[center][h1][color=BD2D0E]Tanzou Ryouzan[/color][/h1][/center]

Ryouzan was the first of the Tanzou household to arise. As soon as he sat up in bed, Tsumemaru's eyes shot open and he stretched his wings on his perch. Ryouzan smiled at his partner and began to dress for his exam. Tsumemaru fluttered over to a basin in the corner of the room, dipping into the water for a morning drink and bath. Meanwhile, Ryouzan checked and double-checked all his supplies. He pulled on his falconer glove, and then took a moment to gently tuck each of the four feathers into one of his inner pockets. He wished his mother and older siblings were here to see him off. He had always looked forward to the day his eldest brother would shower him with praise. He wanted his mother to jostle him from his sleep, hurrying him along way earlier than necessary. He wanted to hear his sister say how her cute little brother looked so grown up.

The house was quiet save the tranquil splashes and fluttering of Tsumemaru in the basin. 

With a gesture, Ryouzan called Tsumemaru onto his shoulder, and the two headed outside for some early morning exercises. The air in the courtyard was cool and moist. The last of the morning stars still glistened, foreshadowing a beautiful, clear sky. Ryouzan took a breath, then thrust out his right arm. Tsumemaru took flight, stretching his wings and soaring above Kusagakure. Ryouzan stretched his own limbs, and then focused his chakra. [color=BD2D0E]"Kazeho!"[/color] He took off in a blur, dashing across the compound. When he came to the wall, he focused his chakra to his feet and did an entire lap around around the compound. He flipped off the wall, landing in a crouch, whistle in hand. After one shrill note, Tsumemaru soared back to his partner, a rat tail hanging from his beak. [color=BD2D0E]"Looks like you win today. Caught your breakfast before I could finish my lap."[/color] He smiled and stroked Tsumemaru's feathers. 

His commotion, as usual, woke up the rest of his house. He could hear the shuffling of some distant relatives through the compound halls. Even the grumbling of the elderly, whose pleasant retirement slumbers had been disrupted by his whistle. The first person to greet Ryouzan, though, was his little brother, Yutaro. [color=8dc73f]"Mornin' bro,"[/color] he said, rubbing the sleepiness out of his eyes. [color=8dc73f]"Figured you'd want some breakfast, so..."[/color] The academy student held out an onigiri, which Ryouzan took gratefully. 

[color=BD2D0E]"Thank you, Yutaro,"[/color] he said in a gentle voice. [color=BD2D0E]"I'll eat it on the way to Kameyo sensei."[/color] 

[color=0072bc]"Look at you, waking everyone up like you're already head of the clan,"[/color] came a booming voice, followed by a rough pat on the back. 

[color=BD2D0E]"Good morning, father,"[/color] Ryouzan said, unperturbed by the gruff greeting. [color=BD2D0E]"I apologize for waking everyone up."[/color]

[color=0072bc]"Nonsense! If the Tanzou can't live up to the name early birds, then what's the point of us?"[/color] He gave a hearty laugh and his son another pat on the back. [color=0072bc]"I'd tell you to make me proud, but you've already done that, so just go pass that damn exam."[/color]

This finally elicited a small chuckle out of Ryouzan. [color=BD2D0E]"Alright, I'll do my best. Yutaro, don't use the chuunin exams as an excuse to slack off today. You'll be taking them too before you know it so practice diligently and study hard."[/color] Yutaro nodded, and Ryouzan bid his family farewell to meet with his companions at Training Ground 11. 

Ryouzan had a habit of being exactly on time wherever he went. Rarely was he more than a minute early, but he was never late. He saw that a few of his teammates had already arrived, but at least he wasn't the last one. [color=BD2D0E]"Good morning Kameyo-sensei. Suzuki, Shunbin, good to see you."[/color] His voice was soft and pleasant, and Tsumemaru echoed his greeting with a friendly screech. For the most part, he liked his teammates. He felt like it was okay to drop honorifics with them since they'd be working closely together for the foreseeable future, however, his expression subtly shifted when he looked at Mirai. 

He'd heard the stories of the fateful mission that had cost his brother his life. The mission that she had been on, and how she, conveniently, was the only one to come out unscathed. He kept telling himself that he hadn't been there and he didn't know the circumstances, but she was the one person on his team he found it hard to trust. [color=BD2D0E]"Nagaichi-san,"[/color] he said with a polite nod. Tsumemaru remained silent.