Like schoolchildren passing notes (IO)

It was still more than a little hard to believe the things he’d accomplished since he struck out on his own, without his family to support him. From the events of snow country, and the winter wonderland, to the casino, to buying his very own village. He was a kage, by technicality. He had a growing shinobi force and a good bit of land to work with. All that responsibility… was a little terrifying, if he was being honest. It was one thing to become a village shinobi. It was entirely something else to become the leader of those shinobi.

It made him think of the companions he’d had for some of his wild journey. Cid and Auron and Kira, Ban and Akaime. Mostly missing-nin, but a few village shinobi as well. Were they making a name for themselves too?

He’d promised to keep in touch.

He’d write separate letters for each of them, but for now, he started with Akaime, the pale Ketsueki nin. Easiest to go in alphabetical order. But what should he even say to the teen? A lot had happened in these past few weeks, enough to make his head spin. How did one even begin to explain these dealings?

Akaime. If you are reading this letter, that means my messager bird was able to find you. That’s good. A lot has happened in the short time since our group parted, more than I can ever even begin to explain in a single letter. For starters, I suppose I should tell you the good news. Somehow, I’ve found myself the owner and kage of a small village. Nobody in their right mind would call me a proper kage, but a kage I am nonetheless. It’s… odd. Sure, the village is small, but I have many people depending on me to lead them now. There’s a shinobi force and all, albeit not a very strong one.

You should come visit one day, if you’re ever in the area. My messenger bird should be able to escort you, provided you give me some warning first. Just be careful going through the forest, if you get lost, you’re unlikely to make it out alive. Anyways, send me a letter back when you can!

-First Hanakage, Chiharu Misaki

With his note signed and sealed, he attached the scroll to the leg of the bird before him. He was using a fair few of the settlement’s small amount of messenger birds lately. There was much to be done with a new village. Exhaling slowly, he sent the little bird off to its destination.

WC: 432

The light outside the window flashed only to be followed five seconds later by the slow-rolling rumble of thunder. The perfect lullaby to remain asleep with the slow-rolling rumble starting, steadily growing louder then drowning out to nothing. There was nothing more soothing to the young Chinoike.  It was a day that normally most people would remain inside for and negate training for the day.

Slowly, his eyes opened, and he looked through the glass of the window to see the dark sky that made it as if it was still partially night. He didn’t want to move from the bed. His head was still heavy with sleep while his eyelids slowly moved down over his ocean-like hues as if trying to brush away the remainder of sleep dust. On the floor beside his bed would be a book that he had found while going through his mother's old stuff. A book that should have been kept much safer than it had been considering it held many photos from members of his family.  

Akaime had started to scan through but thought it would be better to lay in bed and look through it. Well, he didn’t have much of a choice about it now. The morning had come and there was no real reason for him to go outside for the moment. Slowly, he turned over in his bed and held the book in his hand, his fingers moving over the rough pages if he was going to study. His hair was ruffled up against the pillow and a dried place of spit was on her opposite cheek as his eyes moved over the pages. He pulled the blanket up under his nose while he continued to look at the pictures.

That's when he heard a *tick* *tick* at his window. ‘Hm, a bird?’ Akaime thought as he went and opened the window, allowing the wet bird to sit upon the window frame. He collected the contents of the bird's leg and began to read what was sent to him. Knowing what the letter said, Akaime smiled as his friend was doing well in a village that he has recently came to be the head of, and said that he can visit at any time if he would like to. Well, that immediately made up his mind. He would go visit him as soon as he got the chance.

Akaime went and retrieved some bird feed so the messenger hawk could feed while he wrote another note.

Contents of the Letter:

Wrapping the paper into the container, he then attached it back to the hawk's leg and sent them off. Watching the hawk disappear into the sky, he then began to pack his stuff, ready to take the trip whenever the hawk would return.

TWC: 568

The tapping on his window that could only mean a messenger bird had arrived startled Chiharu out of the pile of paperwork that his head had been buried in. Paperwork was a cursed thing, Chiharu was finding, so he was glad for an excuse to actually look up for the first time in a good while. Cracking his neck as he stood, he made his way to the window of his office, letting the bird in to perch on his desk while he retrieved the letter from the creature’s leg.

It didn’t take him long to scan the contents of the short note, though it brought a smile to his lips as he realized just who the sender was. So Akaime had gotten his letter… and was even on the continent he was on. That was perfect, the young man would be able to get Akaime into the village relatively easily. Retrieving a pen, Chiharu set about sending another letter, telling Akaime as much as he could without outright giving the location away.

Akaime,

I am glad you received my letter, and gladder to hear you’re doing well at the moment. While I can’t give you the exact location of my village for the sake of not accidentally giving away our location should this letter be intercepted, my messanger bird should be able to guide you. All I can truly say is that I’m indeed on the eastern continent as well, and it won’t take long at all for you to make your way here. I’m looking forwards to catching up![

-Signed, Chiharu Misaki, First Hanakage

With his letter signed, the young man sent the old messanger bird off and left to find a new one, one that wasn’t tired and would be able to easily carry his letter to Akaime. Only after that was done did he return to his office, and thus, his paperwork.

WC: 316

Leaning wearily on the sill, Akaime gazed out through the room’s window. Rain battered down on the land below, sounding out a rhythmic drumbeat on the roof of the house. The young ninja could have sworn he'd seen a flash of lightning in the distance - the rumbling heavens certainly suggested it. He sighed in disappointment. It was no climate to be heading out to train in, that was for sure. He'd planned on heading out the woods so he could hone his abilities. The stormy weather wouldn't usually stop him, but he wasn't in the mood to get wet this evening.  The rain cascaded down the glass, distorting the view of the outside world. Not that the heavy, gray clouds allowed much light through to see by. Tapping his fingers on the window, the young Chinoike cocked his head, drifting off into his thoughts.

The blue-eyed Chinoike thumped his finger now against the windowsill, thinking about what his life would be like if his parents were still here. Akaime hadn't revisited his memories from his life before in quite some time. This one in particular left a nasty taste in his mouth. It had been his first true heartbreak when they passed away. At the time, the ninja had accepted his loss, but now... "Pah." He muttered, dismissing the memory. He knew it didn't help to dwell on the past. Shaking himself from the torpor led himself back to the bed as he settled atop of the covers, crossing his legs and sitting up straight. 

The young Chinoike would have argued about the qualities of meditative training, but as his father taught him that he was well-versed in using these to control his emotions. Much as he hated to admit it, this form of training had its uses. Exhaling slowly, he allowed his mind to wander, trying to sink into his subconscious. As if in a dream, time passed without the genin being consciously aware of it. Minutes became hours and the hours soon accumulated. After about two hours of total stillness, Akaime took a deep breath. The atmosphere in the room started to heat up, the air feeling a little like it contained the static charge. The meditating Chinoike seemed nonplussed, remaining in precisely the same position. There was no apparent change in anything else within the room, either. 

That's when he heard a *tick* *tick* at his window. Hm, the bird was already back. Smiling as he went and cracked open the window for the bird to hop through before he closed it to keep the rain from frenching his temporary room. The hawk shook its feathers, the water leaving no surface untouched as it sprayed everywhere. He got a cup of water and food for the bird to replenish its strength and energy after the long journey from wherever it had flown from. Once he placed the bowls down the magnificently large bird extended its foot to his, his fingers gingerly removing the protected parchment and unraveling it.
 
‘Hm? An undisclosed location, how exciting to go there!’ Akaime thought as he moved over to the dresser to gather his things and get ready. Once he has done that, he announces his departure to the innkeeper and follows the bird out the window.

[EXIT]
TWC: 1,113
1113/1125 to Water Release: Water Cutting Sword (25% off due to max stat)

Akaime Chinoike wrote:

[EXIT]
TWC: 1,113
1113/1125 to Water Release: Water Cutting Sword (25% off due to max stat)

Approved