[Graded]A Trip To Remember!

[Izanagi]

The bright sky held a great deal of promise on this day. Finally Takeo had some time to relax, a whole week cleared from his schedule. So much of his being yearned for the comforts of the forest. It had been months since he had went camping in the wilderness, once in a time that seemed so far away he had taken to multi-night excursions near every month and day hikes at least every week. Ordinarily such trips were taken in solitude, where the man would hone his survival skills and clear his mind, though with such a hectic schedule as of late he was forced to multi-task. Bringing along his students would be a perfect opportunity to spend some bonding time with them as well as teach them the intricacies of wilderness survival, a useful asset to any shinobi. Each student had been left with a note several days prior:

Clear your schedules, this coming Friday you are to meet me at the gates of Konoha at noon. We are to embark on a team camping trip, bring enough food and supplies for the weekend
-Takeo

And now the man waited, clad in his loose black haori and black shorts, simply as a precaution and perhaps partially due to habit he too donned his armored pieces and weapons. Across his back, bound by leather straps was a rather large back-pack, filled to the brim with food and supplies. In his own training he often practiced without the use of supplies though in this case the trip was one of leisure or at least that was what he would have his students believe. A strong breeze fluttered through the man’s open robe, cooling his bare chest as he waited for his squad. The summer air was fresh and warm, full of promise for the days to come. The Jounin smiled in anticipation, it had been a long time coming to be met with down time and he was eager to discover what sort of individuals his genin were when they were outside of combat. Wilderness survival after all was not a matter of strength or courage, rather it was a test of mental acuity, resilience and patience.

[Mino]

Minoru wasn't late, which was a wonder, consider all the trouble he'd gone through before he left. He had no gear outside of the scant supplies he had for missions, and so buying wilderness gear was a chore, and an expense that the young Genin rather enjoyed undertaking. It was interesting to think of uses for the array of supplies, and it was one of the first times Mino got to use money for purely his own devices outside purchases at a restaurant.

Excitement welled in him as he sauntered to the gates, wondering what, in fact was in store. He and Makoto had agreed that the Chunin exams were something important enough to talk about with Takeo-sensei, and this trip would be a perfect opportunity to not only connect with the Jonin, but to win his favor so they could advance in the ninja world. They hadn't really plotted things out, however this opportunity was too good to pass up. Minoru waved in silence to Takeo-Sensei as he arrived, looking around casually for Makoto. Regardless, when this trip was over, they'd learn exactly where they stood as Genin.

[Ducks]

A few minutes after noon, the third member of the team, showed up, a little red in the face and trying, though not quite succeeding, not to breathe too hard. On his back was a pack, which though smallish in size was packed to the very brim with supplies and equipment, so that a strong blow to the pack might cause a veritable explosion of dried food and ninja tools.

When he had received Takeo's summons a few days earlier, Makoto had, as usual, been worried. A mission or sparring match was one thing, but wilderness survival was not given much consideration in the Hyuuga compound. Chakra control, elemental chakra, parries, blocks: these things he knew and understood. His experience in the more practical arts, however, was limited. Thus, he had enlisted the help of his sister in preparing for the journey. A few articles had to be purchased from the market, but most were found in the family's stores or easily borrowed. There was no reason he should have been even a few minutes late, but nerves had kept him up late last night, and a late rising this morning had left him panicking to stuff a hundred extra things into his pack before a hasty breakfast and a quick relocation to the gates.

He gave a brief bow, first to his sensei and then to his teammate. "My apologies." He was clad in simple beige shorts and a brown shirt, his arm guards fastened securely on his forearms.

[Izanagi]

Takeo nodded to each of his students, standing casually as he awaited their arrival. The wilderness was as much a home to the man as his own apartment and as such there was no unease about the trek to come. His students, he could tell were of a different mindset. Each were nervous; their backpacks seeming brand new and only then did it occur to the man that they likely had to buy supplies specifically for this outing. The Jounin frowned at the thought of Minoru having to spend his hard earned money on camping supplies, he knew of the boy’s poverty and felt guilty for not having considered it. Makoto too was likely burdened by the necessity to procure such items. The Hyuuga after all were not known as the most outdoorsy of people. I should have let them borrow my equipment, or taught them how to fare without he reflected dourly.

An exasperated voice broke the silence and Takeo’s smile returned. “That’s quite alright” he replied. He had no desire to punish the genin for being only a few minutes late, even he himself was not always perfectly punctual. Moreover it was clear that Makoto had made an effort to arrive and likely had been slowed by last minute preparations for the trip, all of which was understandable. “Looks like we’re all set then, let’s head out!” he decided, waving to the guards as he led them through the gates. Takeo had become a well-respected Jounin though beyond that all those who worked guard duty had come to know him from his frequent treks outside the village walls. His team too was becoming well known and though clan members were scrutinized more heavily when leaving the village, genin especially, they were deemed safe when in the presence of someone such as Takeo.

He wouldn’t stray too far from the village of course, though certainly farther than the genin had ever been. They travelled along the main road for nearly an hour and then turned off onto a forest trail, winding deep through the trees and across several streams. And there was still quite some distance to go. As they walked Takeo decided to test his students, “I’m curious, what would each of you say is the most important aspect to wilderness survival? Food, Water, Shelter, or Fire?” he inquired. In truth there was no set right or wrong answer, simply he wanted to know their way of thinking and the reasoning for which choice they picked. He of course had his own answer which he would reveal after they gave theirs.

[Mino]

Mino took a moment to meet eyes with Makoto and nod. It was their time to shine. If they could convince Takeo-Sensei to let them enter into the Chunin exams maybe they would be able to move on in their journey as ninja. However getting the blessing of their Sensei was a mission all on its own. He needed to know his partner was with him.

Following Takeo and Makoto deeper into the wild beyond the gates, Mino was hit with his first and only pang of trepidation. Fighting an enemy he could see was one thing, experiencing an environment that was against him in all ways.. it was going to be interesting to say the least.

Answering Takeo-Sensei's question, Mino did not bother hesitating: "Water. We can find food, make fire, build shelter.. but if there's no water.. you're the only person who can create water, Takeo-Sensei. I can't.. and I haven't seen Makoto make any either." Water was life. Without any.. well they were doomed in just a few days. Mino figured this was as good an answer as any.

[Ducks]

As Takeo spoke, Makoto slowed his breathing, then shifted his pack for what would be the first of many times that day. The bag was evenly and sensibly packed, but being unused to carrying such a load on his back the Genin couldn't help but feel that something was amiss, something that could be remedied if he just shifted the bag by the tiniest margin. It didn't work.

Mino's yellow eyes briefly swung to Makoto's white, and the Hyuuga returned the Awai's nod. The two had been unclear about how to present their proposition and prove their worthiness to their sensei, and this expedition would hopefully provide an excellent opportunity for both. Takeo made to leave, and Makoto fell obediently into line. As they reached the gates and Takeo bypassed the guards with hardly a word, the little Hyuuga too felt a twinge of trepidation, though unlike his squadmate's it was not the last. As they exited the village and passed through the surrounding countryside, he couldn't help but cast intermittent glances left and right, as if expecting the land itself to rise up and strike the party. After all, did not the very idea of survival depend on a force acting against the survivor, willing it to wither and die while it gives its all to triumph and live? Perhaps Satomi was right; perhaps he read too many books.

Still, the idea of self-sufficiency, man against the elements, et cetera, was all very new to Makoto. He had hardly the softest of childhoods, but he had never been forced to fend for himself until now. At least they had Takeo as guide and teacher. When first assigned to the team, Makoto had done a bit of research on his sensei, and the one thing he heard and read repeatedly was the man's skill in the wilderness. He had even heard the moniker bestowed upon him by the Inuzuka, no strangers to the wild themelves; The Fangless Hound. If the two Genin were safe with anyone, they would be safe with Takeo.

The same man eventually broke the silence, the harsh reality of his voice nearly causing Makoto to start. The question was a simple one, but Makoto too time to analyze it, allowing Mino to answer first. "I concur." He spoke, a bit more deliberately. "Food and water are directly needed to sustain life, and shelter and fire may prove vital in specific circumstances, but dehydration is dependably fast-acting and deadly. One might live for weeks without the other three and survive, but a few mere days deprived of water can wreak havoc on anyone." It was a bit of a textbook answer, yes, but given little experience of his own, it was all he could think to draw on.

[Izanagi]

Takeo continued to lead, staring straight ahead into the path as he listened for their answers. He nodded marginally, satisfied with Mino’s answer, pursing his lips as if to say ‘not bad’ and the Makoto chimed in, explaining in more detail and also touching upon the importance of the others. This brought a smile to the man’s weathered face. Good, they know their basics, he reflected.

“Generally speaking I would be inclined to agree, though ultimately one’s priority depends on their environment, for example in the arctic a lack of fire can kill one much faster than dehydration and in a rainforest where water is abundant then the importance shifts to shelter, certainly however fresh water will always be a necessity to survival”

He strolled over to a nearby stream as he spoke and then crouched down next to the flowing water, at most points it was nothing more than a trickle, flowing over a bed of rocks and minute ledges. Further along it pooled, the water was somewhat deeper there but still. “Fatigue, headaches, dizziness, loss of concentration, and delirium and even death. All effects of Dehydration and depending on physical exertion and temperature one can succumb to near deadly stages within a day.” The Jounin paused, cupping his hands and dipping them into the water, bringing back the clear and frigid liquid to his mouth and sipping slowly.The day was growing hot and already this water source was a welcome relief.

“Not all water is drinkable however. Stagnant pools of water or salt water for example can cause severe cramping, nausea and vomiting which could easily end up being more deadly than if one were to go without water at all. But there are ways around this, as long as there is no decay or fecal matter in a stagnant pool then I would recommend filtering the water. This can be done by gathering moss in ones shirt, bundling it and straining water through it into a container ideally. You can of course also boil the water and distill salt water by evaporating it and allowing the condensation to drip back into another container.”

Takeo paused again allowing his words to sink in, the genin would have to visualize much of what he was describing though he would be happy to demonstrate for them at a later time. “In a worst case scenario where there is no water source at all you can even harness the moisture within the earth itself. Simply dig a hole in relatively damp earth, place a container within and cover the hole with a plastic sheet, then place something on the sheet, over the container to create a dip, evaporation and condensation will then slowly fill the container with water. It’s a slow process but a useful last resort” The man explained.

The Jounin hoped that the genin would remember some if not all of what he had shared with them. He had a habit of ranting on too long about topics of interest, with any luck it wouldn’t have all gone over their heads. Takeo dipped his hands once more into the stream, “Or if you’re lucky you can find running water like this, fresh from the mountain, you can tell because of how cold it is, remember though, that even with running water you should always look upstream to make sure that nothing has contaminated the water.” He said, gesturing for the genin to come take a sip. Of course Takeo had brought his own water and was easily capable of creating some himself but nothing compared to the crisp and frigid glacier waters.

[Mino]

Minoru found himself consistently nodding and absorbing wisdom from Takeo. He wondered at the man's story- there must be a reason that he took to the wildnerness: even standing in the forest the man looked more at home than Mino had seen him in other places.

.. Come to think of it, Mino hadn't seen Takeo-Sensei in Konoha often enough to make a serious assessment. The man was a born outdoorsman, something that Minoru wasn't. Luckily there was time for growth- if anyone was to teach him, Takeo-Sensei was the perfect man for the job. His mind was working as Takeo-Sensei explained, trying to apply his own abilities to the acquisition of water. If I could find out the temperature required for water to purfiy, I could use Hiton Chakra to bring it to that point. I wonder if I could use a semi-permiable barrier to filter it as well.

Of course, it would be adventageous to learn how to do these things without the use of chakra, but in the event that Minoru couldn't find supplies or didn't have the means to procure some, chakra use would have to do. "Given our current set of skills, Sensei, is there a way we could use our elements to purify the water?"

Fire, shelter, even food Minoru was confident that both he and Makoto would be able to handle such. Water seemed their only major obsticle.

[Ducks]

Takeo seemed satisfied with their answers, but took a few moments to stress the varying demands of varying environments. As the seasoned shinobi spoke of the arctic and rainforest, Makoto wondered if he had ever been to such exotic locales. Of course, if there was a mission in such a place it would make perfect sense to send a man like Takeo, but Makoto could not think of any such place within fifty miles of Konoha. If Takeo spoke from experience, he was extremely well-traveled.

As the outdoorsman went on to elaborate on the vital nature of clean water, as well as the various methods of obtaining it, Makoto listened, earnest attentiveness easily visible on his face. In truth, the more mundane methods Takeo described seemed awfully, well, mundane; it seemed that a shinobi should have more effective method of sustaining basic bodily functions in the wild. He did not know of any, though, and he certainly did not have the cheek to verbalize his thoughts. Perhaps I have spent too much time among the Hyuuga. I have never been taught to shun hard work, but somehow it was always implied, if not outright stated, that manual labor and drudgery was best left to civilians, or even lesser shinobi. Because of this clan bias, Makoto had grown up with the idea that such tedious work demeaned a ninja. However, as he listened to Takeo and watched him stoop to drink of from the fresh water, such a bias seemed incredibly silly; indeed, he wondered if it were not the pretentious members of his clan who demeaned themselves by their elitist talk.

Takeo mentioned the necessity of searching running water for contaminants, and, with an dutifulness only boosted by his eagerness to account for his elitist heritage, Makoto activated his Byakugan and quickly swept a few hundred yards upstream. Seeing nothing, he crouched and, with only a moment's dubious look at the water, cupped his hands and retrieved a handful of the stuff. The coolness immediately surprised him, and he indulged himself with two more; the sun was hot, and the frigid water of the stream was ten times more refreshing than the tepid liquid carried in his pack. Mino spoke up, asking if there was a way he or Makoto could purify water with elemental ninjutsu. It seemed fairly obvious to the Hyuuga that hiton chakra could be used to bring water to a boil, but his teammate had doubtless thought of that already, and even if he hadn't, it was rather rude to answer a question not directed towards oneself. He could add to it, though. "My sister and father have suiton as primary and secondary affinities, respectively, so it is possible, though certainly not sure, that I might learn it later on."

[Izanagi]

It was easy to forget that the genin had never travelled more than a few miles from Konoha. Of course they wouldn’t have considered various climates and environments in their answers. How could they when all they had known was their temperate forest home. Though even Fire countries winters grew cold when sleeping outdoors, especially high in the mountains. And while Takeo had never travelled to the far reaches of the earth he had travelled far enough and in various seasons to know a multitude of survival conditions and even those places he had never been to he made a habit of preparing for.

Takeo nodded, of course it was only natural for a shinobi to consider applications through the use of chakra. “Well with Suiton one can easily purify any water source simply with chakra or create a source of its own, as for you your Hiton could be used to boil the water” he answered, giving the rather obvious response. Regardless of being able to boil water Takeo’s methods of finding water sources were still highly applicable, especially so to Makoto whom possessed no such element, at least not presently. The Jounin sighed before giving his explanation, “As a Shinobi I understand the desire to find the easiest solution, using chakra to solve all problems, and there is nothing wrong with using our skills…though that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have back-up plans. The best shinobi are able to adapt to any situation and learn to think outside the box, few take the time to learn methods that involve hard work or cunning.” He paused, he genuinely hoped that he could instill some of his mentality and practices onto his students, “Overreliance on chakra can be deadly, I have heard of anomalies, places where chakra is rendered useless. There might even come a time where you are captured and your chakra sealed or you find yourself too tired or injured to use your ninjutsu” he sighed again, perhaps it was difficult for the students to imagine such instances, having never been in similar situations but Takeo had and he knew the importance of physical skills and cunning. He was speaking in general terms, no longer referring only to the one example of purifying water, “Call me paranoid but I like to keep my skills as broad and as finely tuned as possible.” He added, though he knew he was still doing a rather poor job of conveying his point. Both were clan members and such civilian practices were likely foreign ideas to them, perhaps if they could relate more to him they could better understand the value of hard work.

The Jounin splashed his face with some cold water, running it over his head and letting the water soak into his shirt across his back. He then turned, standing now and ready again to soon depart but not before some extra insight. “My Grandfather was a simple lumberjack, woodsman and hunter, born and raised in Konoha and although my dad is a shinobi; a Jounin like me he grew up learning the old ways before he even entered the academy, when I was a kid he taught me the same.” Takeo adjusted his back-apck before reaching into a side pocket and withdrawing an apple. He took a large bite, chewed and swallowed. “I suppose it’s a way to honor my family and remember our origins” he added with a smile, this talk was making him rather nostalgic of his childhood. He hadn’t even mentioned his mother’s side, the orphan who was raised by Inuzuka. They too had instilled a strong connection with animals and the wilderness into the man.

With that said Takeo gestured for them to continue on. They could converse as they travelled if they wished though there was still plenty of ground to cover. The path continued through the forest, winding trails that seemed to increase marginally in elevation. The midday sun shone brightly overhead, streaming through the thick foliage and creating an array of shadowed splotches and bright patches of direct light across the dirt paths. Even in the shade though the heat was constant and stifling. Occasionally Takeo would stop along the trail, foraging for the various berries which hung from an array of shrubs. “Huckleberries” he explained, reaching for the small pinkish red spheres, “As a precaution, never eat any berries or mushrooms unless you are absolutely certain that you know they are edible. As a rule of thumb most berries that have a hard outer skin are poisonous as well as any that are yellow or white. These soft huckleberries or segmented berries such as raspberries, salmonberries and thimbleberries however are all edible.” He explained between mouthfuls. The small berries didn’t contribute much in the way of providing energy though they were tasty and an adequate source of vitamins and water.

[Mino]

Mino found himself still nodding, wondering about places that suppress or eliminate the use of Chakra. That bit of information alone made him want to learn every single survival technique possible without chakra use. The Genin was trying not to be naïve about the wild, and assuming that chakra magic would save him in every situation would be exactly that.

As if his musings were being read by the Jonin Takeo-Sensei began giving the two Genin part of his story. It was almost exactly as Mino had envisioned it: the man's family came from a lineage of hunters and woodsmen. His father, a Jonin (Mino wondered at what having a successful ninja as a father was like) added the element of chakra control and discipline that molded Takeo-Sensei into the resourceful man he currently is. It would be advantageous to learn multiple ways to survive in the wild- who knows what travels may away Makoto and he in the future?

Mino scanned the immediate area first for berries. He wanted to look for a few berries that fit the description of those not to eat so that he could fix it in his memory. Noting the berries Takeo was eating Mino stepped forward to grab a handful, savoring the taste and committing it to memory. To emphasize this, Mino's first bite was followed by the name of the berry- so that the taste and the name went together. "Huckleberry"

Nodding his approval for the sweet taste of the berry, Mino helped himself to another handful and stepped back, awaiting instruction from Takeo-Sensei.

[Ducks]

As Takeo continued his lecture, Makoto had to resist the impulse to grab a pen and a notebook and start taking notes. In a traditional Hyuuga household, there was a single correct way of completing a given task. If you did it that way, you were right. If you did it another, you were wrong. Chakra control was a fact of life, and anything that could be done by it ought to be, and much of what couldn't be wasn't worth doing. Young Makoto had taken it for simple truth all his life, and yet here he was, learning the importance of water and berries from the grandson of a lumber jack, one of the most formidable shinobi he had yet witnessed in action. If Fate existed, she had a sense of humor.

And yet, this new perspective was an uncomfortable one. He had practically defined his entire life by the awesome chakra abilities inherited from his ancestors. What was he without them? It was not a new thought, but Takeo's perspective gave it fresh relevance. The little Hyuuga wasn't like his sensei, or even his teammate. He was slight and small of frame, lacking in the musculature and hardiness needed to face the cruel world of the shinobi while stripped of his greatest tool. It was simple; if he lost his control over his ninja techniques, he would be worthless, and no amount of shirt-straining or berry foraging was going to change that. Perhaps it was time to reconsider his fighting style as a whole.

That thought, however, was interrupted by another. Berries? Obtaining water from the wild was one matter, as it was, as they had established, absolutely vital for sustained life. But berries were different. Not only was food much less vital and generally easier to transport in sufficient quantities, berries themselves were so small. And impractical. And, well, common. Dutifully, Makoto plucked one of the black-skinned berries, staring dubiously at the morsel before popping it in his mouth. Unforunately, the berry in question was a sour one, and Makoto could not resist making a small grimace of disdain. He said nothing, but ate no more berries.

[Izanagi]

Takeo noted once again the disparity between his two students. Mino seemed to listen eagerly to his advice, absorbing the information like a sponge whereas Makoto seemed only to listen out of some sense of duty and respect. Ever stoic and hard to read the Jounin found it quite difficult to bond with the young Hyuuga, the genin was so bound by structure and hard work, it seemed missions and training were the only times he felt comfortable. Here out in the forest, in Takeo’s element Makoto never seemed more out of place. The Jounin smirked, recalling his many nights in the wilderness with another clan member, his former teammate Harumi. Even as an experienced and well-travelled Jounin she had insisted on maintaining a near spotless camp-site, the ground perfectly flat, located in an ideal location and making sure to wake up early for her morning tea and training kata’s. Another, his ex-girlfriend Hanako had been more relaxed though even she maintained many of her clan’s habits and routines.

The Awai Takeo had known on the other hand tended to be far less rigid, his childhood best friend and rival Masuru; confident and inspiring though not above thrill seeking and adventures and then his most recent teammate and close friend Haru whose dynamic personality could not be summed up in only a few adjectives. Ultimately as the clansmen before them, Mino seemed better suited to be a friend whereas Makoto seemed destined to fulfill the role of a comrade and training partner, though perhaps even a Sensei-Student relationship in that regard was something that the Hyuuga and mentor alike could cherish.

Pressing on Takeo led the Genin through the forest paths for several hours, winding and ascending slowly until the trees thinned at a point becoming sparser and open at the mountain before them opened up. The grass and brush in this area was low to the ground, dry and brown from the constant exposure to sun and the ground loose and covered in rocks. A few trees scattered throughout, smaller than the ones they had traveled past. On this section of the mountain there was no water to be seen or food to speak of nor any true path. The man would lead the genin along the ridge, walking for nearly an hour until they finally reached a rocky section, the ground was covered in rocks of various sizes though there were many dirt potholes and divots and the occasional shrub and small trees. There too was some shade, courtesy of thick slabs of stone that made up a large cliff wall, several cracks ran through it and within the cracks existed more lush green plants and even a few berry bushes jutting out from the wall.

Takeo found a relatively flat spot and cleared out the rocks that covered the ground, leaving only the hard earth. “We’ll set up camp here” he announced as he set down his pack. He withdrew a four man tent from the bag and began setting it up, showing the genin how to do so and asking for their help where applicable. It was now nearing 5pm, though luckily it was summer and so there was still a reasonable amount of time before sunset. Nonetheless it was important to set up early. Later that night the trio would sit around a small camp-fire pit, Takeo had instructed the genin to fetch the sticks and appropriate sized rocks while he dug out a 1ft deep and 2ft diameter hole with ninjutsu. Once gathered he would set up the smallest kindling and dry leaves first and make a pile with larger firewood to his right. And then breathing in and focusing chakra he exhaled, spitting out a stream of fiery sparks which quickly ignited the kindling, soon after that the small fire had been constructed, crackling and lighting up the rapidly darkening sky. Various food had been brought, including the traditional hot dogs, though Takeo had opted for smoky style sausages and a large pot of chili which he heated over the embers. There would be plenty for the genin to share if they desired, though of course they were also welcome to utilize their own food that they had brought.

Jutsu UsedShow

Fire Element • Flickering Sparks
D-Rank Ninjutsu
After channeling Katon chakra through his chest and into his mouth Takeo will exhale, producing a breath of hundreds of minuscule Katon sparks. These sparks while only capable of minor first degree burns can easily set aflame combustible materials. The maximum range of this technique is 5ft and they travel at a speed of 4.

[Mino]

A spike of curiosity flew through the young Genin as he marveled at the landscapes they passed. Yes, they were on a mission.. well in a way it was a mission.. and yes Mino was with his Sensei and teammate. But for a second, it felt like a family outing. Makoto was his brother, Takeo-Sensei an older figure, though Mino would dare think of a Father. There was a lighthearted air to him, one that he'd never really felt before now. Everything was serious, training, working, missions.. the world never slowed down long enough for the boy to just.. be a boy. Perhaps the forest brought that out in the young Genin.

Everything seemed so quiet and far away here.. Maybe coming into the wilderness more often would be therapeutic for Minoru. It sure beat sitting in his house when he wasn't training..

Returning with Makoto from gathering some sticks for firewood (which meant running up trees to grab dead branches that hadn't fallen yet) Mino felt anxiety threatening to creep upon him. The two had decided that they'd put in their bid for the Chunin exams soon- and Minoru felt responsible for bringing it up to Takeo-Sensei tonight. It was the perfect opportunity. What would he say? Would Takeo-Sensei approve? Only time would tell.

Wafting the scent of Takeo's chili toward him, Mino took a deep breath to steady himself and then began: "Takeo-Sensei, can I talk to you?" He should have said we but he doubted the stoic Makoto would jump into the conversation so soon. He was the type that would chime in when needed- only to say what he must and return to observation. Mino was getting to understand his teammate pretty well, and that gave him the ability to create synergy between them. "It's pretty important."

[Ducks]

Makoto wasn't the only member of the squad who was difficult to read. The Jounin's brief smirk did not escape the genin's watchful eyes, and he for a moment he wished his Byakugan could penetrate minds as well as it did walls. Of course, intruding upon the personal thoughts of another would be a horrible breach of privacy and misuse of power, but Makoto could not help but wonder: What was he thinking of? What was the real reason behind this trip? Finally, and most pressingly, however much he tried to avoid the thought, what did he think of his students? Did he disdain Makoto for his formal, by-the-books demeanor, even as Makoto had been raised to disdain those like Takeo? The genin knew he ought not to care about, but he did. He couldn't help it.

However, as they continued on through the forest, his thoughts turned once again to his environment. The forest, with its lumbering trees and creeping wildlife, was a strange and hostile place to the city-dweller, but as they marched on Makoto began to cautiously appreciate it. While the massive arboreal guardians threatened to conceal assailants and wild beasts, they also provided shade and a visual protection similar to the ones it lent potential enemies. And few of those possess the Byakugan. He could learn to live in the woods, even like it, if given enough time.

They soon passed through the forest, emerging before a mountain. Makoto had seen such formations in the distance before, but he had never actually set foot on one before. As the group climbed higher, he surveyed the view in silence; the height did not unnerve him as it might one without the ability to survive such a fall, but the sheer novelty of it was enough to command his fullest attention, so much so that he was actually disappointed when Takeo called for a halt. He did not, of course, show it. He complied dutifully with Takeo's orders, as he had little to no idea what "setting up camp" actually entailed.

When it came time for supper, Makoto was tempted to keep to his own supplies for propriety's sake, until he realized Takeo's victuals were much more appetizing than his own bland supplies. There was a minute or so of awkward deliberation as he struggled to determine the proper method of preparing a sausage before he realized it was meant to be skewered on a stick and held over a fire. How odd.

Then, just like that, Mino interjected. Though the Hyuuga's expression betrayed no change of emotion, his eyes flicked over to his comrade. Had it been up to Makoto, he would have put the question off for another day at least, perhaps two. Then again, perhaps that was why he needed a teammate like Minoru, who could be bold on both of their behalf's. He nodded his approval, adding simply "It is."

[Izanagi]

Takeo inspected the firewood that the boys had gathered. All dead branches and twigs of various sizes. The man separated them into piles according to size. “Good” he uttered in approval. At least they were both competent enough to not gather live plants saturated with water which would serve only to stymie the progress of the fire and produce a great amount of smoke. Once the log cabin style tinder had caught flame the man quickly added in larger sticks in a teepee fashion. He secured them snugly and watched as the flames climbed and spread, growing into a moderate sized fire in a matter of minutes.

It was later into the night as their dinner heated that Mino raised his question. The Jounin’s eyes flickered to the blank faced Makoto. The nod and his terse utterance explained what his visage did not. The genin were in agreement with one another. That alone piqued the man’s interest. The hyuuga was not one to attribute importance to anything half-heartedly or without due cause. “Of course. Speak freely” he allowed as he leaned forward, settling his elbows into his knees as he held his skewered sausage into the flames. The embers crackled as they lifted into the night sky, the flame casting shadows and an orange-red glow across the man’s grizzled features. Though his posture seemed casual, Takeo’s cobalt eyes were as alert as ever, scanning warily between the faces of his students between lapses of staring into the flames. His muscles bulged beneath his clothing, taut especially at the arms as he hunched over, seated upon a large rock.

[Mino]

Now was no time to balk. He needed to sound confident. He needed to display leadership, or at least compentency. There was no way he'd advance without being able to talk to his Sensei. Minoru knew Makoto would follow his lead, that's what being a team was all about. He had the responsiblity of leading Makoto in the right direction on this, and the fantastic thing about the duo was the transitive nature of leadership. Mino did not mind deferring to the young Hyuuga, especially in places where he projected confidence. Makoto's confidence was in many ways, his own.

"Makoto and I have been talking. We've trained hard, taken missions, and glimpsed a little bit of the ninja world as separate Genin. We are eager to face our next challenge, and we think that challenge should be the Chunin exam." It all came out at once, without a pause or hesitation. Mino took a deep breath after he was done to steady himself. It wasn't outrageous, their quiery, but the young Awai didn't know how his Sensei would react. Would he be pleased with their ability to assess their own talents? Would he think they rash for their obviously unchecked ambition? Would he take offense, thinking the two had so much more to learn?

It was all in Takeo-Sensei's hands now. Minoru continued wafting the chili toward him, hoping to whatever powers that be in the world he wasn't making a mistake.

[Ducks]

Makoto sat cross-legged, hands on either knee, back as straight as it could be without suffering permanent structural damage. This was the moment of truth, and he could not recall the last time he was so incredibly nervous, and for a ninja that suffered an acute attack of nerves at practically every significant step in his life that was saying something. But he had learned to control the apprehension, to channel it into tense, stolid alertness rather than shaky panic.

Mino spoke well. Makoto had nothing to add, so he turned to Takeo and nodded his approval, then watched steadily to see what their sensei's reaction would be. Were the genin in possession of a weak heart, the suspense might have literally killed him.