[B] Sebaru Markor[/b]

Sebaru had motioned for the Guards to all meet him in his quarters after the funeral for their briefing of the time that would come. Things were about to change, change sure was necessary right now. Sebaru walked into his quarters while the Guardsmen were all still saying their goodbyes to the departed. Sebaru had dried his tears, and was changing out of his kimono, into his regular clothes, his black robe and matching linen pants, putting his forehead protector firmly onto his head, and with the protector, he also put in a tri-shaped piece of crystal that was attached to a pin that went in between his headband and his forehead, marking that he was the leader of the village, and a symbol of his undeniable power. And now it reminded him of his friend who had given it to him, more than twenty years ago, Hirorama had made it out of a piece of charcoal that he had applied such amounts of pressure to, using his special style of earth release to turn it into diamond and then given it to Sebaru when he was crowned Tsuchikage by the village council.

Sebaru was yanked out of his thoughts by the pressence of the remaining Guardsmen on his doorstep, on their way into his quarters, a fairly big room, looking similar to a dojo, as that was what it used to be. Sebaru motioned for all of them to line up in front of him in the spacious room. "Like I said out there. Today is a dark day. We lost two of our greatest assets today. Our friends, loved and respected by all. The oldest members of the Granite Guard have been laid to rest, and it's now up to you to fill the void made by Rei and Hirorama. It's not an easy task, I'm afraid. The other villages know full well that you are weaker now than before, and they will surely try and abuse the fact that we lost our Burning Flower and Pulverizer*. For the first time in history you will be given pupils. Kids that will be put under your care to be harnessed into members of Granite Guard-material." Sebaru said, putting his hand behind him, on his desk, getting out a whole bunch of dossiers, walking over to each of the guards, putting the files in their hands. "These are your students. Study up on them, their strengths, their weaknesses, where did they come from and what do they fear? They are young and inexperienced. Tomorrow your training with them starts, so make sure to take the rest of today to rest and grieve your lost. But tomorrow, you will see if these young ones are diamonds in the rough or just regular rocks. Granite Guards, move out." Sebaru told them, as he waved them off, heading back towards his desk.

* Rei and Hirorama's Epithets.