[table][row][cell]Team Botan Nakano[/cell][cell]Kamui Kaiyou | Makaira Kumonga | Arisu Ayaname[/cell][/row][row][cell][sup][color=#2E2C2C]_______________________________________________[/color][/sup]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/AXHyXVe.jpg?2[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/fx9FVON.jpg?1[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/Yicupdz.png?1[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/E5ahD4I.png?1[/img][/cell]
[cell][b]"Hah! Read 'em and weap, Maka"[/b], said Ari grinning from ear to ear and placing a flush down on the jagged and slightly inclined rock they were using as a table. Ari was short, so she'd had to roll another rock for use as a chair, if she was going to play sitting; but now she was sitting pretty. She'd won a few games earlier, but overall, Maka had her well in the hole. Luckily, she'd managed to stay in it and fight back. With this win, she'd be in the lead again as she'd cleverly chided Maka into going all-in. Then SHE'D have to do all HER chores for the next week!

[b]"I didn't think you had a flush..."[/b], Maka replied with a frown, [b]"...I thought if you were going to go all-in you'd at least have a full house!"[/b]

And Maka revealed her own cards, each of her six arms bringing down a single card one at a time, making a total of four twos and a king. Her head was resting on her final hand and a smirk crept further across her face with every card... just as the color and joy drained from Ari's face at the same time.

[b]"Eeeeeeeeeh!?!"[/b]

[b]"I like my underwear folded into balls, not triangles, Ari."[/b]

[b]"Eeeeeeeh...."[/b]

A little farther off from them and closer to the woods, Kamui was poking at the fire with a stick. It was little more than embers and what remained of the twigs he'd occasionally throw in. They'd spent the night out there waiting for the Leaf shinobi, but they didn't need the fire now. He was only keeping it going to stave off boredom. He knew better than to try to play cards with Maka, she only ever lost when she wanted to. He'd tried to warn Ari, but she said she wouldn't back down from a challenge like that. It was expensive to have that much pride. Kamui was glad someone could afford it... even if it was on credit.

Nakano-sensei appeared out of the trees from behind Kamui and sat down next to him.

[b]"The Leaf shinobi are approaching"[/b], Nakano-sensei announced. He had a soft and wavering voice, but all three of his genin heard him and turned. His eyes were a little wider than usual and his voice wavered a little more than usual, but he had a wide smile on his face.

[b]"Tenshi-kun is with them... Maybe Okasa...-Raikage-sama changed her mind..."[/b], he said to nobody particularly. After spending nearly a week out in the woods, they'd all gotten to know each other well enough by now. They were within the Land of Fire, so they'd been on the move near constantly since they'd arrived, but they couldn't stray too far without losing track of their quarry who were just as interested in not being found. This was the longest they'd stayed in one place and it was a pleasant change of pace. The kids could tell that there had been something on their sensei's mind, but whatever it was, he wouldn't talk about it. At most, he'd wave it off and say something like [i]"Oh, my face is just like that."[/i]

This was the lightest he'd seemed since they'd been placed under his command a little more than a week ago. 

The first to enter the clearing was a man with an odd spear on his back and a vacant expression on his face. As soon as he arrived, he bowed and announced himself, [b]"Greetings from Konoha. I am Hideo. The rest of the shinobi should be arriving in a moment..."[/b]

And soon enough, two teams of Konoha ninja emerged along with... Botan Nakano was on his feet when his brother arrived and he approached quickly, but timidly and said, [b]"Tenshi-kun! It's... good to see you."[/b]

[b]"Why don't we talk and let the genin meet among themselves, hm"[/b], said the man that had identified himself as Hideo.

[b]"Y-yes..."[/b], replied Botan, looking a little nervous. He gave his own genin a little point with his nose to the other genin that had arrived, but they seemed a little wary of the newcomers as well.

[b]"Let's... get down to business then..."[/b], Botan replied, leading the jounin just a little ways away.
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