"Don't assume too much! I'm not the same girl you left behind! I didn't return to Sakuragai just to find you! ...but I am surprised to see you here. I figured you would have long since left. I mean, I've started my own shinobi school and even have a star pupil. So, as you can see, I've moved up in the world."

So remember when I said the main cast of "100% Courage" was finally complete? Well, I lied! There was one other character that I wanted to introduce, but ran out of time and motivation yesterday. Welp, I've finally found the motivation to draw her today after work!

Ladies, gentlemen and others, meet Kinouichi Hirome, a highly skilled, no nonsense shinobi and a long time friend of Master Toka! The two were close childhood friends since their school days and have developed their martial arts skills in separate yet equal ways. They both have chosen to deny the gifts of the gods; but while Master Toka took up swordsmanship, Kinouichi took up ninjitsu. Since then, she has become something a local legend and even has an entire school of prodigies under her wing! So why has she come back to her old home of Sakuragai? Turns out she heard that the two heroes of legend have been chosen and decided to pay them a visit for her own personal reasons. Much to her surprise, both heroes are under the tutelage of her old childhood friend.

Also, if the dialogue didn't imply as much, the two used to be much closer than friends. In fact, it was Master Toka who asked her if they could attempt to go steady. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for reasons the two refuse to talk to anyone else about except between themselves. However, they still maintain a friendly, if somewhat competitive, relationship between each other... even if those old feelings still burn brightly for our bumbling swordsman.

Okay, NOW it's on to the world building! No more distractions!