Heart Of A Warrior

"You're well prepared." He commented looking her in the eyes with a steady gaze. "Setting up my divisions within your own net shouldn't be a hard ordeal." His voice was rich and smooth, she wondered if it was like that naturally or if he spent hours practicing to get it to that rich peak. "We should focus on the north, as you said it is wilderness predominately, my division will accompany yours we'll be a hundred give or take kilometers away investigating it themselves." The strategy was sound in of itself simple in nature but the complexity of its layout would allow them long distance surveillance over a wide area, although spreading divisions to thin was a mistake normally you stayed closed together. But in this case he'd have to agree with her. Hm. He thought dully as he eyed her again, she was well prepared.

Usagi was silent for a moment mulling over his statement, she nodded her head once. "That's a good idea." She said more to herself than to Tobirama who looked slightly confused. "Oh, yeah good idea Tobirama-san. By doing that we're able to.." She paused mulling over it again. "Keep a watch on everything in the north just about."

"Exactly," he replied with a curt nod. "With the distance between the group and the division it should make what would be a day or two in travel up in just a few hours." He glanced over her kinsmen all still training as he instructed them from time to time when one of the leaders as he deemed them couldn't get to them or overlooked something. Very thorough Tobirama thought more than satisfied, it was refreshing working with someone who wasn't so.. Eccentric as his brother he loved Hashirama with all of his heart but sometimes he just needed to be quiet and sit down and listen, Usagi while taking the lead like it was natural asked him and looked to him for his views on the plan and at times let him take the ropes. Nothing like his brother. He eyed a particular man he was tall and built like a brick house although his muscles weren't engorged he was lean retaining a muscular build.

"Do you wish to speak with Ryoku?" Usagi asked looking at him slightly curious with an eyebrow raised.

"That's his name." Usagi nodded once. "Yes if you may." Tobirama said curtly.

"Not a problem." Usagi said shouting the man's name grasping his attention. "Ryoku-san."

Said man in question walked towards her bowing his head in respect, looking at Tobirama skeptically before he turned his gaze back on her. "Usagi-san, what do you need?" He asked raising his head up to look at her then at his surrounding for a moment. Ryoku was tan skinned, his hair was spiky and unkempt reaching his shoulder blades and was a dark brown almost black, like all members of her clan his hair was very thick and in high abundance. He wore dark red plated armor that protected his chest, groin, shoulders, and the sides of his legs, his outfit underneath consisted of a dark low collared shirt with sleeves that went passed his hands and a pair of gray hakama with a white obi secured around his waist, a was securely fastened under the obi on his right side; he was one of the division leaders and charged with keeping track of the ranks if and when Usagi or her brothers weren't present, he was one of the older members of the clan born around the same time as her father.

Usagi looked at Tobirama expectantly but when he didn't say anything she spoke again. "Tobirama-san wishes to speak with you."

The two men looked at each other for a moment before Ryoku nodded slightly.

Yuko stretched her arms over her head as she sauntered off of the boat getting a satisfying crack in her neck and middle back, taking a breath of the fresh air she almost smiled with joy. It was a relief to smell the clean scent, to smell air that wasn't lingering with the smell of blood but with foods of different kinds and smoke from nearby bars, although the former she wasn't too fond of. She turned waving to Leon who heaved a large cage onto the ground giving her a mock salute as he hefted the large chamber up on his shoulder and went his own way. Yuko sighed softly turning in the opposite direction and beginning her journey back to the compound, finally she was on solid ground not a swamp or marshes which was what made up the first island she arrived on. How any shinobi lived there puzzled her she couldn't see ten feet in front of her at times and the ground was just too moist it slacked and gave under her weight.

There were many obstacles in the Water country she encountered and overcame, whether it was the natural terrain which was a deathtrap in itself or the climate which was surprisingly cold at times mixed with mist one could easily get lost and have the unfortunate chance of running into the Yuki or Kagyua, Yuko didn't know which was worse between the two clans one could shift and grow bones out of any part of their bodies while the other could freeze their enemies and literally smash them into pieces. It was a disturbing scene when she first witnessed it, the body literally flying into blood pieces left to fly across the ground covering it in gore. But, it couldn't be worse than having one of those bones ripping into and through your chest; the Kagyua seemed to enjoy the misery they caused reveling in the carnage and blood as they continued their stampede inadvertently dragging her into the squabble despite her best efforts to avoid conflict. They didn't last very long.

When she was a good distance away she took off in a sprint pushing some chakra into her legs to increase her speed, she felt a little winded but was feeling a lot better than before. Her sleep did wonders and her chakra was close to replenished snacking on what she brought with helped smooth that along nicely, but it'd be about another day before she was in top condition but that didn't bug her she could use the relaxation.

Her thoughts roamed back to her mission. Why was she to obtain the scroll in the first place, it's not like the Uchiha were going to use it, the mission itself was sound and efficient. Get in, eliminate anyone who gets in your way and retrieve the scroll. But she didn't know she was going to be in chases where she was outnumbered twenty to one and the only option was evading, she knew better than to try taking on that many people at once though she picked off a few whenever she could if they got too close or tried to attack, what they lacked in skill they made up for in numbers. Was it just a suicide mission for her to die on one of the islands, the possibility of coming back completely gone to be stranded on that damnable island, it was a cruel admission if that was the case. I survived. Her conscious spoke up in the back of her in a small but loud whisper, yes she did survive despite the odds she survived being chased, squishing through marshes and narrowly jumping over swamps all the while fighting or being chased. A small part of her perked up, proud of her accomplishment but that was overrode with the simple feeling of being tired and needing to take a bath.

The large gates of the Uchiha compound came into view like an impenetrable wall between them and the outside world, for once Yuko was happy to see the compound if only for the fact she could go to her home after this was all done. She quickly cleared the distance between herself and the gates, walking at a slightly brisk pace as she looked from left to right spotting the guard. "I'm back!" She called, snorting to herself when she seen him wave his hand not even caring to look in her direction, she was used to the act by now but at times it just disgusted he, did they even care if she were to die? Shaking off her emotions she headed towards the western wing she was always cordial and was early or on time, and fortunately she'd be early this time around to visit Madara if only to go over her mission. It was one of the more spots she was fond of in the compound, there were rich gardens the flowers decorating the area in bright reds and oranges mixing with violets and baby blue, she wondered how found the time to plant such a field with perfection, the only spot that she liked more than this was the river by the Naka Shrine and her secret training ground.

She vaguely wondered what Izuna would say to her when he seen her, would he be rude and hurtful like he was before, or more caring like when she left. Man that was months ago, with her luck it'd probably the first one but she wasn't going to show any emotion if he did she would not make a fool out of herself. But if it was the opposite... She didn't know what she'd do if they were that close again and alone, I'd kiss him. The thought came out of nowhere and she shook it off, damn hormones she shook the thought aside as pleasant as it was her focus needed to be elsewhere. Her walk turned into a small jog as she neared the main building.

"Mikito-san." Izuna said with a slightly chipper tone, being sure to greet her pleasantly. Madara settled on a leveling a gaze with her as he held a document in his hand, he quickly went back to reading it, sometimes he could be so rude. But Izuna wasn't he was happy to see Mikito, she stayed true to her word and came back and if may have seemed like a little thing, but trust wasn't easily gained even among allies. That took time; but the significance of just this one thing, it was a start and she wasn't rude or anything of that sort she he couldn't really complain. "It's nice to have you here again." He smiled slightly.

Mikito had a ghost of a smile as she settled into a chair keeping her eyes on Izuna. "Thank you, Izuna-san." She said looking around the room to pass time by. She was surprised to see the office so... Plain, although it was an office this was the place where Madara spent the majority of his time surely there was to be more than just a large oak desk, a large window right behind him that gave them a spectacular view of the sunrise and the majority of the compound, a shelf full of books and scrolls neatly organized. But that's all she seen, it was basic but... Homey, she couldn't really complain everything was neat and clean not a spot of dust or a stain on anything; Madara really was quite the perfectionist, she noted mentally filing it away for later.

"You're early." Madara commented breaking the silence, setting the document onto his desk resting his elbows on the table and interlacing his fingers resting his chin. He kept a steady gaze on stretching his senses for a moment, Mikito walked with a elegant and graceful air but it wasn't anything to exaggerated it was subtle barely noticeable but he didn't miss anything, he turned his eyes away from Mikito towards the door sensing a familiar chakra. His eyebrows rose and a small smile played on his lips. So she did make it. He was glad for the distraction, thankfully Mikito didn't notice his hard staring.

"Better to be early." Mikito said as if it were obvious shrugging her shoulder slightly. "I gave you my word." Her tone got serious.

A knock on the door snapped them to attention, though the three felt her presence the moment she got back. Izuna looked intently he could already see the red mane of hair and those chocolate eyes she had been gone for two months but why did it seem so much longer, possibly because of the few Senju units he kept encountering; though they were of little consequence. A part of him was... Relieved that she was alive, he meant what he sad before she left for the mission, he could only imagine what she went through. He was there a few times when he was younger to hone his skills as his father put it, and it was true you learned quick or you got killed cruel but that's as simple as it is. "Come in." He said keeping his tone level.