Chuunin Exams Team 2

It's been a long trip to Kumogakure for the chuunin exams for this genin. Now that she's here, everything seems almost surreal, and she feels terribly out of place. Tonou did not enter the exams with her, nor did he come to Kumogakure, and there are few other Suna genins in attendance for the exams at all. The ones that are present are ones that Mianyi does not know. Ordinarily shy, Mianyi feels entirely out of her element and can't help but wonder why she is here and others are not. Is she really so much better than Tonou? She does not think so, and she can't help but wonder what her superiors in Suna see in her.

Wrapped up in these thoughts, Mianyi stands in front of the gates of the forest where a proctor stands giving instructions to this team of three. She barely pays attention to the words of the proctor - they will start with an Earth scroll and enter the forest, where they will have three days to survive and reach the center with a Heaven scroll. A nagging thought that she ought to pay more attention to both her surroundings and the task at hand draws her from her doubts and thoughts. Her 'daydreaming' has caught the notice of the proctor, or maybe he just chose one of the others as more worthy of the role, who has handed another of her team mates the Earth scroll.

Mianyi's gaze turns with the handing over of the scroll and she takes note of the others with her. Two genin from Konoha? Oh, wasn't there something said about improving village relations and learning to work with unfamiliar ninjas on the fly? Mianyi wasn't really paying attention. One, the Nara boy, she does not recognize, but the other… the other she recognizes. They fought in the tournament. She can't forget that mind invasion thing of his that he tried on her and she can't help but stare at him, wondering about his match up. Before she can wonder too much longer, the signal is given for the exams to start and the gate opens, the dark forest looming ahead of Mianyi and the two Konoha genin. Mianyi enters with these two, alert and wondering what exactly will await them inside.

@Logic @poleon

Daisuke stared at his bedroom wall for at least an hour before getting up. The alarm blared behind him on his nightstand, but he paid no attention to it. He flexed his fists over and over and over again before finally slamming the top of the alarm, breaking it in two. His room had a blackout blind over the window so it was completely dark. He stood there in the dark for a long while before opening the blind and watching the sunlight fill his room up.

Packing only what he thought he would need, Daisuke was still bound to have the largest pack in attendance. His backpack was a double strap with three pockets. Two side pockets and a large main pocket. He had filled the main pocket with a water bottle, wire, an underwater breathing piece, a couple anti-toxins, and three bomb tags. In the left side pocket were five extra kunai, and the right side pocket held ten extra shuriken.

His attire was the standard black sweats, black shirt, and his headband atop his forehead. He wore a belt with three pouches, one held two smoke pellets, another held six shuriken, and the last one held a home-made noise maker. He put on his sandals and took one last look at the room he had been given in Kumo. It was a nice suite and he felt well rested.

Arriving at the Training Grounds was a shock. He knew the teams would be scrambled this year, but he wasn't expecting the team he was given. His good friend Shiko, a Nara clan member was on his team. Unable to hold back the relief and excitement of having a friend and a fellow Konoha team mate on his side, he called out, "Oi! Shiko! This is great." The two had fought in the Kusagakure invasion together. By using their techniques in tandem they were able to wipe out both of their attackers.

The last person on his team caught him off guard, however. It was Mianyi Kamiya, the girl that beat him in the Kusagakure tournament. A whirlwind of emotions overcame Daisuke at the sight of her, but he pushed them out of his mind. If he was to advance to Chuunin, he would need to work with her in a team. Swallowing every bit of pride he had, he simply nodded to her. "Oi, Mianyi. If you've gotten any stronger from the tournament, this should make for an any task."

When the alarm set Daisuke jumped. He looked around and noticed that the gates in front of them had opened. 'This is it.' Daisuke stepped in after Shiko and Mianyi. The forest looked menacing before them, but they didn't have a choice. Daisuke tucked the scroll under his shirt into the waistline of his belt. "Before we continue, let me create a mind connection with the two of you. If any of you need to say anything to one another just say it in your mind and I will relay it to the other person. Quiet is key."

Shiko had woken early, not on purpose. He went to bed early and so he naturally woke up ahead of time. He went ahead and got up and prepared for the day. He gathered his supplies and put his scythe on his back. He wandered around town, he noted that he had not been bumping into things. He was finally used to the weight and size of the scythe.

It was getting close to the time of the exams, He headed to the gate. He arrived seeing a ninja he did no recognize. He had barely come to a stand still next to the other genin when he heard Diasuke call out to him. He gave him a nod, he was focused on the exam and also sizing up the other genin on his team.

A smirk appeared on Shikos face as he thought “Since when did I start thinking like other Nara’s?”. He took note that Diasuke took the scroll, He was now the mission, guard and protect at all costs. He had become somewhat of a strategy thinker and focused on the mission. He had not been that way in the academy but slowly became one after becoming a genin and doing actual mission. He could not help that the war also helped him change his way of thinking

Finally the gate opened. Shiko walked in with Mianyi, Diasuke not far behind. Shiko stopped as his eyes darted from tree to tree. They were huge, bigger than any in the Nara forest. But a forest was a forest, he was used to them. After all he grew up training in the Nara forest, which was one way the Nara clans jutsu stayed a secret. He also took note of how big any many shadows there were. He would be very useful, as long as there was the tiniest bit of light.

Shiko had not moved when Diasuke spoke. He agreed with his plan. They would stay quiet and would be able to communicate without giving away their position. Then he realized there would be other Ninja like his teammate Sakyo would be able to sense them.

“Good idea, but hurry. Time is essential. Also no matter what stay alert, there might be those who can sense chakra. Above all else we must protect Diasuke and the scroll.” He whispered.
Shiko was ready to begin.

Before heading in, Mianyi regards Daisuke and his compliment about her strength, smiling a little and nodding her head in agreement. However, it really just serves to make her uneasy - there are those expectations again. Can she continue to live up to them or will they find out she's just a big phony after all this time?

"Quiet is good," she agrees in her own quiet voice, permitting the mental link to be established. Daisuke might be able to read her own hesitation and dislike of this - a violation of privacy even if there is strategic benefit to it. Through the mind link she begins to speak, almost the beginnings of a conversation, "I remember you are Daisuke, but who is the other? Tell him my name." If he hasn't already, that is.

Stepping into the forest, Mianyi felt dwarfed in the almost oppressive darkness. She took a deep breath, then moved in further, keeping alert to her surroundings. There weren't just things in here, but others as well. Others that they'd run into, and others they would have to fight to get that second scroll. She feels a sense of uneasiness in carrying the knives she recently obtained. How badly could she injure someone here, and in a peaceful competition, at that. But maybe there are others here, like that Kusagakure genin, who wouldn't hesitate to use any amount of force, and surely the proctors are keeping some watch…?

Suddenly the hairs on the back of her neck prickle and something feels off - a slight disturbance to the air, a sense of foreboding, something is coming? It could be nerves, but Mianyi doesn't think so, not this time. In case the others don't sense it, Mianyi starts to warn Daisuke via the mental link, "I think there's something coming!" But even as she starts to think this, the danger has arrived.

Snares near the trio go off and Mianyi dances to the side to avoid getting strung up in a tree. It's to little use as she's pounced from above, another genin jumping from a tree limb to catch her in the chest with his foot and knock her back. Mianyi stumbles over a root and rolls away, throwing two shuriken at the other to try and give her some space from her attacker. The attacker, a young boy from Amegakure, swiftly dodges the shuriken and continues to press his advantage. Mianyi gets to her feet, knives in hand, as she prepares to push back and neutralize this genin.

Daisuke swiftly created a Mind Connection Jutsu and connected with Shiko and Mianyi. 'Ah that's better,' He said to both of them. 'His name is Shiko Nara' he said only to Mianyi. The mind connection was working like a charm. Daisuke had gotten to the point where using the Mind Connection Technique was like second nature, he didn't waste chakra or energy keeping it established. 'Alright, let's head out.'

Daisuke stepped in formation as he, Shiko, and Mianyi quickly moved through the forest. His scroll was tucked tightly to his side, unseen by anyone who may be looking on. He had chills. Knowing that any moment they could be attacked or killed made his skin bumpy and cold. Focus was important and he knew that getting distracted by fear would only put him behind his opponents. He had to wrestle with the instincts inside him. Either he was going to kill, or he was going to be killed. Thinking like that is the only way to survive dangerous missions. At least that was the rationale he was trying to tell himself.

"I think there's something coming!"

Daisuke immediately froze, alert and ready, but by the time Mianyi's message is relayed to Daisuke, and then to Shiko, traps spring up all around them. The traps are a simple mechanism, they lift you into the tree in a netting, usually with binding wire infused with chakra to avoid Kunai from cutting it. Daisuke immediately flips backwards. Mid-flip he notices someone moving extremely quickly to his left, the side where the scroll is. Before he can react a Konoha Genin has removed the scroll from Daisuke's waist and sent a chakra-infused palm into his chest, causing Daisuke to cough and gag as he tumbles on the ground.

Upon further inspection the Konoha Genin is a Hyuuga from Daisuke's academy class. His name is Juu, and he is a main branch and well known Genin for his prodigal skill. But he isn't a member of the Konoha Six, which is why Daisuke is confident that he won't be a problem. The Hyuuga is already on the move, running with the scroll as an Amegakure Genin has engaged combat with Mianyi. The third Genin of their squad may be entering combat with Shiko, but Daisuke doesn't take the time to find out. Knowing that with his Mind Connection in place he will be able to locate his team, he sets off after Juu.

'He has the scroll. I didn't even think about a Byakugan being able to spot it!'

ooc- Am I able to speak to both of yall or daisuke? Read the jutsu but did not explain.

Ic- Shiko was able to avoid the trap, since they were hastily made. Shiko had jumped to the right and caught the scene of their scroll being taken. As he jumped to help retrieve it, an unknown shinobi hit him in the air. Shiko was sent off course and falling towards the ground. He threw his scythe which stuck in a tree and he swung to a safe spot, and pulled his scythe back. The other shinobi landed and faced Shiko and pulled out a Kunai.

The look in his opponents eyes looked like he was ready to kill. He charged at shiko. Shiko cast Shadow curtain. The opponent was not able to avoid running through it. He ran through it and came out looking confused which Shiko took advantage of and swung at his face. It landed sending the other genin flying back through the shado curtain as it fell. The other genin rolled and stood back up throwing 3 shuriken at Shiko. He had quick reflexes. Shiko was off guard and and stuck up his arms in defense and took 2 shuriken to his right arm and the other one missed.

Shiko pulled the 2 Shuriken out and he faced the Genin who still had his Kunai.

ooc-I am sorry that it is not as long, busy schedule with the semester ending. But did not want to slow the post down or get disqualified.

"Every second spent here slows me down, I need to help retreive the scroll" He thought.

"Daisuke How are you doing? I am trying to get to you. I lost sight of our other teammate, I did not even get a chance to catch her name, what is it? How is she doing, is she with you?"

Mianyi quickly channels chakra into her newly acquired blades and takes a swipe at the boy from Amegakure, who quickly backpedals to get away from her attack. He thought he had the upper hand and was not expecting a quick resistance to be displayed by his opponent. Although the steel of the blades misses the genin, the chakra hits him and cuts him across his lower arm.

The genin jumps back to put some distance between him and Mianyi, using a fireball to cover his movement up into the tree branches. Mianyi is forced to dodge away, ducking behind a tree and losing sight of him and the others, as well as her teammates. "I think they mean to separate us. Where have you gone to?" she thinks, hoping that the link has remained with Daisuke despite the distance between them.

As she looks out from behind the tree she sees no sign of anyone, not her attacker and neither of her teammates. She carefully throws a shuriken out at a tree some distance from where she stands hoping to stir up some attention, but there is nothing. She listens for a moment, but can't hear anyone. And so she slowly creeps out, sticking to the shelter of trees and wary of an attack as she feels incredibly vulnerable and alone out in the forest. "We need to regroup," she thinks, hoping that connection is still there.

After a moment of waiting for some response, Mianyi gets it in her mind to look for the Amegakure genin's trail, and so she hops up into the trees where she last saw him and finds hints of a trail leading off through the tree tops, hoping this proves a fruitful choice.

ooc - @poleon he said at the beginning "If any of you need to say anything to one another just say it in your mind and I will relay it to the other person."

Shuriken whistled past Daisuke as he dodged each attack from the fleeing Hyuuga. The Hyuuga had took to the trees and hopped from branch to branch, destroying each one he leaped from by using his Gentle Fist style. Daisuke was being forced to focus chakra to his legs and leap from the side of the trunk of each tree in order to follow. He could feel his breathe getting heavier and heavier with each leap, but the Hyuuga didn't show any signs of slowing. Deciding not to throw any of his weapons Daisuke finally stopped pursuing the chase.

'Damnit! Guys... I screwed up. We don't have a scroll.' Daisuke stood keeled over behind a tree and in front of a large shrub. He was disappointed in himself for not being able to keep the scroll safe. He wanted to scream, yell, throw something, but none of those things was going to get a scroll back. They needed to figure out what their next plan of action would be. They had been in the forest for roughly five hours. It was impossible to see the light of day from under the canopy, but the dark shadows that began to loom in every corner told him it was night. 'Alright guys, I'm coming to you. Stay where you are. You should be able to feel yourselves getting closer to one another, I have managed to strengthen the connection so we can all hear one another and feel each other's mind presence.'

Daisuke prepared to move towards Mianyi and Shiko but froze when he heard voices near him. Just past the shrub in front of him were three Genin. One was tall with brown hair and a blue streak in it. He had a large sword draped on his back, and wore the Kirigakure headband. Next to him was a large Kusa Genin Daisuke recognized as Jiro from the Kusa tournament. The final Genin was a short mouse-faced girl with a Yukigakure headband. The trio were discussing what to do with their heaven scroll. After a few minutes of surveillance Daisuke learned that the trio were staying at a stream nearby for the evening. The Kiri shinobi was named Ryo and was taking the role of leader. Finally the trio headed off, but not before Daisuke was able to hit Jiro with a brief Mind Control Jutsu to unveil the location of where they were going. Jiro was the most susceptible and quite thick headed, he didn't even know what had hit him.

'Alright guys, i'm coming to you now. Oh, Shiko, this is Mianyi.' Daisuke headed back towards the others, picking up four shuriken on the way, the shuriken that Juu had thrown towards Daisuke. He was frustrated with himself, but if they could steal this heaven scroll from Ryo's team, then perhaps they could start over, and maybe this time Daisuke would let someone else hold the scroll. Finally he arrived at the clearing where they were first attacked. He waited there patiently for the rest of his team.

“Pathetic, you already lost your scroll. You call yourself a ninja? This is so easy.” the other genin said. Shiko got pissed and charged at him. Before he got half way the other shinobi the stabs himself *poof* it was a clone. Shiko got defensive and looked around, he couldn’t see anything. He had fallen for the trap to separate them.

“We have to meet up, I am where the traps were” he thought it was dangerous out here. Shiko started bandaging up his arm. He was on high alert every sound made him stop and look. He was nervous he was alone and was sure that the other teams would be in a group, he was easy prey. Shiko noted that the shadows had grown smaller but even with moonlight there were plenty of shadows. He hoped that he would make it there without any issues.

Shiko started setting up camp, he had a small smoldering fire going, to provide something to cook over without giving away the position, and he also set up traps. The traps were simple wire connected to explosive tags. He left one way in.

“Come from the east, I set up traps so beware.” Shiko had his scythe out and was holding it ready for one of the traps to go off. Every second felt like minutes. And his eyes were always darting. He started calming down thinking of his training in the Nara forest and also that he did not have a scroll so he would be less likely to be attacked.

He waited for his team.

Mianyi creeps through the shadowy forest that is growing darker, trying her best to find her way back to the camp here Shiko is waiting. She moves slowly like a shy mouse skittering around and expecting a cat to pounce. As it grows darker and begins to get cold she shivers a little, both from the cold and from a bit of fear. She can feel something as she approaches their initial location - that link? It's a bit of warmth and comfort and she continues towards this feeling, approaching carefully from the east so as to not walk into a trap.

When she approaches the fire she looks at Shiko briefly before looking away as if in shame. "We lost the scroll so early." She takes a seat at the fire, moving in close for some warmth. "We need a strategy for tomorrow. We'll have to fight to take two now." She looks into the flames for a moment before adding. "They have to get to the center with the two scrolls. We can set up an ambush there and let them come to us," she offers.

There's a sudden crackling sound out in the forest, prompting Mianyi to jump to her feet and pull out a knife to stand defensively, waiting for the second attack of the day, yet nothing comes…

"Do you know where diasuke is?" He could now longer feel him in his head. It was unusual and shiko had a sinking feeling in his gut.

"we should go search for him. We will be a weaker team without a third." Shiko stood up and un set his traps to use them if he needed to. He then jumped into the trees, staying quiet.

He was really nervous at what he may find. But he never found any signs, no foul play no anything. It stood there.

"what should we do?" as he looked at his fellow teammate. He was unsure of what to do and hoped she had some insight, They had no scroll and no third. nothing was lining up, needing two scrolls with time against them and outnumbered.

"we will easily defeated on a level playing field"

Mianyi shakes her head at Shiko's questions about Daisuke. "I'm not sure. I can't get an answer from him," she replies as the mental link yields up nothing despite Mianyi's attempts at asking Daisuke to report in.

"We shouldn't bother with fighting on a level playing field. We were ambushed, we must ambush another team." She repeats what she suggested earlier. "The other teams have to get to the center with the two scrolls. We can set up an ambush nearby and let them come to us. We'll set up traps and hazards and catch them at a weak point. After that, when it's dark, we'll look for signs of others and sneak up on them in the dark and strike when they are unprepared. I'm sure Daisuke will rejoin us when he is able." That is, assuming he is able, but

Having said that, Mianyi heads for a spot in a tree to take a rest, not quite letting her guard down as she remains alert in case some opportunity presents itself. Once they've rested for a while she will look for Shiko to give him the signal, then begin moving towards the center and set up some traps to prepare the ambush for an incoming group. Once that work is done, she explores the area near the traps to see if there are signs of others nearby in the dark.