Through storm, water and land

The former leader of the Island village, which later became the Mist, was in the Grand Academy, spending his time in the library an reading on various forms of long range transportation. He was actually digging for details and trying to understand how a specific piece of salvaged tech worked. See, this tech was taken from the ruins of Amegakure and was used for direct teleportation between it and Kumogakure, which was its ally. Or at least so Naoki guess based on the political situation at the time, the details he found and the wreckage of the device itself. This relic of the was only came to his mind when Xyxer mentioned he would like Naoki to establish communication and possible transport between the Mist and its new ally Konoha. Reverse engineering such a device or something similar could be enough to fulfill that goal.

As Naoki was sitting behind one of the several available tables in the hall, with the various documents and files spread before him, a courier approached him. See, normally Naoki would have taken measures to make him difficult to find, but he was actually anticipating this message. It was a list the Genin chosen to represent Kirigakure in the Chuunin Exams in Konoha; the group Naoki was meant to escort there and back. Taking the package and letting the courier go the Uchiha man would start reading. The list was shorter than he expected - only two Genin. The package also contained detailed files on them - Asami Miyamoto and Hayate Seiteki. Naoki would definitely have to familiarize himself with those before they left. For now, he would scribe a quick letter to each of them, informing that they have been chosen to fight in honor of the Mist as contestants in the Chuunin Exams of Konoha. The letter also included that they would travel there together and had to meet Naoki at the western gates at dawn in two days time. Basically, they had just over a day to prepare.

After making sure those letters got sent to their intended recipients Naoki would tidy his work place and return home, where he would start preparation to leave as well. Mostly just pack his pocket Exemplar into a scroll and find his scarf.
In two days, at dawn, he would be waiting for them at the gates.

A blonde haired young man of 15, around average height for his age (5'7"),  athletic and just starting to verge on muscular, approached the gates.  He was clad in ninja sandals, black combat pants, and a a thicker version of a flack jacket over a black compression shirt that rose seamlessly into a half mask approached the gates.  The handle of a sword protruded from behind his right hip, and he wore the still shiny headband centered on his forehead.

I guess this isn't too much bulkier than my sweatshirt.  he mused as he walked.  At least the trip will give me a chance to truely get used to it.  Plus, it hides the bandage well.  His thoughts went to the new scar above his left breast.  It distracted him from a moment about thinking about the momentous trip ahead.   It even started with not just meeting, but traveling with the deputy mizukage, former leader of shima, 

Speaking of which - there he was, already at the gate.  Like a normal person - perhaps a bit thinner and taller.  The last few days had already seemed unreal, and this wasn't grounding them at all.  Hayate glanced around a bit more but didn't see Asami at all yet - the diminutive dark haired genin wasn't always easy to spot, but there weren't exactly a lot of people up and about at the gates this early.

Hayate would approach the Naoki and bow.   "Deputy Gekou, I'm Hayate Seiteki."  He would wait till acknowledged in some way, and respond to whatever the man wanted to talk about. If not acknowledged after a minute, or quickly acknowledge and shooed away from his person, Hayate would lean against a nearby wall a few meters away and pull out his new copy of the jutsu encyclopedia, flipping through it for techniques he'd likely see while glancing up occasionally to look out for Asami.

wc 314

Extra pairs of clothes?

Check.

Her weapons?

Check.

Food for the road?

Check and check.

The black-haired girl ran through the contents of her backpack once more. She had checked and double checked it before leaving, but it simply wouldn't do to get to Konoha only to realize she'd forgotten her favorite brush. That, dear friends, would be the pinnacle of folly and a grave oversight if ever there was one. After all, who in their right mind wouldn't pack the essentials of life?

Parting the thick morning mist as she walked, Asami approached the gates. She wore baggy cargo pants, a blue sweatshirt, and a pair of travel sandals. Her headband was stowed away for safekeeping in the bulging backpack that clung to her like some sentient being. No, she did not look like a kunoichi in the slightest—she dressed for comfort. Indeed, she had even affixed a small hairclip in the shape of Kirigakure's emblem to her hair to hold it to one side.

A few minutes later and she arrived at the gates where two figures waited. One she knew as Hayate and she flashed him a toothy grin. The other person was someone she hadn't expected to know, but as she drew nearer it became clear that they had indeed met already, the statueman.

"You're Naoki?" she could not hide her disbelief as even her normally impeccable manners deserted her. "It's nice to see you again."

It wasn't much of a recovery, but it was hard to believe that Naoki Gekou, the deputy kage, was the same man who had not moved a muscle as she punched him in the stomach. Strange dude, to be sure. Though she had to admit, it was nice to see he had cured himself of his paralysis. Hopefully, he recalled her introduction from the first time they'd met.

"Looks like we're the only ones who made the cut, huh?"

She directed the question at Hayate but did not expect much of a response. It was more an observation than anything else. If these two shinobi were all Kirigakure had to offer then the war had clearly drained them of manpower.

TWC: 361

The deputy Mizukage was not disappointed when the two Genin showed up just on time. Although the horizon would not be in sight from Kirigakure because of the mist covering it and the massive storm encircling it, but there was a moment when the dark suddenly became less so.
The first Genin to appear was the one named Hayate Seiteki, who immediately introduced himself. Naoki returned a nod, noting that the boy was looking as official as one could expect from a Genin of the Mist - basically in uniform. The Uchiha man was rather lax on these kind of things himself - strict uniform was never really enforced in the Island village. However this day he was taking a middle ground. The manipulated fabric which functioned as most of his attire took form of combat pants, a compression shirt much like the kid wore, and a vest that resembled a flak jacket but not quite. These were all black of varying intensity and some had gray and white decorations of floral theme. Since he was going to represent the Mist in Konoha, the man also wore an appropriate headband. Unlike the Genin he had no needs for a backpack - everything he needed for the journey as well as the fancy bits of his full regalia were all hidden away in a pocket dimension.

Hayate would not get the opportunity to flip through his encyclopedia as it would be just a moment since his arrival that Asami would come into view. The girl acted somewhat familiar and Naoki placed her at a training event at the academy, but honestly he was so deep in thought that day that barely any detail for it stuck to his mind. He barely smiled and then confirmed her speculation. "Correct. The two of you are the only contestants the village decided to send. Now that we're all here, let's move out." With that he would turn and lead them through the gate towards the docks where a small ship was waiting to take them to the continent.

731 w.
[Exiting village,
332 w. to finish training Thousand Faces tech
339 w. towards mastering Cutting with discount]

Approved

The man's shadow of a smile did not put Asami at ease. Did he not recognize her? That would be strange in the extreme. Yet, nevertheless, she could not shake the idea that the deputy kage did not recognize her. Perhaps he was a sleepwalker? Yes, that had to be it, he had sleepwalked his way to the academy and then simply stood there. Somnambulism is one hell of a condition.

Either way, she didn't have much time to consider the sincerity of the man's smile. No, the trio of shinobi were on their way. They made their way to the docks where a small boat of questionable make sat ready. Now, Asami knew her boats and this one looked rickety at best. Hopefully, the deputy kage knew what he was doing, if not it would be a very short ride. Death by drowning did not appeal to the young genin. Yet still, she stepped onto the boat and waited as the small crew readied the vessel for departure.

In a few short minutes, they would be off.

Next stop?

The mainland.

TWC: 543

[Exiting village, +2 stats and 543 words towards Fissure Vent Note, Hayate gave me permission to post ahead of him as he is indisposed for the time being.]

Approved

Hayate had not even cracked the spine on his book when the ever punctual Asami made it on time, no doubt secretly disappointed she didn't get to arrive first and teach him about it.  As she asked her question, Hayate smiled and almost shot back a witty retort at Asami, something playfully digging, caught himself as Naoki answered first.  This wasn't like the buddy buddy missions he was used to doing with Asami, and he'd have to guard himself against falling into that old routine.

As the experienced Naoki led them out of the village with everyday calm, it was just at that moment that Hayate started to feel a bit of electricity and excitement, like it was indeed something out of the ordinary.  He had been outside the walls for brief stints, but they were stepping on that boat to go to another land.  Leaving the gate was no just walking a few feet this time, but symbolic of the start of an important journey.  He quickly joined formation with the other two, following to the boat.  The die was cast, and they were off.

wc 186 twc 500

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EXIT
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exit village, 2 stats, 500wc toward  Iai Beheading (2049->2549/3000)

Approved. Link techs in the future, please.