Private Graduation Is Over, Missions Haven’t Started, and Yet Everything Changes—The First Meeting of Two New Shinobi and Their Sensei

[Kyuji]

It had been a few days since the meeting among the noble and lesser clans hosted by the current Kazekage of the village and the one that followed that was private between my old student and I. Both meetings had been productive and really brought to light the magnitude of what had happened since I had been injured - targeted - attempted to be kill in the Red Light District. I had missed a lot of changes in leadership over that time, people growing up and the village flourishing and struggling in different ways than what I was accustomed to. There was still much that I needed to catch up on within the village, but I had been given a letter from one of the ANBU in the village from the academy that two new students had graduated and they were looking for someone to mentor them.

It had been quite some time since I had mentored or taught anyone in this village as most of my students had grown up and succeeded more than I had or they had disappeared off the face of the world - no in-between unfortunately. But, an opportunity to guide the next generation of shinobi in our village was not one that I could easily pass up. This is what prompted me to sit outside of one of the well-known restaurants in the Gold Plaza of the Commerical District and snack on some chocolate cake at one of their tables. The two new genin had a simple task given to them that had been sent to their homes within the village in the form of a letter. A simple letter that read:

"You are being summoned for a meeting on XX at XX:XX. Make sure to be prompt to your meeting. I will be waiting for you and the other.

Signed,
Byakko Kyuji"

The letter was vague on the location and straight to the point. They would not realize it, but they were already being tested by me from receiving the letter. A good shinobi would be able to locate me without any issue with the information provided - let's see if these two could do the same. Anyone that knew me or had been under my direction before were aware that my methods for handling and doing things could be seen as unorthodox and unconventional at times, but productive and successful in the end. This was yet another one of those moments and all I could hope was they were success. Either way, I had cake and I hadn't been able to have any in quite some time so I would savor it while I waited.

 

[Renmei Tsumugu]

It had been his mother who would first encounter the letter, her general experience as a shinobi herself understanding the gravity of such communications. Without reading the notice herself, she would bring it to Tsumugu just as he was entering the communal room. There would be no exchanging of words between the two as the piece of paper exchanged hands, his mother exiting the room after subtly giving him a kiss on the forehead. This day had been one he had been waiting on since his graduation not to long ago. It was only a matter of time before he would be requested and his future path as a shinobi of the village would begin to take shape. What excitement boiled within him did not show on his face, though as he scanned the notice an internal chill crept up along Tsumugu's spine.

His first reaction puts him in a sphere of alertness and caution, not excitement.

The summons was something normal, something understandable and that was not what elicited such a bodily response. No, it was who the letter was from. His youth did not shield him from growing up steeped in biased perceptions and seeing Byakko anything could only mean the person was connected to the Toroano Clan. This was just the tip of the iceberg as it wasn't just any Toroano, but Kyuji. The Renmei were trained from childhood to treat influence carefully. A summons from someone powerful outside the clan didn’t feel like an honor, it feels like a test. With the letter still in his grasp, both eyes would set their attention to a shifting movement in his peripheral vision. There in the doorway, his mother would be standing with his father whom she had fetched while Tsumugu was reading the summons. No words were exchanged as their facial features spoke more to him than any language could. Tsumugu's father approached though not empty handed, as he carried a large gourd which was simply placed before his son. Right, at the end of the day he was a Renmei and a proud one at that..

He doesn’t rush to leave.
He doesn’t refuse the order.
He prepares.

Before leaving, he checks his gourd seals and tightens his forehead protector. He adjusts the pendant at his neck. He reviews every rule drilled into him by the clan elders and his parents: Do not promise. Do not reveal. Do not bind the clan through your words. On the walk there, his mind is steady but sharp. He’s aware of his own age thirteen, a genin and that alone tells him something is off. A shinobi of that stature doesn’t summon a child without reason let alone send a summons without vital information such a time and place. Equally, in the back of his brain he wondered just who the other was. No street. No building. No time. Just the name of the shinobi who was famous, powerful, from a clan the Renmei did not trust and the expectation that he would appear. For a long moment, he stood before his house after exiting with the paper held between his fingers, feeling the weight of the message more than the gourd strapped on his back. It was deliberate, he realized concluding that this had to be a test before the meeting even began.

Sunagakure was loud during this time of day, with merchants calling out, shinobi moving between missions or other responsibilities, everyday citizenry going about their day to day lives. Tsumugu let the noise wash over him as he thought. A shinobi of that status wouldn’t meet somewhere private, not with a thirteen-year-old genin from the Renmei and not in a secluded place a child of his ranking wouldn't even know about. It also wouldn’t be anywhere that could be traced back to the clan’s water routes or storage vaults as that was an obvious healthy scratch off the list of possible locations. He didn’t ask anyone for help. Instead, he started walking, as what purpose would he have of rushing without vital information or a definitive means to acquire it.

As he walked a thought occurred to him, that if they were meeting then it would mean at the very least, it would be someone waiting in a stagnant location. Process of elimination running options through his head, Tsumugu would shift his weight mid-stride as a sudden channeling of chakra into his feet would aid in sending him airborne. His movements were fluid, using the edges of available rooftops in the district as platforms to further propel himself around while his eyes scanned for any possible clue. This would go one for several minutes before something caught his attention, a somewhat older shinobi who was perched atop a nearby roof. Information...That's it. In approaching the shinobi and greeting the man with general respect, he'd ask the man a simple question, "What does Byakko Kyuji look like?". Luckily the shinobi had some vague description to give though it wasn't much information either when pitted agains the shear number of people in the village that could have those characteristics; blonde, short, green eyed. With general thanks, Tsumugu would carry on before finding himself on a stationary perch amongst the bustle of the commercial district. It was here that he would take time to scan and overwatch, playing a game of essentially where's waldo. The main trait though that was of the most importance was the description that Kyuji had feline ears.

It would be this specific trait that would allow him to find his needle in a haystack, or at least for the time being he assumed he found her. A woman, alone and eating in the near distance loosely matched what he was looking for though the question was how exactly would he confirm this. He would stand there in the open, his position being easily spotted by anyone who bothered scanning nearby roofs as it was not like he was trying to hide or be concealed. For now he simply would wait, staring solely at the woman and watching her....what was he banking on exactly?

The other, as if another approached the woman then he could very well surmise that this was where he was supposed to be.

[Topic Entered]
[WC: 1055]

 

[Yamashiro Ryuni]

"Ni-Kun. You have a message. . . Byakko? Oh dear." A fair-skinned woman stepped within the training room in the small Yamashiro Home. It was Ryuni's mother. The frail older woman, standing with her glossy amber eyes staring at Ryuni, filled with concern, but it was her son's dream to go this route. To be a Genin warrior for the village. He opted to still hold the traditions of the Yamashiro but he would spread the passion and heart across Sunagakure. His mother, Taferi, was someone who did have the presence about her that would lend itself to a typical Yamashiro Clansmen but she was the married daughter of a village outside Suna. Ryuni's father, a low shaman, was the one who held the true blood of the Yamashiro in the household. Ryuni, much like his father, was a loud and proud representation of the ideals in their clan. Very knowledgeable of what they were to do and how they were to walk and esteem themselves around the village...

But...

Ryuni was different in the ways that would not be willing to bridge in those ideologies. He was stout in his beliefs, but there was something deep within that may emerge to want that bridge to be gapped. Today however, was not that day. He was pushing himself after graduation getting ready for the days that missions would be requested of him to work with a potential bidder for his services. He had not be assigned to a team or group, nor did he pledge to a branch specifically, he was main branch militia. His road had not led him one way or another and his mind was not set on anything in particular, and that was on purpose. He wanted the world to know him but he wanted to be able to be molded by his teachers and those who came before him. Like a slab yet to made into a glorious statue, like a canvas yet to be fully painted.

"...Do not worry ma..." Ryuni replied, stopping in his practice. He had a singular gauntlet on his right hand, a bracer that he was attuning to his battle style. Since he was one for hand to hand combat, having something he could use to keep his hand safe from both his flames and the potential armor or protections his opponent may have, was essential. "I'll be working with many who may not like the symbol I wear, or the house I belong to..." he paused, looking about the room before resting his amber orbs back to his mother with a smile. He looked calm. . . too calm.

"...They will feel my light though... Whether they like it or not...

"I am sure they will but a mother still worries... My boy ha gotten so strong... You have one of the strongest flames I've seen... but there will always be someone stronger... Never forget. Even as your flames rise...

"Your sun can easily be set... For your power is not in the flames itself but the way your flames are used... I know Ma. I will never forget..."

"Good...Now here... Take this and be sharp." she would speak as she set the parcel on a small table near the room's entry before she would blow her son a kiss and leave him to his devices. Ryuni would stand for a moment, a bead of sweat dropping from his brow as he'd pace to the table and reach for the letter. His eyes reading the message looking for any clues that might help him in the simple note. He placed the letter in his pocket before getting himself ready for what was to come...

A day or so later, it was time to meet and he would wear his minor gloves on with his robes and headband over his forehead. A small satchel on his waist and a dagger that he would keep within his left bracer, hidden amateurly. There were no specifics on how he would find this Byakko woman. He didn't know if she was a woman or not but before leaving his home he read over the letter again noticing the handwriting, being something similar to the female teachers an his mother. Not perfect but almost done in a feminine way. It was very different from the hard writing that he'd seen many men do or even himself and the kids he knew in the academy.

And... another ominous feeling... 'You and the other.' There was someone else who had received this letter. These were clues that made him deeply think about who else this might've been sent to. This could be a trick, maybe, but he doubted it. This was the first chance to be apart of a solidified team and he would smile upon the challenge to work with anyone. Maybe even a clan that he knew and got along with, surely they wouldn't put him with someone who would cause issues with... right?

This was a widely known area, so the object would be to find the person that seemed to stand out. She would want them to find her, but she was not making it easy. Ryuni wasn't the smartest in class but he was observant. And through his observations he knew that the key was always in the details. . . and a good student was always aiming themselves to know more than the had the previous day, moment, chance.

There was a warmth to this day, but it gave him a chill... like things had been too perfect and there was bound to be a hitch in his plotting in the day. So he took the approach of being open but on alert. Walking through he'd see the vendors, and those selling delights and such, he thought he would come here to get some treats soon, maybe some for his mother. She liked a Bao Bun with savory pork in the midst...

He didn't see anyone out of the ordinary until he spotted a blonde woman eating on the side bench or chair? He wasn't sure. She was far off in the distance, and seemed to be obviously looking about. But she may be looking for a date. Girls did that in this area, so he couldn't be too sure. There were others about, looking their eyes would meet Ryu's and then cast him aside as if to say 'No, you're not who I'm looking for... but the blonde woman seemed to meet his eyes? or maybe he was making it up as he went. Who knew? She seemed nice enough... approachable... but he didn't wish to make a fool of himself so he circled around and went to the vendor next to where she was sitting looking through the catalog of foods and morsels that the store offered while eying the woman when he got the chance to see if the other may show up and give him a chance not to look foolish. . .

'C'mon... where are you...'

 

[Kyuji]

As I put the last piece of my cake in my mouth, there had been no change from when I started my slice a little while ago. Neither of the recent graduates had made an appearance yet, but surely they were in the proximity of my location at the very least. Truly, I didn't think it would take them this long to locate me as I was not exactly hiding among the crowd or attempting to trick them at all especially since I had characteristics that were not common among most people in the country aside from other members of my clan and the overall Toraono Clan.

Nevertheless, I would wave down the waiter and ask him if he could raise the umbrella at my table and bring me another slice of cake and two more menus while I waited. He wouldn't take long to accommodate me and once he left, I went back to eating my cake while I waited. It had been so long since I had a delicacy like this and was able to be out of my home since the incident. While the details of that night were still hazy at best, at least it didn't cause my taste buds to weaken nor prevent me from eventually exploring my country again. But it certainly had been awhile as I could not recall how long I had been isolated in the Byakko Clan to make a full recovery per Lady Yanshi's orders - all I really knew was I was roughed up badly in the Red Light District and would need to return there when I had my full strength back and knew what was going on in the village in the coming days. With the current threats presented to us per the meeting I had with the other clan leaders and Chikamatsu Shin afterwards, any personal avenging would need to wait.

Besides, right now, this cake was really good and I hoped I would meet these new Genin soon. But if they took a little longer, I could enjoy possibly another piece of cake!

---

MFT: 348 Words

 

[Renmei Tsumugu]

Tsumugu stood at the edge of the roof, surrounded by voices below from the day to day in an area that he was well familiar with and yet felt more lost than if he were deep in the open desert. He clenched his fists at his sides, irritation beginning to burn behind his eyes, this was not his strength. He could fight, he could endure a harsh environment of this country, yet here, in the middle of noise and movement, the limited trail of breadcrumbs that was information he had at his disposal mocked him into nothing and failure sat in his chest like a stone he couldn’t shake. Though all this had some weight, Tsumugu's gaze never strayed away from the woman for to long, taking moments to scan other places as long as -she- was still in the picture. It would be this exact lack of absolute focus which caused his first true missed opportunity, as he had not noticed that another closer to the woman was putting equal attention in her direction.

"I cannot waste to much time here. Stagnant water is a hidden danger."

Observation was not in his skill set but adaption and the ability to change tactics on the fly, was. Tsumugu would drop down from his perch, landing between the alleyway of two buildings. After moving to join the people moving about, he would duck behind a cloth stall at the edge of the plaza, the noise of the commercial district rolling around him. He formed the seals quickly and released the chakra and in a breath of smoke, his reflection in one of the stall’s bronze frames was no longer his own. The lean genin was gone, replaced by a freckled academy age kid with messy brown hair and a too-big vest, clutching a scrap of paper and a pencil. He stepped back into the sunlight, weaving through shoppers with the clumsy urgency of a child, then stopped in front of the woman as she continued to enjoy her sweet cake. Looking up, eyes wide, he held out the paper with both hands.

“Um… excuse me, ma'am. My dad says you’re the strongest in the village. Could I… could I get your autograph?”

[Transformation (R1) used to appear as a child]
[WC: 375]

 

[Yamashiro Ryuni]

This was quite the intriguing ordeal, now that he was able to watch the woman for the moment. She seemed to be in anticipation of the moment. Her movements while subtle were like those of someone waiting for something. He was very much aware of that, but was she the one he was looking for? He'd find out, but as he would look he'd catch something from the alley way between two buildings far off. He'd made his way around looking from vendor to vendor before noticing this... a child.

Freckled and young, a boy seemed to make a b-line straight to the woman, with a pad in hand he walked up to the woman and... asked the most adorable question... but the question in itself was... odd. If she were to have been the strongest in the village, she would be known widely. The people shopping would be murmuring about her. There would be looks, and people would treat her... differently. This much was to be assumed, but Ryuni was treated by a slight smirk himself.

'The Other...' He thought.

So he would interject himself behind the youngling.

"Hmmm, if shes the strongest... then, What is her name kid?" he'd step from the table next to where she was sitting and into the clearing, as if he were waiting for the moment. He was likely making it obvious he were looking at the woman by now but now was the moment to step in before making himself look foolish, as if he were just a passerby intrigued with the wild claim of the young boy.

 

[Kyuji]

As I continued to eat my cake, I would smirk as it would seem that I was going to meet these new graduates soon. Out of the corner of one of my eyes, I had seen something in the distance disappearing that had been stationary for some time, but I kept eating as it could possibly be one of them but also someone that merely wanted to get some training in while doing errands - I was not one to judge what people did in their spare time aside of work or assignments. Before too long, a little boy would approach me asking for my autograph which was adorable but my eyes sensed something was off with him as I took the piece of paper and pen that he presented to me to autograph his paper; it was rare I would sign anything aside from official paperwork.

However before I did, another figure would appear that seemed to be slightly older and asked the younger one for my name. I smiled at both of them with my green vixen eyes piercing into each one of them and chuckled. It seemed I had found my two new Genin according to the paperwork I received from the village about the graduates. I would write something on the paper for the younger one and hand it back to him looking right at him. If he choose to read it, it would say "That was an adequate performance of the Transformation Jutsu that you are taught in the Academy. However, I know who you are so you can undo it when you are ready to present your actual self."

I would then point at the two menus on the table across from me and simply say: "You two can have a seat and order anything you want off the menu. But first, introduce yourselves to me and tell me why you are both here. I am curious why you are both approaching me while I am trying to enjoy some moist, delicious chocolate cake from one of the best places in Sunagakure. I haven't had any in such a long time and they do not make this at home." After the last words left my mouth, I went back to eating my cake and waving down the waiter for another slice. Yes, I like sweets and I was hungry for more cake - don't judge me.

 

[Renmei Tsumugu]

The woman had accepted his small pad and pencil, the revelry for her that had been in his eyes just a moment ago showing fault for a split moment. It would be a sudden rush of excitement that distracted his focus, enough that one could had swore his eyes were blue just a blink ago. This however would all change in the matter of a heartbeat as before the lady could initially scribble upon the piece of paper he presented, something came closer. He sensed the movement. When the other youth approached the two of them, his calm doesn’t break but something inside him tightens. Of all the people from the academy…it had to be him. He knew the boy from their time as students and from that clan. The one who always in class seemed to push too hard, seemed to talk too loud. The one who treated, in his eyes, shinobi life like a competition instead of a responsibility. He doesn’t show it on his transformed face, but inside there’s a mix of things: annoyance, a flicker of old resentment, and a steady pressure of caution.

Not anger.
Not fear.
Just… awareness.

He turns calmly, offering a short nod. “The lady here is..” Part of him wanted to ask why the village would pair them together as he was sure the boy was the -other- at this point. Another part already knew the possible answer: because they complement each other too well to ignore. This would be when his attention would be snapped back into the current situation, before he could answer Ryuni's question fully, the paper he'd extended to the woman to sign was given back to him. It was a declaration instead of an autograph, a sign that the rouse was up before it could truly begin. For a half-second his gaze sharpens, measuring the situation, then he exhales slowly and releases the jutsu. The false form dissolves in a soft wisp of chakra and light smoke which drifted around his real figure before dispersing.

His immediate action after this, shoot a glare towards Ryushi. The two of them had once again ended up in the same place. At the pointing at the menus by the woman and after allowing a deep exhale to escape his lips in such a way it was obviously in response to being near the Yamashiro. Nevertheless, Tsumugu would take his seat on the right after setting down the large gourd on his back and though his attention should have been in whole focused towards the lady, split-second gazes towards his left would be something easily noticeable. Gathering himself for introduction, the letter received at his home would be presented on the table followed by declaration of his name. "Renmei Tsumugu. As far as why, well because of assignment." This was his straight forward honesty, he was here because this is what was required when you were a shinobi. You answer summons even when they are vague, which although he didn't bring it up had bugged him. The very nature of having them meet somewhere completely unknown.

What kind of test was that...what kind of outcome could he had hoped for if he had never lucked up and found her. Though still, was this her, as he had yet to hear the woman introduce herself. That natural curious persona of his started to run questions in his mind. Questions that whatever answers were being entertained by his brain, was more than likely pure fantasy to the real reasoning.

[WC: 590]

 

[Yamashiro Ryuni]

Ryuni knew it, something about the woman seemed to suggest that she would be the one that they had been on a search for. And Ryuni was quite the investigator to himself, thinking proudly that he'd noticed ahead of time. It was definitely something that he would go about thinking on in the future, especially dealing with this woman and her antics. Childish but she was testing them. He and... the Renmei. The glare that the midew-smelling genin before him gave Ryuni was priceless. Getting both under his skin while also giving him a sense of pride that he was able to get an early indication on this boy's intelligence.

Wasnt very. At least at first glance...

"I am Yamashiro Ryuni." he would state with a bow before setting himself down infront of the menu. The gurgling noises his stomach seemed to immediately make would cause the boy to eye the menu with a questionable eye, but he knew he didn't have any money in his satchel at the moment. He'd given it up to help another kid in the academy BUT, he was not going to let that rattle him as he would look to the Renmei, the clan that was the polar opposite of himself. They delved in water, and of the like. 'Hmph water boy...' he'd smirk looking at Tsumu before looking back up to Kyuji.

"So, you've summoned us... and we are here... What now?", the boy would ask as he'd wave the waiter down for a glass of water, maybe that would help his stomach. He definitely couldn't even afford an air sandwich at this point. Maybe Kyuji would offer some cake? ANYTHING?! THE BOY WAS SCREAMING WITH HIS EYES-... no... he would keep himself calm. For now...

But he was a bit anxious about this whole ordeal. Maybe... Maybe this would be a mission posting? Maybe they would be about to embark on something, adventurous. Something that would bring glory to the Yamashiro name. Maybe this was going to be, the day he would begin to etch his name in the stars as the flames of hsi clan would be placed on the forefront of the lips in this village... Maybe he was going to be able to change the stars of his own destiny. . .

Maybe. . .

 

[Kyuji]

As I sat there and took a bite of my cake, I would listen to both of them introduce themselves to me and nod after they finished. I knew who they both were already from reports written and verbally given to me before I scheduled this meeting with them both - that included knowing that they already had history with one another from their academy days. Interesting and a challenge - this is how the village wanted me to get back to my old form prior to the World Martial Arts Tournament and my incident in the Red Light District quickly. They would hear a little chuckle from me as I took another bite of my cake as I analyzed them silently as they sat there - I would see their glances, or maybe glares is a better word, between the two of them to each other and their body language already said more than any words that they could say to me.

When the waiter brought back the ones water, I would speak to them both with a slightly smile on my face: "When I said you could order anything off the menu, I meant that I would be paying for your food and beverages. I might be the descendant of Lord Byakko, married to Lady Byakko Yanshi and carried our village and country's name on my back in the World Martial Arts Tournament, but I am not cheap and know how to host my guests. Please have something to eat and get yourself to drink more than water." As I finished, I would flag down the waiter again and ask him for a beverage as my cake was absolutely god-like but I was getting quite thirsty and needed something to quench my thirst - a simple response and he was off to get my drink.

I would then turn back to the two boys and would appear to be piercing into their very souls with my green vixen-like eyes as I continued - the demeanor shifting from a happy, bubbly one to a more serious tone. "Renmei Tsumugu and Yamashiro Ryuni, I am Lady Byakko Kyuji if my introduction did not do justice or you had doubts. The easiest way to tell me from a fake is I have these ears further up on my head than a normal shinobi's. My eyes look like a kitsune's over the natural Byakko Clan member's eyes or someone outside of the clan. My fingernails look like a feline's claws as I have the blood of Byakko in me. I also have blonde hair over the rest of the Byakko Clan's being white or many of the village having dark hair like you both do."

A quick pause as the waiter returned with my drink and I would take a sip as I continued looking at them before I continued. "Why do I tell you this information? Because one of you chose to hide back and watch me from a distance until you saw the other swoop in with an average use of the Transformation technique. You both were correct that I am the one that summoned you, but you need to be more careful when you are approaching a scene as I could have been someone pretending to be me to harm the village or cause chaos. That is lesson number one for both of you." I would then get up from my spot and take a few steps around the table to both of them and flick them both on their foreheads - one because I was on the shorter side in the world and two to get the point across to them both that I was not going to coddle them like some of the instructors in the academy likely did.

After I returned to my seat, I would continue again: "You both were summoned by me because you were assigned to me as my Genin and I as your sensei. I already know that you two have a history from your academy time so I will give you three options here now. First, you can leave this summon now and tell the village that you want to be put with another sensei and squad. Second, you can keep your history with one another and try to work together for the betterment of the village and your clans. Third, you two could kiss one another here and make amends with one another and start a beautiful friendship with one another." I would then chuckle momentarily at my last comment before returning my gaze to both of them again: "Personally, I hope you both would want to help your village and clans. Be forewarned if you take that option, I can be strict and hard to deal with at times as you are the next generation of the village and I need to ensure you are ready to take on that responsibility. You will tested by me as your ally and your enemy as I see fit in a controlled setting."

I would then lean back in my chair and sip on my drink some more as I waited to see what they would do. I know if I was their age and someone spoke like this to me, I would have thought they were insane or I needed to be cautious around them. The times were different though and sometimes you had to be a little crazy to get your point across. Right? Right.

 

[Sabaku Rika]

Nearby the little restaurant, Rika was approaching. A tad bit late, earlier she had received a note. Vague, non-descript, telling her to meet a Byakko Kyuji. Rika had heard of the name, well, read about them from old newspaper articles, and reports. She just graduated, so she assumed the meeting was about that. Great, a squad, something else to slow me down. She thought to herself, huffing out a heavy breath. Looking out for others and team bonding were just other forms of weakness. However, she couldn't ignore orders or a team assignment, no matter how much she wanted to be a lone wolf. I guess it could be fun if our sensei is as strong as I believe she is. She wondered toherself, Kyuji won the tournament she read about, that was forever ago. She admired Kyuji from what she had read about her. She could put up with being in a squad for now; she knew once she got older and reached higher ranks, she could fly solo. Maybe, that's what she hoped. It was much easier to look after herself than have to babysit others. Maybe my team will be strong and an actual challenge, she thought. A challenge would be nice. Someone who could beat her in a spar, help her get stronger. It was hard to get stronger when your opponents were easy. Rika was trying to see the positive side, look at the bright side. But the cons seemed to even it out pretty well.

As Rika was passing through, she immediately noticed the woman who stuck out like a sore thumb, Cat ears, blonde, looked like a shinobi, and two other brats near her. "Well, that wasn't hard," She mumbled to herself. She shifted her steps and grinned widely as she started to walk toward Kyuji. As she approached, she managed to hear the introductions: Ryuni and Tsumugu, both from clans. She remembered seeing them in the academy, though she never actually met them until now.

"Renmei Tsumugu and Yamashiro Ryuni, I am Lady Byakko Kyuji if my introduction did not do justice or you had doubts. The easiest way to tell me from a fake is I have these ears further up on my head than a normal shinobi's. My eyes look like a kitsune's over the natural Byakko Clan member's eyes or someone outside of the clan. My fingernails look like a feline's claws as I have the blood of Byakko in me. I also have blonde hair over the rest of the Byakko Clan's being white or many of the village having dark hair like you both do."

Rika stood out of the way as Kyuji spoke, waiting for her to finish. Once she was done, she stepped up to the table and leaned her hip against the edge, facing Kyuji and crossing her arms. Her lips had a wide grin on them.
"Lady Byakko, Its nice to put a face to the name, sorry I am late, though you didn't put a time. I'm Sabaku Rika," Rika introduced herself, and nodded her head, before she glanced over her shoulder at Tsumugu and Ryuni. She smirked, then grabbed a chair and pulled it up to the table, resting her elbows on it. "I'll have a slice of cake too, if you're buying," she stated, waving a hand, then resting her chin in the palm of her other hand. She respected Kyuji, though manners weren't her strong suit. Growing up in the foundling sector, she didn't exactly have parents to scold her; most of the elders there did the bare minimum of taking care of her. Though she didn't care too much, she figured it didn't matter as long as she got the job done.
Rika was wearing an earth-toned sleeveless tunic with a black undershirt and holes in the shoulders. A black cowl rested on her shoulders, and a red, wide sash was tight around her waist. Her hair - slightly messy, but tied up high in a ponytail, her bangs ruffled from the walk over here. She was a little taller than the average girl her age, standing at 4'8". She exuded confidence, one could mistake it as arrogance, with how she casually grinned, and her posture screamed carefree.

[Topic Entered - edited, I forgot the character description.]
[MFT]

 

[Renmei Tsumugu]

His eyebrow would raise slightly, eyes trained on Ryuni as he struggled not to judge the boy's reaction to simple hydration. Exhaled slightly with unease at just hearing the boy's name but upon Lady Kyuji's insistence Tsumugu wouldn’t react with excitement or refusal, he’d react with quiet confusion first, then careful respect. When his sensei offers, “…I’m fine,” he says but not with a dismissive tone. He isn’t hungry and his body doesn’t need fuel yet. The Renmei upbringing taught him not to take resources he doesn’t require be it food, water, money as all of it registers in his mind as supplies, not comforts. His fingers curl against the strap of his gourd as he mentally weighed the offer and reaffirmed his home rearing. Feeling the strap of his gourd, he would with a emotionless tone make a simple offer, an offer which came about only because of how destitute his other was appearing. "Ryuni can get extra instead, since I am not in such..", found his gaze falling for a moment with a split enjoyment before his next words, "Need".

That was when footsteps stopped beside him, his attention yet again diverted towards the new arrival. She reminded him of Ryuni somewhat, energetic and straight forward, as she had approached and became seated in what felt like one smooth motion. She had even introduced herself at that same moment, the name unfamiliar to him and given their apparent age he assumed she was in a different class. When it came to her name, it did not give him an immediate thought to her character like how hearing Toraono and select others surnames. "Renmei Tsumugu", introducing himself to the girl. This softened his thoughts immediately, a calm expression washing over his face like tides upon a beach.

His sensei's voice broke the stillness of his mind, her offer one that took little to think over within his mind. Regardless of his self-admitted impression of Ryuni, there was no chance someone of his upbringing would allow that to be a reason for leaving duty unfulfilled. Old competition between them had been the true nature of Tsumugu's discomfort of seeing someone tied to a rival clan standing beside him again. His shoulders tightened briefly, the way they always did when his emotions threatened to rise. This swell slammed into a mental barrier like a reef, as it suddenly cemented to him...they weren't two, they were three. "Option two", he spoke with a serious tone unlike prior, "I don’t have to like him immediately,” he said. “But I won’t let our history interfere with team safety.”

That's right, he wouldn't tarnish his clan's reputation just because he was not able to keep a personal dislike from affecting his duty to the village.

[MFT]
[WC: 465]

 

[Yamashiro Ryuni]

The boy stood with a frown etched on his face as he listened to Kyuji speak, it was astounding the amount of accomplishment she had, and how deeply her life was woven into the fabric of Sunagakure. He had heard storied of her, and the awe that inspired him would wash over him as she spoke. His eyes would bounce to Tsumugu, eyeing the boy he'd met in the academy and shared a few classes and tests together but, they had subsequently never gotten along. Ever. And for good reason, Ryuni thought Tsumugu was a smart kid but his mouth was always getting unto the young Yamashiro's nerve. And right on cue Tsumugu's comment about Ryuni's lack of wealth was on point.

"Tch, Why dont you shut it before I shut it for you..." Ryuni's teeth clenched while he spoke, heat rising around him for a moment before he'd note the girl that come into the clearing. She stood there awkwardly... but he'd seen her before. 'Jape-... Rika...' he thought for a moment allowing her to take his mind off the Renmei for the moment, he looked at her for a moment. His chest getting heavy for the moment and his breath leaving him, but the moment passed when Kyuji continued speaking. "Ryuni." He'd bow his head as he'd continue listening in. At the end of it all there was something he would have to get over when dealing with the Renmei and the other obnoxious clans that looked down on him... he would have to work with them in order to become the bridge he'd hoped to become. To find the control within himself that could create the peace he woefully thought he was destined to achieve.

The options were nuts. One, he would never allow anyone to take away his destiny, the fact that Kyuji would even want to teach him would be something too good to pass up. Being taught by the one who won the Worlds Martial Arts Tournament, the strongest of an era. Maybe even stronger than the Kazekage... Hell ALL the Kage. This woman was giving him a chance to position himself for better. To bring more funding to his clan by simple association. No, no clan politics would sway him against this chance... the Third option.. would never happen. Not in a millennia.

"Option Two." His eyes fell on Rika, Tsumugu then Kyuji, "I agree, that he is a thorn in my side, but I will put that aside... as long as he's willing to work with me... I will oblige in the teamwork." his voice seething a bit but there was an air of truth and honesty within him, he wanted to work with him. He honestly liked Tsumugu, or rather he respected the kid's mind for combat. Just didn't like the boy's crack whip tongue. "So..." he'd take a drink of the water before him, but also hearing the rumble of his stomach once again, "I'll get a sandwich." he'd smile sheepishly before waving down the waiter.

[MFT]