Yasuragi-sensei and his crystal ball... (Open)

[UnsanMusho]

"You think they're going to be alright? I mean, they're just kids and they send them out into the wilderness to do god knows what. Cut a mountain in half or some crazy crap like that? What was it at the last exams?" A group of men sat at the bar of the pub talking the Chuunin exam over amongst themselves.

"It was survival you idiot. Desert survival! Obviously that Itahase kid and some puppet using kid won that one. They were from Rikuhi after all, what did they expect from them. That's why I got a crap load of money bet on the Hyougaan kids this year. The first part has to go to the team with the home field advantage!" The men nodded and argued some more and continued there chatter. Meanwhile, the Rikuhian Jounin sat a booth alone drinking a cup of tea and looking over his last mission report and double checking for any record mistakes. Typical paper work. The talk got him curious as to how his students were faring. He pulled out his necklace; a small, clear crystal ball. He pondered a thought as he rotated the sphere in his fingers, letting the light that passed through it dance across the table.

"I wonder if they'd mind that I was spying on them...?"

[seiyaryu]

“Already...?” the Nagarian chuunin muttered as he gazed up into his empty flask. “Either I need a bigger container or stronger sake.”

Well this was great. With the chuunin exams underway it meant there was little going on anywhere else. Not that Rokku minded this one bit since it would give him some downtime, but what good what that be if he didn’t at least have a buzz. After finally accepting that there was nothing left in the flask and secured it back at his waist. Free time and no booze…what a bother.

“Guess there is nothing to do now but...” he began to trail off as the sign of a local pub caught his attention.

With saying another word Rokku reached into his pocket only to find a pleasant surprise. For once he actually had a little spending cash and enough to at least get him the buzz he sought. Wasting no more time than he already had the chuunin quickly walked over to the pub and stepped inside. Clad in a black cloak that covered his entire body from the next down he made his way over to the bar.

“Give me the strongest and cheapest drink you have got,” Rokku said as he set some ryo on the counter.

The bar tender was sluggish to respond but he eventually brought the chuunin a glass and an unlabeled bottle. He poured himself a drink and quickly downed the clear liquid without any concern of what it was or how it might taste. It burned immensely as it went down which only brought a faint smile to his face and a few more ryo from his pocket.

“You can just leave the bottle,” Rokku said before pouring himself another glass.

[UnsanMusho]

The Jounin looked over his shoulder as he thought he had heard a bit of Nagarian, his wife's native tongue. He had learned it himself sometime ago to eliminate language barriers between him and his spouse, but it had numerous other advantages. The man's appearance looked somehow familiar to him. Like he had known him from somewhere before. He stood up to go meet the man, bringing his own cup along.

"I've been drinking tea all day while I've been in the company of my students, but I see that you have an entire bottle to yourself." Ken waved a hand to the bartender, catching his attention quickly. The Rikuhi-nin had left a large chunk of change as a tip earlier and the tender seemed to have caught on to it that this particular patron wasn't hard up for cash.

"I think this man deserves something of a higher quality. Put it on my tab." Ken didn't have a tab, but the man didn't seem to mind starting one up for him. And no doubt he planned to over charge him for it as well.

"We know each other, do we not?" His Nagarian sounded overly polite. Practiced over and over again, and the accent of Rikuhi was there, but not so much as to make people mock his speech. He just hoped this particular ninja wasn't as paranoid and quick to anger as most seemed to be.

[seiyaryu]

Rokku nearly jumped out of his skin as a Rikuhian accented voice crept up on him. Why he was so immersed in his drink that he didn’t even hear the approaching footsteps nor see the person walk up beside him. It was a foolish thing for a shinobi to do especially in a bar. Though this chuunin was never really the paranoid type and it would be no different now. He says he has students. I would say he could be a chuunin but there is no way a Rikuhian chuunin would come to Hyouga just to get a drink. Bet he is a jounin...

You do know who that is, don’t you?

I do not see why it matters if I do or not.

No sooner had Rokku finished the thought the stranger mentioned getting something of a higher quality followed those magic five words...put it on my tab. Whether he knew him or not was no longer important as the Nagarain turned to face the man with a lazy gaze and a faint smile. It didn’t take long for him to recognize who was actually speaking to him. Itahase Ken, otherwise known as Rikuhi’s Black Flower. Rokku would forever remember this actions at the last chuunin exams. Not because of the deaths he cause and the incident with Anki, but because of the way he fought. That’s right. He used Genjutsu and insects back then.What is your point?

He probably still uses them and your scared shitless.

True that might have been, but Rokku was never one to turn away someone acting so generous, and the Rikuhian’s polite tone put him more at easy. In all honestly he was surprised Ken had recognized him at all considering he always thought of himself as the "Sakura" of that team.

“Yes, but not directly,” he replied in his fatigued tone before polishing off the rest of his drink. “I think you know me because of Anki and Demi. Itahase-san...was it?” Rokku asked as he poured himself another drink and looked back up at the Rikuhian. “I would offer you some but the taste strongly resembles that of paint remover. Help yourself though if you think you can handle it.”

[UnsanMusho]

The Jounin brooded over the names he mentioned for a second, before nodding and continuing.

"I apologize about the events that happened with Tanaka-san. I hope you bear no ill will against me for it. I think Misutsu-san may still hate me for my actions even though we're now related. It wouldn't be the first time that there was hatred over marriage I suppose." The Jounin spoke very straight forwardly. There was sincerity but it was obvious that he hadn't been dwelling on events that happened years and years ago. But he acknowledged the Nagarian's offer.

"Well, if you are offering it I suppose I can't refuse. But I would ask your name before you do so, because for the life of me I can't recall hearing it ever."

[seiyaryu]

“You do not need to apologize about that, or at least not to me,” Rokku replied with a light chuckle, showing no animosity whatsoever towards the Jounin. “And of course Demi-kun hates you. He hates everybody and that includes myself as well. I would even bet to say he hates me more than he does you.”

Really though he couldn’t hold any of what happened against the Rikuhian since Anki never actually died that day long ago. Back then her “death” may have bothered him but time taught him that that was part of being a shinobi. What a shame I could not figure that out sooner.

What are you pissing and moaning about?

Say what you want to say now because in a moment you are going to sleep.

The hell is that suppose to mean? If you think I’m just going to sit here and let you play with me than you’ve got another thing coming.

It means what it is suppose to mean. Anyways I am done listening to you for now.

Rokku lifted his glass up and finished yet another drink like it was nothing more than water; feeling every last drop burn down his throat and sending warm sensation throughout his entire being. This booze may have been cheep but it was definitely far from weak. Of course it wouldn't be enough to put down a member of the Kyoukou clan though he was curious to see how a Itahase would take to it. Only one way to find out. The chuunin gently slid the bottle down towards Ken so that it would stop right in front of him, that is if he didn’t stop it himself first.

“I never stood out as much as my colleagues did so I would not expect you to remember my name even if you had heard it. Kyoukou Rokku,” again there was nothing in his tone that hinted Rokku was in anything less than a good mood as he extended a hand to the Rikuhian Jounin. “Pleasure to meet you. Your students must be participating in this year’s chuunin exams, aye? I cannot think of any other reason why a Rikuhian would come to a place like this for anything less than that.”

[UnsanMusho]

"I figured he was a bit ill-mannered, but I tried not to bring it up to him obviously. Nor to my wife. I think she already knows, but now that I have more than one opinion on it I guess it's safe to say. I think one of my students still has nightmares of Misutsu-san from when he was being taught by him in the Academy." The Jounin laughed a bit as he took the bottle and poured himself a cup. He wasn't a big drinker, and when he was drinking it was usually the Itahase brand brew made from hops and barely. He raised the glass to the man.

"Here's to our meeting each other, Kyoukou-san." Ken took a swig getting the entire cup down in one gulp. It felt like someone had ignited a string of Katon jutsu in his chest and the after taste was unlike anything he had ever tasted. He knew that it was alcohol, but it might as well have been used to clean kunai and shuriken with. The desperate look on his face remained, but he continued to try and act as polite as he could.

"Y-yes. They're p-participating this y-year. What b-brings you here? Students as w-well?"

[seiyaryu]

Rokku laughed inwardly at the jounin’s comment about Demi’s teaching methods, though that would have to be expected considering how their sensei taught them. The chuunin had a feeling his own students would get the same treatment if he ever got around to teaching a class and the idea of Anki having students was a troubling thought on its own. So Juniko molded us into a bunch of sadists... He half expected to hear his split respond with a vulgar comment but was greeted with the pleasant sound of silence.

The Nagarian raised his glass to Ken as it was done to him and he knocked back the drink to the last drop without so much as a twitch in his expression. However it appeared that his acquaintance didn’t take as well to this harsh brand of sake. You definitely had to have an acquired taste for a drink this bad. Both the look on his face and the way he stumbled over his words made Rokku wonder if the Rikuhian might be a bit of a lush. How unfortunate for him if that was the case.

“Not exactly. Though that reminds me...” he trailed off, remembering that it was only a single class that kept himself from ranking up. “Anyways there is a team I want to keep an eye on. Nothing more than that really.”

And that was the truth. Rokku hated Hyouga’s weather almost as much as anyone who lived in Shine country and he wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for some unseen circumstances. The chuunin simply shrugged off the thought for now and poured himself another drink.

“Good stuff, aye?”

[UnsanMusho]

The Jounin tried to muster enough will to ignore the horrid taste in his mouth and continue his conversation with his Nagarian acquaintance.

"Good stuff indeed. But anyways, what team is it that you were interested in? I haven't heard much on the competition besides my own students obviously. I could help you out if you wanted to get a look at their current status. I just need a description and some names before I can help." He pulled off his necklace and placed it on the table in front of him.

(OOC: Sorry for the slow and short post. Sort of busy but didn't want to make you wait too long.)

[seiyaryu]

((It's all good. lol))

“Oh, how generous of you. I think I shall take you up on that offer,” Rokku replied, then taking a sip from his glass as he tried to remember what little he knew. “I cannot recall what number they were, but it is the only fully Hyougaan team if I am not mistaken. Lets see...names, names...Hanako Senshi...dark blue hair and cobalt blue eyes...and probably wearing all white if I know him. Next one would be...Ishikawa Azure, but I am afraid that is all I know about him. Last is...Makanai Kagami...wears light blue and pink clothing...raven hair and jade green eyes and...she hides her face behind a scarf.”

The chuunin paused for a moment and guzzled what was left of his drink. Was that really all he knew about them? Well he did know a bit more but nothing that would add to their appearance.

“I hope that is enough,” Rokku said before pouring himself another drink. “Another? I would hate to have to drink this all myself.”

[UnsanMusho]

The name Hanako Senshi came up, and Ken knew that he would have no trouble performing the jutsu. He had met the Genin not too long ago to investigate a missing-nin posing as a Rikuhi-nin. So Ken put his hands together and flipped through seals while replying to his new friend.

"I'll take up that offer as soon as I get through with this jutsu. Tomegane no Jutsu." The crystal ball glimmered a bit, fuzzy at first, and then clearing up a bit. It showed a scene of the Hyougaan genin team all seemingly tired out, a large dead animal near them. It seemed that they had beaten the animal and that one of the male members of the team was shouting something. He seemed to be in good spirits and holding up a scroll, so Ken could only assume that they had slain the monster.

"It seems they're doing well, no?"

[seiyaryu]

((So sorry about the late reply. I've been swamped with work all week. D:))

Rokku inched in close to the Jounin’s crystal orb as an image began to take form. The dead animal was too tough to identify with such a small picture though appearing as nothing more than a red and grey blob. But team eleven he had no problem distinguishing. Well look at that. Those little wimps actually beat that thing?

It would appear so. You know just as well as I do that it’s hard to fail the first part.

Ah, that’s right. The second part was the fun one, wasn’t it? Or at least the part that messed all of you up.

Rokku began to squint slightly as he assessed what their situation currently was. Senshi was the first one he took notice of who appeared a little shaken up. It reminded him of the look on his face when he used Kanashibari no jutsu on the Hyougaan genin. The next one he focused his attention on wore all white as well as having white hair. Rokku could only assume that this was Azure since he knew the other two members by appearance. Last but not least Kagami would catch his attention as she rose from the ground and ran over to the rest of the team.

It appeared they were doing rather well indeed. Rokku continued watching curious as to what the scroll in Azure’s possession would do. He figured it would either be a clue or a exit scroll that would take them to the next round, and sure enough just as the kunoichi reached her team she slipped right before the three were teleported from the picture. The chuunin merely buried his face into his palm for a moment before taking a large gulp from his drink. Only she could be clumsy enough to pull that off... Though Ryoto should be happy to hear that they’ve passed the first exam.

“Yes, I would have to agree with you,” Rokku replied as he lean back and erected his spin back into position. “I am really eager to see how the second round plays out this year.”

[UnsanMusho]

(OOC: No problem really. I've been a bit busy myself, which is why I'm getting out of this thread though. I'm glad our character finally met though, even if it was only brief.)

"That's what I've been waiting for specifically. The second part is when the excitement begins. But I think I need to head back to Rikuhi and fill out more paper work before I even have the time to watch the matches. It's been a pleasure to meet you in person finally though." The ninja stood and bowed to the man before putting his hands together and vanishing. He was half telling the truth however. There was paper work for him to do, but he also wanted to avoid drinking another glass of the liquor and risking melting his esophagus from the inside out.