Haruka Shiraki, 13, Academy Student of Sunagakure
Name: Haruka Shiraki
Age: 13
Physical Description: A short and unimposing young girl, barely scraping four and a half feet. She has a physique like a dancer but slim, with very little muscle mass to speak off. Her raven black hair is long, stretching well past her shoulders and down just above her hips, often tied into a single long tail, especially in more challenging circumstances. She has soft blue eyes and almost always wears a peaceful or warm expression. With soft lips, and rounded facial features, she's the very picture of serenity.
When not on duty she often wears her spiritual uniform, a white kimono, a red hakama, a decoratively pink and floral-designed obi, and simple wooden sandals.
Mental Description: A generous and caring soul, Haruka was raised to try to find balance in all things, that there is a purpose in all things in nature, including the living and sentient beings. It isn't about suffering evil, it's about accepting that everything that isn't good doesn't happen to agree with your narrow mortal framework of the universe. As such, Haruka is a patient and understanding person who does her best to see the good in all things.
This leads her to being overtly permissive and forgiving at times, someone malicious will get a lot of chances, but while she's slow to anger, her fury can be a terrifying thing to behold. When she decides that something must be destroyed, her patient and slow consideration often yield to an absolute decision.
History: Born to the Shiraki family, a small offshoot of the Tsuchimikado tradition. Haruka's family tend a small shrine on the edge of town, where they offer services to various people of Sunagakure. They primarily performed education and dealt with spiritual threats for the nearby community. Haruka was raised within this tradition and following in her parent's footsteps took her duties as a spiritual medium. Her family also has a close relationship with the various orders within Sungakure, while not tied directly, her family has a long history of membership among the Rangers, Journeymen and most frequently the Oracles.
To her, the world is entirely alive, and it is her duty to keep the wheels turning. Conflicts between mortals are very much not her concern, because such conflicts are within the natural order. However, she knows that innocents must be protected from such things. It was this belief that led her to the Academy. She told her parents that she wanted to learn more about life outside of the shrine, and her parents believing in the free will of their precocious daughter agreed, after making sure she understood what it meant, and what might be asked of her.
She delayed her decision for a few years, entering much later than others. This was in part because her parents wanted to make sure that she was ready for the realities of the outside world. But despite the trials, Haruka remained adamant in her resolve, and as time passed she only grew more and more confident in her decision. She learned of the history of her country, of the world outside of it. If the Academy was so dangerous if the life of a Shinobi was so fraught and risky, violent and dangerous, where better for her to be to try to make a difference?
She makes frequent trips to visit with her family but otherwise lives within the academy hosted by a household friend with her family.
