A forest run-in
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2022 5:37 pm
It was early in the day, pre-dawn, when Naohiro flew from his home like a man possessed. He preferred to start his training days in the dark, before most of the village woke to distract him, and before any aides could flag him down and demand his attention for more official duties. He hit the ground running, sprinting at full pace. He was out and away from the Aisu compound in moments, heading into the heart of the village’s noble district. He looped around the imposing spire of the Mizukage’s tower and took to the rooftops on the far side, vaulting from building to building under cover of darkness. Buildings, streets, and plazas quickly vanished into the mists behind him as he careened through then away from the centre of Kirigakure and out into the merchant districts. He dropped down to weave through some alleys and plazas here, dodging between the few working class people who were starting their own days, and making more than a few of them panic from his sudden appearance and motion. He cut around a large warehouse and working yard to access a row of much shabbier streets, soon crossing out into the run-down slums of the outer districts of the village. Paying little heed to the feeble folk in this part of the city, he planned out the most direct route in his head and passed through without a second glance, keeping up his pace until he reached the edge of the village where it met the waters of the surrounding lake.
Taking a deep breath of the chill morning he, he leapt and landed running onto the surface of the quiet, mist-cloaked lake that shrouded his island village. He smiled; now that he was out here, away from the close streets and scents of the village, he felt much more at peace. Isolated and safe in the mists, where he could see nothing in any direction even with his eyes being well accustomed to the mist technique used to protect Kirigakure. The mists out here felt like home to him almost as much as the village itself did. But sadly he was only passing through for now, and kept running further out, feet hovering on soles of chakra just millimetres above the water’s surface as he stepped.
Before long he hit the far shore and began the climb into the ring of towering mountains, refusing to slow his enthusiastic dash as the incline grew steeper and steeper. There were no easy routes here — not that he’d have resorted to one anyway — and so he threw himself up the impossible slopes, relying on chakra to grip and scale the giant features that surrounded the lake and village far below. At the top he paused only for a moment to admire the view of the rising sun before cresting the ridge and beginning a hasty descent on the other side. He sprinted in a zig-zag down the mountain and skidded directly down the steeper parts, racing to the bottom in a flurry of scree and dust kicked up from underfoot, until the ground eventually began to ease into the foothills at the base of the mountain ring. From there he cut east, following the easy descent of the land and away towards a sparse woodland of thin spindly trees, bamboo, and a tangled mat of bushes at ground level. Instead of fighting his way through those, Naohiro leapt up into the sea of trunks and branches, vaulting from the vertical poles and relying on his momentum to keep him aloft.
He pressed on until mid-morning before he eventually slowed, considering changing his direction to circle back around towards Kirigakure. No doubt by now he’d be missed, and would arrive back to a mountain of paperwork accrued from the morning jaunt. But then something caught his ear; the swish of foliage, a faint impression of heavy breathing. He frowned, and decided to investigate. Whoever else was nearby didn’t seem to be trying to keep quiet, so they likely weren’t up to anything nefarious. But Naohiro approached in the height of the tree canopy still, just in case, and ready to burst into motion if necessary.
He need not have worried, and after a short flight through the branches soon spotted a young looking Tsukino making his own way through the forest below. Naohiro observed quietly for a moment, being careful to mask the sounds of his own movements all the while, before eventually hopping down to approach.
”Good morning,” he raised a hand to hail the other ninja, keeping his tone light. ”I couldn’t help but hear you stomping your way back towards home as I passed. You should be more careful.” He tilted his head, considering the man, eyes landing first on the black hilt of the sword on his back, then the claw-like fingers and muscled physique. He gave the impression of a teenager who did nothing by accident. “Unless… You wanted to be found?”
“I suppose the office could manage a little longer without me, if you were looking for someone to go a few rounds with. I wouldn’t say no to the exercise; I’m warmed up and could use something to break the monotony of just running. How about it?” He raised a fist and flexed it, then looked back at the young man with a questioning eyebrow raised.
[911 words]
Taking a deep breath of the chill morning he, he leapt and landed running onto the surface of the quiet, mist-cloaked lake that shrouded his island village. He smiled; now that he was out here, away from the close streets and scents of the village, he felt much more at peace. Isolated and safe in the mists, where he could see nothing in any direction even with his eyes being well accustomed to the mist technique used to protect Kirigakure. The mists out here felt like home to him almost as much as the village itself did. But sadly he was only passing through for now, and kept running further out, feet hovering on soles of chakra just millimetres above the water’s surface as he stepped.
Before long he hit the far shore and began the climb into the ring of towering mountains, refusing to slow his enthusiastic dash as the incline grew steeper and steeper. There were no easy routes here — not that he’d have resorted to one anyway — and so he threw himself up the impossible slopes, relying on chakra to grip and scale the giant features that surrounded the lake and village far below. At the top he paused only for a moment to admire the view of the rising sun before cresting the ridge and beginning a hasty descent on the other side. He sprinted in a zig-zag down the mountain and skidded directly down the steeper parts, racing to the bottom in a flurry of scree and dust kicked up from underfoot, until the ground eventually began to ease into the foothills at the base of the mountain ring. From there he cut east, following the easy descent of the land and away towards a sparse woodland of thin spindly trees, bamboo, and a tangled mat of bushes at ground level. Instead of fighting his way through those, Naohiro leapt up into the sea of trunks and branches, vaulting from the vertical poles and relying on his momentum to keep him aloft.
He pressed on until mid-morning before he eventually slowed, considering changing his direction to circle back around towards Kirigakure. No doubt by now he’d be missed, and would arrive back to a mountain of paperwork accrued from the morning jaunt. But then something caught his ear; the swish of foliage, a faint impression of heavy breathing. He frowned, and decided to investigate. Whoever else was nearby didn’t seem to be trying to keep quiet, so they likely weren’t up to anything nefarious. But Naohiro approached in the height of the tree canopy still, just in case, and ready to burst into motion if necessary.
He need not have worried, and after a short flight through the branches soon spotted a young looking Tsukino making his own way through the forest below. Naohiro observed quietly for a moment, being careful to mask the sounds of his own movements all the while, before eventually hopping down to approach.
”Good morning,” he raised a hand to hail the other ninja, keeping his tone light. ”I couldn’t help but hear you stomping your way back towards home as I passed. You should be more careful.” He tilted his head, considering the man, eyes landing first on the black hilt of the sword on his back, then the claw-like fingers and muscled physique. He gave the impression of a teenager who did nothing by accident. “Unless… You wanted to be found?”
“I suppose the office could manage a little longer without me, if you were looking for someone to go a few rounds with. I wouldn’t say no to the exercise; I’m warmed up and could use something to break the monotony of just running. How about it?” He raised a fist and flexed it, then looked back at the young man with a questioning eyebrow raised.
[911 words]