Bryant woke up looking at a pair of boots. He knew whose they were and was not excessively pleased with his current position.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7jRU9zyQI
"How long has it been?" he asked, sitting up.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡNC1IDU0Izb
"Only a few minutes," Adan, his sensei, replied. "You almost made it this time."copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡLcKgFGzb2B
Bryant hopped back onto his feet and brushed the dust off of his clothes. Even though he had just failed to evade his sensei, he didn't care, not that day. It was his birthday, and he almost couldn't wait to see how badly the villagers tried to insult him with their gifts.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡROIbFDlebc
He suddenly darted in the direction he had been heading when he blacked out, but Adan was too fast. He felt himself being hauled backward by the shirt.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZOYHsTIbt
"Sorry, but you've already failed. Nice try, though. Go train. Tomorrow will be naginata practice. Don't expect me to make it easy for you."copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWFEdlkNwn
Bryant smiled and melted back into the forest. He was almost eager to go home.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡoob6AQKW5W
For such a small kid, Adan thought, he's got a scary smile.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83VX2DpVlB
Bryant smiled often, but not widely enough to show any teeth. When he did grin, though, his small fangs were revealed. He had inherited them from his half- kitsune father, William, as well as bright blonde hair ( which was surprising, considering his mother's hair was black) and blue eyes. It was his grandmother, though, who had created the marks on his face- one thin black streak on each cheek- that made him look, he had been told, like a sad knockoff of a manga character. He also had short hackles on the back of his neck. Even though he was only five feet three inches, unlikely to grow through a growth spurt anytime soon, and excellent at being invisible, he could never escape stares from the others. His appearance was just another reminder to them that he wasn't entirely human, and they could be unkind about it.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡofx4UKpexV
Bryant had, like other ninja, such a light step that even fallen leaves were silent beneath him. He used this skill better than most of the others his age, resulting in the question when he came into the sandy clearing.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWkN3UENQK
"How is it that you, even though you're a month younger than me, are that much better at walking through dead leaves?"copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZNFWPimKE
This was Mikael, who could almost be called Bryant's friend. Bryant's answer was simpler than the question.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9UvdOgC3O
"I weigh less."copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFKTsNN7BE
"I thought that was why. Want to let me practice on you?"copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkEE0BtjXe
"Try it."copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVnSrAHHdL
Mikael ran at Bryant, hurling an arced punch, which the smaller boy found easy to dodge.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMqhFT5t0G
"Could you try to avoid something that will break my jaw? I'd like to be able to eat."copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S1Mw1n0kl
"Fine, but will you let me hit you? Just once?"copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡeihCbIcSqq
"No! How old are you, six?"copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWd4dSXimY
Mikael grumbled and went for the fastest punch he was capable of. He still couldn't match Bryant's speed.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuQ0hn1Fnm
"Why are you so fast?"copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CEieP0rIq
Bryant leaned away from a kick that Mikael sent his way and replied, "I run through the trees, but I don't dodge them until they're really close. It works better than it sounds."copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlm5pAYnTk
"It must."copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSPcT7AVMY
After that brief exchange, neither of them talked much; instead, they both focused on their respective tasks. They practiced until Mikael was tired of trying to hit Bryant. He hadn't succeeded once.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOAW6PM6hu
"You still can't hit that little fuzzball, Mikael? You should let me try. I can put him down easily."copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9QUfgudDo
This was Chris. He was the main jerk of the five teenagers in the village and had seemingly disliked Bryant from the kitsunekage's birth. He never stopped trying to put the younger ninja at a disadvantage, but his efforts were often quite childish.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZgnc9vM4i
"Come on. Let me take a turn. I need a punching bag too, you know."copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm6micb4jt
"Why don't you try being a punching bag for once? Or do you like being a windbag better?"copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQDpKSFf5i
The interruptor was Eva, the closest thing Bryant had to a sister. Physically, they were nearly opposites, with her having very dark skin, hair, and eyes, but that didn't matter. Working together, they could completely destroy a group twice their size. Being between them, as Chris was now, was not a good position from which to aggravate either one.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEiT1v3xi8
When Chris turned around, Bryant used the distraction to flee up the nearest tree, where he crouched, immobile until he was nearly impossible to see, even fair as he was. Eva instructed Chris to either train or go away, and the boy chose to leave. Bryant, however, stayed in the tree.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3vVpN8BSr
Eva looked up in his general direction and said, "Why don't we mutilate a practice post, Bryant? It sure would feel good about now."copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rhIQ2AvhG
Bryant smiled slightly and climbed down.copyright protection170ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUk7OmCSTU
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