‘Step 1. Formation: A period of orientation when a sense of trust and belonging is forged.’
Hanayo trudged through the woods, nose deep in a pocketbook on tips for team-building. She’d crack the cover immediately after receiving her orders to lead a new genin team. The best way to defeat uncertainty was with overpreparation, she always said. ‘Formation’ would be the easy part; it was simply a matter of tracking them all down. Hanayo had a head start, having met one of the genin by chance weeks earlier, but today would be the day she paid a surprise visit to the Senju. Still, Hanayo accepted the challenge without complaint. She would never bemoan the chance to shape the future of her village, especially if it meant a return to nature.
The forest was rich with scents; the soft flowery breezes, the weighty aroma of mud, and lingering smell of beasts and man. She felt an ease here, there was a spirit of welcoming in the sunlight flitting through the leaves.
As she stepped over the old roots of her village, Hanayo noticed a trail of notched trunks. Even high branches had been clipped. She must have wandered into someone’s training ground. Having memorized the details in his academy file, the jounin knew Shinya was skilled at long-range and showed promise with a bow. Perfect for what she had in store.
She reached the Senju compound, emerging from the woods, its traditional layout preserved like a secret. Hanayo followed the worn path to his residence, tucked her book away, and rapped her knuckles twice on the doorframe. The brunette would wait for it to open before greeting them with a polite smile. “Good morning, my name is Kusanagi, Hanayo. I’m looking for Shinya-san?”
First Steps
Hanayo and Shinya
First Steps
| Tenshi | Kumogakure no Sato | Genin | Team 5 |
| Kusanagi, Hanayo | Konohagakure no Sato | Jounin | Team Kusanagi |
| Bandō | Whirlpool Country | A-Rank | Merchants of Death |
-
AvariceSin
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2025 7:06 pm
First Steps
The knock came mid-morning three precise raps against the door.
Not hurried. Not aggressive. Just steady, like the person on the other side already knew they’d be heard.
Shinya looked up from the practice dummy in the yard, exhaling slowly as he lowered his stance. He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, listening. He didn’t recognize the chakra, but he felt it — calm, controlled, practiced.
Not a clan member.
Someone official, then.
He crossed the stone walkway with measured steps, passing under the wooden arch carved with the Senju crest. His fingers brushed lightly against a blooming white camellia in a flower pot near the door, a habit of his. It was something grounding.
Shinya slid the door open with care, not hesitation. His posture was straight, his expression calm, his gaze direct.
A tall figure stood before him in jonin attire, one brow slightly raised, studying, but not judging. To Shinya the figure looked like someone who had seen the village at its worst and still chose to serve it.
“Good morning, my name is Kusanagi, Hanayo. I'm looking for Shinya-san?” The figure stated.
Shinya didn’t flinch beneath the gaze. He gave a short, respectful bow.
“Senju Shinya. Reporting.”
Not hurried. Not aggressive. Just steady, like the person on the other side already knew they’d be heard.
Shinya looked up from the practice dummy in the yard, exhaling slowly as he lowered his stance. He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, listening. He didn’t recognize the chakra, but he felt it — calm, controlled, practiced.
Not a clan member.
Someone official, then.
He crossed the stone walkway with measured steps, passing under the wooden arch carved with the Senju crest. His fingers brushed lightly against a blooming white camellia in a flower pot near the door, a habit of his. It was something grounding.
Shinya slid the door open with care, not hesitation. His posture was straight, his expression calm, his gaze direct.
A tall figure stood before him in jonin attire, one brow slightly raised, studying, but not judging. To Shinya the figure looked like someone who had seen the village at its worst and still chose to serve it.
“Good morning, my name is Kusanagi, Hanayo. I'm looking for Shinya-san?” The figure stated.
Shinya didn’t flinch beneath the gaze. He gave a short, respectful bow.
“Senju Shinya. Reporting.”
First Steps
Hanayo let her yellow eyes sweep over the tranquil courtyard before settling on the boy. First impressions mattered—something she'd underlined in the book still tucked in her pocket. He stood at attention, wearing a tough-to-read expression, posture sharp as a soldier’s. She recalled he was a recent academy graduate. Hopefully that stiffness would wear off. Then again, had she been any different? Besides, the sheen of sweat across his brow showed that he wasn’t neglectful of his training. ‘Senju Shinya. Reporting’
“Apologies for the interruption,” she said, unfastening a button on her flak jacket, “but I come bearing bad news: your village needs you.” She withdrew a tightly wound scroll and tossed it underhand to him. “You'll find details of your assignment enclosed within. I’m here to evaluate your performance. A pop quiz, if you will.” Her tone was light, but this would be more than a mission. It was an interview, a way for her to see how he handled himself in the field. And of course she would apply a bit of pressure, in her own way.
“No rush,” she added, stepping down the path without looking back. “But we should head out soon. I still have one more of you to check in on. It’s a long walk to the farm, so we’ll have time to talk.”
“Apologies for the interruption,” she said, unfastening a button on her flak jacket, “but I come bearing bad news: your village needs you.” She withdrew a tightly wound scroll and tossed it underhand to him. “You'll find details of your assignment enclosed within. I’m here to evaluate your performance. A pop quiz, if you will.” Her tone was light, but this would be more than a mission. It was an interview, a way for her to see how he handled himself in the field. And of course she would apply a bit of pressure, in her own way.
“No rush,” she added, stepping down the path without looking back. “But we should head out soon. I still have one more of you to check in on. It’s a long walk to the farm, so we’ll have time to talk.”
Mission DetailsShow
Mission Description: D | A farmer in Fire Country is having trouble. His crops keep ending up destroyed and ruined from some monstrous beast with claws. However it is noted the farmer has a habit of over-exaggerating. From the description of the damage its most likely a wild dog, or it could be a bear. You never know.
| Tenshi | Kumogakure no Sato | Genin | Team 5 |
| Kusanagi, Hanayo | Konohagakure no Sato | Jounin | Team Kusanagi |
| Bandō | Whirlpool Country | A-Rank | Merchants of Death |
-
AvariceSin
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2025 7:06 pm
First Steps
The scroll landed in his palm with a muted thwap. It was light, but densely packed. Shinya’s fingers closed around it with a smooth, solid grip, his expression unchanged as he turned it slightly in his hand. The seal was official and clearly intact. He could feel the slight warmth from where she’d held it.
“Hmm.” He looked up after a moment, his tone even. “A shame, I was hoping today would be quiet.”
He meant it as a dry remark, but deep down even he wasn’t sure if it was sarcasm or just honesty. He’d already trained part of the morning and he intended to continue training through the afternoon, though now that would have to wait.
The jonin turned away, already walking, and Shinya didn’t hesitate. He slid the scroll into his belt and followed behind, pulling the door closed behind him. The courtyard’s silence settled once more behind him as they walked out of the compound, the flowers blooming, and the stone still warm from the sun, but he didn’t look back.
He took his place a half-step behind and to the side of the jonin, just as he had been taught. Not subservient, but attentive, quietly listening and watching..
Her steps were quiet and so were his.
He didn’t speak at first. Instead, he let the rhythm of their walk stretch out, the soft crunch of gravel beneath their sandals, the wind brushing through the trees above, distant sounds of the village beginning to stir as morning gave way to day.
She didn’t speak either.
Good, he thought. He didn’t mind silence. It gave him room to think.
He let his focus drift slightly, noting the light weight of the scroll at his side. He hadn’t opened it yet. He would in time, but only when it mattered. If this was a quiz, then every action he would make counted. Any hesitation, impatience, obedience, or independence. He understood that she was watching..
He adjusted the strap on his pouch slightly, his mind already half occupied with what the mission might be. A delivery, maybe. Or observation. He doubted it would be combat, not right away.
But still a possibility…
“I don’t mind a long walk,” he said quietly, after several minutes had passed, breaking the silence. “I’ve studied under worse conditions than on a farm road.”
It wasn’t a boast. Just a fact. He’d studied in the rain, in the heat, even with a fever once, until his mother had forcibly removed his books and scrolls. Terrain wouldn’t be an issue to him.
He paused again, letting her lead.
A bird chirped in a nearby tree. He ignored it. After another stretch of silence, he spoke again, eyes forward, hands relaxed at his sides.
“Should I be expecting more bad news when we reach the others?”
There was no bitterness in his tone, if anything, a faint trace of curiosity. Maybe even a hint of amusement. But his posture remained precise, measured. He didn’t slouch. He didn’t fiddle. He didn’t want to break his focus. This was more than likely part of the quiz. He’d already decided he’d pass it. Whatever came next, he’d meet it the same way he met everything else.
Calm. Steady. Prepared.
“Hmm.” He looked up after a moment, his tone even. “A shame, I was hoping today would be quiet.”
He meant it as a dry remark, but deep down even he wasn’t sure if it was sarcasm or just honesty. He’d already trained part of the morning and he intended to continue training through the afternoon, though now that would have to wait.
The jonin turned away, already walking, and Shinya didn’t hesitate. He slid the scroll into his belt and followed behind, pulling the door closed behind him. The courtyard’s silence settled once more behind him as they walked out of the compound, the flowers blooming, and the stone still warm from the sun, but he didn’t look back.
He took his place a half-step behind and to the side of the jonin, just as he had been taught. Not subservient, but attentive, quietly listening and watching..
Her steps were quiet and so were his.
He didn’t speak at first. Instead, he let the rhythm of their walk stretch out, the soft crunch of gravel beneath their sandals, the wind brushing through the trees above, distant sounds of the village beginning to stir as morning gave way to day.
She didn’t speak either.
Good, he thought. He didn’t mind silence. It gave him room to think.
He let his focus drift slightly, noting the light weight of the scroll at his side. He hadn’t opened it yet. He would in time, but only when it mattered. If this was a quiz, then every action he would make counted. Any hesitation, impatience, obedience, or independence. He understood that she was watching..
He adjusted the strap on his pouch slightly, his mind already half occupied with what the mission might be. A delivery, maybe. Or observation. He doubted it would be combat, not right away.
But still a possibility…
“I don’t mind a long walk,” he said quietly, after several minutes had passed, breaking the silence. “I’ve studied under worse conditions than on a farm road.”
It wasn’t a boast. Just a fact. He’d studied in the rain, in the heat, even with a fever once, until his mother had forcibly removed his books and scrolls. Terrain wouldn’t be an issue to him.
He paused again, letting her lead.
A bird chirped in a nearby tree. He ignored it. After another stretch of silence, he spoke again, eyes forward, hands relaxed at his sides.
“Should I be expecting more bad news when we reach the others?”
There was no bitterness in his tone, if anything, a faint trace of curiosity. Maybe even a hint of amusement. But his posture remained precise, measured. He didn’t slouch. He didn’t fiddle. He didn’t want to break his focus. This was more than likely part of the quiz. He’d already decided he’d pass it. Whatever came next, he’d meet it the same way he met everything else.
Calm. Steady. Prepared.
Last edited by AvariceSin on Tue May 06, 2025 11:56 pm, edited 1 time in total.
First Steps
The sun had risen higher now, casting a golden sheen over the dirt road as they walked. Her natural gait was almost a prowl but he kept pace. Her patent smile curled at the ends as he spoke. Cute. He was eager to demonstrate grit. But it would take more than words to convince her. No matter, it would be time to test that soon enough.
“That depends on what you consider bad news. It is only a D-Rank mission, after all.” The Academy liked to dress these up, sell them as exciting. And sure, sometimes they were, but even a B-Rank stakeout involved a lot more snoring than combat. “Though, you don’t strike me as someone who minds a bit of slowness,“ She said lightly, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.
The shinobi profession drew a wide range of temperaments. He seemed like the careful type. Calculating, viewing the world as something to be solved. Hanayo knew that the Senju were rooted in traditions. How many of them dared not to don the headband? Perhaps Shinya might have believed his life was decided for him at birth– she could empathize. Hanayo saw beyond that and wanted to gain insight into his true motivations.
Once they were a suitable distance from the compound, Hanayo pivoted on a heel, dirt crunching underfoot. “Why don’t you crack that scroll open?” she prompted with a hand on her hip. She gave Shinya her full attention now, watching him as if he were unwrapping a gift she'd bought him. “Go on, let’s see what you’ll be dealing with.” She was curious about what problems this mission might pose for him and how he would handle it.
“That depends on what you consider bad news. It is only a D-Rank mission, after all.” The Academy liked to dress these up, sell them as exciting. And sure, sometimes they were, but even a B-Rank stakeout involved a lot more snoring than combat. “Though, you don’t strike me as someone who minds a bit of slowness,“ She said lightly, glancing at him from the corner of her eye.
The shinobi profession drew a wide range of temperaments. He seemed like the careful type. Calculating, viewing the world as something to be solved. Hanayo knew that the Senju were rooted in traditions. How many of them dared not to don the headband? Perhaps Shinya might have believed his life was decided for him at birth– she could empathize. Hanayo saw beyond that and wanted to gain insight into his true motivations.
Once they were a suitable distance from the compound, Hanayo pivoted on a heel, dirt crunching underfoot. “Why don’t you crack that scroll open?” she prompted with a hand on her hip. She gave Shinya her full attention now, watching him as if he were unwrapping a gift she'd bought him. “Go on, let’s see what you’ll be dealing with.” She was curious about what problems this mission might pose for him and how he would handle it.
| Tenshi | Kumogakure no Sato | Genin | Team 5 |
| Kusanagi, Hanayo | Konohagakure no Sato | Jounin | Team Kusanagi |
| Bandō | Whirlpool Country | A-Rank | Merchants of Death |
-
AvariceSin
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2025 7:06 pm
First Steps
Shinya said nothing at first.
The breeze caught a curl of his hair, warm with the late morning sun. He let it shift, unrushed, eyes forward as Hanayo’s voice threaded into the air beside them. Her tone had an air of lightness to it, not quite mocking, but playfully sharp, as if she were flicking pebbles into still water just to see what ripples would form.
“Only a D-Rank mission.”
He could practically hear the italics.
His expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he noted the way she said it, how easily she stripped the illusion from it. The Academy had tried to sell them as exciting. Instructors spoke of “the first step on your journey,” and “building habits and trust,” but everyone knew what D-Ranks really were: errands, escort jobs, and minor chores the village didn’t want to do itself.
Still though, he didn’t complain. There was value in these mundane tasks, if you knew how to look for it.
“Though, you don’t strike me as someone who minds a bit of slowness.”
The words hung there for a moment before he answered.
“Slowness can be efficient,” he said, voice calm. “If you use it well.”
It wasn’t just an answer. It was a small truth, spoken without hesitation. He didn’t rush toward challenges. He prepared for them. If that made him slow, then so be it.
They reached a bend in the road, a quiet stretch of green to one side, dust and low fences to the other, and that was when she turned. The sound of her heel grinding the dirt made his eyes lift before she even spoke.
“Why don’t you crack that scroll open?”
She faced him fully now, one hand on her hip, her gaze more direct. Not an order, not exactly. But a test, certainly. He felt it in the way she watched, like someone waiting for the punchline to a joke only she knew.
Shinya didn’t react right away.
Instead, he looked at her. Yellow eyes, steady and assessing. Confident, but not heavy-handed. She didn’t seem interested in pretending this was anything less than an evaluation. He could respect that.
He reached for the scroll with his right hand, thumb brushing the wax seal. A clean movement and deliberate. He broke it without flair, then unrolled it with a soft snap of parchment.
His eyes scanned the contents of the scroll.
He didn’t let his face shift. Not even slightly.
He read every word. Once. Then again, slower.
Finally, he exhaled quietly, just barely audible.
He didn’t roll it back up yet. Just lowered it to waist height, the weight of the paper resting against his fingers.
“It’s clear,” he said simply. “Concise.”
He wasn’t going to say more than that, not until the others saw it too. Not until they were all briefed together.
He looked back up at her.
“No objections,” he said. “I’m ready.”
His posture didn’t change, but his tone carried a finality that suggested he wasn’t being polite. He meant it.
Then, after a moment a bit softer and nearly dry, he spoke:
“If there’s a twist, I assume you’ll enjoy watching us figure it out.”
It wasn’t a complaint. It might’ve been a compliment.
The breeze caught a curl of his hair, warm with the late morning sun. He let it shift, unrushed, eyes forward as Hanayo’s voice threaded into the air beside them. Her tone had an air of lightness to it, not quite mocking, but playfully sharp, as if she were flicking pebbles into still water just to see what ripples would form.
“Only a D-Rank mission.”
He could practically hear the italics.
His expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he noted the way she said it, how easily she stripped the illusion from it. The Academy had tried to sell them as exciting. Instructors spoke of “the first step on your journey,” and “building habits and trust,” but everyone knew what D-Ranks really were: errands, escort jobs, and minor chores the village didn’t want to do itself.
Still though, he didn’t complain. There was value in these mundane tasks, if you knew how to look for it.
“Though, you don’t strike me as someone who minds a bit of slowness.”
The words hung there for a moment before he answered.
“Slowness can be efficient,” he said, voice calm. “If you use it well.”
It wasn’t just an answer. It was a small truth, spoken without hesitation. He didn’t rush toward challenges. He prepared for them. If that made him slow, then so be it.
They reached a bend in the road, a quiet stretch of green to one side, dust and low fences to the other, and that was when she turned. The sound of her heel grinding the dirt made his eyes lift before she even spoke.
“Why don’t you crack that scroll open?”
She faced him fully now, one hand on her hip, her gaze more direct. Not an order, not exactly. But a test, certainly. He felt it in the way she watched, like someone waiting for the punchline to a joke only she knew.
Shinya didn’t react right away.
Instead, he looked at her. Yellow eyes, steady and assessing. Confident, but not heavy-handed. She didn’t seem interested in pretending this was anything less than an evaluation. He could respect that.
He reached for the scroll with his right hand, thumb brushing the wax seal. A clean movement and deliberate. He broke it without flair, then unrolled it with a soft snap of parchment.
His eyes scanned the contents of the scroll.
He didn’t let his face shift. Not even slightly.
He read every word. Once. Then again, slower.
Finally, he exhaled quietly, just barely audible.
He didn’t roll it back up yet. Just lowered it to waist height, the weight of the paper resting against his fingers.
“It’s clear,” he said simply. “Concise.”
He wasn’t going to say more than that, not until the others saw it too. Not until they were all briefed together.
He looked back up at her.
“No objections,” he said. “I’m ready.”
His posture didn’t change, but his tone carried a finality that suggested he wasn’t being polite. He meant it.
Then, after a moment a bit softer and nearly dry, he spoke:
“If there’s a twist, I assume you’ll enjoy watching us figure it out.”
It wasn’t a complaint. It might’ve been a compliment.
First Steps
Hanayo tapped a foot against the ground while he studied the scroll. Slow and efficient, eh? But not boring, she thought, chuckling at his comment. “It’s always a pleasure to see the younger generation grow and overcome. I’ve no doubt you’ll rise to any challenge,” she said before continuing to walk. Shinya was savvy enough to pick up on her unique brand of humor. He earned points for that. She hated to explain herself.
They reached the farm on the village outskirts within the hour. The rustic paddy field was slowly returning to nature. Unused seedbeds were flooded with stagnant water. The old gate had rusted and the path beyond was overgrown. Only a few neatly kept gravestones marked the border of the guarded territory.
The path brought them through what remained of the terraced field. Hanayo decided not to point out the chewed stalks, or the odd mud prints along the edges. It was clear something had savaged the farmer’s crops, but better to let the genin discover it on his own.
“You know, I believe I came here on a mission once when I was around your age,” she said, tapping a finger to her chin as if the memory was just surfacing. A ramshackle hut appeared on the crest of the hill and Hanayo brought her fingers to her lips for a high-whistle. A figure sitting on the porch jumped to his feet. The old farmer’s back was bent like a fishing rod, but he moved at a sprightly shuffle towards them, waving the whole way. “Old Man Kajii, you’ll love him, he has the best stories.”
“This is your mission now,” she said, ushering Shinya forward. “I’ll let you take the lead on making contact with the client.” Then, leaning in close to his ear, she added, “Make a good impression, he’s practically a legend.”
They reached the farm on the village outskirts within the hour. The rustic paddy field was slowly returning to nature. Unused seedbeds were flooded with stagnant water. The old gate had rusted and the path beyond was overgrown. Only a few neatly kept gravestones marked the border of the guarded territory.
The path brought them through what remained of the terraced field. Hanayo decided not to point out the chewed stalks, or the odd mud prints along the edges. It was clear something had savaged the farmer’s crops, but better to let the genin discover it on his own.
“You know, I believe I came here on a mission once when I was around your age,” she said, tapping a finger to her chin as if the memory was just surfacing. A ramshackle hut appeared on the crest of the hill and Hanayo brought her fingers to her lips for a high-whistle. A figure sitting on the porch jumped to his feet. The old farmer’s back was bent like a fishing rod, but he moved at a sprightly shuffle towards them, waving the whole way. “Old Man Kajii, you’ll love him, he has the best stories.”
“This is your mission now,” she said, ushering Shinya forward. “I’ll let you take the lead on making contact with the client.” Then, leaning in close to his ear, she added, “Make a good impression, he’s practically a legend.”
| Tenshi | Kumogakure no Sato | Genin | Team 5 |
| Kusanagi, Hanayo | Konohagakure no Sato | Jounin | Team Kusanagi |
| Bandō | Whirlpool Country | A-Rank | Merchants of Death |
-
AvariceSin
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2025 7:06 pm
First Steps
Shinya moved in silence for most of the walk except for the few instances where he and Hanayo spoke, his sharp eyes glancing occasionally at Hanayo, studying her gait, her tone, the subtleties behind her humor. He didn’t need her to explain the joke; he appreciated it more that she didn’t. She struck him as someone who didn’t waste words, and that suited him just fine.
When they reached the paddy field, his eyes narrowed. His steps slowed as his gaze swept across the neglected land. Something was off, more than just disrepair. The bite marks, the pattern of the mud prints near the borders… not a single stalk was broken clean. Shinya crouched for a brief moment, brushing two fingers along a chewed stem.
Teeth. Wide jaw. Not a deer. Not unless it was desperate.
He didn’t say it yet. Let the client tell his version first. Hanayo’s silence told him it was a test and a chance.
As she reminisced about her own time here, Shinya straightened and followed her lead, the hill’s incline doing little to strain him. The sight of the hut was almost idyllic, in a haunted, forgotten kind of way. When the old man appeared, his energy surprised Shinya. He blinked, then nodded to himself, still sharp.
Hanayo’s whisper caught him off guard.
“Make a good impression, he’s practically a legend.” No pressure, then.
Shinya inhaled slowly, squared his shoulders, and stepped forward.
“Good afternoon, Kajii-sama,” he began, bowing low and respectfully, both hands to his sides, not stiff but practiced. “I’m Senju Shinya. We’re here to assist you regarding the recent disturbances on your land.”
His voice was calm, but not flat and there was a subtle current of earnestness beneath it.
“We’d like to hear what you’ve seen or heard. Anything you think might help us protect your farm.” A brief pause, then a flicker of something gentler in his eyes.
“And if you’re willing… I’d like to hear one of your stories too.”
He stood still, waiting, eyes meeting the old man’s with patient attentiveness.
Behind him, he imagined Hanayo watching like a hawk, not for him to stumble, but to see how he stood. He wasn’t here to impress with bravado. He was here to listen, learn, and handle it.
When they reached the paddy field, his eyes narrowed. His steps slowed as his gaze swept across the neglected land. Something was off, more than just disrepair. The bite marks, the pattern of the mud prints near the borders… not a single stalk was broken clean. Shinya crouched for a brief moment, brushing two fingers along a chewed stem.
Teeth. Wide jaw. Not a deer. Not unless it was desperate.
He didn’t say it yet. Let the client tell his version first. Hanayo’s silence told him it was a test and a chance.
As she reminisced about her own time here, Shinya straightened and followed her lead, the hill’s incline doing little to strain him. The sight of the hut was almost idyllic, in a haunted, forgotten kind of way. When the old man appeared, his energy surprised Shinya. He blinked, then nodded to himself, still sharp.
Hanayo’s whisper caught him off guard.
“Make a good impression, he’s practically a legend.” No pressure, then.
Shinya inhaled slowly, squared his shoulders, and stepped forward.
“Good afternoon, Kajii-sama,” he began, bowing low and respectfully, both hands to his sides, not stiff but practiced. “I’m Senju Shinya. We’re here to assist you regarding the recent disturbances on your land.”
His voice was calm, but not flat and there was a subtle current of earnestness beneath it.
“We’d like to hear what you’ve seen or heard. Anything you think might help us protect your farm.” A brief pause, then a flicker of something gentler in his eyes.
“And if you’re willing… I’d like to hear one of your stories too.”
He stood still, waiting, eyes meeting the old man’s with patient attentiveness.
Behind him, he imagined Hanayo watching like a hawk, not for him to stumble, but to see how he stood. He wasn’t here to impress with bravado. He was here to listen, learn, and handle it.
First Steps
The old man was already huffing halfway down the hill, sandals slapping like lazy applause. He wore a beat-up but sturdy brown tunic. “Hana, my oh my, you’ve grown a foot if it's been a day,” the man said once he made it within speaking distance. “Come for a cup of sencha?
Ah, she finally had a name for those piney notes floating in the air. “Ooo, my favorite, I’ll have to take you up on that.”
“Make yourself at home!” The old man’s bleary eyes focused on Shinya for the first time. His grin spread until it threatened to burst his cheeks. “Well, it’s about time they sent sumbody! This ‘uns as green as grass stains, he is! Heh, I was a genin once too, you know. Years ago.”
While the jounin made herself at home in the farmer’s hut, Kajii led Shinya down one of the muddy footpaths that wound through the terraces. His gait was uneven but determined. “Used to run this whole spread with my boys,” he said, sweeping a hand across the overgrown fields. “Three sons. All shinobi. It was a tradition, you know, before the wars came and burned through traditions like kindling.”
“As for stories?” Kajii chuckled, a dry, craggy sound. “I’ve got a thousand and one. That’s all you got at the end of a long life, heh, a long list of stories, and no ears to hear.” They reached a sagging fence post where the mud thickened and broken stalks bent underfoot. Kajii stopped, squinting into the middle distance.
“Right about here,” he said, tapping the ground with his stick. “This is where I heard it first. Slow, sloshing steps. Not like the raccoons or the wild pigs. No, this one’s clever. Quiet. Comes in the dead of night. Has a taste for fermented millet, if you can believe it.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Didn’t touch the turnips. Didn’t leave claw marks. But the lids were off the jars. Off, not broken. Like it knew what it was doing.”
He glanced sideways at Shinya. “Last one they sent thought I was chasing shadows. But I know you’re not like them.” Kajii grunted, clearly pleased. “You’ve got the eyes for it, boy. I can tell.”
Ah, she finally had a name for those piney notes floating in the air. “Ooo, my favorite, I’ll have to take you up on that.”
“Make yourself at home!” The old man’s bleary eyes focused on Shinya for the first time. His grin spread until it threatened to burst his cheeks. “Well, it’s about time they sent sumbody! This ‘uns as green as grass stains, he is! Heh, I was a genin once too, you know. Years ago.”
While the jounin made herself at home in the farmer’s hut, Kajii led Shinya down one of the muddy footpaths that wound through the terraces. His gait was uneven but determined. “Used to run this whole spread with my boys,” he said, sweeping a hand across the overgrown fields. “Three sons. All shinobi. It was a tradition, you know, before the wars came and burned through traditions like kindling.”
“As for stories?” Kajii chuckled, a dry, craggy sound. “I’ve got a thousand and one. That’s all you got at the end of a long life, heh, a long list of stories, and no ears to hear.” They reached a sagging fence post where the mud thickened and broken stalks bent underfoot. Kajii stopped, squinting into the middle distance.
“Right about here,” he said, tapping the ground with his stick. “This is where I heard it first. Slow, sloshing steps. Not like the raccoons or the wild pigs. No, this one’s clever. Quiet. Comes in the dead of night. Has a taste for fermented millet, if you can believe it.” He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Didn’t touch the turnips. Didn’t leave claw marks. But the lids were off the jars. Off, not broken. Like it knew what it was doing.”
He glanced sideways at Shinya. “Last one they sent thought I was chasing shadows. But I know you’re not like them.” Kajii grunted, clearly pleased. “You’ve got the eyes for it, boy. I can tell.”
| Tenshi | Kumogakure no Sato | Genin | Team 5 |
| Kusanagi, Hanayo | Konohagakure no Sato | Jounin | Team Kusanagi |
| Bandō | Whirlpool Country | A-Rank | Merchants of Death |
-
AvariceSin
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2025 7:06 pm
First Steps
Shinya walked alongside the old farmer in contemplative silence, the soft squelch of his sandals echoing in the thickening mud beneath them. The faint scent of moss and wet soil clung to the back of his throat, the terraces rolling out before them like patchwork scars. He kept his hands tucked behind his back, fingers loosely laced, his posture formal but relaxed and watchful.
As Kajii spoke of his sons and the wars that had come for them, Shinya’s gaze didn’t falter, but it softened. Loss was a familiar chord, one that hummed faintly behind everything he did. The idea of traditions cut down like fields left to rot in the rain… that was something he understood too well.
When the old man stopped, pointing to the patch of disturbed soil and thick mud, Shinya crouched down beside him, one hand brushing lightly over the broken stalks. His fingers didn’t disturb them, he simply traced the air above, noting the bend of the grass, the spread of moisture, the impressions that weren’t quite footprints but weren’t nothing, either.
At the mention of the millet, his brows lifted slightly. “Deliberate,” he murmured, more to himself than to Kajii. “Controlled. Curious.”
He rose to his feet slowly, brushing off his hand, and gave the man a glance that was far older than the boy’s years. When Kajii leaned in and made his final comment, Shinya didn’t smile, but the corners of his mouth twitched, just barely.
“I see things in layers,” he replied, voice low and even. “Even when people don’t want me to. Even when they think it’s nothing.”
He looked back down the terraces, eyes narrowed just slightly as the wind shifted across them like breath over water.
“I don’t think you’re chasing shadows, Kajii-san. I think something’s been watching you just as long as you’ve been watching it. And I think it’s smart enough to wait until no one believes you.”
A pause. Then Shinya tilted his head ever so slightly toward the old man, his tone measured, confident.
“Lucky for us, I’m patient too.”
As Kajii spoke of his sons and the wars that had come for them, Shinya’s gaze didn’t falter, but it softened. Loss was a familiar chord, one that hummed faintly behind everything he did. The idea of traditions cut down like fields left to rot in the rain… that was something he understood too well.
When the old man stopped, pointing to the patch of disturbed soil and thick mud, Shinya crouched down beside him, one hand brushing lightly over the broken stalks. His fingers didn’t disturb them, he simply traced the air above, noting the bend of the grass, the spread of moisture, the impressions that weren’t quite footprints but weren’t nothing, either.
At the mention of the millet, his brows lifted slightly. “Deliberate,” he murmured, more to himself than to Kajii. “Controlled. Curious.”
He rose to his feet slowly, brushing off his hand, and gave the man a glance that was far older than the boy’s years. When Kajii leaned in and made his final comment, Shinya didn’t smile, but the corners of his mouth twitched, just barely.
“I see things in layers,” he replied, voice low and even. “Even when people don’t want me to. Even when they think it’s nothing.”
He looked back down the terraces, eyes narrowed just slightly as the wind shifted across them like breath over water.
“I don’t think you’re chasing shadows, Kajii-san. I think something’s been watching you just as long as you’ve been watching it. And I think it’s smart enough to wait until no one believes you.”
A pause. Then Shinya tilted his head ever so slightly toward the old man, his tone measured, confident.
“Lucky for us, I’m patient too.”
First Steps
Golden hour caught Hanayo napping. The dipping sun warmed the back of her neck and the dried, sandy dregs left in her cup. It took a startled bird to wake her from her snooze. The woman yawned and stretched. Checking the sun’s place in the sky, she guessed the time and grimaced. She’d need to finish things up soon if she wanted to keep her ‘rendezvous’ tonight.
For a brief moment she listened to the woods breathe. A gust was sweeping through the trees. The wind trapped in the canopy. Then silence. Her nose wrinkled as she caught a whiff of something intense.
She paced the creaky porch, corner to corner. A watchdog on alert. The scent in the air, it smelled like a fresh kill. Her yellows pierced deeper into the wood with renewed vigilance. She looked to the darkened corners. Hiding places in the shadows where uncleared land had been allowed to encroach. There was a lot of ground to cover.
She sensed a restless night approaching
On high alert, Hanayo heard their footsteps before she saw them coming. One doddering pair, the other solid. Easy to tell who they belonged to. The jounin despaired internally. Instinct battling reason. If the old man wasn’t lying, as he had in her youth, there was a monster out there. The source of the smell had vanished without a trace. It could be nothing. Forests were full of killers. Yet something needled at her subconscious.
Doing her best to hide any signs of sleep, she assumed her usual smile as she met them on the road. “Good hunting?”
Leaving the old man grumbling to himself, Hanayo would draw the young genin aside. “I have an appointment tonight. If I want to make it, I need to leave now.” She met his eyes. “I know you’re green, but I wouldn’t ask if I didn't believe you could handle it alone for a few hours.”
For a brief moment she listened to the woods breathe. A gust was sweeping through the trees. The wind trapped in the canopy. Then silence. Her nose wrinkled as she caught a whiff of something intense.
She paced the creaky porch, corner to corner. A watchdog on alert. The scent in the air, it smelled like a fresh kill. Her yellows pierced deeper into the wood with renewed vigilance. She looked to the darkened corners. Hiding places in the shadows where uncleared land had been allowed to encroach. There was a lot of ground to cover.
She sensed a restless night approaching
On high alert, Hanayo heard their footsteps before she saw them coming. One doddering pair, the other solid. Easy to tell who they belonged to. The jounin despaired internally. Instinct battling reason. If the old man wasn’t lying, as he had in her youth, there was a monster out there. The source of the smell had vanished without a trace. It could be nothing. Forests were full of killers. Yet something needled at her subconscious.
Doing her best to hide any signs of sleep, she assumed her usual smile as she met them on the road. “Good hunting?”
Leaving the old man grumbling to himself, Hanayo would draw the young genin aside. “I have an appointment tonight. If I want to make it, I need to leave now.” She met his eyes. “I know you’re green, but I wouldn’t ask if I didn't believe you could handle it alone for a few hours.”
| Tenshi | Kumogakure no Sato | Genin | Team 5 |
| Kusanagi, Hanayo | Konohagakure no Sato | Jounin | Team Kusanagi |
| Bandō | Whirlpool Country | A-Rank | Merchants of Death |