Eye for an Eye [C].

[Nujabes]

Hutora had been given a rather critical mission concerning the Wolves of Mizu's Suzumi Hoshigake. Though she wasn't against the orders she'd been issued, she wasn't entirely sure his method of approach was proper for a girl so young. Then again, the real world never waited -- young or old, boy or girl, time passed regardless of if you were ready or not. There were no breaks; no pauses.

Just forward.

The clearing that the white-robed Hyuuga stood in was relatively clear of mist. Her mask was secured squarely on her face, hood drawn, and arms tucked behind her back; it seemed to be her typical stance, even when casual and entirely informal.

Patiently, she waited.

[Suzumi]

While Suzumi's days were spent with Chae and Taiga, her encounters with the Mizukage or what seemed to be his personal assistant were much more scarce. As such, when she received word that she would be taught an important lesson by Hutora, Suzumi grew excited. Everything was going well for the girl. As a team they had not failed a mission, Suzumi had managed to achieve great strides in personal strength, and she enjoyed friendships like she had never had before. She had become one with her team.

Which made it that much stranger when Suzumi realized she was the only one with Hutora. Usually Taiga was quicker than her, and even Chae had started to show up early to things. Something told her that her being the only one there was not a coincidence. Shrugging it off, she optimistically considered it an opportunity. Private training in the midst of team building could produce results, she supposed. When things were good, they were good. Fully equipped, she approached Hutora.

“Greetings, Hutora-sama. I am pleased to be your subject for the day.”

[Nujabes]

Hutora gave a curt nod. "Indeed. The Mizukage asked me to speak with your directly, concerning some things about you. Specifically, your kekkei genkai."

It was no secret that the girl possessed the blood of a killer in her (most of Mizu no Kuni's population did, it seemed). Sharks were seemingly harmless, despite their size and reputation, until even a single drop of blood stained the water. Then, like a complete transformation, they were ready to sink their teeth into anything and everything that they could.

That was a problem.

"Looking over your academy files, we came across several instances where you were subject to uncontrollable-- and often times down right violent --fits of anger." Hutora let her arms slink to her sides. "Of course, this is due to the blood flowing through your veins, and thus the blame can't entirely be put upon you. However, with age comes wisdom; the time to control the beast dwelling within you has come.

It's no different than the Mizukage controlling the Yonbi spirit within him. With that control comes great power." A handful of steps closed the distance between the two women. "Do you understand?"

[Suzumi]

Hutora's words made Suzumi forget her manners for a moment as she looked away to hide her blush. She liked to believe that she had gotten better over the years, but that was not true. The frequency and intensity of the outbursts did not falter. The only thing that did happen was Suzumi was more controlled when already controlled. Once she lost her grip, her teachings were quickly forgotten.

Emotions have no place in battle, her kendo instructor reminded her. Kendo had been taken up in an attempt to counteract the rage that stirred inside. The most refined and formal of fighting styles, it was thought to be a successful attempt. Even Suzumi thought that she was getting better, yet she could understand the concern. Knowing Hutora did not want her sob story attempts, she kept her comments short. Perhaps if she kept an open mind she would learn a lesson that had eluded her most of her life. Suzumi thought nothing of Hutora's approach, her mind wrapped around being compared to the Mizukage.

“Yes, Hutora-sama.”

[Nujabes]

"Good." Hutora lifted her hand slowly, as if to set it on Suzumi's shoulder in a consoling manner. They were women, after all, and considering the conversation it shouldn't have raised any alarms. But, what happened next was more than likely entirely unexpected.

Rather than fall upon her shoulder, three fingers-- the pointer, middle and thumb --extended from the pack. Like a cobra striking its prey, they would plunge into the girl's left eye socket. The pain would be unbearable as her eye was literally ripped from its home in her face, perched between her aggressor's finger-tip grip.

Of course, Hutora would leap back several feet to avoid any immediate retaliation Suzumi might've had from the burning pain in her face. In that time, the eye would find its new home being the crescent of the HYDRA operative's palm.

"How do you feel?" Her voice was flat.

[Suzumi]

When things were going well, they went well. Suzumi smiled as Hutora reached for her. Thinking that there might not be any combat, she figured that Hutora's teachings could be accomplished through a long walk. She even began to turn slightly before her world went red. Suzumi was a fairly experienced shinobi that had experienced the consequences of gates, knowing plenty about the world of pain. For a few moments, she stood frozen in place.

But she did not experience pain in those moments. She experienced pure suffering. Without understanding why Hutora had struck her, Suzumi's confusion only fueled the flame. Her hands clutched at her empty eye socket as she screamed like she had never screamed before.The world seemed to grow less vibrant and spin slightly. Slowly, she focused on Hutora. Her remaining eye locked on the object in the woman's palm. She understood.

Chakra surged throughout Suzumi's body as she lunged at Hutora. Her hand found her rapier, unsheathing it in a crossing swing at Hutora's side. Completely uncontrolled and full of murderous intent, the swing was followed by a return crossing swing. Inside Suzumi's head there were no thoughts.

There was only instinct.

[Nujabes]

Hutora merely tilted her head to the side as Suzumi screamed, idly palming the girl's bloody eye. The young girl's charge that followed wasn't entirely unexpected. Pain was, more often than not, the best way to jump start the latent intent of a person. Rather than speak, she too would reply with action.

Suzumi's uncontrolled sprint toward the white-robe shinobi would undoubtedly be her. . . undoing, in this situation. Her first swing came in hard and fast, yet would meet nothing more than air as Hutora nudged back (to avoid the tip) and side-step to the girl's left side. The void in her vision that the removal of her respective eye caused would give her all the time she needed to simply extend her leg, well before the back-swing came, and trip the poor Hoshigake.

With all that forward momentum pushing her forward, right into the trip, it wouldn't be a surprise if she simply toppled over and rolled along the floor until skipping to a stop. When she stood, Hutora would be still standing, dangling her eye by the optic cord. "You're going to need to control yourself if you want to get this back, Suzumi. Or, am I talking to the shark inside of Suzumi?"

[Suzumi]

As Suzumi swung again her feet found Hutora's. She fell in a heap, snarling like a beast as she hit the ground. Her head tilted around to see Hutora dangle the eye as a taunt. Still low to the ground, Suzumi's feet corrected themselves. Her eye remained fixed on its missed partner as blood began to drop from her chin. The built up chakra was consumed, her muscles writhing beneath the skin as four celestial gates were opened. Having never shown anyone her ability to surpass the first gate, Suzumi had hoped to impress the Mizukage with her first public display of her pride and joy.

Instead, the ability was first used in cold blood. She attempted to respond, yet only a bloodthirsty growl came out. Her tongue licked the side of her lip, cleaning the blood that had pooled in the corner of her mouth. Again, she tried to speak. Her voice was dripping with anger. “I don't want my eye back. I think I'll just take yours instead.”

With her new speed, Suzumi launched herself at Hutora. Unlike last time, her attack had focus as she attempted to jab the point of her blade into Hutora's eye. Still, she saved no reservation, going all out in her attack.

[Nujabes]

Thankfully, Hutora noticed the surge of chakra within her body from the moment it'd began to build up. Otherwise, the young Hoshigake might have been able to claim the eye she desired so feverishly. And even so, perhaps on another day -- but that would not be the case this afternoon.

The speed she'd demonstrated was terrifying, yet lacking the rage her enemy possessed, Hutora's only had clarity. Despite being able to compare to the girl in raw speed, Hutora's agility and reflexes granted her a single escape. Tilting her body, head first, the rapier cut a deep trench along the side of the mask while the woman's body followed immediately after in the single, fluid motion.

However, as Suzumi passed, she would undoubtedly feel the column of raw chakra and wind biting into her back and easing her along the way. Coupling the sudden additional increase to her velocity, Suzumi would find herself lifted off her feet and punched through a nearby tree. Presuming it hit her, of course.

"My eyes aren't for the taking." These were the words Hutora would have said had everything gone according to plan. "But, a mindless beast like you wouldn't understand that. Control yourself, Suzumi. You need to calm down. Stop letting this... thing... inside you take control."

[Suzumi]

Without the ability to see a third of what she was used to, Suzumi's attack missed again. Hutora's attack was not avoided in the slightest, causing Suzumi to continue rocketing forward through one tree and into a second that cracked from the force. The first tree finished falling between the two women before Suzumi ever moved. Whether it had been the eye injury, the fury, or the recent attack, Suzumi's gates had closed once more. All of the pain that radiated from her eye socket that had been avoided during the opened gates came at once, causing her to writhe around on the ground. Screaming, her voice called out.

“Taiga come heal me...Chae...cover us...I need help...” Her teeth clenched as her tense body rolled around over the splinters of the damaged tree. She heard Hutora's voice, remembering where she was. It did not make any sense to her. The Mizukage seemed to have a deep seated trust of Hutora, and she had seemed genuine during their previous exercise. Even as she pondered over why Hutora would take her eye, Suzumi punished herself for her actions. She had spent the past several days itching to show off any of her new abilities to those she cared for, but the manner in which she revealed them made her sick to her stomach. Turning over once more, she vomited. She wiped her mouth, feeling lightheaded.

“Hutora...sama...please...give it back.”

[Nujabes]

Hutora approached the crumpled Suzumi, knowing she would be of no further trouble. Carefully tucking the eye away in some cylinder or another, she stored the liquid-filled structure. In the blink of an eye, she appeared at the girl's side.

"We're giving you something better."

And like that, they were gone.

continued here.

[~Kohana <3]

Akira- 50

Suzumi- 48