---

---

^{Early Morning || Konoha}
Azumi balanced precariously on her toes, craning her neck as she scanned the team lists on the bulletin.

There! she thought, spotting her name at last. It was listed under a “Maruyama Ai” alongside “Rinha Masumi” and “Takahashi Minori.”

Who’s ‘Maruyama Ai’? she wondered as she retreated from the board. That the name failed to ring bells was disappointing; she’d been looking forward to her first day as a Genin because of what it promised, and though she knew she shouldn’t assume anything before she met her team captain, she still felt a bit let down. Why couldn’t she have gotten flashy and funny Takama Hiroki as her sensei, or even the strict and respected Sugawara Ruchiko?

But, her lots had been drawn, and dwelling on could have’s and might have’s would get her nowhere. Her team captain would be the mysterious “Maruyama Ai,” and her teammates would be Minori and Masumi.

Well, at least Masumi I kind of know, Azumi thought, the brown-haired boy coming to mind. Masumi Rinha had been one of the leading voices in her year—both inside and outside the classroom. He possessed the wit and talent she would never have, and he’d clearly be the lead student of the team. While Azumi would hesitate to say that she disliked Masumi, she certainly held no fond feelings for him; he’d snubbed her a few times back in the day, and though he’d never done so directly, she’d felt the disdainful animosity whenever she was on his team during competitive events like the annual kunai throwing contest among the Genin. Hopefully he’d turn out to be nicer than he’d seemed in the past.

Minori, on the other hand, was the quiet, white-haired boy in the class. Like most of the silent students, he seemed to do well enough in his studies, and beside his silence and relative anonymity, he seemed like a teammate Azumi could see herself getting along with—more so than Masumi, at least.

Well, there’s Masumi, she thought, spotting Masumi through the crowd. The boy was leaning back against a tree on the fringe of the courtyard, his brows furrowed as he kicked at the dirt under him.

Bad mood already? Azumi thought, frowning as she walked over. Her hope that he was nicer than she thought was beginning to fade.

---

---

^{Early Morning || Konoha}
“Masumi?”

Masumi looked up to see the Taketori girl, Azumi, who continued on now that she had his attention.

“I just saw the bulletin. We’re teammates!”

Masumi gave one final kick at the ground before letting up and nodding. “Yeah,” he said flatly. Having arrived early to see the listings, he’d been disappointed to find that his team was all mediocre—no stand-outs whatsoever, captain or teammate. Maruyama Ai was a mystery, Minori a loner, and Azumi…

“So, are you excited?” Azumi was asking, a friendly smile on her face. Masumi stared at her blankly, trying to fathom a reply other than the instinctual one.

“I’m alright,” he said after a pause. Minori was better than Azumi, at least, but his real hopes went to his team captain. Her anonymity meant either that she was very strong or very weak, and Masumi hoped it was the former.

“Oh, there’s Minori!” Azumi said, waving to the white-haired boy in the crowd. “Minori! Over here!”

Masumi focused his attention on Minori, trying to gauge him. Maybe he was hiding talent that he didn’t let on? That would be ideal, considering that they were grouped with Azumi, who struggled to test averagely.

---

---

Minori woke up that morning only when the sun hit his eyes. He had taken his sweet time to lazily gather his stuff around his room and get ready - he knew what day it was. His class had done their academy exams last week and today was the day they would officially be assigned a squad leader and form a team under him or her. Most would feel happy or, at least, proud. Not Minori, though.

As he got closer to the Academy - the meeting place - he was lacking behind more and more until he finally arrived in front of the great board with all their names and their assigned leader. Maruyama Ai...Just who's that supposed to be?

Not that it would make any difference in the long run. The white-haired boy walked up a flight of stairs leading to a higher vantage point form where he could see the whole court. He perched himself on the railings, legs hanging from it. From here, he saw it all. The students, most of them his ancient classmates, were gathering in small groups of friends. Friends - he did not have any. Not really. Not that he had many enemies so to say either, but he knew of a few kids who's parents told them not to talk to him just because he was originated from the Land of Water.

Masumi and Azumi, uh? his eyes landed on them as Azumi walked up to the boy. He knew not much about either of them, but Masumi was a talented student and had some of the highest grades of his class. He also knew very well that chances were he would give the cold shoulder to both his partners, but Minori was prepared, and used, to that. As the young Genin jumped off the railing and landed, Azumi called him over and he walked up to them. Slowly.

'Hey...So...Partners, uh...?' he said, scratching the back of his head and immediately looking down, hands to his pockets.

---

---

thwack thwack thwack

After nailing the landing, Ai looked up to see all three kunais she had thrown while in mid air right in bulls eye. Not bad, she thought to herself. The practice range was, in fact, an obstacle course comprised of multiple sections with targets to aim at while evading obstacles with increasing difficulty.

Walking out of the training complex, she was hailed by the man at the desk.

'Got them all I hope?' he said while not looking up from his book, sitting back and feet on the desk.

'To the last.' she said with small laugh and a smile.

The man shook his head and finally brought his book down. 'I don't get you. Why do you still come here, huh? This facility is aimed at Chunins. At best.'

'The basics, Junten. Never forget the basics. See you next week, old man.' Then she left through the door before she could hear Junten's answer to her calling him out on his age. Walking in the street, she brought out a folded sheet from her belt. It must've been at least a hundred times she looked at that sheet, yet it bore only three names and three photos on it. Azumi Taketori, Masumi Rinha and Minori Takahashi. Three newly appointed Genins. Her Genins.

By the time she arrived at the gates of the Academy, a few Jonins had already arrived and gathered their team. She passed the gates and almost immediately spotted her group. How could she not after staring at their photos so often? Two of them, the boys, didn't seem too pleased. Azumi, on the other hand, seemed to do her best to stay positive. Ai decided to stay by the gates, against the wall, and look on. They'll notice and come to her eventually. Right?

---

---

^{Early Morning || Konoha}
“Yep, partners,” Azumi said, smiling brightly. At least she had one—if not friendly—alright teammate.“Let’s work hard!”

Her words got her a funny glance from Masumi, who turned instead to address Minori.

“You’re from the Land of Water, right?” Masumi asked. Azumi’s eyes widened—how rude, confronting a teammate about their past right off the bat, especially one so sensitive. Sure her parents had told her not to fraternize with “bad influences,” but Minori had always seemed like a decent classmate, albeit a bit quiet.

However, Azumi struggled to find words to change the subject. Masumi obviously held the most authority in the group, and she knew he probably wouldn’t take kindly to being interrupted, especially not by her. So, instead she fidgeted with her hands, glancing between her teammates nervously.

---

---

^{Early Morning || Konoha}
Minori seemed like someone he could get along with on a good day, which was more than what he could say about Azumi.

At least she has tact, he thought when Azumi fell silent, fidgeting with her fingers. He was being a bit mean, he knew, but he also didn’t want to have to deal with her attempts at cheeriness when she was going to be the one dragging the team down.

Minori, on the other hand, was a bit of a mystery—although less so than their team captain. The boy was rumoured to have come from the Land of Water, but Masumi wanted to make sure. Rumors between his classmates were often distorted over the telephone line of whispers and giggles, and now that he was matched with Minori, he wanted certainty.

Well, he’s lived here forever, Masumi thought. Maybe it’ll just mean that he has some nice water techniques.

---

@SimpleWriter

---

---

'Now, now.'

The voice came from behind the group. There stood a woman, obviously of at least a Jonin's rank, looking down on them with arms crossed. She was relatively small and even looked frail. Also, she did not wear the usual Jonin's vest neither. Instead, she was clad in black garments with long gloves and a net around her abdomen.

'There seem to be some tension here. You'll want to keep that for training.' Now that she was before them, Ai actually wondered how to go about this.

'My name is Maruyama Ai. I am to be your team captain from here on out. Nice to finally meet the three of you. So.' she then leaned against a nearby tree, still looking at the young trio 'How about we start with you talking about yourselves? If memory serve, that's kind of a tradition.'

---

Earlier that day

---

Ryuu smiled as he walked away from the academy. In the courtyard, all the Genins-to-be were assembled and waiting to meet their Jonin. It took him way back, for certain. However, now was not the time to remember the past.

Making his way down the streets of the village, he waved and hailed a few acquaintances he met on the way until he finally reached a small restaurant in a less lively part of Konoha. As he was about to enter, he was stopped by two younger women who blocked his way.

'Oh! Sorry to have bumped into you...wait...are you the one they call the Dragon of the Red Thunder?!'

'I might have heard that a few times, I believe.' he said, shooting his iconic smile at them. He did not even try to remove his arm from the firm grasp of the woman who, with very bad acting, bumped into him voluntarily and grabbed his forearm.

'Your eyes really are the same as they say! Would you...accept an invitation for dinner with two young and pretty ladies?' the second one said.

'Thank you, really. I was indeed lucky to be born with a few gifts.' He chose to completely ignore the passage about their physique 'Terribly sorry, ladies, but I am beyond busy as of now. As the head of my clan and security in the village, I can seldom afford free time. I am certain you understand.'

Expertly, Ryuu managed to free his arm during his short discourse and step around the two women. Before they had any time to answer anything at all, he confused them with a second smile before waving farewell and going in. Ryuu then went to the back of the restaurant and sat down. This was the place he had ask to meet a certain Kurama Asuka. A Jonin, like him.

His investigation led him to uncover that a few years back she had a friend who went missing. That trail had since gone cold and was abandoned, but under the light of his new investigation he had brought it back up and had to speak with her.

---

---

^{Early Morning || Konoha}
Azumi stared at Ai with wide eyes, surprised at the jonin’s small and friendly stature. However, she quickly recovered her smile: Ai seemed friendlier than both of her teammates, which was reassuring.

“H—hello, I’m Taketori Azumi,” Azumi started awkwardly when it became clear that neither of her teammates was willing to share first. “In the future, I, um, want to become stronger and find out what I want to do,” she said after some struggle, glancing between her teammates and captain. “Nice to meet all of you!”

---

---

^{Early Morning || Konoha}
Maruyama Ai appeared less formidable than most, but her confidence betrayed her strength, and Masumi was sure that there was more to his jonin captain than what meets the eye.

“Rinha Masumi,” he said when Azumi finished. “I’m going to become a jonin and succeed my clan as heir.” He glanced at Minori, having concluded his part.

---

---

^{Twilight || Iwagakure Outskirts}
Asuka’s Anbu mask was a snake. Though she didn’t specifically choose the mask, it fit her well; she had few words and fewer emotions, with or without it on. Her job was to carry out her orders, and she did this with utmost efficiency.

Tonight, she was teamed with Sparrow, Rabbit, and Bear to intercept a Iwagakure-Kirigakure jutsu exchange and steal the scrolls involved. According to Konoha’s sources, the exchange was to take place in an isolated sector of Iwagakure. As such, the group formed for the job was comprised of a chakra sensor and ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu specialists. The sensor-type was to help locate the location of the exchange for the genjutsu specialist, who would then distract the enemy shinobi so the ninjutsu and taijutsu specialists could step in and retrieve the scrolls. The group was currently searching for the exact location of the exchange, with Sparrow performing what he did best—scouting and sensing.

Five, Sparrow signalled.

Two, Bear signalled.

One, Asuka, Rabbit, and Sparrow signalled.

Four nods followed, then a silent flurry of motion as the group signed their preparations, Sparrow and Rabbit putting up shadow clones. When they set out, Sparrow led the way as nothing but a shadowy blur flashing between trees. The group of enemy shinobi came into view as Asuka finished her signing. That Kirigakure shinobi preferred to drowse up a light mist whenever they moved would just make her job tonight easier.

Shōmei kiri no Gensō—Mōmokuteki Moya.

With the Jutsu cast, the Anbu team quickly closed in on the Kirigakure shinobi, Asuka bringing her target down with a few precise lightning techniques. Her role was to set up for attacks, so conserving her chakra for the next strike was of essence. Nevertheless, she signed another genjutsu—Genkaku, to make it seem as if another group of Anbu had arrived—to distract the Kirigakure shinobi still standing. The targets went down, Sparrow rising with the scroll in hand.

At a nod from Bear, the group donned their enemies’ garb, Asuka thickening the fog around them as Sparrow tracked down the Iwakagure shinobi. Rabbit slung the retrieved scroll onto her back, and Bear checked the Kirigakure shinobi over, making note of their faces.

Four, Sparrow signalled.

Two, Bear signalled.

One, Sparrow and Rabbit signalled.

Zero, Asuka signalled.

---

^{Morning || Konoha}
Asuka arrived early at the small restaurant, since her schedule was clear for the next few days on account of prescribed houserest after her last mission. Overworking herself—that was the excuse her Anbu captain, Bear, had used when he sent her home for the week. Such was her general routine: a month or two of Anbu missions, then a week of forced rest before she returned for more. As a seasoned member of the Anbu corps, she could take as many missions as she wanted, so long as her performance met the mark. And since it always did, Asuka never stopped until her captain told her to.

She’d never understood why he cared, since her performance on missions was always up to par, but she’d quickly learned that there was no fighting against his “suggestions.” So, though she didn’t see the point in doing so, she accepted the intermittent weeks of emptiness, when her mind was forced off its usual track of jutsus, missions, and marks. Being sent home to the quiet little flat she paid rent for was never pleasant, though, since being alone with nothing but her thoughts to keep her company inevitably led her mind to wander back to times past—times she always wanted to forget entirely until she’d lingered and become wrapped up all over again.

The call from the head of the Konoha police, Sakaguchi Ryuu, therefore, had taken Asuka by surprise. As fruitless as she was sure their conversation would be, Asuka had let her curiosity drive her decision, which led her to where she sat now, watching as the head of police fended off a pair of young civilian women. Sakaguchi Ryuu had been a bit before her time at the academy, but she’d seen him a few times—even spoke with him—after she joined the Anbu, though only from behind a mask. Thus, this would be his first time meeting her, which suited Asuka just fine.

When the waiter led Ryuu to her table, she nodded, acknowledging him as he sat. As he settled in, Asuka waited patiently. He’d called the meeting, and he was going to ask the questions, so all she had to do was watch, listen, and occasionally give a response. She would have no expectations for the meeting nor what Ryuu’s investigation might uncover because the decade-old cold case had long faded into an obscurity that Asuka, even on low days, knew would likely never be dispelled. If she’d lacked answers then, she had even fewer now, with years of dust and faded memories to work off of. A buried urn of ashes under a inscribed stone marker was all that was left, and the dead didn’t speak.

---

@SimpleWriter

---

---

Minori stepped when a Jonin appeared behind them, addressing the group. He looked at her, hands still in his pockets. She seemed capable, but Minori was not that great at judging people. He sneaked a look at his partners' reactions to try and adjust his own, but had no success there. Masumi simply seemed to analyze her - as he analyzed everything. Azumi was her same, reassuring self. He waited as long as he could before answering, listening to the two others first.

What did he want for himself in the future? Thinking ahead of time was not something Minori got into. To him it seemed like a luxury since even in the present he kept on questioning everything about himself. He looked up at the sky, at the lazy clouds for a second, thinking up an answer.

'I...don't know.' He said, scratching the back of his head nervously 'I'm Takahashi Minori. I'm not from the Land of Fire, but I grew up here. I+f I had to answer something, I'd say... I'd like to change people minds? About...stuff. I'm not sure...' Minori then looked elsewhere, confusing even himself. That was it. He's never had much practice at putting thoughts into words, even less so in such a short amount of time. 'Sorry...'

---

---

Well, this was inconclusive. Ai could not really hold it against them, though, since she herself remembered how it was when she was their age. Her gaze briefly stopped on Masumi. His answer was quick and kind of cold. It remembered her of herself. Not so long ago, too.

'Well, that doesn't tell me anything I have not already read about all of you. However, that's fine. No need to get all emotional in the first ten minutes, right? Besides...we are Shinobi. Shinobi speak through actions - and your actions so far tell me you need training. Not only did you not notice me spying on your little conversation, but you did not hear me sneak up to you. First lesson: Keep an ear and an eye out. Now...'

Ai turned around and began to walk off, expecting them to follow her. It was only close to mid day still, there was still more than enough time. She kept on talking, firm but still kind. 'As the captain of this team, first thing I want is to assess each of your capabilities.' On the first day of teams being assigned, some Jonin would take it slow and mostly discuss with their pupils or even go and eat out. The thought did not even cross Ai's mind as she was taking them to the very same practice field she was herself at this very morning. The group entered the complex and Ai led them straight to the outside courtyard where the obstacle courses were.

'Here we are.'

Academy students would have ran through such courses many, many times already. Maybe not as complex as this one was, but still similar. 'This will help me gauge your movements and reflexes. I know you've run such courses before, but please bear with me.' She said, smiling. 'Now...Azumi, why don't you go first?'

The course consisted of many obstacles: First it was a running field with a sand gap meant to be jumped over with three kunai targets to be shot at while in the air. Once landed, the contestant would have to do some jumping parkour onto small poles that were rising higher. Until they reach a platform. There they'd have to traverse a bridge with holes in it and pendulum to knock them off of it. At the middle of the bridge, on the right, would be a target that would have to be hit mid-jump to open the gates leading to the next step. Across thee gate there would be another obstacle course where the Genin would need to jump between footings of varying heights, but descending, while aiming at eight different targets that would rise for only a second with no warning before going back down. All in all, they would see it was one step harder than courses of the Academy.

---

---

^{Early Morning || Konoha}
The jonin led them to a training complex—one that Azumi had never been to before. At first glance, the course looked similar to many of the ones she’d gone through as a academy student, with fields, obstacles, and targets, but once they were closer Azumi saw the differences: this course was more advanced—higher steps, further distances.

“Y—yes!” Azumi stuttered when Ai called on her, her heartbeat in her ears as she stepped forwards to put herself between the obstacle course and her team.

It’s okay, Azumi. You can do this, she told herself firmly as she bent to a running stance and pulled out her kunai. Then—with one last, deep breath—she took off, launching herself smoothly over the sand pit and hurling her kunai at the targets past it. Thunk thunk—two hits and neither center, but Azumi was already bound for the next part of the course, transversing neatly over the wooden poles. Though she nearly tripped once or twice, she managed to keep up her pace until she reached the platform, where she paused, catching her breath as she watched for the pedulum’s pattern.

Four, she counted, pulling out another kunai. Then, at the second count of four, she was off again, passing the pendulum with a jump as she threw her kunai, which sailed smoothly past the target.

Azumi pulled up on the other side of the pendulum, stricken, but quickly shook off her shock. Pulling out another kunai, she lapped back, hurling it at the target as she passed the pendulum again, this time successfully hitting it, though off-center. Passing the pendulum a third time was as easy, and she was quickly through the gate and onto the second obstacle course, hopping from post to post, though with some brief hesitation on the longer jumps.

As she descended, though, Azumi didn’t see the first target until it was disappearing, and she quickly fumbled for a kunai as the second target appeared. Shame threatened to overwhelm her, but she pushed back, successfully hitting five of the six remaining targets.

Landing on the ending platform, Azumi bent over, panting as she looked at Ai and her teammates, zeroing in on Ai’s in particular. Had she disappointed the jonin already?

---

---

^{Early Morning || Konoha}
“Well she doesn’t set high standards,” Masumi said snidely to Minori. “You want to go next, or are we keeping the Azumi-me-you order?”

---

Sensei Maruyama's face let no trace of what she was thinking show as she looked on Azumi doing the run, or even after she was done. Minori, as for himself, felt as if Azumi did her best, and that was the best one could ask of anyone. His years of being teased by others taught him that he should not strive to impress them, but go at his own pace - or something like that. As such, he did not think much on the performance. As in judging did not cross his mind, but it did Masumi's. Minori nodded at his teammate sheepishly, looking down, and cursed the fact that he had such a hard time speaking his mind out. It might be better, though, as they were going to be part of a team and they shouldn't start arguing now on everything.

'I can go.' Minori simply answered, walking forward as Azumi made her way back.

With both hands still in his pockets, Minori made his way to the start of the training field where he awaited his Captain's signal. As soon as he saw the signal, Minori sped up like a dart. At the first jump over the sand the young Shinobi got out three kunais from the satchel on his belt and three all of them in the midst of his jump, head pointing down. Two of them hits bulls eye. Landing the jump, he immediately got to the jumping poles which he ascended with impressing speed and precision until he had both feet on the platform. There he took a second to rest and look around.

A bridge, pendulums and targets. On top of it, holes in the bridge. Minori made up his mind and finally got into action: running up the the first hole, he jumped on the pendulum as it came his way holding in place with a kunai he stuck in the wood. When it reached it's maximum range, it had closed the distance between him and the target which made it easy to hit the bulls eye here too. He then jumped back into the bridge, nearly got hit by the next pendulum since he landed off balance, but managed to make his way to the now opened gate.

Here he got lucky: he already see what Azumi went through. He knew that the targets would appear and disappear. What he quickly learned, however, was that they did so in a different order each time. He too missed the first target due to surprise, but managed to hit 6 out of the eight at the end of this last part of the obstacle course.

As soon as he landed, he pocketed his hands back into his pants and walked to the group.

---

As Azumi landed on gaze on Ai, she would quickly realized how little emotions Ai was able to display. Nothing could be read off of her facial expression, but she soon smiled to Azumi nonetheless once she walked back towards the group. 'Great job, Azumi. Thanks for going first. Now, who's next?'

However it already had been decided between the two boys. As Minori was walking away, Ai took the opportunity to steal a glance over at Masumi. His comment had been noticed, despite it being addressed to Minori. It threw her back to herself yet again back when she was with her fellow Genins. She would be the one to constantly look down on them, but that was long ago now. Masumi had still some ways to go. She wouldn't let him make the same mistakes.

Minori, as for him, completed the course almost perfectly. As perfectly as was expected of Genins. He even surprised her with his pendulum strategy. Ai, though, was not surprised. Minori always had been classed among the averages of his group at the Academy, but the teachers did notice potential hidden in his lack of motivation and did not fail to notify her of this. Now it was Masumi's turn.

On paper, he was a model student. He came in second in the aptitude test, but his practical exercises displayed a potential difficulty in real situations. This was not a real situation, however, so she would get to see just how much he was close to her younger self.

---

---

It did not take Ryuu long to spot the woman sitting in the back. Still, he waited until he was brought to the table. A small bow to Asuka was the only sign he acknowledged her presence since he kept his attention on the restaurant owner for the next few seconds after sitting down. Casually, and playfully, he ordered some food and Sake before finally turning to the Anbu.

''My my. Sorry about all this...Uh, Kurama, Was it? Kurama Asuka.'' he looked on the papers that he had just got out of his robes before continuing ''Right. All this unwanted attention - had I known Anbu had such beautiful ladies in their ranks I might have arrived here sooner, but I did not call you for your looks.''

Slowly and methodically, Ryuu got out multiple papers form an envelope that he had put on the table previously as he spoke: ''A few years prior, you were involved in an ongoing investigation on the disappearance of a young Kunoichi named Uchiha Chiasa.'' his voice was still jovial and he was bearing a light smile as he spoke, but there clearly was authority emanating from him still.

He slided the first photo over to her table's side: the smiling face of Chiasa. ''She was your friend. I realize you possibly already gave what information you had, but bear with me. Last week, something turned up. We found a body with missing eyes. A Uchiha boy, too.'' Ryuu put a photo forward with very graphic representation of an eyeless boy's body. Then, he put up a photo of Chiasa's eyeless body beside it.

''The boy was missing for a few days and then, just like that, his body reappeared. Similar case as it was with Chiasa.'' Ryuu took back the photos and removed them from sight. ''But that's not all. This time around, there was a witness. I have him in custody for now.''

Ryuu sat back, more relaxed, as his food and drink arrived. He poured himself some Sake and handed her a cup as well. ''As I said I need more then your good looks - that, I have plenty. I need a partner on this case. I was filled in with your skills in Genjutsu. Paired with your implication in this case, I thought you might be willing to help since, this time around, we got a chance to crack this.''

He took a sip of Sake.

''Before we continue, I need to know where you stand. Interested in working with me towards the security of the whole of Konoha, to stop obviously dangerous criminals and obtain closure? Or are you only willing to keep skulking in the dark with the Anbu?''

---

---

^{Morning || Konoha}
Azumi nodded, attempting a smile at Ai when the jonin addressed her. While she couldn’t read much off Ai’s face, there wasn’t much to say about her run through the training course anyway. Her performance was, if put generously, average, lacking any hint of talent or aptitude like her teammates—especially Masumi—would likely show.

As Minori headed off, Azumi glanced at Masumi, who sniffed and turned away from her. She clearly hadn’t made much headway with his opinion of her.

Minori’s run of the course went much better than hers did. Where she nearly tripped and fell over some parts, he seemed to breeze over them. Though he was a quiet student who achieved average marks, Minori was still a fair deal better than Azumi.

“You did great, Minori!” Azumi said with a grin once the boy had returned. “Jumping on the pendulum was so cool!”

---

---

^{Morning || Konoha}
Masumi was surprised when Minori jumped on the pendulum, but he’d rather die than admit that. Giving his only competent teammate a nod as he set out, Masumi lined himself up at the start line then—at Ai’s signal—sprinted off, deftly tossing his first three kunai during the height of his jump. All three hit, two center.

The obstacle course itself was no trouble for Masumi, who’d had plenty of practice maneuvering over tough terrain during his academy years. He ran smoothly over poles and through obstacles, hitting the target past the pendulum dead center as he ran through. On the last stretch, Masumi was prepared for the targets to shift, and he responded accordingly, tossing out kunai as he spotted them. However, unlike when he could plan his responses like earlier, the flashing targets provided more of a challenge: running through, Masumi hit seven of them, but only one center.

“Damn it,” he cursed as he reached the finish line, glancing back for the targets that had already disappeared. Sure he hadn’t expected to hit them precisely like he’d done to the previous few, but to miss one entirely? That wasn’t how he worked.

“I’ll get them all next time,” Masumi said as he returned to Ai’s side, sulking. He’d wanted to deliver a flawless execution to knock everyone flat, but he’d fallen short, and falling short of excellent was nothing amazing. Falling short of excellent—that made him normal, and Masumi loathed being normal.

---

---

^{Morning || Konoha}
Ryuu’s words took Asuka by surprise, reminding her of how long it’d been since she’d had face-to-face contact with another person. Her surprise, though, didn’t translate itself onto her facial features, which remained still throughout Ryuu’s speech, even as the fellow jonin brought up Chiasa Uchiha. The mask she wore during her Anbu missions was realized in her own lack of emotions, a curious detail Asuka didn’t think much of since it didn’t affect her performance in the field. Still, when Ryuu pulled out the pictures, Asuka was struck by resemblance between them: pale, slightly bloated skin with patches of bruises and blemishes to offset the black, cavernous sockets staring out of the picture. Dead, dead, dead, the bodies seemed to indicate, as if one glance wasn’t enough to tell.

“If you know I’m Anbu, then I suppose my commander’s already approved this,” Asuka said flatly. No wonder Bear had given her such a long break this time around. “Where’s the witness being held?”

“Commander!” a man—jonin, by the looks of it—burst into the restaurant, rushing to Ryuu’s side when he spotted the robed man. “Commander Sakaguchi, the witness has been reported missing!”

“They want him dead,” Asuka said, rising from her seat. “Take us to where you last saw him.”

---

^{Mid-morning || Konoha}
“Here—he was supposed to be in this room,” the jonin officer said, indicating a holding room. “His mother stepped out for a moment, and when she came back, he was gone.”

“There was no forced entry,” Asuka said.

The jonin officer shook his head. “No one entered the premises around that time.”

Asuka looked to Ryuu, crossing her arms. There was a mole in the police ranks—that much was clear.

Ai closed the files she was writing in, stared up at her students while immediately pocketing it all right back in the belt sack behind her.
'Very good job - all three of you.' she said with a smile.

'Now, as I said, I really want to gauge out my dear students in order to be able to tailor training that fits your exact aptitudes. With the precious demonstrations you've given me, I am closer to that goal. However...' as she spoke, Ai began to slowly walk towards a small upward log that had been placed there some time before she brought the group here, though somehow remained unnoticed. On it rested a small chest. '...Since you will be forming a team, I need to also see you work as such. And so I brought this chest!'

Ai adjusted he long arm gloves as she said those words before adding: ' I want you guys to come and take it. '

On those words her stare fell back on them, but without a smile this time. It was razor sharp, piercing right through them. Deadly.




Minori reached to scratch the back of his head, slightly embarrassed at Azumi's comment. 'Thanks, Azumi...' he managed to answer.

It was nothing much. It was a bit obvious... - was what he would have wanted to say, but felt like it would be a bit too smug. Acknowledging Masumi's nod, the young shinobi took his place back behind the remaining duo and watched Masumi's trial. Minori was...impressed by his teammate. His movements were fluid and calculated.

As with Azumi, Minori failed to comment on Masumi's trial when he got back. Feeling like it would serve no real purpose and would only risk leaving a feeling of competition in the team. He simply looked back at Ai, who was finishing up scribbling some things on her papers.

All of this jovial scene quickly turned to something else when their their Captain told them of their next exercise which was to start now. Obviously, it would pit the three of them against her with one simple goal: reach the chest. Minori froze not out of fear, but because he began thinking. While he stare did turn from comforting and kind to menacing and daunting, she did not take any usual battle stance which was, in it of itself, intimidating and confusing. Was it a tactic used to obtain that exact effect?

Minori remained silent, but he stepped closer to his partners which meant he was ready to plan out a plan of action.




Without a word more, Ryuu jumped from his seat and led to way. He walked ahead as he led them back to the building which was assigned as the Headquarter of his operation within Konoha. Barging in, they ignored everyone on their way down to the basement where there was multiple holding cells. In the back of that corridor there was a door - opened - that led to an empty interrogating room.

To both Asuka and the officer's comments, Ryuu had the same reaction: he remained very calm and brought his hand up to his chin thoughtfully and almost with a small smirk on his lips. He could even be heard whispering to himself 'Well done...'

'Jingen, go back upstairs and make sure everyone knows to be on their guard and keep an eye out for a missing kid.' with this, the officer left.

'Anything seems of interest to you, partner?' Obvious sarcasm aside, that last word had two way more important uses.

First: it was used as a way to bring Asuka back to his proposition about helping him solve this case and obtain a clear Yes or No answer after what had just transpired. Second: It was also a way to catch her attention. Once her eyes met him, she would immediately recognize the message he communicated to her silently about passing absolutely no comment on the very obvious fact that someone entered this room without having to force his or her way in.

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^{Morning || Konoha}
When Ai finished her explanation, Azumi quickly glanced to her teammates. Minori had moved closer, indicating his willingness to work together, and Masumi did the same, much to her surprise. Having seen his earlier attitude, she’d expected him to be more disagreeable, but she was glad he wasn’t truly all he seemed.

“So what should we do? Have one person distract her while the other two try to grab the chest?”

“That’s pretty obvious, don’t you think? She’d be expecting that.” Masumi’s eyes flicked to Ai. “We should try something she wouldn’t expect—or something that isn’t immediately obvious, at least. Like having Azumi grab the chest.”

“”W-what? Azumi’s eyes widened. “I-I don’t think—”

“What do you think, Minori?” Masumi turned his gaze on Minori, so Azumi did the same. Sure Ai probably wouldn’t expect her to grab the chest, but neither did she! She couldn’t even see herself getting close to it, much less grabbing it. Surely one of her teammates—both clearly more skilled than herself—would fare a lot better?

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^{Morning || Konoha}
Seeing as Minori seemed the reasonable sort, Masumi figured he’d probably agree with the plan. Ai was clearly testing the group’s teamwork, as she said herself, and as much as Masumi hated to trust Azumi to do anything skill-related, he and Minori made much better distractions than she did. In fact, done correctly, Azumi would have the easiest job: snatch and go.

“We would all charge her to distract her, but Azumi will lag a little behind—intentionally. Then, when Ai isn’t expecting it, Azumi will grab the chest.”

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^{Mid-morning || Konoha}
Ryuu took the news well—almost better than some Anbu, which surprised Asuka. But then again, he was the head of the police. It was a problem these days, underestimating others. The riskiness of Anbu missions had led her to default to underestimating rather than overestimating those around her because, in cases that something went wrong, she had only herself to rely on. It was a precarious balance of valuing her teammates, the mission, and her own survival. Asuka had rarely had to choose between the three, but when she did, she never liked looking back.

When Ryuu addressed her, his use of the word “partner” hadn’t been lost on her, and as much as she hated dredging up the past, if her captain had approved her leave of absence, then there was no reason for her to refuse. With everything that was happening, it seemed like a decade-old set of questions might actually be answered one day, and though Asuka hated to say she hoped, she did now.

“Nothing in this room, partner.” Ryuu’s sharp gaze told not voice anything unnecessary—which, really, was unnecessary. One of the first things an Anbu learned was that words should be kept as a limited ration, and Asuka had never minded that.

Asuka flicked her eyes to the upper corner of the room where a security camera hung: were there tapes?

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@SimpleWriter