Tanbo's Patrol Squad

The sunrise from behind the mountains as light rays consume the darkness. The clear blue sky spread widely with no clouds to cover the magnificent view that the morning brought upon Tanbogakure. With the change of scenery, the night guards changed with the morning guards as everyone began their morning routines. A peaceful morning was like no other, calming and tranquil Mikaela couldn't ask for a better way to get his start. He walked towards his kitchen as he was wearing a white martial arts uniform with gold trim and a pink sash tied around the left side of his waist and the folded sleeves on both of his sleeves and pants and the high-neck on his uniform are dark blue. Upon arrival in his kitchen, he turned off the stove, letting the teapot calm down from its boiling point. Mikaela looked around his cabinets until he found his teacup and a bag of apple tea. He poured the water into the cup, ripping the plastic around the tea as he grabbed it by its string and began to dip it on his mug.

Mikaela was going into the village to meet at the newly opened tea shop. He first passed the new training grounds as the radiant sky formed overhead, with the sounds of clashing steel and fists in the background, as the training grounds were especially lively on that particular day for a reason Mikaela was unaware of. The redhead took in the smell of an entire grassy field, like a muted version of freshly cut grass. It was a small piece of nature that people in the Rice Village had grown accustomed to. Hardly could one walk a step in the village without seeing some lush, green plant growth. Whether they be trees, flowers, rice, grass, or that strange fungus on grandpa's foot, the rice Village certainly had no shortage of flora. 

He was given another string of assignments, and he had a mission partner this time. The recurring gentle breeze kissed his face, which was usual for any space in the Land of Rice. As he entered the business district, The current was carried with the scent of cooked food and smelled of different dishes as the day had begun for most restaurants. The streets started to fill as people started proceeding about their days. Taking a sip of the tea he brought with him, he approached the tea Shop. He was taking a seat outside of the shop on a wooden bench. He then proceeded to wait for his companion to appear. He wondered what mission the other wanted to start with. Mikaela had no problem with whatever they decided to do.

[TWC: 447/4,250]

Hayato was coming in from feeding the chickens. They had been rather excitable today. Hopping around and pecking lovingly at his feet. Maybe they had sensed his nervousness. He had only been on errand type missions before, but today he'd be going on a something a bit more. A patrol of all the village's usual patrol spaces. While he was sure nothing would go wrong,  one could never be sure. Or at least he thought so, but what did he know about patrols? Another point of anxiety was that he was meet up with other shinboi for these task. He had never meet anyone other Tanbogakure shinobi for missions, so he hoped that they would get along well enough. As long as they didn't bother him too much it would be fine...he hoped.

Hayato sigh after he placed the sack of grain down inside of he small home and grabbed his headband, weapon pouches, and his shiny new katana. He had recently been to Gato's ninja shop to procure equipment fitting a shinobi. They had a nice set of beginner equipment for a steal. He also got a few books. One on the human body and an encyclopedia of various common jutsu. He was making his way though it and thinking of jutsu he might want to learn. Finally there was the katana. It was the weapon he decided to wield after a bit of deliberation. It felt heavy for him. Not in weight, it was more the implications that came with carrying a visible weapon. He had used one in the academy, but something about carrying metal implement around town not intended for farming was so... foreign. Perhaps he would get used to it with time.

After he attached the weapon pouches to his side, Hayato slides the katana and sheath into his light blue obi. He straightens his hakama and kimono, grey and dark blue respectively. Finally he ties the Tanbogakure headband around his forehead nice and tight. "I'm heading out mother, please take it easy in the fields!" He called as he finally made his way out the door. He observed at the height of the sun, and decide he was actually running ahead of time. With the extra time he could read a little while he walked. He removed the jutsu encyclopedia from his bag and started reading from his last bookmarked position. " Water Release: Starch Syrup Capturing Field..."

Before he knew it, Hayato was at the meeting location. He noticed a red headed shinobi waiting at a wooden bench. I suppose this is our squamate for these mission... The first hair was striking and the first thing Hayato noticed, but the green eyes where also very vibrant. Hayato wasn't sure of their gender so he would keep the greeting neutral.  He was nervous, but he would keep it simple.

Hello...are you...here for the mission group? He managed to stammer out something coherent, but with a few unnatural pauses and, a monotone at best lacking enthusiasm at worst. Probably about the best he could have hoped for.

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[WC:509/2834]

Kato was excited to finally be able to go on a mission that did not involve doing busy work for the villagers of Tanbo. On the one hand it was nice to go out and meet some of the villagers and really connect with the people, but, on the other it was kind of a let down in terms of what it meant to be a Ninja. Of course he had romanticized what it meant to become a full fledged Ninja in his head. Grandiose ideas of being a hero had obviously been a selling point for him. However, he was slowly but surely coming down to earth in his personal headspace and was realizing that there was more to this than being an action hero. 

If he had been told a few months ago that he would be excited for a regular old patrol he would have probably told whoever was saying it that they were crazy. However, after chasing cats and carrying groceries around for people, this was an adventure of epic proportions by comparison. He finished his preparations and looked at himself in the mirror. He had tied his headband to his left arm and he had also wrapped his right arm and left leg with the traditional wraps one would see in Konoha. Though it was not typically the style here in Tanbo, this was the garb he had worn all through his Academy days while a member of Konoha, and it was all the rage for young Shinobi in the Leaf Village. It was a habit he could not quite break as of yet. 

He turned from the mirror and grabbed his Katana and strapped it to his back while also double checking his basic gear to ensure he had all of his Kunai and other items. He would most likely not need any of it but it was better to be safe than sorry. Passing by the mirror he stopped and looked at himself one last time, pride filling his body as he was realizing his dream of being a Ninja. Seeing himself all dressed up made him swell with pride. Looking both ways, he closed in on the mirror, and quickly he activated his Sharingan and he peered into his newly red eyes with the one tomoe. Reaching his hand up he rubbing just below his eyes, still not used to the dark red color of his eyes, and wondering how others would react when they saw it. His father had always warned him that other Ninja would go across the lands to get his eyes if they found out he had unlocked his abilities, so for now, he would keep it under wraps. Quickly, his eyes returned to their normal blue color and he exited his house. 

He was to meet his teammates  outside of a tea shop and then, from what he could gather, they were to do some routine training exercises. He was sure it was all going to revolve around teamwork in some form or fashion. Probably just getting to know each other. He wondered how he should make his entrance. He could always go with the Cool factor and come in in some crazy fashion. That seemed a bit pretentious, though, so he figured he would just walk up and try and be normal. There was no reason to be extra, he supposed. 

Though he was not late, by counting, he figured he was the last to arrive and the others seemed to already be talking to each other. He happened to overhear the blonde haired shinobi with extremely shiny clothing ask if they were familiar with the mission and Kato figured he could interject. "Apparently we are to do some training exercises before a standard patrol at the Ninja Headquarters." He smiled to everyone in the group and gave a small wave as he approached and spoke and then slid his hands down into his pockets. He realized that they probably did not know who he was so he figured he would offer it up. "I am Kato by the way." He said trying to sound casual and not nervous. Not that he was nervous. More... anxious. Anxious to get started and anxious to see how he melded with the other Shinobi.

WC: 715/ 2,125

As Mikaela sat in the meeting, with mission details in his hand, to find his new comrades. They were supposed to do a training exercise for the mission and participate in patroling areas around the village. Mikaela knew the town was low on shinobi, considering it’s just really a large settlement, but he didn’t think he would be cram-packed at this point. However, in the first couple of missions, the group is supposed to be easy, but now the next ones are a little more difficult, if not dangerous. 

The group will be patrolling some of the residential areas and into the outskirts of the village before proceeding to the village. Mikaela sighed as he brushed his hair out of his face. That’s when he heard a voice speak out to him; so Mikaela turned his gaze upward and met his emerald eyes with ones that were crystal blue. Such lovely eyes, seemingly Mikaela could get lost in them but what distracted him was when the male asked if he was for the mission group. 

“Ah yes, I’m Mikaela, and you are?” he said, introducing himself. However, his introduction short-lived it as two other figures appeared one after the other. One was a blonde male that introduced himself as Yamata Tanaka. Flashy clothes and formal remind him of the man he met back in the hidden, hot springs. The other was a taller, more attractive, dark-haired male named Kato. He came off as calm and relaxed. In his eyes, this was a strange group as he had never met any of these people before, and they all looked around his age, besides the prominent older blonde male.

“Hello, everyone. My name is Mikaela Senju. A pleasure to make everyone’s acquaintance,” he said with his velvet-silk voice that could melt the knees of anyone. The emerald-eyed Genin stood at a somewhat eye level with everyone and then continued to speak.

“Alright, guys, you know the village is lacking in the shinobi department, so we have been ordered to a patrol mission. Well, a series of patrols. We have to patrol the residential areas and then to the village outskirts and head towards the village wall. However, residential areas and the outskirts are relatively safe, I have heard rumors that the walls have been picking up criminal activity since the absence of shinobi, so when we head there we need to be cautious. Plus, I believe when we reach the walls it is nightfall at the point so we need to be extra careful. So that being said, I believe we need to get going and patrol the inner and outer of the village before going to the slums.” Mikaela stated to the other three Genin, waiting to see if they had any objection to what he was saying. 

[TWC: 914]

It seemed the whole gang has arrived. Mikela, Yamato, Kato... Hayato committed the names to memory. He felt like he had seen Yamato's golden hair maybe once or twice, but he wasn't quite able to place it so maybe not. The man looked like a man for Mikaela certainly also seemed to have jogged his memory but he quickly shook his head. What did it matter? he just needed to get along with them now. Kato he was certain he hadn't met though. Maybe a new to the city? He pondered for second getting lost in his own head before snapping back to reality.

"Hayato." He quickly spoke his name realizing he hadn't said it yet. While his response wasn't outwardly rude it certainly lacked detail, but Hayato wouldn't notice. Yamato had asked where to start and Mikaela had suggested the residential district first luckily they were already there. They just needed to walk around and make sur there was no trouble. Seemed simple enough.

"No objections. Let's start. Mr.Kato stand at the back, if you would." He'd mutter the instructions in his soft, monotone, staccato fashion, and walked off down the main street of the residential district.

As he treaded the familiar road, Hayato sized up everyone trying to quickly assess their skill level. He glanced at them with a side eye, and brought a finger to his chin. Yamato looked a bit older than the others. Maybe he was experienced? Should he lead or cover their backs? He had said d-rank officer, what did that mean? was there a rank above genin, but below chunin that he didn't know about? The man certainly carried himself like he was knew what he was doing. He even reviewed the files of the participants before he came here. Hayato would take note to do that in the future. The man also stuck out a fair bit with his style. Was that on purpose? Aren't shinobi suppose to be somewhat stealthy? There must be a story behind it, but Hayato wouldn't pry anything out of someone he scarcely said a sentence to.

As for the other two, Hayato was sure they were around his age, and probably about his level. Well, at least Kato seemed to be similar to himself. There was something about Mikaela's self assured air and matter of fact way of speaking that made him question if the red head was hiding something. Or, it could be that Hayato just envied the ease with which they spoke? Kato seemed anxious, his attempt at an even and casual tone hadn't fooled Hayato. Though, Hayato was much like him, a bit anxious. He felt a bit on kinship with the shinobi. There was a difference though, so far Kato wasn't being tepid. Perhaps he had more resolve than he let on?

 Enough let's do our job... Hayato shook the judgements from his head. He would learn about them soon enough. He had taken the lead because he and Kato seemed to be the only ones carrying a visible melee weapon of size. Kato could defend their backs from attack, and the two others could handle ranged assaults. That was his line of thinking, but he didn't feel the need to explain. More like he was a bit too nervous to speak too much around so many new faces. Despite taking the lead of the situation he didn't think of himself as a leader. He thought he'd be more useful at the front or the very back if something where to happen, and just picked the front for himself. He didn't want to push Kato to lead them around the village since he didn't know how well he knew it. He wouldn't argue if someone else wanted to change it up though. He had no desire to stand at the front with all the eyes on his back.

He focused on the task, keeping his eyes peeled for danger regardless. With his unique physiology, he took note of the heat signatures passing him by in a 5 meter radius and made sure the numbers and sizes matched what he was able to see with eyes. So far, nothing was amiss. The sun was up in the middle of the sky now the air was calm and cool. The residential district, from Hayato's perspective, seemed to be just as it always was: Moderately busy with the buzz a few people travel to a from home, but nothing to wild or out of place.

Should he attempt to make small talk? What did shinobi talk about in their free time? He hadn't thought about that before he came. He started to panic a little and just said something, anything to fill the space.

"Do you all... like rice?...  He asked the group a bit louder than he had said his name. Rice!?!?! Really Hayato? That's what we came up with!?!?!? Well, it filled the space, but certainly not well. Maybe his new comrades would pick up the pieces or even paint a beautiful picture in place of the train wreak Hayato had felt he started.  

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[WC:851]
[TWC: 1360 ]
[bold for speaking italics for thinking]

Mikaela smiled towards Yamato when he began speaking about his papers records. He wondered what else this 'officer' knew about him. The emerald-eyed Senju rested his hands behind his back as the group began to converse about rice as his long red hair flowing in the wind. The air was chilly with the sun resting at what seemed one o'clock' he saw as he turned his gaze upon the sky. Even though he lived in the rice village, he never cared for rice. The way everyone else does. The way his family does. He wished he did, but his feelings of longing were presented elsewhere. He just wants to be...to be something more. The redhead wasn't sure if he knew what himself meant; he wanted to be something more? He wanted to experience life outside the village and not be kept here like the rest of his family. That's why he joined the academy, even though there were only like three in his class. Of course, he loves his home and will always stay here, and he just turns to be exposed to different lifestyles. He laughed at his thoughts and then turned his eyes upon the rest of the group.

Mikaela decided to keep quiet and be a figure in the background as they all started to open up about their histories. Let's get to the gist of it. We got Yamato-tomato -Mikaela chuckled at that thought- to his rice....right, he meant. Anyway, this man is loved food, especially rice. Now to his left, we got the tall, dark-haired, charismatic male who is apparently the complete opposite of their blonde-headed companion as his taste for rice is subpar to Yamato. Good, finally, someone that is like him. This is going to be an exciting dynamic. The two then announced how they came to the village. Apparently, they were both outsiders before joining the village. Hmm, interesting. His parents fled when that crazy Uchiha was Hokage and told him the terrible stories about him and how all Uchiha's are like him. However, their mindset didn't trickle down to him because he is more open-minded about people, and he knew that all Uchiha's are not like that. Like how Mikaela is not like his father wanted to play in the dirt all damn day.

"I've was born and raised here," Mikaela stated, giving them a stoic expression. As then, they begin to start talking about what they're good at and so on. It was a good idea to figure out roles if the battle does indeed break out. "Great idea, Officer Yamato. I can mainly do Wood Style jutsu's," that's all he can say; even though he trained with medical ninjutsu with Hikari, he'd rather keep that to himself as of right now. "Alright, how about this. We will do; Hayato and I will be taking the vanguard position in the front, Yamato you will take the flank position in the center as you seem more experienced as you're an officer, and you can support both vanguard and rearguard if it needs to be. Kato, you will take rearguard as our support. Sounds good?" Mikaela started his battle tactic, open for any suggestions that the others might give him.

[TWC: 1,459]

His question about rice had mostly gone over well. A welcome surprise. Yamato had got his name wrong so he started with a correction. "Ha-Ya-To." He said hopefully loud enough to hear, but it was questionable. He then answered his own question and some of the other comments.

I moved here 5 years ago, from Konoha, but I'm not really from there like Kato... He trailed off. It would have been too much to explain all the places he lived and to be honest he didn't remember where he was from. Tanbogakure was his favorite though. "The food really has become better over time, but rice is still my favorite..." He listened to the others explain what they were good at. It was as he surmised for the younger two. Except Kato had even less experience than he had thought. Was he perhaps not truly skilled with the sword? He didn't think he'd seen Kato anywhere before and it seemed like he was rather new to the village. If you need recommendations on rice places or farming let me know... He said that directed at Kato. His way of attempting to be friendly. Mikaela he was correct to assume he'd seen some where, and they could use wood style. He'd heard of a group in the village that used wood style to aid the village with farming task. Did Mikaela do that as well? then a thought ran through his head.  Is wood like ice release? that only special clans can use it? He wasn't sure he would maybe ask later. It did seem like Mikaela was playing it close to the chest. Maybe he really did have something to hide?

My mediocre swordsmanship is all I really bring to the table now, so the front is the best for my skills. I can only use throwing weapons at range, but I am still more accurate than most. He stated what he thought he was capable of plainly with no grandiose bravado. He like that the group was open and seemingly realistic with their skills. He left space for Yamato to comment on his skills as well. Regardless, Mikaela's decision seemed correct to him. The formation was set. "yes...sounds good" he'd say as they reached the end of the residential area.

They had completed full loop of the zone while talking about rice and skillsets. The outskirts seemed like the next plausible location for them to go to on the list. Hayato pointed to the edge of the village. The edge is next then the wall... He would start towards that direction hoping that this would be just as easy as the first portion was. He expected his allies to follow as he walked in that direction.

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[WC:460]
[TWC:1820/2125]