After All, We're Family [P, NK, Kenjiro]

The better sibling? And he said it so flippantly too, as if he had no idea how much effort she had to put in to even be recognized as his equal. Oh, it stung alright. It smarted so bad she wanted to throw him over the bridge, but she refrained from doing so. His frustration was... relatable, she supposed. Well, she thought in self satisfaction,  maybe he'd just gotten complacent. That showed that you always had to "stay thirsty", or even people like herself would catch up. One way or another, though, his useless posturing had no effect on her. She steeled herself and responded to his query.

"Isn't that up to you? You're free now. I'm just going to keep training until I can power through all the opposition in the chunin exams without trouble. You said it yourself, remember? The only way to become successful in this institution is to join the 'legion' and distinguish yourself, which is exactly what I intend to do." She kept her tone matter-of-fact. She wasn't really mad at him anymore, but was still cautious of his beliefs. Whatever had radicalized him to go as far as he did must still have some presence in his decision making.

[TWC 2487]

So Kozachi looked at him like he was some sort of insect for a moment, he could tell that she wanted to push him in, hell if he were in her shoes he probably would have done it. Though now that he was actually thinking about it, he did not quite know what to do with himself, the loss was absolutely demoralizing and he wanted to just demand a redo, but he also knew that he was getting off with a slap on the wrist pretty much. Still though, as his sister put it, he was free to do as he pleased since his debt was repaid.

So with a few light movements, Kenjiro would begin to move across the railing towards the direction of home. He did not want to keep continuing with his current actions, and to get stronger would require energy and time...both of which he did have the liberty of wasting with whatever THIS was. He would not leave his sister though as he had a loyalty to his sister that he would not break. He would fight the village before betraying her, but as she spoke about his earlier words about joining the legion or something he hardly remembered he gave a smile.
"I guess it is time I start getting serious about things as well then." He said as he waited at the end of the bridge.
"C'mon let's get home before mom and dad see that we are missing." Kenjiro would finish as he contemplated how his training would continue.

WC:260/2,297

"If you say so." She doubted that their parents cared that they stayed out for a while longer, but she followed him nonetheless. There was no reason as to why not. After all, she'd just won a rather exhausting fight... not. Kozachi still felt energetic, and wanted to train, but she supposed that now that it was evening, going out wouldn't be so great. After all, maintaining a good rest regimen was important as well. She scooped up her robe, and not bothering to put it on, she draped it over her arm and walked back with her brother. The warm evening air brushed her shoulders and back. Man, what a village. She didn't think she'd want to live anywhere else in the world. Well, maybe she'd change her mind once she actually saw other villages, but she doubted that would happen anytime in the near future. Her place at the moment was here, with her clan and village, no matter what kind of flaws or system it had in store for them. 

"Say, Ken. You didn't even get to see any of my fire techniques. I've picked up a new one, I think." A subtle boast, maybe. She was certainly entitled to it after a shitshow fight like that. If it hadn't been for this stupid fight, she'd probably have been able to complete another one that very afternoon. Oh well, she could just work on it tomorrow.

[TWC 2726]

The few moments of silence were golden as he looked up at the sky and marveled at the stars as they seemed to begin twinkling into life, even though they were always there...it still helped to paint a picture in his mind when he thought about the world. The next thing would be his sister, she had grown and her next words talking about the fire techniques that she has picked up made him pause for a moment. He did not have a proper sparring partner while he was away and he never really pushed his limits. Perhaps tonight was the night he finally did.

"Ya know, you're right. about something..."He would start as he thought to himself that it would not be a travesty if they remained out and trained, hell they probably did not even know about the fight he and Kozachi just had anyway so with a sigh he dropped back onto the bridge right before they stepped off of it. He stared at his sister for a few seconds before speaking again. "Let's train and see what limits we can actually break, now with no doom and gloom hanging over my head, I feel I might have a better shot at it, though I don't know. You seemed to read through everything so well last time it will probably still be an embarrassment for me and a loss. However, I want to see your fire techniques, so you want to go?" He said as he made a few shadow boxing moves to imitate a boxing match.

WC:260/2,557

Kozachi raised her eyebrow. He wanted to go NOW? What a mood swing. It was normal for someone of his age, after all, but she didn't really feel like sparring at that moment. Besides, she still had a few things to work out on her own. She was on the verge of learning yet another technique, and it was a magnificent one. Sure, there were one or two things she wanted to show her brother first, but this was pretty high up on her list. She'd probably put it off until later, when she'd gotten a better hang of it. Also, location was a factor that she had to consider.

"You want me to use it here, in the middle of the damn compound? Jesus, now you're REALLY asking for trouble." She grumbled good-naturedly as they ambled back towards the house. She didn't want to torch the lawn, and neither did she want to raze down some of the structures here that had been lovingly cared for by the rather underpaid servants. Haha, the perks of being born in a filthy rich and influential family, right?

“Maybe tomorrow.” It was kind of lame to just leave him hanging like this, but what could she do? She supposed that they could simply leave the compound, but at this hour of the day, that wasn’t practical. Besides, she was sure that they were expected at home. “Blood cleanses all dishonor”, so it was said, so their parents would probably ignore Ken’s transgression as was clan law. Life could continue as normal now… or would it? She couldn’t help but have an uneasy feeling. All this disorder in the village, and for what? If Ken really had taken care of the whole business, she was happy for him. Accomplishments in life, even if they weren’t publically known to others, were a satisfaction on their own. Recognition was a great thing, but keeping something like this private wasn’t bad either.

[TWC 3052]

Just as he thought, Kozachi denied him the spar, probably for the best too since he just got through getting his own ass handed to him in that last fight with her.  It was whatever, he did not put much more thought into it, but as he listened to the water move under the bridge and then beside them as they walked back through the quiet scene that was the Uchiha compound to their own house, so he put his hands behind his head as he looked out at the river just like earlier, but his head was not filled with anything like regret or a want to win.  When she spoke again about cleansing Kenjiro gave a lighthearted yet quick chuckle.

"Nothing is ever truly cleansed...the world buries the weak and raises the strong, our fight proved that I am FAR from being in peak condition and that I need to put my energy into better usages.  The sins of the clan ride through the generations thereafter,  I guess that next time we spar I will see yet another jump in power from you while I still wait here on the sidelines.  Don't get my words confused with pity.  I will be the best in the village, and when I get there I will make sure that my family is elevated there with me."  He said as they rounded the corner towards the homestretch to their house. 

Crickets and birds were making their usual noises as some of the lights began to flicker to life, some were a bit more modern with small electric lamps, and others were still oil fed field lanterns that illuminated the porches and garden/front yard areas.  The air was peaceful, and the omen of change was missing as was the usual case when people reached a turning point in their lives.  As they arrived home Kenjiro made sure to look at his sister a final time.  

"I guess nothing will be said about what had happened from now on, too many people have their own opinions of the matter...regardless of taking liberties into my own hands what's done is done at least in a speaking point of view.  I wish you luck and prosperity in your growth Kozachi, I only did what I thought was right... at the end of the day that is all, I have to say...and thank you for what you did back there at the bridge.  I needed the wakeup call."  He said finally before opening the door to their home as he sported a large grin, fake of course to anyone that truly knew him...but his parents would never know.

WC:442/2,999

You think YOU have problems? Kozachi thought to herself in silence as they approached the house and Kenjiro began speaking. Oh, boy. When it came time for her father to arrange matters for her, she'd have to tell him the truth about herself. Who she'd been seeing, and what her thoughts on the matter were. Gah, even now she didn't want to think about it. Either way, the moment she was forced to reveal the truth, it would mean the end for her in the family, most likely. There was her loyalty to consider, though. Was it worth hiding who she was for the rest of her life? Maybe.

She didn't understand why Ken was trying to be so eloquent. It just didn't fit the situation. What did pointless sophistry have to do with anything? Suddenly, she realized that this whole philosophy business might have been the reason Ken had gone rogue in the first place. To be perfectly honest, her mind wasn't the kind that liked to twist itself in loops like that. It was all stupid and irrelevant to her. To Kozachi, it was the here and now that mattered, and right now, Ken was sounding unstable again.

Then there was that grin. Kozachi knew Ken better than either of their parents, and she knew the grin was affected. Man, what was wrong with them? Neither of them could come out with the truth. it was all falsity and hiding, and Kozachi couldn't stand that kind of thing. It made her sick inside. She grimaced, her eyes betraying her annoyance. Of all the people in the world, why couldn't he be straightforward with HER? Well, she supposed he had his own reasons, but it was still unsettling as fuck. Now she'd be worrying hourly about what the boy was up to.

"Whatever. Just don't do anything stupid." He knew what she meant. Her tone might be a little harsh, but she felt that it wasn't all bad. She wouldn't interfere with her brother's actions directly anymore, most likely. Was this the right decision? She didn't particularly know. He was the elder sibling and could certainly make his own decisions in life, but when those decisions came tumbling down on him again, who would be there to help him? Still, she knew that he'd probably be more careful from here on out. She just hoped he didn't get himself killed.

[EXIT
TWC 3453
With the 600 WC from here for Fireball Shower
17 stats]

Approved.

  Fireball shower has a mistyped requirement and the requirement should be the phoenix FIRE jutsu, not phoenix flower (the text clarifies its a stronger phoenix fire, and not like the shuriken tech that is the flower tech).