Clue 1.

[King]

The woman had led the duo to a far more lavish establishment, despite it still being made of sand and clay. Once they were there, the tale began -- it was long, interesting tale, one that Ashura wasn't inclined to believe at first. However, the more details she revealed - such as the triplets that his mother, Masumi Hozuki, gave birth to - he found himself with no other option.

"So, my father's name is Kouketsu?" It even rolled from his lips fluently, as if he was destined to say the name. "And my mother's name is Masumi?"

The hyuuga nodded. "Yes."

Ashura never did pay too much attention in history class, but everyone knew that man's name: he was the greatest Uchiha to ever live; he was, considered by most, the sole instigator of the previous shinobi world war. Single-handedly, he'd crushed every hidden village in the known world. He was the destroyer - he who brought an end to the tyrannical rule of the shinobi.

A murder to some, yet champion of freedom to other, he was as controversial as life and death.

"I didn't realize you were his son," she continued, "until I saw your eyes. You have his sharingan."

The meaning of it was lost on Ashura, as he'd never seen what his Sharingan looked like when they were activated. He simply presumed they looked the same, unaware of the genetic mutation unique only to his specific blood line.

"Why did they leave us with our relatives?"

The woman sighed. "I imagine it had something to do with them being the most wanted people in the world, and not wanting their children to be judged and persecuted for their actions. You know how the say goings: the son shall pay for the sins of the father." Lighting a cigarette, she leaned back in the plush sofa she sat upon. "I don't blame them, and I'm sure you can appreciate the sentiment." Then, her eyes softened. "However, I'm not sure you're ready to find them just yet - you'll have obstacles, a lot more powerful than me. Your father and mother made it very clear they never wanted to be found again."

Ashura smiled; it was a toothy, genuine smile that only children could offer. "I intend to do just that, then! I hope you're ready, Kirino."

[vetti vedi vicious]

Her eyes cluelessly darted around as they moved onward, entering a building not all that far from where they started. Kirino was at first surprised by how easily Ashura trusted the woman after what had just happened, but then disregarded what was really just an assumption. For all she knew, the boy knew they were headed for a trap and was just playing along. There wasn't much she could do either way. When they arrived, the group becoming comfortable, the older woman began to speak, telling a long winded tale about a duo that did an assortment of absurd, ridiculous things.

After a short while, Kirino became lost. None of it really seemed true, but before Goto lost complete interest, nearing what seemed to be the end of the epic tale, the boy spoke, snapping Kirino back to attention. Kouketsu and Masumi, right? She remembered at least Masumi, seeing her as something of a role model growing up. Her memory wasn't as successful in conjuring memories of the older Uchiha, but she certainly remembered at least seeing him once, taking part in a part of his plans under Masumi's command.

"Mh, they were nice people, I think," she'd state with a reassuring smile.

The woman went on a for a while longer, answering another one of Ashura's questions, and describing a small variety of other things. Kirino nodded along, paying more attention now. Clearly this information was important to Ashura, perhaps it'd be important for her to remember it for later. The last few things the woman said did bother her. Who was this lady to say what Ashura was and wasn't ready for? It was a bit annoying, she object verbally, rather allowing the boy to speak. For some reason, he seemed pleased. At least he had some sort of direction now, perhaps that was enough for him for the time being.

Kirino returned Ashura's smile with a grin of her own. "Of course!"

She couldn't imagine what they were to do next, where they were headed, etc, but was happy to face it regardless.

[King]

The conversation didn't last too much longer. Though she wouldn't reveal what, for the sake of privacy, something of a greater purpose needed her immediate attention. Ashura wasn't bothered in the slightest, and after his wounds were dressed with bandages and gauze, the pair of wanderers were free to leave.

"Finally," he sighed into the openness of the street as he left the residence. "Finally, I know where I come from; who my parents were. I haven't felt this good in a long, long time, Kirino."

A wide, toothy smile split his face from ear to ear. And as if he'd conquered some long-time villain or rival, he shouted with all the might his lungs could muster: "YES!"

From there, a laugh followed. It was a deep, cheerful laugh; and from there, a sudden, surprising hug to his companion. Burying his face in her chest (an act he, considering his age, couldn't find sexual in the least), Ashura continued to laugh, squeezing her tighter. Of course, it wouldn't have hindered her or made her uncomfortable in the slightest; he wasn't that strong, after all.

"Thank you, Kirino!" he chanted, over and over again. Even though he probably could have done it on his own, and the girl hadn't accomplished much aside from keeping him company, the boy felt as though she'd played a great deal in this success. "Thank you so much, for everything. For coming with me - just, for everything!"

By the time he peeled his face away from her shirt, he was smiling again and there wouldn't have been any evidence that he'd been crying-- spare for the droplets that stained the fabric. Tears of joy, certainly, but tears none the less.

[vetti vedi vicious]

With the boy's wounds mended, Kirino was able to breathe a sigh of relief. It seemed they were in the clear, so to speak. The lady left, Goto waving her off with a smile, and the two left, heading no specific direction as far as she could tell. She turned her attention to Ashura as he began speaking again. He was filled with such joy, it was truly contagious.

"That's great, Ashura. I'm really happy for you! I hope we can find him, or them, soon."

Then the kid seemed to explode with joy, a skip in his step and a pocketful of sunshine. Kirino turned her head to laugh a bit as Ashura began to do the same, which caused her to be caught quite off guard when the boy jumped on him. It was a pleasant surprise, and she quickly returned the gesture, continuing to laugh joyously. She didn't at all seem to mind the boy's awkward positioning, and with her placing a hand on his head and ruffling his hair it might seem she was even encouraging it.

"No problem!"

Her voice rang with joy. It had been so long since she'd been around anyone so happy, fun, playful, adults and children alike. It was such a nice change of pace. Though through experience and over time Kirino had learned to be much more suspicious, or perhaps even mature, she was still a child at heart, something she had to suppress around her peers.

As the boy took a step back, she glanced downward for a moment, catching a glimpse of what may have been tears, or snot possibly (perhaps even drool), on her white clothing. Kirino didn't make anything of it, though.

"Where to next, Ashura?"

[King]

"I'm not really sure," the young boy crooned, pulling himself from the woman's embrace. "I don't doubt what the lady said; I'm probably going to have to get a lot stronger if I'm going to fight my way to my father and mother."

The journey before Ashura was certainly going to be a tedious one, yet the weight of that reality didn't hinder his demeanor. 'Good' didn't describe the euphoric bliss that coursed through his veins like wildfire; it was a grotesque understatement. Not even the weight of the universe could ground him, he was so high in the sky.

Reaching into his satchel, he produced a small, leather-bound scroll. "I'm probably going to focus on mastering these summons that my uncle said my father left me," The small sigil imprinted on the outside of the surface, binding it shut, was the insignia of the bear.

"And I need to strengthen my eyes," he continued, looking to the sky. "She said that my father's eyes brought the world to its knees. I want that power - I need it. I won't use it the same way that he did, though. I don't want to break the world to its knees again; I want to support it, so that when it can no longer stand, I can bear the weight of its troubles on my shoulders. I want to protect everyone, Kirino. I'm. . . tired of all of this fighting."

Ashura's voice had become somewhat distant, possessed by a wisdom well beyond his years. He realized it, but care too little to jump back in his childish shoes. No, he had to grow up; the world didn't have room for another adolescent. It needed a hero. "What about you?" Like a smooth river, his eyes fell to her. "Are you going to go back to Mist, or. . . do you still want to travel with me?"

[vetti vedi vicious]

Ah, so it would be a difficult journey ahead. Kirino knew this, though you could argue she was denying it deep down. In no way was she prepared for what laid ahead, nor did she really plan to prepare for it. She didn't understand why he'd have to fight anyone to get to his parents, but just believed it for the time being, attributing his words to adventurous fantasy (despite having been nearly killed not much earlier in the same day).

Kirino nodded as the boy removed the scrolls from his bag. If the beast that gave them the ride to the village was any indication, these were some powerful summons. Kirino had never spent much time with scrolls herself, so the meaning and impact of these scrolls was completely lost on her.

The proceeding speech he gave was somewhat frightening, particularly coming from someone so young. Why did he feel so responsible, like the world was his child, his burden to bear? It was bizarre and utterly confusing for Kirino, but then again, that isn't saying much. Perhaps he wanted to make up for the wrongs of his father? That was the best she could come up with. His goals were noble, at the very least, and she couldn't ask for more. Despite his speech ending on a low note, Kirino continued smiling. She could tell this boy had a bright future ahead of him, or believed it herself, at least.

When the boy finally addressed her directly, with a question, she was almost taken aback. After all that, he was still concerned with what she was going to do? And those eyes, those big, red eyes! How could she say no?

"Of course I want to travel with you! If my Kage knew who you were, that I was with you, I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem with it at all!"

Though unintentionally making it seem as if she might have ulterior motives in following the boy by adding a completely unnecessary tag to her statement, her words were heartfelt and sincere.

[King]

Ashura smiled. "Awesome. Actually, maybe we can go visit your Kage? I mean, I'd like to see where my father and mother were from. I may be a Leaf ninja, but it seems like my roots are in Kirigakure."

It wasn't until after he spoke the words that, for a brief second, a greater picture was imprinted in his mind. Still too young to understand it, though, he merely shrugged it off.

"Yeah, lets head to your home." The scroll was slipped into his satchel once more. "Then, we'll figure out what we want to do from there."

Exit

[Messatsu!]

+95 @ Genbu!

+ 80 @ Vedi!