Calm Seas

It seemed he was right not to ask the question, she had seemed to effortlessly land on her feet. instead of sinking into the water. He'd give a slightly impressed look in her direction before making eye contact, and seeing that she expected him to start instructing. "Right.." He'd say as he thought about how to go about teaching her. Honestly, the boy was much better suited as a student than a teacher, and this territory was completely new to him.

"uuuuuuuuuh" He'd continue stalling for time before he decided to go about teaching her the hidden mist technique, a relatively simple D rank ninjutsu. Something she should find easy enough to conquer.

"Ok, lets start with the hidden mist technique" He'd say, curious as to weather she knew the name or not. Regardless of her facial expression he'd form the handseals and the water on the surface of the trench would begin to turn to a vapor, surrounding the pair in a mist for a brief moment before Ikigai allowed it to clear in the center, leaving the two of them surrounded in a wall of mist before allowing it to vanish completely.

"It's a great little technique for disguising your movements" He'd inform her while making the tiger hand seal. Obviously, what he had just shown her wouldn't be enough for her to learn the water element however so he'd go crouch down to his knees and wade his hand in the water creating tiny ripples. "Controlling water isn't hard. The elements reactionary by nature, it's always waiting and adapting." He'd wiggle his hand at the end of the sentence as if to emphasize it. "It doesn't offer resistance when I stick my hand, it actively makes room for my hand and moves to the side."

He'd splash a bit of the water towards the bank of the trench suddenly and violently, before saying. "Its in a constant state of seeking guidance from another source" he'd say as his gaze shifted back to kay "You, just have to make that source your chakra system, have you learned much about chakra control?" He'd ask, knowing that she had at the very least some experience with it, judging by the fact that she was standing on water directly in front of him.

WC: 2608

As she mirrored his movement's he'd be encouraged, she was listening, and from the looks of it intently at that. When she was presented with the question her reply was short, but served its purpose. She'd taught herself everything she knew up until this point. Much like Ikigai had done at the orphanage as a child, before Hakai had discovered him, and taken him under his wing.

He'd smile at the memories of the orphanage, while orphanages were rarely looked at in a positive light, it was all the boy had really known. He'd never known his parents and had been found on the beach by a stranger who had taken him to kumogakure. The other orphans and his "Parent's" were all he had ever really known.

As he reminisced he'd take note of the changing facial expressions on the girl in front of him, it was evident that she was becoming more confident. For what reason, Ikigai had no idea, but the crack in her smile made it easily apparent. Then she'd copy the tiger handseal, he had shown earlier, which was pretty observant of her, if she'd never been to an academy, which he assumed so she would have never learned the basic handsigns. So she was replicating that purely off the memory of what he had done a few seconds ago.

And flawlessly at that, mist would begin to rise off the water faintly and surround the pair again, this time as Kay's creation instead of his. "Well that was alarmingly quick" He'd joke as he watched it settle around them, noticing that she was intentionally keeping it faint enough for the two to be able to see each other. Maybe I'm not so bad at this teaching thing after all He'd think initially before looking back at Kay.

"That took me day's to learn as a kid, I'm afraid I've never really been very talented when it comes to ninjutsu" He'd say as he shrugged before continuing to speak. "A problem you obviously don't seem to have" He found himself slightly jealous of her ability to learn so quickly, but assured himself he'd maintain his lead in his sword training. That was where he was truly gifted.

As the mist hung in the air around him, he'd listen to the chirping of birds and crickets in the area around them. He'd smile at the sound of the crickets, their familiar sound telling him that daylight would soon run out. Looking to the sun to double check he'd see it moving towards the west, mere minutes from setting. "It's getting late Kay, we will lose daylight soon. Probably time to start heading back." He'd say as he pointed a thumb behind him in a nonchalant guesture.

"You ready to go?" He'd say presenting the question in a polite manner as he did so.

WC: 3084

With the day coming to a close Ikigai would leave Kay to her own devices, she was a capable ninja as she had just displayed, and he was sure she was capable of walking back to the academy herself. The boy however would fixate his eyes on the cabin in the woods, Ikigai's living quarters. "Actually, you head back I have to talk to hakai real quick. I'll see you tomorrow Kay" The two would say their goodbyes and Ikigai would climb his way out of the trench, heading further away from the academy and towards the rather modest living arrangements of Hakai Hozuki.

As he grew closer it would quickly become apparent that the lights in the cabin were on, most likely meaning that Hakai intended to have a late night. No doubt filling out the massive amount of paper work that was required to run a school of ninja's constantly training with swords. The shark skin boy would sigh at the thought of it, paper work and legal matters seemed like such a bore. It was a good thing they were rarely needed in his profession as a soldier, he was much more suitable as a weapon of war than a diplomat.

*Knock*  *Knock*
His fist would crash against the rustic wooden door, making his arrival known to the inhabitant of the small cabin in front of him. Only a few seconds would pass before the familiar face of his mentor greeted him. "Ikigai? I figured you'd still be out training with the new girl... What brings you here?" The white haired man would say only half surprised.

The fact that he had somehow known he'd been teaching Kay water style might have seemed strange to some people, but Ikigai new that little happened in the school without the hozuki swordsman knowing about it... And it didn't hurt that the trench was mere meters from his door. So, unsurprised by the man's knowledge Ikigai would continue with the conversation he'd planned to have with his sensei for a while now, clearing his throat as he began to speak.

"I wanted to talk to you about the chuunin exams..." Ikigai would say nervously as he began to seek his mentors guidance, and proceeded to lay it all on the line. "Do you think I'm ready?" The words hung in the air, and Hakai did not immediately respond, instead opting to tilt his head upwards in thought. Pacing to the window with his back turned to Ikigai he'd look out to his massive plot of land.

"Ikigai, A wise man once told me that if you wait until you think you're ready... You'll wait your whole life" He'd pause before explaining. "The chuunin exam's are an intense series of trials, some are even life and death. Do you understand what I'm saying?" He'd ask his student.

Truth be told, Ikigai wasn't following. Whether the man thought he was ready or not was completely unnoticable from his response. "No, not really sensei" The elder man would sigh at the response, "I'm saying that you'll never feel ready, and seeking validation from me will not change that" Clearly not satisfied with the sentence he'd add on at the last second. "The chuunin exam's come with a very real risk of death, and only you can decide if you're willing to take that risk"

A smile would appear on the man's face with faint satisfaction as he was finally able to get his point across. The opposite appeared on Ikigai's, he had been hoping for the man's blessing, it would have given him a sense of confidence going into this that he'd now lack. But he'd disguise the disappointment as he made one last honest comment to his long time sensei. "I've already decided that I'm going to begin them. I was hoping for your blessing to do so" He'd say, almost pleading for some sense of recognition.

"Then you have it, Ikigai. Now go get some rest, you're going to need it. Classes start soon after all." His words were sincere, he knew that his routines were tiresome, and that students who didn't get enough rest often struggled with them. The hoshigaki childs eyes would glimmer at the response. "Of course, Goodnight sensei" He'd say as he hustled out the door just in time to see the setting sun.

Tints of orange and purple filtered through the clouds as shadows began to extend over the long grass planes that lead to the academy's back doors. Kay had already made it back, so he walked alone for about a minute and a half before reaching the door to the student housing hall. Tired and exhausted from his long day of training as well as touring the school to the noobie, the blue skinned boy would find him staggering to his room,

The sliding door moved almost effortlessly to his toned strength, revealing the room he had shown to Kay just hours ago. Tired and worn the tall shark toothed gennin would unstrap his sheath from his hip, before lifing it to the pegs above his small twin bed, allowing the katana to rest above him in his sleep, easily within reach in case he ever needed it in the middle of the night. Something his sensei had taught to him long ago. Never get caught in a dangerous situation without a weapon to back you up

He'd smile as he remembered the lesson and slipped off his shirt, throwing it in the hamper resting in his open closet before falling backwards into his bed on his back. Head on pillow and eyes towards the wall the shark like boy would reminisce on his day, overall... It hadn't been bad. And he was excited to start the new year with Hakai as well as the chuunin exams. Both were challenges that he would do his best to meet.

WC: 4094
(Exit)
Claiming: Body is a Weapon + 20 Stats