"You remember what I told you, right?" The Raikage asked his eldest daughter sternly.
"Yes sir..." She murmured, her head lowered.
"Do not frown. You will need a husband one day, and I do not wish for you to marry someone poor. I ask that you look start looking. You are 19... Is that so hard, Rizna?"
Rizna shook her head. "No sir, I understand..."
"Have fun, daughter." He murmured before looking to his papers.
Rizna sighed and left her fathers office down to the village where she was greeted by her younger sister, Cari.
"Rizna! How's daddy?"
Rizna rolled her eyes and moved passed Cari. "Why are you so attached to that man? He cares or nothing more than himself. Leave me be..." She murmured, heading to her favourite rice shop and sat down, ordering her favourite dish. As she was waiting, she spotted a male at a table across from hers. Her eyes glanced at him and she realized she didn't recognise him. Finally her food came and she tried to keep her eyes off of him as her food was brought to her and she started eating.
Naerimo had watched as the Raikage's daughter walked into the rice shop and sat down. He lowered his head slightly each time she turned her gaze towards him, and lifted it each time she looked away. She was beautiful, not many could deny but she was hard to get close with. Naerimo sighed and leaned back in his chair. His eyes fell once again on Rizna, and he managed to catch her gaze; he smiled politely and tipped his head slightly, continuing to hold her gaze.
Rizna blushed faintly as she looked at the male. He was clearly her age and she couldn't help but to admit that he was attractive. She wanted to start up a conversation, but being a whole table away, it would just seem odd.
The waitress stopped at the mans table, leaning her hand on the tables edge and leaning in his line of sight of Rizna. She smiled down at him, "Did you enjoy yourself?" she asked quietly.
Naerimo stood slowly and nodded. "Yes, thank you very much." he replied. The waitress blushed lightly at the closeness between them before slipping past him and moving away. He watched as she retreated into the kitchen before turning to the counter. He paid for his food, and treated the Raikage's daughter by paying for her food. As he went to leave he stopped short of her table and flashed a smile at her before continuing out into the streets of Kumogakure.
Rizna's eyes widened at the male. She quickly finished off her rice and went to pay so she could chase after him.
"Oh no, miss. That man paid for your rice." The waitress smiled.
"H-He did?" Rizna stuttered.
The waitress nodded. Rizna shook her head and quickly headed outside to try and find the male. She spotted him off in the distance and quickly ran to his side. "H-Hey, wh-why did you pay for my rice? That was not necessary..." She murmured, a faint blush forming on her cheeks as she looked over the male.
Naerimo shrugged in response. "I could go take my money back." There was a quick moment of silence. "But that wouldn't be very gentlemanly."
Her blush deepened as she looked at the ground. "N-No... Thank you... I was just wondering why you decided to pay it..." She murmured.
He shrugged once again. "I wanted to."
"W-Well thanks... Again. Clearly I do not have to introduce myself, but I would like to know your name." She smiled at him.
"How come?" he asked innocently, slowing to stop and looking at her with a subtle smirk.
Her eyes widened as she stopped and stared at him. "I-I just do? Is that okay?" She murmured, a blush forming on her face again.
He laughed lightly and tipped his head slightly. "Tsuchigo, Naerimo." He stated. "My mother is the Raikage's secretary."
She laughed. "Interesting." she shook her head and smiled. "Well, it was nice meeting you, but I'm a bit late to go and train my squad. Thanks for paying my lunch though." She bowed slightly.
Naerimo nodded and waved as she turned to leave. "Have fun." He called after her.
She laughed. "You too! Hope to see you again sometime." She winked before running off out of sight.
A chuckle escaped his throat and he turned in the opposite direction, smirking slightly. He wondered how many she had said that to. Sighing, he began his journey for trying to find one of his own genin that he needed to speak with.
After a few hours if training with her squad, a jounin had come to find Rizna and told her she was summoned by the Raikage. She sighed and went without question, what she was shocked to find, was that Naerimo was in the room.
"Rizna..." Raikage murmured.
"S-Sorry, I'm late..." She murmured, moving to stand beside Naerimo. "What's going on?"
"You and this jounin are going on a mission. You are to travel to the Rain Village and bring back a villager."
"Sounds simple..." Rizna murmured.
"Who is being hunted by rogues."
"Always a catch..." Rizna sighed and scratched her head.
"As I said as well." Naerimo laughed, scratching the back of his neck.
She smiled slightly before looking back at her father. "So we go now?"
He nodded. "And keep your guard up. If word has reached enemy ears, you will be hunted even before you reach the villager... Not that I worry about you, Rizna." He smiled.
Rizna rolled her eyes an sighed deeply. "Bye, sir..." She murmured, heading for the door, expecting Naerimo to follow.
"You have great faith in your daughter." He whispered to the Raikage before following Rizna.
The two jounin headed straight for the gates, mostly in silence. After finally leaving the village, Rizna finally decided to start up a conversation. "So, how ironic after meeting we get sent on a mission..."
Naerimo chuckled. "Indeed. I was actually commenting to Raikage about he hasn't sent me on a mission in a while." He smiled.
She smiled and sighed. "My dads a jerk..." She murmured, looking at the ground.
"You do not like your father?" Naerimo asked carefully and glanced at her.
She shrugged. "He is my father, so i like him as far as that goes, but..." She shrugged again. "He puts a lot of pressure on me because I'm the oldest of my three sisters, and then there's his obsession of me finding a husband..."
"A husband?" Naerimo's eyebrow twitched up.
She nodded. "He wants me to marry soon and settle down." She shrugged. "I'm cool with getting married and all, but I still want to be a jounin for a while before I have children..."
Naerimo nodded. "Understandable." He murmured. "I suspect that you already have someone in mind?". He chuckled.
She laughed and shook her head. "Nope, none."
"None you find interesting?" He asked, slightly confused.
She smirked and looked up at him. "Quite curious, aren't cha?"
Naerimo shrugged. "I mean, a lot of men have longed to be with you, if only for a day." He chuckled. "I'm just surprised that none has interested you in the slightest."
She shrugged. "No men have proved to be worth my time. I mean, most of them are too clingy, or they believe themselves to be better than me, or even think of me as a trophy rather than a human." She shook her head.
Naerimo nodded. "Well, you can't deny that you are a very beautiful woman. Although, that shouldn't give them the right; as you said." He said.
She sighed and nodded before smirking. "What about you, anyway? Got a girl on your arm, or if not, one in mind?" She chuckled.
"Not particularly. I'll admit, I'm a picky guy." He chuckled and scratched his cheek. "It's not too often that a woman will catch my attention."
She smirked. "Sounds like we're similar."
The sun was beginning to settle over the horizon and the two decided to stop at a nearby inn for the night. "If you need me, bang on the wall. The walls are probably so thin, all you'll need to do is call me." Naerimo chuckled as he leaned against the door frame of Rizna's room.
Rizna smirked. "Who says I'll need you?" She laughed, winking at him.
Naerimo chuckled. "Nightmares are a common burden." He winked back and headed for the door to his own room.
Rizna smirked as she watched him leave. She laid back on her bed a ran her hand through her hair. What was she thinking? These feelings, towards someone on a lower status than herself? She must have been catching some sort of flu bug. She chuckled to herself before laying down ad shutting her eyes, seeming to be unable to get the jounin from her thoughts.
"Wake quietly." A man's voice rang through Naerimo's mind. His eyes shot open and he quickly reached for the kunai in the man's hands. The man gasped as Naerimo turned quickly and tackled him down on the bed and driving the kunai into his throat. His eyes narrowed and he left the body on the floor to sneak out to Rizna's room. He turned the door knob and opened the door a tiny bit. He could see a form off to the side, sneaking towards the bed. He slipped in quickly and slipped into one of the dark corners. Just before the man reached the bed, Naerimo lunged at the bed and placed his hand over the man's mouth before twisting his neck quickly. The man fell limp into Naerimo's arms and he carried the man to the window, throwing him over the railing. He chuckled and shook his head. "Amateurs." He murmured and turned around to see if Rizna was still asleep.
Rizna had remained asleep. She stirred as she rolled to her stomach, her arms moving above her head. A strand of hair fell in front of her face as the moonlight lit up her features and odd markings that littered certain parts of her body.
Naerimo's eyes fell over the markings and he moved closer to get a better look. He eyes drifted to her face lit up by the moon. He sighed quietly and turned back for the door.
Rizna stirred again. Her eyes slowly opened and spotted Naerimo leaving her room. "Wh-What are you doing?" She yawned, propping herself up with her arm.
Naerimo paused just before he opened the door and turned to look at Rizna's drowsy expression. "Just making sure you're alright; we had a bit of an ambush here." He chuckled lightly.
Her face twisted in confusion before she shrugged. She was too tired to question anything. She laid back down and yawned again. "How kind..." She muttered, pulling the blanket up around her chest with her one arm above the covers.
"Goodnight." He whispered and opened the door before returning back to his own bed.
Early morning the pair headed off towards the Rain Village. Rizna was tired but also eager to get into a fight.
"Did you sleep well?" Naerimo asked as they carried onwards.
Rizna smiled softly and nodded. "I did. Did you?"
Naerimo shrugged. "Nothing beats my personal bed." He chuckled.
She laughed. "I guess that's a good point." She smirked, looking up ahead.
In the shadows of bushes and trees, two rogues watched the pair closely as they walked by.
"Isn't that the Raikage's eldest daughter?" The one asked his partner, his voice rough and almost like a hiss.
The woman snarled. "I've hardly met her and she already seems annoying."
"Stupid rich girl..." The male hissed before smirking. "Want to take her? I'm sure her dead corpse would be worth a lot."
"I'd say so. We can leave the guy behind to rot." She snickered. "Or we can leave him heartbroken."
The male shrugged. "Either way I want her dead, cold corpse!"
The woman nodded. "Let's do this quickly, why don't we?"
He nodded and formed a few hands seals. A trail of ice started to travel towards the two jounin. Rizna narrowed her eyes and swiftly pulled a kunai, throwing it into the bush. There was a grunt, the ice retreating before the man and woman stepped out, the male pulling the weapon from his shoulder.
"I hate rich girls!" He growled.
Rizna smirked and looked at Naerimo. "Guess you'll get to see my ability today." She chuckled.
Naerimo raised his brow and turned slightly to look at Rizna. "Would you like the first move?"
She shrugged. "Depends… Are you wanting to show off for me?" She smirked and winked at him.
Naerimo chuckled. "I've never been know to be conceded." He winked.
She shrugged and took a step closer to the rogues, smirking. "Fine, Ill go then." She chuckled, lifting her hand and opening it to reveal two red dice that had a light white glow to them.
"What is that?" The male hissed, his eyes narrowing on Rizna.
"Something you're going to dislike highly…" She murmured.
The woman narrowed her eyes and looked to the man beside her. "I find them highly annoying." She murmured. "You take the girl, I'll kill the guy?" She whispered.
He smirked and nodded. "I hate rich girls… I want to rip her apart…"
The woman nodded and stepped around the man, heading forwards towards Naerimo. Naerimo simply turned to look at her and smiled. "Fine day, is it not?"
The woman grimaced and slowly advanced towards him. He sighed and shook his head. He didn't particularly enjoy fighting as part of being a shinobi, but it was a reality; and if he didn't kill her, she was going to kill him.
Rizna smirked and narrowed her eyes on the male. "Woman first?"
He shook his head. "Hell no!" He quickly formed several hand seals and ice quickly advanced towards Rizna.
She chuckled and threw the dice up before they hit the ground. The two dice came out as the number five. A light red glow surrounded Rizna's hands as she bent down and slammed her hands into the dirt. Fire traveled across the ground and towards the male, melting his ice. He gasped and tried to dodge - it managed to catch his clothes.
He quickly rolled around on the ground to suffocate the fire before jumping up and glaring. "No fair!" He screamed.
Rizna shrugged and picked her dice back up, the red glow fading.
After the female had reached a few feet in front of Naerimo, she made a fell hand seals and murmured a few words under her breath. Naerimo chuckled and looked into the woman's eyes. His crossed arms fell to his side and he stood straight, mimicking what the woman was saying. "Taymitsunokioni."
The woman's eyes narrowed and watched carefully as roots grew through the ground and began to crawl up his leg; yet, he made no effort to struggle or move. He stood their, staring at her, and when her eyes met his, she couldn't look away.
Her hands fell to her side, breaking the seal. The roots retreated back into the ground and she took a step closer to Naerimo. He simply smirked and stepped forward as well.
"What, are you doing?" She whispered.
"Stopping you." He whispered back.
Her eyes continued to hold his and she stopped a foot in front of him, her eyes widened. "You're…I can't move."
"You're moving." Naerimo smirked, watching through his peripheral as her hand came up; keeping their gaze connected.
She shook her head. "No, it's n-not me." She murmured.
Naerimo nodded. "Good observation." He whispered.
She her reached into the pouch wrapped around her middle and pulled out a kunai slowly. She gulped and her breathing began to thicken. "Stop…" She said with terror.
Naerimo ignored her plea and his eyes narrowed slightly. She was panicking, but she wasn't able to vocalize it. Her hand with the kunai drew near to her throat. Her chest heaved and she went to scream, but just as the sound came from her throat, it disappeared. She drew the kunai quickly across her flesh, and her scream turned into a gurgling as she fell to the ground, her body twitching slightly. Naerimo sighed simply and turned to watch Rizna and the mans fight once more. He had missed a little bit of it, but she clearly had the upper hand.
The male had watched his partner fall. He quickly fled and Rizna turned to face Naerimo. "Nice job."
Naerimo sighed. "I missed a bit of your fight, unfortunately. I don't fully understand what your ability is from what I saw."
She laughed. "Don't worry. You'll see more." She smirked as the die faded in her hand.
Naerimo shrugged and turned back to the woman. A pool of blood began to spread around her and her clothing were drenched in it. He squatted down to look in the pouch around her stomach, reaching in to pull out a few items; some weapons, and some medical supplements. He smiled up at Rizna and placed them in his own pockets.
"It's a shame that some woman are extremely unconfident." He murmured and stood back up.
Rizna sighed and turned back onto the path. "Let's go. That guy is going to call for back up, probably."
Naerimo nodded, taking one last glance at the woman before following after Rizna. In a quick few strides, he was at her side. They walked in silence.