Tales of a Ninja Magician: Of What Defines Us

Message in a Beetle

Kiyomi, Meiko and Sugemi with his team were quickly making their way through the dark depths of the Forest of Death. Their speed was slightly higher than usual. It was because Daidao Deiji – the steampunk Jinchuuriki of the Five Tails had a bright green lantern by his side which illuminated much farther than the ninja's usual supernatural perception allowed them to see. This increased visibility granted the merged teams the ability to allow themselves to pick up the pace.

Finally, Sugemi's rate slowed down and the Nara landed on a thick tree, from which one could have seen a larger circular field. The trees around the field had bent to surround its upper layers with leafage, which still kept it in relative gloomy shade as every tree tried to exploit the small hill's breakout spot for extra light, covering it up in the process.

"Strange", Sugemi scratched his head as his eyes squinted while he was deep in thought.

"It appears Team Scuti is no longer here", Daidao stated the obvious.

"It was so mean of them to leave this suddenly, without letting us know of it", Nanaba pouted as she camped it up with her gestures and jumpy stance.

"They haven't left too long ago", Kiyomi looked around noticing small weight pressure signs on the grass that usually weren't present when an area was left for a longer period of time.

"Yeah... The fries are still warm", Meiko cheered with a full mouth having stuffed her mouth full of unknown gooey food.

"Really"? Kiyomi squinted teasingly, "They don't smell fresh".

"No, it's a fine observation, if a bit icky, Relta of Team Scuti would eat actual garbage for food", Sugemi shrugged after examining the camp more closely.

"So who are these guys anyways, how are they supposed to help us find Mana"? Kiyomi wondered.

Sugemi sighed. "We formed a sort of an alliance with Team Scuti. We constantly exchanged information and shared useful advice and intelligence", he explained, putting it short.

"Nana, would you please"? Sugemi wondered turning at his teammate in annoyance that the girl had not followed the social cues already. After being encouraged the young lady hopped on her feet for a moment before glaring at her thumb regretfully and biting it with some scare in her eyes. Her first nom failed to draw blood so the squeamish girl had to bite again ending up paying twice for her penny pinching.

"Summoning Jutsu"! She chanted out after weaving a bunch of hand seals and slamming her extended palm to the ground. A moderate cloud of smoke rose up revealing a small beetle with obsidian shell with golden colored edges and blood-red compound eyes on the front.

"Contact Team Scuti, please, Bushika-chan", Nanaba asked of the beetle, without answering the insect lifted off and buzzed away into the darkness of the forest.

"Summoning Jutsu"? Kiyomi wondered to herself aloud.

"Yeah, it's not a common skill among genin. Not many partners trust low ranking ninja, naturally a Jinchuuriki would be taken more seriously", Sugemi sighed before sitting down on the grass and taking a couple of breaths to calm himself. "Once I get my manga out there, I'll have all the animals begging to be my partners", he grinned.

"Your summon is much cooler than Mana's lame rabbit", Meiko grinned, still following the beetle with her eyes far away in the darkness.

"Mana's summon"? Sugemi raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, Mana acquired a Rabbit Summoning Contract right before the Chuunin Exams", Kiyomi waved her hand, "It doesn't look like those guys trust her too much though so she has to bargain with the critter to get it to listen to her".