Rippa walked quietly along the road. Today he had slipped into a black tank top and a pair of Denim Jeans. His black boots hit the road lifting a cloud of dust around his ankles as he walked a side road rarely used. His knee length red leather coat fluttered in the warm breeze a little as he moved. His white hair swaying to reveal his face. On his hand's he was wearing fingerless gloves and in his hands was a book on the functions of the kidneys and surrounding internal organs. His blue eyes scanned the pages as he walked. His tall frame rather skinny but still he enjoyed the walk. Up until recently he had been living the hermits life in his studies. Preferring to seclude himself from the wars of humanity while he perfected his medical talents. After all his branch of the family was filled with famous doctors. He could only enjoy the future he was given and choose to use it to his benefit. After all he was pretty much middle aged at 23 for his clan. His own father nearing his death bed. It was strange that with all the medical studies they did the Chi had yet to reveal how to prolong their own lives. He suspected it had something to do with the blood techniques they used. But no proof had come of that yet as a direct connection. Still most of them just assumed it was the cause.

Still he was not wandering aimlessly. The Academy he had attended years ago wanted a medic nin on site for some training. So he had been summoned to the academy to assist another Genin. He wondered who he would meet and what they would think of a genin as old as Rippa. As rippa had chosen to study instead of increasing his own rank over the years. He smiled as the academy came into view before his blue eyed gaze shot upward. He had heard them before they made it close to him. The untrained youth. Several young men came crashing along over head. Feet stomping on roofs as they flew along to the academy for the extra training. He watched the hooligans fly overhead and pass him on the way to academy. Casually blocking a rock one of them tossed at him with a laugh by raising his book into it's path. Raising an eye brow he snapped the book shut and put it into his coat pocket. Before regaining his smile and approaching the academy. Outside a young man was standing there.

The boy was just barely old enough to be out of the academy by the look of him. But the mission had named his partner an uchiha. He wasn't hard to figure out as his partner for several reasons of deduction. First the boy was wearing a head band which was only given after graduation. Second was how he was alone and looking speculative for something. And yet another was how he carried himself. Determined as if he knew what was expected of him. Rippa had been concerned when he learned he would be working with an uchiha of all people due to the legendary tempers of the uchiha and his own frail nature. Still Rippa Adjusted his red coat to make sure the head banned stitched into the right shoulder was clear to see before approaching with a smile. The hooligans that had passed him where likely already inside. Still his voice was warm and his blue eyes shared his smile in a way that seemed like talking to Rippa was a very pleasant experience.

"You must be my partner on this mission. I am Chi Rippa. Your support for this mission." And with that he held out his hand to shake hands with the kid.

638 WC

The stampage of hooligans caught him unawares as they zoomed passed him without a care, laughing and shouting in amusement. Inwardly Masaaki groaned and wondered why where they would be so happy for a school again…but then again, this a shinobi academy, only those determined to be shinobi get in. And Masaaki is probably the most determined, it took him two years to get in but he got it eventually. With a sigh he got up from the ground and dusted off the dirt on his black trousers, dressed in usual attire that consists of a white and red hoodie with a black netted vest underneath and the usual standard sandals. Nothing special, but it’s loose enough to allow for free and fast movement. In addition to his garments, he also wore his red scarf that used to belong to his late mother.

The presence of another caught his attention and soon he turned around to be greeted with a equally white-haired stranger with a rather broad but friendly smile. A nice change. The steel headband on the shoulder caught his attention and for a moment he wondered who this man is, a teacher maybe? He looks too old to be a genin- as soon as the man’s lips moved his eyes lip-read naturally and Masaaki just managed to hide the surprise on his face. “Ah.” Was his first reply before he turned a light shade of red and grinned a little in embarrassment “S-sorry, I’m Uchiha Masaaki, nice to meet you.” said the boy as he introduced himself, making no mention of his deafness. He shook his hand and motioned to the academy “Let’s go, we’re almost late.” And it wouldn’t look good to the class to be late, since the class won’t take them seriously…but then again they’re shinobi so they have to respect them…right?

WC so far: 567

Hmm. So this was his partner for the mission. He let his eyes travel over the person. Young but looked bright enough. Something about the way his eyes moved when Rippa spoke seemed strange. As if he was trying to figure something out. And when he spoke back about heading inside. His tone seemed a little off. Slurred even. As if he was intoxicated. But nothing else was visibly available. No other signs. As they walked he monitored how the other moved. It seemed well trained and he didn't stumble. Still he wondered about it. Then a memory of a moment in the hospital with a deaf patient hit him. He let the other kid trail ahead a little before saying something clearly. But while the other wasn't looking at him.

"Uchiha huh? Such an intricate history."

he watched for any reaction. A flinch maybe. A response of some sort. If nothing then he would reach out and gently place his hand on the boys shoulder to get his attention. Waiting outside the class room with him until he was able to see his lips and took the time to slow down his speech and make it easier to read. After all it seemed easy enough to be considerate of anothers needs. He just hoped he wasn't being rude in making such dramatic assumptions. Still his eyes and smile were warm and inviting. His smile even met his eyes. All together it was pleasant to look at such a warm smile to most people. A practiced doctors presence.

"Alright so those kids in there are a rough bunch. Likely as not they are going to try and be difficult. What I suggest is pairing them off. Let them compete with each other. If anything gets out of hand I can just utilize my medical knowledge to deal with it. Other then that you should take the lead. You are closer to their age group and an Uchiha. Your name alone will demand some respect. "

With that he smiled. Before he moved to the other side of the door. He didn't mind playing second fiddle on a mission. So he would pull the door open and use his free hand to indicate to the other to go ahead and enter before him.

WC=1019

And then Rippa took over and taught the class some medically weak spots to hit like the kidney and left feeling like he had taught something.

Exit thread