Author's Note: A special Shoutout goes to Kallin22, who's in the hospital this week for undisclosed reasons. I hope it's not serious and that you recover quickly! ^_^

The sun was only barely coming up through the window sills. Everything was quiet and still, outside of the wildlife outside chirping. A strange sensation. Syra laid there in her bed as she usually would: in the buck.

"mmnn..." she murmured, slowly waking up and noticing her blanket was thrown off to the side. Something felt off, and she looked down to see a head of purple hair in her crotch. Moving and moaning softly. Then it was like lightning striking her nervous system that her eyes lit up all the way and she half moaned, half gasped in surprise.

"I see you're finally awake." the girl said to Syra, smirking before going back down to her...'business'.

"This is so mean, waking me up like this..." she whined, only to to start softly panting. Regardless of her beauty rest being interrupted she didn't mind this affection first-thing-in-the-morning. ~How is she so good at this...?!~ Syra thought as she felt a tongue flicking across her folds and clit so expertly, with her legs spread wide open like an invitation.

A few long moments of being 'serviced' and the other girl sat up then laid on her side next to Syra making eye contact with her and pressing her own chest against Syra's own. Two sets of tits docking to each other. Her short, violet hair that spiked on ends was slightly damp from sweating and leaned in with her blue eyes meeting Syra. "You're so cute when you whimper; like a wounded animal..." going in to lick under her neck up to her earlobe, effectively interrupting any coy response Syra had with fingers sliding in and out of her wet entrance.

Her legs twitched and ended up panting somewhat to a response. "S-shut up..." Syra replied, before her lips met the other girls and the two hotly rubbed bodies while liplocking. Syra's body language started giving signs she was close and rather than pull away to prepare for it, the fingers only continued to pleasure her erotic bits more and more before clamping down and having an orgasm...which too was muffled by the deep kissing.

After nearly passing out again from the intense morning orgasm from being toyed with as she woke up, she looked down to the bedside lover as she was diving her face in between Syra's huge, bulbous breasts, which were being licked slowly. She squishes her tits together and smiles.

"I love waking up with you..."

"!" The blanket is thrown off and Syra sits upright, eyes widened. She looks around briefly, wearing her Hebijo clothing. ~...a dream?~ she thinks. A moment of quiet settles in and her face faults. It appeared that everything that was supposedly going on was just so real her mind made her think it was happening but was just a memory. The long haired shinobi frowns and wipes a tear she seemed to have shed while asleep and just mumbles. Her face is stained with some tears that she hasn't shed in a long while. "I miss you so much..." she muttered to nobody...and just threw her pillow across the room and out an open window.

She sat there blinking, sniffling from her sailing high emotions and just went "Crap..." and decided to get up and retrieve it. ~Might as well face the day then..~

While Hanzo Academy was recovering from the Gessen attack to kick off the Shinobi Battle Royale event; New Hebijo was mustering it's own elites since the previous class had gone rogue. They weren't aware of the conflict between the two "good" shinobi academies until one of their spies informed them of the event. Miyabi was slightly incensed by the development; she wanted to be the first to crush Hanzo Academy in retaliation for destroying the previous Hebijo and driving its elites out. Syra wasn't so sure and had tried to dissuade the group leader from doing anything stupid; pointing out that they were still facing uneven odds even with the recruitment of Murasaki.

"Look, all I'm saying is that going against them NOW is probably not the best of times." Syra said in a tone that meant she wasn't going to be easily persuaded, nor let Miyabi take things head on.

Murasaki was kind of in the corner to herself. All of this loud noises really hampered with her mood and was trying to find ways to slink off to play on her PC. "Everyone...please...we should...be a team.."

"When you joined Syra, did you REALLY have any intention to make good with your hands or are you just talk?" Miyabi challenged with her arms crossed.

"What?!" Syra barked back.

"Maybe running away IS your speciality? I should have expected as much." Miyabi said, her arms pressing more while crossed and pushing her bosom up with a bounce.

The two young shinobi stared each other down like nature's disasters clashing against each other. Imu wanted to comment more on the matter, and would do so more than not at all to defend Miyabi but it seemed like she would just cause an explosion.

"P-perhaps it's not so bad...? Hanzo doesn't seem like..." Murasaki started to say only to then shut herself up realizing nobody was listening. "O-oh. Okay.."

Suzune sighed, leaning up against the bar counter of the Neo-Hebijo common room; casually snacking on chicken skewers. She'd been with the group since the elite group was reformed, determined to avoid having them dissolve or mutiny like the last group had. She believed that keeping a closer eye on what they were doing was going to help with that. However, currently it'd just led to them bickering; Miyabi was the appointed leader but Syra seemed to believe that she would be better for it. Suzune had tried to convince Syra to just accept the fact sayin that Miyabi was both older and had more experience.

The headstrong girl eventually just stopped arguing and seemed to accept the fact; but still they still very obviously didn't like each other. The personalties of the entire group were causing unncessary friction- Miyabi was prideful and determined, Syra was confident but smug and mischievious; while Imu had a strong personality on her own- she tended to almost blindly side with Miyabi and Murasaki simply went with whatever Imu wanted. It was developing into a situation where it was 3-against-1 on almost anything involving what to do next other than train. And yet the idea to train together never occured to them.

However, with the new transfer students Ryobi and Ryouna; Suzune hoped the dynamic would even out at little. Things were rarely so easy. The twins had their own ideas and while Ryouna would follow anyone like a happy puppy as long as they fed her masochism. Ryobi was very independent and seemed constantly angry about something or annoyed by her sister's fetishes.

Syra saw that fact and had quickly run roughshod over Miyabi's attempts to assert leadership by trying to make friends with Ryobi and verbally abusing Ryouna thoroughly early on. Even after Miyabi had accepted the two through her own testing; Ryobi still didnt' seem to like her much and as a result didn't listen to her more often than not. In the end, convinced that despite their differences; they could win- Miyabi decided to pre-emptively launch an assault against Hanzo Academy on the same grounds that Gessen had.

A short time later, A mysterious figure garbed fully in black with their features covered by their hood, cloak and androgynous clothing would show up at Hanzo Academy. Taking pains to avoid being spotted by anyone; civilian or shinobi and to avoid the shionbi detecting devices that were set all over campus. They'd disabled several while they were monitoring the Gessen attack earlier and found infiltrating along that route ideal. The Hanzo security hadn't been repaired yet; doubtless that they knew of the downed devices though.

The figure did not stay long; only long enough to silently suspend a bamboo shoot that contained a scroll with a message on it in front of the shinobi school's main doors and trip the alarm. While Kiriya peered through the periscope-like device; the figure stayed out of sight and only made the suspended container sway slightly to get attention before climbing up the side of the building and vaulting over to a nearby tree and disappearing.

As Kiriya went to investigate; all he found was the bamboo container. After thoroughly checking to be sure it wasn't a bomb or trap; he'd pluck it down and slid the scroll out and unfurled it. Inside was a simple message that made him blanch momentarily before hurrying back inside.

"You are about to be attacked by the newly rechristened Hebijo Elites. They are not the same you faced before."

Kiriya was worried; his girls were still shaken up by their experience with Gessen. An even that only happened a couple days ago. While most of the wounds had healed; the emotional toll created by being attacked by another 'Good" Shinobi school pressed heavily upon them. With both Sanosuke and Daidouji gone, off to their own private training at the behest of Hanzo himself; Kiriya himself didn't want to have to fight his student's battle for them but felt he may not have a choice.

"So this is Hanzo Academy. Those idiots; they were found out by the previous group and they remained in the same location?" Imu scoffed. "Any other academy would've pulled up roots and relocated by now. How stupid are they?"

"They aren't expecting another attack so soon, that's why." Syra groaned as she caught up to them; having gotten tired of listening to Ryouna begging Ryobi to abuse her while they traveled.

"That's why we're doing this now." Miyabi retorted with a fervor to regain their school's honor on display. "Are we all ready?" she asked as they got within 'striking range' and would direct them to split up and try to hit the Hanzo students from multiple angles at one time. They'd all since used their transformations before they got within range to be sensed and were all ready to go.

However, just as they began to split up; Imu and Ryobi would start to head in different directions with a leap each- until they both were shot down by shuriken. "Wha?!" they both jolted as they fell back to the ground. No damage was really done but the shock of it had knocked the wind out of their sails.

"Who the hell are you?" Ryobi shouted. leveling her rifle at the direction of the shuriken's origin. ~Are you the supposed sixth academy student that nobody knows about?~ She couldn't help but wonder.

"I don't really have to answer that question." A reply came from behind a dust cloud that'd been kicked up somehow; stepping through it was a young woman with long flowing snow-white hair, fair skin and wearing what looked like a bikini top and a side-tied skirt on her hips. She didn't even bother to transform to meet them it seemed.

"I don't care who you are! You're a student of this damnable academy and that's enough for me!" Miyabi said, lunging forward with her hand shrouded in black energy and drawing her sword. Executing a perfectly timed sword combo of slices combined with black energy bursts to deal extra damage.

The girl didn't even seem to move from it and batted Miyabi's sword strokes away with negligent seeming single hand parries and not even bothered to avoid the darkness bursts; taking them right in the face and chest. When Miyabi finished with a strong burst of energy from her black feathered wing; the girl just stood there and took it.

"Is that really it? I thought you, as the leader, would be stronger." The girl said, examing one of her long white-hairs. "oh I have a split end! Congrats." She replied to Miyabi mockingly, then vanished. In the space of 5 seconds; hard sounding impacts rang out and one-by-one Imu, Ryobi, and Syra went down; holding their midsections like they'd just been hit in the gut with a sledgehammer.

Ryouna was a different story; she held her ground but had her leggs pressed together tightly and her hands on her stomach. With a dreamy look in her eyes she said one that that would've made no sense otherwise. "The pain...it's...it's ...it's so good.. I'm going to...going to..." Ryouna quivered all over, turning a bright red as she crumbled to her knees with her thighs pressed together tightly.

The white-haired girl reappeared in front of Miyabi in a flash of motion and grabbed her by the wrist and twisted her sword out of her grasp. The Hebijo leader retailiated by punching at her face with her darkness fist; again the girl didn't even seem to be bothered by that as she effortlessly lifted Miyabi off her feet by her throat. Glaring her right in the eyes, Miyabi could see that she had almost glowing green eyes with a look that sent terror straight into her very core. "Get lost." The girl said and suddenly hurled Miyabi away toward Syra whom caught her and the two hit the dirt.

"Why you..." Miyabi growled as she got to her feet as did Syra. Miyabi's pride was hurt now and she wanted to fight even more. BUT something about this strange girl didn't seem right to her and it unsettled Miyabi greatly; like something she had experienced before but couldn't remember.

"Damn she's strong. Who the hell..." Syra said. "Miyabi I think we may need to back off for now...she's going to stand in our way the entire time and in the space of 5 seconds she just took everyone else out of the fight..."

Even though they had split up, Murasaki came to investigate the loud sounds of battle and saw the tail end of Miyabi and Ryouna being tossed a bit around, with the exception of Ryouna passing out from pain and pleasure overload.

"Like HELL!" Miyabi fired back as Murasaki even tried to even the odds of the fight, though it seemed not even her special ability utilizing her Root of Calamity Ninja Arts. The white haired shinobi they fought was hit by it but seemed unphased. Moreso she just stood there taking the brunt of it and then hissed. "Owwww...ok THAT stings a little..." throwing a one-two curveball in psychology in the middle of battle as she then threw her own ki wave at Murasaki, causing physical tearing to her outfit and making her unable to fight.

With the exception of Miyabi, who was just holding onto her breasts with one arm, the other girls were stripped: both of abilities to keep going as well as their clothes.

"Tch, Dammit! Ok Syra, you're right... Help Ryouna up and let's get out of here. Regroup with Imu and Ryobi and tell them to retreat." Miyabi said, her inner self too shaken up to continue once her reason caught up with her pride. "We can finish this later."

"For once you make a good decision." Syra muttered as she helped Ryouna up and half carried her away once the others were up as well.

"This isn't over." Miyabi shot back at the Hanzo defender.

Kiriya had rushed out to see what the damage was; since he'd had just enough time to warn the girls of it. While they were prepared for it, the girls were still worn out and tired and would've been easy prey. When the dust was settled, he was met by the white-haired young woman whom was approaching the school again afterward. "You don't need to worry Kiriya. They won't be coming back anytime soon; the girls are safe." She said, smoothing her hair back out of her face as she walked. "They were supposed to be the new Hebijo elite team? They weren't that strong; I didn't even break a sweat." She muttered as she continued on.

Kiriya was dumbfounded; he'd never seen the white-haired girl before and to just have her show up and thrash an entire team of shinobi? Something odd was going on here and while he wanted to question her for more details; the relief he felt that the students were safe was too profound to maintain his professinalism to approach that. He turned to try and stop the girl as she passed him by. "Stop a moment. I don't recognize you; who are you?" he asked, just being wary. Her actions marked her an ally at the very least but two attacks so close together made Kiriya wonder if this was another play by a third party.

"Hmm?" The white-haired girl turned and looked at him over her shoulder. "My name?" she asked then smirked coyly. "You can call me 'Tsubaki." She said and continued on, and then seemed to crouch down slightly and then when Kiriya thought she'd just leap away and leave; the girl just...vanished. Leaving a wisp of both chi and dust behind as well as an upward gust of air.

Kiriya furrowed his brow and sighed, rubbing his forehead with the webbing between his thumb and forefinger. "At least it's good to know that we have someone able to help us." He said and headed back inside to tell the girls.

Inside, he'd meet with them- all transformed and ready to fight in the mission-briefing room and gestured. "Stand down ladies. There's no need to fight; someone already drove the enemy away." he said calmly.

"Ahh man! I was hoping to thrash those posers calling themselves 'new hebijo'!" Katsuragi fumed a bit and shimmered back to her normal look; with her body bandaged in places still.

"Good. A battle unfought can be better than a battle won. Particularly for us right now.." Ikaruga commented, furrowing her brow a little at the mention someone stopping the opposition. "Was it a girl with long white-hair?" she asked.

"It was. Why? Do you know who she is Ikaruga?" Kiriya asked, turning his attention to her. It could be important afterall.

"No, she just seemed familiar somehow. She interevened and saved me from that Murakumo girl..." Ikaruga replied, still feeling thankful that she'd been there or Ikaruga would probably be in the hospital with life-threatening injuries from impalement.

"Wow! She stopped all of them?" Hibari asked, happy but awed by the prospect. So far none of them; that she knew of; were strong enough to facedown an entire team and win on their own.

"I'd like to fight that person!" Katsuragi said, pumping a fist into the air. "It sounds like it'd be a good spar at least." she cackled, then ow'ed a bit rubbing her still bruised arm. "Did you get her name at least sensei?"

"She said her name was Tsubaki." Kiriya replied. "I haven't heard of that name or recall seeing it in any Hanzo Academy records though."

"Maybe she's from another school?" Yagyu suggested.

"But then why would she help us? How would she know we've already been attacked once and then showed up to prevent more damage?" Asuka asked; having a strange feeling about this news.

"Go on girls; let's go back to the classroom; we still have lecture today." Kiriya said, deciding to just move on with his low-impact, less-physical lesson plan for the day.

"Aye..." Katsuragi said, deflated and playfully trudged back toward the classroom. The others nodded and shimmered back to normal outfits and headed for the same room to continue their lessons for the day.

On the roof of the main school building, Daidouji stood with her arms crossed over her chest and just smirked a little as Tsubaki seemed to materialize out of thin air next to her. When she'd just simply landed from her chi-charged leap next to her. "Good job fighting off all six of them." She said. "But did you really have to risk letting that older one attack so much? You're good but one mistake and she'd have done more damage." She tsked a little. "Your method of fighting reminds me of...well myself." Daidouji chuckled a little with her arms still crossed.

Tsubaki looked at Daidouji out of the corner of her eyes and huffed a little, almost like she was tired of hearing similar lines. "Don't you have a student of your own you have to get back to?" She asked sharply.

"He'll be fine on his own for a little bit. I've left him with a challenge that'll be a good exercise for him while I'm away." Daidouji replied.

"Whatever you say. I'm all dirty and sweaty now; I think I'm going to go find a private hot spring." Tsubaki said and seemed to make another chi-charged leap and vanished from sight. It was a trick she was using that would mask her presence as she moved; rendering her momentarily invsible to all senses for a few seconds.

"Heh. She's got style at least." Daidouji chuckled before going down to see Kiriya and the others for a short visit.

"You failed didn't you?" Suzune asked the group when they returned back sans Ryouna; whom had to deal with her issue in the showers. "You rushed out without doing the proper preparation and reconnaissance and you got beaten. Otherwise you wouldn't return here so soon and looking so miserable." Master Suzune continued with a tone that spoke volumes of her disappointment in the group as a whole. "At the very least you're lucky it wasn't an official Hebijo mission..." She finished, allowing the implication of that sort of failure sink in. Miyabi just shifted around as she knelt there, uncomfortable in the chastisement and disappointment she heard. "We'll do better next time Master." She said in a crisp formal tone.

"There will be no next time." Suzune said suddenly. "Not unofficially, am I understood? Act again without our consent and next time you won't get off with just my disappointment." She stopped there to let the veiled threat sink in. "To help you remember why you failed, tomorrow; you six are to go into town and go shopping." She said.

"Master Suzune?" Imu perked up, confused.

"You aren't to separate from each other by more than a reasonable distance at any time. Futhermore; you are to buy at least one item as a gift for a member of your party that I will decide." Suzune explained.

After a bit of thought, Ryobi understood what Suzune was getting at. ~You want us to know each other better and try to iron out our differences and learn to cooperate.~ she determined but didn't see fit to raise a word about it right that instant.

Once they were dismissed, Syra blinked, noticing how Master Suzune was snacking on something again; wasn't she doing that before they left? Shrugging it off as just a personal choice on their master's account; she left with the others. "Well that'll be nice, I haven't had a chance to do any real shopping in a long time." she smiled.

"You mean stealing." Imu retorted coldly. "I read your dossier...thief."

Murasaki, for once spoke up as well in a stuttering voice. "You two...s-stop... don't fight..again...please?" she pleaded.

"It amounts to the same thing. I'm better at it than any of you are." Syra grinned proudly, then narrowed her eyes. "It let me take your transformation scroll without you noticing." She leered a bit at Imu.

"That proves just that you have sticky fingers and a habit of going where you aren't wanted!" Imu blushed hot for a moment, considering where Syra's fingers had to go to grab that scroll...

"Ugh. Whatever. Let's just do what she wants and we'll just train harder afterward." Ryobi grunted, shaking her head dismissively.

Miyabi didn't comment on it, though she felt the whole thing was just stupid; but as a loyal Hebijo shinobi she couldn't disobey their mistress. One thing was bothering her though and it wasn't the assignment Suzune had given them; it was that fear that white-haired Hanzo bitch had made her feel. She felt like she should've recognized it somehow but she couldn't pinpoint it for the life of her; and that was pissing Miyabi off. "Dammit." she grumbled.

The next day would see all six of the New Hebijo girls out in the shopping district of the city in their casual outfits and poking randomly through the shops that were open. Periodically stopping at open-air stalls to grab something to snack on; but all of them were having problems getting 'gifts' for the person they were assigned before they left. Suzune-sensei sure did have a sense of humor or something; giving them all the one person that they really didn't like, stand or were just annoyed by.

Imu to Ryobi, Ryobi to Murasaki, Murasaki to Ryouna, Ryouna to Syra; and Syra to Miyabi. They were not to just pass along the gift to one of the others either and it had to be something that the other may, within reason, actually like. Meaning that they had to actually get to know each other and at least some basic personal information. While they'd all read each other's dossiers, it was still a pain in the butt to do and kind of embarassing. Syra felt like she got saddled with the worst- she had orders to get one for Miyabi AND Imu.

However, she was just too happy to let that spoil her day- she'd slipped out earlier than the rest and fenced off a small cache of goods she'd stored in a hidden location for just such an occasion. Ryobi was having trouble coming up with something for Murasaki though since the girl was a recluse and didn't speak much to anyone other than Imu or Miyabi.

Ryouna already had an idea of what to get Syra; namely because the whole way there; Syra had been verbally abusing her for sport. ~Maybe the girl's a dom? That's pretty hot though.. I love how she insults me...~ Ryouna thought to herself as they passed by a rather...risque outlet for bondage goods. She slipped in without the others noticing other than Ryobi, whom only sighed thinking she was getting something for herself.

Imu had made a case study beforehand of Ryobi and determined that something practical would work for her and had headed off to do just that.

Murasaki...just sat in a corner looking gloomy like she didn't even want to be there, she wanted to be at home playing her games or reading the newest chapter of Futsure's Story.

Syra just grumbled since she had to get something for Miyabi and had no clue what the girl would concievably like. So maybe it was time to just bury the hatchet between them, and not in Miyabi's forehead. While the others were off doing their own shopping, Syra settled down, sitting on the foundation of a planter in the crossroads of the shopping district's main drag. "Hey Miyabi...I'm sorry for how much of a bitch I've been." she sighed.

"Hm?" Miyabi was ...shocked to hear that but didn't let it show. "Hmph." she grunted; seemingly not accepting the apology. Part of Miyabi blamed Syra for allowing the previous Hebijo elites to go rogue since she'd been close to the group and did nothing to stop them.

"Look. I'm just upset and disappointed that the previous elites bailed on all of us. I shouldn't be taking it out on you. I really respected Homura as the leader and I feel like you usurped that; but I guess with her gone there's no reason to feel that way." Syra explained. "They were my friends and they left without a word while I was in the hospital recovering." For one, Syra sounded sincere- like their departure had really hurt her inside; part of her felt betrayed by them.

Miyabi could understand that and finally turned to the younger girl. "I'm nothing like that weakling Homura." She snapped on reflex but then her gaze softened a bit from the surge of red-hot anger she held for Homura's failings and perceive weakness. "I've heard the stories and read the reports. But weren't you actually there? What really happened?" she found herself actually curious.

Syra shuddered, she didn't want to remember. "it was horrible. First Hanzo attacked, then that jerk Dogen summoned some kind of huge-fucking-monster that was made of the academy itself. Then it's aura drove the lesser shinobi berserk and they were attacking everyone indiscriminately. It was pure chaos." Syra explained quietly. "I don't know how it ended, I burned out my chi and was pulled out of there by someone. I think it was Suzune-sensei. I came to a few days later in a hospital bed."

Nodding, Miyabi felt herself sympathizing with that. She knew what it was like to wake up in a hospital bed and find everything you knew changed and not for the better. "Was it really like the rumors say?" she asked, feeling that same anxiety she'd felt before welling up.

"Who can say? If it was, I don't want to deal with it again." Syra shuddered. "Can we talk about something else?" she asked with a shake of the head. "What about you? Anything interesting to share?" Syra asked hoping for her thoughts on the previous class.

"I can' t remember much. I was in a coma for like 3 years." Miyabi reminded her.

"Right. Right... sorry. Must suck to wake up like that." Syra nodded. "Hey..what does Imu like?" she asked.

There was an awkward pause between them before Syra added in something else. "So..uh...I know we were here primarily for gifting but...why not also end this with some lunch? Nothing beats the comfort of a full stomach you know?". Miyabi found it hard to argue with that and just smirked a little and her golden eyes softening up. "Right. Let's do that then...but it's your treat."

"Aww, what?! Come on!"

Later on that evening... Suzune would be heading to her private room snacking on a futomaki roll when she passed by Ryouna's room and found the door slightly ajar. She was about to think nothing of it when she heard the girl inside yelp loudly; prompting her to perk a brow and glance in to see what was going on. What she saw surprised her...

Syra was sitting on Ryouna's back as the girl was on her hands and knees wearing a collar with a leash that intricately wove across her chest, down through her legs and up her back where Syra was holding the end of it. In the other hand she was holding a riding crop and was dressed in a rather... dominatrix-like fashion with what looked like a leather bikini and not much else other than elbow-length gloves and thigh high leather boots and lots of belts to support everything.

And she was verbally abusing Ryouna severely; calling her all sorts of nasty names and giving lots of graphic innunendo. Periodically she'd smack Ryouna on the rump going "You naughty little bitch... you like this don't you? Being all trussed up like a little whore..." she said and swatted Ryouna's bouncy rear again with the crop.

"MMMPH!" Ryouna closed her eyes tightly, a ball-gag in her mouth preventing her from talking and allowing a certain amount of droll out. Obviously the girl was extremely sexually aroused, since every part of her was quivering and those just got more prounced as Syra tugged on the leash that applied sinfully delightful pain in Ryouna's most sensitive areas.

Syra heard Suzune take a surprised step back and glanced up to see her starting to turn away to continue on and smirked. She leaned back, pulling on the leash to make Ryouna arch back again and swatted her across the chest; making it jiggle harshly against the rough cords. "You're such a horny little bitch..." she said to Ryouna. "I bet part of that dirty little mind of yours is just begging..." she said and smirked again wickedly.

"to be seeded ..." Syra's eyes met Suzune's through the crack in the door before she fled.

~Honestly...girls these days...~ Suzune thought to herself, flustered but walking away, simply letting them be.

Turning back to Ryouna, Syra continued; "like the hot little bitch you are... riiight?" she asked with one final soundin CRACK on Ryouna's rump. "Just thinking of being dicked by multiple men with their raw cocks and creampied sets you off like nothing else, or being fucked in the face until you pass out, doesn't it?" swatting her tits with her hand. "Well, doesn't it?!" almost demanding an answer, causing Ryouna to shiver: the poor girl's thighs were soaked to the floor with pre-cum. There'd be some shuffling around and the sound of someone going through something as if looking. Then Ryouna's next sound could only hint at what happened next: "MMMMMMMMPH!".

After leaving the two to their 'fun', Suzune continued on down the quiet, dimly lit hallway; through a hidden door and up some stairs to a concealed private room. It was the reserved room for the Head Instructor at Hebijo Academy to keep them close to their elites and able to quickly get to the official administration offices. She'd slide into the large, comfortable looking easy-chair and leaned back as she pulled a stack of papers out of the drawer and sighed. In the past; the Elite Shinobi captain would deal with the newest applications for admission- but because Miyabi was still new at the responsibility- Suzune didn't trust her enough to handle the extra just yet. Most of the applicants were bog-standard for normal reasons; money, chasing dreams, revenge was a big one, some came from Akuunin families but none of them stood out.

The process of approving all but the most idiotic or no-talent nor potential applicants took some time and allowed Suzune's mind to wander. While most of her was disappointed in the fact that Homura and the others had left Hebijo after Orochi's defeat; some of Suzune still felt a bit of pride in their growth as their instructor. It was also the same reason why Syra remaining with them had actually made her happy; regardless of the fact she didn't let anyone see that. Without really knowing it until she felt the blush crossing her cheeks; her mind had drifted back to her private lessons with Haruka's half-brother Sanosuke. That young man bore so much potential that Suzune had found herself excited at the possibility of drawing it out. She found she actually missed the entire group of them; while the girls were her students; she had grown to care for them in a way a stern and demanding but caring mother might.

"The elites." She mused looking over the spread of dossiers on her desk; ranging from the previous group to the current one. ~I remember hearing about how at one time there was no such thing. No shinobi; good or evil, had ever surpassed the rank of jounin. Nobody had thought it was possible; if it was nobody would speak of it~ Suzune sat thinking as she looked at the files and photos. ~That was until ...that person proved that everyone was wrong. Some were born with the ability to surpass even the supposed best shinobi. They became the very first elite and set the precedent for all shinobi. Now every academy has their own representative team. But so far, none of them have ever even come close to what that first person achieved.~ She glanced at the files again.

"Maybe one of them will attain such astronomical heights?" Suzune mused, finding herself both excited by the prospect and hopeful. ~As long as that person doesn't return; things should remain calm here and allow for them to grow on their own.~

While the New Hebijo girls were out shopping and doing their off-time things. Asuka sat in the Hanzo Academy heated tub by herself leaning up against the back wall of it and sighed. While her body relaxed from the pleasantly hot water; her mind was left to wander and she found herself glancing up at small window cut into the side to allow the steam to escape to avoid it becoming a sauna. She was wondering where Sanosuke was and what he was up to; it'd been several days since the last message she'd received from him. Ever since he'd left with Daidouji to do advanced, specialized training after absorbing Orochi's yoma-soul; Asuka felt the distance growing between them. At first, it was alright and she was functioning normally- but lately in her quiet moments, she found herself wondering about him and even worrying if he was okay.

Though he had tried to alleviate her worry by sending periodic updates and even a few pictures shot on a cellphone; even that had dropped off in the last few days. Asuka was growing increasingly worried that something bad had happened or he'd been hurt again and was unable to contact her. Originally she just shook off the worry and concern as if she was being silly; he was just super busy with Daidouji's harsh training methods. It did little to quiet the anxiety welling up in her heart though; at that moment she found herself daydreaming. Remembering some of the things they'd done while he was recovering from that huge fight at Hebijo and before he'd left with Daidouji.

The one that'd stuck out the strongest wasn't the little lunch-dates, nor the movies they'd gone to see together- no, it was the time right there at the school.

It'd been shortly after the battle with the original Hebijo and Orochi. Asuka had started having nightmares about that time; it was enough to rattle anyone that was there afterall. But she'd faced down some very heartrending possibilities and that stress and anxiety had stuck with her. Seeing her childhood friend and the person she'd come to have strong feelings about sitting there tettering precariously on the edge of death had shaken her up badly and made her realize just how strongly she actually felt. One night when the nightmare had become particularly vivid; she'd awoken with a start and short cry. Without really thinking too hard about it; Asuka had drug herself out of her bed and down the hallway.

Into the dorm's common room where Sanosuke had been relaxing stretched out across the couch watching what seemed to be a movie? No it was just the late-night news report. Asuka had crawled up on the couch with him, as he adjusted to give her space, she'd scooted closer to him until she was leaning against his side. Without a real word; she'd also come up under the hook of his arm so at that point it was around her shoulders. "Don't go ...anywhere...'kay?" she asked him, sleepily as she snuggled into his warmth. It made her feel safe; like nothing- not even her bad dreams- could get to her while she was like that.

While Asuka was remembering the episode; she'd felt herself turning red all over and pressed a hand to her cheek to feel the rosy heat of the blush spreading, partially due to the bath and partially due to her own reaction. "Oh... " she muttered wistfully. "I wish he was here..." she said. "Even in here with me..." Asuka mused; then her eyes widened as her blush intensified. "Eee! What'm I saying? That'd be really embarrassing!" she said, lowering herself in the water until she was blowing bubbles a little.

"That depends. Would it just be the two of you?" A new voice rang in Asuka's ears; making her jolt upright and almost jump two feet out of the hot water. "Cuz if that's the case; that'd be really ...steamy." Katsuragi snickered; having slipped into the bath while Asuka was daydreaming.

"Katsu!" Asuka yelped. "When did you get in here?" she asked.

"While you were daydreaming. You've got such a red face right now Asuka, I wish I had a camera." Katsuragi teased.

"But. I. I was just..." Asuka stammered, flush with embarrassment now.

"You miss the guy. I know." Katsuragi sighed as she sank into the water a bit too. "I kind of do too. It was fun to tease the both of you." She grinned, then sighed, losing her expression for a moment. "I miss having someone I can really fight with on even ground... no weapons; no extras. just hand-to-hand." The blonde muttered then brightened again. "But it'll be alright Asuka! He'll come back after he beats whatever Daidouji's throwing at him!"

"I hope so. I just hope he isn't getting too badly hurt by her training." Asuka agreed, but was still wistful seeming as she glanced up at the vent-window again. "Lasttime, he actually sent me some photos to prove that he was alright." She said, a small smile showing again; the idea of visual proof relaxed her worries.

"Ooo! Did he send you any...private ones?" Katsu leered suggestively.

"NO!" Asuka yelped. "Nothing like that!" She said; a little too quickly. Then as if that statement rang a bell, she started to blush brightly again. She did have one come through that seemed to be an accident more than anything and it'd showed him almost completely nude except for a pair of knee-length shorts. The image excited and sent electrical jolts through Asuka whenever she looked at it.

Katsuragi, spotting the sudden blush cackled. "So he did send you one! You gotta let me see it Asuka!" She laughed, starting to cross over to the edge of the bath to get out and go rummage through Asuka's clothes for her phone.

"NOOOOOO!" Asuka yelped and tackled Katsu from behind and tried to stop her. "Leave my stuff alone Katsu!"

"Ohhh. so you're now saying he's yours now?" Katsuragi cackled more, teasing Asuka. "Is that how it goes?" she asked, meaning to be teasing.

"YES HE IS, KATSU! SO KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF!" Asuka retorted immediately without thinking it through, glaring daggers at her friend.

Katsuragi stopped cold at that look and the sensation of shock that rushed through her hearing that. It was like a kick in the nads of her teasing. "Oh... uh..." she stammered, starting to blush too. "Sorry Asuka... I didn't mean ...oh man..." She muttered and was the one to sink down into the water that time.

Asuka took a moment to realize waht she'd just blurted out and just blinked a few times, then began to smile gently. She didn't feel the need to say anything else about it; and oddly it made her feel alot better. "I just really wish he was here... even if just to ...hold hands..." Asuka added.

Katsuragi nodded at that, sighing a little at how she missed out on her chance to tease now that she knew it'd just upset her friend instead. She was, however, far more happy for Asuka than anything else. She'd seen the two out and about and thought they were cute together. "It'll be alright! He'll finish whatever Daidouji's making him do and be back before you know it!" Katsu smiled brightly to cheer Asuka up.

"Well this is upsetting. It looks like someone else is trying to snipe our prey."

"That's not good. Perhaps we should go tell'em to knock it off or they'll be up for a beating too?"

"That totally sounds like a good idea. Perhaps we should just go here in person and like, threaten them directly?"

"I agree, we can't have people stealing our playmates!"

"If they want a fire lit under their asses so bad, maybe we should ignite it."

"First, let's just inform them that we have the first claim to finish what we started. Maybe we can avoid having to fight them as well?"

"Spoilsport."

"So it's agreed? Tomorrow, we'll go visit these "New Hebijo" elites and tell them to back off from Hanzo." Yumi declared quietly as the 6 Gessen girls sat crosslegged around a hexagonal table they were sitting at with a few papers and a map laying on the table in front of them.