Ugokasenai Keito, Iwa Genin
'That's just the way of the ninja.' Keito didn't often feel contempt overtake him, but for a brief moment, it did. He wanted to feel good, that for whatever reason he'd affected this Rain kunoichi positively enough that she spoke to him - not with reasonable contempt as he'd expected - with a distant fondness. Instead, his eyes flashed up to her - likely for the first time, even from when they fought - with anger.
If only Azumi realized how much she sounded like the Kage she had scolded. If someone like her hid behind, "that's just how it is.", then why shouldn't those who'd caused her harm? What was the Rain village and its pain, then? That's just the way of the ninja. Keito's stomach rumbled, uneasy. He felt like he'd come to some sort of revelation — why was it people were starting to look at him as though his head were on backwards?
By the time the new trio had made their way over to Azumi and Keito, the Iwa genin could well feel the wear and tear of the day on his body. He stood up from the place he had chosen to rest, now swarmed with activity. The young, wounded shinobi slung the sheathed sakabatou over his right shoulder, casually. His eyes took a moment to observe the new girl (another Leaf shinobi, who looked much like the one who'd shown him Ichiraku quite some time ago), though he betrayed little interest in her presence after that. She'd been the one he'd seen accosting Taiyo earlier. Keito's eyes moved to his Leaf acquaintance, and that boy only, a glimmer of frustration dancing around his irises.
"I'm well, Taiyo, just out and about, walking," he responded simply, resisting the urge to add, 'I'd be much better if people stopped asking me that stupid fucking question.' Instead, Keito said, "Good luck with your fight next round."