If Makoto had properly had his head about him, he would have pointed out that in addition to being a bad choice for a diplomatic mission, he was not particularly suited to stealth or spying either. But there were no doubt reasons he was chosen, and if it was just 'he has a parasol so he'll not look too suspicious' he wasn't going to be happy. So he dealt with it and packed.
"When you get back is when we'll have our matches against our new cousin," Kanashimi had told him. "It's probably for the best we'll be delayed; I need to drill Saito anyway."
Drill him in not sucking at combat, he didn't have to add. As far as Makoto was concerned Saito was a lost cause there, especially in a no-chakra match. He was already at a significant disadvantage due to picking a ranged weapon anyway, and then when you added in 'ridiculously pacifistic and bad reflexes' it just wasn't really fair.
But he was certain that at least his other brother knew what he was doing with combat, so he didn't address that either. Maybe Saito would cause the new guy to underestimate the other two or something.
He slung his pack over his shoulder and headed out of the family house without talking to anyone; he'd made his goodbyes the previous night due to the ridiculously early hour the ferry to Wind Country left in the morning. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as he dragged himself through the streets, which were near-dead and quiet at this time of day. Most of the noise in the area came from the calls of sea birds and the rustle of wind in the trees; as he got closer to the docks the breeze in the trees faded, to be replaced by the gentle lapping of waves on the shore.
Not even the wind is up yet, he thought grumpily. What is it with sea captains and ridiculously early departure times?
It wasn't as if he'd never left the island before. Like most of his family, he'd set foot on the mainland several times for meetings with various contacts, and he'd been to a couple of smaller countries on missions before. But this was this first time he would go to Wind Country, and he was going alone.
There was a slight twisting in his stomach as he boarded the ferry. I'm not afraid, he told himself firmly. Just because I'm going alone to unfamiliar territory, with no backup and a mission objective the locals might not take kindly to.
Upon rephrasing it like that, he admitted he was a bit afraid, but it was only sensible to be in these circumstances.
He gripped the handle of his parasol tightly in one hand as the ferry pulled out of the docks, standing at the side of the boat as close to the front as passengers were allowed and gazing forward.
Let's see what Wind Country has in store for me, then...
[Country Left; S-Rank/30 Min to next country]
"When you get back is when we'll have our matches against our new cousin," Kanashimi had told him. "It's probably for the best we'll be delayed; I need to drill Saito anyway."
Drill him in not sucking at combat, he didn't have to add. As far as Makoto was concerned Saito was a lost cause there, especially in a no-chakra match. He was already at a significant disadvantage due to picking a ranged weapon anyway, and then when you added in 'ridiculously pacifistic and bad reflexes' it just wasn't really fair.
But he was certain that at least his other brother knew what he was doing with combat, so he didn't address that either. Maybe Saito would cause the new guy to underestimate the other two or something.
He slung his pack over his shoulder and headed out of the family house without talking to anyone; he'd made his goodbyes the previous night due to the ridiculously early hour the ferry to Wind Country left in the morning. The sun was barely peeking over the horizon as he dragged himself through the streets, which were near-dead and quiet at this time of day. Most of the noise in the area came from the calls of sea birds and the rustle of wind in the trees; as he got closer to the docks the breeze in the trees faded, to be replaced by the gentle lapping of waves on the shore.
Not even the wind is up yet, he thought grumpily. What is it with sea captains and ridiculously early departure times?
It wasn't as if he'd never left the island before. Like most of his family, he'd set foot on the mainland several times for meetings with various contacts, and he'd been to a couple of smaller countries on missions before. But this was this first time he would go to Wind Country, and he was going alone.
There was a slight twisting in his stomach as he boarded the ferry. I'm not afraid, he told himself firmly. Just because I'm going alone to unfamiliar territory, with no backup and a mission objective the locals might not take kindly to.
Upon rephrasing it like that, he admitted he was a bit afraid, but it was only sensible to be in these circumstances.
He gripped the handle of his parasol tightly in one hand as the ferry pulled out of the docks, standing at the side of the boat as close to the front as passengers were allowed and gazing forward.
Let's see what Wind Country has in store for me, then...
[Country Left; S-Rank/30 Min to next country]