Bloody Beginnings [Private]

It was the day of his naming. Or at least, that’s what he viewed it as. To others, strangers outside of the clan, today would be listed as abusive, bloody, destructive, and wrong. The ruining of innocence for no purpose but experience and power.

But it wasn’t something so superficial. The ritual today held meaning far beyond anything those of weak wills could understand. Satori’s gaze stared down at his large hands, still too bulky for his long limbs, his body disproportioned due to his growth spurts. Long limbs, large hands, a short torso. A body somewhere between an adult and child.

Despite this, anyone that me the boy knew he was already an adult mentally. Philosophical and a warrior to the core, there was barely a shred of childish ideals within him. This was proven by the fact he did not feel fear or foreboding from the idea of what was to come today, but excitement.

This ritual was that of life, and death. As a child, he had already gone through the adulthood ritual. Forced alone into the wilderness in the heart of winter, with nothing more than the skin on his back and the claws on his fingertips. He’d been forced to survive for six months, alone like that. Building tools using the bones of animals he trapped and killed. Pushed to his limit physically, and mentally.

A slight smile formed on his lips. He fondly remembered those months of peace. Others feared it, or perhaps hated the idea of it, but not a Ryuutei. Being so close to nature, to their instincts, alone and secluded with nothing to do but survive; it was therapeutic. There was a reason their clan’s compound resided at the edge of the border of the village.

Aside from the fact it made them the first target, that they were the first line of defense for the village, aside from the fact the village didn’t want a clan of cannibals living so close to their borders. No, there was a greater and simpler reason: the Ryuutei didn’t want to be close. Too loud, too noisy, and too far from nature.

That therapeutic thought helped relax Satori, as he slowly pushed himself to his feet from his seat on the bedroll. The large home his family lived in granting him his own room, though he’d had to build it himself with his fathers help. Moving toward the door his mind drifted toward the trial to come.

Today was the day that he took the life of another human. Yet he felt nothing. It was the way of life, and of nature, after all. He was more curious about how his adopted sister, Midori, was holding up. Though he doubted she was too shaken up. Even if she wasn’t a Ryuutei by blood, the girl had the mentality of one all the same. He pushed the sliding door open and entered out into the large homes central hallway. He could hear the yawning of his other sisters waking up in their rooms.

The first to rise, as usual, it would seem.

She would be lying if she didn’t say she was nervous.

She had been up for about half an hour, wanting to do a meditation before the day began, knowing that this was the first real step in working towards gaining a foothold in the organization that was within the village. She wasn’t nervous about killing the person… she knew between her skill and strength she would be able to handle whatever came her way. She certainly had thus far, holding her own against the monsters that roamed around this clan, and she only wondered how they didn’t constantly trip over themselves the way that they grew.

She wasn’t nervous for Satori either, her all-but-blood brother. He would be able to deal with them likely more easily than she could, as he was smarter than she was, and that wasn’t a knock on herself or a praise for him, just a fact. They played well into each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and the bond they had formed over the past five years while she had lived with them was stronger than steel, and she knew he would be just fine.

She was nervous because of two reasons. First, everything she had done for the past five years was riding on this moment… she had held onto the name she had desired for all that time, the name given to her by her father and stripped from her when she began to work the ranks of the Clan she now called home. But second, this was the step needed to finding her father… the very first jump into the abyss that would eventually put her onto the trail to find the man who had abandoned her and her dead mother… left her without a home or anything to speak of aside that name she was going to earn back.

As Satori entered the main area, she was leaning against the wall, arms crossed. Comparatively, she was absolutely tiny, standing only four foot six inches, maybe a little more if you included her dark hair tied in a messy ponytail behind her. She was in her normal outfit, although her gold-colored cuffs and boots would be taken from her for the trial, she still felt comfortable in it. She looked up at him, her bang that usually covered her left eye still present like a veil, and they locked eyes for a moment. She normally waited for him to be up before she left the room she shared with the other girls, not having seen the need to make her own room like he had. The only thing she ever did in their was sleep, and she didn’t take up much space like the people in this family did. Besides, she was more than content to simply train while he had been building, but she appreciated the craftsmanship he had shown.

Once he recognized she was already up, she pushed off the wall with her back and began to make her way towards the living area, away from the other members of the family, knowing that he would follow. She was respected through the family because of her strength, speed and genuine tenacity, but she enjoyed Satori’s company because he actually understood her, and what motivated her to do things around the clan.

Satori’s gaze shifted toward the smaller girl as she looked toward him. A simple smile being his morning greeting, before he noted the direction she was headed. It wasn't difficult to understand her body language, and so the young man moved after her. It was clear that something was bothering her, after all. Stepping through the doorway out onto the porch of the large home that overlooked the garden. The rising sun cast a sheen of maroon and orange across the fields of the Ryuutei Compound, the lookouts coming down from their towers to switch out their shifts with other adults heading in that direction.

Crimson eyes took in the sight for a few moments, before flicking down toward the girl. Idly, the lanky boy leaned over the guard rail before focusing forward on the rising sun once more. It wasn't as if she lacked physical combat abilities. Granted, she wasn't the most creative of individuals, pretty straightforward. But then, so was he--outside of combat. It didn't matter for her, the raw physical ability she had easily made up for it. So something else was bothering her, then.

"What's on your mind?" The boy asked simply, not bothering to inquire beyond this as he would continue facing forward. No reason to stare her down while she was trying to sort out her feelings, after all. His fingers and toes flexed as he waited for her to speak first. Stretching them out so his claws extended out before sliding back into place. Of course, he could take guesses at her insecurities or uncertainties, and he'd probably figure it out on his own.

But this wasn't a combat situation. It was a social one, with someone he cared about. There was no reason to dig too far into her feelings. She was a Ryuutei as well, and Ryuutei faced their problems, no matter what they may be, head on. She'd tell him what was wrong, and they would go from there. It was that simple.

Even amongst the Ryuutei, if you got close enough to Midori to get her to say more than three words to you, you knew that she would tell you what was on her mind without reservation. It would be with respect, but her tone could shift in a variety of ways; she could be challenging you, concerned, or nervous and only that one subtle difference would indicate it, and those who weren’t familiar wouldn’t be any the wiser. So when she spoke, it was easy for Satori to hear the apprehension in her voice. Her words were hard to say.

“I am not strong enough.”

This was something that was never spoken before, so it should catch Satori’s attention. What little she did say was planned out, by design. She wasn’t witty like him, couldn’t come up with things to say without time to process information and form her own thoughts. It wasn’t that she lacked the intelligence or anything, but she simply didn’t prioritize it like her much larger brother, and it took longer.

“I have to find him. Cannot do it alone.” That was enough… her pride couldn’t take a whole lot more either. Not once, in the entire time she had been here, had she ever asked for help. She would watch, observe the customs and such that was happening, and follow the examples set out before her, and figure out what wasn’t obvious on her own. She was prideful to a fault, so stubborn in making her own way it had cost her time and energy where help would have been given, yet she refused to accept. It didn’t make her many friends, but it did earn the respect of a considerable few considering she was, by all accounts, an outsider, regardless of how welcome she had been made to feel. So her asking for help in anything, was a big deal.

And then there was the topic itself; her father. She had searched anything made available to her during any time she had to spare to find any clues as to who had attacked their home and lured her father away. Where he might be now, what he might look like based on drawings Kiyoshi had of the man, anything and everything had been brought to bear, but there was a single major problem aside the startling lack of leads; she didn’t have the confidence that she was clever enough to decipher the clues as they came along. Luckily, her brother, was… but would he agree to help her find the man?

After all, the man who bore her middle name owed her some answers.

Satori glanced at her, only once as she explained what was bothering her. Simply tilting his head to the side as she revealed her insecurities. But it made no sense in the current context, which meant she wasn't strong enough for something else. Filtering that it came to only one reason: her father. There was little else that mattered to her beyond that, at least enough that it would cause this level of stress for her.

This was clarified the next moment as she specified finding him, and Satori idly shifted his gaze toward the sun once more. It made sense that she didn't feel strong enough by that goal, and many people may say something about how young she was. How she had plenty of time to grow stronger, that there were many options and her talent was going to push her far. But--by the other hand--Satori knew that wasn't enough. Not for her, or for him.

How many times had his creativity, and determination been praised? How often had he been called 'clever'? But it was never enough, and when he voiced such many told him he had 'plenty of time'. But that wasn't good enough. He could die tomorrow. That was fine, it was a risk to existing, and he accepted that without hesitation. But what he didn't wish to do was die pathetically, without having achieved anything. He had so much to do. Kage was only the first step.

Slowly releasing a breath, Satori's gaze slid to the side back down to her. A single smile formed on his lips once more.

"I'll do everything I can to help, after all, he's a citizen of Kirigakure. As the future Mizukage I can't just go around ignoring my citizens going missing now, can I?" His tone was jovial, but it was clear his affirmation was serious as he idly trailed the tips of his claws along the hardwood rail.

"But for now, focus on what's in front of us. We'll find him. I'll help you, just like I always have. But one step at a time," straightening slowly he would stretch, arms extending above his head before his hand idly fell to lightly pat the girl atop the head.

"Let's head back in, I hear Kiyoshi and my mothers getting dinner ready and we need to do our part," smiling softly, he would then motion for her to go ahead first. Assuming she had nothing further to ask about. There was no point dwelling on her insecurities, she'd asked for his help and he had sincerely accepted to give it to her. That was all it came down to, in the end.

Now they had a ritual that had to be done. But before that; breakfast.

She nodded only once when he affirmed his conviction to what she wanted to discuss. Perhaps the others had heard, but that hadn’t been the point to be completely secretive… she had simply wanted to ask him without anyone else interfering or butting in their opinion. Some might have even teased her for letting something like that get to her so heavily, but for Midori, this was almost akin to one of the reasons she was breathing still, a purpose in life. She would find her father, and if he was in trouble or hurt, she’d help him. If he was just out having a life, she’d beat him senseless. If he was dead, she’d give him a proper burial. But regardless, she would have closure, and that was enough to make her stand back up every time someone knocked her down.

He was right though, she couldn’t let her goal distract her from the foe she would be meeting today… any distractions could result in swift death, and that meant her goal was for naught anyway. She nodded again, took in a deep breath and slowly and quietly released it, her worries and fears gone entirely with it. She grumbled as he patted the top of her head, her hand lashing out instinctively to swat his away. Despite his size, they were the same age, although she couldn’t recall the exact day of her birth, so it was a mystery as to who was actually older, and a point of debate between the two that was more comical and an excuse to spar than anything.

Something else felt off too, like something within her was itching for this day and wanted to fully show itself. She had no idea what, and tried not to let it bother her, but this anxiety she felt was so odd she couldn’t really describe it as anything else. It was something she didn’t understand and in the end, probably not a big enough deal to matter. She had to deal with what was right in front of her, as Satori had said, and so she led the way towards the kitchen to help however she could with food preparation. She had caught a few rabbits last night, so perhaps that was on the menu this morning. They had always been fun to chase, as trapping them didn’t train her skills at all.

Satori smiled softly as she accepted the information simply enough. Turning and heading toward the kitchen along with the girl as his gaze shifted toward the table that was being set. Two small brunette girls were dashing about, wild brown curls flapping in the air as their matching pink kimono rippled around them, Serena and Saika, the twins and daughters of Hanako, Kiyoshi's fourth wife and a political marriage with a wealthy merchant family.

The light tap of claws on the tatami mats filling the air along with the sound of dishes and pots clicking together. The source being a tall blonde girl, Hiyori, daughter of Chuya, Kiyoshi's second wife and technically his first love. The tall blonde was humming happily, using a bone knife to carefully slice through the meat of several rabbits, notably the ones that Midori had captured for them.

While Serena and Saika laid out the dishes for the table and finished up cleaning and Hiyori helped prep the meals, behind the counter was Kiyoshi. The bulk of the large man blocking out a section of the kitchen as he chopped through bone and peels vegetables, handling the work that required more power or finesse than young Hiyori could manage. Raika, the red-headed young woman sat exhausted in a chair staring at the ceiling and sipping a small cup of tea.

Meanwhile, Chuya was carefully folding clothing in the other room, finishing up some other chores while everyone gathered. After several moments, Hanako's bouncing brunette curls entered the room slowly. Each step careful and slow, supporting a stunning young woman with pale skin, long black hair, large eyes and a face like a doll. Nearly unearthly beauty, but she was lithe and clearly weak as she used a slim cane and Hanako to properly move. Slowly lowering herself into the cushion with a sigh, before a tired smile was offered to Raika.

The two women understood one another's fatigue well. One had terrible health, and the other was a workaholic. The younger wives didn't seem to mind making up for the difference, however, as Hanako quickly went to Kiyoshi's side to begin spicing and cooking alongside the man while Chuya entered at the same time Satori and Matori did. The silver-haired woman offered a smile to them.

"Do you two mind going out to the larder to fetch some more rice and pickled eggs? Some root vegetables and salted pork would be nice as well. We're running a bit low and it'd be nice to have leftovers for later," as the request came, Satori simply inclined his head with a smile.

"Of course mother Chuya," he responded easily, before moving toward the door out of the chaos that the large family caused in the mornings.

She didn’t have the heightened senses that the others in her family possessed, but she could smell the rabbit plain as day and it brought an ever so gentle smile to her face. She wasn’t able to pull her own weight nearly as much as they were in a lot of cases, so when she could help her adoptive family, she would do so without hesitation. It was an odd sense of fufillment to be useful to them, which was difficult in a household this large. Most of the time, all the chores were completed before she had a chance to help, and while this was excellent for her ability to continue to train, this also made it really annoying when she wanted to help because everything would normally be done.

She weaved into the dance of getting things ready seamlessly, sliding underneath arms and weaving around people setting the table and grabbing another set of cups, quickly putting them into place and getting things ready. Chuya, one of the mothers, caught her and Satori’s attention as well, and made a special request, and while Satori replied verbally, Midori simply nodded and began making her way through the tangle of people again and towards the storage room where the food was held. A family this large, and with as big of appetites as they had, required a large amount of food, and as such, a large area of the house had been dedicated to the storage of said things.

She entered first, knowing Satori would be on her heels, and grabbed an entire pig, hoisting it on her shoulder. If Chuya wanted enough to have leftovers, this much was a minimum, but that was pretty normal; in fact, she sometimes would give them a run for their money on appetite when she trained really hard. She turned with the pig on her shoulder and reached for a large basket that he was done filling up, putting it on the other shoulder. If they didn’t get everything, Satori would leave the door open for the second trip and she would return for whatever was left, they didn’t need to speak to communicate these types of simple things.

Midori’s lack of wanting to speak had been a long-standing issue, and at first when she arrived, it caused some tension. Only Satori was ever able to crack her shell, telling her what her body language was telling him about her, and assuring her that she would be alright. That trust had only grown stronger over time, and the young woman saw him as a true brother, someone she would die to protect if need be.

Bringing the food into the kitchen and placing them in the prepared space on the island, she quickly unloaded everything and checked to see if Satori had managed everything else or she needed to make a second trip.

Satori's gaze slid toward the doorway as Midori exited, following suit easily enough while she made her way toward the larder outside. The primary building of the family home was for sleeping quarters, living areas, and cooking. There were then two other buildings on the premise. One was a medical building with a large central grounds for training and meditation. The other was the larder, which was half-underground and one of the few buildings that ran off natural gas-powered electricity from the center of the clan compound for the walk-in freezer and cooler. A resource that was used sparingly by the clan, and the natural larder for salted and jarred foods.

As she went for the pig, Satori simply tossed in two extra chickens into the basket along with the carrots and potatoes that had been requested. If she wanted extra leftovers, this would be a requirement with the twins. He then let Midori take the pig and basket, and he himself grabbed a crate that he loaded up with jars. As his package was more breakable, he let Midori take the bulkier items and followed after her. Closing the door with his foot before he carried along behind her toward the primary building once more.

Satori released a slow breath as they entered, setting the items down alongside Midori as Chuya spotted the chickens and offered a silent smile of thanks. Clearly she had forgotten to request them and simply nodded once before motioning them both toward the bathrooms.

"Go clean up before breakfast, we'll finish the cooking, take the girls with you," Satori nodded once and turned. Without hesitation easily grabbing both Saika and Serena around the waist as they dashed by--to their squeals of surprise and joy. Before heading toward the doorway that led toward the communal baths. Knowing Midori would follow he simply called for Hiyori in-passing.

"Hiyori, c'mon, let's clean ourselves up before the meal," he stated simply, causing the girl to blink and glance up, before nodding once with a smile. Finishing up her cutting as Kiyoshi shooed her off, causing her to wipe her hands and patter after them happily. Without reservation pouncing onto Midori and wrapping her arms around her "big sisters" shoulders.

"Dori-Oneechan, take a bath with me!" She whined with a big smile, flashing wild fangs as Satori glanced back at her, giving her a withering gaze that made her shrink a bit and pout.

"We'll all bathe quickly, no goofing off, Hiyori. The food will be waiting," he stated sternly, and to the girl's credit, she only whined once before nodding and replying. "Alright, Saa-Oniisama," she mumbled, combining her brother's nickname, which was unprofessional, with the respectful title. The response was a sigh. Hiyori was incredibly observant and intelligent. But a complete airhead, and worse, she had practically no self control.

Leading the group toward the bath as the twins clung to his arm humming 'Bathtime' over and over, he opened the door to the large bathing area. The room was more akin to a public bath than anything, as bathing together was commonplace within the clan. Such things as nudity weren't anything important to its members, as was obvious while the twins began to strip haphazardly once set down to go sprinting toward the steaming water. Satori, sighing, shook his head.

It looked like there was no need, as she could hear the door shut behind her as the pair exited the larder and moved back towards the main house, indicating a second trip wouldn’t be needed. She noted too the chickens, and while in hindsight it seemed obvious, she knew she would have missed that detail. Satori was always really good about predicting what needed to happen before it actually occurred, and picking up the slack when someone missed a detail. It was one of the reasons she held his intelligence in such high regard; sure she was just as strong and fast, but his wits were something out of this world. She had a lot of ground to make up in order to stay competitive.

And Midori, while quiet, was very competitive with the family.

They were instructed to take a quick bath before the meal, and Midori quietly nodded and made to follow Satori towards the baths. Hiyori, always the affectionate one, was draped on her shoulders like a massive cape in the matter of seconds, something Midori was more than used to at this point, requesting they take a bath together. Midori didn’t usually endulge this; she had better things to do most of the time than to have her over affectionate ‘little’ sister help her scrub down and lounge in the bath, but considering the day, she decided to make her a deal, something to cheer her up after being told off by Satori.

“After the Trial. I may need it.” Her tone was ever so slightly lighter than her normal, so that should get the attention of the large woman and give her a spark of hope that this was something she could look forward to. Hiyori always really enjoyed spending the quality time with Midori, and the green haired girl would never admit it, but she enjoyed the little bit of bonding time with her sister as well. The trade off, of course, was that when the twins would get annoying she would help her when she was in a bad mood… usually in their shared room. Everyone needed a little time to themselves from time to time.

Midori removed her clothing in one swift motion, knowing where the latches were and having loosened her belt in the hall. Then came off the cuffs and the boots, and lastly, the earrings. One of the few things that was precious to her, they belonged to her mother, and she had a few different sets and almost always could be seen wearing some. Setting the earrings gently on top of her neatly folded clothes she stepped into the water and began scrubbing down diligently and efficiently, thinking nothing of it when Hiyori backed up towards her and scrubbing her back as well, aware how hard it was for anyone to reach that sweet spot on the back. She was sure Satori was trying to keep the twins in line, so Midori would handle Hiyori for now, and make sure she stayed on task.

The baths didn’t take long, and Midori was the first one out of the bathroom with Hiyori in tow, but it looked like the twins had engaged in some sort of water fight with Satori, and she knew that wasn’t going to work well for them. Fully cleaned and dressed, she waited at the edge of the threshold back into the dining room, stalling so Satori could wrangle them and get the twins in line and to the table without it appearing that anyone was waiting on anyone else.

The damn twins thought it was a good idea to water fight in the bath, no big surprise. The children had a habit of purposely causing a ruckus at any chance they could, experts at pressing their luck. Unfortunately for them Satori was one of the stricter members of the family. This seemed to have slipped their minds, and as some of the water splashed forward to smack into Satori's--back crimson eyes slowly rounded on the pair. They froze like deer in headlights.

The sounds of squeals filled the air briefly, and a few moments later Satori exited the bath with the twins in tow. Both rubbing water out of their eyes from being firmly dunked beneath the surface and held there for several moments. Glancing at those that had gathered around the long table, Satori took his normal seat as the eldest child on Kiyoshi's left side. Raika his first wife sat at his right, and each wife then took their spot going down the numbers. The children mirrored this, Midori next to Satori, then Hiyori, and the twins last.

As one, the family bowed their heads. Kiyoshi's words were firm and relaxed.

"We thank the beings, the chakra, the life that produced this meal. We shall use its energy well, this we swear," the last two words were repeated softly by each member of the family. This was the only ritual of the Ryuutei. There were no prayers for spirits, no senseless babble. But always, you thanked what you ate, you paid your respects to what you killed, and you put every bit of them to use.

After the words "we swear" echoed out from the family, the meal began. Claws, knives and forks dug into flesh, vegetables, fruit and rice with wild abandon. Fish were eaten practically whole, and the crunch of small bones filled the air as the Ryuutei's superhuman jaws and stomachs went to work. Their digestion was their truest power. No matter what they ate, if it was biological, their stomachs could handle it. Burning through normal bones, organs, and more. Mealtimes were silent, and even those that were adopted into the clan in the form of Kiyoshi's wives were silent as the meal progressed. Otherwise, it was disrespectful to the creatures and plants that had been killed.

Midori still remembered when she was asked to sit next to Satori, treated like a true member of the family. She felt undeserving, not being someone who should hold such a position, but apparently the green haired girl had impressed Kiyoshi at some point in the first six months after arriving with the family she had been there because he had been the one to insist that she was supposed to be in that spot at the table. She had been honored, and time and time again she had proven herself to earn that place at the table where she felt like it was more than simply something given, but something earned. She bowed her head perfectly in sequence, muttered the words of thanks quietly, and began to eat.

She mainly focused on things where she wouldn’t produce waste. She couldn’t digest bones and such as they could, and she couldn’t chew through them either, so a lot of the breads, rabbit meat and anything she could eat whole wound up on her plate. To be fair though, to ensure that she didn’t get left behind as she couldn’t eat as quickly, she plucked what she wanted very quickly to ensure she would be able to have adequate amount of food she liked, because if she lagged at all it could very well be gone entirely.

Luckily, as it was breakfast, her hunger wasn’t as strong as theirs quite yet. It probably would be later, but she already had a ton of pent up energy from sleeping all night, so replenishing her body wasn’t too horribly difficult aside the fact that she was going through a growth spurt. That thought almost made her crack a smile, but she restrained it. Compared to the monsters of this clan, she was still an infant in size, and she highly doubted she would every overtake them… but she couldn’t deny that she too was growing and needed the nutrition if she was to have a fighting chance.

It didn’t take long to finish the food set out before them, everyone content and happy. Automatically, Midori began to pile plates together and gather what was left onto the platters into neat piles for saving. She hadn’t been excused yet, so she was still seated and just doing what she could from there, but anything was better than nothing, for certain. Once she had done as much as she could, she waited for the others to finish up.

As Midori began to gather up the dishes, Satori and the others rounded up leftovers and the remaining waste. It would be added o the compost pile outside and eventually added to the garden, with a section being given to the clan as a whole. That was the rule, and how the clan worked together while retaining individual family groups decorating the compounds land. Kiyoshi clapped once, signaling the meal at an end before hauling himself up slowly and stretching before looking toward Midori and Satori and clearing his throat once.

"Pups, come," he stated simply before moving toward the doorway. Exiting the building without a word, causing Satori to blink once before rising and following. Their mothers and sisters quickly went to work cleaning up as Satori exited the building with Midori, heading toward the spot where the man was now resting. It was at the center of the family buildings where the well and irrigation entrance were located. As they came to stand before him, Kiyoshi glanced between them.

"You've both already been told about the ritual, and they'll reiterate beforehand so I won't waste my time. But there's one thing I want to make clear: I'm proud of you. Both of you," he stated firmly, looking between Satori and Midori both. They were considered adults, both had managed their initial trials within the forestry. Six months with nothing but their wits, no tools, weapons, or even clothing. Forced to survive without assistance.

That was the first ritual, and how one obtained the mark of the clan. The tattoo resided at the center of Satori's back, between his shoulder blades. Now, however, was their final step into adulthood. Into becoming one of the named, and their path to becoming members of the council, the seated. Releasing a slow breath, Kiyoshi smiled down at them and looked into Satori's eyes.

"My son, you were the runt of the litter. You are small, and you were weak. Many of us, including myself, didn't expect you to clear the right of passage into six years. But you did. You have continued to prove us wrong ever since, and proven that your size means nothing. As strong-willed and savage as I, with the intellect and speed of your mother. Your will is perhaps the strongest of all of us. I believe you will claim my title one day, and achieve your dream," he murmured firmly as he stared into his son's eyes.

Satori stared into his father's eyes, and after a moment simply smiled. "One human life is nothing more than a stepping stone, father. I have a world to change," he stated firmly, causing Kiyoshi's smile to only grow. Then, slowly he turned and face Midori. He fell to his knee once more as his hand placed on her shoulder.

"Little one, you did not have to do this. You did not have to give up the name your mother and father granted you. Nor did you need to suffer our trials and our teachings. All of us did more than question you, I'm sure you know that. We thought little of you, and some even sneered at the idea. But you have risen beyond all expectations. You are strong, and you will reclaim your name. Coming out far stronger than you ever would have been as a mere guest to our clan. I'm proud to call you my daughter." A smile formed on his lips before he straightened. Clapping his hands together once.

"Now, off you go. Head to the central clan compound. The elder is waiting for you to begin the preparations."

Midori heard the clap and was about to nod her head towards Kiyoshi and begin helping clean up when she noticed an odd feeling when she held his gaze for a moment. When she was summoned, she weaved out from under Hiyori who was grabbing a platter and quickly followed silently towards them and falling into step beside Satori. Perhaps he wanted to say something before they went off to begin their trial, but for some reason, a knot in her stomach appeared, as though something was warning her that she would need to emotionally brace herself.

Midori was not an overly emotional person; if anything, she held her emotions in check and suppressed them as much as she could. It wasn’t that she needed to in order to be polite to the host family, but there was something in the back of her mind, some sort of instinctive warning that said getting too emotionally wound up could wind up being very bad. So she kept them in the corner of her mind and processed them later, usually through training or meditation, and felt like she was doing better that way, but something about this moment made her wary.

She listened closely, first to Satori. For one reason or another, she reflected to the trial in the woods, and how much actual fun she had with that particular trial. Some didn’t make it through, which she understood, but there was something very freeing about simply being out in nature, chasing rabbits and the like, and simply focusing on who she was and how she wanted to be. She had the symbol of their clan, proof of that she had completed that trial and was considered an adult, on her upper back, near the base of her spine.

When Kiyoshi, of all people, went to a knee to speak, she choked up for a moment before stuffing that emotion allowed itself to show on her face. Her face hardened, and she steeled herself as she gave him one very strong nod, nice and slow, all the while her eyes locked with his and showing him how much respect she had for the man. To be called his daughter like this was very tough on her soul. They were told to go and meet with the elder to begin the final preparations for the trial, and she nodded again, rolling her shoulders and looking towards Satori, ready and willing.

Satori smiled as the girl nearly choked up, simply inclining his head to their father as Kiyoshi pet them both on the head, before motioning them on their way. Satori led, walking at a steady pace through the cobblestone pathways that decorated the clan compound. Glancing at the sun that was now properly in the sky. Many Ryuutei were now out and about, inspecting their homes for any repairs needed, their gardens for pests or damage, preparing to go hunting or go on missions and so forth. Satori offered waves and calls of greeting as they passed, which were returned to both he and Midori with smiles.

As they neared the compound center where the large hall resided, an old woman stood at the door with a slight smile. She was short, not even breaking five foot six and holding a long walking cane. But her eyes were bright yellow, holding the same vertical pupils as all Ryuutei. Despite her kind smile, they were the eyes of an experienced killer. The old woman was the elder of the clan, the previous head of the clan and Kiyoshi's grandmother. In turn, Satori and Midori's great-grandmother. The woman's long white hair was held in a braid as she watched the two young ones approach.

"Satori-kun, Midori-chan, I assume you're both prepared?" She inquired simply, and when Satori nodded, she grunted before turning and entering the building. Motioning for them to follow suit.

Inside the building it was large and empty, having been cleared out for the ritual. The sound of Satori's claws clicking against the stone floor echoed within the walls, a single large ring resided at the center of the building. Here there were two chains connected to the stone floor, each with a cuff clearly designed to bind the ankle. Each had just enough range to get to the edge of the circle from the center and nothing more.

Satori's gaze flicked from it back toward the old woman as she led them past it and toward the door that led further into the building itself. This was where the ritual was held, but it would not be used for a bit longer.

Kiyoshi was the only person she ever let pat her head without repercussions. Anyone else usually got punched, swatted or tackled… sometimes with full force because that was how she normally solved problems within the Ryuutei. She wasn’t witty and could navigate that to where people would leave her alone on words… she would simply give them a simple equation. If they patted her head, she would make sure they felt her wrath in some way, shape, or form, and she would not let anyone get away with it that didn’t have that right. She even went after Satori when he did it, but he knew better and just did it to tick her off. It always worked.

Satori handled most of the interactions with other people, more used to the social aspect of the Ryuutei in general and Midori not much for words and such. She always would help others when she saw something that they needed help with, of course, as it was a part of her nature, and she was generally well liked, but it was always without a lot of words. Actions spoke louder for her, and she proved that day in and day out. As the building neared, her face grew stern and focused, preparing herself for each step for the ritual. It was ALL to be taken seriously, not just the actual combat, but all the different steps that led up to it, and she wanted to give it her undivided attention.

The host of the ceremony, the village elder, who she had heard rumors about being one of the fiercest warriors ever to grace the Ryuutei with her presence. Midori didn’t really dive too much into these, as she guessed that they were likely underplaying the woman, but she didn’t dismiss them either. Midori gave a curt nod as she asked if they were ready, and fell into step behind her, and she allowed her gaze to trail to the arena, noticing a few small things.

It amused Midori that it was likely that Satori was considering everything about the place; the layout, distance of the chains, all sort of things that would have made the green haired girl’s head spin. For Midori, she only saw one thing; once it began, her prey wouldn’t be able to escape. Partly, she was a little sorrowful for that, considering that meant that she wouldn’t get the thrill of the chase, but she understood the reasoning. Some of these bandits would flee if they weren’t chained down, and this forced them into a corner to fight, that way, giving them a proper battle and trial. Even a coward would fight for survival when given no other choice.

Satori followed along after the older woman patiently, and as they pushed into the secondary chamber the scents of varying herbs washed over them. Incense and medicinal plants roasting filled the air with their scent and taste, overwhelming Satori’s sensitive nose for a moment before he squinted at the layout within.

The room wasn’t nearly as large as the grand hall, instead it was on the smaller side with several cots. Each one held several bowls nearby, filled with brightly colored liquids, clearly natural paints of some sort. There was also a clear scalpel, and Satori didn’t even blink at this as his gaze turned toward the older woman.

“Satori, as the eldest you will go first,” she stated simply, glancing toward Midori with a knowing, gentle smile before she would focus on Satori. The tall boy nodded once and stepped forward, beginning to remove his shirt as the elder carefully lowered herself into a chair and watched. Waiting patiently until the boy stood before her nude, she nodded, and he stepped forward to settle into the cot.

From here, she began. Carefully beginning to use the different colored paint to inscribe runes into his skin, each one an ancient symbol that slowly passed along his body. The process was painstaking, each stroke of the paint precise. Until she straightened, and Satori slowly rose as well. His body was now covered in the runes, that painted a picture more than anything. Starting from his ankles, the runes were of a small feline being born.

As it traveled, wrapping up his legs slowly, it grew and blossomed. From kitten to housecat, where it entered a great forest. It then exited it, now a great cougar that continued to wrap around his torso and chest, until it began to slowly morph into that of a great lion. The paintings ended with its face covering Satori’s own. But it was missing its fangs, the painting leaving them blank over the brows, nose, and lips. The locations where the piercings would go, marking him as a named.

She then drew the scalpel, and Satori held carefully still as she began to nick the boys skin in what appeared to be a variety of random locations. Once she was done, she cleaned the blade carefully and nodded once. None of the wounds were severe, and the bleeding stopped quickly.

“My opponent is injured, then?” Satori asked simply, glancing down at the wounds as she nodded once in silent reply. Satori left it at that, taking a step back and letting Midori now have her turn.

The scents of the next room were powerful, but as her senses weren’t quite as high, she was less than worried about it, but knew it was likely messing with Satori. The smaller room wasn’t anything crazy, and there wasn’t a bunch of people, so Midori was fine with standing respectfully and waiting.

Now, if this was any other time, she would have been more than inclined to bring up the argument that she thought she was older, even though she wasn’t exactly positive of her birthday. She knew it was the first month of the year, and it was close to Satori’s, so they generally just lumped them together for anything that their age affected. On that same note though, she was so positive and firm about that wording that she wondered if perhaps she knew her birthday… perhaps a question for later, when she had reclaimed her name. For now, she simply watched what was happening, and waited her turn.

The artistry was quite good, and she was surprised at how capable someone her age still remained even when age had obviously staked its claim on her body for some time. Midori did not have a lot of interaction with the elder, as she was someone that was to be revered in the green haired girl’s eyes, not someone who you could walk up to and have a casual conversation with. Once she had her name, she might be brave enough to tap into the vast knowledge the woman contained within her, but for now she would bide her time and wait.

Once Satori was finished, she stepped in to where he had previously been standing, although she noticed that her own artwork was a little more cramped; she had a far smaller body that the behemoth brother of hers, so things had to be compressed in places, but still it looked beautiful. She nodded her head silently in reverence for the elder when the art was firmly placed on her skin, but noticed that the scalpel was not grabbed this time. Her opponent was at full health.

Once all the preparations were done, she moved back next to Satori, waiting for the next step, and decided to allow herself a single sentence to him that would express to her the level of excitement she felt. “Bet I finish mine faster than you finish yours.” It wasn’t so much that she was trying to rile him up, but more setting a personal goal for herself to push to be faster, stronger and give it her all. Because she did this to herself, it always pushed her to be better than she thought she could be, letting her competitive nature allow her to break through what she thought were her limits.

Satori glanced down at the girl as she offered him a bit of a challenge. A grin formed on his lips. It was likely--Satori was not one to just charge in swinging. He fought with strategy, careful and potent. Every move carefully calculated and measured to kill or provide some level of advantage on his opponent.

It was a loaded bet, so instead of outright agreeing, Satori offered an alternative.

“I bet I finish with less injuries,” he replied with a low rumbling chuckle stemming from his chest. As he murmured this, the elder cleared her throat for their attention. Satori immediately focused his attention back on her in response as a slight smile formed on her lips.

“Confidence and competition are both good things, but do not lose sight of your goal. This will not be an easy test, for either of you.” With this her hand grasped the handle of her cane and pushed herself up to her feet. The clack of the cane sent out a pulse of chakra, and suddenly a low horn blew out from the top of the building.

The sound of many feet entering the hall began, and the elder turned to them.

“Wait here, once the bell rings you will both enter. Satori-kun is first, and we will all bear witness to the ritual. Whether Satori-kun dies or lives, you are next, Midori-chan,” the elder stated this firmly before smiling.

“Good luck to both of you,” she murmured. Before turning and exiting the door into the main hall. Satori released a slow breath, preparing himself as he glanced at Midori with a slight smile. Banter aside, it was time.

The bell rang--Satori pushed the door open and entered.

Midori noticed his grin, and knew the cogs in his mind were turning; there was little in the way of an actual wager for this little bet of theirs, as nothing was at risk aside bragging rights, but of course, he shifted it to where it was more in his favor, and she rolled her eyes. “No deal.” It was, after all, one of the more defining parts of her strategy in combat; simply be tougher than the person she was fighting, and when he was good and worn out, really sink her teeth into them. He knew that, naturally, and was jabbing at her, to which she gave him one of her rare smiles before turning to the elder as she cleared her throat.

She claimed the test would not be easy, and to be fair, Midori knew that. The Trial combatants were specifically chosen to challenge those they were being put up against, so if you were naturally a bit stronger in one way, they would find someone to match as best they could. Naturally, it was not always so convenient that they would get a perfect match every time, but they certainly didn’t throw some weak runt in there and call it a Trial.

The green haired girl listened to the horn blow, the instructions, and gave her a respectful nod of understanding. She locked eyes with Satori; there was no wish of good luck or bit of encouragement, they both knew what was to be done. As they entered, she noticed where Kiyoshi and the family sat, and then moved to the area outside the ring where she was to wait her turn and watch Satori fight.

There was a double edged sword to going second. Sure, it was great because she would get an idea of the enemy, as they were likely a pair that were teammates or from the same group… she could use that information to get the advantage. On the other hand, her opponent would be doing much of the same, plus if they were closely bonded pair, the second enemy would attack her twice as hard to avenge their friend. She would just have to wait and see.

Satori entered first. Casually stepping over the foot-tall barrier that made up the edge of the arena, and without hesitation reached down to grasp the cuff. Clicking it around his right ankle before straightening, as if on cue, the doors to the building burst open as a growling woman was half-drug into the room by two Ryuutei. Satori's gaze flicked over her briefly, nearly as tall as Kiyoshi, and just as broad. Rippling muscle that wasn't just for show, it was well defined and evenly built. The woman may have been a bandit but she was clearly not some untrained grunt.

The two Ryuutei strong-armed her toward the Arena, where he glowered at Satori, whom remained impartial, his body language neutral while the cuff was forced onto the woman's ankle. The elder spoke calmly.

"As the ancient laws dictate, no weapons or armor are allowed. Only one's body and chakra can be utilized. This woman is Hida Fujita, a D-Rank Missing shinobi, or glorified bandit, however, you wish to see it. Abandoned the village after graduating as a Genin. Her skills as a ninja are sub-par, but compared to an average person, she's quite the monster," the woman glowered at the elder before his gaze snapped back to Satori whom had finally begun to move. Idly pacing the edge of the ring, testing the length of the chain, give, and durability carefully.

"She has been offered a full pardon should she survive this trial, as is the agreement. Any whom oppose this as a worthy trial, speak now or forever hold thy tongue," with these words, there came a dead silence. The elder glanced around, and everyone seemed in agreement that for a nine-year-old Ryuutei, this was a fair trial for named status. The elder nodded once and turned, walking toward the edge of the circle.

The moment she exited it, she stated simply; "Begin."

In that moment, Hida flashed forward at surprising speed for her bulk. Dashing toward Satori like a tank as her fist drew back, aiming to crack into the center of Satori's chest. The lithe boy watched, quietly biding his time, and at the last moment his form blurred. Flowing to the side like water as his pupils dilated, the punch smashing through the air like a missile. A few grunts of approval came from the crowd, and Satori continued his movements.

Flowing like water, the boy dodged again, and again. His footing moving like that of a dancer instead of a fighter. His body contorting slightly with each step as chakra pulsed through his ligaments and form, amplifying his natural agility and mobility tremendously while the man repeatedly threw his attacks. Satori appeared to be on the defensive, causing many of the Ryuutei to frown; but not Kiyoshi or Raika. Calm as ever, because they had trained their son, and knew how he fought.

It was ironic really, that Satori was facing an opponent so similar to Midori. Raw power, speed, and endurance were truly virtues that could be a problem. But only if one didn't know how to use techniques properly--and how to time their actions. It was odd. This was the first time he had been in true life or death battle, but he felt calm. As if this was as natural as breathing to him. The woman before him was nothing more than a stepping stone, and that thought made his eyes harden.

He was finishing up his estimations, sizing up his opponents and analyzing her, now it was time to go on the counteroffensive.

Midori quietly crossed her arms and watched the fight as Satori danced around the woman, smirking slightly as she recalled how he liked to do the same thing with her. Granted, she was a lot smaller, and probably a little more combat capable in some ways; her form was sloppy. Good enough to handle normal opponents sure, but anyone with a decent level of training and skill would be able to do what Satori was doing now if they were so inclined. But Midori knew it was more than just simple dodging; he was getting used to the style of combat he used and mentally picking it apart, piece by piece. It was one of the reasons it was so frustrating to fight him; naturally, she won sometimes, catching him off guard or getting him into a position where he couldn’t escape… but now she was rooting for him against this man.

Her arms clenched as she watched him flit from one place to another, dodging him cleanly and watching the intensity of the fight. She wanted to get in there, help her brother beat this man to a paste, but she would have to wait; her turn would come soon enough. For now she would simply watch and wait for Satori to make his move. It might be a little while until he did, but she was as certain as the smirk on her normally emotionless face that when it did happen, she didn’t want to miss it.

Each punch was sloppy, but powerful. In terms of raw physical strength, she was probably stronger than Midori. But she lacked her finesse and coordination, and that made it pointless raw power being thrown around. Still, it meant Satori also couldn't lower his guard. Each blow thrown caused his body to shift, and finally, he had the woman where he wanted her. Her foot stepped forward toward Satori, and as the boy backpedaled he suddenly jerked to the side. Her body tried to follow him, and then her eyes widened as she realized her mistake.

They had been circling one another in the arena, and Satori had kept her just focused enough to not notice the chain. The chain that was now tied up around where it was molded into the concrete, and his own chain. Her ankle was trapped, feet going one way, and her body going the other. She quickly jerked, trying to recover her balance--and then stumbled backward as Satori yanked the chain roughly with his own leg. The snap of the chain around her leg caused her to curse and begin falling toward the direct she'd pushed herself to recover.

Her face was wide open--her took the shot. His knee smashed into her nose and forehead, the impact sounding out in a resounding crack as her vision went black briefly. Falling to the side with a hard thud. But to her credit, she didn't drop seamlessly. Her fist snaked out as she fell, clipping his shoulder and causing the boy to leap backward with narrowed eyes. That knee had been infused with a chakra burst. It would have knocked most people out, clean. Instead, she cursed as blood dripped from her nose, and she began to haul herself back up.

Satori shifted his footing, dashing to the side and leaping. The chain followed, snapping upward and suddenly wrapping around her throat as she rose. Satori landing on her opposite side, and spinning. Yanking the chain roughly, forcing it to suddenly bite into her throat as she grunted in pain. Hands snapping up to grab the chain. Halting the tug of his entire body with only her arms.

She really was stronger than Midori. Physically tougher too. It was impressive endurance and power, really--and for a brief moment, it looked as though Satori may be in trouble. She had a firm grasp of the chain, and began to pull as she gave a bloody grin. Satori's eyes narrowed, panic flashing across his face causing her own grin to increase even more. She was going to get a damn good hit on the little runt now.

Midori was impressed with how she was able to take that hit… even if she had seen it coming. Not paying attention to your surroundings had been Midori’s first loss against Satori, and it was a lesson she would never forget. He was a calculating, scheming big bastard who would find anything and everything to use to his advantage, and she had to admit that it was pretty damn effective. How many times had he come up with a new way to win just to frustrate the living hell out of her; she would change tactics from time to time, add a new trick to her arsenal, but it was all physical combat. It made her strong in the way that she was able to pick up Taijutsu so well, focus on it, and make it powerful, but weak when it came to diversity.

Oh well… it was kind of nice to see it aimed at someone else for a change though.

This woman was strong though, but Midori’s face went unchanged, and if anything, she began to watch more closely. She had never seen Satori panic… not even once. Why did he want his opponent to believe that though? So she would show an opening? Whatever the case, the green haired girl had unconsciously shuffled forward at some point, the toes of her feet touching the edge of the ring, as close as she could get. The sight of the woman’s blood made her clench again, her body almost trembling with anticipation… but she kept it under wraps for now, keeping her face neutral and her body in check. She had to wait… just a little longer.

The woman had fallen for it. Hook, line, and sinker. The panic on his face had been an act, of course, and she did exactly what he wanted her to do. The difficulty with large opponents was range. Her range was superior to his own, he couldn't get close for more than a few moments before the danger he was in skyrocketed. Especially with her superior strength and durability. So, how do you clear that range? How do you create an opening?

There were hundreds of ways. But his personal favorite was making them come to you. Or, in this case--making them bring you to them. She yanked the chain, pulling him "off his balance", yanking him clear off his feet and sending him flying at her. Fast. Faster than she had wanted. This was due to him launching himself, and combining his own speed and timing with her own raw physical power. Her eyes widened in fear and surprise. Satori's expression shifted from panic to a smirk. Her arms were busy with the chain, which was still wrapped around her neck.

She was knelt over, and Satori was flying toward her. Perfectly in range. She had no chance as his limbs snapped around her, his leg that held the cuff used as an anchor. An anchor wrapped around her throat as all the moment strangled her, causing her to quickly yank the chain in panic to ensure her throat wasn't skinned and choked out. Satori didn't hesitate to use the moment to his advantage. Now perched on the back of her neck with his entire body weight focused on the chain, his ankle throbbed in protest. He ignored it.

His legs snapped around her torso just beneath her underarms, chakra flooded his muscles and body. The sound of ribs cracking filled the air, and his hands contorted. Wrapping around her own arms as his fingers intertwined with her own--and then he yanked backward harshly. Her fingers were bound, her arms locked within his own, and his legs were constricting. One had to marvel at the appearance--like a python steadily crushing its prey.

She couldn't even scream in pain as the chain choked her, his legs crushed her torso, and the sounds of bones cracking and flesh tearing came from her hands as his chakra-enhanced strength crushed her fingers and his claws dug into her skin. Crimson liquid began to drip from her limbs and throat. Satori's pupils dilated, his muscles flexed even larger as the sounds of strangling and bones popping in complaint filled the air. A ruthless, bloodthirsty smile decorating his lips.

This woman was a traitor, a killer, a murderer. Scum. He felt nothing but joy breaking her down, and crushing her.