[Kyuumu Suzaku]

It was expected for genin to take on the bottom of the barrel type missions like these, what could be considered menial jobs. After all, why pay for cleaners when you have a free workforce waiting around. Suzaku understood this, he accepted it, the boy was a full believer in the Ninja System of the world. What he didn't understand was the request made for him specifically when it was his turn to do his duty and clean the Kage's tower along with someone else, someone he'd never met before. The orange haired boy had arrived before them, had thought it would be an easy if boring day, when he'd reported to his "Auntie", his lord and Lady Kage. And he'd found her having been participating in...adult drinks which the boy found bitter and disgusting from what little he'd tried of it. He should have been suspicious when she'd said she had a plan just for him, worried. But he'd been naive. And now he was here, in front of the mirror, wearing a maids dress.

Horror, anxiety, humiliation, near crying. All of these were on his face as he looked at himself wearing the dress. How had this happened? Why had this happened? Why HIM? No one else had ever said anything like this happening before. Was it cause they all worked when "Auntie" was out? Was this really supposed to teach him something specific? What was the point of this? He didn't know. All he knew was that this was happening, and he was already about to cry and the work hadn't even started yet. It was looking like today was going to be a long day, and he was hoping he could just hide out in this room for the entirety of it, letting his partner clean the rest of the tower.

[Utagawa Matoi]

[googlefont="Open Sans"]

_{Katsuo Jokyū
2/10}

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[attr="class","lightbluetext"]Matoi usually did mind the menial tasks that were sometimes assigned to genin. She considered them nice little breaks from her grueling training schedule. But this assignment was pushing what she considered appropriate, even for genin to be doing. Wasn’t cleaning something civilians were capable of? Why on earth would they need to assign ninja to clean the Kage Tower.

She sighed as she approached the Tower, checking to make sure she had all the gear she needed to bring on her person, ready to be used. Her mask, of course, long rubber gloves, and a scraper. Hopefully, the rest of the items they needed would be provided.

Climbing the stairs of the tower, as she was directed, Matoi opened random doors looking for her partner. They hadn’t given her an exact location on where to meet them, so she was going on some sort of scavenger hunt for him. She definitely wasn’t starting cleaning until she had her partner in tow.

Luck wasn’t on her side, it seemed, because she’d been searching for a while now with no sign of the Kyuumu. But she finally chanced upon a room where when she opened the door she was greeted with the sight of a teenage boy in a maid costume. Catching his gaze in the mirror, Matoi saw that he was close to tears.

"I’m not wearing that," she said immediately, muffled slightly by her mask. "Why are you wearing that?" If maid costumes were a requirement for this assignment, Matoi would rather take the loss than do something so stupid.

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[PTab=Items]

[attr="class","lightbluetext"]01 | Rakurai

Whip Dagger
With a press of a button located beneath the hilt, Rakurai is able to separate its segments and turn into a five foot long bladed whip. It is able to be maneuvered just as a normal whip would be. And with another press of the button, the whip is able to retract back into its dagger form.

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[PTab=Jutsu]

[attr="class","lightbluetext"]Jutsu

lorem ipsum

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[PTab=Abilities]

[attr="class","lightbluetext"]『Divine Lightning Body』

Having accessed the Clan's hijutsu at a rather young age, she's spent her years learning to master The Storm. She is able to transform part or the entirety of her body using the Divine Lightning Body and is able to pass through objects that are reactive to lightning. Practically the embodiment of lightning, she can use her skills to increase the speed, reactions and fighting capability significantly.

She becomes part of The Storm itself, giving her near immunity to other Raiton-based attacks. The caveat of this is she is incapable of learning any other elemental natures outside of her natural Raiton.

『Purple Lightning』

Having spent several years training her ability in using ninjutsu, specifically Raiton, few of her age has reached the level of mastery she has.

Some may call the element erratic and dangerous, but she has complete control over the bolts of energy she can create. Not only are the raiton techniques which Matoi utilizes much more powerful than standard, they're also a bright purple in color.

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Crystalline

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[hirana kizumi]

A HEART'S A HEAVY BURDEN

Kizumi knew, in her heart of hearts, that she was being mean. She knew that. But she was a few drinks in, and all her paperwork was done for once, and Suzaku was a little shit who looked so cute in that dress. She just wanted to pinch his cheek, even as her heart broke and guilt roiled in her stomach at the sight of him near tears. Little baby boy. Matoi arrived soon after, clad in her mask and rubber gloves—highly practical cleaning tools. Kizumi lifted her tumbler of whisky in greeting to the young genin, masterfully fixing her posture and appearing as sober as the day she was born. "Welcome, lovely,” Kizumi said warmly. "You don’t have to. Suzaku has to because he’s a little baby boy—” her she lowered her voice, cupping one hand around her mouth so as to shield her words from Suzaku’s ears, "—and he needs to learn how to stand up for himself.” She straightened up and gestured broadly. "You’ll be focusing on the file rooms that civilians don’t have access to—” an answer to Matoi’s unspoken question, though naturally the genin wouldn’t be cleaning any file rooms above their clearance, "—and the exterior of the tower, which is a good opportunity to put that tree-climbing technique to work. Godspeed, darlings!”

Kyuumu Suzaku Utagawa Matoi -- 218

LAIKA OF THQ

[Kyuumu Suzaku]

The frilly-dress wearing boy had no intentions of leaving this room. Instead he was simply going to convince them to clean the entire compound while he hyper-focused on this one room, convince them that it was necessary to stay in here the entire time, that it was just so dirty or something. Though the boy wouldn't actually let them into the room, under any circumstance. He was definitely going to have to block against the door, a chair and a table. Moved to make cleaning easier. And as the panicking teen ran this scenario through his mind, trying to come up with a plan to remain unseen throughout the entire job, the door opened and the boy turned in a flash to find himself looking at a masked girl with green hair. His partner in cleaning no doubt, and the first time they'd ever met. This was the boys first impression to the girl. Him crying. I a dress.

An eternity went by in those few seconds. The boy saw his life replay, all dressless. What a blissful life that had been. Then it was interrupted by her speaking, immediately saying how she wasn't going to be wearing that, as if he'd wanted to be wearing something as humiliating as this himself. And yet when she asked just why he was wearing this dress, this uniform forced upon him and him alone it was looking like, je couldn't say those words. Instead, tears welled up in his eyes even more until he collapsed to his knees, every worst fear playing out. IDONTKNOWSHEMADEMEWEARTHISIDIDNTWANNAIDUNNOWHYYYYYYYYYOUCANTJUSTLEAVEMELIKETHIS! It was a gibberish explanation and a gibberish plea, his emotions getting the better of him as his multiple sentences stringed together into one at varying cries and whines. And it would be after his pleading that the lady, their lady and lord, the mastermind who'd put him in this position appeared.

And it was here she confirmed his fears, this really was just to test him specifically, another sharp whine escaping from him in a babyish tone at this news, which only grew worse at actually being called a baby. And like a baby he really did look like he was one mean word away from crying even harder. Though even if he'd been silent he wouldn't have heard the whisper, the true motivation for his humiliation, since his forte was in seeing not hearing. Though it didn't look like he was going to be sticking up for himself anytime soon, groveling on the floor as he was. Until the word "outside" was mentioned. OUTSIDE. IN. A. DRESS. He didn't care about the training potential, the experience. He looked at the masked girl, no longer crying but instead looking like his entire life was on the line. No. No nono. No nono, absolutely not.

[Utagawa Matoi]

[googlefont="Open Sans"]

_{Katsuo Jokyū
5/10}

[PTabbedContent]

[PTab=Post]

[attr="class","lightbluetext"]In the charged atmosphere of the room, with Suzaku's distress palpable, Matoi found herself at a crossroads. Despite her initial confusion and disbelief at the situation, she couldn't help but feel a deep empathy for Suzaku. The sight of his vulnerability, dressed in a maid costume and on the verge of tears, would soften even the hardest of hearts. Yet, amidst this empathy, there was a profound respect for the hierarchical structure and traditions of the ninja world, a respect that included the Raikage's authority and decisions, no matter how unconventional they might seem.

Matoi's training had ingrained in her a strong sense of duty and respect for the chain of command, qualities that were now being tested in an unexpected way. The Kage's strategy, while perplexing, hinted at a deeper lesson, possibly one about humility, resilience, or perhaps the unpredictable nature of their duties as ninja...or at least, that’s what she was hoping. It was with this understanding that Matoi sought to navigate the delicate balance between supporting her fellow genin and maintaining the respect due to their Raikage.

With the Kage's words still resonating in the room, suggesting a challenge specifically tailored for Suzaku, Matoi found herself carefully weighing her next words. Her response needed to reflect her concern for Suzaku's well-being while also showing deference to the Kage's wisdom and leadership.

"Raikage-sama, with all due respect," Matoi began, her tone respectful yet firm, the mask hiding any hint of hesitation in her expression. "I understand there may be valuable lessons in the tasks you assign us, including this... unique challenge. However, if I may, I'd like to propose that we adapt our approach to today's assignments, ensuring they align with the dignity and the spirit of our training."

Her suggestion was tactfully made, not outright rejecting the Kage's orders but offering a middle ground. Matoi hoped to demonstrate her ability to think critically and diplomatically, traits as valuable to a ninja as physical prowess.

"We're prepared to tackle the cleaning of the tower with diligence and to use this opportunity to hone our skills, including the exterior work," she continued, glancing at Suzaku, offering a silent gesture of support. "If possible, I'd respectfully request we adjust the attire requirement for Suzaku, so we can focus wholly on our duties and the lessons intended from this experience."

Matoi's stance was clear: she was ready to uphold her responsibilities, both to her mission and to her fellow genin, all while navigating the respect owed to their leader. This delicate balance of empathy, duty, and respect defined her response, leaving the path forward open to the Kage's wisdom and the deep-rooted traditions that governed their world.

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[PTab=Items]

[attr="class","lightbluetext"]01 | Rakurai

Whip Dagger
With a press of a button located beneath the hilt, Rakurai is able to separate its segments and turn into a five foot long bladed whip. It is able to be maneuvered just as a normal whip would be. And with another press of the button, the whip is able to retract back into its dagger form.

[/PTab={width:25%;padding:25px;background:transparent;}]

[PTab=Jutsu]

[attr="class","lightbluetext"]Jutsu

lorem ipsum

[/PTab={width:25%;padding:25px;background:transparent;}]

[PTab=Abilities]

[attr="class","lightbluetext"]『Divine Lightning Body』

Having accessed the Clan's hijutsu at a rather young age, she's spent her years learning to master The Storm. She is able to transform part or the entirety of her body using the Divine Lightning Body and is able to pass through objects that are reactive to lightning. Practically the embodiment of lightning, she can use her skills to increase the speed, reactions and fighting capability significantly.

She becomes part of The Storm itself, giving her near immunity to other Raiton-based attacks. The caveat of this is she is incapable of learning any other elemental natures outside of her natural Raiton.

『Purple Lightning』

Having spent several years training her ability in using ninjutsu, specifically Raiton, few of her age has reached the level of mastery she has.

Some may call the element erratic and dangerous, but she has complete control over the bolts of energy she can create. Not only are the raiton techniques which Matoi utilizes much more powerful than standard, they're also a bright purple in color.

[/PTab={width:25%;padding:25px;background:transparent;}]

[/PTabbedContent={background:transparent;border:0px;width:80%;}]

Crystalline

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[hirana kizumi]

Guilt hammered hard against her heart as Suzaku cried and wailed and protested… but made no motion to actually take the dress off, or stand up for himself in any way. Had she pushed him too hard, too fast? She thought it would be a funny way to drill a lesson in, but she really seemed to be doing a number on his psyche, and as she stared into the amber liquid in her tumbler she wondered if this was how defectors were made. Would she be responsible for the next generation of Kumogakure nuke-nin? Was this the beginning of Suzaku’s villainous origin story? In the end, it was Matoi who rose to the challenge: respectfully but firmly turning away from a blatantly inhumane order. The stakes were low, sure, but what was learned in practice would carry onto the field, and at least in this moment it was clear that Matoi had a strong moral backbone. Suzaku would need to ease more gently into confidence-building, it seemed. Something she would need to remember for later—maybe he just needed a softer touch. "Good girl,” Kizumi praised. "Looking out for the well-being of your teammate and success of the mission even against direct orders—that’s good. Suzaku, go change, baby. Drink some water before you get started.”

Kyuumu Suzaku Utagawa Matoi -- 221

LAIKA OF THQ