The sound of feet padding about on the Dojo's softened floor filled Izumi's ears. Her eyes however, saw almost everything.

Standing at the ready, her trainer opposite, watching her carefully, his own Byakugan active, just as was her own. Her hair was tied up in a neat bun behind her head, keeping it well clear from her face. Even her state of dress was different, mesh armor and short shorts with a slightly-too-large shirt underneath. Stepping forward, she drove her palm toward her trainer, who stepped back with ease, blocking away her strike. He made to retaliate, but her other hand was already coming around!

She struck him square on the tenketsu in his shoulder, the slight popping in her ears from dispelling her chakra. She didn't stop there. She struck his stomach, chest, leg, other shoulder... And he vanished in a puff of smoke.

Exhaling heavily, Izumi closed her eyes, returning to her ready stance. With her eyes still closed, her Byakugan inert, she simply listened to her teacher.
"Your form is improving everyday Lady Izumi... But you still have a lot to learn..."
She opened her eyes as she heard her teacher step forward. "You strike like so" he said, feigning the method of Izumi's striking, "...when it should be..."
He changed his posture only slightly, pivoted slightly more on his foot, twisted more into the strike...

Izumi nodded, not saying a word. "Again!" he called, stepping clear of the ring to allow Izumi to move freely. She silently returned to her exercises, her Byakugan activated once more.

“It’s, so dang hot,” I groaned, trying to fan myself off with my hands. I sat at the table with my mother just across me, sweating due to the house’s nature of somehow producing heat, despite it being freezing outside. “Sorry sweetie, want a drink?” my mother sighed, grabbing a cup and filling it with some tea. “Is it cold?” She passed it towards me with a smile. “Yes.” In a slight act of desperation, I gulped down the drink quicker than a drunkard could drink sake. It was freezing, feeling amazing in my drying throat. I sighed in relief when I finished before looking back at my mother. “Arigato.” She smiled sweetly before a sudden look of worry came over her face. “I’ve completely forgotten! Ashiko dear, can you please deliver something for me?”

I nodded, grabbing my cup and placing it into the sink, before getting an ice cube from the ice tray and running it across my forehead. “What is it, mom?” My mother got up from her seat before running off to her room, coming back with a small package soon after she left. “It’s a bit of medicine, just some aspirin and such. And please, don’t ask for payment, it’s just a small gift.” She smiled and I took it from her hands. “Where would you like me to bring it?” I asked, feeling the small weight in my arms. “Hyūga compound.” That was new. My mother had a few friends around the village, from Aburame to Nara. And yet, I had never heard of any friends from that particular clan.

I knew where they lived of course so that part was easy enough. I nodded again and went to my room. Putting on my dress and forehead protector, not forgetting my tool pouch; should someone ever try and attack me while I made the delivery. Sadly, my katana was broken, and I had to buy one. It was also not the best day to do it. Or week for that matter. I finally opened the door to my house and waved goodbye to my mother, walking at a somewhat slowed pace. It was ice cold, yet I couldn’t care less. It was wonderful, so much better than being holed up in my room all night in the heat.

I arrived, somewhat cold and loaded with a couple of goosebumps. I entered the main entrance of the compound, gulping at how dead and empty it felt at this time of night. It was awkward. “Hello? Anyone home?” I said, announcing my presence, half expecting an answer.

439/439

At that moment, a faint voice could be heard carrying from the entrance of the Hyuga Mansion. Izumi stopped, her eyes looking toward the entrance. Honing her Byakugan into focus, as she saw her teacher do the same, she became acutely aware of the entire compound. Who was in it, where they were, and what they were doing...

Yet, most stood, or slept or paid little attention to the one non-Hyuga occupant. Raising a hand to stop her teacher from leaving, Izumi gave him a gentle smile. "I'll attend to this, Ritora-Sensei" she said, before bowing out of the room. She then turned on her heel and headed for the entrance.

She arrived only moments later, to find the girl she had seen in her Byakugan. Stepping into the light so the girl could see her clearly, Izumi spoke to the newcomer. "Welcome, can I help you?" she asked.

It didn't take me a long time to notice the girl approaching me. She was definitely a member of the Hyuga clan, even a fool could notice the coloration in the girl's eyes. My voice was slightly caught in my throat and I couldn't speak for a moment. "Welcome, how can I help you?" she spoke. I finally found my voice due to her own speech. "Hello, my mother asked me to drop off a package for a friend of her's," I said, flashing a smile upon my face. "Some medicine."

I eyed the girl quickly, white eyes, blue hair, and a large coat over her body. She looked well kept together, yet slightly tired. Had she been training just earlier? Did I interrupt something? I felt bad if I had just interrupted something important. I remembered the box in my hand and began walking over to give it to her. "Sorry if I got in the way of something."

OOC: Had to write this on my Kindle Fire, sorry.

164/603

Izumi smiled back at the girl in front of her. She was pretty, but seemed... uneasy. Stepping forward, clearing her sleeves from her hands she took the box, bowing slightly as she took it. "Thank you for delivering this... You mentioned a friend? Can I ask who you refer to?"

While she waited for the girl to answer, Izumi looked her up and down. She was dressed... differently than Izumi was used to seeing, especially with the usually temperate climate of the Hidden Leaf. "What's your name?" she asked, before shaking her head in regards to the girl's concerns, her bun bouncing. Her hair shifted from the clear black of her clan, to a beautiful blue when the light hit it just right, returning to black as she stopped. "I was simply in practice, but one day I'll be the Head of my clan. Then I'll have to greet guests from all over... call this practice for that" she said, giving a wry wink to the girl.

"Was there anything else I can help you with?"