Mud Wolves.:

---

Hearing the alarm go off, Kaito rolled out of bed to turn the clock off. Stretching, Kaito scratched his belly and looked at his calender. "Oh yeah, Chuunin exams are next week. They said we should get going, but I might as well just get packed up today." Taking a shower and brushing his teeth, Kaito put his clothes on and grabbed a large backpack from the hall closet. Throwing it on his bed, Kaito filled it with a week's worth of clothes, his summoning scroll from his safe, a pillow, and a blanket. Filling it up, Kaito went to the kitchen to prepare a smaller bag of food. With granola, dried fruit and jerky, Kaito felt he had at least prepared enough for the trip there. Setting the bags by the door, Kaito went around his apartment slowly locking all doors and windows. Picking up his sack, Kaito opened his door and waved a goodbye to his empty home. Closing and locking it, Kaito smiled and set his way to the village gates. "Well, better early than late." Jumping to a rooftop, Kaito ran across the buildings to get the gate. Not trusting all of the villagers with sticky fingers, Kaito huffed as he carried the heavy packs. Making it near the exit, Kaito hopped down near the gate guards. Handing them his identification, Kaito stopped just outside the gates. "Well Konoha, I'll miss you. Don't get in to any wars while I'm gone now." Waving at the walls of the city, Kaito walked away to find a path to the Village Hidden in the Sand.

Keeping down the path, Kaito immediately regretted leaving the village by himself. He had tried to keep himself busy for a while, practicing hand signs and kicking rocks down the path. Eventually, he caught up the what looked like a merchant wagon, pulled by a strong black stallion trotting casually down the path. On the wagon, a little old man held the reigns in his tiny hands. Catching up, he introduced himself to the man. Kaito was told this merchant is from Kirigakure, and he was on his way to Suna to sell his loads of dried fish and other ocean items. Walking alongside the man, they passed the time on the long trip by telling jokes and stories. The man told of his previous life as a shinobi and how he was a proficient user in Doton techniques. Not wishing to impose, Kaito made an off handed comment about being a student in Doton. Receiving a grin, Kaito was told if he wanted, the man would show him a technique he had learned long ago. While they ambled on, the man showed Kaito a set of hand seals. Cracking his hands, the man made the signs and called out 'Mud Wolves'. Immediately, a wolf made entirely of mud sprouted up from a puddle they had passed. Seeing something similar used by his sensei, Kaito attempted the jutsu. Instead of a wold, Kaito received a bubble of mud that burst immediately. Trying again, Kaito was able to create a very small version of the technique. Happy with himself, Kaito dismissed the tiny creature and tried again. This time, Kaito made a larger version of the wolf that stood up to the waist of the horse. Only able to create one for now, Kaito continued to walk with the old man until they transitioned from a forest to a desert.  Watching scorpions disappear into the sand and lizards lazing on rocks in the sun, Kaito decided he would take the insects of Konoha to the creatures of Suna.

After around an hour of speaking to the old man and practicing his technique in the sandy mud, Kaito had been able to create three full sized Mud Wolves before he came upon the magnificent gates of Sunagakure. Showing his Konoha identification, Kaito was granted entry into the village to participate in the examinations. Bidding goodbye to the old man, Kaito began to wander through the city and take in the sights. Smelling the incense made by the merchants and the exotic food, Kaito smiled. "This place is nice, but Konoha is still the bee's knees." Finding a small, run down motel, Kaito decided he was going to have to live on a budget while he was staying in the city. Checking into the motel, he received his room key from a dirty looking man. Opening the door, he was surprised by the state of the room compared to the dirty motel located in what he could assume were the slums. Inside, the room was actually very clean. With the bed white and looking clean, Kaito doubted he would be having trouble sleeping tonight. Taking a look in the bathroom, the shower was shiny and showing no signs of dirt or grime. Plopping down on the bed, Kaito immediatly put his summoning scroll into the mini-safe under the bed. Packing his other clothing and food away, Kaito left the room to explore the new village more extensively. Locking the door, Kaito left to find a training ground to practice the new jutsu he learned from the merchant. After searching and receiving directions from a Suna-nin, Kaito came upon a relatively dry area that was still deserted. Buying water from a shop across the way, Kaito made his way into the park area. Pouring the water in the dirt, Kaito allowed the dirt to form into mud. Stirring it around, Kaito formed the hand seals once again. In the mud, three wolves bubbled into existence, snarling and yapping. Commanding them to start running back and forth, Kaito eventually was able to get them running faster and faster. When their speed finally reached what he could assume was a real wolve's speed, Kaito started throwing heavy stones ate the wolves while they ran. Practicing their dodging, Kaito studied their ability to reform after being hit. Satisfied, Kaito made his way back to his motel room.

---

1005/1000
Jutsu training complete