First step to Greatness.

The message never left Suzumi's hand. She was going to have a team. Alienated by her work ethic, prolonged exposure to anyone was rare for the girl. The thought made her anxious. The thought of a sensei made her more anxious, though. She knew the influence a teacher could have on an impressionable student such as her. Above all else, Suzumi hoped that her sensei would be one of honor. Darkness had a tendency to shine brightly in Kirigakure. The prospect of a corrupt or uncaring teacher was worrying. Simply given a location, time and purpose, Suzumi was left with far too questions for comfort. Still, she gratefully complied.

Fully equipped with her rapier polished and hanging at her hip, Suzumi found her way to the field. Her hitae-ate was bright, her posture was perfect, her hair was neatly put into a ponytail, everything was visually perfect for the occasion. As she approached, she noticed a boy about her age walking across the field. Through the mist she could barely make out the dog trailing him. While she had heard of the Inuzuka clan before, the connection was not made. In a flash he was gone. So they picked a master of land and a master of water. Is the third going to have wings?

Not one for theatrics at such a formal occasion, Suzumi located the silhouette of a man against a tree and approached slowly. Her head was bowed long before she got near. With her eyes locked on the grass in front of her, she made no progress towards realizing who she was about to address. Upon arriving, she dropped to a knee, swiping her rapier in its scabbard to straighten it and appear presentable. “Hoshigake Suzumi. I am yours to instruct, sensei.”

The realization that this was the Mizukage still eluded Suzumi. All of the evidence was present, she simply would never expect to be honored by the Mizukage in such a way. The one called “Chae Yoon” apparently already knew the sensei from somewhere. He did not rub her in the right way. Even without knowing that it was the Mizukage before her, Suzumi found Chae's style to be brash and unrespectful. She said nothing, however. After all, by the looks of it, to do so would be to speak up to an elder.

All thoughts about the Genin were forgotten the moment her sensei pushed himself off the tree. Standing in the giant's shadow, Suzumi finally came to realize who had called her. She had just started to get off of her knee, but quickly replanted it into the ground. Her knee would stay inch deep in the ground all afternoon if need be to show her respect. His speech was absorbed in the finest possible detail. When he cracked his neck, shivers went down Suzumi's spine. Is he about to get ready to do something? The thought of having to test her own strength against the Mizukage was terrifying. Why choose me? How could I possibly fit into his plans? Once he finished, she was left mouthing his last words. “Mizukage's Left Hand...” He made it sound like she might deny him. Hand, foot, sock, stepping stone, anything serving the Mizukage filled Suzumi with hope.

Fortunately, she had the composure to raise her voice when addressing him. “You honor me, Mizukage-sama. I will fulfill any desire you wish.” Her eyes remained locked on the ground. Had she looked up, he might have seen her anxiety.

He's a genius.

Here Suzumi was thinking of their mastery of land and sea. But that was not what battle was. Battle was fulfilling a role, hers being the sword and shield. The amount the Mizukage knew about Suzumi was alarming. Her ability to access the first Celestial Gate, while a point of pride, was one she preferred not to advertise due to its high risk nature. He probably already knows all of my tricks even before I learn them. While inspiring a new degree of curiosity, the Mizukage's thorough knowledge of her eliminated another. A bit of confidence found its way in. If Mizukage-sama has researched me so extensively then I must be worth something.

No one should ever get within arm's reach of Chae Yoon or Taiga.

In an instant the words echoed a dozen times. There it was, plain and simple. Suzumi had been tasked to try her hardest, but that was a given. This was her real purpose. The composition that the Mizukage had found would be rendered ineffective without fulfilling this mandate. Chae's nature still got Suzumi's blood flowing, so she was relieved to think of the distance she would keep from him. Long ranged specialist. It figures. There is no discipline in that. She was much less sure about Taiga. He seemed to have more respect than Chae, yet he seemed half the age. Regardless, the prospect of healing after using Gates was more than enough to perk Suzumi's spirits up. She was still new to the technique, its aftereffects causing prolonged practice to be rare. Medical jutsu was also a mystery to her, but she was sure of one thing: the medic must be protected. Suzumi could not help but to imagine the three in battle. In her mind's eye she saw herself weaving between large fireballs shot off by Chae, who was for some reason assumed to be a Katon user. The enemy approached Taiga, but Suzumi had one eye trained on him the whole time. Arriving at the same time, she cut the foe off. And then there was the Mizukage, yet her mind was incapable of imagining what he could do. The thought excited her.

“Yes, Mizukage-sama. I shall not disappoint you.”