Graduation! The Class of 930! (Flashback)

The graduation ceremony had been elaborate and fantastic. It was the magical moment where an academy student officially became a full fledged shinobi of the village. Shimiko had been waiting for this day since she had first learned of the very concept of being a ninja. The ceremony was filled with speeches, fanfare, and special recognition to the students who received their certificate of completion and a handshake from the Raikage himself. There ceremony had just drawn to a close and many of the students were clustered in groups speaking with their parents in tones of excitement and wonder. Shimiko Chinoike was a an exception to the rule however as her parents did not attend the ceremony. They had refused to come on the grounds that her brother, the Raikage of Kumogakure, had overruled them and allowed her to join the Academy. They said that they still loved her and supported her but that they would not stand for the Raikage's interference in their parenting. It was pretty cool to have the Raikage as your older brother and she did feel extra special when she shook his hand but it wasn't the same as having your whole family there. Shimiko was upset that they did not show up because despite the fights they regularly had at home concerning her future, she really did love them and care for them. She had prided herself on being an obedient and dutiful daughter for so long that whenever she rebelled she always felt a bit guilty. However, she never stopped feeling guilty enough to cease her behavior. Shimiko's sadness was replaced by anger not long after though. Her parents knew that their absence would be noted and somewhat embarrassing for Seigi. How would it look if the Raikage's parents refused to attend the graduation ceremony of their own daughter? People would talk and it would only cause people to question his character and leadership.

Their so damn selfish...I wish I could kill them sometimes... She thought to herself.

Shimiko didn't really mean it though or at least she thought she didn't. Ever since converting to Jashinism she found herself thinking and wishing about things that she would ordinarily find disturbing. She was instructed to never dismiss those thoughts but relish them and use them to guide her. It was a new feeling and one that she hadn't come to grips with yet. The selfishness of her parents in trying to prove a point irritated her but she resolved to not let that spoil this magical day. Shimiko looked up at the shining sun and around the outdoor courtyard where the ceremony took place. Kumogakure was normally pretty stormy but today the weather was divine. She was wearing a typical graduation outfit that was styled in the colors of the village, a bright golden yellow. The girl milled around looking for her older brother who would surely have exited the stage to join the throngs of students and teachers. She did not want to monopolize his time as doubtlessly he would have to speak with Academy instructors and administrators about village matters. Then of course many students and parents would want to meet and greet him as well. Shimiko had to get used to sharing her older brother with the village and so she would not be bothered if she had to wait a while to catch a glimpse of him from the crowds. Until then, she clutched her framed certificate and looked around anxiously hoping that someone wouldn't vocally point out the absence of her mom and dad.

"Hey little sis. That was a good ceremony." A voice could be heard from behind Shimiko. Should she turn to see it's origin, she would see none other than her older brother, the very Raikage that she had been mentioning, standing behind her. He wore more traditional robes today as opposed to his usual shinobi attire, wearing robes that one would often see at a festival, or a special ceremony. He would bow slightly to his little sister, giving her a devilish smile, one that he was so famous for, only to rise up and keep his gaze primed on her. "You're a shinobi now," He would say, patting her on the head, "How does it feel?" He would chuckle, his eyes switching from her to the parents congratulating their own children, a look of disgust creeping to Seigi's face as he had the same idea Shimiko had. His parents were a disgrace to both him and her. Sometimes he wondered how easy it would be to get rid of them.....

"Ah, Lord Raikage! I didn't expect to see you here!" A new voice would say, Seigi turning his head to see the origin. A man about his age stood, waving to him, a cheerful expression on his face. Seigi's face quickly smiled as the man approached, the Raikage opening his arms up. "Daitaro, what did I say about titles? Please, just Seigi." He would say, motioning to himself, then bowing to this man as well. Despite his savage titles, Seigi himself was still fairly humble. He didn't like to put himself on a pedestal like the previous Raikage had. He was no lord or god or anyone but a shinobi who knew how to fight and how to lead. That was all he needed.

Quickly motioning to his sister, he would gesture towards her. "Daitaro, this is my sister, Shimiko. Shimiko, this is Daitaro Armenou. He and I went to the academy together and were on a team during the Hozuki Conflict." He would turn his body toward the man again, a look of curiosity twisting his smile, raising his eyebrow. "Daitaro, what are you doing here? You're too young to have a child here and as far as I know, you don't have any siblings." He would say. Daitaro would chuckle, scratching his head. "

"I'm actually here to meet my team. I'm a jounin now so I've got some responsibility." He joked. Seigi would chuckle along, Daitaro truly curious to how much Seigi had to do.

Shimiko spun around at the sound of her brother's voice. When she turned to see him the elation and joy would be plain on her face. "Seigi!" she practically screamed barely containing her excitement. He would bow to her and give her that smile she found endearing and had tried to copy incessantly albeit coming off as being less mischievous and more silly compared to the Raikage. He asked her how it felt to be a shinobi to which she responded with a generous and tight hug. When she broke the embrace, she'd tell him: "Like I always dreamed it would. Amazing!" Shimiko's bright smile faded as she noticed Seigi eyeing the families congregated. It was plain that his thoughts had trailed to where hers did only moments ago. Their parents had pretty much abandoned her on one of the greatest milestones of her life. It was at this moment another man greeted Seigi. Shimiko would step forward to meet the man as her brother introduced them. Daitaro was a squad mate of Seigi's during the Hozuki Conflict.

"Nice to meet you Armenou-san"

Daitaro mentioned that he was meeting his team here which surprised Shimiko as she did not have a squad to call her own yet. She didn't let that bother her though as it was common for a Jounin to handpick his students. Shimiko was sure she would get a team to call her own soon enough. For the time she was just glad to have finally graduated from the Academy. She wanted to ask Daitaro more questions but in truth she was a bit shy and self-conscious. She didn't want to ask a stupid question and embarrass her brother in front of his friend. She decided to ask a straightforward question and hoped that Daitaro would not be judgmental.

"What happens if your genin don't get along? Are you allowed to switch them?"

Daitaro scratched his head, laughing. "No, I'm afraid it doesn't necessarily work like that." He would say, crossing his arms. "We are encouraged to try and actually put some shinobi who don't work well with others on teams to help build their own skills. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, so we as shinobi do what we can to strengthen that link. Does that make sense?" He would say to Seigi's little sister. Seigi himself would remain quiet as Daitaro explained, Seigi had always been one to work alone if possibly, but he fully agreed with Daitaro's statement. That was why he was working so diligently to try and make the village better. He didn't have any other options.

"Well, Daitaro, it was nice seeing you." Seigi would say, bowing to him slightly. "However, me and Shimiko have plans." He would say, motioning for his sister to follow him. Daitaro would bow back.

"Ah yes, of course Lord Raika- Seigi. I'll leave you two be." He would say, backing off. Seigi would begin to step forward, his long robes blowing in the breeze. Leaving the academy grounds, Seigi would place his hands in his sleeves, traversing through the busy streets of Kumogakure.

"Shimiko, what does being a shinobi mean to you?"

Shimiko nodded as she listened to what Daitaro had to say. He used the analogy of a chain which is one she had heard before. If a shinobi was falling behind it was their duty to help pick them back up. Shimiko understood the underlying principles but she could not help but disagree. If a ninja was so useless that he was dragging down the entire team then perhaps it would be best to put down such an albatross. Of course Shimiko said no such thing to the man and instead replied with a respectful. "Yes it does Armenou-san, we should help lift up our comrades at every opportunity". It was no doubt what he would want to here and what was likely to give him a decent estimation of her and her brother so that was what she would say. Shimiko would keep her own thoughts on the subject private however. Shimiko was glad that he excused them as she really wanted to spend time with her older brother. She bowed alongside Seigi and followed the Raikage after he motioned to her. The pair walked through the streets of Kumogakure and away from the academy grounds. He then asked her a curious question out of the blue. The question caught her off guard and she almost flinched at it knowing that she had no business telling him what she really thought being a ninja meant. Pious and sweet though she may be, there was something about Jashinism that had drawn her in. She was mired by it some respects. It was a religion without mercy or quarter. One that was so irredeemably violent it was pretty much outlawed yet for some reason she felt a deep abiding love for it. Perhaps it was natural teenage rebellion or the fact that it glorified the violence she desperately craved after having been kept from the shinobi lifestyle for so long. Either way, Jashinism colored the way she felt about the shinobi world and to talk about her Nindo without mentioning it was a lie by omission at the very least.

Being a shinobi is the highest vocational calling. To see your enemies driven before you, to cover yourself in their blood. It is about killing. Killing not for yourself but for Family, God and Country. Jashin says we are all called to be murderers but only a few are called to be shinobi.

That was her real answer but she hesitated for a moment. No doubt Seigi had killed people given his tenure in ANBU, in fact he was quite renown for his brutality on the battlefield. Nevertheless it was entirely possible that he would be disturbed by her vision. She was after all just a genin. After some thought, Shimiko gave a sanitized version of her thoughts.

"To be a shinobi is to protect the ones you care about the most"

He would smile at her, nodding. "You're partly right, Shimiko." He would say, the two continuing onward, the crowds almost seeming to part for Seigi's path as he lead her onward.

"There are many aspects to being a shinobi, and many right answers for becoming a shinobi. To protect the ones you care about. To defend your home. To serve some sense of duty. Some say there is no wrong answer to this question." Seigi would look back at his little sister, his stride still confident and forward. "Above all, being a shinobi is about sacrifice. We live and we die for the village and it's people so that it can move forward and strive. Shimiko, one thing you must learn is that some day you may have to deal with my death. It could be tomorrow or it could be 20 years from now. However, once you conquer that fear over death.... you become far stronger than those who haven't. Do you understand?"

Shimiko nodded in understanding. It wouldn't occur to her until for some time afterward just how true his words are. The idea of losing Seigi was so foreign and alien to her at the moment that she just accepted what he said. Seigi was the strongest shinobi in the village by far and it was unthinkable that he would die. She knew intellectually that he wasn't immortal but from his feats he may as well have been. Nevertheless, she promised herself that if she ever had to carry on without him that she'd do so with dignity and great strength. Being a shinobi was about sacrifice. Jashinism was about sacrifice. Nothing happened in this world without giving something for exchange. If Janshin saw fit to ever take her brother then that would be the day that he'd grant her complete fear from death. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away...

"Yes Seigi, I understand"

She gave him a hug and they continued through the crowds. They'd spend some time eating together and enjoying each other's company. When they eventually parted ways, neither would be the wiser that it'd be their last time speaking to one another.