Ai Sayuri

.:Background:.

Current Allegiance: Kaze no Kuni

Relationships:
-Parent(s):
--Father: Ai Kaemon
--Mother: Ai Ume
--Paternal Grandfather: Ai Reizo
-Sibling(s):None
-Significant Other(s):None
-Pet(s):None
-Teacher(s):Reizo-ojiisan [Sayuri's Grandfather]
-Friend(s):None [ D: ]

.:History:.

Prologue: Small Beginnings

Sayuri's upbringing may be considered unusual by many in the ninja world. Born to simple parents living in Kaze no Kuni, she does not belong to any well-known clans, and she does not posses any bloodlines or distinguishable traits. To the best of her knowledge, there is nobody in her immediately family who ever became ninja. Because neither of her parents are ninja, nor are their areas of employment particularly dangerous, Sayuri was fortunate to grow up in a typical nuclear family. Being the only child of two parents who were constantly around, Sayuri was shown all the love and affection one needs to grow up as a stable, contributing member of society. Her good nature and happy family environment made her a quick learner, eager to explore the world around her and her own abilities.

It was this curiosity that led Sayuri to discover her ability to mold and manipulate her chakra when she was eight years old. Being unable to tell the extent of Sayuri's latent potential, and unsure of encouraging her to become a ninja, Kaemon and Ume chose to ignore Sayuri's abilities, hoping that their daughter would do the same.

However, much of this changed in 2107 when the NCIA was formed and gained dominion over the ninja world. Kaemon and Ume knew their daughter would be forced into service if her chakra molding abilities were discovered. In an effort to protect their only child, Sayuri's parents decided to send her to her only living grandparent, Reizo.

This was a much different environment for the growing Sayuri. Gone was the calm, safe, loving environment of her family. Instead she was sent out into the desert, far from most known civilization to a small community where her grandfather lived. While there is no doubt that Reizo loves his only granddaughter, an old man living in solitude is hardly prepared to raise a ten year old child. Often gruff and impatient with the young girl, he soon discovered that even his abrasive nature could not disrupt the girl's outward calm. This, combined Sayuri's own desire for knowledge, led Reizo to the decision to instruct her in basic combat.

"Molding chakra isn't a game. Nor is it a gift. It's a tool. And tools are meant to be used..." -Reizo, to Sayuri

And so Sayuri's informal training began. Because Reizo was not a ninja, there was little he could show or teach Sayuri in regards to chakra's uses outside of what scrolls and books said. And even this material was limited, seeing as Ninja Villages protected their secrets vehemently. However, a fighter in his own way, he was able to discipline other features of Sayuri, most notably her body and mind. Reizo put a heavy emphasis on both physical and traditional education, ensuring that his granddaughter knew how to read and write, as well as keep her body in peak physical condition. He knew that Sayuri was not one to let her chakra abilities go to waste, and that eventually she would find her way into the NCIA, or one of the resistance factors. It was his hope that if such a day would come, Sayuri would be prepared enough to survive the hostile war torn world.

Most notably he taught her the rudimentary skills needed to wield the Naginata, a traditional pole-arm weapon. He even gifted her with one of the bladed weapons, teaching her basic pattern dances, offensive and defensive techniques.

It was during these quiet years with her grandfather that Sayuri developed her aversion to attention. Spending most of her adolescence away from crowds and cities, she never become comfortable with having people paying her any particular attention. This was increased by her families fear that her chakra control would be found out, and she would be forced into the NCIA. While not naturally shy, Sayuri unconsciously developed the ability to keep attention away from her.

In spite or Reizo's fears, shortly before Sayuri's 13th birthday, the NCIA and the Kumogakure Empire fell, leaving Sayuri free to return to her family. However, because of the relative stability of life with her grandfather, and the continued recontruction in Suna no Kuni, Sayuri stayed with Reizo, knowing that she returned to her parents any sort of combat training would quickly be put to an end. While not a violent person, Sayuri saw the benefits of being able to protect herself and others, even if she wasn't a ninja.

The years passed, and age began to slowly catch up with Reizo. He knew that Sayuri would never reach her full potential learning basic combat in some backwater town. Besides, he was quickly running out of things to teach her. It was decided shortly after Sayuri's 17th birthday that the two of them would return to Sunaagakure to live with Kaemon and Ume.

To her parent's surprise, Sayuri decided almost immediately to enroll in Sunagakure's ninja academy. They had hoped that because of her age, and the knowledge of what the NCIA had done, Sayuri would forget her abilities and live out the rest of her life as a civilian. Unfortunately, it was not their decision to make. They must not have understood Sayuri's desire to protect her family and home after being forced to hide for nearly a decade, nor the drive to continually improve herself imparted on her by her grandfather...

And so Sayuri began her career as a ninja...