Village of Hidden Growth

Jin stood a bit away from his teammates just outside of the survival area. They had been placed before Gate 13, and had been told that there were over fifty gates all around the area. At this particular spot they could see a long stretch of open, grassy plains that ended abruptly in what seemed like a wall of trees of varying sizes and ages. Glancing to his left he could just make out another team in the distance, set before their own gate as well. It was impossible for him to tell where they were from, but that didn't really matter.

"Hey, Megumi-chan, which scroll did we get?" Jari asks, grinning widely as his faithful companion, Shinshi, stood next to him, gazing past the gate, anxious.

"For the tenth time Jari, we got the Heaven scroll, see?" Megumi said in an annoyed voice, holding the scroll out so the symbol was clearly visable. "You really do have the attention span of a rock, don't you?"

"This is bad luck..." Jin spoke in a soft, quiet voice, like sand falling in an hourglass. "Father says that those from the Land of Earth should always be connected to the land, otherwise they are useless. Getting the Heaven scroll right off is bad luck."

"I didn't think you believed in luck Jin-kun." Jari said, seemingly happy enough, though the grin had shrunk somewhat.

"I don't, but my father does." Jin answers briskly, hating himself for even remembering such nonsence. "There is no such thing as luck, only skill, power, and timing. there was a fifty-fifty change we would get the Earth scroll, same as the Heaven scroll, nothing more or less. Now, stop worrying about scrolls and begin concentrating on your life. It's unlikely we'll meet anyone until nightfall, or later, but we must be on guard."

"Nicely said Jin." Megumi said, her eyes closed for a moment, giving him a smile.

Jin shifted his feet. He was anxious and excited, wanting to get this show on the road. Although he had continued training up intil two days before the exam his father had forbidden him to fight, so that he would save his energy for the fights to come. That made things worse. He had the feeling that when the first ninja team came after him there would be plenty of bloodshed. most done by himself, out of sheer boredom. then, after that, he would be the calm and cool person he usually was.

A low growl eminated from a young man sitting ross-legged before the gate. He had been sitting there for well over seventeen minutes waiting for something to happen, listening to his teammates bicker all the while. The two younger boys, Mifune and Taro had been arguing over who would carry the scroll the second the proctor had handed the thing over. Sho's head constsanly shifted back and forth, listening to each genin make their arguement about why they would be the best candidate to hold the scroll. Finally, he could stand no more of their foolishness and snatched up the scroll for himself. It took a moment for Mifune and Taro to realize what their supposed leader had just done.

"Hey!" they yelled as one. It was almost comedical how much they were alike. Sho arose from his seat, and after brushing himself off proceeded to glare at both of his fellow genin. He was two years older than both of them, and usually used his seniority to his advantage. Taro immediately averted his eyes and stared at his feet. Mifune held Sho's glare for a scant few seconds before backing down and mumbling some sort of insult.

"Well then. Think about it a moment. Isn't it only logical that the member with the most profficiency with genjutsu to keep the scroll safe?" the dark skinned youth grinned warmly, causing his team to relax. He took a moment to glance at the scroll. An Earth Scroll huh? he thought. I woulda preferred Heaven, since we're rain and all...but whatever.

The Amegakure team looked out beyond the gate, accessing their path. They had been placed at gate 22, and the terrain beyond was...unsavory looking, at the very least. Frost-crusted dry soil covered in dead leaves and rotting vegetation, and no small amount of gnarled trees. In the distance, Sho spotted rain clouds and smiled slightly. A cold wind blowing out from the gates carrying the tang of rain confirmed his suspicions; Today was going to be a good day. He had been itching for a real battle since their last mission, and that had been over a month ago.

"Well boys, I think it's almost time...let's rock."

"Well, you ready, Yukari, Degaro?" Midori asked, staring at the forbidding landscape in front of them. Kyonae sat on her shoulder, perfectly still.

"Of course!" Yukari beamed, the youg girl playing slightly with the bat that hung from her hoop earing, grumbling all the while. Midori smiled. The bat, Bejimu, always had a temper.

Kira, Degaro's partner, paced eagerly in front of the gate, her master sitting cross-legged just behind her. "You have to ask, Sister?"

All six of them were ready. She knew they would all automaticaly bond with their partners as soon as they entered the forest. Havng been connected to the animals for so long, the could all hold the Battle Mode form for eighteen days straight, without wasting chakkra either. The animals knew what was comming, and were restless. Kira especialy. The panther was itching for a fight.

Alright, genin from around the ninja world, the time you've been waiting for has arrived! Will each team please make a finacl check of your belongings, the voice over the loud speakers said, then paused to give them all the chance to do so. Now, open the gates! And with that the papers seals which had been keeping the gates closed all burnt up and all fifty or so gates swung open, inwards, inviting everyone insdie. There was a sudden surge of chakra from all around as teams rushed inside.

Jin, Jari, and Megumi all nodded to one another, then headed inside. Knowing that they would more than likely spend a few days in this place they took their time and strolled leasurely towards the forest, across the soft grass.

"This is gonna be great!" Jari said, shaking his fists as they reached the thick woods. "I can't wait to figure out who has an Earth scroll so we can beat the snot out of them and take it!"

"Why are you always so violent Jari?" Megumi asks, shaking her head as she looks around. "For all we know, it might be possible to just sneak up on somone while they sleep and take the scroll, right Jin? Jin?"

Jin wasn't paying attention to the conversation between his friends. Instead he had his eyes focused on the treetops. For a second he thought he say a man in red standing on the very tips of one of the trees, glaring down at him, but the there was a gust of wind and suddenly the figure was gone. after that he shook his head and looked back at his teammates.

"What was that?" Jari asked, spooked. "I've seen you stare off into nothing before, but that was something else. Should we be worried about something?" And as if he knew what was going to bed said, Shinshi, the young bear, let out a soft roar and moved closer to his master.

"Someone is watching us...I suggest we hurry along after all. I'd like to avoid whoever that man was..." Jin said solomnly.
-=-=-

"Who first Mitsuru?" Jo asked, looking over at his leader. "We got the Heaven scroll, right?"

"It seems there is a group from Amegakure here. I think the boss would be interested in them, so lets check them out." Mitsuru says with a smirk, rolling up his left sleeve to reveal a summoning tattoo. "Summoning Technique: Ten Scorpions!" He calls out, after biting his thumb and running his blood across the tattoo.

Before him on the ground appears ten large, purple and black scorpions. They look up at their master, claws snapping, tails twitching. They are roughly the size of melon, and deadly poisonous. Jo and Itcho step back, knowing full well just how dangerous those guys can be.

"Boys, I want you to scout out the place, find me anyone who might be interesting to fight, who possesses an Earth scroll, and be sure the find those Amegakure brats, okay?" Mitsuru says with a laugh as the scorpions all nod and take off, scattering.

Mitsuru and his team are located in the Summer Area, the perfect place for a team like themselves. When the time comes, if they have to, they will split up and seek out what they need alone.

Umiko Nomuro glared at the top of their gate and said, pointing to the number: "Oh, look...we got the gate number 1". Mijaro Nomuro, her brother, expressed a grin of confidence and replied with energy "Do you know what it means? It means that we are the top ones. We are going to kick asses and win. YEAH!". His sister than echoed this "YEAH". Hiato Arishi was a few steps behind the twins. He had his eyes closed and his expressions formed a small, peaceful smile. Hiato liked that optimism.

Mijaro than declared with even more confidence, gesturing as he spoke "And we will be the first ones to reach the tower. We will rush there and take an earth scroll from them". Now Hiato opened his eyes, showing some worry. The optimism from the brothers Nomuro just turned into foolishness. "Mijaro, You dont expect us to..." Hiato tried to say, before being rudely interrupted "No! As the assigned leader of Konoha's team 12, I state now that we are going to rush there and win". At this time they heard the speakers and the gates were opened.

The leader said to Hiato "Find us at the central tower and try not dying until there. Lets go sister!". He than started making some handsigns. Umiko had a sad look in her eyes. She realized that Mijaro's plan was stupid, but also started casting the jutsu. Both than shouted together: "Ninjutsu: Burst of Speed".

Hiato was left alone, nodding to their imprudence. Good thing it was to have cast the Three Bells' genjutsu at his partners, so he could track them. Soon the twins would be tired and would stop to rest. Hiato closed his eyes and took a long and peaceful breath to purify his chakra. He than runned into the woods.
At distance, while sprinting, Umiko turned her head back. She didnt knew exactly why, but a lone tear rolled from her eye.