[h3]   [/h3][hr][h3][color=indianred]Natsuko Rinha[/color][/h3][hr][sup][i]Morning ||  Land of Fire: Konohagakure — Outskirt Forests[/i][/sup][indent] [/indent]
After the sparring session with Team Five, Team Six had been revitalized, and they threw themselves into training even without encouragement from Minoru. Kazuhiko and Koharu each seemed to have their own reasons, probably clan related, as did Natsuko this time. While before she didn’t have much interest in training, meeting Kage and seeing what he did for Kouji changed her mind. Sure, Rinha were known for being medical nin, and she’d be falling in line with the pack if she chose to pursue that path, but she diidn’t mind that. Before, she’d always thought of medical nin as a lesser counterpart of the shinobi ranks, hanging back and relaxing while others risked their lives, but seeing what they could do in action changed her mind. In fact, she now saw medical nin as an integral part of the shinobi forces, because who else could patch up the wounded and save lives that might otherwise be lost? Besides, there was the matter of being of instant use since injuries were a steady part of life as a shinobi, and the more Natsuko learned about medical ninjutsu, the more she wanted to pursue the craft. So what if it required  her to possess fine chakra control she didn’t have at the present? She’d sharpen her skills and get that control. Whether or not Kazuhiko shot her funny looks was irrelevant, as was the fact that her immediate family already had two medic nins. Whether her mother and brother would be pleased about her choice didn’t matter because Natsuko was choosing this for herself, and whether or not she was sure about the decision came second to making sure she could choose if she wanted to.

After a few days of training, during which Natsuko practiced jutsu and worked chakra like some chakra junkie, the Team was again off on a mission. At long last, Natsuko had managed to properly managed to absorb some chakra using the only Dark Release technique she knew at the moment: Kusunemasu. Her poor test subject, being obligated to volunteer by duty, had been relentlessly ranted at throughout the process. Though Natsuko didn’t hurt them while she practiced since failing to properly perform the technique resulted in the failure of stealing chakra, she was, however, able to shout and scream when she failed, and she only apologized after they were done, thanking her sensei with a hug that he got out of when she realized was the perfect way to sap more chakra from him.

Now, the team was off on another mission. Something about a bear problem in one of the forest settlements in the fringe woods of Konoha. Since they were technically part of Konoha, the village owed them protection, and as such there was money tied to it and a mission available. While the mission itself sounded less than exciting, Natsuko was intrigued by the possibility of seeing a bear. Having grown up inside the main village, she rarely saw any animals outside of summons,  pets, and livestock, so she was interested to see what the fuss was all about.

[color=indianred]“Are bears big, Sensei?”[/color] she asked as the group jumped through the branches. [color=indianred]“Are they bigger than me? Kazuhiko? You?”[/color]

At his name, Kazuhiko glanced back from where he was up front. He didn’t slow, though, and in response Natsuko grinned and waved. 

[color=indianred]“Don’t mind us, Kazu-kun! I’m just asking to see whether you can get crushed by a wild animal.”[/color]
[indent] [/indent][hr][hider=Jutsu]
[hider=Ninjutsu][indent] [/indent]
[color=indianred][u]     Wind Release:          [/u][/color]
[list][*][color=#df9797]Gale Palm[/color]: User increases the velocity or density of wind to form a powerful gale capable of knocking over a person.[/list]
[color=indianred][u]     Dark Release:          [/u][/color]
[list][*][color=#df9797]Kusunemasu [Weak][/color]: User absorbs chakra from others and uses it as their own. Possible through direct physical contact or from a distance with more concentration[/list]
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[indent]   [/indent][hr][h3][color=lightsteelblue]Kazuhiko Taketori[/color][/h3][hr][sup][i]Afternoon ||  Land of Fire: Konohagakure — Mumi Village[/i][/sup][indent] [/indent]
Mumi Village was a small forest village that was largely self-subsisting. What few goods it did produce were traded to Konoha or other nearby villages in exchange for things they couldn’t produce, but they largely specialized in foraging and gardening, the latter of which they did in the small clearing by their vine and log cabins. Around the village also roamed small, tusked pigs, likely domesticated inhabitants of the forest, wiry hairs striped tan and brown as they lumbered and foraged in the town’s apple orchard. The gardens were fenced off, likely to prevent them from digging anything up, but that didn’t seem to phase them as they went about their busy existence.

“Eat up. We have tons, so don’t feel guilty,” Mika said, handing each member of  the team a yellow-and-red mottled apple before turning the basket over to Minoru. “Nothing to do around here during the day anyway. Our bears are night dwellers, so best get some rest in now.”

She fixed her rolled up sleeves and brushed down her apron as she led the group into a large cabin with rows of benches and tables, like a mess hall of sorts. There, she sat them down at a table and called for someone to bring them some cider.

“We’re working on getting a freezer system so we can get ice, but that hasn’t happened yet, so try the most authentic cider there is: lukewarm cider. Cheers,” she said, raising a glass and clinking it with the team’s before taking a hearty swig.

“Now, the bear situation,” she said, setting her glass aside. “Bears, actually. See now, we like bears. We’ve had a few bears move through and settle down around here. Currently, there’s two long-timers: Toto and Toro. Toto’s the resident boar, and a big hunking male. He lives somewhere to the east over there, and all he does is eat. If we give him apples, he leaves us alone. Same thing with Toro, our sow to the southwest over there. She’s got cubs, apparently—two. They’re pretty young, maybe a month or two old, and she drops by every three days or so for apples.

“So yeah, we like bears, actually. We get along with the two we have because they understand the situation. In exchange for apples, they leave us alone. Problem is, there’s been a new boar in town—a big one we call Nusu. He’s messing with both our bears, as far as we can tell, invading their territory and all. One time we had Toro bring her cubs into the village orchard for a day. Freaked our kids out good when they found them there in the morning, and probably freaked her out too. Momma bear protection instincts are pretty crazy

“Worst of all, though, is his diet. He eats apples sometimes, we think. Knocked down some apple trees and all by trying to climb them. Thing is that he recently discovered our bees. We keep them in garden, which we have fenced to keep pigs and animals out, but he’s been visiting every night. Trashing the place, digging up veggies and ripping apart bee boxes. And we don’t know what to do. Can’t move the box into the village or he’d head there, and plus we need our bees to have enough honey to brave the winter, or we’ll have to start anew next year. That’s where you come in.”

Mika smiled, looking at Team Six. “You shinobi are more than enough of a match for a bear, I reckon, so do us a favor and scare some sense into Nusu, alright? He’ll probably be back to break open one of our remaining four bee boxes tonight. After sunset, most likely. So eat up and rest up—we’re counting on you three. Otherwise, feel free to roam our humble village. We love visitors, so don’t be afraid if someone’s doing something. Just because our hands are full doesn’t mean we don’t want to chat. Our  garden is to the right of here, and it’s pretty big, so no way you’ll miss it. I’ll be in the house across from this cabin, so lemme know if you need something. Otherwise, I need to authorize a bunch of trades. Paperwork. Stuff I didn’t know I signed up for.”

With that, she drained her glass and dropped it off in a basket in the back, turning to go about her day. Kazuhiko looked between his teammates and sensei to see what they were to do next. Personally, he liked the idea of exploring the village, or at least the garden. If they were going to protect the place from a bear, they should at least know what the place looks like.

[color=indianred]“Let’s check out the orchard,”[/color] Natsuko said with a grin as she looped her arm through Koharu’s. [color=indianred]“These are pretty good. Don’t you wanna see the apple trees, Kazu-kun?”[/color]

Kazuhiko shrugged. They had an afternoon of time to kill, after all.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Sure.”[/color]
[indent] [/indent][hr][hider=Jutsu]
[indent] [/indent][hider=Taijutsu]
[indent] [/indent]
[color=lightsteelblue][u]     Keen Fist:          [/u][/color]
[indent]The Taketori style of Taijutsu that uses their Sensaigan’s nerve-cutting abilities to compound the damage done to struck areas. This style of fighting emulates the movements of staves and spears, aiding the Taketori in landing their Sensaigan techniques.[/indent]
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[hider=Ninjutsu][indent] [/indent]
[color=lightsteelblue][u]     Lightning Release:          [/u][/color]
[list][*][color=#dbe4f0]Thunder[/color]: User creates small sparks of lightning that can hit multiple targets at once.
[*][color=#dbe4f0]Thunderbolt [Needs Practice][/color]: User creates arcs of lightning that can hit multiple targets at once.
[*][color=#dbe4f0]Lightning Strike [Needs Practice][/color]: User creates a strong arc of lightning that can hit multiple close targets or be extended to hit a faraway one. 
[*][color=#dbe4f0]Thundering Kunai[/color]: User channels their Lightning Release technique into a kunai, thus charging it. This technique can be used with different ninjutsus to create varying intensities of electricity inside the blade
[*][color=#dbe4f0]Lightning Clone Technique[/color]: User creates a tangible clone that is dispelled with very little damage and cannot perform jutsu. The clone will also dispel if enough time passes.[/list][indent][/indent][/hider]
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[hr][sup][@Sunflower][/sup]