The Chef and The Huntress [Lancer,NK]

In the nearby future a culinary artist and a hunter would meet. Lancer, unaware of this future, was practicing karate kata in the training grounds. As always, Sunagakure was terribly hot and the sun’s beaming rays felt like a mild katon Jutsu, constantly attacking her. After spending one hour already training, her clothes were already soaked with sweat; luckily she was wearing a green tank top and simple black baggy pants. As Lancer felt her body starting to give in to the sun’s heat, she finished in style with a few more kata moves. Throwing a right fist accompanied by a “Hyah!” Shortly followed by drawing her fist back in to her waist and launching a high kick with her left foot, releasing another “Hyuh!”

She often trained to the point of exhaustion, improving her stamina was of utmost importance to endure hunting. Some hunts could last for weeks at a time; where a lack of preparedness in that case could lead to death before ever seeing the prey. Lancer drew her left foot back to the ground and finished her session, bowing as part of the kata’s ritual determined she should. It was about lunch time but Lancer was on a strict training regimen, only eating on every third day. This was preparation for hunting as well, since the hunter couldn’t always stop to eat and often moved constantly to stay on their prey’s trail. Suppressing her grumbling stomach, Lancer looked forward to the days ahead when she could roam the land to hunt for the creatures of stories told.

It was rare to hear of any beasts more exotic than normal animals being seen, perhaps there weren’t dragons or Bijuu roaming the land for her to hunt. The only way to find out would be to see for herself, trusting the word of another in their existence or lack thereof simply wouldn’t do. Designs for weapons were still up in the air, she’d definitely been leaning further towards piercing weapons that could pierce the beast’s heart. Lancer suddenly realized that tomorrow was her day to eat; she hadn’t bought groceries yet and now was as good a time as any. Remembering what direction she’d have to go in with the market as her destination, Lancer turned face and took a step for it. However, someone was just arriving at the training grounds as she did.

She could only guess his age and height; assuming he was a few years younger and some inches shorter. Curious about him, Lancer took another step forward, leaving roughly five meters between them both. Watching him for a moment, she wondered if he’d notice her before she got the chance to say something. Assuming he didn’t, Lancer would take the chance to introduce herself to a possible new training partner. In her thickest accent possible, Lancer greeted the newcomer by shouting “G’day!” She waited for a response, standing with both hands at her hips and a focused stare at his face. Her hair was wrapped at the back into a braid that looped through a cylindrical hair tie. 

Lancer was still obviously tired, with heavier breaths being the most obvious sign. Her body at this point was well toned but it didn't possess a lot of muscle mass. Visually she looked stronger than she was, mostly because of her height combined with the toning of her arms; her fairly serious expression was also quite effective to the overall look.

WC: 576

The boy's reaction to Lancer's greeting startled her immediately; she wasn't expecting a hello to cause such an energetic outburst from him. All too soon after his outburst the boy started panicking, she'd seen it once before with a boy trying to admit his crush on her. Even though this situation was very unlikely to play out the same way she couldn't help but find the sentiment charming. Before taking her chance to speak, the boy tried his greeting again. Lancer hadn't quite taken notice of it before, but he was wearing an apron and a chef hat. She wasn't interested in culinary arts herself, but she desperately needed somebody that was if her plans fell into place. Hunting a large beast with nobody on hand to prepare food from it would simply be a waste, after all. After removing his apron and hat Lancer would notably frown, she kind of preferred it when people wore the apparel of their trade.

As a hunter she wished to be wearing armour in every hour of the day, but that would have to wait until she acquired a set. Providing ample time for the boy to collect himself, she listened to his introduction and made a mental note of his name, including the title he claimed ownership over. Still breathing heavier than usual from her training, Lancer attempted to make amends for seemingly scaring him. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. I was just curious about you because of your getup." Following this, the boy offered her some water. "I appreciate the sentiment, but as part of my training regimen I can't accept outside help for nourishment." It was surely a kind offer and she couldn't just leave after being offered such sentiment from a stranger.

"You caught me as I was leaving to pick up groceries, but if you're here to train would you mind sparring with me a little? I've never had a training partner." Lancer wanted to keep going now that someone interesting turned up, she especially didn't want to let this opportunity go to waste. However, she wasn't yet aware of whether the boy was a ninja, or the rank he possessed if he was. For all she knew, he'd find the idea boring. "Sorry, I didn't really tell you my intentions like you told me. I fully intend to become the world's most renowned hunter.. But for the moment I guess I'm just an Academy Student." Lancer shrugged, unhappy with her current state of affairs, fully hoping Ichiro would take her up on the request to join her for training.

Upon the boy's insistence that she take the water, Lancer decided to comply. She reached forward and grabbed the water from him, although she didn't drink yet; instead setting it down on a bench to her right. She did like the idea of Tofu, it was a very healthy choice and she appreciated the flavour when it was mixed with other foods. "You have a restaurant? Well that's cool, I'll be sure to stop by for some Tofu tomorrow." Lancer remarked with a smile. She was happy to hear Ichiro agree to training with her, it was far more difficult to improve oneself without someone else's encouragement. However, Lancer wasn't sure she'd end up being the one to injure him. She didn't let the slip-up on his part go by unnoticed though. "Yes! Training partner..." After telling him her goals, Ichiro delivered a fairly sizable speech that started to make her drowsy. What caught her attention was the passion he had for being a chef, and the comment about being a Genin.

The nail in the coffin was of course the comment about teaching her Jutsu, she was incapable of learning anything that used Chakra; Lancer wondered how to explain that to him. "I appreciate the offer of a meal; I can still only take you up on that tomorrow though." Before telling him she was unable to learn Jutsu that required Chakra, Ichiro asked her name. "Ah, sorry I could have sworn I said it... Must have slipped my mind. I am Lancer." After telling her name to him, she figured the best step to take next was to be honest about her ineptitude with Chakra. "And my clan name is Yamano, we can't use Chakra of any kind.. But that's fine, I enjoy physical activity more than anything, and I'll be damned if using Chakra or not using Chakra gets between me and hunting a Bijuu." Lancer was obviously excited about hunting Bijuu, her expression whenever she said the name was always smiling and focused.

"When I say I want to spar with you, I mean I want you to use anything you're capable of. I'll try my best to strike you and you try your best to strike me, but I guess since we don't know each other's limits yet we should start off slow, yeah?" Lancer took a basic kata stance, something only a novice of taijutsu would presume they should do. She didn't have a very good grasp of taijutsu itself, she was far more interested in the weaponry required to slay large beasts after all. Lancer didn't activate her Spirit Release yet, as that might have only served to waste stamina before things got serious. If Ichiro wanted her to make the first move she would gladly do so, commenting beforehand. "I'm going to move at exactly half my speed for you to gauge where I'm at; I've got the feeling you're probably a lot stronger than I am, since you're a Genin after all." Lancer smiled, preparing to make a move.

She would begin running in a semi-circle from the moment Ichiro agreed, assuming he did. Maintaining the same distance from him she would run clockwise based on her position to Ichiro. Without a lot of momentum built up Lancer's running speed was only half what it could be, meaning she ran at ten speed. All she had at this point was some novice concept of taijutsu, zero weapons on her person, and the desire to train. Assuming he didn't make the first move from this situation, Lancer would suddenly halt after she made ninety degrees of progress circling Ichiro. From there she would begin running straight at him, maintaining the same speed and attempting to close the distance so she could throw a punch at his abdomen. She would put only a quarter of her power into her punches for the moment, allowing herself to gauge Ichiro's resistance to physical strikes assuming she could land any during this session.

WC's:

Lancer focused too much on her opponent to hear him speaking, yet she was tossed around by him helplessly. Eventually deciding to give in because he was too strong for her, she looked him in the eye and pointed with her right index finger while speaking. "I'll expect some really nice food when I come to your restaurant..." Shortly after this statement she carried herself off the training grounds to go home and rest.

-Exit [OOC: Sorry, short because motivation for Lancer is absolutely nowhere to be found... But now you can claim your stats... =D]