Red Bull Gives You Wings [m]

[Testament]

Satsui awoke early on the day in question and prepared himself for his expedition into the area known as Kami no Shima. He donned his attire carefully, deciding to travel as light as possible in order to make the most of his time and prevent being hindered by an enormous cache. The sun was still rising over the horizon when he readied his duffel bag and he made sure it was sturdy enough to hold all the things he'd need to transport in order to complete his mission. He didn't normally accept Medical Missions but he convinced himself that he might benefit from it in the end so he begrudgingly took the responsibility. It wasn't as though he disliked the tasks given to the Iryou-nin, he simply preferred earning his keep in the coliseum or working in a security capacity.

He arrived at Kumogakure's front gate and made no effort to alert those on post at the time that he was leaving. The higher the level of anonymity regarding this mission- the better. If he succeeded in accomplishing his goals it would mean not only accolades for himself but it would also net Kumogakure a benefit as well. For that reason he sought to remain off the radar lest anyone attempt to reap the rewards before he could receive the proper credit. He had been tasked with going out into the wilderness and locating certain substances that could used in creating a new energy supplement. It seemed that the medical staff was being asked to extend their hours and they needed something to keep them alert and able-bodied, which is where Satsui's mission came in.

[Testament]

His first destination was a clearing about two miles from the mountain pass which led to the very gates of Kumogakure itself. He made it to the bottom of the pass and began moving along the base of the mountain chain, moving in the direction of the ascending orb in the eastern sky, and being cautious enough to discern whether or not he was being followed. It wasn't as though he was on a mission of great importance but Satsui's mindset lent itself to being overly aware, what some might refer to as mild paranoia. He didn't often leave the village, not since the culmination of the war, and so being on the outside was both exhilarating and nerve-racking. After he'd established his pace and relaxed a bit there was more of an opportunity to enjoy his surroundings.

He passed several landmarks that he'd almost forgotten about; a natural waterfall created by a river which wound through the mountains, a man made effigy of the very first Raikage who tamed one of every beast found in the Upper Yard, as well as humble memorial to the Kumogakure shinobi who sacrificed their lives during the last great struggle. Upon reaching the third he arced away from the jagged rocks and set his sights upon the lush forest which ran alongside. He entered the covering of the foliage and was instantly aware of the drop in temperature due to the sun being obscured. His plan to dress light began to seem somewhat flawed but he pressed on until he could make out the distinct change in the vegetation which heralded his arrival near the still meadow where he would find the first ingredient.

[Testament]

Upon entering the quiet clearing, it became evident to Satsui that he was the first person to disturb the delicate setting in some time. The area was overgrown with plants and weeds in addition to the gigantic trees which littered the grassy knoll. Birds and small vermin ran to and fro, darting in and out of both leafy branches and soil covered burrows. However, Satsui's presence was noticed immediately and the animals fled without hesitation and even the plants seemed to withdraw into themselves in order to avoid any human contact. None of this bothered Satsui, as long as he could find the flower he was seeking he care naught for the rest of the beautified nature scene. A picture was produced to stimulate his memory and he began searching the area for a large, purplish plant that resembled an orchid.

It didn't take long for him to locate it; it grew only in the center of the expanse and was the only plant lucky enough to be bathed in direct sunlight. The petals were purported to contain a pollen which would increase blood flow and hone the senses which is why many of the plants looked half eaten. Satsui pondered why forest animals would need to increase their vitality and attention spans but perhaps their needs were not too unlike those of their human counterparts. They had to avoid predators and pass on their seed to the next generation if they wanted to survive as a species. Humans, and particularly shinobi, were no different in their wants and desires but Satsui wasn't tracking the plant down for the mass population, only to strengthen the resolve of his fellow Iryou associates.

[Testament]

With the flowers stuffed down into his duffel and the previously glorious landscape irreversibly trampled, Satsui headed toward the second locale. Continuing on through the forest, he would pass a body of water large enough to be called a lake which he knew to be inhabited by eels of monstrous proportions. He stopped, only momentarily, to reflect on the lethality of the country he called home but the mission still beckoned to him so quickened his pace and hurried onward. Interestingly enough, his next target was an animal but not one that had the ability to kill. Deep in the heart of the forest he traipsed through lived a colony of marsupials not unlike the foreign koala. Their livers excreted a enzyme which mimicked certain chemicals released in the brain during human, . . . mating rituals that could also be used to increase natural energy levels and improve focus.

The forest grew incredibly dense in a short amount of time and Satsui soon realized he was crossing the halfway point of his journey. Vines and fungi sprouted from the forest canopy and from the bark of the trees which put a strange odor in the air whilst raising the ambient temperature significantly. Originally he'd been working against chills in the early morning and now he was contending with heavy sweats, but the rapid change in climate was more refreshing than anything else. He wasn't worried about succumbing to an illness because he was on loan from the medical shinobi to fulfill a mission for the village and would undoubtedly be taken care of for his trouble. The trees began to recede from the path but the vines above thickened and soon Satsui could hear the mating calls of his prey as they swung from the foliage overhead, unseen.

[Testament]

Satsui crouched low and made haste as he sought a spot where he could set up camp. He did not mean to stay for long but he needed a quiet spot in order to hunt. If too many of the swinging creatures came upon he might have to abandon his mission, as they were known to be afraid of humans and larger animals as well. He finally came across a secluded region within the tall trees where few sounds reached. From there, he opened his duffel bag and tossed it a few yards ahead of him where he could see it. His plan was to catch one of the animals as it went to eat the flowers he had just harvested, and he did not have to wait very long for the creatures to catch the scent. Satsui couldn't believe his luck when two of the oddly shaped animals descended from the trees and approached his bag with noticeable apprehension.

His arms blurred, pulling his kunai from the pouch at his side, and his wrists spasmed as the sharpened blades were flung through the air. Each sinister point found its home in the vertebrae of the koala-like creatures and Satsui hurried to collect his trophies. The kunai were freed from the necks and Satsui took the time to clean one by jamming it into the compressed dirt at his feet and then wiping it against the fur of the small animal he was preparing to butcher. His blade dug in without much resistance and he was able to find the liver from his memory of the diagram he'd been given at the library the day before. Some might have a problem with a midmorning dissection but Satsui, a medical nin in training, was more than used to it. The second liver was extracted and he was on his way once more.

[Testament]

The day was beginning to wear on Satsui's mental state; he hadn't eaten before leaving the village and slicing into cute little critters always gave him an appetite so he found himself famished before too long. He only had one more stop before he would have completed his quest and that knowledge spurred him on. He'd collected flowers from the forest clearing and the liver of the Grepsl so the last thing he would need was the nectar from the Boribo fruit. The Boribo grove was planted on a cliff overlooking a steep drop off to the southern half of the Upper Yard and was only accessible during the spring. Ice normally blocked the path for most of the years and constant storms made the terrain impassable for all but three weeks out of the year.

Satsui made his way to the plain which would bring one to the cliffs and had to marvel at what was going on around him. Lightning unfurled its might in the skies above but it hovered atop the clouds and never even made its visible presence known. It was just like the enormous eels discharging their electricity beneath the waters of the lake except the sky eels stretched on for miles in every direction. Satsui forced himself to postpone his reveling until he could retrieve the fruit and harvest its nectar so he set about finding a suitable donor. The Boribo trees dangled from the cliff and their fruit was suspended above a five hundred foot plummet to the shores below, but Satsui was determined to find the largest one he could find and he finally settled on the tree nearest the end.

[Testament]

His goal was selected and his target was assured; the only thing that remained was the actual procurement of the goods. Satsui approached carefully and took in the sight of the sideways hanging tree suspended over the deadly drop. The trunk was strong, although it was also warped, and Satsui felt sure it could support his weight. He stepped out on faith and grasped at the nearest knothole to gain additional traction. Slowly, he inched out toward the Boribo fruit hanging precariously from the tip of the tree. The fruit resembled grapes in the sheer number which grew in a bunch but they were easily likened to coconuts in the outer texture. And it seemed Satsui wasn't the only one pursuing the fruit as he happened upon a long formation of ants also heading to the top of the tree.

He couldn't allow the insects to taint the quality of the fruit and brushed them all over the side of the trunk and wondered if an ant would die after falling five hundred feet. At any rate, he continued on and finally reached the top of the Boribo tree to behold its lovely fruit. The nectar of the Boribo was the final component he needed to complete his mission so he was in somewhat of a hurry to harvest some and move on. That attitude nearly cost him his life as he reached for one of the fruits, steadying himself with the opposite hand, and was nearly blown sideways off the trunk by the prevailing winds. He clung to the tree to regain his balance and took out a kunai which he then plunged into the tree to give himself a proper hand hold. Finally, he grasped the fruit and made his way back to solid ground.

[Testament]

Having procured the final ingredient for his concoction, Satsui set out for his village under the light of the noonday sun and thought back over his day. His adventure was almost at an end at the hardest part was behind him; he had collected the Mah Li flower from the forest meadow, harvested the liver of two Grepsl, as well as finding and acquiring the fruit of the Boribo tree. The nectar of the Boribo was said to be an all natural adrenaline boost that could keep a man going for hours on end, which is just what Satsui needed. He was beginning to really suffer from hunger so, to keep his mind off of it, he allowed himself to become lost in thought as to how in the world he was going to manufacture this new elixir from all his separate components.

He was so lost in thought that he didn't realize wandering back into Grepsl territory. The normally docile creatures became understandably enraged at the death of even one of their numbers and Satsui, as it turns out, had slain two cubs. A pack mentality often helped defend against predators in the wild and the Grepsl were the type that believed it takes a village to raise a child. So before he knew it, it was raining furry, little killers from above and Satsui attempted to weave his way through mauling gauntlet of long arms and vengeful claws. Slaughtering any more of them than he absolutely had to would put him under scrutiny with certain factions in Kumogakure no Sato, so he simply endeavored to avoid the flying shinigami and hurry back home. Finally, after passing all the other landmarks he'd seen, he arrived at the gates of Kumogakure and retired to the laboratory where he'd requested time and space to work.

[Testament]

Satsui focused his thoughts and honed his mind to the task at hand believing that he had, within himself, the key to unlocking the mystery before him. He'd braved the wilderness and brought back the plunder he had set out to gain and now he was tasked with combining them into something greater than each individual piece. With his efforts, the Iryou-nin of Kumogakure no Sato would be able to withstand the long hours prompted by their Hippocratic Oath while retaining the function of higher mental activity. This would certainly serve to curb the illegal drug usage everyone knew was a part of the medical profession and perhaps it would even give Satsui a leg up when he found the time to take the entrance exam for his medic-nin license.

Hours turned to days however and soon the days turned to weeks. Their simply wasn't any way to establish a congruity between the various components. Soon Satsui was down to his final batch of ingredients and he was fully aware that another failure would completely invalidate all the hard work he'd put into this project, and the mission would be forfeit. He gripped the main canister tightly and poured a portion of the liquid into a beaker, which he'd done one hundred times before, and he felt himself losing all patience. His grip shifted in a moment of frustration and the beaker broke in his hand sending glass shards flying everywhere. His hand wasn't so much shredded and gouged and he so he carefully formed the kata for Shousen no Jutsu and began to heal himself. At that moment, the liquid on the injured hand turned a strangely translucent color and Satsui knew he'd completed the formula; it had only needed the healing touch.

[Pwn]

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