Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Urk," was all Andou could say as he was suddenly crushed by taller-than-average, muscles-of-steel Hoshigaki power. He almost choked and sputtered but really was too dignified and refined of a man to do that. He merely nodded as Hiru returned to his seat. This display of emotion was embarrassing him... Methodically, he decided to go to the next in the list. Andou cleared his throat.

"Now, to Takamura Shin."

Andou

As Hiru went up to receive his "diploma" and graduation gift, Shin was busy with his efforts of drowning the rest of the audience. Not that was his intent but with the amount of sweat that was dripping out of his pores, it sure seemed as if he was. The mini-swordsman was just really nervous today, for it was the first time anyone from his family or his clan for that matter had seen him in a school setting. Many had disapproved of his choice to go to the academy in the first place, either because they thought he would fail or they feared that he would succeed. And now that he had passed all expectations and was about to graduate from the academy, some of his clan members had came just to see him some how fail a the last second.

His preoccupation with such thoughts was not only the reason he was sweating bullet but also the reason, he almost did just what they were hoping for. For as Hiru departed from the stage and his name was called, Shin simply didn't hear it, him mind just wasn't in the right place. It took a good couple of seconds to first realize that he was being spoken to and then process what was said. And burdened with his new anxiety, he responded poorly.

Instead of simply getting up and laughing off his mishap, he shot of his chair, stumbled out of his aisle and generally was one big klutz all the way up to the stage. Upon arrival therein, he simply gave the expectant principal a nervous shrug and even more nervous smile.

As he waited on stage, Shin couldn't help but twiddle his thumbs and generally be a nervous wreck. While he knew that those who came to mock and heckle him, those that wanted to see him fail, couldn't actually hurt him physical, he still feared such emotional backlash that they negatively and hate could bring. And as such he was still in a bit of a fog until Andou-sensei began to speak.

His old teacher's words of confidence and encouragement along with the headband that was handed to him had a profound effect on Shin. As the he allowed the kind words to soothe him, he simply stared at the headband, his headband, and allowed the significance of such a badge to sink in. He had now officially joined an elite sect of society, he was now a shinobi of the mist, was empowered with all the prestige and honor that such an accomplishment carried.

The petty thoughts and feeling of those who wished ill upon him became what they were, insignificant. What did he care what they thought? They'd amount to nothing and he was starting to be come something, starting to be come someone of importance in the village. They should matter little to him, and from this point on they would.

So it was with more confidence and force of presence that Shin grasped the headband tightly in both hands and tied it to his right shoulder.

"Thank you."

He said with a big smile and a grateful bow, and was about to turn about and leave when he was presented with a small package.

"Huh? There's more?"

He looked a the box with apparent surprise and bewilderment, he didn't know they'd be receiving more than some kind words and a headband. Even though Hiru had just went through a similar experience just moments before he was still caught off guard, probably because he'd been so distracted by his fears. But he was happy nonetheless and would open the package with abated breath.

"...I don't know what to say..."

Inside was a very unique ninja-to with a red glass hilt and very light feel to it. It wasn't as great as they products his clan could produce, but it wasn't too far behind and was better than anything he could produce at the moment. And more importantly it was obviously made with him in mind and cared with it sensei's pride in him and his abilities. So considering that, it was more precious than any other blade in the world. Shin couldn't help tearing up a little bit at the sight of it.

So excited and grateful was the amateur swordsman that he gave Andou-sensei a big hug of gratitude, as he practically tackled his old master.

It was short and sweet and he afterwards he promptly skipped back to his seat before looking towards Masanori on his right to give a him a big thumbs up for encouragement.

"You're up next bud."

The ceremony was lame. Sob's could be heard from left til right, while at the stage there were plenty of hardcore shinobi's that didn't move a single muscle to the extreme cases of emotional waves that flooded the room, each time the graduates got a grip of one of those headbands. He was jealous of the special gifts. That was the only emtion he was feeling, and to think that the two were so jitterish on stage? Pathetic.

And when Shin passed Masanori, and gave him the thumbs up. He officially declared this ceremony, ultra-lame, the most degrading of all his opinions - Masanori could think of. Anyway, when his name was called, he slowly pushed his chair, back, a few inches. Before rising to a standing position to then take a left to walk out on the pathway that lead to the stage. His walk was casual and his back was straighten, and his gaze were directed straight forward. He felt all the confidence in the world when he compared himself to the other two. But. When his gaze spotted a freakishly tall, white haired, giant-sword-wearing jounin at the stage. That had begun to walk to take a stand next to Andou-sensei - Masanori's posture dropped to a degree that was more pathetic than any of the other two combined plus huge amount of sweat dropping down from his forehead. It was his father. Was he going to deliver the headband? "AAAAH! THE SHAME!" he slowly took the the last steps that lead to a position that was right infront of his father. In his father's hand were a hiddenmist-headband.



"Uhm.. So.. What should I do? Should I give him or should that guy do it? Gaaah.. I should have listened to what I was told to do.. Uhm.. Oh! Where does he want it? Around his forehead?.. Maybe.. He is such a strange effing kid.. He'd probably want it around his ancle or some crazy stuff.. GAAAH!" in Dimi's hectic thinking, he simply got to the conclusion that the wrist would be a suitable place, good for taijutsu. But then again, he didn't know what his son's ninja-speaciality were. Minutes passed, people began to wonder why the tall man were just standing infront of the son without walking away after giving the headband"..." he looked at his son with slow and tierd eyes for minutes before realising that his role of giving the headband were done. He had embarassed himself infront of a big shunk of the shinobi population. "Aw f***.." he cursed at himself. "Well.. Congrats son.. Or.. Sumthin'.." he quickly turned around and walked with a prombt pace out of the ceremony hall.

With a scared expression across his face and empty and shallow holes of eyes, he looked at Andou. Waiting if there were a special gift he would recive like the others had gotten.

Masanori simply accepted the gift with a slight bow of his head, before turning around and walking back to his former seat. On the way, he passed Hiru and Shin, their gifts were kinda awesome. He hadn't checked his gift yet, but it would hopefully prove of equal worth. Once he had sat down, and took a few heavy breaths from the shock of his father, he opened the paper bag and found a bunch of seeds. He were confused, but once he saw the "Rose Seeds" written at the front of the bag. He understood that this could help him a whole lot.

{Group photo biggrin }

[Diplomacy?] = 16 = pass (you must have picked the easiest subject for this xp )

Mokujin was a bit startled when he heard his old student Shinzu yelling in the hall. He slowly walked up to him with a bit of a "what-the-heck-are-you-doing" look in his puppet eyes.

"Eh Shinzu, I know I'm not the best teacher when it comes to the people arts but I'm pretty sure walking into an academy full of children to ask about giant crustaceans isn't the best way to get information.", he informed Sinzu.

"Lucky for you I have a few students here who sneak out when they think I'm not looking and that were discussing about having seen something of the sort in some strange caravan on the road. Don't know much more than that..." he added. "Now please, I have classes to teach. Next time make an appointment instead of screaming around if you want to talk to me...", he conluded, returning to his class.

Mizuiro entered the Academy, and looked around for any sign of life. He peaked into one of the classrooms, and noticed barely any students were there. He didn't think much of it, he just thought that it must be because that Kiri was getting weaker now. Thery should make a Hoshigaki the Mizukage, and all their worries would go away. Mainly because they would be trained to be brutal, and powerful. A Hoshigaki in charge would be good for Kiri, but no one ever knows whats good for them until it's gone.
Mizuiro just walked the halls, waiting for a teacher to spot him and drag him into class.