Looking... [Izumi/Invite]

[Hopalong]

Ass trekked through the eratic land that was his home country. This place had no sense of uniformity, you always had to understand your current location. Currently he stood on something similar to a plateu, however on one side of it was a slope that led a path back to his village. Next to the path was a mini forest that was on higher ground, with healthy trees and lush grass; however the other end of it was visible. Looking towards the opposite side, a steep cliff could be seen, with at least a 30m drop into solid rock. He stood in a small opening, at least 20m wide, with boulders scattered around the opening.

Ass sat on a decent sized rock, closer to the forest, noting all of these surroundings. He was dressed as to be prepared for the worst, wearing his flak jacket, packs full of weapons at his waist, gladius strapped to his back and dagger on his right hip. His scarlet red eyes gazed over everything, ready for so much as a branch to snap. However he noticed nothing more than the slight breeze that ran past him, blowing chilly air into his face.

Weaving his hands together on his lap and hunching over, Ass took a sigh of frustration. He set everything up he needed to head out on a mission, only for his squad to bail on him. Apparently they've "put up with him long enough." He never noticed, but they claimed he was always a third wheel on the team, and they no longer wanted him. "What a dick move..." He grunted. He was reluctant to pursue a B rank mission alone, yet he wanted the sweet payday that came with it. He had enough D and C ranks for a lifetime.

"Forget them! I'll make another partner, I won't give up my paycheck!" He stood up, resolved. With a nod of encouragement, he surveyed the area a second time. The next guy I see... He said to himself, guruanteeing he'll make a new "friend" by the end of this day.

[luneth]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 450px]enter.[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 450px]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][STYLE=margin: 10px 22px 10px 22px; text-align: justify;font-family: tahoma;font-size: 13px;]There wasn’t much to be done; nearing noon in Kaminari, Haru would have only recently departed from Kumogakure, his intention being to take a few days off from his duties as a shinobi, and travel to Kami no Shima. His reasoning would be his own, though if asked his answer would be, simply put, to replenish his weapon supply. His request for vacation had fallen upon accommodating ears, as he’d be permitted to take all of the time needed. Kumo’s higher up’s – the village council, elders, even current and past Raikages – all held a singular, unique tolerance toward his desires, as his work ethic combined with talent and certain, innate abilities, had proven his worth as a true asset among the village’s vast supply of shinobi. In short, his allowance of time off had always been well deserved. Making his way from Kumo’s vicinity, he would be following a familiar side-path, a small shortcut that would feed into a substantially sized, well-worn roadway, whereby it would be a straight shot into Kaminari’s premier trading capital. With his all-encompassing vision, such useful, secretive itineraries would be commonplace, customary even; one of the many perks afforded by his heritage and bloodline. With the route being so unknown, he’d never had to deal with the random person, bandit party, gang, etc., and instead had been able to traverse the rather harsh land of lightning in peace. Consequently, upon noticing the frustrated looking shinobi ahead, he’d be slightly intrigued. He had to have been quite the inquisitive ninja to have stumbled across such a confidential pathway; the idea drawing Haru’s attention, his pale eyes would begin to observe the sitting shinobi. Twenty meters away, the composed Hyūga would approach bearing a serene, impassive expression, while garbed in his typical raiment’s of travel. A black-sheathed chokuto would be visible along the side of his waste, while a bracelet hitai-ate would be fastened to his left wrist; the rest of his tools would remain concealed and hidden. He would give him a nod and friendly look in passing, guessing the shinobi would speak should he feel the need; Haru pondering his own words should the orange-haired stranger remain silent.[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][/style]

[Hopalong]

Be it luck, or possibly fate, something answered answered Ass's call. Seconds after he sounded his proclomation, a shinobi walked into his line of sight. He looked him down, not trying to conceal it. He was well composed, but his face showed no care for anything around him. The man was clearly armed. But most importantly, he could spot a headband, which identified him with the same village as Ass. Perfect.

Just as the man crossed his path, Ass caught up to him, calling, "Hey, wait!" He walked by his side, realizing the man was simply passing through. "This is your lucky day! I notice you are a fellow shinobi, and I happen to be in need of a temporary partner!" He exclaimed these things as if the passing man had just won a prize. "What do you say? It's a great opportunity to rake in money!" If the man kept no reaction up to this reaction, he would extend his hand for a handshake, "I'm Ass Kekkai."

Smooth as fuck.

[luneth]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][STYLE=margin: 10px 22px 10px 22px; text-align: justify;font-family: tahoma;font-size: 13px;]"Hey, wait!" His relaxed gait would halt, the orange-haired ninja’s rowdy tone warranting his attention. The Hyūga would turn slightly, eyeing the stranger with an expression of interest as he’d listen to his rather energetic comments on the need of a partner, as well as the mention of an opportunity to ‘'rake in'’ cash should he comply. He was definitely a lively one, volubly voicing the question as if he were a salesmen, and Haru the customer. His animated nature, along with the clothes he wore, and even his hair color, would all culminate to produce a rare smile from the adolescent, acting his age for once as he would chuckle at the extreme peculiarity. Laughing aside, he’d never been the rude type, and would respond to the shinobi’s offer with a question of his own. "a partner..?" the Chūnin would inquire, "what for, exactly?" Upon receiving an answer, he would shake the vibrant teen’s outstretched hand, afterward unintentionally letting out another set of snickering, with the ninja introducing himself as Ass Kekkai. He was an awfully amusing person, if nothing else; Haru would respond in turn, calming himself as he would speak in a pleasant tone. "haru hyūga, but you may call me izumi... that's a.. uhh.. fascinating.. name you have, hehe." [atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][/style]

[Hopalong]

The man returned a smile. While it was due to him being amused, Ass was glad to have a positive response out of the guy. Things were moving smoothly. Izumi questioned his plans, and also joked at his name. He looked for business, so he wouldn't go in depth to the origination of his name. He pulled his hand back after the shake and responded, "We all have our own nicknames, heh." He chuckled a little keeping the conversation light.

Still keeping a friendly smile, he continued on, a little more serious, "Anyways, we can ally for anything really. Missions mostly. I need to get a decent paycheck, but I don't want to tackle those tough missions alone. What do you say?" He talked to the point, but avoided sounding forceful.

[OOC: Sorry I kept it short, waking up early so I need to go to bed]

[luneth]

SPOILER: Click to show

Ha it's no problem ^^, this one will be short as well.

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][STYLE=margin: 10px 22px 10px 22px; text-align: justify;font-family: tahoma;font-size: 13px;]He wasn’t prone to deny the offer set before him, as one final mission before his vacation would sound enjoyable; however, he simply wanted to know more, namely, what the particular mission was, if there was one, if the teen was actually a kumo-nin, which he had assumed he was, and if so, what was his rank? He’d wait his turn in speaking, noting the man’s sudden seriousness as he would finish. The attentive Hyūga would respond in kind, voicing one last set of questions before he would give an answer. "i’m assuming you’re a kumogakure shinobi then.. are you a genin? chūnin..?,” he’d ask, guessing he was the latter, "and what would this mission entail? do you have a specific one in mind?" His words would be voiced in a calm, but inquisitive manner; he’d be sure not to come off as prying or nosy, though the information was necessary in his decision on whether to accept or deny his offer. [atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][/style]

[Hopalong]

Ass was glad to see Izumi respond to his offer and actually reveal some interest, if even the slightest. However he realized he hadn't sold the fellow shinobi yet, as he threw a set of questions at him about his plans and intentions. Of course Ass didn't expect a man to simply sell himself on such a random offer.

Now, after considering the questions, Ass realized he wasn't fully prepared to snag a partner. No, he planned nothing beyond his intention to go on a mission, let alone find a specific one. Hell, he just made this resolve five minutes ago. Nonetheless, he wouldn't mess up his offer on one bad question.

He smiled lightly once more, keeping his composure against the hole poked in his plan. He would tackle the questions one at a time. "I am a Chunnin, for a little over a year now. And yourself?" Perhaps this was the first time he realized he should check others ranks, or else he could be wandering into battle with a newbie genin.

Ass paused for Izumi's response, which afterwards he'd follow up with the second question. "Anyways, as for the mission..." He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing up to the sky for a moment to think of how to word this well. "Specifically... Well specifically, it'll be at least B-Rank. I know for a fact they're missions for us to grab in the tower." He used the word "fact" loosely, but he was confident a mission would be available. There's so much trouble in today's world, somebody somewhere must need some B-Rank help, right?

[luneth]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][STYLE=margin: 10px 22px 10px 22px; text-align: justify;font-family: tahoma;font-size: 13px;]Their proceedings were progressing favorably, in view of Assad’s own proclamation, confidently stating he was of Chūnin rank. Hm.. Unequivocally, he was more experienced than the serene Hyūga himself, even if only by a year. It was refreshing, to see others in his village pushing themselves and not remaining Genin, as, now that he was a Chūnin, he’d noticed more and more the adult Genin roaming the village, stuck in a pit without the passion to continue fighting. It was a tragic thought, though nonetheless, standing there as the newly met Kumo-nin would speak, his mind would retract past current feelings and deeper into the conscious, reminiscing on his recent triumph in the latest annual Chūnin Exams. He would speak on it when asked the question, the words flowing from his mouth smoothly and without pause, as the idea remained fresh on his mind. "ah, great.. i'm one myself; i actually competed in the most recent chūnin exams, held in mizu no kuni less than a month ago, heh.. it's... nice, to finally leave behind those menial d-rank duties." He would shake his head at the thought of pulling weeds, capturing stray cats, babysitting – additionally relieved as his fellow Chūnin would mention a B-ranked mission. It was still a new privilege for the kumo-nin, an advantage that had come with his new rank, enabling him to take part in missions that had been previously inaccessible. The youth had just recently requested several from Kumogakure's mission compound, actually, and though his plan had been to commence them following his return from Kami no Shima, the amicable shinobi would see no problem in completing one before-hand. Moreover, including Assad's help, it's difficulty would be diminished greatly; with the company of an added Chūnin, such tasks would be made straightforward and, hopefully, unproblematic. He would nod at his new comrade’s comments, pulling the knapsack from his back in search of a certain mission note, one requiring them to venture out into a wild and completely unmapped region of Kaminari, allowing for the two to continue onward, without the need of lengthy backtracking and re-entering the Hidden Cloud. "well if it’s a b-rank..," he would murmur, his hand ruffling through his bag, eventually pulling out a mission scroll, "this should suffice.." He would hand it over, allowing the Kekkai to read over its details for himself, furthermore giving him any time he’d need to prepare. [STYLE=margin: 5px 22px 5px 22px; text-align: justify;font-family: courier new;font-size: 12px;]name; Into The Wild rank; b description; It’s pretty common knowledge that we dominate a good portion of the surrounding area. As one of the great villages it’s our duty to control and expand, there’s definitely something stopping us though, the Wild Zones. Extreme eco zones filled with dangerous beasts and bloodthirsty maraurders. We can’t even think about converting it to Kumo land yet though as we still haven’t mapped it. That’s what your job’s gonna be. Get into the Wild Zones, create a detailed map and bring it back here. Try to make it back in one piece if you can. reward; 100 experience, 2,500 ryo minimum shinobi; one mission status; interminable[/style] This being a b-ranked mission, there was bound to be an abundance of combat. While it was nothing they couldn’t handle, adequate preparation, both internally and externally, was always necessary. The scholarly ninja himself would feel around his person, making sure he carried all of the necessary shinobi tools and accessories with him, afterward calming his mind as he would patiently await a reply. [atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][/style]

[Hopalong]

Izumi revealed himself as a chunnin. Good, otherwise he may have drawn this meeting to an awkward close if he was talking to a genin. For once Ass had some seniority over another chunnin, but it didn't really matter. A qualified ninja is all he needed, and an extra year of experience counted for little on a battlefield.

With a stroke of luck, Izumi covered Ass's fault. Digging into his bag, he drew a parchment that detailed a B-Rank mission. Thanks to this, he wouldn't have to waste any time to request a mission. He received the paper from Izumi and began reading.

The mission entailed exploration. The conditions were filled with danger, but thankfully no human opponents. Some wild animals can definitely pose a threat to man, but with his talented skill and analysis, Ass could keep himself safe in such a dangerous environment. With an equally skilled partner at his side, it'd be a cakewalk.

Plus an extra 2,500 ryo. That is all he needed to hear.

Smiling at the paper, Ass handed it back to Izumi. "Sounds like a plan. Do we need to head back to the village to get this approval?" If so, there would be a little more hassle, but at least he's already off to a start.

[luneth]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][STYLE=margin: 10px 22px 10px 22px; text-align: justify;font-family: tahoma;font-size: 13px;]It was… different, and nothing like anything he’d ever tried before – inadvertently meeting a kumo-nin, and deciding to leave on a high-risk mission within seconds of first speaking to with him. The reality of it seemed far-fetched, though considering the forthcoming shinobi nearby, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of sincerity, and conviction. Astute eyes staring off into the vicinity, the thoughtful Hyūga would eventually come to terms with the recent events, subsequently giving a simple shake of his head in response to the orange-haired Chūnin’s inquiry. It had been approved several days ago; all they had to do now was simply complete the mission, with the two afterward reporting their success together, back at the mission compound. With the scroll now in possession, it'd be placed gently back within his bag, pulling out a map before sealing and slinging the sack over his shoulders. He was ready; his gaze moving from its previous position and toward his partner, he would question the kumo-nin. “well then.. i'm all set, are you okay to leave?”[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][/style]

[Hopalong]

Ass was beginning to realize what he had accomplished. In a matter of minutes, he left his old squad, who no longer gave a damn about him. Better yet, he made a new partner, one who would go on a mission with him in a second-long decision. This complemented his self confidence

Better yet, the man had already approved the mission. They could be up and off right now. With a nod in return, he began a small walk towards the path. He looked down and surveyed the area. It would be quite a walk, since they had to find unventured land, which would be quite a distance from the village, still in sight.

He stopped after only walking a few paces, looked back to his new partner, speaking with a small grin, "Sounds like it'll be one hell of a walk to get there. Should we get going?"

[/Exit (if Izumi follows)]

[luneth]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][STYLE=margin: 10px 22px 10px 22px; text-align: justify;font-family: tahoma;font-size: 13px;]With Assad’s first step forward, the two would be off; gone from the surreptitious pathway en route towards Kaminari’s wild, uncultivated, unmapped lands. The electrifying feeling of first embarking on a mission was a fine one, and with it being one of the more dangerous b-ranks, an element of thrill would be added. Izumi would give a playful smirk in response to the Kekkai's first comment, matching his stride as he’d ponder the task ahead. "we should." [atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width, 445px][/style]

[STYLE=margin: 10px 45px 10px 45px; text-align: justify;font-family: tahoma;font-size: 13px;]

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exit.[/style]

[Jae]

Hop - 36 EXP
Izumi - 45 EXP