Success! Kumogakure's newest genin

[Kazuki Ishikawa]

Wind swept through the lush plains of the exam grounds, the area quiet, and the field seemingly empty. From the forest bordering the tall grass, the newly promoted Kumogakure genin emerged, a triumphant look plastered across his face despite the fatigue he was feeling from the exam. With him was his new sensei, the illusionist Tanaka Okayama.

“Kazuki! We’ll meet up for training bright and early tommorow, so get some rest, and don’t be late!” Tanaka said sharply. Despite her firmness, her lips formed a grin. “And congratulations. I’m sure you’ll make our village proud.” Kazuki returned her smile as he bowed before her. “Thank you Tanaka-sensei!”

The jounin nodded and with a slight wave, disappeared in a puff of smoke. Kazuki headed off by himself on the path back to the village. He couldn’t wait to get home and show everyone. His mother, his father, his grandparents; and perhaps most importantly of all, his sister Ayame. “Come to think of it… Ayame’s exam is today too… I was so excited about passing I forgot… I’m sure she passed though.” He said to himself as he entered the village. “She’s an even better fighter than I am. She’ll be a genin for sure.”

As he entered the shopping district of town, he stopped at a produce stand and picked up a few things for his mother to cook with. “Thanks for stopping by Kazuki, and congratulations on finally becoming a ninja! I know you’ll be great!” The old man tending the cart said kindly as he ran off. “Thank you ojiisan, I’ll do my best!” Kazuki called over his shoulder as he ran the rest of the way home.

A few minutes later, Kazuki entered the Ishikawa compound, sliding off his shoes before he entered the house. He knew his father was away on a mission, so he would have to break the news to him later. “Mother, I’m home!” He called out as he entered the house. His mother, a slender woman with long auburn hair entered the room, a happy smile on her face at seeing her son. “Welcome home Kazuki.” She said, her eyes on his forehead protector. “I see you’ve passed your test… good job! I’m very proud of you, and when your father gets back, I know he will be too."

Kazuki simply beamed as he handed his mother the groceries she’d asked for. “Oh, thank you Kazuki-kun.” She said, taking the bag from him and heading for the kitchen. “I’m going to get dinner started now. Why don’t you go help your grandfather out in the garden? By the time you’re done, Ayame should be back from her exam too.”

“Yes mother.” The young boy said, picking up his shoes as he rushed out back, hardly able to contain the excitement of showing his grandfather his newly acquired headband.

[Ayame]

Genin... now, she was a Genin... she had finally been through the academy training to become a Kunoichi, just like her mother. It was a strange feeling to be thinking about it... to think that she had fought weel enought in the exam to pass... Now her life would indeed be quite different, as she would undertake missions, and probably would have to learn how to kill better... and finally, would have to perform what she believed was a sacred task in a ninja's life, to kill... in order to protect something or achieve a goal..

Ayame had arrived to their house a few minutes before Kazuki, however she hadn't gathered the will to come inside yet... to think that she would be greeted with welcoming smiles... and gentle words... She felt somewhat depressed to think that the exam had been so easy.. as if there had been something missing in this... she didn't have a scratch on herself.. and except from the grass stains on her clothes, there was little thing that had left its mark other then that depressed state..

The kunoichi was on the roof of the house, laying on her back as she was holding up the forehead protector in front of her eyes, looking at it as well as at the cloudy skies behind it, as she wondered if she was supposed to be strong... or it was just that the examiner had went easy on her.. Or perhaps he was just a weak excuse for a Jounin..

The girl would easilly hear Kazuki as he came into the house, hearing muffled voices as he spoke with their mother, yet... she would not move from her spot for now, she wanted to think a little more, and it wouldn't be until her twin would come out behind the house that she leaned up in a sitting position and looked down at him, placing the forehead protector arround her waist, since she didn't know where it could be placed for practical use, and she didn't like its weight over her head.

Standing up, she would smile slightly as she noticed the one that her brother was carrying and she called out to him.

"So you're a Genin now oniichan?"

she would ask before dropping from the edge of the roof, focusing her chakra to cushion her landing as best she could in order to save herself from breaking anything. Her hands would move to rest on her hips as she looked at him with a smile, feeling good that he had passed the exam as well, even tho she wondered if it had been so easy for him as well...

[Kazuki Ishikawa]

"Ayame-chan!" Kazuki exclaimed, rushing his sister and enveloping her in very tight hug. He knew the Ayame he saw in the forest was just an illusion, but the image had chilled him to the bone and seeing her alive and well was a gigantic relief. Releasing her after a few moments, he looked down to see the forehead protector strapped around her waist. "I see you've passed as well, oneechan... but of course, I knew you would." Glancing back at the house, rubbed the back of his head while in thought. "Did you see Mother yet? She'll be happy to know you've passed."

[Ayame]

Ayame was quite suprised at Kazuki's outburst of huggyness, tho she didn't mind it, as long as it was him trying to hug her and not some snot nosed baka... Her hands would come to wrap arround her brother gently and she blinked slightly

"Meeehh... You're in a clingy mood today.."

Not that hugs were rare between the twins, its just that it had been so suddent, that she was starting to wonder if someone hadn't tryed to bully her younguer brother, and her face was starting to turn red with anger as she was thinking about it, but as soon as her brother continued speaking, she would calm down and sighed a bit when he mentionned seeing their mother. She still didn't think she was ready to face her parents, not with the poor Exam she had passed, even tho she had passed it.. Since everything seemed so surreal..

"I... meeh.. nah.. its alright... Let's stay outside a little more, I'll see mother when we'll eat... I'm too tired to go inside right now.."

Of course she had just lied a little, but she needed time to focus her mind and figure out if it was a real test sheh ad passed or it was just something else.. She had worked so hard... trained and documented herself so much and yet she hadn't had any trouble... And while other children might have readied themselves by buying new weapons, she had dealt with the problem at hand with her normal weaponry and wits... and she had come to think about if this was what was called the Ishikawa's ingeniosity and genius.

Her hand would raise to rest on top of Kazuki's forehead gently as she smilled and gave a slight nod.

"There's no playing at being ninjas anymore.. now its the real thing.. and we have to make our clan proud.."

She would say solemnly before adding quickly

"I'm proud of you oniichan.."