[Okada Goro]

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[attr="class","goropost"]The number five was now etched into his skin in black ink, just below his ear on the strong of his neck. He rubbed at it, a slight difference in the texture of his skin was noticeable. His parents received a lot of criticism for allowing Goro to receive such a permanent mark so early in life, but the world didn’t know about the beast now residing in his core.

The Gobi stirred, like a faint rumbling far away Goro could feel its chakra deep within. Every now and then, it seemed to stretch, like it was fiddling at the bars that caged it. Goro almost felt pity. No, that wasn’t true. He did feel pity. Approaching the topic of the Gobi in any way made him feel vulnerable–exposed. There was something deep inside him that could emerge at any moment and harm the ones he loved–the ones he wanted to protect so dearly.

Go. Gobi. Goro. Gory. 五.

Glory.

Goro told himself long ago that if he ever failed a mission, he’d hang the towel up right then and there as a shinobi–-as if long ago could even be a thing for an eleven year old. Some would say the boy was narcissistic, but truly he just felt that passionate about making sure he was delivering his promise to his family and the world. As an Okadan, he had a duty to uphold the reputation of his people, and failure during a mission would not only reflect poorly on himself but on his clan and on Iwagakure as well. There was truly no room for error any more. Failure meant the tailed beast could break free again. Failure meant those around him could get hurt. Failure meant that Iwagakure could lose a powerful asset–the beast, not himself.

He told himself all of this as though this wasn’t just a C-rank. He told himself this as if he didn’t have more than enough power to handle a C-rank on his own. He told himself this as if he wasn’t having to team up with some asshole other kid just to get it done when, of course, he could have just as easily done it on his own.

There it was. The truth of how he felt, bursting through puffed cheeks and a sour expression.

Why’d he have to be paired up with him?

After all this time.

Why Sūkikyō?

"Sūkikyō.” Goro muttered the name with an overly expressive face and a high-pitched shrill, mocking the boy who was obviously not around to defend himself. How long had it been since he even had to think about this guy? Years, it felt like.

Goro let a sigh escape him as a puff of air, releasing the tension in his cheeks as he rolled his shoulders. "Welp, let’s just get this over with.” He said it aloud as he rounded the corner to the rendezvous point–assuming no one had been around to hear–assuming Sūkikyō had not yet arrived or was coming from another direction.

Yutakako Sūkikyō

[Yutakako Sūkikyō]

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_{Okada Goro
2/15}

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[attr="class","lightbluetext"]Sūkikyō bounded towards the rendezvous point, his sneakers kicking up little clouds of dust with every energetic step. His heart was a drum of excitement, booming loudly within his chest. Today was the day he got to go on a mission! A real, actual, outside-the-village mission! The grin plastered across his face could light up the darkest caves, and his eyes sparkled with uncontainable joy.

However, there was a small, nagging thorn in his side—the fact that he had to team up with Goro. Oh, Goro, with that permanent stick up his butt. Kyō couldn’t fathom why he had to be paired with him. He shook his head, trying to dislodge the irritation like a wet dog shedding water.

"Of all the shinobi in Iwagakure, why him?" he mumbled to himself, his usual cheer faltering for just a moment. But then, his resilient spirit bounced back like a spring. "Well, no matter! This is gonna be fun and not even that blond butthead will ruin it for me!" He declared this to the open air, his voice carrying far and wide.

As he neared the corner where he was supposed to meet Goro, Sūkikyō decided then and there that he would not let the Okadashinb dampen his spirits. He would tackle this mission with all the enthusiasm he could muster.

"Goro!" Sūkikyō called out as he spotted the other boy, his tone dripping with so much happiness it could have filled a river. "Ready to kick this mission's butt, or what?" His eyes were alight with mischief and excitement, utterly oblivious to Goro's earlier mutterings, ready to take on the world together, whether Goro liked it or not.

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

lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

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[PTab=Abilities]

[attr="class","lightbluetext"]『Boom Goes the Dynamite』

As a member of the Yutakako Clan, Sūkikyō was born with the ability to combine Katon and Raiton into the explosive element, Bakuton. He's not very precise with his explosions, but they don't lack in power, able to destroy with ease when the boy wants to. He's not a master, but he's rather talented at utilizing the kekkei genkai. Sūkikyō's trained with Bakuton from a very young age and has learned to use it in tandem with his favored taijutsu.

『Speed Demon』

Speed is not an issue for this rambunctious boy. Sūkikyō's speed is nothing to be taken lightly, he has pushed himself physically to be able to outpace opponents. The boy is quick and agile, easily outpacing his peers. Many people have trouble keeping track of Sūkikyō’s movements, as they are ridiculously quick for someone of his age.

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Crystalline

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[Okada Goro]

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[attr="class","goropost"]It seemed the two boys had both arrived on schedule. Goro met the amber-eyed Sūkikyō just as he’d rounded the corner. Given the other boy's cheerful disposition, the Okadan assumed his lackluster comment hadn’t been overheard. That was a dodge. It wouldn't upset his teammate right off the bat when there was already so much work to be done. Regardless, Goro couldn’t help but still feel a sap in excitement at the sight of the other boy. They’d never exactly gotten along, and for that reason alone he was worried about just how smoothly this mission would go.

Never the matter. If Sūkikyō was too slow, Goro would just leave him behind. He could easily carry out this mission all by himself. Having Sūkikyō here was just the handicap he needed to further show off his skills and just how far he’d come.

Goro tried to match Sūkikyō’s vibes, though a lot less successfully. He wasn’t good at hiding his irritations. He gave a firm upward nod and a half smile, "Sūkikyō,” the name escaped his mouth dryly, his eyes looking forward as if to suggest they just simply get on with their mission. He didn’t wait for confirmation. No, Goro was too impatient for that. He wanted to run. He wanted to move. He wanted to fight.

Their checkpoint wasn’t so far that the two shinobi necessarily needed to pace themselves. Goro used to be the fastest kid around, but it irked him knowing that Sūkikyō was naturally faster. They both specialized in Taijutsu, that much Goro knew. Everything else was mostly a mystery. What he did know of Sūkikyō was only from seeing him from afar, and even those events were few and far between.

There was a loud silence for some time. Goro made sure of that, but eventually his mind would wander and the silence would be even too much for him. "What’s it been, huh? Years, hadn’t it?” He was referring to the last time they even laid eyes on each other, not that he was complaining. The reserves must have been really dry if they needed to stick the two of them together.

And just was this about him needing a teammate for a C-Rank, anyway. It was lame. Did they just want a babysitter for him? Goro was irritated, but it wasn’t particularly directed at the other boy, not that it’d appear as anything else. "Hadn’t seen you about or nothin’. What’s your no good?”

Yutakako Sūkikyō

[Yutakako Sūkikyō]

[googlefont="Open Sans"]

_{Okada Goro
4/15}

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[attr="class","lightbluetext"]Sūkikyō paused for a heartbeat, his beaming smile faltering slightly as he registered Goro's tone. A tightness to his eyes betrayed the easygoing grin he offered back.

"Yeah, it's been a while, hasn't it? Time flies when you're training and getting ready for... all this." He swept his arm around them, vaguely gesturing at the path ahead, his voice laced with that same forced cheeriness.

He laughed - a little too loudly, perhaps - trying to inject warmth into the conversation.

Life's been... interesting. You know, training, growing, the usual shinobi grind. And what about you? His words, light and teasing, floated between them, an attempt to bridge the gulf of unspoken grievances with a semblance of camaraderie.

As the genin began to walk, Sūkikyō's steps matched Goro's pace, though every fiber in him wanted to dash ahead...or slow down - to be anywhere but right next to the tension emanating from his mission partner.

"So, about this mission - heard anything interesting about it?" He tried to steer the conversation towards something neutral, something safe that might ease the underlying strain between the two of them.

The road ahead was quiet, giving ample space for Goro to respond or for the conversation to dwindle into silence once more. Whatever Goro's reply, Sūkikyō was ready, his eyes scanning the horizon. The mission was straightforward, but the dynamics between them? That was anything but simple. Sūkikyō was determined to make the best of it.

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

lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

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[PTab=Abilities]

[attr="class","lightbluetext"]『Boom Goes the Dynamite』

As a member of the Yutakako Clan, Sūkikyō was born with the ability to combine Katon and Raiton into the explosive element, Bakuton. He's not very precise with his explosions, but they don't lack in power, able to destroy with ease when the boy wants to. He's not a master, but he's rather talented at utilizing the kekkei genkai. Sūkikyō's trained with Bakuton from a very young age and has learned to use it in tandem with his favored taijutsu.

『Speed Demon』

Speed is not an issue for this rambunctious boy. Sūkikyō's speed is nothing to be taken lightly, he has pushed himself physically to be able to outpace opponents. The boy is quick and agile, easily outpacing his peers. Many people have trouble keeping track of Sūkikyō’s movements, as they are ridiculously quick for someone of his age.

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Crystalline

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[Okada Goro]

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[attr="class","goropost"]Goro reflected back on the past few years and just how far he’d come. His skills had improved dramatically since he had last seen the red-haired classmate. Goro doubted that he’d even be recognized as the same fighter as he was back then. He assumed that Sūkikyō would have had a similar experience. Life as an Academy Student compared to that of a Genin changed drastically. He likely wouldn’t recognize most of his former classmates anymore in terms of their fighting skills.

His blue eyes wandered for a moment as Sūkikyō gestured outward. "Yea, I s’pose so.” Interesting didn’t even begin to describe Goro’s life, especially within the past year. Receiving the power of the Gobi had altered every aspect of the boy’s life. He even felt that he, as a person, was changing. He felt more angry, but also like more of a burden than he had before. He was more scared to be reckless, whereas before he was so carefree and unphased by life.

Goro nodded but with a shrug, "Only what the briefing had told us,” he stated. It sounded like a fairly straightforward mission, and he doubted anything had the potential to even go wrong. "Sounds like we just gotta go in and tell them the pipe down and play nice. Maybe monitor ‘em for a bit then head out.” He paused for a moment, eyes a tad furrowed. "Here’s the hopin’ they listen, though. If they get rowdy, we maybe gotta get a bit rough.” He hated to do that. It was the equivalent of wrestling a civilian in the Okadan stands. It didn’t seem very fair.

The two shinobi arrived at their destination. The streets were empty upon entry, but further down Goro could hear yelling and chanting. It didn’t sound like the happy cheering that Goro was used to in the Okadan stadiums. This sounded angry, almost like a riot. He turned to Sūkikyō, "Doesn’t sound promising. Ya ready?”

Yutakako Sūkikyō

[Yutakako Sūkikyō]

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_{Okada Goro
6/15}

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[attr="class","lightbluetext"]Sūkikyō felt the weight of the situation settle in his chest like a stone, but he masked it with a broad, unyielding smile. The clamor ahead hinted at a challenge he had never encountered before, and his heart hammered with excitement and a tiny, stubborn spark of fear. He turned to Goro, his amber eyes glinting with a fierce determination.

"Ready? I was born ready!" he exclaimed, the fiery enthusiasm in his voice trying to mask any underlying anxiety. He slapped at his cheeks as if to psych himself up further.

"We're gonna calm them down, and show them we're not just kids, but shinobi of Iwagakure! Let's do this!"

Though Goro's demeanor had often struck him as cold or dismissive, Sūkikyō saw this mission as a chance to bridge the gulf that had long stood between them.

"Hey, Goro," he added, slowing his pace slightly to match his companion's stride, "I know we're like oil and water, but today we're a team, right?"

His words hung between them, an offer of truce and cooperation. Sūkikyō's gaze shifted towards the disturbance, ready to face whatever awaited. The path ahead was uncertain, yet the red-haired shinobi's resolve did not waver. It strengthened, fueled by the challenge and the potential of proving himself worthy - not just to Goro, but to himself.

"We got this, Goro." His voice carried a mix of optimism and a hint of nervous energy. "After all, who else is gonna watch your back if we need to bust some skulls?"

His laugh was genuine this time, hoping to ease their nerves as they moved towards their first real test as a team.

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

lorem ipsum dolor sit amet

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

[PTab=Abilities]

[attr="class","lightbluetext"]『Boom Goes the Dynamite』

As a member of the Yutakako Clan, Sūkikyō was born with the ability to combine Katon and Raiton into the explosive element, Bakuton. He's not very precise with his explosions, but they don't lack in power, able to destroy with ease when the boy wants to. He's not a master, but he's rather talented at utilizing the kekkei genkai. Sūkikyō's trained with Bakuton from a very young age and has learned to use it in tandem with his favored taijutsu.

『Speed Demon』

Speed is not an issue for this rambunctious boy. Sūkikyō's speed is nothing to be taken lightly, he has pushed himself physically to be able to outpace opponents. The boy is quick and agile, easily outpacing his peers. Many people have trouble keeping track of Sūkikyō’s movements, as they are ridiculously quick for someone of his age.

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Crystalline

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