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Rael looked at him and slowly nodded, motioning for the students to follow as they repeated yesterday's process of filing out towards the training grounds. As they were going to be learning about the many secondary weapons shinobi used on a constant basis, the Genin herded them towards field no.2; the ranged field. Unlike the taijutsu-oriented enclosure, which stressed open space for students to spar and hosted a number of wooden dummies to practice on, this second patch of land was specifically designed with projectile training in mind. An orderly row of adult-sized targets lined one edge of the field, while on the other, a series of boards with five concentric rings stood upright. Of course, there were other amenities included for the tools that didn't require the above, but those would be mentioned later.

"Rael-sensei?" he looked over, indicating he was listening, "Why did Yokumaru-sensei call it 'shurikenjutsu'; are we only going to be using shuriken?" He shook his head before clarifying the term for them.

"No, the word 'shurikenjutsu' is a misnomer; it actually refers to one's skill with all projectiles or ranged-type weapons we use. People needed a general term while mentioning all such tools, and so they chose the one most heavily identified with shinobi: the shuriken. Why they didn't choose something such as 'kunaijutsu' or 'senbonjutsu', I'm afraid the answer is beyond me. Though, it does roll off the tongue better, don't you think?" he asked everyone with a straight face, prompting a round of sniggers and differing opinions. Rael smiled a bit inwardly at their carefree and relaxed countenances, when compared to yesterday's somber ambiance, then continued on.

"We'll be covering the basics of kunai and shuriken, since they're our staple secondary weapons. Depending on how much time there is afterward, a quick explanation of makibishi and senbon might occur as well. Later on, Yokumaru-sensei and I will discuss the usage of less common tools, such as strategic uses of exploding notes and smoke grenades, both defensively and offensively. We will be supervising you," he raised his voice a bit, as their excited voices grew in volume, "to ensure your own safety, and that of your classmates. The last thing I want to do is explain to your guardians why their child is missing a finger or has their eyebrows burnt off." More chuckles, but some a bit nervously this time.

"And of course, we will teach you about the strongest weapon you all have at your disposal. That, however, will come at the end. For now, I want all of you to listen and pay close attention to Yokumaru-sensei. He'll be the one responsible for making sure you have a good foundation to build on later."

Rather than the awkward tension that might exist between Head Jounin and Genin, as the two were worlds apart in their militaristic society, Rael no longer found no such unease being in vicinity of the room's sole other occupant. It was sometimes strange how the powers above worked, how soon after their first joint mission the two were assigned the same two-man cell. Given the man's resume, no doubt he worked alongside a great number of other shinobi in the past, and had his expectations. It was something Rael would have to strive to meet, as he could not allow his own inexperience to bring down the team. No, he would have to up his training regime, and quickly.

"What can I say, I'm an early riser by nature; I'm sure you'll get here before me one of these days, Yokumaru-san. And please, just 'Rael' is fine, especially when the students aren't here. After all, I imagine we'll be working together for quite some time after this." He watched idly as the older male set the bag he brought onto the desk and began pulling out various shinobi tools of the trade, all brand-new by the looks of their packaging; wonder if the Academy coughed up the funds, or if Yokumaru had spent his own money. In comparison, the ones Rael brought were in much poorer condition, but considering how he obtained them and what he planned to do with them, that was irrelevant.

"Tools, hm? It shouldn't take too long to explain their uses and get them acquainted with the items, though I believe it will take much more than just this lesson for the students to become proficient in using them. My feelings are the same as yours," he added, referring to Yokumaru's last statement, "wouldn't want to break them this early. Would we everyone?" he said the last line more loudly, not even looking to whom he was speaking.

As if on cue, the door creaked open, and several young faces peered through to look at the two of them, wearing sheepish expressions as they trickled in. The rest of the class soon followed, many of them greeting the pair as they dropped into their respective seats while Rael moved his chair out of the way and moved to stand next to Yokumaru. Paying attention to the childish faces looking back at them, he observed how most of them seemed slightly more downcast than the previous morning. "Good morning everyone. I hope none of you hurt yourselves too badly yesterday after jump-kicking each other all afternoon?" He got a few small assortment of laughs and snickers for his effort, and he flicked his eyes to his partner, letting him take charge as per his position.

Teach Me, Teach Me
Rank: C
Minimum Participants: 1
Details: The village has re-established itself and the academy students are giving their teachers a very hard time. Wow them with stories of war and death, then teach them a jutsu or two. The Kage would like this to be a weekly event to keep the morale up.
Special Info: Can be taken indefinitely.
Rewards: 200 EXP & 1,000 ryō

Popeye Jr.
Rank: D
Minimum Participants: 1
Details: We just got word that the Taijutsu instructor at our local academy just came down with the measles, so we’re putting you in there to teach a class about proper techniques to the kids. You only need to teach one D -ank Taijutsu but do it well; these kids are the future after all.
Rewards: 100 EXP & 500 ryō

Partner: Fūma Yokumaru

Total Rewards: 300 EXP & 1,500 ryō

Mission thread located here

Rael paid no attention to his own well-being as he scanned left, right, down, and even up in the span of less than two seconds. The Genin apparently had no idea what he was searching for, hardly taking notice of the ongoing activities below him. He didn't notice the Jounin finish his preparations beyond the mist, moving into unknown positions as they released the shuriken towards him; the mist was too thick to see through anyway. He seemed supremely unconcerned as the sound of projectiles whistling through the air was heard too late, and not at all bothered as the two weapons slashed across his face, amidst the gasps of the children beneath him.

In fact, he didn't react at all as they passed through his head, passing harmlessly through the Genin and continuing on their flight.

The moment the shuriken made contact, 'Rael' blurred out of existence, to the breaths of relief held by several of their students. However, the group as a whole was startled when their older instructor burst into view through the mist, body airborne and twisted into the flying kick he'd explained earlier, causing many of them to shift and move aside in case their teacher hit them at this low height. Whether he'd been aiming to strike the Genin in his exposed blind spot, backside or anywhere else, mattered little as the Jounin's foot and rest of his body passed through the empty air where 'Rael' had been.

---

Rael felt the vibrations through the earth, as the large group above him abruptly moved away from his location, directly underneath the spot he'd been when he formed and released the Bunshin into the air. He had no way of knowing his clone's condition during its brief existence, all the way up to its untimely 'demise' via shuriken. However, the fact that the students were suddenly moving away, indicated that something potentially threatening had urged them to retreat, despite his earlier orders for them to remain still. That was more than enough reason for him to believe Yokumaru had made his appearance, likely using Dainamikku • Entorii based on what he said; that was the whole point of this episode.

The moment he felt the collective group shift, Rael burst out of the ground but kept his body crouched low under the Jounin literally right above him, smoke grenade in hand as he pulled the pin and threw it at his feet, instantly enveloping himself, Yokumaru, and the students in its smog. Holding his breath and shutting his eyes before it could affect him as well, in the distraction, he threw a kunai in the general direction the other sensei's body went sailing through the air, before forming a short series of hand seals and diving back underground, perhaps hoping the Jounin wouldn't check the same location.

---

1. Bunshin no Jutsu [Clone Technique]
2. Shinjuu Zanshu no Jutsu [Double Suicide Decapitation Technique]
3. ???
Kunai [1/2]
Smoke Grenade [1/3]

[OOC: Permission from Circa to skip his turn, so you get to listen to me drone on for a bit longer]

---

As expected, the students were quiet as he watched them digest the impromptu lesson. Even the more rambunctious ones he'd observed were mercifully silent, some trying to find arguments to refute his statement. They were welcome to try; having that method of thought saved the lives of entire teams on more than one occasion. Having made his point, the Genin made as if to turn away when, surprisingly, a small voice made him pause. He glanced back to see Jinmei Kō, the red-haired child, giving him a calculating look, wondering questions he might not have considered for at least another year without Rael's intervention.

"But if you're always thinking about what to kill people with," he asked slowly, uncertain whether he should go on but relenting when the Genin nodded for him to continue, "how do you know who you should kill?"

"...Good question"; very good question; Rael thought, appreciating the fact this previously rebellious child was now thinking about 'who', instead of just 'what'. He gave the entire group a once-over before focusing on Kō. "I assume you have some knowledge about the shinobi missions?" He received a rapid set of nods, not just from his object of scrutiny, but those nearest to him as well. "The mission scrolls should tell you who to kill; with any luck while you're a Genin you won't have to kill anyone. However, as I'm sure you all remember, cases such as the one that happened to Yokumaru-sensei do arise occasionally, but as I've said, the probability is still low."

"That's good." Even Kō was smart enough to know that killing was in the line of duty for all shinobi, but that didn't mean he looked forward to it. Around him, there were consenting murmurs from the students, sharing the same resolution to delay bathing their hands in blood for as long as possible. None of them wanted to venture onto that portion of their career so early, much less put themselves in a position where the same could be done to them. Even Rael gave a slight nod in agreement, though there was a hint of warning in his tone as he carried on.

"Indeed, but remember, the mission only ever tells half the story; it tells you who to kill, not who to trust." Seeing the confusion writ upon all their faces, he elaborated. "You know Kiri teams, and those of many other villages, are usually in threes right. In your cases, it will be two other Genin and your Chuunin or Jounin-sensei. On a mission, they are the only people you trust - everyone else is suspicious at best and an enemy at worst." Kō's eyes grew wide.

"Everyone?" to which he received another firm nod.

"Everyone." Rael confirmed as he began ticking off on his fingers. "Villagers can be bribed or just be stupid enough to try and poison your food, or try and slit your throat while you're asleep. People in charge of villages and towns like governors are usually stupid, corrupt or both, and they may try to ensure your team has an accident when you're working. Even clients can lie about missions; it's happened before and one of my...comrades, was forced to quit being a shinobi because some idiot asked for a regular Genin team when he needed at least seasoned Chuunin - he survived while two other members of his team were killed and it shattered his nerves completely, but that can happen out there." He neglected to voice aloud how much that last example reminded him of a certain recent acquaintance, but knew some would draw the comparison on their own.

"All of this is before you even take into account enemy nin or anyone else who actually wants to try and kill you – it is not a relaxing career. You have to learn to actively seek the truth behind everything that you read or are told; "look underneath the underneath" as some people call it. In short, do not trust anyone who is not part of your team – listen to them, take advice from them, but never trust them because you can guarantee that the one time you do, karma will be there ready to rip you a new one."

He knew it wasn't quite what they had envisioned when they came up with the idea of asking him about the shinobi way of life; no doubt they were anticipating learning cool ninja tricks or unbeatable combat techniques, but these cold, fundamental truths seemed enough to chill even their burning vigor. So much could go wrong at any time, and he knew even without asking the unbidden question on the tip of their tongues.

Are all shinobi like this?

The area it blanketed was small, slowly spanning until its edges extended no more than fifteen meters before it began to dissipate. The one responsible for creating Kirigakure's precarious mist, a precursor to the village's infamous silent killing technique, was still unskilled in its usage, judging by the range and its density. However, such details were missed in the traders' frantic escape, all but trampling one another as they grabbed anything that wasn't nailed down or too heavy to run with. Some fled with nothing more than the clothes on their backs, while the more foolhardy desperately tried to pack their tents in record time before abandoning them in joining the former. Even though they weren't necessarily to blame, no one dared risking the wrath of Kiri's hunters. Would they even be given a chance to protest their innocence, before being ruthlessly cut down in vengeance for the shinobi fallen comrades? It was a gamble none were willing to be their lives on.

Better to move on and search for greener pastures, rather than be caught in the forest fire behind.

The adolescent was for the most part ignored, though any of them would have dearly loved to make him suffer for their current predicament; a second spent retaliating against this fate-be-damned idiot was another second lost in the hunt where they assumed the role of prey. Tenmu was especially livid with the boy, but what could he do? Despite his earlier words, the merchant knew his goods in the past were not up to acceptable standards, going through great lengths to deceive buyers. If things were traced back to him, surely they would uncover sufficient evidence to pin him with any number of lifetime charges, or even execution. His last words to the youth, still lying flat on the grass, conveyed his irate and a frustration that would never be quelled, in fear of retribution from Kiri to his dying day.

"How dare you bring this on us you...you...insect! Don't you and your family ever dare sleep again peacefully after tonight! Mark my words, there'll be a reckoning!"

He didn't stay long enough to hear the boy's answer, nor would there be one even long after the entire troupe departed, leaving fields strewn with their leftovers and useless debris. The mist had long since dissipated, and a sunny afternoon looked to be in store for the nearby village's denizens. A good half-hour passed before the lone figure rose from his facedown position, grumbling mutely to himself while working out the kinks in his body. Forming the dog, boar, and ram seals in quick succession, 'Ichigo' dispelled in a poof of smoke, revealing a very dirty and haggard looking Rael in its wake. His clothes were almost irreparably tarnished, dragged through grime of unspeakable nature before he used the transformation skill, lending his filthy clothes some more authenticity.

Glancing around at all the rubbish he would need to headquarters for, so they could dispatch someone to come down and clear it all away, he vaguely wondered how much the local blacksmiths would pay him for all the scrap metal they could smelt and forge anew after isolating the impurities. It would take time, more work than anticipated for a routine D-rank, but would also pay off with big dividends in the long run.

So long as they don't make me haul all this back myself.

---

la fin

A murmur of confusion arose from the crowd, and one of the other merchants sidled up next to the leader of their motley crew. "You know him Tenmu-san?" he whispered, perplexed when the other shook his head with a frown before stepping forward. The six-foot male was not a terribly imposing sight; a life spent trading and bartering with those lacking a keen eye and easily persuaded giving his bulk more fat than muscle. However, his shrewdness saved his life in the past far more than any amount of brawn ever could. So when this anonymous boy came storming into their camp, prostrated themselves before him, and begged for his mercy without the latter even knowing what crimes he'd committed, the merchant was instantly wary, immediately followed by a foreboding desire for self-preservation.

"You'd better explain yourself, but first, tell me who you are. I don't recall ever seeing you before."

Raising a dirt-streaked face from the ground, the boy's voice quavered slightly as he spoke. "My name is I-Ichigo, Tenmu-sama! I work...worked as a street vendor in the Hidden Mist village, selling used ninja tools at low prices. Just earlier this morning, I heard news that a long series of missions their ninjas were running botched up; there were dozens of unnecessary casualties! The higher-ups immediately conducted an investigation, and the results came out today. A lot of the equipment they had were defective, and either broke after one use or just flat out didn't work!" At this, an aura of unease descended over all those present, and more than one person tried to hide their guilt when Tenmu interrupted his harried speech.

"I'm telling you right now, that has nothing to do with us. I don't remember selling anything that bad to those Mist ninjas. Plus, what the hell does any of this have to do with you?" The grovelling youth looked up sharply, and grimaced in apparent shame as he slowly responded."

M-my family's really poor...My dad's an apprentice blacksmith after losing his work, we didn't have a lot to go with...I overheard some of those ninjas when I was working; they said even though the stuff wasn't top-notch, the equipment they bought right outside the village was at least sixty percent cheaper...I thought it'd be a good way to make some money by copying your group," he shrank back as one of the other vendors snarled and made to grab at him, but recoiled when Tenmu shoved him aside.

"We made a few decent ones as a sample, got some customers interested. But we didn't have the money or raw materials to keep it up. We eventually started using scrap metal, a lot of it impure, to make our stuff. Our last batch, we must have crafted a couple hundred of those knives and star-looking weapons they use, before selling them in bulk to the village armory." Those who were more sharp-witted in the group began to have suspicions as to where this conversation was going, as throats ran dry and sweat beaded on their brows.

"...They caught us this morning...threatened to kill me, my dad, sis...! I didn't know what to do, I just didn't want them to die! I...I told them we were with you, that it was your idea to forge their gear using the cheapest materials to maximize profit, that we were just doing our jobs," Ichigo sobbed, covering his face with his hands as he kneeled even lower. The expressions on those gathered nearby turned to one of panic as an unnatural mist rolled into the field, those familiar with the jutsu's namesake scrambling to escape as they fled, while others stood rooted in terror.

"I'm so sorry!"