petrichor (P)

[Arcadia]

The assorted flora that covered the ground swayed on the whim of a gentle breeze, moving repeatedly as though touched by ripples of water. The skies were gloomily overcast with random splotches of blue bleeding through. The smell of rain still lingered around regardless of the hours that had passed since the last shower ended. The air was a bit warm, but I was still comfortable enough in my normal attire - slacks, shirt, suspenders. The usual.

I sat upon a log; a log that had once been a magnificent tree. I remembered the tree in days long passed, better days for the tree and for myself. I had only been a child, running around it's towering form, chucking stones at the apples that it bore, reading myself to sleep while laying against it's trunk. And look at the two of us now. Both remnants of our former selves. One of us was decaying mass, and the other was no longer a blissful child.

The war had touched the both of us.

I sat upon a log, reading a book. Though fascinating, what I read wasn't able to distract me from my surroundings. I was sitting in what once was a beautiful, pristine park. It had since been claimed by nature, as was the fate of most things that were ruined by combat. I had chosen this spot to meet with the cell I had been assigned to lead for a reason. It was important that we met in one of the few remaining bits of Old Kusagakure. I glanced down at the watch on my wrist and then away toward the sky.

"I do hope that they haven't gotten lost." I spoke to the wind before returning to my reading.

[Krethean]

The unkempt lion’s mane of dirty blond hair wavered with the breeze as Ujiyasu trekked through the village to reach an old park. A relic of bygone days. The crunch of dirt accompanied him with each step as he pressed forward.

He had found the letter mentioning that he was to meet up with his new team today, when he woke up and changed his bandages. He didn’t need many bandages on his limbs anymore, which he was grateful for, since he could move a little better without them. Most of his injuries had healed up nicely, though it would likely give him a number of scars. To be honest, that didn’t bother him, he was still alive and still able to be a Shinobi and that’s what mattered. Hell he even picked up a new job and some more hobbies too. Now he was assigned to a team, which meant he would learn far more than what he could by himself.

After a quick meal, Ujiyasu had changed to a yellow and brown shirt (a slight contrast, but not as much as he used to wear prior to the exams) and black pants, then left his apartment. He made sure that it was locked before he descended the steps and made for the meeting place.

Now, Ujiyasu saw the decayed log where a man sat, reading to pass the time. Ujiyasu’s tall and built frame would have been noticeable from a fair distance, so he didn’t think he’d surprise the man. With a wave, the Kusa Genin greeted the man.

“Hey there! I take it you’re the one who sent that letter?”

[Kildred]

Usio walked through the brush, scratching at his head. He was released only a few days ago, but he could almost swear he still felt that damnable bandage across his skull. The classes in the botanical facility helped to keep his mind off of it, but now the distraction was back in full force. Once he was done here, he was going to go take a nice, long bath. It was probably some residue left behind from the cloth or something. Taking out the letter he had received when he had gotten home today, he went over the directions once more and continued. It wasn't too much longer now, though why they had to go to such an old area of the village was beyond him. It would take some time still before they'd get to building around this area again.

As he moved into the clearing, he noticed two figures. Ujiyasu was immediately recognizable, but the second figure was foreign to him. He was likely the one to lead the cell, as stated in the letter. Taking strides to ensure he was next to his friend, he lifted a hand in greeting. "Yo. Usio, reporting in." Looking at the two, it seemed they were both dressed in casual attire, which was a relief. He hadn't the time to wear his usual clothes, so he settled for his slacks and t-shirt. Brushing his hair behind his ear, he briefly rubbed the herbalist badge pinned to his ear. A small habit he was beginning to pick up, but he hardly noticed anymore.

[Arcadia]

I had just gotten to the last page of a chapter when I noticed a boy approaching me, presumably one of the two that I had requested to meet me here. I gave a bit of a sigh, as it was unfortunate that I would have to wait to find out how Harry and Luna were going to find the lost diadem. As the boy neared he waved, and I waved to him after I'd closed my book and placed it on the log. "Indeed I was." I said to the boy just as another approached us, giving his name.

"Ah yes, you're Usio." I said to the boy who identified himself as such. "Meaning that you must be Ujiyasu...hm..." I paused glancing back and forth between the two of them, studying there faces. "I had assumed that the two of you were brothers, your names seem...brotherly, if that makes any sense, but now I see...I suppose an assumption based on the brotherliness of two names is a bit silly.." I spoke rather quickly, unintentionally, mind you. Nervousness was normal, I mean, I had never lead my own, personal cell.

"Anywho, it is a pleasure to meet the both of you. My name is Akatome. Kikkawa Akatome."

[Krethean]

"Pleased to meet you Kikkawa-san"

Ujiyasu bowed respectfully, then straightened up again. The fact that the man deduced that he was Ujiyasu told the boy that it was just Usio and himself that were invited. In a way that was fine with Ujiyasu, as he had more experience working with Usio than any of the other Genin. Sure he could have attempted to work with others, but being paired with someone that you already worked well enough with allows for more time to build skills and do missions, as teamwork wouldn't be too much of an issue. At least not to Ujiyasu.

"So... what brings us here?"

The wild-haired Genin gestured to the current area the trio were in. Akatome could have picked anywhere else for a meeting place, so to pick one of the few locations that still somewhat resembled the Kusagakure of old told him that there was a sentimental reason, historical, or both. Of course the location being picked randomly was a reason too, but it was quite unlikely.

Besides that however, Ujiyasu didn't have a clue on what to expect. It's his first time being in a proper team after all.

[Kildred]

The man spoke rather quickly, which Usio immediately hoped wasn't going to be a constant in their interactions. He had a hard enough time talking to people he wasn't familiar with. Not to mention the entire idea of a team was foreign to him. Ever since he graduated from the academy, he had worked alone. Well, besides the one mission that sent him to the hospital. Freakin' Ujiyasu. In any case, he had no idea what to expect from this meeting, nor what was expected of him now and in the future. Opting to keep silent for now, Ujiyasu said his piece and he kept himself occupied by watching their surroundings. It had become quite overrun by the plant life, which would probably be addressed in a D-rank mission sooner or later. He had to wonder what was here before, and what might be built in its place.

[Arcadia]

( sorry for the delay )

I, too, bowed as Ujiyasu did. As I did so, I took note of the remarkable amount of hair that the boy sported. Peculiar, I thought, that someone would choose to wear such a style given their profession - it had to be a hassle. Unless, of course, it bore some sort of special ability. Immediately I thought back to my encounter in Taki no Kuni with the bubblegum-haired girl. Perhaps she and Ujiyasu knew something that I didn't about hair. A trivial matter, perhaps, so I didn't bother to pester the boy about his hair.

"Ah" I said, holding up a hand with only my pointer finger extended. "What indeed." I added. I began to stroll forward, past the two genin with whom I conversed, gently rubbing my chin in a thoughtful manner. "If I had to guess, I'd say that fate is what brought us here." I stopped a few feet behind them, facing the surrounding brush and ruin. I could imagine the place as it had been in years long passed. Vibrant, orderly, pristine - happy.

"...what do you two remember of Kusagakure's downfall?" I asked, still gazing off toward the outermost ruins.

[Krethean]

In truth, Kusagakure’s history wasn’t something Ujiyasu had known a whole lot about. His family weren’t Kusa natives after all, though Ujiyasu himself was born in Kusa. He did remember the Second Shinobi War, and the chaos that came from it. His parents ended up travelling the land, never settling in one spot for long. Ujiyasu’s parents did not want to return to Yuki no Kuni. The politics there made it very undesirable, and neither of them were Shinobi.

Besides, Kusa no Kuni was a beautiful place.

He did have a nice childhood in Kusa before the war. He had fun just being a boy, scrapping with other kids, exploring the land. When the war hit, Ujiyasu’s family fled. They weren’t Shinobi after all, and Ujiyasu was young. Too young to really make a difference. Ujiyasu was still his eager, rowdy self however, and saw the changes in scenery as a great, big adventure. This made it quite easy for his parents, who were worried about their son’s growth, with them having to move quite frequently. When they could, they’d go to various landmarks, to try and make something out of this war, hiding from bandits and battles when they needed to.

Ujiyasu’s father made ends meet by doing odd jobs, but most were centred around hunting wild beasts. It was he that inspired Ujiyasu to explore when he could, since his father would go on hunting expeditions for various clients. It’s also the reason why Ujiyasu made it as a shinobi, as his interest in hunting allowed him to get by on the more subtle areas of the Academy.

The Yonbi’s rampage and the capture of the beast signalled the end of the Nakamura family’s wandering, but what greeted them was a desolate land. People flocked back to the ruins of what was once a thriving nation, and began to rebuild. The Academy fast-tracked various children and teenagers through the Academy, in an effort to replenish what was lost. In an effort to try and make up for the years that the facility was rendered useless.

This brought Ujiyasu into the world of Shinobi as a Genin, where his unique Hyouton Chakra nature (fitting given how his family originated from the Land of Snow) became noticed by the Chuunin and Jounin teachers. As inexperienced in the ways of a ninja Ujiyasu was, Kusagakure needed to get active shinobi, so he was put through his paces in the short month before the first, hurried graduation. To build up on their abilities, the Genin were encouraged to take up D and C ranked missions to build up their skills.

Ujiyasu looked at Akatome as his mind remembered what he could about Kusa’s recent history.

“Well, I remember there was the Shinobi World War that caused a lot of families and villagers to flee. My family were among those, since they weren’t ninja. Then there was the appearance of the Yonbi, shortly before we all came back. Beyond that... I don’t lnow what else would have caused our village to fall.”

Before, he would have complained about a history lesson. Now he wanted to learn what he could.

[Kildred]

The question forced up memories Usio did not want to relive. After listening to Ujiyasu, he thought for a second. "Ugh. I hate that part of my life." He let out a disgusted sigh. "The second war was all that was needed to bring Kusa down, since every nation seemed to use us as a battleground or a road to where they were going. Eventually, my family decided to leave before anything happened to us, so we left the farm and moved around the land looking for somewhere safe to stay. I imagine it was some time after that when the city itself was destroyed." He left out the bit about being starved for most of the trip. Twisting his neck, he cracked a few bones before continuing.

"I only heard stories about the Yonbi, and I am unfamiliar with tailed beasts in general. If what I heard is true, then while it was rampaging, it would have been nigh impossible to actually rebuild while it was around." That brought up a point he hadn't bothered to think of before. "Speaking of which, how did Kusagakure get rebuilt so quickly? I've never heard of such fast construction." He might not get in answer, but it was something to think about. They were here to be introduced as a team, after all, and the question was likely a lead-in to whatever Kikkawa wanted to talk about. He'd have to keep that in mind when he went to the library later.

[Arcadia]

I listened intently to both of their accounts, solemnly staring at them and nodding when I felt it right to do so. The horrors that I myself had experienced in what were surely some of the darkest days in Kusagakure's history were often too much for a youthful mind to endure. I knew that well; I'd been plagued by nightmares for years now. But then I thought about these two. They were younger than I was back then and surely the horrors that they saw had damaged them even more than they knew.

"Our people are known for their resilience and with an abundance of Mokuton users residing in the village, reconstruction is a more than manageable task." I explained as I slowly paced forward another couple of feet before stopping. Lying at my feet, was a half buried object. I knelt down and picked it up and, worn and battered my weather and time as it was, I was still able to recognize what it was. I hadn't planned on finding something like this here, but luckily it would help solidify the point I was making.

"Although we can always pick ourselves up and move forward..." I started as I stood erect and turned to face the boys. "...we can never quite escape the past." I added, holding up an old, broken hitai-ate bearing an unrecognizable village's insignia - it wasn't one of ours.

"Tell me what you see." I said before I tossed the metal plate to Ujiyasu.

[Krethean]

Ujiyasu found himself lost in thought as Usio recounted his past. It was clear the war had affected the people here, and in many ways, Ujiyasu was grateful that his parents had done their best to shelter him from the horrors of war. They weren’t entirely successful, but he had to admit, he seemed to be a lot better off mentally than most.

Once Usio asked his question, their assumed leader of the team responded by explaining that the number of Mokuton users in the village made reconstruction rather quick. Ujiyasu remembered that it wasn’t just Mokuton users who rebuilt the village. He himself had helped a group of construction workers, neither of whom had the ability to harness Wood Release at all. Everyone helped in their own way.

It was then, that Akatome knelt down and picked up a worn object from the ground.

"Although we can always pick ourselves up and move forward... we can never quite escape the past."

Ujiyasu thought about what he said, before his eyes saw Akatome make a movement that dragged the wild-haired Genin back to reality. He just saw the object and caught it with his right hand, before he looked at the aged forehead protector. He couldn’t quite make out the insignia from the damage the piece had taken over time, both from damage and from time itself.

Akatome then asked Ujiyasu what it was that he saw, which made the boy think.

When he looked at that hitai-ate, he imagined a fierce battle took place here, among these ruins. What was once a thriving park was now left by the wayside of time.

“I see a fierce battle between a foreigner and possibly one of our own... or maybe another foreigner. Clashing here, as this area suffered because of the other nation’s careless drive to conquer. Looking at this, I see the true nature of the world. What each nation around us wants to do to the other.”

He looked back at Akatome and tossed the headband back, his eyes darkened but showed a resolve and fury that burned within his very being.

“I see the chaos that has to end.”

[Kildred]

Interesting. Usio had never actually seen a Mokuton user or their jutsu before, so he wouldn't have made that connection. It was good to know. Once Akatome picked up and talked about a headband, his memories surfaced once more. Running through the forests, seeking shelter with any who would have us. Ugh, this was turning out to be one giant trip down a lane he would rather keep closed. The headband was tossed to Ujiyasu, who spoke of the other nations. Their conquering marches, and the lands that suffered for it. He never knew the boy to be so dramatic, but he didn't have the luxery of being in his company too often. Sighing, he picked up a blade of grass and fiddled with it.

"I never took you for a romantic, Ujiyasu. The chaos has to end? Not bloody likely." His mind recanted the tales his father told him of the first shinobi war. The trials he went through just to survive. A war happened twice already. He had no doubt it would occur a third time. "Chaos doesn't end. It won't simply go away. It will change shape, relocate. You know what I see when I look at that headband? I see a reminder of what happened ten years ago, and I see a testament to what needs to be done." He hated working more than was necessary, but it didn't seem to be getting him where he needed to be anymore, if his hospital visit was any indication. "Keep it out of our land. We've had more than our fair share. Let someone else experience it for a while."

[Krethean]

His friend’s dismissal of Ujiyasu’s goal earned a n emotionless look from the usually rowdy Genin. While it was true that there have been three wars, surely there would be a point where all of this crap would be in the past. He could see a world where all the nations can co-exist, without the fear of a potential war every time a shinobi looks at someone the wrong way. Where boys like Usio and Ujiyasu would never have to flee their village from raiders and enemy forces.

If it meant that he would be the one to have blood on his hands to accomplish his dream of peace, then so be it.

Usio clearly didn’t experience just what other people are like outside of the village. Sure he and his family fled, so did Ujiyasu’s... but he didn’t find himself in someone’s idea of fun being taken way too far. These bandits... shinobi... people who’d see fit to keep these warring states against each other, they had to stop someday. If he was going to be by himself to bring peace to the world, then so be it.

“What you do now will determine how things will be for you. You can either remain stuck in the past, or look ahead and make things happen. You want to mock and scoff at my dream, fine. But if you interfere I will not take another step back... I will go right through you and I won’t look back anymore. I want to give Kusa no Kuni peace, and then bring that peace to the world.”

He turned to Akatome, done with bothering to explain himself any more to his friend. It was one thing to talk about what he had been through, but it was completely different when one experiences it. Maybe when Usio finds himself at Death’s door, will he see what Ujiyasu saw. Maybe Usio could finally see what pushed the taller Genin down this path.

“What about you? What do you see?”

[Arcadia]

"...I see what must be prevented."

While conflict could never truly be stopped, it's intrusion upon our land could be prevented. Kusagakure had been unofficially declared a battlefield by other, larger nations. We were a proud people, a strong people, but we had never had much luck defending from the nexus of two opposing, great nation forces. Regardless of the odds, however, we couldn't lie down and take it. I looked to Usio now, as something needed to be addressed.

"Prevented, Usio." I said with emphasis on the first word. "We must never wish our hardships on anyone else. If the whole world was doing that," I paused and gazed to Ujiyasu then. "then Chaos would be the product."

And the world would spend madly on.

"That headband -- this entire field, too -- they remain for a reason. They're remnants of days gone by, days that must not repeat. I'm trusting you two, as part of this team, to help me prevent the past from becoming the present. Can you do that for me?"

[Krethean]

"I'll do everything I can Akatome-sensei."

His words didn't do what he felt justice. His team leader saw almost what he saw, and at the very least, they shared similar goals. Knowing that, Ujiyasu was more than willing to put everything he had into creating peace.

It was rather ironic, given that he is a craftsman who could create weapons and armour, but he hoped the weapons he created would be the last that would need to be made. That way others who shared his crafting abilities could use them for other means.

For now, he would do everything he can to see that Kusagakure and Kusa no Kuni has its long deserved peace. He had a few things to do aside from his shinobi work that he could do to work towards that goal, and setting up shop and getting the Kusakage's request done would be a good place to start. Training and perfecting his skills would be another thing, but that was a given. His skills have improved vastly from before, and he was becoming a much more capable shinobi.

He would do his new team leader proud and prevent the chaos from reaching here.