[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/wttZvbQ.png[/img][/center]
[right][sub][color=#4c4949] ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 𝟷| ᴘᴀʀᴛ 𝟷[/color][/sub][/right]
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The early part of the morning, when the dew glistened in the light of a descending moon and the playful breeze whispered goosebumps along your skin, was Mirai’s favorite time of the day. This had been the only consistency awarded to her in this life, and in the beginning years she resented that fact. The mornings used to feel so [i]lonely[/i], she’d start her training as early as possible and it was always by herself… back then everything she did was saved for the company of one.

Ever since she seized fate in her hands and twisted it to suit her own will to live, things had gotten noisier. The people that used to see past her were staring at her now, and all this attention should have made her feel less lonely, but it didn’t. They weren’t looking at [i]her[/i] to acknowledge her, they stared in fear, or awe, or some weird combination of the two, and saw their expressions reflected in her dark red eyes. They fussed and threw celebrations, demanded she come and share her story to the young kids, the ones without siblings and sat front row to the Ascension of the ones with siblings. The World at war did not affect the Nagaichi, battlefields, and death were in the essence of their genes and the latter controlled by their whims. They boasted of their missions, drank to the enemies they had slain and prayed for the peace of their lost comrades.

The early part of the morning, before the birds sang their songs and the streets were crowded with shinobi and civilians alike, was the time of day Mirai felt the most at peace. What had once been considered lonely, was now a haven for her mind. 

[center][color=black][h2] ﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌﹌[/h2][/color][/center]

[color=7a4c21][b]“Do your best today, your mother and I will be cheering you on from here, and I’m sure your brother-“[/b][/color]

[color=7a2123][b]“Is wishing I’m struck by lightning? [sub]Hmmm... but I guess that’s the fate he met.[/sub] Save your words, I’ve no use for them. If that’s all-“[/b][/color]

[color=7a2150][b]“Mirai!”[/b][/color] The sharp snap of the Kōkina drew her leveled gaze to the woman’s face. The clan heads sat across from her, they had summoned her for tea as a farewell, and as they ate up her time she could feel more and more people lining up outside of this room, waiting for something… for her?

[color=7a2123][b]“I apologize Kōkina.”[/b][/color] The tone of her voice gave away nothing, to some it’d seem like a mask for inner turmoil, but it to her it was the truth.

[color=7a2150][b]“Do not call me that, I am-“[/b][/color]

[color=7a2123][b]“The Kōkina of the Nagaichi. [i]The[/i] guardian of the Jubokko, and the one that oversees the ascension of all the chosen ones. Everyone knows who you-“[/b][/color] Mirai was unable to finish her sentence, the stinging of her cheek silenced her voice. 

[color=7a4c21][b]“Kagura! Please calm yo-“[/b][/color]

[color=7a2150][b]“You may leave now Mirai, best to not be late. The chuunin exams measure more than your abilities, best to not let a repeat of what happened on the field occur to today. Unless you want to remain a measly genin for even longer.”[/b][/color]

Mirai stood up, a quirk at the corner of her lips as her clan head simmered with abhorrence. With a formal bow she made her exit into the cheering crowd. They made it sound like some kind of hero’s send-off, and the sounds of their cheers echoed in her head even as she stepped foot onto the training ground.

[color=7a2123][b]“First one. Of course.”[/b][/color] Her voice was followed with a sigh and found the comfort of a tree near her Sensei to wait for the rest of the baggage to show up.
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