Tales of the Refugee (Pt. 1)

[The Dude]

Ladies and Gentleman,
Tenzo Productions Proudly Presents
...

TALES OF THE REFUGEE
(A Flashback Saga of the life and times of Tenzo Kiyoshi)

Part 1: Her
Chapter 1: Wild Fire

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Rain battered against the floors of a small run down house and strong winds made the walls creak and groan with every turn they made. The door opened suddenly and rain battered into the entrance way as Kiyoshi stepped through the doorway with heavy steps and an armful of logs that had been soaked through. He threw the wood haphazardly onto the floor before turning about and slamming the door shut on the elements that raged apathetic to his desire to stay dry. He turned removing his large coat and tossing it over the back of the only chair in the room, a worn and aged arm chair beguiling to it's true comfort. He took off his glasses and placed them carefully within the folds of the coat before he returned to the pile of logs strewn across the floor.

As he moved them to the small fireplace steam would rise from his frame drying him out and every log he held for a moment in his grip causing the rain to steam from inside before placing them gingerly into the pit. Once the pile of wood was built to his liking he held the last log in his hand a moment longer raising his own temperature until it blazed alive with fire before setting into the pit. He sat down in the arm chair weary holding his head in one hand while absent mindedly reaching for the books on the small table beside him. There were a few ideas buzzing around in his head that he wanted to get down on paper for future reference when he would consider writing an actual book again.

He opened the book only to find the paper was aged much like everything else in the house, but his eye lit up in recognition of what was written before slamming the book shut with a sharp snap. This was not the book he had been reaching for at all, but now that the familiar penmanship was before him he couldn't bring himself to put it back. Words that were written within he now wished only to forget. If he had had any proper sense he would have burned this book long ago for the danger it represented to him. But, the pain it wrought was to dear and close to his heart to be ignored and cast aside. He bit his lip and ran slightly trembling fingers across the surface of the book. No longer able to control himself, he slowly turned to the first page written in a code as familiar as the penmanship. To Kiyoshi, it was just a second language he wrote in and easily deciphered into plain text.

"Written word is a powerful medium. It can share inspiration and passion, raise or crumble nations, and leave a record of memories and events. With this in mind I've bought myself a journal in order that the world remember me and what I do with my life. No. That's not honest. I've thought about writing a journal a long time but never really followed through on that desire, but today was special. Today I know somethings should be preserved to the best of our ability..."

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[The Dude]

A pale skinned ninja with large black eyes sat at a the edge of a lake scribbling fervently into his journal while staring off across the lake at a team of young shinobi who were practicing chakra control by running drills on the surface of the lake. His face was placid but his eyes shone with enthusiasm at the team as the went about their work shouting at one another. The familiar sound of heavy boot steps were soon heard from behind and immediately the young shinobi knew who was coming but before a formal greeting could be given the rough voice called. "You know, you spend all your time drawing picture and writing you're going to look back on your life and wonder why you never went out and did anything fun!"

Kiyoshi leaned over his shoulder placing a gloved hand on his friend's shoulder as both his eyes scanned across the images his friend had drawn. They seemed hauntingly more vivid that life itself, but familiar in that Kiyoshi had seen his friend's work many times before. But something in today's venue pulled his attention in so powerfully he couldn't hear Chen's words as he replied. He merely stared in awe at the center piece of the art, a girl with red hair that were drawn to look like fire in a perfect stillness. Her eyes showed uncertainty in her pose mid parry against one of her team mates. After sometime Kiyoshi glanced back from the art to the scene on the lake and wasn't surprised that the art, while exaggerated, was spot on.

The team on the lake now were collecting around their sensei after the exercise and conversing but out of Kiyoshi's earshot. Instead he closed his eyes and gave his head a shake before turning to Chen, "I'm sorry Chen what were you saying? Something about your art today captivated me today." He smiled down at Chen. Chen was a fellow clan member, but unlike Kiyoshi he had a different set of skills and abilities specific to his art.

"Well good! I would hope some of my new works are doing their job. I'm trying a new ink that uses visual sensory to instill Genjutsu traps, so far though this hasn't worked on anyone but you though. I'll have to take it back to the shop with us later and we can see if anyone else gets anything from it."

SPOILER: Click to show

Akane
(her)

Shinji
(Best friend and long time partner of Kiyoshi Tenzo)

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[The Dude]

"Oi, boys!" The pair turned sharply to the familiar call of their old Jounin instructor who had been leading the team of young shinobi in their drills. He smiled from the shore of the lake walking backwards out onto the water and waving them to come in closer. The two glanced at each other with a grin before they rose to their feet and walked to the shore while Chen tucked his painting supplies away into the folds of his baggy robe.

They stepped out onto the lake joining their veteran as the team of three continued to battle it out further out on the lake. The Jounin smiled as they approached, "If it isn't a pair of hooligans I wish I hadn't been the one to train, what are the pair of you doing out here today? Shouldn't you be off saving the world or preventing some sort of catastrophe on its way to the village or are you too good for the grunt work of being heroes?"

"Well there's that," Kiyoshi laughed, "and then of course we're just being lazy on this beautiful day." he glanced back at Chen for confirmation who merely nodded with a smile. "Of course we have you to blame for that though don't we? You were the one who taught us everything we know so-"

"So like every other maladjusted behavior you two manifest, I'll be blamed for it." The old man laughed heartily, "How do our superiors see it that way still? Yet every time you guys do good it's always about how good you two are as stand alone ninja and I never get any credit. Shunned like a Eunuch in a brothel house."

Chen sighed crossing his arms across his chest and hugging his art supplies to his chest. Slowly shaking his head he began, "You always had such an elegant way with words, sensei." Metal on metal rang out as a particularly vicious slash was parried by the team causing the three to look across at the team as they continued their exercise with gusto. "You're team seems to be shaping up a bit... what are they all? Genin?"

"Yeah, but they'll be going into the chunnin exams this year." the Jounin said quietly in contemplation before continuing, "Truth be told boys that's actually the reason I called you two over here. I need to ask a favor from you-" he cut himself off and with a sharp and piercing whistle called the exercise to a stop as he waved in the young ninja for some debriefing.

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[The Dude]

"Gather 'round team I have a small announcement but it effects all of you." He glanced across all the faces of his students and frown somberly, "Our number one defense to the village is a powerful information network. I've been called to serve on another team for my experience and the villages sore need for Jounin in these times." Chen and Kiyoshi exchanged confused glances at once another before, Sensei continued, "However I was allowed to request my replacement to take leader ship of the team. Tenzo Chen will be leading your squad and assisting him will be his long time teammate Tenzo Kiyoshi." The teams seemed just as confused as Chen and Kiyoshi at this announcement but still the Sensei continued, "Both of them were great proteges and students to the village I had the pleasure of teaching. They are more than capable of preparing you three for the chunnin exams. After all they only took it three years ago so they have the freshest memories of what it's like."

He turned about smiling smugly at Chen and Kiyoshi highly amused by his own little surprise before continuing, "But of course you need to all work together as a team and what better way to get to know one another then a friendly little mission." He bit his thumb before handsealing and striking the ground for his summoning jutsu. Dark bindings spread across the earth and a burst of smoke erupted before quickly dispersing to reveal a larger than average lemur wearing an amegakure head band across his mid section like a belt. "Students..." He grasped the lemur by the tail slinging him around before giving him a powerful cast out far into a forest one hundred meters or so in the distance. "If you can beat Kiyoshi and Chen to Usap recover him and bring him back to me before they do I'll but you dinner. The same offer extends to you two boys.

The two groups eyed each other briefly. There were two girls and one boy. The boy wore a dark set of tinted goggles and a black tattered cloak that was far to big for the young boy and hung about his shoulders like a shawl. One of the girls wore a sleeveless green vest with baggy vacant hood drawn over her light violet hair. She had a vast array of tattoos that crawled across the only bare skin she revealed namely her arms and face. Kiyoshi's eyes lingered for a moment on the last girl with crimson plumes of hair. She was wearing shorts and a ninja vest also sleeveless exposing her white legs and arms.

"Begin" cooed the sensei.

The two looked at each other in stunned confusion for a moment before Kiyoshi and Chen bore the shark like hungry smiles of predators before prey. Suddenly the girl spoke, "Akane, go get the lemur and hurry up! Xin and I can hold them here." Cute, they were optimist about how they stacked up against the pair of hardened ninja. This didn't really seem fair at all really. The crimsons haired, Akana bolted off while the boy xin, folded his arms across his chest blocked from view under his shawl cloak and moved to stand between the Chuunin and his fleeing team mate. Chen wasted no time flicking open his scroll and pen scribbling strikingly across the paper as his pictures took form. The shinobi in green formed hand seals of her own furiously in a desperate attempt.

Chen grinned, "Well what are you waiting for Kiyoshi, go get her these two will have their hands full with me alone..."

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[The Dude]

Kiyoshi took off with a burst of surprise shunsin flickering ten meters and attempting to maneuver around Xin. Xin though was able to witness Kiyoshi's movement as his attention had already been to block his path. He sprinted after Kiyoshi in the hopes of catching close enough to attack and otherwise distract kiyoshi. As he drew close he withdrew a blade from beneath his shawl about to slice from behind when suddenly his ankle became bound by one of two massive twenty meter long inkborn snakes. The sudden halt in his stride tripped him face down into the the water where he crashed under the surface.

As Kiyoshi ran forward stilll trying to catch up to Akane something brought him to a sliding halt on the water. The lake before him suddenly split apart leaving a gaping chasm filled with vines that were en-wrapping around each other to form arms and hands. The hands soared upwards out of the gaping maw reaching forward at Kiyoshi. Snapping his hands together he quickly countered the obvious genjutsu using a standard Kai and shattering the illusion. The crevice vanished and again there was merely a lake before him. And further ahead Akane had a large advantage now.

"You can't be serious right now Kiyoshi! She's getting away!" Chen called while he controlled his two snakes at the same time drawing more designs upon his scroll awaiting the enemy to try some sort of counter attack. For now his first snake had not only tripped Xin but having caught onto his ankle it dragged him up out of the water and with a flick of his long slender body sent him skipping back across the lake in the opposite direction of Akane, Kiyoshi, and the Lemur. The second snake had bore down on the hood girl but not in time to stop her from casting the genjutsu on Kiyoshi. Now she was using the the flats of two kunai against the jaws of the massive ink snake.

Chen looked to his sensei curiously as though slightly bored, "You really expect this to let us get to know them? It's not fair to them, sensei!" But he merely looked back with a knowing smile and a twinkle in his eye. He started chuckling softly at first before all out laughing. His students were good, but there were certainly underestimating this young genin troupe.

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[The Dude]

Kiyoshi followed a distance behind Akane but she soon reached the forest and broke his line of sight. This would not deter Kiyoshi as he took pounded into the forest and once inside bolted upwards through the trees landing on a low hanging limb solidly before closing his eyes in concentration and revealing the world through chakra appreciative eyes. He immediately felt Akane's presence stalking silently through the tree branches far up ahead. But to his left and high in the canopy was the weak signal of what was unmistakably his sensei's summoned lemur.

He vaulted powerfully causing a ruckus through the trees as he ascended crashing upwards into the canopy of the forest. Bursting up on the same branch as the lemur a short distance behind the little fuzz ball. The lemur nearly leaped out of it's skin and tried to bolt away but even as he took the first leap Kiyoshi followed with another Shunshin instantly closing the gap before grabbing the tail. "Usap, why struggle? It hasn't been that long since our training to catch you as genin..." he began mumbling to himself absentmindedly as he turned on his heel to look back down through the trees.

Silent approach would not help this Akane against a sensor of Kiyoshi's caliber. He automatically could sense some sort of attack coming right at him but what he wasn't expecting was a glob of lava burning upwards through the trees right at him. Using a small amount of chakra Kiyoshi enhanced his jump and leaped ten meters straight up into the air avoiding the glob of lava as it scorched through the tree he was just standing on. As he began to fall so too did multiple trees the lava was eating and burning through! Ricocheting carefully along burning branches downwards on a course for the ground he managed to beat most of the burning wreckage to the earth before quickly shoving the lemur in his heat resistant cloak and flinging it out harms way.

Burning lumber fell all about him but he did not move save when a piece of wood with lava coating it fell. He formed hand seals rapidly as fast as he could preparing his counter to this Youton elemental shinobi. There was nothing quite like fighting fire with fire but just as he was nearly the end of his string of hand seals a large burning trunk of a tree crashed down on him with a deafening boom!

SPOILER: Click to show

Shojoukazan (Blasting Lava Globs)
Rank: B
Type: Offensive.
Range: See special!
Handseals: 5.
Chakra: High.
Special: The user is able to create a single, 1 meter wide blob of lava the first time learned. Each time relearned allows the user to create one more blob. The blob's range and corrosiveness are determined by the user's highest Fushokuzai rank.
Description: The user will first perform the necessary handseals before channeling Earth and Fire chakra into their mouth, molding the two natures together. Upon firing the user will puff out their cheeks as far as possible, spitting a large blob of corrosive lava at the target(s). This technique can also be manipulated to block doors and narrow exists using the hardening process of lava to prevent a target from escaping. After one turn, any blobs used will hardened.
Domain: Youton. Fushokuzai 'B'.

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[The Dude]

In the cloud of smoke and ash that billowed up from the impact of the falling inferno of wood it seemed nothing could've survived. Akane descended through the trees until she was on a branch a mere ten meters above looking down through the smoke and ash. She cursed under her breath for having used so much power but she froze in shock at what she saw next. The trunk splintered and fell apart and standing upright still just finish his hand seals, Kiyoshi stood with crimson eyes reflecting passion and rage.

His bare arms rippled with tendons and muscles that glistened with hot beading sweat as his left hand grabbed hold of his right wrist in an instant directing the righ hand palm up at the girl. He grinned at her shock and confusion and hesitated for a moment by her startled appearance before letting loose with a full on display raw heat blasting form the palm of his hand in an nearly undetectable sphere of looked like nothing more than heat waves. On contact however the thermal energy of the attack exploded causing flames to erupt from the tree where she stood as well as her clothes to catch fire.

Her reaction time was still speedy though as she ducked down from the tree in searing pain caused from the heat of the abrupt attack falling to earth and quickly rolling once or twice along the ground to nullify the flames of the heat based attack. As she tumbled she moved forward towards kiyoshi before springing to her feet and engaging him in melee combat as she twirled a kunai from a thigh holster.

Kiyoshi saw the attack and quickly unsheathed his own kunai from his black under armor vest parrying her jabs, stabs and cuts while at the same time returning blow for blow against her with the kunai. A percussion of metallic singing served as the choir for the dance between these two fire lords. Crimson eyes met crimson eyes as the seemingly endless waltz continued.

SPOILER: Click to show

Encho (Terrible Boiling Heat Wave)
Rank: A (150)
Type: Offensive / Airontoku Kekkei-Genkai / Futton Nintaijutsu
Handseals: Yes
Range: See special!
Chakra: x2 High.
Special: Distance of boiling blast is determined by the clan member's 'Utsuru' rank. Blast is formed at the user's palm, is circular, and is roughly 3 meters thick. For every 6 meters the blast travels, the thickness of the blasts increases by 3 meters. Finally, on impact, a boiling blast is incurred, the explosion spreading the boiling heat everywhere at once. Each time retrained, bonus heat explosion damage is stacked. However, after every second retraining, consumption is raised by one. On impact, the heat explosion covers a range a maximum of ten meters.
Description: One of the stronger Airontoku techniques, the clan member extends one arm, palm open and pointed at their target, while the other hand reinforces it by grasping at its wrist. A blast of boiling heat is produce soon after, a near invisible round explosion coming forth in a straight line towards wherever the users wishes. Upon impact, a large cloud of steam comes forth as the explosion occurs, revealing the true power of the technice.
Domain: Airontoku. Atatameru 'A' (Blinding Heat).

Tier Three - Tempered Steel: With the ability to increase their body temperature exceeding standard traditions (tier one), the user's flesh, of which their clan name is derived, becomes even more durable than before. From this, the user is capable of neutralizing a single s-rank worth of piercing damage to their body, or a single s-rank worth of blunt damage. This mastery can only be used once per thread.[/spoiler}

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[The Dude]

The fight raged on now as sparks sprang briefly into life with each and every thrust as Kiyoshi grew tired of this game and began to use superior experience. Her movements were fluid and fast and while nearly never the same there was a clear flow and pattern in what type of strikes could follow what. He began to drive her back and the battle soon had a clear superior but Akane still fought with tenacity almost growling with ever parry and strike.

Then it happened. A clear and almost clarifying moment where time seemed to slow down as Kiyoshi caught her fist around her kunai and twisted it away from him. Stepping intimately close he forced her back into a tree and buried his own kunai in the drunk no more than an inch from her cheek. He smiled at her and she smiled back. Butterflies began to take flight in his stomach but before the pleasant nausea could be appreciated her free hand collided with his chin in a supreme uppercut.

Kiyoshi sprawled backwards onto the ground losing consciousness. Akane took advantage of the situation quickly searching the nearby area before finding Kiyoshi's heavy coat and pilfering through it to find the lemur. Grabbing it by the scruff of his neck she quick began to run back towards the lake. It wasn't easy though, for Usap clawed and struggled for freedom drawing blood from her arm. She had to forcibly hold his arms pinned to his sides with both her hands to keep him under control.

"Damn Usap!" She shouted, "I will personally skin you and make you into a hat if you keep this up!" Usap replied with a variation of cussing and clicking noises that lemurs often spoke in. His tail flicked back and forth angrily as he growled and bent his head this way and that looking for anything he could bite.

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[The Dude]

Kiyoshi snapped too with a start quickly shaking his head to wake himself up further before rising to his feet. He had hesitated... that wasn't normal. She had taken advantage of it and it had given her a large advantage. But was it too late yet? Screwing his eyes shut in concentration he reached out his senses before seeing she wasn't all that far just yet. Still time to make up for this mistake!

From his immediate position Kiyoshi took a deep breath before vaulting into a long string of Shunshins in succession. He appeared in one place for a moment and then another then next as he cruised through the forest. There was no way in hell he would ever live this down if a young girl lower in rank had beaten him down in a one on one fight. Tunnel vision became a problem as he saw only clearly for the instants he wasn't shunshining but he somehow managed to avoid colliding with any large trees.



Breaking free of the forest Akane could see the battle between Chen and her team mates was not nearly as one sided as it may have seemed before but the pair was still being bogged down with ink creations. She smirked using them as a distraction and barrier trying to steer clear of the Li master. Then she heard her team screaming her name and as she turned to see what they were shouting about Kiyoshi flickered into sight. This time he had steeled himself and before she had time to react (since her hands were full with Usap) the wind was knocked out of her by kiyoshi's knee driving into her stomach.

She fell forward letting go of the lemur who immediately tried to make a break for it but Kiyoshi knew Usap and his weakness. Quickly grasping the end of his tail he held Usap in place as he ran in place trying to get away before being hauled into the air helplessly. Kiyoshi ran the short distance remaining to sensei holding Usap forward for him to take, "I don't think he's too happy with his part in your little game, Sensei."

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[The Dude]

Sensei just smiled and taking the lemur by the tail just before it vanished in a cloud of smoke and cussing. He then looked to Akane on the ground shaking his head slowly, "You know Kiyoshi I din't want you to go all out on this one. Why can't you be more like Chen and learn to hold back a little from time to time. Hmmm?" He cocked his head to the site rubbing the scraggly beard on his face and continuing before Kiyoshi could explain, "But then again... she came out of the forest with Usap in hand. Between that and your face that looks like it mead the broad side of a broad sword, I think I can assume you did hold back."

The other ninja had stopped their battle and were now coming closer as Kiyoshi looked to the ground and mumbled a quiet yes. Chen laughed as he stepped closer and patted Kiyoshi on the back supportively, "Oh you don't have to worry about that. You just let an little genin girl get the better of you is all while I was here taking on two of them by myself! Don't get me wrong, they were starting to turn the fight but," he turned Kiyoshi's head up for a better look, "I can't say I got quite the beat down you got from that little g-"

A silent approach from behind followed by a decisive blow to the back of Chen's head and Akane had faceplanted Chen into the dirt. She glared then at Kiyoshi baring grinding teeth before turning to sensei, "He cheated! I beat his head in sensei and won our fight! We should have won! Disqualify them!" The Sensei smiled warmly before reaching out and putting a gentle hand over her mouth and shushing her.

"This wasn't about fighting Akane," he began calmly, "I've tried to teach you this many times now. You need to focus on the objectives and goals of a mission. Violence isn't the answer to every problem child. But, thank you for justifying my decision." He removed his hand from her mouth but she still trembled with rage, "You see, Chen is the level headed between this dysfunctional pair and by far the better leader. But Kiyoshi? He's got your temper and blazing fury Akane. He got into the worst of fights among even his own team during assignments. He's matured and learned to control it but he still has that red streak of rebellion and violence in him."

Kiyoshi looked at him quizzically and the sensei turned to look back at Kiyoshi with a smile, "Kiyoshi, as you may have noticed Akane is the combat prowess behind this team. She's hot headed, stubborn, and iron willed. I want you to teach her to forge that passion for violence into a weapon. Teach her to wield it without letting it control her. Otherwise," he turned back to Akane and crooked one eyebrow, "she may be the only one on her team to not be promoted.

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[The Dude]

Kiyoshi looked over at the younger girl who casually met his gaze with a particular finger thrust to the sky. "I don't need lessons from some boy wearing his hair like a girl, thanks though." She said before turning on her heel to leave walking ten meters away from her team before sensei called after her.

"It's a shame you have to act like this and storm off before you get to know the man who actually beat you. I was going to buy us all dinner for that excellent training drill." He folded his arms across his chest and smiled smugly, "But of course you wouldn't stoop that low for a free meal now would you?"

Akane stopped and turned around calling, "I'll meet you at the ramen hut then. Just because I have to eat with you doesn't mean I have to talk with them after all. See you there sensei." She turned again and began walking towards the village leaving her team, sensei, and the Tenzo partners standing silently for a moment before one of her team mates broke the silence at last.

"Don't mind her, she's just a sore loser. She always gets like this if things don't go her way. She doesn't lose all that often though so it makes being on her team a lot easier for all of us."

"Which is exactly why," Sensei continued, "I requested both of you Chen and Kiyoshi. Chen you're a born tactile leader, you study hard and your preparations are good habits for the team to fall into. As for you Kiyoshi? You push yourself to be the strongest as a hot headed weapon, and you've learned when to put the safety on and keep a cool head. I need you to mentor Akane and be a role model to her. Make her look up to you so she'll want to be like you."

Kiyoshi simply stared off where he last saw the girl round a corner. He reached behind his head tugging his ponytail both hurtfully and thoughtfully. "No, a girl like that? A rebel if you will. She doesn't want someone or something to stand for, she wants something to stand against.

"Well however you do it, make it quick. You need an in. She won't even speak to you after this meal if you don't play your cards right tonight. Oh, and before you even think about it," the man gave Kiyoshi's ponytail a tug none to gently to get his attention, "I'm not buying you more meal tickets wither her. This is it for you, understand?"

[The Dude]

At the restaurant...

Tension. High strung emotions could be felt all throughout the small diner as Kiyoshi sat directly across the table waiting for service. The rest of the team, sensei, and even Chen had sat down beside Akane but she had simply gotten up and moved away from them stubbornly. Kiyoshi however followed her waiting for her to sit down before sitting down with her. She had tried to get up again but Kiyoshi put a hand on her shoulder gently and mumbled, "You have to stay in the building if you want food, and no matter where you go I'm going to follow you. You might as well sit down and quit acting like a spoiled little princess."

"Better than having the hair of a princess..." she mumbled off subject glowering at her sensei for this nuisance.

"Assuming my hair makes me look like a princess do you want to know the sad part right now?" Akane turned glaring at Kiyoshi who smirked as he went on, "You're attitude will always make you just a wee lass that everyone dotes upon. You throw fits to get your way and act out in anger. You're not a ninja. You're just here for decoration. I bet the village won't even let you out of the country with your problems."

"Ha. Shows what you know, I'm expected to go far with my career. I'm-"

"Expected to get your head on straight and learn to actually be a ninja!" Kiyoshi barked suddenly his raised voice turning heads to look across at her, "Having a release like youton marks you with higher potential! That doesn't mean shit though if you don't use your head and think once in a while does it?!" Silence again as their glares cut into each other in a staring contest simply waiting for one another to crack.

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[The Dude]

Skidding chairs across the floor rang across the room as the pair nearly jumped out of their skin as the staring contest was brought to a close as the waiter unwittingly interrupted. Setting the tray down on the table with one bowl of lo mein and another of some sort of beef stew with pieces of bread. Both sets of eyes focused with intent to kill on the waiter who quickly scurried away rather comically.

The two then stared at each other briefly before Kiyoshi reached for his stew and bread meal pulling it before him and beginning to eat. But as Akane tried to do the same, Kiyoshi swatted her hand away from the spare plate. "Hey!" Akane objected withdrawing her hand instinctively and now looking back at kiyoshi in disgruntled confusion rather than hate.

The Chunnin took his time casually chewing his food and enjoying the bite before swallowing and raising his head to look back across the table at Akane. "Sorry," he began quietly, "Sensei's only buying food for everyone on his team. You really chose a bad time to quit too, because I don't know about your lo mein but my stew is excellent today."

"What? What's that supposed to mean, I never quit!" Akane's stomach gave a lurching growl at the smell of the lo mein that sat just before her. Even the smell of this bastard's stew made it hard for her to think straight with all these questions she had now.

"Well maybe not intentionally. But, sensei explained to me that you'll not pass the exams and your team will become chunnin without you. Then they'll be assigned to a team with Chen and I if we approve of them and help to train them. On the other hand there's you. You'll simply be retired as a ninja or have to be cycled into the process again being assigned to another genin squad (most likely fresh out of the academy I might add.) He thinks the experience again will humble your personality and you'll become a far more effective ninja. Maybe even next year...."

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[The Dude]

Kiysohi allowed a moment for his words to sink in before he continued, "Next year you can get a team with whatever runts are just brought up then, but that suits me just fine. Personally I think you're a danger to any team you're on and I would just be waiting for you to be the death of a team mate. That's why I'm actually glad you quit myself, you're someone elses head ache now." Kiyoshi returned to his stew fitting heaping spoons of beefy soup into his mouth casually.

"Ha! Like I'm not going to pass these genin exams and get promoted with the rest of my team. I don't know who you think you are to act like I'm beneath you, but you're wrong! I can do anything you can do and I can do it harder, faster, better and stronger than you could ever hope to!" She reached forward grabbing her food defiantly and beginning to eat while staring back at Kiyoshi with venom.

Kiyoshi paid her no mind this time though, he made no move to stop her and allowed her to take her food. He doubted she could do anything better than him but perhaps with far more passion. It was a fire of determination rarely seen in Amegakures shinobi that Kiyoshi shared with her though Akane was unaware. If she was going to be ready in time for the exams, she was going to need a lot of discipline and training on her self control.

They finished their meal in silence eyes smoldering with anger at one another until Kiyoshi finished his meal first. He rose to his feet sliding his chair back and stepping out from the table before giving a brief wave to the rest of the team and their sensei. Shinji rose and without any words or explanation tossed Kiyoshi a vial of ink. He glanced at it briefly and then looked back to his friend who merely shrugged in response. The chunnin looked back to Akane and spoke flatly, "Well then miss, if you're going to stay on the team I will expect you bright and early tomorrow. An hour before sunrise we'll meet back at the lake where we can't cause too much damage to the village. Goodnight." With that he turned around sparing her no time to argue the point and left the restaurant.

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[The Dude]

"I left them with the intent of going home for some time alone to plan out some exercises and lessons for Akane but I never got around to it. I paced my house, smoked cigarettes outside, and did everything to clear my head so I could think with a sound mind but it was no use. Everytime I even began to form a plan for how it would go all I could think of were her two smoldering eyes and her beauty Shinji had somehow captured on canvas."

"Distractions! I cannot hope to teach this girl if I cannot focus but something about all of this has my mind occupied with thoughts less wholesome but more pure. Her eyes... something in her eyes speaks to me, tells me that someday I'm going to marry this woman. I barely know her name, and I'm going to marry her? Absurd! But these feelings and thoughts are best preserved here. I wonder, will look back on this entry with a warm heart recalling the very instant I met the love of my life or with pessimistic eyes learning from the experiences of my past?"

"I wonder"

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A silent clap of paper is heard as the book closes shut in the weathered hand that holds it. The old war dog bows his forehead into his free hand and tears stream freely down his aging features. His frame shudders with the deep but silent sobs of sorrow that he cannot control or hold back anymore. So much time was lost, his entire life viciousy torn from his hands.

Lifting his head he wiped tears from his eyes now with his free hand and rising to his feet. He choked back his crying stopping the sobbing to walk across the room and place the journal back into hiding before he turned around and leaned back against the wall. He breathed deeply having controlled his crying but still the tears rolled down his face. How could he have been so blind? "A warm heart? Pessimistic eyes? How naiive... love ends with tragedy." He strolled to the other corner of his house crawling into bed slowly mumbling "There is no happily ever after," before falling silent and listening to the storm through out his sleepless night. His journal had caused him pain, but what kept him awake was the temptation to read even more and remember the times now gone.[/blockquote][/font]