[Kojima Daisuke]

IF YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT CRUSHING ANTS BENEATH YOUR FEET

It had been some time since Daisuke had been to Hi no Kuni. Since his more recent ‘promotion’ to becoming the Raikage’s assistant, Daisuke had only left the country on a single occasion. Fitting, then, that this time he would be meeting with the same individual as when he went to the grass country, one Hyuuga Shigure.

Shigure and Daisuke had now completed a small handful of missions together, and the two seemed to have quite excellent results. A small grin came to the young sage’s face when he thought of his friend, some of the last words they exchanged being a challenge to one another as to who would become the next Lord Shadow of their respective villages. His hand clenched into a fist before he’d set focus back on the road before them.

"Not too much further now.”

Daisuke turned to his comrade, the crimson haired woman matching his own pace. He and Azarea had met before on a singular occasion, and it was his own idea to have her accompany him on this mission. Kizumi and he had grown close enough as of late to form a certain level of trust, and she knew he had developed his own relations with Konohagakure through Shigure. So, when Daisuke recommended Azarea to tag along with him Kizumi didn’t seem to put up much of a fight over it. ‘Just bring her back in one piece,’ she told him. ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah.’ He sighed.

"Shigure and his student should be here already…”

^{THEN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK}

---

^{Hyūga Shigure Aburame Azarea Uchiha Miroru | 1/20 Mission: [Four Meets Two]}

Temp By: Akira

[Aburame Azarea]

The Devil That You Forgot

Hi no Kuni

Keeping pace alongside him Azarea canted her head towards Daisuke offering the other man an acknowledging nod, "We should be reaching the meeting spot here shortly. It should be just around the bend if my memory serves." The Kunoichi agreed well aware she had likely been assigned this mission for two reason. One so Daisuke could give Kizumi an assessment in regards to her capabilities and two because as a former Hi no Kuni native and recent visitor she doubled as a walking road map. Though visiting the country while wearing her own face rather then that of her disguise was... strange for the red head. Shigure would recognize her given the countless missions they'd run together and the close bond they had formed. Miroru however, would be interesting as the girl did not know about her Kikauchu nor know her real face. So it would be curious to see if the younger genin recognized her. Though with recent revelations there came a certain amount of shame in regards to her true appearance and Azarea found herself disquieted by the embarrassment that coiled within her gut setting her hive humming just on the edge of hearing.

"I think I see them now actually." She added narrowing her gaze as she caught a flash of pale fabric through the trees as the two Kumo shinobi entered the designated clearing. Azarea lifting a hand to offer a wave and a fanged grin in greeting.

SPOILER: Click to show

Justu Goes Here

流人

                           Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: 242 | Hyūga Shigure Kojima Daisuke Uchiha Miroru

[Hyūga Shigure]

"lightning and fire - two meets four". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." TRY NOT TO BE AWKWARD Shigure had wanted to talk to Azarea after their last mission together, but he didn't have the time. As soon as they had returned to the Hidden Cloud Village, a message was already awaiting for him, informing him that he was supposed to return to the Hidden Leaf Village as soon as possible, for he was to scout a Genin into a joint mission with the Cloud, but in the Land of Fire this time. All he could do was to apologize and ask for a raincheck, but he was sure she would've understand, right? They were shinobi first and foremost after all. Once he was back to the Hidden Leaf, he was thrilled to know the person he was going to be escorting to the mission was Uchiha Miroru, his former academy student. When they gathered near the gates of the village, he could barely hold back on the smile. "Look at that, our first official mission together! I'm actually honoured they got me to come back all the way from the Cloud for your sake, Miroru-chan!" he said, with a rather enthusiastic tone. The two would travel together northbound, to near the borders of the Land of Fire. There was a large forested area where criminals and even some people who were versed in chakra use, would harass travellers and merchants, relieving them from their goods, and tainting their country with crime and chaos. They were to ensure the peace, so that the commerce between the Land of Fire and Lightning could thrive: safe merchants were happy merchants after all. But there was one thing making him a little nervous: Azarea was going to be there, and they hadn't talked about what happened between them yet. Yes, he was more than happy to see her, and Daisuke as well, but there was a bit of awkwardness there, mostly on his part, and he was hoping Miroru would catch on to that. "Our mission comrades are close." he announced to the Uchiha girl as his Byakugan could see them for very far. Once they were close enough so everyone could see each other, he would wave to his friends, with a large smile on his face. "Daisuke! Good to see ya, buddy! Happy to work together again!" he said, turning to face Azarea. A hint of red tinted his cheeks, and even though he tried to keep it cool, he was visibly a bit odd. "And it's great to see ya. Sorry I had to leave in such a hurry, but alas, here we are again. Hahaha..." "Oh my gosh, why am I so fucking awkward..." he cursed himself. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." C-Rank Mission [3/15] Meeting up near the woods [Kojima Daisuke Aburame Azarea Uchiha Miroru] [453 words]

[Uchiha Miroru]

Uchiha Miroru

Konohagakure No Sato

Genin

Hyūga Shigure Aburame Azarea Kojima Daisuke | 352 | notes

The redhead was as cheerful as she could be these days! Reunited with her teacher, finally to have a chance to show him the things she'd learned, and permitted to go out on another mission, to boot! Sure, it was still in Hi No Kuni, but it was a chance to get out of the village, to forget about Toshizou and his grueling trainings for a little while, and to do some good for her village and her country.

The only hitch was that she still had to lie.

Didn't Shigure think it was weird he'd been recalled all the way back to the village to escort her to a mission he was nearly on site for already? Or that she needed an escort at all? This wasn't a high threat mission. She knew it wasn't, because if it was, she'd never have been cleared to go. So what was she supposed to be, glad that she'd successfully lied to her teacher?

She was anything but.

Still, she kept that tiny sense of betrayal buried deep, trying not to pay attention to the growing knot of guilt in her belly. There was plenty to be excited about, right?

"I'm excited, too! I hope coming back wasn't too big of an inconvenience," she stated, hoping for some salve. Maybe it wasn't such a big deal.

She waved a hello as well, eyeing Azarea a little, trying to decide if she looked familiar or if she was imagining things. The only Cloud ninja she knew had white hair. So. Probably not. Right?

"It's a pleasure to meet you both. I am Uchiha Miroru-" She spoke as she bowed a greeting. Not much point trying to hide her name, her eyes gave her clan away anyhow. "-and it's a pleasure to welcome you both to... our..."

She paused and looked up at Ren. He was... bombing. Even she knew that. What was going on here??

"Just don't give up on me! We can figure this out!"

Template by: Monkey

MISSIONS
D - 0 | C - 1 | B - 0 | A - 0 | S - 0

[Kojima Daisuke]

IF YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT CRUSHING ANTS BENEATH YOUR FEET

"Shigure.”

Daisuke let a small grin grow across his face as he extended his arm in a friendly greeting.

"How’s the future Hokage been, eh?”

He’d let a small chuckle escape him before he turned to the redhead who introduced herself as an Uchiha.

"Miroru.” The sage said with a quick nod of his head to recognize her. "Kojima Daisuke. And this is Azarea.” The chuunin said before his eyes shifted back to the Hyuuga. "But I understand you two have already met. I signed the papers just yesterday. Gotta admit, I was a little pissed when I found out you’d been to Kaminari and didn’t even drop by to say hello, but I suppose that’s part of the business we’re in.”

The sage let out another small chuckle before Daisuke was able to fully see the Hyuuga’s body language. His brow shifted before he turned to Azarea for a moment and took a few steps forward to Miroru.

"So, Uchiha Miroru.” The sage said with a small pause, his hand drifting to her shoulder after he’d give a small nod to Shigure. "Why don’t you and I head out to the east, and Azarea and Shigure can take the west. That should even our strengths a bit, yeah? I’d send Miroru with you two as well to make things a little more balanced, but I need a guide. Kota is… Recovering.”

Though most of his words were in jest, a boast of his own strength in comparison to Shigure’s, his expression softed slightly at the mention of his wolfen companion. It had been a week since their training with Don’Yokuna, and Kota had taken a lot more damage from their sage training that he would have liked to admit. And even the thought of that training brought Daisuke’s hand to his shoulder, the large puncture wound still far from being completely healed throbbed at the absent minded touch.

The young apprentice would soon snap himself back out of it, however, his hand dropping to his side as he turned back to Miroru, pulling her towards him slightly as he took a few steps out to the east.

"So, Miroru, why don’t you take the lead. You’re a bit more familiar with the grounds here.”

^{THEN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK}

---

^{Hyūga Shigure Aburame Azarea Uchiha Miroru | 5/15 Mission: [Four Meets Two]}

Temp By: Akira

[Aburame Azarea]

The Devil That You Forgot

Partners

Azarea's smile turned soft and rueful as Shigure stumbled over his words at the sight of her. The fact he was so effected by her presence made her heart flutter in a way she'd never felt before having so long ago grown used to having her presence merely tolerated. To know someone looked forward to seeing her... it was novel. She liked it. As Azarea lifted a hand to muffle a chuckle as Shigure's student jumped into the conversation trying to make up for her fumbling Sensei. It was cute.

"As Daisuke-san said I'm Azarea. It's a pleasure to meet you Miroru-chan." She quipped as she offered the other red head a nod and a grin in greeting. Some small minute tension bleeding from her shoulders as Daisuke skirted around her last name or more like former last name. More then a few individuals liked to throw it in her face and she had to admit she appreciated the consideration. Her assessment of the man raising even further as the man roped the young Uchiha into patrol with him clearly attempting to act as a wingman for his friend.

Leaving Azarea to glance between Daisuke and Shigure as she arched a brow observing this excellent wingman action going on here with a small amused smirk. "Well you heard the man Future-Hokage-sama. It looks like it's just you and me." Azarea teased turning a playful fanged grin on her friend and partner.

SPOILER: Click to show

Justu Goes Here

流人

                           Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: 243 | Hyūga Shigure Uchiha Miroru Kojima Daisuke

[Hyūga Shigure]

"lightning and fire - two meets four". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." SEPARATE WAYS Miroru seemed to notice something was up with Shigure and her words made ir clear, which made his cheeks flare in an intense hue of red. "To our country! Welcome to our country!" he quickly completed her sentence. "Right, Miroru-chan?!" he said, chuckling nervously and gazing away for a moment. His smile widened when Daisuke called him the future Hokage, and he nodded to him. "Busy! But good, so far!" he responded, and when he said he was a little pissed, Shigure quickly bowed apologetically. "I'm so sorry! I wanted to check on you, but after the mission I got orders to come back right away for this mission. But I promise I will make time for us to hang out next time!" he said, in an honest, yet embarrassed tone. Seemed like everyone, Azarea included, had caught on to how he was reacting to the Aburame's presence, and he decided to just try and act more natural, ignoring his own embarrassment. Thankfully, seemed like Daisuke was willing to give the two of them some time alone and decided to tag along with Miroru. Shigure nodded at that and pet the girl's head. "Do your best, Miroru-chan. And you can rely on Daisuke. He is really strong!" he said, winking to the girl and giving her a thumbs-up. He didn't need to ask Daisuke to take care of her, he trusted him enough. Now, as the two groups parted ways, covering different areas of the woods, Azarea teased him as well, making him roll his eyes on its orbits, but with a smile on his face, showing he was not really annoyed. "I knew you were going to tease me about that... But it's okay... I miss your sass when I'm back home." he admitted, avoiding looking directly at her; his cheeks couldn't get any redder at this point, but he knew that the focus should be on the mission. "This way." he said, as they ventured deeper into the forest. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." C-Rank Mission [7/15] Goes to the east area of the woods, while Daisuke and Miroru go to the west area. [Uchiha Miroru Kojima Daisuke Aburame Azarea] [353 words]

[Uchiha Miroru]

Uchiha Miroru

Konohagakure No Sato

Genin

Ren Aburame Azarea Kojima Daisuke | 241 | notes

Miroru gasped. "FUTURE HOKAGE?!" In a hushed tone, she muttered, "I KNEW it." as Daisuke addressed Shigure. She waved back- a small thing, but sincere- when Daisuke addressed her directly, and widened her eyes as Azarea was introduced, squinting in drastically deepened suspicion. "Yeah. Nice to... meet... you too."

The hand on her shoulder surprised her a bit, and the redhead squawked as she was knocked out of her suspicious reverie. "Eh? EH? Wait, we're gonna leave them ALONE? I'm not done with her yet! SENSEI! STAY ON YOUR GUAAAARD!" She yelled as she was pulled along, raising her voice as they left. "SAY, Kojima-san, AZAREA SURE IS A COMMON NAME FOR CLOUD-NIN, ENNIT."

She didn't sound angry, though. More like a detective being taken off the case taking a pot shot on the way out.

Walking with Daisuke, she muttered to herself. "She looks different, but how many Azareas do the Cloud Shinobi have, Kojima-san? I'd put ryo to rafute that's the same girl..." Granted, she had... basically no other evidence to go off of- except for both Azareas neglecting to share family names- and her assumption could be easily refuted with the slightest of effort, but once in a while, her wild and ridiculous assumptions actually hit the mark.

"Just don't give up on me! We can figure this out!"

Template by: Monkey

MISSIONS
D - 0 | C - 1 | B - 0 | A - 0 | S - 0

[Kojima Daisuke]

IF YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT CRUSHING ANTS BENEATH YOUR FEET

Try as he might, Daisuke couldn't help the curling of his expression as the young genin spoke. She was so loud. Not simply in her words, but it seemed her boisterousness was engrained into the fiber of her very being.

'How do you put up with this stuff so regularly?' Daisuke thought, his eyes shifting to Shigure. The fact that the man was an academy instructor and enjoyed it was so far beyond him, he didn't think he would ever understand it.

"Daisuke. Just Daisuke is fine.” The Chuunin said as his hands navigated to his pockets.

He would soon take a deep breath, trying to calm himself in hopes that any agitation he might have felt would remain hidden. His tone changed, and his demeanor relaxed, the words of Kizumi echoing in the back of his head. 'Just learn to play nice.' He repeated in his mind.

The young sage turned to Miroru as they soon parted ways with their other two comrades, making their way into the woods to actually begin their mission. "Eh, I mean, it's a name.” He stated, rather nonchalantly. "No more or less common than mine, I would expect. There's at least one more in our records if I remember right. Why?”

^{THEN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK}

---

^{Hyūga Shigure Aburame Azarea Uchiha Miroru | 9/15 Mission: [Four Meets Two]}

Temp By: Akira

[Aburame Azarea]

The Devil That You Forgot

Wingman

"You like it when I tease you," Azarea quips her smile soft and fond try as she might to hide it a she fell into step alongside Shigure with an ease that spoke of familiarity. The two traveling along the tree tops at a good clip as Azarea dutifully ignores Miroru's outburst. Her only thoughts that Daisuke was a good friend and also that the poor man would need to develop a tolerance for yelling sooner or later. The officials sometimes could get incredibly loud and the man didn't have a pack of crows to chase them out as Riku had possessed.

"So anything we should watch out for along our route that we know of?" She inquired tilting her head to glance up at Shigure as the two moved in sync, "And... I've missed you too." She adds in a warm whisper waiting till the pair were out of sight before she reaches out and gently takes Shigure's hand. Giving it a small squeeze. Her thumb running over his bandaged knuckles for a moment before she releases him.

"I see why you're such good friends with Daisuke now though. He's an excellent wingman." Azarea quips shooting the Hyuuga a teasing grin.

SPOILER: Click to show

Justu Goes Here

流人

                           Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: 202 | Uchiha Miroru Hyūga Shigure Kojima Daisuke

[Hyūga Shigure]

"lightning and fire - two meets four". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." FLUSTERED FOCUS As they leaped from tree branch to tree branch, Shigure's Byakugan scanned the area ahead of them. He didn't respond when she said he liked when she teased him, but his flared up cheeks responded for him. "Mainly poachers. There are a couple up ahead, they are trying to hunt during mating season. And that is illegal. But we shouldn't kill them. Just arrest them. Where Miroru and Daisuke went, they will likely run into caravan robbers, it's more of a merchant route there. But they will be fine. I'm keeping an eye on them as well." with the range of this Byakugan, he could cover most of the forested area. When Azarea got closer and reached out for his hand, his cheeks became bright red. He didn't move his head to face her, but not because he was avoiding her; it was because with his active doujutsu he had not need to turn his head, and it was so natural to him he would often become oblivious to the fact that it didn't look normal to other people. He was happy to hear she missed him, and when she teased about Daisuke being a good friend and wingman, he snorted in embarrassment. "He uh... He is a good friend indeed... But... I, we should talk after the mission. Or I won't be able to focus..." he admitted, feeling too flustered to continue. Luckily, the poachers were just up ahead, so he had a perfect excuse to change subjects again. "They are only three hundred metres ahead now. Get ready." he warned Azarea. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." C-Rank Mission [11/15] Notices the poachers 300 metres ahead. [Kojima Daisuke Uchiha Miroru Aburame Azarea] [274 words]

[Uchiha Miroru]

Uchiha Miroru

Konohagakure No Sato

Genin

Kojima Daisuke Aburame Azarea Hyūga Shigure | 234 | notes

Well, he was right about that.

Her exuberance was integral to everything that was Miroru.

"Diasuke-san, then!" Miroru chirped, huffing faintly at the dismissive answers but accepting it for what it was. "Eh. Could totally be coincidence, I guess. I just worked with another Kumo-nin named Azarea-chan on my first assignment beyond the borders. We worked really well together! Beat up some bandits, saved some kidnapped women." She nodded proudly. "I just thought maybe that was her."

As they moved across the unsteady terrain, she pulled her staff off her back and used it as a walking stick, keeping her voice low. "So are we aiming for a particular camp of nasty fellows? Do we know what we're looking for? Or just aiming to sweep out anybody hiding in the foothills for safety's sake?" She asked quietly, padding along from stable ground to rock to dry earth. "Or is there anything else I need to know before we're too into the thick of it to discuss it? I know I get kinda carried away but I don't wanna let you down!" She stated, quiet but firm, as they clambered further away from where Shigure and Azarea were heading into their own hot water!

"Just don't give up on me! We can figure this out!"

Template by: Monkey

MISSIONS
D - 0 | C - 2c/4i | B - 0 | A - 0 | S - 0

[Kojima Daisuke]

IF YOU ALWAYS WORRY ABOUT CRUSHING ANTS BENEATH YOUR FEET

As the two moved through the trees and eventually came to a fair lookout location, Miroru had started with a plethora of questions. The young sage shifted his brow, turning to look to the red-head.

'She sure asks a lot of questions.' The chuunin thought to himself before looking once more out to the distance.

"From the recent reports, there have been some caravan attacks from that road there.” Daisuke nodded to the distance, a path cleared of trees easily visable from their vantage point. "Nothin' but some lowlifes trying to make a buck or trying to get by. Could kill 'em or arrest 'em, but the Daimyo would probably prefer to have them tried rather than dispatched entirely. Killing can be easier though.”

He had said it so nonchalauntly, as if the fact that the genin beside him very well might not have taken a life yet was even a factor. It was a part of their life, though, as far as he was concerned. He couldn't think of a single shinobi who didn't at one point in their life come to that point in time.

Daisuke's eyes once more drifted to the genin beside him, a stern, rather distant expression left on his face before he spoke.

"You want to take the lead, little one? I could have my wolves snuff 'em out if they're close.” Daisuke said, leaving the ball in Miroru's court.

^{THEN YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO WALK}

---

^{Hyūga Shigure Aburame Azarea Uchiha Miroru | 9/15 Mission: [Stalling for Time]}

Temp By: Akira

[Aburame Azarea]

The Devil That You Forgot

Planning

Azarea let her hand drop grinning at how flustered Shigure was as she chuckled and turned her attention back on the mission at hand allowing the man beside her a moment's reprieve. She did dislike failing missions even if she knew it was an inevitability in their careers as she eyeing where Shigure indicated with his head. "We'll talk after the mission then," She soothed with a smile as the pair continued moving from tree to tree with Kinobori no Waza.

"How do you want to handle the poachers? I can either drop them into the earth up to their necks to capture them or freeze them in place and you hit their pressure points to disable them." She offers a couple of options for non-lethal takedowns. She really would need to get with Kazuyuki though for some more restraint techs. Most of hers tended to focus solely on the kill aspect, but then again usually she was sent after people who didn't need to be alive any longer.

"Do you think Miroru and Daisuke-san are having fun?" She mused a little worried about how the two were getting along, but at least mission wise she knew the little Uchiha and Daisuke himself were more then capable of handling a few bandits.

SPOILER: Click to show

Justu Goes Here

流人

                           Made by Keen of FBNRP | Word Count: 212| Hyūga Shigure Uchiha Miroru Kojima Daisuke

[Hyūga Shigure]

"lightning and fire - two meets four". "No matter how many people you may lose, you have no choice but to go on living." DECISIVE ACTION With the agreement that they would talk about mission, which would allow him to focus entirely on taking care of the poachers as swiftly as he could. Azarea asked him how he wanted to handle the poachers and then suggested a course of action. Shigure nodded to her; the suggestion was efficient, fast, and clean. "That's a good strategy. Pull them to the ground, and I will knock them out." he said with a firm nod. The poachers were problematic, but they did not deserve to die, and since they were skilled enough to handle this situation without resorting to that, it was the way to go. As they continued to approach their target, Azarea asked about Daisuke and Miroru, and he focused on where they were for a moment. "I think they are doing okay. I can't read their lips, but seems like they found their targets." he said with, but now it was time to handle the enemies. Shigure would glance towards Azarea and give her a nod, indicating she could go ahead and make her move. While she did so, he would position himself so that he could follow up immediately, and once Azarea pulled them to the ground, Shigure would dart towards them at full speed, using his Gentle Fist to hit their neck tenketsus and knocking them unconscious. "Nicely done!" he said, giving her a satisfied smile. "So what if it seems hopeless? If it were me, I still wouldn't give up. Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honour as a Shinobi, for the price of freedom is steep." C-Rank Mission [15/15] Waits for Azarea to act, then knocks poachers unconscious with Gentle Fist [Uchiha Miroru Kojima Daisuke Aburame Azarea] [249 words]