[Yoshiko]

First Exam: Maze Five Fun Not in the Sun Asahi would now realize he'd have to go some distance back, he'd however have little trust for the decision before the last. Assuming the mistake was in fact made much earlier, he'd go the opposite direction of his second fork in the road or four forks back. The path to get to this one wasn't long, but it wasn't full of decisions either. It was one long straight followed by another, it'd however lead to a very not straight path. Hitting the end of the second straight he'd be forced right down four tiles, then another right. He'd be forced up two tiles, then another right and he'd before over two tiles. It'd be then a left turn presented, but two turns would merely force another. A set of two right turns split by two tiles, it'd be clear the path was snaking for optimal length. As there'd be two more lefts, then two more rights and finally two more lefts. Three tiles and the boy would find himself entering a cavernous looking room. The entrance was an open doorway, but it was the most built looking structure of this room. It'd instead appear to be a part of the depths to the cave. A path would lead upwards and to a light which would appear to be the exit. It was a narrowing path that looked impeccably rigged and rough. Climbing to the entrance would be absolutely no fun, but the light seemed to be presenting a semi-distant exit. Asahi wasn't alone entering the cave of sorts. A man would be sitting in the shadows, one hand playing with a couple of dice. His expression was bleak and emotionless, his gaze would shift towards but not directly at the entering boy. "This isn't the exit, you've come to the wrong place." The man would loudly state to be clearly heard by the boy, then proceed to look down to his hands. As he'd look to his shaking hand, which kept the die constantly changing numbers.

[Kyokujitsu Asahi]

{

}

To say he wasn't pleased with having to venture backwards in the maze and undo what he believed to be progress would be an understatement, though the boy was more upset with the fact that the fork he had chosen to take might not have been the right one. There were a few options on the table and it was no guarantee that this would be the one to get him out of the maze. The potential scenario of possibly having to try two other routes was anxiety inducing. Sticking to the path made on the grid had not been an option for quite some time now and Asahi sighed at the thought that it would be so easy. There was surely something else in that room which would have helped him more than what was on that gaming table but it did little to lament on that now.

The Suna genin would follow the winding, new path all the while praying that he made the correct decision. There'd be no way to tell unless a dead end or the exit itself made an appearance which made each step that much more worrisome. How long would he have to travel before getting an answer? If it took too long would it be better to go back and try one of the other options? Too many variables and not enough time were eating away at the boys normally calm demeanor. Thankfully, however, there would be something to break Asahi out of his mental ramblings.

The path would empty out into a spacious room, much larger than the maze that had been giving him a hint of claustrophobia given the close stone walls on either side of him. There was a path leading up and a veritable light at the end of the tunnel, was it the exit? It could have also very well been a trap but at this point the young shinobi was ready to spend even a few moments away from the twisting and turning of the maze. A booming voice emanating from the shadows would cause the boy to jump a bit as he quickly turned his head to locate the source. It was a none too pleasant looking man who didn't look happy to see a visitor.

According to him the light at the end of the path wasn't an exit which was disheartening, but Asahi had no intentions of just racing back into the maze because some random guy said so. "What's that light at the top of the path, then? It has to lead to something..." He'd inquire, not expecting much in return but perhaps behind his gruff demeanor the man would be helpful.

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Yoshiko]

First Exam: Maze Five Fun Not in the Sun Asahi would question the man, which seemed to bother the man. He'd squint in slight disdain, but then from his sitting position lean forward and look over at the tunnel out. "Hmm... That's a good question I don't have the answer to. However I can think of a list of things that produce light other than the sun." He'd remark feeling pretty sound in response, as he spoke though it came off in quite an annoyed tone. As though he didn't have the patience to be questioned, but at the same time he didn't avoid answering. Even not knowing the answer, he'd give an answer to explain his earlier statement. "Do you want me to attempt the list? Or will knowing that's not the exit suffice?" The man would state with a continued look of, 'buzz off'. He'd lean back into a more comfortable sitting position, as he'd go back to focusing on his die. Stopping once to stare at how they'd land in his hand. "Hmm... snake eyes..." He'd mutter to himself, then go back to shaking the dice before looking to the sand shinobi again. "If you don't believe me you're more than welcome to take the path, I'll disperse the moment you make a choice anyways." The man would subtly add showing his lack of interest. He didn't care whether or not Asahi or anyone that was made it to the end of the maze. He very well might of been placed to throw off the contestants.

[Kyokujitsu Asahi]

{

}

The strange man's response was of little help and he looked annoyed that Asahi had the gaul to even question him in the first place. While he was correct in that there could have been a multitude of sources of light --and even offered to list them off-- this maze had so far only shown that torches were the sole source of light, and a light that bright probably wasn't coming from a torch or two. "No, I don't need a list." The boy would reply as he contemplated his options. Checking out the veritable light at the end of the tunnel would at the very least cost him time and there was a chance that this could have all been a ruse to distract him, but could one take anything at purely face value down here?

Snake eyes Asahi heard the man mutter as he rolled his dice once more. Where had he heard that before? Ah! Pulling out the rule card that he had kept from the beginning room, he'd take a look at the second rule that referred to the maze as a snake. So if he was in a hypothetical snake then the eyes would have to be near the mouth which meant an exit. Or.. since they were at the head that would put him at the beginning. That, too, was a horrifying possibility that in reality the boy had either made no progress or found a way to circle back on himself. Well that added a panic inducing wrinkle.

The man spoke once more, not caring whether or not Asahi attempted to take the path as he'd be leaving once the boy settled on a decision. No, not leaving, dispersing. An odd choice of words that caught the Suna genin's attention. Only clones and certain techniques could be dispersed, so was this guy even real to begin with? He wasn't proficient in genjutsu and didn't really have an easy means of testing out his fledgling theory, and simply asking the man if he was an illusion or not probably wouldn't yield the results he wanted. In that case, more drastic measures would have to be taken. Biting his lip hard enough to break skin and draw blood, Asahi would attempt to dispel the illusion --if there even was one in the first place-- in an attempt to test out his theory. While not well versed in the illusory arts, the genin knew that sufficient pain could be used to dispel a genjutsu. If that didn't work then the path towards the light would be his next move.

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Yoshiko]

First Exam: Maze Five Fun Not in the Sun The man didn't know what Asahi was going to do next, but he'd see the boy starting to seem to consider a lot. There was a lot potentially going through the boys head, but he had no way to really read the stranger. It was hopefully thoughts related to the maze and more importantly the decision at hand. However it'd be then that the sand shinobi would surprise the man, as he'd rather violently bite himself. An act which after almost startling the man would cause him to laugh. He'd realize exactly what went through the shakuton users mind, he'd considered whether or not dispersing meant he'd been a genjutsu. It wasn't a terrible thought, but it hadn't been correct here. This place and the individual before Asahi were most definitely real, but after a brief laugh the boys actions stirred the man to speak again. "Ha! Didn't mean to miss lead you like that kid, I'm just a clone. You're the only player that isn't a clone." The man would assure the boy, as he'd re-roll his die. Stopped at three and six on the dice. "Nine... Hmph... Probably won't get doubles again for a while." He'd mutter returning his gaze from the mildly wounded boy to his die purely. He seemed to lighten his expression a little, but only a little. He was playing a role in the maze, but he couldn't keep his composure if the boy took to breaking more. The wrong choice would punish enough.

[Kyokujitsu Asahi]

{

}

Asahi would bite down until he could feel warm crimson liquid running down his chin, and it'd be a few moments until he realized his mistake. He hadn't really done the whole pain thing too much when it came to training against genjutsu so he didn't know how long it would take for the illusion to be lifted, but with the man now laughing at him it was clear that his theory had been incorrect. He would apologize for misleading and reveal that he was indeed just a clone --Asahi's other theory-- and it would have great if he could have maybe let that be known just a few moments sooner.

The genin would turn his head to the side before spitting out the blood that had been pooling in his jaw for the past few moments while also clearing his chin of the remains. "Well that's just great." He muttered to himself pondering his next move. This room was probably a dead end and it'd probably be best to go back and try one of the other two splits from before. Then again, it'd take no time at all to at least see where the ascending path led. It was a race to see who could finish first, but that didn't mean Asahi couldn't be thorough. This was his first break since entering the maze and a small part of him hoped that he had lucked up enough to find the exit in his first try.

"Don't suppose you can give me hints for getting out of here?" The young Kyokujitsu would inquire. If the clone had something of interest to say then the boy would listen, if not then he'd try his hand at the staircase.

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Yoshiko]

First Exam: Maze Five Fun Not in the Sun It'd be with little amusement that the man watched the boy curse himself or the happenings. The bleeding still making the guy feel a little bad for the genin, it wasn't like the boars could do worst. However confusion lead Asahi to his self harming act, but it was a good theory for what was to come. Then the sand shinobi would ask another question, a question the man was tempted to simply reply yes to. "Yes..." Knee jerk reply exiting his mouth, he'd grasp his chin questioning if he should say more. He really didn't think he was supposed to answer questions beyond their immediate answer. "... The room you're looking for will have a door, it'll be opened with a special key. I have a strange feeling you'll figure out the key." He'd remark knowing exactly the man who'd be awaiting in the last room. He'd decide to go even further and give a little more information on what he'd already spoken to clarify some of what was in the starting room. "You're presently in the room labeled by a bird and you started in the room labeled by a snake." Clarifying the rule on the card had nothing to do with snakes, it was just providing a legend to better translate the map. If he'd started at the snake, it meant he was in a room at the bottom of the maze. Now he'd be standing in the room left of the maze. That'd be where the man stopped giving information. He seemed very discouraged to give as much as he did, so maybe there was more information he knew he simply wasn't mentioning.

[Kyokujitsu Asahi]

{

}

To the boy's surprise the clone seemed willing to give him some information on escaping the maze, and at this point Asahi would take any and all help he could get. Perhaps the man shouldn't have been giving out information judging from his slight hesitation, but perhaps this was the result of having the gall enough to ask combined with a bit of pity after watching the suna genin maul himself. Whatever the reasoning, Asahi wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth. He had been ready to disregard the clone and try his hand at the path ahead which would have probably resulted in a dead end or some kind of trap, though on the flip side he probably wouldn't be dealing with a busted lip.

The boy listened as the clone told him that the exit he was looking for had a door that required a special key, and also oddly that he felt that Asahi would be able to figure it out; if smiling didn't hurt so much then the young Kyokujitu probably would have cracked a small one. He'd add that they were currently sitting in the bird room and that the boy had started in the snake room. Bird.. snake... the grid! Thinking back to that less than helpful gaming table, Asahi would try his best to picture where the animal pictures were on the sides of it. He knew that the bottom of the grid was the start of the maze and that matched up with the snake, which put the bird on the left side if he remembered correctly. "Alright so I'm on the left side of the maze..." He'd speak to himself while thinking of how to best incorporate his newly found information.

The clone seemed to be done talking --at least for the moment-- which put Asahi in a weird spot of wanting to ask for more but not wanting to push his luck or end up getting lied to. There was, of course, no way to tell if what the clone had already said was truthful but it was the best lead the genin had of getting himself out of the maze. Then again, maybe the right question would lead to more answers. "Thank you.. but if we're on the left side of the maze then which side has the room I'm looking for?" He'd inquire to the clone trying to at least get a bearing of which direction he needed to head when leaving this room. He had already come to terms with needing to once again back track, but without knowing a direction to lean towards Asahi would just be wandering around looking for some mystical room.

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Yoshiko]

First Exam: Maze Five Fun Not in the Sun The man would look up to Asahi, a slight grin showing on his face. It'd seem the boy would go from cautious to curious. The sympathy once felt for the boy who stabbed himself was now lost, he'd have to pause and think for a moment. His response mattered, but in what way was he going to reply. A scratch of a chin and a silent pause went on feeling like forever. It was the best he could do, as the answer needed to fit his position. "I'm not sure what you mean by this being the left room, I was given directions to this room and told it was the room of the bird. We were all informed you'd be coming from the room labeled as the room of the snake." He'd explain the situation, as truthfully as he could. Unless he was lying his entire time through this conversation, but who was to say there couldn't be both lies and truths spoken from this single source. How could he be trusted?

[Kyokujitsu Asahi]

{

}

Of course the clone wouldn't have made the same deductions about the maze that Asahi had given its singular purpose. Directions were meaningless to it and he pretty much only was privy to information that his creator wanted him to know. Fair enough. "Ah I see..." The boy replied as he pondered what else to ask the surprisingly informative clone. The genin had been able to find out what side of the maze he was currently on and what the exit was going to look like, all he had to do now was find it. Taking the fourth split had landed him here, which meant that either the second or fifth fork in the road would lead him out of the maze yet there was no telling which one would be the correct path. He'd already spent enough time busting his lip and playing twenty-one questions with the clone so time was of the essence here.

"Um.. thanks for the help." Asahi would speak once more as he gave a nod to the man before turning for the exit. Curious as he was to see what was on top of the stairs there was a good chance that it'd lead to nothing and only waste more time. The Suna genin would leave the room and make his way back towards the fifth split opting to take the direction he had forgone earlier. There wasn't really any rhyme or reason to his decision, and while going this far back may have very well put him in contact with the first boar again Asahi was confident that he'd be able to handle himself.

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Yoshiko]

First Exam: Maze Five Fun Not in the Sun The man would give Asahi a farewell nod, as he'd choose to go back to the maze. He'd head back through the snaking path, then up past the last turn he'd chosen upon. Going forward with the original route he'd been taking, he'd skip the chances of the first choice to the whole maze. It was closer, but for whatever reason was chosen as less optimal. If it'd been the wrong choice it definitely would of been even more lost time though. Trusting instincts he'd pass the route to his first boar, then go down the other path he hadn't just yet. It'd be a fairly short path of six tiles. He'd then be left with a choice to go left or to proceed down more. Now where would the sunagakure shinobi head?

[Kyokujitsu Asahi]

{

}

As Asahi once again made his way through the maze he wondered for a few moments if he should have at least checked out that path in the room just for thoroughness sake. While it would have some time considering how inhospitable it looked perhaps an obstacle such as that would have been the final hurdle before reaching the exit. If that were the case, however, then it would have gone against everything the clone had said about the door with the special key. Granted, there was no way to tell if the man had been lying about the door altogether in an attempt to throw the genin off, and while Asahi was nowhere near the best judge of character he hadn't noticed anything that made him feel some type of way about the man's words.

Well, if the other paths wound up being less than helpful then at least the boy knew where he had to return to to find the exit, though the time wasted would surely keep him from exiting first; though to be honest the young Suna shinobi was more concerned at just finding his way out of the maze at this point. Twist and turns would take him back to the split he had chosen to go back to where a choice now awaited him: he could either continue forward or take a left. Neither option gave a hint that it was better than the other, and as before if one held nothing then it would be a simple task to back track and take the other. With that said, Asahi would choose to continue forward.

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Yoshiko]

First Exam: Maze Five Fun Not in the Sun Asahi would travel down two tiles, then immediately be shifted to turn right by the maze's hall. It'd move six over, then force the sunagakure shinobi down two tiles. Another forced left would send the boy another six tiles over, before he'd hit another truly dead end. No living oinks to be heard or charges to be made on the shinobi at the point. Knowing the recourse, he'd have to travel back to the last decision. Proceeding down the opposite path would take Asahi over four tiles, then present him with a wall. It'd be a fork in the road of a left or right. Which would Asahi take this time?

[Kyokujitsu Asahi]

{

}

Try as he might to focus solely on the path ahead of him Asahi still wondered just what kind of door he'd be encountering once he found the exit. 'Special' could mean just about anything. Would he need to solve some kind of riddle or perform a ritual of sorts to open it? The possibilities were practically endless which was unnerving to say the least. Granted, aside from having to make the odd choice here and there or being accosted by a wild animal the maze pretty much directed the boy in whichever way it saw fit. After various twists and turns the young Suna genin would land upon... a dead end. He honestly couldn't even be surprised. Thankfully this dead end didn't come equipped with a battle boar so at least he had that going for him.

With a small sigh Asahi would begin to make his way back to the split so that he could travel down the other path. Though he had never been in a maze before for some reason the genin imagined it to be a constantly twisting endeavor rather than filled with dead ends. While frustration could still very well set in being able to come to a stop and knowing that one had to backtrack didn't make things as difficult; though the aforementioned battle boars obviously worked to make up for it.

Not more than a few paces into his new path there would be yet another fork in the road, this time giving the boy the opportunity to either go left or right. Well two wrongs didn't make a right, but four lefts made a square so Asahi would try his hand with the right path.

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Yoshiko]

First Exam: Maze Five Fun Not in the Sun Asahi would go right upon hitting the fork in the road, it'd take him only two tiles, then another right would be forced upon him. Two tiles and left would be forced afterwards, as well as another left two tiles more. Travelling over five tiles, another left would show up and two tiles later another, but two tiles after that would be a right. Another two tiles then a right. A pair of two tiles and left turns after that, then the same sort for a set of right turns. It'd do this two more times after that before finally a straight path, but that'd only take the shinobi three tiles before an entrance to a room. The room had eight walls and a torch in each, at the center of the room was a pool of water. Standing next to it was a woman dressed in rather nice and almost formal looking attire. Despite that appearance, she'd have a sword at her side. When the sand shinobi entered she'd greet him with a smile and positive message. "Ah, I see you've finally made it to the end of the maze. I'm here to tell you the next step is merely a quick dive through a deep tunnel of water. A test of endurance!" She'd gesture to the pool of water, as she'd be very quick to try and entice the male into the water. Something was off.