[indent]These three could not be more different. Iroh could sense the reluctance within Shira. She made it even more obvious in her facade of respect. She may have been polite, but there was no doubt a lining of disdain for something he told her. Granted, Iroh had just told her essentially to forget everything in her past and records said she was already experienced in combat, it made sense. Ageha was eager and asking questions about their upcoming training. She seemed the most shallow, or maybe simply the most simplistic, of the group. Given her history of isolation, this also made sense to Iroh. Isao was asking questions about Iroh himself, which was just off-putting. As the youngest of the group and considered a ninjutsu prodigy, it only made sense that he would have expanded his curiosity the furthest. His expectations of the group were met, but even if they were exactly what he expected, it was impossible to completely prepare for three completely new individuals.[/indent]

[center][i]"I once waved the banner of Iwa. I led its resistance before an alliance with Hosuka was made. But, as I said, the past is the past, and that includes mine as well. You will not ask more of it,"[/i] Iroh responded to Isao. He answered his question, even though it was ignorant to the speech given, but allowed it to slide given that Iroh asked if they had questions. Regardless, he made it firm that he would not discuss the topic further.[/center]

[i]"As for what we shall be doing today, it's your first test. Success in battle is achieved through a hierarchy. The general commands his lieutenants, the lieutenants command their platoons, so on and so forth. There are three of you, but it is important that you know who to listen to or follow when or if I'm not present. You will work as a team, and sometimes that means compromise, and often those lower on the chain are forced to do so. That said, we will determine who here is the strongest. The test will be for you three to figure out what lesson I am trying to teach using this method. I already have my pick: Ageha. That said, Isao and Shira will have a sparring match, and the winner will spar Ageha. This gives you the chance to prove me wrong, but also takes into account my experience in combat. Any more relevant questions?'[/i] he asked them after explaining to them what they would be doing. His methods may have seemed crude and his test possibly more akin to a pissing match, but within the rough there was a diamond.