Carrot and Stick

Sometimes Jecht disliked all the responsibilities he had in the village, having to take care of the going ons in the prison, cover for Iscarot for the police force which usually meant having to arrest shinobis and citizens and dealing out punishments to those who break the rules. Other times he enjoyed them cause he could go out of his way to indulge in food and entertainment while providing for the new generation like today.
 
Today was the day that Jecht was going to have all the younger generation around that could show up and provide a free meal and some down time to just relax and ask questions as needed. This will hopefully open the doors between the kids and allow them to make their own connections with each other and with Jecht taking the role as a higher up. Can’t be constantly beating them up in training and not give some kind of reward for surviving and improving themselves. So he had sent out a letter to each of the shinobis and was hopeful for their arrival, till they got here though he would make sure that the diner had enough space for all of them as he walked inside and reserved a spot for all of them and some extras just in case anyone else decided to show up. Better to be overprepared then under in most cases.
 
Now he just needed to wait for people to show up.
 
WC: 242

Suiko had been immersed in an uncomfortable silence with her mother for a couple of days. The kunoichi had been repeatedly interrupted during her training due to her mother's demands, who would often ask her to stop training and help with the household chores. This deeply angered Suiko. While she loved her mother dearly, she couldn't bear the fact that her sacrifices went unrecognized. She felt that her own mother didn't have enough faith in her ability to achieve significant progress on her path to becoming a Genin. On one occasion, she overheard her mother say, "If she hasn't become a Genin at her age, it doesn't make much sense for her to keep striving."

Suiko was aware that her training sessions were not overly effective. She didn't feel that the time invested yielded many fruitful results, but she still exerted effort and believed that she deserved some encouragement instead of bothersome interruptions.

When she received the notice from Jech, her spirits lifted slightly, even if it meant just getting away from her mother for a while. Although she didn't know much about Jech, she hoped to engage in a conversation with him. She held the hope that he could teach her a few tricks. In the absence of mentors, any adult could become a source of knowledge, and Jech seemed to be a man seasoned in more than one battle. He didn't have much in common with her academy teachers, whose attitudes were more complacent and less committed.

Suiko set off from her home to meet Jech. She looked around with a carefree and cheerful demeanor, then kindly addressed him. -Good day, Mr. Jech. Thank you for the notice. It's almost lunchtime. Are you going to treat us to something? I don't want to be a bother, but I haven't brought much money.- She spoke the words with kindness. Afterwards, the young kunoichi inclined her head in greeting and as a sign of respect towards the man. She then remained expectant, trying to imagine how she could convince Jech to teach her a few tricks.

WC: 346.

The sun was rising in the Land of Fire. An orange wave washed over anything exposed to the warm morning sky, and gentle winds rustled trees and grass alike. Despite the night being almost completely snuffed out, a lone silhouette moved amongst the greenery in a field, which had grown waist high.

The heterochromic-eyed teen, glistening with sweat after a long night of training, took his perch atop one of the stronger limbs of a large dogwood tree that grew on the far end of the Anbura's property with Hebitsukaiza around his neck. With closed eyes, he could feel the spring wind around him. He opened his eyes to look at the tree across from him, which looked more like a sculpture than something that had once been alive. Its bark was rough, as if the wind had been sand eroding away at the trunk. It was spindly, dark, with thin branches stretching outward like taloned fingers. 

He leaned his back against the base of the tree itself, keeping one foot on the branch for support, leaving the other to dangle freely and lazily. The warm glow of what remained of the sun fought to pierce the tree's shield of leaves, which thankfully did not obstruct the view of the road on the other side of a well-worn wooden fence. Occasionally, travelers would pass by, but none took notice of the boy in the tree which Arutemisu was glad for. The teen took a deep, thoughtful breath, exhaling satisfaction and relaxation. A gust of wind blew past, bringing with it scents of wildflowers, trees, and a whisper of rain to come. This was the best time to enjoy being outside, he thought even when the cold winds would come.

It had been days, now, since the last mission he was sent on. He hadn’t spoken much, focusing on his relaxation. His eyes ached, but nothing like that had, and the tang of blood had washed itself from his mouth. He thought for a moment that he was sick, but on consideration he remembered how fragile a state he was in. Arutemisu had adapted well to the change in lifestyle - mentally. But physically, the already thin boy had grown thinner. Stronger in some ways, weaker in others. His body was a vessel of great technique, but it was failing him - or perhaps he, it.

Arutemisu closed his eyes, letting the dim sunlight scan their lids - the delicate warmth offering tender embrace to the only skin exposed to the elements. His breathing echoed within his bandages, quiet, rhythmic, but robotic. Methodical. Tedious. Like a machine, in and out he breathed, stilling his heart amidst the green landscape. It was tranquil. Songbirds chimed in the distance, offering sweet melodies to the gentle wind pushing at his hair. It was the only sounds of life he’d heard in weeks.

But the sensation of hunger came, and so he decided the need to sate it.

That's when he would jump down and head into town from his family's compound. The smell of the food was always worth stopping for. Halting at a spot that felt as safe as any, Arutemisu finally looked up and took in what was around him. He had been lost in his own world. His mind stuck on the pretend game he had created to make walking bearable, had filtered out the growling sounds of his stomach. However, this district had its fair share of lunch rushes. He had always disliked the crowd that came with the bustling everyday life that Konohagakure had to offer. Arutemisu thought maybe that he could wait. Allow the couples to share their meals, the business folk to rush through their break. He could watch, he thought. There were a few familiar faces. The old man always had coffee with his sandwich even when it was hot outside. There was the elderly group of female friends whose laughter was infectious - sitting around a table with tea. He'd waited before.

Arutemisu held up his hand. The gust resisted him, tugging at his palm, and a flurry of sakura petals swirled around him. He snatched at the air, caging his fingers into a loose grip. He moved his hand to his lap, opening his palm. It was not a blossom, but a note from a Jounin named Jecht.

“Hm? Interesting,” Arutemisu said as he read the contents of the letter. A dinner for all inspiring shinobi and those that have started out as entryman to the ranks. It would be wise to meet those that make up the foundation of the village’s shinobi personnel. Especially someone that has higher authority around here. Glancing down at his hand again. The wind called to the letter, lulling its edges from Arutemisu’s hand. And so, it flew, dancing in the wind as it fluttered away from the Anbura and bursted into tiny embers. With that, the Uchugan wielder went to meet up with the group.

Still with Hebitsukaiza around his neck, they found their destination. Ichiraku Ramen. Upon entry, he pinpointed a mammoth of a man and a much smaller girl talking to him. He, perhaps, could be the one that sent the letter. Strolling over to the group, he announced his presence, “Hello, you must be Jecht? I am Arutemisu Anbura and this is Hebitsukaiza,” he said as he tickled the underside of his snake companion.

“What do I owe the pleasure of this…fine dining too,” Arutemisu said as he took note of his surroundings. Ramen wasn’t his favorite food and the woodwork in the place wasn’t top tier but how could he complain, he used to live in a cage and was fed little to nothing. Turning his piercing gaze back to the duo, he said, “since we’ll be eating, I suppose I should remove these.” Reaching up, he loosened the bandages and undid them before sliding them into his pocket, revealing the massive scar that ran horizontally through his mouth. 

TWC: 994

WC:497

Tenshi groaned as he awoke from his longer than usual slumber. He felt sore and beaten up as he would lean against the bruises on his body. The Uchiha Genin had made a habit of over training and pushing himself far beyond his usual limits recently. Perhaps it had been the excessive number of missions he had undertaken. Perhaps it was the personal training that he had put himself through, forcing his body to feel fatigued and rough. Perhaps it had been the journey of self discovery he had undertaken in the Uchiha clan’s secret meeting spot. Or perhaps, maybe… just maybe… Tenshi’s body was bruised, battered and extremely sore from his prior experiences with the Jounin, Jecht.

Wincing slightly as he got himself out of bed, he nodded to himself as he decided it was definitely the last point. You know… I can not say that I have ever met a man who enjoys fighting the young quite as much as Master Jecht does… That man sure owes me by now! Tenshi decided that today would be a rest and relaxation day, it was time that he gave himself a little bit of well earned self care. He was overdue for this, he would burn himself out if all he did was train and go on missions. Future Hokage or not, everyone required days off to recover and feel like a human being, lest they push themselves too far and lose their motivation. Tenshi had no intention of becoming one of those people. After all, he had a village to one day lead.

Turning on a hot shower and hopping in, Tenshi spent some time thinking about his recent weeks in Konoha. He had made several friends and acquaintances in that time. Ironically, the first had actually been Jecht himself. The mountain of a man had willingly taken the young Uchiha under his wing and helped train him to become a better Shinobi. That lesson had been a painful one, but one that was extremely educational for him. Tenshi truly believed that Jecht was a good person, which was odd considering the man was in charge of running the Konoha prison. Maybe that was why the prison system in the village was so efficient?

He also looked back at his time with his recently acquired team, Team 212. He had met Okisho, Himari and their extremely young sensei, Onabi Hyuuga. Another lesson was learnt there for Tenshi, looks can be extremely deceiving. He had especially formed a bond with his two fellow Genin from the team. Both Okisho and Himari were more than willing to join him on missions of varying degree, the latter even joining Tenshi in an accidentally illegal mission, leaving the safety of the village, before painfully learning the consequences of their actions… Tenshi was about to reminisce about another fellow Genin he had met, a very moody and unhappy boy full of angst, when he heard the faint sound of tapping against a window.

Quickly putting an end to his shower, drying himself and dressing in a thick blue towel, around his waist, Tenshi exited the bathroom to find the source. There he found what was smacking his bedroom window, a Shinobi eagle with a rolled up letter around its leg. The Genin had to squint at first, the sun rays shining through his window were a bit brighter than his sleepy eyes were used to. Grabbing some bird food along the way, Tenshi opened the window, allowing the eagle to stick its leg out, waiting for him to take the scroll from it. He placed some of the food on outer ledge for it to snack on as thanks, before closing the window and unfurling the scroll. Well, well, well… If it isn’t the devil himself… Offering me free food no less. I wonder if I should accept the request? His growling stomach answered that question for him.

Dressing himself in his more casual clothing, Tenshi wore a new outfit. Black jeans and a tan short sleeved button up shirt, he added a nice pair of black boots to complete the set. It was a self care day after all, there was no need for him to always wear his Shinobi gear. Tying his hair up in a neat bun, with a senbon stuck in it to hold it all still, Tenshi was finally satisfied with his appearance. Making sure everything was cleaned and locked up, the Uchiha exited his small apartment in the clan district, before making a beeline directly toward Ichiraku. It did not take him long to arrive at the famous ramen store. The last time he had been here, he had scared off some wannabe bandits and potentially scarred them for life, mentally at least.

Walking into the store, Tenshi quickly scanned the interior, before spotting the brute of a man named Jecht. With the usual grin on his face, Tenshi walked over to Jecht and the group, raising his hand in greeting as he did so. ”Hey there! It sure is nice to know that a free meal is on the cards today!” He joked as he approached the group, ”Hi Jecht! Hello Aru and errr… Aru’s snake?” He also turned at waved at the individuals he had no met before.

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WC: 882

Exit

497/4000 - Main Spec S/T