New Acquaintance Aquired [Solo]

As usual, the training grounds never missed a day of being full of eager academy students practicing their skills and perfecting their forms for when the exams appear. That, and of course impress others on what they can do. Etsuko was no different in the case on bettering herself as a kunoichi, but as expected, she was a very special case when it came to being approached. Some students were at awe that they were in the presence of the same person who has a powerful beast sealed inside them if the opportunity was before them. Others? They steer clear as much as they could. Granted that she wasn't the only jinchuuriki in the village, but the excitement couldn't be contained if any student with high potential entered the area.

Etsuko's attire for training was a large gap when it came to what she customarily wore as she arrived on the training grounds; at least in its overall color theme, since she was known to wear more vibrant and lively colors. It was almost as if she were either an entirely different person or a long lost twin no one knew about. The color of her outfit was a short sleeved black kimono with a white undergarment. She then wore wooden sandals with an inch long thin base; a way for her to practice her balance. It radiated a more momentous scenario of how seriously Etsuko takes her training. For the most part, anyway.

The young woman wandered to a more secluded area, or at the very least somewhere where it was less populated. While she adored training with other fellow students and does provide many benefits, she wanted to observe what she could do on her own. She wanted to focus on her strikes, how agile she can move, how flexible she can be, and other important aspects. Such a plan is preferred with a sparring partner of the sort, but the day was young, so rushing was out of the question. Knuckles crackled, back and limbs stretched, she was ready to show herself what she got.

"Hey!"

A very youthful voice boomed in a challenged tone across the grounds, close and loud enough for Etsuko to snap out of her trance. Her head whipped around to where the voice echoed from. Before her were three other academy students, two boys and one girl, that were much younger than Etsuko. About twelve to fourteen at best, if she had to estimate. The young woman rose an eyebrow in response, but flashed a friendly smile at the trio. "Hello there! Unfortunately I don't have time to run to the sandbox and build sand castles. I think if you run back to the park, you'll find a lot of kids your age that'd have no problem playing with you." She joked, a wink added.

One of the boys that called out to Etsuko gritted his teeth in annoyance. One hand curled into a tight fist and the other one jabbed an index finger at the woman's direction. "Watch your mouth! We may be kids, but that doesn't mean we can't kick your ass you monster!" He barked.

"Yeah!" The little girl mimicked the first boy's gesture of pointing at Etsuko.

The only boy, on the other hand, stood silent; almost nervous, even.

Etsuko could only let out a hearty laugh and threw her head back, unsurprisingly getting under the skin of the first boy and little girl. She leveled her head and landed her gaze back onto the three children. "Young, arrogant, and disrespectful towards your elders? Do I have to play mommy and give you two naughty children a nice spanking?" She mockingly placed a hand on her hip, her amused smile still in tact.

"S-Shut up! We can beat you with our eyes closed if we wanted to!" The little girl interjected. She took a step forward as if it were to be threatening, but it only widen Etsuko's smile.

"Right," Etsuko sighed. "Tell you what," She took just a mere step closer, yet the other three children jerked back as if they were startled. "If I had to guess, you three... well, two," She glanced over at the meek boy for a moment before focusing her attention back on the trio. "Like to pick on kids that won't fight back. Sadly for you... I'm far from being a child. That said, I'll show you just a taste of what the real world is like and what it's like to go against someone to fight back." Etsuko announced.

"Heh, eas-"

"But," Etsuko was very quick to interrupt before either of them could try and finish their sentences. "We do this on my accord. One on one. All of you. I want to see how well you can fight without your little friends. Recognize that not all the time your friends or teammates will be there to help you with your battles." Etsuko might've been only an Academy Student at the current moment, but she felt she had actually authority. Between her and three small kids, of course she would be the more dominant figure in this situation.

The arrogant young boy and girl cackled whereas the timid boy only looked at the ground. "Ha! No problem!" The first boy yelled. He then slapped his hand against the timid boy's back that forced him to stumble forward. "Haruto here can take you on as easy as pie!" He exclaimed with pride.

The timid young boy, who was identified as Haruto, looked back in horror then back at Etsuko. "Yeah! He's the best out of the three of us!" Another exclamation this time bellowed from the young girl.

"W-Wha..." Haruto stared at his friends once more, or she'd assume he viewed them as friends, with a concern look mixed in with some form of regret.
An unfortunate turn of events for the young boy. She wondered what he saw in them that made him befriend them, or if he even had a choice.

"Well, I'll be the judge of that." Etsuko said.

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WC: 1,041

Haruto shivered in fear as Etsuko took her time to approach the young boy with slow steps. His eyes widen when the older woman was in front of him. As his "friends" cheered and yelled in the background, the blood that rushed to his ears pounded loud enough to block the noise out. He closed his eyes as tight as he could and expected the worst to happen. Instead, he was met with a hand land on his right shoulder. His eyes opened very slowly out of wariness; in front of him was Etsuko who was on one knee to meet him face to face with a gentle beam. "Huh...?" His eyes fully flashed open, but out of pure confusion. He expected the woman to fight him, but she didn't.

...Why?

"Don't worry, love. I won't hurt you." Etsuko's voice was soft to hint that she wasn't going to harm the young boy. It was low enough for only him to pick up what she was saying. She gave him a reassured squeeze on his shoulder that helped Haruto control his quaking shivers. Clearly by the looks it, it looked like this Haruto child was forced to tag along and act tough. In spite of the fact that he stuck out like a sore thumb compared to the other children, it made her wonder someone like this little boy hung out with people that were clear as day to be horrific influences.

"Oi, oi, oi!" The other boy cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled at the top of his lungs. "Haruto, what the hell?! Why aren't you fighting her?! Do something! Kick her ass!" He jeered.

"Yeah! Show her you aren't weak!" The little girl chimed in and shot her fist in the air.

Haruto flinched at the other two while they called out to him. His head turned to them and fear entered back in his eyes, his shaking intensifying for a few seconds. He then looked back at Etsuko, tears already formed in his eyes. It was then Etsuko's turn to take a few glances at the duo from afar then back at Haruto.

Already clear as day that this boy was lacked confidence for any form of combat, the blue haired woman shook her head and stood up to her feet. "You know," Etsuko called out to the other two children. "You two had so much confidence in thinking you can beat me up, but neither of you stepped up! I think that just says a lot about how you feel in your capabilities. I think you two are scared." A challenging smirk replaced the motherly smile she upheld as she took a step past Haruto and towards the other two.

The other two children took a few steps back for every step Etsuko took. The boy's eyes furrowed into anger as he reached down at his pocket. His hand wiggled around inside, then quickly stopped as it went completely still. For the blue haired woman, she suspected it was most likely a weapon stashed in there. "Us? ME? Scared of some old hag like YOU? Apparently you must've missed your medication or something to think something like that!" He barked, his voice ever so slightly trembled as he tried to keep the toughness in his voice.

"Oh sweetheart, I've been very consistent in making sure I have my daily intakes." Etsuko played along with the nonsensical insult. "I think my head is clear enough to realize when someone is afraid. To which I say... that's completely fine. The least you can do is drop the act and be more realistic with yourself. Mayhaps you only act tough to... I don't know, maybe impress-"

"SHUT UP!"

The boy pulled out a kunai and charged at Etsuko with a battle cry, with overestimating himself on how well he can take down the young woman.

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WC: 664
TWC: 1,705