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"Who is that from, Yamanaki? And when did you get that? I can't remember..." Burakku asked, rubbing his temples.

"Speaking of which," Karu added in afterthought, "I just got a message from him. He says he wants to speak to me in private..." without another word, Karu got up, paid for his uneaten ramen, and left.

Yamanaki walked cheerfully down the street, about a hundred feet from the Ramen shop, where he figured the telepathic signal had come from. He moved closer, but a voice behind him made him turn around.
"Yamanaki-san."
"Oh, Karu, it's you. I was looking for you. Listen, I'm sorry about your exam, but I couldn't have told you about the scroll; that would have been a breach of protocol. Are you alright?"
Karu flinched. He knew. "I am fine. I wish to ask for your help with a little sword-training..."
"Sword-training? Why?"
"Close combat is my greatest weakness. And... I hope to inherit Eisei."
Yamanaki was shocked at this. "You want your father's sword?"
"Yes."
"Well, I can hardly deny you that. We'll head back to Sand, and then you can start."
"With all due respect Sensei, I would like to depart early, alone. I wish to conduct some research on some of the clans I spotted during the exam." It was a bare-faced lie, to be sure, but thankfully Karu was an excellent liar.
Yamanaki frowned. "Alone? I don't think so..."
Karu bowed lower. "Please. I need this. One day is all I ask for. One day. Please... Yama-niichan."
The older man's eyes widened. Suddenly he saw his five-year-old nephew again, full of energy and love for everything, and his heart melted at the nigh-archaeic nickname. "I... very well. But be careful. I was going to have us stay at a hotel anyways, and leave after lunch tomorrow. So go ahead, and let me know what you find out!"
Karu bowed. "Thank you." and with that, the Genin walked away, alone.

Shaking his head, Yamanaki walked back towards the ramen shop, and smiled at Barakku and Fujin as he walked in. "Hey, don't let it get you down. Almost nobody passes their first exam."
((I'm sorry if that was hurried.))

"Tell me that in the morning. That's when I'll feel it." He mentioned as if he knew his own mentality. He eyed the other man with suspicion, as if he was going to hurt his friend.

I smile. 'He received a letter from the Akatsuki member Baku moments ago he wiped hsi temmates minds to hide it." I smile. 'Come to the post town and you can talk to my master more about this." Heads to post town. (Gone)

He sighs and snaps his fingers a rainbow liek image of Maoshi appears. 'You dont bileve me? My you are a burden on yrou clan then." He laughs. "You of all people should understand somthign the life a ninja is a complex one your nephew is a msart boy how well does he knwo the terrain of sand?" ((No worries im just trying to plant the seed of doubt ill tell you why in a PM ill send it now.))

I smile. "Yes That grass headband hiddne in it is a reciver and transmiter Il be contacting you when i need to talk to you my name is Naoshi remember it o and one more thing." The astral projection walks up ot him and shows that under the cloacks sleeves are metal claws clutching a sphere i put the tip of the sphere to hsi forehead and an image is put in to hsi mind then sealed away with the memory seal jutsu. "When you want to knwo the truth. Ill send ti to you." I stretch. "Taizo Make sure he dosent suffer from after affects then deliver the next peice of info to Kankuro-san." He nods and then turns to him. "Are you ok sir i promise what master did wouldnt hurt you in the least hes really a nice guy." he smiles and helps him ove to his chair next to the genin. "Here you go now remember about the headband its very important."

The ronin absent-mindedly tapped his ancestor's katana, a surge of memory also striking him. The fire. The blood. The shame. The fear, oh god, the fear.

"I... Think I'm going to go home now."

((Exit))