When it rains

The sky was grey and ominous with the abundance of full and heavy clouds, and that color seemed to transfer itself to the ground below on this otherwise warm and not-so-sunny day. The streets of the village were sparsely populated as many waited in their homes or businesses for the coming storm, leaving only a brave few to chance their errands against an unknown timer. Even fewer didn't display a sense of urgency as they walked towards their destinations and one of these few was Seresana Hatasuko.

The young genin actually seemed to be going out of her way to take her time in her walk. A pleasant smile on her skyward turned face as she strolled about with her common attire on. The white short-sleeved shirt with two thick green cloth ties, one around the waist and the other at her chest while her right arm's sleeve featured her shinobi headband secured by a third green cloth tied around the limb, and her left arm wrapped in bandages clear from the palm up to where they disappeared into her left shirt sleeve. A dark purple vest with a red embroidered leaf insignia on the back covered up part of the shirt while a plain pair of black pants covered the rest. They too featured cloth ties, two white with one above the knee on one leg and the other below the knee on the other leg. Her wooden sandals would occasionally click off an errant stone as she continued onward, but that was hardly as interesting as the company she walked with. Resting atop the young ninja's head was a small raccoon, who excitedly looked about at anything and everything while a second one kept poking it's head out of a small pouch secured at her waist by one of the green cloths.

Word Count: 305

Heavy rain was never a pleasing thought for Shiruku, not because it was mostly just constant sound from the sky or rain itself. It was because everyone always seemed so calm and dreary in the rain. Maybe it was because people, like herself, simply had too much to think about in such weather, even now before it started to rain she continued a long thought train that seemed have no rhyme or reason. The young girl had come out today to get the apple that she normally got every morning before she did anything. Holding a large umbrella in one hand against her exposed arm from the net mesh on her over shirt. Shiruku had planned on training today, but it didn’t entirely seem like that was a possibility.
As she took another bite out of the fresh red apple Shiruku began to scan the people around her, they all seemed to not want to use umbrellas even if it was about to rain. One in particular stuck out to her, a taller girl wearing a leaf village ninja headband that showed that they were in fact a certified ninja. The fact that she was so young was not the thing that caught the young Hana’s attention though, it was the small raccoons. It was odd seeing the tiny beasts staying so well behaved for the young genin, or so she assumed the girl was a genin. Too curious to deny it she approached the other girl and for the most part held a stoic expression. Her red eyes piercing through the rainy air and seemingly what was Seresana’s own self as she spoke up to get her attention, “Hey, what’s with the raccoons?”

Word Count: 284/284

"Hmm? Oh, you mean Miku and Mina," Seresana said as her eyes gestured first to the little raccoon perched on her head and then to the other one who's head was sticking out of the small belt pouch and looking up at Shiruku. "That's just how they like to go with me when I'm out," Seresana answered with a pleasant smile. "Would you like to hold one? I promise you they don't bite, I'm not even really sure they can all too badly. They're still pretty close to babies," Seresana added after looking the little girl over quickly.

Word Count: 99
Total: 404

"Um... I don't know, give me a moment," Shiruku said as put the apple inside of a pouch on her waist. Leaving the apple there, she shifted the over-sized umbrella so that it was against her shoulder, despite being the same size as her, it was crafted to be extremely light to carry and only weighed a few pounds at best. The extended sleeve holding the hooked end of the parcel still in her hand, "If I could please hold one now. You have me curious about how they feel... I'm Shiruku by the way, a student at the Academy. I apologize for stopping you suddenly." She said holding a small hand out for one of the two young raccoons.

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Word Count: 120
Total Word Count: 404 (Words not found)
Bonus EXP Tracker: 400

"Oh, you're in the academy? Did you just recently join?" Seresana asked as she loosened the straps on her little belt pouch and proceeded to lift the little raccoon from it's depths. The small grey animal looked about a bit sheepishly, but otherwise didn't really seem to make any protesting movements as Seresana adjusted her grip on Mina to demonstrate how to hold the little raccoon. "She likes to be held about like a baby," Seresana added while holding one arm horizontally across her chest with the little raccoon curled up in the crook of her arm and seeming very happy to be there. After a second of this though, Seresana's other hand would scoop Mina back up and tentatively hand the female raccoon over to Shiruku to hold.

Once she was in Shiruku's grasp, Mina would rather quickly try to do some for of curling up to be comfortable and petted. "Oh, and I'm Seresana Hatasuko. I actually only graduated a little while ago myself," Seresana went on.

Word Count: 170
Total: 574

"I... I have been at the academy for about a month, but I should be graduating soon enough, probably before the end of next month." Shiruku replied to the girl, watching her taking the little thing out of her pouched position. As Seresana said she enjoyed to be held like a baby, Shiruku nodded at the instruction. Watching the small critter get cradled, she could do that at the very least... right? As the raccoon was handed to her she let Mina curl up comfortably, she smiled at the raccoon using movement she could from her fingers and hand to slowly pet and brush the fur on the back of the young beast. Listening Shiruku nodded again, "I can tell that by the headband your wearing. It is nice to meet you Seresana... So why are you all the way in town today? With no umbrella... you'll get sick you know, being out in the rain."

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Word Count: 156
Total Word Count: 560
Bonus EXP Tracker: 550

"Yeah, that's it," Seresana confirmed the manner in which Shiruku was holding Mina. Said raccoon was more than happy to curl up in the crook of the little girl's arm and let Shiruku brush her fur while starting to go to sleep. " Oh I was just out for a little walk, maybe stop by a restaurant for some tsukune. There's a pretty good place not too far off honestly, and it hasn't started raining yet, I'm pretty sure I've still got some time before the downpour hits," Seresana went on with a slightly cautious glance towards the sky. With her assumption more or less confirmed, Seresana lowered her gaze back to one of the few people who were shorter than her.

"What about yourself? Why are you out and about on a fine day like today?" Seresana asked then while lifting one hand up to the other raccoon who was still looking about from the top of her head.

Word Count: 161
Total: 735

"Oh? Would it be okay if... maybe I joined you? I was getting something to chew on before going to train some later anyways, but I might not be able to in this rainy weather. I may just go into the woods to practice anyways." Shiruku stated, giggling a little at Mina as she curled up in between her arm and her chest. She continued to pet the raccoon as they curled up and after as well. The umbrella still sitting stable upon her shoulder, the head rocking ever so slightly in the wind that blew by the two girls. Looking at the taller girl she felt the same feeling she felt when adults looked down at her, she was too small... maybe she was wrong, but it felt like it always sat in the air around Shiruku, and the young Hana girl could never manage to break that feeling.

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Word Counter: 150
Total Word Counter: 710
Bonus EXP Tracker: 700

Seresana's raised hand wiggled it's fingers at Miku who pawed at them playfully while Shiruku replied to her and before Seresana replied, she pulled her hand back to her side. "Sure, the company would be nice," Seresana replied with a grin as she looked down the street and then turned down that way. "It's just a little way over there," she added with a point before beginning to lead Shiruku down the street in that direction. "I could help ya train some if you'd want too, and if it's not raining. Don't want to trap these two out in the rain after all and risk getting them sick," Seresana added with a grin as she started down the street.

She didn't get far though before a flash of light blindingly illuminated the area with luminosity that was almost enough to have Seresana reeling. A few seconds later came the explosive boom of thunder that erupted out and shook the nearby buildings. "Oh dear, we'd better hurry," Seresana said with a bit of worry as her eyes cast a glance towards the sky. She then took off at a bit of a jogging pace, one she was pretty sure that Shiruku could keep up with, until she pulled up to a stop outside a little shop with open windows, a simple half curtain for the door, and a pleasant smell drifting out side.

There weren't many people inside, but the place wasn't completely empty, and a server who quickly noticed the new arrivals said, "feel free to seat yourselves. I'll be with you in a moment." The rain had yet to start, but a couple more flashes of lightning and explosions of thunder erupted out into the world.

Word Count: 287
Total: 1,022

Shiruku had been slightly excited when Seresana had said she would train with the shorter girl, a Genin would help her train! Assuming the rain didn't start up before they left to the training grounds. She simply nodded to the taller girl and walked alongside her, the umbrella over the both of them. As lightning flashed and thunder blasted in the air Shiruku made an odd "Eep" noise. Again nodding when Seresana suggested they hurry, starting up a pace that let her juggle the baby raccoon and the umbrella still staying beside Seresana by grace of the other girl slowing down to let her keep pace.
"Thank you Ma'am." Shiruku said, taking a seat at a table inside near the door. As she did with a single hand that she had to use she set the umbrella head against the ground and closed it up locking the clutch shut, keeping the umbrella on a tight lock. Shifting Mina onto her lap without changing the raccoons positioning, under the table the shade was nice and the rain air was soothing when it wasn't carrying thunder and lighting. As she looked to Seresana taking her own seat she pulled out her apple and took a bite out of it, the rain starting to drizzle lightly outside of the restaurant. Swallowing the bite the had taken from her apple she decided to start up a bit of conversation she spoke again to Seresana, "So Seresana, what do you train in? Ninjutsu? Taijutsu? You look like you use a little bit of Genjutsu or Kenjutsu maybe..." Shiruku wasn't sure how to say that question to the best of her abilities. Her wording while a bit confusing was, however, obvious as to what she meant by it... she hoped it was at least. Asking someone's exact study of jutsu was kind of rude to her or at least thats what she thought.

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Word Count: 319
Total Word Count: 1019
Bonus EXP Tracker: 1000

Seresana followed Shiruku to the table she chose and sat down opposite of her in a fluid motion that presented no trouble to Miku managing to stay atop her head. Seresana leaned back in her seat and cast her gaze initially out towards the streets they'd just come from as the rain started to lightly drizzle. She was watching it when Shiruku spoke up and drew her attention. "Oh, I do a bit of it all I guess, but my best would actually be Ninjutsu and Kenjutsu. I don't want to brag, but I'd like to think I'm pretty good with my bow," Seresana replied with a soft smile. "I could help you with some of the basics easily enough, maybe even one of the simpler genjutsu shouldn't be out of your reach," Seresana added with a grin.

Before Shiruku would get a chance to reply though, the server came up to their table. "Oh hey Seresana, sorry for not saying hi right off the bat, I didn't realize it was you at first. You wanting your usual?"

"Mhmm, the tsukune and green tea please Mrs. Kiniko," Seresana replied happily.

"And what about your friend here?"

"Oh, this is Shiruku, really I just met her today but I still thought I'd show her one of the best places in town. Shiruku, this Mrs. Kiniko. She owns the restaurant with her husband," Seresana introduced the server.

"Well a friend of little Sere here is a friend of ours. As she said, my name's Yunmei Kiniko, but please keep it to Mrs. Kiniko during business hours," Yunmei stated with a courteous nod. After Shiruku properly introduced herself, Yunmei followed up with, "so what would you like sweetie?"

Word Count: 283
Total: 1,305

Shiruku watched from the corner of her eye as Seresana sat down and looked directly at her as she spoke. When she said she was willing to help her learn the basic she was delighted to hear it, "Re-" Shiruku wasn't able to finish her reply yet as the waitress had caught up. Shiruku almost immediately noticed that the lady knew Seresana and who she was; obvious acquaintances. When, the now named, Mrs. Kiniko spoke to her Shiruku looked at the women's feet, introductions were always painful, "H- hello, I'm Shiruku Hana. It's nice to meet you... I'll just have some green tea please Ma'am, I already have an apple to eat."
  Petting Mina in a slow manner after Mrs. Kiniko had left Shiruku was completely silent for a moment devoid of any motion or expression besides the subtle moving of her arm as she stroked the young raccoon. Tilting her head her eyes seemed to zip Seresana up and down again from what she could actually manage to see, their was a sort of scan process going on in her mind, like she was trying to figure out how to say something, or how to calculate some sort of math problem that Seresana had provided to her without any verbal expense. Stopping her crimson red stare on Seresana's face, her head straightened.
  "Do you really mean that?" She asked quietly, the words almost sounded painful to those that could pick up on her discomfort at asking such a thing.

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Word Count: 251
Total Word Count: 1270
Bonus EXP Tracker: 1250

"Sure thing sweetie," Mrs. Kiniko replied to Shiruku before looking back over the order and then at the two sitting girls again. "I'll bring all this over soon as it done," she announced before nodding and then departing back to the kitchen where she was no doubt reading off the items on the order to the chef.

Seresana had nodded back to Mrs. Kiniko and then turned her head towards the window, looking at the rain that started to fall. Shiruku's words however drew Seresana's own brilliant green eyes back to the interior of the building with a bit of surprise in them. "Really mean what? That I'd help you train?" Seresana asked at first with a quizzical expression, but then went ahead with an answer for her own question immediately after. "Of course I did silly, though I'm not too sure what you'd want to learn. Hmm... probably not something that's taught in the academy... Maybe a jutsu to go along with your chakra nature? I know a few water, wind, and earth jutsu that shouldn't be too hard for even a novice. Or we could try genjutsu too, I know a couple of them," Seresana proposed while awaiting the meal to be prepared.

Word Count: 206
Total: 1,511

"Th- Thank you ma'am." Shiruku said just loud enough to hear as the older female walked away. Turning back the Seresana she listened to the girl and when she asked if Shiruku meant training she nodded quietly, not feeling a need for words yet. When it was asked what exactly she felt like learning she panicked for an answer, all Shiruku had ever done for training was shuriken practice, she felt comfort with a blade unlike most things, but knew she would never be able to use a sword or close range weapon without losing a battle of strength. Jutsu might have been nice to learn, but what exactly? Then she registered something curious about the statement that Seresana had brought up; chakra nature.
"S- Sere what's a chakra nature exactly? My teacher hasn't talked about them in class yet. Also I don't l- like deception through genjutsu, I'd rather just know how to dispel it if I can." Shiruku tilted her head slightly in confusion, she had honestly heard about such a thing in her life and she wanted to know exactly what is was and how it could be learned... taught? Obtained? She wasn't sure how one got a chakra nature. They sounded like something important to obtain to someone her age, to obtain it early. Shiruku sat in her seat quietly, expectant of Seresana's answer.

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Word Count: 230
Total Word Count: 1500
Bonus EXp Gain: 1500

Seresana's eyebrows arched at the questions and she had to wonder to herself just how new to the academy this girl was. Though when she thought about it, some time had passed since Seresana had been at the academy and she wasn't quite sure when the class had gone over chakra nature. "Hmm... Well how about we start with chakra natures since you asked about that first. Alright, so you know how everyone has chakra, right? Well, everyone's chakra has an associated elemental affinity or nature to it as well. These natures correspond to the different types of elemental jutsu. So initially there's five different elements one's chakra nature could be, fire, water, lightning, earth, or wind. Even if you don't know what your chakra nature is quite yet, it should be one of these five, or possibly a combination of two or more of them, but that would only be the case if you belonged to certain clans with unique bloodlines and really that topic just adds a bit too much complication to the matter, so we'll skip it for now," Seresana explained.

"Now while you might not know what element your chakra nature is, it's not really too hard to figure it out. However just learning what your chakra nature is and trying to actually learn how to use it are two very different things, and a mountain of training divides them," Seresana went on with a slight strained smile, but then decided to switch gears in an attempt to not overload the younger girl with information. "Now you also mentioned you'd like to learn how to dispel genjutsu? Well, it's not too hard a trick really, and there's a few ways to do it. The hardest part is probably realizing that you're in a genjutsu at all in the first place, especially against someone who might actually know what they're doing. Now one way to remove a genjutsu is to experience a sufficient amount of real world pain. It's one of the reasons it's so nice to have a team when on missions and such, so if one of your teammates or yourself get's caught in a genjutsu, there's always someone to whack you on the head and wake you back up. Another option is using the cancel or kai technique. For that you mostly just need to gather up a decent amount of chakra and then unleash it in a burst to try and disrupt the flow of your enemy's chakra," Seresana tried to explain, struggling a bit with the technique she knew in theory but not in practice. "Am I making any sense?"

Word Count: 439
Total: 1,950

As Seresana talked Shiruku nodded in understanding. She ad been late to join the academy due to her mother's adamant disdain of her daughter joining in an activity that was of such a dangerous nature. After a time, Shiruku had convinced her mother, but it was already late to join, but they allowed it anyways under the condition she be able to catch up. When the first portion of Seresana's explanation had finished Shiruku asked another question in response, "S- Sere, is there a w- way I can determine my c- chakra nature? I'm curious n- now." She felt completely idiotic with her lack of knowledge, but seeing a way to leech of the information from a recently made Genin seemed to be the easiest option to her.

Switching gears Seresana explained the basis of the Kai Technique. Shiruku quickly picked up that Seresana likely had no experience using this sort of technique, it wasn't prevalent in her voice, but it was very prominent in the way she spoke on the subject as a whole. Shiruku mostly gave benefit of the doubt to this, because Seresana was just a genin, she wasn't bound to know every little thing that Shiruku wanted to learn, or how to do what Shiruku needed to learn for her training. She knew little to nothing of this other girl. Petting the small bundle of fur still laying in her lap, Shiruku nodded in response to Seresana asking if she understood what the other girl had been saying, "I- I understand a lot more t- than I did before. Thank you for the explanation."

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Word Count: 271
Total Word Count: 1771
Bonus EXP Gain: 1750

Seresana nodded to the reply question, but waited until after the questions related to genjutsu and breaking out of them were finished before going back and answering it. "Yeah, you can find out what your chakra nature is by using this special paper called chakra paper. All you need to do is channel some chakra into a piece and a reaction will start. Based on the reaction you get, you can determine what the nature of your chakra is since there's a different reaction for each element. For example, if you chakra nature is fire, the paper will turn to ash, wind chakra nature causes the paper to cut in half, earth makes it turn into dirt and crumble, and water turns it soggy... Huh, I can't actually remember what a lightning chakra nature causes the paper to do, but those five reactions are the only ones that can happen so if it's none of those then we'll know for sure that the nature of the chakra channeled into it was lightning," Seresana explained thoroughly.

"So do yo-"

"Here you are sweeties," Mrs Kiniko said suddenly from right next to their table and accidentally cutting Seresana off as she sat the orders on the table.

"Oh, thanks Mrs. Kiniko. It smells delicious as always," Seresana said happily while eyeing her own order of tsukune hungrily.

"Thank you sweetie, hope you enjoy it," the waiter replied before wandering off to tend to some other tables while Seresana took to eating the first piece of her meal.

"So, do you have any other questions?" Seresana asked once she'd finished her first bite.

Word count: 267
Total: 2,217