Red Banner's Beginning [C-rank]:

---

"One condition Ayame... You have to take a partner." The words rang through her mind, as Ayame breathed in the brisk morning air, as she finished up her morning work-out. The sun was barely starting to peak over the mountains at this time of morning, and the dew still clung to the air. She was up exceptionally early today. But she had a very good reason for that. First and foremost, still needed to get her straining in because she had plans for the day, but her training was important, and she couldn't exactly skip over that. The second reason she was at her training grounds this early in the morning, and the most important reason for being here, was because of Takashi. The boy she had met here but a few days ago, and the boy who also ended up becoming a member of the girls squad. You see, Ayame had been assigned a very important task. There had been in increase in bandit activity around Iwagakure as of late, and they've been particularly organized, all falling under one banner, an organization  known as "The Red Banner". A group of thugs and bandits who's leader is unknown. Apparently, they've been on the move once more, and getting even more bold, as they intend to set up a camp even closer to Iwagakure than ever before. Ayame's job was to make sure that didn't happened. She had the Tsuchikage tell her in person that she was to handle it, on one stipulation. She needed to take someone with her. She had asked, why he wouldn't be sending someone of a higher rank, and merely got told that they were too busy to deal with mere bandits, and she was really the only one readily available. There were a few other Genin he could have tasked the mission with, but decided to give her a chance, she just needed find a tag-a-long. Being told before she left that Iwa would be watching.

Unfortunately for Ayame. She really didn't know anyone. She hadn't been in Iwagakure for a very long time, and hadn't really had time to make many friends, much less friends that she was capable of taking on a mission with her. There was one man however who came to mind. One person whom she knew for a fact to be a ninja of equal rank to her, and that she wouldn't mind accompanying her on a mission.  That man was Takashi. Unfortunately the girl really didn't know how to get in touch with Takashi. The place she'd really met him outside of the squad meeting, had been here. Fortunately here happened to be a pretty recluse place that not many people knew about, much less actively sought out. And he had come here, all on his own on the day that Ayame first meet him, and from the impression she got, he hadn't expected her to be here, much like she hadn't expected him to show up. That meant that he had been here before, even a few times to train. Granted, she'd never met him there before, which meant she usually trained either before or after he left. Which meant she needed to wait here. She was certain that'd he'd show up for a morning training session, that much he seemed dedicated too, and she'd be here when he did. If he didn't she'd probably need to find another way to contact him, or find another genin, though the latter was incredibly unlikely. If it started getting late into the morning, she'd probably just head back to the administration building and have them contact him, telling him to meet her there, which... now that she thought about it, was probably the better option to go for in the first place. It'd mean he'd have time to prepare, and clear up his schedule. Here she was just kinda hoping that he'd be free and ready to go.

Ayame would let out an audible sigh, as she placed herself on the stomp she set on fire but a few days ago, and said to herself. "It's too late now you idiot, you're gonna just have to stick this one out." Still, she was a little disappointed in herself for not coming up with that plan, even a little bit sooner. Still, she was here now, and she would wait. Pulling out the mission letter so she could read over the details of the mission one more time, as well as the copy she'd gotten to give to takashi himself when she met up with him.

---

WC: 796

Takashi was awake before the sun had reared its head over the peaks that surrounded the Village Hidden in the Stones. Like every other day, Takashi had plans to continue his training today. He had finally met his squad and more importantly, his sensei just a few days earlier, and ever since that moment he had been even more motivated to force himself to grow. Usually, motivation like that would come from seeing a sensei and quad leader that was very powerful and that exemplified what a jounin should look like when they reach the peak of their ninja career. But in this case, it was almost the opposite. Sayuri was an extremely nice woman. She was kind and innocent and funny. The young Uzumaki really liked spending time with her, and he knew that she was actually pretty talented when it came to her skills as a kunoichi. But she just did not seem very strong. In fact, it was discouraging to Takashi to see that Sayuri was his quad leader because the first time he had met her, she did not even know what fuinjutsu was. This was the woman that was supposed to be helping him to hone his skills into something that would be worthy of a promotion. But instead, he was concerned that he might be held back by her childish antics. It hurt him to think that way, because he actually really liked Sayuri. But the fact of the matter way that he needed to push himself even harder than before, lest he get stuck in a rut that he would not be able to pull himself out of.

And so he had woken up before the sun was up once again and had decided to head toward one of his two usual training areas. The top of the cliffs was always nice, but lately he had been enjoying the atmosphere behind the Red Pit a little bit more, specifically after meeting one of his squad mates there. Ayame Uchiha was her name, and she had been somewhat of an inspiration to him. She had showed him just how powerful a genin could be when she punched down a tree right in front of him after the first time they had talked since they were much younger back in the land of wind. It had been really impressive, and it made Takashi a little bit interested in taijutsu as more of a specialization rather than as just a basic way of hitting someone in the face. The chakra control involved in taijutsu was impressive to say the least, and it was that level of chakra control that made the young Uzumaki make a mental note to take some lessons from the Uchiha when he was a little more confident in his current skill set.

The small clearing behind the club was the only place he had seen Ayame other than the University where they had been summoned for their squad meeting, so on the off chance that she would be around again, the young Uzumaki made his way toward that same clearing hoping that he would catch her in action again while he worked on his own physical training. Even if she did not give him tips and tricks involving internal chakra control, she could at least show him how to throw a punch a little bit better. But the chances of her being in the same place were slim to none, since he had not called her or let her know beforehand. He was simply showing up, ready to train alone if his friend was not there, but also ready to learn if she was.

As the genin rounded the building out near the street and pushed into the wooded area behind it, he thought he heard mumbling coming from up ahead. He perked up at that, wondering if yet another huge coincidence would happen in his life. He had already met two people by complete chance that had lived in Sunagkure no Sato like himself before it was destroyed, then both of those young women had been place don his squad. On top of that, the woman that he had just happened to meet in the library on his one day he took off of training also turned out to be the jounin that was in charge of said squad. And now, as he stepped into the clearing, he found himself face to face with yet another coincidence. Ayame was dressed in the same way that she had been every time he saw her, but this time she was not oozing confidence or in the middle of an exercise. Instead, the young Uchiha was seated on the stump of the tree she had destroyed during their first meeting, looking like she was disappointed in something that Takashi was unaware of. In her hands was a letter of some kind which caused the Uzumaki’s brow to furrow as he tried to piece together what he was seeing. “Hey Ayame! You’re not doing push ups this time?”

WC:845

“Hey Ayame! You’re not doing push ups this time?” The voice before her snapped her out of her train of thought, and her mental scolding. Honestly she probably should spend time scolding herself, she had made a mistake and one that could have very likely wasted a huge amount of time in starting the mission, she had been assigned with. But it appeared fate, or sheer dumb luck was on her side today, as the voice that snapped her back into reality just happened to the be the exact voice she was looking for. As Ayame would look up from staring off into space offering a measly"huh?" her eyes would light up, as a large grin would appear a crossed face. The girl would almost instantly unfold her crossed legs and stand up saying "Takashi! Good! Just the man I was looking for." She'd say before waltzing straight up towards him and stuffing the letter she was holding in her hands, into his. She'd then reply "No, I've already done my training for the morning. We've got a busy day ahead of us, and so I wanted to get it done early." She'd say, urging takashi to begin reading his letter if he hadn't started already. The letter would read:

"Uzumaki Takashi, You've been chosen by an Iwagakure Genin, Uchiha Ayame, to partner in an Important mission of C-rank. You'll be tasked with aiding Ayame, in the removal of a group of bandits who have decided to set up a new base a little too close to Iwagakure for comfort. Bandit activity has recently picked up, and they've been to organize themselves under the name "Red Banner". This organization is in large part a mystery to Iwagakure, and we have no known information on their motives or their leader. However do not fret, we've gathered reports that say that the individuals guarding and overseeing the initial stages of construction on the new camp aren't of any particular note. You and Ayame should skilled enough to handle them if you work together. Be warned however, as we are currently unaware of what the future plans for this base are or if any reinforcements may be arriving. Unfortunately, this cannot wait until we have gathered more intel, as it seems the bandits are using townsfolk from nearby villages as slaves for their larbor. That in combination with the relative proximity to Iwagakure means this sleight is not something we can ignore or let continue any further than it already has. We expect your best on this mission and hope you won't fail us.

If you wish to be relieved of this mission, please bring this stationary to the administration building and we will have another Genin of suitable capabilities reassigned to assist Ayame."

-Iwagakure Administration Building

Ayame would watch Takashi read over his mission briefing. Included would also be other information he needed like, what information the scouts had gathered on the bandits within the camp, roughly how many were stationed within, how many slaves they've estimated are being used, and where to turn in information once they've completed the mission. Ayame knew this because hers included all the same things, though her letter was slightly different as it addressed her, and how her skills in leading a mission would be tested within this endeavour. The but the girl was clearly much to eager to get the show on the road, as she watched Takashi read over the letter, not even giving him time to speak after he'd finish before she pipe up with a "So? What do you think? Want to crack some heads with me?" She'd say, without the slight hint of nerves in her system. There wasn't an ounce of concern in her body. Not one worry about if this mission might fail, or what they might encounter, or how her first time fighting someone else with all of her power might play out. She was brimming with energy. This was exactly what she had became a shinobi for. She was going to get help people who actually needed her help, and she was going to put bullies, and people who would take advantage of others in there place. She'd finally get to let loose all of her of pent up aggression and all of the jutsu she'd been working on for this exact moment. She almost couldn't stop herself from simply dragging the boy straight off towards the camp's location at this very moment. But she knew that he might not be as on-board as she was. She was asking him to essentially drop everything and come on a potentially dangerous mission with her. It was a bit to ask, even if Takashi was a shinobi and things like this would get asked of him frequently, if not by her than the village, but still. She had to make sure he was on board. So Ayame would patiently await a reply.

Assuming the reply was a "Yes", or an "Okay, I'll do it" or something of similar nature, Ayame would reply with "Great! We can head out immediately then!" she'd say before giving a brief pause. "Unless of course there's something of great importance that you need to handle first. " Ayame would be excited, and definitely want to get a move on, but she understand that there might be some things that Takashi would need to take care of before heading out on a mission, like for instance, telling his family, or someone he had planned to meet that he wouldn't able to stop by today, and they'd have to reschedule, or maybe he needed to drop something off before they went out. Or maybe pick up his weapons or items from his house, so he could adequately complete the mission at hand.  She knew she was ready, but she also knew that she'd need to temper her excitement in order to accommodate for her partner. Ayame would simply add a "I'd understand if you needed to grab something, or leave a note telling someone you won't be seeing them today or something. I"m asking a bit of you, I'm just glad you're up to it, but I understand this is sudden and you might need to take care of something." Ayame would pause again for a moment. "But, I'd also like to get going as soon as we can. We don't know when and if they might be sending more people to support the project they have going on, and we may have our hands full already. If they send more, it's possible we won't be able to complete our mission." With that, Ayame would give a small nod to Takashi while he thought about what he needed to do, and possibly reply, as she'd wander over and pick up her bag, checking everything inside to make sure all of her supplies were there. Beofre she'd turn back to Takashi, assuming he'd reply with anything given she'd asked him a question and say "Alright, well with that settled, let's out out then." Before she'd head out of the training grounds, towards either the entrance to the village, or whatever pit-stop Takashi needed to make.

---

WC: 1244
Total WC: 2040

The immediate grin on the girl’s face was unexpected, but nice to see. At least he could be sure that she was at least happy to see him. Right away the young Uchiha unfolded her legs and stood up, exclaiming that he had been just the man that she was looking for. His right eyebrow raised in response to that aas he realized just how beholden he was to coincidence in that moment. They had been hoping to see each other; it had not just been a one way thing. Rather, she had come to the very spot hoping to find him as well. It was such a weird twist that had been thrown at him that he was almost unaware of the next few words that she uttered, snapping him back to the present moment and out of his pointless muse about the infinite possibilities of the universe. "No, I've already done my training for the morning. We've got a busy day ahead of us, and so I wanted to get it done early." Her words were accompanied by a letter that she shoved into his hand, which he promptly opened and began to skim through, trying to understand what exactly was going on.

"Uzumaki Takashi, You've been chosen by an Iwagakure Genin, Uchiha Ayame, to partner in an Important mission of C-rank. You'll be tasked with aiding Ayame, in the removal of a group of bandits who have decided to set up a new base a little too close to Iwagakure for comfort. Bandit activity has recently picked up, and they've been to organize themselves under the name "Red Banner". This organization is in large part a mystery to Iwagakure, and we have no known information on their motives or their leader. However do not fret, we've gathered reports that say that the individuals guarding and overseeing the initial stages of construction on the new camp aren't of any particular note. You and Ayame should skilled enough to handle them if you work together. Be warned however, as we are currently unaware of what the future plans for this base are or if any reinforcements may be arriving. Unfortunately, this cannot wait until we have gathered more intel, as it seems the bandits are using townsfolk from nearby villages as slaves for their larbor. That in combination with the relative proximity to Iwagakure means this sleight is not something we can ignore or let continue any further than it already has. We expect your best on this mission and hope you won't fail us.

If you wish to be relieved of this mission, please bring this stationary to the administration building and we will have another Genin of suitable capabilities reassigned to assist Ayame."

-Iwagakure Administration Building

For a moment, Takashi was a little but disappointed. For some reason he had hoped that Ayame wanted to see him in the training spot just so that they could hang out. He was not sure why, but he would have liked to just spend the day training with her rather than out on a mission that was suddenly thrust into his hand. He went through the details a few more times as he tried to understand the information that he had been given. It seemed like a fairly straightforward mission in terms of what he had to get done. There were bandits that were starting to organize themselves under one name, which was always a bad sign. On top of that they had been trading in people, which was disgusting to say the least. Takashi could not help but think that some of the slaves were probably people that had been captured coming out of Sunagakure no Sato after its recent destruction. Maybe he even knew some of the people that had run into these criminals. He nodded slowly to himself as Ayame spoke up, asking if he was ready to crack some heads with her. She seemed ready to charge into the fray at the first opportunity, which was encouraging if not a little but off putting. Even so, it seemed like as good an opportunity as any to spend the say with his comrade, which is what he had wanted to do in the first place. Plus, he really wanted to try out some of the new jutsu he had been working on. With his smile still on his face, he nodded and finally replied. “Hell yeah. Let’s show these bandits not to mess with our new home”

The enthusiasm that the young Uchiha showed was infectious, and the fact that she wanted to leave right away gave a surge to his own excitement for the mission. But he knew if he was going to be fighting, he would need all of his gear. He tried to keep up with all of her comments, but they were coming so quickly that he had to slow him own racing thoughts down in order to focus. "I'd understand if you needed to grab something, or leave a note telling someone you won't be seeing them today or something. I’m asking a bit of you, I'm just glad you're up to it, but I understand this is sudden and you might need to take care of something." Ayame would pause again for a moment. "But, I'd also like to get going as soon as we can. We don't know when and if they might be sending more people to support the project they have going on, and we may have our hands full already. If they send more, it's possible we won't be able to complete our mission." She then turned to look through her own things, finally giving the Uzumaki a chance to respond to everything that had been thrown his way. “Yeah, let’s stop by my place on the way out so that I can get my gear and then I should be good to go. I don’t want to leave without my kunai is all.”

And so, leave they did. The journey to his house did not take very long, especially since they were in a little but of a hurry at that point. They made their way through the market that was now growing busier since the sun had risen and eventually slipped down his street and came to his home. The small building was quaint, but comfortable for a single person that needed to live there. He ran up the stairs, offering to let Ayame inside if she was interested, but otherwise took only a couple of minutes to grab what he needed and locking up behind him. With that, the pair of ninja made their way to village gates, passing through them into the wilderness beyond to complete their mission.

WC:1147+845=1992

For the briefest of moments, as Ayame watched takashi read over the mission letter she'd handed him, she could see a hint of disappointment. At what? she wasn't sure. It could have been at anything. Maybe he was disappointing that he'd actually have to work today. Maybe he was disappointing he'd have to cut his plans for the day today short. Maybe he'd hoped she'd just been looking for him for a quick chat and to hang out as squad mates, though that was what they kind of would be doing. It could have been anything honestly, but for that briefest of moments Ayame could tell he was disappointed. However as he continued to read the stationary, and flip through the dossiers his expression grew more... serious? That was what Ayame would assume anyways. He seemed to understand the gravity and the implications of the missions as he read more and more, and his slight change of heart perked Ayame up a bit, as she posed her question and he looked up and replied with a “Hell yeah. Let’s show these bandits not to mess with our new home”. Ayame would simply nod before carrying on with her previous intentions. “Yeah, let’s stop by my place on the way out so that I can get my gear and then I should be good to go. I don’t want to leave without my kunai is all.” He'd reply as she dug through her own stuff, making sure her own supplies were all there and that she was indeed ready to go. And with that reply and her own, they'd quickly be off towards Takashi's own home.

It didn't take the pair long to reach takashi's home, as they were in a bit of hurry to get out there and put a stop to these so called bandits. To these man that would dare threaten not only the peace and safety of the village hidden in the stone, the people inside it, but also the whom they had captured and were now using as slaves. Takashi and Ayame would stop before the boy's door, as he unlocked it and opened the door, Offering Ayame to step inside, however she'd simply shake her head, and told him she'd wait for him outside. With that she'd place herself against the wall next to the door and watch people who wandered the street before her, as the early morning crowds would slowly begin picking up bit by bit. Takashi would only take a few minutes, but too ayame who had little more to do than to twirl her fingers around one another, and to people watch, it almost felt like torture. Granted, she knew that Takashi was going as fast as she could, and she really couldn't blame in the slightest. He was doing the best he could in the given situation. If anyone was to blame, it was the young uchiha who had thrust the boy into this situation at a moment's notice and expected him to be ready to go.  She knew this was her fault, and that she likely could have handled the situation better, but even that thought alone didn't help the pure energy that caused her to want to move. To rush out into the forest and fight these men with all she had at this very moment. But for now she had to wait. She had to watch the people pass by her patiently, as she listened to the shuffling noises from inside Takashi's home, as he moved stuff around and gathered what he needed. It was all Ayame could do, not to simply sigh of relief when she heard his door open once more and he stepped out, ready and equipped for a mission. It was then he locked his own door behind him, something that made Ayame question if she had done the same, before he turned to her and told her he was ready. Ayame figured it was likely locked, and that she'd worry about that after the mission, and so the two headed out towards the location of the campsite.

This journey took them a decent bit longer than the travel merely up the road to takashi's house. As the two headed down through the markets, and out the villages. Travelling along the main road for a moment, before turning off into the forest, following the directions of the mission and where the most recent reports said the camp was too be located. By the time they had made their way through the trees and the forest, the sun had risen above the mountains and the fresh morning dew was quickly evaporating into nothing, as if it ha never been there in the first place. As they began to get closer to the camp, Ayame would signal for Takashi to slow. The last thing that the pair would want at this stage is to get caught out by some random patrol, or spotted by a scout and have the walls to the camp closed in on them before they could even get in, making their mission all the harder. Though Ayame figured she could probably break down the walls if truly needed. Not something that she wanted to do if she didn't have too of course, so she'd signal to Takashi, as she slowed to a stop, whispering to him, "If the reports are to be trusted, we should be getting close. From here on out, we should move with caution..." She'd say before looking around her, and surveying her surroundings from the tree branch she was sitting on. "I know I mostly speak for myself here, but lets not let our excitement get the better of us, and make this mission any harder than it needs to be. It sounds like it might be challenging enough all ready." With that said, Ayame would stay in place for a moment, letting takashi speak whatever he would say in response to that, if anything, before dropping down to the forest floor, and beginning to move silently.

It wouldn't be but two maybe three minutes more, that the camp would come into view through the thick lining of trees. It's wood walls only standing about seven or eight feet tall. Ayame would hold up two fingers on her hand, letting Takashi behind her know that she could see two people. They were guarding the gate, and appeared to be wearing red and brown clothing, with a red colored cloth hanging down from both of their waists, and a simple gold colored fist in the center of it. Ayame would push off the ground, landing on a tree branch quietly, before leaping off that one, making her way further and further up the trees, and closer and closer to the clearing in which the encampment sat. With her vantage point, she'd get a pretty good view of the inside of the encampment. The first that caught her eye was a large flag pool, which on it held a large red banner with the same symbol as the cloth the two guards had on their waist. The second was the cracking of a whip, and someone yelling from within the camp "MOVE YOU FILTHY DOGS". Ayame's gaze being dragged down, she'd see one man inside the camp, a whip in hand with several slaves moving things like bricks and moving dirt as well as setting up tents and the like. Ayame would holding up one finger on her hand, as she signaled to Takashi, telling him she could only see one man in the encampment. Ayame would then make her way down the tree, as quietly as she could. However as she landed on the forest floor, she heard a loud SNAP under her foot as she landed. She flinched and looked towards takashi. However is the was "D'ya hear that?" that made her move.  She made her way both quickly and cautiously a few trees away from the camp, and behind a tree. Luckily, it appeared the guards were idiots.

"'ear what?" the bigger one replied.
"There was a sound." The other one retorted.
"Big Surprise, We're in a forest."
"It sounded like a twig snapping"
"That sounds like a forest sound to me..." Ayame had to stop herself from snickering.
"No you idiot, it means somethings out there."
"It was probably bird."
"Birds don't snap twigs! It was probably a bear."
"What would a bear want with us?"
"I don't know, to eat us probably."
"I'll tell ya what. If a bear comes out 'ere to eat us, I'll kill it with me knife." he said drawing a kunai.

The smaller man simply sighed, realizing this was going no where he liked, and simple gave up. "Fine..." he said before turning away from the big oaf he was on guard with and turn to his post. Ayame would give it a moment, finding it difficult to not just laugh at the two idiots standing guard before her, before she'd move over to takashi and begin to lay out a plan. "Right, so aside from the two morons standing guard, there's a slave driver on the inside of the camp." She'd say in a hushed tone so as not to further alert the two guards. "I'd honestly like to just charge straight through the front gates, but I don't want to think about what would happen to the people inside there while we're being held up by dumb and dumber. So I think one of us needs to get into the camp, and get in between the slaver and the people, while the other keeps the other two from joining the fight." Ayame would then pause for a moment looking back at the two guards, before continuing on. "I think I can handle those two, if you want to take on the slaver." Assuming Takashi would agree to this, Ayame would continue. "Right then, If I deal with those two first, I can come and lend a hand, I think the bigger guy will be a harder fight.  However, if you manage to deal with the big guy first, make sure the slaves are freed before coming to my aid. They take top priority." Ayame would say before again checking to make sure Takashi was still on board and listening in, she'd then continue with "I'll be waiting on the edge of the clearing in that tree there." Ayame would say pointing to a tree relatively close to their position. "Flash your headband at me when you're ready to go in. Count to ten, and then go in. I should have caused a big enough ruckus at the front gate to be a distraction for you." Ayame would say before adding "And if it all goes to shit. Improvise." She'd say before letting Takashi fill his grievances, and then moving up into the tree she told takashi she would be in, assuming he was okay with the plan and all.

---

WC: 1880
Total WC: 3920

The journey to their actual destination took a little bit longer than the young Uzumaki had expected. He had been under the impression that the bandits were encroaching on the territory near the village, which though it was still true, was not quite what he had expected. The village’s sphere of influence was spread far beyond the walls of the actual walls of Iwagakure no Sato. Rather, the forests surrounding the area and even the mountains that peaked out above the trees on the horizon were all under the protection of the shinobi of the Land of Stone, as long as the smaller villages could pay for the support. And so it made a great deal of sense when the walk took Ayame and Takashi until the sun had risen well above the mountain tops and the dew that had covered the ground when they set out on their mission was all but a memory. The signal for the pair to slow came from Ayame as they neared the location that they had been given. It was smart on her part, specially since they knew very little about what they were actually walking in on. Numbers were up in the air, and if they wanted to have any chance at all, they would need to do some recon.

Ayame seemed to mirror this opinion as she surveyed the surroundings and began to speak, her voice a simple whisper that he knew was quiet enough to keep the pair hidden. "If the reports are to be trusted, we should be getting close. From here on out, we should move with caution... I know I mostly speak for myself here, but lets not let our excitement get the better of us, and make this mission any harder than it needs to be. It sounds like it might be challenging enough all ready." Takashi did not respond, feeling that more speaking would just be a risk to the element of surprise that they would need to pull this off. Instead, he simply nodded his approval and accompanied it with a soft grunt of affirmation. Their silent movement through the woods toward the camp then began with the duo slowly inching their way forward, unsure of what was ahead. The wooden walls of the camp came into view but a few minutes later, standing approximately seven and a half feet tall and monitored t a gate by two men that Ayame pointed out silently. Takashi stepped forward to be even with his partner so that he would watch the potentially hostile guards as well. Their red and brown clothing looked like a uniform of some kind uniform with the symbol of the golden fist adorning their clothing. Takashi made a mental note of the symbol so that he would know it for the future before leaping after the Uchiha who had taken to the trees.

The pair of ninja pushed their way forward until they had a view of almost the entire camp. The large flag pole with the crimson banner stood out among the other points of note in the encampment, which were few and far between. The golden fist gleamed off of it, marking this as the site of the “Red Banner” group that the village had alerted them to. It was certainly interesting to see such an organized effort among bandits this far into Iwagakure no Sato. After the former Tsuchikage Akira had pushed out almost all of the organized crime in the Village Hidden in the Stones, there had been a time of prosperity that Takashi had heard about even in Sunagakure no Sato before it was destroyed. Part of him wondered if some of these criminals had wandered from the desert themselves, despite how unlikely it might be. The signal from Ayame that she could see one other man inside meant that they would probably have to split up, which Takashi was going to suggest before he found himself interrupted by the loud snapping of a branch beneath Ayame’s foot. The Uzumaki visibly cringed as he heard the guards at the gate speaking to one another, praying that their element of surprise had not been completely blown. Their back and fourth showed a certain level of intelligence that Takashi was comfortable confronting, but he listened to it all just in case they gave away from kind of information before suggesting that the pair move in.

"'ear what?" the bigger one replied.
"There was a sound." The other one retorted.
"Big Surprise, We're in a forest."
"It sounded like a twig snapping"
"That sounds like a forest sound to me..." Takashi could not stop himself from rolling his eyes.
"No you idiot, it means somethings out there."
"It was probably bird."
"Birds don't snap twigs! It was probably a bear."
"What would a bear want with us?"
"I don't know, to eat us probably."
"I'll tell ya what. If a bear comes out 'ere to eat us, I'll kill it with me knife." he said drawing a kunai.

It was a moment later that they seemed to call of a potential search which released a significant amount of stress from Takashi. Before Takashi could suggest a plan, Ayame turned to him and gave him a rundown of her idea, which was similar to his, if not a little bit more organized. "Right, so aside from the two morons standing guard, there's a slave driver on the inside of the camp." She'd say in a hushed tone so as not to further alert the two guards. "I'd honestly like to just charge straight through the front gates, but I don't want to think about what would happen to the people inside there while we're being held up by dumb and dumber. So I think one of us needs to get into the camp, and get in between the slaver and the people, while the other keeps the other two from joining the fight." Ayame would then pause for a moment looking back at the two guards, before continuing on. "I think I can handle those two, if you want to take on the slaver." Takashi began to smirk ever so slightly at the thought of moving into he camp. He was ready to put on a show for these criminals and getting right into the thick of it would make it even more enjoyable. He nodded to Ayame and spoke through his smirk. “Sure thing. I’ll give him something to worry about while you get rid of the idiots.”

"Right then, If I deal with those two first, I can come and lend a hand, I think the bigger guy will be a harder fight.  However, if you manage to deal with the big guy first, make sure the slaves are freed before coming to my aid. They take top priority." Takashi simply nodded along, making sure it was understood that he knew the mission and what needed to be done. After listening to his partner’s instructions Takashi darted off into a nearby tree and began hopping through them until he was well around to the side of the camp. Taking a moment to scan the area, the Uzumaki found a tree with a limb that would let him run right over the wall and leap into the encampment proper. Satisfied with his choice, the genin turned his arm toward his partner and flashed his headband, hoping that it would catch her eye. He them began silently vaunting, his anticipation mounting every second as he inched along the limb to a point where he could break into a sprint and be over the wall in no time. All he had to do now was wait, and he did not even have to do that for long.

Eight…

Nine…

Ten!

WC:1307+1992=3299

The simple nod from Takashi after Ayame gave him her plans was all she needed. Ayame would quickly make her way up to the very tree she instructed Takashi she was going to be in. One on the edge of the clearing, in which a branch stuck out a bit of a ways, so she could almost jump into the camp if she really tried. Not exactly what she intended to do, but it was there if she needed too. Once Ayame made her way up the tree and onto the branch from which she intended to use, she began watching around. She wasn't exactly sure where Takashi would be, so she needed to keep an eye peeled. Fortunately Takashi was accurate, and the time between her being ready to go, and him reaching his spot wasn't much long after. As the bright light shined right into her left eye, Ayame simply let out a sigh and began counting mentally. Taking a few seconds to stand up, and get ready, and make sure her plan was properly timed. she began to follow through with her plan.

Four...

Ayame took off in a dead sprint across the branch. She knew that she didn't have long to make whatever she intended to do work, she just needed to do it. So she pulled out two kunai from her Kunai pouch, twirled them in her hand, as she threw the Kunai directly towards the outside of the two guards in front of the gate. She intentionally missed them both. She wanted them both to react to the kunai hitting so close to their head. And if all went well, it would. However she was on a time schedule and needed this all to work perfectly, otherwise she'd have to improvise. Which she wasn't exactly opposed too, it just wasn't Ideal. However for now she'd have to act on hopes. Ayame would leap off of the branch from which she one.

Five...

The "Thunk, Thunk" of the Kunai landed exactly as Ayame had intended too, landing right next to both of their heads, causing them both to jump away from the Kunai, merely as a reaction to something suddenly appearing next to their head. This push them both away from the outside of the gate, and directly into the center. It had honestly worked better than Ayame intended it too, causing them both to back straight into each other. and collapse over each other.

Six...

Ayame would land between them and the gate. settling into her position as she did. The stunned faces of the two men who looked at the grinning uchiha, was perfect. Task 1 had been completed, She had cut them off from getting directly into the gate and closing it off, and when Takashi entered the fray, she had cut them off from joining in the fight against their slaver. Now she needed to execute part two. As Ayame fully stood up she met eyes with the two men fumbling over themselves to stand up. The dark look in her eyes and the smirk on their face scared them, scared them just as much as the flames the were beginning to spin into life around her hand.

Seven...

Ayame was only two meters away from them. But that was close enough for her tastes. She took a step forwards with her left foot, and clenched her fist. The men were just stambling to their feet at this point. The larger one began pulling out his kunai and charging, then other one was shortly behind them. However they wouldn't get far, and the war cry of the smaller one was just what she was hoping for.

Eight...

Two steps towards her. That's as far as they would get, as Ayame cocked her shoulder backwards, as the lames erupted around her hand, and up her arm, as Ayame took a fighting stance, and launched her fist forwards at blazing speeds. She would be a foot too short. Not that it mattered, as the fire in her hand erupted causing a large explosion of fire, and propelling the two idiots into the trees.

Nine...

The sound of the explosion ripped a crossed the a crossed the camp, a few salved screamed, and the ring master turned to see what the sound was, expecting to see the two idiots setting off some sort of explosive, but instead seeing The Uchiha crest slightly covered up by long black hair, and and Ayame's head cocked too look behind her, her eyes meeting his, and the air of intimidating bravado, and sheer lack of fear the girl possessed in this moment.

Ten...

The Slave Driver looked stunned for a moment before managing to stutter out "I-I-INTRUDER!" He said, anger over his face, a he clenched his fist around his whip. It was clear he was a distraught about what she had done. But the smirk on Ayame's face said it all. She had done her job, and done it well. With the attention of everyone on her, Takashi could easily make his way between the Slaver and the people, and probably even get a good clean hit in on him first. However, She had other problems to worry about, As Ayame turned to face the other two who were now beginning to stir after being launched into trees. Her hope was in Takashi as she completely turned her back against the slaver, and left him to Takashi.

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WC: 923
Total WC: 4843