[tokonatsu yukari]

DON'T THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES

It was rare that Yukari was pulled from the hospital for work that did not require her medical expertise; but then, she mused, it was likely that after she and her teammate were done interrogating the sad sacks who had the misfortune of allowing a mole into their ranks, her medical expertise would be sorely needed. Yukari was dressed plainly, slim-cut dress and lab coat abandoned in favor of an extremely boring traditional shinobi uniform, as she was not quite vain enough to travel through the wilds of Bonchi no Kuni in a tight skirt and heels. Kyuusai was tucked neatly into her left sleeve, her regular scalpel tucked into her right, a large scroll slung across her back and a slim holster with several smaller scrolls strapped to her thigh. Her lips were painted red, her glasses firmly pushed up the bridge of her nose; she wore the weary, exasperated expression of a worn-out mother at the fraying edge of her patience. The massive bridge that allowed entry into the small city of Area 16 took time to lower even after they’d gone through the extensive check-in process with the guards on duty, so Yukari was left waiting alongside her teammate: Yamakira Hotarubi, a young chuunin, nearly as old as Yukari had been when she’d had Touwa. She had some vague recollection of Tadashi mentioning him in passing during their more peaceful and communicative periods, but could not for the life of her remember details other than that he was an accomplished student and a quick learner. The Yamakira had their own reputation, and Yukari was aligned with the majority in finding them generally distasteful. But she also recalled some mention of Hotarubi assisting Touwa with some lesson or another, and so her scorn was somewhat mollified. "What’s your plan of action?” she asked the younger man. Flat, unaffected; not deferential, but she’d clearly decided in her own arrogant way that she was not going to be taking the lead on this mission. She was here to provide poisons and treatment—she knew enough to be a capable interrogator, and had, as ever, no desire to take a leadership role.

Akira Exousia -- 360

LAIKA OF THQ

[Akira]

What had kept Hotarubi quiet for their journey was that she had a deeply unwelcoming presence. It wasn't the same as Hakurai, whom he actually feared and set his earthen heart into "jitters" (if there was ever such an explanation for something that didn't exist when he wasn't running chakra into it). The other was that she was a Special. Jonin - which was basically a Jonin. In lieu of conversation, he had spent his time sizing her up and wondering if it would have been such a difficult thing to pound her down.

Hotarubi's own appearance was unremarkable for today. Because he had no need for weaponry - he was plain in cloth. Around his arms was a wrapped cloth - a colored shirt similar to the color that Takigakure was commonly seen wearing with a dark teal shirt that hid his neck, and the military-standard black pants. However, strangely: no shoes. On his left shoulder was the hitate: that was where it could be found when it wasn't imprinted onto his body much like he'd done at the exams.

But they'd came upon Area 16 - and it was not an area that he'd been by before himself. It did seem like a valuable target as he watched the watchers from the ground - staring them back. 'I could take it.' Was the thought behind his orbs. His neck craned left and right. "Seems fucking pointless to blow out the wall when there's... a moat.... surrounding it." What came into his mind as thoughts came out of his mouth as questioning the purpose of their visit as they crossed the bridge.

Unlike Touwa and Tadashi, Hotarubi did not have the gift of knowledge nor foresight to know that there had been a connection of the family he had been interacting with. As such she was no different to him than Midori - though as his superior, Hotarubi kept himself refrained and quiet. Loosely, so: the instructors at the academy had been one such excuse of dealing with the typically difficult Yamakira. But, even as he grew and rose in ranks: he became more hopeful in himself, that confidence increased and he did not find himself in longing of respect - having felt that he 'earned' it.

That was usually for the superior to say so if he was being tested that was fine by him. "I would forgo the interrogating and move straight for the explosives. I have a... skill to map out areas. I worry that this area is too large to cover anywhere meaningful in time - and too many people to question. So if we can get a rough area I'd be happy to get started." He didn't want to spell it out for her beyond the fact that he was capable of sensing through the buildings: he had tested it, blindfolded and running through a maze that was a building: it was easy for him to do so. What wasn't on his side was time, or what the place looked like before hand. Explosives were getting smaller and smaller: it could have been as simple as an explosive tag, and that was not something that Hotarubi would have been able to perceive for love nor thunder.

The man made a noise in the silence, thinking some further since he hadn't actually given them a next step(s). "Working backwards - starting from where the information came from. Peel off some fingernails and get an answer or two." There was a confident callousness in his voice that Yukari would have likely come to expect from the clan he hailed. It did appear by his tone that he didn't seem to find enjoyment in it or satisfaction - but it was from a point of matter-of-factly. Having gotten through, there was at least, a place for them to start by checking in with whoever they needed to check in with. Unless - this was a self sufficient mission and no leads to start with?

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[Exousia]

Kigane Hinode hated having to deal with Shinobi. A merchant by trade, he had risen through the ranks of his father’s business quickly, showing himself to be just as capable a negotiator as the old man, albeit one with a soft spot for the finer things in life. He made a good living in Area 16, stocking the place with food and sundries, though it wasn’t without its downsides- the constant Shinobi presence was, for one, incredibly annoying, as was the endless attempts by bandits and marauders to take the heavily fortified citadel for their own. He’d grown used to it… or, at least he thought he had.

Today was wearing that thin veneer of patience down to a non-existent nub.

"I demand to know why I am being detained!” The man yelled as the drawbridge lowered, his voice echoing across the moat, hands flying every which direction, the anger and frustration evident on his face. "I am a lawful citizen of Bonchi no Kuni and I will not let you… charlatans hinder my business any more!” To his credit, the desk Chuunin manning the gate didn’t react to the merchant's outburst, instead choosing to sigh and, with a degree of patience that would rival any saint, he explained to the man (again) what was happening.

"Area 16 is on lockdown, sir. No one in, no one out, not without orders from up top.” Kigane’s face grew red at the information, his gaze shifting towards the pair of Taki-nin who were slowly crossing the bridge. It was the sixth time the man had been told this, but for some reason the sight of the Shinobi flaunting their immunity to the rules sent him into a frenzy. It didn’t help that the woman looked a bit like his last wife; not physically, she was far older than he preferred, but rather her expression was the same. That arrogant, haughty stare, hiding a kind of frazzled annoyance with everyone and everything- as if he were at once the most infuriating thing in the world and so far beneath her notice that he didn’t even register as a person.

"What about them?! Why are THEY allowed in, yet I am not allowed out!?” He screamed, his lips spreading in wide snarl as he flailed his arms in the Taki-nin’s general direction, making a huge scene and drawing a ton of attention to himself in the process. What Yukari and Hotarubi chose to do about the disruptive man, if anything, would be up to them- but something needed to be done, before he blew a gasket.

tokonatsu yukari Akira

[tokonatsu yukari]

Hotarubi’s tacit observation of the mole’s somewhat lackluster planning elicited only a single shrug from Yukari: agreement that it was, in fact, fucking stupid, and silent acknowledgement that they had a duty in spite of stupidity. That he had access to some kind of sensory ability was somewhat surprising, but she acknowledged that as well; if he was confident in his ability to locate the payload without going through the hassle of shaking down every worker in sight, all the better. His reasoning was sound and she had no cause to doubt his capability, so she nodded in affirmation. "I will follow your direction, th—” she started to say, but was abruptly cut off by a grown man throwing a temper tantrum due to his inability to skirt the rules. Her gaze cut sideways, cold and condescending, to give the civilian a long look up-and-down. His bluster was irritating but unfortunately not illegal, and they had places to be now that they had crossed the bridge. Yukari ignored the man, though she just barely let slip the handle of her chakra-reactive scalpel to hold it lightly between her fingertips, subtly preparing to defend herself in the event that his bluster turned violent. Dark eyes turned to Hotarubi, distant and evaluating: following his direction, as stated.

Akira Exousia -- 215

LAIKA OF THQ