[Hiro Hikari]

Chapter 3:Getting To Know One Another

The shinobi quartet continued to leap through the woods with unmeasurable speed. If you were to track there progress with the naked eye, you would see several blurs flying through the trees, with the occasional glance of a humanoid shape landing on a branch, only to fly off again. Ryuu constantly glanced behind him to check his teammates. He would see Yoshi and Akina keeping their eyes ahead of themselves, but he would see Kusaiijin redden slightly and look away. Ryuu quickly forgot it and continued to survey ahead of him. Akina was much more attentive to this and beckoned Kusaaijin to move back a few feet out of their male teammates' hearing.

“Why do you keep looking at Ryuu?” Akina questioned Kusaaijin with the raise of an eyebrow that only a female could muster.

Kusaaijin blushed slightly at the other female's implied accusation. “Um...well...it's just...you see, I get a bit nervous around people I've never met before. I'm just afraid of what they think of me.”

“You don't seem to be nervous about me or Yoshi.”

The Grass Genin's attitude and composure quickly switched to that of when she was attacking the Sand Chunin

“It's because you're a chick and the other guy bugs me.”

Akina's free eyebrow raised at this change in tone, changing her face to one of surprise.

“Okay. Just curious.”

Akina increased her speed slightly to form another formation. Kusaaijin made sure that no one was looking, and continued to stare at Ryuu, like some forgotten memory.
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When Yoshi saw that his female companions had fallen back slightly, he hopped a few extra branches forward to converse with the only other male in the area.

“Hey, Ryuu,” the person in question turned his head, but still kept his eyes forward to make sure he didn't crash into any trees, “have you noticed that Kusaaijin's been looking at you weird?”

The dual eye-coloured shinobi thought about it for a moment, “I'm not all that attractive. Maybe she's interested in my kekkai genkai? A lot of people are interested in it.” Ryuu glanced back at the two women tailing him, paying most attention to the dark-skinned girl's face. He turned back to Yoshi when he came up with something to say.

“She does look really familiar though.”

Yoshi shrugged at this and ceased verbal communication after Akina had gotten closer to the two young men. They both put their attention back forward, but Ryuu could not shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
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After fifteen minutes of silence, Akina suggested that the group take a quick meal break. While Yoshi and Akina took out some minor provisions, Ryuu pulled Kusaaijin a few feet away.

“I've been noticing that you've been staring at me. Seeing as I have no idea who you are, I'm going to have ask what the hell is going on.”

The young woman heard the question, but continued to stare at Ryuu's face. He could not help but blush slightly after a few seconds. He was never good with girls.

“I know I've seen your face before. I just can't tell from when.”

Ryuu was slightly surprised at this, as the same was true for him.

“Interesting. I think that I've seen your face before, but I just can't put my finger on it. It's like I can see the memory of when, but it's as if there is a massive forest blocking the-

“Oh! I now where I've seen you!”

Ryuu took a small step forward in interest, “You do?”

“Yeah! Your the guy who-”

“Excuse me.”

Everyone's eyes could not help but turn to the direction that this new voice came from and then widen when they saw what it came from. Before them was a larger than average mole. They could obviously tell that this was no ordinary mole. Other than the fact that it spoke, it was standing on two legs and had small round-rimmed black spectacles and had a small sash around it's waist with the Earth village symbol on it.

“As I can see that you are not enemy's of my master's village,” the mammal gestured towards the metal plate that the sash he wore bore and that adorned the headbands of the shinobi towering over him, “I need to ask of your urgent assistance.”

The ninja, who could not help but be surprised at the obviously summoned creature, stared at each other for a few moments, then decided to pack up their equipment and follow the mole.