Neverland [Team Akuseru/Mission]

[.DEVIOUS]

Although Akuseru thought he was being funny with his comment, the words stung. Kade had never had a close relationship with his parents, and the thought that someone he thought he was friends with could make such a remark, even in jest, was something that the medical Genin could hardly stomach. Akuseru had always been like that, though, and his loud laughter seemed to echo throughout the area, infecting everyone with his own sadistic jolliness. That soon came to an end, though, as with the changing of the scenery, so too changed the group's brevity. Gone in a heartbeat was the Hyuuga's carefree laughter. What replaced it now was cold, calm calculation, as chakra filled his circulation and cruised into his corneas. His words were few and to the point, not stating an ounce more than was necessary.

So too was there an immediate shift in Xu's personality. With a singular seal, the shy yet starstruck Sensor sampled the sensations within the sky. Quickly relating her own information to the group, Kade suddenly found himself feeling rather useless. As a reconnaissance team, the medical man had little to offer. Indeed, so concerned was he with his ability to offer any information that a thin line of a frown appeared on his face, although it was quickly squashed. It seemed likely, after Xu's question, that the team would be following the group of non-ninja back to their camp so they could gather some additional data.

"Seven. No nature manipulative abilities, non-shinobi levels of chakra. Heavily armed, displaying outward signs of aggressive behavior, likely to be somewhat talented at hand-to-hand combat. I think we've faced worse odds before, but we're not supposed to engage them."

Kade, at least, felt the need to reiterate what had already been stated ensure that the whole team was aware of the situation. It made him feel useful at this moment in time. Beyond that, he had also felt it necessary to repeat the last portion of the mission requirements, as Akuseru wasn't exactly the most level-headed of warriors and could make mistakes... especially when the fight could become exciting. The only thing left to do now, though, was wait for Akuseru to make the call.

[/justify]

[Axcel]

“Neutralizing them would be easy, but you’re correct—our only task is to scout the area.” He said as his Byakagun deactivated. His pupils returned and the veins around his temple receded. “Yep, we're going to follow them. They'll definitely lead us to what we're looking for.” He had already begun to move before he had finished talking towards their destination.

"Remember, we're not supposed to engage them. With our skill set, they should never know they're even being tailed."

[xu]

Xu giggled. Kade could be funny sometimes, especially when he was being serious. His repetition of the relayed information struck her as very amusing, but she did her best to keep her laugh stifled, due to the professional situation. Akuseru decided upon following them, as she'd suggested, and she skipped lightly ahead as he began to walk. She kept her handseal, her eyes closed as she moved, letting the world of chakra be her reality.

It was always so pretty. The incredibly bright Akuseru, and Kade scarcely dimmer. The small sparkles of civilians and merchants, and the occasional flare of an advanced shinobi. Mr Mew had no chakra signature, but he glimmered in her eyes all the same.
"I think they are in a hurry. Perhaps they are aware their home is in jeopardy?" She said quietly, keeping a few light steps ahead of the two boys. Her sensory abilities couldn't see anywhere near as far as Akuseru's eyes, not at her level of training. Yet they were near enough for her to follow them in her mind.

"I believe they are leading us to the 'paradise area'." She whispered.

[.DEVIOUS]

Paradise had once been lost, but now it would be found. As Kade walked along with his companions, he couldn't help but feel a little awkward. Since their time together, ti had become more evident that Xu and Akuseru, at least, shared a trait that Kade did not, and that was optimism. With their combined sensory abilities, the two of them had already picked up the trail and had begun the hunt, while he was destined to do what he had always done: follow.

He had followed his family's edicts and become a shinobi. He had followed the training regiments that had been set before him. He had become a Genin, joined a squad, worked for Kumogakure no Sato, and even become friends with these two shinobi for the simple reason that he had been told that he must by his family. His one small act of rebellion, training himself in the Iryou arts, was the only thing that he had ever done for himself, and he resented it. He resented everything about this place.

To Kade, paradise would be a haven where he would be free from the yolk of his family, his village, and even his friends, and be allowed to be who he wanted to be for no other reason than he wanted to be. He knew that he wasn't going to find that on this mission, but maybe... just maybe, he would be able to one day reach that Nirvana where he would be as untouchable as the archaic system of governance that had forced him into this ridiculous world.

As he finished this last train of thought, the group would notice that the landscape was changing and, at last, it became clear to Kade that they had reached their mission's destination. An abundant field of flowers flowed freely in the breeze, petals dangling loosely from their center before falling into the wind. The sight of this place was beautiful, but Kade knew that this beauty would be subverted into the war effort and become ugly, distasteful, and marred. It was at this moment that Kade truly decided... he was going to leave if it was the last thing that he did.

[/justify]

[Axcel]

“Maybe,” Axcel said aloud in response to Xu. He didn’t turn to face her and kept walking along the path they had taken in pursuit of the men guarding “paradise”. Akuseru didn’t believe in such things. Sure, he was always cheerful and looking on the bright side of the most grim situations, but he wasn’t much of a believer when it came to things like that anymore. Not after the last war. “They shouldn’t be aware of us, so if they feel anything is in jeopardy then something else would be the reason. . .” Akuseru elaborated.

As Xu mentioned, they were definitely leading them to “paradise”. It didn’t take much time before the landscape began to shift towards something more beautiful than the usual dull plains of Kaminari no Kuni. Flowers littered the area, clean water filled the rivers and the fields were as green as ever. Even the sky seemed to clearer. It was then that Akuseru finally decided to stop moving and turn towards his teammates.

“Well, we’re here.” The Hyuuga stated the obvious since the other two likely would have concluded the same already. “Remember, we’re not to engage these people—we’ve discovered the location of paradise which is enough. If you want to make note of anything for the mission report, now is the time to do it.”