Verdandi was sitting with her subordinates at a campfire and casually munched away at some smoked meat that the locals had provided them with. Months had gone by since the refugees arrived from the vast amount of ships from Kirigakure’s huge fleet as they returned back home from their war in the desert lands. Most of it had been successful at first, but their goal to really repair the country had been cut short and the battle of Inabayama had driven the remaining nations from their actual desire to remain any longer in the desert graveyard it had become. Many of the refugees were happy to leave the country in its current state. But as usual, grass would grow over wounds. The actual removal of criminals and radicals lowered the crime rate massively. With most of the nation’s troops gone, the broken sand was experiencing a silent peace. There were still squabbles and battles between locals and bandits. But whispers of rebuilding efforts came through the desert lands. Many cities were collecting their resources and finding ways to start anew. To make a better wind country for themselves. For this very reason and a few political additions. The refugees had been informed that their longing would be answered. Their wish to return back home to the very shore they came from would be granted and that preparations had been set into motion. Verdandi had overseen the camp since the very day she had led this people here to their safety. Many troubles with refugees from other places had already been dealt with. They had been sent to their new homes and given permanent residence in the land of mist or the land of snow, depending on their preferences. The ones that were still here, were those who wanted to not linger in their foreign safety for long.

No, these people were sunaan at heart and would feel the call of their desert homeland. Verdandi could understand them all too well. The princess of the snow land had made her reputation within the camp as well. Having dealt with the undesirables from the blood country and removed their ill influence from the refugees in general. As leader and overseer of this camp, everyone here would know her name at least. Not everyone would like her. Some of the refugees would forever see the great nations as oppressors and tyrants. But dealing with about over 200’000 people, there would always be a bunch that weren’t quite happy with whatever situation they were in. Verd gave them a new, temporary home. Provided them with food and water. Even made sure that they were comfortable, warm and content with their stay. She had many of her officers guard the place to keep them safe from the wildlife surrounding all of these parts in kiri. The soldiers would specifically mount the borders of the camp and not act like they were guarding the sunaan people as if they were prisoners. If anyone wanted to leave this place they could. No one was forcing them to stay. They were people. Free people. But they would stay for the knowledge that their hosts had promised them to help them return back home once it was all ready and safe and Verdandi was a person that would always stick to her promises. A few of the elderly sunaan that Verd had grown quite fond of joined her and her men at the campfire. Telling the young snow princess stories about castles and large cities in the sand. About the days were Suna was once one of the most powerful nations in the entire world.

It was dark. The sun had already left. The soft glimmer of the moon would shine down upon the refugee camp. But it wasn’t sleepy time yet. The camp was still awake. People would come together all over the place and share their precious time to socialize with each other. Verdandi’s eyes were fixed on the old sunaan elder who talked about the wind country’s beautiful mountains and canyons. She knew it was true. She had been there. Seen its glory with her own eyes. But the way the campfire made its rattling noises. The way the light of it illuminated the faces of her friends and these kind people. It was just so catching and comforting. She felt like as if she could lose herself within the calm resonance of his voice. A big smile would cover her face. Everyone was silent. Watching him talk. It was a good day.


750

It had been a good couple weeks since he'd left his home. Left the only place he'd ever known to come here, A more contrasting place could not be found then the way the Mist Village compared to home. While Gankon had grown up with the scorched sand and the sun baked stone of the Sand Village adjusting to the watery Mist Village was more difficult than he'd expected, the humidity was the worst part, that sticky hot feeling that made it feel a hundred times worse than any desert, Gankon didn't hate this place but it could never be home to him. While most of his kinsman found solace in remembering their homeland for what it was, Gankon spent his time dreaming about what it could be. Dreaming about making The Sand Village more than equal to all other of the Great Nations, but on this particular night he felt more homesick than usual. He hadn't been in his tent that night, the night seemed perfect for a walk, he'd spent the majority of that night walking around looking at what what little the encampment had to offer, the night was cool, a reprieve from the many hot sticky nights that had come before. he stared into the water, looking at his reflection, but what he saw wasn't good enough. He'd need to improve his skills if he wanted any chance of being of any significance to his Village.

He thought about how he was going to get better, there were many Genin in he encampment, maybe it would be wise to train with them, but a teacher was also a good idea, before the glassing, he was about to given his Jounin Sensei, but he never got to meet them. As he ended his walk he reached back at a campfire, where a few of his kinsmen were listening to a story from one of the elders. Gankano couldn't help from smiling the elder had a way with words that made Suna seem to come alive again through his stories, it was almost visible when he spoke. So Gankano sat down to listen to his story and be transported back to his home, if only for a short time.

When the old man was done, he struggled to his feet, and his dream was done, he was back in the Mist Village and his village was still destroyed, his smile faded. He was so engrossed with the old man's story that he hadn't even realized who was listening with him. Verandi was sitting a little to his left, she was older than him and the most well known person in the camp, for better or worse. He'd understood some people dislike towards her, she was doing them a charity, she didn't have to, but some people felt as if she was treating them like lower people , people who need others help, weaklings, but Gankano appreciated all she did for his people. Then it clicked in his head, she has to teach me. Gankano got up to his feet and approached Verandi, He had seen her many times during his stay but had never thought to talk to her for any reason. Gankano stopped in front of her and bowed sating "My name is Gankano Kongo I am going to be your student". Gankano did not phrase it as a request, it did not really cross his mind that she would decline him and even if she did he would simply keep asking until she agreed.

600

Verdandi gazed into the flames. Letting them dance in her mind as she could hear the traditional music of the sunaan people in her mind once again. She had heard them sing and chant like that many times before. Not rarely it was used by the women to comfort their men if they return home from battle. Having seen things, they would rather forget. Allowing their friends and family to lull them back into a feeling of security and peace. It was a gentle noise. Verdandi could close her eyes and hear the voices stirring into her soul. It was indeed as beautiful as she remembered. The old man’s voice would cease to speak as the songs would echo through the camp. Story time was over. The wives were calling for their families to come home for dinner this way. An utterly beautiful ritual that had taken root within the camp. Verdandi’s men would get up and make their way to the soldier’s food cantina. A large makeshift hut where the sunaan refugees and the kiri cooks were working together on the rations that would be publicly handed out to those who didn’t have a cook in their own family or appointed tent. Organizing food for so many thousands of people was quite a task. But this here had gone on for many months now and the team of sunaan and kiri people had already found ways work well with each other. Dandi had already been munching on too much smoked beef to really care for a big dinner.

As the elder left and Verd’s men followed. Some of the other sunaan gramps watched young Gankon step forward. Cheeky as the little brat appeared to be, he exclaimed in front of all people remaining that he was going to be Verdandi’s new student. The elders laughed, his attitude was golden and plentiful. Verd took a moment to snap properly out of her dreamscape and process the words that had been said. All the while meat would find its way between her teeth and letting her gnaw away at it, bits by bits. Gazing up at the boy standing before her, the elders might be laughing but the kid was dead serious. There was a beautiful glimpse in his eyes. A fierce call of determination. A greed for power Verdandi had seen so many times before. He had the appearance of rather annoying but durable little rascal. His expression yet not loaded with arrogance but with a mixture of pain and pride. One of the many kids that were looking to make a difference for the future of their beloved wind. Why should Verd deny him indeed. There was no racist believes within her that asked to be sated. She was wholesome amused by his appearance but also intrigued. Casually she chewed off some boney part from the meat, spit it into the fire and proceeded to stand up. With the simple motion of her palms she molded enough chakra to generate suiton element between them. Casually cleaning her hands with it before letting it naturally dry away again.

“Alright young man. Since you already cleared that out for us there shouldn’t be much more to ask now should there?”

Verd chuckled as she kept the young boys gaze on her and slowly walked away from the campfire. But keeping her eyes connected to his and her frontal body directed to him. Turning her back on him was supposedly rude and by all means she only invited him to join her for a few steps. The elders would sit back down around the campfire. Curious over what will transpire between the two. Unsure if it was still fit to laugh about the situation or be worried.

“Since you were so eager to be my student, I think it’s fair to ask for a little demonstration as what kind of skill I’m dealing with. Hmmm?”

Verdandi grinned and made sure her weapons would disappear. Sealing them away within the fuinjutsu seals that adorned her clothing. Leaving her with her bare fists as she would slowly lift them and show a very basic hand to hand combat defense stance. Left foot forward, tilted. Right food behind, pressured to the ground to tank potential knockback of incoming melee attacks. Arms lifted enough to be quick for shielding her upper body at desire. She didn’t really do this stance because she needed it. But because he would be able to learn from seeing it if he dared to copy.

“Alright there… student. Come at me. Show me what ya got.”


750 / 1500

At his request a few of the other elders laughed at his request but Gankano was dead serious, his eyes were locked onto hers. she responded accordingly and got up to face him.

“Alright there… student. Come at me. Show me what ya got.

Gankano smiled, his eyes burning with excitement and determination, he saw her get into a fighting stance, s he complied with his own fighting stance.He put his front forward and leaned heavily onto his back leg, this would allow him to easily leap from it and strike.

"Yes Sensei" Gankano's smile reached from ear to ear and his heart started pumping faster and faster.

"Now that she was all that he was focusing on, he fully took in her characteristics, the one that stood out the most to him was her eye. Her Crimson eye felt like it burned through Gankano as she looked at him. The power of the legendary Sharingan, a power that could destroy Villages and kill Kage. He didn't know what she could do with that power but he knew that it wouldn't be good for him. Then the question of whether or not to use his own Kekki Genkai, she wanted to see what he could do so he would show her, His ultimate defense. Gankano made his resolve and started daggers at her, now was the time to see what she could do. Gankano was very interested in seeing what a shinobi of her caliber could do and how much training was in the way of him and his goal. Then he focused completely on her, the rest of the world fell away as now it was only the two of them. Gankano let out one deep breath and then launched forward to strike. His first move was to see how willing she was to strike him back so as soon as he got within her range he feigned forward and stepped back to see her reaction. Then he would try to sweep her legs from under her as she looked ready to defend her upper body but not her lower body. Gankano had one split second of cockiness in his mind, "This is easy" he almost thought, but he dashed that thought away instantly, the last thing he wanted to do was underestimate her, She was a shinobi of incredible power, power of unknown limits to Gankano.

The greatest fear when facing a ninja was the fear of the unknown. THe fear of what the ninja could do, but His ultimate defense would allow him to survive a majority of what could be dished out by her or at least he hoped it could.

455/1055

Verdandi’s body naturally pulsated with chakra. Despite the absence of deeper Taijutsu skills, she had an insanely well-trained physical composure. The power gap between a fresh Genin right off the academy and a seasoned Jōnin were worlds apart. Verdandi didn’t necessarily need her Sharingan but she activated it anyway in order to get some basic intel on her opponent. As she would spring the rotating three tomoe in her left eye socket to life, she would also undo the body seal that naturally kept it asleep. The body seal on her left eye was a permanent, passive Fūinjutsu. A high-level sealing skill that would give a hint to one of Verdandi’s latent abilities. The seal allowed Verd to analyze her targets to a deeper level at the use of her Sharingan. Showing her their primary chakra affinity with a distinctive color. Yet when Verd glared at the charging young boy, she was surprised to see a color that was completely unfamiliar to her. Gray. Did this mean that he was absent of any element? She wondered for a moment what this would mean but was left intrigued. His charge forward came to a halt and he retreated for a step. As if he invited his opponent to show a charge or an offense he could measure and analyze. It was not particularly a bad idea to begin with. Maybe a good approach if he was to face an enemy on his own level or brawling with civilians and genins.

Verdandi watched him quickly lean down and aim for her legs. Another good move. Throwing your enemy off balance was always a valuable tactic and he seemed to somewhat cover his side as he was doing so. But once the bluff motion was simply met with no response and Verd just casually hopped over his leg attack, she would wait for him to straighten his body again. With a blink of a flash that would escape his vision Verd would move so close to him that she could breath in the scent from his cheek and before any reactions could really happen her left index finger would snap a thud straight to the center of his forehead. The chakra enhanced powers of a Jōnin were naturally deadly. If Verdandi went full force with punches she could break bones to pieces. But this motion was but a simple lesson to show the youngster that his attitude would show that he wasn’t quite aware of their difference in strength here. The flick to the forehead would send Gankano flying backwards about 15 to 20 meters. The viewers would glare at him worried over what just transpired but eventually realized that aside from the knockback, Verd had inflicted not a single bit of harm on the boy. At best there might be a little stingy feeling on his forehead.

“Lesson number one. Know the differences of types of shinobi. As a Genin, if you encounter a Jōnin that is hostile to you. That wants to attack you or kill you. You can only hope to try and escape or fool them. Surprise them with things they do not expect. Eventually it gives you a miniscule chance to survive. But let’s do this once again. Come at me.”


550 / 2050

As Gankano acted out his tactic, she didn't seem even the slightest bit perturbed about his bluffs or attacks. She seemed so casual about his entire attack that it made him want to be taught be her even more. He'd never fought anyone of near her power, The closet was probably being trained by his father, but he was would have been as much a threat to her as Gankano would.  Then in a flash she was the closest anyone has ever been to him, and then another second passed and he was on his back. he could see the stars brightly in the sky slightly dampened by the cloud of dust that had been kicked up by his landing. He sat up and saw that she had throw him back incredibly far, he put his hand up to feel where she had hit him, he couldn't feel anything so he checked to make sure there wasn't a hole in his head.

As he got back up she told him her apparent first lesson.

"So Sensei, my options are run or try to trick you, running would serve not much purpose as you could easily catch me but trying to trick you seems like it would be even more difficult with that eye at your disposal, so i'm not left with very many options."

While talking to his master, he was making a large mass of steel chakra out of his back, using his talk as a cover.

"So all I can really do is give you all I've got and hope its good enough"

With that he makes the horse sign with is hands and his arms are fully covered by the dull metal of his Steel Release

"And this is all I've got"

Gankano rushes forward and grabs the large piece of steel and tosses it up in the air above her so that it will land on  her, he then prepares to punch her full force in the stomach, but just before he reached her, he uses the substitution jutsu and switched places with it. Now above her he attempt to land on her and pin her to the ground. He doubted that this would even really work, but in her own words tricking her is in his best interest as far fetched as it would be to do that


400 / 1455

Verdandi watched how her new little student casually wrapped himself back up. Despite being seemingly rather the bratty and self-secure type, he didn’t seem to lack a good sense and brain to wrap his mind about what was going on and what he was supposed to learn. Once he charged, Verd’s eye was twirling quickly in order to try and see what kind of technique he’d be forming. While the seals were familiar, the steel release itself was unknown to her. The rather impressive display of elemental control was indeed a surprise and yet his package of trickery was not over just yet. As he swapped places with the heavy object, the metal would take his place and momentum towards her. While he himself had moved to an advantage position above. Threatening to come down at her with his full might. In a match against another Genin, this would have been a rather good move, leaving but an incoming projectile to deal with and an enemy incoming from above. Verdandi nodded in approval before she moved her palms up to form a single dragon hand seal and quickly frost would raise from the ground below. Creeping up the snow princess skin as it’d layer her skin completely. Otherwise, Verdandi would remain still and set in place for now. Letting the Genin enjoy the fruits of his lesson well learned and watch the steel thump against Verdandi’s ice armor. The thickness of her armor however was enough to let the natural momentum be no harm to her. The steel block would smack to the iced skin and drop to the floor below. Verdandi would keep her eyes on the target from above. Her dexterity, reaction time and speed would allow her a plentiful set of things to do. But this wasn’t a fight to bully a Genin continuously over their difference in strength.

In order to keep this educational. Verdandi would drop the use of hyper speed movements and instead lift her arms so she could catch her opponents incoming fists. Instead of actually landing onto her and allowing him his hit, Verd would keep her own palms tightly clenched on his before spinning once and sending him to slide backwards on his feet in the very direction he had come from. Whilst, this time he wouldn’t be knocked back and off his feet. It’d still need a considerable amount of strength on his part to endure the pushback with the dirt squeaking beneath his boots. Verd was content with this first interaction and was now going to test his defense. She moved forward towards him at normal human speed of about 5-10 m/s. Something he could clearly follow and prepare for. Verdandi would visibly clench her fists and aim one to his chest and a second one to hit his left collarbone. The primary idea was to see if he’d be willing to try and defend himself, what his martial art defense would look like and how successfully he could avoid or divert the punches. If Verdandi would hit, he would see that she would have toned down her chakra power for him and it’d feel like normal punches from any of his other Genin comrades, giving minor bruises at worst. The training had just begun, many lessons were yet to be learned.


550 / 2600

[EXIT]