[Takahashi Akio]

As the rain poured relentlessly from the darkened skies above, the young and energetic lizard sage had embarked on a rather long and arduous journey to Amegakure. It was one of his first forays into traveling the world, so it only made sense to start with an allied village where he’d most likely be safe from ambush of any actual enemies. With his hood pulled up, he sought refuge from the incessant downpour that enveloped the marsh-covered lands surrounding the village; despite the weather, each of Akio’s steps were almost bubbly and filled with an almost childlike excitement that practically caused him to bounce over the landscape.

Perched precariously atop his head was his little buddy Koza, a small tracker lizard and the young sage’s go-to summon. With his incredibly keen smell, Koza often served as a trusted companion and a vigilant lookout, ready to pull the young man’s hair at a moment’s notice to warn Akio of any danger or potential ambushes by rival shinobi. The little lizard's presence was a constant reminder of the dangers that awaited a shinobi traveling the roads alone. Although the heavy rain dampened the scents around them, it was a testament to the young lizard’s capabilities that he was tucked safely away from the rainbeneath Akio’s green hood.

As the two of them journeyed along the road, Akio marveled at the novel landscape of the marshes that spread out before him. Despite the muted colors caused by the grey sky, the young sage's eyes still managed to spot the occasional bright and colorful flower at the edge of the marshes, the occasional glimpse of a graceful waterfowl, and even colorful frogs. If he weren't intentionally looking for it, some of this beauty might go unnoticed. The setting itself was so different from the jungles he was used to, but despite the harsh weather and environment the animals thrived all the same.

Despite the challenging conditions, Akio's spirit remained undaunted. His childlike excitement to reach Amegakure and explore a new village caused a genuine smile to spread across the young sage’s billboard of a face. The rain-soaked journey would have normally been a test of a normal person’s resolve, but he was too busy jumping in the puddles on the road and waving whenever he saw a passerby, whether it was human or animal. When his eyes finally returned to the horizon he was taken aback by the massive industrialized city that had manifested on the horizon while he was distracted.

Amegakure beckoned to Akio like a distant treasure waiting to be discovered. With each passing moment, his excitement grew, and in his excitement he had trouble regulating his speed and choosing between walking, jogging, and running: sometimes quickly shifting between all three in the same minute. It was definitely odd behavior for an adult, let alone a shinobi making their way to an allied village. Of course, this was why he needed the help of Koza, because with his focus being all over the place he could easily be ambushed by your run of the mill bandit at this point, and honestly any warning was better than just getting a kunai to the throat cause you were jumping in a puddle.

Mikazuki Aikawa