[Uchiha Izusa]

Cold, sharp, biting air

---

Cold, misty breath escaped the instructor's lips as he stood alone in the middle of one of Konoha's many training grounds. A folder clutched tightly in a gloved hand, his eyes glued to flipping pages. "Hyūga, Hyūga..." He thought.

Seeming to be looking for a certain student in particular before finally finding the file on the subject of his search. "Ah, here we are." The young man narrated to himself as he quickly looked over the dossier. "Hyūga Hinoe." One of the academy's eldest students. It was perhaps a bit of an uncommon occurrence, but not at all unheard of.

Not only did everyone learn at a different pace, but in the Shinobi World tomorrow was never promised. "She probably knows that better than most of her peers." The instructor knew only the basics of her situation and in his opinion that was about all he was entitled to. If at all possible he preferred not to snoop on others' affairs and to him it didn't matter in the end. A student was a student regardless of age or circumstance. And he was here to help.

It was his job at least ostensibly, so that afternoon the young woman would be directed by some of the academy's staff to this training ground for a one-on-one lesson with himself. "Hey, Hinoe-chan." He would greet her with a soft smile as she arrived, closing the folder before slipping it into his haori. "Ready for today's lesson?" It was more than chilly outside— uncomfortably so. And that was wholly intentional. Today, even the weather served a purpose.

To aid the student in learning how better to control her chakra. A rather common area of study for many of his students and the more difficult to concentrate, the more beneficial the training itself would become. Like weighted gear for one's mind he hoped the unorthodoxy of this all would help break through any barriers in her way.

And if it didn't... well, it would at least be a good start. Some sort of foundation to build on. In any case he was fully prepared to assist the Hyūga in whatever she needed help with, so for the meantime he would stand and wait.

---

[Hyuuga Hinoe]

Hinoe had to admit her surprise at being contacted by one of the Shinobi Academy staff, who informed her that she was expected to engage in a lesson with one of the tutors. Perhaps what she found more surprising was the information that the lesson was going to be held outside. Hinoe, in her usually stoic demeanor, accepted the news with a nod and formally polite appreciation, before rising to her feet and casting a baleful look at the bleak-looking landscape outside.

Although she had no interest in going out, especially as she had been quite comfortable in the classroom wherein she had taken refuge from the cold, the Hyuuga did not waste anytime in grabbing what clothes she could, which would offer some protection from the cold, and headed for the designated training ground. The tutor was already waiting for her. Uchiha Izusa. Hinoe had never really interacted with him personally before, but he seemed to be a nice, if somewhat laidback instructor and he did not fare poorly in the looks department. Hinoe had no complaints about his teaching style. She did not respond too well to being pushed.

The Uchiha smiled and greeted her upon her arrival, asking if she was ready to learn. Hinoe gave a bow in response. "Greetings, Izusa-sensei. I'd have preferred a more comfortable place for the lesson," came the frank reply, "but I am ready." If she seemed overly formal, it was only because she was a little bit more on edge than normal. Because she wanted to learn whatever lesson he had to teach, but there was a problem, which she inwardly tried to solve with little success. "What the heck is this?! Why does he look this... fetching up close?! You came here to take lessons, Hinoe, concentrate!" Outwardly, her face was almost expressionless, save for a very mild frown that made it seem she was displeased about something.

Uchiha Izusa

[Uchiha Izusa]

Cuts to the core, distracting

---

As the student approached and greeted him with a bow Izusa merely waved a hand. "No need for formality." He said kindly, smile still holding. Personally he tried to maintain proper etiquette when addressing others but in his eyes?

It was a mere preference and nothing more. Like with all of his students he strived to create an atmosphere in which they felt comfortable. Ironic considering their current location... but still! A small laugh escaped his lips at student's words about exactly that. "A bit chilly, huh?" Definitely an understatement. "Don't worry there's a reason for it."

Even so, he wasn't sure how much of a comfort knowing that would be. But regardless of any physical unease it would be a boon to her training. "Not too long ago a class of mine damaged a gymnasium floor." The instructor began, his eyes drifting upwards in thought. "Before that it was the doorframe to my classroom... and before that, a couple of wooden dummies at one of our training grounds..." As he spoke his eyelids closed and a hand moved upwards to scratch nervously at his chin. Collateral damage was to be expected when training shinobi children... but only some.

Apart from getting reprimanded for damages, the lack of self-restraint worried him. A sigh followed these thoughts and soon enough he had reopened his dark eyes to stare at the girl. "...so we'll be working on control today." Chakra obviously, but not just that. "Ninja need to be able to control themselves exceptionally well in order to excel at anything they do. Training, missions, battle... you get the idea." Izusa began, his hands moving to tent together within the sleeves of his haori. "A shinobi without focus is a danger to themselves and their comrades. So..." A trailed word later and his smile and returned. "Let's start off by seeing where you stand. Show me a jutsu." He said softly.

Of course being only an academy student, her repertoire was likely limited but he couldn't say for sure. Hinoe was a Hyūga after all and he'd been surprised by his kids' capabilities before. While he waited, he did tilt his head a bit as he noticed the young woman's slight frown. "Probably just the cold." The instructor thought to himself. Surely...

---

[Hyuuga Hinoe]

Izusa stated there was a reason for the meeting out in the cold, though he made no present attempt to shed more light on the matter. As someone who preferred having as much information as possible before engaging in any activity, Hinoe was not satisfied with his obscure words. Still, she decided to be patient, and wait to hear what he had to say next. Seemed some of the kids in the Academy had been rather... eager with their training, and facilities had been wrecked as a result. For one who had the reputation in her clan for being a problem child, Hinoe had not been part of the structure-damaging younglings. Still, she saw the value in the lesson Izusa intended to teach her. Only the reckless wouldn't care about control.

Besides, the Jyuken was a rather precise art. Wasting motion and chakra was not a good idea by any stretch of the imagination, if one used the traditional Hyuuga fighting style. And those who had higher chakra reserves could afford to spend extras. Hinoe's capacity was average, so it would be wise to learn how to effectively manage what she had. Still, maybe it was the cold, or maybe it was something else she was really trying not to focus on at the moment, but Hinoe felt more comfortable putting on a gruff exterior.

"I don't imagine my name appeared in the Young Wreckers League of Konohagakure, but I guess you're right." So saying, she performed three handseals, and there was a puff of smoke, but aside that, it seemed she had done nothing else. She'd actually performed the Henge no jutsu, but had only altered the appearance of the back of her overcoat, and since she was facing the Chuunin, Hinoe didn't expect him to see that the back of her coat was a lighter grey than the rest of it. "So?" the Hyuuga asked, looking at him with a mildly expectant expression. The frown was still there, though.

Uchiha Izusa

[Uchiha Izusa]

From the current task

---

If it seemed like he was being a bit vague... he absolutely was! But all would be revealed in due time.

A nod followed her words and he chuckled a bit to himself. "No, no, you haven't broken anything just yet." He said in response, still observing as the young woman prepared a jutsu. Dark eyes followed her hands as she wove the seals.

"Henge." Confirmed by a puff of smoke and then... "Nothing? No... I'm just not seeing it." If the girl had been wholly incapable of performing the technique it would've said so in her file. So unless she was purposely messing up. "Hm..." The instructor hummed to himself as he strode forward slowly. Hand still resting on his chin as he walked in a circle.

Only a moment or so after seeing her back he spotted the change. "A style change?" Izusa paused his movement, then closed his eyes and inhaled. Warmth bloomed behind his eyes... and when he reopened them his usual coal-colored irises were a deep red. The Sharingan allowed him to physically see chakra to a degree, and though he didn't like to overly rely on it, it just so happened to be perfect for this sort of lesson. "Just like my lesson with Tamiko-chan."

Control was something he had worked tirelessly on in his younger years to account for his average chakra reserves. But it went beyond simple energy management. "So..." He echoed the word and finished walking his circle to return to his original position opposite Hinoe. "I see something we should work on." She had executed the technique well enough... but there was an issue with the distribution of chakra. It wasn't as even as it should've been. "You possess the Byakugan, right? Activate it if you could and watch me use the same jutsu." Izusa mirrored the same hand seals she'd performed only moments ago, Inu → I → Hitsuji, and cast his own Henge no Jutsu. A puff of smoke ensued...

Dissapating to reveal that the color of his haori had completely changed, appearing powder blue now. If Hinoe did indeed use her Dōjutsu she would note that his chakra was flowing steadily and to all parts of his body. Though the actual physical change was slight, it was always important when using the Henge to make sure all areas received equal levels of energy. Even, constant, and circulating. That was the key. But like usual... he liked to give his students the chance to come to conclusions themselves first. It was a better method of teaching, he found. More practical.

Lecturing had its place... but he preferred to avoid it when possible. "Do you notice any differences in our chakra?"

---

[Hyuuga Hinoe]

Hinoe said nothing as Izusa hummed and began walking round her. She suspected that he surmised she had used Henge. He probably had been able to tell from the handseals she had performed. That was impressive, at least in her own opinion. It would be nothing to more experienced ninja, though, and this realization made Hinoe rather conscious of the span of things she had to learn in order to have perhaps as much experience as her teacher. Although it wasn't her fault that she was so far behind in experience, it was enough incentive to want to work harder.

The Hyuuga did not turn, as he walked behind her and noticed the color change of her coat. "I should have tried to make it more difficult for him... or something," she thought, although she knew that there was hardly anything she could do to make things 'difficult' for a Chuunin, unless said Chuunin was as stupid as Himoto, her clan member who she despised the most, with the exception of his mother.

As the Uchiha finished his walk around her, Hinoe noticed that his dark eyes were now a bright crimson. "The Sharingan!" she thought, her own eyes slightly widening at the sight. Unlike the Hyuuga, no Uchiha was born with the dojutsu already active, and she had heard rumors that not only activation, but improvement, of those eyes required some difficult feats. "The red hue goes well with his skin and hair...."

"Hmm?" Hinoe said, mildly startled by the puff of smoke created by the Uchiha's own Henge. She had been distracted. Unacceptable. Fortunately, her concentration had not been so off-kilter that she hadn't heard him ask her to use her dojutsu to observe his technique. Still, it was embarrassing to have been caught like that. Her frown deepened as she felt her cheeks turn warmer. Well, it was cold. Hopefully, the mild blush would be attributed to the weather.

Hinoe performed a seal; at this point, she still needed a handseal to ensure the right amount of chakra to activate her eyes. A quick look at Izusa, and then down at herself immediately pointed out the most obvious difference. "Your chakra flows evenly. Mine is... rough, like it's frayed at the edges." The frown remained.

Uchiha Izusa

[Uchiha Izusa]

Inhale, then exhale

---

Red eyes met white as Hinoe performed a hand seal and her gaze became sharper— fiercer than before.

Byakugan... it'd always been a subject of interest to him that his clan's eyes and hers were allegedly related in some form or another. A common ancestor maybe, any differences between them brought about by a accident of nature.

Staring through the 'lens' that was his dōjutsu, the world was awash in a sea of vibrant color. What was otherwise a rather grey and bleak early afternoon became vivid and lively. Colors previously muted seemed to pop, and details that had gone unseen were now clearer to him than ever. Notably, the blush tinting the girl's face. It had grown.

"...maybe it's a little too cold for all of this." He thought, but they were already in the middle of the lesson now so they might as well make full use of the added challenge. Quickly enough his method of 'do not tell' was proven correct as Hinoe examined their respective chakra usage and came up with the right answer. "Exactly right." It was an issue of refinement... but nothing a little coaching couldn't rectify. "But don't worry Hinoe-chan. We can fix this."

He took a step forward and his fingers clasped together to form the initial Inu seal. "Follow along and once we get to the final hand seal— we'll hold it." Slowly the instructor ran through the series of hand gestures and upon reaching Hitsuji he did as he said and paused, allowing his chakra to course through his body. A bit more raggedly at first not unlike her own. "Now... take a deep breath." Izusa spoke, narrowing his eyes a bit as he observed the way Hinoe's chakra flowed. He inhaled himself... then closed his eyes. "Let any distractions fade away with your breathing." After, he exhaled just as deeply. "Focus only on your chakra and the direction it flows. Don't try to force it... simply direct where you want it to go." More of a gentle nudge than a harsh diversion. Seconds passed and Izusa opened his eyes.

Carefully watching once more to see whether or not a change had occurred. If not, he still had more advice to offer but for the meantime he would only observe. This was a gradual process, not one to be hurried. Patience was needed.

---

[Hyuuga Hinoe]

Inwardly, Hinoe was pleased that she had gotten the answer right. There had been many times that she was frightened that her mind had regressed as much as her body in terms of efficiency, since her near-death experience. The doctors had eventually determined that she was physically fit enough to attempt resuming her journey to becoming a ninja, but she had often feared that her mind would have, by reason of lack of use, degenerated somehow. She still had it... or maybe the question was just so simple. It probably was, and her Byakugan made things obvious. Nothing to celebrate about.

Outwardly, Hinoe maintained her stoic, if somewhat miffed, expression, watching and listening intently as her teacher began to explain how to deal with the secret to chakra control. So far, it seemed the bottom line was concentration, which made sense. Still, many things were theoretically workable. It did not make them as easily accomplished in practice. Following Izusa's lead, the Hyuuga went through the handseals, finally reaching the Ram, which she held. She took a deep breath, allowing herself to relax, focusing on allowing her chakra to run smoothly, languidly. Her eyes were closed as she got into the flow, and the Uchiha would note that the ragged contours of her chakra were smoothening out.

"Silence. Concentration attained. Good. Seems this lesson will proceed quickly. But why isn't he talking? Is he looking at me? HE IS LOOKING AT ME!" And her concentration broke into a thousand fragments, as her chakra surged and raged, wasting extra joules in unnecessary circuits. She sighed, opened her eyes, and performed the seals again. Her expression seemed calm, but the blush had intensified.

Uchiha Izusa

[Uchiha Izusa]

Clear your mind... then imagine

---

Progress was being made it seemed... which was good! Izusa hadn't doubted the girl for a second.

As his now-red irises focused on Hinoe's chakra, he was able to observe in real time as the concentration of the substance smoothened out and became more fluid. Explaining the mechanics of these things was... abstract at best.

Not because chakra hadn't been studied and researched, but because everyone's was a bit different. The instructor could only imagine that the experience of manipulating it varied as well, so what worked for him might not necessarily be the key to Hinoe's problems. Still, it looked like she was on the right track. "That's it! There you g—"

Just when it seemed like she had it down pat, something shifted. "...oh." A surge had thrown her focus out of whack and now her face was even redder. "Hm..." They were going to have to try something else. "Alright... let's change things up a bit." He said with a nod, still holding his hand seal. "Close your eyes Hinoe-chan." Izusa instructed, shutting his own in turn and taking another deep breath. "You may want to turn off that Byakugan of yours, too." If eyelids were getting in the way, that is. Like his own clan's dōjutsu, outsiders weren't privy to the ins and outs of it.  

So he wasn't sure how much control she had over her eyes or even if she could choose simply to not peer through things. "Visualization's a tool I recommend to many of my students. It certainly helps me when I'm struggling." He explained, his voice softer and more relaxed than before. Inhale, exhale, focus. As he ran through the proverbial motions his chakra seemed to grow calmer still as it continued on its course. "Picture a calm scene in your mind."

Different people found different things relaxing. "For me, I like to imagine two streams flowing in opposite directions. But yours might be a peaceful meadow somewhere, a still lake, or anything else you find serene." Izusa took yet another deep breath in between sentences, working to clear all other distractions from his mind as the visage of the babbling brooks came into view. "Allow everything else to vanish into the background. Your worries, the cold... even myself as you hold your seal and concentrate." It was there that Hinoe might pick up on what he was getting at initially. The weather was playing a part in hindering her focus. But with practice she could overcome.

Due to the added difficulty that came with the cold, her training would be better off for it too. Of this he was almost completely certain. "Once you feel your chakra even out... perform the Henge once more." Izusa spoke, then went quiet. Giving the young woman time to focus, to imagine her preferred image, and to cast the jutsu itself afterwards.

---

[Hyuuga Hinoe]

Izusa took note of the sudden failure of Hinoe's attempt, though he was gracious enough not to berate her for it, instead stating that they would try something a little bit different. A part of Hinoe had been hoping he would criticize her lack of success; it was easier to focus when someone was angry, in her opinion. Besides, if he berated her, chances were that she would get irritated by his action, and be less flustered, which would make concentration easier. Sadly (or happily?), he did not.

Hinoe sighed as she deactivated her Byakugan. Rather than thinking about boys, she needed to get her head in the game. The lesson to be learned was control, and not only of chakra perhaps, but of emotion, of effort, of will. Following the Chuunin's instructions, she closed her eyes, and took in a deep breath, feeling the cold assail her nostrils. Visualization did sound like a good tool for the activity, and it seemed what mattered a good deal was what to visualize.

A calm scene. Hinoe pointed her mind in the direction of the verbal prompts. "An empty hospital room," she muttered absentmindedly, unwittingly loud enough for Izusa to hear, "and a sterile dissecting table." Weird things to think about when trying to get to a peaceful state. But for Hinoe, the symbolism of these things was what brought her to a place of calm. Peace? She wasn't sure. But mental calm was close enough. An empty hospital room was silent, with no activity, a place associated with convalescence. A dissecting table evoked the idea of work, but it was unused, signifying potential. Work to be done, but not yet. The imperative place of preparation. The imagery was stark, austere. But it was serene. And that was enough.

Even though Hinoe could hear Izusa's voice, she was in a somewhat different place. Her chakra evened out gently, flowing steadily. She performed the three seals again, this time altering her outfit to resemble Izusa's. Perhaps not as impeccable as a master of control, but evidently much better than the last effort, if Izusa's Sharingan was still activated to make an evaluation.

Uchiha Izusa

[Uchiha Izusa]

Serenity, yours

---

Silence ensued in the moments that followed his instructions— student concentrating, teacher observing.

Like with most things in life, one's associations varied wildly from person to person. Some found solace in the quiet, others in rain, and some rare few were most at home in adversity. Hinoe spoke and Izusa's eyes widened a touch.

A hospital room, a clinical setting complete with an operating table. "To find comfort in what disquiets you..." He thought to himself, his expression becoming a bit more withdrawn as memories of experiences past flashed through his mind. Suffocating solitude, an inability to form new, genuine connections, and of course.... the constant tug-of-war that raged within his own heart in regards to the violent nature of his true duties. All 'negative' things...

...and yet it was in this state that he felt the most secure. "Maybe we're similar in that respect, Hinoe-chan." Teaching was only his day job, after all. Izusa hated the role that he was given as a Root operative. Despised the bloodshed and detachment that it caused— the deeper, darker change that it forced inside of him. But he'd been doing it for so long at this point that it was simply natural. As easy to him as breathing. "..." The instructor's quietude suddenly seemed more deafening as he pondered his own situation and Hinoe's until a sudden change brought his attention around. It was slight at first and only barely noticeable but his eyes were sharp. "She's doing it." Slowly but surely, the rough edges of her chakra flattened themselves out. Izusa took a step forward as he watched, then another and another.

Squinting to get a better look at the minutiae of the Hyūga's energy. "Hinoe-chan." Izusa said after she performed the technique, his red irises moving to focus on her face. "You did it, well done." Almost as soon as the words left his mouth the heat behind his eyes faded along with the color in his gaze. It wasn't perfect, but it was a marked improvement from her last attempt. "Apologies for the vagueness— the cold was an added layer of difficulty. Try this indoors and I'll bet your grasp over your chakra will be even better now." The instructor explained, his smile returning as placed his hands within the sleeves of his haori once more. He'd trained plenty under harsh conditions in the past but even he wasn't immune to the cold. "I wanted to see if you'd adapt... and I'm happy to say you proved me right." Testing his student's limitations and having faith in their abilities to overcome was what he was all about.

Tried and true methods had their place but sometimes taking a break from orthodoxy yielded better results. A fact he knew better than most when it came to teaching. "Keep at your training. If this lesson was anything to go by... you'll be leaving the academy behind before you know it." Izusa closed his eyes just briefly and smiled. Allowing her a few moments for it all to sink in before his eyelids raised and he gestured towards the distance with a small nod.

"Next classes should be starting soon." He said, a hint of realization dawning on his face as his mouth hung open slightly and he went to speak once she took her leave. "Oh, and get yourself a scarf soon! You're a bit flush." From the cold no doubt it must've been. Right? "Must be." By now his own face was a bit rosy too. Maybe it was time for tea...  

---

[Hyuuga Hinoe]

In Hinoe's opinion, this was a little bit like jogging. When one was not used to the activity, it seemed entirely difficult and out of place. But if one's form was good, and they were not absolutely devoid of even a modicum of fitness, there would be a point when, no matter how recently they had begun to undertake the enterprise, they would find themselves in a sort of 'zone'. In that 'zone', no matter how short it was timewise, one would feel like their body had, even if for just a bit, begun to get used to the activity of jogging.

Hinoe felt like she had entered this zone. She was mildly aware of her surroundings; she knew it was cold, and she could sense the mild burn of the frigid air on her nose and cheeks; she was also aware of the presence of the academy instructor, but he was like an afterthought, as long as she did not focus her attention on his presence. Even she felt she was doing something right.

Izusa's voice pulled her out of her focus, even as he congratulated her for succeeding in grasping the lesson being taught. Even as his Sharingan was deactivated, the last thing his eyes would pick would be the almost absolute chaos that her chakra flow degenerated into when she opened her eyes. "Why is he this close?!" she wondered, a tiny bit of alarm temporarily registering on her face, before vanishing, though the redness was more intense now. This was stupid behavior. She had to learn to control herself better. But for now, she would take the win that Izusa was offering her. Hinoe responded with a bow and a grateful smile. "Thank you, Izusa-sensei."

She had taken only three steps away, when the Chuunin advised her to get a scarf. Hinoe paused, bristling visibly. He had noticed! But was he being sarcastic, or did he really think it was the cold? Rapidly nodding, the Hyuuga made good her escape as quickly as possible, while trying to pretend as though she was not in a hurry. But it felt good to see that her days in the Academy would soon be over.

Uchiha Izusa