Verdant Blooming || [Jasmin]

✿ The calm and clarity that the blissful contemplation she enjoyed was cut short as she sensed someone approaching. But the hairs on the back of her neck didn't raise as they had often done when she got a bad feeling about something. The slender figure that had approached was that of her new leader, Rina-san. The good looking pinklette made it way and crouched besides her. She had to wonder why was the woman here? Was she just taking a break or was she watching over her. Soon she shrugged that nagging sense of paranoia that had being cultivated after so many years on the road.

"It's beautiful... Rina-chan... I mean.. san.... Rina-san" The blonde fumbled her words, trying to be respectful, before returning her gaze to the village. "The tree and the village as well."

While she had to admit that the village was a sight to behold. The tree both of them were at was something of a mystery. It was alive and she could feel it. Although she wasn't sure of the extend of the roots that laid underground the tree it clearly had witnessed a great ordeal history. Before she could comment on that about the tree the woman beside her offered her fruit shaped gummies. Her eyes shone with a childish excitement that would be considered beneath her rank and station by many. Kasumi's hand moved to take some of the gummies.

"I've never eaten of this." She admitted with a little embarrassed.

It was another of those 'perks' of always been on the move. Never staying for a place for too long and always stocking on provisions having in mind the needs of the group as a whole. With some curiosity she had her eyes scan the strange sweets before venturing to press one against her lips to take a small bite. As the gummie melted, it's flavor exploding in her mouth overwhelming her taste.

"It's... It's so good." She said before biting down the rest of the gummie. Feeling an odd sense of delight. How much had she missed by the life she had taken? Kasumi wondered. Things like this made it look like the worst had happened in her life and that she could know be more relaxed behind the walls of the village. "Thank you." She said giving Rina a respectful nod.

✿ It was extrange that someone of her status and position preferred to be called in such a familiar way instead of the more regal form akin of a leader or a noble. Perhaps it was to make it look like she was no more than even the most humble of genin of the flourishing village. It was a sentiment that Hagoromo had when he had taken the leadership of their group. No one was above the other, they all fought and lived for the same cause. Upon hearing saying the sort of asset she was of the village she felt proud, it was a way to be recognized, although it may have been a poor way to put it.

"Well I haven't done nothing for the village expect leading a several dozen of starving and dying to it's footsteps." She replied calmly. There was still too much to do in order to repay the favor she had done to her people. "It's nothing that really special." The blonde said while sitting beside Rina. Her own legs dangling as much as hers as she spoke about getting out of the office. She didn't know what to say but with her new rank she was sure that paperwork came with it and that was something that terrified her.

The blonde outstretched her hand to allowing herself for a little demonstration for her leader. From the skin of her palm a branch started to emerge slowly with a crunching sound that emulated that of the same tree they sat on. Back in the past conjuring this little quantity would had being taxing on her but now it was rather easy once she had got the hang of it. It was something she was proud of. But it was also frustrating as the only references of what she could do were thought to be nothing more than a myth something you would tell children to before send them to sleep. She wanted to know more about her ability, if she was truly the only one that could manifest it but those answers eluded her much to her frustation.

"I just wish I knew more" Kasumi admitted before turning to Rina where she noticed some bandages. "Um... Rina... Did you had an accident or something? She asked showing some concern into her tone.

✿ The blonde folded her brows into a frown and started to silently wonder who would have dared to anger Rina and dare her to rain blows upon their existence, actually ho had ticked her off to force a renown Ninjutsu master as her to descent into forming her hands into fists and make her punch anything at all. She kept staring at the bandages noticing that they needed to be changed.

"Hmmmm... allow me please." She said while carefully pulling her hand to inspect it. It was as she suspected it was a first aid treatment. From her Pouch she extracted a roll of bandages and a flask that contained a pale greenish yellow pomade. Carefully she removed the bandages revealing her knuckles to be a mess of crackled and dried red flesh that had yet to heal. Kasumi dipped her fingers into the substance that exuded a citric and pine scent pleasant to the nose. Slowly she spread the substance over the wound. It would sting at first but a satisfying cold would soon spread over the wound. She then took the bandages and slowly wrapped them over the pinklette's hand. Before she would hear any protest she had ended looking with a content smile of her work. The blonde then turned to Rina. "It should be more comfortable now... But you should really go see a medic."

With the same care she had taken the materiel out she placed them in her pouch. When it came to bleeding knuckles she was a master. Time after time when training had ended her knuckles would look the same after her hands made her companion's look like they had suffered just a scratch. Learning remedies from herbs was something she had invested during her off-time for years. Then the blonde pulled out the flask placing it on her lap.

"Take it. I have more of them." Kasumi said proudly before she held her chin with her index and thumb deep in thought. Maybe this idea would overstep any boundaries associated with her rank but it wouldn't hurt to ask. "Say.... Maybe I could teach you some Taijutsu. I'm no master but I can hold myself and take a hit. So what do you say?"

✿ "Oh well it's nothing. Just some little concoction from herbs. Helps a lot with bleeding knuckles." She'd said both from experience and for her knowledge of the substance.

There was always something about flinging your fists and legs towards and through a log thicker than the torso of a man that would make you consider learning basic herbcraft just so that at the end of the day you could think of healing your wounds and not worry for what new pain you might find in the morrow. But whatever training she had survived from an user of the gentle fist what she had trained fell short. Despite claiming that it wasn't her forte to survive a barrage like that meant there was a degree of endurance in the mistress.

"Wow... From my training I can only recall a few broken fingers and a dislocated shoulder.... but nothing like a broken rib." She said with a mix of admiration for the mistress and fear of the woman that had make her go through such training. She wondered if she would fare any better under the 'care' of a taijutsu master. But then she had to remind herself that she had always been a more physical combatant and was able to take on more punishment than most women.

"Oh well If you want to try my offer still stands." The blonde said with a little disappointment. Not that she hoped to defeat her in combat she only truly wanted to start repaying the favor she had done to them. But perhaps there was another way. "So... are you hungry?" Kasumi asked casually.

✿ "Hmm? ...Sure" She mumbled flatly.

Her curiosity sparked the blonde almost didn't notice the anbu that had appeared in a swift flash. She had to appreciate being inducted into the masked corps of those that dared to undertake the most daring missions for the sake of the village without having any sort of credential to back her up besides her ability to conjure trees and vegetation. With the same swiftness the man disappeared not before Rina let her hair fall as a pink cascade making a mental note that despite it's rarity it was beautiful.

"My accommodations are more than enough." The blonde replied thankfully. It was an apartment with a single bedroom but for her it was just big enough to suit her needs. She still had not made herself used to the softness of the bed nor of the pillows she rested her head on as she closed her eyes. Nevertheless it was fulfilling so much that she had hard times to wake up for work. The next question however did placed her outside what she expected.

"Well.... exploration trips were a big part of my childhood." A sudden breeze blew again forcing the young woman to hold the golden strands of hair at bay. Whatever it was sounded more than just big. It dripped with dangerous despite no mention of where they would be going. Despite whatever danger it would lay in front such expedition did nothing else but to spark her curiosity and utter excitement to be a part of that mission. "I would say I like to take part of them." She concluded trying not to overstep her ground

✿ The sudden change of the woman took her by surprise. What once appeared to be the eyes of someone that would have easily passed as a friend of childhood became stern and decided. The calm of her voice was still in place but tinges of seriousness and ambition which she had not expected from her emerged only to be confirmed by the promise of reprisal if any information she had being given would be leaked. Truly the pinkette seemed to gain presence and weight like if she was more experienced beyond her years.

But before she could open her lips to speak she understood why the need for such secrecy. A location she had learned to believe and pass as nothing but a myth did truly exist according to what the woman had shared, such accursed land that would often be used as a bed time story for children. While it was true that she could connect with nature due her abilities if the tales of what such twisted and accursed place held she had to doubt her ability to reach out an understanding with the forest.

"Rina... I would never betray you... I.. I owe you everything for letting me and my people be part of this village and that is a debt I will be never be able to repay." The blonde spoke truthfully accepting the conditions the mistress had laid before her. If you need of my ability for the sake of the village I will be honored to accompany you."

While what the whole speech she had said had come from her heart she also understood that there was an ambition to go there. If scouts had being sent first it meant that there was something deeply valuable there for there to be a mobilization of valuable assets such as Rina herself.

"I'm sorry if I'm out of place... But what do you hope to find there?" Kasumi queried in a whisper.