The great mapping journey! [Estilo, closed]

[Yuki-chan]

[Enter]

'Looks like a nice spot to wait' thought the female as she saw some small rocks that was not too far from the gates. She sat down after she had put the backpacker on the ground. It had been AGES since Yukiko had been on such an exciting mission.
'Not to mention that this will be my first "A"-ranked mission too' thought the young woman with a huge smile. Her travel outfit consisted of her Chuunin uniform, sturdy shoes plus her headband.

A katana was strapped onto her waist. The Chuunin had gone into basic kenjutsu last year in order to be a better fighter in close-ranged matches. Basic kenjutsu was not much, but it was better than nothing.
'Hm...it's been more than seven years ago since I went on that mapping expedition with senpai in the eastern region. Wonder if things have changed there' thought the female.

Her memories wandered to the fishing river that they had seen early in their journey. They hiked across some middle-sized hills that were quite rocky prior to that. Next was the lively suburbs of Kami no Shima.
A smile formed at her face when she remembered the night market with all the different booths. It was a market that sold everything from fruit to astrology cards.

'I think it was that day I found out that I was a Sagittarius. What was senpais zodiac sign again...aha! Pretty sure it was that bull called Tauro or something like that' remembered the brunette with a grin.
They had even apprehended some criminals that day as well as saving a cat. But this mission would be much bigger and much more serious than the last one.

'Missions with such a high rank are extremely serious. I just hope we don't run into any murderers or bandits on the way' thought the young woman. She was a Chuunin now, but there were a good number of people who were higher than her in skill.
Not to mention that they were only two and strength in number should not be underestimated. 'But I should not complain since my senpai is a Jounin' thought Yukiko.

[Estilo]

( Enter Atlas; Kage Bunshin )

The expanse of beautiful Kaminari no Kuni before me was only dwarfed in comparison to the majestic tide of clouds drifting across the heavens. Avifauna rode the wind in song, the cool seasoned breeze rustling the leaves gently as it swept through, a rabbit running across the snow-patched territory and leaping into the brush. Snow-capped mountains peaked into the skies above, their perimeter surrounded with the tall trees and rivers that came with the land. The smell of pine and fresh rainwater appeased to one's sense of smell. This land was truly wondrous.

Kumogakure no Sato behind me, hidden amongst a valley of mountains and clouded regions, I followed a poorly constructed, stone-paved path. I wasn't wearing my coat today, having replaced it with a long and black cloaked robe instead. Beneath it, I wore a buttoned-up white shirt, a pair of black slacks, and my typical golden-buckled and steel-toed boots. I kept my wide hood on as I advanced through the marvelous territory of my country, the ends of my crimson-mane that sprouted out from the darkness of my hood being the only indicator that this cloaked figure was in fact Atlas Taisho Burabiya. At least, to those that knew him.

My weapon and item pouch fastened securely to my belt, along with my pair of Makuden (Lightning Claws). This was, of course, in addition to the two-way transceiver over my right ear, and the wrist knife and senbon launcher loaded and equipped over my forearms. I'm hungry. I thought absentmindedly, a single gloved hand placing itself across my stomach region. Should have got something to eat before leaving, ha ha. But as crappy as I felt at that moment, it was relieved when I saw Yukiko sitting peacefully at an assortment of stones afar. I tossed her a big fat smile, although she'd been incapable of seeing it due to our distance and the shadow that my hood cast. Regardless, however, I started a light jog towards her and waved. "Morning, Snow Pea~!"

Upon reaching her, I stopped and smiled through the shadow obscuring my face. "You look nice and ready~"

[Yuki-chan]

Some steps could be heard in the forest near the female. She turned her head and saw the male jog towards her with his face hidden by his hood. But Yukiko knew it was him since he had the same clothes as well as the same hairdo.
"Morning, Snow Pea~!" greeted Atlas as he approached her, waving his hand. "Hello senpai!" replied the young woman with a smile on his face.

"You look nice and ready" stated the young man; she could almost hear the smile in his voice. "I am senpai" said the Chuunin as she stood up from where she sat. Her hands then opened up one of the pockets on her flak jacket before they pulled out the map.
"I have a suggestion for the mapping mission. If you have any opinions or suggestions, I'm more than willing to listen to you" informed the female as she folded out the map in front of him.

"Kumogakure is located in the south of Kaminari no Kuni as far as I understand. Since it's March, I think we should start down far south first. The weather forecast said it would be rain and storm up north this week...going up there would be stupid" stated the brunette as she looked up at the Jounin.
"We can then move further up north in a zig-zag pattern from coastline to coastline. There are some major trading routes on each side so I doubt it should be too much of an issue" continued the young woman.

"But the problem is the moutain chain that goes in the middle of Kaminari no kuni. Some of the mountains are quite deserted...we may have to camp or something in case we don't get to a more civilized place when the dark arrives. Which is why I have that sleeping bag" informed Yukiko as she pointed at the bag with her thumb.
"One of the major things I think has changed in the last eight years is probably the population. I bet the suburbs near Kami no Shima for instance is a bit larger than what it used to be" suggested the female.

"The opposite may however have happened in areas that did not have a lot of people to begin with. I mean, bandits could have wiped out smaller places or the people could have moved in order to escape" muttered the Chuunin. She bit her lower lip a little...this would not be an easy mission.
Her map had been bought right after their orphanage mission seven years ago and had not been updated. Which meant they could not trust this map entirely considering what it showed.

"Do you have anything you want to tell me before we leave? My parents sent with me some money that would cover some of the nights we had to spend in an inn. Since I'm a Chuunin now, I'm able to pay a bit more on my own now" said the young woman.
It felt good to be capable of paying some of the costs to things like this on your own. But she did not mind that her parents still gave her some money for things like this...she was still not an official adult after all.

[Estilo]

( Switching to 3^rd person )

He would listen, attentiveness in his eyes, as his younger sister explained the layout of the territory and voiced her suggestions. And throughout it all, he couldn't help but realize how... tactical she had become. Over the last few years, Yukiko had truly become independent. She was a ninja in her own right, a good one at that, and she followed her own path. Atlas would be lying if he said he wasn't already proud of her. And although he already knew the situation with the weather up north, and had prepared their route accordingly, he didn't say anything. He only smiled. Eyes gazing with admiration at his one closest companion.

When she mentioned the bit about the bandits, biting her lower lip with what he perceived was anticipation, the red-maned agent would provide his own commentary on the scenario. "If there's bandits, we'll eradicate them." He stated bluntly, casting a glance at that old map of hers with a smile. "Hopefully, through our efforts, our country will be a lot safer by the time we finish this assignment." Turning his half-masked countenance towards the stone-paved road beyond, he sighed with pleasure. Their long journey would begin now... and finally, he would get the chance to see the result of the Great Flash in detail.

When his younger sister asked whether there was anything else he wanted to say, Atlas nodded. "We'll take the route you specified. Hell, we might even set-up camp on one of our beaches. I could definitely use a little vacation here and there." He chuckled, rolling his tense shoulders. His job as the Nidaime Raikage had taken a toll over the past few weeks. His fight with the Yonbi, and the loss of lives there, had been devastating. But he had recovered from that... somewhat. Pushing things that were troubling or otherwise traumatic to the back of his mind had become second-nature to him. He feigned happiness often, and only truly opened up to those he cared about. To those who asked.

"And don't expect to pay for your meals now, Yukiko!" He added teasingly, turning towards her with a smirk. "What kind of an onii-san would I be if I didn't invite?" With that, he tossed his red-maned and hooded head towards the road ahead of them, gesturing for Yukiko to start the journey with him. Hands resting comfortably in the recesses of his cloak pockets, he started their walk. The road would lead them south, away from the storm troubling the skies up north, and towards the southern coastline of Kaminari no Kuni. "The ocean is calling us!" He jovially announced, aware that he wasn't carrying much supplies- but unconcerned. "Let's not keep her waiting any longer!"

[Yuki-chan]

"We'll take the route you specified. Hell, we might even set-up camp on one of our beaches. I could definitely use a little vacation here and there." added the male with a small chuckle. "I agree...this mission is going to take a while" muttered the female while she put the map back into her Chuunin flak jacket.
She lifted the backpacker up from the ground before adjusting it a little bit. It had to be comfortable since they would spend major parts of this mission on their feet.

A small hint of worry appeared in her eyes when she noticed the look on Atlas face. 'There is something about his smile that does not seem as genuine' thought Yukiko while she bit her lower lip a little. As far as she could remember, he had ALWAYS had some sort of smile on his face.
She was more able to tell apart fake feelings from real ones compared to before due to her age. But her senpai was a much more skilled shinobi than she was...at least at the moment.

"And don't expect to pay for your meals now, Yukiko! What kind of an onii-san would I be if I didn't invite?" chuckled the young man as he removed the hood on his jacket. "Fine...but keep in mind that I eat a bit more now than what I did seven years ago" laughed the young woman.
They started on their route towards the southern coast of Kaminari no kuni. It would be a great place to start since it was a bit warmer there compared to Kumogakure.

"The ocean is calling us! Let's not keep her waiting any longer!" announced the Jounin as they continued on their route towards the beaches that waited them further south. "I agree...I'm SO sick of the early spring showers" replied the Chuunin with a smile on her face.
Even though this was a serious mission, it could still be a bit fun since they were going all around the country. Which was great since she have not been on such an extensive mission since she was 11.

It was clear that the spring was finally on its way to the middle regions of Kaminari no kuni. The temperatures were not as frosty as they had used to be while the nights were not as dark as before. All of the snow had melted and some of the plants had started to awake from their winter sleep.
But this also meant that the weather would be in more of a turmoil since there would be more warm winds. 'I'm glad I've attended a non-shinobi school in cases like these' thought the female as she went up the small hill.

It was strange to think that she would graduate from the non-shinobi school in just a couple of months. She had attended several lessons in Japanese, basic earth science, geography, basic math and history for years. But this also meant that she could be a full-time shinobi like her parents.
'And I will probably have a higher chance of survival since I have attended these classes. They are quite handy for missions like these for instance' thought the brunette with a smile.

She had gotten to the top of her hill with her male teammate; the view was not that bad. A couple of hills could be seen ahead plus a small mountain chain that was currently behind them. 'Good thing I brought my camera with me' thought the young woman as she picked up the camera.
"I just need to take a photo senpai" informed Yukiko as she took a picture of the view. This would be nice to have in her album or for their superiors in case they needed documentation for the mission.

[Estilo]

Her inclination after the appetite at her age made him laugh, a hearty chortle, one that he had seldom expressed since his return from the encounter with the four-tails. "You may have a point there, Snow Pea. But I'm sure it isn't something an all-you-can-eat buffet can't fix~!" He beamed, following the stone-paved path in strides as it took an upward slope. They were steadily climbing a hill and when they reached its peak, they would be gifted with a beautiful sight. The landscape sprawled before them, copses of pine trees, snow melting on vast plains of grass and protruding rock. The springtime flowers were in bloom, and the creatures of the woodlands thrived here and there.

Atlas would cast his younger companion a glance when she retrieved her camera, prepared to take a photo of the beauty before them. In light of his easy-going mood, Atlas' smile suddenly turned into a mischievous smirk. Before she managed to take the shot, he leaned forward before the camera- tongue sticking out tauntingly, eyes crossed, and open hands placed on the sides of his head to feign elephant ears. Luckily for him, she had taken the shot only milliseconds after he had reached this posture. The result? A very embarrassing, albeit playful, picture of the red-maned Nidaime Raikage. He laughed afterwards, nudging his younger sister's shoulder with a gentle fist. "Ha, ha!"

Did he care whether the picture made him look foolish? Of course not! Especially not in the company of little sister. He didn't have to play the part of the "serious and immaculate lightning shadow" around her. He played that beau idéal often enough, around all of the politicians and government officials in Kumogakure no Sato. Out here, in the open, he had the liberty of being himself. Maybe even the person he used to be, before becoming a shinobi. He wouldn't know for sure, due to the fact that his memories were still scattered about in his head. But he could try. It was fun, after all.

Before he could comment on his photographic debut, the red-maned male would notice a cart coming up from the other direction of the path. A man with a wide-brimmed straw hat carried it along- a farmer, by the looks of it. His cart was filled with bags of grain and old barley wheat. As he passed by, he gave both Atlas and Yukiko a polite nod. "Top of the morning. Nice day, eh?"

[/color] He greeted with a weathered smile, stopping his creaky cart for a moment to make brief conversation. "You two headed to Wolfgang's Rock down by the Nihlus shore?"

[/justify][/blockquote][/blockquote][/font]

[Yuki-chan]

She noticed the males mischievous smile right before she took the photograph. Her suspiscions turned out to be right when the photo appeared on the screen a couple seconds later. Atlas had crossed his eyes while sticking his tongue out at the same time.
To cap it all, he had placed his hands at the sides of his head in order to mimick elephant ears. The female could not help but to laugh since the photo looked so stupid and Atlas nudged her shoulder while he laughed as well.

Some squeaky sounds approached the duo; they came from the other direction of the path. It appeared to be a farmer in a wide-brimmed straw hat that was pushing a cart with barley wheat. He stopped when he got close to them and gave the duo a polite nod. "Top of the morning. Nice day, eh?" inquired the older man with a weathered smile on his face.

"Yes" agreed Yukiko with a polite look on her face. "You two headed to Wolfgang's Rock down by the Nihlus shore?" asked the farm man. "Let me check" replied the young woman as she took her map out.
She found the route they were on and saw the place that the older guy had mentioned. "We are...why are you asking?" inquired the Chuunin as she looked at her.

"Are you two among the people who are moving there?" pondered the male as he looked at the duo. "I'm afraid not" answered the female with a semi-polite voice. "Oh...there have been a lot of people moving down there lately" muttered the farmer with a puzzled expression.
"Do you know why there has been a lot of activity down at the shore? The place isn't really that big according to my map" stated the brunette.

"Pretty sure it's because Kaminari shipping's new branch office that was built there for about half a year ago. They have gotten a new retirement home as well as a new school. I gotta go now I'm afraid, I need to get this cart to the farmers market in Kami no Shima" informed the older guy as he waved them goodbye. "Have a nice day!" yelled the young woman as he disappeared behind the hill.

"Did you hear that senpai? Looks like a lot of stuff are happening in Wolfgang's Rock since the Great shinobi war! We better check out the place so we can update this one" stated Yukiko as she pointed at her map.
She laid it back in her flak jacket before she continued on the path that went down to Wolfgang's Rock. The town was medium-sized on her map with about 20 000 citizens in it...which was about a third of Kumogakure no Satos population.

Cries from seagulls could be heard as they approached the sea. Wolfgang's Rock was quite a nice place to stay if you thought about the location. It was close to the sea, not that far away from Kami no Shima plus that the climate was not as extreme as the north. "Looks like we're getting close senpai. Have you ever been here before?" asked the female as she looked at the young man.

He was after all a more seasoned traveler than she was. Not to mention that the Jounin had probably traveled around the entire country when he was at the same age as her. 'At least it's good that one of us knows this country well...I hate being a non-native at missions like these' thought the Chuunin as she looked ahead. They would be in Wolfgang's Rock in fifteen minutes or so.

[Estilo]

"Sayonara~" He would smile, waving off the farmer as he disappeared over the incline of the hill- tugging the cart behind him as the road he walked on took a downwards slope. With his attention back on Yukiko, he would stretch his arms upward and yawn. As his younger sister suggested they head down to Wolfgang's Rock and investigate, the red-maned Raikage would nod with his approval. "Sounds like a plan, Fuyumori."

With their first destination set, the duo would begin walking as the younger of the two evaluated her map and plotted the course they would take. The scenery would gradually change around them as they proceeded, the shrill tweets of mockingbirds turning into the taunting cries of seagulls. A pine-scented breeze exchanged for the pleasant fragrance of an ocean shore. Atlas could not help but whistle a jovial tune as he walked beside his younger sister, not a care in the world as they proceeded. This was the lighter side of the mission, a stroll through the southern beaches. He planned on enjoying it before taking upon the harsher climates and environmental obstacles they would surely face later on.

While Yukiko had taken the unofficial role of the "mapper", Atlas was the one providing security and guidance throughout the endeavor. Which was, of course, fine by him. Seldom did he have time to travel and just talk with someone. Providing this kind of service gave him the opportunity of doing just that. This whole mission, in fact, was a god send. His whistling would come to an abrupt stop when his blue-eyed companion voiced an inquiry. "Yeah, I've been there a couple of times. When I was your age, actually. Fantastic place. All the piña coladas you could want, Yukiko, and with an amazing sunset to top it all off."

As they continued their stroll, the stone-paved path would slowly recede into dirt-trodden ground. The pine trees around them grew scarce, replaced by palms and sandy outcrops of rock. The sky above them was still caught in a seemingly eternal blanket of gray, but the weather was strangely warmer now. The little sunlight that broke through the clouds seemed to ride the soft breeze that swept towards them, a warmth that embraced them pleasantly. And in the immediate horizon? The glistening southern ocean.

[Yuki-chan]

"Yeah, I've been there a couple of times. When I was your age, actually. Fantastic place. All the piña coladas you could want, Yukiko, and with an amazing sunset to top it all off." informed the male with a happy look on his face. "All right then...good thing we're going here first" replied the female.

Her eyes looked ahead to see what awaited them in Wolfgang's Rock. Ice blue optics widened a little in happiness when they saw the glistening ocean in the horizon. 'Maybe I should go here in the summer to test out the beach' thought Yukiko.
The ocean was something that she missed about Yuki no Kuni; it was an island nation after all. Both of the shinobis would then continue towards the suburbs of Wolfgang's Rock.

Many of the houses were built with bricks in neutral shades such as white or beige. The roofs were in a shade of gray or brown that matched the rest of the houses quite well. "According to the map, the suburban area would start about 3 km ahead. Looks like they have expanded quite a bit" informed the young woman as she pointed at the map. She laid the map back into the flak jacket before she took up a notebook with a pen attached to it.

'Suburbs in Wolfgang's Rock has expanded 3 km due to branch office in the Kaminari shipping company' wrote the Chuunin on the note. She laid both items back in her flak jacket as they walked through the suburb.
There were many children outside; today was Saturday so there was no school. "LOOK! Kumo shinobis!" exclaimed a 4-5 year old boy and pointed at the duo.

"Hello there" greeted the female as she waved to the small boy. The boy waved back while his mother smiled; maybe shinobis gave the citizens extra reassurance somehow. Kaminari no Kuni was after all one of the Five Great Shinobi nations.
"Looks like we're popular here senpai" laughed the brunette as some young girls started to whisper excitingly as they walked by. They turned a corner so they could get down to the city center a little faster.

"Hey. Is not that the new school?" inquired the young woman as she took a closer look at the building in front of them. It had the words 'Wolfgang's Rock Academy' written above the entrance in silver letters.
The building appeared to be relatively new considering the design as well as the lack of damage on the construction. Not to mention the seemingly brand new stuff that were at the playground.

"Looks like the kids are going to get a nice school to attend" commented Yukiko as she looked at Atlas with a neutral look. She hoped the kids would enjoy the time instead of just complaining over homework and other things. 'Stuff gets more complicated when you get older...I guess that's what I exchange for more freedom' thought the female. She would not mind being 10 years old for a week, but being a young adult had its advantages as well.

[Estilo]

The suburban setting found at Wolfgang's Rock was peaceful, a scenario that contrasted greatly with the bustling commerce of Kumogakure no Sato. It brought a calm smile to Atlas' face, and for a moment he was reminded of his first home. The village he used to live in over in Kuma no Kuni was a lot like this one. It was a land with an old soul, and artistic vibes. Even as Yukiko spoke about the mapping at hand, the red-maned Raikage remained in his temporary daydream. Kuma no Kuni... how long had it been? He came to the resolve that he would return to that homeland of his, and see exactly how things fared now.

When a young boy announced the arrival of Atlas and his younger sister, giving away their ranks as Kumogakure shinobi to the entire village, the older male chuckled- rubbing the back of his neck bashfully. Apparently, the attention of all the children had been abruptly directed towards them. He wasn't used to that kind of attention, having always kept his status as Raikage under wraps- even with his own citizens. But it was nice, he supposed. To them, he was a heroic Jounin of Kumogakure no Sato. Cool, even. He just hoped they didn't ask about his neat little mask.

Obviously aware that this kind of attention might get in the way of the mission at hand, the red-maned gentleman would follow his younger sister away as they avoided the townsfolk and headed further into Wolfgang's Rock. Eventually, their pace would return to its normal calm. It was then that the two would spot a school, polished and clean. It was clear that it was new. "Good for them." The half-masked male would smile brightly, remembering a contract he had signed in response to the Daimyo's request for funds in this area. Apparently, Kumogakure no Sato's financial gain was being put to use. He was overjoyed to see it.

They walked down the main boardwalk of Wolfgang's Rock, headed towards the road that would soon lead them towards their next destination. It ran parallel to the edge of the sandy field that separated them from the beach and the ocean that embraced it. People worked all around them, regular civilians setting up bright flyers, decorative signs and artistic posters. Vendors also lined the boardwalk, setting up their stands and preparing for what Atlas imagined was going to be a festival tomorrow. "Aw," He groaned jokingly, tugging his dark hood snuggly over his head as he walked, confirming the fact that it was a festival after glancing at one of the posters. "Looks like we won't be here for the festival, sis. Rats. I know for a fact this place is good with parties." He almost wanted to cancel the mission and stay there!

[Yuki-chan]

"Good for them" commented the male with a bright smile on his face. They continued down to the main boardwalk of Wolfgang's Rock. 'Looks like this road will lead us to Akaniwa' thought the female after she had looked at the map. Akaniwa was famous for mines full with minerals such as ore and iron of high quality. She laid the map back in her flak jacket and noticed that people were hanging up flyers.

"Looks like we won't be here for the festival, sis. Rats. I know for a fact this place is good with parties." remarked Atlas as they passed some people who were hanging up a large poster with cherry blossoms on.
"Maybe we can catch a sakura festival when we go up north...should be fun to celebrate it other places than home" replied Yukiko with a smile. Spring festivals were usually quite fun despite that it could be quite crowded.

"Our next stop will be the village Akaniwa. It should be two hours away with the local ferry" muttered the young woman as she looked down on her ferry timetable. The ferry traffic in Kaminari no Kuni was quite high due to their long coastlines.
Her eyes then looked around for the harbor with the ferries that would take them to the said village. It was not big; there were only 4000 citizens there according to the map in her flak jacket.

"Look! There's the harbor senpai!" exclaimed the Chuunin as she saw a nice waiting hall next to some ferries straight across the street. She looked at the timetable in her flak jacket; the next ferry to Akaniwa would leave in ten minutes.
The female ran towards the ticket office while she tried to find some money. "One Jounin and one Chuunin to Akaniwa please" said the brunette as she looked at the man in the counter.

"200 ryo please. The ferry will leave in ten minutes from pier four" replied the man while the young woman found her money. She laid the money for her ticket on the counter before she got her ticket.
Both of them went to the quays and saw the somewhat old ferry at pier four. 'Phew' thought Yukiko as they went at the vehicle with three other passengers.

"Looks like the traffic is calm today" informed the female as she looked towards the ocean. There was little to no wind while the sky only had some small innocent clouds spread across it. "Good afternoon, we will now start on our trip to Akaniwa"[/color] said a female voice at the speaker.
"We will use about two hours to get to our destination. Snacks and drinks can be bought in the vending machines or the cafeteria. Have a pleasant journey"[/i] finished the voice.

It did not take long until the boat left the quay of Wolfgang's Rock. "I've been to Akaniwa two times. First time was a pitstop during our holiday when I was nine and the second time was three years ago during a school trip...kinda dull place if you ask me" muttered the Chuunin.
She was happy that they would only stay in Akaniwa for a couple hours until they continued further north. There were a bit more exciting places up there that she really wanted to visit, but the south was not too bad either.

[Estilo]

Akaniwa. Atlas had never heard of it, and that was saying something. The man, in his youth, had virtually seen the entirety of Kaminari no Kuni in his travels. But then again, that was before the purging light known as the Great Flash scorched and reconfigured the lands. When they spotted the harbor and hurried towards the ticket booth that awaited them, the red-maned Raikage could only laugh and smile at the circumstances. This was a feeling he had not felt for quite a while, a fresh and invigorating sense of adventure. To be sharing it with his sister was phenomenal, but he would- of course- never admit it to her openly. He preferred to play the part of the cool, collected and generally unconcerned onii-san. It fit him like a glove.

Having purchased the tickets that would grant them passage onto the correct ferry, the duo would board the ship and embark just on time. The ferry itself was relatively empty, and the ocean horizon beyond sparkled with the sunlight that shone down from above for their visual pleasure. It was beautiful and breezy, a sight that took Atlas' breath away, then returned it in one content sigh. Leaning over one of the railings that protected the perimeter of the ferry, he would stare out at the scenery with admiration in his eyes.

He was so enthralled with the beauty of his country that he only managed to catch the last of the announcer's statement before the ferry's engine churned to life. They would leave the harbor now, and the small vessel they were on would travel along the coastline towards their next destination. This would, in turn, give Yukiko a new perspective of their land to map out. The coastline. In the past, this coastline was riddled with steep cliffs. Had it too, been changed and damaged by the Great Flash? For all they knew, there could be new bays and harbors waiting to be settled. Stretches of newly paved oceanfront territories that had the potential to support new villages- just like Wolfgang's Rock.

When his little sister shared her two experiences in Akaniwa, Atlas would keep his gaze on the seagulls that glided over the ferry in circles with a smile. "Boring, huh? With a name like Akaniwa, I would have pegged it as a factory of some sort." He chuckled. "Well, I'm hoping they'll have a decent place to eat there. I'm already feeling a little famished. But then again, maybe it's just the sea- playing tricks with my stomach, ha ha." He hadn't been on a boat or any other sort of nautical vessel for... well, he couldn't remember. Apparently, his vulnerability with the sea was still intact, however. His stomach grumbled and growled, uncertain whether it was really hungry or just starting to get sick as the waves rocked the large ferry gently.

[Yuki-chan]

"Boring, huh? With a name like Akaniwa, I would have pegged it as a factory of some sort." chuckled the male. A small laugh escaped the female's mouth when she heard him say that.
"I could not agree more. You're not too far off though since they get the majority of their income from the mining industry" informed Yukiko as she looked at him.

"Well, I'm hoping they'll have a decent place to eat there. I'm already feeling a little famished. But then again, maybe it's just the sea- playing tricks with my stomach, ha ha." laughed Atlas.
"Hm...I'm quite sure my class ate at a nice café when we were there. I'm quite sure it was named Kin coffee or something like that" pondered the young woman as she looked towards the sky with a thoughtful look at her face.

"Yeah. I'm sure that it the name of the café was Kin coffee. Considering how dull that village is, it's a chance that the café is still there" stated the Chuunin as she rolled her eyes a little bit.
It had only been three years since her class went to that town after all. She remembered when they had ventured into the mines together with the guide so they could witness the great minerales themselves.

The exursion to Akaniwa had been a great as well as a much needed break from the classroom in Kumogakure. Not to mention that it was a completely other experience to look at a piece of olivine that laid on a table than looking at a photograph. The ferry now started to venture into the depth at one of the fjords there.
"Whoa...it's so beautiful" muttered the female with her eyes wide as they ventured into the landscape. The tall mountains that still had snow on the top contrasted with the forest that had started to bloom after the winter.

Some areas of the mountains were a bit more steep compared to the rest; it broke up the picture a little in a good way. "I better take a picture of this!" exclaimed the brunette as she found the small digital camera in her flak jacket. She went a bit further back at the boat before she snapped a couple pictures.
'These pictures look LOVELY to say at the least! I better hang a couple of these at my wall back home' thought the young woman as she looked at them on the small screen.

"It's good that this area of Kaminari no kuni is still intact. I mean, people like me who are from other countries are not used to seeing stuff like this" stuttered Yukiko as she laid the camera back in her flak jacket. Her eyes then looked down at the watch that was strapped at her wrist.
The arms on her clock told her that it was 11:50 AM now; they had been on the sea for about an hour now. 'We better get something to eat when we get to Akaniwa...
thought the female since the hunger started to get her as well.

[Estilo]

As the ferry churned and sailed into the fjord, Atlas continued to stare in awe at the beauty surrounding them. Snow cascaded down from the mountainsides as they sailed through the water, the fresh smell of pine returning to their sense of smell as smooth breezes carried the fragrance of the wilderness about. He sucked it in with his nostrils, relished this pleasantry. Again, he found himself appreciating this trip, his companion, the mere fact that he was alive. It was all so beautiful, so dream-like and right.

Even as his little sister started to take a couple of snapshots with her camera, the red-maned Raikage kept his focus on the beauty of his country. He didn't have much pictures at his apartment... he reasoned that today might be a good day to take some. But in a way, keeping these images of a country so raw and majestic fresh in his mind- and his mind only- seemed more appropriate. Pictures would not do it justice. And in a poetic kind of way, using his memory- a memory so battered and beaten- to preserve this variety of beautiful sights he was taking in was strangely comforting.

Having been on this ferry for almost an hour with his little sister by his side, the man was ready to embark into the village known as Akaniwa. And his stomach... well, his stomach was ready too. Ready to embark on a feast of some sort. He imagined the village sold a lot of seaweed, considering the fact that it was home to one of the most active docks in Kaminari no Kuni. But Atlas wasn't necessarily in the mood for seafood at the moment. Upon spotting a deer running past the trees afar, he wondered whether Akaniwa would have a restaurant specializing in meats. Meats, mmm.

When he caught his little sister checking her watch out of the corner of her eye, Atlas gave her a big, wide grin. He straightened away from the railing as the ferry made its way out of the fjord and turned a rocky corner. He gave her shoulder a firm pat, and smiled. "Looks like we're here." He started, tossing his head back over his shoulder and letting her see the village docks in the distance. The entire place seemed to be protected by dense pine forests on both sides, almost overwhelmed by the nature. "How about we grab a bite to eat, then rent a room at an inn after we dock? I'm starving for some cooked meat!"

[Yuki-chan]

The ferry turned a rocky corner fifteen minutes later on. Akaniwa appeared in front of them; it was a small village with a decent-sized harbour. "Looks like we're here." muttered the male as he patted her shoulder.
"Yup! The village have not changed much apart from the new control tower at the docks" replied the female as she pointed towards the new construction.

"We have now arrived our destination Akaniwa. The vessel will dock in ten minutes. Please take care when leaving the vehicle and make sure you don't leave anything behind you" announced a female voice over the speaker.
The ferry drived towards the harbour that was currently occupied by some fishing boats. Yukiko pulled a small face when the smell of fish reached her nose...it was still a bit disgusting.

Both of them would then queue up at the exit of the small ferry with the other passengers of the ship. 'It does not look like a lot of people have moved away from this place. But most of the people who live here are retired people or people in the fishing industry' thought the young woman.
The ship had docked ten minutes later and the passengers left the ship. "Aaaaah, we're finally at land" muttered the Chuunin as she stretched out her body a little bit.

Her watch showed that it was 02:45 PM now; they should probably find a restaurant where they could eat dinner. "There should be a couple restaurants down here near the harbour. It is the main street after all" said the female as she looked at Atlas.
Her eyes looked at the old buildings near the harbour to find a restaurant where they could eat. She then saw a sign that read 'Akaniwa family tavern' that looked like a cozy place.

"Let's in there before we continue a bit further up north. There is a city named Amagumo about four hours away from here. We should be able to get there while it's still daylight" informed the brunette as they went towards the tavern.
It was important to be at a safe place to stay at while it was still daylight. Especially when you visited places where you've never been to.

A small 'pling' was heard when they entered the family tavern. The restaurant was obviously a place for both families as well as adults considering the somewhat colourful decoration.
"Welcome to Akaniwa family tavern! Table for two?" inquired the waiter, who was a middle-aged man with light blue hair. The young woman gave him a nod in reply.

"Follow me please" requested the male as he went a bit further into the tavern. There were nobody there apart from a trio of fishermen who were waiting for their meal. "Here are the menus" informed the waiter as he handed them the menues.
"Thank you" muttered Yukiko as she looked at the chart. Most of the things they served here were either fish, squid or some sort of chicken with a selection of vegetables.