The trek

[The Dude]

At long last the young Aburame had arrived on the shores of Kaminari no Kuni. He was still wet from the ocean's spray during his last sprint from the ship to the shore to get into the country without detection and without being found by the pirates he had hitched a ride with. Hiding in the cargo hold of a ship for two straight days and remaining as quiet as possible had felt like forever but the sprint across the waters had helped him stretch out again. Now, he was panting and laying on his back on the sand of the beach happily as he took the head guard from his forehead and tucked it away within the folds of his vest. If someone saw him the last thing he wanted was the country to know of his presence in the country. After all, a Kiri shinobi in the lightning country could spark unwanted troubles and Takumi didn't want to make a mess of things on his first trip out of Mizu no Kuni.

For now it was just a matter of catching his breath and laying low, when he recovered he could start his travels and with any luck avoid getting completely lost and turned around. The mountains of the region were no easy thing to navigate for a stranger and the conditions were less than hospitable. If he pushed himself too hard without recovering things would go awry almost certainly. No, the best thing to do was simply relax and plan out the next step.

He looked up at the sun high in the middle of the sky and the lazy gulls that soared on the winds over the sea. Ah the sea, he had been around it his whole life and at long last he would be able to walk away from it if only for a while. Perhaps he would miss it but for now this trip seemed far overdue and the change of scenery would be a welcome change.

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[luneth]

---

He’d inhale a deep breath of fresh air, standing at the very edge of the beach while eyeing the mesmerizing waves that continued to splash down only inches from his feet. Today, the Hyūga would be wearing a slender, white, collared long-sleeve shirt that opened slightly at his chest. His bottoms would consist of black, thick cotton leggings, and a pair of ankle-cut nin-sandals matching in color. A katana and tools were located on his waist, and a small Kumo hitai-ate would be strapped to his right arm.

He liked coming here on occasion; he’d first saw it on his journey from the Leaf to the Village Hidden in Clouds, though wasn’t able to stop by due to a raging lightning storm. Regardless, it was truly beautiful, and, owing to the fact that it stood hidden behind several mountains, was always empty. The strip of land had become a small sanctuary for the young boy; he’d only recently finished a few missions, each of which involved a lot of killing in the coliseum, and was actually here to rest because of that.

This would all be interrupted, however, as someone began to converge on the beach, barely 50 meters from where he stood. The boy would activate his Byakugan and hide under a particularly large pile of sand, afterward watching as the oncoming Shinobi sprinted over the water. He’d arrive within seconds, now lying down with his back to the ground. Haru would take this time to study the boy, eyes widening as his KG spotted him putting away a hitai-ate with the symbol of Kirigakure on it.

The young Genin would ponder on what a Shinobi from the Hidden Mist could possibly be doing all the way over here. Is he lost? Running away? On a mission? Questions would continue to buzz inside of Haru’s head, the answer to which could only come from the Kiri-nin himself. Deciding to approach him, he’d deactivate his Kekkai Genkai and silently walk in that direction. He wouldn’t bring up the fact that he knew where the stranger was from; instead, he wanted to see what the boy’s excuse would be.

Haru would speak in a calm tone, his mind alert, but facial expression impassive.

“Hello… heh not trying to be rude, but what are you doing here… How do you know about this beach?”

[The Dude]

Takumi rolled over onto his stomach with a small grunt and looked up at the small boy addressing him. He was young and blonde, and as Takumi worked his way up onto his knees and then his feet he realized the small boy... was still taller than him. Unbelievable, even in this country Takumi would be the shortest kid around, and this kid looked even younger than him as well! He sighed depressed at the thought as his spotted the boys head guard tied around his left arm and brought himself to reply slowly and void of emotion.

"To not be rude it's usually good to start with introductions. Hello my name is Tak, pleased to meet you I'm sure."

The young Aburame lifted and extended his hand outward in a friendly gesture for a handshake. There was no reason for his first interaction with another ninja from a different country to be unpleasant. Among kiri shinobi it was common to have fights or outbreaks of violence upon meeting each other, but then kiri shinobi tended to be a little more hot blooded than most. This shinobi could be a nice guy after all. Of course chances were equally as likely this shinobi was a punk looking for a fight. Takumi wasn't the best judge of character...

"I wouldn't exactly say I know of this beach so much as just found it a moment ago. You see, I just jumped off a pirate ship and made a break for the nearest shore. It happened to be this beach and well... here I am. Actually you can still probably see the ship I slipped off somewhere out there..."

The ninja turned his head to look back out at the ocean before he spied a speck on the horizon that was likely the ship he had just jumped off of. He pointed far off the coast at the ship trying to indicate it's location to the blonde shinobi. He doubted the shinobi would believe the speck was a ship or that the story was true, but it was the most Takumi could do to explain.

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[luneth]

He’d study the stranger upon speaking, paying close attention to his body language and anything else that would hint towards how he was feeling. It’d be obvious, however, as he began to eye Haru from below and sigh. He’d smile for a half second before reverting back to his impassive expression, the boy’s pale eyes staying trained on the Kirigakure Shinobi the whole while. It was weird that almost every ninja he’d met outside of Konoha thus far had been shorter than he had, whether it be this kid or Hirihi.

Moving on, he’d listen as the dark-haired boy introduced himself as Tak; a unique name Haru himself had never heard before. The composed Hyūga wasn’t able to sense any emotion in his voice as he spoke, even after replaying it through his head several times. It was odd but regardless, in an attempt to keep things civil, he’d produce a slight smile and nod at the shorter nin, his mind continuing to contemplate on the situation. A few seconds later, he’d introduce himself in an equally emotionless tone.

“Ok, well, I’m H- *coughs* ..sorry, my name is Luneth.”

He hadn’t thought about it until mid-sentence, but decided he didn’t want to reveal his real name and would instead lie. Afterward letting out one more quick smile before shaking the boy’s hand. Now fiddling with his left pocket, he’d listen attentively as the boy explained that he’d just recently jumped from a pirate ship and even pointed towards it as it sailed away in the opposite direction. His eyebrows would rise at the sight, finding it neat that he’d somehow snuck onto a ship to get here.

“I see… well that’s good, I’d like to keep this place a secret from other Cloud Shinobi. Hmm, now about your story.. I don’t have any reason not to believe you, so for now I guess I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Anyways, where’d you come from? Haha I know… You’re a pirate aren’t you? You escaped because you wanted a fresh start somewhere new, no?”

He’d show a bit more emotion with this response than he had with his previous one; toying with Tak, for one because he had nothing better to do, but also because he wanted to observe the mannerisms of a Kiri ninja. It wasn't everyday you that you met someone from another country. There was bound to be some significant differences, just as there had been from the nin in Konoha to the ones Kumo, and for this reason he’d eye the Shinobi in excitement, ready to pick them out as he’d reply.

He'd make sure to stay calm however, not showing his excitement or intrigue too much.

[The Dude]

Takumi smirked as his eyebrow crooked curiously at the strange start and cough, the ninja changed from an H to an L name. It was a fair enough exchange though, after all Takumi didn't care to be nosy and get up in the business of kumogakure shinobi. In fact if he could stay below the radar while in the country and avoid any fights with the local shinobi it would be for the best. At the same time a local's advice could in fact help him in getting to where he needed to go. The country was new to him and without the use of his kikaichuu, which he refused to use for the time being as they would draw far too much attention, he would not be able to navigate effectively through the perilous country.

"Hahahahaha me a pirate? Good god no, I enjoy my hygiene and living on a ship for days at a time with nothing but men with missing limbs and organs? Not the most pleasant of experiences I'm sure. No, I just needed to get out of Mizu no Kuni for a while and pirates aren't known for their attentiveness or their security for that matter. Snuck into the cargo hold, hitched a ride and here I am."

The Aburame stretched lazily to the sky as he even rose onto the balls of his feet stretching now. Good god, two days of being cramped up in the underbelly of a ship had been a nightmare. It was a shame his specialty happened to be a subtlety and espionage. The trouble that went into sneaking about and staying quiet all the time was so annoying and half the time it hardly proved worth it. Still, today had been successful as he had made it to another country without any detection what so ever. Even more impressed by himself in that he did it on the first try as well!

His body recoiled back down into a relaxed standing position as he smiled warmly at his company. He had forgotten how nice it could be to talk to someone else as well, for the last two days he had been listening to his own thoughts run circles in his head and it was driving him even crazier than usual. If he hadn't brought his medication he didn't know what he would've done on the ship... probably killed the pirates and fail trying to learn to sail a ship on his own. Not a good thought process, he could've been out on the ocean for days!

"Well Luneth, I don't suppose you can point me in the direction of Kami no Shina? I've got some money but I didn't really have room for supplies so I need to stock up. I imagine the capital will have everything I need yeah?"

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[luneth]

A faint grin could be seen on the youth’s face as he observed the fellow Shinobi, concurrently listening as he responded to Haru’s half question half accusation that the boy had been a pirate. In the reply, he would get confirmation that the nin talking to him was in fact from Mizu no Kuni; which was also near confirmation that the Kirigakure hitai-ate had been his, and not one found or stolen from someone else. Tak had seemingly told the truth, something the noble Hyūga himself wouldn’t even have done.

The questions that he was most curious about having been answered, there was only one more thing left for the boy to wonder. Why had he chosen Kaminari no Kuni? A country packed with enormous mountains, steep valleys, and constant storms. This was a place where Shinobi were trained, tested, and killed; he’d have been much better off traveling to Hi if vacation or a short getaway was all he wanted. It would force the young Kumo-nin to believe there was more to this situation than met the eye.

There obviously was; he’d drop the subject for now, however, wanting to focus more on befriending the ninja to get the information out of him. One thing was for certain, he was one nosy little kid; nonetheless, his curiosity had been piqued, it was too late to stop and let the Shinobi just leave now. Thus, when asked if he could direct Tak toward Kami no Shima, Haru would take advantage of the opportunity by offering to lead him there instead; speaking in a calm, friendly tone while doing so.

“Ha they have everything you’d need and more. Either way, pointing you in that direction would do no good; nothing in this country is a simple straight shot. Traveling there will take some time, and as I doubt you know your way around, you’d probably need someone who does to lead you… I’m the only Kaminari ninja here, haha so I’m guessing it'd have to be me...!”

It would probably be necessary regardless of whether the Hyūga had any ulterior motives or not, as he doubted that Tak would be able to navigate through the confusing maze of mountains by himself, let alone actually reach the capital. If he’d accept, Haru would signal to follow him, subsequently starting towards the trail that’d lead them off the shore and into the tangled mess of mountains and valleys ahead. He’d maintain a contented expression as he did so, his peripherals trained on the Kiri-nin.

[The Dude]

Perfect, an escort to town would go much faster than just directions and this way there was no chance of Takumi getting lost and needing to use any of his kikaichuu to find his way about. He would lose no time and with any luck find himself in the town soon enough to get some supplies as well as a play to stay for the night. After all, what town didn't have some sort of inn or at least a spa of sorts to unwind and relax at while soaking the troubles of the day away. The Aburame had almost counted the encounter with this ninja to be a very unfortunate coincidence that may have lead to a fight and one of their deaths. The ninja was strangely accommodating and friendly and for that Takumi was extremely grateful.

"Really? That would be great! Thank you so much... Luneth was it?"

As the ninja signaled for Takumi to follow and turned as he lead the way, Takumi stepped quickly until they were walking side by side as he looked forward and out towards the terrain itself. Ahead of them was a trail that lead up and away from the shore, and beyond that were the mountains. So many mountains and valleys ahead of them that Takumi took in with a fresh pair of eyes that had never seen such things before. He had seen pictures, heard stories, and even read books on the rest of the world but there was something entirely different about actually being there. Things were so different than they were back home in Mizu no Kuni... they weren't all wet, misty and damp for instance.

"Does hiking up these mountains ever get annoying? I know back home the most we had to deal with was the rain and the constant mist. It made it hard to see where you were going but it never seemed like much of a physical strain, especially when compared to all these hills and mountains."

As they continued there walk and Takumi listened intently to his guide he began to hear a strange sound in the back of his head. Something almost unnoticeable that he was finally hearing at last, a quiet slow tempo beat. All quarter notes, never changing in volume, rhythm, or speed. As he smiled and paid attention to his guide he quietly thought about how long the sound had been there and he not noticed it, he wondered if his guide could hear it. If not... then it was all in his head like so many other things but this beat was something new to him entirely. He tried to forget about it instead turning to look at his guide with a smile and listen intently to his voice in an attempt to drown it out for the time being.

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[luneth]

He’d continue to walk, heading towards the northern tip of the beach, wherein he’d find a narrow stone trail that would lead them a kilometer short of the first mountain they’d be climbing. Almost forgetting he’d been thanked and asked for affirmation of his name, he’d quickly speak in reply to the other boy. “Oh, yeah Luneth.” The deceptive Genin would say it in a confident tone, now moving a bit faster as they made their way off the soft sand and onto a more solid grounding in the stone pathway.

As they began their trek through Kaminari, he’d eye the Kiri-nin, wanting to see his reaction now that they were off the shore and able to truly view the colossal, rock-strewn mountains that stretched along for as far as the eye could see. Combined with the skyline, it would make for one beautiful sight. He’d smile as Tak would stare up at them; seeing such things for the first time was a breathtaking experience, atleast it had been for the Hyūga. Still, even after seeing them every day, he couldn’t get over it.

“Awesome, huh?”

He’d stare for a few more seconds before carrying on en route to Kami no Shina. The boy was very familiar with the country by now; it was a rewarding feeling, a place that had once been a mystery had become his home. “Ok, this is where it starts to get confusing…” Now off the stone trail, he’d begin a short sprint that would take them both to the base of a small mountain. They wouldn’t be going up this one, however, but under it instead. He’d activate his Byakugan, afterward entering a small cave.

It wasn’t too dark, and with the aid of Haru’s Kekkai Genkai, they wouldn’t get lost in the countless amounts of different passageways. Just like the beach, very few, if any, Kumo-nin knew about these tunnels. It was a valuable shortcut he’d spotted one random day whilst using his KG to try to map out a few areas he came to often. After a few minutes of walking they’d see a very faint light directly ahead, he’d give the signal that it was ok to run now, subsequently sprinting out of the small maze.

The pair would reach the mountain they’d need to climb past before long, finally leaving solid ground and beginning the hike up and around the gigantic landform. It was at this point that he’d hear Tak’s question, the boy would reply a few seconds later, having taken that short time-span to think back on his first time hiking up the mountains of Kaminari. “Ha it used to get annoying, you grow accustomed to it after a while though, especially if you’ve lived here all your life.”

When wandering in search of Kumo, he’d definitely been tested by these mountains; and while it was much easier climbing them now, his first time it’d been pretty rough. Thus, he’d give the Kiri-nin a hand whenever needed. As they continued to rise in altitude, sometimes climbing, other time’s walking along an expanse of flat rock; he’d begin to ponder on everything that’d just happened. The odds of a Kumo and Kiri nin meeting and actually getting along seemed slim, and yet, here they were.

“Heh, you know… you’re lucky you met me back there; most other Kumo Shinobi would’ve probably just attacked at the sight of you. I understand though, I was in a situation somewhat like yours only a few months ago… It was hell trying to navigate through this place alone.”

[The Dude]

The shinobi lead Takumi through trails and routes the Aburame would have had absolutely no chance of finding on his own. After a short sprint after his guide Takumi would find himself at the foot of one of the massive mountains that amassed across the country. Rather than looking for a path up however he was soon lead down until a cave that went under the mountain. Takumi had never even considered the option of traveling through a cave that lead beneath the mountains the country was famous for, but it seemed a hell of a lot easier than climbing up them! Once inside though it was dark and filled with a labyrinth of tunnels that spiraled out in all sorts of directions. Takumi stayed right beside guide silently looking about the darkness listening to the echoes through out the caves but careful to stay close. There was no telling what was in the caves or even where they were going but somehow his companion knew his way around in the darkness with ease.

Before long there was the slightest hint of light and with it's presence his guide once more sprinted off through the cave with speed and nimble footing through the darkness. Takumi followed as fast as he could falling behind slightly in the darkness but making up for it once he could see the ground beneath his feet. The sprinted along another short distance before coming again to yet another mountain and beginning their hike up it this time. Damn, Takumi had silently hoped all of mountains had secret tunnels like the last to avoid the work. But then most ninja even among Kumogakure would have had difficulty memorizing all of them and their paths let alone seeing their way through.

"You were trying to navigate through your own country a few months ago? How's that work? Also out of a morbid curiosity how did you know where you were going in that tunnel? That was awesome!"

Takumi worked hard to keep up with the shinobi as they climbed up the mountainside together working with impressive speed for two youngsters. Even as the ascended higher and higher along the mountains it began to feel just a bit cooler and as though the kikaichuu within him knew what very well might be coming if they traveled higher still they began to migrate even further inside Takumi. Gathering around his central core preparing to huddle for warmth against the cold that could soon follow. Fuck the cold...

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[luneth]

As they maintained a steady pace up the mountain, Haru would activate his KG once more, this time scanning the vicinity in search of other Kumo Shinobi. Encountering one around here would not be good, as it would almost certainly result in a fight. Moreover, if he wasn’t able to kill the ninja, there’d be chances of being charged with treason of some sort, as well as having his Genin status stripped. Regardless, the boy had his own motives and, while loyal, didn’t care too much about the law.

I mean, I’m not giving out any secret information… and it’s not like our countries are at war with eachother or anything.. He’d rationalize helping out the Kirigakure Ninja in his head, finally coming to terms with it as he questioned how much of a threat one Shinobi, who seemed friendly and didn’t seek violence, could truly pose on an entire nation. In addition, there’d be no real proof that the young Genin had helped, as Haru was using an alias known by no one other than Tak himself.

He’d stop the contemplation as the dark-haired boy voiced a question, immediately diverting his attention towards it and leaving his previous thoughts alone. He’d wondered what Haru had meant when he said he’d been trying to navigate through Kaminari no Kuni a few months ago. The Hyūga had neglected to tell the Shinobi that this hadn’t been his home country at the time, but instead completely new. He’d answer him as they neared the top of the mountain, also bringing up his KG.

“Heh, well I was actually born in Hi no Kuni; Konohagakure to be specific. I only recently moved here, and was actually accepted into Kumogakure as a Genin upon finding the village. *points towards the hitai-ate on his arm*. Now, me being able to see in those tunnels; hmm... well, as far as that goes... I'll just put it like this; its my eyes... they're different..”

Haru wouldn’t delve any deeper into his Byakugan or anything involving the Hyūga Clan, as, though he was no longer living near them, he still had respect for their secrets, which too were his own. Also, while nothing personal, it was strategy; he wasn’t sure if the boy was actually a Genin, but if he was, there’d be a possibility that they’d meet again during the Chūnin Exams, or even on a mission involving his village. Giving away the info to one of his greatest assets would have been foolish.

Moving on from that, in only seconds they’d be able to cross over the mountain, as such he’d take the time to stop and rest for a minute or two. He’d gotten used to the cold and loss of oxygen that came with the increase in altitude, though would be considerate of his fellow shinobi. It’d taken a fairly short amount of time as they hadn’t been climbing up towards the peak, which would have been suicide, but instead toward a particularly low incline in the upper structure of the rocky mountains.

“Whew… not too long now, there’ll be a valley we’ll have to be careful in after descending back down, but only a few kilometers from that we should see a road full of people walking to and from the capital.”

[The Dude]

Takumi sped along just on the ninja's trail as they continued to ascend higher and higher. Before too long they were nearing the very summit of the mountain itself and the Aburame began to feel light headed form their acceleration into the heavens. Takumi was determined to keep himself from holding anyone back on his first mission out of country and so he pressed on still without complaint or issue with the speed the genin set. Before they made the finally crossing though, his guide stopped for what appeared to be a small break to let Takumi rest. Though he wouldn't admit it he was extremely grateful for the moment of rest to relax and catch his breath.

Running his hands over his bears arms rubbing warmth into them both he could feel the kikaichuu within his core schooling and swarming together in a tight bundle where they stayed warm. This climate was not for him, and he had not come prepared with the proper attire. Next time he would have to make the proper planning and take proper action to prepare for such a journey. This rushing headlong into a foreign country was proving more and more foolish the more time he spent here, and he'd only been in the country for less than a day!

"You... you changed villages? Didn't Konohagakure try to hunt you down or stop you? I would imagine the villages wouldn't care much for for ninja just leaving. I heard they have ninja who specialize their careers in the tracking and hunting of missing ninja who abandon their villages."

Takumi thought of his own Mizukage who was a reputable oinin in his own right. He had barely exchanged words with the mizukage but he knew of his reputation. If the genin ever tried to leave he would be hunted down with extreme prejudice, and more than likely killed on sight rather than just restrained and brought back to the village. He had grown up believing all villages treated missing ninja in such a way, but this young child had not only fled his own village but joined another! How?!

He let passive eye comment go unheeded as he assumed the genin didn't want to talk about it. Which was fine with Takumi, neither of them needed to fully divulge the other into their histories and secrets. After all Takumi was hiding his Kikaichuu from the boy and the full story behind his trip to the lightning country for now. It wouldn't effect either of them to remain ignorant to each other's truths. Ignorance was bliss.

"Good, the sooner we get to the town the sooner I can find a place to find some warm clothes. I should have anticipated the weather better when I came here but it was one of those spur of the moment trips. No time to plan and make preparations, just time to board a pirate ship and get going."

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[luneth]

They’d begin descending the other side of the mountain soon; while taking their short break, he’d contentedly observe the picturesque view. From their height, he was able to see the peaks of some of the smaller mountains, and even the tops of a few clouds that were level with his shoulders; however delightful, the site would also bring back grueling memories of Haru’s first arduous journey through the compassionless, unforgiving terrain. He could enjoy it now, but would never forget.

It’d been one of the toughest times in his life; being born in the Leaf and raised by the Main House of the Hyūga Clan, he’d been sheltered from adversity that ninja from other countries, like Tak, probably hadn’t. He’d remembered being exposed to this hardship for the first time, in the form of traveling miles upon miles just to reach the border of this country. Inside, he’d wander for days, be lead into a cave in search of refuge from a raging storm, only to get lost and nearly starve to death.

He’d passed out several times during the journey, and was only inches from passing away upon arriving at Kumogakure’s entrance. His memory was a little fuzzy after that, though he did remember being locked in a cell and meeting with the Raikage. These thoughts of the past fresh on his mind, answering the Kiri-nin’s question would be simple.

“I was lucky; the Hokage had gone missing, and there were ninja invading, stealing scrolls, killing… In all of the chaos, I was able to sneak in and erase my name from their files, and afterward slip out of the village without being noticed. My clan probably thinks I was killed in the midst of it all, and I doubt the current Kage or any Oinin are aware of my absence, heh or that I was ever a Shinobi from their village in the first place..!”

Haru would let out a friendly grin in response to Tak’s final remark, subsequently beginning their climb down the opposite end of the large earthen structure. The task would be tiresome, though nowhere near as much as climbing up had been. The determined Hyūga would be driven by the fact that, upon reuniting with solid ground, they’d only be about an hour’s distance from Kami no Shima. To make their descent go by a bit faster, the youth would ask a question of his own.

“So, what’s it like living in Kirigakure, or even in the country of Mizu? I know that when moving from Konoha to Kumo there were several serious changes I had to adapt to; whether it be the different accents, climate, environment, clothing, food… heh almost nothing was the same.. Oh.. also, I forgot to ask when we first met, but are you a Genin?"

[The Dude]

"That's quite the story and I'm not sure I believe all of it to be perfectly honest with you, friend. But then I have no idea why you'd lie about something like that so I guess you're just one of those incredible people who have a grand story. I need to get one of those someday but for now I'll just settle on running my errands about the world and getting accustomed to it all."

They began their descent soon after and Takumi was relieved to find it surprisingly easier to make the descent from the mountains than it was climbing up. The wind was still cold but he had adjusted to the thin air and the cold was beginning to ware on him less and less, of course the latter may have been due to the numbness the cold brought but you had to take the good with the bad. But soon on their descent the kumogakure shinobi put forth a question that would take Takumi's mind off of the cold. A question about living back home eh? And... he already knew Takumi was a shinobi as well it seemed.

"Heh, so you already knew I was a shinobi but I wonder how. It doesn't matter I suppose though considering you already and that's all that matters isn't it? Yes, I am a genin from Kirigakure no Sato but I'm not here looking for a fight or anything like that. The mizukage would not be happy with me if I started a war my first time out of the country after all."

"As for life in Kirigakure no Sato there are probably a lot of difference between our lives as you said. The water country is after all chain of islands so most of our missions even as genin involve travelling across bodies of water just to get to where we're going. Instead of mountains we usually just have choppy dangerous waters, obscuring mist, and our own fair share of monsters that usually come up out of the ocean. Unfortunately that's all I'm able to comment on as far as differences since I've only just been in this country for a while. Most of us dress like shinobi around the world taking our own personal sense of style and using it in our clothes."

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[luneth]

[ooc - sorry for the wait, last two days have been hectic.]

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The young Hyūga would nod in understanding at Tak’s comments on not completely believing him. Even now, months later, it still seemed a little too good to be true. Nonetheless, it had happened, he’d been lucky and gotten away with something any other ninja would have probably been killed attempting. As they continued down the mountain, he’d begin to consider his “grand” story; Haru had never thought about it in that way before, but his companion had been right, his history was one of a kind.

This idea would force him to believe that fate had brought him to Kumogakure, though he couldn’t understand why. Aside from completing missions and training, what purpose could he possibly serve to a village filled with so much talent, power, and wisdom that stretched far beyond his years? It was an intriguing topic he’d decide to store for later, moving onto more present matters now as they’d just reached an extremely steep slope, falling from which would result in certain death.

Haru would next take heed in the visiting Shinobi’s response to his last question regarding what it was like living in Mizu. During his academy years he’d spent hours upon hours in Konohagakure’s Library, and had actually read a few things on the topic of Mizu no Kuni, though wasn’t able to find anything on Kirigakure itself. Thus, he’d be taken aback by the thought of having to travel over water to get to missions, sea monsters, and everything else within the Genin’s short description.

“Oh wow, that must be pretty tough; heh I bet its trouble following or giving directions with mist covering everything.”

He’d rarely seen any mist or fog in Hi no Kuni as a kid, and if there had been any his KG would’ve been there to see through it. He was curious as to how Mizu natives were able to see long distances without some kind of sight jutsu; if they weren’t, he’d feel for them, though also take note of the advantages he’d have against a regular Shinobi there. For his next question, the inquisitive ninja would narrow down a long list in his head and finally decide upon a particularly fascinating one.

“While on the subject of differences, I’m really interested in one that’s a bit more specific. I graduated from Konoha’s Ninja Academy not too long ago; I’d thought every nation was the same, and that everyone learned the same things. Living in Kumo has proven that theory incorrect… If it’s not too much to ask, could you tell me a little about what it was like in the academy for you? You don’t have to give out any secrets if there are any, heh I’m just really curious as to how things differ from region to region.”

[The Dude]

"Hell..."

Takumi's reply was short and quiet but it did justice in describing the life of a young shinobi in the Mist village. Kirigakure no Sato had little patience in shinobi of little worth, and the younger shinobi who had not proven themselves were of the least worth. The village had even less mercy in dealing with their young shinobi who had gone and over stepped the village's patience through a various multitude of ways. He swallowed thinking back on his own years, he had been one of the far more gifted and superior shinobi and he had killed his share of comrades to prove himself.

"I can't tell you the specifics, but I can tell you this much at the least. Kirigakure no Sato expects unfaltering loyalty and discipline when carrying out our orders. It's not uncommon for young shinobi to kill off our own comrades and classmates for various failings they may be held accountable for. It's considered by many of us to be a trial by fire to forge the strongest shinobi from the weak."

Takumi looked ahead blankly as they walked considering all the trials he had faced in his own time spent in the village. His entire life he had lived there, his parents had known of the troubles he had faced and did their utmost to prepare him and forge him into a superior shinobi and their efforts had not been in vain. In matters of skill and combat among his classmates he had been one of the few proteges to rise high above the others. What they hadn't prepared him for was taking the lives of his friends and classmates, it had been difficult at first but he was actually quite impassive now when it came to who he was killing. If someone crossed him or the village there was little to discuss or debate on the matter, they simply had to be removed.

"I personally think it's good for the village in the long run myself. Not that I don't believe in friends or what have you, I simply believe that betrayal happens more often than not. People will always have their own agendas and when that takes priority over the greater good of the village as a whole, then they need to be dealt with swiftly before it becomes a problem. If the problem isn't corrected when it's found it tends to manifest itself and grow larger and more troublesome with time until it becomes a serious threat. Why? Because one of us showed compassion for someone who no longer showed compassion for the village. The greater good is above one's own."

[/font][/justify]