The sun sat high up in the sky and the wind rustled through the trees that surrounded the Village Hidden in the Leaves and the man known as the Sword Saint of Konoha stood atop a grave that he never would have expected to stand on; his own. He knew that it was a fake body inside of this grave, as he had never truly died, but it was still a haunting feeling to stare in the face of ones own mortality. The monument to Konoha no Kensei was beautiful and it had a replica of his sword piercing through the top of the headstone as somewhat of a cross, marking a fallen hero. He could see leaves decorated the Sword of the Immortal Blaze, the Hidden Leaf protecting carriers of the Will of Fire. The monument had brought a tear to the young Sarutobi's eye, especially the placing.

Mitsuo Sarutobi's black hair was untied and flowing in the wind, the glasses he normally wore were firmly pressed to his face and held in place by a long piece of string, a trick he had adapted when he competed in the Chuunin Exams in Sunagakure no Sato to keep them from sliding down his nose. His armor was left on its display in the Sarutobi's Compound, where he had decided his study where he once ran the ANBU from would be his base of operations while running the village in Mitsuhide Uzumaki's place. Instead he wore a simple black fishnet shirt with black strap pants and black combat boots, his impressive form visible from beneath the mesh shirt. His ANBU tattoo was visible on his arm, as was a tattoo of two cheetahs standing back to back on his back and a leaf with a sword through it on his left pectoral. He had come to this place unarmed to honour the dead, and he stood in silence in front of his own monument, lighting a cigarette and taking a deep drag to calm him in a stressful situation...

Quietly, and with a rather solemn face, Chisaki Senju walked into the cemetary. Garbed in her usual attire, save for a black scarf wove around her neck. It was thin, and made from a fine silk that much was evident. Not noticing anyone else in the Cemetery, Chisaki weaved her way through the graves, careful not to accidentally defile one of them with her footsteps. Silently, Chisaki stopped before one of the graves. It was shaped like a small tree, barren of any leaves and made of pure white marble. It stood a little over four feet, and an inscription was carved into the marble bark "Here lies Taichi Senju, friend of nature" Chisaki stopped before this grave, and knelt down before it. Beneath the earth here lay her great grandfather, one who was very close to her. Further studying with Fukurō, the Owl Sage, had led her to discover that this man was the one to first bargain with the Owls to impart their Senjutsu to Chisaki's close relations. This Senjutsu was passed down to every shinobi in Chisaki's immediate bloodline. Now however, only her parents and herself were the ones left who knew anything about this Senjutsu. They were sworn not to reveal the identity of Fukurō to anyone, even the rest of their clan. Chisaki placed a hand on the earth in front of the grave, and several white flowers sprang from the earth....

Setting their family on the path of a Sage was one to be reveled in. Not many were taught what it meant to become a Sage, but their bloodline had the chance thanks to this man, buried right in front of her. Sighing somewhat, Chisaki said to the grave "Thank you, great grandfather, you honour me and my family with the gift you have imparted to us." Then, she took the scarf off and weaved it around the tree, tying it tightly. Standing, Chisaki looked around. Countless men and women, both shinobi and ordinary folk, were buried here. Each had their own tantalizing story to tell, each their own wisdom to impart. If only the dead could be spoken too.... However, right now Chisaki had bigger concerns to deal with. She had a squad that was hers to teach, and she would bring up those young shinobi to have their own stories and wisdom to impart to the youth of their day... The great circle constantly spun around. Chisaki however, noticed another man she thought she might recognize, however she couldn't tell.... Walking over, she spoke rather softly "Sir? Are you okay?..." He looked as if he had seen his own ghost.

A smile smile crossed the face of the Sword Saint as the young woman approached him. He wasn't sure he would be as recognized in the village as he once was but he did not mind. He knew that she was a Senjutsu, something his information network that he had established during his days heading up Konoha's ANBU had helped him with. The Senju clan was one that Mitsuo had a long history with, having been very close to Ukiyo Senju, who sadly would be laying in an unmarked grave due to her crimes.

"I am alright, thank you for asking," he began, voice trembling slightly as he spoke. "I came to visit my lover and stumbled across something I did not expect to find. This is the grave of Mitsuo Sarutobi's, coined Kensei..." His voice trailed off as he thought back to the day that he had "died" in order to protect the village. He remembered the sadness he had felt when he knew that he could not return here. He gave a slight sigh as these memories flooded his mind, and then thought instead to Mitsuhide Uzumaki summoning him back to the village after the War of the Seven Bells. "I wish I could be a hero like him...again..." He looked up to her, green eyes glistening with moisture as he did so and posed a separate question. "So who do you come to honour today?"

A deep sigh came out of the man's mouth, while he placed some flowers in front of the beautifully crafted monument that acted as the gravestone on top of the family crypt of the Orochi family. His father and his sister were burried here. They were both part of his life and had both departed at the same hands; his hands, but luckily that was a well-preserved secret, with all who knew about it now laying on this very same cemetery as well, except for those who did not die in Konoha.

The two Hebi guards that stood behind him, both had a grim look on their face, as they were both under the man's direct command, they knew the secrets and the darkness within the heart of the former ANBU captain.

Dressed in his black kimono, with purple piping and a purple sash, the Ouroboros clan regent had a rather elegant and formal, as well as traditional look, but the fabric of his clothes betrayed the wealth behind his House and the power within his grasp and control.

When he lit the incense near the statue, clapped his hands twice and recited the traditional prayers, Enaka decided to make a stroll through the graveyard, always keen on looking at the names of fallen comrades or fallen enemies within the village. On his way, he happened to notice a young woman and a seemingly older man chatting nearby the grave of yet another fallen Shinobi, yet when the Councilmember took a look at the gravestone, he noticed that it bore the name of the man standing in front of him; the current ANBU captain Sarutobi Mitsuo.

With all knowledge on the man standing there, Enaka knew fully well why the grave had been made and why that man was standing here, all because of the generous demeanor of the current homage, the White Star and as Enaka walked closer to the two, he gave a signal to the two Hebi guards to stand back.

"Pardon me for my intrusion, dear Captain," Enaka said, giving a slight bow in apology, while squinting his eyes and giving one of his well known fake smiles. With a quick nod he also made it apparent that he had taken notice of Senju Chisaki, who in all fairness was the current clan head of the Senju. "Might I formally express my joy to have you back in the village, Sarutobi-san and just as well am I always glad to see your beautifull face, Senju-san."

Head of the Senju Clan.... Chisaki could still remember the day the elders had visited her old home and told her that piece of information. Being the most powerful Senju in Konoha gave her that title. She had been told to pack up anything she deemed necessary, and moved into a much more luxurious house, the house of the head of the clan. That day had mostly been a blur, several formalities and the like, all of which made the information sink in. Chisaki the head of her clan. The prospect was daunting, but she would lead the Senju to new levels of enlightenment through her actions if she could, she would proudly serve as the clans head until the day she once more joined the earth, like her ancestors under her very feet. Sighing somewhat, she brought her attention back to the present moment, and not what the seeds of the future could possibly unearth.

Chisaki smiled kindly at Mitsuo, when he asked his question she replied honestly. "My great grandfather, Taichi Senju.... He is the one responsible for my bloodline learning the Sage Arts of the Owls, he is an inspiration to me" It was true. That man had been the foundation of a long lineage of Sages in her direct family, and it was something she was very glad for. The arrival of another face soon made Chisaki frown. She thought she recognized this man, and she did, Enaka Orochi, the head of the Orochi clan, the one Risu belonged to. Risu had history with Chisaki, but it had been some time since they had last met each other. Enaka merely nodded at Chisaki, which was better than a passive look any day. The way he talked to the man puzzled her. Then she recognized him as well. Mitsuo, the Sword Saint who had defected from the ANBU, stories were told about him, that he was supposedly dead, well he clearly wasn't was he. Chisaki then got addressed shortly afterwards, beautiful was once more used to describe her... Honestly, it was all most men focused on. Formally, as was expected from the Head of the Senju, Chisaki spoke "It's an honour to see you, Enaka" and then "And to finally meet you, Mitsuo, is a great privilege" Chisaki smiled and inclined her head briefly in respect.

Mitsuo smiled softly as he watched his predecessor enter the cemetery. He addressed Mitsuo and it occurred to him that he probably should have expected someone to come along who would not only recognize him, but also know that he was the head of ANBU in the village. Mitsuo bowed his head to his elder, one of the men whom he had been ANBU under at once point when he first joined. He also knew that Enaka Orochi was an extremely resourceful man and someone who knew quite a lot of information. Mitsuo, who was currently in charge of the village in the Hokage’s leave, would have had to run into him sooner or later, so he would take this as a chance to hopefully set up a point in time where they could discuss matters of the village and its security in private at a later date.

“Greetings Sempai, it has been a while. I should have guessed that you would recognize me, even after all this time.” He looked towards Chisaki, who had just realized who he was and the War Hero smiled at her as well. “And you Chisaki, it is an honour to meet you. I have watched your progress when I was around and you always managed to impress me. I am glad that you have taken such an active role in our village.” He looked back towards Enaka before speaking once more. “I apologize to ask this of your Sempai, but would we be able to converse in private in my office at my Sarutobi Compound at a later time? Since the Hokage-dono has left me in charge of the village in his stead, I believe that we should touch base on a few issues.”

With the respectful greetings made by both Chisaki and Mitsuo, Enaka showed a soft grin towards them, noting that he was pleasantly surprised to see both of them at the cemetery, where many of his family rested in the familygrave, among others his dear sister and father, the two former clanheads of the Ouroboros clan, which had now been in his care for over ten years already, until the day his niece Risu would be a fully grown, responsible adult.

Yet the greetings made by his successor was interesting, as it seemed that the younger, more vibrant war hero of the war with Seven Bells and Kirigakure had not a single clue as to why he no longer had the position of ANBU captain, all thinking he had retired to join the council, while those who knew the truth had long been dead, either by his own hand or by that of some unfortunate soul from outside the village, making sure that his secrets remained as they were meant to be: secret.

"My dear Mitsuo, how can I not recognize those who are supposed to bring Konoha onto the next generation," The man spoke soft and kind, giving a warm smile to Mitsuo and placing his hand on the man's shoulder. "If you insist to talk to me in private, who am I to deny myself such an honor, Lord Commander?"

Turning his attention towards Chisaki before leaving, the older man gave a slight bow.

"I still have a few other matters to attend to, life of a retired shinobi isn't all as peaceful and quite as they had mirrored us in the past," Enaka chuckled, glancing at the name on the grave and giving yet another grin. "Ah yes, before I leave, Madame Chisaki. I heard you have been promoted to leader of the medical division, my apologies for these late congratulations. Should you need any information, the Ouroboros clan and myself are always happy to help you when it concerns medical matters, now then if you would excuse me."

Turning around, the Ouroboros clan regent walked back towards the two guards that had been standing a bit at the back for the entire time, motioning them to follow him to his next destination.

Taro, make sure we have someone keeping an eye on that fellow," Enaka muttered to one of the two men walking besides him. "I do not know how much of Mitsuhide's plans he knows, but he may not interfere with mine. Make sure that he does not get in my way when the time comes."

Chisaki inclined her head to both the older men with a small smile. She knew they'd have a lot to catch up on, and she did not want to be a burden on that matter. Nodding, she spoke "You've both been very kind for sharing your precious time with me, but I'll leave you both to your devices. Thank you both for the kind offers and courtesy you've paid me. Chisaki smiled at each of them in turn, before bowing and leaving them both. Once more, she wound her way out of the tombstones and after one last fleeting glance at the graves, and two men, she left through the graveyard. Chisaki walked casually through the streets, her heels clicking against the stone to create a dull echo in the narrow walkways and streets of the village. These streets were the ones Chisaki had grown up on, the ones in which she had learned her trade. Memories flashed through her head like a speeding train: Chasing cats, assiting the elderly... All these things, she had done in her past. Now it was her time to rise up the children of the leaf, show them the way down the long winding road to the title of shinobi.

Her Nindō? Her Ninja Way? To create a peace that lasts forevermore.

Sighing in contentedness, Chisaki continued to walk through the streets of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. This place meant everything to her. From the smallest stone to the Hokage that came before, Chisaki truly loved this place in every one of its aspects. Arriving back at the Senju compound, she was greeted with kind and warm smiles, a few cheers even. Her people adored her, she was leading them into an era of peace and prosperity for the Senju, the kind that had not been seen with their dark and dismal past. Chisaki knew where to go, so her feet carried her there without a single thought. Arriving back at her new and rather luxurious home, she smiled as she closed the door. Silence greeted her like an old friend. Chisaki walked through the now familiar corridors until she pushed into her study. She sat down, and began filling out paperwork for both the Medical Corps and the Senju clan, two duties she was in charge of.

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