Greyer Than Winter Days (Open)

What a shock that the guy so easily handed over the items. Suzume thought he'd go on some rant about how it's not meant for a kid like her. That's what she typically heard from any academy Nope, instead, there he was, waiting for her to take the cigar and lighter. Was it meant to be some special gesture? From the way he admitted that he hadn't shared it before, and told her not to ruin it, that's what she assumed. Taking a few long seconds to stare at him in astonishment, partly from not knowing how this worked, she took off her mittens with a shrug and put them in her pockets to grab the cigar first. Once having it nicely placed between her lips, she then took the lighter too. 

Using one hand for wind shield and the other to spark it up, Suzume took a breath in just as she'd seen a few of the village folk do. Next thing, the cigar was lit. The end burnt well, a few embers even trailing to the ground. Although, maybe that first breath was a bit too heavy. She drew the smoke in, and almost immediately was coughing something pretty harsh. Quickly taking the cigar in between a few of her fingers, she held it away from her head. It came out from her nose, as well as her mouth, in a thick puff. Waving a hand to clear it all up, she gasped for fresh air. The girl pounded a first against the tree, not expecting such a burning to take over her lungs. She now understood why they taught at the academy that this wasn't the best habit to form. Though, plenty of shinobi still did. Had they not been given those lectures while they were in their prime times of school age, or did they simply leave it behind them once it was done with? She still tried to wrap her head around it. 

"Well," she managed to croak, "what a delightful flavor." With a wheezy breath or two, Suzume then coughed a bit more to rid of the sudden dryness in her throat. Once the smoke had dispersed, she chuckled. "I guess that's what you meant by 'don't ruin it', wasn't it?" And now the girl had wondered just what he'd be thinking. So far, he had put on a pleasant face as if she wasn't a meddlesome genin who ran around with out a clue. She wasn't so sure that it would be kept after that move, but what an odd story that would make to tell somebody!

[WC: 434]

It took a few moments for the young Genin to take the cigar and lighter from Kinzoku as she was likely contemplating whether to do it or not. However, in the end curiosity got the best of her as she eventually took both items. For someone who was likely smoking for the first time she definitely knew the procedure to doing so. One hand the light, one hand shielding from wind, inhaling as the cigar began to burn to spread it faster and make sure the fire took hold. Either she had done this before and tried hiding it or she was an extremely observant person. Kinzoku decided to go with the latter after having observed her first attempt at smoking the cigar, leading to a barrage of coughs. 

He couldn't help but smile as she coughed from having inhaled too much of the think smoke, now having it come out of her mouth and nose. Since it was her first time doing so, the smoke coming out of her nose would surely burn. Especially with that much smoke. He took lighter back from Suzume in case she accidentally dropped it or lost it in the snow during her coughing rage. Slipping it back into his pocket, he followed up by taking his cigar from his mouth before blowing another puff of his own away from Suzume to ensure he did not ruin her attempt at breathing in clean air. To Kinzoku's surprise, she was still able to appreciate the flavor of the cigar despite having plagued her lungs with the smoke. He knew what that was like and the burning she was likely feeling at the moment. He had done the same thing the first time he smoked a cigar.

"You did just fine" Kinzoku replied to the young girl's question revealing what he had meant in his statement. "I had a feeling you'd take this opportunity to attempt another surprise attack." But now that she had not attempted to do so, she did not "sully" the moment. "Don't inhale to y'er lungs, this ain't like smoking a cigarette. You want to relish the taste. Bring it no further than y'er mouth, like so" he added before demonstrating. He took another puff, inhaling and holding the smoke in his mouth. Removing the cigar once more, mouth open, Suzume would see Kinzoku blowing all the smoke he had just inhaled. This would allow one to enjoy the cigar as best as possible while reducing the impact on their lungs. 

The Nazar would stand there a moment longer to watch Suzume have another go and smoking the cigar properly. Once she got the hang of it, he'd place his own cigar back into his mouth before moving over to a log laying in the snow that he had spotted earlier. Kinzoku took a seat on the log after brushing off all the snow on top of it. He had brushed off enough snow to allow Suzume a seat as well if she felt like joining him. Either way, he just did not feel like standing anymore. Perhaps he was now adjusted to sitting down all the time due to spending every passing moment in his office. "Why choose here to play?" Kinzoku asked sincerely. Surely she knew about Kiri's attack a year or so ago, which would mean she knew of the dangers outside of the village. Which would also mean she knew of the danger she could be in when being outside of the village. "There's enough spots in the village do take revenge on Mr. Snowman."

It was a relief to the young genin that the man hadn't thought badly of her in the first attempt. Not that it would have mattered, he was a complete stranger after all. It simply would have made for an awkward moment, and nobody that Suzume knew was fond of those. Although, it was slightly irritating that he found it amusing when she had been coughing so much to the point of almost puking. Did he enjoy watching other suffer or something? Suzume wasn't so sure how long she'd stick around, but the person in front of her sure was intriguing enough that she would for now.  

He explained his distrust of her next actions, that of which would have ruined the moment. He had every right to think so, for Suzume certainly would have done such a thing. She was glad that she didn't follow through her plan this time, however. Suzume was still unnerved by the man's presence despite his friendliness, and therefore didn't want to turn the guy against her. But maybe he'd become some other form of a role model of sorts if she got to know him and saw past her initial assumptions of the man. Her current mentor was fine and all, but sometimes she wonder about stuff that he didn't dabble in so much. Perhaps this guy had a trick or two to share?

For the time being, he showed her the less burning sensation way to enjoy a cigar. She watched as he easily took it in, and breathed it out. Seemed so peaceful, the way he did it. A bit after, once his smoke had drifted off blending in with the air, she gave it another go. Snatching back the lighter, she copied what the man had done. Once she was set with it, her eyes followed him as he went to sit on the log. Not too long after, she joined him where he had brushed off some snow a comfortable distance for two strangers to talk for a bit. 

"I could ask you the same thing about going for a walk." she at first retorted. What did it matter where she had her imaginary play battles? Once a little quiet had passed, she answered, "I choose here because there's no one from the village to bother me about what I do. At least usually. Today you somehow found me," she trailed off. Sure, every now and then the girl came across the corpse of some bandit, even another shinobi, but she had grown accustomed to it. Those might have been the areas one would suggest to avoid, but it was because most people thought to avoid those places that Suzume chose them. If most people thought to stay away, that would mean there was less of a chance of running into anyone. Some days, she didn't want any interaction with anyone. She found the man that sat next to her on this log to be fine for now, but she wasn't so sure what would be made of the future. There once was a time she believed she would become a great shinobi, until she saw her first chunin exams where a pal was wrongfully killed. Some days she wondered what he would have been doing, had his life not been taken then. But it was fruitless to think about, she figured with a sigh, still wondering about it in the back of her mind. 

[WC: 576]

He watched calmly as Suzume mimicked his actions when it came to smoking the cigar properly. With his few words she had grasped the leisure activity well enough to not start a raging cough like last time. That was good. It looked incredibly unpleasant. With that out of the way and knowing Suzume could enjoy the the cigar, Kinzoku went on to take his seat on the log and clear off enough snow for his companion. He watched as she obliged and took the seat beside him.Whether that was out of respect, out of pressure, or because she actually wanted to sit Kinzoku did not know. But did it really matter? After all they were simply enjoying a cigar together and having a conversation. No harm with that. After he asked his questions, Suzume wasted no time in replying with her own retort, essentially returning the question back to the Nazar. It caused the Nazar to smile a tad bit. It seemed it did not matter who she was talking nor she would still reply with her quick remarks. Kinzoku found that somewhat entertaining. 

Shortly after she got to answering his question. She stated how she came here because it was the best spot to go without running the risk of someone bothering her. Today was the exception it would seem as Kinzoku had "somehow" found her. Before replying he took another moment to enjoy his cigar while it seemed like the girl got lost in her own thoughts. He chose not to pull her away from them. Not until it seemed like she had joined him back in reality. "It wasn't all that hard to find ya" Kinzok finally replied breaking the silence as he pulled the ever dwindling cigar from his mouth. "You left more tracks than a pack of deer" he added with a humorous tone to his voice. Although a gross exaggeration, he had in fact found her because of the tracks she left behind. 

"I came out here looking for a spot to meditate in" he spoke up once more opting to give Suzume an explanation. Assuming she wanted one. "Nowadays most people tend to stay within the walls of the village. It makes them feel safer. That's caused my former spot to be somewhat more crowded than usual." By more crowded he means it went from no one to only a couple of people. It was still more people than he wanted around while meditating. "I just happened by your tracks on the way and decided to check who was coming out here. Who few people felt the need to find time outside the safety of the walls."

He used the word safety loosely. If the attack just a few years ago had proven anything it was that the walls could not protect its citizens when the time came. It was a false sense of security. One that was nonetheless needed. "So here we are" he continued, "talking to one another. Yet I don't have your name" he stated. It wasn't in the form of a question but it certainly let the young lady know Kinzoku wanted to know. If she so obliged of course. Meanwhile, he continued smoking his cigar. In a matter of moments it would be reduces to the bud.

Suzume certainly had no regard for the role a person held when interacting with them. It meant nothing to her, and much preferred to level with someone personally rather than formally. Subtlety, she tried to out do Kinzoku by puffing a bigger cloud of smoke. Probably not a good idea after nearly burning her lungs up just a moment before, but that could make it that all much more impressive. Might even show for a hearty level of endurance. It was merely to show off, either way. 

With the man's hyperbole, Suzume tilted her head at the fact she hadn't covered her tracks like of what a proper shinobi would have done. Looking over her shoulder behind her, she witnessed the evidence. But as Kinzoku gave his part of the conversation, she hysterically laughed as he discussed the idea of security - even tearing up at the truth. Although, Suzume herself did share the same sense of security, but she just didn't follow along with it. Being out in these woods on her own was her way of gaining a sense of vigilance. "Yeah if I was some bloodthirsty bandit looking for something to fuck up I wouldn't stop before the gates - I'd keep going!" She patted her cheeks dry using a sleeve as the tears of laughter stung from combining with the sensation of cold, calming down before he indirectly asked for her name with a deep breath without the cigar near her mouth. She wouldn't want to repeat inhaling the smoke too hard again. 

"Oh, I'm Suzume. Who are you?" she returned the question, looking to him. She was amazed he finished the cigar already. Hers was barely half way done, even with trying to take the larger puff. Observing the last bits descend into the snow, she tried to work on hers further. Yet suddenly with a sneer, she glanced back to him, with another plan of playful interruption. Looking at his hat, she contemplated knocking it off his head at random. Maybe even taking it to run off somewhere. 

[WC: 342]

Kinzoku look at the young female suspiciously as she began her maniacal laugh at the mention of people feeling secure within the boarders. Was the truth that funny to her, or the fact that people actually felt safe behind the walls. He guessed it to be the latter as she would soon explain it to be. The laughter was unexpected to say the least. So much so she started to tear up at the fact. The mere sight of her force a chuckle out of the Nazar. Nothing more. After she managed to somewhat compose herself, she explained why she was in such a hysterical state. A bloodthirsty bandit wouldn't stop at the gates if he was looking to wreck havoc. She was right in this scenario of course. Kinzoku couldn't quite tell if she was referencing when Kirigakure had attacked. They certainly hadn't stopped at the gates. They went full on nearly burning down the entire village. Or at least one of their shinobi did. Whether she was referring to that night or not, the memories came flooding back in. The memories of them killing one of their own.

He also did not remember seeing Suzume there which must mean she had likely gotten out with everyone else. "In this scenario of yours" Kinzoku began while he was watching her oddly smoke her cigar, "would you rather be the bandit's first victim? Or have the time to get out of his path and potentially escape?" It would be interesting to hear her response and see if it lined up with the day Kiri attacked. "Behind the walls may not be as safe as one thinks. But it is still safer than outside these walls." A reality Kinzoku was hoping to change. Konoha needed to be better aware of outside threats and of anyone who may be coming.

"Ah, Suzume" Kinzoku thought as he finally got a name to the face once the conversation moved on. Yensung had told him about her back when they first started planning the exam for the Genin and Chuunin. He spoke very highly of her as a matter of fact. It was finally nice to know who it was he had spoken about. He gave her a quick glance when she reciprocated the question, caught off guard by it. Had news of the new Hokage just not spread down to all echelons of the village? It was entirely likely since it was relatively new business. "Kinzoku, at your service" he replied with a friendly grin and tipping the rim of his hat as he always does when introducing himself. It was always to entice her. He noticed she was eyeing his hat. Judging as she had made a move for his cigar earlier he fully expected her to try it again on his hat.

The man had asked her of another perception within the same scenario. No matter the angle, there was no hiding the juvenile immaturity Suzume held. Anyone reasonable would say to get out of the bandit's way. The girl however, had another idea - but had some type of reasoning to it. "Guess with how I'm out here anyhow, may as well go with being the first victim...but then I could just make a lot of noise when I die, and then that'll alert that something's up," she shrugged, not wanting to change her original stance on the subject. It might have been an answer more on the morbid side, although Suzume had learned to consider death as part of being a shinobi. She had a belief that the best shinobi were those whom managed to make their deaths useful. 

But on a more brighter side of the conversation, Suzume slightly gawked for a quick second at the fact that it was indeed the hokage that was currently sitting beside her on the log. Still, that was the most reaction of it she gave. She didn't expect to meet someone with such status this day, was all. Other than that, she thought of Kinzoku as any other shinobi. He just so happened to be responsible for leading Konoha. There was another person before him, and provided that Konoha doesn't get destroyed before it, there would be another after him. On another note, it also meant this was the guy that Yensung worked directly under - who had given her tutorship here and there as of recent. It only gave her more encouragement, at least in her mind, to take a swipe at his hat.

[WC: 281]

Kinzoku wasn't sure if he should be amused or shocked at how nonchalant Suzume was about simply dying if she were caught outside the walls during a bandit attack and killed. Remembering about his conversation with Yensung and how he spoke pretty highly of her, he was a little surprised to hear her speaking so low of herself. He showed no signs of his feelings however, electing to keep them deep within his mind instead as he contemplated his next words. He instead went on to introduce himself, at that point Suzume finally realizing who she was in company with. She didn't overreact which was good. Kinzoku didn't believe people should act any differently just because he was now the Hokage. It was just a titled that came with a whole lot of responsibilities. But at the end of the day, he was just another citizen of this village like Suzume. He was glad to see her reaction was minimal. 

"Why is dying your first option?" Kinzoku questioned as he eyed the female curiously. Perhaps it was because she was brutally honest about her own skill level. That meant she was aware of both her strengths and weaknesses as all shinobi should be. If this were truly the case then it meant she had a lot to work on which lead Kinzoku to his next inquiry. "There are other routes that can be taken. Hide. Retreat and inform the village. Perhaps even hold them back as long as need. Tell me, Suzume. How has your training been going?" he asked studying her face as she continued to eye his hat.

Suddenly, Suzume had second thoughts about actually taking his hat now. Her hand had just began to reach for it, but then half way through she brushed some of her hair behind her ear as a cover up. What about her training? She coughed a little, to stall for not having an answer. Except, it wasn't that she didn't have an answer, more so the girl didn't want to admit her lack of effort. Although, she fooled herself into believing that she wouldn't have anything to answer his question. Maybe it was the snowman's fault. At least pelting him with snowballs could transition into something useful. 

"M-my training?" she begun, with a stammer that may have expanded the stalling. "Well it's going great!" she lied. "And dying obviously wouldn't be my first option, but in the scenario that I'm on my own and were to be attacked by bandits I probably wouldn't have much of a choice," she admitted, which then contradicted herself. A shinobi that managed to graduate from the academy should be capable of some form of defense. Yet, one that kept up with their training and bothered to increase their capabilities shouldn't have too much of a problem with some measly bandits. "Well, huh, how's your training Kinzoku?" she returned the question. Maybe it was more appropriate to refer to him as "hokage", but since he introduced himself to her by his name that's what she used. 

[WC: 240]

Kinzoku's question seemed to catch Suzume off guard as she stammered for an answer. Though the answer did not come right away for the young shinobi as she seemed to be fidgeting around. Or in other words, stalling for an answer.  The brush of her hair, the cough, the stutter once she finally replied. It was all telling signs to the Nazar. The question had been answered before she even voiced it. Once she finally did answer Kinzoku could tell she did not voice the truth. She did so enthusiastically, almost as though she were trying to convince herself that it was going well as much as she was trying to convince the Nazar. Unfortunately it did not work. She quickly flipped the situation away from her and towards Kinzoku as she inquired about his training. Not before she had added one more final comment to the bandit situation. He couldn't help but notice the irony. That if she had been keeping up with her training then maybe there would be a choice whether she survives or not. 

"I could probably be doing a better job keeping up with it" Kinzoku admitted honestly. But Kage duties and put a dent in a lot of Kinzoku's day to day tasks as a Jounin. Training was one of those. Luckily he as able to find time for meditation. This spot right here suited him nicely for a new one. With that Kinzoku placed his hands down onto the log and pushed himself to his feet, simultaneously placing a seal onto the log. The seal as no more than a few centimeters large, purposely made to be undetectable unless someone was specifically looking for it. "With that it's past time I take my leave. Duty calls" Kinzoku said before padding down some left of spots of snow from his jacket. Sleep was calling his name. "Enjoy the rest of your night, Suzume" Kinzoku said as he bid her farewell while tipping the rim of his hat. Slipping his hands into his jacket pocket the Nazar slowly made his way out of the forest and back into his village. 

[Exit]

Will tally claims later