Mika Tsuyoda Meteorite

The lineart conception and execution took just one night, even with all the anatomy corrections I had to make with 's help, but the coloring, background, and other digital production took me two weeks! For some reason I couldn't get myself to just sit down and finish it, so I worked on it bit by bit, until tonight when I finished everything up in a 4-5 hour session. I just happened to take a really nice photo of the moon a couple days before finishing this; it worked excellently in the background, if I do say so myself.

This is Mika Tsuyoda, my Naruto fan character. I drew her once or twice before, and entered her into the 's original ninja contest a long time ago. I'm entering her again, and so, as required for the contest, here is the full biographical information for Mika. I congratulate and thank you if you actually read it all...

Full Name: 強佗身佳 (Tsuyoda Mika)
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Village of Origin: 木ノ葉隠れ (Hidden Leaf)
Family History: The Tsuyoda clan is not known for any special kekkei genkai, nor any unique jutsu, but they are notorious for their strict clan practices and famous for their long lines of incredible ninja. There are three families within the clan, 緑 (midori 'green' ), 紅 (kurenai 'crimson' ), and 紫 (murasaki 'violet' ). Despite the fact that they are all part of the same clan, they have always had a small organized war between them for control. After the current leader dies, the first female child born to one of the three families is trained from birth as the new clan leader. Because of the importance of this first born girl, any and all male children born before her are killed upon their first utterance. (It has been told that one male child actually survived this practice because he was born mute.) Mika was the first born girl of her generation within the clan, to the family of Midori. At the age of one, as was tradition, small holes were drilled into either side of her forehead, and cauterized using chakra and fire. These holes are given to the first born child and all clan children born during the following five years (within the clan, women are only allowed to conceive and give birth for five years after the time that the current clan leader dies) for three reasons: The first, most basic reason is to give the child their first taste of real pain. Second, an oddity like having holes in your forehead quickly teaches you humility and self-reliance. These qualities are highly valued in the Tsuyoda clan, and although Mika did obtain them because of this practice, she eventually learned to hide the holes with her hair. The third reason, this is why chakra is used in the cauterization process, is to implant a psychological need to become a ninja. To explain, the holes are used for attaching the ninja forehead protector directly to the body, thus fulfilling the psychological and physical need of the person to have the holes filled. Of course, they are told their entire lives that becoming a ninja is the only way to meet this implanted need.
Personal History: Mika was no exception to any of the Tsuyoda clan practices, especially as the new leader, but she also found herself with a deep need for something else, something more than being a ninja. Once, when she was very young, her mother took her to a geisha dance performance. The beauty, emotion, and elegance that was put forward on that day grabbed Mika for the rest of her life. She found a new, unheard of goal within the clan, to become a talented geisha. Without surprise, the clan dismissed it and told her to never think such things again, and although she tried to do as they said, the love of the geisha arts held her fast. As Mika grew up, between training as leader (there was much to be learned, as assassination attempts were not uncommon, and sometimes encouraged by the other families), schooling as a ninja, and her secret geisha practices, she felt torn to pieces. She knew being the leader of her clan was important, as was her safety. She also could not stop the subconscious need to fill the holes in her head, nor the conscious want to bring her family fame as a great ninja (the pressure from her mother was the most difficult part). Yet, the want in her heart to practice the beautiful geisha arts tugged on her just as much as anything. Mika is always quiet around most people because she is constantly thinking of these things. Now, at the age of twenty, Mika is the official clan leader. No longer does she have the help of the guides who used to be there for her. She has become a skilled ninja, and her psychological need has been satisfied, but it has been replaced with the responsibility of maintaining her clan. This leadership does come with more freedom, however, and she has openly started geisha training. She still does not let down her ninja practices, though, for the danger of assassination never diminishes.
Personality: To anyone passing her on the street, Mika would seem like a regular young woman, albeit quiet and reserved, and perhaps more elegant than most, with her ghostly pale skin and milky white hair. They wouldn't stop to think anything more. The very few friends that Mika has would tell you differently. Those who are able to get close to her come to realize that there is more to this girl than fair looks and a silent disposition. To her friends, Mika can be boisterous, exciting, sometimes funny, and is always very interesting. But only to them would she let such a side of her show. Enemies who chance to fight with Mika soon learn to keep on their toes. She is a determined and headstrong ninja with exponentially more bite than bark. Her never-ending silence during battle, even when receiving a painful blow, often frightens her enemies beyond all else.
Weapon of Choice: The clan of Tsuyoda has a trademark weapon. It is a simple thing, but very effective when used correctly. This weapon is called 死雨 (shiame) or 'Death's Rain', steel balls not more than a centimeter in diameter that are kept in a pouch somewhere close to the body. There are many techniques for using them, but the most basic is to sending them flying at very high speed into the opponent from various angles. In this way, the opponent is generally unable to track their trajectory to locate the Tsuyoda ninja because they either can't see the shiame or they're writhing in too much pain to care.
Jutsus (Ninjutsu Genjutsu Taijutsu) Mika knows all basic skills required for graduation from the ninja academy. She also practices defense techniques designed for protection while at rest against assassination. Other than that, Mika concentrates on the use of weapons and traps.
Likes: Of all geisha arts, Mika is most fond of playing the shamisen. She also wishes constantly to be in the peace of nature.
Dislikes: Mika hates the practices of her clan. But she often wonders if every clan leader felt the same way. She always thinks better of trying to change the traditions.
Future Dreams/Goals/Hopes: Although Mika wishes to bring her family fame by becoming a great leader and ninja, her true goal is to become an accomplished geisha.
Extra Information: Mika was born an albino. She is quite sensitive to light and her eyesight is very bad. However, she meditates often at night in places like fields, forests, and the like, to improve her other senses. The few people who have chanced to see her meditating claim that her chakra becomes clearly visible while she is in her deepest stage of thought.