Ryozan cringed once he heard the new nickname he had already earned himself, but did not bother to protest; dwelling on that name would only increase its likelihood of becoming permanent. Besides, he could see the cynicism behind her eyes. Chizuma was looking for any opportunity to strike... verbally of course. His best course of action would be to simply continue the conversation. Although he wasn't good at making small talk, he was sure that discussing his personal interests would lead them well away from the topic of lechery. Still, he was unsure how to simply tell her "about himself," but he would have to give it a try. "Well, I like to spend most of my time practicing my ninjutsu and swordsmanship," he began, once again finding a formal and polite tone, "though I also spend a fair amount of time reading as well. As for my hobbies, I have learned a bit of Shogi," though by a bit he meant that he was easily one of the top five players in the village, "and I will not turn down a game of Mahjong." So far so good. It didn't seem like any of those admittedly boring phrases could be misconstrued or turned against him, but now what? Surely there was more to small talk than just making lists of hobbies...

Then a thought came to him. Chizuma appeared to be about the same age, or at least of the same generation, as his mother would have been. "Perhaps you knew my mother," Ryozan suggested. Talking about the deceased was often uncomfortable for people, but it had happened long enough ago that he was able to converse about it now, albeit in a somber tone. "Her maiden name was Kasumi Takashi. I do not believe that clan name is around any longer, but I did inherit her kekkei genkai." It was a shot in the dark at best, but it didn't seem terribly unlikely that two kunoichi of the same generation may have known one another. Besides, as things were, this was his best chance of getting rid of the "weird stranger" stigma that he had been branded with. Well, maybe not the "weird" part, but at least the "stranger" part.