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I stood in the open, exposed like a nerve, and without an idea as to what that kid was, or where he had gone. It had become almost excruciating, being toyed with by someone who I was probably twice as old of; I knew strength could come in small parcels (myself during my time as a genin and Ashura as examples) though this was becoming ridiculous. I couldn’t even sense or for that matter, estimate his power; all I could feel was pure malevolence and an awfully strong liking towards such a destructive nature. Whatever he had planned with these games of chance, I knew I would be the star; this didn’t seem like necessarily a good thing.

Standing in the open, I was prepared for almost anything; an assault from behind, an ambush of sorts or even the candid variety of frontal combat. However, when two voices resonated through the real world and deep into my cognizance, I could feel my heart ache. My defense weakened as my hand which clung tightly to the kunai loosened in grip. The ground crumbled and several hands erupted from the soil, though I was momentarily frozen in place, almost afraid to answer back to the voices that had called out to me but moments ago.

Kohana…Ashura, I could hear them and soon enough, I could see them. Pale skin and comforted features as gravel and filth stumbled down their frames back into the earth; they were cold, lifeless and while I stood warm, I suddenly felt a similar chill.

Petrified and without an immediate response, I took this time to constitute a reply. I knew they weren’t real; they couldn’t be as I had just seen the child earlier in the day. Regardless, I felt the need to use this as some type of closure and as a step in the right direction for repentance. Maybe, just maybe, I could start here.

Sighing, I did what I normally did, I told the truth. “You’re right Kohana. I was selfish, and I died because of it.” While I knew I fought to protect a new ally, I knew I had much more at stake; those I loved back home were waiting for me, and I just didn’t return. “Ashura, I’m sorry I left you. But I’m back now, so I can be with y—” I muzzled myself, finding this confessional becoming too overwhelming for my own stability. I was talking to corpses that didn’t belong to my friends, and I spoke to them as if they held real substance. Maybe, in this time and at this moment, they were the closest things I had to friends, the only thing I deserved for I was nothing more than a resuscitated shell.

Weak. It was a term, throughout the Uchiha’s life that had haunted him. From being birthed into the elitist clan of the Uchiha, to becoming the Hokage and transvering Bijū assaults and wars alike; he had known weakness, though not directly. Having never considered his skill the plateau of strength, he hadn’t known many to outstep his character and ordnance. Nonetheless as the boy soon phased through the bark, the blue-haired Shinboi remained unfazed.

“Hide and go kill, huh?” Ryūsuke could see the bloodlust in the boy’s eyes as he stared back with a greedy expression. The quality of crimson that exuded through the sockets in his face made the man cringe on the inside, however, he remain unmoved and unimpressed. Within his own frame, however, something had affected his chakra; he could feel it. Though knowing exactly what was scratched had become another problem; a product of meeting this child, no doubt.

The boy wasted little time and rushed forward, and that’s when the Uchiha reached for a Kunai to defend himself. In his attempts at self-preservation, however, he found his body being used as a gateway, the boy passing through without hindrance. A cold, freezing chill swept through his carriage and Ryūsuke, in the briefest moments of vulnerability fell from the tree as he winced. H-how?. quickly gathering himself and entering into a swift summersault, the Shinobi had landed well on his feet in a crouched position. How did he phase through me? Thinking and buying time, he quickly stood erect, looking for the boy that had infiltrated his defenses. What was this boy and why did his eyes hold such malice and strength?

“Not quite”. The words passed through my lips without much hesitation or hindrance as I answered the man’s inquiry. Blanche and I hailed from two different counties and our ideologies weren’t exactly bonded by equivalence; she was simply a person I had met during my first exploration of Kusa no kuni. I could still remember the day as if it were yesterday, and the varieties of smells I had encountered had almost immediately flooded my senses with a wistful odor that brought be back to the country entrenched in grass. I was a young boy, no older then fourteen at the time as I navigated seemingly unknown and new territory; my travels eventually leading to the woman who now resided within the skybox.

It was an odd occurrence, and our conversation was slim; though our ‘agreement’ had all but faded from my memory. Looking back and remember how naïve I was as a child, I already knew the promise she made to be at my side in times of troubles seemed dreadfully farfetched, and for the price of a single map (though packed with numerous locations and information). However, I hadn’t forgotten, and one of these days, I would collect on that particular favor. Though for now, it was great to just see her again and with the title of Kusakage, at that. Maybe joining the skybox to make conversation was a generous idea.

“Are you here in Konohagakure for more than just the Chūnin exams”? I’d inquire more into his stay. From his Armor alone, it was obvious he didn’t belong to our Anbu core and knowing the fact that our hidden tactical units remained—well—Hidden during such festivities, his openness and need for conversation neglected our protocols. Regardless, as cautious as I was, I was more so curious; maybe he did have an alternating motive, or simply he enjoyed the spectacle which was this day’s exams.

“Also what?” He had heard her words in their entirety; this alone showing great capabilities to listen, but to also construe. She had purposely ended her dialect for a reason, and the former Hokage was more curious than ever to figure out why. They stood alone, amongst the faces of those who helped forged this beautiful village; it was only natural that the truth come to light in front of those very people. Peering out into the distant sun, watching its rays sanctify the land with the ability to raise life through warmth, the Uchiha found his own heart smoldering; it was amazing, and the horizon couldn’t have been complimented by anyone more stunning then Miyako.

Regardless, before the sun, and the past and present Hokages, Ryūsuke didn’t want to pry into uncharted territory. “However, if you don’t want to say, that’s fine, too.” He exclaimed with a warm, reassuring smile, his face still lost in the endless ambience that emanated from the sun itself. If she decided to speak her heart’s content or not, that was entirely up to her; at the end of the day, all the Uchiha wanted, at least in his presence, was for her to feel comfortable.

While my attention (visually) was elsewhere, I hadn’t gone blind-sided to the man who sat beside me. The preliminary match-ups had been all to fascinating to simply spark conversation at the moment, and as meek as I based my character on genuineness, I was more concerned with watching the battles go on. It had been quite some time since I was involved in even participating in a competition of this caliber as I was sadly ineligible due to the title I already held at the time. In honesty, I assumed I simply watched to feed my envy; these kids who would gain the experience of the Chūnin Exams, something I would forever lack. The trials and tribulations of being a Hokage, I’d sigh in bitter sweetness.

One leg folded over another as my arms remained folded across the bright fabric of my kosode; I continued to take in everything: the breeze, the sun-drenched day, the amassing conversations and finally, the battles that transcended below for the time being. At peace and out of harm’s reach, I could enjoy this adventure, speculating alike others and analyzing the prospecting future Chūnin. My attention remained adamant as several others commissioners and employees of the stadium insisted my seat in the skybox, likewise, they would be met with a decline and while I grew somewhat chagrined with the constant inquiry, my eyes perked and senses jolted when the man beside me spoke out.

“Hmm”? My thoughts passing into reality as I continued to face forward, allowing only my eyes to move to the corners and peer at the man through my peripheral. Strange, from what I could see, he clung to his occupation and donned the attire of an Anbu Operative, yet normally they were stationed in secrecy; however, here one sat directly next to me? “Yeah, she is. And to think, I was just a boy when we first met.”. The thought alone brought a smile to soft, mature facial features as I felt a evocative tinge. Everyone (for the most part) in that skybox, I had some relation with; be it an ally, or enemy, the immensity which was my personal dealings seemed near endless.