Member
Savo
fellsing
Forsythe
Achronum
PatientBean
mickilennial
Morose
VitaVitaAR
Rune_Alchemist
Coda-----------------
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The Academy
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It was a shame. Just when things were looking as if they were about to get mighty saucy between Haru and Sexy-Senpai, a voice cut through the relative silence (well...silent if you ignored the various conversations by impatient Genin, something Kiyoko had gotten pretty damn good at, actually). It was Sensei. Kiyoko rose her gaze back the the woman leading the class.
“Uhhh...Team Takeo: Momo Sakurai, Keita Ryuukaze, and Isami Suzuki! You all are to meet at Training grounds 17!”
Boo.
Kiyoko glanced over to catch a peek at the newest squad. While she may not know much about the people, she was damn fine with names and faces. And while they would all be shinobi of Konohagakure, they were potential rivals. Potential competition. It couldn’t hurt to size up the competition.
…
The Ryuukaze boy seemingly flew past her to the exit. Kiyoko blinked. He seemed...eager. But she could have swore that in the short glance that she got, his face looked quite...red. Probably a fever. Or not, Really, what did she care?
Answer: she didn’t. Thus she went back to the realm of truly terrible discount smut.
Or she would have.
But Sensei spoke up again, catching her completely off guard.
“Team Hideo! Rima Miyazaki and Kiyoko Mizushima. Meet at training ground 11...I guess your squad is a duo. Strange.”
Kiyoko didn’t move for a moment. A duo…? That was...different. Not exactly what she had been expecting to be honest. Surely there had to be some reason? But it didn’t matter. Orders were orders. If they were assigned to work in a smaller team, so be it.
When the short moment of confusion past, Kiyoko directed her thoughts to Rima Miyazaki. He hadn’t made an impression on her before, but now that they’d have to work together...well, Kiyoko quickly decided to examine his actions more closely. The latest, and thus freshest, thing in her mind was his tardiness. Well, perhaps that wasn’t the right word. He wasn’t exactly late for class, but he wasn’t early either. He was one of the last to enter. That wasn’t quite a strike, but it was close.
Tardiness would not be tolerated.
“Hi, Kiyoko!”
The girl’s eyes narrowed. Speak of the devil...she turned to face her partner. ‘Kiyoko?’ A little familiar, no? It wasn’t quite worth a strike on its own, either, but coupled with his near-tardiness from earlier, it brought his tally up to one. So not exactly the best start. Before she could say anything in response, he continued. “Would you like to walk to the training ground together?”
Kiyoko regarded him for a moment, then loosened ever so slightly. “I think that would be for the best...Miyazaki.” she replied in her usual vaguely bored tone. She was worried about his punctuality and he suggested they go together. Thus, she’d be able to guarantee he got there in a timely manner. She wasn’t sure if he was aware of her concern or not, but it was noted nonetheless. His prior tally was removed, resetting the count.
First impression?
Neutral.
Subject shows signs of irresponsibility, yet potentially decent judgement.
…
But truth be told, it didn’t matter how she felt about the guy personally. She was assigned to work with him, so work with him she would. Orders were orders, after all, and who was she to question them?
Kiyoko closed her book and returned the small paperback to the small pouch on the thigh opposite her kunai. She grabbed the black cylinder lying under her seat as she rose to her feet and tied it to her waist. When it was tightly secure, Kiyoko tapped the cap of the cylinder and gave it a small twist. Not enough to uncap it, but enough just to ensure that it wasn’t stuck. Perhaps a bit unnecessary, but a few wasted moments now could be the difference between life and death later. She then grabbed the wooden bow that was also tucked away and pushed her seat in.
With everything set, the shinobi archer cast her cold, dark eyes onto the boy and nodded once more.
“After you.”
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Training Ground 11
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After a bit of a walk from the academy to the training grounds, during which Kiyoko remained rather quiet, eventually they come into a clearing which looked to be the spot. At least, according to the signs, this was the eleventh training grounds…
It wasn’t much to look at.
The ground obviously wasn’t well maintained. One need only feel the lumpy assortment of grass, weeds, and other unpleasantries to figure that one out. However, as the two newest shinobi entered the grounds, Kiyoki had taken note of the dense foliage surrounding it. Heavy woods...and even a large hill beyond them. Not exactly the place one would want to catch themselves in the case of a combat encounter. But that would be unlikely, what with their being in the heart of Konohagakure territory.
And least, and potentially least, was the rather unsavory looking man waiting by a large dirt circle. He was tall, but not exactly intimating. Just unpleasant. At least, the look on his face was. To be quite honest, he didn’t quite impress Kiyoko much. Certainly no Sexy-Senpai. He was much too lanky for that. And he seemed to have a slight slouch to him.
So...this was Hideo-sensei? It seemed a safe bet. She uh...actually knew nothing about the guy. Having mostly distanced herself from her classmates, Kiyoko hadn’t gotten caught up in all the gossip and chatter. Whether he would be a decent squad leader or not would have to be seen. One thing was certain though. It. Didn’t. Matter.
If she was ordered to work under his command, then work under his command she would.
Orders were orders.
So Kiyoko approached her possible leader, back straight, shoulders back, bow in one hand, the other resting atop the quiver’s cap. Her ever stoic face did not betray the excitement swelling in her chest. There would be time to celebrate graduating later. For now, all of her focus was directed solely upon the man likely to be Hideo-sensei.
She was ready.
