Tea over Death (Kuniko, Kiryu) (IK)(NK)

Kiryu felt awkward for his friend for a moment, as Tsubaki practically called out Kuniko for having no individuality. It was harsh, but if he was being honest, he had felt a twinge of that as well. It wasn’t really fair to Kuniko, as he had been brought up in an environment that put such a strong emphasis on serving the main branch of the clan. Tsubaki’s words to him were more understanding, which helped put him at ease. He knew he definitely wouldn’t be going into the diplomatic corps until he was at least a Chuunin, but with help he would have a leg up when the time came.
 
Tsubaki’s goal of bringing up the next generation was certainly a noble goal. It was less self-serving than his own, and it would serve the village on a much wider scale. When Kuniko offered for the two of them to assist in some way, he nodded. ”I know we aren’t exactly qualified to be mentors, but if there’s anything we can do, we’re willing.” The suggestion of having her join the team caught Kiryu a bit by surprise, to be perfectly honest. He didn’t even know that Team Summer was still a functioning team. He hadn’t received any official assignments, and he hadn’t even seen Kuniko since their first mission. Still, if they would have him, he was willing to join up. A team could do much more than he could as an individual.

[WC: 244]
[TWC: 2,012]

Tsu still felt guilty and embarrassed about her outburst towards Kuniko, she hoped that he didn't take it personally. It didn't seem to bother him too much on the outside as he continued to smile afterwards. She wondered what she would do about this Ayato fellow. She knew that a show of power might get Kuniko to side with her more but maybe it was more civilized if she just talked with him. 

Kuniko supported Tsubaki, like the good-hearted person he was, and even purposed having her join team Summer and Kiryu. Tsubaki nodded, "I would love to join you guys. It the most I can offer at this time." She would then smirk to boys, "I guess that means I would be your superior. I already know what Kuniko is capable of due to our training, but what do specialize in, Kiryu?" She would look at the boy seating across from her. He didn't do much during the mission to show off his ability. 

WC: 165
TWC: 1894

Kuniko was pleased to see the atmosphere return back to normal. Upon hearing Tsubaki accept his offer of invitation to the team Kuniko stood up a gave a deep bow to his mentor. "Thank you joining the team, Miss Tsubaki. As the highest ranking ninja here, as well as the most experienced, you are most fit to be the leader of Team Summer. A good leader knows when they should stop leading. I formally hand over my position to you." Kuniko's voice was filled with pride. Finally someone who wasn't a genin could lead the team. Kuniko's poor leadership had resulted in multiple failed missions and deaths; to be rid of that responsibility was a blow to his pride, but perhaps it was better for the team and the village. 

After sitting down, he looked over to Kiryu and awaited his response to Miss Tsubaki's question. Kuniko was curios as well as to what the genin could do. 

TWC: 1658

Kiryu was relieved on some level that Tsubaki had decided to step up and lead the team. It felt more natural to allow a Chuunin to lead the team rather than another Genin, no matter how senior that Genin might be. He looked down at his feet at her question for a few seconds as he thought about it. He hadn’t exactly intended to choose a specialization of any sort quite yet, but he had been pouring all of his effort into training with ninjutsu. He had figured that was probably the best way to defend himself and those around him from any who might seek to do them harm.
 
”Well, I’m still trying to improve on the basics for the most part,” he admitted. ”I’ve been focusing a lot more on ninjutsu, though. So I suppose that would be my specialization. I have a wind nature, which I only discovered after that mission we were on together, so I’ve just been trying to improve my use of wind nature ninjutsu. I think I have a pretty decent grasp of Genjutsu as well, although I haven’t done much practice with it. I don’t really have a training partner.”
 
At that last sentence, he glanced over at Kuniko. He was sure the other Genin still had enough of a lead on him to beat him in just about any fight, but he was curious to see how he would fare in actual fighting rather than simply practicing with the dummies and targets at the training grounds. Kiryu’s eyes moved back over to Tsubaki as well. That was an even more ridiculous thought, but he had to admit he was curious to see just how skilled she was as well. If nothing else, it would surely open his eyes to some new techniques and possible ways to counter them in the future.

[WC: 310]
[TWC: 2,322]

Now all the pressure was on Tsubaki. Kuniko stated that he would be handing all the leadership of Team Summer over to the Senju. She chuckled at how official and formal handing over leadership was for Kun but she nods in respect to his words. "Thank you, Kuniko and Kiryu." They were now her responsibility to train and take care of. She got super excited just thinking of the power the two of them could build up over time with her guidance. 

In response to her question, Kiryu told Tsu that he was advancing the basics and he would mostly focus on wind release ninjutsu. She nods, "I think I can work with that." Tsu was skilled in medical and ninjutsu, so she would be able to train both Kuniko and Kiryu pretty well since it was within her skill level. This could make training interesting. 

Suddenly, Tsu realized something. "Wait, if this is a team, whose the third genin?" If it was just Takeshi, then Tsu would have to go find another genin willing to take his place among them.

WC: 182
TWC: 2076

The new team leader said "Thank you, Kuniko and Kiryu."  to the two genin in the room. Kuniko beamed at Tsubaki with his eyes closed after she thanked him. What a glorious day. He turned and made a curt bow towards Kiryu. The young Hyuuga spoke excitedly to his comrade, "We are on the same team now! I look forward to carrying out our duties together in the future." Kuniko suddenly thought for a moment as he realized he had made a mistake. He then said more calmly, "I suppose we were already team mates though, were we not? Well now we are on equal footing. There is much we can learn from each other. Kiryu then explained his own specialties to the group; ”I’ve been focusing a lot more on ninjutsu, though. So I suppose that would be my specialization. I have a wind nature, which I only discovered after that mission we were on together, so I’ve just been trying to improve my use of wind nature ninjutsu. I think I have a pretty decent grasp of Genjutsu as well, although I haven’t done much practice with it. I don’t really have a training partner.”


Kuniko looked back at his team mate with pride. He said softly, "you mentioned you have a grasp on Genjutsu, that's something I have always been interested in, though I fear I lack the skill for it. This humbled shinobi before you is a practitioner of medical ninjutsu and taijutsu. My grasp of medical ninjutsu has been made firm by my mentor, my taijutsu was tempered by my clan since I was a child. It was my specialty until only recently." 

Kuniko quickly calmed himself and began brushing his long hair to straighten it out while still listening to the others. He made quick to answer the team leader after she posed a question. He hoped it was not rhetorical as he gently said, "Miss Tsubaki, I'm afraid that with Takeshi dead and Sakuragi missing, we do not have a third genin for the team." Kuniko would listen to anything else the others had to say before making his leave. He stood up and bowed to the team leader and gently spoke, "Miss Tsubaki, thank you for the tea. It was well made, as I expected. I will look forward to our next meeting as a team. Kiryu, it was pleasant to get to know you better. Until we meet again." And with that, Kuniko left the residence. 


Later that night, Kuniko found himself wondering the streets of the village. The neon blue lights illuminated the bottoms of the trees placed alongside the roads. Looking up, the young Hyuuga spotted a lone dark hill with a temple built atop it. The temple was well lit with the soft orange glow of lanterns and looking very inviting. Kuniko smiled at the memory of hiding in a cupboard with his kinsmen before ambushing a jewel thief there. It was perhaps Team Summer's most successful mission. 

Now that there was a new team leader things would change. Kuniko made his way towards the Hyuuga compound. He left the neon lights of the village and strode through a small park towards the mountain castle. It was dark but Kuniko could make this journey even without the Byakugan, as much as he traveled it. "Maybe things will change for the better~" Kuniko mused to himself. He was so absorbed in thought that he didn't notice a sudden change in the air until he saw his own breath. 

The air had gone cold and frosty, sending a shiver down the genin's spine. He looked around in the dark in fear for a moment. Something strange was going on beyond his ability to comprehend. The trees were dark and blocked all light from the city, yet a faint glow began to make its onto the forest path in front of where Kuniko stood. Things were looking serious, so Kuniko activated his Byakugan with a shout. A pale figure began to walk out from behind a tree moaning his name, but not even Kuniko's eyes could see any semblance of a chakra network. Kuniko instantly recognized the pale spirit as it made its approach. It was his old mentor Kaito!

"Master Kaito! How is this possible? You were dead, Takeshi and I saw what those organ thieves did to your body?" Kuniko was shouting, scared and confused. His greatest among many fears was ghosts. Suddenly the pale spirit leaped forward and seized Kuniko. Though Kuniko could move his hands effortlessly through the ghost, its icy grasp on his arms caused immense pain.The spirit of the slain merchant hissed in a coarse and cruel voice, "I am dead you fool! You were the one who was supposed to save me! How dare you fail your master! You cannot imagine the pain I endured waiting for you to save me! Such agonies! Tremble, there, for you will know my suffering!" Suddenly the spirit passed through Kuniko's body with a lunge, and vanished. Kuniko fell to the ground coughing in agony. In a mumbled whisper he said, "Old master, I accept my fate for failing you... but please... forgive me..." He then blacked out. 

Kuniko awoke the next day in a warm cot in the Hyuuga compound. A servant of the family had found him on the way home and carried him back home, thinking perhaps he had fallen ill. Though Kuniko welcomed the morning sun, he could still feel a frigid chill in his bones that would not leave him no matter how warm he got. His memories of the previous night were foggy and unclear. His body was weak and slower than before. Young Kuniko thought to himself, "what could of caused this pain? .... It must have been hubris."


WC: 970
TWC: 2620

[EXIT]
CLAIMS: 
26 Stats
500/1000/1500 Gentle Step: Front Kick D/C/B Rank
1000/1000 Lightning pulse

After looking over the jutsu rules and stat rules, I believe you need a higher chakra stat for B rank jutsu. I will approve it for C rank and and approve WC.

Approved Kuniko

So that was that. Team Summer was going to remain an active team, although it seemed like they would still need to find a third member to round out the squad. He was also curious about Kuniko’s medical ninjutsu specialization. He supposed that made sense, especially if he considered Tsubaki to be his mentor. With two medical specialists, he figured the team’s survivability would go up substantially. Of course, that hadn’t saved Takeshi, but he had pretty much gone off on his own and didn’t stick together with the team.
 
Kiryu said his goodbyes to the two of them as well once Kuniko had begun to make his exit. He was certainly excited for whatever the future had in store. The day seemed brighter and more alive as he walked back toward his house. Maybe he would still be able to squeeze in some more training today after all. He wanted to be able to show off his improvements to his fellow team members and prove to them that he really was an equal of any other Genin in the village and not just someone that would need protecting.

[exit]

[WC: 189]
[TWC: 2,511]

Claiming:

25 stats (15 chakra, 5 stamina, 5 speed)
365 words toward [size=16]Fuuton: Buredokatta[/size](500/500)
500 words toward Snatch Steal (500/500)
1,500 words toward Wind Release: Wind Wall (1,500/1,500)
146 words toward Puppet Art: Ventriloquism (146/250)

The Hyuuga would explain that he's always had an interest in genjutsu but didn't have the skill for it. He explained that he was working on taijutsu and medical ninjutsu, one skill was from his clan and the other was with his work with Tsubaki. She would nod and smile warmly as she listened to him explain. Kuniko was a hard-working shinobi. She had a strong feeling of something great forming in her palms. Kuniko would continue the conversation, eager to start working as a team.

However, for the group to become a team, they would need a third genin. Kuniko explained that Takeshi was dead, obviously, and that Sakuragi was missing. She pondered. "Well, I guess I'll have to go find another genin to take the place. I'll head to the library tomorrow and look at the genin registry and see who would be able to take the spot."

Unfortunately, with all the conversations over, it was time to say goodbye. Kuniko and Kiryu thanked her for the tea and left out the door. "Have a great day. Come by whenever you need. I'll be here or the training grounds." She would sigh in relief. The conversation went great with the two genins. She had learned a lot about Kuniko and Kiryu's emotions and opinions on the matter that had been eating her up for months. On top of that, she had been named the leader for team summer. She now knew what her short term goal was. Train team Summer for greatness and power. 

WC: 257
TWC: 2333
EXIT
CLAIMING: 
Pure Blood (2000/2000)
Earth Release: Earth Wall (333/1500)
23 stats
Kuniko and Kiryu's chakra memorized