Takahashi, Minori
Sensei Maruyama's face let no trace of what she was thinking show as she looked on Azumi doing the run, or even after she was done. Minori, as for himself, felt as if Azumi did her best, and that was the best one could ask of anyone. His years of being teased by others taught him that he should not strive to impress them, but go at his own pace - or something like that. As such, he did not think much on the performance. As in judging did not cross his mind, but it did Masumi's. Minori nodded at his teammate sheepishly, looking down, and cursed the fact that he had such a hard time speaking his mind out. It might be better, though, as they were going to be part of a team and they shouldn't start arguing now on everything.
'I can go.' Minori simply answered, walking forward as Azumi made her way back.
With both hands still in his pockets, Minori made his way to the start of the training field where he awaited his Captain's signal. As soon as he saw the signal, Minori sped up like a dart. At the first jump over the sand the young Shinobi got out three kunais from the satchel on his belt and three all of them in the midst of his jump, head pointing down. Two of them hits bulls eye. Landing the jump, he immediately got to the jumping poles which he ascended with impressing speed and precision until he had both feet on the platform. There he took a second to rest and look around.
A bridge, pendulums and targets. On top of it, holes in the bridge. Minori made up his mind and finally got into action: running up the the first hole, he jumped on the pendulum as it came his way holding in place with a kunai he stuck in the wood. When it reached it's maximum range, it had closed the distance between him and the target which made it easy to hit the bulls eye here too. He then jumped back into the bridge, nearly got hit by the next pendulum since he landed off balance, but managed to make his way to the now opened gate.
Here he got lucky: he already see what Azumi went through. He knew that the targets would appear and disappear. What he quickly learned, however, was that they did so in a different order each time. He too missed the first target due to surprise, but managed to hit 6 out of the eight at the end of this last part of the obstacle course.
As soon as he landed, he pocketed his hands back into his pants and walked to the group.
Maruyama, Ai
As Azumi landed on gaze on Ai, she would quickly realized how little emotions Ai was able to display. Nothing could be read off of her facial expression, but she soon smiled to Azumi nonetheless once she walked back towards the group. 'Great job, Azumi. Thanks for going first. Now, who's next?'
However it already had been decided between the two boys. As Minori was walking away, Ai took the opportunity to steal a glance over at Masumi. His comment had been noticed, despite it being addressed to Minori. It threw her back to herself yet again back when she was with her fellow Genins. She would be the one to constantly look down on them, but that was long ago now. Masumi had still some ways to go. She wouldn't let him make the same mistakes.
Minori, as for him, completed the course almost perfectly. As perfectly as was expected of Genins. He even surprised her with his pendulum strategy. Ai, though, was not surprised. Minori always had been classed among the averages of his group at the Academy, but the teachers did notice potential hidden in his lack of motivation and did not fail to notify her of this. Now it was Masumi's turn.
On paper, he was a model student. He came in second in the aptitude test, but his practical exercises displayed a potential difficulty in real situations. This was not a real situation, however, so she would get to see just how much he was close to her younger self.
Sakaguchi, Ryuu
It did not take Ryuu long to spot the woman sitting in the back. Still, he waited until he was brought to the table. A small bow to Asuka was the only sign he acknowledged her presence since he kept his attention on the restaurant owner for the next few seconds after sitting down. Casually, and playfully, he ordered some food and Sake before finally turning to the Anbu.
''My my. Sorry about all this...Uh, Kurama, Was it? Kurama Asuka.'' he looked on the papers that he had just got out of his robes before continuing ''Right. All this unwanted attention - had I known Anbu had such beautiful ladies in their ranks I might have arrived here sooner, but I did not call you for your looks.''
Slowly and methodically, Ryuu got out multiple papers form an envelope that he had put on the table previously as he spoke: ''A few years prior, you were involved in an ongoing investigation on the disappearance of a young Kunoichi named Uchiha Chiasa.'' his voice was still jovial and he was bearing a light smile as he spoke, but there clearly was authority emanating from him still.
He slided the first photo over to her table's side: the smiling face of Chiasa. ''She was your friend. I realize you possibly already gave what information you had, but bear with me. Last week, something turned up. We found a body with missing eyes. A Uchiha boy, too.'' Ryuu put a photo forward with very graphic representation of an eyeless boy's body. Then, he put up a photo of Chiasa's eyeless body beside it.
''The boy was missing for a few days and then, just like that, his body reappeared. Similar case as it was with Chiasa.'' Ryuu took back the photos and removed them from sight. ''But that's not all. This time around, there was a witness. I have him in custody for now.''
Ryuu sat back, more relaxed, as his food and drink arrived. He poured himself some Sake and handed her a cup as well. ''As I said I need more then your good looks - that, I have plenty. I need a partner on this case. I was filled in with your skills in Genjutsu. Paired with your implication in this case, I thought you might be willing to help since, this time around, we got a chance to crack this.''
He took a sip of Sake.
''Before we continue, I need to know where you stand. Interested in working with me towards the security of the whole of Konoha, to stop obviously dangerous criminals and obtain closure? Or are you only willing to keep skulking in the dark with the Anbu?''
