HSV - Go Kou Go!

Things have been a little difficult for the team lately, with their sensei being pregnant and not allowed to use her chakra, but they were managing. Kou had been stepping up in Kanmuri's place, more to fuss and tell her she shouldn't be stressing herself, but trying to keep his teammates together and motivate the girls to do their best. Kou was still a genin, and this was because he never really took his job seriously until now. With Kanmuri as his teacher he now had motivation to attempt to pass the Chunin exams. He wanted to make her proud of him to repay her for her patience and kindness towards him when he needed family the most. He didn't want her to feel she had supported a slacker. Besides... he really wanted to become a priest. Not just because he was a Byakko, but because he felt deep in his heart that the priesthood would be the path he threw himself into.

Kou smirked to himself looking at his two companion, "Team we got this in the bag, Cuz-sensai can't race, but we're her students, we can do this with just the three of us!" he grinned pumping his fist.

"We know we can do it Kou, it just means we each take the first three legs of the race and swim the last part together," Linali stated, looking unamused at the Byakko as she rested her head in her hand. "You don't have to make such a fuss..."

Yasashi only gave a small smile, she didn't mind Kou's excited behavior. It was so childlike. "Kou is just excited, he wants to make sure we feel ready, right Kou?"

"Right!" Kou grinned.

Linali only shook her head as their brown haired, very pregnant, sensei came to see how her students were doing. Kanmuri was not happy about not being able to run with her students, she felt like she was letting them down. She felt her belly looking at her team before finally settling on Kou's determined eyes, she had to smile a bit. Even if she could run, Kou nor Raiden would let her. Both of the men had become insufferably fussy over her in the past couple of months since her belly began growing. It was annoying, but then again, it was only because they cared, so Kan allowed them to fuss.

"Are you guys ready?"

"Ready and willin'!" Kou grinned

"Ready," came both of his teammates.

"Good, I'm sorry I can't join you, but I know you can do it."

"You can count on us Cuz!"

Kan could only smile at her team, she knew they were capable, but still, she wanted to join them. "I'm proud of you guys..."

"Don't be proud yet, we haven't won yet!" Kou grinned.

Kan was about to speak again before finally the signal to get ready for the race sounded, Kou waved at his teammates. "Alrighty girls we have our positions! Lets get going!" he cheered before running off to start the rely, leaving his teammates and sensei in the dust.

"Well... Good luck," Kan smiled a bit before the other two headed off to their assigned lengths of the course.

Kou hummed as he got to the start of the relay and was handed his scroll. "Thank ya much!" he grinned as the supervisor before taking his spot at the start. He was brimming with good vibes, he knew his team could come out on top. His speed was still low, but he made up for it in spirit... and isn't that what mattered in the end?

His blue eyes glittered with determination as the starting gun was raised. "No Regrets..." he muttered to himself, taking to heart his village's motto.

"And go in 3... 2... 1..." with the fire of the gun Kou was off as fast as his long legs would carry him. He wanted to impress Kanmuri. She was the closest thing to a real mom he ever had. She cared for him, loved him how he was, and gladly trained him when she became his sensei. He was going to make her proud or die trying. He made his way around the outskirts of the village, lagging behind because of his low speed, but he was not to be discouraged.

Kou knew he wasn't the fastest, but he'll change that soon once he stepped up his training. With a grin he pushed on, running past all the people who lined up to watch the race. It was hard to keep him down, he knew they wouldn't get first place, but he knew Kanmuri would be happy to see her team moving forward. He felt his heart fill with pride thinking of his cousin's face when the team finished. He twisted and turned throughout the path, seeing some get ahead of him, but was able to keep up with others. At least he wasn't the slowest; that was encouraging enough. Being the optimistic person that Kou was, he would take that as all the motivation he needed.

He smirked to himself as he pushed forward to reach the center of the village to hand the scroll off to Linali. The brown haired girl frowned at his arrival. "Took you long enough."

"Sorry sorry~ I'm workin on my speed ya know?" He gave a sheepish smile, "We're not in last place so let's just keep our chins up and go!" he pumped his fist to motivate his teammate, Linali thought Kou was odd, and didn't quite like his compliments, but, he had a good heart, so she couldn't... not like him. That was that she guessed anyways. But this wasn't the time to evaluate her opinion of her eccentric teammate.

The Warashi shook her head, "Well let's just get going then," she took the scroll from him and took the lead as they ran through the center and headed to the forest. Kou brought of the rear, keeping pace with his teammate, the grin never leaving his face as they worked together to complete the race.