[center][i][b] Sekitan Nomads
Kakkoi Dango Stand ---> Land of Earth/Land of Grass Border - Morning[/b][/i] [/center]

The sounds of people chatting over their morning dumplings faded behind the trio as the stand got smaller and smaller over their shoulders. The smell did not recede with the voices however, as the three wanderers carried with them their own preferred dumplings. Goro had finished his first skewer already, the pointed stick protruding from his teeth as he chewed on it thoughtfully. The remaining two skewers he had now were wrapped up and stored in his satchel for later consuming. For now he strolled at a steady pace with his hands resting upon his belt sash, grunting in contentment now and then at the recent memory of his treat.

Yue's focus was currently divided into three pieces. The first piece was on the consumption of the sweet Mitarashi dango that was his breakfast. The second was keeping up with his much taller companion Goro. And the final piece was on the surrounding area. You could never be too careful even during a time of relative peace. There was no such thing as true peace when you were a traveling ninja. Especially when people mistook you as a woman. While hilarious to his companions, it wasn't quite as funny to him. But just barely, it was still pretty funny. His companions had teased him before about dressing him up as a woman if they ever needed to disguise themselves. Yue dreaded the day it would actually happen.

While his two companions were walking further ahead, Isha walked at a much slower pace occasionally moving in a slow circle. Most days he would do his best to keep pace with Goro and Yue, they were the main powerhouses of the group and he relied on them heavily to keep him safe. Today though he was taking his time to admire the world around him after sharing a delicious treat with his friend he was in even higher spirits than normal. [color=aba000]"We really should stop and take in the sights more often guys! I mean it feels like we haven't stopped moving in fooooooorever!"[/color] Isha's voice cleared the distance between him and his companions, dropping into an almost childish whine near the end as he spun with his arms out to his sides.

As if caused by Isha's sudden outburst, Goro paused abruptly spinning on his heel as his armored boots dug into the lightly-gravelled road below. His eyes indicated a complex thought process and the flaring of his nostrils indicated that he was sampling the air. With a furrow of his brow and a muffled cough, the sturdy beast finally spoke: "[color=0072bc]We stink.[/color]" 

It was quiet and concise, but got the point across despite being entirely anticlimactic and not appropriate for the situation. Goro had a bad habit of over-dramatizing himself even with the slightest of thoughts. "[color=0072bc]Baths. There has to be some....there.[/color]" Turning he pointed ominously at a plume of smoke rising from somewhere far down the road in the Land of Grass as if divining something from a world beyond their own.

Yue smiled at the antics of his companions. Isha's almost child-like behavior was refreshing when mixed with his own, more serious personality, and the reason he had give the younger man the pet nickname Little One. Though Isha was an inch taller than Yue. Goro's mentioning of them stinking didn't concern Yue. But the plume of smoke he pointed to did. [color=red]"Yes, I believe we should head there next."[/color] Yue said with casual smile on his face. Though at the same time he unconsciously reached for the tessen hanging from the sash around his waist. It was too much smoke to be a simple campfire. Something had happened wherever that smoke was.

Isha quickly stopped his spinning to gaze off in the direction that the behemoth Goro had pointed in. Tilting his head a bit to the side he shrugged. [color=aba000]"I don't see any reason not to go that way."[/color] Pausing for a moment he suddenly jumped a bit with a bright smile on his lips. [color=aba000]"Oh! Maybe they will have new books for me to read! It has been a long time since I got anything new to read."[/color] Just before he began to move he noticed Yue's hand dropping towards the fan on his waist causing Isha's smile dropped into a bit of a frown.[color=aba000]"You don't think that we will have to fight right guys?"[/color]

Chewing for a moment upon the dango skewer between his teeth, Goro shrugged before snapping it between his teeth. "[color=0072bc]They had best hope not.[/color]" The shinobi spoke, ever brief in referring to those that may oppose them at their destination. There had been so very few that stood in their path that had truly threatened or challenged the trio so far. Goro's confidence was not without a subtle caution however. "[color=0072bc]Having a change of heart?[/color]" He inquired to either of his companions before removing the broken skewer from his mouth and walking steadily toward their goal, already knowing that neither of them were going to back down as long as they all had one another's backs.

If Yue hadn't known his companions as well as he did, he may have mistook Goro's confidence for arrogance. But he knew the caution that lay underneath. The Peaceful Warrior too held a quiet confidence in the trio. Though they lacked a bit in the ranged attack department, they were still strong enough, at least to defeat the opponents they had come across so far. [color=red]"Of course not."[/color] He said in reply to Goro's next statement, his loyalty to the group ever unwavering. His hand moved away from the tessen at his waist, in order to give the youngest of the group a little more peace of mind. He had other ways to fight than just the fan. He began walking again as Goro did, with a quick glance behind to make sure Isha was keeping up with them.

Even after four years Isha still felt uneasy at the prospect of fighting. It wasn't that he doubted his comrades abilities, nor did he question his own, it was simply the fact that prior to leaving his village he had never even seen a fight. It came as quite the shock to discover that most of the rest of the world everyone was always so eager to fight. With a quick shake of his head he cleared his mind of any trepidation before flashing a bright smile at both of his companions. [color=aba000]"Like my heart could ever change Goro! I just hope that if we do have to fight they actually know what they are doing, that last group didn't and I couldn't get a replacement for my Dead Soul Technique. So could one of you try to keep one in good enough condition?"[/color] He knew that both Goro and Yue were aware of Isha's good heart, but that didn't change the fact that in battle he would back them up no matter what. With a destination set, and the potential that things could turn sour, Isha quickly picked up his pace to catch up with his friends as they headed towards the rising smoke.