[E-Rank Mission] Cat Eat Cat [Shizuka]

[Higeki Tenko]

Tenko had only just stepped into the enclosure of their destination - the man-made woods skulking up around her in an arch as the entrance - when she had to stop in her march to turn and wait for her partner. She leaned up on one foot, rocking her heel and making no further sounds or movements until the other girl came into view.

Senju Shizuka: approximately three years younger than Tenko with an attitude to match, something the straw-haired kunoichi didn't quite have the contempt to form into a coherent observation. She could, at least, realize that this "mission" might not go as smoothly as it would should she have been left to do it alone - but that would be missing the point of this exercise. It was team building, in a way, and that was a concept Tenko was going to have to accept with as little chagrin as she could muster. It's not that she disliked other people, or preferred to handle things the "lone wolf" way - it was just more efficient, generally, in her case. Especially if the other half in her pairing didn't quite ...

... share her perspectives.

This was no more than an academy sanctioned camping trip - there was absolutely zero chance of danger and they were never further than a mile from the academy's main building during any point of the task. It was to acclimate them with the idea of working away from their superiors with the fellow ninja that would make up their team - a survival assignment, to see how well they could handle their independence as shinobi. A test that you couldn't fail if you just stayed inside the forest for the duration and came back in one piece. Incredibly easy; and even, for some, relaxing.

That didn't mean Tenko wasn't going to take it just as seriously as everything she did when it pertained to her job. She was going into this with the exact same mindset she applied to any ninja task she was given - a perfectionist with unparalleled determination. She wasn't just not going to fail the assignment, she was going to ace it with not a hair out of place. It wasn't just for the academy; it was for her, too, and that all-encompassing sense of duty.

The trouble, then, was once more than she wasn't at this alone. She had a teammate to support, and one who didn't seem quite as enthused with the approach Tenko was taking. Shinobi were meant to be gifted with boundless patience and Tenko - deep down in that place where she still felt human emotion that didn't boil down to "GANBATTE, NINJA" - considered this an exercise for that just as much as it was a survival training.

So she took in a quiet breath, nodded towards Shizuka, and spoke with the same measured tenor she always did; not a hint of emotion shown on her face or in her eyes. "Are you ready?"

[499]
[ MFT 12/24 - 12/31 ]

 

[Senju Shizuka]

What a wonderful day to go camping, Shizuka thought while making her way to the location mentioned on the page full of instructions of which about half she hadn’t read. With her favorite backpack swung over her right shoulder, the little Senju sauntered forward. Her mind was on the one she had to be working with. Higeki Tenko, a slightly older student who seemed to be wanting to be the best in anything and everything she did. Not that Shizuka really cared about the grades her fellow student received. It would just be such a pain to relax with someone who was so tensed and strict all the time. Hopefully there would turn out to be a nice and fun side to the older girl, or the next twenty-four hours would become a real hell.

“Morning~,” she spoke with a lazy, singing voice when having approached Tenko enough for the latter to clearly hear her. Instead of a ‘morning’ or a ‘hello’ the older student only wanted to know if she was ready. Which brought a soft sigh to Shizuka’s lips. Slowly studying the blonde’s face, and the lack of emotion it showed, she then nodded knowing that she didn’t have a say in who her ‘team mate’ was.

“Yeah, yeah, let’s go.”

Moving forward as politely as she could, she didn’t quicken her pace. The woods wouldn’t run away, and they weren’t late by any means. There was still about ten minutes before the exercise would start officially. Plenty of time to cover the bit of distance between them and the ominous looking gates that led to the darker side of the Academy.

Quietly studying the blonde as she walked in front of her, Shizuka put her hands in her jacket’s pockets and thought about the upcoming struggle. If they wouldn’t communicate then everything would become a stressful strain for the both of them. Perhaps, by initiating the conversation, she could smooth over the already bumpy road. At least enough for it to hold until the next day.

“Hey, Tenko, do you like camping?” Easily adjusting her packback so it was attached to both her shoulders, she pressed herself to walk a little bit faster. Now, if Tenko would be kind enough to slow down just a bit, they would meet. Compromises were the way to live your life, right?

“I’ve heard that there are large snakes in there, and wild boars, too.” Speaking with sparkling amusement in her jade colored eyes she clearly wasn’t worrying about anything. They had weapons, they knew some jutsu, and they were close to the Academy, in fact, they were kind of in the middle of it. Worst case one of the teacher would show up to keep them alive because they were still in training. Injuries were common, deaths less so. If you played it a bit smart then things mostly stopped at scratches and a couple of bruises. Maybe some bad grades, but who really cared about those.

“Maybe we can catch one, for dinner.” A lazy grin was offered to Tenko. The latter could interpret it the she wanted to. Shizuka certainly wasn’t against getting something nice for dinner, but she did have cookies and wild berries in the backpack so the two of them wouldn’t go hungry.

**
[548/1047]

 

[Higeki Tenko]

Shizuka earned a nod when she came around, barely a moment passing before the bob of Tenko's blonde ponytail swinging into view signaled her decision to continue onward. She wasn't rushing - her pace was, as always, very controlled - but her feet still moved briskly, with purpose. She never went too far ahead as to leave Shizuka behind, just far enough ahead to make sure they were still making progress. As an "obstacle course" closed for any purpose but the academy's various training exams it wasn't an area Tenko had been allowed to become familiar with; still, her eyes scanned the surroundings. It was ... a lot of foliage. Some bugs. Largely unremarkable.

She knew their goal was a small cavernous area no more than a few minutes away and that, in all practicality, the full extent of their "trial" was to spend the next twenty four hours within this course without causing trouble. As long as they made it back without being too roughed up they should be fine. They were expected to provide for themselves - and each other - by carefully picking out the various berries that wouldn't make them ill and perhaps even hunting small game. This was why Tenko was outfitted like a SWAT - the typical attire of her cap, vest, shorts and sandals accompanied by a large wooden bat, neatly holstered daggers and fully stocked pouches of kunai & shuriken. She was prepared.

This line of thinking led her to glance over Shizuka while they walked in relative silence, lingering on the backpack she had brought along. "We weren't meant to bring along too many rations. I hope you were moderate," she spoke, clearly and concisely. She caught herself briefly after diverting her attention back towards her front, realizing she might have sounded a little ... too cold. It wasn't a worry Tenko ever really entertained, but this wasn't one of her typical practices or spars. Being too rigid with a fellow student while they were meant to cooperate could work against them both. "If only for our grade," she continued, "but I'm confident we'll be fine."

"This isn't a camping trip," was her initial reply to Shizuka's question, that same passing feeling of guilt pricking at the back of her thoughts. It was troublesome, having to concern herself with something like someone else's feelings when all she wanted to do was ace a mission. She did care, of course, but there was a time and a place for it. Still she backpedaled once more to the best of her abilities. "... I do enjoy survival exercises, I suppose. I'll apply myself to my own on the odd days off from the academy's regime."

Her voice slowly slipped away from them as it echoed, filling the silence of the forest around them. She took a moment before speaking again, her tone stony. "It isn't a typical pleasure, though. I wouldn't call it fun." Her eyes wandered to Shizuka again, then flickered away. "It's not supposed to be. It's work." The silent addition to this line of contemplation was that their current situation was no different. Tenko noticed the way Shizuka sped up afterwards, understanding that - just for now - she needed to allow that distance between them to close, slowing her own footfalls. It would do neither of them any good if the other kunoichi wore herself out too soon.

Her ears almost twitched as Shizuke spoke again, a dread-adjacent feeling starting to make itself known in her chest. Is that what this mission was going to be? Small talk? If anything, that was scarier to Tenko than any number of exams. Conversation wasn't her strong suit - hell, she didn't think it should be any shinobi's. Still, she offered no complaint and instead nodded along to her partner's words. It didn't ... hurt, to establish camaraderie. Her feet nearly shuffled.

The two could agree on one feeling - they weren't worried about whatever trouble they might find in here. They had two completely different reasons for this confidence, sure, but at least they didn't have anxiety weighing down on them. "If we do come upon any threat we'll make quick work of it. We would never be in any real danger, and any we did face couldn't be something we wouldn't be able to handle ourselves." Tenko considered the lack of danger because she assumed herself above the local wildlife - Shizuka considered it because she assumed someone would save them if it got too messy. Again, polar opposite perspectives that led to the same conclusion.

They soon happened upon the campsite, the maw of a shallow cavern opened before them. It couldn't be more than a few yards deep; however, it was too dark to see too deeply. The rest of the clearing was mostly rubble and bushes, trees tall enough to block out the light of the midday sun thriving in every direction. Tenko took one step more forward before turning on her heel, enough to look at Shizuka over her shoulder with those calm, unfeeling blue eyes. "I can hunt for us, if you'd prefer. One of us will need to build a shelter. I doubt the weather will pose an issue but it can get cold around eveningtime."

[868 / 1915]

 

[Senju Shizuka]

By the time they were making their way through the thin woods she had realized that Tenko, too, was holding back. Every time her response came off as something cold and short, she added a bit to it that warmed up the tone of their conversation. So it seemed that both of them knew that keeping things somewhat enjoyable was required for the exercise to be a success. Shizuka could only imagine the reaction of their instructors should the two come out of the forest with bruises covering them from head to toe caused by the other. Failure would be the lesser of their problems then, she was pretty sure of that.

“Sure, sounds good, I’ll work on the shelter.” Offering another smile she put down her backpack, then decided to hang it on one of the branches so no small animals would get to it. Taking out a dagger she set out cutting twigs.

‘Regime’, the word spooked through her mind while she worked on their sleeping place. With the rocks providing cover from one side, they could pick the flat platform in front of it as the camping place. It was situated a bit higher than the forest floor and had the curling rocky wall acting like a part of a roof. Throwing the twigs on it, she went back to cutting branches, getting rid of the grass and little bushes too close to their platform, and thinking about how serious Tenko took the Academy. Of course, the place was no joke. It was hard work when you compared it to the common schools for those without any connection with chakra. But still, a lot of exercises were fun, they got to do interesting things, and shinobi were looked at differently in the village as well. Probably in the whole world.

Returning to the platform with more twigs, leaves, and some dry grass, she formed two mattresses that basically flowed into one another. Putting some twigs against the side of the rocky wall, she pretended to be molding a bench of sorts. After that came the sides and the rest of the roof. Long branches with leaves were stabbed into the ground which she had previously cleaned from the weeds, then the same happened to the upper side of the rock, which was a lot harder to do, but she managed with the help of some rope.

Making a small circle in the middle of the platform, she used bigger rocks she’s found to make a place for a future bonfire. The idea of having a warm meal was nice, but even without it the warmth would do them good. As long as it wouldn’t rain the evening would turn out to be wonderful, she decided with a nod and sat down to enjoy the noises of the forest in her art piece of a shelter. Hopefully Tenko wouldn’t take too long to return; Shizuka hadn’t thought about bringing a book with her.

**
[495/2410]

 

[Higeki Tenko]

Thwunk.

Every noise made by the cascade of her bat against the dwellers of this forest rung out around the impact and then died into silence. It was efficiency in every movement. Swift strikes that made their mark and then moved to new prey, having left the previous dead in a single drive. It left a trio of rabbits, a macabre rosary around her feet, as the meals her and Shizuka would be eating over this next twenty four hours until they had passed their exercise. It wasn't a lot of food but it was definitely more of a haul than expected - it was, in all likelihood, just a small family that made their home in the academy's training area. Tenko tracked them down through the signs of their habitat and now they were dinner. Survival.

Any emotional response was no more than a twinge. Blood was wiped off of the The World's wooden shaft, marking a nearby tree with it as a point of interest so Tenko would have an easier time finding it again. There was a non-zero chance a larger species of animal might have made this their hunting ground around the unsuspecting prey, as well. The weapon was sheathed in its holster on her back, the young kunoichi picking up her personal roadkill and securing them within her arms. Dead bodies were heavier than you'd expect; it was something Tenko should have grown desensitized to by now, but every time she felt that weight and warmth again it almost sparked something in her.

Almost.

She hadn't wasted time with pleasantries when her and Shizuka were deciding the tasks they'd start with; the moment the younger girl had agreed Tenko had been off with a nod, dashing & weaving through the trees with the same pinpoint diligence she was approaching it all. It hadn't taken her much time to find her quarry, just enough so that when she returned she was walking in on the final touches to Shizuka's ... shelter. Her eyes ran over the stacked twigs and leaves in their prehistoric arrangement with a clarity that could only be described as sharp. Ascetic blue eyes settled on her partner, just a second longer than they needed to, as she glided to a rocking outcropping and laid out the rabbits; pulling from her pack handfuls of berries she had scavenged along the way and checked off as both safe and edible.

Yes, maybe the straw-haired tomboy ninja did take these kind of projects a little too seriously. She didn't have nor desire a life outside of being a ninja, so the missions she got like this - that was it. That's all there was for her, and all there was waiting for her in her future. She had no other avenues or aspirations: Tenko Higeki's entire life, and the entire meaning to it, boiled down to her work as a shinobi. Therefore, was her approach to this test so bad? Was the dour severity with which she conducted her life really some cosmic injustice? She didn't think so - but Tenko never wasted time considering her place in all of this, or how that might appear to other people. All that mattered to her was that she did her job and she did it well.

So she took in a breath as she rose from the crouch she had taken to divvy up their supplies, looking back over Shizuka, her fort, and the cavern shortly behind them both. An hour had passed, at most, and this was a source of relief for her. "Senju-san," she began, the timbre of her voice excessively even. "Perhaps I might further the construction of our shelter personally. I believe the nearby cave would serve us well." Then she glanced around once more, noting the touch of the makeshift fire pit and offering Shizuka a solemn nod. "That's a good call. I brought back what I assume is enough food for the next day, if we ration," Tenko not believing that there was a need for more than what she caught, "- so we should be largely set once we cook it."

"Do you know how to start a fire?"

[ 695 / 3105 ]

 

[Senju Shizuka]

Chilling in the self-made bench of twigs and grass she played with one of the longer branches when Tenko came back with their new provisions. The latter was received with a lazy grin and an appreciative nod. The rabbits she had caught looked good and would be more than enough for them to chew on during the evening and tomorrow’s lunch. There were berries, too. And the stuff she had. It looked like everything was turning out quite well. Maybe with the exception of the shelter, because, assuming she was reading Tenko’s reaction right, her fellow student wasn’t too pleased with her work. The sharpness in her cold eyes reminded Shizuka of disdain and quickly had her grin melting from her lips.

Already ruffled by the cold scan which Tenko performed in silence, Shizuka shrugged and said nothing at all when the formality came. Instead, she silently eyed the girl, eyes slightly narrowed as if she was a suspicious cat. She kind of was. Had just caught some mice, tried to offer a nice shelter, and was now being laughed at through those icy eyes. Well, the little Senju didn’t like it. Hence, she let the silence stretch on when the question about the fire came.

With a flat look on her face, she performed the necessary seal to bring to life her lightning jutsu. A moment later a thin beam of lightning shot from her finger toward the bench she had been previously sitting on. Well, they didn’t need it now anyway, because they would be heading to the cave, right? Hence, the flames happily licking at the twigs and grass, devouring it with great enthusiasm, didn’t quite matter.

Turning her green eyes toward Tenko, she glared. The jade green got an edge to it, but didn’t rival the cold Tenko had. Instead, it seemed a bit poisonous. Green vs blue. The brightness clashed, Shizuka gritted her teeth, turned her back on the smoking pile of twigs which wouldn’t spread because it was located on a stony platform, and started to walk further, toward the cave. Tenko could pick up her own rabbits. Worst case Shizuka would eat the berries.

Following the stony wall she had the idea that the cave wouldn’t be far anymore. The forest was too small to have much more on the other side, and they were practically in the middle right now. With a quick glance back, she knew that in a second Tenko would pass her. The blonde’s pace was naturally faster than hers, and she didn’t care. As long as no more sour comments would be made she would just keep to herself.

Oh, and there, a couple of bushes later, came the potential cave entrance in sight.


**
[456/3561]

 

[Higeki Tenko]

This was a recurring problem in Tenko's little "adventures", she was beginning to notice. An action or word here - not poorly thought out but considered in a vein of practicality - and she was suddenly an enemy. An irregular. The way which she approached the world and her interactions was not lending itself to making friends. All it earned her were aggressive stares that bit at her cold one; people didn't realize her steely austerity wasn't a matter of temperance but of nerves. This is how a Shinobi was supposed to be.

Fine, she thought, clipping her fingers on a rung in that ladder of her head. Shinobi don't need friends. She didn't flinch away from the look Shizuka was giving her in turn, nor did she match it with any of that same intensity. She met her with a veil of indifference and the slightest cock of her head. It wasn't a challenge but she wasn't backing down. Tenko had to admit, however, that the cloying expression of surveillance that was boring itself on her skin sent quite a few fight or flight alarms blaring. Cool. Steady. Controlled. She wasn't in any danger. No danger she couldn't handle.

Her foot shifted automatically in a half-defensive stance as Shizuka sparked the fire to life with a bolt of Ninjutsu; Tenko didn't have the chance to glance away and shield her eyes from the lightning, which she would have liked, but she was tougher than a jolt to her retinas. She slid back into her self-assured posture, straight back and evened chin, and got caught in the other kunoichi's stare once again. A venomous green that clawed at a glacier of blue, unfeeling and unbreakable but with the barest hint of movement in response. She resolved that she very much didn't care for the acidic taste Shizuka was leaving in her mouth, this time being the one to sever their gazes so she could look over the flames.

Was she throwing a temper tantrum? Burning her shelter down simply because Tenko had suggested they approach a new venue seemed incredibly childish, and ... absolutely unnecessary. They might have found a use for it yet. The straw-haired girl hadn't even completely denounced it. This was a waste of time!

She froze. Shizuka had already turned to leave towards the cave with her supplies, but Tenko lagged behind. It was rare for her to experience such a rush of ... anything, let alone - fury? It caught her off her guard, briefly closing her eyes to try and center her thoughts. A bird's call. Rustling of leaves. The spitting fire. Snapping twigs. Jostling stones. Her own breathing. It was too much. Every sound, every movement, every feeling; pricking at her, tugging, pulling, scratching.

She was becoming irritated.

She had to find a point of focus again, pivoting on her heel to send her eyes gliding across the stony clearing she was left in. She could still hear Shizuka further up ahead, however, and knew that getting lost was the least of her worries. She settled on jabbing her thumb into the side of her hand until she could feel her nail dig into her skin, the sharp glimpse of pain diverting her attention enough for her to breathe. She moved automatically, scooping up the rabbits into her arms and checking her equipment before setting off after her "partner."

It wasn't long before she caught up, crossing the threshold of shrubbery and into another clearing that opened into the maw of a cave. She had her sights set on this cavernous expanse since they got here, letting her stride slow to plan out their next move.

Finally, she spoke, turning towards Shizuka. "Will you be able to start another fire?" Her inquiry left out those little prodding thoughts in the back of her mind, like 'without being a child' or 'this time on some branches we might not need'. She left it at that before setting up various landmarks around their new base of operations with turned stones and the carving of her dagger. Just in case. The cave itself would be her next venture. If Shizuka wanted a chance to collect herself, as well, she was welcome to eat a few berries before electrifying their camping grounds again.

[ 711 / 4272 ]

 

[Senju Shizuka]

Alright, perhaps she had exaggerated just a tiny bit. With every step she took, and every hacking motion of her arm, she lost a bit of her previous anger. The spectacle she had caused had been entirely unnecessary. In fact, it had probably looked a bit childish. Shizuka knew it, but hadn’t been able to help herself for she had put time into actually trying to make something nice. But no, this uptight army brat hadn’t judged it to be enough.

The next slice was harder than the previous ones. She noticed it, stopped in the middle of the self-created path, and took a deep breath. There were still quite a few hours to spent with Tenko - now was the time to put it off her mind and forgive, or try to. The thought seemed to have come right on time, because the little blonde devil had appeared from the bushes next to her.

“Sure,” she gave her the reply, added a nod. By now the green in her eyes had softened to a meadow during the afternoon; it had regained its original and eternal calmth. No sign of snakes wanting to strike real badly. Tenko should feel safe again, she thought but knew that chances were pretty small that there had been a moment when she hadn’t.

Having felt like moving on and continuing with their little ‘arguments’ of sorts, at least for a little while longer, her eyes had been drawn to too many broken twigs in one spot and so she figured to talk to her partner in crime. “Tenko?”

Odd traces in the mud were visible next to the little gap in the foliage near the ground. Something had forced its way through the bushes here, something that had nothing to do with either of them. Immediately curious and more than just excited, the green eyed student crouched next to the gap. From there, she could see the rough structure of stone and a pitless maw - the cave.

“I think that we’ve made it.”

Jumping up, she buried the feud somewhere next to the broken bush and offered to help carry one of the rabbits. “Don’t worry, I won’t drop it.” She joked, and hoped that the blonde would realize it. The slow, raspy tone she had used should have given it away. Even Tenko couldn’t possibly be so dense as to miss the amusement Shizuka displayed when saying it.

“Oh, and about the fire, I don’t know any fire jutsu, so I always light things if necessary.”

With or without the rabbit, she stepped toward the cave planning to ask her fellow student about what she enjoyed, aside from mimicking their instructors.


**
[449/4010]

 

[Higeki Tenko]

A rustle of relief. You never wanted to find yourself at odds with your allies; a fight between them, if emotions had boiled to a head, would have been catastrophic at best. They might not have been able to do much damage to each other, but their careers at the Academy would have quickly ceased. Tenko liked to believe she was above that lack of self control. If provoked too far, however, and in the interest of self-defense ...

Considerations she didn't need to indulge. They were fine, and so was she. Her thumbnail slipped from her palm and joined the rest of her fingers in their work setting up around this new campsite, a low breath parting her lips while she intently focused. They hadn't been here for long enough to determine whether the mission would be a success or not, but even knowing they would have to go out of their way to fail didn't stem the flow of her thoughts. Yet ...

What was that? Her head perked, tilting a short ways to the side with one cheek lifted higher. Shizuka was talking to her, getting her attention and drawing her eyes to the broken forest shortly around them. That was curious, and something the older kunoichi should have noticed sooner if it was not for her studiousness ironically getting in the way. She narrowed her gaze slightly, slipping into a crouch to better survey various injuries to the branches and rocks nearby - then rising from this position, straightening her back and subtly placing a hand over her ninja tool belt. "Careful."

The next few minutes went easily despite her caution; but really, when was there a time she didn't practically emit that air of vigilance? It was neither a vice nor a virtue, too muddied in the middle of either. It came in handy in a multitude of situations, at least, and it might even prove its worth here. She handed off the rabbit carcass to Shizuka at her offer - she didn't have a reason to deny her, nodding to her joke with a leveled expression. The other girl would at least be relieved she hadn't taken the coy nudge in the wrong way. If anything, Tenko was mostly dazed by having her first name used. That was becoming a recurrence and one she wasn't sure she minded or not.

This was offering itself as much more than a simple survival mission so far, for better or for worse. Another nod offered to Shizuka, sweeping her eyes across the campground. "I understand. I'm not much use in that regard, myself. It seems we both proffer Lightning." Her words trailed as an afterthought, something distinctly unlike her. An adjustment of her hat narrowed her gaze further to small, easily missed signs strewn throughout the dirt at their feet. Not missable enough for her, as someone who's spent a perilous amount of time honing her tracking.

She fell to a hush. Everything about her features oozed silence, alertness. She flashed Shizuka a look out of the corner of her eye and then held up a palm, motioning for her to stop what she was doing and then pointing to the cave. One step closer, drawing a kunai by its loop and sliding her finger through it. Her shoulders held straight, severity lining every inch of her expression. She cocked the weapon, waited, made sure her teammate was up to speed on at least the general gist of things: and then launched the kunai into that open black maw.

She leaped back, quickly drawing her bat as a reflex in the shortest number of motions needed before holding it in a tilt; signaling Shizuka to step back and prepare just the same. She bit her lip, a show of emotion there and then gone in the same blink it took to appear. "Not good enough," she muttered, tunneled fully on what appeared to be nothing for a few seconds more before a loud rumble broke the pregnant silence and heavy footsteps sent gravel scrambling. Enraged eyes appeared within the shadows, the glimpse lasting just long enough as a warning before the wild boar came barreling out with a peculiar kunai sticking out of its bleeding forehead.

She had narrowly missed the killing blow. Tenko very much did not like making mistakes. Now she was letting it come to them, poised and ready for a counterattack.

[ 734 | 5455 ]

 

[Senju Shizuka]

Ohh, a fellow Lightning element user. Shizuka let her lips curl a little while throwing a quick look at her companion. Perhaps Tenko could be someone fun, at times, if she allowed herself to relax a little that is. Those tensing muscles and thoughtful frowns had to be exhausting. But apparently not as much as Shizuka thought they might be, because the blonde was already issuing orders through her body language.

Kunai in hand Tenko was the first to step through the bushes, and Shizuka sighed, held onto the rabbits, and kept quiet. That, however, didn’t mean that she wasn’t getting ready to help out her classmate. Whatever was out there might form a danger of some sorts. And while she was pretty sure that Tenko was more than capable of handling it, what all of this came down to was teamwork.
Putting their future dinner on one of the higher branches (about as high as herself) she followed into the open area. There her gaze fell upon something charging out of the darkness of the cave. Bleeding, screeching, the wild boar was not too pleased about the kunai thrown at it.

“Oh.. damn,” she whispered, bringing her hands together to form the necessary seals to perform the jutsu she had in mind for this. The less she would need to aim, the better, so, this could be perfect if it was strong enough.

Molding the chakra she let it flow into the ground, channeling it further, spreading it across the area in front of her. “Tenko! Get away!” She warned, just in case some of the lightning would shoot sideways because of the hectic performance of the seals.

Through the ground the energy burst toward its target. Traveling quickly the sizzling chakra met the boar’s paws in no time. Except that them losing their grip didn’t change the beast’s direction. Sliding over the forest soil the large creature soon crashed into the young Senju. The latter met the collision with a surprised shriek.

“Tenko! Knock it out!” she panicky yelled toward her classmate while trying to roll away from the boar. Her side felt bruised, but luckily she didn’t appear to be bleeding. Thank god for her thick skin. There would be some time to expect the injury more closely, but first they had to make sure that the boar was no threat any longer.


**
[396/5851]
Ability "Thick Blood" - 396/100 Words.

 

[Higeki Tenko]

"My apologies," she spoke, hushed. Her tone didn't waver nor did her tunneled gaze upon that raging wild beast; but the lines around her mouth had tightened just enough to show. "I'll take care of -" Tenko wasn't allowed much of a protest, barely able to lurch her body into a pouncing arch before Shizuka leapt into action herself. She seized her bat, angled her legs, and waited for her chance as her partner made the handseals to a jutsu Tenko herself knew - better yet, it was a D-Rank technique! Shizuka seemed to be more advanced as a student than Tenko gave her credit for, something the blonde kunoichi quickly accepted. This wasn't really the time to be judging her skills.

The forewarning from the signs as well as Shizuka's own announcement was enough for Tenko to duck out of sight, readying herself again in the shadows away from the arcing electricity: a contemplation that this was going much better than she could have expected soon dashed when the lightning didn't actually impede the rampaging boar. The sound of Shizuka's yelp as the creature crashed into her and her subsequent cry of help immediately urged Tenko to action.

She shut down. Frame taut, eyes dead. An automaton of war. A Kumogakurian soldier. Her foot kicked from the branch she was on and sent her pivoting through the air at the boar with a sharp kick down. It had no chance now that she was properly engaged; the distress of her partner was enough to send Tenko over her tactical edge. There wasn't the need for strategy when she could just beat the beast to death. She rebounded off its head after her foot planted against the kunai to drive it deeper, pained yowls coming from the animal along with a moderate gush of blood.

She landed neatly across from it and made a speedy array of seals, scuffing her foot across the dirt. "Earth Style: Gravel Shift," was the first of successive jutsu to fall from her lips, a pinpoint sharpness to her tone. The earth swam and jerked under the boar, buckling its legs and sending it sprawling off the young Senju. She didn't want to give it the chance to harm Shizuka further from its wild bucking, especially as its pain and anger both increased linearly every moment it remained under duress. "False Surroundings," was the next, the air shimmering around Shizuka until the injured party was eclipsed by the illusion of a bush. Returning its attentions to the girl who had shocked it would no longer be an option - it was a safety measure on the off chance she didn't end this fast enough.

She would.

"Lightning Style: Thunderfist," would be the final rush of energy breathed through her chakra pathways. There had been no break, no pause, between the seals she made and the jutsu she applied. It was only now that she moved from that rigid stance, spreading her arms to the side as lightning sparked to life in small static bursts around her fingers and forearms before generating enough chakra to stretch over the full length of her limbs. It didn't stop there - it went on and on, electricity jumping and curving around each section of her frame until the air vibrated around it from the heat alone. She leaned on one leg, met the snarling creature's crazed stare head on, and leaped.

It was like no speed she had ever experienced. She tore through the air, spilling ozone in her wake when she appeared once more above the boar and came crashing down with one blow; chakra trembling through her veins, tightening the muscles in her lightning-covered fist. It connected with a loud crunch, a final squeal from the wild animal before no more sound disturbed the either of them.

Every ounce of Tenko's used-up chakra rushed out of her system at once, leaving her to collapse next to the corpse and suck in short breaths for the few seconds she needed to regain her composure. There was a slight chance she had overexerted herself more than she usually entertained, her generally conservative movements - especially in combat - thrown off by the impact her failure to kill the beast in the first shot had caused. It wasn't long until she dragged herself up, grit her teeth together until the wear didn't show in her features, then dusted off her jacket and stepped towards Shizuka.

She reached out a hand. "Can you stand? I could make a poultice for your wounds, if you give me the time to collect what I can find around here." If nothing else, she could bandage any outstanding damage. The timbre of her voice returned to its moderated infliction, though it was taking a collected effort to stand herself.

[ 798 / 6649 ]
[ Lightning Chakra Style: 798/100 ]

 

[Senju Shizuka]

One move followed up the other and Shizuka watched Tenko perform. With wide eyes and her side throbbing she realized that her classmate was way more prepared for this scenario than her. Somehow Tenko looked so natural in this state. Her movements were fluid, seals were perfectly formed, eyes never left the target; everything they had been taught was there, and more.

The boar’s beady eyes were on Tenko who was obviously the bigger threat, the bigger predator. And when the chakra erupted from the girl seemingly setting their surroundings on fire, Shizuka could only imagine what the boar with its little brain was thinking. Not that it had a lot of time to consider what would happen to it next, because a split of a second later the blonde’s blow brought the boar to rest.

“Woah!” Shizuka jumped forth, forgetting about her injury and gritting her teeth once the pain reminded her about it. “That was really good,” Accepting the hand, not to be pulled up, but to show her sudden respect, Shizuka firmly shook it. “I’m looking forward to be working with you!” Sly green eyes burned brightly as the thin lips beneath curled into a gentle smile. This really was a compliment coming from her; she rarely bothered voicing her opinion, not because she didn’t dare to, but because it felt unnecessary. This time, however, she felt like showing her appreciation to the older girl.

“Nahh, it’ll be fine, I don’t get hurt easily. I’ll just put something cold on it once we get settled.” Nodding, she then pointed toward the dead boar next to their feet. Blood came leaking from its wounds. Shizuka bent down to get the kunai still stuck in its head. “Seems like dinner just turned into a feast.” Casually handing back the weapon, she softly gasped. “Oh! I’ve put the rabbits there, let me get them. Don’t move the boar alone, it’ll be heavy.” Her aching side was the proof of the beast’s mass. It’s why she would rather not have Tenko drag it into the cave alone. Besides, who knew if there was something else, or rather, someone else waiting for them inside.

Three rabbits, a bunch of twigs and branches, lots of leaves and dried grass, and one, large boar later, they were inside, sitting dry and warm. Shizuka fumbled with her jacket and the shirt beneath, checking out the somewhat blue-ish spot. Luckily it didn’t appear to be too swollen. She was pretty sure that it would be alright, though, if Tenko would press on, she would let her ‘take care of it’, even if it wasn’t necessary if you asked the tenacious Senju.


**
[445/7094]

 

[Higeki Tenko]

A fleeting look of surprise. She hadn't expected nor desired Shizuka's praise; yet, as the younger girl shook her hand and beamed up at her, there was a warmth in her chest she hadn't felt before. How strange. It almost made her uncomfortable, stunned into a brief silence that she broke with a curt nod of her head while she helped her fellow student up. "It ...," she had never been flustered, either. This had to be quenched immediately. "Your companionship has been equally appreciated, Senju-san." That was right, yes? That sounded right. She turned her head to the side, masked her swallow with a flutter of her fingers across her jaw, and then returned to her more stoic disposition.

Shizuka seemed to be okay for the moment, regardless of the slight ache Tenko felt when she reminded herself that the other kunoichi was only harmed because of her mistake. It happens, but it shouldn't. Her partner could have moved out of the way, she reasoned, but it was on her to have planned accordingly for the beast rampaging. She was the senior ninja and was more accustomed to this type of mission. She had been so sure she'd be able to take it out in that one hit, had done it many times before, but in the darkness ... no, there was no room for excuses. You do better or you die - or get someone else killed. How disgraceful & careless for a shinobi. She wouldn't repeat this one.

For once Tenko didn't simply soldier on and take care of the situation herself. She had used up a good deal of chakra in that brief spat with the boar, tunneled too hard on taking it down in the quickest course of action while maintaining Shizuka's safety. It would be good - practical! - to regenerate before pushing herself too hard again, instead heeding Shizuka's instructions and helping to round up their supplies before they all moved into the cave together. There were no more dangers in this space, at least, something which she made completely sure of before leading her partner and their meal inside. She might not be able to carry the corpse herself, but she did put in extra effort to not have too much of the burden fall on the injured party. That was only due repayment.

They rested. Time was passing swiftly by now, a small solace for the emotional and physical warfare they had already experienced this far in. A touch dramatic, perhaps, but Tenko was at least reassured the mission was proving its purpose. Survival was hard work, both connecting with your allies and the environment. There was a gem in everything - a lesson always to be learned. She set up around them as Shizuka bared her wound, broken by her thoughts and the business of her fingers mounting another wooden barrier. "Oh."

It wasn't a bad injury. Shizuka wouldn't take too long to recover. It was, however, still her responsibility; which is why she did indeed "press on", motioning for the other girl to wait as she disappeared back into the forest. It didn't take long for her to reappear in the mouth of the cave, settling in a crouch next to Shizuka's form and presenting a mixture of berries and leaves mashed together by the flat of her kunai. "I don't yet know any medical ninjutsu, so this may have to do for now." Another lesson for the future. Expanding that genre of skill might need to be her next venture.

She pressed it firmly into the bruise, spreading the cool substance with sturdy but gentle strokes of her fingers until it covered the darkening skin in a minty green. "It'll sting. That feeling should pass soon. Try not to press or smear it." Another curt nod, detaching from the younger ninja and drifting towards the other side of their fire-pit to give her space. She almost melted into the shadows, the decisive blue of her eyes the most outstanding features in this darkness. "If we avoid further trouble this mission should be a success. We'll eat and then rest until morning. We're safe in here."

[ 691 / 7785 ]

 

[Senju Shizuka]

If she still would have had all of her energy and excitement from before then Shizuka might have tried to stop Tenko from going out of her way to get berries and herbs for the soon to be gone bruise. Aside from lacking the will to bother herself with talking the girl out of making the paste, she figured that the look on the blonde’s face said enough - she would not be stopped. So, instead of wasting breath on trying to talk her out of playing the nurse, Shizuka gave her a tired smile and laid back on their improvised benches. The twigs and grass poked her awkwardly here and there, but it was quite comfortable if you asked her. She might have even fallen asleep if it hadn’t been for her aching side. It was[i/] quite uncomfortable, she didn’t deny that.

Blinking slowly with one hand hiding a yawn, she watched Tenko return with something she assumed to be the medicine. Hopefully she wouldn’t need to eat it. Shizuka really despised bitter things, and she couldn’t imagine medicine to taste good. Ever.

“I should be able to manage,” she said, happy that it was to be applied on her skin. Wincing slightly when her classmate pressed on the bruise, she didn’t make a sound. “Thanks..” Nodding, she straightened up. Her limbs slowly straightened until she reached one of the dried twigs. A quick lightning jutsu had it on fire, and soon the bonfire happily cracked while munching on the collected wood.

“Want to place the whole boar? Or do we cut it?” She wanted to know, getting a kunai ready for whatever the option would be. Waiting for a reply from the pair of blue eyes on the other side of the cave she turned the kunai once or twice.

Not much later the smell of meat grilling filled the area. It was good to know that there were (normally) no bears or wolves anywhere in this area. Otherwise the smell of food might have lured them here. That wasn’t an excited thought, if you asked Shizuka. Certainly not when all she wanted to do was fall asleep after having filled her belly.

“You can have the honors of cutting it,” laughing lightly, she suddenly realized that they had no plates. Guess those large leaves will have to do.., the thought entered her mind, her hands followed, tugging free two huge ones, and then handing both of them to Tenko.

Admittingly the meal was good. Better than she had expected it to be with the lack of spices and anything else but berries. Shizuka really enjoyed putting her teeth into the medium rare pieces with spots seared here and there. By the end of her meal she had even moved closer to the fire, cutting their dinner herself as not to bother Tenko too much. The patch on her side stung a little, mostly when she moved, but it bothered her very little.

“I would say that this board had some bad luck today..” Grinning cat-like, she bit into the next piece of mouthwatering meat while searching for those bright, blue eyes.


**
[524/8309]

 

[Higeki Tenko]

The flames between them reflected in that sullen glow of Tenko's eyes; ice, meet fire. It was a flurry of incandescent sparks, light where she couldn't make her own. She stared at it for those few moments after Shizuka lit it before she posed her inquiry about their dinner. It was hard to pull herself away, more than she expected it to be. There was a fogginess in her head, a feeling she marked off as unpleasant and hastily waved away. Focus. She was always so focused. That featureless expression lifted from the crackling heat and swiveled to the carcass in question.

She considered this for a moment before inching forward, slinking from the darkness to shed its shade from her skin and illuminate under the flickering light. A single thin, calloused hand reached out, hovering over the back of Shizuka's holding its kunai; pointedly and precariously not touching the other girl, just using the motions of her arm to guide her towards the beast's flank. There was a flash of steel at her waist as her free hand picked out a similar weapon, marking off two spots on the hide for each of them. "Here," was all she stated, calm and decisive. The tip of her kunai dug itself into her section of the boar, cutting evenly in a line across.

The next half hour or so of their time was spent on this preparation. Her, instructing Shizuka, and the girl impatiently following her commands while offering ideas of her own - Tenko respected her fellow kunoichi to a polite extent. She was headstrong, yes, but that wasn't simply a flaw & a flaw alone. She was immature but Tenko didn't expect her youngers to be at her level commitment; it was unrealistic, her only desires pragmatic and straightforward in that they reach that point before it became too late. Shizuka seemed to be learning, slowly but surely, and this mission didn't turn out in the disaster she might have first foreseen.

Night soon fell. The meat was satisfactory, enough that they would eat well again in the morning before they set out back to the Academy without ever dipping into the rabbit. A waste, Tenko thought, so she resolved to turn them in to their Sensei as a practical offering: if they wouldn't eat it, perhaps it could be prepared in the mess hall. All else fails and she'd take it back with her for her own consumption. It wasn't anything extravagant and certainly fell below typical eating standards, just ... Tenko couldn't exactly sit still with the thought of taking life for no purpose. They hunted to survive or to protect, not for sport. Not to leave their dead abandoned in their wake.

"Unlucky, perhaps, for the creature," she agreed, the thinnest airs of revelry between the hard line of her lips. This wasn't a failure, in the end. They had passed above the bare minimum of what you'd assume from two academy students, having made a fine shelter and meal for themselves. Aside from Shizuka's wound, that was, but ideally her treatment of it and the lack of true severity would work in their favor.

She proposed she take watch while Shizuka slept - and later that they could trade off through the night, if the younger ninja complained about Tenko taking this wholly upon herself. She didn't offer much in the way of small talk or niceties, but she answered any questions she was given to the best of her ability without going into anything too personal; it turned out she didn't have much to say, either way. Even prying into her life wouldn't give much that wouldn't be judged by the sight of her. She didn't have much in the way of a social or private life, not much at all aside from her rigorous training and ... dedication.

The rest of the night passed without incident, whenever Shizuka allowed herself to fall asleep within the warmth and lingering illumination of their cave hollow. Tenko took up a position closer to the mouth, staring out across the stars that shined down on her angled cheeks. One leg stuck out along the stones, the other pulled to her chest with a single arm laid over and around it. She traced idly in the dirt with her unburdened fingers, shapes that she'd wipe over and recreate without realizing what she was doing. She caught herself, once or twice, but she'd always return to the motions whenever she focused too hard on the night before them.

She dozed off, eventually, either by way of Shizuka nudging her to trade places or her own accord should it get too late and she judged it safe. She would set supplementary wire traps at the entrance in either scenario, reassuring her partner they were a "just in case". Nothing tripped them. Nothing disturbed the two children as they rested, guided by the melody of the timid & docile nightlife.

They would stir for the final time when day broke fully across the horizon, the sun gnawing its way through the mouth of their domicile to glare across their eyes. Tenko rose swiftly, packing her tools before making sure Shizuka was just as prepared to make their return.

It was when they turned to leave after one last meal, wiping their mouths on their sleeves and stretching their sluggishly contented bones, that she held her hand and its scarred digits out towards Shizuka. If this was question she would give a short and polite lilt of her head. "You did well, Senju-san. This was a finely executed mission. Shall we go?" A firm and stony handshake, thrumming with the undertones of a burgeoning camaraderie.

Thus they would.

[ 952 WC
E-Rank Mission End: Tenko Higeki
5948 total WC ]

 

[Senju Shizuka]

While feasting upon their meal Shizuka thought about the way Tenko had so easily instructed her throughout the cutting process. Somehow the slightly older girl already knew how to dissect a boar, and do it well at that. Instead of random chunks of meat they had cleanly sliced off the layers in such a way that all were grilled, juicy, and nothing went to waste. It was a skill she silently admired Tenko for. Knowing that she wouldn’t be able to repeat the process after just doing it once, she firmly decided to learn about it at home. Dad would probably know, mother certainly would. Yes, she would definitely ask them to teach her more about hunting, grilling, and neatly cutting up the caught preys. That way, during future field trips, she too would be able to perform this task (without any help).

“Just wake me up when it’s my turn,” she agreed without arguing. It only made sense that they would switch turns. The fact that Tenko took the first one upon her only had Shizuka feel like the party to be protected. Perhaps it was the aching in her side, or maybe she allowed Tenko to take the charge because she seemed to be so good at it, in any case, the Senju soon settled in the soft grass and sturdy twigs, curling up on her healthy side to get some sleep. The warmth from the fire licked at her face and pleasantly wrapped itself around her legs. Hopefully her classmate would wake her up should her leg catch fire.

With those thoughts in mind she drifted off, eyes firmly closed and hands tucked away beneath the side of her face, acting like a pillow.

When she woke up the fire had become less, so she throw some twigs into it to keep it burning. Its soft creaking together with the sound of birds outside brought her to her senses. Thankfully it wasn’t morning yet, or she would have felt bad for letting Tenko stay up all night. Not that it would have been terrible should the blonde had fallen asleep, not with the traps at the entrance. There were no real enemies here, and Shizuka doubted that a fellow boar ora fox would be smart enough to dodge traps.

“Thanks, go sleep.” she yawned, covered her mouth with the back of her hand and switched places. It was early, but for once she didn’t mind being awake. To see the forest around them come to life was a magnificent thing. Slowly birds started to wake, flying back and forth to feed their little ones, rabbits quietly nibbled at strands of grass before daring away at anything louder than a mouse’s step.

Greedily she studied the sights, wishing that she had her sketch book with her once it had become light enough to draw. Not that she got a lot of time to sulk about it. Tenko woke up soon enough, and then it was time for breakfast. In all honesty she wasn’t even that hungry, but ate a bit nevertheless. It would be better, after all who knew if they would have to talk through their report before they could go home. One of the sensei might want to have the desire to pull some comments about the mission from their somewhat worn out bodies. Should that become the case Shizuka already knew what she would say. It was fun! And to her surprise Tenko wasn’t as bad of a person as she had thought at first. Organized and helpful, not afraid to take the lead, but attentive when necessary. In Shizuka’s jade-colored eyes the blonde might become a very good leader one day. All she would need was someone to teach her to relax once in a while and take things one at the time, a right hand to keep her from short-circuiting in the long run.

“Thank you, it wouldn’t have been this finely executed without your help.” Shaking the hand offered to her, she then grinned, eyes burning with light amusement and curiosity. “Why don’t you call me Shizuka from now on, hmm?”

It didn’t feel so formal. ‘Senju-san’ reminded her of strangers addressing her father.


**
[702
TWC: 4015]
Mission End