[center][url=https://fontmeme.com/graffiti-fonts/][img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200110/e87a6c466f5382bfd224939894c2bc86.png[/img][/url]
[img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b1/05/3c/b1053ca4ddcbec799c2cf6ab4182493f.gif[/img][/center][right][sub][color=BFAFB2]Mentions: [@Fiber][@Infinite Cosmos][@sly13][@Roach][/color][/sub][/right][hr]
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	Izayoi rounded on the newest intruders breaking their way into the clearing without regard. If she weren't already wounded, [i]physically[/i], the look sent her way via those piercing blues would have done enough damage to bring her to her knees. The pain and distrust conveyed through Tetsu's gaze was enough to have Iza step forward, arm somewhat extended out towards him; palms still spattered in blood. She was vaguely aware of the glare shot her way from the other two members of Squad one but she couldn't have been bothered to acknowledge them head on. This, whatever was going on between her and Tetsu, was way more important and took precedence in her mind. At least for the time being. 

As she took that half step it was no surprise that she caught sight of the tightening of the muscles in his jaw and at his shoulders. Tetsu was strictly on the defensive. If she thought back far enough, however, Iza hardly could remember a time when he wasn't guarding something or another. Though back then, a lot of the protecting was for her. Against anything that would try to come between them. It was such a tender and fond piece of history they shared together that would always have a special place within her mind. Corners of her eyes welling up with tears. She blinked them away, wishing them to hold back and refrain from falling. At least until she was out of the clear.

[color=A587D5]"Tetsu, I'm sorry..."[/color] It tapered off to a whisper and she worried that it would come off insincere. Hindsight would have informed her that regardless of how or what she said, it all would have seemed insincere. [color=A587D5][i]'You did just trick them all and make off with their scroll, effectively screwing them in the exam and messed with their heads; literally.'[/i][/color] She mentally flinched at the implications her own subconscious was warning her about.

A quick swipe of her tongue to her lower lip and she was pulling it between her teeth to chew on it lightly. Though they weren't alone; Iza felt as though they were. Time seemed to seep slowly from the empty space between them, seemed to drip, like molasses from the leaves of the trees surrounding them on all sides. And though she wanted to reach out and just touch him, bring him into her - even though he was a good few inches taller than she was, Iza would have still brought him to her and held him close, she resisted. All in order to make him see, [i]make him feel[/i], that she was so contrite in her manipulation of him and whatever feelings he [i][b]may[/b][/i] have had for her. The silence of the surrounding forest was dwarfed by the commotion emanating from Kotetsu and Eiji's battle of the fists. The blows emitted miniature sonic booms at they collided with one another. Flips and feints being tossed about as if it were an elegantly choreographed dance one would see for entertainment. But it made no difference to Iza as to what they were doing to one another - [i]though she was biased and hoped for Kotetsu to be swift in his victory[/i] - as her attention failed to waver from the male before her. 

She tried to speak once more, if nothing else than to get it out in the open and for him to have [i]some[/i] kind of idea as to her internal struggle. However, the words are lost on her as she's attacked from behind. Having been too preoccupied with Tetsu and her ridiculous crush she allowed herself to be the victim. From the corner of her rapid blurring vision she was able to catch sight of the demonic mask belonging to the self proclaimed leader of the opposing team. With a kunai embedded in her right shoulder, she falls forward into Tetsu who aptly reached out to keep her from falling onto her face. However, with the past few hours still ever present in the forefront of his mind he's skeptical and prevents her lips from coming in contact with his own. For fear of being placed under another genjutsu. She really couldn't blame him. She deserved that.

In almost an instant she's able to come to her senses, finding herself laid carefully on the forest floor of the clearing. She couldn't have been out for more than a few minutes; at most, seeing as how she was now alone. The others finding company in their enemies, for the moment. Taking this as her only opportunity to make it out alive she bolted. The pain she experienced from her own stupidity shot up her spine nestling itself at the base of her skull, but she pressed on continuing through the foliage trying to get anywhere away from the clearing. Light filtered through the canopy above casting dancing tendrils of shadows upon the ground. She took a quick glance behind her and blanched, nearly kicking herself at how careless she was being. What was she thinking tracking her blood everywhere? Might as well create an explosion to lead everyone right to her!?

Releasing a groan she took a seat at the base of an ancient oak, nestled between the hallowing of the trunk in order to provide some kind of cover to her backside. Tears were now flowing freely as she sat there in the shadows; the sweat sticking to her body cooling down in the shade of the tall trees, adding a chill to her heated body. The blood that was once caked on her person had become less viscous and began to run into her eyes, vision shifting in and out once more that day and she had half a mind to believe that it would happen at least once more before the day was done. The constant ache of her shoulder was gnawing at her, a shocking sensation following soon after she attempted to remove the blade from her flesh. [color=A587D5]"I'd just bleed out more, enticing more assholes to finish me off."[/color] She grumbled before resting her head against the edge of the burrow she resided in. [color=A587D5]"At least I got the scroll..."[/color] she reached down to pat at the pouch around her waist where she stowed the Heaven scroll. However all her fingers found was an empty pouch, a large tear in the fabric - enough for a scroll to slip through.

A growl resonated deep within the small girl's chest. All forms of pain temporarily removed from her psyche as she furiously began to punch at the bark around her, stomping the ground from her seated position. A thorough fit, that was well warranted with the situation she found herself in. Frustrated, annoyed, [i]disappointed[/i] and worse? Alone. Izayoi sniffed and rubbed her tears away in a furious fashion, having no one to blame but herself she steeled her annoyance, promising herself that she would make the trek towards where she left Mori and Karu earlier. [color=A587D5]"I could really use you guys right about now... you would know what to say..."[/color]

As if the cosmos heard her, a rustling in the treetops above her rustled silently and to anyone not trained in the shinobi arts would have thought it to have just been the breeze blowing the branches into one another. To her, she knew better. Even more so when that familiar mop of chestnut peaked around the corner of the hovel and connected his gaze with her. It wasn't completely gone, but the doubt and self loathing that had seeped it's way into her subconscious was pushed back and Iza smiled widely at her best friend, [color=A587D5]"Speak of the Devil."[/color]
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