[Senju Kazuto]

"We shall have both then." Kazuto said with a hint of a smile, leading a nod towards the Yamanaka and the Nara. He looked to a side and rose his arm to call for one of the waiters and he placed the other for the beverages, the tea and then the black thorn sake that Shikajin had suggested. He began to consider what to talk about as they awaited for the fresh cuts of beef, poultry and pork that they would cook themselves along with the platters of onions, carrots, potatoes, peppers and other vegetables to accompany the bowls of steamed rice. But he quickly came blank with any idea. To his credit had not considered into reading anything about what Shikajin had done since the days of the academy, even if the reports and profiles were within his reach of the privileges that his rank and authority granted him. For that matter of fact he had done the same with Inoyami as he felt that coming with the information learned before hand would not only strike them as of disconcerting but it would also give them a glimpse of what he did as part of the village. Only a few selected individuals knew what that he was an ANBU and that secret was better served when only a handful knew about it. Before he could speak any worth the waiter came one by one, leaving plates of freshly cut beef, poultry and pork raw and ready to be placed over the brazier that rested in the middle of the table. Tables of onions, peppers, potatoes, carrots and green beans became an escort as bowls of steamed rice remained as sentinels. Porcelain cups of teas that steamed as much as the rice accompanied them and next to them would there be three small cups with a small bottle of sake for the three to share. Kazuto reached for the bottle and with it he plucked the the three small cups, carefully serving them until they were full. Carefully he placed them on before himself and the rest in front of the Inoyami and Shikajin. He looked at his own small cup, the reflection of his own self staring back at him. He took his cup and raise to chest level and looked at them with a genuine smile. "To friends long lost, and friends found again." He said calmly and took a sip of the liquid as it began to burn and sear down his throat with a smokey flavor.

-tag- @inoyami Nara Shikajin -words- 432 -notes- --- -music- ---

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

[attr="class","reasonyino"]

[attr="class","reasonbgyino"]

[attr="class","reasonbigyino"]Your Calling
What Is It

[attr="class","reasonsmallyino"]Do you seek it proudly? Do you perform it happily? Does it beckon you forward when you feel you can't continue on?

[attr="class","reasonbodyino"]
Crisis avoided. Super. Inoyami wasn't above physically separating her companions if things had soared too far beyond civil retorts. Thankfully, she hadn't needed to. Things got quiet again. But she hadn't really expected either Shikajin or Kazuto to be as chatty as she herself tended to be. Part of the blonde's natural tendency to talk often was simply that it eased most situations. Those that didn't enjoy the plethora of conversation topics would make that known. And those that did, they usually appreciated that they didn't have to fill the awkward void of silence themselves. And smiling a lot, that helped, too. Being a beam of comfort and assurance was just who she was. Sometimes, though, she did wish someone else--aside from her brother--offered her the same effort. Just so she could take a moment (or maybe an hour) to just...breathe. And not have to try so hard.

The blonde glanced at the menu as her teammate suggested a particular sake. Desert Thorn? That sounded...harsh. She'd never tried it, and apprehension tugged at her features only briefly--her eyes narrowing, her teeth biting gently at her bottom lip, her clear blue gaze remaining on the Nara just long enough to wordlessly sound, Are you sure about that one? ...And what did he mean, "memorable"? That was rather ambiguous.

Kazuto, however, wasn't scared away by Shikajin's suggestion, instead deciding that they'd just order both of their suggestions. The blonde turned and smiled at his choice. At least if the sake was too much for her, she'd have her preference in tea to wash away the taste.

Their server arrived with the goods--a beautiful amalgam of food and drink--and Inoyami couldn't keep the excitement in. She lit up, her eyes scanning over their presented orders with hunger rivaling her stomach. Everything looked perfect! The cuts of meat were sliced just right, the vegetables arranged nicely on their platters, ready for the fire. Her gaze fell last upon the sake, though she was quick to notice Kazuto's initiative in pouring them all their drinks. "Thank you," she said sweetly, hoping that whatever Desert Thorn was, it wouldn't turn her body off completely to food once it greeted her tongue.

Kazuto raised his cup and the blonde followed, looking to Shikajin for a moment and then to the Senju--a subtle acknowledgement to his toast. Simple and to the point...much like Kazuto himself. How fitting. Inoyami beamed a smile and raised her cup just a bit higher. "Agreed," she concurred happily, and followed suit, taking a drink from her cup. Her other hand was resting on her lap beneath the table, though it quickly became a fist--her nails digging into the fabric of her capris--as the sake made its way past her tongue and down her throat. The blonde's expression didn't show it, but by god did that stuff burn. It was all she could do to remain smiling so that Kazuto wouldn't catch on to her disdain for the sake. She immediately wondered if Shikajin had actually tried this stuff or if he'd just chosen blindly for laughs. Either way, the Nara was the only one capable of witnessing just how badly the woman was actually tolerating the drink. Not one to disgrace ceremony, though, she finished what remained in her small cup, setting it down once it was empty with a steady hand and a slight smile plastered on her face.

"That was...interesting," she said, her voice neutral. Better to be diplomatic. What would Kazuto think of it? The blonde glanced at the raspberry tea. She wanted to cleanse her palette with the sweetness, but it could wait.

[attr="class","reasontagyino"]Nara Shikajin Senju Kazuto | HEX:6b993e | Sorry for the wait!!

[attr="class","credyino"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + GS

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[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

Shikajin honestly knew nothing of the drink he had selected for all of them to try, but the fact that it sounded like the most agonizing liquor on the menu was all that he needed to see. The Nara rarely held grudges and he wasn't upset in the least about the venison comment, but if he could make the Senju quiver just a bit from the sake then all would be well. He'd glance over just enough to see Inoyami looking at him worriedly, and a blank stare would all she would get in return. The woman worried too much at times --all the time, honestly-- and if they were to struggle with the drink then they'd do so together.

In time the food and drink would be placed before them, it all looked great and was just waiting to be tossed on the grill, but they had a certain matter to attend to first. Kazuto was quick to snatch up the cups and fill them. Perhaps he wanted to get things over with as quickly as possible? Regardless, they'd all be holding a small cup of fire water in their hands in a moment's time. A toast to rekindling old friendships was given, a sentiment Shikajin agreed with and gave a nod in response before tipping the cup into his mouth and instantly tasting the burning liquid on his tongue. He had wanted so badly to keep an eye on the Senju, and to a lesser extent his teammate, to see their reactions, but his attention was squarely rooted on the not great tasting at all sake his body was trying to reject. He imagined this was what people who used fire based techniques felt in the aftermath: mouth and throat on fire and nearly forgetting how to breath.

Setting his cup on the table Shikajin would contemplate for a couple moments as he listened to Inoyami try and hide her displeasure for having to endure such an experience. "Mistakes were made. My apologies." It wasn't even worth trying to continue the ruse at this point, his burning throat wouldn't allow for such lies. But they had all survived to tell the tale which was worth something, right?

Senju Kazuto @inoyami @three | ### | whoop whoop

KRATOS

[Senju Kazuto]

As his throat and mouth burned he kept his composure, looking around to find the wincing looks of his friends after consuming the sake. He coughed slightly for a second, gagging as he tried to pass shake off the burning sensation until it simply faded away with a smoky after taste. He turned his head towards Inoyami, eyeing her as she tried to make sense of the drink and gave it a qualifier that he simply found amusing, a soft chuckle escaping his lips before he spoke once more. "Ever the diplomat Inoyami." He said as he rose the empty cup, carefully cradled between his index and thumb, before letting it to rest upside down. "It was vile and we both know it. But at least we won't forget what it was said." Kazuto said with a hint of a smile as he remembered his words, bittersweet at the realization that he didn't have many friends left, but that at the very least he had good ones to be with here and for what he could recall and for what the little they had shared until now, he wouldn't change them in any way or form, even Shikajin if he suspected that he had suggested the sake as a way to get back at him for the suggestion of eating venison. Promptly he began to put the cuts of meats, the fillets and assortment of vegetables that had not been cooked in batter over the grill that separated the three of them and the chorus of sizzling flesh and roasting vegetables began at earnest. The flesh began to shrink as heat from the embers seared to perfection as if he were a great chef. It wouldn't take long but he felt prudent to begin offering to his companions the first bites. "Any of you want to fancy the first bite? I promise you I'm a competent cook."

-tag- @inoyami Nara Shikajin -words- 329 -notes- --- -music- ---

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

[attr="class","reasonyino"]

[attr="class","reasonbgyino"]

[attr="class","reasonbigyino"]Your Calling
What Is It

[attr="class","reasonsmallyino"]Do you seek it proudly? Do you perform it happily? Does it beckon you forward when you feel you can't continue on?

[attr="class","reasonbodyino"]
Kazuto said what the three of them were thinking. While all Inoyami offered in reply was a simple chuckle--and probably what would be seen as a nervous one, at that--she did agree with him. Maybe it hadn't tasted too great, but the cheers had been genuine, and that's what mattered. The company was always more important than the food or drink. At the least, Shikajin had apologized for his poor choice, though she couldn't be sure it hadn't been on purpose. Not that it mattered all that much to her. It was an...experience.

Kazuto took to preparing some of the food, and the blonde waited eagerly for something to be finished. The Senju had assured once things were finished that he was a competent cook, and while Inoyami didn't doubt that in the slightest, she was also a bit too hungry to care. He asked if either she or Shikajin wanted to try the first bite, and without a pause she raised her hand up to shoulder level. "Me!" she volunteered with a smile.

The blonde presented her plate and took a portion of what he'd prepared, leaving some for Shikajin and Kazuto himself, of course. She dug right in, her expression conveying that it was just as satisfying as she'd envisioned it would be. "Even without added seasoning, it's super good," she said, taking another bite with an added vegetable before working on a few of the seasonings and sauces to find out which combinations worked best for which items.

The blonde was uncharacteristically quiet as she ate, savoring every bite and glad that, of all the places Kazuto had picked out, it was somewhere that knew how to treat their cuts of meat. The vegetables had held their crispness and the cuts of beef and pork were sliced beautifully, almost all uniform.

A happy hum left her throat as she ate her way through the first batch of food, putting a few of the raw pieces on the grill after Kazuto had finished to contribute to the cooking.

[attr="class","reasontagyino"]Nara Shikajin Senju Kazuto | HEX:6b993e | No notes~!

[attr="class","credyino"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + GS

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[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

Even the normally stoic Kazuto could only save face but so much before the effects of the firewater did him in. His words were the final seal on a less than pleasant drinking experience but in the end the burning of their throats could be seen as the rekindling of a long lost friendship. Metaphors and philosophy aside it was time to eat, or rather, it would be once they actually got to cooking the food. The Senju wasted little time throwing the various meats and veggies on the grill allowing both the sizzle and smell waft around them. Now they played the waiting game...

Shikajin thought about speaking to try and pass the time, but he was still very much feeling the effects of the sake and doing his best to keep it down, and opening his mouth may have allowed more than words to come forth. It had honestly been quite some time since something had shaken the Nara this deep. He wasn't mad or sad, but just really focused on keeping the contents of his stomach down. It would have been easy to groan and complain but that would have shown a level of weakness the duo sitting next to him weren't familiar with, and there was no need to muddy the mood now.

After what seemed like an eternity the food was finally ready to eat and Inoyami would waste no time appointing herself as the taste tester. It was hard not to notice that the Yamanaka had foregone seasoning her cut of meat and even though it was assured that the meat was tasty enough without it Shikajin couldn't help but judge his teammate just a little. The Chunin would eye a couple of pieces of meat --not the venison-- and assorted vegetables that would quickly find it's way to his plate, and with a dash of salt and a sprinkling of pepper he was now ready to feast.

"I guess cooking skills came as part of your training for... whatever you do now." A compliment turned joke turned startling realization that Shikajin had no idea just what Kazuto was up to these days. Granted, this was the first time they had seen each other in quite some time but even then word of mouth could have kept him abreast of certain peoples exploits, especially if they were of the grand variety. Even Inoyami hadn't mentioned the man's career path when she brought him up a while back and she had a propensity to know and talk about everything.

Senju Kazuto @two @three | ### | whoop whoop

KRATOS

[Senju Kazuto]

"Can't say they've helped me on the field." Kazuto said quickly as he deftly controlled the chopsticks, removing and adding more of the fillets upon the grill. As the sound of sizzling flesh interrupted the growing silence, the Senju contemplated the need of secrecy of what he did, the fact that he claimed no reward or honor or any form of recognition as a member of the ANBU. It pained him to simply lie by omission to his friends, giving them only the fact that he was the newest head of the Senju Clan and that he was a Jonin, nothing more and nothing else. In that brief silence that was disrupted by the cooking, he wondered how would they react if they learned? But no answer came, nothing coming to mind beyond being possibly amused to the charade he kept. "I began to cook as a necessity, then I took it up as a method of relaxation." The Senju said as he began to serve himself a portion and carefully dipped the seared flesh unto soy sauce, before taking a bite and nodding in approval only for himself, finding the taste acceptable as he remembered the instances of his early days as a shinobi after his mother had passed and had found himself without a roof over him, learning to fend for himself as he tried to save as much money as he would to afford even a room that he could call home, skewing foods that he would have preferred. But he had grown to appreciate cooking for its relaxing qualities, learning varied techniques as time came through. Even after his ascension he found himself preferring to cook for himself than to sample the luxurious food that could be served to someone of his rank and status. He looked at them and smile faintly. "A warm meal is a good thing to carry you through difficult times."

-tag- @inoyami Nara Shikajin -words- 331 -notes- --- -music- ---

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

the less I see the sun the brighter I'll become

Inoyami remained focused on her plate, her pace slowing only when Shikajin not so subtlely hinted that he didn't know much about what Kazuto had been up to recently. The man had remained a mystery, even after the blonde's prior conversation with him. He'd been vague and hadn't given her much detail other than implying that there were things he simply couldn't tell her, as opposed to wouldn't, and she respected that. Shikajin was just more straightforward about his curiosity.

Like the first time, Kazuto dodged the topic, instead focusing on the mention of cooking and how it'd come to serve as a way of relaxation for him. Inoyami took from this that he'd been dealt a few bad hands and probably faced high stress on the daily to have deliberately mentioned the act as therapeutic--though his wording had been much more casual.

"A warm meal is the best thing, sometimes," she agreed. "It does the soul good. But mostly the stomach." She took some of the seared cuts off the small grill and then began adding various spices, trying out additional combinations. After having tried the meat plain, it was interesting to see how different mixes enhanced or drowned the natural flavor.

"Our careers have all sent us down our own paths. Regardless of how clear or blurry our present locations are to one another, what matters is that we support each other as our paths move forward," she said, before taking a drink. "But if you have to move backward sometimes to regain your bearings, that's okay, too. That's what friends are for." She flashed a smile across the table at Kazuto, hoping that he wouldn't feel any pressure to indulge them in any unnecessary details and hoping that her words would ease any tension derived from any perception of withheld information. Sometimes, people felt that secrecy was a disservice, a spite, or a pointedly rude gesture. Given that the three of them were still enjoying the earliest blossoms of their season together, Inoyami felt a gentle approach was best. If Kazuto wanted to open up to them later about things, he could. If Shikajin felt like reciprocating with information of his own to deepen their understanding of one another, all the better. All things came with enough time.

As she worked on cooking a few of the veggies, the blonde seemed to suddenly remember something, turning to her teammate somewhat abruptly. "Oh, hey, I meant to tell you. I learned a fuuin technique recently that lets me render explosions. I'd like to test it out the next time we train together. You have anything new you're working on?" She turned to Kazuto, lifting her chopsticks halfway to her mouth. "And what about you, Kazuto? You working on anything new and exciting for your arsenal?" Her eyes were alight with a genuine excitement at the question, clearly interested to discover if either of them had anything in progress that they were particularly passionate about bringing into combat. She moved in for the kill on her veggies, working them down slowly as she awaited her friends' responses. Generally, talk of jutsu was pretty safe in this type of environment, provided they weren't explicitly detailing clan practices or well-kept secrets.

No notes! ❤ HEX:#28a805 ❤ Senju Kazuto , Nara Shikajin

TEMPbyAi ♥

[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

Kazuto's lack of insight to his shinobi duties, whether intentional or not, was not lost on Shikajin, but the Nara did not take it as a slight, quite the opposite actually. The career of a shinobi was steeped in secrecy and even among village comrades there was a lot that couldn't be shared; these three were prime examples after all. Two came from clans known for their hijutsu that had to be kept secret at all costs, while the third literally held the secrets to his clan's kekkei genkai within his very cells. Secrecy was nothing new to them, even if it did cause for slightly stunted conversations at the lunch table.

"Fair enough, we all have our ways to bring us back to center." The Nara replied wondering what exactly his method of centering was? A lot of things he simply chalked up to mere responsibility or his daily routine, but was there anything that helped him to just relax? Hmm, questions for another time. Inoyami, always the forward thinking one, couldn't help herself but put a positive spin on things in what the chunin assumed was a way to try and deepen their connection with one another. The easiest way to strengthen bonds was with a solid foundation, and one built with the knowledge that there was a support system in wait no matter where life took you seemed a surefire method, but the delivery was so cheesy that Shikajin couldn't help but take another bite of food to avoid rolling his eyes.

For all his thoughts on secrecy the Yamanaka was more than willing to talk about what she had been developing jutsu wise, though since it didn't sound like a clan technique there was probably no harm. He was curious as to what the woman meant by rendering explosions and that alone would get him to show up, y'know, in addition to being a good teammate. "Hmm, that should be interesting, I look forward to it." He'd begin, unsure of how to respond considering his newest techniques were all heavily clan related. "Shadows and medicine, more of the same. Still looking for better ways to combine the two." Shikajin would add as he mulled over the various techniques he had been working on. The intersection of his hijutsu and medical techniques was an interesting one and while there were plenty of successes there was still plenty of room for innovation and improvement, namely in making jutsu that weren't such a drain on his chakra reserves. But that, too, was best saved for later. For now, Shikajin was interested to hear if the Senju was going to indulge Inoyami's inquiry.

Senju Kazuto @inoyami @three | ### | whoop whoop

KRATOS

[Senju Kazuto]

"Impressive." Kazuto would comment on Inoyami's inventive abilities. He had always believed that in many ways, the school of Fuinjutsu was underappreciated, for while Ninjutsu was the main reason that as a whole shinobi could use the moniker of ninja, it was through fuinjutsu that the perils of the world would be bound and detained, and if found a correct application this could be extremely deadly. However as impressive as the jutsu and abilities he would admit that he found himself surprised and amazed by the claims of the Nara. "Most Impressive." He said as he turned towards the Nara, amazed that he had found a way to combine the shadow bending skills of his clan with the healing skills of a medic. Theoretically it would seem that those concepts were in counter of each other, but if memory served him right, the Nara was the sort of individual that could put his mind into a goal and slowly come into a practical. The amount of applications that this could have was too great to even begin consider and it made him wonder what would someone like Miho, who had invested her time into the studies of medicine, think on such development. "Most ingenious, both of your plans." The ANBU was being honest, finding some new level of appreciation to his friends, at least in the regard of them being shinobi. However it was now his turn to show them something. For a minute he debated whether or not confide unto them that he had learned and could cast the five basic elemental natures, although he was certain that Inoyami knew about his studies but not the extend of his abilities. In the end he decided against it, but he had another jutsu that he could how them. "Well, I can't say I'm as inventive as you two are. But I think I might have something, although it is easier to show than tell." He raised his hand and began to form the all too familiar single handed seals, modulating the amount of chakra he would've used as chakra transformed the cells of his hands as a thing branch was produced and from it pink and white blooms of cherry blossoms as lively as if they were produced from the limb of tree. With care he plucked a petal from one of the blossoms and with extreme care he slid the petal through a fillet, slicing it with the same ease of a hot knife slicing through butter. "I created this jutsu, it is used on a higher scale, as I create a river, an ocean of cherry blossoms and drawn them in a sea of daggers. It is simple, but more often than not, simplicity is better than a complicated contraption." As the plucked petal regenerated he snapped the small branch from the tether of its fingers and handled it Inoyami so she and Shikajin could appreciate it in a closer inspection. "The petals will live, so long I will it."

-tag- @inoyami Nara Shikajin -words- 514 -notes- --- -music- ---

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

the less I see the sun the brighter I'll become

Inoyami was actually a little disappointed that Shikajin didn't have anything particularly new to share with her, just more of what he'd already been studying. Which was fine. It was the right way to go, for him to continue on with what he knew well enough how to improve upon. But she'd expected something with a little more flair... Oh well.

At least the conversation was rolling. She'd laid on her earlier assurance thicker than honey in an attempt to drown out any bad feelings and essentially forcefully promote "let's just support each other," and while her words had been lengthy (and probably too flowery for lunch), the topic was dropped, and she considered that a success. Techniques were more interesting, anyhow.

Kazuto decided to show them rather than just tell them what he'd been working on. Inoyami's face lit up when a cherry blossom came into being right there in his hand as its own little branch, thriving and then regenerating even after he'd taken one of the petals. She was so excited. "That's amazing!" she breathed, grinning ear to ear when the Senju handed her the flower to more closely inspect.

"This totally trumps my explosions," she said, twirling the tiny branch and admiring the blossom. "And you create this on a larger scale? That sounds awesome." She offered to hand the flower to Shikajin, if he wanted to take a better look. If he didn't, she would simply set it on the table in front of them, but gently.

The blonde resumed working through what was on her plate. "Just going to throw this out there, we should have a gathering at my place sometime. Maybe a little fire, some drinks. I'd be happy to host. When we've got the time away from work, of course..." She didn't think that it'd be Shikajin's first choice in activity but it wasn't as if she was suggesting a raging party, just a small get-together on more familiar grounds. A lunch outing in town was nice--very nice--but Inoyami wondered if they would all get more out of spending time together in more privacy. People tended to bond and open up more when they shared seclusion from prying ears or eyes. And, well, it'd been some time since she'd had anyone over. "It'd give me an excuse to spiffy up the backyard, anyway," she tacked on with a bit of humor.

No notes! ❤ HEX:#28a805 ❤ Senju Kazuto , Nara Shikajin

TEMPbyAi ♥

[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

It wasn't difficult to feel the disappoint coming from Inoyami. She was a woman of detail, thoroughness, and wanting to know just about everything regarding a person. Not that it was a bad thing, quite endearing and honest actually, but Shikajin didn't have much in the realm of his techniques that could be talked about that his teammate already knew; or that the Senju would find interesting. To be honest a majority of the Nara's techniques weren't truly new, just shadowy additions to already existing medical techniques and if one was familiar with them then they'd be only but so enthused.

To his surprise, however, Kazuto seemed impressed with both of their feats, a praise that the Chunin had not known in quite some time; an unexpected warm feeling. Whereas the Yamanaka and Nara only spoke about their jutsu developments the Senju decided for a more hands on example. The single handed seals did not go unnoticed and they were definitely the result of some high level training as was no surprise when it came to Kazuto. A singular branch would sprout from the Senju's palm producing a white and pink petal. Well, trees were the calling card of Mokuton and by association leaves, but was the demonstration solely supposed to show that he had mastered the ability to produce leaves of different colors? Granted, any kind of jutsu progress was progress none the less, but surely in all the talk of sealing techniques and medical shadows there had to be more, right?

Shikajin's hunch was correct as he watched the other man slice a piece of meat right down the middle with the aforementioned petal. Eyes slightly widened at the display as never in a hundred years would the Nara have guessed that someone would figure out how to weaponize leaves. Ironically, this was coming from the guy whose family had figured out a way to weaponize shadows, but that was neither here nor there. Feeling them would give the sensation of an actual petal yet he would take the man's word on the sharpness of the edges. "Well that's definitely something." The Chunin would ask pretty much already knowing the answer but wondering if he could get any deeper insight from the Senju.

Inoyami would present an offer for a more relaxed get together when schedules once again aligned, an opportunity to further rekindle their friendship. It wasn't a bad idea in the least, and inviting a clan head to their compound could only do wonders for the relations between the Yamanaka and the Senju; and of course Shikajin would be present as well. "No objections here."

Senju Kazuto  @inoyami @three | ### | whoop whoop

KRATOS

[Senju Kazuto]

"Yes." He replied to Inoyami's question. He had spend too much time crafting his techniques so it was natural that a larger scale version was well within his repertoire. Although as everything there was a sacrifice to be made with greater numbers. "Although my control is not as refined with a smaller scale. And it takes more chakra so it's really not a technique I can use too much yet." The Senju would admit, deciding not to go into more specifics regarding the great potential that the technique had, as he wanted to keep as much as he could about the technique a secret that only he would know intimately. As he released the technique, the petals and the branch would disintegrate into dust and then into nothingness, as if a swift wind had carried them away as their task was ended. Even then, he felt a pang of regret that such beauty while deadly would be ephemeral and artificial. He would look at Inoyami for a brief second and granter her a hint of a smile. "Some have suggested I take up gardening, trust me, the flowers I produce last longer and I might give you a friend's discount to either of you." Humor wasn't something that came to him easily, but he supposed that an attempt was better than no attempt at all, and it did give an air of levity to the situation. As Inoyami would suggest another gathering but this time it would be at her own house. He nodded at first, thinking that it was a good idea, better yet it would be in her own place and away of the elders of the Senju Clan from making it a ceremony rather than a private affair between friends. "I'd like that. It beats a long drawn ceremony and wearing the robes I'm forced to wear for hours."

-tag- @inoyami Nara Shikajin -words- 324 -notes- --- -music- ---

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Deleted]

the less I see the sun the brighter I'll become

If his control wasn't as perfected on a small scale compared to a larger one, Inoyami wondered what kind of training he did to be able to use the technique in the first place. What were its limits? Maybe she'd find out in person someday. The jutsu was broken and she watched the remnants fade away into dust, catching the Senju's smile as he segwayed into a comment about gardening. A friend's discount? She smiled brightly. How funny that he'd mention it to someone whose family was renowned for their green thumbs.

"I may hold you to that," she teased, returning his smile. "And if you'd like to measure your floral talents against my kin, I'd love to see the outcome of a little...friendly competition." In truth, though, not everyone in her clan even enjoyed gardening or flower arrangements or anything to do with plants. Inoyami loved all of it, but her brother didn't. He found it boring, and she thought that just ridiculous.

Her friends agreed to a gathering at her home, and the woman beamed. "Wonderful!" she said, lacing her hands together briefly in her excitement. Kazuto noted the preference against some lengthy, formal affair, which the blonde could sympathize with. She was no stranger to clan meetings, after all. "It'll be casual, I promise. I'll ensure my brother leaves the house as well so there will be no prying ears. Just us three. And drinks, and a warm fire, and treats. Though I can't promise my usual cooking is as good as this stuff." She lifted another small slice of meat and went back in to finish the last of her plate. She felt yet like she could devour a horse but she was sure that her friends didn't share her ravenous hunger.

Did they allow take-out bags here?

No notes! ❤ HEX:#28a805 ❤ Senju Kazuto , Nara Shikajin

TEMPbyAi ♥

[Nara Shikajin]

the worst case scenario is you

Gardening, flowers, etc., the two of them were practically made for each other. While the Nara had an affinity for the forest as a whole few took such a liking to particular flowers and their aesthetics. Shikajin could appreciate the hobby for what it was but putting that much time and effort into flowers just didn't sound like fun at all. In most cases this would have been the point where the chunin would have started spacing out letting his mind wander, but he was doing his best to stay attentive in the presence of friends both old and new.

Inoyami was ecstatic at the confirmation of attendance from the other two and did her best to assure Kazuto that there would be none of the pomp and circumstance that inter-clan minglings often came with, not that Shikajin was super familiar with all that stuff as he was a far cry from any kind of leadership position, especially compared to the duo sitting next to him, but every so often he'd have to get all dressed up and shake a hand or two. It was the worst. Alas, the young man didn't really mind one way or the other considering the Nara and Yamanaka's close ties so they were a little more bearable to be around; though any kind of shindig could have drawn the attention of a certain bijuu host who had a proclivity to wander through random clan compounds at a whim causing trouble. The Nara shook his head slightly to rid himself of that memory, best not to think of that day.

"Have you ever been to Sunagakure, Kazuto? I was thinking of taking one of the younger medics, Miho I think her name is, to meet with their medical corps, a good will mission I think they call it." A bit out of the ordinary for the normally sullen Shikajin to jumpstart a conversation but this was a task that he had been working on for a while now and needed to get some details ironed out before everything was set in stone. While he had no concrete proof of what exactly the Senju was doing with his life there was a hunch that he had been able to travel the world a good bit.

Senju Kazuto @inoyami @three | ### | whoop whoop

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