[Oshiro Kouta]

FOR THE WILL OF STONE!

Like A Solid Rock I Stand

Why was it so cold.

Not that he hadn’t been in countless places over the years nor even in the high mountains of Iwagakure. But here it was unrelentingly cold… Proud to be where he was! But snuggled up in thick thick clothing all the same. Even impressive layers of muscle and hardened stone upon his skin seemed to keep that frigid air out… meaning the man was wrapped up much more squishily in thick clothing and a hood over his head pulled tight around his chiseled facial features. A blubbered seal… But warm! And allowed that grin to cross his face despite practically freezing there. His face was still shown…. Sadly. Apparently Kouta did not like the cold.

It wouldn’t have been impossible to work in it, of course. Maybe if he was bare it would hold him back after a while, cold settling into his body. But a few clothes and his special techniques surely would have kept him going fairly easily. He just didn’t like it… Regardless, he needed something to eat. Anything. Exams had been going long and Suika that had newly joined his clan seemed to be doing well. Watching over those from iwagakure had been his intention with specific interest and care for that one new Kamizuru.

But on a break. Shoving his face full of food at one of the vendors. Bowl after bowl of ramen tossed back at the shack as if he were downing shots of sake. Towering bowls were left there, the man eventually giving a sigh of contentment and settling back. Patting his cloth covered belly and just being happy. Warm food. Happy stomach.

Until it was cold like three seconds later. He didn’t even have Taigaa… not wanting to stress the cat in rather frigid temperatures, he hadn’t brought along either Nenrei or Taigaa. IT was a sacrifice he wasn’t fond of in the least, but at least he could be assured that the Wardens weren’t without muscle to keep the streets of Iwagakure safe.

For right then though, he had gotten a rather huge helping of tea. Steaming hot and in a container that was likely meant for serving a multitude of people rather than a single serving for a man. Regardless, someone had sold it to the poor soul, huddling it close to his form and sipping from it to keep his face from freezing off. Yet, somehow still bemused and happy. A man with a light heart and a few moments to spare. He’d go off to check on the exams and genin soon enough, any new information would have been something he’d want his ear on. But for that moment, heavy and steady steps moved throughout the vendors area that the village held. Overlooking more food and various wares with spikes of interest settling on this or that. But often sipping at that boiling tea and looking just a bit more comfortable after that short drink.

Oshiro Kouta

MADE BY VEL OF GS

[Kawai Niko]

Yearly tournaments that many likened to ‘games’ were, for a select few, moments of high stakes diplomacy. Leaders from across the ninja world met and discussed with one another to forge and renew deals. Some of these were successful, but many did not lead to much beyond the meeting room. The Hokage’s blood, however, ran hot in the conversely frigid environment around her. For the first time in a while, she was among the former group. Niko wanted to observe the battle of the world’s up and coming ninja, and most importantly, see her Genin victorious! The encounters had not nearly been as enjoyable as when unrelated topics were at the forefront of the mind. Thus, she cleared her schedule for the next few days and looked forward to enjoying the back and forth of chakra bursts.

Walking through a wintery wonderland was not entirely a new scene for the blonde. Her home country had, on occasion, similar snowy conditions in addition to the luxury of fertile, green summers. In her younger years, she would look forward to making snowmen, snowball fights, and even trying to see what kind of jutsu could be made out of the solidified water. The kunoichi knew very well such powers were limited to a handful of people in faraway lands. A curious mind like her own couldn’t help but try. Now, she walked through the homeland of the ninja she once tried to emulate. Who knew? Maybe Niko would even get to see a Yuki shinobi use one of their unique techniques or two.

Her formal attire had to change to accommodate the new environment. She would don a thick azure trench coat, which indicated her title as Hokage on her left sleeve in elegant red kanji. Underneath, it had been supported by a black, form-fitting thermal garment reminiscent of Himi she wore when on missions. Her Kage headwear was tied to the right of her waist, while her boots were close-toed and heavy, going higher up her leg than usual. The occasion allowed Niko to utilize her winter footwear collection that she scarcely donned. Walking through the village market, she would be known yet unrecognized. Her nose and crimson lips would be covered by a facemask, leaving only the bridge of her nose and piercing purple eyes to be seen.

She would come across a store window and see herself in the reflection. The Hokage momentarily stopped to look again. Internally she chuckled, but externally she merely smirked. "One day at the beaches. The next, at the North Pole.” It amazed the woman how vast the world was and how shinobi adapted to their very different environments respectively.

The wind picked up a little bit, sending frigid snap down her spine and her lengthy blonde hair following. "Indeed, Hidden in the Snow...”

Oshiro Kouta

[Oshiro Kouta]

FOR THE WILL OF STONE!

Like A Solid Rock I Stand

What the…?


A muffled few sounds and a single Ack.! as the man beat away the brief and soft blonde curtain that had assaulted him, it all too easily would have fluttered away following the path of wintery breeze and away from the hulking man in fluffed layers. Canister of tea held close to his face and attention turned the way of the owner of the assaulting hair, he hadn’t even thought twice about actually being offended by such a thing. If anything, it was amusing! Who had such long hair? Maybe it was pretty, but he hadn’t really gotten his thoughts that far. A step in towards the woman to stand by her side looking into that mere. Elegant as if she belonged in the snow and a man that no doubt was still silently suffering behind his joyful persona.

"I’d take the snow without so much damn cold! Ha!”

Jolly and amused while still huddled about his tea canister, a sip taken after his grin shot down at the surprisingly tall woman. A bit of a joke handed over and a loud ‘ha’ at the end, all to cradle himself in warmth from that tea. Big baby as he might have been about the cold, it wasn’t like he was on duty or anything… So he’d enjoy it for its simple pleasures and strike up a conversation with…. Hm. maybe a familiar face. But did it matter? A mask certainly hid many features and people certainly looked different in vastly different attire from months and months ago. Not to mention he apparently didn’t see the multiple markers of who she was…

"Doesn't seem like the cold bothers you none, you’re not from here are ya?”

Maybe if he looked her over more clearly he would have known straight away. But among all the people of Yuki no Kuni gathered from nations around the world in what many would have expected to be collaborative peace, he didn't even give a second thought to making friendly gestures with a stranger. What was the point in staring someone down for information when he could talk to them? Not that he was much of an observer anyway... The soldier one who acted more than one who thought.

Oshiro Kouta

MADE BY VEL OF GS