[indent]   [/indent][hr][h3][color=lightsteelblue]Kazuhiko Taketori[/color][/h3][hr][sup][i]Early Afternoon ||  Land of Fire: Konohagakure — Kawaguchi Household[/i][/sup][indent] [/indent]
Azumi’s words left Kazuhiko stunned, unable to formulate a thought in response. While he hadn’t expected anyone to be angry at him, he also hadn’t expected complete forgiveness, and he listened to the rest of Azumi’s words silently, his mind empty for her words to fill. By the time Minoru chimed in too, Kazuhiko had hugged Azumi back, his head buried into her shoulder. When Minoru’s arm wrapped around him, his eyes welled up, and he inhaled as they let go, nodding at them.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Thank you, Minoru-sensei, Azumi-san,”[/color] he said, bowing again. [color=lightsteelblue]“I-I’ll do my best.”[/color]

He wasn’t the best at putting his thoughts into words, especially not when feelings where involved, and he knew that. Currently, he was searching for more to say, more to help express how grateful he was, but he kept drawing blanks. Besides ‘thank you,’ it didn’t seem like any words properly encompassed his thoughts, and he was tempted to repeat those words—thank you, thank you, [i]thank you[/i]. But, meeting Azumi and Minoru’s eyes, Kazuhiko realized that he didn’t need more words; they’d already understood. The specifics weren’t necessary because his true intents and emotions had already been expressed, and that was enough.

[color=lightsteelblue]“Thank you,”[/color] he repeated once more, hugging them both again. Then, looking around, he grabbed a dishcloth off the counter. 

[color=lightsteelblue]“I’ll clean the table.”[/color] 

Further words weren’t needed, and he was grateful for that. At home, cleaning up after meals was never his job since he was to focus on training and learning to be a proper heir to the clan, but outside of his clan compound Kazuhiko felt that he wasn't just an heir. Here, he was simultaneously less and more, both merely human and a treasured part of his sensei’s family. Being here made him feel like he was different, like he was tapping into another part of his personality, and he appreciated it. 

Another few minutes or so of helping around the house later, Kazuhiko felt his clone dissipate with a twinge, almost like something had metaphorically popped inside him. Blinking, he turned to Minoru and Azumi.

[color=lightsteelblue]“I think I should go find my teammates,”[/color] he said. [color=lightsteelblue]“My clone just got dispelled.”[/color]
[h3]   [/h3][hr][h3][color=indianred]Natsuko Rinha[/color][/h3][hr][sup][i]Early Afternoon ||  Land of Fire: Konohagakure — Training Grounds[/i][/sup][indent] [/indent]
Natsuko’s jaws dropped as Kazuhiko vanished with a ‘pop,’ but her surprise quickly morphed into anger. Though she listened to Koharu’s reassurances, her annoyance didn’t waver until Kouji interrupted to call Koharu a traitor. Natsuko’s eyes instantly focused on the boy from the other team who wore a smile too cocky for his own good. Before she could interrupt, his teammate, Kage, did, his voice trembling even as he spoke. Though the way he’d held himself had prompted Natsuko to write him off, his protest had her reevaluating him in a new light. With some encouragement, perhaps he’d grow a backbone after all.

The banter passed her by, though, and soon enough Team Five’s sensei, Reiko, interrupted to allow the fight to take place. As much as Natsuko hated the idea of allowing Kouji to fight Koharu, she also trusted that her teammate was strong enough to hold her ground, and she pumped a fist before cupping her hands around her mouth.

[color=indianred]“Go Haru-chan! Show him why Team Six is the best!”[/color] she shouted, easily ignoring the glare Kouji shot her way. Compared to Koharu’s glares, his was pretty tame.

When Reiko spoke, it took Natsuko a moment to figure out that the stern-looking woman was indeed addressing her. Truth be told, Natsuko found Reiko intimidating since she was used to Minoru’s laid-back style of mentorship. Reiko reminded her of her teammates on the days when they would train without taking a break, as if training was be all end all of activities. It was because of this that Natsuko was glad Reiko hadn’t been Team Six’s sensei since though she knew Reiko was probably stronger and sterner than Minoru, a genin-ship without Minoru’s bad jokes and Azumi’s caring presence was hard to imagine, especially for Natsuko’s teammates.

[color=indianred]“Yep, Koharu’s a Wakahisa, so she’ll kick Kouji’s butt,”[/color] Natsuko said with a grin before remembering to tone it down a notch for Kouji’s sensei. [color=indianred]“No offense, I mean.”[/color]

A flash of amusement crossed Reiko’s face as she met Natsuko’s eyes. [color=tan]“No offense taken.”[/color]

Nodding quickly, Natsuko focused back on the fight, relieved when Reiko did the same. Soon enough, though, the fight alone was enough to transfix her, and she called out another cheer when Koharu caused Kouji to double over, gasping.

[color=#74677B]“So, are we just going to watch?”[/color] Mariko asked, glancing at Reiko, who gave permission without batting an eye. With her sensei’s approval, though, Mariko turned to Natsuko with her trademark sweet smile. 

[color=#74677B]“Don’t hold it against me, Natsuko-chan.”[/color]

[color=indianred]“Wait, Mariko-san, hold on,”[/color] Natsuko said, backing away with wide eyes. [color=indianred]“I don’t think me sparring you is a good idea. How about I, um, spar Kage over there? He looks like someone that wouldn’t flatten me immediately.”[/color]

Mariko’s smile remained on her face as she followed Natsuko’s steps, her smile unfaltering. [color=#74677B]“Are you going to bully Kage too, Natsuko-chan? That’s not very nice.”[/color]

[color=indianred]“What? No, no, of course not. I would never!”[/color]

[color=#74677B]“Hm.”[/color] Mariko paused, then looked to her tall, nervous teammate. [color=#74677B]“Kage, what do you think?”[/color]

[color=darkcyan]“I-I don’t know,”[/color] Kage said, glancing nervously at his sensei. When Reiko gave him a nod, though, he copied the motion, nodding to himself as he turned back to Natsuko, his back a little straighter than before. 

[color=darkcyan]“Okay, N-Natsuko-san, a-are you ready?”[/color] 

[color=indianred]“Ready? Yeah, yeah I’m ready,”[/color] Natsuko said, retrieving a kunai from her belt as she glanced again to Mariko.

[color=#74677B]“Alright, have fun,”[/color] the Hyuga heiress said, still smiling as she stepped aside. [color=#74677B]“I wonder how long it’ll take for Kazuhiko to get here?”[/color]

Natsuko didn’t know the answer to that question, though it reminded her of her flaky teammate, stirring up annoyance she’d momentarily forgotten about. What was with heirs being freaky strong and thinking they knew better? While it was comforting to have two teammates who knew their priorities, it became annoying when they were hindering themselves, especially when it came to opening up or being honest. In what world was attempting to deceive her better than telling her the truth?

[color=indianred]“Right, Kage, let’s do this,”[/color] she said, bracing herself as she crouched. Then, leaping towards Kage, Natsuko swung her kunai forwards, only to find herself blown back by a sudden burst of wind from Kage. 

Rolling to her feet a few meters away, Natsuko grinned. [color=indianred]“Great Breakthrough?”[/color]

[color=darkcyan]“Y-yeah,”[/color] Kage admitted with a sheepish smile.

[color=indianred]“Nice, but I can do Wind Release techniques too,”[/color] Natsuko said, signing her Gale Palm. Across from her, Kage mirrored her signs, causing Natsuko’s grin to grow wider. So she might not be winning this fight either, but hey, at least she wouldn’t get her chakra paths blocked for a good few hours due to “practice.”
[indent] [/indent][hr][hider=Jutsu]
[hider=Ninjutsu][indent] [/indent][list]
[*]Wind Release:
[list][*]Gale Palm: a technique where the user increases the velocity or density of wind to form a powerful gale capable of knocking over a person.[/list]
[*]Dark Release:
[list][*]Kusunemasu [Needs Practice]: A basic technique that allows a Rinha to absorb chakra from others and use it as their own. They can do this through direct physical contact or from a distance 
(Limits: distance-restrained, more concentration required without direct contact)
[/list][/list][indent][/indent][/hider]
[indent] [/indent][/hider]
[indent]   [/indent][hr][h3][color=lightsteelblue]Kazuhiko Taketori[/color][/h3][hr][sup][i]Afternoon ||  Land of Fire: Konohagakure — Training Grounds[/i][/sup][indent] [/indent]
Kazuhiko arrived on the training grounds by hopping off a nearby rooftop and jogging over. There, he found Koharu and Natsuko already engaged in battle with two members of Team Five as Mariko and the Team Five sensei, Reiko, watched from the sidelines. Koharu seemed to be easily winning against Kouji, the boy who’d earned a reputation for himself through his use of callous words, and Natsuko was—though far from winning—surviving against Kage, a boy who, though taller than Kazuhiko, tended to stumble over his words. When he neared, Reiko looked over without much emotion, Mariko following suit to glance over with a smile and a wave.

[color=#74677B]“Nice of you to join us, Kazuhiko!”[/color]

Rather than responding, Kazuhiko spun around with just enough time to dodge out of the way of Mariko, who dispelled the clone standing at her sensei’s side with a sheepish smile.

[color=#74677B]“Oh, I wasn’t going to hurt you, Kazuhiko-kun, just surprise you a bit. Besides,”[/color] she said, her Byakugan flashing on, [color=#74677B]“dodging wouldn’t work if I used a Shadow Clone.”[/color]

[color=lightsteelblue]“I’ll deal with that when we get there,”[/color] he replied as his Sensaigan blinked into life as well. Though it was mostly intimidation tactics since neither of them had much experience using their dojutsu yet, there was more at stake here than just who won. Unlike when they sparred inside either clan’s dojo, which was a long-held tradition to pay respects and avoid further conflict, there was no conceding to let the dojo master’s heir win. This meant that whoever won here would prove their superiority and, by extension, their clan’s. 

[color=lightsteelblue]“You sure this is a good idea?”[/color] he asked. 

[color=#74677B]“Where’s your sense of fun, Kazuhiko-kun?”[/color] she said, her tone light. And, springing back, she quickly signed as Kazuhiko jumped forwards, signing around the kunai in his hand. 

From a backpack beside Reiko, a stream of water was called up, splitting into three orbs of swirling water. Needles sprouted from the edges of the orbs, lengthening as Kazuhiko threw a crackling kunai that left a zig-zag trail of lightning as it flew through the air, exploding an orb on touch. Then, with two loud splashes, the needles flew through the air at Kazuhiko, who dodged out of the way, another arc of electricity sparking to spark through the needles closest to him. Hit with electricity, the needles lost their shape, popping into droplets of water that hit the ground, darkening the dirt in splotches.

Kazuhiko took this chance to close the distance, taking up a stance opposite of her and prompting Mariko to take up her own stance. Across from his Keen Fist stance was her Gentle Fist stance, each posed to take down the other. Meeting Mariko’s eyes, Kazuhiko wasn’t surprised to realize that her smile still hadn’t budged, and he doubted his frown had either.
[indent] [/indent][hr][hider=Jutsu]
[indent] [/indent][hider=Taijutsu]
[indent] [/indent]
[list][*][color=lightsteelblue]Keen Fist[/color]: The Taketori style of Taijutsu that uses their Sensaigan’s nerve-cutting abilities to compound the damage done to struck areas. This style of fighting emulates the movements of staves and spears, aiding the Taketori in landing their Sensaigan techniques.
[/list][indent][/indent][/hider]
[hider=Ninjutsu][indent] [/indent]
[list][*][color=lightsteelblue]Lightning Release[/color]:
[list][*][color=lightsteelblue]Thunder[/color]: creates arcs of lightning that the user can direct towards a target.
[*][color=lightsteelblue]Thunderbolt [Needs Practice][/color]: creates arcs of lightning that can hit multiple targets at once.
[*][color=lightsteelblue]Lightning Strike [Needs Practice][/color]: creates a strong arc of lightning that can hit multiple close targets or be extended to hit a faraway one. 
[*][color=lightsteelblue]Lightning Clone Technique[/color]: creates a tangible clone that is dispelled with very little damage and cannot perform jutsu. The clone will also dispel if enough time passes.[/list][/list][indent][/indent][/hider]
[indent] [/indent][/hider]
[hr][sup][@Sunflower][/sup]