Open A night to celebrate!

[Yamashiro Ryuni]

The warmth of the afternoon seemed to soothe within the air of the hustle and bustle of the district as many were either going off duty or getting ready for the night life. There were a slew of travelers, solicitors, and all walks in between amongst the droves of those getting ready for the ending of their day and those in preparations for the twilight hours that would pull them into that life style. Children seemed to be running about. Getting themselves into trouble with vendors, and parents scampering to keep them from making an over abundance of mayhem. Amongst them, the young Yamashiro boy names Ryuni paced himself amongst the crowd. He seemed to blend in well outside of his newly earned headband over his forehead. He'd just passed his test not even a week prior and his body was still bandaged up a bit from the whole ordeal, but he was in good spirits.

Ryuni, a young boy brimmed with passion and ferocity, seemed to have a small bounce about him, something oddly prideful. Even the breeze that swirled about seemed to have life about it and there would be something to say about the warmth within Ryuni's heart, as this would be his day to celebrate. . . and he would think about getting a bite to eat and as he moved through the crowd he picked up a morsel of pan to buy. Sticking the food in his mouth he'd reach into his pocket. Patting away, Ryuni reached for his satchel, "One of these? Annnnnd two of the melons ya have there? How much?", He asked the vendor before passing him the money he had before turning to the main walkway in the street. . . What would today bring? Who knew. . .

"OI! BOY! You are short. . . You didnt give me enough! I need more coin!"

This outburst caused Ryuni to turn around with the bread in his mouth before patting his wallet once more and seeing that he'd handed the man the last of his coin. . .

'Crap' He thought. Oh boy. . . What was he gonna do?

 

[Chikamatsu Shin]

The afternoon sun cast long shadows through the bustling market district as Chikamatsu Shin navigated the crowded walkways with practiced ease. His dark brown vest and slacks were a far cry from the ornate robes of office he'd once worn, practical attire that let him blend into the everyday flow of village life. The tanned button-down beneath was already collecting a fine layer of dust from the day's errands, and the leather of his mid-calf boots had long since broken in to comfortable silence.

A small collection of parcels occupied the crook of his left arm, decorative items for the Tower's reception area, things meant to make the space feel more welcoming. His free hand absently adjusted the loose belt at his waist, fingers brushing past the pouch of coin and the few vials that clinked softly with each step. Tea blends. He still needed to find those tea blends Michino had mentioned wanting to try.

The golden-haired man was examining a display of ceramic cups when the vendor's voice cut through the ambient noise.

"OI! BOY! You are short... You didn't give me enough! I need more coin!"

Shin's aqua eyes flicked toward the commotion. A young boy—couldn't be more than a week past his genin exam based on the fresh bandages peeking from beneath his sleeves and the proud way he wore his new headband—stood frozen with bread still in his mouth, patting frantically at an empty wallet.

Yamashiro Ryuni. Shin recognized him immediately from the graduation paperwork that had crossed his desk just days ago. The name had stuck with him, perhaps because he remembered processing those documents with a strange mixture of nostalgia and melancholy, thinking about all the students he'd taught over the years, all the bright futures he'd helped launch before everything had fallen apart.

The sight tugged at something in Shin's chest. How many times had he seen that exact expression on academy students? That mixture of pride and panic, accomplishment and inexperience?

Without conscious thought, Shin shifted his parcels and approached, his expression settling into something warm and gently reproachful.

"Oh, I'm sorry," he said smoothly, already reaching for his coin pouch as he stepped up beside the boy. His voice carried just enough volume for the vendor to hear, tinged with the mild exasperation of a teacher discovering a student's oversight. "I thought I gave my pupils more yen than that."

The coins clinked as Shin counted out the difference, placing them in the vendor's waiting hand with a practiced smile. The transaction complete, he turned his attention to the young genin, reaching out to tousle the boy's hair with easy familiarity.

"Why didn't you tell me you needed more, Ryuni-kun?" The playful chiding in his tone suggested this was hardly the first time he'd needed to bail out a forgetful student.

Shin gently guided them away from the stall, his hand briefly on the boy's shoulder as they merged back into the flow of foot traffic. Once they were out of direct line of sight from the vendor, Shin's demeanor shifted. The teacher's mask dropped, replaced by something more genuine, a conspiratorial lean as his voice lowered.

"Dang, you short-changed Tanaka-sama?" There was real concern beneath the casual tone now, mixed with a hint of dark amusement. "I'm surprised he didn't attempt to chop off one of your fingers."

Shin shook his head, a rueful smile playing at his lips as memory flickered across his features. "I remember when I didn't have enough money... I was short by like two yen! He found my parents and made me work in his shop cleaning for a month to pay the difference and teach me not to steal."

His aqua eyes studied the boy with an expression that managed to be both stern and understanding. "Consider yourself lucky I happened to be passing by. Next time, count your coin twice before you order, yeah?"

 

[Yamashiro Ryuni]

Looking up to the man that had stepped in for him, he let out a sigh of relief. The Vendor was an elder, well known in this bazaar. However, Ryuni didn't often buy because his family had meager funds, ad most of his personal money was normally taken to help feed the others. He did wash clothes for the elderly, he did clean up for those who could not do it themselves... but that was as a student. Part of the why he was moving on to be a Genin would be because he wanted to help out with the money he would get from missions he'd be set on but also he would want to become a herald for the Yamashiro to bring more funding and prosperity to his people. They weren't all poor, but because of their ideals they were lesser known than the others like the Toraono, and other mainstay clans in Sunagakure.

Ryu would bow his head and lower himself to the taller, blonde male, thinking though, 'How does he know my name though? Was he a teacher in the academy? Is he one of the counselors?' tilting his head he'd listen closely to this unknown man, Ryuni nodded and frowned. He wasn't normally this bad but that is a mistake that would put a bad taste in the mouth of anyone who looked indifferently upon the shinobi and warriors. He didn't want the thought to be that he could use his status to get what he wanted from the people with little to no repercussions.

"Yes sir. I promise you will not have this be an issue of me." looking down at his hands, thinking to himself that he could have fingers dissected for touching what didn't truly belong to him for lack of pay. Some would think that was stealing. And he was not a boy that would do anything of the sort.

"Sir... Do I know you? Or rather..." Ryuni straightened and placed the bread in his bag before fully looking to the man as they continued walking and making their way through the crowd, there was a clearing to the right coming up and Ryuni tried to steer them to the side being as observant as he tried to be.

"Thank you for saving me, is there anything I can do to repay your kindness?"

 

[Chikamatsu Shin]

Shin allowed himself to shift toward the clearing, his parcels shifting slightly in his arms as they moved through the thinning crowd. The question about knowing him hung in the air, and he considered how to answer. The truth would likely make the boy uncomfortable, having the Kazekage bail you out of a vendor dispute wasn't exactly a casual encounter.

But there was something in Ryuni's earnest expression, the careful way he navigated them away from the bustle, that reminded Shin of why he'd been drawn to teaching in the first place. This wasn't about maintaining mystique or authority. This was about a young shinobi who'd just started his journey.

"You don't know me personally, no. Though I know you, or rather, I've seen your paperwork."

He offered a slight smile, adjusting his grip on the parcels.

"Chikamatsu Shin. I was reviewing graduation records last week and your name crossed my desk. Congratulations on passing your exam, by the way. Those bandages tell me it wasn't an easy one."

Once they reached the clearing, Shin set his parcels down on a nearby bench, rolling his shoulders with a subtle relief. He turned to face Ryuni properly, his aqua eyes taking in the boy's posture, respectful but not excessive, earnest but not naive.

"As for repaying kindness..."

Shin paused, considering. The automatic response would be to wave it off, to say no repayment was necessary. But something about the way Ryuni asked suggested the boy actually wanted to do something, needed to maintain his sense of honor and reciprocity.

"Tell me about your plans as a genin. What made you decide to take the exam now? What kind of shinobi are you hoping to become?"

He settled onto the bench beside his parcels, gesturing for Ryuni to sit if he wanted. The posture was deliberately casual, removing the hierarchical distance that might make the boy uncomfortable.

"I spent years teaching at the academy before... well, before other responsibilities took over. I miss those conversations! Hearing what drives the next generation. So if you want to repay me, share that. Consider it payment for the yen I covered."

There was genuine interest in his expression, not the performative curiosity of someone making small talk. Shin had always found that the moments when students spoke freely about their dreams and motivations revealed more about their potential than any written exam could.

"And Ryuni-kun? That vendor situation back there? Don't let it weigh on you too heavily. We all make mistakes, especially when we're celebrating. The important thing is learning from them."

He leaned back slightly, his gaze drifting to the boy's new headband.

"Though I am curious, what were you celebrating? Just the promotion, or something more?"

 

[Yamashiro Ryuni]

The air hung heavy in this moment, like waves of anxious air stifling his lungs. If it were a scolding it would have been worse, but thankfully this gentleman was kind enough to speak with an tone that was both serious but, of a familial nature. He spoke like an uncle to a nephew or an elder to a youngling. This was something that Ryuni would take with the utmost respect, being that many elders did not go without a good tongue lashing towards children and kids his age. He'd seen it before, ad the way it could be seen was a bit into normalcy.

Not today though.

That felt good...

Ryu listened, knowing that many teachers, Chuunin and Jounin were likely looking over the graduation notes for the cream of the crop or for those to add to their personal teams for a better and full lineup. He had been told the day he received his headband that there would be a great need for the Genin of the future to be ready to accept these roles for the sake of the village. They would be tasked with bringing in revenue to the village through mission assignments and dealings for the Lords and those alike, that would spend money on protections or to take out the mercenaries and vandals. This was a great deal for village prosperities and it hun all the way down to the Genin level. Those who had proven they were worthy to carry out these adventures and missions. This was the way of the world...

'Did he just say he was Chikamatsu... Shin?'

Ryuni tensed noticeably, his body went rigged and obviously nervous.

"Y-...You're the..." his voice going down to a whisper, but he did not finish. He only was able to continue listening to the ma's question, a very good question that actually caused Ryuni to relax in his thoughts, and the tone of his voice gave him cause to believe he truly did care about his answer. The notion being that he knew him by simple files, and he was able to place that to memory and it had been only a week? That was truly remarkable to Ryuni, it gave him a renowned respect for the man. What a way to greet the highest ranking member in the village. And he just showed that he was an immature boy with no money that nearly cheated a member of the village of his rightful coin. Be it an accident, but that was not easy to shrug off.

"My goals... at this point... I dont have any true goals..." he paused, thinking for a moment, the flames of his heart beginning to burn, "No... thats not true... I want more. More for myself and my Clan... To not just be an outstanding warrior but to be... Respected. Not feared but respected. To be known as a trust worthy man. To be the shining light to all of Suna!" as he spoke his voice rose, his body rising from their parked place on the bench and flames beginning to emit from his fist as he pumped it into the air.

A pause.... then he would sit again, "Sorry... but I took the exams to begin my role to give the Yamashiro a name amongst the enlisted shinobi, we dont have many and we are not plenty, but I believe we are the heart of what makes Sunagakure great." nodding again he'd continue.

"I am in celebration for myself. Through the academy my father did not let me celebrate in my courses. He pushed me to be better...but he didn't want to celebrate because... 'There is always more work to be done...', which I understand..." he trailed off sadly.

 

[Chikamatsu Shin]

Shin watched the flames dance across Ryuni's fist with genuine appreciation, a small smile tugging at his lips. There was something about the Yamashiro—their unfiltered passion, their conviction that burned as bright as their signature element. He'd always respected that about them, even when it made them difficult political allies.

"The Yamashiro have never needed anyone's permission to be the heart of Sunagakure," Shin said, his tone easy and matter-of-fact, as if stating something as obvious as the desert being hot. "That fire you just showed me? That's been keeping this village's spirit alive since before either of us was born. Your clan doesn't whisper their convictions—you shout them, you dance them, you live them."

He shifted on the bench, his aqua eyes studying the boy thoughtfully.

"Your father sounds like a hard man to please. Mine was... different. Celebrated everything, maybe too much." A chuckle slipped from his lips casually. "I graduated the academy young, made Chuunin instructor by your age. My parents threw parties for every promotion, every achievement. But I was also training under Sennin, Medical Chiefs, ladies of noble clans who expected perfection. It was strange—celebrated at home, but never allowed to be a child anywhere else."

Shin reached into his coin pouch, counting out a generous handful of yen and pressing them into Ryuni's palm. The amount was more than enough for a proper celebration, good food, maybe even something special to bring home to family.

"So let me do what your father should have done. Celebrate, Ryuni-kun. You earned that headband with blood and effort. Honor that achievement before you start chasing the next one."

He stood, gathering his parcels again, but paused before stepping away. Something shifted in his expression, a spark of mischief mixed with genuine curiosity.

"But before I let you go..." Shin tilted his head slightly, "You said you want to be the shining light of Suna. Would you like to show me just how brightly you can shine? Right here, right now?"

The challenge hung in the air, deliberately vague. Shin didn't elaborate, didn't explain what he meant or what he expected. He simply waited, watching to see how the young Yamashiro would interpret the test... because sometimes, how someone chose to shine revealed more than any predetermined task ever could.