Frame of Reference

Photo Op Protégé:

At this point, there was little the mission board could offer Yuuma Fujiwara in the way of something that might surprise him- at least in regards to missions that were considered lower ranking. From running eggs to working the front gate and even escorting a shipment supply in the dead of night, the work he had come to expect as a shinobi was something he had begun to grow comfortable with. Never one to complain about a job being too easy, Yuuma couldn’t help but take up a rather unique mission in assisting one of the veteran members of the Hoshigakure with something of a passion project: photography. An elder in the village by the name of Iouja had requested the assistance of one of the village shinobi in order to complete a project he had been working on, though the details were sparse beyond that. All that left Yuuma with was a time and a place; a four-hour block of time that began around the evening of the day located in one of the more remote sections of the city. According to the missive, the mission taker was to meet the elder along the hillside to the north of the village and assist with the process of setting up equipment. Sounded easy enough. Even Archimedes had declined to join him on the endeavor, though failed to mention what it was he would be up to in the meantime. Yuuma had learned it best not to ask, less he ends up receiving a long-winded lecture.

Ever lost to his thoughts, Yuuma would cast his gaze upwards to the waning evening sky. Despite the lack of details pertaining to the mission, Yuuma could surmise that the subject of the project was likely going to be something outside. Although there was a particular address to meet at, the northern part of the city was largely noble homes or storehouses for the upper class- certainly, none of the nobles were going to hire a shinobi to assist with some picture taking, let alone allow them inside their homes for all but the direst of circumstances. Beyond that, Yuuma was interested to see just what it was the elderly photographer had in mind to capture. Distracted as he was, it was only some minutes after arriving at the destination that Yuuma realized that there was someone there beside him. Oblivious as he often was, he could have sworn the area had been clear but moments ago. And yet still, he found himself face to face with the stoney expression of an unimpressed elder who was staring him down as though they were related and he had missed several important calls. Blinking a few times, Yuuma offered the elder a smile and a bow of the head. “Good even-”

“You’re late!” Came a bark from the old man. “Typical young shinobi- fine to leave an old man to his decay, always in a rush for the next exciting adventure. Well, I have news for you young man!” The old man brought up a single accusatory finger. “You won’t be fighting for your life today! Just some plain old honest hard work. Think you can handle that or should I find something shiny to dangle before you in order to keep your attention?!” Despite the tone the old man took, Yuuma felt the rush of brash energy crash against him before falling away like water from a duck’s back. It wasn’t the first time he had been lambasted by someone he didn’t know, nor would it be the last. Taking in the sight of the man he could only assume was Iouja, Yuuma would observe the rather professional attire of his white-haired benefactor. A long, twin-tailed mustache perched on the man’s upper lip heavy enough to tug at the skin of his face as it draped along the fine button shirt and matching slacks. Bushy eyebrows would obscure the view of the man’s eyes, yet as the man turned in place to begin addressing his equipment, it seemed to hold little obstruction.

Yuuma, ever the diligent worker, would simply bow his head and dip into an honorable greeting. “My apologies, sir. I will work to be more diligent.” An answer the elder must not have been expecting as his bushy-browed expression turned to regard the shinobi once more, offering a simple “hmh” in response.

“Good! See that you do. Now let’s get to work. First, take all this equipment up to that roof.” A boney finger pointed at a rather tall, lavish building across the street from them. Gaze flowing upwards, Yuuma wondered if they were even allowed up there. Not that he hadn’t commandeered a few rooftops in his time doing other missions. The young man had no reason to question it and would instead nod to the elder, beginning to gather up the things as requested. Thankfully, although there were several arms full of equipment, it was all nicely bundled and prepared to be moved. After a few awkward moments of gathering everything into a manageable pile, Yuuma would take to the building only to find it closed. With no obvious way of ascent, Yuuma would look back to the elder only to find him gone. Not one to waste time with a simple quandary, Yuuma would activate his surface walking and begin to scale the side of the building. Even without any expertise in climbing, getting to the top was a simple matter. Setting the supplies aside, Yuuma would look back down to the ground, curious as to how exactly his benefactor was going to meet him up here. “Took you long enough!” The squawk of the old man sounded behind the boy, issuing him a startle and a quick turn of the head to confirm it had not been just a figment of the mind.

“Wha- but..how did you..” Yuuma said, trailing off and motioning from the ground up to where Iouja was currently standing.

“Spry for an old man, aren’t I?” The elder chuckled, though offered no further explanation. “Now help me get this stuff set up! We don’t have long.” What followed was nearly an hour of barked orders and reprimand for not being instantly familiar with the camera equipment, all of which was taken in stride by the young man. By the end of it, the two of them had a camera set up on a tripod overlooking a commanding view of Hoshigakure, the sight of which would pull Yuuma into more of the same silent contemplation that he always had. A silence that must have been noticed by the elder, who eventually spoke up with a tone that was a lot less accusatory this time. “You sure do a lot of thinking for a young ninja. Not much like the others who have come to help me before. I get the sense that you get in your own head a lot, hm? Easier than talking to people, hm? Hm?” He insisted, walking across the roof to join Yuuma in his watch of the city.


A grin would pinch at Yuuma’s cheek as he glanced to the elder, then back to the city. “I guess you could say that. I’m not really that good at learning stuff, so I have to think about it a lot until I’m sure of it.” He spoke over the view, watching the sun slowly setting in the distant horizon, nestling between a pair of distant plateaus in the country of Haven. “I guess I just don’t want to miss anything important.” He rounded off the statement.

The elder remained quiet for some time, humming in thought as Yuuma expressed himself. “You remind me of someone I used to know. Fiery spirit, but she also liked to think a lot. Always lost in her own head. Terrible student. Good person, though. She was the one that showed me this spot, actually. Well. Not this spot. But one like it.” He gruffed, shuffling back to his camera as Yuuma continued to well in the silence he had left him with. A part of the young boy wondered if that woman could be the very same one he thought of. Zia. His mother. His contemplation would follow the setting of the sun, crimson streaks running across the sky as the land was blanketed in a twilight cloak. The buildings nestled into their long shadows like the garments of sleep, and the yellow-orange rays of the sun running along the length of the land like water that cleansed away the weariness of the day. It was truly a beautiful sight.

Apparently, Iouja thought so as well because a series of clicks would emit from his camera, snapping the pictures he had come to take. Quietly, Yuuma would stand off to the side and enjoy the sight of the setting sun until the old man stood up with a sigh. “Well. That’s that. Another day, another job.” Turning his head, he’d look to Yuuma and breathe out a long sigh. “You did well today. In fact, if you’d like, I have a few more jobs over the next couple of days I could use help with. Come find me tomorrow morning, I’ll lend you my camera and set you up with some work. Some interesting work. Stuff you can think about instead of having to chase some adrenaline, hm?”

With a smile, Yuuma would bow his head once more. “I would appreciate that very much, thank you.”

A small tut of laughter would issue from the elder. “Of course you would. Now help me get this stuff packed up- it’s going to get cold soon and I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if I miss my tea time.”

[Mission Complete]

WC - 1,613

Photo Op Protege: Birthday Party:

The following morning, Yuuma would find a bit of spring to his step as he made his way towards his destination. About an hour or so ago, he had met up with the same elder he had helped the previous day; Mr. Iouja had offered further work for Yuuma to set upon and had even offered to lend the young man his camera in order to see it done. Apparently a duo of opportunities to be had today- a birthday party for some academy students and a request from a shop owner downtown to come to take pictures of a storefront he had for sale. As the day lined up, the birthday party was in the morning and the shop visit set to be in the afternoon. Thus, after picking up the equipment from the elder, Yuuma began to make his way towards the house at which the party was meant to be had. Despite his lack of familiarity with the neighborhood, it became increasingly easier to find the location as the noise level slowly picked up. Just how many kids were supposed to be at this party again? This, along with several other questions Yuuma was only just now thinking of, sprung into his mind as he made his way down the clean roads of Hoshigakure towards a squat, sturdy-looking house that had ample space in the yard and was completely decorated with birthday paraphernalia; colorful balloons tied to the fence post, streamers hung from the outside of the windows. Yup, this was definitely the place.

Pausing outside the fenced-off area, Yuuma would observe the abode and listen to the sounds he could hear; it was only natural for a shinobi to absorb their surroundings, after all. Without Archimedes here to remain wary alongside him, he found himself taking to the observations all on his own. At least six different children voices were to be heard, and one adult but Yuuma would be surprised if there was only one. Particularly because the details of the job mentioned a set of parents with which he was to make contact: Mr. and Mrs. Takizu. Apparently, they were both in the business of ink making, and it had done quite well for them. Granted, the home before Yuuma was no luxury abode but it was certainly a respectable family house. Making his way through the yard, Yuuma would double-check to make sure he had the equipment he needed before making a few sturdy knocks on the door. For a long moment, Yuuma stood waiting for a reply though he would hear footsteps approaching the door before the portal opened to reveal a rather well-dressed woman who looked as though she had woken up that day with coffee already in her system and the ability to tackle the day well in hand. “Good morning!” She said in a cheery tone catching Yuuma only slightly off guard. Must be a morning person.

“A good morning to you, ma’am.” He said, bowing his head. Today, Yuuma had opted to wrap a headband around his forehead in order to cover the scar the often off-put people just on his appearance alone, though he had not bothered to hide the headband that hung from his waist. They had been expecting a shinobi to take up the job, after all. Or at least, Yuuma hoped they had, or else this was about to get real awkward. Thankfully, no awkwardness seemed to come as the woman offered him pleasantries and introductions before welcoming Yuuma inside the house. Leaving his shoes at the door, Yuuma would follow closely behind the matron of the house and did his best to take in his surroundings while not prying too deeply into the family’s doing. Pleasant sentiments hung on the walls- photos of family members and events since passed. Apparently, this family was no stranger to the art of the camera and cared very much to capture any memory they could with it. Part of Yuuma wondered why they didn’t simply purchase the camera themselves, though he wouldn’t go as far as to ask it. Far be it for him to question the financial choices of anyone else, let alone a family.

After a brief introduction to the father- who looked not nearly as prepared as his wife- the mother made to summon a young boy. The king of the party, so to speak, was a young lad by the name of Jun, a wild-haired youth that looked like his new age number had made him grow a foot taller overnight. Despite this claim to age, he was not above being corralled by his mother into what would end up being a small family photo. Posing by a small family shrine that had obviously received great care and attention over the years, the family situated themselves as they saw fit and Yuuma would ready his camera. Just like he had learned from assisting the elder the day before, he picked a couple of angles that spoke well for not only the family and shrine but the young boy as well. Jun did well to stay still for the photos, though his mother didn’t exactly approve of the silly faces being made for the first couple of pictures and insisted that more be taken once Jun had straightened out properly. Yuuma had little issue and an abundance of patience for the correction and would take his time to make sure the shots were aligned and lovely. The morning sun peeking in through the windows did wonders for the ambient light, and Yuuma was readily able to capture enough photos for the family’s liking. Despite the quick resolution of the family photos, Yuuma was invited to stick around for a few hours and snap a few more pictures of the party as guests began to filter in even being offered a slice of cake once it had been produced. His mind reached back to his mission with Tsuna and how sugar hadn’t exactly been his friend that day and politely declined.

Over the course of the next couple of hours, Yuuma would grow to have a feel for things. Instead of trying to stage photos, he would simply stand idle by and await an opportunity to arise. Children getting caught up in their games in the yard, the opening of gifts, and the arrival of beloved family members. It was nice. Pleasant. Something Yuuma had never gotten to experience. His youth hadn’t ever been filled with such parties having lived a very simple life. He hadn’t even contemplated such things. More often than not, Yuuma found his gaze lingering on the parents of the birthday boy, their gaze wary of the going on’s but full of love and adoration. Somewhere amidst the party, a small part of Yuuma would withdraw into his mind as it often did and he found himself wishing that he could have experienced something similar. An even smaller part of him wondered if Jun realized exactly what he might be missing if his situation had been anything like Yuuma’s.

Interrupted from his thoughts, Yuuma would feel a nudge at his side. Turning, he would spot the father who held out a trio of shuriken to him. “Our boy is currently in the academy to become a ninja.” He explained, looking much more alive by this point in the party. “Want to show them some stuff they can look forward to?” He asked, nodding then to the opposite end of the yard where a trio of balloons had been set up, each with a star painted on them. With a grin, Yuuma would stash away the camera and take up the stars. Thankfully, the father would do the heavy lifting of the gathering as his voice raised to speak to the party. “Hey Jun! Bring your friends over, we are going to see what an expert ninja can do!” A round of excited chatter fluttered over the party as the children made to clear the area in front of the balloons, scooting off to the side and huddling around each other with wide, expectant eyes. 

Yuuma couldn’t help but grin some. He’d hardly call himself an expert, but all the eyes on him made him feel the need to put a little pizzaz on the show. Throwing a shuriken was a simple but important maneuver, so he would not deviate from the proper form as he took up a comfortable throwing position. Instead, he would trace the movements of the throw in a slow, dramatic fashion as though he truly had to take aim at the distant targets. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the three shurikens would fly in unison down the yard and sink into their targets, each causing the balloon to burst in a shower of confetti that burst over the yard in a wondrous display. A small round of cheers from the kids along with the backdrop of polite applause from the parents would prompt a small bow from Yuuma, who stood up straight as Jun came rushing over to him. “Wow! That was so cool! Will I be able to do that when I am a ninja?” He asked, his face alight with excitement.

For a moment, Yuuma would glance to his parents, who were looking on with a smile before he’d look back to Jun. “That, and much more. But you have to study hard.” Yuuma said, lifting a finger. “Being a ninja is as much dedicating to yourself as it is to the art.” In truth, he could have gone much deeper with the thought, but chose instead to leave it at that. It was a party, after all. A few rounds of excited chatter later, Yuuma would gather up the tools that had been thrown into the fence and returned to the parents, assuring them that the pictures would be delivered by the end of the day before taking his leave. He had a couple of hours still before the shop shoot, and his stomach was rumbling. All the cake might have been tempting, but he had to get some real food in him before the day progressed much further.

[Mission Complete]

WC - 1,695
TWC - 3,308

Photo Op Protégé: Sell the Shop:

Having taken an hour or so for lunch, Yuuma was feeling refreshed and ready to continue the day of work. Next in line was a shop keeper in the heavier trafficked part of Hoshi’s commercial district- a single-story building that currently sold curiosities didn’t seem to be able to hold much business, and as such the owner had recently made some renovations to the establishment. Improvements he had hoped would bring in more customers, though was finding difficulty getting the word out. That was where Yuuma was to come in. Mr. Iouja had informed Yuuma to meet with the shopkeeper, take some photos of the improvements, and make the pictures ready to be placed in a flyer that was going to be hung about the town in order to bring awareness to the new and improved shop. As far as he was concerned, it seemed like an interesting way to get attention- particularly for a knick-knack shop. Most of the time, those sorts of shops brought in people all on their own. Given Hoshi’s pension for the pious, however, he could imagine that they were less interested in whatever the keeper had.


Whatever the reason, Yuuma had made sure to load a fresh roll of film into the camera and kept the originals for the birthday party that was due to be processed later that day. Likely by Mr. Iouja himself, given that Yuuma was only vaguely familiar with the process and had only just learned to operate the camera. Given, it wasn’t exactly a difficult process to figure out- how hard was it to point and click, after all? Yuuma was quickly coming to learn, however, that there was a difference between taking a picture and taking a good picture. Lighting, angles, depth, focus- these were all aspects that the young Genin hadn’t ever really considered before beginning to work with the elderly camera keeper. He couldn’t even quite call himself a student of the arts yet, but he took the jobs he had been given serious none-the-less. These were the thoughts of the Genin as he made his way down the much more familiar street center of Hoshi where a lot of businesses chose to make their roots. For good reason too; being in the heart of the city meant that more often than not, people had to pass your business in order to get to where ever they might be going.

As Yuuma approached the show in question, however, he could see why people might have steered clear of it. An imposing mask sat over the banner leering down at passersby with wicked-looking fetishes clenched in two wooden knuckles on either side of the grimacing expression. The storefront was largely open, revealing a vast area on the inside covered by an awning at the door to shade from the sun and potential rain. Inside, Yuuma could spot a variety of interesting items that took the form of totems, show weapons, instruments, antiques, and the like. A pair of potted plants sat on either side of the shop’s entrance that reached nearly to the roof though didn’t have any sort of sprouting flowers on it making them look as uncared for bushes. All in all, it was probably a place Yuuma wouldn’t have bothered to go into either. He probably would have avoided it even now had he not had a job to do. Before he made contact with the owner, he would angle his camera at the entrance of the open-front shop and snapped a few quick pictures of the shadowed vision of goods within, cutting off the leering face at the top only so it didn’t capture the eyes of the creature staring down at people who passed by.

A moment or two later, a door in the back of the shop would open and through it would step a well-dressed man whose clothes looked more alive than he did. Pale skin with bags under his eyes and wiry black hair gave the shopkeeper- whose name was Mr. Shig- a rather defeated appearance that his clothing dared to defy. “Ah, you must be the photographer. Iouja said he’d be sending a young shinobi. I apologize if this work isn’t very exciting. Truth be told, I’m not terribly excited about it either.” The man crossed his way through the shop to greet the boy, the two of them exchanging pleasantries before the man invited Yuuma into the shop. Stepping inside, the man would continue to talk as the ninja began setting up for shots of the new and improved shop. A new display case sporting a rather interesting set of armor that wasn’t like the metals suits of the Queensman, a table full of intricate metal puzzles featuring sliding tiles or loops that weaved through one another in need of being untangled. “Despite my efforts, it seems people are less and less interested in the knick-knacks I carry. Doesn’t matter what it is; toys, puppets, gifts- I can’t exactly name it. Not that my heart is much in it myself.” The keeper seemed content to speak on and on while Yuuma went about his business, nodding here and there to show he was listening even as he took the pictures.

“I inherited the business from my brother who has since moved on to bigger and better things. Crop management. Sound even more boring, right? Well, apparently there is good money in logistics.” The man sighed wistfully, moving around behind Yuuma as his camera snapped picture after picture. “Had I my way, I’d be spending my days making works of art. So soothing is the brush across the canvas. Even if I didn’t make any money.” Coming to pause besides Yuuma, the man would clasp his hands behind his back, looking at a picture that hung on the wall beside him.

“Perhaps you should.” Yuuma would return finally, standing up straight from the position he had to take a picture. Turning, he’d offer the confused expression of the man a smile. “You could always sell your business. Use it to do something with your art- something that makes you happy.”

“You think?” The man wondered out loud, tilting his head. “I don’t know...it was my brother’s life work to run this shop.”

“But not yours.” Yuuma countered, motioning to the man. “You aren’t your brother, after all.”

“Hmh.” The man hummed out, looking back to the picture on the wall that depicted a long stretch of green forest nestled between two tall mountain peaks. “Perhaps you are right...In fact, perhaps I’ll use the photos you took to offer to sell the shop instead. Why not, right? I’ve already invested.” The man said, a small smile creeping over his face for the first time since their interaction. “If you know anyone looking to buy a shop, do let me know, won’t you?” 

[Mission Complete]
WC - 1,139
TWC - 4,447

Photo Op Protégé: Student Photos:

A fresh day meant a fresh set of missions. Previously, he had become more familiar with the camera equipment used to take pictures by attending a birthday party, which offered him the experience of live-action shots in a natural environment. Later in the day, he had discovered the differences between live shots and scenery shots by taking care of a job concerning a local shopkeeper looking to expand the awareness of his shop. Both jobs had been done in a timely manner, and though Yuuma hadn’t been there to return to the finished product or develop the film himself, he had seen the initial process through to completion. Incredibly satisfied with his work, Yuuma once more offered any future help that Mr. Iouja might need, and had promptly received another assignment. This one was a great deal more important. Well, to some, anyway. It was his first official camera work for the village at large, as he had been assigned to take pictures of the new students attending the Hoshigakure academy for shinobi. These pictures would be used for identification and cards given out by the school to the prospecting students. The excitement on the part of the Genin was two-fold; firstly, he hadn’t been back to the Academy in some time and he looked forward to speaking with his once teacher. Second, it was a chance to interact with the next generation of Shinobi. No doubt, one of these youngsters would be Kage before too long given how young the leader of the village ninja seemed to be. By comparison, he felt quite elderly. A feeling he was coming to appreciate with the more he learned. The more he learned, the more he could teach others after all.

Yuuma found himself owl free once more today, Archimedes opting to spend some time investigating a unique aspect of the city- the Summoning Circle. No doubt it would play a part in some manner of a future lesson for the Genin. Though depending on how things went, it was possible he was a Chuunin by the time the lesson came around. Excitement crept through his belly as he made his way down the streets to the Academy. As the building came into view, memories of how he had spent his time training amongst many who were closer to the age of his sister flashed through his mind. Running about the tracks in endless upkeep of his physical form, the spot he had picked out to learn how to connect with the energy of the earth, and even the sparring dojo where he had practiced his freshly learned techniques of the Academy. Of all the places in Hoshigakure, this was perhaps one he felt most connected to. Pushing through a set of double doors that marked the entrance to the building, Yuuma would make his way down the corridor to pause before a wall that displayed a row of pictures from the classes of years passed, ever moved down in order until the pictures are retired to another resting place. Pausing before his own, his eyes would find his image among the rows of other students that were generally much younger than him save for a few, his eyes floating to Tadashi and Kaibo. Silently, he wondered where the two of them had gone and what they were up to today.

“You got a lot of nerve showing your face around here, kid.” A voice would sound from down the hall, drawing his attention. The figure was revealed to be a rather tall and imposing man who stood with his arms crossed and his attention square on Yuuma. An ear-to-ear smile split the man’s lower face, accented by a set of scars that ran the length of his chin on the right side. Azuka Shibata. His former teacher. He was a tough man and a tougher shinobi. His training was rigorous, and Yuuma always had the feeling that he liked to push the young man more than the rest of the class- most likely thanks to his advanced age. Perhaps a part of him thought that the younger students should look up to him. Whatever his reasoning, he had always found a stubborn kindness in Yuuma that welcomed the teacher whenever he saw him. Especially now. “Lookin’ good. They finally make a shinobi out of you or what? What’s with that band on your head? You some kinda Tai master now?” He asked, his tone deep and serious though not particularly matching his friendly expressing. A juxtaposition that Yuuma had taken some time getting used to.

A hand would lift to touch the band covering his forehead and the scar underneath. “Keep’s the hair out of my face.” He said, and while it wasn’t a complete lie, it wasn’t his main motivation either. “Looks like you are stuck with me as the camera guy today, sensei.” Yuuma turned, offering a polite bow and lifting the camera to show him as much. As Azuka approached, however, he instead put out a hand to be shaken. A custom Yuuma had seen him extend to others before, and one he was ready to meet. His grasp was firm, and the shake didn’t last long, but it felt powerful. A connection of greeting. It was very personal, but that was just the sort of guy Azuka was.

Azuka would sight out a dramatic breath and shake his head. “Well, take what you can get I suppose.” The man smirked, laughing some when Yuuma offered a smile in return. Tossing his head to the side, he invited Yuuma to walk beside him as they made their way down the hall. “The setup is pretty straightforward- hope you can work with a lot of noise. I’ll have a section set up in part of one of the classrooms but the students will be present while the pictures are begin taken. Which probably means noise and distraction. But I’m sure you’ll be able to handle it. You and that level head of yours.” Azuka stole a glance over his shoulder to Yuuma, who did well to hide a prideful smirk. Yuuma was well aware that his notoriously even attitude had been something of a hang-up for the sensei, who often relied on emotional involvement to push his students. A technique that had been found wanting in the face of the stoic Yuuma. The two of them would move down the familiar halls, sharing some conversation as they went; how things had been, what he had been up to, and how Yuuma was progressing as a shinobi. Despite the comfort Yuuma felt with the teacher, he still found it difficult to admit he had taken leave of the village and ended up skirting around the subject to simply say he had been away on an extended mission. An excuse that likely didn’t hold up well to the veteran shinobi’s deduction, but Azuka didn’t seem to feel the need to press the matter any further.


Pushing through the door to a classroom Yuuma once knew to house the “Practical Skills” class, Yuuma would be greeted by the sudden turning of heads of a bunch of young students who had been sitting in their seats and chatting before the teacher had entered which quickly died down once they had arrived. Yuuma swept his gaze first up to his old seat, half expecting to see Kaido sitting in the seat just beside it. The image was instead replaced by a bored-looking student in blonde hair listening to her headphones, which were pushed down to her neck as she paid the front of the classroom heed. Instead of lingering, his eyes swept further over the class until the motion of a waving hand caught his attention. Focusing in on the disturbance, Yuuma would find a familiar face smiling over the desk and waving ecstatically to him. Jun. Lifting his hand, Yuuma would lift a hand to return the wave prompting a small pool of whispers to surround the apparently well-liked student, though the whispering would be cut short as the instructor began to speak, pulling the attention of the class to him in short order. “Alright listen up, our assistant today is a former student, and he won’t tolerate any sort of goofing off with his pictures.” Some of the more steely of the class gave Yuuma a weary glance, not fully convinced by the warm smile the older Genin wore that what they were hearing might be true. Nonetheless, no one has the fortitude to dispute. “Other than that, it will be class as normal. So do try and pay attention.”

Over the course of the next hour or so, Yuuma will begin calling up the students by the name he read off a sheet of paper that had been handed to him alongside a trio of smoke bombs to be used later on to make an exit. One by one, the students would come forward and take a seat in the chair that was placed behind a set of screens- one blocking too much light from the windows, and the other blocking the view of the class in order to frame the shot. A single light had been set up, pointed into the boxed-off section in order to make sure most of the light they did have was coming from the same direction as the picture.  “Alright, sit up straight please. Tilt your head this way. Smile! And 1...2...3..” Flash. A simple and easy to repeat process that made the take of taking pictures quite quick. While there were a couple of students who thought to try and make a silly face, it didn’t take more than a word of warning or Instructor Azuka poking his head around the screen for the student to shape up. For the most part, many of them were well disciplined. Not atypical for the academy; even his own graduating class didn’t have too many students who would actively defy the instructor. Specially Instructor Azuka.

Eventually, Yuuma would find the young man he was familiar with being called. Jun offered him a wave and an excited skip as he made his way over to the screening area. “Hey there Mr. Yuuma!” He said in a low voice, to which Yuuma replied with a polite nod.

“Jun, good to see you. Excited for your learning at the academy?” Yuuma would question, though all the while giving silent visual instructions as to what the young boy should be doing. Yuuma didn’t mind the whispered conversation, but he was also not willing to earn the ire of Instructor Azuka once more. He’d be sure to catch an ear full if Azuka believed him to be distracting one of his students intentionally.

“Yes- so excited! It’s going to be awesome!” Jun spoke quietly, settling into his seat and putting on a big smile from ear to ear. It wasn’t quite a silly face and other kids had smiled in their pictures, though Jun was certainly animated. A passable expression nonetheless. “Someday, I’m going to be as good a ninja as you and we are gunu’ fight!” He said, the punctuation of his spirit not lost on Yuuma despite the whispering.

Smiling in spite of himself, Yuuma shook his head and situated the camera to take the picture. “Sure, sure. Maybe someday you can beat me.” The comment put a look of challenge on the boy’s face just as the picture snapped.

Finishing off the last few remaining students, Yuuma would stand to leave before Azuka would clap a hand on his shoulder, speaking aloud to the class. “Now! Before you all get up to go, I’ve convinced one of our former students to give us a little demonstration of what a real shinobi can do.” Glancing down, Azuka would give the Genin a wink before a rough pat on the back that rocked Yuuma’s torso.

Recovering himself, Yuuma would look over the class once more. All eyes were on him, though he didn’t feel the need to shirk away. “Honor. Duty. Friendship. These are what makes a shinobi. If you learn anything here, learn to love your home. Learn to take pride in it, and know that, someday, you might be called on to defend it.” Murmurs sprouted around the class, the high note speech captivating some, but not many others. Yuuma never was great at finding the right words- only the honest ones. Still, he knew what really caught attention, and with a sudden twist of motion, a smoke bomb would splash against the floor, creating an instant puff of smoke that filled the front of the room. Before his departure, Yuuma could hear some of the gasps of the children, and the resonation of the ones followed as the smoke cleared and he was nowhere to be seen.

[Mission Complete]

WC- 2,131
TWC- 6,578

Photo Op Protégé: Camera Cleaning:

It had been quite the past few days. Despite being so close to the exam, Yuuma was feeling more and more ready as the days drew near and the hours counted down. Even the side work he had managed for Mr. Iouja had done a fair bit to even out his mind and help him find his focus. Although the last couple of days hadn’t exactly been full of rigorous jutsu practice or strenuous physical workout, Yuuma felt as though he had continued to grow closer to the village as a whole, and as such had found a new sense of strength going into the exams. It wasn’t a strength that could be measured by a device or even displayed to others like some manner of ability; the strength was one of resolve. Resolve in becoming more aligned with the place he would fight for. And he owed much of it to the man who now sat across the table from him, sipping away at a freshly made cup of tea. Mr. Iouja, who had originally put in a request for a shinobi to assist him with some of the work to take a picture on the top of a building in northern Hoshi. The experience had since sprouted into much more opportunity to work with the equipment he had since become familiar with. “So, my boy,” the elder would begin, cutting into the pleasant conversation they had been having. “How do you find the work? I’ve taken a look at the pictures you’ve come back with so far. Very good work. Amateurish, but that makes sense; you’re an amateur, after all. Still! I’m impressed nonetheless. I thought I was going to either have to give some refunds or redo some of the shots myself, but I’ll admit, you did more than passable for your first jobs.”

Yuuma, who had accepted the offer for a sit-down and some tea in the elder’s home, nodded in response to the compliments. That same smile sat over his face as always did; Yuuma was a kind soul and liked to wear as much on his expression. His eyes had been taking in their surroundings, observing the cozy space of the elder that was filled with the knick-knacks of ages passed. Pictures hung on the walls of scenes he had captured, memories he had shared, and moments that sat suspended in the frozen him encased with wooden frames and supported by a thin spread of glass. Blue eyes moved back to the elder across from the Genin as he had spoken about the jobs he had accomplished. “Thank you, Mr. Iouja. And thank you as well for the tea.” He said, lifting his cup to show the offering. It had been warm and not so sweet. A combination Yuuma was quickly coming to find was his preferred preparation of tea. “I have come to be quite familiar with the camera. I don’t think I’ll ever be quite as good with it as you are, but if you ever need a hand, I’m more than willing to lend my own. Something about capturing moments on film seemed so...unique.” Yuuma would hum out in thought, bringing the tea up to his lips in order to sip at it some.

Today was another mission, despite the pleasantries, he shared with the elder. Yuuma had come to the elder’s home in order to do some maintenance to the cameras of Hoshigakure, to which he was the proprietor of many. As such, the devices had been left at his home. Upon arrival, however, Yuuma learned that Mr. Iouja was not quite as in a rush to see things move along to business as he had the last time the two had encountered each other for work. “It does my heart well to hear you say these things. You know, when I offered to bring on a shinobi to help me with my work, I did so somewhat begrudgingly. Not because I fall in with those crackpots at the church, but because you young mystics always seem so eager to find physical confrontation in things. To fight. I guess that is to be expected. You are trained with these...powers of yours and then want to go put them to use. I can see the appeal. Hell, were I younger, I might be encouraged to join you.” He chuckled some, pausing in his small talk to sip from his tea, though Yuuma made no mention to interrupt the thought. “I’d like if you continued to do camera work. If not for me, then for the village. You won’t need to answer me now, but there may come a time in the future that I have an itch for something bigger and grander than my old bones can stand.”

Nodding his head, Yuuma would allow the thought to sit for a moment as he considered it. It wouldn’t take much consideration before he found himself nodding again. “I stand by what I said. You can count on me. I will do my best with any work you give me going forward.” Setting his tea down, Yuuma would fold his hands in his lap as a polite way of saying he was prepared to get to work on the task he had come here for. As pleasant as sharing the time was with an elder who wanted to share his art, there was an entire room of cameras that needed to get cleaned and developed. “I also wouldn’t mind learning the next steps. Developing film and such.”

“Good,” Iouja returned, setting down his tea and steadily pushing himself to his feet with the assistance of the table between them. “I like your spirit, young man. Follow me, and I’ll show you where the real magic happens.” Odd statement aside, Yuuma would make to follow the elder through the house and up a set of narrow stairs that took a small amount of acrobatics to get passed as books upon books were stacked in rows along the staircase. Not exactly the safest of situations, but Iouja seemed to have little problem moving upwards through the clutter as they entered a small hallway that ended in a door. With a key he had retrieved from his pockets, the elder opened the door into a single large room that was virtually stuffed from wall to wall with photography paraphernalia. Boxes and boxes of cameras, parts, upkeep supplies, and old rows of films sat alongside a variety of bigger, older cameras, carrying cases, lighting supplies, and various odds and ends for things Yuuma couldn’t readily identify. At the far end of the room was a sectioned-off part that was utterly dark in contrast to the soft orange light that filtered in through the single window that faced away from the sun. “As you can see, you have quite a bit of work cut out for you. I imagine I don’t need to tell you how to clean something- make sure it’s clear of dirt and dust, and try to keep things organized.” Iouja said, motioning around the room. “Come get me when you are done with that and we will get to develop the film.”

Nodding, Yuuma would shuffle aside and make room for the elder to depart. Looking around, Yuuma would take in the sight of all the work before him and wipe away at his forehead. A warm attic with tons of boxes and camera parts. This was going to be quite the ordeal. But there was no time like the present to get started. Rolling up his sleeves, Yuuma would gather the supplies he had been given and set to work beginning to clean off the cameras. The first order of business was to make neat piles of chunks to work on- a box here, a stack of the film there. Everything had its place, and Yuuma knew that if he let it get out of control that it was going to be almost impossible to get it all organized once again. Thankfully, the supplies offer to him were things he could readily handle. A small collection of clean clothes, some purified alcohol to act as a stainless cleaner, some senbon to get into those hard-to-reach spots, and a set of gloves so he didn’t have to worry about getting his hands covered in any potential grim. For the most part, the work was non-complicated and quite easy to manage; get a camera out, wipe it down thoroughly, remove any film that might have been inside, and set it back away. After the first box or two, Yuuma found a pretty steady rhythm to the work and was able to make a consistent pace on finding, cleaning, and replacing the camera.

At one point, Yuuma got the clever idea to cover the end of a senbon in a cloth before dipping it in alcohol to clean out the smaller spaces of the camera including the preview window and the lens itself. It only took nearly two hours before Yuuma had worked his way through the entirety of the equipment; the cameras were the longest process. The lighting equipment, carrying cases, and film rolls really just needed a wipe down and were quickly able to be replaced back in the spot they had come from. Overall, Yuuma managed to even improve the organization of the attic somewhat, which prompted an impressed response from Iouja who had come to check on his progress. “Very good, my boy! Even if your pictures are amateur, your attention to detail is impeccable. Now, come join me at the development station. I’ll show you how this is done, and then you can get to work developing that collection of film you’ve managed.” He said, motioning to the small stack of various sized films on the table Yuuma had worked from.

In the development room, there was a single red light the illuminated everything in a sort of horror-movie fashion. Trays of some manner of liquid sat in rows on the desk, and a string tied from wall to wall would have clips to hang things from. “This...looks a bit scary,” Yuuma said, looking about the small space he had moved into with the elder.

Iouja only laughed. “That’s only because you are only seeing it in the dark. It’s very important to remain dark while you develop the pictures. In this stage, they are incredibly sensitive to light. Even a small exposure could ruin a photo altogether. Don’t worry, your eyes will adjust. Now come here and pay attention.” Motioning him over, the elder would begin to show Yuuma exactly how pictures were developed. The process by which they were removed from the film, placed into the water alongside the picture sheets, and then soaked for an amount of time before being hung to dry. It was an intricate process but not one that was so far beyond Yuuma once it had been shown to him once or twice. “There? You see?” Mr. Iouja said, plucking one of the nearly dry pictures from the clamp on a string and showing it to Yuuma. The picture was one of scenery- some sort of building being built although, in the fading light, Yuuma had a hard time identifying it. “This was when the new hospital was being built. It was the talk of the town at the time- that old building hardly served the people well. So naturally, I had to capture the transformation. Almost wouldn’t recognize that part of town now, hm?”

“Wow..” Yuuma breathed out, taking hold of the picture and looking it over. Now that it had been pointed out, Yuuma could indeed see the similarities in some in the surrounding area to the hospital he had been at not overly long ago. “A moment captured in time. Cool,” he sighed again, taking in the detail he could in the dark.

At his back, Yuuma could feel the hand of Iouja pay him gently. “Now you know everything you need to. Be patient with your work- the development process is just as important if not more so than taking the picture itself. Moving along too early or too late will ruin the picture, and then your work will all be for not.” Patting the young boy again, Iouja would scoot past him and exit the darkroom, leaving Yuuma to proceed with the work on his own.

Settling into the work, Yuuma would once again find a rhythm to the process that he was comfortable with. This one would be a fair bit slower than the last, but this didn’t bother the young Genin at all. In fact, each picture that developed was an opportunity to wait for the others to complete. Scene after scene would unfold before him as he placed the pictures up to dry, and collected the completed ones to be placed in sectional folders based on their subject. People, places, and things. Smiling faces captured in a frame of reference to be revisited at any time by loved ones, or simply people who were curious about what might have happened before. Events of great occasion that had fallen to obscurity not long after they happened. It was enough that Yuuma got to experience each of the photos one after another until one picture, in particular, caught his attention.

A dark-haired woman stood leaning in the frame of a shop that Yuuma had seen before. A plaque bearing the image of a shade wrapped around a bottle hanging above an awning. The woman had an expression that was both serious and welcoming. Soft, but sharp all at the same time. Yuuma took the picture in his hands, settling into the single chair in the darkroom to gaze over the features of the woman he had become more and more familiar with. His mother. All at once, Yuuma felt a rush of emotions flood his system. Anger. Sadness. Happiness. A confusion mixture that almost made him feel sick as his eyes began to mist. Of all the places, and all the people, why had his mother chosen here, and not with him and his sister? Were these people so important that she would forget her own family in order to care for them? Or was there more to it. Was it perhaps that she had found something so important that she put aside her own desires in order to see it through to whatever end it meant. Lifting a hand, Yuuma would wipe away at his eyes as he examined the picture. Digging beneath his shirt, he’d bring forth a small charm on a necklace of an eclipsing moon and grip it gently in his fist as he looked at the picture.

“I can do it. Just like you did. You were without family by your side, and yet you remained strong. I’ll do it too.” He said, pulling in a shuttered breath before setting the picture aside. That one would be coming home with him.

[Mission Complete.]

WC- 2,492
TWC- 9,070

[Exit]

Mission rewards:
-65 AP
-12,250 Ryo (genin bonus added)
-3 Shuriken
-2 Smoke Bombs
-5 Senbon

WC claims: 9,070

Stats- +5
+5 Str
Using 1000 WC to swap 5 from Speed into Str.
MAX Stats Achieved.
AP added- 151.

Other- (25% discount applied for max stats)
1,875 for A rank Earth Dragon Bullet.
1,125 for B rank Rock Pillar Spears
1,125 for B rank Tearing Earth Palm
1,312 for B rank Summoning: Iron Maiden
1,125 for B rank Multiple Earth Style Wall
1,125 for B rank Water Prison
1,125 for B rank Mud Spore
258 WC toward Body Flicker [258/375]

Also would like to claim completion of Earth Style Wall Rank B [1,139/1,125] Progress for that can be found here.

Approved