"Team Eight, jonin Kurenai Yuhi. Ryuuko Shukyo, Shiroko, Hinata Hyuga, and Shino Aburame."
"Excellent, a mistress of genjutsu," said Ryuuko, flipping her fan open to gesture with it. "This shall prove quite interesting."
Shino seemed mildly irritated, though it was hard to tell.
"You're not still holding a grudge about those insects, are you?" asked Shiroko. "How was I supposed to know that they were yours?"
Shino adjusted his glasses, not speaking.
"Would it matter if I said they weren't all that tasty?" asked Shiroko.
"Team Nine is still in use," said Iruka, continuing on. "Team Ten, jonin Asuma Sarutobi. Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi, and Iljrene Ahbruyn."
"Troublesome," muttered Shikamaru. The Shika-Ino-Cho teamwork synergy is expected, but what of 'Iljrene' being included. Dark Elf, kenjutsu enthusiast.
"This will be cool," said Ino, nodding to the dark elf.
"It may be enjoyable, indeed," responded Iljrene as she inclined her head.
"So, we should get to know each other a bit better since we will be working in tandem," declared Ryuuko dramatically.
Shino regarded her from behind his glasses but didn't say anything.
"As Ojou-sama states," said Shiroko. "I am Shiroko, shirohebi lamia is my race. Normally, as does Ojou-sama, we utilize a transformation technique to shift our serpentine portions to a more human configuration for walking about the village. It is simply easier to navigate through human-designed buildings that way - and the non-ninja villagers seem less than friendly much of the time to the obviously nonhuman."
"True," said Ryuuko. "It is a sad commentary on the nature of humanity that they tend to exclude those who are different."
Shino nodded once, possibly indicating some personal experience with such.
"I have an affinity for fire magic," continued Shiroko. "My favorite techniques are 'fire shuriken' and 'fire breath' and I like basking in the sun on a warm day. I dislike cold, though that is a common trait in lamia."
"I am Ryuuko Shukyo," said Ryuuko, snapping out her fan. "My affinity are of water and wind. I possess great strength by human standards and can fly when in my natural form. While in human shape, I'm a bit more limited. My favorite technique is 'divine gaze' - which allows me to glimpse possible futures, the auras of living beings, and to some extent events of the past. It should compliment your own kekkei genkai quite well, Lady Hinata."
"Me?" asked Hinata, who then looked downward and prepared to say something.
"Enough!" said Ryuuko, reaching out and lightly tapping the top of Hinata's head with her fan. "You are my team-mate and a fellow amongst my group! Like myself, you possess great talent and ability. I shall not tolerate anyone speaking ill of you without greater cause than I have yet seen. Even from yourself! I have spoken!"
Shiroko nodded before addressing Hinata directly. "When Ojou-sama makes a declaration like that, you might as well accept it. Short of direct divine intervention, she's not going to change her mind."
"But of course," said Ryuuko, straightening proudly, unfurling her fan and giving a short laugh with her face mostly concealed.
"Interesting," said Shino quietly, continuing to observe. His insects had already detected the watching jonin, and from what he'd observed - at least two of these girls knew of her presence as well.
The jonin apparently came to the same conclusion, dropping her concealment genjutsu and leaping down from the roof.
Naruto fidgeted. One thing that had not changed was that he could be very impatient. He was the sort who usually had to be doing something.
Kara sat next to Naruto, but seemed a lot calmer.
Ami fidgeted in a corner.
Trehawn Ghostflower, on the other hand, seemed to be asleep.
Two of the three others in the room were not fooled.
"Found him. He's staring at a memorial in one of the training grounds," said Trehawn, her ears flicking to fully erect.
"A memorial?" asked Kara, her eyes narrowing as she looked at apparently nothing at all.
"I'll guide you," said Trehawn.
"How? Oh. I see," said Kara. "Telekinesis?"
"I'm mainly clairsentient with minors in telekinesis and telepathy," admitted Trehawn.
"What's that mean?" asked Naruto.
"Clairsentience," answered Trehawn absently in a tone that suggested she'd answered this question many times, "is the ability to perceive things without relying on the common senses of sight and hearing. Telepathy is mind-to-mind communication. There's considerable overlap between my skills and those of the Yamanaka clan in fact. That's why they approached me and our exchange of information. With my own techniques added to their own, as well as my understanding of the principles behind such - they have a chance of developing their own jutsu to a greater degree."
"Not that, the other one," attempted to cover Naruto.
"Telekinesis, moving things through the direct application of Will and Way," said Trehawn. "The least strong of my disciplines. My parents went to a world, Athas, where such things were common. They came back to my home plane with training in that - and myself."
"Does that sort of thing happen often? Finding yourself on odd adventures in strange exotic locations?" asked Kara.
"It seems to happen to my race, the mi'qote, rather more often than a number of other races," admitted Trehawn.
"I can empathize," said Kara.
"That's an awful lot of names," said Trehawn.
"Where?" asked Naruto.
"On the memorial," answered Kara, still staring off in one direction. "The writing at the bottom of that top ridge indicates that these are all heroes who died serving the village."
"I still run into problems with the local script," admitted Trehawn.
"Iku's watching him," said Kara, a faint note of displeasure in her voice.
"You never got along with Iku," noted Trehawn.
"She once suggested something entirely inappropriate for our ages," said Kara firmly.
"Different culture," said Trehawn. "In her case, very different. Ah, he's on the move."
"He's completely avoiding Iku's area," said Kara. "Why was she trying to ambush him anyway?"
"Looks like she anticipated that and set traps, which he is also avoiding," said Trehawn. "I get the feeling this has been going on for a little while."
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(Posted Mon, 19 Nov 2012 22:44)
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