New-ninja shenanigans, a terrible training method?

[Yumiko]

Yumiko gave her father a big hug, small tears glistening in her eyes. It seemed that was that. She was going to train with Koga first, and then when she had free time she would seek out Zetsumo and Shuu. It felt strange. Sickeningly final and more than a little scary. What would her training even be like with the village in the state it was in? She couldn't answer that. She couldn't answer a lot of the questions spinning around in her head. She gave her father and CuRua and Yume a small wave and then took several steps backwards.

She turned around, closed her eyes, and ran across the street after Koga.

[Topic Left]

 

[Sagasu Yume]

The deranged woman watched Yumiko with curiosity as she disappeared into her household. The moments of silence were allowed to pass as such while the three shinobi waited outside, each with their own agendas. The fourth member took a step or two toward the house with the girl before he stopped and began to groom his paws to pass the time. His approach was two fold: one, he was simply enjoying the petting and wished for it to continue, and two, he perked his ears towards the entrance way in hopes to eavesdrop a little. To the builders credit, not a sound came from within. At the reappearance of Yumiko and her father, the fox stood up and shook his tail with vigor, crouch into a bow to show his respects as he was introduced as Foxie. Behind him, Yume would also bow her regards to the students patriarch. She thought it was prudent to watch rather than engage as the result of Yumiko's decision wasn't really her concern; She had achieved her goal the moment the youth began to question her best course of action.

I took everything for granted and now I'm separated for my mate, perhaps indefinitely. We as a village do our selves a disservice when we keep to our castes. Had it not been for that, I would have met Sousuke sooner rather than being caught up in 'what is appropriate'. Propriety got us into this mess.

Her mind hovered in a moment of clarity as she observed the interaction between the three, slowly melting towards the shadows as they occupied themselves with arranging the girls tutors. A sense of urgency bubbled deep in her belly and she vanished into the shadows once more, making haste towards the research facility. She had already spent too much time dallying around. She had to get to Keystone and gather her notes before some... vagrant... took it upon themselves to use them for inappropriate clean-up.

[Topic Left]

 

[Yumiko]

[Returned to topic from Here, awaiting further instruction from Toraono Kuro.]

Yumiko returned to the area, led by Mistress Hanone, to seek out Zetsumo for training...

 

[Toraono Kuro]

The housing district was clear and even more unusual it was bustling and lively unlike it's quiet night time atmosphere but that was mostly due to the organized patrols by elder shinobi that lived there and students of the Toraono Clan. Many of them had been Academy student dropouts, either unable to master genjutsu or ninjutsu or both they had given up on becoming Shinobi until they began to take lessons from members of the Toraono Clan. Some of the more successful students had attained shinobi status despite not having all of the tools a normal shinobi would have at their disposal thanks to this very same training. They were actually jovial and seemed to be having quite a good time, at least the patrol was, not the criminal element that mistook the families for weak targets for their whims. The strong ones had been beaten to unconsciousness and then bound or drugged then literally sealed in specific locations where they were kept under watch by volunteers from the neighborhoods.

Master Zetsumo was sitting in the front yard of a family's home showing a five year old how and why you should throw a punch and why one should never use their fist unless absolutely necessary. The young Taiyusoke giggled as he actually managed to put enough force behind his punch after an hour of instruction to shatter a small wooden board. He then noted that his hand was bruised but he didn't cry at the moment because he was so proud of himself. His mother simply shook her head as she came down and cleaned his left hand then wrapped it with some ointment so it could heal faster. She smiled and hugged Zetsumo and then Taiyusoke hugged him too. "It is off to bed with Tai Tai, but thank you for giving him back his confidence and letting him know it is okay to defend your mother but only when she can't defend herself."<i></i> Zetsumo placed his hands behind his back and nodded before adding on to her words. "Don't forget to do fifty push ups before bed and fifty when you get up in the morning."<i></i>
Taiyusoke bowed and ran off to do as he was told as Zetsumo waved and presumed his patrol. He could see Mistress Hanone's white hair in the distance and a small familiar shape was coming into view.

 

[Yumiko]

After an interesting mini-journey, Yumiko had arrived back in the same place she'd started; in the middle of Sietch Zensunna. And there, in the distance, was Zetsumo, just as she had left him. It did not take long for the pair to close the distance, whereupon Yumiko addressed the larger man. "Hello Zetsumo-Sensei." she said, "I went all the way to the Throne of Bone to ask you about training, but you weren't there." she summarized for no reason in particular. She fidgeted a bit, looking up at Mistress Hanone as well, not sure how to proceed.

 

[Toraono Kuro]

Byakko Zetsuma walked forward to hug his daughter Hanone and then took a knee before Yumiko. "You are such a brave young lady Yumiko-san, quite fearless to go all the way to my school to find me in the midst of all these problems the village is having. I am happy you are safe. Have you eaten yet? I must ensure your safety and well-being if I am going to train you."</COLOR><i></i> As he checked Yumiko over to make sure she was unharmed he noticed that Hanone had brought the training gear the young lady would need. Hanone used quick gestures and sign language to explain what had occurred at the dojo in a manner that would not further alarm Yumiko. Zetsumo blanched a bit as he was angry he was not facing Saiga but he knew Saiga would still be in for a fight with Lord Kuro himself. "Hanone-chan thank you for bringing my new student to me and make sure you check in at the original training grounds when you return to the Throne of Bone. I will likely need two more sets of training gear for her as Yumiko has shown she can be quite RECKLESS."

Hanone bowed and then kissed her father's forehead before replying <COLOR color="blue">"Hai atuinsah, I will check on you both later."<i></i> She quickly sped off at a speed that Yumiko had never known anyone could move at as she made her way back towards the Throne of Bone.