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[h2][b][color=orange]Shin Maru, Topaz[/color][/b][/h2][/center]

Shin's bold confession of being completely unprepared for camping was intended to goad someone into offering him assistance in the tent department. By some miracle of fate it ended up getting an almost naked Sentou wanting to bunk with him. Shin's usual goofy grin took his face as Sentou in her bikini stood next to him. He was completely unaware of the blood trickling from his nose. [b][color=orange]"Oh, I would love to tent with you,"[/color][/b] Shin agreed, putting his hands on his waist and smirking again. [b][color=orange]"I still have no tent, but I suppose it's [i]just[/i] fine if we share a sleeping bag or something."[/color][/b]

It was difficult for him to keep his cool, but for not feeling his injuries anymore helped. It was only about now that Shin realized he had a nosebleed. After wiping the blood from his lip, Shin looked back to bikini-clad Sentou (without starting another nosebleed this time). [b][color=orange]"I've had a rough day and I'm a bit cold from blood loss. Perhaps you can help me relax and warm up, yeah?"[/color][/b] His sly grin proved that he thought he was the coolest thing alive at the moment. Wrapping an arm around Sentou's shoulders, Shin began to lead her off the road. [i][color=orange]Don't grope her... don't grope her... don't grope her...[/color][/i]

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[h2][b][color=moccasin]Tsukiko Umene, Honeybadger[/color][/b][/h2][/center]

The wild woman landed on a thick tree branch and stopped, crouching down while keeping an arm on the trunk as an extra means of balance. A glance over her shoulder confirmed that she was far enough from the others so that nobody would bother her. She had claimed to be setting up a perimeter, which was something she would get around to doing, but the woman just wanted to be alone for a little bit. [i][color=moccasin]Such a large party is just a hassle,[/color][/i] she began thinking, returning her gaze to the forestry in front of her. [i][color=moccasin]Especially when most of them are weak, stupid, and insubordinate. When I have a kid they'll know damn well not to misbehave.[/color][/i]

Now her eyes drifted to the ground. There was a single squirrel running about at the base of the trunk, presumably running to another tree to avoid Tsukiko. [i][color=moccasin]The Hyuga woman and the harlequin made a good point. Nobody cares about shinobi anymore. I get no respect or appreciation for what I do. Even other shinobi don't respect what I do for them. If I never became a shinobi there would be droves of dead shinobi from all the people that I've killed. I keep all these people alive and what do I get in return...?[/color][/i]

A shuriken flew down, stabbing the squirrel before it could reach the base of another tree. [i][color=moccasin]Insults, dodgy looks, dismissal. They treat me like a menace and ignore all the good I've done for them. Only a handful of the real shinobi see the value in my work. Everyone else is delusional and hate me because they think they are somehow a better person than I am.[/color][/i] Tsukiko jumped down from the branch and landed next to the dead critter, removing the shuriken from the corpse and lifting it by the tail. [i][color=moccasin]They wouldn't miss me if I left, at least they wouldn't until they all start dying without me to save them...[/color][/i]

She examined the dead squirrel for a moment, gauging how much meat it would have on it. After deciding it was too thin to bother making a snack, she tossed the carcass into a leafy bush. [i][color=moccasin]At least Konoha is my home. I can hate the people in it all I want and they can hate me. The fantasy of running away and living a better life with Keihatsu is just a fantasy. My home may not appreciate me, but it needs me to function... Oh damnit, I forgot to give Fujitora those cigarettes I took.[/color][/i] Tsukiko patted the pocket that contained the carton, confirming it was still on her person. [i][color=moccasin]I'll throw them at him when I get back. Still gotta run a quick circuit around the area...[/color][/i]