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[Center][COLOR=gray][sup][b]Amegakure | 🚭/🚬| Genin[/b][/sup][/COLOR][/center][hr][INDENT][sup][COLOR=gray][b]TIME:[/b] [i]Present Day - Early Morning[/i] | [b]LOCATION:[/b] Then: [i]Amegakure – Ninja Academy[/i], Now: [i]Amegakure - BBQ Restaurant[/i] | [b]INTERACTION:[/b][@Schadenfreude][@j8cob][@Odin][/COLOR][/sup][/INDENT]

	Some days never got any easier, life was tumultuous in that way. Kasumi had accustomed himself to the austere lifestyle he was granted once he was recruited by Ame’s orphanage. Like any weapon he was forged in the fires and tempered to shape a perfect mold. Once dipped into the waters he was baptized, both figuratively and metaphorically. One could say literally too, as the rain dropped down on him the first time he entered the rank of other blossoming shinobi, a rain that would one day cast itself down onto him again. Tomorrow was the big day, the day all of his hard work and determination would reflect the crucibles he went through paramount to this moment. It was hours before the ceremony, but the young shinobi was restless in his sleep. Was it fear? No. Anxiety? No. Somewhere deep down Kasumi knew the root problem of his insomnia, whether he wanted to face it or not was completely onto him. His fingers glided gently across his weak arm, each crevice and contour of his fingertips feeling the crusted and thick texture of several cigarette sized burn marks that lined his skin. 

[center][color=gray][i] A life of shadows
Echo faint distant whispers
Of what once was real[/i][/color][/center]

The blank ceiling stared back at him as the burning sensation in his arms reignited the memory of his upbringing. Would his mother even care to attend his graduation if she was still around? Where was his father? Would he be proud if he stayed? No matter whatever road less traveled, none would have brought him the position he was in now. The memory faded like a cloud of smoke, his vision returned to the dim room sequestered somewhere off in the orphanage. With no end to insomnia in sight, Kasumi took it upon himself to ease his body with his friendly vice, the cigarette. Slinking over to open his night table, he reached into the depths of the top cabinet and retrieved his trusted lucky strikes. Slapping the pack against his wrists to activate the tobacco, with one slick motion the boy opened the box and flicked one cigarette up out of the sea of sticks. Pressing it to his mouth he pulled away, using the other hand to parade an open flame. With the two married together, Kasumi sucked in, smoke pouring into his mouth and lungs, [i][color=gray]Peace[/color][/i]. Rain started to streak against the window, a slight drizzle turned into a stampede, Kasumi was finally transported to somewhere familiar…somewhere peaceful. 


[center][i][color=black] 「 Fade to Black 」[/color][/i][/center]

Somewhere between the pattering rain and a plume of smoke, Kasumi managed to pass out. His cigarette had departed from his hand and now left a smug of black on the wooden floor below. He was lucky enough to not let his room go up into flames. All the trivial matters that plagued him before were now gone, Kasumi found himself in a state of zen or serenity. This is what he had been working for since day one, the cause for celebration. The young shinobi kindled with a fire inside, tore through his dresser to get dressed for the big ceremony. Rushing through the hurdles he was finally presentable for Lady Yogensha and the rest of the academy. A few minutes passed before he arrived and took his seat, just in time for the opening ceremony to begin. Today would be the first day of the rest of his life. 

[center][color=gray][i] Tense nervous excitement
Some don't want to leave their school
For the unknown future[/i][/color][/center]

After being thoroughly drilled by his homeroom teacher, Kasumi was ready to act all prim and proper for the arrival of Yogensha. There she was, in all her grace and beauty. The Amekage needed not to display her power for it could be felt from just her presence alone, the ANBU were hardly necessary. Yogensha presided the ceremony, beginning the moment they all had been waiting for. Kasumi was lost in her words, she weaved them so seamlessly, captivating the audience with her power for extemporaneous speech. Her sweet benevolence turned nihilistic as the truths of their journey became prominent, they were child soldiers raised to kill after all. Kasumi would be different from his parents, he would be able to live on his own and provide for himself. No longer would he be burdened and judged by the sins of his parents, her excerpt on rising through the ranks particularly stuck with him. The endeavor he would most set his mind to. 

Receiving his headband was almost too surreal, the weight behind it felt heavy and weighed down his hand. A surge of emotions titillated through his bodies. The sky became dark and clouded as Yogensha’s words and sudden rain broke Kasumi’s immersion. [i][color=gray]”What a terrible day for rain”[/color][/i] Kasumi thought, focusing his attention back on his Amekage. Without question he began to put on his headband, but hesitated as he caught the tail end of her solemn words. Pushing it out of his mind he finished finagling his head band on, their sovereign leader began to group the young shinobi into their teams. Like a sorting hat, Kasumi waited patiently for his name to be called, he was never really friendly with any of his classmates. A wallflower was a most apt description, but that didn’t mean he didn’t take note of everyone who had entered and left the academy. Regardless she announced two teams before she gracefully arrived at team 12, his team. Kasumi didn’t want to make any informal assumptions about his teammates so he would wait till later when they convened, shinobi life had now begun. 


[center][i][color=Gray] 「 One Week Later 」[/color][/i][/center]

Kasumi opened the decorative scroll that was left on his bed and read its contents, the first inclination of what their time together would be like. The tone in her text was duly noted, a sweet persona stamped into every word. Fast forward to the academy, Koko was nowhere to be seen. A puzzle so early in the morning was far from what Kasumi had anticipated. Sparking up another cigarette, he bellowed some smoke that quickly sank to the ground. The smoke was a sixth sense, something he could discern anything within his realm that he couldn’t with his other five. Kasumi was familiar with every nook and cranny of the academy grounds, but his smoke had picked up a disruption. Casually walking to where his smoke gathered he bent down picking up what appeared to be orange origami cranes. The puzzle wasn’t that difficult after all. Like a trail of breadcrumbs as if the genin were Hansel and Gretel, Kasumi followed the path that would ultimately lead him to his Sensei….at a barbeque restaurant. 

[center][color=gray][i] Lunch time meeting 
Strategy and tactics
Then just desserts[/i][/color][/center]

Kasumi was the second to arrive, Asashio was the first. The girl was rather tall for a standard kunoichi, her demeanor was rather stoic and militaristic as accompanied by her wardrobe. Her replies were short and curt which reminded him of laconic speech. Their sensei on the other hand was rather…lacking in the department of grace as seen by her stuffing her face. The boy had a bad habit of paying close attention to detail, being empathic was also one his more positive traits. The two together made it possible for him to read people’s characters rather adeptly. If he was certain about anything it was that their sweet old sensei was actually faking it, not very convincingly either. Kasumi listened to her short speech which was the opposite of Yogensha’s, with conviction. Their first mission was to clean up an onsen and dispatch the unruly mongrels that had annexed it from the geriatric owners. 

Kasumi brought another cigarette to his mouth taking a small series of puffs, [color=gray]“Well I do like smoke so steam is close enough. I’m up for anything really”[/color] Kasumi added, congealing with Asashio’s reply, but also adding a more lax aura. He exhaled and his sights narrowed as the floor was now open to question, [color=gray]“So Sensei, I only have one question. Why are you faking your personality?”[/color] Flicking the ashes off his cigarette in contempt. Kasumi would normally default to his reserved straw man like nature, but there was one thing he hated more than talking and that was liars. It should also be noted, shedding his introversion was one of his medium length goals/dreams.