[b]KANA KINOSHI[/b]

Kana had woken up early as usual. This was the only way to catch both of his parents awake at the same time, if only for a brief twenty minutes or so. He was not an avid cook but with his propensity to follow directions, he had no issues trying out recipes.  The house still smelled of mushroom, bell pepper and grilled bread when the sleepy disheveled head of his father came into the kitchen. Being one of the best surgeons in the village meant that one way or another he was always occupied.  The older Kinoshi smiled at his young son. [color=00aeef]“It smells delicious, sure made it easier to get up”.[/color]  Kana set a plate in front of his dad with a warning [color=0054a6]“Careful still hot.”[/color] The warning went unheeded however as his father yelped and sucked in his breath as he haphazardly tried to chew the gooey bite of cheese, mushrooms and bell peppers. Kana gave his father an admonishing look and started setting another plate. 

Almost as if on cue, his mother appeared in the doorway. He spectacled eyes red from having been on night shift. [color=0072bc]“I knew I could smell your famous grilled cheese sandwiches a mile away”[/color] Her sweet voice matched her smile.  Kana gave her the respective plate and then pushed a brown bag into his father’s hand. [color=0054a6]“Now, this is for Akimi….and no sneaking bites. She tells on you faster than a shuriken flies.”[/color]  Kana shook his head at his father who gave him an wounded look of innocence as he rushed out the door.  Kana soon followed him hearing his mother’s [color=0072bc]“good luck”[/color] as he closed it behind him and he called out a [color=0054a6]“Thank you”[/color]. 

The streets of Konoha were mostly empty in the twilight hours of the morning. The sun had not yet crested over the Hokage monument and a slight breeze swirled around the few passersby feet. Kana adjusted his glasses and took from one of the cargo jeans pockets the recent journal he was reading regarding poisons and how to counter act them. In this way he made his way through he village. His eyes hardly leaving the words on the journal as he expertly navigated his way through memorized paths and waving to usual merchants and early risers. He was not an overt person but was always ready to share a smile.

Soon the agreed upon training ground of Flower Hill came into view. The rays of the sun starting to cast shadows and whisking away any morning dew still on the grass.  Kana took a deep breath as he took it all in. The majesty of the mountain, the colors of the morning painted on the sky, and the morning sounds of nature blissfully ignorant that this same field was used to hone the skills of warriors that went to battle and sometimes never returned. 

As the son of medics, he knew how fragile and fleeting life was. He had seen many a shinobi fighting for their lives in the surgery tables and many medics fighting with them. His mind immediately brought to him his sister, Akimi and he grimaced a slight sideways smile. Some people who fight never even saw a battlefield. 

He took another deep breath and he pushed back his melancholic thoughts. Life was indeed precious which is why shinobi like him had the sacred duty of defending the life of those they held dear. His assigned team would get here soon so he chose a tree that was near the edge of the field so he could both see and be seen by anybody approaching. Again, he took out his journal and began to read. Within seconds, he was engrossed in data and research…

It was not long before people started to arrive. Kana stood up and tucked his  rolled journal into the cargo pocket and walked over to stand next to the ones who had been designated as his teammates.  He did not know them well of course but he knew them from the Academy. He had known all along that to be shinobi meant to be part of a team. He sighed as he stood with his team and listened to their Jounin’s speech regarding a last hurrah before the exams the next day. He always took a back seat to the antics of the other two and merely nodded towards Hoseki as he requested his back up. What else was he to do? The brawny member of his team always seemed to rush it head long into a fight. However, this benefited Kana in that he was able to flank and maneuver with the big diversion of flying fists being provided by the fiery you man with ruby eyes. 

 [color=0054a6]“Yes, Hoseki, you can be assured that I will be here and support however I can.”[/color] Kana said with a weak smile.