[Tota]

Tota walked slowly upon the stone cobbled streets of Kirigakure's merchant district. The boy's large crimson eyes washed over the area with a sullen deamour. His mind begun to be soured by the excess of opulence surrounding him in all directions. Indeed, the luxury goods were far too expensive for a lowly orphan to ever afford. While the village's many philanthropists would donate ryo to the orphanage which would then be distributed to the children for chores undertaken, Tota never had more than a few ryo in his pocket each month.

He strode through a crowded alleyway among the high society of the country, as they went about their daily business buying goods from the endlessly shouting merchants. The young orphan stuck out like a sore thumb amongst them with dirt smeared across his cheeks; although much like Enyo the elites paid little attention to the boy besides the odd look of disgust.

Tota wasn't there for them though, actually he was there to meet up with a new friend he made at the Shinobi Academy; Gure An. He was interested to get to know her as she seemed a lot friendlier then the other students, especially the two Kuronmeru brothers. Tota just hoped she wasn't secretly insane like the Gure from Kusagakure he witnessed go completely unhinged last year at the Kirigakure Chuunin Exams. Hopefully he thought, she'd be down for the shenanigan he planned for the day.

•notes:

N/A

Word Count: 239

[Gurē An]

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An had awoke to the gentle caress of sunlight peeking through the cracks and nooks of her previously tightly shut curtains. Feeling an inexplicable buoyancy in her heart, she cheerfully embraced her morning routine – making her bed, washing up, dressing up, relishing her breakfast, and diligently packing everything she needed for the day. As she bid her family goodbye with a sweet smile, she couldn't contain her enthusiasm for the day ahead.
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Strolling along the path that wound through the New Multi-Use District, rebuilt after the destructive Sanbi rampage, An found solace in the soothing sound of the stream that ran beside her house. Its presence always managed to uplift her spirits, regardless of how many times she passed by. On her way to the Academy, her destination for the day, she made a slight detour to pay her respects at the memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives in the tragic event. Folding her hands in prayer for a moment, she offered her heartfelt thoughts before continuing on her way.
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Passing through the bustling Business District, already alive with activity despite the early hour, An felt a growing excitement. Today, she had plans to meet up with a classmate from one of her lectures – a boy named Tota. She remembered him as being spirited and hot-headed, yet tempered with a hint of rationality and a friendly demeanor. As she reached the Academy's main entrance, she couldn't help but hum a cheerful tune, eagerly waiting for Tota's arrival.
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An's excitement bubbled within her as she waited at the Academy's entrance. The stream of sunlight filtering through the trees nearby mirrored the warmth she felt inside. As she hummed a happy tune, memories of the previous encounter with Tota came back to her.
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She couldn't help but feel a bit curious about the "shenanigans" Tota had in mind for the day. After all, life as a shinobi-in-training could get quite serious and challenging, so a little fun and adventure would be a welcomed break. She hoped it wouldn't be anything too reckless, but with Tota's blend of hot-headedness and rationality, she trusted it would be something exciting yet responsible.
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As she waited, she noticed some other students passing by, some of whom she recognized from various lectures and training sessions. She offered them warm smiles and friendly nods, her amiable nature making her approachable and well-liked among her peers.
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Moments later, she spotted Tota approaching through the crowd. His crimson eyes stood out, and despite the dirt on his cheeks, she found his appearance endearing. As he neared, she greeted him with a cheerful wave and an even brighter smile. "Hey, Tota! Good to see you again. Ready for today?" she asked, her enthusiasm evident in her voice. "I'm all ears for your plan!"
[break][break]

SPOILER: Click to show

共生遺伝学| Kyōsei Iden-Gaku [lit.Symbiotic Genetics]
[break][break]
As a member of the Gure clan, An has gained the potential to combine her body with flora and the ground itself because of the similarities in her genetic makeup to fungi. She is able to link her chakra to the underground network of organic matter, which includes plant roots, water veins, and decomposing materials. For example, An can hide in things like trees, shrubs and roots, soil, and so on. Once fused, not only is her presence completely hidden and only felt by those with chakra recognition, but it also allows her to travel within the subterranean web of organic matter.[break]
[Everything is directly determined by the clan member's rank and skill.]

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[Kuronmeru Yosei]

Yosei was thankful for the small things right now, like the path chosen by the boy he was following right now. It was somewhat more difficult in that he'd chosen one of the busiest parts of the village for his walk, but Yosei was just happy he wasn't doing something pathetic like visiting a graveyard or that eyesore insult memorial they'd built in the middle of town of all places, making it hard to avoid. Yosei couldn't even hide his pure and utter disdain for his clans own, personal and private memorial, let alone a memorial for the lesser bloods who'd died because they were too weak to survive. That was the crux of it. The dead were weak, and weakness didn't deserve to be remembered. That was the Kuronmeru way, even if the elders forgot it when they made their clan memorial.

And as would be expected from a clan that could afford to make their own memorial, Yosei was just as noticed by the merchant en as Tota was, but for the opposite reasons. Yosei could see the hopes in their eyes, that a member of the elite clan would come to their stall out of all the marketplace, and drop a small fortune. He couldn't hide the smirk when they were inevitably disappointed by him passing. And they weren't trying to corner him, tempt him like the other rich elites here, because it was clear just what elite clan Yosei was from. The black hair, the pale skin, the red eyed boy was a Kuronmeru, and even these merchant folk knew the rumors of their disposition. And they were right to be nervous to approach the young boy. As while the clothes he wore weren't what you'd expect from such a high status clan, his sleeveless shirt and more practical than traditional pants almost making him come off as a bandit than an elite member of society, he was a Kuronmeru to his very core.

And the thing that made him belong here made the boy he was trailing possible to follow even in such a busy place, because the other boy didn't belong here. Worn, dirty, there was nothing here he looked like he could afford, and Yosei wasn't even sure what he was doing or where he was going. But the red eyed boy would be following him no matter where he ended up, as there was only one thing circling in his mind. During class, when they'd all fought the lord of their nation, only him and the small boy he was following dared attack him head on, with no weapons. But while Yosei's hands gave out, shattered in the attempt, this irritating boy had managed to give punch after punch after punch. He didn't know how he'd done it, but it had irritated him when he saw it. And it's only gotten worse with time. He wasn't upset at failing against the Kage, he wasn't even upset he'd been the first of the class to get knocked out of the fight. He could accept losing. But being shown up, that was weakness. And he couldn't accept that lying down.

Eventually his target would stop, right by the academy in fact. Yosei didn't know what he was doing here. The pale skinned boy didn't care. All he cared about was correcting the record on when this lesser blood had shown him up. So right before they got to the front of the academy, Yosei would call out at last. Tota-kun~ You're quite the masochist, going through a place like that while you look like...that, aren't you~ His voice was cheerful and relaxed for how he'd basically just admitted to having been following the boy, for how much he wanted to start fighting right now. It wouldn't be far off to call Yosei one of the more easygoing members of the Kuronmeru. But it would be a mistake to think of it as pure kindness, as shown by the boys taunts. Though I'm glad you finally stopped~ I think we need to...Settle something. The anticipation was seeping into his easygoing attitude, his words dripping with danger.

[Tota]

Tota's mouth widened into a joyous grin when he noticed his academy student peer standing by the school. With haste the boy ran over to the buildings entrance to greet her. It seemed as though he arrived late, something he had always been so careful to avoid; punctuality was incredibly important to a shinobi after all. Dirt from below blew up in a spray as Tota came to an abrupt stop in front of An, not three feet from her. His chest heaved with exhaustion, still tired from his usual morning run. "Hey!!! Sorry---" His words were interrupted by several deep breaths as he tried to regain his composure.

"Sorry I'm late. It was busier than usual at the business district. It's good to see you too!!! Anyway, yeah... I'm ready!" The boy exclaimed with a renewed energetic buzz.

It wouldn't be even a second later that another academy student joined the two. Tota was caught off guard, swinging his body in the direction of the newcomer as they spoke. Immediately the boy recognized them as Yosei of that interesting black blood clan. "Well argh... I didnt have time to wash up this morning after my morning run." Tota explained, brushing some loose dirt from his hair.

When Yosei continued Tota became fluster, confused momentarily by his vague statement. "Settle what?" He inquired, while holding a wide sarcastic grin.

•notes:

N/A

Word Count: 230

[Gurē An]

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An, with her friendly and poised demeanor, couldn't help but giggle at Tota's enthusiastic arrival, his breathless apology, and the mention of his busy morning at the bustling business district. His energy was infectious, and she was genuinely pleased to see her classmate in such high spirits.
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"No need to apologize, Tota! It's great to see you too, and I'm just happy that we're finally getting to meet," An replied with a warm smile, her eyes twinkling with genuine delight. She could tell that Tota's lateness had nothing to do with a lack of effort or interest in their plans.
[break][break]
As Yosei joined them, An offered a polite nod and a friendly smile, though she couldn't help but sense the tension in the air. She had heard of the Kuronmeru clan's reputation and knew that Yosei was a prime example of a Kuronmeru, as she had seen it before. Nevertheless, she remained optimistic, hoping that this meeting wouldn't escalate into a confrontation.
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Tota's flustered response to Yosei's cryptic statement made An raise an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Settle something?" she echoed with a confused look. Her eyes darted from Tota to Yosei. "Tota already has a prior engagement with me, so you'll have to wait," she said, though she was still puzzled about what Tota and Yosei had to settle. A thought suddenly occurred to her, and she added, "Or perhaps you'd like to join us?" She turned to Yosei, extending the invitation.
[break][break]

SPOILER: Click to show

共生遺伝学| Kyōsei Iden-Gaku [lit.Symbiotic Genetics]
[break][break]
As a member of the Gure clan, An has gained the potential to combine her body with flora and the ground itself because of the similarities in her genetic makeup to fungi. She is able to link her chakra to the underground network of organic matter, which includes plant roots, water veins, and decomposing materials. For example, An can hide in things like trees, shrubs and roots, soil, and so on. Once fused, not only is her presence completely hidden and only felt by those with chakra recognition, but it also allows her to travel within the subterranean web of organic matter.[break]
[Everything is directly determined by the clan member's rank and skill.]

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[break]Tota Kuronmeru Yosei

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[Kuronmeru Yosei]

Tch... The scarf wearing boy clicked his tongue audibly as he got closer to his fellow red eyed student, and the girl came into view. Another classmate of theirs, though he had no particular interest in her, truthfully he was so disinterested in the lesser bloods he didn't even know her name or clan. What he did remember was her from their fight against the Mizukage, she'd thrown shuriken and tried to play it safe, play it smart from what he remembered. Too bad it hadn't mattered in the end, they were all failures as far as he was concerned. Thankfully, he did have a soft spot for failures, in his own twisted way.

Still, just cause he could forgive the girl for losing to the lord of their village didn't mean he was actually interested in getting to know the blue haired girl, or the messy runt before him. He was only interested in Tota in how he was his target. Unfortunately, while he might not know her on a personal level, he had a feeling that starting a fight and beating the runt before him would cause...Problems. So instead, he'd have to bide his time. They'd end up alone soon enough, for now he simply smirked smugly at the boys defense of his appearance. Well I guess that's a good thing. It'd be pretty concerning if you went around looking like an orphan just for fun. Though you might want to choose a route where you...Fit in better while out running... He said it casually, as if it were honest advice, and in a way it was. He simply said it in the most upsetting way possible, as was the Kuronmeru way.

Still, when they both inquired on just what he meant by "settle things", he simply waved them off. It doesn't matter, don't worry. We can talk about it in a more...Convenient time. He smiled at Tota, who was smiling back at him. But Yosei's grin wasn't one of sarcasm, but one of anticipation. He truely was looking forward to it. Still, when the spare interjected, insisting that the messy looking boy had a previous arrangement,he simply shrugged in semi-indifference. How you two spend your free time is up to you. Though you might want to be careful, if it doesn't work out it could cause tension in class for you both. The boy was more relaxed now that a fight wasn't imminent, his surprising easy goingness starting to show itself once more, though he did give advice that was unasked to a situation he was simply assuming about. Which is why he raised an eyebrow to the invitation to join them. That's making a lot of assumptions about me, isn't it? And besides... A devilish grin appeared on his face again. He might be easy going, but the boy was still pure Kuronmeru, and was going to remind them in case they forgot. Even if I was, why would I want to enter something like that with two lesser bloods?

[Tota]

Hearing An innocently giggle, Tota's cheeks flushed a bright pink tone temporarily. His gaze instinctively averted away from hers, embarrassed by the reaction she induced in him. Once he had contained his flustered response, Tota turned to face her once again; scratching at his hair and smiling. It made him happy she was so understanding of his belated arrival.

The boy gave Yosei a quick side-eye followed by a loud scoff as Yosei subtly belittled him. It was par the course for a Kuronmeru, especially this one in particular. Being called an orphan, or at least looking like one didn't bother Tota much; he knew it was evidence of his hard-work and training. The grit and sweat taijutsu specialists were expected to become familiar with. Tota looked into the black blood's eyes with a piercing stare as he responded, "You know what! I've never seen a speck of dirt on you.. do you even train?".

Tota nodded in agreement as An engaged with Yosei; he wasn't going to let the Kuronmeru's appearance interfere with his plans. But as An floated the idea of Yosei joining, Tota grinned. His demeanor quickly changed as he reached into his jacket for the piece of fabric he bought earlier. Without warning, Tota abruptly punched Yosei in the stomach, clutching the fabric in his fist. "Lesser bloods? How about you prove that to us. try and take this from me..." Tota turned to An and smiled. "And An" He added as he quickly tossed the fabric to the white haired girl.

•notes:

N/A

Word Count: 256

[Gurē An]

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An's smile faltered momentarily as she watched the sudden exchange between Tota and Yosei, her eyes widening in surprise at Tota's bold move. She caught the fabric Tota tossed her way, her fingers closing around it tightly. "Tota, what are you doing?" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of concern and disbelief. Despite her shock, she couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins at the unexpected turn of events.
[break][break]
Turning her attention to Yosei, An's expression softened into one of sincerity. "Yosei, I don't know what's going on between you and Tota, but violence isn't the answer. We're all classmates here, and there's no need for hostility." Her gaze flickered between the two boys, her mind racing with a flurry of thoughts. She hadn't anticipated their meeting taking such a confrontational turn, and she felt a pang of regret for extending the invitation to Yosei.
[break][break]
Feeling a surge of apprehension as tension hung thick in the air, An made a split-second decision. "Let's go!" Without a second thought, she pivoted on her heel and broke into a sprint, clutching the fabric tightly in her hand. Her heart pounded in her chest as she darted away from the scene.
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As she raced through the bustling village streets, An's mind raced with a flurry of thoughts. She couldn't afford to get caught up in whatever conflict brewed between Tota and Yosei, and possibly switching Yosei's attention to the "mission" was a way to eliminate the tension.
[break][break]
Their priority was to safeguard the fabric and reach their designated goal. Dodging through crowds and leaping over obstacles, An pushed herself to move faster. She kept her focus squarely on the path ahead, her eyes scanning for any potential obstacles or threats that the instructors could have set up or Yosei who would probably try to take away the fabric, thanks to Tota who made her the target, even though they weres supposed to work together with Yosei on this, but An doubted Yosei would take it that way.
[break][break]

SPOILER: Click to show

共生遺伝学| Kyōsei Iden-Gaku [lit.Symbiotic Genetics]
[break][break]
As a member of the Gure clan, An has gained the potential to combine her body with flora and the ground itself because of the similarities in her genetic makeup to fungi. She is able to link her chakra to the underground network of organic matter, which includes plant roots, water veins, and decomposing materials. For example, An can hide in things like trees, shrubs and roots, soil, and so on. Once fused, not only is her presence completely hidden and only felt by those with chakra recognition, but it also allows her to travel within the subterranean web of organic matter.[break]
[Everything is directly determined by the clan member's rank and skill.]

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[break]Tota Kuronmeru Yosei

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[Kuronmeru Yosei]

Red on red, two Crimson eyes staring back at one another as Tota walked up to him after scoffing at him to his face. Yet the taller boy didn't take the bait, not here, instead he kept looking down figuratively and literally at the boy, a smug look on his face. And when the orphan boy continued instigating, Yosei only gave a genuine grin when Tota asked for proof of his training. The boys hand went to the Crimson scarf around his neck, tied like a bandana. While his other clothes might be practical in nature, this was a truely fine material reminiscent of what his cousins Enyo and Shiu wore, beautiful and expensive. Upset I don't roll around in the mud to train like you lesser-bloods? Sorry, we have a...Different way of training.

And he'd hand out his arm to Tota, not in an attack but simply to give a closer look. A closer look at the scar covered arms, leading all the way to his shoulders. And if one looked closely, you'd see the same thing on his other arm, scars all over, remnants of his training to master the blood within him. His clothes while not as fancy as some other Kuronmeru's were well maintained and well made as Tota had observed, and if they broke or tore he simply disposed of them and got new ones. He didn't take pride in tears in his clothing as evidence of his hard work, he took pride in the tears against his own flesh for such evidence. Appearances are important. You should take pride in them. I do. And why wouldn't he be proud of his scars, each one was evidence of his practice with the flooding blackness inside him. His blood.

But there was a drawback to him showing off the trophies etched into his flesh. He was unprepared for the sneak attack thrown against him, watching the fabric as it was driven into his gut, those smug, red eyes widening in surprise as Tota threw the attack. He doubled over, coughing and out of breath, Tota's plan working perfectly. To the point even his partner was in shock, staring stunned. But he did get enough state of mind to reach out to their third wheel as she fled, not a plea for help but an attempt to grab her, pull that white hair and throw her to the ground. Because she was right to be concerned, Yosei wasn't a third member of their group in a training mission. He was now a third variable, and one with only one goal. To hurt them, both of them. He wanted to watch Tota's face as he hurt the girl he cared for, ripped the cloth away from her, while the lesser blooded boy was too broken to do anything about it. So, after catching his breath, the chase was on.

SPOILER: Click to show

-I thought I was pretty poetic there as Tota stands up to Yosei
-He does have nice clothes, thanks for noticing. Also keeps using lesser bloods
-Wanna know how I got these scars?
-Is caught off guard while being creepy, Tota scores direct hit
-Tries to gean An as she runs away, good thing too cause he would've been very rough
-He's playing his own game in this training mission. Beat them both bloody and take the stupid cloth