Howaido Mizu Hotel East Wing

[Tieren]

Tieren heard the words of Kurogane ring in his ears. Standing up, Tieren looked at Kurogane. "Trust me Kurogane, I know perfectly well that a kage is. Did you forget that I was one?" He said, slight raising his voice. Then he sat down, closed his eyes and muttered something "Calm the body.... steady the mind...." Then he opened his eyes and said to Kurogane, now calmly "Im sorry for that. We need to get back to the task at hand. I understand that it is sad, but we are here to represent the cloud village. We will probably survive this, and we could both work toward ANBU, though I do plan on retaking the position of Raikage, and I hope that you will stand by my side, even then. Can we make a vow right now that no matter what, we are going to be teammates?" He then held out a hand for Kurogane. He wanted to finalize this completely.

[Kuro]

Kurogane wanted to calm himself, he wouldn't think clearly till then, but hearing the vow that Tieren offered, Kurogane couldn't deny him. "Till that bitter end comes I forever swear to be at your side," he said as he took Tieren's hand in his. He nodded as he shook Tieren's hand. "For now, this sadness will fuel my strength, Talo would have been proud of what we are going to do," he said. "But for now, the task at hand, what strategies will work best for us?" he asked, he trusted in Tieren's knowledge.

[Tieren]

Shaking Kurogane's hand, and looking him in the eyes, Tieren knew that he had found a good friend in him. "The vow is set, and shall stay." Then he sat down, and took the orb again. He set it on the bed, and said "Not much I can say since I dont know what the first exam will entail. I will say this. Do not just rush forward without looking over everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. We cant be disqualified, or worse, killed, over mistaking something so simple. Understand what I mean?" He said, looking at Kurogane.

[Kuro]

"Being careful is very important, this isn't just some bruteforce battle, and half of being a shinobi is being cautious. I'll do my best to watch every little step I make." Kurogane said as he tried to put a smile on his face. He was still thinking of Talo, such tragic news to fall just as the exams were to begin. Kurogane shook his head trying to focus his mind on these exams. "Remember, this, if we face in the finals, give it your all Tieren," he said as he looked up and looked into Tieren's eyes.

[Tieren]

Hearing the words once again, Tieren laughed. "You know that I will. In fact, I would love to face you in the finals of the exams. Former teammates turned into enemies who are fighting for the same goal. Sounds like the perfect ending to the exams if you ask me." He said, but soon got quiet and looked down. 'Not only is this for Talo, this is for Selina, Rogue, Denova, Nagare, Othello, and most of all, this is for Kyuzu. Too many of my friends have died, and I am not about to let someone else die as well.' He thought, remember that it was Kyuzu's dream to become not only Raikage, but Sannin of the cloud village as well. "I will live your dream for you." He said quietly, though just loud enough to where Kurogane could make it out.

[Kuro]

Kurogane grinned at Tieren's acceptance. He then stared up to the ceiling, knowing that he was here, and it had been years since a Rokusho Clan member had made it this far as a shinobi. For the fallen Clan, for the forsaken dragon, for my brother, my cousin, my fallen comrades, for my father. But the most important, my Mother. He had lost his family, he had lost his mother, he had failed so many, and now he had lost his Raikage. Knowing that if he succeeds in his goals here, he would return the hero of the Rokusho Clan, and a warrior of Cloud.

"These exams are the gateway, the gateway to the ten thousand pathways before us. Crossing through the gate into the life of the Chuunin opens so many more opportunities not only for us but the rest of this world. Our impact on others will greatly increase." he said as he stared up at the ceiling still, thinking of his mother.

[Tieren]

Looking at Kurogane again, Tieren said "We each have our own reasons for doing these, but the result is the same. Either you walk away from this as Chuunin, Genin, or not at all. Those are the only choices. And we shall walk away as chuunin, no matter what. Now, anything else we can know that might help us? Because they should be starting soon, and we definately need our rest." He then smiled to his new teammate. He had lost many, but in losing them, he had gained more.

[Kuro]

Kurogane stood up, and picked up his pouches and attacked them once more. He smiled at Tieren, he was still sad but he knew a smile was the best way out of a tough situation. "Key thing, trust in yourself, and in your partner, with trust, we should survive. Tieren, I trust you, with my life, with my friendship, with my honor," he said as he offered his hand once more. "With our trust, we will get through this!" he shouted.

[Tieren]

Laughing a bit at the loudness that Kurogane had, Tieren said "I trust you wholehardely, but you dont have to yell about it." He then started laughing a bit harder. "Ill keep that in mind though. Now, get some rest, for when the exams come, we will need it. If you need anything from the shop, I suggest getting that before they start, because if its anything like the last ones, they will close the shops when the exams get started, and that wont be good if you truly need something." He said as he walked Kurogane over to the door.

[Kuro]

Smiling at the thought of him shouting, he had just let his emotions burn out of him. Kurogane grinned and stared at Tieren. "Thinking of all the Ryo I already spent on my items, ha, I'll be broke before I even get to the exams if I buy anymore," he said with a chuckle. "For now Tieren, this is goodbye, the next time we meet, we shall be at the exams," he said with a simpler smile than before. He was happy yet serious. He wanted them to start so he could prove his usefulness in this world. With that Kurogane headed for the door and opened it. "Goodnight Tieren," he said.

[Exits Room 15]

[Tieren]

Hearing his words, Tieren said "Goodnight Kurogane. I will see you at the exams." Then he closed the door behind Kurogane and sighed. Locking it from the inside, Tieren picked up the crystal ball and focused on Raikou again. "Raikou. Whatever you do. Dont die." He then wrapped the ball up again and put it in the drawer. Setting his over shirt in the corner, Tieren laid on the bed and thought for a bit, finally falling asleep.

[sleeping]

[Kuro]

[Enters Room 16]

Kurogane had just left the meeting with Tieren and had headed into his room. Closing and locking it behind him Kurogane set his things on the table. He then pulled his cloak off and then his protective mesh. Folding them both perfectly and setting them on the table, Kurogane hopped into his bed. He laid back and stared at the ceiling. "This one's going to be for Kumo, Tieren stepped down, Othello committed scuicide, Talo has been killed. We haven't had a Raikage for very long and that's a disappointment to Kumo. I will fight for the honor of my village. I will become Chuunin and then Anbu. I will make it my goal to protect my Raikage," he thought. His mind drifted as he fell asleep.

[Sleeping]

[Naegi˚ 苗木]

Naegi awoke from his room, everything he needed was gathered, and the teen was on his way, for the 1st Part of the Exams.

[Exit]

[Kuro]

Upon awaking Kurogane realized it was morning already, he stood up and stretched. Today was the day the exams would start. He walked over to the table and picked up his protective mesh shirt, he pulled it over his body and then stretched once more. He then grabbed his long sleeved black turtle neck. He pulled it over his head and then reached for his white cloak. Kurogane pulled that on and then smiled, he was ready and tired of waiting for these exams to begin. He grabbed his Kumo headband and tied it around his forehead holding back his black bangs. He pulled up his white hood shadowing his face. He then grabbed all three of his pouches, he attached them on his back of his waistline and walked to the door. He opened it and stepped out, he locked the door behind him.
[Exit's Room 16]
[Now in Hallway]
Kurogane turned and headed down to room fifteen where his teammate Tieren was sleeping. He knocked on the door politely before he said, "Hey Tieren, today's the day," he then waited for Tieren to respond.

[Tieren]

[Room 15]

Waking up, Tieren hated the night that he had just had. It was painful, and annoying. Either way, he had to get up. Stretching a bit, Tieren listened. Many had just gotten up, and it seemed that they were heading outside, pretty quickly. Smiling, Tieren knew what was about to happen. It was time for him to participate in the exams, something he didnt expect to do for awhile, but it happened nonetheless. Walking over to the drawer, Tieren pulled out the pouches that he had. One was full of exploding tags, but he quickly put that back. On the off chance that something happened, as they were supposed to be split up from the other teams, he didnt want himself, or Kurogane to end up exploding because of it. His other pouch just had Kunai, Shuriken, and Light bombs in it. That could end up being helpful throughout. Either way, he attached that to his side, threw on his blue overshirt, with his staff and naginata attached to it, and made sure all was right. 'This is for those who died, as well as those still alive. May cloud prevail. Kanaye, Katachi, be sure to stay alive...' He thought as he heard Kurogane's voice. Closing the drawer, Tieren opened his door and say Kurogane there. "Lets go." He said as he started to the door and left for the exams.

[exit]

[Kuro]

Kurogane smiled with Tieren's enthusiam and makes his way to the first part of the exams.

[Exits]

[Kuro]

(Double)
[Enters Room 16]

Kurogane was exhausted, these first exams nearly killed him and his partner Tieren. He took out his key, and unlocked his door. Closing the door behind him he locked it, knowing as a shinobi that there is no safe place. He walked into his room, and pulled off his blue shirt, tossing it aside, he then pulled off his pouches and protective mesh. He set them aside, and then laid down on his back. He would take a short nap before he did anything else. Despite the lack of chakra use, he still found himself exhausted. Kurogane slowly drifted into a peaceful sleep.

~3 Hours Later~

Kurogane awoke from his short nap, still tired, he knew there were things he would need to do for now. Kurogan walked over to the desk, pulling out a paper and pen, he began to write a letter, to whom... it would be a mystery to all but Kurogane. After taking the time to right it all down, he signed it, and then closed it up in a scroll. He would then call down for room service and get a postman to have this scroll delivered to the person he wished. A post man came up to his room around ten minutes after the call.

"So, where do you want to send this to?" the post man asked, as he held onto the scroll.

"Send it to the Cloud Village, it's meant for the Raikage only," Kurogane stated. The postman nodded knowing that shinobi sending messages to their leaders were not ones to be messed with. He left with the letter, leaving Kurogane to himself.

[Raikou!]

A hawk would suddenly flutter to Kurogane window. A carrier bag could been seen on the birds back. Inside lay a scroll with a note to both Kurogane and Teiren.

Dear Tieren Drasani and Kurogane Rokusho,

Congratulations on passing the first part of the exams! The Chuunin exams are a fierce test for the mind, body, and soul. Not to mention that I have heard that this years test has been harder then all others to date. So you both should be immensely proud of yourselves. I know I am, and so is the entire village. Please keep up the good work guys. You guys are already heroes in my book.

Sincerely,
The Raikage.

[Kuro]

Upon recieving a letter back from the Raikage, Kurogane felt slightly relieved. He let the hawk return to the mail office and he put the scroll with his items. He laid down on his bed once more to catch some shut eye. After all he was awfully tired.
[Sleeping]

[Tieren]

[Room 15]

Walking toward the hotel, carrying his weapons, and having no shirt on at all, Tieren felt naked completely... and more then usual. Walking into his room, he set his weapons down and felt his back. It wasnt the best and would always be scarred, but at least it was better then it was. Opening the drawer, he saw his other shirts. Putting on the yellow shirt, followed by the blue overshirt, he grabbed the holster, plus a second attachment and put it on the holster. "Good as new." He said putting his weapons into the other holster, and pulling out the second pouch. He had been asleep for awhile now. It was time to see the world again. Putting his holster in his room and pulling out his crystal ball, he focused on Kurogane, only to see that he was in his room. "Hehe, who would have thought he was so close." He said pulling out a piece of paper, and writing a note to Kurogane, telling him where he was. He then left his room, after putting the crystal ball back in the drawer, but soon turned around and scribbled something on a note that he put in the drawer. The note said:

This is Tieren Drasani, the one who is renting this room. Should anything happen to me, I ask that all of these items, and any I have on me when I die, are sent to the Raikage of the Hidden Cloud Village. Thank you for your assistance, for whoever sees this.

He then left it in the drawer before leaving this time. He then slipped the piece for Kurogane under Kurogane's door and headed on out to the mountain view point.

[Exit]