The mist was heavy today, Saya noted. It didn't matter to her though. In fact, it was probably better if no one saw her. She would be training by herself again, but she didn't even have a decent sword to train with. Her father thought she should deserve her blade by buying it herself, but she couldn't waste time until she got one. She still needed training, so a small stick would serve fine until she could get that Shinobigatana she had been looking at in that one weapon shop. How long could it take to save up for it anyhow?

She stopped in the middle of a field. There were a few trees scattered around her. She picked one out to use as a training dummy and struck a pose. Holding the stick in a backhand grib behind her waist she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, after which she swung the stick against the tree. A satisfying clonk echoed in the empty fields, then another, and another. The heavy mist had however made the stick moist, and it slid out of her fingers and flew away. "Aw, you've got to be kidding me!" She yelled in frustration. The tall grass made the stick hard to find, and the mist made it no easier. She muttered to herself as she crawled around on all fours, oblivious to anything else.

Saya almost jumped out of her shoes at the sound of a young man. She looked up and saw a young boy, hair as white as snow. As she slowly rose to her feet she noted, to her surprise, that the boy was slightly shorter than her. At first glance she thought him for a kid, but there were some facial features suggesting otherwise, such as his defined jaw. Besides, it'd be odd for a kid to wear a sword, and he did even call -her- a kid. Even so, she couldn't pin-point an age. Could be anything between twelve to nineteen, she guessed.

She looked at the sword, hesitating. Why would he let her use his sword? Was he trying to mock her? Or were he just really nice? She looked around for any possible group of people. That was usually a sign of someone trying to make a fool of her. She couldn't see anyone, not in the mist anyways. She looked back at the sword and started to move her hand to grab it, but pulled back. "Are you sure? What if I break it?" She asked, not really confident about her skill with a sword. She had no idea how durable one was either.

A smile. A small one, but she saw it. This person was probably just trying to help. That was what a village was about in a way, wasn't it? Uniting and helping each other? She accepted the sword and felt its weight. It really did feel like foam. It was heavier than she thought, but still light enough for her to be able to use it decently, she figured.

She took a glance at the sword, then looked back at the boys face and smiled. "I'll admit, I'm just a beginner. Would it be too much to ask you to show me? Like how to hold it properly?" She asked, not sure how far he was willing to go to help her, but there were no better way to find out than to ask.
She suddenly realised that she had no idea who this boy was, and it was probably the same for him. "I'm Saya, by the way. Hozuki Saya."

Behind a tree in Kirigakure's Training Grounds, Several sounds of twigs cracking in half echoed across the fields that was masked in a giant haze of thick mist. Another cracking sound echoed again as a young boy stepped over another twig in the forest covered with a dirt-like surface. The young boy pressed his back against the tree, while tilting his head outwards, and towards his right to eavesdrop on the two shinobi in the Training Grounds. He'd rest his chin on his right shoulder while moving his eyes more further to the right, attempting to get a better line of sight on the shinobi.

The odd shinobi eavesdropping on the other shinobi was Hozuki Takeo of the village Hidden in the Mist. He wore his casual plaid white T-Shirt with the shirt halfway unbuttoned, showing his small, sweaty and scrawny chest. His Kirigakure headband hung from his scrawny chest, and several black ink tattoos were also visible. On Takeo's bottom was his tight fitting dark blue pants with his ordinary choice of a pair of blue shinobi sandals. Takeo didn't bring his weapon holsters or his ninja pouch, that was usually attached to a strap on his waist. The explanation for Takeo being such a weird person today was because of his small crush for Hozuki Saya ever since his years in the academy. He had been following her around the village to find the right moment to speak to her.

"Man that girl is...Beautiful. What does a guy like me have to do to just get one moment alone with her? " Takeo whispered as he inhaled and exhaled the air around the area, interrupting his sentence. He'd keep his eyes locked on the two shinobi while still keeping most of his focus on Hozuki Saya. Takeo dragged his attention over towards the white haired shinobi, who looked more older than he did. "Hope it's not her boy friend. I hear alot of girls today are in to boys taller than them. But why would this boy just come out here to show his weapon to the girl. Must be more than that!" Takeo shouted. His eyes widened, and both of his hands were now toppled over his mouth after he finished his sentence. The urge to often be loud, may had caused him to give away his position.

Saya became more and more secure about this person as she watched him show her his grip of the dagger. She tried to mimic it best she could. Not perfect, but definetely good. There was a huge difference in holding the sword like this rather than the way she did before. She moved her hand in the same blocking motion. "Like thi-" Her sentence was cut off as she yelped at the sound of another boy. She didn't quite hear him, but what she made out was something along the lines of there's no way he'd just show his weapon to this girl. There must be something more than that. Was it someone from her old class? Maybe they were here to tease her again? She looked around for the source of the sound, but found nothing. Maybe she hadn't heard it after all?
"Did you hear that?" Saya asked, feeling her body tense up. If there was one thing she hated more than bullies, it was bullies who didn't dare to face their victims. That was the lowest.

Takeo gasped as he kept his pale hands toppled over his mouth while his eyes were still in shock of them finding him. He'd exhale his hot breath into the center of his palm. The boy had felt embarrassed that his clumsiness had caused the shinobi to find out his location, but he was also a bit afraid to be humiliated or named "A creep" in front of the attracting Hozuki Saya. Was it best for Takeo to stay behind the tree? or Was it pointless to even hide anymore? Since his location was already given away. Several thoughts wandered through Takeo's head about what decision he would make.

After several minutes of heavy breathing, Takeo's heart beats slowed down to a lower pace and his breathing rate also slowed down. He had calmed himself, running the thought through his head that this wasn't actually a life or death situation. Besides, his spiky white hair that gave him his attractiveness would make up for his lack of intellect. This was one of the perks of the white haired shinobi, but Hozuki Saya seemed to be the only girl who would resist him. She was more different than his fan girls.

The boy peered his white haired head out further than before while still keeping his body rested on the tree. He'd take a glance left and right to confirm that there were no fan girls or other genins around the area. Phew.. Takeo came out of hiding, removing his body from the tree, and stepping onto the green lush surface of the Training Grounds. He turned his attention back to the two shinobi in the distance, and begun to casually stroll over towards them.

"Hope none of my fan girls or Genin of the village notice me creeping around these two shinobi. I would lose so much reputation as a praised Hozuki of my league of Genins."

In the distance, Takeo had noticed that one of the shinobi were Kenjutsu users by observing the blade he carried. Kenjutsu was one of the most things an Hozuki excelled at because of the Hydrification technique, and Takeo loved it because of the astounding abilities on the blade. It would be nice to get a chance to observe a older shinobi's blade for the first time. Blades in the shinobi world were always having some awkward ability or size on them which was what made every blade unique and interesting.

Sero Quietly let his long legs carry him along blindly.. the Mist hung heavy today but it didn't matter entirely to him. He looks down at himself with a sigh and shakes his head. He was wearing his usual outfit. the thin orange sweater underneath the knee length gray coat which he left closed with a high collar. Honestly he looked older then he was but his demeanor was different. His eyes diverted from making direct eye contact with anyone as he walked his unattractive gray hair hanging about his face hiding it.

Still it comes as a bit of a shock to him to find himself out and about the training grounds. He raises his head to look about the area spotting two white haired heads and another... pink he supposed. he tugs at the headband around his neck and swallows... three people where here today. Boy he hoped they where friendly.

Sero moves forward his very appearance blending with the gray of the mist as he walked. A poor choice in clothing color perhaps. He nibbles his lip and approaches the two before realizing the other boy was doing the same.. oh they must be friends... best not to intrude amongst friends. he turns and moves away standing just a ways away so as not to intrude before he begins to stretch. always stretch before practice.

He brings his hands up in a defensive grapple stance but his hands remain close to him as his feet spread out. The wet tree in front of him his focus now as he begins a Series of kicks. A low kick to throw your opponent of his footing, shift to the side on the downward step to gain momentum, spin into the momentum and place hands on ground then using the spin he throws his legs up. his left foot connecting for a mid hit but missing the high kick. Clicking his teeth he rights himself before looking to the group, once more contemplating joining them.

Sero.

Spoiler:

Jurou had confirmed her fears. He had heard something as well, which could only mean that someone -was- watching them. It made her uncomfortable at best. She stood still for a short while, until a person finally showed himself. Was that..? She sighed. It was that loud Hozuki from the academy. Takeo, if she didn't remember incorrectly. He was probably here to tease her or something.

She was about to ask him what he was doing as she was distracted by another person in the mist. She could barely see him at first, he was melting into the mist quite effectively. He didn't seem to be any part of whatever Takeo was up to, but started training by himself. She was certain she had picked a field that was used less frequently, but she must have been wrong. Sighing, she shrugged. They had as much right to be here as herself, after all. "Are you two here to train as well?" She shouted, so the gray haired ninja could hear her as well. Might as well be nice.

When the Hozuki approached the two shinobi, he looked towards Hozuki Saya. At last, this was another chance for him to attempt to make his "move." It wasn't often he was close to Hozuki Saya except for the Ninja Academy and spying on her several times, but most of that didn't count. Takeo tugged the headband on his neck using his right hand while scratching a bug bite on his skin with his left hand. The itching must had been caused from him placing his bare chest on the tree, he was previously hiding behind. The boy might had deserved it for invading someone's privacy.

"Remind me to never wear a unbuttoned shirt with my skin exposed again." said Takeo, smirking at the shinobi and removing his hands from the bug bite. He'd place his hands to his side, ignoring the swelling of the bug bite. A barrage of kicks and punches, smashing into some sort of object was heard nearby Takeo. Takeo shifted himself towards the area of where the source of ruckus was coming from. To the side of him was a gray haired freak, wearing an attire that consisted of poor clothing and was also made of poor material.

Takeo turned back around towards the two shinobi in front of him. Sighing at the same time the girl did, he would shrug. Signaling that he didn't know who the gray haired boy was. "Yeah. I've came to work on my skills since you never know when the Chuunin Exams will be announced. Also, I was hoping for a spar with someone since you never get any action as a Genin in the village." said Takeo, responding to the shinobi with a obvious lie. His real reason to come here was to adore Hozuki Saya, and maybe get her to notice him more. Who wouldn't notice his astounding white hair? or his dream girl face?

The older shinobi of the group of ninja began to speak. He had spoke of training Ninjutsu abilities, and a few Kunai/blade sparring lessons. A surge of adrenaline raced through Takeo's body as he heard the word "sparing." At last some action would take place today. The boy hadn't seen someone spar in the past 2 years. During that time, he had been learning the basics of being a shinobi, etc.

Boring. That's the word he would describe his past 2 years of basic training. Nothing happened in basic training, but a bunch of Chuunin not asking questions, and just speaking dragged out sentences the whole sessions. It would be fun to finally fight. "Sparring? I want to join! Those damn Chuunin talk half of the session in the academy, and their boring too! Hozuki Saya knows how it is." Takeo began to hype up some. His tone of speech rose higher, and his eye brows would rise up. When the boy had finished his sentence, he'd go back to that usual emotionless look on his face.

Sero had paused to observe the marking where he had connected, honestly the tree looked like it did more to him then he to it. But it didn't matter for his goal was not to defeat the tree but to toughen his own flesh so that he could deal stronger blows with less of a negative effect on himself. Still the girl calling out had startled him and he paused his thoughts, his grey eyes looking out to the group of three now standing together, the Girl and the short one seemed annoyed he supposed but the loud mouth was, well he hoped he would never be paired on missions with him as stealth didn't seem likely for him. Sero approaches quietly, he was tall even for his age and lanky. His hair matted around his face naturally hiding the majority of his features. He stops and folds his arms in a casual but nervous stance within comfortable talking distance. letting them finish speaking before he chose to explain himself.

" I Apologize for intruding, I merely wished to warm up my own skills a little before I join..."

Sero reaches into one of his coat pockets and pulls out a folded letter before reading it aloud.

"squad two."

But the spar was set to start and he wished not to intrude so he takes another step back catching a better glance of Jurou....why did he look so familiar? surely they where nearly the same age....maybe?

Saya couldn't decide if she was glad that someone wanted to spar with her or frightened that she'd be making a fool out of herself. She didn't think she was ready for a spar. Heck, she didn't even have a sword. Neither were that jutsu she'd been working on ready for field testing. She could form the water together, but any form of impact splashed it back to a pool of water. She noted Jurous hand and returned his sword. She barely knew how to hold it anyhow. Besides, using someone elses sword for a spar felt like cheating.

She could finally see the other person as well. He had a rough look. His clothes were as colorless as his hair. He gave her the creeps, Saya had to admit. He was quiet enough though. Definetely more polite than Takeo. Speaking of which, his last comment made her flinch.
"Why are you dragging me into that? Some peole need those lessons!" She said matter-of-factly, all too obvious refering to herself. Not everyone was a natural at these things. She moved her hand to her kunai pouch, broadening her stance. She was determined to beat some manners into thos guy.

Takeo stared down the older, and taller man; Jurou. He'd continuously nod at the man, keeping his emotionless look on his face. The boy would have to engage battle with the girl he had been hunting the entire day. What a surprise? Maybe the Jounin didn't know that a head-to-head fight with two Hozuki clan members without knowledge of nature techniques would last forever or was his intentions to just monitor their maneuvers, and attacks. Nonetheless. Takeo would see this Genin as any other shinobi on the village's street that he would randomly disrespect.

Before the fight would began, the creep had approached them. Takeo looked over towards the shinobi, and listened closely to his soft, and Gothic-like words. The creep had thought the three shinobi were apart of Squad Two. Squad Two was the squad known to be led by Jurou, and the Genin in the squad consisted of Sero, Takeo, and another shinobi- who hadn't made their appearance yet. How annoying would it be to have that guy in his team?

As the creep stepped away from Takeo, he'd turn his body around towards the fragile Hozuki. The boy observed the small girl, who was positioned in a elegant stance. Takeo would laugh at the shinobi before ceasing, and attempting to slide his right hand into the weapon pouch behind him at waist level. He randomly moved his hand around in the bag, searching for one of his kunais. When he felt the cold metal brush up against his finger tips, he'd remove it from his pouch and swallow his spit.

"Don't break a nail sweet heart. It would be an upset for a first date eh?" said Takeo, removing his hand from his gray kunai pouch. The boy would use his other hand to pop the small button on the strap around his neck. It would release from around his upper torso, dropping the hilts nearby Takeo's shinobi sandals. He'd grasp the equipped kunai by the handle, rising it up to his chest. The boy leaped back at least 5 meters away from Hozuki Saya. His distance from the girl would now be 10 meters away.

Takeo landed safely onto the dirt below him. The bangs of his white hair dropped into his face in the process. He would ignore them, not having enough time to think while focusing on blowing bangs out of his face continuously which was the reason their was no need too. Takeo slid his right foot through the dirt of the Training Grounds, placing it slightly behind his left foot. He'd broaden his stance in the process, only moving his left arm up towards his chest.

Sero looks down at Jurou a moment at the comment before he shrugs and returns his gaze to the other two. He seemed quiet in his own way but still there was intelligence there. Sero observes both they're poses and actions. by appearance they both seemed to be an up front an in your face fighting type, meaning less tricks and more brutish amounts of physical power. Still he contemplates this a moment. The girl had made her stance where she stood preparing to hold her ground by the look of it. But the loud mouth had moved back giving some space to himself, an Advantage to the boy he supposed if the distance maintained a few more moments, forcing the girl to come to him allowing him to position his footing better then hers. Still his eyes go to those weapons. Caution on his part would be best. so he responds to Jurou.

"If its all the same to your sir I will simply observe for now. I am unarmed and know nothing of my would be opponents fighting ability. I feel it would be foolish to just rush in for me."

Break a nail? Really? He went for sexism now too? This guy were really starting to get on her nerves. She was about to bite back at him, but held her tongue. He had jumped backwards, standing in a similar ready position as herself, no doubt waiting for her to attack first. Add two and two together and it was very likely that he was trying to irritate her into making an attack, and most likely a mistake. She wasn't going to fall for that.

She could still make out Jurou and the other guy in the corner of her eye. So he was not joining after all. Good, that meant she had one less foe to worry about. Still, Hozuki versus Hozuki could mean a dragged out fight. She needed to choose her moves carefully.

The moment she heard Jurou say they could begin when ready she flipped up one of her two kunai from her pouch and threw it towards Takeo's torso. She dashed towards him while grabbing the second kunai, but instead of the obvious direct attack went for a gliding tackle, one leg out with the torso leaning back protected by her kunai arm. The wet grass made sliding easy, and she got quite some speed. It would be easy to lose your footing because of the grass as well, she figured.

Takeo's back foot dug harder into the ground, attempting to keep his balance. His hand rested upon his kunai as the blade of the Kunai covered his upper torso. Several minutes passed before the start of the battle was announced by Jurou. Takeo slightly smiled, noticing that Saya had attacked him first; Most of the time Takeo would immediately make the first move, but because his opponent being a woman, he felt that it would be rude to assault her first.

The kunai that was launched by Saya whistled through the air as it spun and rotated towards Takeo. The slight whistle of the air through the blade's curves sounded as the knife sliced through the air, aimed at the boy's chest. Takeo grasped his kunai harder, knowing that the kunai would arrive to Takeo first before Saya would. He made no sort of movement as the kunai would easily clash against Takeo's equipped Kunai, and deflect it safely away. As the Kunai was deflected by the other kunai, the collision caused Takeo to drop his Kunai into the dirt and ankle length grass beneath him.

Takeo didn't intend on avoiding the clumsy Girl's excuse for an attack. The boy would allow the pink haired female to attach to him. As the girl jumped towards his waist line for a tackle, He'd place his hands up to his face, spreading them wide and his palm flattened and facing inward, the tips of the middle and ring fingers touching Takeo's temple and face. Being forced to the ground by Hozuki Saya, Takeo would stare down towards Hozuki Saya. A blast of blinding light in a fan shaped style, launched towards Saya. With her being attached onto him (0-5m), she'd easily be blinded by the light. (Saya would be blinded for two posts and stunned for 1 post.)

Bugs, and extraordinary plants were squashed by the impact of the two. Takeo laid on the ground, breathing slightly from wasting a short amount of Chakra. Dirt stains were scattered across his white hair as he pressed his head upon the surface. The color of his hair had changed from a clean white into a gray, dirty, and white color. "Got to say her looks make up for her lack of knowledge." said Takeo, peering his eyes down towards his feet. He'd scan for the girl, knowing that Saya had no chance of avoiding the light.

Chakra Supply; 70/80

Spoiler:

"hmm."
Sero sounded off with a bored expression on his face. His eyes watching the details of the fight. The kunai and the kick in conjunction was a clever move. But the more effective way would have been reverse that.. the kick as the distraction and the Kunai as the attack. That and losing whatever few weapons you had at the very beginning could not be good for any on lasting battles. Sero quietly watched thinking all this to himself.. he doubted she had more then maybe two left. so her fighting ability was quickly diminishing in what she specialized.

As for the boy, He seemed to be able to hold his own and the clever use of the stun to punish his opponent for getting to close was , well it seemed impulsive. Reasonably the Flash Jutsu was better used on an already tired or confused opponent, leading them to a more likely chance of panic and thus a mistake. However another key mistake the boy was making that Sero observed. The boy had attempted to blind his opponent. Now that was all well and good up until the point where he remained in contact with her. Giving her the chance to hold onto something and strike at what she knew was there. Even is she was fully stunned with her opponent still relatively attached to her, then he was just as open to attack as she.

All this seemed to flicker through Sero's thoughts before he simply sat down where he was to continue to watch. In a way he was quickly learning how easy it was to make a mistake in battle, and he was calculating how each of them could benefit him in a battle if they where teamed up. The girl would have the eagerness to charge in but with a trick up her sleeve to force the opponents attention to her while the boy had a way of taunting people and overdoing his moves in such a way that even though predictable, could be fatal if one where to let themselves be distracted. either way a distraction would be allowed for a brief moment to position himself for a powerful attack of his own if timed correctly. Maybe not everyone was useless after all?

Sayas first thoughts were those of success as she felt her glidetackle hit her target. Her trick seemed to have worked out. However, one glance at Takeos face suggested otherwise. A blinding light hit her at point blank range. The light was overwhelmingly bright, causing a burning pain in her eyes. Moments afterwards, Takeo landed on top of her, causing her to lose her breath. She did her best not to curl up into a ball, but instead just lay still, as if unconscious. She wasn't finished just yet.

---

[ooc: So sorry for the late reply, I've been very busy.]