Name:
Maki Ryo
Age:
8
Physical Description:
At a glance Ryo doesn't stand out that much from your average child of Sunagakure. He's only short for a boy his age, a detail that is exaggerated by his tendency to slouch. His skin is relatively fair, colored by the kiss of the desert sun but not as darkened as some natives. From a distance the most interesting thing about him is his hair, both in it's bright clay brown/red and the generally messy state of it as he seems to live with perpetual bed head. These details alone do not mark him as anything more than an average child of the Sand.
It's only upon closer inspection that his most striking detail is noticeable. His eyes are bright ruby red, easily drawing the eye and bringing attention to his pupils. His pupils aren't perfectly round circles but instead have lines sprouting out from the top, bottom and sides. While outsiders or the ignorant might think of it as one of the many odd changes in appearance brought upon by a shinobi bloodline, many in the Land of Wind would be able to recognize them as a sign of Ancient heritage.
Ryo has taken to wearing a particular outfit - a white hoodie under a light black jacket with jeans and sandals. It's a common sight to see his clothes scuffed up or dirty, implying that he's stubborn to keep dressing this way regardless of their state. Despite the layers of clothing, the heat of Sunagakure doesn't seem to bother him. It's not uncommon for him to be wearing bandages all over his arms, legs and face due to his rough and often confrontational nature, a phenomenon that has only escalated since his ninja training began.
Mental Description:
There is one word to best describe Ryo: moody. He's a quiet and often sullen child, usually avoiding strangers and keeping his mouth shut as much as possible. It wouldn't be unreasonable for one to assume he's just shy but anyone with a sharp eye would be able to spot his tensed figure and stern gaze. He's constantly at the ready, waiting for any sign to turn tail if he has to.
It doesn't take much for him to switch from flight to fight when provoked. He's not afraid to escalate to violence when faced with what he feels like a threat, so quick to jump the gun that he seems eager for it. Young, reckless and short tempered are far from safe features to have in combination. It's this nature of his that leaves him almost perpetually nursing scrapes and bruises with bandages while seemingly never teaching him his lesson. He's still a child, prone to follow his emotions without question and remain stubborn when it comes to changing his ways.
His youthful altruism manifests in an equally unhealthy way as he seems just as quick to jump to action to another being threatened as he would himself. Usually getting involved when it comes to witnessing bullying or animal abuse, it shows he can empathize with others even if he's not the best at communicating it. This doesn't make getting along with others any easier. He has trouble expressing his empathy in a more positive manner and keeps even those he'd help at arm's length. Animals are a notable exception as he seems much more at ease with random strays than he does your average person.
Ryo isn't made of stone nor is he able to properly vent even with his violent nature. It's not uncommon for melancholy to take hold when he's alone, often coming to tears he'd never admit to. He doesn't enjoy being on edge or feeling like he has to fight for his right to exist. The move to Sunagakure has only made these emotions intensify as he is completely out of his environment and lacking the one person he's ever considered family his whole life.
It isn't impossible for him to form a bond with someone new but it often takes time and effort. Ryo isn't well adept at expressing or communicating his feelings with others to the point that it often frustrates even him. He's stubborn as a bull to boot, making lowering his guard something that takes consistent effort on his part. He can prove to be warm underneath it all, showing signs that the world hasn't already made his callous just yet.
History:
The only child of a single mother, Ryo grew up in the rougher part of Soons Haven in the Land of Wind. The two of them lived on the meager salary of a common leatherworker, many months being a struggle to make enough to keep food on the table for the both of them. The trouble only got worse as he grew older and those around them began to recognize him as a hybrid. He was bullied by children his age often and was even assaulted by adults on occasion. This reputation hurt his mother as well as some refused to buy her wares on this alone while others would go out of their way to damage her shop.
The strain became too much to bare when Ryo turned eight. A change in the market meant that his mother's stock would be worth even less than it already was. Even if sales got better there was no way she could support the both of them. This forced her to admit a truth she'd kept from him for years. That she knew who his father was, a fact she'd denied since the day she was born. It was a man named Roku, a shinobi of great renown from Sunagakure. It'd been a chance encounter during his travels that brought them together. It was a brief encounter between two young fools but her only hope for her son was to make his father take responsibility.
It took time to gather enough money to take the both of them to Sunagakure, weeks spent in near poverty just to save up. When they finally arrived in the hidden village they made a great effort to keep Ryo's nature hidden from the natives until they tracked Roku down. Guilt, obligation or the blackmail his mother threatened Roku with made the sennin agree to taking the child in with him. Knowing that she could not make a living in such an unfamiliar and different place, his mother managed to shake enough yen out of his father for a return trip home though not without a heartfelt goodbye to her son.
Life became both easier and more difficult in many ways for Ryo in his new home. His neighborhood was nicer and safer then it'd been back in Soons Haven and he had access to amenities and luxuries he'd never even dreamed of but the bias towards him was no better here than it had been there. He was just as prone to get into fights as he did before, now with the added risk that the village was full of shinobi. One of the few things perhaps keeping it from going to far was the association with his father, a man respected in the village though he could not understand why. Not only had he not been there for most of Ryo's life but he was a disappointment after everything he'd heard. He was gruff and kinda scary looking but incredibly lax, leaving home for long stretches of time only to return and lay around like a bum.
The closest they've come to bonding was their agreement to start Ryo in the academy. While he lacks the discipline and clear head expected of most shinobi, his willingness to fight has proven that he has some potential even if he has a long way to go.
Stats
Stamina: 20/50
Agility: 20/50
Taijutsu: 20/50
Ninjutsu: 20/50
Genjutsu: 20/50
Chakra Control: 30%/50%
Power Level: 130