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Dedicated Conversationalist
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 Posted: Tue May 17, 2011 9:46 pm
Ryumon Tensa
"Know that the way of the shinobi should be one of love for his family and people...Know too that the way of the shinobi is terribly harsh..."
Ryumon was wary at first but shrugged it off and entered the igloo.
“Cozy…” he said with a smile
“You’re probably right…meditation might help…” he said crossing his legs
He thought back to his own…demons…
He remembered the looks he would get from the older Tensa in other lands…
Rust tainted steel, they called him…
Destined for madness, they said…
…Lately he had wondered if they were right…
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Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 7:40 pm
 The ice had started to set, and Tsukiko took a deep breath, breathing outwards and turning out a small, heated cloud which dissipated instantly in the cool air. Curling her legs under her, she felt the snow seem to get warmer…perhaps she should lay down a skin or something, to insulate the igloo…Concentrating, Tsukiko felt that she had mentally let go of the feeling in her legs-they weren’t cold anymore. It was like the monks in foreign temples-they could concentrate pain away, or even the feeling of another’s touches or the temperature….
Running her fingers through her hair, Kiko let San curl up behind her, and figured that her own personal demons had been haunting her long enough-a stable, peaceful state of mind would be welcomed after this. Looking at Ryumon, Kiko gave him a gentle, sad smile, before speaking to him quietly. “You know…you remind me of myself when I was younger, in a lot of ways…” she spoke, encouraging herself and the boy to open up to each other a bit more.
“When I was around eight, I went to live with my father’s family, with my only sibling. I had a half-brother, a long time ago, and he protected me from being the family freak. You see…I’m half and half; not quite Inuzuka, and not quite Yotsuki. My half-brother was like me, a halfling, but he resembled the main Inuzuka family where I did not.” Her words were shaky, and Tsukiko took a deep breath, San’s nose pressing into her back gently as possible. Talking about the past was not kind to a broken heart, and for someone who had killed another person in almost cold blood. “Yukito…was my world. He kept me safe, when I was the family freak, and they punished me for something that I could not help. My torment continued for several years, and I had to bear many scars-emotional, mental, and physical-before things changed. And unfortunately, they did not change for the better.”
The light outside was growing dim, and Kiko could feel the mental pressure leaving her as she spoke, relaying what she needed to get off her chest once and for all to someone who she felt was in the same boat as she had once been-Ryumon had displayed some very psychoactive traits that bordered on schizophrenic as of late, and she felt that maybe he’d endured a similar treatment, despite his innocent demeanor and behaviors.
“When I was around your age-twelve before we came in, right?-there was a mission that my brother went on that was just supposed to be a routine mission, nothing out of the ordinary. Don’t know what exactly what went down, or what sparked it, but there was an ambush. My brother’s teammates were brutally slaughtered, the medic’s hands seared right from the body for maximum damage and the other teammate had his torso opened up, and torn out like some sick display piece.” The thoughts haunted her-she’d seen the bodies, and paled at the sight of them so many years ago. “My brother and his ninken managed to escape, though not without a hell of a beating. The attackers cut him up, from head to toe, using puppets-there were splinters of their bodies still left in his skin whenever he managed to make it to the compound.” Her heart was skipping beats, almost as if she were dying, or reliving those same, horrific moments over and over again in her mind. “It was then that I made my first, and last mistake in my medical training-I killed my only brother, without even meaning to.”
Spirit Training-600/2500 wordcountTsukiko Jounin Theme
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Dedicated Conversationalist
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 9:06 am
Ryumon Tensa
"Know that the way of the shinobi should be one of love for his family and people...Know too that the way of the shinobi is terribly harsh..."
Ryumon looked at her and smiled. He’d never had siblings but he could understand. He sat and listened to her speak of what Yukito meant to her and the tragedy that followed.
He thought about what happened. He understood what she must have felt. She definitely blamed her self but he didn’t think she should.
“I am… an only child.” He started trying to find the words.
“As a child I felt lonely and isolated…” he continued…
“I know how you feel about being… different among your clan.’ He said holding up his hand.
“My skin color is rare among Tensa…” he said seemingly lost in thought, as if experienced a vivid dream looking at his hand like a black smith examining a blade for imperfections.
“Historically members of the clan with this skin tone have been very powerful warriors… powerful, insane, bloodthirsty, homicidal, and evil…Monsters that killed for sheer pleasure. They enjoy ending lives as most people enjoy the tender caress of a lover. They were animals…nothing more…but often much less…” he said calmly and nearly emotionlessly, save for the slightest hint of sorrow in his voice.
“My parents told me… that we decide whether or not we give in to our own faults… old legends, prejudice and ignorance can’t do that for us… and in your case I think they are right…”he continued, “…but…” he paused for a moment looking at her.
“I’m afraid that after hearing that I’m very upset with you…” He said letting the words hang in the air for only a moment. The look on his face was hard and cold.
“I’ll not have you speak such nonsense about your self… I think deep down you know better…You didn’t kill him…you tried to save him…” he said.
“But I understand how you feel…I still remember taking the chunin exams…”he thought back to that day…the pain and fear…the guilt.
“The final round of the exams was attacked…”he began.
“I was left facing a strong opponent… a genjutsu specialist…”He continued his voice tensing.
“I know I shouldn’t have tried to attack… but I did…and someone else paid for my lack of wisdom.” He continued as bitterness became evident in his tone.
“You see... she used a bystander as a human shield and I had to watch him die… I remember the sound of his last breath…the look of fear and horror in his eyes… I could see his last thought in those eyes and the same thought haunts me to this day…’Why?’ ” he said in a dazed monotone as his mind went back to that battle.
“In the end it broke me… Even now I feel the faintest tug of madness in the back of my mind… a monster that enjoyed that kill…” he said quietly…
“You’re no monster though, and you need not blame your self… I know what it means to lose someone to your own inexperience… the difference is you were trying to save a life…you were trying to keep someone in this world…you were being a good sister…and a good person…I’m just a murderer…”he said trailing off and looking away too ashamed to make eye contact.
(Spirit: 525/2500 – 1975 remaining)
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Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 10:07 pm
Her hand reached out to the boy, and clasped his shoulder gently. “You’re not alone, no matter what you do…Sometimes, though we may not realize it, a life is needed to be taken for a life to begin.” A deep, shuddering sigh filled the area of the igloo, and Tsukiko pulled a skin around her-San’s fur just wasn’t quite warm enough to keep hypothermia from setting in on her. “While most deem it an unnecessary loss, others see it as a beginning.”
Her eyes looked into his, the emerald meeting with the amber in gaze. “Though you may not see it as first, the man that died was necessary for you to become a splendid shinobi. By his loss, you are encumbered by guilt, by grief, and by hatred towards your supposed ineptitude. But you are a genin, Ryumon, and such a loss could not be helped-if anything, you should honor the man who unwittingly gave his life so you could further yours…” There was a slight silence, and Tsukiko gave the boy a small ruffle on the read with her hand, teasing his already spiky hair into a more fluffy style. “With youth comes inexperience. You will learn, as you get older, believe me. “ Her eyes softened at his words-he was upset with her, for something she had judged as wrong? But…but…she’d killed her own brother. How could that be forgivable? Perhaps she should follow her own advice…Was her brother’s death in vain, or was it a lesson? She could not decide, and was stuck in a motionless attempt to justify herself.
“I think that I should follow my own advice, and maybe try to see what my original conflict was…I had always thought that I had taken a life unnecessarily, but it seems that in this instance, youth has overtaken the bit of wisdom that I had to offer.” Her face broke into a slight grin, and Tsukiko patted Ryumon on the shoulder. “There is much we can learn from each other, and I think we should teach each other as much as we can…we could even train later on, if you wished to.” A deep sticky feeling in her throat made itself apparent, and Tsukiko felt like she could not speak. Ryumon was almost like a younger sibling, a genin that she would have had as a jounin whenever she would have had her own team.
Spirit Training-600+400=1000/2500 wordcountTsukiko Jounin Theme
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:07 am
 TATSUYA MIYAKI Who knows? Not me. I never lost control Location: Hole in the Ground (Cave)
Mood: Productive
Ulterior Motives: N/A
Thoughts: "I choose not to fight for my own voice, I choose to fight for my friends that are silenced."
As Tatsuya’s first day once again came to a close he found himself in a more depressing point than it had begun, and in all honesty, Tatsuya had a pretty rotten day. He was once again reminded that he would never have Tsukiko as a friend due to her inability to just let him exist in his caring nature. Yes, Seika had done some horrible, unspeakable things, but there must have been a true reason, the reason Tatsuya came to was that she was still a tool of the Otokage, and if she was going to stay alive she would have to give a reason for him not to toss her aside. So instead of abandoning her as most of her other friends had he would need to find a way to help her out of her current situation, if she could be helped out. The only problem with that was the overwhelming feeling of uselessness that flooded the young man’s mind whenever the subject came up.
Now, Tatsuya was resorted to a feeble fetal position, arms gripped tightly around his legs and his head rested sternly on his knees. No one but his companion could see the small groups of tears flowing from his eyes, nor could they hear the silent whispers replaying many lost conversations with his past friends. For whatever reason they had left, he choosing to remove himself from them, or them choosing other things over him, and him not being able to do anything about it. He was weak, everyone he had faced since the chunin exams were on a level he had never even imagined, Shuniji, an enemy at first was at a level of power that made anything around him shutter. He had killed multiple immortals with seemingly a flick of his wrist. What made things even more unbelievable would be that Shuniji himself answered to a higher power, one so much more powerful that he bent to the will of his leader.
Then why? Why was he even attempting to gain the incredible power of the immortals if someone like Shuniji could destroy them so easily and what about the Otokage? Tatsuya allowed his speeches to play once more in his head, and for the moment he tried to understand where the ferocity came from, how he was able to stand in the face of insurmountable power and spit square between its eyes? He made threats that he had no ability to fulfill, ‘break the Otokage’s tool?’ He was no more able to do that now than he was back then. Empty threats, that’s what defined him as a person, a dog with a weak bark and an even weaker bite, so why was he even doing this now? The answer fled from him every time it came into view, every time he believed he knew why he would quickly shoot it down as not enough to suffice him gaining a power that would ultimately be useless to everything he wanted to do.
Perhaps he was afraid, afraid of what would happen if he didn’t attempt to gain the power, he lived an empty life beforehand and he somehow believed this would lead him to the answer to the question he never asked. Did he feel that he didn’t have a choice in the matter? No, he wanted to participate freely, and wasn’t told he had to at all. So he did it for the power itself, was he so selfish to attempt something like this for his own benefit? Maybe, but the better explanation was that he truly wanted to help what few friends he had left; it was that he felt that they were worth fighting for, whereas everyone else was dead set on completely and utterly destroying them. The thought of unforgiving fighters destroying his friends while he sat back and did nothing haunted him. So it was perfectly logical in his mind that he had to undergo this training. If their group did somehow defeat the sound ninja then the only way to ensure that Seika and Shuniji would be safe would be for him to be their voice among their army. They only needed to remove the Otokage, in the end all his followers would either give up or fall right behind their leader.
That was it, the only reason he did anything was for those he believed were his friends or something closer, he fought so hard without regard for himself for the few people that he held dear. He would lay his life down so that people important to him would live, and he would not stop fighting until he was successful or dead. That being said, he must have been doing something right due to the fact that he was still breathing. From the fetal position he had been in during his entire mental breakdown Tatsuya slowly unraveled himself until he lay spread out on the cave floor. It was about time he actually began focusing on the training itself; he had to gain peace within his soul and spirit. How was he going to go about doing that? He was a pretty stable person up until this entire ordeal, so what else was there for him to discover and sort out within himself?
From his relaxed laying position Tatsuya slowly pulled himself up to a seated position, the one he had assumed for months during the training of his physical strength. Slowly, he drew in a breath and opened his mind to what else? More thinking, along with chakra focus, from what Quingfu had said they would know if they succeeded in their training if they were able to harness this strange spirit chakra. So he sat and pondered, minutes turned to hours, and hours turned to days. Still, he just sat in his place unmoved, but thinking as deeply as his young mind would allow on the topic at hand. All that he could think of that would result in his mental blocking would be the blame he had placed in others for their actions, people he had not genuinely forgiven. The names were countless, and the only way to be sure that all were forgiven and forgotten in his soul was to go through individually until his chakra changed.
So he began, in tandem with conjuring up his chakra and out of his hand Tatsuya began sifting through his memories, from his early childhood when he was in the academy, no matter how meaningless the grudge he wiped it clean, determining that in his youth he was too judgmental of everyone’s actions, which was probably brought about once again by his brother’s guiding example. As the days turned to weeks the boy stayed in his position, occasionally eating whatever the world graced him with while he trained, he was actually thankful that the Immortals somehow were able to provide the required resources that they needed to survive, it made it easier to focus on the task they had designated for them to do.
While Tatsuya sat in his own thoughts the time around him continued to pass, slowly but gradually the young man continued through his subconscious, driving out as much anger and hostility towards others he could. He sifted through his early childhood and quickly came upon when he exited the academy and was thrust into the more stressful area of his life. He was so young, and forced to grow quickly, it was a difficult time but he was able to get by with the strong friendships he made with Tsukiko and Seika, and of course the companionship he forged with Aoiro. It was truly the fact that his friends at the time pulled him through the traumatic experience he had when he watched his brother be killed in front of him that made him come to care for them so much. Sure he put on a strong front after Hiyo’s death but his numerous outbursts when his name was mentioned badly or his memory was harmed showed that the boy was unable to cope by himself. While they disagreed Seika and Tsukiko both helped the boy mature into what was there today.
(1764/2500)
You're face to face With the Man who Sold the World.
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 1:23 pm
Ryumon Tensa
"Know that the way of the shinobi should be one of love for his family and people...Know too that the way of the shinobi is terribly harsh..."
“Maybe…we were both being too hard on our selves….” He thought as he took in everything she said. He’d never stopped t think about it before. Now as he stopped to look at how things had happened and how it had affected him he saw the truth in her meaning.
He saw the wisdom in her belief that this mistake would make him better. Maybe it already had. He wondered to himself as he pondered before finally saying.
“I’m glad you’re here…people like you and Akeru-nee make me wish my parents had more kids…” he said with smile before letting one of the tear shapped kunai flick out from his sleeve.
“My parents made these for me… My father is a blacksmith and my mother is an artisan metal engraver… They said they’d always keep hearts with me as long as I keep these weapons…” he said cracking a smile if only faintly
“I was always a bit of a mama’s boy…” he said with a chuckle.
“I was bigger than the other kids and they all assumed I looked down on them because of my kekkei genkai… I wasn’t even allow to participate in kunai training…the instructors thought I’d embarrass the other students…” he said with a sigh
“So… Mother was my best friend… taught me engraving… Got a thing for poetry that I got from her too… And Dad was… To be honest my dad is a bit of a lech… sometimes more like a big brother than a father… but he always knew when I need a father and when I needed a friend…he taught me how to fight and how to be a man…and what not to say to mother when he has a hammer…”, he continued with a smirk, “…I feel like I’ve let them down… I failed the chunin exams, killed a bystander, I’ve been a general burden on the other shinobi I’ve been placed with…” he said with a sense of exasperation.
“Even still… I know they’d never let me feel bad about it. Father would tell me to be a man because guilt and tears wouldn’t console that dead man’s family or bring him back to life. Mother…she would’ve said the same thing you did… they were good at talking sense into me…guess it was a talent of theirs.” He added thoughtfully.
“Unfortunately…”, he began again, “…with all there talents, cooking ended up being my…” he paused for a moment before making quote marks with his fingers “…Talent…” he said narrowing his gaze and staring off into space with a mildly annoyed look on his face.
“Some days I wonder… ‘How the heck did I not starve as a baby’…” he said as the annoyance seemed to fade.
“I even asked my Grandfather once—you’d like him he’s a shinobi aswell—and he said ‘When it comes to the well being of some one precious to you you’ll do things you never thought you could’, and it really made me wonder…” he said as if contemplating something.
“…But…” he started “Then I found out that it only meant my dad conned my grand father into cooking…” he finished.
(Spirit 525+526 = 1051/2500 1449remaining)
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Dedicated Conversationalist
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The Demon Quinlain Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 9:28 pm
«☊ Ren Niigata ☊»xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
もし何も私がそれを止めるためにすることができること...
If there's nothing I can do to stop it...  ╔═蓮 新潟════════════════════════╗ Mood: No mood. Just training. Doing: More... and more... training Status: A tool Location: No ********' idea… damn MapQuest.╚════════════════════════蓮 新潟═╝Well, it would seem Ren would have to stick it out alone for another year. Fine by him. Isolation was no stranger to the ninja. If anything, it was more friendly to him than any other person had ever been. That is, aside from Seika of course. But as it would seem, he had to accept they were on opposite sides of what would appear to be a war to be. So basically, he was alone in all this. In every thing. And now he didn't even have that god damned cat for comfort. Yup, that pretty much summed it up. And with that out of the way, he made his way to the nearest cave and took his lonesome shelter in it. He was pretty sure he could stick this one out without freezing to death. He still had that sleeping bag he bought on that mission with Dev-sensei those couple years ago. It had proven to be really warm and now he also had the coat. He'd be all right.
So... coming to terms with his spiritual nature. Aside from he always seemed to be alone, what else was there to figure out? Only way to figure out that was to meditate he supposed. Getting into a cross legged position, Ren rested his hands in his lap and let himself relax. Find peace in his soul? He'd never really known unrest. He'd woken up in the hospital seven years old, found out what a suckish life he had to jump back into and just came to terms with it. He accepted it. He had to.
"Neva' known unrest huh? Bullshit."
Ren's eyes snapped open as he heard someone speak. And what he saw in front of him was... another him. Did he use the shadow clone jutsu by accident or something?
"No. I'm you, dumbass."
"...And yer 'ere b'cause?"
"Not answerin' 'at."
"Why not?"
"Stupid, useless question." Okayyy... this "Ren" was definitely more of an a** than Ren was. "Ask a better one."
"...What you first said, wha'dja mean by it?"
"'At's tha best ya gat? Eh, good enough. Ar' you tellin' me you really felt nothin' when ya foun' out mom n' dad died?" he spat.
Ren was... taken aback by this. It wasn't at all what he was expecting. Actually, he hadn't even really thought of their death in some time. He'd been, well, busy. But now that he had to... the enitial shock of the news was coming back, having simply been repressed for the past "year." "I... I dunno." he said sullenly.
"Nat good enough. So 'ey were idiots fer lettin' Yukio run rampant fer all 'ose years. You could 'ave simply broken yer promise an' reported 'im. Maybe 'en 'ey wouldn' 've 'ad ta die."
"I know that!" Ren shot back. "I know... I was stupid fer nat sayin' some'in'. I just... I wanted ta do one thin' ta compensate fer what mom n' dad 'ad been doin' fer me."
"Ya gave yer life ova' ta 'at crazy Mizukage lady becomin' a shinobi ta 'elp pay off 'eir debts. Bein' a shinobi ain't like gettin' some food service job where ya go in in tha mornin', come 'ome at night n' yer off duty an' get weekends off. You join up ta be a ninja an' 'at's yer life. 'Ere ain't no "off duty" fer a ninja."
"I know!"
"Pretty big sacrifice if ya ask me."
"WELL 'OO'S ASKIN' YA?" Ren shouted. He couldn't help himself. Something was different in his head and he didn't know why. Some how he'd ended up jumping to his feet, fists clenched.
"Anger? Well 'at's new fer ya, ain't it Ren? Keh. Feelin' at all's new fer an emotionless tool like you."
Ren scoffed and turned away from his other self. For the first time he was restless. It was all hitting him so suddenly. This... bout of emotion. He'd always internalized his thoughts and kept his questions about things like this between himself. Well, he supposed this was technically still "between himself" but he'd never... felt forced to answer back. To really think about it and give the full answer. He just came up with quick answers for himself to settle his mind. But why was this bothering him? Why were this other Ren's questions bothering him?
"Maybe cause 'ey're ta do with a subject ya neva' really felt like gettin' inta." the other Ren suggested. Ren realized he'd been pacing and stopped, unfortunately while turned to his other self. His eyes darkened and he stared down at the ground. There was silence for what felt like the full year. Actually, it had been some time that Ren just thought to himself about what his answer was. He didn't even know himself. The slumdog shinobi sat for a week, meditating the answer. At one point he'd taken out his blanket and wrapped it around himself. At least he'd been meditating semi warmly, though the cold still bit at him with razor sharp fangs. After a while, when Ren was starting to think he had his answer, the other Ren spoke again. Just one word. "Well?"
"...It wasn' my fault. 'Eir deaths, 'ey weren' my fault. Nat d'rectly. I was gone. Mom 'ad made me promise ta keep quiet. Dad was too busy ta notice. I'm nat makin' excuses, jus' facts. Facts is- some'in' should'a been done an' I could'a easily preven'ed it. I c'ntributed ta m' fatha's murda' by keepin' quiet, I won' deny it. Maybe if I'd cared enough ta slap my motha' with tha truth a long time ago, she wouldn'a OD'd. 'Ey didn' do nothin' ta stop 'eir deaths, but neitha' did I- I won' deny it." A pause for silence. A pause for more thought. "But I didn' kill my dad n' I wasn' tha drug deala' 'at kept 'is stash in tha 'ous an' gave mom easy access ta 'em so she could kill 'erself."
"So your fault is your silence?"
"...Silence... n' apathy towa'ds tha people 'oo did nothin' but 'elp me."
"If you call that help." the other Ren sneered sardonically.
"'Ey did what 'ey could!"
"Yukio neva' seemed ta mind takin' advan'age a' 'what 'ey could.' Why da you gotta be tha noble one?"
"I'm nat in'a'ested in bein' noble er nuthin'... I jus' appreciated it."
"An' 'at's one maja' difference 'at'll always separate ya from Yukio." the other Ren said, giving a sly smile. Ren looked up, again, a bit surprised by his other self's words. Something in his comment... gave Ren... well, he was pretty sure this was what most people would call "comfort." But like the other Ren had stated before, it was nothing short of a miracle that he was feeling anything at all.
Heh. And all it took was for his parents to kick-off.
[[Mastery of Spirit: 2,500-1,141=1,359 words remaining]]
why should I care?
があれば私は、なぜ気にするでしょうか?
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
«☊ Chunin ☊»
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 10:22 pm
«☊ Ren Niigata ☊»xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
もし何も私がそれを止めるためにすることができること...
If there's nothing I can do to stop it... ╔═蓮 新潟════════════════════════╗ Mood: I'm actually finding... comfort in this. Doing: More... and more... training Status: A tool Location: No ********' idea… damn MapQuest.╚════════════════════════蓮 新潟═╝Ren spent a lot of the time just sitting around trying to beat the cold or walking around the cave, hoping that the movement would warm him up even a little. His other self hung around a lot, waiting for Ren to be ready for another bout of self revelation. He couldn't say he looked forward to it, but he knew that his other self wouldn't let him put it off long. If it were possible, the other Ren would probably end up kicking Ren- or himself- or... whatever. "Yer neva' gonna go away are ya?" he suddenly asked one day.
The other Ren smirked. "You got anythin' betta' ta do?" Ren grunted, pacing back and forth with his blanket wrapped tight around his shoulders. "Yer jus' scared 'at cher gonna learn somethin' ya don' wanna." he jeered.
Ren shot an impassive, sideways glance at him. It said one thing. "You know I don't actually care that much!"
"Jus' makin a joke." Ren rolled his eyes... but decided to indulge himself- his other self-... whatever. "Ya still neva' gave a reason as ta why 'is is all buggin' ya so much."
"An' I don' suppose you got any bright ideas?" Ren sneered.
The other Ren chuckled. "My guess is as good as yer's dude." Ren glared. He didn't like that he was joking about this matter so much. He didn't like that he was aggravated by his joking so much. He didn't like how he suddenly gave a crap! "Is it really so suddenly?" the other Ren asked.
"Yer me. 'Ave you known me to care?"
"No, I 'aven't. Why nat?"
"Cause it does me no good."
"Why's 'at?"
"s**t goes down. It goes down fer e'ry single person. High born, low born, guttershit- don' matter. s**t 'appens. If I waste time cryin' 'bout e'ry one 'a 'em, I'll be in a ********' emo corna' my whole god damned life! Cause a lot a' s**t 'appens at me, aroun' me, ta people 'oo care 'bout me."
"Like 'oo?"
"'Oo tha ******** d'ya think? Mom. Dad. Seika...."
"At least ya 'ope 'bout Seika."
"...Yea." Ren paused for a long while. This was all so... so... so ******** up. All of it. It always had been. He'd always known that. He'd just never had to face the fact that it did and he didn't feel anything about it.
"Almost anythin'." the other Ren corrected him. "Ya care 'bout Seika and ya care 'bout what 'appened ta mom an' dad. Ya've said why you stopped carin', now why d'ya care bout this?"
"...I appreciate what they did. An'.... I really like Seika... she's my friend."
"Right, cause I just go up an' surprise-kiss all my friends!" Ren shot a scowl. "Sorry, 'is is about you- nat me. Continue."
"...But... all I do is appreciate what 'ey did. I... I should feel guilty, but I dunno if I do. I don' think so."
"And...?" the other Ren prompted him.
"And... it botha's me. 'Ey're my parents an' I think I should care more.... I know I should. But I just... don'. An' I dunno why. Jus' cause I stopped carin'? I can' even r'memba' love'n 'em at all."
"To be fair, you can't r'memba' much." Ren shrugged. "Yer own apathy botha's ya?"
"Sorta... It does, but cause it doesn' an'... shouldn' it?"
"Probably."
"Then why?"
"...Maybe this is your nature. Yer tha apathetic Slumdog Shinobi. You don' care an' it gets ya through life, missions and all 'at s**t. So live with it."
"....I guess I don' 'ave much choice do I?"
"Nat really."
Ren thought for a while... he was worried because he didn't care. But wasn't that the same as caring? But he really couldn't feel any sense of caring. So maybe... and here he found his answer. He would probably never have functional emotions. He chose apathy, and he'd have to stick with it. All this was just a reminder for himself- he just had to go with the flow of life. It was the only way he'd get by. Yes his parents were dead, it was tragic but he had to keep moving on. He wouldn't get anywhere by standing still. He had to stop this foolishness of letting himself get stressed out. But he would admit one thing... "I think... I think I loved my mother. She was stupid, an' delisional an' 'ad 'er 'ead stuck up 'er a** tha whole time I knew 'er but... she was nice to me. She raised me as best as she could. I'm sayin' on an appreciative level... I loved 'er." Ren had never cried before, and here, with the freezing cold temperatures, it probably wasn't the best place to start. But he did anyway. A few tears slipped from his eyes and froze on his cheeks. Not many, but more than any could have expected. Someone who knew him would barely be able to believe even one tear was produced in Ren's eye. For all they knew, he wasn't even capable of the act! "An' I feel sorry I couldn' do nothin' ta stop 'er death. Er- didn' do nothin' ta stop it."
"An' 'ere's anotha' thing ta prove yer nu'in' like Yukio. Ya don' care, but yer nat a cruel, ******** up p***k like 'im. Ya actually tried ta 'elp yer parents. What'd 'e do? An' I know y'll always say yer tha reason yer parents 'ad all 'at debt in tha first place but ya tried ta 'elp pay it back." Again, the little bout between Ren and his other self ended in something to give Ren some solace. Like he was getting rewarded for actually giving a crap enough to do this whole "soul searching" thing. Maybe he wouldn't wait so long next time. He seemed to keep finding ways to assure himself he wasn't like his brother. But right then and there- he was tired as all hell. Laying down in his sleeping bag, he zipped it so it was only open enough for him to get air out of, so then he could keep in as much warmth as he could. Again, he found himself missing that damned stupid cat. At least Neko-chan would have helped provide some extra body heat. The scratching and clawing and raking of his scalp could have been negligable then. Despite the cold, Ren soon found himself in a world of dreams. None of them were coherant but he did know it had something to do with being back in Mist... where it was cool but not too cold. But compared to this frozen hell of a mountain- it was blissfully warm. Oh if only, if only.
[[Mastery of Spirit: 1,359-1,116=243]]
why should I care?
があれば私は、なぜ気にするでしょうか?
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«☊ Chunin ☊»
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The Demon Quinlain Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 11:03 pm
Tsukiko laughed. “It’s always good to have parents that care about you, even if you don’t take after them. Take a look at my parents, for example. My mom’s a whore, and my dad has abandoned me because of how I look. And you know…I think I’ve went beyond what either thought I could.” Her words rung out in the quiet confines of the igloo, which had finally started to warm up on the inside, through the bit of body heat that she and San put out.
“Cooking is quite simple, but it takes the right heart to do it…like being a shinobi. It is simple, so simple that anyone could do it, but it takes the right kind of person and a strong, dedicated heart to make a true shinobi. All others would be within their own faults.” A quiet laugh filled the area, and she tapped her ching. “Speaking of food…I’ve got a bit of jerky and some dried fruit in my scrolls, if you are hungry. An empty body cannot focus properly, after all-one of the first rules of being a medic.” Her hands gestured out to him, showing the scarred palms carefully as possible without hitting him, before Tsukiko spoke. “This is being a medic in its fullest-we are the heart of a team, the most essential part of a squad. And I believe that I am the only medic training to become an Immortal…perhaps I can pass what I know on to other generations, if I pass this test. It would be splendid to teach others who are willing to learn about the medical sciences…”
A bone chilling breeze swept outside in the frozen wasteland, and Tsukiko felt somewhat glad that she’d made the igloo, though she had to wonder if Tatsuya and Aoiro had found shelter…And the others, the ones she did not know, or recognize from anywhere else. All in all though, a year was a long time to be away from the company of others…she had to wonder how the rest of the trainees, including Ichi, were doing.
Finding herself a bit more curious than normal, Kiko tilted her head to the side, before opening her mouth and promptly shutting it. What would Ryumon know about Ichi, anyways? He was still a genin, and they had at least a six or seven year difference between them….But he would know about Ichi and how Ichi was treated, right? It wasn’t like Kiko didn’t believe Ichi; no, that wasn’t the case at all. It felt like she didn’t know the extent of the damage-she wanted to protect him, keep him safe from everyone and everything that would seek to cause him harm. And it wasn’t just Ichi either, but all of her friends-Akeru, Ryumon, Shiso…everyone she held dear. It was foolish to doubt herself and her instincts, and prying into Ichi’s business and foreign affairs was one thing that for some reason would not budge in her mind. The curiosity spread throughout her, though, and the girl looked dazed, puzzled even.
San had nudged at her master’s back, poking at her to get on with her thoughts, and Tsukiko shifted a bit uneasily in her position, before leaning back against San, covering herself with the skin blanket. “I can’t help but wonder what it’s like to live in Suna…a place that would seem so desolate, but so understanding…but Ichi’s plight wasn’t so much for understanding, was it? The people misunderstood him, treated him badly because he was a host…I think that we should change the world for the better whenever we are to leave this place, Ryumon. There is a chance we could dramatically improve someone’s quality of life, just out of a kindness or a simple pleasing moment…And nothing should be squandered away-not even a speck of dust. Well...maybe a speck of dust or two lost to the elements wouldn’t hurt things, ne?” Tsukiko’s eyes blinked heavily, and she felt herself feeling sleepy, and tired from letting go of herself. Letting one’s mental skeletons out of the closet was not easy-but talking about them was. There was a kinship she’d formed with the young genin sitting across from her, some mental bond she would honor the rest of her life. A gentle rub of San’s fur calmed the girl a bit more, and she rested, letting herself drift off quietly.
When she’d awoke, the storm of snow outside would have temporarily subsided, but only temporarily-the wind still howled and the deep gales of snow were piling up. Even the igloo had been buried, it seemed-the door was hidden in the snow drifts outside and the vent was closing up from the snow. Using a kunai once more, Tsukiko re-carved the doorway and vent hole, pushing the snow to the edges of the igloo.
Spirit Training-1000+800=1800/2500 wordcountTsukiko Jounin Theme
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 12:32 am
TATSUYA MIYAKI When it feels like a kick in the teeth, I can take it.
Throw your stones and you won't see me break it.
Location: Hole in the Ground (Cave)
Mood: Confident
Ulterior Motives: Saving my World
Thoughts: "The Otokage might be powerful over many, but his power pales in comparison to the friendships I hold dear. BRING IT ON!"
Weeks quickly became months, and still, the Udai ninja sat in his place, combing through his mind for all the regrets and grudges he had been holding and slowly releasing them into the world. If he was going to find peace within himself and master this “spirit” training he needed to actually be peaceful, and not the raging form of emotions he had evolved into. He needed to slowly become similar to how he was when he was still in the Cloud Village, serine and actually happy, however he would need to reflect those emotions in different ways. Instead of his happiness coming from being completely naïve of the world he was born into he would need to be happy through his optimism. He needed to be able to look at everything he disliked in the world and know he could solve it, either alone or with the help of those around him. To obtain this he would wipe his mental slate clean, he would disown all his negative thoughts towards others, and about himself, if one has grudges with others or themselves they are not the master of their own minds.
He clung to the thought, he held it dear, when he had internal monologue about not being strong enough he silenced them with his own voice screaming the opposite louder. “You can’t save anyone; you couldn’t even save your friend from oppression just like you couldn’t save your brother from death.”“NO! I CAN SAVE THEM! NOT ONLY CAN I, I WILL!”
His conscience and voice of reason would be silenced if they didn’t speak in positive light, if they gave good insight and encouraged the behavior that Tatsuya himself needed he would grant them the grace of his attention. For now however, he kept them dormant as they continued to speak negativity into his pool of concentration and in turn rupture it.
Within a eleven month period Tatsuya had managed to destroy all the conscious grudges he held against others and himself, and to be honest, it took everything to hold back the s**t eating grin that became plastered on his face. He was still scrawny and his hair was once more shaggy, though he liked it, he was accepting of his appearance, and decided it would stay as is unless it was interfering with his ability to survive. In reaction, he ate, he was malnourished for the lesser part of two years; since he had started this ‘challenge’ he ate what he could find, and most of the time it was small game and other animals. The last big meal he had was actually about a year and nine months previous when he was able to defeat a large lizard and feast upon its flesh with Aoiro.
So he set out from his cave, like a butterfly emerges from its cocoon, he entered a boy stuck in an unfitting body, as he exited he revealed himself to have discovered himself. He stood proud and tall, and his posture was one that reflected the amount of confidence he with held for himself. His expression told a million stories; stories of the trials and troubles he had faced and of tales of his triumphs over not only his enemies but over his own ridicule. He looked proudly upon the world he found himself in and proclaimed loudly into the bitter cold wind,
“MY NAME IS TATSUYA MIYAKI! I CHOOSE NOT TO FIGHT FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR THOSE WHO I LOVE! I WILL FIGHT FOR MY FRIENDS UNTIL MY FINAL BREATH LEAVES MY LIPS! I WILL NEVER BACK DOWN IN THE FACE OF A STRONGER POWER, FOR THERE IS NO STRONGER POWER THAN THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT I HAVE FORGED AND HOLD DEAR!”
He announced his presence in the new world, he screamed out his hopes and his dreams, he bellowed out his ambitions and his goals, he pelted out his fears and his sorrows. He became a man, a man he would be proud of, a man he would tell his children about, a man that looked into the face of whatever stood in his way and spit between its eyes. His caring nature and his confidence would pull him through the darkest days no matter the situation. He emerged from the cave with ultimate power, the power over himself and the power over his future. He took a moment to hold out his hand and forced a small burst of chakra into it, revealing the illustrious spirit chakra he had been tasked with mastering. Things just got serious.(2524/2500) Say what you want, take your shots. You're setting me free with one more kick in the teeth
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Dedicated Conversationalist
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 1:13 pm
Ryumon Tensa
"Know that the way of the shinobi should be one of love for his family and people...Know too that the way of the shinobi is terribly harsh..."
He watched as she fell asleep. He’d been taken aback by her question but before he could organize a coherent sentence she’d fallen asleep. He stayed awake for a while after she’d entered her peaceful slumber, thinking about what she’d said.
It came to him like so many times before. It came to him like that day on the cliff. I came to him like a gentle desert wind… Those words his grandfather a said to him… he remembered the blood on his weapon… the sheer dominance he’d radiated over his enraged opponent in battle, but also the look of age and sorrow at the life he’d been forced to take.
….Harsh indeed grandfather…. he thought to himself and he smile at his sleeping friend. The sight of her resting soundly stirred something in him…Something warm and new…he knew that one day he might have children of his own, and he would protect them and he would protect his current family, like he would protect the sister shinobi sleeping across from him. Soon after, he drifted off to sleep himself with an answer for her question and a smile on his face, knowing that there would be time for talk tomorrow.
He dreamt back to that time. He remembered that fight…
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“I’ll make you pay Gozaemon!” said the masked man his words and twisted by rage as the covering over his mouth.
“You will make a valiant attempt I am sure… but is this necessary?” Gozaemon asked trying to diffuse the altercation.
“You Tensa think you’re so superior! First to take the supply contracts for weapons from my clan then you personally upstage me in front of Kazekage-sama! I’ll kill you and prove once and for all that the Tensa are OUTSIDER GARBAGE!!!” he said as he rush Gozaemon in a rage
Ryumon only watch his grandfathers flowing movements while he wait in hiding behind a large sand dune. Gozaemon was older but had years of experience and his attacker while able bodied was angry, sloppy and unfocused. It was only an instant and Gozaemon’s Kodachi slid gently across the neck of the attacker so enrage he hadn’t even realized his throat had been cut. With a savage gurgling noise he dropped to his knees and simply slumped there as his blood stained the sand crimson….
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He awoke to a scrapping sound…
“Tsu-Tsukiko-nee-chan?” he mumbled groggily as consciousness returned to him slowly….
He rubbed his eyes and yawned. He stretched and various joints cracked. As she finished clearing snow from the door and vent he decided now was as good a time as any.
“I thought about what you said last night and it reminded me about something my grandfather had told me when I was young… It’s why I decided to become a shinobi and not an engraver or black smith.” He took a deep breath and close his eyes trying to remember his grandfather’s exact words after that fight.
“He may strike you 1000 times, but the blade of a sword swung in anger, hate, or malice will always be dulled by the lack of a will strong enough to control such emotions. Know that the way of the shinobi should be one of love for ones family and home as well as one of mercy for those wise enough to seek it in earnest…” he began….
“Know too…” he continued his eyes opening sharply and meeting hers, “…that the way of the shinobi is terribly harsh.” He finished.
“For years I never truly understood this meaning… I thought he meant that sacrifice is a constant in the shadowy world of the shinobi… As true as that may be, it also means we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard… we must be above petty jealousy and entitlement. We must never focus on the past so much that we become blind to our future, we must also never disregard the past that made us who we are... that is why I agree with you…helping you teach future generations.” He said
“As for suna…” he began, ”Ichite-ru-sempai is a nice guy…I met him for the first time in the desert…he was injured but he tried to warm ME away… He never deserved how the village had treated him.” He finished with regret in his voice.
“Suna gakure can be a beautiful place…but it has its faults… If we can help the next generation learning from the failings of the last then maybe we can fix those faults.” He finished.
(Spirit – 1051 + 751 = 1802/2500 698 remaining)
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:04 pm
Her ears and eyes were open to the younger shin obi’s statements, and Tsukiko listened intently with her heart, feeling the amount of belief in herself and her own faults surmise into a new form. This was hope, something she hadn’t felt for a while….not since she’d been home, really. Kiko had to agree with his words-they were true, in many, many ways.
There was a soft whine from behind her, and Tsukiko snapped open a scroll from her pouch, opening the seal on it, before handing Ryumon a small bag of dried fruits. “This should conquer the hunger…at least, the physical hunger.” She grinned at him, and tilted her head to the side slightly as she spoke, as if he’d always been there and she’d never quite noticed the boy until now. A deep sigh racked her body, and she felt somewhat anxious; self-conscious, perhaps, but not in a physical way. She’d opened herself up to him, and he’d opened up to her, almost as if they were siblings. They could pass easily enough, that was for sure…and he’d called her ‘nee-chan’. Sister. And somehow…she was okay with it. With being a sister again. This time though, she’d protect her brother-even if he did wield a kekkei genkai and a family of blacksmiths. And she owed Akeru-Ryumon had followed her inside, and Akeru wanted to protect the boy, like they were family also.
Shoving a bit of the dried fruit down, she looked across at her fellow shinobi-her little brother, she would now consider him-and smiled, before pushing some of the fruit and jerky towards San. “The world is what we make of it…and I hope that we can make it a wonderful, tolerant place to live in. Though…I know not all will follow in our wishful, hoping footsteps.”
Spirit Training-1800+300=2100/2500 wordcountTsukiko Jounin Theme
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The Demon Quinlain Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 10:07 pm
«☊ Ren Niigata ☊»xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
もし何も私がそれを止めるためにすることができること...
If there's nothing I can do to stop it... ╔═蓮 新潟════════════════════════╗ Mood: I think... I think I'm a'right. Doing: talking to non-existant people Status: A content tool Location: No ********' idea… damn MapQuest.╚════════════════════════蓮 新潟═╝Yet another day of ignoring the cold that never ended and numbing himself to it's numbing effects and effectively losing track of any sense of time. Yet another staring contest between Ren and Ren's other self. Ren had a question to ask but didn't know how to word it. The other Ren knew exactly what it was but wouldn't answer until Ren was able to ask it.
"...You sure I ain't like my botha'?" Ren asked.
"Keh. Took ya long enough." the other Ren scoffed. "An' I dunno. Why ya askin' me?"
"'Oo tha ******** else 'm I s'posed ta ask?!"
"Yerself."
"You AR' myself!" Ren shot back.
"An' my answa's 'er as good as yers." Ren deadpanned and turned his eyes away. This was ******** bull. "Why d' ya even ask? Do ya think yer like 'im?"
"I... I dunno."
"But yer worried ya ar'."
"...Yea." And there it was, one of the few things he couldn't even tell himself he didn't care about. And he was always honest with people, including himself. "Yukio... 'at useless basta'd... neva' did jack s**t fer no one but 'imself! I don' wanna be weak. I don' wanna be useless. I..." He stared down and glared hard at the ground. "I don' wanna be like 'im! I 'ate 'im! 'Ad 'is gang beat up e'ry un' jus' fer shits an' giggles. Jus' ta make 'imself feel powa'ful 'e ******** up tha lives a' e'ry un' 'oo was weaka' than 'im! Maybe I don' r'memba' what 'e was like b'fore, but I'm pretty ********' sure brotha's ain't supposed ta set 'eir gangs on each otha'!"
"You didn't seemed phased by the beatings." the other Ren interjected flatly.
"Course nat, I took it cause it was tha'only way ta get'em ta stop. An' it wa'n' like 'ey're worth tha effort takin' 'em on, e'en when I did become a ninja. 'Ey'd jus' come afta' me fer more fights. It wa'n' worth it."
"An' 'is'd be why ya work so 'ard ta get stronga'. If ya were useless ta Mist, er ta tha Udai Council- ya'd prettymuch be jus' like 'im."
"....Not completely. You a' all people should know I ain't 'at deep."
"Fair 'nough."
"...But I s'pose 'at logic's plausible."
"Well yer strong now ain'tcha? An' obviously yer usefull 'nough ta be considered fer bein' an immortal. Yer 'ere."
And all was silent between the two. Ren sat with deep, green, pensive eyes, pondering all this emotional crap. For him, it took a lot longer to register as he sorted out which emotions were which. But gradually.... he started to understand what "peace" in his soul was. He just had to be logical about it.
He was indeed troubled by his parents' deaths. They'd started the life that had gotten him here. All this was only possible because of them, so it was only reasonable to think he'd be disturbed by the sudden news of their death even if it was semi-predictable. He felt a kind of love for them because he appreciated all they'd done. His brother- he flat out hated the b*****d and hoped he suffered through his whole life-sentence in Mist's prinson cells. It was nice of Lady Mizukage to mention that parole or any chance of him getting out were "none to negative one thousand" as she so kindly put it. He wasn't the revenge-seeking type, so he was satisfied with Mist's justice system taking care of him. As for the idea of him being anything like his brother- aside from looks maybe, there was no way. Ren had done something with his life. Ren had worked to actually help his family and because of it- he had goten out!
There were so many in those slums, people he'd lived right next to who would live the same life they were living when he'd left to the end of their days. But him- he was a ninja. He'd won the chunin exams his first year trying them. He'd joined the Udai Council and while he still didn't believe his life was worth much, he could still say it was worth more than his brother's.
He could live with this. He could be "at peace" with this. It wouldn't seem to anyone that anything had changed in the grime-covered boy, but it didn't matter to Ren. He was actually ok. Apathetic still, uncaring still, but he could feel real contentment with how his life had gone for once.
[[Mastery of Spirit: 243-746=LEARNED]]
why should I care?
があれば私は、なぜ気にするでしょうか?
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«☊ Chunin ☊»
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 10:19 pm
Reflecting on her words, Tsukiko turned to look at the dull, icy ceiling that had been their home for so many months. Somehow, it seemed that it had only been mere days, rather than a year. There was a distant yelling outside-Tatsuya? Declaring himself to be…a true friend. She had to smile, but he had said that they didn’t know each other…
Her heart shifted a bit-perhaps she had been wrong to judge him. If he had enough hope to keep a friendship with Seika…then she would respect it. Even though she’d seen the damage that the girl and her probable Sound cohorts had accomplished on Ichi, Tsukiko would not damage the boy’s hope of saving Seika. It wasn’t worth it, in the end, to argue with a possible ally, a former teammate, and a fellow villager. Blood was stronger than anything, and even though their families were different, Tsukiko couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by a sense of pride for her fellow shinobi. Kumo produced some of the strongest nins of this generation-people had talked about the chunin exams for months back home, or so she had heard from her mother and her associates. All were very proud of Tsukiko, and she had to smile at the thoughts.
Something rumbling sounded outside-a minor avalanche, maybe? Tatsuya had yelled loud enough for an avalanche to occur…There was more rumbling outside, like a massive snowfall pounding over the igloo. It did shift a bit…when the rumbling ceased, Tsukiko once again carved through the snow bricks, finding herself and Ryumon to be on the tail end of the avalanche-there were three or four inches of snow piled on the top. Not enough to be dangerous, but certainly enough to shift them a bit at a high enough speed… Grinning, Tsukiko pushed upwards through the snow bricks, un-encasing herself, San, and Ryumon from their snow shelter.
Giving a deep breath, Tsukiko raised her fist into the air, the faded scars light against her creamy skin, and shouted back. “WE SUPPORT YOU, TATSUYA, IN ALL YOUR DECISIONS! AND WE PROMISE TO NEVER HOLD IT AGAINST YOU FOR SOMETHING YOU BELIEVE IN!” Heart pounding, Tsukiko climbed to the top of the igloo, hoisting San upwards and out of the igloo, and they rolled down the side of the igloo, feeling fresh and imbued with the wisdom that had always been just out of their reach.
Spirit Training-2100+400=2500/2500 wordcount
(Spirit Achieved!)Tsukiko Jounin Theme
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Dedicated Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 5:58 pm
Ryumon Tensa
"Know that the way of the shinobi should be one of love for his family and people...Know too that the way of the shinobi is terribly harsh..."
Ryumon while raised to be well mannered was of a ravenous appetite presently. Little else can be said other than his rapid consumption of the food offered could’ve been mistaken for a space time technique, or possibly an illusion, because as soon as the bag of dried fruits entered his possession they were gone nearly as fast.
“Fank Mu…” came the first muffled words before he realized he hadn’t swallowed yet so there he sat for a moment confused with food in his cheeks like a paranoid chipmunk protecting it’s winter provisions personally.
After and moment and a mental admonishment he remembered his manners and home training. He chewed quickly and swallowed.
“Thank you” he repeated, “ And Sorry about my manners…had a bit of an appetite… growing boy and all that” he said with an awkward chuckle.
He listened to her with a warm smile while she spoke…The like her he heard the sound of some one yelling. “Glad he’s found such strong conviction” he commented
Just as he was about to speak again a rumbling interrupted….
“Wha-What is that?” he began but before a response could be articulated a sudden shifting caught him off guard and the sound of snow rumbling over the igloo unnerved him more than a little bit.
After it stopped and Tsukiko and San had climbed out he was left in the Shelter alone with his thoughts and then he heard her… Her support for her friend… It was magnificent. He knew then just how well he’d chosen his friends.
He thought back to all the times that he sat on a sand dune and watched the desert sun setting. He remembered how cold it got on those evening walks home…alone. Then he remembered Akeru…He remembered Tsukiko and Ichi… he remembered all of his comrades in suna… He remembered Kazin Hyuga, and his verbal exchange with Yuzuki Yukimura. Each of the people he’d met since he became a shinobi had, in their own way, given his life a little more meaning; or rather they introduced him to new facets of the meaning of his life.
He leapt cleanly through the opening just high enough to let his feet clear the opening and allow him to land on top of the igloo. He located Tsukiko and San and casually slid down its edge.
“I think I understand him…if only a little bit more” he said pondering Tatsuya’s conviction and remembering his own when first met Yuzuki Yukimura during the final round of the chunin exams…..
He remembered her view of the world so skewed with mistrust and hurt. At the time all he could focus on how wrong he felt she was. Hew knew better now…
“I suppose we all must defend our ideals… no matter what.” He said as he looked to the sky. It seemed endless, empty, and yet… full of promise and potential fro the future he hoped to help build for the future generations of shinobi.
“When I took part in the chunin exams I managed to make it to the last round…’ he began aloud…
“One of my opponents was a miss Yuzuki Yukimura… Acrid would be an understatement for her personality.” He said seeming humorously nostalgic about how mean he remembered her to be.
“There was a debate on our ideologies…granted, the middle of a 4 person cage match probably wasn’t the best place for a debate we still managed to speak our minds. She was utterly venomous, bitter, stuck up, stubborn, and quite frankly she looked a bit ‘tired’– although that is probably a bit petty of me…” he said with a chuckle
“For all that anger and resentment at the world…I can’t help but wonder who hurt her so much… who soured her view of the world so much that she became lost in that sea of bitterness… I want to save shinobi like that from those dark feelings…I want to save her…and I want to make sure that another shinobi like is never made to suffer again.” He said with a cold calm as if vowing revenge on a hated enemy.
“I learned from her that day…That the world IS un unforgiving wasteland of people who want to use you and hurt you in any way they can as long as they have their needs met…but I know that it doesn’t have to be that way all the time… I know it isn’t… And it will be better as long as people learn it. We will teach them…one by one if we have to… “ he said with conviction and pride
“I want to do all I can to make it a better world for You, Ichite-ru-sempai, Akeru-nee, and all the people I love…”he said softly with a war smile…
“No matter what…” was all he had left to say…
(Spirit - 1802 + 804 = 2606/2500 – Spirit Complete!)
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