The infirmary at Kumogakure Stadium.

All players who are posting in the other thread and are posting as located in the infirmary, post in here please to avoid confusion.

>>> from "Chapter 2.8: Post-Chunin - Stadium"

---

Eikitsu arrived just outside of the main entrance to the infirmary just as the medical shinobi attending to Chisame concluded treating her. They had stabilized her and were comfortable that she would recover from her injuries given time and rest. With Chisame’s life no longer in immediate danger, the medical shinobi turned their attention elsewhere. Eikitsu noted the large number of people being treated in the infirmary as some of the medical shinobi redistributed among them. The handful of medical shinobi who didn't move on to aid other patients instead brushed passed him as they exited the large, open room. Some patients had visitors, such as the Leaf genin Nori. Others had to settle for the company of the whirring, beeping medical equipment hooked up to them. Chisame was in the latter camp when he arrived, but that was remedied quickly when he crossed the room casually and stood at the foot of her bed.

"Hikawa Chisame…," stated Eikitsu coolly while he simply watched Chisame. His words weren't directed at anyone. No, he'd spoken her name as a statement of fact. That was all. Eikitsu observed Chisame for several minutes more before he spoke again. He stood statuesque as watched the haggardly girl's chest rise like baking bread only to fall back down again moments later and listened to her ragged breathing. He also noted her occasional grimaces when her pain receptors decided to party. "Why are you alive still, Hikawa-san?" Eikitsu repositioned himself to the side of Chisame's bed just off to her right side. "Victory is life." All of a sudden he drew into his left hand one of the two kunai holstered on top of the weapon holster found at the back of his waist then hovered its blade a few inches above Chisame's face in a manner that could be viewed as threatening. "Failure is death." It was made apparent quickly that the kunai wasn't for Chisame when he raised his right hand beside his left then sliced through his sleeve slitting open his radial artery just as swiftly as when he drew the weapon.

Eikitsu's chakra surged as his bright red blood gushed from the wound in his right arm and splattered all over Chisame's face and her hospital gown around her torso. Of course her mattress and pillow(s) received their fair share of his blood as well. Eikitsu leaned over Chisame then brought his wound to her mouth. He parted her lips slightly with his forearm to make it easier for her to drink but didn't assist her otherwise. Chisame's meal advanced the work started by the medical shinobi. Her physical injuries mended rapidly with each sip of his blood that she took. Strangely, Eikitsu withdrew his arm before Chisame's injuries were recovered completely. Instead, he left her mildly injured but ready to fight once her chakra reserves replenished. In particular, she'd want to exercise some care regarding her midsection. With his task complete, Eikitsu wiped his kunai clean on an untarnished section of Chisame's bed then took a step backward as he holstered the weapon. His right arm was bloodied but no longer bleeding, and his chakra had returned to its idle state while he simply observed Chisame waiting for her to awaken.

Nanami was about to make her way out when she saw this grisly display. Her eyes went wide, and she felt the chakra from the boys gushing wound. It was brutal in her opinion, but realized it must be something else as the boys wound seemed to close. The girl stood there kind of in awe and curious. There were many tales of blood based Kekkai, but she had never seen one "Umm, I am guessing that was some form of healing or something right? I wouldn't see any other reason for the amount of chakra released or covering her with your blood. A Kekkai?" She seemed really interested what had just transpired..

Letting go of his grip on the curtain, Kensuke let his arm fall back at his side.  While he had heard Nori's response, they felt like nothing more than empty words.  After all, what did making the village proud matter if she was dead?  Or going into a situation just to lose?  Potentially even make her chances of attempting again worse due to chronic injury?  Wasn't it a shinobi's job to eliminate risks to success?  To him, it seemed Nori was setting herself up for failure or an even worse fate.  There had been more than enough death today, but the dark-haired boy was too drained to be more charitable than giving the warning that had fallen on deaf ears.  Forget being a Chuunin, she would be lucky if she survived without a permanent injury.  Averting his gaze from the Konohagakure-nin, dismissing their importance as people that were likely soon to be dead by their own foolishness.

Silently, he observed Eikitsu's movements when he approached the bed with the severely injured Kirigakure-nin.  When the kunai was held over the girl's face, Kensuke flinched for a moment.  It evoked a memory that had not been long buried as Hikari's body was on the bed behind him.  But, he managed to maintain what was left of his shredded composure and did not try to lunge to save Chisame.  Even though the emerald-eyed boy did not wear any identifying shinobi headband, that did not mean he wanted to start an international incident.  Let the Kiri-nin kill off the other Kiri-nin for their failure if that was what it came to.

Seeing Eikitsu simply pour his blood into the girl's mouth was something different, however.  Though, not unfamiliar with the power of blood himself, Kensuke's face revealed no surprise at the events that transpired.

Kurochi's smile slightly faded once his injuries were mentioned. He sighed and put the smile back on his face, remebering that compared to the other teams, there team had all made it through alive. "My legs will be fine in a while the medical ninja did there best,but they just got trapped and got them crushed a bit in the last battle." he said, slightly shivering at the memory of the battle.

He was trying to think of a way to help his teammates feel better, but he got distracted by Yukka's injuries. Kurochi was wondering what had happened to Yuuka and Kai in their matches. Yuuka was badly injured, while Kai acted differen't from the usual. "Hey, Yuuka, if you don't mind me asking, what happened in your match?" he asked. Hoping that he didn't hit a sore spot when he mentioned the fights in the exams.

<<From Chapter 2.8 Post Chunin Exams>>

Upon hearing the knock on her door, Nori turned her head and saw a battered and exhausted looking Sigmund into the room. "Sigmund..." she said in a soft voice as she sat a little further up on the bed and watched as he sat down in the chair beside her bed. "I never thought that you would kill me. I guess I just...don't know what to expect in our match. I know how becoming a Chunin is important to you. I just hope that we can have a fair fight and come out of this on equal footing. I mean, I'm not you but I want this just as much and I want to do my best. I want to show you what I can do." She clasped her hands in her lap. "I want to do you, Nanami, and our village proud even if I do lose this fight with you. I'd be happy if you were the one to move on to become a Chunin." She gave him a small smile before she felt a shot of pain go up her left leg, causing her to wince slightly and hold onto it. She listened to her other teammates talk with each other off to the side before she looked away from them and over to the girl that was laying on the gurney.

Nori knew that Sigmund wouldn't let their fight result in that, but at the same time, knew that even if she were to move on to fight Kotetsu, that there would be no guarantee she would leave out of here alive. She had to admit that it scared her just a little. In the condition that she was in, would she really be ready to face an opponent that Nanami herself couldn't beat? When she heard Nanami speak up to her and Sigmund once more, Nori turned her head and looked over at her friend, tilting it down ever so slightly and looking at the broken arrow that she was being handed. She grew silent and didn't say anything for a moment or two before she reached out and took hold of the arrow from Nanami. "Thank you, Nanami. I will do my best to make sure this arrow gets back to you in the same condition that it's in now." She looked up to her friend and smiled. "Thank you, Nami."

Yuuka had had some time to think about her defeat in between worrying about her team-mates, but she was reluctant to admit her weakness out loud.  Kurochi, though, was stronger than her and he'd still lost.  So maybe it was okay.

"I... managed to catch him in a genjutsu, but... I hesitated."  If she'd managed to strike decisively then, she might have been able to end the match.  "I... wasn't strong enough to beat him."  She'd thrown everything she had at her opponent, but it hadn't been enough.  He'd matched her ninjutsu with his own and hand to hand combat had never been Yuuka's strong point.

"He was a wood release user - I didn't know there was anyone who could still do that," she commented, her tone more thoughtful.

Chisame slowly regained consciousness, her eyes opening and her nostrils dilating as she took in the overwhelming smell of blood.  She quickly noticed the boy standing next to her bed.  He didn't appear injured, which left the question of why she was covered in fresh blood.  And why some boy was watching her sleep.  Looking around, she appeared to be in some sort of hospital.  The last thing she remembered was fighting that bony guy.

"Did I win?"  She sniffed, breathing in the blood smell.  She could taste it in her mouth as well.  Looking around, she asked, "Did I bite a nurse or something?"  She couldn't see any injured nurses, but they might be hiding.

"Nara Nanami." The name lit up in Eikitsu's mind like a neon billboard sign as he took a step away from Chisame's bed and toward Nanami. "Leaf kunoichi. Threat assessment…moderate." His attention was focused on Nanami now. Silently, he analyzed her taking in as much information about as his senses afforded him. Oddly enough, he didn't make any attempt to hide his analysis by filling the prolonged silence with something, anything. Just when it seemed certain that he was just going to stand there staring at Nanami silently until she left, he offered her what was obviously a business smile then spoke finally. "Ah! You are very perceptive kunoichi-san! I did assist with Hikawa-san's recovery, but I have not been graced with a kekkei genkai I'm afraid. The speed of my hand seals must have improved greatly if a shinobi of your caliber did not see them! Taka-sensei will be so proud."

It was strange. Despite Eikitsu's friendly tone, smile and compliments, all of which were practiced and born from his studies in politeness, his eyes remained trained on Nanami at all times, and his left hand seemed poised to form a seal or draw a weapon from either his shuriken or weapon holster at a moment's notice. Then there was the strange aura about him. Sure, the snow white skin and cobalt yellow eyes were unusual, but there was an unmistakable, slipperiness about him. It was if his imprint in the world was ever so slightly smaller than normal. "Forgive me, kunoichi-san, but I feel somewhat disadvantaged here. You know my most useful ability, yet I don't even know your name." He lied. He knew exactly who Nanami was from her picture on the battle board, but she hadn't any way of knowing how much of the prelims he'd seen.

It was about this time that Chisame awoke, the realization of which caused Eikitsu to take another step away from Chisame and toward Nanami. A careful observer might notice that his new position afforded him a better vantage point from which to combat both girls simultaneously. Nanami was a rival shinobi, and it was always wise to be cautious around someone like Chisame considering what he'd seen and heard about her. Thus Eikitsu divided his attention between the girls and kept both in clear view as he moved to provide some answers to Chisame's question while he awaited Nanami's response. "No. Your opponent controlled the battle from beginning to end with his kekkei genkai and superior speed and strategy. Your absolute ineffectiveness dishonored Kirigakure and Mizukage-sama. As for the nurses, they are safe as far as I am aware. The blood is mine. Though you survived your 'death match', your injuries were most severe. So, I assisted in your recovery. Until Mizukage-sama deems otherwise, you are a valuable asset of Kirigakure."

"He made you drink his blood," Kensuke added as he approached Eikitsu and Chisame, his booted feet barely whispering across the floor.  "You Kiri-nin have some rather strange customs.  I thought 'Kiri-nin drink the blood of others' was some sort of tale mothers used to tell their children to scare them into doing what they were told, but wonders never cease, I suppose."  A small laugh made its way past his lips.  It felt odd to him considering just how much grief he felt, but the expression made the tension ease from his shoulders which actually made him look more visibly relaxed to the others standing in the room.  Hikari's death still weighed on him, but he had passed the most painful point.  Now, he needed to continue to function.  The rest of the emotional hearing would take time.

Shifting his emerald-eyed gaze from Chisame to Eikitsu, he quirked an eyebrow at the pale shinobi.  "Though, what you have said doesn't make much sense," he stated, folding his arms in front of his chest.  "If you didn't know who she was as you said, why would your Sensei be proud that you tricked a 'shinobi of her caliber?'  How would you know her caliber if you didn't know who she was?"  It was an inconsistency, and Kensuke's specialty was finding holes in plans--a skill that often extended to conversations as well.  It was what had made him the brains of his previous team before his teammates died.  After all, without the ability to spot inconsistencies, a team would face imminent danger from threats that often may appear mundane.

Unfolding his arms, the dark-haired boy shrugged.  "Well, it's none of my business anyway," he mused.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:23, Sat 28 Jan 2017.

Nanami chuckled as she shook her head. Even she could see the facade that the boy in front of her was putting on, and the sarcasm was a bit sickening. But she didn't let that get to her, as why would it. This person didn't even have the right to address Chisame the way he was, and devaluing her just because she lost. Nanami turns his head towards Eikitsu "You don't really have the right to devalue someone like that, as you didn't even participate in the exams. I know of the Hidden Mists brutal past. But that brutal past is in the past."

The girl moves away from Eikitsu..

Nanami looks towards Chisame "You fought well Chisame. Sigmund is a strong ninja..  I am glad you didn't die, and there is always the next exam to train and look forward to. I am sure we will meet again then, or perhaps on some joint mission or something. Either way I will look forward to it." She turns and walks back to Nori.

Kurochi listened to what Yuuka went through, feeling a bit bad. "At least you managed to catch him in a genjutsu huh?" Kurochi pointed out, trying to find the good points of Yuuka's battle. "Hey, once we get back to the village, you, me and Kai, we will all train even harder to become Chunin, next time the exams come around we three will ace it. Maybe you can teach me some genjutsu sometime." he said, trying to help out.

Once he heard that Yuuka lost to a wood style user, he chuckled a bit, then stopped knowin it was rude. But he couldn't help but chuckle not because she losr, it was because they both lost to the same person,"Well Yuuka, you and me got something in common, we both lost to the same guy then, his name was Senju, right?" he asked, curious if they faced the same guy.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:15, Sat 28 Jan 2017.

"Okay."  Chisame smiled, seemingly unbothered by the other mist ninja's words.  "Maybe I'll get to fight him again.  HAHAHA... ow."  Chisame's laugh was cut off short when her still-injured abdomen decided to object to the excitement.  She frowned.  "He was kind bony though.  Probably wouldn't have tasted that great anyway."  She paused and considered for a moment.  "Do they have any food in this place?"  She was kinda tired, but she was more hungry, and the strong smell of blood wasn't helping.

Despite her left arm still being heavily bandaged in some sort of sling and constant twinges from her abdomen, Chisame managed to push herself up into more of a sitting position and started looking around.

"Senju Katsuma."  Yuuka nodded confirmation.  It made her feel slightly better, knowing that Kurochi had lost to the same person.  Obviously this Senju was strong.  And Kurochi was right.  They'd all train harder and do better next time.  "At least we're all alive.  I... heard that some genin have been..."  She hesitated before continuing.  "...fighting to the death."  The idea made her uncomfortable, but she wondered if that was the kind of determination that was needed to pass these exams.

"I want to train harder and do better next time, but... I don't think I want to kill anyone... not for a test..." she trailed off.

Eikitsu knew enough of human interaction to identify that Nanami was attempting to lessen the impact of Chisame's loss to Sigmund on her, but he never understood why people felt that lessening the truth was somehow beneficial. With the unadulterated truth, Chisame knew where she stood and could work toward restoring her honor and proving that the Mizukage's faith in her was not misplaced. However misguided, he found Nanami's attempt to help Chisame, a rival shinobi curious. Did she not understand that the nature of shinobi meant that the girl she tried helping today might be her assassin tomorrow? That death matches persisted in the Chuunin Exam during this supposed time of peace between the shinobi lands was the best proof of this. Any attempt to educate Nanami would have to come another time because she quickly retreated back to her fellow Leaf shinobi. On the bright side, Nanami's departure afforded him greater ability to focus on the intruder from Rock.

"You speak damaging words, shinobi-san." Already it was obvious to Eikitsu that Kensuke was more dangerous that Nanami. As such, he took the Rock shinobi much more seriously than he'd taken Nanami. "I have not spoken any falsehoods. I present you with three facts. First, my cell and I fell into the lightning trap during the first exam. Second, I watched two shinobi point her out as the only survivor of Kotatsu-san while I eavesdropped on them. Third, Kotatsu-san and his reputation are known to me through my cellmates." Eikitsu allowed Kensuke a few moments to process the three facts presented then continued. "With these it is known that the Leaf kunoichi advanced beyond the first exam. To my knowledge, the only known instances of direct combat between examinees have been during the third exam currently in progress. Therefor, it can be deduced that she made it to the third exam. Lastly, Kotatsu-san's reputation suggests that she must be incredibly strong to suffer defeat against him yet survive still."

Eikitsu was most interested to see whether Kensuke would accept or attack his argument. While he awaited Kensuke's response, he glanced back in Chisame's direction. She was a unique one to desire food with blood quite literally on her lips still. Most people would be more concerned with cleaning up in his experience. It appeared Chisame wasn't most people though. Eikitsu flashed his practiced smile, then answered her question. "What kind of food would you like, Hikawa-san? I will confirm with the staff whether they have it."

”MEAT!” Chisame immediately answered.  This was the first time she’d actually been asked what she wanted to eat while in hospital.  Hopefully this meant she could actually get some real food.  And if not, well, the smell of blood was really making her feel like biting something.

In the meantime, ”I guess this means the exam’s over then,” Chisame reflected.  ”It was fun, I guess.  I didn’t get to kill anyone, but at least I got to eat part of that guy we interrogated.  Having to fight a bony guy was annoying, though.  Why couldn’t I have gotten a guy with barbecue sauce powers?  Mmm, barbecue.”

Saori walked into the infirmary.  The tall girl looked around and spotted Eikitsu and Chisame over at Chisame's bed.  She walked over and gave them both a nod.  "Eikitsu-san.  Hikawa-san.  I am glad to see that you are recovering well."  As it did seem that the sword wielder she had sparred with often enough at the Academy was recovering rather well.

"You fought well, despite not advancing onwards.  Most of those observing in the area I was in were impressed with your determination."

---> from Chapter 2.8: Post-Chunin - Stadium

Izumi stepped inside soon after Saori had made her entrance. The tattooed kunoichi gave a look around and made a face. She really didn't like the clinical smell of the place but she had to work on that if she ever wanted to realize the dream of becoming med-nin. At this point she hadn't even had the guts to voice it so that was worry of the future anyway.

Dropping the thought Izumi approached Chisame's bed and gave the shark-like girl an amused look."You had us worried. I'm surprised they even succeeded in patching you up Hikawa-san. The medics in Cloud Village really know their field." She nodded in greeting to Eikitsu, unaware of things that had transpired just minutes ago.

"We would have brought snack if we'd known you were in this good condition already, Hikawa-san. Any idea when they are going to let you out here?" Only now Izumi noticed the unfamiliar people eyeing them, Eikitsu to be specific, suspiciously. Had she missed something?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:06, Tue 31 Jan 2017.

"Meat," Eikitsu confirmed in his familiar, insincerely polite tone, "understood Hikawa-san." He looked in Kensuke's direction then continued. "Shinobi-san, please excuse me. I shall return shortly." Eikitsu bowed to Chisame respectfully, wheeled around in place, then set off in the general direction of the information desk just outside the entrance to the infirmary. Along the way, he encountered Izumi and Saori, whom he greeted once again, but otherwise continued on his way to the information desk without interruption. Upon arriving, the medical shinobi on duty directed him to the cafeteria, which became his next destination.

It had been nearly 10 minutes since Eikitsu's departure when he returned to the infirmary bearing a bento box loaded with meat and fish primarily but also with small portions of fresh vegetables, noodles, and tempura. Given the general portions of a typical hospital bento box, there might be just a little concern over how he'd managed things. On the bright side, there didn't appear to be any new blood on Eikitsu, and there wasn't anyone screaming after him as he stopped beside Chisame's bed then extended the box of food to her with both hands. "Meat, as you requested, Hikawa-san. I took the liberty of balancing your meal to help expedite your recovery." If one ignored the emptiness of his words, his gesture could almost be viewed as sweet. Instead, it was as artificial as everything else about him. Once the box of food was safely in Chisame's hands, he backed a few paces away from her bed then looked to Kensuke to see if the dangerous Rock shinobi was ready to admit defeat.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Tue 31 Jan 2017.

Chisame was surprised to see more of her fellow mist ninjas appear.  She hadn’t realised that they had come to the exams as well.  “Hello!” she greeted them.  Are you doing the exams as well?

”Dunno,” she replied to Izumi’s question.  She was still fairly hungry and tired, so she’d probably just leave when she’d had some food and rest.  Her injuries certainly didn’t feel that bad.  She waved her arms around a bit experimentally.  As well as she could with one of them in a sling, at any rate.  They twinged a bit, but otherwise seemed okay.

Any further self-examination was interrupted by Eikitsu’s return.  ”Yummy!  …ow”  Chisame greeted the arrival of food with her usual enthusiasm, quickly digging in.

”Haff ‘ou guysh sheen Shinji aroun’ here anywhere?” Chisame asked through a mouthful of food.  She swallowed.  ”I think he tried to fight the bony guy as well,” she explained, unaware of her team-mate’s death.

"Observing this go around.  I'll be participating next time, I expect," Saori responded.  She wanted to improve a little more before she stepped back into the challenge of the exams.

Then Chisame was asking about her squadmates.  The girl adopted a more serious look.  "Hikawa-san, I am afraid that you are the only member of your squad who took the exams that survived the day," the girl said.  Chisame was a very direct person, so Saori wasn't going to dance around the fact.  Saori's voice was a little softer than normal when she delivered the news, however.  She didn't know the others in Chisame's squad particularly well, but it wasn't news one ever wanted to deliver.

Nanami leaned against the wall, listening to everything going on around her. At the moment she didn't seem interested in any of them. She paid the most attention to the group around Chisame. Their discussion seemed the most interesting, since she was waiting for Sigmund and Nori's match. She was concerned for Nori, but knew all she could do was cheer her on and support her and Sigmund. Even though she wasn't extremely fond of her teammate, he was reliable.

When the topic of eating flesh came up Nanami laughed silently to herself -"Such an odd bunch, I suppose its no more odd then people would call our team."- Thoughts like these flowed through her head as she stood there. Seeing as there was nothing better to do at the moment she walks back over to Chisame, Saori and the others "Too many genin died this year. Many were killed by Kotatsu.. Some by others I don't know.. I have my pride, but my pride tells me to stay alive at all costs. Not to die for something I can retake next year."

   Simund remained quiet as he thought about the next match. It was going to begin soon. He wanted to get this out of the way before he went out there. He looked at Nori, with an expressionless face, only a look of determination and seriousness plastered on his face.

   "I'm only going to say this once," he began, breaking the silence between them when Nanami left to go be with the incredible weirdos from the Mist. Perhaps Nanami kinda fit well with them. They all seemed to fit like puzzles pieces because every single one of them was odd and weird in their own way. Some were blood-thirsty carnivores. Another was in some sort of vampire cult. But all they all seemed to enjoy butting into each other's conversations, Nanami being one of them. He paid enough attention to his thoughts, focasing back on Nori.

   "You are in no condition to fight. I'm giving you the opportunity to give up now before we even begin. You're going to be unable to defeat me and even if you do, Kotatsu is going to kill you. Give up the match now, Nori and save me the trouble of making your injuries much worse than they need to be. Your so called pride is not worth getting yourself killed for," he told her sternly. He knew she didn't stand a chance. And even if she could defeat him, which was highly doubtful, Kotatsu wouldn't even hesitate to defeat her and kill her in the final match. Kotatsu was the type to finish a match very quickly with the intent to kill. It would be a perfect setting for him because all the Kages would be watching and the final match is the one that counts the most.

When Nori heard Sigmund speak to her, she turned her eyes to him and listened to him closely. It was so like him to want her to give up. Yeah he was right. Maybe she didn't stand a chance against him with her condition and by the way he was speaking to her, he had every intention of giving it all in their battle with no mercy shown to her. Not that she expected it from him. He wanted this more than anything. She knew that. But still... "You know what, Sigmund, maybe you're right. I don't stand a chance against you. Maybe going out there in this condition isn't the wisest choice. But you know what, there are reasons other than pride for why I'm doing this. I have trained and worked hard for this just as much as you have and I may not have a chance in hell of winning, but I follow through in what I start. Inflict as much pain as you want on me. Scold me like a kid when all this is over and tell me you told me so. That I'm an idiot. I don't give a damn. Just don't think you're doing me a favor by sparing me before the match even begins," she replied with a solemn gaze as she looked into her teammates eyes. "You know, I knew there was a possibility we may have had to face each other to get to the end and I honestly didn't know how far I would get, but I'm here and I earned that. We are going to be facing each other. That's a fact. We're not teammates right now. We're rivals. And honestly I don't know if that's ever going to change after all this is over, but I'm hoping that whatever the outcome will be today, that I have just a shred of your respect for putting up a good fight."

In reply to Hikawa Chisame (msg # 20):

"The right wording would be "were doing" the exam. My team had to drop out during the second stage." Izumi answered Chisame's inquiry without dwelling in the reasons too much. It wasn't important. At least she did know her team mates were alive even though it did look pretty bad. The medics couldn't give any guarantees for their recovery and if they could continue in active duty afterwards.

Thus Izumi chose to stay silent as Saori broke in the news to Chisame about her team's demise. To be honest, she couldn't predict how the girl would react. Even in the academy Chisame defied most common logic way too many times so Izumi had ruled her as an oddity among constants. A small voice in the back of her head even wondered if the way Saori had said it would be enough to make Chisame realize they were gone forever. Dead.

Deciding she was giving way too little credit to Chisame Izumi held on to her earlier decision and opted to observe rather than speculate.

Her observation was cut short when one of the genins who had earlier had their eyes on Eikitsu came over to talk. Giving her trademark nod as greeting Izumi recognized Nanami as the leaf kunoichi who had faced Kotatsu in the semi-finals and survived to see another day. Her curiosity getting the better of her she cut her gaze off from the rest of the group and focused on Nanami."Wise words. But speaking of which, aren't you Nara Nanami, the only person Kotatsu has spared? Pardon my curiosity but how did you survive? I only saw the ending so it interest me. Did the proctors step in or was there something else?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:16, Sat 04 Feb 2017.

Nanami looks at Izumi "The battle was going pretty badly for me. The confined area hindered me a bit. Kotatasu is talented and he just had my number. When my arm went numb from one of his attacks, like I said before I value my life. I chose to concede the match then risk dying. There was a slight chance I could have pulled it out under the circumstances, but that would have been awfully risky, and with how he has gone about his other matches. The chance of me losing and then losing my life was high."

She looks at Chisame and then back to Izumi "My teammate had no choice but to nearly kill Chisame, as she chose to press it into the deathmatch. Kotatsu doesn't give the option, he just ends it if able. So if you ever fight him, don't take him lightly. He is a vicious individual."

Eikitsu watched Chisame wolf down the food he'd brought for her while the others discussed the earlier preliminary fights. "Am I correct to assume that my selections for your meal are to your satisfaction, Hikawa-san?" Sure, the answer was obvious, but idle small talk wasn't without its merits at times. After all, he didn't exactly have anything else to do or anywhere better to be at this particular moment in time. Elsewhere, Kensuke seemed deep in thought over just how to attack his defense. It was about this time that Nanami returned to the now larger group of Mist shinobi, plus one Rock shinobi. Typical of Eikitsu, he turned to face Nanami, smiled with closed eyes, and then addressed her. "Welcome back, kunoichi-san." Of course his politeness remained as fake and practiced as always. Such was the case for someone who lacked emotions. On the bright side, at least he valued peaceful interactions with others over violence and bloodshed, even if he could be rather insensitive and direct with responses.

It appeared that Nanami remained repulsed by Eikitsu, as she largely ignored Eikitsu's presence and focused her attention on Chisame, Izumi, and Saori. Mercifully, he didn't have any feelings to be hurt and just listened to their discussion to which Chisame provided a soundtrack to in the form of her ravenous devouring of the bento box. Truly, Eikitsu didn't understand the others' fixation with remaining alive, and it was this lack of understanding that motivated him to speak. "Killing and death are the ways of the shinobi. Dying during the Chuunin Exam only establishes that one was unfit to become a shinobi." It was a harsh position but not necessarily an incorrect one depending on one's values. After sharing his first bit, Eikitsu focused on Nanami specifically then continued. "Why do you place value in the lives of shinobi, Nara-san?" Eikitsu had overheard Izumi identify Nanami and now saw fit to use her name even though he'd known it all along. "As a shinobi, you should understand that we exist to serve our villages and kage. There isn't any value in the life of a shinobi. Like any weapon or tool, we are expendable by our very nature. Why do you not accept this, Nara-san?"

Nanami face-palms and sighs. She looks and listens to Eikitsu. She wasn't sure who taught him such an out of place way of thinking. Nanami thinks on things for a moment "Well I will start on your basis that we are expendable.. On that point, you are extremely off base. First we are far from expendable. If genin were just tossed around like cannon fodder eventually there would not be any left alive, and eventually the upper level ninja would either retire or die. So then you have nobody to replenish those ranks, and eventually you will be in a very tight spot."

Nanami continues on "Now on your point about us being tools. Yes we are tools, used to not only support our villages income, but also its prestige. But dying on a mission is not an acceptable thing. If I know that by dying I will prevent the loss of many lives or protect those I hold precious, then its acceptable. But to pursue an impossible mission just because you think its what you have to do is also a violation of rules put in placed to protect us."

Nanami walks up to the boy "Understand I have been trained in both the Hidden Sand, and the Hidden Leaf. I have been taught to survive, that is why we train and do missions. Our aim is to live long and defend our village, it is not to sacrifice yourself for a mission."

The girls stares into Eikitsu's eyes "The training in the sand was as brutal as it comes, I came close on several occassions, but my trainer and family always made sure I lived on." She smiles "And that is why we are in teams at first, we need to learn the value of each-other. Even someone as cold as you will come to understand the value of your teammates, otherwise you wouldn't bother healing them, even if that way of healing is a bit repulsive. But it seems efficient."

Nanami pats the boy on his shoulder "We are far more alike then you know. We both play the support role, but can more then likely take to the offensive easily as well. Hopefully at some point we get to work a mission together. While I don't agree with your ideals, I do understand them, and I think in tandem we could make a devastating duo.. So I will look forward to that day."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:26, Sat 04 Feb 2017.

   Sigmund remained quiet as she explained herself as to why she needed to face him. It came down to her wanting his respect. He just shook his head, smirking at her as he got up from his chair and began walking out the door to her room. He paused for a moment, not turning around. "Being foolish and reckless is the one way to not get my respect. Don't say I didn't warn you. I will not be going easy on you," he paused for a moment.

   "Your parents might not want to watch you. Might want to let them know to look away," he uttered to her and walked out of the room finally. He ignored everyone else on the way to the stadium. As he walked out of the infirmary, he ripped off the bandage that kept his stitched wound compacted. The bandage floated to the ground as Sigmund was seen heading towards the stadium to prepare for his next match.

From the stadium:
Sima made his way to the center of the stadium, staring at the Kages one by one from down below. "Will the two contestants make their way to the stadium. The last semi-final match is about to begin," he announced, with a microphone in hand. His message could be heard from the infirmary as well.

Nori let her eyes watch Sigmund as he walked across the room and towards the door. She listened to him quietly and clenched the sheets in her hands. "As if you ever had intended to go easy on me to begin with. If you didn't put your best into this fight, I'd be disappointed in you," she said before she heard the announcement for her and Sigmund to make their way to the stadium. She watched him walk away before she sighed and turned herself on the bed. So this was it. She looked down at the cast they had put on her leg. It was apparent that she was going to have to keep off this leg as much as possible. She knew what Sigmund was capable of doing and he was pretty confident he would win this fight. Maybe he will, but she was going to surprise him with what she could do. She stood up from the bed, keeping her weight on the crutch that was lent to her for her fractured leg. "Looks like this is it." Nori made her way over towards Nanami and stopped beside her before she placed her hand on her shoulder. "Make sure you watch me, Nami. Let's hope I can do you proud," she said with a small smile before she made her way out of the room.

<<Semi Final Match: Akitoki vs Yamada>>

[Private to Akitoki Sigmund; Nara Nanami: OOC: Just wanted to make a quick note upon reading a past post about Nori's leg. From the end of her last match, she had been given a fractured leg, not a broken one. Her odds are still decreased in terms of taijutsu either way, though, obviously. Lol.]

Upon hearing the announcement "If you will excuse me. My teammates fight is next, and I need to cheer them on." She bows, and then smiles at Nori "I will be there front row, cheering you on." She pats Nori on the shoulder "See you out there!" She looks at Sigmund and nods "This is a fight she needs to do. I don't expect it to be pretty.. Do your best you two!" Nanami exits as her two teammates are lead to the arena..


    <<--- Exit to the Stadium --->>

Chisame stopped eating.  "Shinji's dead?  And..."  She visibly drew a mental blank.  "...that other girl?"  Chisame frowned and resumed eating angrily.

"What 'm I gonna do wivvout Shinji?" she grumbled through mouthfuls of food.  "He was, like, smart and stuff."  Chisame was visibly unhappy at the news of her comrades' deaths.  Well, one of them, at least.  Shinji had been with her on the squad since the beginning, but the other girl, whose name she hadn't even bothered to remember yet, had only just joined them for the exams.

"Now I'm gonna need ta find a new Shinji."  She bit down on the now-empty bento box, scowling.  She chewed a couple of times before seeming to realise it wasn't food and spitting it out.  "Bleh.  Why do they put food in inedible containers anyway?  It's a waste."  She paused for a moment, thinking.  "If Shinji's dead, does that mean I can eat him?  He kept running away when I tried to eat him before."  Chisame absentmindedly picked up the blood-soaked pillow and started chewing on it, her sharp teeth quickly shredding the end unfortunate enough to have taken the brunt of her attention.

Saori hadn't had an opportunity to see how Chisame reacted to death in their Academy days.  It was certainly interesting.  But she got the sense there was grief there.  Instead, the girl chose to respond to the statement about food.  "Actually, there were edible leaves where I grew up that were thick enough to serve as plates or bowls if you shaped them right.  But that isn't the case in most places," Saori offered.

As to the statement about Shinji always running away before, the girl offered a slight smile.  "If he evaded you in life, I believe that grants him victory and you should honor that appropriately, Hikawa-san."

The girl turned to see the contestants leave for the next match.  This would be another vicious match, to be certain, though the one girl had a messed up leg.  That was going to be a pretty big disadvantage, to be sure.  "Looks like the next match is starting," she commented.

If she had survived long enough to actually give up Nanami had to be considerably skillful. Kotatsu hardly gave that chance to others. Izumi listened carefully Nanami's small confrontation with Eikitsu and while there was so many things she liked to disagree with her fellow mist-nin she understood where his words came from. Death was essential part of their life as shinobi. Hadn't she said about the same thing at the stadium when they last had this conversation. Minus the blind devotion to cause and village of course but that was just Eikitsu being himself.

Izumi watched the leaf-trio to leave and shook her head."Maybe we really are the villains of this story given how idealistic the rest of the genin are?" She spoke out to no one in particular but it was clearly aimed at the group of misties gathered. Turning to face them she moved her eyes slowly from Eikitsu to Saori and finally to Chisame.

The lack of reaction would have made anybody else uneasy but to Izumi it made perfect sense. Of course she believed this was Chisame's way of handling the loss of team mates but still no clear sadness was there. Izumi had heard their team out of all Mist genin had had the most changes so it was also understandable they were not as close as other teams.

Stepping closer to the girl now munching on an unfortunate pillow Izumi leaned down to be at eye level with Chisame and spoke out."Hikawa-san, would you like to join us spectating the match? You seem fine enough and the medics are going to scold us soon for that poor pillow. Wouldn't want to be here then, right? We can even get you a comfy wheelchair if you don't feel like walking yet. Plus they sell snacks there." The last part was added with tiny smile.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:38, Mon 06 Feb 2017.

In reply to Tsukino Yuuka (msg # 14):

Kurochi sighed, he knew where Yuuka was coming from. Killing other genin was horrible. especially this year where they had a ton of deaths. However it wasn't all that different if it were two villages fighting. "Listen Yuuka, they are having battles to the deaths, even though I am not for it, the instructors are making sure that a person wants the battle to the death before it ends that way. So then some of them who died knew that they might." Taking a deep breathe, remembering when they announced that Senju died, he continued speaking,"It is part of our lives as shinobi to kill, even if its another genin from another village."

Trying to change the subject of things, he gave off a flashy smile and asked,"How soon do you think you can get out of the Infirmary?Hopefully sensei will teach us some new things this year." said Kurochi, leaning over on his crutches, he wondered what was going through Yuuka's mind, knowing that everyone on there team had lost the fights in the Chunin. Kurochi was detereined to rank up to Chunin next time, wanting Kai and Yuuka right by his side, knowing that this year he messed up in the second round of the trials in the cold tunnels.

Yuuka knew Kurochi was right, even if she didn't like it.  She had decided to become a ninja, and that meant that she might have to kill at some point.  Still... she'd rather have to kill someone in defence of her village, rather than some genin who was just trying to pass the exams.

“I’m not sure,” Yuuka replied to Kurochi's question.  “They said they’re going to need to operate again to fix my shoulders properly."  She looked around at the busy infirmary.  For now the medical staff just seemed to be focused on getting everyone stabilised.  She moved her arms a little, but stopped when it started to hurt.  "I can't really move much at the moment, so I don't think I'm going to be going anywhere soon."  She had a bit more movement in her legs, but with the injury to her stomach, it probably wasn't a good idea to go wandering around.  Especially since she was liable to worsen her shoulders trying to catch herself if she collapsed.

"I'm going to need to train harder this year," she said, as if talking to herself.  "I want to get stronger, like you and Kai."  She blushed, embarrassed by her declaration.

Eikitsu listened to Nanami's rebuttal steadily. Her demeaning gesture of patting on the head as one would do a young child, was lost on him. Thus, it didn't affect any change in his stance or demeanor. Unfortunately, the next match between Nori and Sigmund was called in the time it took him to dissect her arguments and formulate effective counters. Following the announcement, Nanami excused herself quickly then bolted out of the infirmary to watch the match and support her teammates. As a result, they would have to continue their debate at a later time. It was about this time that Izumi remarked about the Leaf-nin's idealism and proposed the idea of watching the next match with Chisame. Eikitsu's practiced smile vanished, replaced by his usual impassive expression, then he spoke. "It is the victors who write the history books and thus decide the heroes and villains, Makinoe-san. As long as we remain strong and never falter, we will not ever be the villains."

Looked from Izumi to Saori then finally to Chisame before turning to face the exit. He then took a couple of steps toward it, stopped then continued. "It is only logical that we observe as many of these preliminary fights as we can, Makinoe-san. These foreign shinobi will be our opponents one day. Hikawa-san's critical condition was the only reason I forewent observing the previous fight." Eikitsu paused while he took a couple of more steps toward the exit. "Also, Hikawa-san should be more than capable of walking without assistance. I trust I will see you all at the arena." With his piece spoken, Eikitsu continued on his way out of the infirmary and toward the arena. His pace was such that the other Mist-nin could catch up to him easily if they so desired. It was not his intent to abandon them, but he'd already neglected his duty enough by aiding Chisame and playing with Kensuke and Nanami.

---

>>> to "Chapter 2.8: Post-Chunin - Stadium"?

Sakuya soon stirred from her slumber, finding herself lying on a bed. A quick look to her surroundings made her realize that she was now in the Infirmary. Trying to recall how she ended up in the infirmary made her realize that she was last crying in her sensei's arms, bringing about a a light blush on her cheeks as she tried to cover most of her face under the blanket. The young girl thought herself thankful that no one was in the room with her at the moment, otherwise the thought of finding herself a place to hide would have become a priority.

Waiting herself to calm down, Sakuya finally sat up from bed. She figured that another match was going on outside, considering the commotion that could be heard from here. For now she made mental note on what she needed to do in order improve - and be of help for whoever her next team mates would be.

Chisame yawned.  She was quite tired from her fight earlier, although the philosophy discussions probable weren’t helping.  She perked up when Izumi mentioned snacks, though.  “Okay.”

Pulling back the bloodied sheets, Chisame stared at the hospital gown she was wearing as if wondering where it came from for a moment before dismissing it as unimportant.  Working her way over to the edge of the bed, she swung her bandaged legs round and stood up.  ”Ow.”  Her legs seemed okay, but her stomach was still twinging.  She held up her left arm and moved it around.  It was a bit sore, but otherwise seemed okay.  The nurses would probably get mad if she took the sling off though.  ”Ready to go!” she announced, wavering only a little on her feet.  Her typical enthusiasm was dimmed only slightly by tiredness, but Chisame’s ability to assess her own limits was questionable at the best of times.

"Idealistic doesn't mean heroics.  Plenty of ideals are corrupted in stories, or don't turn out to work the way they're expected to work," Saori responded to Izumi with a casual shrug.  "But yes, we should go see the next match."

The girl walked a little slower than normal.  She wasn't going to directly offer aid unless Chisame obviously needed it.  There was a certain pride that all of them had, she knew.  Walking under your own power after a brutal fight was one of those points of pride, she had noticed, that most ninja had.  However, being present in case Chisame actually needed her assistance made sense to her.

to Chapter 2.8: Post-Chunin - Stadium --->
This message was last edited by the player at 11:39, Tue 07 Feb 2017.

Izumi shrugged at the response she had gotten from her fellow mist nin. She had intended it as a half joke and only half had been serious."At least we're honest about what we do..." She finally muttered and turned to head towards the exit leading back to the stadium."It sounds like they have already started. We'd better hurry."

Like Saori, Izumi refrained from directly supporting Chisame if the girl didn't need it. She stopped to wait the other at the doorway before exiting the infirmary. The battle between the two leaf nin would probably be interesting to watch if based on the banter between them here in the infirmary.

to Chapter 2.8: Post-Chunin - Stadium --->

Chisame walked with a slight spring in her step despite the pain to begin with, visibly wilting as her initial burst of energy died out.  Even her tiredness wasn't enough to keep her quiet though.  "Where are we going?  Who's fighting?  Do we get to fight too?  Which way is it?  Who are you anyway?  Why do hospitals always smell funny?  Why don't they smell like blood?  That would be a lot nicer.  Is it because they're afraid the ninjas will try to kill each other?  I'm hungry."  Chisame stumbled out the door after her fellow Mist genin, still wearing her hospital gown, her voice slowly fading from the hearing of those who remained.



To Chapter 2.8: Post-Chunin - Stadium.

Instead of choosing to accept or attack Eikitsu's argument, Kensuke chose a hidden third option: not to engage at all.  The fact that the blond-haired boy had reacted as if making a small comment was somehow "damaging words" was all the evidence that the Tsuchigakure shinobi to the fact that Eikitsu knew who the girl was.  Why he wanted to deny that knowledge in public was something that he neither knew, wanted to know, nor even cared about.  So, he simply let the argument stand in the air.  After all, it seemed like the Kiri-nin wanted some sort of argument.  Why was Kensuke under any obligation to comply?  So, when Eikitsu turned away to deal with Chisame's request for food, the emerald-eyed boy let him do as he would without complaint.

As he turned his gaze to the rest of the room, he took in some of the discussion that was going on around him.  Though, a great deal of it just seemed to be sophistry.  In the face of Sigmund's logic, the girl he was talking to was not backing down from her death wish.  There was a reason Kensuke had written her off.  People were dead and she seemed oh-so-willing to join them.  He had done his piece, his Good Samaritan deed for the day, in trying to stop her.  Let her end up on top of the growing pile of bodies.  Maybe if she was really lucky she would only end up crippled.  Whatever happened, it had nothing more to do with him.

When the next match was announced, the Tsuchigakure shinobi simply watched many of the Genin file out the door to go and watch.  Not him.  He had his fill of watching blood and dying people for quite a while.  After all, he was the only one left alive from his team.  And without a scratch on him.  The irony of the whole situation caused the right corner of his mouth to quirk upward into a half-sardonic smile.  Of course, the person in the team that was the thinker was the only one to be left unscathed.

Glancing over his shoulder at one of the beds behind him, he remembered that one of the instructors had brought in a girl who had been asleep at the time.  Or possibly unconscious.  Though, he could hear her now stirring behind him from where he was leaning against a metal bar from another bed.

"If you need anything let me know," he called out in a calm tone toward Sakuya's bed.  "I'm not going to watch the rest of the matches, so I'm probably one of the only able-bodied people still here."

"Wa!?" Sakuya let out a startled tone, realizing that there was someone there. Had he noticed what she was doing moments ago? Sakuya tried to peek behind her and over the bed with little luck before giving a quick reply, "O-okay, thank you!"

Aside from the noise coming from the outside, the infirmary has gone quiet save for occasional sounds of medical equipment and supplies being carried around.

"Are you also helping out at the infirmary?" Sakuya decided to ask after a short moment of silence, sitting on her bed and having a better look around her.

Was he helping out in the infirmary?  The question puzzled the Tsuchigakure shinobi until he realized that he was not wearing the forehead protector that was worn traditionally by those of the shinobi world anywhere on his person.  While others took pride in wearing the symbol of their village, the item never sat well with Kensuke.  After all, he was not even entirely sure of his decision to be a shinobi in the first place.  So, the item simply felt foreign to him to wear on his person, which was why he usually just carried it with him in the ninja pouch that was centered at the base of his back.

"No, I am not," he replied, standing up from where he was leaning and turning to face Sakuya's direction.  "I'm here largely to visit--" he cut off what he was saying as he glanced over his shoulder at where his teammate's corpse was before finishing tactfully with "--a teammate."  There was no reason to share with someone he did not even know that he was there to visit a dead body.  To bare his soul for no apparent reason.

Turning back to face Sakuya's bed, Kensuke approached with a soft, measured stride.  "Why do you ask?  Are you hurt?  I may be able to aid you if you need it since most of the medical staff here seem to be busy helping other people."  While helping shinobi of other villages in their recovery would probably be inadvisable during the Chuunin Exams, he was no longer a participant.  And since there had been so much death already, Kensuke saw no reason to withhold aid from someone who seemed like they may need it.

Yuuka and Kurochi's conversation was suddenly interrupted by a change to the noise coming from the stadium.  The sounds of people cheering had suddenly been replaced by screams, with one voice booming over the top.  Yuuka turned pale.  "What.."

Kurochi was already moving, telling her to wait here, while he found out what was going on.  Her nerves back, Yuuka waited alone for some word as to what was happening.  If only I wasn't stuck in this hospital bed!  "I hope everyone's okay..."

"Ah, I see..." Sakuya replied as she looked to the young boy that eventually came into view, "I'm not able to use my arms much for the day, so it is a little difficult to do things..."

They were probably about the same age, but she did not see any signs of a headband anywhere. Was he intentionally keeping it somewhere else? Sakuya was about to ask when screams were echoing outside. It did not sound like the usual sounds people make when enjoying a match - these were panicked cries out of fear of something.

Despite her arms stuck in casts, Sakuya managed to get up from bed and hurry outside. She motioned for the young boy to follow.