A new world.

[Yox]

I had arrived in the land of my tomorrow. It was a place unfamiliar to me. The land aimed upright, pointing toward the clear blue sky above. The more steps I took, the closer to the clouds I went. I had not ventured out of Ta no Kuni ever in my life. I had no idea what, and where, this place was. My concerns also lay with the people of this land. No headband was slung around my forehead, thus I could be anyone to any scout. Nevertheless, something about this place was special.

I kept my wits to me. It was imperative that I examined the area around me from time to time. Anything could have been out there; it was an unknown land with unknown people. I felt anxious as to what was waiting for me. I wondered whether highwaymen really existed out here in the mountains. Thinking about it more inquisitively, I found that it would have been logical. The mountainous structure of the land made it so hiding yourself behind large boulders was nothing but a simple task. My intuition kicked me from time to time. I had to remained focused 

Hopefully the people of this land were civilised. I knew there were other shinobi villages out there, some more vicious than others. I had heard stories of Kirigakure and their unorthodox, violent practises. There was no mist to enshroud me here. I could only thank the heavens above for not directing me into that land. But where was I? What existed within the clouds?

I continued to walk up the incline. One question remained in my head.

Was there a village within the sky?

[Estilo]

OOC: Private thread.

---

-- Enter.

SPOILER: Click to show

The doppelgänger wore a tailored grey cloak and, beneath it, a white robe. The wide-rimmed hood he donned basked his countenance in a thick black shadow, its beaked tip more than enough to shroud any facial feature above his mouth. The sight of it was almost as foreboding as the dagger hanging off the man's brown belt-- which, in turn, was placed over a red sash tied around the waist. All in all, his choice of attire was relatively light. So much so that the ends of his stone-grey cloak fluttered as he strode down the mountain path, a pine-scented breeze chilling the surface of any exposed skin.

Unbeknownst to the stranger who would suddenly appear ahead-- the two of them first appearing to one another across a distance of thirty meters-- this doppelgänger (more commonly referred to as a "shadow-clone" in these lands) was one of several making its patrol across the mountainous territory. And, just as likely to be unknown to the stranger, the region of pine forest they traveled through wasn't too far from the settlement native to this country-- Kumogakure no Sato, the village hidden in the clouds. Though quite an integral asset to this village, the near-perfect doppelgänger did not bear its crest.

The clouded canvas above shielded any visible indication of time from view. The jagged peaks of snow-capped mountains appearing like ravenous rows of teeth all around, as though the earth were sinking its stone jaws into the very sky. Leagues upon leagues of pine-forested wilderness went on for as far as the eye could see-- that is, whenever the mountains permitted a clear view. And the cold air permeating the land transformed every breath of oxygen into a physical, albeit short-lived, manifestation of mist. But, despite this region's primordial beauty (and the stranger ahead), the hooded doppelgänger continued walking down the incline.

Then, he stopped, five meters between them.

From this distance, the faint glint of two viridian green eyes could be seen through the darkness enshrouding his face. Their dull gleam attributed to the lack of sunlight. The right corner of his mouth slightly upturns, a mysterious and minuscule smile. Mildly surprised and, more so, curious at the man's appearance here-- in the middle of nowhere. His emerald gaze quietly observes the stranger for a moment, arms hanging loosely to his sides, shoulders slackened and light. Then he speaks, his voice a rich baritone, whiskey-cured and smoky. 

"Don't mind the dagger, son." He starts, his tone rather convivial. "Just a little insurance for whatever evil might be prowling about." He smiles his mysterious smile. "You have a name?"

[Yox]

How long had I been walking this same path? It felt like forever. Slowly, it continued to incline toward the sky. The heavens above opened their gates to me as I edged closer and closer to the clouds. Around me were large boulders of sorts. Could someone else potentially be out there? I'd have a greater view from the top of the mountain, perhaps I could find some sort of civilisation within the clouds.

I lowered my head to the ground as my mind trailed. Thoughts moved in and out of my mind as my steps continued to seem endless. Was it such a good idea that I had ventured out here? Should I have really abandoned Otogakure on a journey with no clear direction? I felt the metallic headband clap against my thigh from time to time; a reminder of a home that remained in the past now. My heart clenched a little when I pondered on the matter. It was hard to leave something behind, especially something that represented a place where you really had belonged.

A voice.

My thoughts faded as I glanced up to the road ahead. Five metres away, an individual stood donned an elegant robe. Another person at last. My stomach filled with excitement, though I tried to play my cool. In the back of my mind lingered the negative thoughts. Could this unknown man potentially be a threat to me? I had to keep on guard as I could not identify any village alignment to the man. We both had our allegiances concealed. My eyes also fixed themselves on his dagger as he continued to question me.

"My name," I paused whilst contemplating my thoughts.

I could easily lie to this man in order to protect myself. However there was no real point. I was not renown amongst the other shinobi villages. My real name would definitely not ring any bells in this mysterious man's ears. I was out in the land of the unknown. Lying to this man on my first encounter could create a very poor impression. I was running low on food supplies and water. It was time to cooperate.

"My name is Uminari Shosuke. I am not from this land. Could you tell me where I am? I am looking for my home..." my voice trailed off. Of course my original home was Otogakure no Sato. However I had left that behind now. I was indeed searching for my new home. Perhaps this man could lead the way.

[Estilo]

---

"Your home?"

The cloaked man reiterates, cocking his head to one side quizzically. Those faintly gleaming green eyes of his then edge their gaze towards the surrounding countryside, as though he were actually looking for any sign of a home, sticking its head out of this sprawled and untamed wilderness dominating the clouded landscape. "Not much homes out here, Shosuke. Not for us." He continues, completely returning his eyes back towards the newfound stranger. "You're in Kaminari no Kuni, however. You'll be hard-pressed to find them, but there are a few towns nearby. For shelter, and the like."

A brief silence then fills the space between them. Then, the doppelgänger comes to a small realization. "But that's not really what you're looking for... is it?" He inquires, his form still as relaxed as the trees swaying their leaves with the breeze. No, that wasn't what Shosuke here was looking for. He was almost certain of that, as he had seen men like him before. He had paid witness to them suffering beneath the weight of that age-old, bitter-sweet enigma: the concept of purpose. A man in an unknown land, with hardly anything but the clothes on his back, was surely void of such a thing.

"You seem to be lost in more ways than one, Kiir." He speaks, his baritone voice sending a rumble down the spine, that last word accentuated with an unusual dialect. "... What is it you really seek in these woods?" The question stands, as the majestic clouds above them slowly swirl into one another, their magnificent grandeur proving to be one without contender. Uminari Shosuke-- a man transformed into the very enigma that haunted him. Who was he? What did he want? Where did he come from? And what did he leave behind?

The cloaked man reasons that none of the answers to these questions are really necessary-- but they are of interest. After all, for a man as private as he, the mystery of Uminari Shosuke is too rich to not have some desire in uncovering. Yet, strangely enough, the doppelgänger also finds himself conflicted against it. For, on the off-chance that this was maybe more than just a stroll through real estate... maybe this was also a fresh start. And, though no one can truly detach themselves from their past, sometimes it is best to put it behind you once and for all.

[Yox]

Kaminari no Kuni. I had heard the name before. My mind wandered as I attempted to put my finger on where exactly I was in accordance to Ta no Kuni. The land above the clouds. It was all clear to me now. The mountains appeared as stairways into heaven. Surely at the top I would find what I was looking for. The man was on my case.

His interest in my story seemed to increase by the moment. He knew that I had not revealed much to him, and that there was still much to be revealed. His questions stung to my core, dragging my mind back to a place which I had thought had been left behind. Rekindling the dead memories in my head was a task I found rather troublesome. However my past did not haunt me necessarily. I just wanted change; a fresh start in a place that was far away from where I had been. The lonely tunnels of Otogakure had changed the man I once had been. It was only for that reason that I sought a new place to call my home- with hope that I could return to the person I once was. 

Or perhaps I was better this way?

Resentment lingered over me like a dark cloud. It changed the way I looked at things. I used to find enjoyment in the simple things, now they seemed to bore me. I had only realised this recently. This journey from my home was a quest to find my own humanity. What did it mean to be... well, me? I had no answers for such a simple question. The past seven years had seen be change in both appearance and mentality. Sometimes I could not even recognise the person that stared back at me in the mirror. Thus something needed to change. It was unhealthy for humans to live this way. I wouldn't even be able to tell you what the definition of a 'friend' was. I hadn't had any for some time. Perhaps that would change in the future.

"I am a shinobi looking for a fresh start. I am not running from anything, or anyone, rather seeking out a place in which I can grow better." I moved my hand to my pocket, slowing drawing out my Otogakure headband. "A memento of the past I no longer call my own. A simple reminder of the man I used to be, not the man I want to be." After speaking I slid the metallic headband back into my pocket. It was only then that I continued speaking to the man.

"I seek out the hidden village of this land. I wish to call it my home, and bring back purpose to my life once again. Hopefully the people of this bright land can influence me in becoming the person I want to be. I suppose that's all I want at the end of the day. Can you take me to such a place?" I posed the question to the mysterious man. I did not care of holding onto any secrets any more. This was my last resort. I only hoped that my words had some form of positive influence on the man. If not, well... I maintained an appropriate distance poised for any potential attack that he could throw at me. But hopefully things would not go down that road.

[Estilo]

Theme: "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" - Courtnee Draper.

---

The cloaked man smiled a whimsical smile.

Uminari Shosuke was truly an interesting individual. A man not necessarily seeking redemption, but a better home. A better life. A better self. It brought a mild sense of wonder to the hooded doppelgänger-- a reminder of the young man he had once known himself to be. Once a wayward soul, then a soldier captured in the passion of a foreign war, he had the misfortune of finding himself in a repeating circle of death, murder, and despair. He had shed rivers of enemy blood to obtain (and keep) the place he called home. When, in all actuality, his true home had been-- not with a place-- but with his family alone. A lesson learned far too late.

But, hopefully not for the Otogakure native.

Shosuke's question was met with a brief pause as the cloaked man slowly raised his arms, his bare hands lightly gripping the sides of his wide hood, before smoothly easing it off. His countenance now free from the shadow that had engulfed it, the man standing across from him would finally be capable of gazing upon his unsheltered features. The rich color of his shining verdant eyes, the cardinal red hair tied back into a single ponytail, the well-aged (and still dashing) details of his goateed face. And, of course, his charming-- and seemingly everlasting-- smile.

"Well then," He began. "You're in luck."

Without another word, he gestures for the man to continue walking up the incline they stand upon, following closely behind once the man passes. As each of their steps brings them closer to the peak of their path, the air grows slightly thinner, the blanket of clouds above beginning to break apart, allowing rays of sunlight free and clear passage. Then, within seconds of time, they reach the peak of the incline-- and are blessed with an expansive, wondrous view of Kaminari no Kuni. Fields of viridian green pines, a canvas of milky white clouds, rising above the rocky peaks of glorious mountains.

The man with the cardinal red hair places his hands at his sides, a confident posture as he gazes out at the illustrious scenery, looking upon it as an artist would look upon a painting he greatly, and respectfully, admires. "It's not heaven," He'd speak, his whiskey-cured voice filled with as much admiration as his glimmering eyes. "But it's as close as we'll get on this earth of ours." He turned to his newfound companion, then patted his back with a strong, reassuring hand. His expression positively beaming. "Come on, then. Onward to that home in the sky."

And so, expecting Shosuke to follow him down the winding path ahead, the cloaked doppelgänger would guide him to the gates of the fabled Kumogakure no Sato.

-- Exit.

[Yox]

The words had flowed out of my mouth with confidence. I was sure that the hooded man ahead of me was a man of integrity. Surely he could see what was within my heart, and sway with me on what I really desired from this new found land. The man paused before answering to my statements. It made me feel rather anxious. His hands moved up to his hood and slowly dropped it down onto his back, revealing his face to me for the first time in our conversation. A certain sense of connection was then established between us when I could see the man's eyes. After all, it was the only way I could see into his soul. 

I could tell by his glistening smile that this man was a friend, not a foe. His appearance was filled with charisma, and his smile only added to a growing warmness that enveloped my body. Perhaps my dream to find a new home would actually come true after all on this day. And of course finally, he spoke in response.

His words were exactly what I wanted to hear. My faith in humanity had been restored.

I followed his gesture up the path that inclined ahead of us. My fatigue and sloppiness had suddenly faded miraculously. My body had been invigorated by this man and his words. I was finally going to find the thing that I had walked so long to find. The quest to find a new home would actually fall into my grasp. Once we reached the peak of the mountain, I excitingly looked out across the land that lay ahead. Kaminari no Kuni, it was a wonderful place. The setting had been different to what I had experienced along the climb. The land was magnificent. I responded to the man before we made our way along the winding path to what looked to be a hidden village.

"It's heaven to me."

Exit.

[Bit]

Yox +40
Stilo +30