[Deleted]

In a place not so easily reached outside of the main populous of Takigakure no Sato, Hotarubi had set himself up for the day and had done nothing more than hurt his own ego. Hotarubi had set up targets in the forest much to his own disdain, as well as bringing lots of training Kunai and Shuriken meant for those at the academy for him to practise some of his movement skills that also utilised combat: for good measure, and he had not managed to get a solid hit on any of the targets. One in a tree, one hanging off: one hidden behind a branch, and many more. The addition of movement was a challenge unto himself that he thought was pertinent because hitting a stationary target he had gotten good at doing. But moving himself, and ninja being live humans, meant that they wouldn't just let themselves get hit so it was best to try combining the two. To that end, he was muttering to himself curse words as he tried and failed to do it, the knocking of metal against wood, though, would be noticeable in the jungle - stark to any of the other bird noises being made. "God damn it..." Hotarubi sighed as he got to the end of another run, having failed yet another round of Kunai and Shuriken throwing.

[wabisuke satoshi]

A sentiment that has been following Satoshi his whole life is that he stays in his own shell too much, too introverted, unwilling to speak up. There's a litany of things he could choose to help him get a more healthy grasp on socialising, this was just one of them. 



How does one become more outgoing, more willing to speak up? Well, Satoshi is not the one to ask. A morning affirmation and the constant feeling of dread that you're being too withdrawn is his personal prescription. 

This all became a bit too much when navigating daily chores around Takigakure, and going home right now felt like a waste, he should be outside, that's how you make a man outgoing! Why this led to him going to a secluded training spot he liked to feel eyes no longer pry on him? Satoshi could not answer that.

Well before Satoshi saw him, he smelt him. Not in a poor hygiene type of way, just his very keen tracking abilities. Usually this would make him seize up, but a very familiar, almost nostalgic sound rung out. Metal on wood. 

Satoshi lacked any sort of talent for use of shinobi tools, so getting them up to snuff so he could be of some aid during combat involved a lot of that specific sound. Missing a target.

Bold. Outgoing. Talkative. Life of the party. Satoshi was psyching himself up to open with something confident, as he approached from Hotarubi's side, the debris of the jungle finally clearing so he was visible. What was Satoshi's strong, charismatic opening?



"Hey uh... d-doing some training?"

jungle fever

♫

@perpetual

[Deleted]

Hotarubi grunted - it was the best he was going to get. In all honesty Hotarubi had not even sensed, nor felt, nor any of his other senses noticed a Genin in his presence with his body and focus on himself - as opposed to externally. A lack of awareness was dangerous, but he felt safe in Takigakure - and of his own ability as an Earthen body. "Eh?" When Hotarubi head something speak, it jutted him out of his concentration to look around - to find a similarly tanned individual. The way his shoulders squared inwardly slightly. All indicative to Hotarubi of a lack of confidence. Hotarubi's face was sullen, only if he had intended on being stoic. Hotarubi stared for a moment too long without reply, sussing out the individual. He had not seen him at the academy before. But there was a headband on his forehead? Was he pretending? "I'm just trying to some last minute prep for the Genin exam." If this ... meek individual was a Genin, this would be depressing. But, he had no time for this individual. "What do you want?" The Genin hadn't exactly made their intentions clear, and Hotarubi was already annoyed enough for one day than to let some weakling outrank him. But at the same time, maybe he was drawing a conclusion to quickly?