It was the question that mattered the most that went unanswered. Daichi gave no hint to the reasoning behind his purposeful deception, opting instead to defend himself by drawing attention to the seed of truth hidden within his web. The clench of the shinobi's jaw and subtle constriction of his pupils didn't escape the younger genin's focus. Yet, In the face of anxiety, Koma was the perfect picture of calm, curiosity unwavering in the quiet interest of his eyes. Unusual as it might have been, considering his typical demeanor, there was no trace of distance in his eyes - his own guard lowered in an attempt to "humanize" himself.[break][break]
His watch lingered on as the elder shinobi turn his eyes toward a star-brightened sky, in wonder over his thoughts. Until, of course, he thought to offer them freely.[break][break]
Daichi's mention of fear put Koma at ease. The amber pools of his stare retreat to rest toward the dance of the campfire, shoulders easing themselves gentle and low as he turn the admission over in his thoughts.[break][break]
"I've... heard the same thing."[break][break]
The pause hadn't been his intention, though the fact that he allowed a moment of quiet to rearrange his thoughts showed no measure of self doubt. His words came soft and slow, thought out carefully to be delivered with an uncertain sense of sincerity. Discussions like these were wholly unnatural to him. But he was a shinobi. It would be a shame not to adapt.[break][break]
"There are no short cuts. And we all have our limitations."[break][break]
With a steady blink of his eyes, his gaze turned away, seeking the darkness scattered back to the edges of the camp in order to better focus on the words swirling about in his mind.[break][break]
"You said the man in the book used a shortcut to increase his intelligence, right? But that he lost it, in the end. It sounds like what the Kazekage was telling you."[break][break]
His gaze drops for the tome in his hands, eyes turning fruitless over the script as he admires the brushstrokes rather than the words themselves.[break][break]
Koma right his posture, a small step dared forward as his gaze set ahead toward the immovable presence of the rhinoceros ahead.[break][break]
It was over?[break][break]
That it failed to crumble under the joint attack gave evidence to its power, and though its opponents remained standing, it seemed the battle had been called to a close. The boy's gaze drift brief toward the stone where the Iwa jonin sat perched, taking note of his disappearance before the boom of the beast's voice saw his eyes forward again. It was calling for someone, and as it acknowledge Daichi - a genin - to step forward before it, the deep amber of the boy's stare found itself locked toward the monster summoning a scroll from the earth.[break][break]
The warning that he may want to make himself scarce went ignored as his teammate stepped forward, a hand reaching for his belt to claim a bandage from one of its many pockets. He'd leave only when they had Daichi safely along with them. Might or not, the rhinoceros was not his commanding officer.[break][break]
It was a soft breath that escaped the boy as he bind up his wound in the bandage's gauze, gaze turned off and aside as he let Daichi's speech ring in his ears. He had guts, talking to such a powerful beast that way, and it earned no small amount of respect from the boy when shown alongside his fellow genin's display of humility.[break][break]
Nodding his head to Anotsu's words, he finished off the bandage of his hand, focus drifting toward Daichi as a rare smile found his lips. The amber of his eyes showed soft, some spark of praise lighting his gaze as he regard his fellow shinobi.[break][break]
"Looks like Lord First isn't the only one seeing something in you."[break][break]
He was impressed, thought he wouldn't say the words outright, tone cool with praise as some shred of humor managed to lighten his voice. No doubt it was granted by the ghost of a smile to wink at the corners of his lips.[break][break]
With an amused scoff, far more suitable a rebellious teenager than a twiggy twelve-year-old, Koma let his gaze linger a moment longer before the humor in his expression fade to something more impassive, attention shifting to the other ninja on the field.[break][break]
Head bowed in a gentle nod toward the lingering Cloud shinobi, he offered his wordless condolences before turning to follow after Aiko's retreat, a fleeting glance spared toward Hoshiko to ensure she'd be able to manage their pace.[break][break]
Though he did well in maintaining his upright posture, a keen eye might note the measure of sluggishness to shackle his movements. His limbs leaded with fatigue from the battle, the adrenaline to have raced through his veins having run its course.
As the beast disappear in a cloud of smoke, the Ame genin gave a sharp yank of his chain, injured hand shooting forward to pluck its hook nimbly from the air. His land came with a tumbling roll, and as he came to a stop, he turned his eyes for the chaos across the way - gauging what his next action might be. In the moment, the animal seemed occupied, powerful attacks honing on it from all sides. The thought to cross his mind might have been self-depreciating, if not for the surprise of praise to crackle against his ear.[break][break]
It was subtle, the way he acknowledged the approval. A faint tilt of his head, the brief turn of his eyes. His gaze sought Anotsu's with the intent of turning away to measure his next attack - but as he spot the crimson in the man's stare, he found his attention lingering a moment longer. It was the first he'd seen of the sharingan.[break][break]
"Yessir."[break][break]
The boy had no trouble drawing his thoughts back to the battlefield with his commander's orders. Chain drawn to loop over his shoulder, his actions came to a pause at the tremor to work its way through the earth under his feet. The burst of chakra that coursed through its stone shot splinters of rock up from its surface, interrupting his efforts to gauge his surroundings as he put his efforts into preventing further injury. Koma leapt himself back, his good hand reaching for his belt to intercept the incoming stones with a fistful of shuriken.
[attr="class","glassslipperkoma"]editted! on defense. fending off rocks.
Howling. Barking. Laughing. It was all white noise.[break][break]
"Miss Aburame --" he greet calmly, the tranquil focus of his red stare flitting toward the woman to have come to their aid. "Thanks for the help."[break][break]
With the beast fallen, Koma's thoughts were toward the battle, eyes turned swiftly for the stampede still raging on ahead of him. He waste no time in finally committing to the act his fellow genin had attempted earlier in their battle,driving a kunai into the back of his hand to see a sudden bite of pain coursing some fresh adrenaline into his system to break the genjutsu.[break][break]
Jaw set tight, his gaze shone hard as his shoulders stiffen, his previously easy posture locked and rigid for the focus it took to force the pain from his mind. The stampede seemed to vanish from before his eyes, and amidst it, he spot a familiar jonin - Anotsu Uchiha, and a wounded animal set to fall. And to one side? Another beast, surging from a cloud of smoke, facing off what looked to be a group of ninja.[break][break]
"Daichi." He'd use his first name, this time. "I'm making an opening."[break][break]
With that, he was off, breaking away at a full sprint to close in on the staggered rhinoceros that Anotsu and Mai had already whittled down. His fingers reached for one of the scrolls at his belt, allowing its parchment to roll open smoothly as he held his open hand out over the scrawl painted on its surface. With a puff of smoke, a strong length of chain with a weighted hook at its head appeared to be captured in his grip, and with a flying leap, he was soon soaring over the beast in question.[break][break]
Wordless, he threw the chain sharply to root its hook within one of the beast's nostrils, yanking its links harshly over his shoulder to try and rip its head back and open its mouth.
There was no need to announce it. As the rhinoceros set its sights on the platoon it sound out with a warning blare, further cementing the genin's wary focus toward its figure. Koma's eyes took measure of the beast’s speed and trajectory as it launched itself forward, gaze taking quiet stock of his surroundings to pick out the best means of escape.[break][break]
At Daichi's call for cover, Koma stole a smoke bomb from the pouches at his belt, pelting the paper sphere for the patch of ground where his companions stood. As it burst, it shrouded himself, Aiko, Hoshiko, and Daichi in a thick cloud of billowing grey smoke, hopefully providing ample cover for him to bolt out of the way.[break][break]
The focus in his eyes was calm, and though the pound of his heart fluttered for the adrenaline to course through his veins, he was managing to keep hold of his tranquility. The boy twist in the air like a cat, movements fluid and easy as his fingers caught to the dust and pebbles of the parched ground beneath himself. Uninjured as he was, the young shinobi aimed to spring himself deftly aside, hoping to avoid the incoming horn set to knock him off his feet.
Koma wouldn't have seen it coming. He was too focused on his barrier, while what other thoughts he had found themselves wrapped in monitoring the flow of his chakra, and the slow, deep draw of his breath. The hand that grasped to his clothes came as an unexpected touch, and for the surprise, he found his heart skipping a beat as his eyes blink themselves to alert.[break][break]
The hair of his neck rose to stand on end, and before the rock could shatter beneath his feet, he found himself being yanked away, drawn in along with Aiko's escape. His head turned faintly, a stunned glance cast back toward the Hyuga as she carried him to safety, and as she gain her footing somewhere safe, his eyes turned to survey the damage left behind by the appropriately named 'tsunami' to have just stormed past.[break][break]
"Thank you," he murmured for the assist, the life in his eyes having dwindled away as quickly as it had appeared.[break][break]
"Falling back."[break][break]
The young genin edge a couple steps back to put some distance between himself and the hoard stomping on ahead. Without kai, he was content to bide his time for his chance, though, by the sounds of pain erupting from his teammates, he was the only one who thought better of waiting it out. While Hoshiko pierced her leg, Daichi saw fit to gouge his hand, leaving Koma the only one not to attempt to fight off the illusion.[break][break]
His eyes narrowed as he set them forward, peering through the crowd of leather to try and make out just what fate their target might be charging into.
"It's part of it," the boy admit, words followed by a subtle dip of his chin as he bow his head in an affirming nod.[break][break]
"You called me a 'boy'."[break][break]
Koma was painfully direct in calling her opening line to her attention, though he wasn't so cruel as to fix her with a stare to measure her reaction. He kept his eyes forward as a small mercy, pausing his speech for a moment to offer his throat some relief. Though the words weren't untrue, and no doubt this was not an issue of gender identity. Even so, it was clear her choice of words had struck an undesirable chord for the young man, or he'd never have brought them up to begin with.[break][break]
Irritation trained from his expression, what frustration knit his brows smoothed away, leaving his face a tranquil mask.[break][break]
"It makes me wonder if you see the other genin the same way."[break][break]
Perhaps the words might have been softer if not for the gravel rendering them hoarse. Koma cleared his throat in an effort to gather its muscle back under his control, and with his thoughts fully aired, finally brought his gaze to the kunoichi to step alongside him. What thought his gaze offered seemed kept under lock and key, the veil of his indifference thick as he regard the woman properly. It would be rude to withhold his attention from her for too long, and if nothing else, Koma had been raised to be something of a stickler for manners. Especially where authority might be involved.[break][break]
From the ease of his shoulders to the measured comfort of his gait, the young shinobi showed no sign of judging the Hyuga, regardless of what her answer may be.
As gentle as his voice was, Koma wasn't pulling any punches. The tally was up to three sighs now, and even a child could note the lack of truth in his fumbled words. Daichi's distress was obvious, and that he hide it behind feeble lies would earn no feigned ignorance from his fellow genin.[break][break]
With the spine of the text caught between his finger, Koma drew the text in near to himself to gently guide open its cover, the delicate touch of his fingers taking exceptional care in handling the Kage's tome. It was almost as if it were made of glass.[break][break]
For the cut of his words, Daichi was at least safe from what calculation might reflect in the boy's eyes. His attention was toward the characters printed upon the book's pages, fingers turning slow at the parchment to guide him from one page to the next. His movements were slow and leisurely, though the precision with which his gaze hopped from one section of the page to another suggest he wasn't taking the assignment lightly. He was hard at work, helping his teammate to solve the puzzle.[break][break]
But dead air seemed a scary thing to the majority, so he spoke, devoting at least a fraction of his attention to trying to soothe his teammate's worries with conversation.[break][break]
"There is a rule the Uzumaki house," he claimed softly, the words followed by the whisper of parchment as he turned another page.[break][break]
"If you can't lie convincingly, don't speak at all. It's better to exchange your life for the majority than watch them suffer for a slip of the tongue."[break][break]
While the words themselves may be found utterly lacking in comfort, the kindly nature of the recitation hint that Koma was at least making an effort.[break][break]
"Luckily for you. I'm a friend. Not an enemy."[break][break]
Koma paused in his reading, peeking over toward Daichi in curious consideration. The gaze he offered was far from cutting, softened by the subtle arch of his brows and the innocent purse of his lips.[break][break]
It was... a lot to take in. What seemed a simple, straightforward question to Koma was enough to invite entire essay's worth of explanation on Daichi's part.[break][break]
Though he did nothing to acknowledge the pat to his leg (what was his platoon's fascination with touching him?), he offered his full attention for the welcoming smile offered alongside the well meaning gesture. While he had no smile to grant in turn, Daichi was at least met with some glimmer of interest in the boy's stare, the line of his lips calm as he studied toward the elder genin with idle curiosity lighting the amber of his eyes. Daichi had his attention, and he allowed for some effort to see it made clear.[break][break]
What boasting Konishi thought to offer sailed right over the young Uzumaki's head, neither jealousy nor admiration sparking to life for the other's poorly concealed pride. Or show of such, anyhow. All Koma could read of the young man spoke the exact opposite of confidence, though he saw no reason to attack him for his uncertainty. Koma simply listened, hearing out the full explanation of his reasoning as his gaze drift down toward the book in his lap.[break][break]
His answer was silence. Perhaps at first it seemed he may have nothing to offer his teammate at all. After a moment of quiet however, he broke through what tension might have thread the air with movement, a hand offered palm up in request. Whether Daichi sought to hand him his notes or the text itself was up to him.[break][break]
"You wouldn't be here if Lord First didn't want you to be."[break][break]
The quiet words found strength in the boy's conviction, the shallow depth of his soft tone bolstered by an unflinching sense of certainty.[break][break]
The thought resonate in the furthered knit of his brows, the corners of his mouth falling further to a frown as he refuse the woman a glance for such a reaction. The hasty retreat of her hand, her silence, and the tension he note in her forearms for what was surely the pinch of her fingers behind her back was more than he was ready to soak in, though apparently not enough to dissuade him from his chosen course. What string of apology she spun for him fell on deaf ears, the tension in his brows prolonged as she wade through the situation.[break][break]
"Thank you."[break][break]
The words echoed void of gratitude, plain and empty as the stare revealed by the parting of his lashes. He wasn't hiding his frustration, mild as it was. The pinch of his brows was proving stubborn, and the focus of his eyes showed hard with irritation as he held his gaze forward. He had no intention of inadvertently cutting the woman with the daggers he was certain to be glaring.[break][break]
"It's expensive."[break][break]
A warning.[break][break]
"But I like caramels. So probably something like that."[break][break]
The change in topic was doing something to settle him. It would be worth counting the little victories with him, seeing as the process of him shifting from one mood to another was proving to be painfully slow. With aggravation settled in, he was caught in its mire, and the sour weigh of his lips hint that he might not be pulling himself free any time soon.[break][break]
"Do you treat the other genin this way?"[break][break]
His tone resonate decidedly even, posture straight, head high, and eyes forward. There was no beating around the bush to soften the implication of the inquiry, only the straightforward manner he seemed to offer the majority of his thoughts with. That he kept his voice gentle would be her only consolation.
That Anotsu had relaxed enough to settle anything resembling a slouch did not pull the genin's eyes from his own, though no doubt the shift in posture had been noted. Koma himself made no move to follow suit, rather determined in maintaining his upright posture as he eased his chilling noodles back into the warmth of the lightly flavored shoyu. What fraction of progress had been made between them allowed for some trace of calculation to flicker in his eyes, the Uchiha's words scribed for later contemplation even as he spoke.[break][break]
The furrowed brow of the genin was purposeful. It would have been a simple matter to hide it, but given Anotsu's display, it seemed wrong to disguise the full of his thoughts. The grin the man offered was a source of confusion for him, and as his lips set to a small pout he watched on in stillness, mulling over how best to answer his superior's thoughts. With the words of advice offered, he abandoned the thought of response altogether, withdrawing his eyes a moment to take a bite from what little remained of his ramen. The pale of its broth rest low in the bowl for the lack of noodles to have previously made the meal's bulk, and as his eyes studied his progress, he slurped up the length of the ramen into his mouth.[break][break]
His gaze turned toward the money as it was set to the table, the pinch of his brow furthered as he direct his gaze up toward Anotsu. His mouth was too busy chewing to offer an answer straight away, but he was sure to speak as soon as he'd cleared the bite he'd been working on. Maybe he'd have been quicker on the draw if not for the hand that settled at his shoulder. The weave of his brows rest smooth at the gesture, his body vaguely tense as he forbid his shoulder to set rigid under the man's touch. He was doing his best to remain at ease, though the fact might not be lost to such a keen eye as the man across from him.[break][break]
Koma found himself averting his gaze in an effort to regroup, frown subtle at his lips as he debate how best to respond.[break][break]
"Thank you. Mister Uchiha."[break][break]
He had plenty enough strength to meet his eyes once more, the line of his brows drawn a fraction tighter for his determination.[break][break]
"I'll do my best."[break][break]
And just like that, it seemed the man was gone. Koma's eyes set for the money left behind, measuring it a moment before he pocket it for later, and with the arrival of the waitress - he payed the tab as requested, bowing his head toward the woman in formal gratitude.[break][break]
By the time he got home, it seemed the milk he'd been sent to acquire was no longer fresh.
[attr="class","glassslipperkoma"]— anotsu uchiha[break]thanks for the thread!
The distinct bitterness of the wasabi was searingly hot. As the steam waft from the surface of the broth, the heat of the herb cleared his sinuses, eyes watering vaguely from the sting. The broth was not rich, but light - leaving the vegetables brewed in its salt to sing without interruption. Koma was making admirable progress through the meal. He didn't waste time. With the silence to have settled, he set himself fully toward the task of eating, and though he didn't approach the whole of the dish with the fervor with which he'd stolen away the choicest of its ingredients, he seemed to have no qualms with the flavors offered to him. It wasn't the typical child's order. Most would turn up their nose at the mention of wasabi, and the lighter flavor of shoyu might lose out to a richer broth, but Koma wasn't raised to be spoiled by such things.[break][break]
He might have been further along by the time Anotsu spoke up. He was content to simply eat, eyes toward his dish as he shoveled down his food in polite a manner as possible to satisfy his empty stomach. At his age, he was always hungry, and by how he could pack it away it seemed he'd be very tall very soon. His gaze drift up from his dish as Anotsu spoke. Ramen drawn near to his lips, he paused, debating whether or not to commit to the bite as he listened. In the end, deference won out, and his chopsticks lowered as he hold his attention toward the jonin seat across from him. He showed no sign of arguing with the words offered him, neither the suggestion of comradery or the man's hopes of knowing the boy. But a feeling had begun to creep over him, a sense of doubt looming at the back of his mind as he considered the words.[break][break]
He was failing this task.[break][break]
"I'm sorry. I didn't know."[break][break]
Koma's brows knit subtle over his eyes, head bowing toward the Uchiha after voicing his apology. While he doubted they were the words the man wanted to hear, it was not enough to see him shy away from the sentiment. The calm echo of his voice sobered further with his humility, the focus of his eyes softened as he work to determine a better course of action.[break][break]
"I agree. If we're going to work together, we should know how each person thinks. It's important to have harmony."[break][break]
It was something the boy had given much thought to, and his quiet delivery of the words gave some suggestion that he might not have just whipped them from thin air.[break][break]
"I don't mean to start an arguement, Uchiha, sir. But I remember your first words as... "You already know who I am.""[break][break]
The line of his brow knit faintly, a fraction of his confusion revealed in the downward pull at the corners of his lips. His gaze searched thoughtful between the man's own as he considered the words a second time - or perhaps a third, a fourth, or a fifth. It was clear he was drinking in every word for contemplation.[break][break]
"I know your name. I know your position. But respectfully, sir," his head dipped in reverence. "I don't know you."[break][break]
The distance that span the empty of his eyes lingered, though his interest was enough to grant it some meager spark of life.
Koma didn't answer. The question was rhetorical. Anotsu knew exactly the reason for the boy's apology, and that he set to assure him of the forgivable nature of his humanity only further assured him that he need not reply in word. The order to accompany it however saw a brief flash of apprehension in his eyes, its fleeting nature masked further by how easily he close his eyes to bow his head in docile agreement. He wouldn't, if only to appease his superior.[break][break]
Lifting his head, his gaze drew open with ease, no attention paid toward what patrons saw their curious gazes warded off by Anotsu's stare. The boy was occupied with his meal - or rather, the trained ritual surrounding it. Koma draw his hands before himself to join them in humble prayer, his head bowing forward as he offered a quiet word of thanks, and with the task complete - he, too, was reaching for his chopsticks. Readying their length in his fingers, his eyes set toward the meal set before him, and his mouth watered.[break][break]
Unlike the man across from him, Koma didn't stir his meal. The reach of his chopsticks was immediately for the invitation of the sunny-yolked egg laying halved atop his helping of ramen, and right away he was biting it down - with bites only scarcely acceptable as appropriate. Careful as he was not to simply scarf the food down, there was a distinct eagerness in how he snapped the egg in his teeth, some amount of patience exerted to properly enjoy the flavor before stuffing the second portion into his mouth. Only with the egg down was he willing to stir his own noodles, though he pause halfway to steal out a couple of fishcakes and down those too.[break][break]
"I'm familiar with Miss Hyuga."[break][break]
Anotsu wasn't kept waiting for his answer. Near as soon as he'd spoken, Koma was voicing his reply - ramen-laden chopsticks waiting ready in the air as he lift his eyes toward the Uchiha. He wouldn't eat while being addressed, though he kept his hand raised and ready.[break][break]
"Hoshiko and I were classmates. I've seen her older sister, but we've only crossed paths."[break][break]
His hand dropped a fraction, lowing his noodles to bathe in the warmth of the soup's broth in an effort to prevent their chill. After a quick dip they were lift timid toward his lips, eyes watching curious toward Anotsu as he measured whether or not it would be proper to take a bite.
There was some assurance in hearing a chuckle from the woman's lips. It grant him enough comfort to turn his eyes, gaze set for the road ahead as he kept in step with the chunin alongside him. Koma nod his head in acknowledgement toward the approval granted him, managing some progress in soothing the brilliant pink to have flared beneath his skin. Composed as he presented himself, it was clear from his shifting complexion that he was only finally beginning to settle down, the mention of an additional scoop pulling his gaze sideward a moment to search the woman's expression for some hint of credit to her claimed reasoning.[break][break]
It was that glance that allow him to spot the incoming assault of her finger, its tip poised to meet the rosy hue of his cheek. He sensed no malicious intent, and for his bold assumption that the woman might not aim to hurt him, he held still. Until she made contact with his cheek.[break][break]
The reaction wasn't willed. It was automatic. His brows cinched themselves tight as his eyes pinched firmly closed, steps halt a moment as he set his jaw - head flinching back to avoid further attack. A hand shuddered as he disallowed it from lifting to rest its fingers to the spot, the tension rendering his digits rigid and stiff.[break][break]
"I'm afraid that might not be for the best."[break][break]
Koma was still keeping a professional air, even with the poke to his cheek - his flinching - and the current fearful cinch of his eyes. It took self control to blink them open again, but there was no helping the anxious bundle of his brows, the line of his lips edging toward a frown. With so much focus put to controlling the rest of his reaction, he'd failed to disguise a fraction of the hurt that swam behind his eyes, a nervous question reflect in his stare. He wasn't asking. And he was pretending the poke had never happened at all.[break][break]
The boy right his posture, ready to continue along.[break][break]
"Master Uzumaki wanted me to finish an errand for him. I'll have to take care of that before I return home."[break][break]
His hand lift absent to smooth his fingers along his cheek. He didn't even notice the gesture.[break][break]
The boy's eyes pinched briefly as he stifled the cough his throat begged of him.
Call him Daichi. Could he? The answer lie in character rather than permissions. Koma had never been one to refer to others by anything else than respectful titles and surnames. Despite the fact, boy's curious gaze turn brief between Daichi's own in quiet consideration, weighing his invitation to treat him more as a 'friend' than some distant coworker. It took him no time at all to come to a conclusion, but the strange nickname granted to him... it hitched his thoughts a moment, the blink of his eyes coming a bit too slow as he register the moniker.[break][break]
"Thanks."[break][break]
Koma nod his head toward Konishi in offer of gratitude. It was casual over formalities tonight, though his stubborn nature set his skin to crawl as he denied himself a proper bow. It came too easily to him to play pretend, and as he further emptied himself of his own wishes and comfort, he found no difficulty at all in settling himself in the dirt at Daichi's side - eyes toward his bag of scrolls as he settle it gently to the earth.[break][break]
"The Kazekage...?"[break][break]
His voice trailed off in thought as he turn his eyes to the young man beside him, the deep crimson of his stare searching the puzzle of his eyes before dropping to the book in his grasp. He made a point not to try to glean the characters on the page, no effort put into searching what title might be printed onto its cover. His curiosity was mild, harmless for the gentle loft of his brows.[break][break]
"It sounds important. Is it for a mission?"[break][break]
A blink of his ivory lashes and his gaze was right back toward Daichi. Relaxed as he was, it seemed even in his downtime he held an air of solemnity and tradition. His posture proved perfectly straight, a hand drift to rest against his lap as its partner keep gentle claim on the bag rested at his side.
