Squad 12 first meeting

The prospect of food at the end of the race was intriguing enough for Azzie to look between Xia’s proffered hand and his crossed legs. He could get up and race ahead and win, but winning did not seem like fun, because then Maigo would probably get upset. “If you say so.” Azzie himself was not sure at the fun behind racing, but if Xia thought it was fun, he should at least partake and evaluate it afterwards. After Xia helped him back to his feet, Azzie would trail after Xia and Maigo as they took off. “I did say yummy!” He would add on as an afterthought to Xia’s last question.

Azzie had no intention of fully sprinting, so he moved at a slightly faster than walking pace. Tengoku would eventually come back into sight. Azzie was the last of the three to reach the wall, not that he minded whatsoever. He would listen to Tengoku’s speech, and a singular thought ran through his mind; Tengoku certainly was good with his words. Probably far better than Azzie ever would be. Tengoku, however, would not be joining them for their meal, which had a bit of disappointment rising in Azzie. The only person he technically knew before today would not be there with him. While he did just get to know Xia and Maigo, he only knew them for less than an hour.“Okay…” Azzie tried to mask his weariness behind a falsely cheerful tone, but one could easily figure out where his hesitation was coming from. Tengoku ruffling his hair was enough to quell that worry momentarily, as long as the newcomer to Konohagakure no Sato was able to find his way back to Tengoku’s manor. That would be a challenge… an adventure even!

“So…. Where are we going to eat? I don’t know any places really.” Scratching the back of his head with his hand, an innocent, child-like grin would form on Azzie’s face. Eventually, when all was decided, Azzie would make his way to wherever was decided for them to have their meal.

[exit thread]

Xia was abysmally slow, so much so that it was a wonder no one laughed at her as she tried to run. At least no one had yet. Not here. While she had been training at the Academy she had heard a few snickers when they’d had to run laps, but as her peers grew older with her the nonsense that was childish bullying had faded somewhat. Now though she gave it everything she had as she tried to get there first. While she didn’t want any animosity between any of them, she was still competitive. In a friendly way.  

And so she channeled her chakra and formed the Half Tiger seal to use Body Flicker Technique and give herself a speed boost. In a friendly way. It didn’t make her too much faster all things considered, but it did allow her to put a step or two between her and Azzie (which she would later regret) and almost manage to keep up with Maigo. When she finally reached the wall she would only be slightly in front of Azzie, making her second place unless Maigo managed to do a face plant on the way there. Turning to her look at her squadmates she would lean over with her hands on the tops of her thighs and breathe heavily. “Well. . . That was. . . ah. . . fun. Yup. . . really. . . fun.” She would quiet down as Tengoku spoke, she was disappointed that he had to leave, but what else could you expect from the Hokage? He was an important and busy man, and she would never dream of monopolizing his time like that. “Thank you for today’s lesson, Tengoku-sensei.”

After Tengoku had left, Xia would turn to the other two. “Well Maigo, where are we eating then? Good race by the way, we should definitely have a round two at some point. You know, later. When I can breathe again.” She would eventually catch her breath and then follow along with the group to wherever they decided to eat, happy to have new friends and a squad.

[Exit Thread]