A new rank, a shift in platoons, and yet familiar faces…? Not to say it was a bad thing, but it was simply surprising.[break][break]
After successfully earning her rank of Chunin, Aiko found herself jarred by the new placement. She had prepared herself for adjusting to a new squad of strangers. Proper introductions, polite small talk, whatever was necessary to get her at least started in talking with them, but all that proved unnecessary the moment she saw the names on the list.[break][break]
Honestly, it was kind of a relief to see Daichi there.[break][break]
Koma was still new to her, but despite his silent demeanor, he seemed sweet?[break][break]
But all this hardly made up for the stress of seeing Hoshiko on the list...[break][break]
Aiko shook her head at the thought as she made her way through the offices to find her new platoon leader. Paperwork in tow, and profiles to deliver, she was given the simple task to establish connections here. Maybe it was a little self-imposed, but it felt like a good opener for getting to know her new commander. Small talk about the weather and food could only go so far, but talking about their team and abilities could certainly carry a conversation for hours, and be far more productive.[break][break]
She was almost proud of herself.[break][break]
Finally arriving to the office door, Aiko hoisted the box she’d brought on one hip, and knocked on the door with her now freed hand. It was the only warning he’d get, before she cracked the door open to peer inside. It was then she got a proper look at Anotsu Uchiha, the face least familiar to her out of the entire platoon. When given permission to enter further, she’d step in and politely bow in greeting.[break][break]
“Good morning, Uchiha, sir” she greeted, long purple hair swaying over her shoulder and falling into the box she was holding. She reached up to push it all back, as calm polite blue eyes would drift up to meet his gaze. “I’m Aiko Hyuga, your new Chunin. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Are you busy at the moment?”
Aiko would certainly find herself in the belly of the beast, so to speak. But it wasn't exactly what the young Chuunin would have come to expect. As she lifted her gaze to speak to Anotsu, she'd come to witness a moment of viciousness, of ferocity, of passion... [break][break] Anotsu was completely stuffing his face with a large bowl of ramen. The bowl, far too large to be convenient for the average human, was on tilt as the Uchiha devoured its contents. Possessing manners enough not to slurp or leave speckles of broth all over the place, the hungry Jounin's chopsticks moved with expert precision as he gulped and swallowed. Upon hearing a girl's voice, however, such ministrations came to an instant halt. "Mmm....Mhm!" Anotsu exclaimed. Immediately, he lowered the bowl to his desk and provided Aiko with a huge smile as his eyes shot to a close. "Apologies! It was....a late lunch for me," the Jounin confessed. Luminescent purple orbs gave Aiko a once over before he casually slid the bowl to the end of his desk. A hand lifted to push back locks of obsidian, every inch of his hair kempt and groomed. Almond-shaped eyes regarded her with an inquisitive appearance. [break][break] "Not busy enough to ignore a subordinate. Here, allow me." It was barely a breath later when Anotsu vanished, appearing before Aiko and securing the contents of the box in her arms. Effortlessly he turned, placing it upon his desk and taking a moment to thumb through it almost meticulously. He stood to the side so as not to turn his back to her - a respect he always intended to give. As eyebrows furrowed in deep thought, full lips parted to speak. [break][break] "Tell me, Aiko....why are you here?" [break][break] [12:42 PM]
In her eager bout to get the conversation started, a few things promptly dawned on Aiko. [break][break]
Firstly, she probably should’ve waited for a proper response to her knocking before entering the room… [break][break]
Secondly, she probably shouldn’t have spat out the greeting and questions in such a fast manner… [break][break]
Finally, she really needed to work on her observation skills. [break][break]
Anxiety bubbled in her chest as she made eye contact with a man who was simply trying to enjoy his lunch in the peace and quiet of his office. It threatened to show on her face, but the only sign of anything being wrong manifested in the wide eyed blinks of her being caught off guard. It was weird to think how such a simple thing of chomping down ramen could make someone seem so much more… human? [break][break]
Er, perhaps not the word she wanted to use. It was often hard to imagine those around her beyond the workplace setting, though. Plus, she was certainly expecting some stone faced, stoic figure, and not the rather laidback presence she was facing, instead. [break][break]
Anyways, as he addressed her, she awkwardly bowed again, to ensure he saw the manners at play. Okay, all she had to do was start over, right? Right. Only, she rose back up to the sight of him suddenly much closer, and taking the box from her arms. The act left her hands hovering in the air a little, as if unsure of what to do with them. This man had a lot of energy. [break][break]
“Oh, um” she stammered, a tint of pink to her cheeks as she tried to gather her thoughts, again. She cleared her throat, and promptly tucked her hands behind her back. “I’m sorry for intruding. You can keep eating, those aren’t too pressing, sir” she politely assured, stepping around to make it easier for them to face each other as he thumbed through the files. [break][break]
Documents on Daichi Konishi, Koma Uzumaki, Hoshiko Hyuga, as well as herself, Aiko Hyuga, made up the papers she had brought for him. Mission histories, general dossiers, some notes from herself. [break][break]
“I took it upon myself to bring you the information on those within our platoon. I’m fairly familiar with Konishi and Hyuga, Hoshiko, as well, and faintly familiar with Uzumaki… So, if there were any questions or concerns you had, I wanted to offer my assistance, or perspective” she explained, squeezing her hands tightly behind her back - as if to squeeze out her nervous energy. It felt like she was getting back her footing, thankfully.
"Relax." He'd already examined the necessary information from the correspondence sent to him, turning toward Aiko and allowing the corner of his lips to turn upward into an amused smirk. "You'd think you were standing in front of a Jounin or something." A chuckle, his chest rising and falling softly with the gesture. Anotsu could only wonder just how much of their personnel behaved in a manner that forced these Genin to be so nervous. He wanted to break - shatter - that ice. Undoubtedly, it would be important for their first outing in the field. It was strange to the Uchiha: could they see through him? Was he so relaxed that they could dig beneath the surface of his social skills and peer into the depths of what was buried below? It was true that Anotsu was a lion. But it was a fool that refused to see the importance of teamwork, of reassurance to those who desperately wanted to forge a future for themselves. In that regard, Anotsu offered Aiko a second chance to answer his question. "I knew that these documents were on the way. I mean....why are you here?" Silence would prevail once the question was answered again. But this time, Anotsu did nothing more than look at the young Chuunin before him with undivided attention. [break][break] He wondered if she could answer the question without fear, without nervousness knocking at the doorstep of her character. Statuesque, Anotsu did nothing to assist her in finding the answer he sought. Did she think it deep? So trivial that her answer needed to be practiced and mechanical? Was she so resolved to the fate of pleasing her Superiors that she couldn't form her own opinion? Anotsu wanted to shatter these thoughts. They lived dangerous lives. There was no sense in wasting it on pleasantries. [break][break] [6:19 PM]
His laidback tone was a little jarring to say the least. A strike different from ones she was used to from those above her. While not all her superiors were hard asses without a sense of humor, there were many other things that left her always expecting it. Such a thought she tried to squash and keep to herself as the older man before her chuckled so easily. The hint of confusion once on her face settled away for neutrality. [break][break]
That is until he posed the question, again. Why was she here? Had her explanation before not been clear enough, or was he prying for something else? Not knowing this jonin well enough, it left her feeling off-balanced in the moment. The question was met with her silent confusion, though her expression remained mostly unchanged outside of a slightly quirked brow.[break][break]
“To deliver the documents” she answered, though her confidence in saying it had clearly taken a hit. Her tone is quieter, almost unsure. “And help you get to know the genin we’ll be working with a bit better?” It felt like it wasn’t the right answer, and it bothered her. It bothered her more than she wanted to admit, but she kept face. [break][break]
“I thought it’d offer a different perspective than what simple data and paperwork could offer.” Even the addition to her words felt like they weren’t right when he looked at her like that. Expression so unchanging, it felt like it was asking for more, but she wasn’t sure what more to offer. Then again, he had just been rather nonchalant a moment before, so perhaps she was overthinking it.
"And yet..." Anotsu began, his height allowing him to sit slightly at the edge of his desk and folding one arm over the other, "You don't understand that I want to know who you are beyond errands and information." Another soft chuckle, the shake of his head causing his silken locks to wave gently as he did so. They were all so mechanical, so formal. Had position truly outranked character? Anotsu's tongue slid forward to wet full, soft lips before he continued. "I suppose that I'm at fault for hitting you with the old man, long beard, ninja movie depth. Apologies." He tried a different approach this time, an arm gesturing toward her with palm up and a nod in the same direction. "Why are you a Chuunin? Why did you choose this life? Who is this Hyuuga girl that stands before me?" he asked. There was less wisdom, a more direct line of intent. Were they all like this? [break][break] "I can read these documents and never know any of you," the Uchiha explained. His gaze fell half-lidded, still piercing and still patient. That's just the kind of man he was. Those of his Rank were expected to be stiff, rigid, possessing little personality over missions and secrecy. But no, Anotsu had had enough of that upbringing. They deserved more from their Superiors. They deserved more than rank and file treatment. These were young souls, and the Jounin refused to subject them to the military life he'd grown up with. Too much character, and they would ease in their tasks and training. Too little character, and they would grow into their adulthood much the same way he did. And so Anotsu remained seated, no hidden meaning in his question or his expression. [break][break] They needed to trust each other. If their lives were going to be in the palm of his hands, they needed to understand that he knew just what it meant....to live. [break] [10:09 AM]
His response is not what she expected, nor is it something she knew how to respond to at first. Her hands clasped onto her sleeves tighter as she realized her mistake, but they stayed tucked behind her back. It was quite clear then what his question had really been about - it’s meaning the one she chose to ignore in favor of the literal meaning, rather than it’s metaphorical one. [break][break]
It was enough to permanently glue a hint of pink embarrassment to her cheeks as he casually joked about the whole thing. It was an honest mistake, but she felt kind of dumb for making it. She wanted to leave the room, come back, and start all over, but it was too late for that. The shame didn’t distract her from him, though. A calm pair of nearly all white eyes stayed focused on him. The only sign of her internal dread seemed to be the color on her face. [break][break]
There wasn’t an immediate answer, even though she felt there should’ve been. She should have certainly said something by now, or now. A tension budded in her chest as she tried to find her answer. It had been a long time since someone asked her these kinds of things. Her discomfort grew beyond a tinted cheek to the hint of a frown cracking her neutral expression. What was the right answer? [break][break]
Her eyes caught the edge of Hoshiko’s file, and promptly her gaze snapped back to his. [break][break]
“I began my training to become a kunoichi at the behest of my family. It’s important to reestablish our strength after our family was scattered in the fall of Konohagakure. I’m the next to become the head of the family that has gathered here… So it is expected I lead them to a stronger future. Being a defender of Amegakure, and working alongside the strongest members of our village was seen as the best path towards ensuring my family isn’t torn apart, again” she explained, before taking a small deep breath. “Hoshiko is my younger sister. I hope to ensure her safety in her journey as well…” Her voice trailed off. It’s calm - nearly monotone - beat wavered at the mention of her sister, a sense of her desires flickering through. She swallowed back a bundle of nerves. [break][break]
With a dismissive shake of her head, the calm tone returned. “I want to protect those around me, as well as our home, sir. Nothing too complicated. I am…” Once more, the frown returned, as she grew unsure of how to answer the other question. Who was she? in a grander sense? [break][break]
“I’m not sure how to define myself in the way you’re looking for, unfortunately.”
"Better. Now we can have an honest conversation." [break][break] A small gesture of his hand toward a somewhat large, cushioned chair in front of his desk. The choice to say nothing about her embarrassment, instead understanding and moving forward to learn more about the young Kunoichi. Anotsu rose and slowly made his way to his own seat, sitting with a nearly perfect posture before tossing it out of the window and leaning forward to clasp his hands atop his desk, forearms pressed at its edge. "Your cause is admirable. I can't say that I know what it feels like to want to protect your own flesh and blood. Both fortunately and unfortunately, what family I have stays far away from my affairs. I prefer it that way." A moment of transparency from the Uchiha was followed by a lock and key on any further prodding into the subject. He chose, instead, to focus on Aiko. "You've got a lot of weight on your shoulders, Aiko. But it isn't complicated at all. You understand the life that you've chosen. Or at least, you've begun to. And you want to be close to Hoshiko however possible." [break][break] Idly, his index finger tapped the surface of his desk. Little audio was produced, more a pensive ministration than anything else. "There will be Genin under your instruction, you understand. Just as much as I admire your dedication to your family, I -will- keep in question your ability to remain neutral and unbiased when the heat of the moment calls for your decision-making. I can't have you sacrificing a mission or command to protect your sister as the expense of another shinobi. Is that understood?" Aiko was the first to hear his voice reach a place of serious tone, of underlying consequences that need not be spoken. Anotsu's piercing gaze intensified just slightly, an almost imperceptible promise of due recompense hidden in his eyes meeting her own. The air grew thicker for a breath, an almost electric tension crackling from the Jounin's very presence. [break][break] "We have the most important position in Amegakure. Young lives are at stake here....and that's why I need to know who you are. You've been promoted off of your ability, your knowledge, your initiative. But there is far more to do, far greater lengths to surpass. Understand that under my command, there will be no room for error. Remember the names of every Genin on their Dossier. Familiarize yourself with their photos, their history, any family they may have. They have goals of their own. They need us to make that happen." [break][break] Anotsu eased in his intensity quite considerably, pulling Hoshiko's and Aiko's files. He placed each of them in front of him, comparatively glancing over them. It was clear that Aiko was one half of the whole. As such, he suspected that Hoshiko's presence and well-being were important to the bigger picture. That much, he would attempt to accommodate. "Any questions for me?" he asked casually, almost as if he hadn't dropped even more weight upon the Chuunin's shoulders. [break][break] [5:18 PM]
Taking the seat as he gestured towards it, Aiko felt suddenly very out of her comfort zone. Her handles settled in her lap, clasping each other. Though it wasn’t the first time a teacher tried to connect with her, it always left her horribly uncomfortable. As he relaxed his posture, she sat at attention, gaze on him as he spoke. Even as his brief bout of praise turned into a lecture, she kept herself seated upright. Even if it was difficult, she had to accept the punishment for her incorrect answer to his request. [break][break]
It made her skin crawl, but she kept face as his tone shifted to the sort she had expected from the get go. Granted, the serious display was much harder to take after his nonchalant attitude made itself known first. The burden of a kunoichi, of being a member of a family, of her position as a chunin; he wouldn’t let her forget. Regardless, she gave the nod of understanding the moment it was prompted from him. No hesitation, the response was prompt.[break][break]
Her eyes trailed over to the files, finally disconnecting from his gaze. A strange urge built up in her chest, causing her body to tense ever so briefly. Then he grabbed the files of the Hyuga sisters. Aiko’s muscles relaxed just as quickly, her eyes turning back to him with the vaguest hint of curiosity in them. He prompted for a response, and silence followed at first. Her mind became filled with so many thoughts it might as well have gone blank. However, she had to force something out, so the first instinctive response kicked in.[break][break]
“I apologize” she promptly started, hands squeezing together in her lap as she bowed her head slightly. “I believe I may have made the wrong impression on you, sensei. I understand full and well that I cannot offer any sort of bias or preferential treatment towards my sister. My family would frown upon it as well” Aiko assured, bringing her head up to look at him, again.[break][break]
“The Genin within our platoon, aside from my sister, are Daichi Konishi and Koma Uzumaki. Koma is the same age as my sister. His record shows he has proficiencies with jutsu commonly seen from Uzumaki family members. I haven’t interacted with his family personally, however. I’m not sure of what he is aspiring to become, or if he has a goal in mind. He rarely speaks, and doesn’t seem to be familiar with acts of kindness. I’ve been making an effort to actively approach him to remedy that. I feel it’s important.[break][break]
“Daichi and I graduated from the academy at the same time, so I’m very familiar with him and his capabilities. He has a single father, and no clan to speak of. Rather, he is aspiring to create his own clan, or reach greatness one way or another. He’s ambitious, eager to learn, and hardworking. I will say he has a habit of pushing himself too hard however - often trying to ignore injuries or exhaustion in favor of continuing training or work. He doesn’t react well to being told to give himself a break or stop outright, so I tend to either convince him to work on things that won’t strain his body, or have to remind him that rest is important for furthering his training.”[break][break]
She swallowed after her swift report, hoping to show she had already taken it upon herself to become familiar with the genin - as he had told her to do moments before.
Aiko had taken initiative. Anotsu listened intently as she spoke, doing naught to interrupt as the young Hyuuga woman before him gave her full report. Elbows rest atop the table, fingers coming to slide one betwixt the other before they clasped slightly. Anotsu lowered his head to a degree, his eyes sliding to a close. She had his undivided attention, his very figure so still that he seemed completely inanimate. Her own aspirations were seeping through. She was seeking approval, if in no other manner than her ability to gather information and relay it with accuracy and a concise manner. The Uchiha appreciated it. Silently, he imagined that she'd practiced and pondered their meeting. And so effectively, Anotsu had thrown a wrench into her plans. [break][break] "It sounds like you've been spending sufficient time with them," the Uchiha praised her. "I'll take these to heart. Your report comes not a moment too soon." A smirk began to etch itself upon the Jounin's features. "We'll be having a team meeting soon, and I'd like you all to be prepared for a training session." It was hard for Anotsu not to be excited in some shape, form, or fashion. So much so that he playfully rubbed his hands together, relinquishing that serious air in favor of a more amusing ministration. "No pressure," he added with a quick delivery. [break][break] In truth, Anotsu knew the current state of Amegakure. While every day brought them closer to conflict and the constant notion to look behind one's back, there was a spherical influence he held over his Platoon. Their greatest moments would come one day, and it was his responsibility to prepare them for platforms currently far out of their reach. Anotsu had endured much in his youth. These were the days of his prime. If he was worth his salt in leadership, he would ensure that Aiko could take over at a moment's notice and perform more than adequately for the Genin beneath her. "And in regards to your answer," Anotsu began as he sat up and shook his head. "There is no wrong answer. I just wanted to be sure that my intentions and expectations were laid bare. To forego such things to accommodate someone's feelings is to deny them a learning opportunity. You know what I expect now. And I'm sure you'll give the Genin your same when out on missions." [break][break] Anotsu didn't doubt Aiko. Faith, as much as trust, were necessary in this line of duty. If nothing else, Anotsu would drill this into their heads until teamwork was the highest priority. Too many had died in arrogance, in overconfidence. He needed to be sure that they wouldn't repeat those same mistakes. [break][break] [10:46 AM]
The apprehension in her chest was growing tighter by the second after she gave her report. With her prior fumble, it felt like anything she said could be wrong, which was the exact kind of feeling she had been hoping to avoid today. A dreadful state of mind that clawed at each thing she had said moments prior. Should she have mentioned Daichi’s inclination towards pushing himself too far? Was it rude to admit Koma seemed unused to kindness? She should probably talk about Hoshiko, but wouldn’t that imply bias, again? [break][break]
Her mind rumbled with all this, expression focused as she waited for judgment. However, thankfully, the response was a good one in her eyes. A few words of praise and the budding tension in her shoulders would slowly ease. Though her mind wasn’t so easily comforted, it was enough for her to stop accidentally digging her nails into her own skin. It seemed they were moving away from these deep questions of who are you and why are you here, and she was relieved by it. [break][break]
Into business they went, and Aiko nodded with a sense of understanding at the mention of a training session. As they should expect, given the new arrangement. This felt more like the kind of business she anticipated when coming today. Though the prior moments lingered in the back of her mind, she left it there to digest later. [break][break]
“I understand, sir. It’s an important message” she assured, hands moving to subtly flatten out the fabric of her pants, now that she wasn’t clawing at it. “I’ll be sure to keep it in mind going forward.” A brief pause, to allow herself to transition back to more familiar territory. “Now, regarding the training you mentioned, is there anything in particular I should have the Genin prepare? A skill to focus on in anticipation of the session?”
"No," Anotsu stated with a shake of his head and the close closing of his eyes. They were, after all, going to be meeting for the first time. Far be it from Anotsu to offer them an advantage when life would certainly not provide them the same. "I want you all to be....pleasantly surprised," he finished with a smirk. It was all too obvious that what the Uchiha had in store wouldn't be expanded upon at this interval. He found little satisfaction in leaving Aiko without much knowledge to share. But Anotsu was unyielding in his methods, prepared to make his Platoon as prepared as he had been when he was but a Genin. Anotsu's lips parted to speak, but the sudden knock on his office's door stayed his syllables. [break][break] "They're ready to brief you, sir." A kunoichi's head appeared through the small threshold she'd created for herself, offering the pair a glance and a smile before closing his door and leaving them to their devices once again. A soft sigh. An apologetic bow of his head. "I apologize, Aiko. It looks as though my time has come. I'll send correspondence once I've secured the training grounds. Sorry for cutting the meeting short. But I do appreciate the intel and your insight. Good work." The Uchiha stood slowly, rounding the table with casual step before leaning against its edge near the Hyuuga. He leaned forward, placing a hand flat atop her head and ruffling her locks just slightly. "Don't let your mind become a prison, hmm? There are some things in life that just have to accept who you are, what you can do, what you can't do. Whatever those things are, let it be what it will be." [break][break] His tone was hopefully reassuring, the luminescent purple of his eyes flickering with a hopeful reassurance. Allowing his hand to drop down to his side - provided she made no gesture to stop his gesture - Anotsu grinned and placed his grip at the edge of the desk once more. "Dismissed." [break][break] [1:38PM]
A no was about what she anticipated, given this man’s approach to the situation, so there was no surprise there. In neither his answer, nor his addition to it. It was all simply confirming what she suspected. It was better to ask, than to assume though. So, it would be up to her and the genin to handle whatever Anotsu threw their way. The young Hyuga heiress nodded at his retort, slowly relaxing as things moved in a way she could better anticipate. [break][break]
Though, it would seem this was the end of their discussion thanks to a knock at the door. As the woman spoke, Aiko didn’t look away from Anotsu, but nodded in response to the message that was delivered. This mess of an encounter was over, and she could only hope the impression she made was mostly a good one. It didn’t feel like it was though, even if her mistakes were minor. Simply put, she was sure it wasn’t good enough.[break][break]
A thought that was disrupted by a hand suddenly atop her head, her hair being ruffled. It made her stiffen at first, as if anticipating something dreadful. The gesture clearly startled her, leaving her appearing a little baffled when she looked up at him. She opened her mouth, wanting to ask what he was doing, but the words caught in her throat as his own overshadowed any response she may have had. Her mouth slid shut, cheeks feeling warm with pink embarrassment.[break][break]
“Ah, I… Ye-Yes sir” she stammered, before clearing her throat. A brief flicker of perhaps a person behind that shell seemed to stumble out in her shock. As his hand slid from her hair, she rose to her feet promptly. Eager hands went to work fixing her messed hair as she stepped from him towards the door. Though when she reached the door, she stopped to turn towards him with a proper bow once more. “Thank you for your time, I’ll be sure to meet with the others ahead of our training.” Her words were spoken quickly, a nervous attempt to reclaim her prior mannerism. Without waiting for a response, Aiko swiftly made her way down the hall.[break][break]
There was at least one thing to take from this... [break][break]
