Sun's Out, Buns Out

New friends.

The smile on Zack only became bigger as he relaxed his hands behind his head and looked at the group. How long had it been he had interacted with people on this scale before? Weeks? Months? Years? Time had blurred as he traveled the lands trying to find purpose once more, but also to find himself. In the moment he looked over to Auron and responded in kind as he figured it would only be polite," Auron and Travin huh? Well pleasure to meet the both of you. Gotta say its pretty cool to be in a movie even if this is the first time i'm even seeing one. None the less what are you guys going to do now? Maybe we can all hang out and relax?," though he would soon see that another joined the group, a woman at that. Giving her the same warn smile and a wave he would introduce himself to her as well," Hey there I am Zack. Did you enjoy the action at the movie as well?," he could honestly admit she was a beauty, but he wouldn't be so bold to say anything just in case one of these two here were on speaking terms with her. Speaking of, his eyes slowly turned to a churning in the water. He had seen it enough times to know what it had been, but the one known as Travin made it abundantly clear. Someone had washed up to shore, dead or getting there. Focusing his chakra into his eyes he would activate his Byakugan, looking at the man's chakra network to see if they had truly been dead or not. Yet it was faint, fighting for a chance at life. The Kunoichi, Aurora, was quick to assess the situation and it seemed she was right on the money. Zack was no medical expert, but he could see certain things which could have aided in the problem at hand. However he would let Aurora use her medical expertise to bring the male back to life, and with quickness getting them food and sustenance to come back.

Soon after he could hear the sounds of someone calling out, his head turning only an inch to see someone in the distance coming closer and closer," Someone is coming up behind us...i think there are screaming something," though what they had been screaming was this mans name. The situation had been explained to the gentleman's friend or partner and the situation seemed to resolve itself. Looking over to the sunkissed Kunoichi he would give her a thumbs up," You worked really quickly to help that man. You must be pretty well versed in the arts of Medical Ninjutsu yeah?," it was a well deserved compliment though he felt as if he may had been laying it on a little too thick. He pivoted on his feet to quickly go and find a table, his eyes scanning the area with swiftness as he found one and with a smooth action it would be picked up and brought back to the group. As he came back he could see that someone had been asking Aurora if the group could help assist with lifeguard duty. Finally something Zack could just....do with very minimal effort. He would not speak for the others but he would agree to it," Sure i'm down to do some lifeguard duty, just point me to where i need to be and i will be there. Oh! Here's that table you requested Aurora," sitting it down, he would try to find a chair or five to seat everyone and let the feast begin. Best wait thirty minutes before swimming.

613 WC
TWC: 1919

Interestingly enough, Auron and Aurora shared similar names. He really didn't think much of it though, as her appearance was what truly allured him. But he knew how to contain himself, and would simply revert back to his reserved nature rather than gawking over the woman. As Zack introduced himself further, he'd elaborate on the experience the group shared in being casted in a movie. Auron did think it was cool, but he was also relatively uneasy about the whole idea. He had his face exposed, and knowing that he was still on the run from Konohagakure, he couldn't help but feel he made a mistake. Still though, the company of this group seemed to calm his slight anxiety. He'd offer a cool nod in agreement with Zack and his offer to relax. "Honestly Travin and I have just been looking for work. As for Aurora, we just met her along with you. But yeah...taking it easy sounds nice." He couldn't help but admit that just chilling out did in fact sound good for once, as it was the opposite of what he had been used to. But right when he had said this was ironically seconds before he noticed the washed up man on the shore. It seemed like it had been instinctual for Travin and Aurora to want to help the man. They leapt into action with Travin being the first on the scene and Aurora shortly trailing him. Auron and Zack would follow suit, and unsure of what exactly to do the Yamaguchi deferred to his colleagues here. He had been no expert in medical jutsu or the medical field at all. And most likely any attempts he made at being in a good Samaritan would likely work against the downed man's favor. 

While Travin asked if they should call someone, Aurora got right into the mix. She'd calmly offer the man water, and he'd accept it. She seemed attentive and competent, likely trained as a kunoichi of some sorts. Resultantly Auron assumed she had been a member of some village. So far that meant two of the quartet were village shinobi. Therefore, Auron's guard somewhat heightened. He'd have to be careful with his actions and words to ensure that he gave them no reason to suspect him of his status. Travin, he didn't necessarily worry about as he had already gotten to know him a bit and recognized he was from Sunagakure: a missing ninja haven. But Aurora, her background seemed ambiguous. The same could be said for Zack. While the Yamaguchi silently worried about the interaction between the group, he watched as the man finally came to. His first words had been a name, addressed to...a volleyball. And he seemed to dive into conversation with it, which Aurora instantly attributed to his exposure to the sun. She suggested the group carry him to shade, and so Auron would lean over and lift one of the man's arms over his own shoulders. He'd then stand and force the man to rise up to his feet, but not before the man tucked his volleyball into the safety of his other arm. Very strange.

Aurora's comments that followed, would heighten Auron's own guard even further. She had been a kunoichi of Konoha, the land he fled. Suddenly his interest in the woman had all been nullified, and now he would see her as an enemy. Though he wouldn't display this change in his demeanor visually or physically, yet he'd mentally study her movements and intentions meticulously. Auron would lug the man over to the location that Aurora mentioned, all the while keeping his guard up and reflecting on the situation at hand. Perhaps this was a trap to capture him? If it was, would that mean the other three in his group were out to get him? He couldn't rule out the possibility. 

Aurora would break off from the group, apparently seeking some food and drink for the crazed man. Zack would depart to grab a table, and when he'd arrive Aurora would at the same time. Apparently Zack overheard a mentioning of a lifeguard opportunity, which he stated he had no problem supporting. Auron would nod silently, and carry the man over towards the table and chairs which Zack had set up. As he set him down, the man would look upon the feast and instantly begin crushing. He'd sit "Wilson" next to him, and would make small talk with the volleyball throughout the course of the meal. But at some point, he'd seem to come to realize he was speaking with a volleyball and not another person. Perhaps the food and drink had helped.

"Uh...thank you, but this is quite embarrassing" he'd say. "I...I gotta go. I need to check on my family!" And with that, the man would abruptly get up from the table and scurry off. Yet as he left off in the distance, he'd leave behind a sack of ryo containing some amount of ryo. By the time Auron noticed it, the man had already been quite a distance away and nowhere to be found. Auron would pick up the bag and open it. Looking inside, he'd count up the amount and distribute it into four equal piles on the table. "Well...treat it as payment for saving his life. Any objections? If not, let's get on with this lifeguard duty."

Auron's tone had been stoic and lowered, almost as if he was cold and disinterested. In actuality, he just wanted to take his leave. Specifically from Aurora. He'd secure his portion of the ryo into his own wallet, and set off towards where the woman in the red swimsuit had been. Seeing as he himself refrained from eating, he was fine to swim. But that would assume that he was also willing to swim, which he wasn't. But the Yamaguchi wouldn't turn down an opportunity to earn some more money. Therefore he just decided that should someone be drowning and need help, he'd use the surface walking technique to get to them. No sense in him drowning too.

"Hey, I heard you need lifeguards. That'll be us." Auron offered.

"Yes, yes we do! Please. There's four posts, each about 100 meters apart. That generally covers the whole length of the shore that has swimming access. If you could each take a station and just be vigilant, that would help us out tremendously. After a couple hours we'll come by and issue you payment. Just give me some time to handle some things."

Auron upon hearing an opportunity to get away from the Konohagakure kunoichi, which jump on it. "Right away," he'd say to the woman before turning to the group. "Well, I guess I will go on and carry out my shift on most Southern stand. If we don't meet up later, then maybe I'll see you all around."

Following this, Auron would proceed towards the South most stand. Given that the group had been in the middle of the beach, he would have about 200 meters to travel. He'd swiftly head over to the stand, taking only some minutes to arrive given his pace. When he would, there would be a chair sitting 3 meters tall, with a ladder equipped to get to it. He'd ascend the ladder, and take his seat upon the cushion. From this position, he'd have a nice vantage point in seeing the 100 meter radius on both sides of him. He could see children playing in the water, people swimming off in the distance, and even surfers looking to catch a wave. Though he had no interest in participating in any of those activities, he'd at least monitor everyone's wellbeing. It wasn't a fear of water he had, it was more so a distaste. It seemed wild, uncontrollable, and unpredictable. Pairing this with his inability to swim, he was more than content with staying on his lifeguard stand. But of course, some clown would have to ruin that for him. And some hours after he took up his post, someone had seemed to be drowning. Now...he would be lying if he said his first inclination wasn't to say fuck 'em and let them drown. But he figured he wouldn't be paid if that were the case. His guilty conscious would also kick him, causing him to leap down from the stand and at an extremely quick pace sprint off from the sands of the beach and instantly run onto the surface of the water. From here he could see the person's hands flailing even more. Growing closer, Auron would finally reach them. And once he would, he'd firmly grab ahold of their hand and yank them out from the water. It had been a rather young child, who instantly began crying. Auron would sprint back to the beach, and plop the child down on the sand. Their parents ran over and with tears in their eyes would thank the Yamaguchi. A part of him did feel a bit warm and fuzzy inside for saving a life, but the majority of him was scorning the parent's neglect and the child's recklessness.

"Hey! Great work out there!" the woman in the red swimsuit would say as she walked up towards Auron. "I was just going to mobilize on this but you're good. Anyway, here's your payment for your shift. I'm here to relieve you so thanks for your work today!"

"Yeah, no problem..." Auron would reluctantly say, as going out in the water was in fact a problem to him. Following this, he'd take the payment from the women then glance over to the neighboring stand which was about 100 meters from him and see another lifeguard approaching that stand. Recognizing that he had to move quickly if he didn't want to end up back with the group, and seeing the Konoha kunoichi again, he'd sprint away from the stand. Assuming he hadn't been seen by any of his group, he'd return to the hostel and go back towards his room. Though he had been paid plenty today, he also had been plagued with the anxiety of being pursued. None of his roommates were back to the room yet, and so he enjoyed the silence within it. He was able to mentally calm himself, and enter into a deep state of thought. If there had been one from Konoha here, that likely meant there were more. It would be in his best interest to lay low avoid any village shinobi from now on.

- Exit - 

WC = 1754. TWC = 4725
Mission Reward 1: 4,000 Ryō / 20 AP + 15 Tickets
Mission Reward 2: 4,000 Ryō / 20 AP + 15 Tickets
Mission Reward 3: 6,000 Ryō / 30 AP + 20 Tickets
Mission Reward 4: 6,000 Ryō / 30 AP + 20 Tickets
C Rank MN Bonus: 2,000 Ryo x 4 = 8,000 Ryo

25% Max Stat Discount:
- 1500 WC met to memorize Zack, Travin, Aurora's signatures
- 994 WC towards Space Time; Moving S/T as a Spec instead of Clan Spec via Way of the Wicked; Using 50% Discount Coupon from Christmas '21 Advent Claims (1500/1500); rest trained here
- 3000 WC towards Negative Energy Mode (3000/3000)
- 731 WC towards Mind's Eye of the Kagura (1522/1875); rest trained here

All of this was a little weird for the wayward Hyuga as he simply sat back and watched after getting the table, the food being piled on top of it shortly after. While the ping in his stomach had shown that he was indeed hungry, he waited for the others to get something to eat before he took a small bit and ate. Since he was going to be doing some lifeguarding shortly after he didn't want to be too full of food. In the meantime he listened in on the conversation, putting together some pieces of the puzzle as it were. So one of the members of their group had been from the Land of Fire, coincidentally that had been where he had been traveling through to get to another part of the world. At the same token but not too far off Travin had also been from the Land of Wind. Both were close yet far in the same vein if you had been traveling by foot. He would make note to remember this in case he wanted to stop by either village to meet up with them, but given his unaffiliated status with none of the villages, it made it ambiguous to what he would do with this information but he wouldn't be malicious with it. Instead he would finish what he had been eating and chime in quickly," Seeing as you two are rather close land wise.I was visiting the Land of Fire for a time to get my sword repaired and to also see about doing some more work to amass some money. Maybe we can hang out after this for drinks?," it was a simple invitation to be friends after all of this but with how villages treated the unaffiliated that might have been hard.

Either way he would stand up and make his way over to the area in which he would be doing his part of the shift on. Since he was already dressed for the part he didn't bother getting another change of clothes, but as he walked around it was nice to see people being able to enjoy themselves worry free. Climbing into his chair he would lean back and activated his Byakugan and close his eyes, watching the entire area without having to really move a muscle. The other guards found it weird that he closed his eyes but chalked it up to something else as he simply rested and smiled. So far nothing out of the ordinary had been happening on his radar, everyone had been without an issue though there were some that looked like drownings but were simply people dunking one another. Something however caused him to open his eyes and look toward the southwest, about 15 meters from his current position. Someone had been going under and not in a diving sense. Jumping from the chair he would run toward where he had seen them," Someone is slipping into the water 15 meters out. They are drowning," he would notify the other guards as he went into the action. As he reached the shoreline he would make use of the water walking technique and continue to use his Byakugan to guide him to his destination. Once he was about a meter above the drowning individual he would release the technique and dive into the water, grabbing hold of the their arm and pulling them up. With haste he would begin to swim toward the shore where the others were waiting to resuscitate him. Stepping back he would allow them to do their thing, his job being done. Luckily they were able to bring the individual back. The head lifeguard came over to Zack and smiled, patting him on the back and giving him his pay for the day. Satisfied with a job well done he would begin to leave from the beach, wandering over to where the others were so they could relax.

658 WC
TWC: 2577
Claiming the following:
25 Stats
Mission Reward 1: 4,000 Ryō / 20 AP + 15 Tickets
Mission Reward 2: 4,000 Ryō / 20 AP + 15 Tickets
Mission Reward 3: 6,000 Ryō / 30 AP + 20 Tickets
Mission Reward 4: 6,000 Ryō / 30 AP + 20 Tickets
Will make Wordcount Claims later