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[h2][b][color=moccasin]Tsukiko Umene, Honeybadger[/color][/b][/h2][/center]
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As the small rowboat traveled further down the river, a thin fog began to envelop the world around it. Only two beings were visible on the flimsy dinghy: a middle-aged man with black hair and a receding hairline at the stern with the oars and a tall woman with a hooded cloak and weapons across her back standing at the bow. The hood was up, mostly concealing her identity from behind or the sides. But the face was unmistakably Tsukiko Umene, if her weapons and posture didn't already give that away. The pace the two were at was painfully slow, at least in Tsukiko's perspective, but it was necessary. The guide knew the way to the meeting point after all.

The woman turned her head, looking over her shoulder at the man. The red armband he wore was the signal of his allegiance to the Kiri rebels. A token like that seemed foolish to the Jonin Commander, as any competent Kiri shinobi would recognize the pattern and quickly destroy the anonymity and stealth afforded by the armband. But evidently it was working right now and it wasn't her place to complain. It didn't really matter to her anyways. If this man were to die after delivering her to the meeting place she wouldn't feel a thing. The rebels' poor decisions were largely irrelevant to Tsukiko because now that she was entering the game there would be no more mistakes.

[i][color=moccasin]This is my first real task as the Jonin Commander,[/color][/i] Tsukiko thought as she turned her gaze forward. The fog was slowly growing thicker, not it was yet to become too obstructing or annoying. [i][color=moccasin]My job was to become a killer, so I became one. Then my job was to become a leader and once again I met that goal. Now I have to become a commander. I will not fail.[/color][/i] The river the boat was on led onto a lake or a sea, Tsukiko wouldn't know which. Some kind of large body of water, which was a sign that they were approaching the meeting point. [i][color=moccasin]This will be the stage that determines my future as the Jonin Commander. Where my skills and my leadership will both be put under the microscope. Every failure these rebels or my team makes will become my failure. The time it takes for us to succeed will also reflect on me. I'm no longer operating on a national scale.[/color][/i]

[i][color=moccasin]This is the global stage. I won't just be judged by Konohagakure but also the entire world.[/color][/i] Tsukiko sniffed the air, catching several familiar scents. Her expression didn't change as she looked forward into the mist. [i][color=moccasin]Funny. I've never cared about this stuff before.[/color][/i] A grin formed on her face. [i][color=moccasin]That's why I am here today. So why should I start worrying now?[/color][/i] As the small boat pulled up to the largest yacht at the center of the fleet, Tsukiko jumped up onto the larger boat without hesitation. She only gave her guide a wave of dismissal as she left. There were several people that seemed to be preparing a ladder, probably in anticipation to allow Tsukiko to climb aboard the normal way, though they gave up the moment they realized she was already on the deck. [b][color=moccasin]"I'm already here."[/color][/b]

The woman made her way into the depths of the command center unassisted. It was only when she was close to the meeting room did someone catch up to her. While they didn't question how she knew where to go the look on the younger woman's face made it clear. In truth it was Tsukiko's senses that guided her faster than an actual guide could. The smell of two shinobi that she had worked with in the past, Aoi and Yamato. The Jonin Commander entered the room, hardly a few seconds after Yamato inquired if Aoi had seen Tsukiko around. [b][color=moccasin]"Nobody's seen me around,"[/color][/b] she answered, bringing up both her hands to remove her hood and allow her hair to hang down. Tsukiko examined both Yamato and Aoi for a moment, eyeing them up and down. They both seemed to be in good condition, likely having an equally easy and unobstructed journey as Tsukiko did. [b][color=moccasin]"Any trouble on the way? Have either of you been spotted and identified?"[/color][/b]

It wasn't unnatural for Tsukiko to get straight to business, but her tone was far less aggressive than it was in the past. She always had a naturally condescending tone of voice but her demeanor now seemed to regard Aoi and Yamato as having some kind of respect or importance. Tsukiko was not talking down to them for once. [b][color=moccasin]"Our presence should be unknown but I need to know if we're not."[/color][/b] Her right hand moved to her collar area, grabbing the cloak itself. Her left hand grabbed the custom strap that held her (new) spear and ninjato to her back, releasing it and setting her weapons the floor against the wall by the door. Then she removed her cloak completely, simply tossing that on the floor without care. While it didn't restrict her movements hardly at all it simply wasn't comfortable to Tsukiko. [b][color=moccasin]"Much better..."[/color][/b]

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[h2][b][color=orange]Shin Maru, Topaz[/color][/b][/h2][/center]
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[b][color=orange]"I know you're on the clock and all right now but I won't mind the delay we'd have if you wanted to stop and give me your phone number,"[/color][/b] Shin said smoothly, a cocky grin on his face as he turned to look at the woman behind him. Despite all his confidence he received no reaction; she didn't even look at him. Instead the woman steering the boat looked past Shin, keeping her eyes on the water in front of them. There was an awkward moment of silence where neither person hardly even moved. [b][color=orange]"I understand we just met and all, and you seem like the busy type too, so I'll give you some time to think about it."[/color][/b] The young man turned his gaze forward again, letting out a sigh. Still the female guide had no reaction.

[i][color=orange]Ah well. You win some, you lose some. Though it feels like I never win...[/color][/i] Shin brought his hand up to his chin as he sat down. He wore his usual black coat with no shirt underneath paired with loose and flexible jeans, finished off with black boots and black, fingerless gloves. He even had his Konoha armband on, granted it was underneath his coat, leaving only one thing missing. He had left his police badge in Konoha, finding no need to bring that along with him. It wasn't like it would help him in any way in the Land of Water. [i][color=orange]Huh. My first time on a boat and I'm not even seasick. I wonder what fighting out here on the water would be like. I'd have a pretty good advantage, but perhaps a water user would have an even greater advantage. That would suck having to fight someone like that out here.[/color][/i] Shin's thoughts began to wander off, having next to no pertinence towards the situation at hand.

Whether it was his confidence or ignorance that kept him from becoming anxious, one couldn't tell by looking. Though he was aware of the mission details and the world he was stepping into it hardly bogged down on his mind. It wasn't until they had arrived at a port town did Shin's thoughts drift away from fantasy and back into reality. [i][color=orange]Alright. Time for me to get serious.[/color][/i] Shin stood up from his seat as they docked, a stoic and deadly serious expression on his face. That is until he turned around to face the woman who was operating the boat. [b][color=orange]"So how 'bout that phone number?"[/color][/b] [b][color=skyblue]"No."[/color][/b] There was another moment of awkward silence. [b][color=orange]"Very well then."[/color][/b] Shin stepped off the boat, giving a polite wave goodbye to the woman as he navigated into the town.

It wasn't long until he reached a marketplace. He was told that he could find the contact here but it was never specified exactly where. It didn't take long, however, for Shin to spot a man with a red armband. That was the identifying mark. The young man approached the contact, "accidentally" bumping into him with his shoulder. [b][color=orange]"Oh, my apologies sir,"[/color][/b] Shin spoke immediately, perfectly feigning innocence. The man didn't seem too bothered, but once he faced Shin and saw who he was his expression changed. He recognized that Shin was a foreigner and likely one of the shinobi he had to escort. [b][color=orange]"Oh, I just got here and don't even know where I am. Can you help me with something? I was given a riddle by my brother in order to help my find my father and he said the answer was somewhere in this town. It goes something like..."[/color][/b] At this point Shin lowered his voice, though nobody around them seemed particularly interested in what the two were doing.

[b][color=orange]"What is dead may never die."[/color][/b] While the younger man thought his way of introduction was clever and witty, as determined by the grin on his face, the man with the red armband seemed far less amused. But nonetheless he responded. [b][color=gray]"But rises again, harder and stronger."[/color][/b] Immediately the man began walking, to which Shin followed faithfully. The route he took was odd, requiring many twists and turns that were probably not necessary but ultimately were to help prevent them from being followed. In the end they arrived at a sort of warehouse, or a derelict building that was once a factory. Shin couldn't tell the difference. Once inside, however, it was alive with activity. Rebels, all of them, going about their business for whatever it is that needed to be done.

It wasn't hard for Shin to spot his comrade. After all, while Shin was one of the biggest shinobi in Konoha outside the Akimichi clan, Daisuke Yama was [i]the[/i] biggest shinobi. The muscular man stood out like a sore thumb. While Shin wasn't too familiar with the guy, as per his memory Daisuke had left the village years ago for training and as such he didn't have nearly as much time with him as he did the rest of the class, he did respect him in a way. Shin was muscular and incredibly fit, but Daisuke was even more muscular. For the people who value strength there is an immediate respect to be given to the larger of two men. He briefly contemplated how well an arm wrestling match would go with Daisuke but instead scrapped the idea in order to focus on actually greeting him. [b][color=orange]"Yo, I can see you've mastered the art of stealth,"[/color][/b] Shin spoke up, appearing next to Daisuke and giving him a light slap on the back. The joke about stealth was obvious and Shin didn't feel the need to explain. [b][color=orange]"Sorry I took so long. Usually I'm quite punctual but I think the woman who was steering the boat got irritated with me and went slower than she was supposed to... Anyways I'm here now. Kinda surprised the Uchiha didn't beat us here, to be honest."[/color][/b]