Where are those bastards! [Searching]

[enzan]

I finally arrived in the country of Tsuchi no Kuni. It had taken me a couple of days from which I exhausted a great amount of my supplies just to get here. I continued walking, there was no longer in pain within my legs. Yet there was another bit of trouble forming which was the rumbling within my gullet. My stomach roared and the lack of food was pissing me off horribly. I wondered where the hidden village to this place was, there was no doubt they would allow a couple in ten years ago.

I began to trek along a trail from which I didn't understand. The lands were different, there wasn't a thick mist or fog to hinder one's vision. My yellow optics could look around and see wide expanses of fields and the such, it was beautiful. I didn't understand why I thought so since I was so accustomed to the death and bleak darkness Kiri brought within one's soul. This looked like a great place to have and amazing play from which to kill all those who did not wish to see the greatest puppet show on the planet.

I held off on that thought when I realized I was lost. I scanned the area once more finding some people near me. I was exhausted yet still broke out into a sprint trying to locate the village gates. It took me little over 10 minutes to travel towards there distance. I thought inside my head damn they looked closer then I thought they were. When I finally approached the older couple I began to speak in a weak and tired voice.

Hey. . . damn I'm tired. . . is Tsuchigakure this way?

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[drift]

The day had been beautiful so far, the couple Yumi and Yama were travelling merchants. Their wares were priceless jewllery elegantly hand made byt themselves. Donning the appearance of an older and less wealthy couple often helped them avoid the trouble of what few bandits roamed around. The Iwagakure shinobi did a great job generally of maing their lands secure. For this reason the two held Iwa in high admiration, they two of a small group of merchants entrusted with the knowledge of the villages location. Something they vowed to hold to their death.

It was a pleasant day and the air was cooling as the sun lowered from it's zenith. then again i was used to weathering the elements having spent a great deal of time travelling from country to country. 'Has it been fifteen years already?' The sound of angry muttering brought me back from my thoughts, Yumi was still in a strop. Letting out a heavy sigh i looked ahead to the horizon, it wasn't long before a weary voice broke the quiet. The last thing i had wanted was to be bugged by some lost idiot.


'Hey. . . damn I'm tired. . . is Tsuchigakure this way?'

With a weary sigh i stopped and turned my head gazing upon the owner of the voice. 'Yep, some lost kid, nobody ever heard of maps' i thought irritably whilst looking the kid up and down. I could tell by the state of his clothes he'd been travelling hard for some time. He did look quite tired aswell and though loathe to help i knew i would feel bad later for ignoring the kid. Out of the corner of my eye Yumi pulled a sour expression. 'Great another earache coming' Turning fully to face the kid i would sigh heavily once more. "Tsuchigakure? Never heard of it" Then it hit me, he meant that place. 'Iwagakure!'

My mind raced instantly, why was this kid looking for the village hidden in the stone, was he a shinobi? If he was then he wasn't an Iwa nin for sure and that meant he could be a possible enemy. Straight away i realised i could be in danger along with Yumi, a glance to her direction revealed she had cottoned on aswell. Keeping my tone bored and my expression one of irritation i would venture a question "You mean Iwagakure don't you boy. What would you be wanting there? That's a shinobi village don't you know, one of the great five. They don't take to kindly to foreigners, dangerous times after all."

[enzan]

The couple before me were surprised at my appearance from what I could see, I probably should have thought before yelling off towards strangers. When I finally got a response I was relieved to know that I was in the right lands. I looked at both of there faces and saw a bead of sweat course down the guys face as he spoke once more. I knew I had screwed up the pronunciation of there ninja village. I wanted to curse the bitch out for correcting me but I took it in stride. I was exhausted, hungry, and I had no idea where the ninja of the village were so attacking would be bad for me. I replied honestly seeing as lying at this point would just put me further away from finding them.

" I don't care about the village itself, I just want. . . I need to find some people who reside within. . . my parents. "

I looked away, my body was completely exhausted of energy. I fell backwards, my backside taking the brunt of the fall. I didn't even bother to ground in pain just merely sat on the land beneath me. It was weird usually when I fell backwards I would hit swamp waters or any other variation of wetlands. It was painful but at the same time it was soothing to know there was a constant piece of knowledge i could use. I waited for and answer but possibilities swam into my mind. What if the people before me where my parents? I cast doubt on that idea immediately since they hadn't shared the same skin tone as I and were much lighter.

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[drift]

'I don't care about the village itself, I just want. . . I need to find some people who reside within. . . my parents. '

I sighed deeper than i had done all day the kid sounded so weary, so tired. My eyebrows raised in surprise as he fell backward landing with a solid thud. 'How hard did he push himself in getting here' My first instinct was to help but i turned first to Yumi, whatever i chose i needed her approval, she was my wife after all. Her expression was unreadable however and for what seemed a long time we stood in silence eyes staring sadly at the young boy on the ground. "Darn it, i was hoping to reach the village soon but i can't take you until i can trust you"

Nodding to my wife i removed my backpack, the relief of the absent weight was a pleasure. Yumi had done the same with her own backpack, she began to rummage through it before withdrawing a package. The package of brownpaper wrapped with a string contained rice balls. Searching through my own pack i brought out a large canteen. Taking a swing of water and two of the rice balls i sat down opposite the kid. Yumi moved behind me and kneeling began to eat. 'So she's leaving this up to me huh....great' Placing a riceball on the kids lap and the canteen infront of him i began to think of questions i could ask. I needed to be able to trust him, if i was wrong on this i would be failing Iwa.

Scratching my head absent mindedly i took a large bite from my rice ball, Yumi was an excellent cook even at making such simple things as this. "Your family, what makes you think there in Iwagakure?" It was first thought that came to my mind, a poor story i could pick out, being a merchant i dealt with alot of liars in my time. I would continue eating waiting patiently and enjoying giving my sore feet a rest.

[enzan]

I realized his words to be true, I could possibly be a thread to there way of life. I needed a plan to get in there so I would need to tell just enough of the truth to get by. I watched as the woman moved behind him and began to rummage through her stuff. I didn't know what to expect but I was too tired to act and if I overreacted I could lose all hope of finding those bastards. I waited until my yellow optic shells could see a a piece of paper, the folding was the way the rice patties were formed at the dinner in Mizayo seven. I declined the offer with a simple gesture, I knew I was weak and probably starving I didn't want to be seen as a vagabond. I had my values even if they were horrendous to my situation. I pulled from my pocket the letter I had been carrying around, it was a letter given to me by my birth parents.

" I was abandoned, I just want to know why they gave me up. There short story and short answer. I want answers as to why I wasn't worth it to raise. If they live in the outskirts of these lands I'll search here but I don't want to start any trouble. They are my only concern and once I get the answer as to why I was so useless to them I will leave the lands never to return most likely. And I can't say you should trust me because that would be a lie, all i can promise is that I mean you no harm unless you try to harm me. "

My speech was long winded and would probably be met with resistance but I didn't care. they were people who valued there village and great actors in there lively roles. I could do no harm to them unless they turned a blade towards me which would entitle me to kill them and leave no remains. I was a ninja after all and surprisingly took in all my scenarios but I was hungry and not thinking straight. I should have just said I came to give them a present or some other bullshit. I was disappointed but my mental state was switching back and forth. I feared I would lose consciousness if I didn't eat soon. But I was adamant about eating only if they trusted me.

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[drift]

'I was abandoned, I just want to know why they gave me up. There short story and short answer. I want answers as to why I wasn't worth it to raise. If they live in the outskirts of these lands I'll search here but I don't want to start any trouble. They are my only concern and once I get the answer as to why I was so useless to them I will leave the lands never to return most likely. And I can't say you should trust me because that would be a lie, all i can promise is that I mean you no harm unless you try to harm me.'

The way the kid spoke sounded pretty honest, my heart felt for it really did, the effects of the great flash had caused alot of devastation. There had been many orphans, but to have ones parents abandon you, that was pretty cutting or so i imagined. A hand on my shoulder would send a shiver down my spine, only Yumi's touch had that effect on me, i still felt it even after fifteen long years. The gesture could mean only one thing 'She believes the kid.'. That alone moved me a great distance closer to taking him but i still had doubts, and worries.

'If something should happen it'll be on my head' . Iwa entrusted few merchants to know it's location and myself and Yumi had held their trust for many years now. I had only brought a handful of people to their gates over the time, usually injured or sick. Those in dire need of their assistance anyway, this kid wasn't an emergency but if he had family there perhaps that would be reason enough. Taking a long sip of water from the canteen i came to a decision. "Alright kid, we'll take you to Iwa. But your gonna have to convince the guards to let you in and i can't promise they will go lightly about it."

Sighing again i couldn't shake my sympathy for the kid, he looked about as low as you could get, and he was physically exhausted. "If it means anything i'll vouch with you" I shot the boy a small smile. "I'll vouch for you too" chimed in Yumi with a bright smile, the first i'd seen in hours. That's why i loved my wife, she had a heart of gold but didn't take shit from anybody, especially me. Nodding toward the riceball i placed the canteen by the boy. "Eat and drink first and we'll rest here abit longer, you need to regain abit of strength. I'm not taking you anywhere unless you do."

[enzan]

I was glad to realize that being honest had gotten me closer to finding those assholes. I would get my answers and then kill my bastard parents. I nodded towards them and took the paper containing the rice ball. It didn't take me long to start devouring the rice ball, it was rather delicious but then again I was starving food in general would be delicious. I swallowed down all I could take from there canteen and then began to fall backwards into the dirt. I couldn't stop my thoughts from going towards the challenge ahead. I looked towards the couple and began to speak once more in a better tone after being fed.

" I didn't realize that, the guards would most certainly attack me then let me enter. Damn it, I need to get to my parents. . . I need to know... I need to know. . . . "

If these guards were anything like the guards in Kirigakure they would try to tear me apart. I shivered a bit on the ground, the thought of fighting and possibly killing a powerful guard was exciting. Yet I didn't want the couple before me to know I enjoyed my duties as a ninja, I am a tool no the most powerful weapon in all of the lands. I am also the lead role in the play of life, if I am not then I will pledge my allegiances to whoever can make me the strongest. My life goals have always been changing dependent on my situation. I do understand I don't have a true purpose other then the things I make up and try my hardest to believe. I need to know, I need to know why they decided to abandon me and disregard me as if I meant little to nothing. Once I figure out who my parents were will my true road in life be unlocked to me or closed forever?

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[drift]

" I didn't realize that, the guards would most certainly attack me then let me enter. Damn it, I need to get to my parents. . . I need to know... I need to know. . . . "

I watched the kid intently as he drank and ate, i had an uneasy feeling in my gut but my mind was nonetheless made up. I shook my head slowly as he finished talking. "Of course they will, your from another village, and they don't know you. They will most likely question you thoroughly." Standing i dusted myself down, a light cloud falling off me, Yumi rose and did the same. My gaze shifted toward the horizon, the sun was lowering ever further and the sky was beginning to fill with a myriad selection of reds, oranges and pinks. Yumi grasped my arm and stood close.

Looking down at the boy i held out an arm to help him stand. "You gotta understand lad, no matter how you feel, no matter what you done, you need to live it behind. Hate's like sickness, get's inside you and sets itself deep. Before you know it it's grown so wild and then....it'll consume you." Pulling out a carton of cigarettes i took one and lit it, inhaling the smoke i exhaled with a sigh. "Whatever happens kid their your family, family is important, it's all some people have, think on that." With that i would heave on my backpack the weight settling once more over my frame, turning to my wife i waited as she did the same. When she was ready i would nod to her and the kid. "Let's go then"

(Exit)

[enzan]

I watched the couple as I finished the food and drink I was given. I realized there gaze never left me for a single second, and I wanted to smirk. I didn't think my innocent and effeminate looks would warrant such unease that they show. I turned my attention from the trash of my food and such and towards the male of there little group. His words bored me and had pissed me off a little because of his assumptions.

I understood what the man had actually meant, yet he didn't know the horrors that I had to go through, nor did he knows about the scars I had. I rose to my feet, The journey ahead of me would be a very tough one. I adjusted my body making sure that my clothes didn't fall in some places because I was so small for it. After fixing it in the correct manner I began to follow along with them towards our destination. The gates of Iwagakure, the place were my parents hopefully where and the place where my destiny might just be revealed. I was afraid and a bit nervous because I wanted to see them, yet at the same time never wanted to see them in my life. I wonder what will really happen to me and them.

///EXIT

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[chiatsuki]

+ 44 kyu
+ 38 teru