The Call of Duty x2 [Travel]

Sanroku wanted to reach his destination as fast as possible. The young shinobi wanted to reach the Land of Tea so fast that he even began propelling himself forward at his maxed out speed, jumping from tree top to tree top. The Land of Tea is in the Land of Fire and thus pretty far from Sanrokus home. Traveling to the land of Tea took Sanroku a day. Which happened to be a day longer than he wanted to take. On his way to the area, he rested in order to reach the village full of energy. The young shinobi was trained to survive in the wilderness and after leaving the Kumogakure mountain ranges, Sanroku was left with nothing but wilderness. This was the first time that Sanroku left his village and what a way to do so, seeing as Sanroku is alone and thus vulnerable to ambushes. Nevertheless, the young man is an ANBU trainee so he thought that if he can't defend himself in the real world then how will he defend himself in the world of shadows. While resting, Sanroku chose to build himself a shelter so that he may lie in there and be safe until the next day. It was obvious to him what he needed to do, and so he slept in order to restore the lost chakra that was spent while darting all the way over here. While thinking about the Land of Tea, Sanroku contemplated the possibility of his death. As the probable chance does in fact exist, it was well worth the time to investigate the proper death for a shinobi. The young shinobi laid on his back while starring at the night sky, he wondered if there was already trouble in the Land of Tea, or is everybody just settling in?

The Raikage wouldn’t request for all shinobi personnel to head to the Land of Tea unless this mission was of the upmost importance. Because of this small knowledge though, Sanroku knows that he has to attempt his best in order to complete this mission, whatever the mission objective may ask for. Sanroku then wondered about the meteor that was mentioned in the mission description, and again the word “prize” just kept revolving around Sanrokus thoughts. It appears like this mission holds true value only in this meteor. Sanroku thought. So he already began devising schemes in order to get close to the rock and investigate what its nature is and why it is so valuable. Although it is hard to devise a scheme when Sanroku doesn’t know who he is fighting against, or for the very least the layout of the battlefield. Sanroku put himself to sleep with his thoughts and when he woke up he destroyed the small shelter he created in order to hide the fact that he was there, and after that he again left toward the Land of Tea.

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"Uragh, left behind!?" Crono raged through his head in a slump. He had been waiting paitently by the village gates for over twelve hours for further instructions from the raikage. Finally, he went to the Kage's office to inquire about his orders only to be informed that the raikage and other shinobi, many of whom he had seen while waiting, were already on their way to the land of tea. "Crap!" he muttered again before sprinting out of the office and out the village gates.

"my first mission, and already I'm behind.... Ni-san is going to kill me" His right hand shifted over to his Tsuba, securing it in place as he ran. Crono's mind began to focus inward and as his body began to speed up, time itself seemed to slow down as he entered a Zen Trance; his eyes showing a tint of blue luminescence. he knew that only way to catch up now would be to enhance himself to his full potential and max speed.

He quickly sped up along the way, his enhanced perception and keen eyesight spotting very small patterns in the tree branches. His keen intellect deduced that one of his fellow Kumo allies must have taken this route. Adjusting his course, crono began to follow the pattern. He continued to run well into the darkening hours, while he could continue to easily follow the tracks, his body could no longer bare the strain of remaining in the Trance. the glow faded from his eyes and he took a seat on the branch he was currently on, his back resting upon the trunk with both legs crossed. sleeping was out of the question, but he still needed to rest his body and mind from the strain he had placed upon it.  Taking deep solid breaths he began to drift inside of himself as he began to meditate.

The sun had arose by the time he had finished his meditation. slowly he arose, stretching his body from its stoic positions feeling refreshed as he did. He continued once more upon the trail, realizing that he was getting closer and closer due to the freshness of the tracks until he found the hidden remains of what appeared to be a shelter.

"HA! i knew i'd catch up. The Kumo nin must have slept around here." he thought. his eyes peering around looking for the next sign of the trail before suddenly dashing off in a sudden direction. Within minutes he could detect a faint scent, reminiscent of home. His ally was close. Peering through the distance with his Eagle-like eyesight he could just make out the nin. He inferred that he would soon catch up even without the use of his trance and quickly deactivated it.  He questioned if he should yell, to alert the nin of his presence but decided against it as they were both in unfamiliar terratory. He could try to throw a kunai, but he wasn't as trained with kunai as he was with a sword, also he didn't want to appear threatening.  perhaps the best course of action would just to follow him until he took notice on his own, or stopped to rest.

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As soon as Sanroku destroyed the shelter he was just residing in for the night, he dashed toward the Land of Tea. Although it was still morning time and he wasn't but 15 meters away when he heard someone loudly state the fact that a Kumo ninja slept in the specific area. Sanroku is not a sensor shinobi so it wasnt easy to track down who it was that said that, but one thing is for sure, they said that from the direction that Sanroku just came from. Due to this knowledge, Sanroku believes he has some leverage in case it is indeed a hostile shinobi that is on his tail. Sanroku then created a clone with the Clone Technique as he gave it a subconscious assignment to run ahead. Sanroku let the clone get a little further ahead before he leaped up and onto the first branch that was hovering over his head. Sanroku waited sitting down with one leg hanging off the branch and his back resting on the trees base. Because he was facing the clone, Sanroku knew that the incoming shinobi wouldn't spot him unless he is a sensor due to the tree that is between the two. The young shinobi didn't have to wait long since the unidentified shinobi is following him and the shelter area he heard the shinobi in wasn't too far. When Sanroku seen who it was that spoke back in the shelter spot, he noticed that the shinobi didn't sport any ninja insignia. Sanroku is not very social, so he doesnt know many people from Kumogakure, nevertheless he has the erge to ask this shinobi where he is coming from. But Sanroku is smarter then that, he didnt need to use his masterful deductive prowess to know that Kumogakure is the only hidden village that is on that direction, and Sanroku has his doubts that this shinobi is a hunter ninja since he isnt trying to stay secretive.

Sanroku was ready to speak before he noticed the unidentified shinobi appear running under him looking somewhat focused on his task at hand to the point that Sanroku eyed the fact that the shinobi was making sniffing facial movements. It can't be that he can smell me? Sanroku thought, but then again Sanroku isn't ruling anything out. Soon after though Sanroku noticed that the focused was toned down as the shinobi showed to be more relaxed now while running behind the clone. This is an elementary clone so it faded not too long after getting a good distance away, after which Sanroku spoke while still on the tree. "Why are you following me?" Hoping to get an answer from the shinobi that was befitting with his quest since Sanroku can't be delayed anymore. By that, Sanroku is hoping that this shinobi is a Kumogakure ninja and the reason he is following is either because he doesnt know where the land of Tea is, or because I just happened to get ahead of him in this nation wide mission; either way, as long as he is a Kumogakure shinobi going to the Land of Tea, then Sanroku wasn't going to ask many questions. Sanroku doesnt have any village logo himself but seeing as the ninja appeared to have been sniffing Sanroku out, he thought that he must be a sensor thus probably already know where my allegiance lies. If anything really, Sanroku wasnt able to be identified by facial feature at all since he was sporting the Jabbawockee Mask given to him by the Raikage in order to enter the ANBU training program. The young shinobis Kurai Katana that was grabbed for this mission to the Land of Tea was still strapped to his back, but because of its size, it wasn't easily concealed thus it was probably spotted. It was also the morning so it didnt give the all black sword meant to be used at night any justice. To finish off his apparel, Sanroku had the Chūnin Flak Jacket which he designed himself thus making it that much more difficult to determine what village he represents.

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Crono suddenly jumped at the sound, he had noticed a stronger scent but didn't realize he was THAT close to the shinobi he was trailing. His reflexive Iaido training instantly causing his sword to leave it's sheath at top speed from his off hand reverse grip in a sudden rising action before he spun his body down to the left switching his hand position to a standard grip on the blade, his left hand joining his right as he brought the sword down landing in a battle stance with his blade vertical along his midline the Chakuratō now glowing with a chakra aura almost three times the size of the initial blade from his Samurai Sabre Technique. The sudden rush of adrenaline also activating his Zen Trance causing his eyes to glow.  

It took only an instant to discover the source of the sound above him on a nearby tree on a branch. It did however take slightly longer for his brain to decrypt the question he was asked and connect the dots that this was the shinobi he had been trailing, or so he assumed. The other nin had no identification marks, even his eyes were difficult to see into with the blank mask on his face. "Anbu?" crono wondered connecting the mask to their reputation. If it was an anbu, could it have been an enemy scout he had been trailing. If that was the case, he shouldn't be so eager to answer the shinobi's question. On the other hand, this ninja didn't appear to be threatening. Crono could only think of one answer to give. With a quick flourish he spun his blade behind him, point out toward the ground in his left hand, his arm extended.  With his right he lifted up the katana's saya, displaying to the opposing nin the Guardia family crest and below that the kumo cloud insignia that was prominently engraved in gold against the blue.  

One of the following situations would occur. Either this nin would be of the cloud and identify himself as such, or he would attack; in which case, crono would already be armed and ready with his Chakuratō in his left hand, and saya in his right. Not a smart thing for a ninja to do against a samurai opponent, even if he was only an Aonisaibushi.

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Sanroku wasn’t surprised to see the shinobi get startled, yet Sanroku wasn’t expecting for him to set himself up in his combat stance. The ninja quickly took out his sword and pointed it forward and toward Sanroku. The thought is that he thinks Sanroku is an enemy. As soon as the question was processed, the shinobi went ahead and showed an icon atop of the Kumogakure logo, it appeared to be a clan icon. So this still unidentified shinobi is certainly identified now as a Kumogakure shinobi. This was enough for Sanroku. The young shinobi jumped down from the tree landing lightly of course. He walked toward the unidentified shinobi and said, “At ease ninja. I am an ally.” While relaxed knowing that everything is under control, Sanroku walked over toward the shinobi and passed him in order to move further along to the Land of Tea. He is already late as it is and all he had to say to this shinobi was, “I don’t know why you are following me and I don’t care. As long as you are not planning on slowing me down.” Sanroku is somewhat antisocial so he didn’t bother asking questions relating to who the shinobi was. As long as he wasn’t planning to slow him down i.e. by being a hostile or anything else rather than he was okay with him. Sanroku didn’t want to seem egotistic by acting like he did either nor did he mean any disrespect when he said he didn’t care about this shinobis reasons for being here, but in truth, Sanroku is just the type of shinobi who does not like to fill his memory with nonsense. Knowing that memory has a limit, Sanroku only retains the memory that he deems necessary. If this was a mission, then Sanroku would had made the effort to be friends by default, but because this situation deems the information irrelevant, Sanroku did not ask. If everything went off without a hitch and no questions was asked by the unidentified shinobi, then Sanroku will dash off once again trying to reach the Land of Tea to meet the Kumogakure shinobis that are already in the rendezvous.

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Crono watched as the ninja entered his range of attack, defenses lowered before he announced he was an ally and began to dash off. With a single movement, the chakra aura upon crono's blade dissipated and his sword returned to it's saya, the glowish hue in his eyes disappearing as well. Without much effort he was able to catch up with the Kumo nin. 

"Slow you down?" Crono questioned slightly insulted. "I'm catching up on lost time, try not to fall too far behind." he smiled for a moment, taunting playfully. "and by the way, I'm no shinobi" he paused for a moment, looking over to the kumo nin his grin as big as ever, leaping ahead to turning around to face him; his backwards leaps continuing at the same pace as before "I'm a samurai." He announced proudly before instantly taking off in a burst of speed attempting to goat the nin into a race, pleased with himself that he no longer was going to be the last one to arrive.

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As Sanroku dashed toward the Land of Tea, he noticed the Kumogakure shinobi confront him. It was clear that he didnt understand what was meant by slowing Sanroku down, since he was doing the very same. The last thing Sanroku wants to do now is get in a cat and mouse race that will drain his energy before he reaches his destination. The ninja then mentioned that he is not a ninja after all, but instead, he is a samurai. Sanroku is awfully young, so he has never met a samurai before nor does he know their potential in terms of techniques. It would be interesting to see a samurai in combat. Sanroku was still keeping his pace in order to dart over to the Land of Tea with all of his chakra, and while the samurai began to burst with speed, Sanroku glared at him as he looked at the distancing samurai fiercely. It did not matter to Sanroku who got there first, what truly mattered is getting there at the end of this journey.

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Once Crono realized that he was ahead by almost a 1/2 a kilometer, he slowed his pace down. Even though his body was accustomed to moving at such a high pace, He was still only an Aonisaibushi, a samurai rank equivalent to a Genin. Should he or the kumo nin be caught, it would be difficult for the other to come to aid. With that thought he shot a glance behind him, eyeing the kumo nin to make sure he was still there. 

As he continued through the trees he suddenly realized that this entire time, he was following the other ninja to get to where he was going. In truth, he was only going in the right direction so far due only to blind luck. He slowed down and allowed the other ninja to catch up. "Fine, have it your way. Safety in numbers, right?" he said casually, conceding to his smaller companion with a smile on his face, in an attempt to hide the fact that he didn't know the route to their destination.

He thought for a moment if he should inquire about the nature of this mission. His only knowledge was that he needed to find the raikage who would fill him in. But then again, speaking to others about a mission who weren't assigned to it wasn't allowed. His curiosity would have to wait to be satisfied until he reached the raikage. 

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After distancing himself the unidentified shinobi slowed down in an effort to travel in par with Sanrokus pace. The young shinobi just looked ahead not bothering to ask why the samurai bothered to slow down, but then he answered the unasked question. With the words the samurai said, about safety and being strong in numbers, made Sanroku realize that this samurai was thinking ahead, relying on Sanroku for assistance in case we got ambushed because we are in foreign territory. This is smart, and Sanroku isn't someone that is too proud to ask for help either, so this idea bode well with Sanrokus agenda seeing that he might also need the assistance down the road. Rather than wasting time, Sanroku decided to make himself known to the ally samurai. He looked to the side and said, "My name is Sanroku." Not much was said as the young shinobi left the conversation at that. If he truly was going to build an allegiance with someone, then Sanroku thought that for the very least, they should know each others name. But even if the samurai did not want to share his identification, it did not matter because Sanroku didnt ask for that very reason. Some people are indeed secretive about their persona. If he wanted to present himself then he will, if not, then so be it. The timing was marvelous as it became clear that the Land of Tea was nearing. It was an odd sight though since Sanroku began to witness people evacuating from the village. But this is still miles away? The young shinobi thought. Then it was deducted that this must be something rather in the form of a catastrophe to be having villagers that call the Land of Tea their home evacuate to such a far reaching area. They wanted to get far. But far from what now? Sanrokus thought began to race with the possibilities of the form of catastrophe, and with the mission detailing the meteor being of value, Sanroku can't help but reason the fact that the chaos is coming from those who want the valued goods rather than from the meteor itself. Sanroku knew the meteor wasnt dangerous of course because the Raikage simply wouldnt make a mission out of retrieving something that is in the least bit dangerous for those retrieving it; and if there was such a mission, then the ANBU elite would be the shinobis sent. How much value does this reward possess? Now that is the true million dollar question in  Sanrokus arsenal of deductive reasoning, but he can't come up with an answer now with out having all of the facts yet. He needed to actually get into the Land of Tea.

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"Crono" he announced quickly "of the Guardia Clan" he had no reason to hide his identity and freely introduced himself. Besides, if nothing else he was sure the smaller ninja was above him in relative rank given the weird anbu-like mask. It would have been impolite to not respond in kind. "It's an honor to serve with you"  Crono's tone was more serious as his lips said the word honor; the word's meaning ran deep through his veins. 

His eyes loomed ahead, it appeared they were nearing their destination. The foliage concealing their movements was growing thinner. As the landscape began to piece through the endless shroud of green, Crono could make out a large cloud of smoke, blurring the horizon rising high into the sky. He no longer needed a guide, He knew of his final destination. His face turned serious, it was now time to put all the years of training to good use. 


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