythin'!"
With that said, she fully intended to charge by the obstacle and make for the best cover - the forest.
"GATSUUGA!" the Inuzuka exclaimed moments later, diving into a twisting motion alongside a pair of her ninja hounds. The resulting cyclone barreled straight ahead with all its roaring fury, blasting toward the line of horsemen without a shred of fear. The brazen charge met somewhere in the middle, driving the horses apart and carving a path for Makoto's squad to follow.
"Hey! Was'uh big idea?!" the drunk sputtered after clubbing the genin to the floor. "You gone crazy, innerup'n meee? H-Hows many times I gotta...I gotta tell you?!" He stumbled closer during his inane grumbling, sword swaying dangerously in his hand, until eventually he planted a foot on the boy's chest. It was in the next moment that the guard peered down in focus, clearly strained in his efforts to collect his thoughts but meaning to say something nonetheless.
"Eve'y time you start co-complaining like...Whaa..."
In mid-ramble the guard finally managed to take stock of his visitor, confusion riddling his expression as he gripped the sword tighter in hand. He may not have understood what was going on, but the slightest bit of caution registered in the drunk's eyes. Well, caution and anger.
And Makoto wasn't there to help. But that being said, Suzaku wasn't necessarily alone either.
Hurried footfalls sounded by the storeroom doors, the arrival of another intruder soon entering the mix. A rush of brown fur charged into view, leaping at the guard with all its weight. The tackle was more than enough force to knock the drunk off his feet, freeing the genin from the floor in the process. His reinforcements? A ninken of course.
The beast and guard were tussling on the ground, giving Suzaku an opening to accomplish his task.
Meanwhile, on the lookout outside, the Mist Jounin kept a watchful eye on the roads, sniffing the air for any scent of danger. Occasionally she would glance back to the storehouse, concern knitting her brow. "What's takin' so long?" Makoto sighed impatiently.
A small wake could be seen slithering through the misty blue, passing right under the spot where the lure bobbed. For a brief second it looked like the disturbance would swim on by, avoiding the obvious trap, but it came to a sudden halt. Tension gripped at the opposite end of the line, followed by a harsh pull from beneath the waves. Something was snagged there and giving a whole lot of resistance - a big catch!
Mere moments later bubbles started to cluster on the surface of the pool and gradually bigger waves rippled outward. It gave the distinct impression that ought was about to emerge from the murky depths. With a final yank on the fishing line, the struggling thing came bursting out of the water with a huge splash.
It was difficult to describe at first. All one could see was a wild mane of black twisting around in protest, arms flailing this way and that in a frenzied panic. Had anything other than water been within reach, then it surely would've been thrashed into a bloody pulp by the alarming amount of movement going on. Instead, the end result was a chaotic scene of splashing and...angry growling?
"Mmphff!"
Makoto gave a muffled snarl, fangs clenching down harder on the fresh fish caught between her jaws. The catch was still alive and wiggling like its life depended on it, but that seemed like the scarcest of her worries right now. The cause of the Inuzuka's dismayed flailing was because something sharp was snagged in her hair. Predictably, she kept trying to fight against the unseen force - tugging and pulling like crazy - only for the line to get more tangled in her mess of black locks.
Rushing around to the other side of the building, Makoto seemed intent on lending assistance where it was most needed. Namely, her genin. Fortunately, when she turned the corner she was greeted by a reassuring sight - the guard was silenced. Praise would come later, of course, as the Inuzuka didn't have time for distractions. So she stated firmly, "Stay focused." They had only passed the first hurdle. The next part of their objective was when the real challenge would begin.
Barking to one of her companions, a shaggy-furred canine trotted up from the opposite side of the structure. On its back was something akin to a ninja's flak jacket, only fitted for a canine form instead of a human one. Makoto soon shuffled through the ninken's pockets and pulled out three objects, handing them off to the genin. "Slap these on anythin' important." She nodded to the storehouse with a wild grin. "And get ready t' run like hell."
After saying as much Makoto gave the genin a push, ushering him towards the inside of the building. With the guards dealt with, there were only heaps of supplies to greet him past the door. Food, water, and tools were packed into every corner and covered in a layer of straw to keep moisture at bay. In the end, it would all serve as perfect kindling for the fireball that was about to erupt.
However, there was one small problem with the scene inside.
"Eh? Na..Naoto? That you again?" an unfamiliar voice stammered from nearby, followed by a light thud among the crates of supplies. The figure responsible staggered into view a moment later, bottle in one hand and sword in the other. Undoubtedly a guard and undoubtedly a drunk. "I toldja to mind your own bus'ness!" he blustered angrily, looking all too ready for a scuffle with whoever his blurry vision settled on.
A lone dog wandered down the street, its snout low to the ground as it whimpered through the ongoing drizzle. By the time the pitiful sounds reached the ears of the closest guards, said canine was within arm's reach. "Get back mutt!" commanded one of the watch. He waved the end of an old spear toward the soaked animal, trying to shoo it away with another exclamation. "Go on! Scram!"
The dog didn't recoil in fear as one would expect. Instead it arched back and let out a long howl, giving the signal.
"Rraagh!"
The Inuzuka dove into action as soon as she heard the cue, breaking into a mad dash on all-fours. Seeing as her genin had taken the right side, the left side of the storehouse was ripe for the taking. And take she did. Rainfall drowned out the noise of Makoto's rapid approach, putting her right on top of a pair of guards before they knew what was happening. Claws lashed out with vicious intent, shredding and raking both hapless victims before they could sputter out a cry of pain.
"Grrr."
Other thuds and splashes could be heard around the vicinity of the building, marking the demise of more watchmen as their bodies hit the muddy floor. Makoto's dogs appeared to be responsible for the coordinated strikes, chomping down on the unsuspecting villagers in quick succession. This kind of teamwork was exactly what they excelled at, each canine working in unison to increase their chances of success.
The question remained: could the young Hozuki keep up?
Notes: lets kick this off with a little ambush! feel free to control any npcs at your leisure as well
The Inuzuka cast a wayward gaze toward the south, squinting into the boundless landscape like there was some chance she could see what Tsubaki described. "Heh. Sounds promisin'. I'll hafta sniff 'round and see it for myself." She nodded along with the end of that thought, doing her best to remember the vague directions. River, hills, big trees. Sounded straightforward enough. "Might even catch a glimpse of those armored creeps if I'm lucky~" she added with a snicker of delight.
What she wouldn't give to sink her claws into an imperial or two...But there'd be plenty of opportunity for that come the real battles ahead. Until that deciding moment, Makoto had to keep her bloodlust in check and those fangs nice and sharp.
Climbing to her feet with a light groan some time later, the Inuzuka patted her attire free of dirt while she hid a reluctant frown. "Much as I'd like ya to tag along, there's no tellin' if somebody from the village is nearby." Though she already walked a thin line by interacting with Tsubaki in any capacity, the last thing she wanted was to cause a stir and bring more trouble down on her head. Her drinking buddy had more than enough of that nastiness to last a lifetime. "So I'll leave a couple o' my pups 'round to keep watch. If anybody gets close they'll give a bark," the Inuzuka explained nonchalantly.
It frustrated her that she couldn't do much more, that familiar hint of concern showing in her eyes again. What kind of friend would she be if she left without showing a little gratitude though? That fish had been rather tasty, so posting a few dogs in the forest was the least she could do to repay the meal. Especially if it gave Tsubaki a few moments of respite in an otherwise danger-filled forest.
"An' don't ya even dare think about refusin'," Makoto warned with a pointed claw.
"The fact that both of ya keep blabbin' tells me yain't learnt enough." Makoto's piercing blues narrowed once more, having reached the limits of her patience. Doubts? She could handle. But these two were putting up a fight of a totally different sort. Good thing she could make use of that energy; if her students still had the strength to spare for backtalk, then they weren't done with training.
"Oh well." Letting out a resigned sigh, the Jounin appeared to relent in her lecture. The doubtful look on her face displayed a clear sense of understanding. She knew there was nothing more to say that would persuade her stubborn subordinates. "Can't say I didn't try n' play nice. Words just ain't my style."
The Inuzuka were ever a people of action. Experience and instinct guided their principles, even if it meant drilling those lessons into their young with a few beatings. Talk simply didn't have the same degree of impact. And if Makoto's pupils didn't understand that by now, then they were about to get a healthy reminder.
"Sometimes it takes a lotta blood, sweat, and broken bones to really get a point across," Makoto clarified, taking a few steps closer to the weary Hyuuga. In the next instant, claws lunged out and grabbed both young men by their collars, yanking them along like unruly mutts caught on a leash. "So don't worry yer pretty lil' heads. Even if I gotta beat ya into a pulp and scrape ya off the floor, I'll make sure these lessons stick today." The Jounin's tone was weirdly reassuring when she conveyed that sentiment, as if she was much more comfortable with this route. In fact, the kunoichi was even smiling now. "Ya'd be surprised how quick yer body adapts once yer life is on the line!"
Besides, should they try to escape, Makoto had already proven just how futile their attempts at running would be.
Before any exclamation reached her ears, Makoto first saw the human canonball launching over the water's edge, the unexpected sight filling her expression with surprise. Frosty blue orbs followed the figure's rapid descent and subsequent splash, one part curious and another part mindful. Was it a local? No. She got an answer as soon as the familiar shocks of red hair surfaced from the pool.
"Well, well. Somebody's really enjoyin' their trip overseas, huh?" Makoto greeted in a tone that bordered on chiding. Fortunately, the playful grin that crossed her lips a moment later suggested she wasn't in the mood for lectures. "Hope ya done more than practice yer divin' form while we're here, Gauma-kun." Yes, she knew this genin as a matter of fact. He may have been a member of a different squad than her own, however the logistics of command couldn't stop the Inuzuka from viewing him as one of her own subordinates.
Given the way her dogs were quick to swarm Gauma in the water, they didn't seem to think of him as a stranger either. Barking, splashing, rambunctious forms circled the genin like sharks, looking as though they could overwhelm him in a heartbeat. The hounds were just vying for attention though, trying to pull the young man in one direction or another, hopping onto his back, kicking water into his face. Dog things, mostly.
"Where's the rest of yer squad anyway?" Makoto asked from the rocky shore, arms crossed over her chest. Very briefly she glanced up at the waterfall again, wondering if they would come crashing down too. "Don't tell me that airhead Yunyao is slackin' off again."
Water. It was so often thought of as serene and beautiful. Like when it took the shape of a stream trickling down a quiet valley or in the form of ripples traveling across the length of a tranquil pool. But what about a rushing current that swirled and churned, crushing everything in its wake? Or how about the crash of rainfall when it battered the ground in a relentless downpour?
It was far too easy to forget how destructive water could truly be.
Standing at the base of the roaring waterfall, Makoto was beginning to recall that ugly truth. Frosty blues gazed upward at the impressive deluge, unshaken and filled with resolve. "Ehm. Right." Okay, maybe she was a bit intimidated by the sheer scope of it. Only a little though! Looking down at the rocks that lined the bottom of the fall, they'd been weathered flat over the countless years, proving just how vicious the falls could be.
In other words, it was also a good place to sit...and endure the pressure of all that water crashing down on one's body. Or so the Inuzuka had intended when she originally stumbled upon the spot. For the time being she was visibly hesitant, eying the falls with suspicion as though there were some trick to unravel first.
Not far from the kunoichi's side, the sounds of a pack of dogs splashing in the water was overshadowed by the thundering hum of the waterfall. The ninken were all too happy to there, taking turns leaping off the rocks and diving into the cool blue pool with relentless vigor. Every so often they would nudge their master in a bid to join them, but she refused with a grunt, choosing instead to concentrate on the raging flood beating down on the stones.
The Inuzuka was positive that her jutsu would get an excited rise out of the kid, anticipating awe and praise for her impressive feat. So when she next saw Kakesu climb onto the pool with minimal effort, the kunoichi was the one to gasp in surprise. "H-Huh? Wow." Apparently she should've given the kid more credit where it was due. Not only did he know about the jutsu but he could maintain it to some degree as well.
And thanks to all her gawking, Makoto lost her own concentration and crashed right back into the shallows.
Not one to be discouraged by a little tumble, the Mist ninja dragged herself out of the pond and gave a quick shake of her dripping mane. "Now that ya mention it, breaks're important. Don't wanna waste all yer strength in one go," she remarked, proceeding to wring out the sleeves of her attire. Turning back to grin at the boy with amusement, she was nothing but supportive of him learning more 'secret magic'. Whatever that meant. "Well, yer grandpa's pro'lly right. Elders have a special way of knowin' things, sorta like their own kinda magic."
With that said, the Inuzuka crouched down and gave another wild shake, water flying off her body in every direction.
Looking rather refreshed after the fact, she returned to offering some advice to her unlikely instructor. "Practice 'em funny hand moves some more an' I'm sure ye'll go a long way, pup." Makoto could tell that he already had a good foundation to work from. All it would take was a bit of old-fashioned determination to see if those talents would bloom into something real unique. "And once yer good enough, I bet'cha tons of customers are gunna come runnin' for a lesson."
Makoto finished that with a thumbs up of her own, trying to mimic Kakesu's youthful enthusiasm.
Well this was certainly a first. Makoto had dealt with some rough crowds in her day but she couldn't remember a time where she'd been so thoroughly ignored. Not when she was howling for a good old-fashioned fight among a bunch of shady sailors. Usually a drunkard or two had the confidence to test his luck, or at the very least there'd be some young pup full of spirit who was ready to step up for a challenge
Instead all Makoto got was a ring full of greedy cowards. Pretenders. They were too afraid to take the risk. Wasn't that just ironic? Money was all they played for and yet they were robbing themselves of the real thrill.
"Hmph. Spineless lil' worms, ain'tcha." Makoto spat on the floor, clearly meaning every disrespect to the players and their sad excuse for a game. "Lose a bit o' money an' suddenly ya got no balls?" Nomura had talked their group up like they were worth a damn, so color her surprised to see just how pitiful they behaved in the face of a challenge. Makoto had half a mind to bring their fun crashing down, starting with whoever the ringleader was after she strung them up to a pole. The only thing stopping her from that reckless course was the danger it could pose to her pupil.
"Whatever," she finally sighed, dismissing the sour looks of crowd.
Restraining the urge to lash out at the closest thugs, the Inuzuka joined the genin with a loud huff. "Bring me to a real fight next time, y'hear? All this meek spirit is makin' me sick. Too many thin-necked cowards standin' around." She wasn't the least bit angry with Nomura but her twitching grimace showed how drained her patience had become.
"Shut yer traps and listen t' what I'm sayin'!" the Inuzuka snarled fiercely, a flicker of the woman's savage nature glinting across her icy gaze. She usually didn't mind if her pupils wanted to provide some input here and there, but in this case they were clearly missing the point. No part of this exercise was about playing the hero, or the importance of sacrifice, or any big life lesson to change their perspective. No, Makoto was teaching them the very fundamentals of survival.
"It don't matter a lick that ya kept the scrolls if ya end up dead!" she growled impatiently, fangs bared in response to the laughable excuse. The end result of their efforts was still failure, despite how long the pair had stuck to their objectives. Makoto wouldn't be giving out any praise for that. "Use those big Hyuuga brains of yers and think about yer strategy. What happened the whole time out there?" She rose a curious brow, giving the pair a chance to think even though she obviously knew the answer.
"Avoid. Defend. Evade." Makoto counted off the similar approaches on her digits, then curled her hand into a tight fist. "Predictable. Like scared lil' rabbits." For the briefest moment it seemed she would lunge out again and smack them both, but the Inuzuka refrained with a low growl. "If all ya do is wait for the enemy to attack first, yer givin' them the openin' to do as they please." Not that it was a bad tactic to flee from danger. In some cases that was probably the right move. Yet Makoto expected more from her pupils. "Good ninja have to learn t' adapt. Save for that lil' stunt ya pulled at the end, not once didja think about switchin' onto the attack, huh?"
Their teamwork during that clash gave them an edge. For a moment anyway. The important takeaway was that they needed to do more than react if they wanted to survive.
"Even in a pursuit ya got more options than 'run away'. Fer instance, ya know the enemy is comin' to ya, so use that to yer advantage."
The rain was beating down hard on the coastline today, dark clouds pouring an endless spray over the land as wind whipped the treetops. Terrible weather for fishing. Great weather for a bit of subterfuge. Thankfully, the Lightning Country was full of great spots that were ripe for such activity, especially if one was a Mist ninja.
Kawaba. It was a good example of the rural lifestyle. Good views, friendly neighbors, and fresh fish everywhere in sight. Not too many people, not too few. But they were all too engrossed in their daily lives to expect the turmoil that would befall them.
Wrapped in a shoddy cloak to ward off the constant stream of raindrops, Makoto took position at the side of a house while waiting for the rest of her team to catch up. Once they had, the kunoichi cocked her head in the direction of a nearby building. Some guards were posted outside but they weren't shinobi. "The first cache's there. In the storehouse." Spare food and some weapons, mostly. Nothing impressive but it was kept under lock and key.
The mission: destroy it all.
"Take out the guards. Get inside. Make it quick."
They couldn't dawdle for too long. According to the scouting reports, a token force of Cloud ninja were on patrol in the nearby area. Chances were, they would come running to assist the townsfolk once they heard trouble had arrived on their shores. However, Makoto expected to be long gone with her squad by the time any response could be mounted.
"If anyone gets in yer way, show no mercy."
Strike hard and strike fast; basically the Inuzuka motto. Her students would do well to follow that practice as well, should they wish to get back home in one piece.
Admittedly, Makoto was concentrating too hard on her chakra to pay much attention to her surroundings. The power that suffused her body was a fickle thing to control, requiring every bit of effort she could spare to make it bend to her will. Usually she had no issues doing that when her instincts took the reins, like when her life was on the line, but this was different. More deliberate.
Gnashing teeth together in a show of exertion, the kunoichi collected more energy around her palms and the soles of her feet. Although she had a simple idea in mind to test her aptitude, the strain was already wearing down on her body. "C'mon!" Doing things with brute force just came naturally to Makoto, so she was about half a second away from punching the water into submission. That is, until she felt her body slightly raise up, fingers clutching onto the surface of the pool like it was solid rock.
With a desperate hop Makoto wrenched herself from the shallows and planted her feet atop the water. Not into the water - onto the water. Looking as if she had landed on an invisible platform, the kunoichi wobbled and splashed around for a moment with awkward footing. The sensation was quite new, making a task as simple as taking a single step a calculated challenge.
"Well? Whatcha think?" she asked with a chuckle, eager to see Kakesu's reaction to a different sort of magic. "May not be as flashy as yer tricks but this's kinda fun." Makoto ventured another step forward and her foot nearly sunk beneath the pool, only for her to draw back and concentrate again. "Harder than it looks too..." she muttered after a sigh. Keeping the right balance of energy was more taxing than she predicted. At least she wouldn't have to worry about using the skill under pressure.
Oh. So it really was one of those kinds of meetings, was it? The Inuzuka was hardly surprised, having known deep in her gut that there was more at work here than was advertised. While the chuunin yipped and yapped like a newborn pup begging for attention, all she could do was stare. Despite having told him to speak freely, Makoto was already regretting her decision. The chuunin's thinly veiled threats didn't really hit the mark either. When your guest considered a punch in the face more threatening than a menacing choice in words, most of the impact rang hollow.
"Uh huh." Her enthusiasm was boundless. Looking down at the spread of fresh food, the Jounin was far less eager to dig in than her host. In fact she looked somewhat confused. Why did all the grub look so...pretty? It was weirdly making her lose an appetite. "Sounds like yer really makin' waves. Good work, pup." The degree of disinterest in her voice was as thick as soup, the bulk of her attention spent sniffing the strange arrangement. Had she even been listening past the first few of Fei's comments? Perhaps. Or perhaps she had been ignoring him intentionally.
After crinkling her nose in disgust at one particular plate of greens, Makoto leveled her gaze back to the chuunin and tried to appear attentive. "So what's the problem now?" There was mention of the Hokage and some command stuff earlier, but that hardly concerned the Inuzuka when she already had her mission to consider. "Afraid the Hokage is gunna take a likin' to ya or somethin'?" she teased behind a fanged smirk. "I'd be careful 'round her type. It takes a real freak to become Kage, y'know. And I'm not sure yer quite at the same level of freaky."
Makoto strained a faint grin afterward, like that was some kind of compliment.
"Anyway. Glad to hear yer gettin' along with all our ninja friends. Just make sure ya don't go forgettin' what's at stake."