The Tigress and the Ewe

Akiko felt good about today as she looked out onto the misty Kirigakure morning from atop the training grounds. She was hoping to hone her Suiton Release today, but instead of relying on the plentiful water in the training ground she had walked up the mountains to find a large clearing of dirt with a few shrubs and trees nearby just overlooking a cliff. Now if I can create water using this Jutsu, I can change the terrain to give me support.. Akiko reassured herself as she began weaving seals and attempting to pull water from the earth. At first she only managed to extract a couple drops, but pretty soon she was drawing pints. After an hour Akiko could manage a small stream but they kept bubbling back down. Taking a seat Akiko tore open a bag of potato chips she brought with her, beginning to scarf them by the fistful. As she emptied the bag she balled it up and stuffed it in her clothes before giving the Jutsu one more chance. This time the ground shook slightly as Akiko tore open a waterfall on the side of the cliff to the vacant training grounds below.

Not wanting to create too much trouble downstream, Akiko reluctantly canceled the Jutsu, causing the spring to slowly stop bubbling forth and the water to run off and dry up. Now with her understanding of the Waterfall Basin Technique she leaned towards the lesser Suiton Release: Water Creation Jutsu. If I can pull up a waterfall like that.. Akiko thought as she was confident in her ability to pull up a single large quantity of water instead. Starting with the still muddy area and working her way to dryer patches, Akiko now began attempting to weave the necessary signs and pull out a huge bubble of water. However, what was easy in the mud proved to be a completely different story in the sandier portions of the clearing. The comparative dryness only helped her master this Jutsu though as she dug deeper into the soil and plants around her and began pulling large swathes of water each time. In no time she lifted the Jutsu’s intended 5 by 5 meters of water up into the air. Hoisting it in one hand before dropping it back down in the old basin of the waterfall, Akiko watched with a smile as her hard work flowed off the edge of the cliff again.

Trained Jutsu:

It hadn't been long since graduation, and Kyoka was itching for more. The academy never really felt her vibe, always Ninjutsu this, Genjutsu that- Where's the fricken ACTION?! Kyoka shouted to no one as she hurled a large rock towards the mountainside before her. It sailed through the air like nothing before crashing thunderously and planting in place.

Another crash echoed throughout this mountain range as she continued to lob these rocks, in the process of signing her own name into the wall with their juts. Her penmanship was not that great, but she was getting there. She was fired up, hot, and raring to go! "But when do we get some MISSIONS!" Another crash.

It was then that, out of damn nowhere, water suddenly fell from the heavens and drenched her from head to toe, all four feet and nine (and a half) inches of her. Her face immediately dropped as she stood motionless. "What... the... FUUUUCK!" Her gaze immediately snapped up the mountain; there were only two possibilities: Either the gods thought she needed a bath, or... "Shinobi..."

Kyoka reached down, not taking her eyes off the vague vicinity of "up", before gripping another rock. She held it in both hands for a moment; then, pointing with a squint towards nothing, she reeled back and hurled the rock upwards before chasing after it.

Akiko turned back towards the path, satisfied with her morning of training. Thinking about what kind of lunch she'd treat herself to, she let out an outstretched yawn. At this moment, quicker than Akiko could react and as if from the sky behind her, a large shadow soared overhead. This was followed by a thunderous crack in the mountainside above her. Before she knew it the path was being enveloped in rubble and soil. Barely stepping aside from the mess in time, Akiko was only left a bit dusty. Taken aback she scanned the skies and mountainside, only spying a large out of place boulder sticking to the incline.

“What the..” Was all she could muster as the inexplicable rockfall settled in a low lying dust. Taking a few steps back from the upheaval, Akiko paced back towards the waterfall basin she created earlier. She was beginning to wonder if this was all just another shinobi’s training mishap, but it would've taken strength far beyond Akiko's own to affect a boulder that size. With her back to the cliffs below, she thought there next to the muddy basin for a moment.

A sudden and imposing shadow would overtake Akiko as Kyoka crested the cliff-side, though the angle wouldn't adequately imply her height until the former turned around. Heaving with anger-belabored breaths, Kyoka would outstretch one finger. "YOU! Are you the 'rainmaker?'" Her voice dripped with rage as much as her clothes did with water.

She might have looked particularly horrifying in this moment; her broad frame, her thick musculature, and her usually luxurious hair laid flat against her face like some sort of creature out of a horror story. The bared teeth, grinding with fury, certainly did little to change that appearance.

With the next shadow quickly overtaking Akiko, she shuddered to think of another boulder hitting her. She clutched her head as she fell forward on her knees with a whimper, “Nnnh!” To her surprise the crashing explosion of the second boulder wouldn't come. Instead replaced by a commanding shout from behind as the shadow remained over Akiko. "YOU! Are you the 'rainmaker?'"

Utterly shocked, Akiko flinched, not expecting another person so aggressively behind her. Half stepping forward and spinning around, she turned to meet the bold accuser. As She looked upon Kyoka she was met with a terrible visage, She’s like a wild red haired monkey! Akiko thought with new fear.

Ignoring her muddy knees Akiko raised her hands in defense between herself and the familiar stranger pleading, “N-no! I promise you, I can’t even attempt Jutsu of that level…” She trailed off, finally connecting the dots and realizing her role in drenching the poor red haired monkey. “Oh.. I uhh, I think I might have uhh.. I think I did actually” At this admittance Akiko bowed deeply and began panicking. “I-I’m so so sorry! I promise it wasn't on purpose, well I mean it was but.. No! I mean I didn’t know you, or anyone was down there! Honest!” As Akiko babbled on before Kyoka she only hoped the woman was more human than beast, despite the vicious appearance.

"Hunh," Kyoka grunted in approval. She crossed her arms as she watched the kunoichi's genuflection. It was kind of nice to have someone beneath her for a change. She hated having others look down on her- metaphorically, but also literally.

Her toothy growl twisted to a sneer. "So let me get this straight," Kyoka started, tutting very intentionally at each "T." "You thought you'd just plant yourself up here and drop rivers down this mountainside without a care in the world? Not caring who or what might be down there?"

For a moment, the sense of superiority to which she felt entitled made the young Uzumaki forget that she was absolutely soaked.

Akiko’s eyes winced as each ‘T’ cut sharply with the strict intent she’d often heard in her father’s tone. She traded her lowered bow for nervously fidgeting hands, her fingers tapping with unease. Akiko’s gaze fell in obedience, like a scolded child too afraid to meet with Kyoka’s eyes.
“I.. I guess I should be more careful,” Akiko managed in response, her voice wavering a bit but undoubtedly less panicked than before. I can’t believe I was this stupid! she thought amongst her self-reproach. If I did this outside the training ground, who knows who I might’ve injured!

As Akiko worried she also got a better look at the red haired monkey she had so imprudently soaked. Her demeanor had softened somewhat compared to her intimidating entrance, though her intensity still remained. Focusing on Kyoka's unfortunately flattened, yet similarly colored hair, Akiko suddenly noticed their absurd size difference. The realization would’ve struck her as laughable, if she wasn’t already on Kyoka’s bad side. Her muscles are insane! was all Akiko could think, imagining her own arms as snappable Pocky sticks attached to her body.

Of course, at the slightest thought of food her focus began to shift again. No, don’t think of snacks now Akiko! she fought, snapping out of her fascination with Kyoka’s figure. “Grrrwonk” was the odd noise that cried from Akiko’s stomach at the thought of food. In a moment of decisiveness unlike her, Akiko finally looked up at Kyoka, meeting her gaze. Maybe it was an attempt to subdue the beast of a woman before her, or more likely, to satisfy her own cravings. Breaking a slight smile, Akiko asked, “Would you like to share my lunch as an apology?”

Hnh, damn right, you should be more careful. Kyoka thought to herself. In this moment, shrugging off the wet-induced biting cold with ease, Kyoka was reminded of her recent academy days. So often would the instructors berate her for not being careful with how she threw shit around, and now she was doing the lecturing! That said, her eyes momentarily drifted to the still-settling dust cloud that formed from the rock she threw with similar, if not more, reckless abandon.

There wasn't any time to think of that now, however. At the sound of Akiko's stomach, Kyoka's heart dropped. She placed one hand into the pocket of her shorts, all casual as she shifted her weight onto one leg, but what she felt filled her with dread. The yakisoba bun that she had haphazardly shoved in there was so soaked that her fingers pierced the bread like nothing.

“Would you like to share my lunch as an apology?”

Oh thank the gods...

"Tss, I suppose that'd be a start," she sighed, rolling her eyes despite the massive relief. Whatchu got?

Delighted to share her lunch, especially as a penance for her misdeeds, Akiko reached into her bag and began pulling out options. One by one she pulled snack after candy after cookie, each individually wrapped as if from a vending machine. She had potato chips, popcorn, pretzels, cheese puffs, fruit snacks, hi-chews, biscuits, chocolate bars, and a soda and juice to boot. By the end of her reveal, Akiko eagerly held the nest of snacks in a pile between her arms.

“You can have whatever you want, except maybe the popcorn if I can have that one.. Unless you really want it or something..” Muttering the last part under her breath, Akiko held out her feast for Kyoka to graze from as she pleased. “Hey, uh.. What’s your name? Mine is Akiko.” Hoping to spark more friendly conversation between them, Akiko continued, “Uzumaki Akiko, I was part of the recent graduating class.”

Kyoka approached with slopping footsteps as Akiko began to pull food from her bag. However, she soon raised one quizzical brow at the selection. This chick's got one hell of a... whatever kind of tooth this is...

"Err..." She started, feeling her lofted position slip. "..." Her eyes continued to dart around the options as her new companion introduced herself. It was then that Kyoka realized the food was not the only surprise. Uzumaki... As far as she was aware, it was a name like any other. She hadn't heard of anyone else who bore it, save her mother for whom she was named in memoriam.

"Uhm, me too- a recent graduate from the academy, I mean," she quickly corrected. "We must have been in different classes... My name's Kyoka, U..."

"...uit snacks... I'll take the fruit snacks, please. She outstretched her hand for Akiko to pass them. The "please" might have betrayed her some of her dominant energy in this situation but, even if Kyoka recognized that, she would hope that it would distract the girl from pressing this Uzumaki's last name further.

So she’s a Genin too? Akiko registered, “Wow, I thought you must’ve been higher rank with.. I guess with the rocks and stuff…” Responded Akiko as her gaze fell back on the largest muscles she’d ever seen. Passing the fruit snacks to Kyoka with a hand that escaped the bushel of ‘food’, Akiko turned and led the way towards the rock rubble behind them. Finding a suitable stone amongst the now calmed dust she takes a seat. With the pile of snacks in her lap Akiko begins tearing into the popcorn, eating it by the fistful.

Looking towards Kyoka, Akiko cracks another faint smile between a particular face stuffing, feeling a bit more comfortable knowing the person she drenched isn’t some scary Jounin who will have her disciplined. I wonder about that hair, I don’t spend much time with the rest of the clan.. Could she be…? Akiko wondered, as if red hair alone meant everyone was her cousin in some way. At any rate she did choose the fruit snacks, so at least Dad will think I’m eating healthy.

"Nah, just a genin with some big arms and not much else, to be honest." It was a surprising amount of vulnerability that caused her to shake her own head in surprise at the utterance. Kyoka took a seat on another nearby rock as she fiddled with the "food." Gods be damned, why am I suddenly feeling so familiar?! She shook her head again, trying to banish the thought as she bit into and ripped a fruit snack in half like a beast.

"I'm not sure if the academy passed me because they made up for my lack of Ninjutsu and Genjutsu skills, or to just get ridd'a me." Kyoka chuckled sarcastically as she took another bite, leaving her arm to dangle. She'd then turn to Akiko, meeting her gaze and catching her eyeing her with a faint smile.

Her face reactively scowled. "The hell you lookin' at?"

Akiko nodded along in understanding, appreciating another Genin who wasn’t all that keen on the academy. Despite her love of academics and learning, Akiko always disliked that every lesson revolved around fighting and combat applications. Something she knew was a shinobi's role but always struggled with as her mother had. She got the feeling from Kyoka that they may have disliked the academy for completely opposite reasons, but they were nonetheless in the same boat now.

"The hell you lookin' at?" Snapped Akiko out of her thoughts. Ignoring Kyoka’s defensive retort she started, “Hey, and now we don’t ever have to go back!” Satisfied with her meal Akiko began placing the items back in her bag as she continued, “Now that we’re Genin we have a chance to earn our place instead of being taught it, right?” Keeping the soda, Akiko cracked the small can open and took a swig as she motioned Kyoka towards her open bag, offering any last chance snacks. So she really threw that boulder up here, no Ninjutsu at all.. thought Akiko as she turned to look out over the cliff her new acquaintance so recently appeared from.

Mouth agape in a toothy scowl, brows still furrowed, Kyoka stared at Akiko as she blew right past her outburst. "Huh," she breathed as her expression softened ever so slightly. What's with this girl?

“Now that we’re Genin we have a chance to earn our place instead of being taught it, right?”

Kyoka's brows calmed further as she shrugged them in quiet agreement. "I always figured I'd have to find my own way. This world's never done me any favors, after all." She had come from such modest beginnings, the daughter of a poor widower fisherman who struggled just to get by. Shinobi never did much for her or hers- there was no idolatry, only a path towards getting by that she could wrap her head around.

Kyoka let out a sharp sigh. It shouldn't be long before she found out if it was the path she really wanted. "So, what made you want to become a shinobi?" She figured small talk was the least she could offer this moment. Even though the lunch for soaking exchange was met, the tempestuous Uzumaki couldn't help but feel some kinship with Akiko- even beyond the possibility that they might literally be so.

Akiko frowned in concerned thought at Kyoka’s response, I can’t say I’m lucky, but I’m certainly not as jaded as she is. After Akiko’s mother passed away, her workaholic father only fell deeper into his shinobi duties. She had never really thought about it before, but what Kyoka was saying applied to herself quite closely. Akiko, while supported by her father, didn’t have much of an option when it came to forging her own path. Now that she was a Genin she had much more independence, but it was only going to get lonelier. Unless I can find some friends…

Kyoka sighed as she continued, softening Akiko's furled brows, "So, what made you want to become a shinobi?" A question Akiko would have laughed at if she wasn't already considering her own grander path. Unlike many of her peers from the academy, Akiko was sheltered from the shinobi world and its methods for quite a long time. Her mother wanted a different future for Akiko but eventually relented under the pressure of her father and his clan, the Uzumaki. It was never a decision in Akiko’s hands, always a path forged by others.

”I…” Akiko started, finding the words caught somehow, “I dunno..” She managed now looking downwards. “It was what I inherited I guess, it's what I had to do.” Akiko finished, sinking into gloominess. Immediately aware of her demeanor however, Akiko flipped a proverbial switch and straightened her posture back out with a smile. “Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy myself. Even if I have a lot of work left on self control.” She finished motioning to Kyoka's unfortunate hair situation.

“It was what I inherited I guess, it's what I had to do. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy myself. Even if I have a lot of work left on self control.”

At that moment, a water-weighed-down lock of hair fell in Kyoka's eyeline. "Tss," she chuckled as shrugged once again in agreement. "No kidding." Sending a torrent of water careening down the side of the mountain with no consideration for who or what might be below certainly spoke to a lack of self control.

The "inheritance" was of particular note, though. "You've got shinobi parents, then?"

If there are other Uzumaki shinobi, that'd be so wild...

“Of course, I mean.. don’t you? I thought everyone who attended the academy did right?” Akiko responded, slightly puzzled. I suppose it's not a requirement or anything.. But why would she even register if she didn’t? Is that what she meant by ‘finding her own way’?

“Both my parents were Shinobi here in Kiri, that’s the only reason I trained to become a Genin.” Akiko had always been surrounded by reverent shinobi, and her peers in school always seemed to naively conform to their parents' paths. Kyoka, however, was a different breed it seemed. With Kyoka, it felt like Akiko could release her guard and talk candidly without fear of retribution. If she were to simply say what she just had to her Father, especially around his contemporaries, she would certainly be punished.

“Screw that right!” Akiko said with a slightly raised voice as a thrilling blush crossed her cheeks. That was fun..

“Of course, I mean.. don’t you? I thought everyone who attended the academy did right?”

"I- cough!" Caught more than a little off-guard, Kyoka inhaled and choked on a fruit snack.

“Both my parents were Shinobi here in Kiri, that’s the only reason I trained to become a Genin.” “Screw that right!”

After a few more strained coughs, the partially chewed gummy flew over Akiko's head. With an attempt at a dignified clearing of her throat, Kyoka continued: "Yeah, of course my parents are shinobi," she lied. "That was just an opening to talk about them, obviously." She rolled her eyes to try and sell it as she wiped away a tear from her reddened face.

"But yeah, screw that! We don't need parents telling us what to do. Gods know my dad would've preferred me to rot back west."