The sound echoed through the forest, although it didn't get far. The forest was dense can would absorb the sounds relatively quickly.


The Birds had already moved away from the sound. Having scattered when it started, they were slowly returning to the place where they started. To their nests and perches. Some of them had even gotten curious about the sound and grew closer. As did other animals. With her eyes, she could see them all, except for in one area. Cure her blind spot.


Water. Sweat, fall gracefully down her forehead. Some flung off of her arms with each and every hit. The sun beat down on the forest, although she was shaded by the large canopy. It made it dark, but not so dark that it wasn't easy to see. There was merely just a lot of shade. Although the sun was still hot today, and it's heat made her training that much harder. She could hear her own heartbeat. Her breath was short. She had been training most of the day. However, she wasn't going to simply give up.


The wood was almost polished, where she had been hitting it repeatedly with her palms. It had indented and she was already past the bark. She was hitting on the live core of the tree, what most people used as actual wood for things.


She had been here most of the day, constantly hitting the tree. She was training. She was training hard. She didn't have plans to stop anytime soon. She was determined. The look in her eye said so. She was going to get stronger whatever the means meant. She had to find out who he was. Where he was. What was he doing. Why hadn't he been around. She had more than enough questions for him once she tracked him down.

"Ohayo Gozaimasu!" Azumi heard shouted as she walked towards the entrance to the hyuuga compound. She had planned to leave so early everyone would be asleep. Turns out her planned failed. She let out a sigh, as she turned around to face Shizu. Shizu was the one who catered to Azumi. Washed her. Made her meals. Got her dressed when she needed to be dressed well. Cleaned her small house in the Hyuga compound. Even though her parents weren't around she was still considered to be a part of the main family, and she was treated as such. Although last year she turned away any such caterer, this year was a new leaf for her. After the time spent with her family outside of the village, she had grown considerably, in both physical and in mental. She had matured, even her meeting with Rippa the other day had shown that. Of course she had spent the next few days asking around the village about her father, after she found out that most of his secrets were unknown, but that still didn't change the fact that she needed to find him.

"Ohayo, Shizu. Did you need something?" The girl simply smiled at her. "Hai, Azumi-sama" Azumi had to help from roll her eyes. She didn't like hearing Azumi-sama. In fact she wasn't too keen on being treated like a Hyuuga princess either, but that was just part of her role as a member of the main family. "You're going out to train correct?" Azumi did an exaggerated look down at herself, to hint that her outfit, which was her usual ninja attire, including her headband around her neck, wasn't for many thing. The words escaped her lips as she looked down. "Yeah, I think so." Shizu crinkled her nose. "No need to be rude Azumi-sama... Well whatever you end up doing, I made you a lunch." Azumi giggled as she mutter the words "Gumen, Shizu, and thank you for the lunch. If this is all you need, I would like to get started on my training." She turned to go, however Shizu quickly grabbed her arm. "W-wait! What time will you be home. I need to know so I can have dinner prepared. Azumi thought for a moment. "Eh, Sometime after sundown." She said smiling as she walked away. Shizu smiled as she mutter the words "Heh, Helpful as always." then she shouted after the young girl. "Come home safely young lady!" Azumi laughter as she replied "Hai!"

Azumi hit the tree harder and harder each hit. The look in her eye grew more and more fierce with each hit. She screamed out as she made one more hit. Chakra burst out from her palm, blowing away what was left of the tree trunk. The tree began to fall, forwards. Azumi twirled her body to the right as the tree fell down where she was standing almost a second ago, and just barely past where she was standing. The tree hit the ground with a large thud, as azumi stood there in her stance. Once the tree hit the ground she let out a huge breath, and deactived her byakugan. She walked over to a nearby tree, and grabbed her backpack. She then sloped down against the tree, with the backback in her lap. She reached in and pulled out the lunch that Shizu made her. She figured it was time for a break.

With the chop sticks in hand she bowed over her lunch. "Arigato" Then she preceeded to begin eating her food. Keeping her senses alert however, knowing that the smell of food and the sound of the tree falling might bring predators.

---

WC: 958
Total WC: 958

The cracking of the bark from the trees were heard as Susumu moved across the tree branches as quickly as he could. Birds scattered in front of him as he landed where they were sitting, before launching himself off the tree, back onto the ground. The conversation he had with Sousetsu led him nowhere, only to know that the others weren’t around anymore. For now, he had to put that thought off his mind and focus on developing himself. This dense forest located in Konohagakure seemed like the perfect place to get his training done and strengthen himself both physically and mentally. Although, he thought he was alone in the area. His ears twitched as soon as he noticed the faint sound coming from the distance. These weren’t the kind of noise that nature would create on its own. Rather than that, there must be another person around that Susumu hadn’t noticed before.

With a steady pace, but completely taking his own time, he moved towards where the sound was coming from. It didn’t matter to him what kind of person would be there, whether they’d be good or evil, Genin or Jounin. As he stepped towards one of the final trees before reaching the location he was headed towards, he leaned himself with his opened palm against the bark of the tree, leaning in and taking a quick peek to observe the situation. He squeezed his eyes together, focusing on that particular individual. He only saw the back of the girl that was there, but he could tell from first glance that it wasn’t someone he had met before. And apparently, that girl was here for training, as well. As Susumu should’ve figured, in a dense forest like this, more people would’ve come up with the thought to train themselves rather than wasting time. He waited for a while, giving the girl the time to finish her training before making his appearance. Was this girl even a Konohagakure Shinobi or just some girl that passed by and decided to kill some time with training? He decided that he’d use this time in order to get some information about her first. If she were indeed a Konohagakure Shinobi, maybe Susumu should stay on guard then. Maybe his sudden appearance and unknown identity could lead to thinking he was here to invade and had some hostile plans, but for a change, this really wasn’t the case. Patiently he waited, even crouching a little bet to get a little comfortable himself and keeping himself in his cover. He thought that the girl had potential concerning strength, as well as agility, but if he’d judge her on what level she’d be, he’d guess Genin, maybe a little above average, even. But it wasn’t his style to underestimate an opponent by what they’re showing off in training.

Normally, Susumu wouldn’t just walk up to someone in order to start a conversation, but he had learned from previous experiences that in order to gain new information and get more knowledgeable, is to talk to other people. Susumu’s eyes widened slightly the moment he heard the tree cracking and it came its way tumbling down towards the girl. In one swift movement, the girl had avoided the tree from hitting her as it crushed the blades of grass beneath it, instead. Susumu let out a minor sigh as he witnessed her sitting down and unpacking her lunch. This was the moment for Susumu to make his appearance. He got out from behind the tree, crushing the leaves under his feet as he stepped towards a place where there was more light and confronted the girl without hesitation. There was no hostility in Susumu’s eyes, however, nor did he give off the vibe that he was about to pull something off. After all, he’s still just a kid. He kept it silent for a while before speaking up and figuring, looking back at the conversations he’s had in the past, it’d be better for himself to introduce himself first. Scraping his throat in order to get her attention first. “That’s some strength you’ve got there.” He mentioned first, because that’s literally the first thing that he saw and caught his attention. “Considering we’ve never met before, I’ll introduce myself.” He said, looking down at the girl with his deep blue eyes, uncommon for an Uchiha. “My name’s Uchiha Susumu.” Although he just introduced himself, he never learned himself to reach out his hands for a proper introduction, and it never even crossed his mind. What he was interested in, however, was how the girl got those Taijutsu abilities.
------
Word Count: 807
Total Word Count: 807