Bryant woke up looking at a pair of boots. He knew whose they were and was not excessively pleased with his current position.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYyt3zTt3Y 維尼
"How long has it been?" he asked, sitting up.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUMdX8j09Z 維尼
"Only a few minutes," Adan, his sensei, replied. "You almost made it this time."8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCc6INWBPe 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYmfcILSWV 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjCdTObE0I 維尼
"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."8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdTsEbevUa 維尼
Bryant smiled and melted back into the forest. He was almost eager to go home.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQjWu4sJxl 維尼
For such a small kid, Adan thought, he's got a scary smile.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmtGv4DMiL 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBJaaAi7E0 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYlh01cVXI 維尼
"How is it that you, even though you're a month younger than me, are that much better at walking through dead leaves?"8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu3j9Veh6s 維尼
This was Mikael, who could almost be called Bryant's friend. Bryant's answer was simpler than the question.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1ZtaJUV4j 維尼
"I weigh less."8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7Dhpqfc34 維尼
"I thought that was why. Want to let me practice on you?"8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9gBffGFKf 維尼
"Try it."8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGhR81Z6XB 維尼
Mikael ran at Bryant, hurling an arced punch, which the smaller boy found easy to dodge.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVoUrruCTT 維尼
"Could you try to avoid something that will break my jaw? I'd like to be able to eat."8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQhDtRAzPk 維尼
"Fine, but will you let me hit you? Just once?"8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnpg8b5Rh2 維尼
"No! How old are you, six?"8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTN4IHqSFY 維尼
Mikael grumbled and went for the fastest punch he was capable of. He still couldn't match Bryant's speed.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4j4LNp9Nmi 維尼
"Why are you so fast?"8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiT692nlk9 維尼
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."8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRBVBk6Fib 維尼
"It must."8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ44NcSMzWs 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQwIt9VMEB 維尼
"You still can't hit that little fuzzball, Mikael? You should let me try. I can put him down easily."8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡihX68SlAYa 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpGfAlqx45 維尼
"Come on. Let me take a turn. I need a punching bag too, you know."8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIJdrPyvjF 維尼
"Why don't you try being a punching bag for once? Or do you like being a windbag better?"8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV94zaslEZ 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz91R1FceR 維尼
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.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4drGluNKC 維尼
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."8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡCE4qBvf5cV 維尼
Bryant smiled slightly and climbed down.8964 copyright protection419ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvRkYbpo6f 維尼
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