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[right][sup]Collab w/ [@Fiber] [@sly13] [@Infinite Cosmos] & ME[/sup][/right][hr]
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The patch of forest they were in was flat, with a thick cluster of trees directly ahead of them. Kotetsu looked around but didn’t move far, staying where he was. He said [color=396047]“Awful big forest here. I can find the way to the center but can’t help much with navigating besides that."[/color] Kotetsu checked the fit of his gloves and tightened his hand wraps. [color=396047]“I’m afraid I won’t be able to help with finding the other teams either, but once we get that done, the rest should be easy enough. How many do you think we’ll have to beat before we get the right scroll?”[/color]
    
Tetsu looked around at their surroundings for a moment before turning back to his teammates. [color=black] “Unfortunately I won't be able to search through the forest much while we are on the move so that leaves it to you to find our first targets Satoru. Once that's done all that will be left is to take the scroll off them.”[/color] He said in is usual flat tone as he turned his attention back towards the forest surrounding them. [color=black] “Since you're going to be our guide, why don't you decide the direction we travel While Kotetsu and myself flank you.” [/color] 

Satoru peered into the forest with his white eyes. [color=FFEA81]“Sure. Give me a moment. Please keep the attacks away from my 6 o’clock direction while I’m searching for my target. It's a common weakness that our enemies might want to exploit as soon as they see my abilities. Otherwise, I have confidence in our combat abilities to handle them. First things first, let's head into the forest and head west, I suppose. I will try to look as far ahead as I can and make adjustments on the go…”[/color]

Kotetsu nodded and started to pace around, but then he stopped and said. [color=396047]“Hey, before we get going, who's going to keep an eye on our scroll? I think this’ll be quick enough but I’d hate to see it all messed up because of confusion. I trust you guys, so I want to know who you think is best.”[/color] He folded his arms and looked at them, eyes keeping look at the treeline just in case.

Tetsu took a look at the scroll for a moment before a step toward Kotetsu holding out his hand.[color=black] “If you don't mind I'll hold onto it. They'd have to get through my sand and me to get to it. And I assure you, they'll die trying.”[/color]  

[color=396047]“Tetsu, I’d trust you with things that are a whole lot more important than this scroll. You can have it, no doubt about it.”[/color]

[color=black]“Thanks brother.”[/color]  Taking the scroll and placing on his belt Tetsu looked at his fellow teammates before continuing,  [color=black]“Well I think with that settled we can start hunting,”[/color]  as he finished this in his usual tone there was the slightest bit of excitement and anticipation hidden deep in his eyes as the three of them leapt into the trees.  

Iza couldn't help but scoff at her close friend and teammates' utter lack of foresight. Too busy with trying to make a name for himself? What did that even mean? He was already the child of the fucking Hokage for fucks sake. He already had it made. She sighed, slowing down in her tracks to shake the negative thoughts away. Iza harbored no I'll will for Karu, just annoyance, and it was during those time where she had to consider this was how everyone viewed her too. Utter annoyance and somewhat contempt.

As Iza slowed to a stop amidst the foliage, she heard distinct footfalls in the brush around her. And they seemed to be moving in her direction. A wicked grin found residency on her face as she slunk further back into the shadows,scanning for movement. It didn't take her waiting long before three familiar figures graced her field of vision. One in particular, with his infrared locks a stark contrast to the greenery around them.

[color=a587d5][i]'Tetsu~'[/i][/color] she couldn't help the subtle blush that coated her porcelain skin at the mere sight of him. He had been actively avoiding her for the last few months, only breaking that sabbatical when their teams were mandated to work together. Katsumi and Kami sensei be damned. But now, here, during their second test, he'd be forced to interact with her, whether he wanted to or not. An idea formed in her mind, making sure to stay behind the trio, for fear of being spotted too soon by Satoru's exceptional eyes. With a little help from some broken branches and her own kunai and senbon, she made sure to inflict some damage upon herself. A little pain and some acting was going to be needed if she wanted to get in close.

Iza took in her features, what she could at least, and with a determined nod, a deep inhale, she tossed herself from her hiding place. Trying her hardest to not lock up on impact, for fear of causing more damage than planned. After landing she struggled to her feet, [color=a587d5][i]'Yep, definitely sprained something'[/i][/color] she thought, pushing through the new pain, trekking towards her old classmates. Panic stricken eyes searching the trio before locking onto Tetsu's.

[color=a587d5]"T-tetsu…"[/color] her fumbling allowed her to fall into him, blood trickling from the gash above her right eye. [color=a587d5]"Another team… we got, we got separated. Karu, the dumbass ran off on his own…"[/color] her voice wavered, a complete 180 from her normally chipper tone. Iza kept a shaky hand on her childhood friend's shoulder, looking across to the other two, as if offering them to fact check her story. From somewhere ahead of them, a series of grunts and shouts. Seemingly making their way towards the now foursome group. Calling out obscenities, calling out to search for the girl. Iza could only hope that the young men she found herself with would take the bait.

Satoru paused, while traversing the forest with his team. The three of them were covering a good distance. His eyes were focused, determined to guide his team through this maze of death. With Tetsu holding the scroll, Kotetsu providing firepower when needed, and himself forging a path through, he did not see a way for them to fail. That progress came to a halt. Iza, a member of a separate team, showed up on their path. Satoru took the moment to catch his breath and gather himself. The girl approached their team’s “package”, a move that planted the inkling of suspicion in Satoru’s mind. 

Satoru wasn’t a medical nin, by any means. Tetsu and Kotetsu even less so, by Satoru’s estimation. So, even though this girl claims friendship with Tetsu, such things had no place in their current mission. [color=FFEA81]“Ah ah ah. Girl. I would ask you to step away from him. We’re all on a very specific mission. I’m sure you have and know your own.”[/color] Satoru took a step in, gathering a small bit of chakra in both of his palms. With his eyes, Satoru was gathering chakra readings on the girl that approached them. Sure, she had some superficial injuries but her chakra reserves, or the flow of it, were not impacted… Interesting, considering the fact that she is claiming that her and her team were ambushed and thus separated. Satoru leaned into Kotetsu and faintly whispered [color=FFEA81]“Get ready for a fight. The girl is lying through her teeth...and her injuries…”[/color]

Iza couldn't help the small glare she sent Satoru's way. He deserved it, especially after his comments from earlier, but she let that roll over and set to focus on her issue at hand. When she had scanned them on her approach to the trio she was searching for their scroll, and seeing as how she didn't spot it coming from the other two it meant it was within her fingertips.

In an instant her gaze was turned to Tetsu, trying her best to look worn and defeated, eyes boring into his own, full of pleading, even if the other two were suspicious. [color=a587d5]"Tetsu… I need your help… [i]please…[/i]"[/color] Tetsu stood stunned while staring at Iza who was currently bloodied and asking for help. He was using every ounce of willpower not to show his true emotions through either his face or his eyes.  [color=black]“Satoru calm down. We can trust her. So put those hands down.”[/color] he said, keeping his eyes on Iza with the slightest sign of concern with his voice slightly breaking out of its normal dry tone.  

[color=black]“Satoru scan the trees for the squad. Kotetsu cover him while I move Iza,”[/color] he said looking briefly towards them leaving little to no room for a debate on the matter. Turning back to Iza, Tetsu could feel his eyes soften ever so slightly as much as he tried to fight it. [color=black]“I apologize for this.”[/color] He said before picking up Iza, getting ready to move her to a safe distance.

As soon as she felt her feet lift off the ground she tensed up, a very un-kunoichi squeak leaving her throat. Instantly her arms wrapped around her [i][s]crush[/s][/i] - friend's neck and the blush that had been pushed down resurfaced. [color=a587d5]"Tetsu…,"[/color] seeing his reaction to her distress she felt her heart ache at the trick she was pulling over on them. But it was too late, she had to go through with the place. Iza only hoped that he wouldn't hate her too badly.

Upon giving the orders, [i]which was something Iza practically drooled over - she couldn't remember the last time she had seen Tetsu so demanding,[/i] the trio were preoccupied with scanning the trees for threats. Threats that had fizzled out of nowhere. Izayoi couldn't risk conjuring a phony team once more without Satoru catching on. He was already too talented for his own good. Something that irked her to no end. Instead she began to reconfigure her plan. If she wanted too, she could trap Tetsu and Kotetsu with her kekkai genkai to immobilize them, then she would only have Satoru to deal with, [color=a587d5][i]'But he wouldn't want to risk falling under my genjutsu also, and would probably try to keep his eyes closed… but then that means I would have to maintain eye contact with Kotetsu, and still touch Tetsu before escaping. I don't know how much time that would allow me…'[/i][/color] 

Kotetsu looked around slowly, keeping an ear out for any sign of trouble. He was watching Satoru’s back mostly, but not moving much. He wanted them to stay in an area they knew, not get blindsided running off. While standing there he said, [color=396047]“Might be best that you step a little further away from Tetsu, young miss. If a fight breaks out the last thing you want is sand in your wounds. We can keep you plenty safe over here, and while we wait you can tell us some more about who took out your team. Let us know what we’re in for.”[/color] He kept his center of gravity low and his muscles tensed, ready to spring and fight anything that tried to jump them. His lead leg was planted heavy and chambering a kick, prepared to give a burst of explosive power when the time was right.

There was something about the way Kotetsu spoke to her like she was dainty. To be fair, that was what she was going for but it still rubbed her the wrong way and she would have corrected him of his misnomer but the feeling of Tetsu being so close to her was calming. [color=a587d5][i]'What kind of kunoichi gets easily distracted by a guy?! Katsumi-kijo would wring me by my neck if she ever found out… not to mention if the boys knew, I wouldn't hear the end of it...'[/i][/color] the thought alone sent annoyed shivers down her spine. Her vision misted over for a split second at the thought of duping her crush and friend, but she reasoned that if the roles were reversed they'd do the same. So, she pushed the bubbling emotions down and steeled herself for what was to come next.

[color=FFEA81]“Yes, please answer my teammate here… We just want to be prepared, that's all. If you pose no threat, I have no qualms with Tetsu carrying you to some sort of rendezvous point so we can hand you back over to a moderator, or a member of your team, should they have survived that is…”[/color] Satoru said, creaking his neck some before taking a quick drink from a canteen he brought with him. His eyes still intensely focused on her chakra flow. The fact that they flowed almost undisturbed still does not sit well with him. She is definitely faking. How would Satoru get Tetsu to see through her ploy was a more pressing concern. For all he knows, she could have told her team that she is going to bait him and his team out in order to plant an ambush. There is no way Satoru lets that happen. Satoru first turned his gaze on a nearby tree to make sure it was not rigged with some sort of trap, be it ninja tool or ninjutsu. Then, he backed himself up against the tree so his back was at least covered. Thirdly, he used a little bit more of the power of his eyes to scan their surroundings, trying to pick out movements nearby and to see if there are people approaching them, and from where...

The fact that he moved into a position that allowed him his 180+ vision, keeping her within his sights, irked her. More so than Kotetsu's comment about her being [i]'little miss'[/i]. The thought alone caused her to physically shake. It was now or never. Her plan needed to come to fruition and the only way that that was going to happen with minimal damage sustained on her part was to limit herself to two combatants, not three. Eyes closed she steeled herself and the repercussions that were soon to follow. Opening her now blood red eyes, she locked her gaze onto the furthest male, Kotetsu; distant sounds of an imaginary enemy team encroaching into their parameter, hoping beyond hope that he would take the bait. All the while, her grip on Tetsu's arm never faltered.

Kotetsu was a man of action, and when he heard the enemy creeping around behind the back of Tetsu and Iza, he launched himself into battle to protect them . An explosive leap sent him into the air on a high angle trajectory, twisting his body in mid-air. He only had a split second to aim his descent because of the speed he was traveling. On the way down Kotetsu looked for something, a sign of the enemy he had heard, but he found none. Something about it all felt fuzzy and unclear, like he had just woken up from a dream. His foot completed it’s arc right as he landed, slammed heel first into a tree with a kick that so loud it could be heard a thousand yards away. The massive tree heaved and bent, falling down as Kotetsu picked himself up from his landing. Around him see no enemy, not even the puff of smoke from a disappearing clone or a substitution jutsu. Kotesu scratched his head and then tried to figure out where to go to get back to the group, the whole situation leaving him very confused.

When the muscle bounded off to the foreign, invisible and nonexistent threat, is when the fun truly began. Iza's grip on her crush's forearm increased slightly, enough to gain his attention and with it came a small, sad smile before pushing up onto the tips of her toes grazing his cheek with her lips. A quick, chaste kiss; an apology without words.

All too suddenly, her [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f0/57/5e/f0575ec9bd798e8e8238ce303bade426.gif]red gaze[/url] locked onto the blonde's, trapping him into place. Her once loving and tender grasp on Tetsu's arm now turned captive, making sure to keep him in place and rendered helpless as her genjutsu worked its way into both of their minds. Through their haze she was able to wrap her free hand around the scroll that had made its home on Tetsu's belt. Now that she had what she needed it was time to high tail it out of there, but without letting go was going to be tricky. And honestly she didn't think this far. Already applying her talents to two ninja was putting a strain on her limits as it were; blood seeping from her nose and eyes, blurring the lines of her vision. She needed to get out of there soon otherwise it would have been for nothing.

Before letting go, of either of them, she knew she had at least a few seconds before they would come to their senses and begin to follow her, she readied her kunai and a smoke bomb and letting go of the red head, an apology passing her lips as she sank into the shadows of the greenery around them, heading off in the direction she thought would lead to her team.
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