Bashira’s early morning routine usually had her up before day break to start her Suiton training. Predawn was her time to herself since no one was ever up. Her entire family were night owls and she was an early bird gets the worm kind of girl.
That and she could count on running into one or two of her favourite people for long talks or anything to do with dogs. The latter happened to be on the agenda since she had agreed to go on a walk and training combination with Kegawa.
Between Kegawa and Seiichi being her mentors, they were also surrogates for her own messed up family. They probably knew that they had become her family the second they got close.
Having them around made it easier for her to see her own potential and even when she wasn’t with them, they were there. They became the ones she associated with good memories and now that she was older it made it easier not to try and be like them.
She was her own person and she was grateful for that and them being there to remind her. She realized she was earlier than they had agreed on.
When Kegawa got closer he would see her actively involved in a book on pack mentality and how to be the best member that the pack needed. Usually it took a call of her name or a wave in front of her face to get her attention but she was alert this time. “Good morning Kegawa-Sama! I was just rereading this in case I ever needed to apply it to our own Platoon.”She said smiling.
She put her book away then stretched. Eager to get going. Kegawa Inuzuka
zori settled quietly near the hyuga, lips curled into a friendly smile as ruby hues settled onto the blue-haired woman. nary a sound needed to come from his lips before the woman turned her attention upwards to the jonin, that smile upon her lips caused the inuzuka's own lips to reach up into his creasing eyes. a light chuckle came from his lips as he turned his attention towards the title of the book, a musing sound rumbling from his chest. fingers settle at his chin as he leans down to inspect before turning his attention fully towards the girl.
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❝ ever so diligent bashira. ❞ he notes lightly, taking a step back as he watches the girl begin stretching. ruby eyes glance down towards the orange furred ninken at his side. the two exchange a look of unspoken words before both gave a nod of understanding. zori began to move quietly along the ground, ruby hues watching the girl with a calculating gaze masked by the friendly smile at his lips.
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❝ what are some areas that you would like to work on today? ❞ he questions, even though he already knew what he had in mind. it never hurt to see what his chunin was interested in working on.
Bashira blushed a bit because praise and compliments were still new to her. “Thanks Kegawa-Sama, I was thinking that I’m going to be helping you shape lives so the least I can do is do research. I have different kinds of books for leadership.” She said smiling. Normally those kinds of books made her question her ability to be a good role model but she had a great teacher.
His question made her smile brightly as she looked to around. “I was thinking about deepening my relationship with everyone and I wanted to help you train our furry friends. Stealth and Suiton come to mind since I will need them during a crisis.” She said looking back to him.
Stealth was a big reason why she had problems with fighting in the first place. Going in undetected would give her the edge on her opponents. Her Byakugan was always making her anxious about having it.
Horror stories that her father had made up over the years had gotten to her. She was a bit embarrassed to admit but she was pretty sure he scared her siblings too. It was just the way her father taught them. Kegawa Inuzuka
a light hum came from the jonin's chest at the woman's reply. ruby eyes searching her features for a moment before settling on her silvery hues. the faint smile remained at his lips, but they didn't reach his eyes. he glances down at the ninken at his side, hand moving to pat atop of its head. kakimaru closes his eyes, enjoying the pat before settling his amber gaze on bashira once his partner ceases the sign of affection.[break][break]
❝ that's really a shame. ❞ he answers finally, taking a step forward as he comes closer and closer to the hyuga. his movements only halt once he's a mere inch away from her presence, looking down on the woman with glimmering ruby eyes. the edge of his lips curl ever so slightly more upwards, revealing his fangs. his hand moves towards the girl, a finger resting just under her chin to try to get her to look up at him.[break][break]
❝ a shinobi who can't stand on their own two feet is worthless. you can't hide forever, do you really want to continue on that kind of path, bashira? ❞ he questions, the friendly tone in his voice dropping into a low and cold one. the sensation of hot air could probably be felt on her hand, a low guttural growl coming from that direction. the orange ninken bares its teeth at the woman, seeming to think the same sort of thoughts his partner was thinking. ❝ do you know what a pack does when it finds a member of its own too weak to keep up? too fragile? too useless? ❞[break][break]
the man pauses for a moment, leaning down after a few seconds to settle his features closer to bashira's own. his lips remained curled upwards to reveal his impressive array of teeth, ruby eyes staring down with malicious intent. he almost looked like he could eat her right then and there. the growling from kakimaru never ceasing, his hot breath even more apparent at her side.[break][break]
She knew she had opened something she couldn’t close again. Once this hand touched her chin and forced her to look into his eyes she knew there was no going back. She kept his gaze and her attention focused on him.
“It is but it’s the truth.” She said keeping his gaze. The change in his demeanour would have have been terrifying to her when she was younger. Something told her not to back down and show weakness. If it was her stubborn nature or her longing to prove herself, it didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to give in.
“I’m well aware of that and I refuse to be seen as weak or useless. My father and Mother were good at showing me what happens when you’re too meek. I have responsibilities now and I refuse to let you or our village down. I won’t continue down that path, it means my ruin and death.”She said as her Byakugan activated. It was a bit surprising but she knew it did that whenever she was in danger or needed to stay alert.
She felt the hot breath on her as she stayed put. No one had ever been so close to her without her moving back to keep her distance. She was well aware of Kakimaru’s breath as well and she didn’t flinch. “I mentioned this because I want to be stronger, not just for Kumo but for myself and my descendants to come. I’m not giving up on myself, too many already have and I have been getting better at my abilities, I just need to hone them so one day I can teach them.” She said.
He could eat her and rightfully so but she wasn’t about to give into fear and give him a reason to shake her loose. She looked at him with a growing determination to stay within the pack. Of course she knew she was going to be put through hell but she knew it would be worth it. Her face changed from gentle and serene to a look that she was not backing down. Maybe she had been watching her mentors and she had decided to incorporate her own animalistic look. Half Bear and half Dog that had her acting differently because no one else had ever seen her like this.Kegawa Inuzuka
the inuzuka had remained silent throughout bashira's response, not backing down in his own presence and closeness to the girl. he could smell the fragrance of whatever she bathed with. as she finished, keeping her own steady gaze with his own, a snort came from the man's lips before he pulled away to lower himself. his shoulds began to shake as a loud and boisterous laugh came erupting from his mouth, deep and vibrating in the air. he places a hand to his stomach as he feels the ache of the continued laugh in his muscles, finding it almost hard to keep standing at just how hilarious he found the situation. kakimaru had settled himself down into a sit, a slight snickering sound coming from him.[break][break]
❝ oh bashira-chan. you're so hilarious, i love you~! ❞ he responds finally, pulling himself up to wipe away a single tear at the edge of his eye. a few rumbles of a laugh escape his lips, but the jonin finds it within himself to pull himself together. he settles a hand onto her shoulder, grinning at her confidently. ❝ i'm not giving up on you after i've seen your resolve, so you can rest assured on that. ❞[break][break]
the grin softens up to a small smile, ruby eyes watching her with a slight tenderness behind them. a complete contrast to the animalistic nature he had shown previously. [break][break]
❝ bashira-chan. what do you think is the most important thing about being a leader? ❞[break][break]
