[hr] [h3][color=6ecff6]Ai Maruyama[/color][/h3] [hr] [color=6ecff6]'Now, now.'[/color] The voice came from behind the group. There stood a woman, obviously of at least a Jonin's rank, looking down on them with arms crossed. She was relatively small and even looked frail. Also, she did not wear the usual Jonin's vest neither. Instead, she was clad in black garments with long gloves and a net around her abdomen. [color=6ecff6]'There seem to be some tension here. You'll want to keep that for training.'[/color] Now that she was before them, Ai actually wondered how to go about this. [color=6ecff6]'My name is Maruyama Ai. I am to be your team captain from here on out. Nice to finally meet the three of you. So.'[/color] she then leaned against a nearby tree, still looking at the young trio [color=6ecff6]'How about we start with you talking about yourselves? If memory serve, that's kind of a tradition.'[/color] [hr] [h3][color=f9ad81]Sakaguchi, Ryuu[/color][/h3] [i]Earlier that day[/i] [hr] Ryuu smiled as he walked away from the academy. In the courtyard, all the Genins-to-be were assembled and waiting to meet their Jonin. It took him way back, for certain. However, now was not the time to remember the past. Making his way down the streets of the village, he waved and hailed a few acquaintances he met on the way until he finally reached a small restaurant in a less lively part of Konoha. As he was about to enter, he was stopped by two younger women who blocked his way. 'Oh! Sorry to have bumped into you...wait...are you the one they call the Dragon of the Red Thunder?!' [color=f9ad81]'I might have heard that a few times, I believe.'[/color] he said, shooting his iconic smile at them. He did not even try to remove his arm from the firm grasp of the woman who, with very bad acting, bumped into him voluntarily and grabbed his forearm. 'Your eyes really are the same as they say! Would you...accept an invitation for dinner with two young and pretty ladies?' the second one said. [color=f9ad81]'Thank you, really. I was indeed lucky to be born with a few gifts.'[/color] He chose to completely ignore the passage about their physique [color=f9ad81]'Terribly sorry, ladies, but I am beyond busy as of now. As the head of my clan and security in the village, I can seldom afford free time. I am certain you understand.'[/color] Expertly, Ryuu managed to free his arm during his short discourse and step around the two women. Before they had any time to answer anything at all, he confused them with a second smile before waving farewell and going in. Ryuu then went to the back of the restaurant and sat down. This was the place he had ask to meet a certain Kurama Asuka. A Jonin, like him. His investigation led him to uncover that a few years back she had a friend who went missing. That trail had since gone cold and was abandoned, but under the light of his new investigation he had brought it back up and had to speak with her.