[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/ObRDT2r.png[/img]

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

At least Akio was pretty well prepared. Tsukiko didn't often hunt with others as they usually slowed her down and either made mistakes or ruined the fun in some way or another. Akio didn't ruin the fun, but Tsukiko couldn't say that she didn't have to slow down at least a tiny bit. After all the girl learns quickly but doesn't have the same world experience. [b][color=moccasin]"Water temple what?"[/color][/b] Tsukiko muttered to herself, having no idea what the girl was talking about and eventually shaking it off as irrelevant banter. [b][color=moccasin]"Whatever. Just remember the no jutsu rule. You won't improve as a hunter if you rely on chakra too much in order to kill or survive."[/color][/b]

Killing large game would be easy if Tsukiko, or any shinobi really, wanted to use ninjutsu. That completely took the fun out of it, the thrill destroyed by chakra. In her mind you couldn't honestly say you are stronger than any wild animal if you couldn't kill it the "old fashioned way." In fact she was already prepared to start carving spears out of sticks once they would be in the territory, to use the makeshift weapons as the tool of killing. [b][color=moccasin]"You're also going to need to learn to make weapons on your own. You won't always be equipped and its good to know. I'll show you how to carve properly when we get closer."[/color][/b] Though Akio seemed rather impatient, Tsukiko was oddly patient about the trip. For a woman known to be aggressive and violent she was quite at ease as they left Konoha behind.

It was the air. The two shinobi soon left the range of Ayame's rain, and the clear and fresh air always brought out the natural hunter within. Tsukiko was capable of all the patience in the world if it made for a thrilling hunt. An evil and dangerous smirk formed on Tsukiko's face as they stepped into clear skies. [b][color=moccasin]"Can you smell it, Akio?"[/color][/b] Tsukiko asked innocently, before launching forward at high speed. The slow and steady pace was gone, it was time to run. The older woman waited a moment, already knowing the girl's answer but allowing her time to catch back up after the surprising change of pace. [b][color=moccasin]"It's the smell of freedom. An open world with no laws, only the rules of nature."[/color][/b] The stifling feeling in Konoha was left behind. Now it was just Tsukiko, Akio, and the wild. [b][color=moccasin]"It's been too long..."[/color][/b] Six weeks, in fact.

[hr]

[center][img]https://36.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr7xsq9y3h1qcfp07o1_500.jpg[/img]

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

Despite the harsh grilling that Reijo put on, Kaito seemed completely unfazed. Shin, however, seemed clearly upset by the banter. [b][color=orange]"He's my father, not my master,"[/color][/b] Shin commented, though Kaito also seemed unabated by this as well. Kaito knew that Reijo wasn't inciting a debate and was simply making a play to give himself more leverage. To keep the esteem of the community he would have to make enemies and his selection at that moment was Kaito Maru. The older man adjusted his glasses a bit before speaking up again. [b][color=maroon]"Rest assured, [i]there will be no conflicts[/i]."[/color][/b] Kaito looked around the room, making sure to have eye contact with everyone present. [b][color=maroon]"I guess this meeting is concluded. I bid you gentlemen good day."[/color][/b]

Kaito stood up, taking a cellphone out of his pocket. He then nodded at Shin, who began to walk casually to the exit to wait outside while his father made a call inside. [b][color=maroon]"Kaede. Yes, the meeting's done. Yes..."[/color][/b] He began to trail off in conversation, standing near one of the walls so as not to get in anyone's way as they were leaving the room. Meanwhile Shin briefly stopped at the doorway, looking back to see if his father was still talking to his mother. Once confirmed he began walking again but wasn't quite paying attention.

The muscular teenager bumped into Reijo. It was light, as it was just Shin's first step forward, but inconsiderate and embarrassing nonetheless. Once Shin realized who he walked into he was quick to rectify his mistake. [b][color=orange]"Oh, my apologies Mr. Minamoru. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."[/color][/b] He gave a quick, polite bow before getting out of the man's way. While Shin left the building at a faster pace now, seemingly due to embarrassment, Reijo may have begun to notice what exactly just happened. A folded piece of paper was now in his jacket pocket that wasn't there before. The sleight of hand was likely surprising, and considering the number of people leaving all at once it was unlikely that anyone else but Reijo noticed the move.

Kaito remained on the phone against the back wall, seemingly oblivious to what was going on. But in reality he had masterminded the trick. The note was also of his own handwriting. Once Reijo would remove the paper and examine it, it would read as such.

[quote=K. Maru]
[i]I am unable to meet with you in person, as I am under strict watch. I would like to talk to you about my vision for Konoha, but telling you myself would draw attention to you and put us both in hot water.

Instead I would like you to make a Yakuza thug appear in the alley behind 4657 Might Street at exactly 2:14 PM tomorrow, with one of your business cards in his pocket and an illegal weapon in his hand. Shin will detain the man and meet with you later that evening without drawing any suspicion. He too may still be followed if our new leaders are that suspicious of me, but I'm positive you have ways to handle the small risk.

If you are reading this before I have left, do not look at me.[/i]
[/quote]

After a minute of talking about groceries and dinner plans, Kaito finally hung up the phone and stepped outside to join his son. [b][color=orange]"I [i]may[/i] have bumped into Reijo on the way out..."[/color][/b] Shin confessed to his father, playing innocent with surprisingly good skill. Kaito only sighed, opening his umbrella and holding it over his head. Shin began to do the same as his father spoke up. [b][color=maroon]"Of all the people you have to irritate, it was him. Oh well, it can't be helped. Anyways your uncle will be having dinner with us tonight."[/color][/b] [b][color=orange]"Jugo? That's rare. Did he get caught selling diamonds again and needs some charity?"[/color][/b] A chuckle escaped Kaito as the two walked down the street. [b][color=maroon]"Probably, but your mother didn't say."[/color][/b]