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Naruto Saga » Kaminari no Kuni » Kaminari no Kuni » Friends With The Monster [Shinako, Private, No Kill]

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Uchiha Tenzō

Uchiha Tenzō


S-rank
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”

A flame can only burn for so much, and strongest and brightest ones are usually the first who will fade away; nothing yet was capable of rekindling this dying light. What lies inside this young and fragile vessel is quite different from what lies above, and efforts and courage are simply just not enough to cultivate the flame if it lacks purpose and direction. In a world where the line between men and beasts is blurred, truth and kindness in their most purest form are not really welcomed in a wretched place such as this. No matter how much you strived to fight it, wounds that were not capable of healing were still bound to happen at a certain time; the only thing left was to embrace them and hopefully find something of worth that could ease up the pain.

Even in the most darkest night a flame could still be ignited, and there was no other way of casting the darkness without lighting up a considerable number of sparks, or just a large one that could illuminate the path ahead. Lonely was the road which guided this lost and wandering soul, one which not many were capable of following; perhaps, the man gazed too much within the darkness of his own hearth, so much that it began gazing back at him. With warm drops of water cascading down on the back of the head, the Uchiha remained with that head leaned down while looking within nothing; a turmoil could be the best word to describe what was going on; a dreadful and ceaseless war between thoughts.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Squeaky was the knob that was twisted, a screeching and irritating sound which marked the beginning of a beating rhythm that was given by the next following couple of drops of warm water which collided against the porcelain turf beneath. A sly hand lurked between those translucent curtains, only to grasp a white towel that was shortly after wrapped around the waist of a man. The wet thud which followed after came in a pair, and an almost ceaseless amount of them took the raven-haired man against a steamy mirror, one which craved for the Uchiha’s attention. With a clenched fist Tenzō wiped it out, clearing it from the water while gazing with those ebony and dull eyes against it. What the man saw there, was something which came out shocking; a shivering feeling trembled down through that spine of his, fast as lightning and deadly as... oh well, just deadly.

What was once known as a black canvas which described the Uchiha’s hair perfectly, beyond the fact that it was quite soft and pleasant to the touch or the fact that it prolonged all the way down to that appealing waist, has now been invaded by a couple of white strands of hair. If only that was the only part of him that was showing change, then this would have not been regarded as a problem to begin with; as such, those thin and arched eyebrows were sharing the same faith on a first impression. Out of excitement, those dull eyes turned within blazing embers while the man witness a spot located on that chiseled chest, it was slightly lighter than the rest of his body that was already pale as it was. In that moment, Tenzō raged uncontrollably and threw away the towel just so that it may glide freely and land within the bathtub; a desperate search on the rest of that body had just begun.

The changes were bound to emerge at some point since that empty husk was thrown into despair after the loss of that beloved sister, but for now the young man did not regard them as anything else than just... a reaction towards that stress which kept piling up, nothing but emotions were racking up just like books on an empty shelf. With that fear in mind of having more than just a single spot, the Uchiha proved himself right before leaving behind that bathroom; time was short, and pouring more within this matter without an expert opinion was something that could be considered, just pointless. Being a stranger towards this village, the raven-haired man did not possess the necessary knowledge that could help him seek out a medical-nin, as such, this problem should was going to be left out for another time. On the side of the bed there was a grey and long sleeve shirt and a lingering pair of skinny pants made out of fine cotton that were calmly awaiting for the man’s arrival, both of them were quite simple with no kind of imprints.

At first, Tenzō relocated himself on the edge of the bed before picking up the pants which the man chose to wear, sliding in the first foot while the other awaited for his turn. A couple of minutes later, the Uchiha finally finished up preparing himself and a couple of more steps brought the man against a small fridge, from which a bottle of red wine was taken out. With the bottle in hand that was bought earlier in the shop which was owned by this particular inn, the Uchiha left behind his own room right after grabbing a jet-black haori with the intention of heading further down the hallway. Almost at the end of it, those footsteps were finally placed to a rest against what appeared to be another room; knuckles assaulted the door, gently so that they may not stir the person who lingered inside. “Lady Shinako, I have arrived. It’s me, Uchiha Tenzō.” he spoke on a calming tone, more because the man wished to announce that presence of his. Hopefully, the young woman received the letter which was sent earlier in the afternoon, the one which was meant to inform Shinako about the occurring event.

~ 1010/1010 of Total Words ~

Shinako

Shinako


D-rank
The black comb caught on a knot in Shinako's dark hair. It hurt, but her expression did not change. Her stare barely perceived her own visage as she sat in front of the mirror in her silken robe. Her eyes were unfocused, and her mind raced from one possibility to the next. After receiving the letter from the concierge downstairs she had been in almost in a daze. She had hoped that Tenzo-sensei would be too busy doing whatever Jounin did in preparation for the exams to bother with visiting her.

When the man at the desk had stopped her to hand her the envelope Shinako had feared the worst. There was still no word from the hospital back in Konohagakure. She was sure that the letter's contents would have informed her of her father's passing, and had, of course, been relieved to find out that its nature was altogether different. For an instant that relief had distracted her and postponed the icy trickle down her spine that was becoming a regular occurance at the mention or appearance of her new teacher. She had considered sending her regrets and hiding in her room for the rest of the week until the trials began. However, she was far more dutiful than that.

After a day of training, she had returned to her room and showered, preparing for whatever Tenzo-sensei had in store. Once she was finished combing her hair she dressed in a simple blue kimono, ending at the knee. She donned a pair of purple pants beneath that, as she had not packed any garments that were less than practical, and did not want her legs exposed for the upcoming meeting. After all, the Chunin exams were not to be a social engagement, and if she needed a fancier gown she could always just buy one to fit the occasion.

Once she had finished dressing she simply stared into the mirror once again, eyes unseeing and shoulders slumped. She was physically exhausted from training and traveling, as well as mentally exhausted from all of the things sitting heavily on her mind. She took the short amount of time that she had before Tenzo's arrival to recharge. She absentmindedly pushed her hair back from her face, tying it in a ponytail. She rolled the ends of her sleeves back from her wrists and appraised her appearance.

The night's look was not glamorous but presentable. She had declined to wear make-up, as she wanted to be seen as a shinobi by the people of Kumogakure. Sighing heavily, she stood and checked her satchel, making sure that all of her tools and weapons were in order before she tied it around her left leg, just within reach of her fingertips. Finally, she tied her forehead guard around her waist and put her earrings in. With one more look in the mirror she decided that she was as ready as she was going to be. Not long after that, she heard a knock and a familiar voice at the door that shook her from her sleepy state. She estimated that she had been sitting absentmindedly on her bed for about ten minutes.

Steeling herself, Shinako crossed the hotel room to the door and opened it, bowing deeply before even making eye contact. She noticed that Uchiha Tenzo was carrying wine, and this fact caused her stomach to turn. She restrained herself from letting it show on her face as she held her bow for an amount of time usually reserved for revered elders.

"Tenzo-sensei, I received your letter."

She stood upright and stepped out into the hallway, closing the door to her room behind her. The thought of having him enter the place where she was sleeping deeply unsettled her, though she could not exactly have articulated the feeling. Just as she had earlier that week with Joruri, she looked up and down the corridor to see if the two of them were alone. It appeared that they were.

"I must say, I was not expecting to see you before the exams. I thought you would be too busy for all of us."

She rubbed her upper arm in a somewhat uncomfortable gesture before she caught herself doing it and stopped.

"So...to what do I owe the pleasure?"

724/724

Uchiha Tenzō

Uchiha Tenzō


S-rank
Right after Shinako chose to bow, the young and raven-haired man responded with a similar gesture of formality in order to express the same amount of respect which she did, without really being affected by the thought that hers might have not been sincere. At first, those ebony eyes went against those earrings before traveling upon the rest of the body just so that they may witness the satchel which was quite inappropriate for an occurring such as this, and instead of compliment those earrings the Uchiha chose to formulate a comment about that sash so that she may not get the wrong message again. “You don’t owe me anything, Shinako. Thank you for accepting my invitation, and there is no need for formalities. I appreciate more than enough that you’re forcing yourself to accompany me.” the Uchiha spoke on a calm tone while searching to lock those eyes of his against her own dark and brown pair of orbs.

Even in her natural state with all of those clothes which covered almost every inch of the skin, Shinako still managed to place the night to a shame, or at least that was the thought that lingered within the man’s mind. “Follow me.” Tenzō requested on a firm tone whilst twisting against his left side so that he may start leading the way down the stairs, checking at the reception before remembering to request two glasses for the wine bottle alongside a corkscrew. While the receptionist went to procure up the requested items, the Uchiha began talking once more “There was no need for you to grab your tools if that is what you have there in that sash, nor to be so wary on the hallway. I can assure you that no one will harm you, while I am around to protect.” without looking directly at Shinako, tapping the wooden desk in front with those scrawny fingers; hopefully, the man wouldn’t take long. A few more seconds passed, and those mentioned items were brought beneath those ebony eyes which the man borrowed for this particular night.

Initially, the raven-haired man chose to reserve a table at a nearby restaurant since that might have been an appropriate place to discuss the awkward relation between the two; however, considering the fact that the young woman did not invite him inside to drop that wine bottle which was part of the initial plan, the man chose to improvise and take Shinako towards another place instead. Tenzō did not really bring any subject upon the road, and if the young woman had any questions or wished to speak than the man would listen and take notice of those words. As such, the inn was now left behind and the pale figure began heading closer towards the mountain, a location which was not far enough to considered difficult for Shinako, since the man remembered that she was quite fatigued in that hostage simulation.

The landscape of this place that was known as Mountain Ikkyu was more than just impressive, and the young man found a spot a couple of days ago which was adopted for his own and personal training; however, in this particular night, that said location will serve another purpose entirely. The location which the Uchiha had in mind was placed at the base of that towering mountain, a waterfall which cascaded freely within a small lake in which the jōnin spent time relaxing after those training sessions were finally over. A few medium-sized rocks upon which you could sit were located around that small lake, and the grass which vividly stood out between that interesting combination of flowers that were quite pleasant beneath one’s own pair of eyes. A divine scent roamed around this area at night, since it was carried by the small and gentle breeze which slowly kissed everything that it made contact; a fragrance which was a bit too hard to describe with just simple words.

After five minutes of walking at a considerable and decent pace, this particular waterfall was now in sight and the raven-haired man peeked over that shoulder before adding a few words “This seems like a good place to talk, don’t you think?” which turned out to be a query that was rather rhetorical at its core. The raven-haired man did not await for the young woman to answer the posed question, and continued walking forth with a couple of heavy footsteps which inevitably took him against two medium-sized rocks which were united with a much larger one in the middle. Without further ado, Tenzō placed the two empty glasses on the rock which lingered between the two smaller ones, so that he may have another free hand which could be used to open up the wine bottle. A sound which was similar to a pop echoed once the cork was successfully removed from the bottle from which the young man used to fill up those two glasses; “Please, have a glass of red wine with me, Shinako. The talk is going to be a bit long.” were the words which gushed out between those pale lips while the sweet liquid was being poured.

It was an old and quite expensive bottle, but that did not matter at all considering that it was meant to be a gift for the young lady; however, since things did not went as indented, the scenario changed as well along with the approach in this particular night. Once both of those glasses were finally filled, the Uchiha hoisted them with the use of those empty hands before walking towards Shinako, so that he may offer one of the two, and hopefully, she would accept and not make the Uchiha feel even more unwanted that she already managed to. “Since we talked about you, I’m going to let out a few things about myself as well. In that particular day that we met, I...” Tenzō affirmed on a calm tone before taking a small pause, placing that glass of wine against his own pale lips, parting them apart in order to let the sweet liquid go down his throat, leaving behind a warm and pleasant feeling. “My sister... I have lost her, the night before that day.” were the next couple of words that came out once the glass left those lips, and the tone that was used by the man was contrasting towards the taste that was given by the wine; it was sour.

~ 1091/2101 of Total Words ~

Shinako

Shinako


D-rank
For the first leg of their journey Shinako was relatively silent, only speaking to thank the concierge for his attentiveness. Looking into the elderly man's eyes, she saw something kind there that she could not exactly put her finger on. She made a mental note to have a quick conversation with this man the next time she passed by and had a moment. As the man searched for the requested paraphernalia, Shinako vaguely registered that Tenzo was speaking to her. He didn't even bother to look at her as he addressed her with some platitude that she barely caught the end of.

"That's very kind of you, Tenzo-sensei."

Shinako kept her tone sweet and pleasant, though on the inside she was unsure if she could continue the effort. She realized that she had no idea where her new teacher was taking her, though it didn't take her long to realize that they were headed up the mountain, into the wilderness. Shinako had done very little exploring there, but had heard that it was a beautiful place to be. As they walked, she was glad that she had worn sensible shoes, but mostly she just thought about the retreating expanse of Tenzo's back, leading her further and further away from the presence of others. Everything in her body told her not to follow, but she found herself plodding on, hoping with every step further from civilization that he would stop where he was and go no deeper into the night.

The darkness in Kumogakure was never quite complete these days, as the lights from the festivals surrounding the chunin exams burned all night. It was nothing like the immersion in the solitude just outside of the Nara Clan grounds, where Shinako often retreated. She slapped at her neck to repel a biting insect. If she had been at home she simply would have found a stream and coated her exposed flesh with a cool, thin layer of mud. However, that was probably inappropriate for the current situation, so she would simply buy some soothing balm for whatever bites she accumulated out in the forest tonight.

It seemed as though Tenzo was intentionally walking slowly, but Shinako endeavored to stay behind him, leaving them at almost a crawling pace. However, Shinako was content to be led by the nose, not wanting to seem terribly enthusiastic about the whole endeavor. By the time they reached their apparent destination they had not walked for terribly long, but Shinako's mind had taken the scenic route, seeming to drift for hours in the mere minutes that had passed since leaving the inn. Shinako took an inventory of the scene, and guessed that this must have been one of the many mountainous river-falls that trickled all around Kumogakure.

Looking out over the small lake, Shinako thought of how the water fell through the clear surface and never spilled over. From the frosty summit of the mountain where last season's snow melted in the sunlight, tumbling down and down into the depths of the earth, where it could flow unnoticed forever, far from the admiring looks of the travelers who only viewed it as a stunning lake at night, or a cool place to dip their toes during the day. But that was not the lake. That was not the river. What they saw was the stone's refusal of the river.

Shinako sat down on one of the smaller rocks, accepting Tenzo's glass politely. After having seen his fiery temper, she did not want to upset him again. She feigned the motion of sipping, allowing the cold liquid to touch her lips, but not to pass. She could tell by the smell of it that it was sweet. Maybe she was more like the stone, sometimes, than like the river. Tenzo had chilled the red wine, which was unusual, making her think that he did not do this terribly often. She had begun drinking wine at a relatively young age, as her father often bottled his own.

Shinako settled in and finally found her focus as Tenzo began to speak in earnest, dropping a heavy statement right at the start. Looking down into the dark red liquid in her glass, she did not respond quickly. Her shoulders dropped slightly as she considered what to say. Of course it was possible that this was simply another test. She would not put it past her new teacher to use such information purely in an attempt to unsettle her, as he did know about her father's current illness. In the end she chose to proceed cautiously to see where he was going with this train of thought.

"I'm very sorry to hear that, Tenzo-sensei, you have my condolences. I too have siblings, and I would be hurt very much if I were to lose them."

Shinako waited, seeing if he would use his previous revelation as an excuse for his inappropriate behavior at their first meeting. She shifted uncomfortably, hoping that her response hadn't sounded too distant. Perhaps Tenzo's wound that day had been the result of defending his sister from some attack. Shinako immediately felt bad for not having the mind-set to completely believe the story that Tenzo had chosen to open with. The man was shrouded in so much mystery that she would have to cut through at least a little bit of it before she would be able to connect with him on an emotional level.

925/1,649

Uchiha Tenzō

Uchiha Tenzō


S-rank
“A leaf that has strained too far from its branch.”

Being aware that this young lady basically forced herself to come here, was actually the reason why the man avoided looking at her during the travel; even when she slapped that fragile neck, the man barely restrained himself from turning at the source of the noise. Perhaps, the young woman disliked or simply did not wish to drink a glass of wine with this particular Uchiha, at least those were the thoughts when the raven-haired man witness that the level at which the wine was poured did not change that much. Nonetheless, the jōnin chose not to comment on that gesture, but just let it slide, while also being thankful inside that she did not refused the glass at least. With those eyes scattering from a place to another, while avoiding to keep any direct eye contact for the time being, Tenzō had fortunately picked up how Shinako almost drenched those dark and ebony eyes within the glass, and there was no doubt that she was thinking about something in that moment. While pondering on whatever thoughts she was probably capable of questioning, the young man remembered the possibility that her father might have still been attached towards those wires back at the hospital within the Hidden Leaf Village.

After a few moments, the young man cocked that head of his slowly, nodding once while also letting out a few words “Thank you, Shinako.” that were spoken on a sincere tone, the glass was once more raised up and placed against those lips, another small sip was taken. “I remember what you’ve told me about your father, Shinako, and I know that this is probably the last thing you want to hear, but...” were the words which came out between those pale lips, words spoken on a rather quiet tone which almost hinted a slight amount of quiver. Another small pause followed after, in which the raven-haired man attempted to muster up the necessary courage in order to let out the following words, and there was no doubt that this was a deep wound which was going to be opened once more. Even though, a person like him would most likely not talk about his own personal life, this particular subject was dwelling too much underneath that skin; piece by piece, the man was being torn apart by the simple thought of not being able to protect those who he loved, the lack of strength almost boiled his blood.

“... I can’t face up my parents regarding my thoughts, and I have no one else to talk to.” the Uchiha ended up the loose end of the previous sentence, and those bony eyes descend further against the ground, locking themselves for a couple of moments against Shinako’s pair of sensible shoes. Guilt was a terrible and terrifying feeling, and it was capable of turning even the kindness person within their contrasting color; usually a wound heals in time, but some are too deep and they remain opened for almost an entire lifetime. With those last words finished, the tall figure chugged away the rest of the wine which lingered inside the glass, letting the liquor invade his body with no kind of regret behind it. Grass crumbled underneath those footsteps which took the man once more against the bottle which he used to fill up that glass again, at least, that was the only thing which could be filled up. Those eyes slowly arose to seek out Shinako’s own glass, and if that glass needed some wine than the man would offer himself to pour, if not, than he would just place the bottle back against the rock.

“However, that unfortunate incident is no excuse for my behavior, and the reason which stood behind my rudeness was entirely different, Shinako.” the Uchiha spoke while leaning against the larger rock, slowly letting that spine of his attach to it whilst the man crumbled down until that firm buttocks had reached the ground. Without further ado, the man cocked that head of his against the young woman to gaze upon her while the next couple of words were being prepared. “I remember when you said that approaching someone for their beauty is wrong, I don’t dispute that. Also, you mentioned that you always act the way your family and clan asks from you, that you had a leash around your neck. I simply...” Tenzō spoke on a calm tone that was really heavy due to that all amount of guild which staggered it; however, that glass of wine acted as a fuel once the man placed it upon those lips, to take a small sip from it.

“... wanted to make you angry, to see what you truly are. I don’t want to talk with this Shinako that is standing in front of me, I wanted to talk with the real one. Am I really that wrong for asking this?” were the next couple of words that came out, words which ended with a slightly query at the end. A longer pause followed after, in which the raven-haired man awaited to see how the man would react and if she wished to respond towards his question. There was a lot more to be mentioned before the man could have the audacity to ask for Shinako’s forgiveness; the burdens had to loosen up, or else this particular Uchiha might just become a slave towards his own emotions. The members of his own clan were known for leaning on extremities, and most of them were just filled blurred by different shades of grey, or just filled up with so much hatred that inevitably led towards their downfall. Having strong emotions was indeed a curse, but hatred was not the only one present on them, indeed, they were capable of loving the most, since hatred was not possible of existing without love.

After a couple of moment, those ebony eyes were hoisted so that they may gaze upon the pitch-black sky to witness those shimmering lights around that slumbering moon, those grey clouds chose to depart and reveal what appeared to be a something close to the word divine. “Can you tell me more about you, Shinako? The real one, that you keep hidden and out of my reach.” Tenzō questioned while gazing at those stars, even though it was probably the last thing which the man should have asked, and he wouldn’t really be surprised if she chose to turn him down. Probably, this particular person did not deserve to hear such things, especially since that question was mostly aimed towards her own personal life, and the one which Shinako displays while being a shinobi. Nonetheless, it was her choice.

~ 1137/3238 of Total Words ~

Shinako

Shinako


D-rank
Shinako looked down at Tenzo as he looked up at the night sky. For the life of her, Shinako could not see why Tenzo had such an intense desire to know her. At their first meeting, and even now, he felt like a stranger. Yet, every time they spoke it seemed as though the conversation would be emotionally charged. Though, despite her initial impression, Tenzo did not seem so predatory now, seated on the ground, looking almost defeated. She decided that there would be no harm in giving him what he wanted.

"When I was a girl of fifteen my brothers were building their own homes in the family compound, preparing for lives of their own, out from under my father's roof."

Shinako stood and paced a few steps. She still held the untouched glass of wine cupped between her hands as she looked away from Tenzo and out over the lake.

"Being young, and wanting my own adventure, I ran away from home for six days. I later told my friend to lie for me, and convince my father that I had been on a tourism trip to the temples with her and her family."

The kunoichi knelt by the water, looking deeply into it.

"In truth, I spent the days alone with my books, moving to all of the most remote and abandoned sites in Konoha. I stayed in derelict houses, under bridges, the basement storage of the Hokage's tower...anywhere I could be alone."

Shinako looked at her reflection in the moonlight before reaching down to the surface of the water with her hand and swirling it around, distorting the image. She smiled, a gesture that was more for herself than it was for Tenzo, as she had her back turned to him.

"I didn't touch a single make-up brush, or comb my hair, or wear fancy clothes. I lived on the charity of others, or worked for a few hours a day at odd jobs to earn a bit of money. I ate what I wanted, went where I wanted, and spent a lot of time reading and writing."

Shinako thought fondly back on that time, though she had felt guilty over not telling her father. It was more than likely that he would never know the truth now. His daughter was, and had been for most of her life, someone completely different from the person that he thought he knew. However, that did not lessen her fond memory of the occasion, or of her father. By the time he had fallen ill, she had done more than enough to make him proud.

Looking down at her glass, the young woman took one sip before setting it down on a flat stone beside the lake. Tenzo viewed her filial piety as a leash, and she was not sure what to make of that. She was mildly insulted, but decided that Tenzo was probably incapable of approaching her in a tactful way. In Shinako's estimation, Tenzo was highly damaged. Whether it was from recent events, or his time as a shinobi, or both, she could not say.

"That sort of freedom has always appealed to me."

534/2,183

Uchiha Tenzō

Uchiha Tenzō


S-rank
At the sound of those drumming footsteps which kissed the ground, those ebony eyes descended from the sky just to witness how Shinako had relocated herself around the lake, that head of his did not move at all and just those eyes shifted towards her. Tenzō literally had no idea if Shinako refrained herself from drinking because the man was around, or simply because she disliked the taste of alcohol, and posing such a question between them would only make this particular man ever more shady beneath those dark and brown eyes. Keeping those words that kept pouring from this young woman in mind, the Uchiha considered that her interpretation of freedom was something which she desired; however, a luxury such as that was forbidden for this particular man, since he was forced to take a vow and server under the Orochi Lady. Exchanging freedom for something as simple as having the ability to continue on living was a fair trade for this particular man, in spite of the fact that some may consider this nothing more than an act of cowardice.

Because she was treating the raven-haired man with that back of hers, the Uchiha was incapable of witnessing that smile which arose upon those luscious lips; however, seeing that those hands of hers were moving towards the lake itself manage to bring a faint smile on the man’s own pair of pale lips. It started with the simple thought that she was probably leaving behind a portion of that stress or awkwardness which see seemed to display only while being around the man. The fact that she wished to mention not wearing any kind of makeup was a dead giveaway for this young jōnin, one which caused him to concluded that Shinako just wished that people would look at her at see her for what she really is, to look past those womanly features. Perhaps, that was even the reason why this young woman stated that Tenzō was something more than just a simple weapon for others to use; however, this particular man was not motivated enough to fight for his own freedom.

What came after was a bit surprising, since Shinako chose to take a sip from that cup before placing it on a stone nearby, and in that moment the young man wondered if she was dropping out that armor of hers, or if she was just simply thirsty due to the amount of words that were poured down. Nonetheless, the Uchiha parted his own lips before placing that glass of his against the bottom lip, slightly coking that head backwards to let the sweet wine flow freely inside the throat. With half of the glass full, the young man kept it between those legs of his before letting out a few words “Freedom... I understand that you value it and I respect that, although I consider that my freedom is a small price to pay in order to serve the village and protect those who cannot protect themselves. I don’t mind how others want to view me, as long as the outcome of my actions end up saving the lives of others.” on a calm tone whilst letting those eyes gaze upon the slumbering moon.

With the glass now being placed against the nearby rock, the raven-haired man was capable of placing both of those palms against the grassy field in order to push himself up, and stand within a careless posture that was not that militaristic as the usual ones. There was no doubt that something was dragging the Uchiha towards Shinako, an invisible force which couldn’t really be explained through normal words nor through simple actions; however, the man did not moved and inch from that perimeter and chose to refrain himself by leaning against the larger rock. “I said that I don’t mind how others view me, but for some unknown and inexplicable reason for me, I do when it comes to you. I want to redeem myself, and I don’t really know what to do, as you could probably tell that I’m not good at this.” were the words which came out between those two pale lips, words spoken on a calm tone which had a certain amount of guilt within that was quite easy to pick up.

All the time, the Uchiha was leaning sideways without really having that body of his towards Shinako, but the man chose to now redirect himself and look at her without trying to cover it up, and the corners of those lips slowly began to ascend within a smile. “I never had the chance of saying it, but I want to mention that I was quite proud on how you all behaved in the hostage simulation. A simulation which might look wrong, but in my books, real experience can sometimes be more useful than the theories in books. So, with that in mind, I was pleased by the fact that you all did not backed down, and chose to fight for your comrade. Please, keep those words in mind, and always fight for your freedom and never give up.” the young man stated on a cheerful tone whilst that gaze of his traveled from the ground and around the area in which Shinako lurked.

The jōnin was quite sincere with those words, and the only reason which stood behind that harshness was to only make those students stronger than they were before, even if, they might end up disliking the man at the end. “Shinako, I wonder...” the Uchiha spoke on a serious tone before letting a pause behind, thinking of the right words that were most suited in this case to not leave behind the wrong impression. A large breath was inhaled and exhaled afterwards, one which allowed this particular man to muster up the necessary courage for the following words “... is there anything that I can do, so that I can show you that I’m not really what you think I am? The only thing that I want, is for you to stop running away from me.” that were spoken on a calm and sincere tone.

~ 1035/4273 of Total Words ~

Shinako

Shinako


D-rank
Shinako listened as Tenzo spoke from behind her. His justifications for his ninja way were very similar to her step-mother's justifications.

*To give life, you must take life, Shinako. Grief falls flat and hollow upon the true shinobi. Dear child...in my life I have only done to you what the sparrow has done to you. I am old when it is fashionable to be young. I cry when it is fashionable to laugh. I hated, when it would have taken less courage to love.*

It sounded as though he had stood up, but made no move to approach her. Shinako had struggled to make sense of what her father's late bride had said to her for many years, but she was beginning to understand it. The memory of it brought the taste of wasabi and ginger to her mouth and nose, as such ruthless acts had been discussed over dinner. Tenzo was more plainly spoken, but the sentiment was the same. The shinobi was a weapon, even if a reluctant one. However, he seemed at least to be somewhat aware of the way she viewed him, and expressed a desire to exculpate himself in her court of opinion.

Then the topic shifted slightly, taking them back to that dirt and gravel road between the land of fire and the land of lightning. Since she had spoken with Joruri, she had barely thought about the entire ordeal. She pulled the collar of her kimono up against the breeze as Tenzo revealed his true feelings about the outcome of his little test. In the end, she thought she heared a true hint of sincerity when he told her to always fight for her freedom. In a way, that was what she would be doing in the upcoming exams--fighting to move one step closer to her dream of becoming a medical shinobi.

Then, just as she had become accustomed to, the topic changed again. Tenzo seemed almost desperate, and at his final question her shoulders slumped. In a deep and often unreachable part of her soul, she was tired of being wanted. She turned her head as if to look over her shoulder at her teacher, though she didn't actually look.

"You don't need my approval, Tenzo-sensei."

She did have to admit to herself that her first instinct when around Tenzo was still to escape. She stood up and edged around the shore of the lake to her right, stopping only to pick up her wine glass, once again leaving Tenzo behind.

"It sounds like the problem..."

The sound of the falls was not quite enough to obscure the sound of her smoky voice, though Shinako could easily imagine her words fusing and dispersing with the mist that rose from the base of the waterfall and drifted away. She saw that the path along the banks led to a small alcove behind the curtain of water cascading from the rocks above. Shinako moved toward it, feeling the cool spray on her cheeks and delivering her point as she disappeared from sight, into the darkness behind the water.

"...is that you chose us, and now you're waiting for us to choose you back."

538/2,721

Uchiha Tenzō

Uchiha Tenzō


S-rank
Looking directly against the lake, the raven-haired man caught a glimpse of how Shinako pulled up her collar and an image flashed beneath those eyes, one which reminded this particular man what happened last time when she did that. Although, things went a bit differently from the last time since that head of hers was now slightly being tilted towards his direction, but those dark and brown eyes still refused to take notice of the man’s existence. A couple of words came afterwards which hinted that the man was looking for her approval, and in reality, not even this particular Uchiha knew what he sought; perhaps, she was right with those words. In that moment, the man bended from the waist and up in order to reach down for that glass of wine before standing back up; a second or two later, that glass was once more placed upon those pale lips, but instead of drinking it whole the young man resorted in taking only a small sip from it.

Those dull and ebony eyes began to widen like saucers once the young woman arose with that glass of hers along her side, and deep inside, Tenzō began wondering if she was going to leave him again like last time; a fear which came true, and that collar was indeed the trigger after all. However, instead of leaving empty handed, the young Nara decided to take that glass of wine with her and a few thoughts stormed inside that analytical mind, which hinted that there might have been a probability in which she wanted him to follow. Nonetheless, even if, Shinako just wanted to leave the man behind, the Uchiha could not afford of repeating the scenario like the last time it happened, and so, that bottle of wine was grasped with the other hand before the man began walking with a couple of heavy steeps to follow in her trail. The thought given by her last words more than enough to make this particular person realize that she did not wanted him as a sensei, at least, that was the first thought which stormed within that head of his.

Shinako was already out of sight when the jōnin had the opportunity of taking the first step, and even if she slithered like a shadow within the darkness of that alcove, the man did not halted even for a second and continued following her from behind. Spending countless of hours training, this particular shinobi had those senses developed in a certain way which allowed him to even hear the small breeze which came from that waterfall, and following the sound left behind by those footsteps was not a difficult task at all. An eerie presence lingered at the base of this waterfall, and the mist which arose from beneath only made it worse than it was before; nonetheless, the Uchiha went pass the curtains of water without really being bothered if those formal and fine clothes would have gotten soaked in the process.

Once the first step was taken inside that dank darkness, a couple of words left between those two pale lips which belonged towards the Uchiha “Shinako... you’re getting me worried.” on a calm and hollow tone, and due to the shape of this place, those words had a slight echo within them. Not even a single second was wasted on halting, since Tenzō continued on looking for her inside the alcove; paying extreme attention to all of those senses whilst also making sure that the bottle of wine was not being spilled. Actually, in that moment, the raven-haired man placed both of them to rest, along the wall before actually going further inside that eerie place, whispering out Shinako’s name once more. It was a bit amusing to consider that a man such as him, would follow her along like a dog that was lost without its owner; nonetheless, Tenzō was not going to repeat the same mistakes like last time.

“Is that what you truly want, Shinako? To be left alone, and for me to give up being your sensei?” were the next couple of words that escaped between those pale lips, and the lack of light within this place made it a bit hard to navigate, although, it wasn’t necessary for the man to start using up that Sharingan of his in order to track down the chakra. Saying that Tenzō would have bat-like hearing would be somehow accurate, and whilst keeping that in mind along with the thought that she might reveal herself at some point, he young man chose to search for Shinako normally. Those last words of her were disturbing and managed to cause an slight amount of discomfort inside; however, those were kept at the back of the head while lurking inside this place. The Uchiha stated that giving up is not an option, and those words would have been worthless if the man chose to back down in a situation such as this, and thus, the man continued forth.

~ 847/5120 of Total Words ~

Shinako

Shinako


D-rank
The moonlight cut through the glassy sheet of the waterfall, bathing the cave in a shimmering blue, though it was not bright enough here for shadows, and Shinako felt naked without hers. She had come to think of her penumbral projection not only as a constant companion, but as her first line of defense against the world. In a way, her ambush would not be complete without it.

As Tenzo walked directly through the waterfall Shinako's eyes were already adjusted. She leaned against the back of the small cave, lips wrapped around the rim of her wine glass, already half-way through with quickly gulping down its contents. Tenzo was still speaking, but she was hardly paying attention as the man stepped, dripping, out of the clear, cool water. It was just the sort of bombastic gesture that she had come to expect from him. In many ways, Tenzo himself reminded her of a shadow, cast in stark contrast against the world of the living, but moved by something else entirely; something far more real and concrete.

“Is that what you truly want, Shinako? To be left alone, and for me to give up being your sensei?”

In that light, Tenzo, for all of his obvious glamor, was hideous, and Shinako hoped that she was as well. The water on his face, combined with the constantly shifting light turned him into something grotesque, all angles and edges, like a broken window. As she finished the last of the wine in her glass, she looked at the vessel casually, taking it in her right hand, before discarding it in a diagonal swiping motion. The sound as it shattered against the slick stones completely drowned out the last half of Tenzo's sentence, and Shinako didn't mind. She was finished listening to him.

As she took three steps forward to close the distance between the two of them, her sandals found fragments of glass that had tumbled across the igneous floor of the recess after disintegrating against the wall. The sound of the pieces grinding and breaking once more gave a sense of determination and finality to each step, as though what had been set into motion was innevitable and irrevocable.

With her eyes locked directly on the man's face, Shinako raised her right hand to his chest and her left hand to reach around the back of his neck. Lips slightly parted in a hungry expression, she leaned in to kiss him.

417/3,138

Uchiha Tenzō

Uchiha Tenzō


S-rank
“Thou who wages war against monsters should seek out that within the process thou shall not become one as well. Forasmuch as, gazing for too long within the debts of the abyss, will only force the abyss itself to gaze back into you.”

With moonlight penetrating like a sharp blade which threatened to cut down a portion of the eeriness that lingered alongside the darkness of this place, the raven-haired man did not falter and continued on what appeared to be an undying search for the woman. Even with those ebony and dull eyes which had not yet had the pleasure of adjusting themselves with the lack of light, Tenzō chose to use them as means to navigate throughout the place without really having the intention of stopping and focusing on the other senses. In spite of all of this, what happened next forced that wandering soul to halt abruptly, at hearing of screeching sound which echoed once that empty glass was shattered against the stones beneath. That feeble heart of his had almost stopped beating whilst having the simple thought that something wrong might have happened; however, that feeling was placed to a rest once the crumbling sound of shattered glass became present.

Once the sound of those footsteps became much clearer with each passing moment, the Uchiha finally decided to stop pretending that he was not aware of the area in which Shinako decided to hide from the man’s presence. That empty husk slowly turned against the sound, but what came after was a deadly ambush which this particular jōnin was not capable of foreseeing; a pair of hungry lips were marching towards him. Astonished by the gesture, and from the amount of thoughts that came like a roaring thunder in that head, Tenzō did not reacted much against the young woman’s attempt, and only those arms of his were slowly hoisted in the process. Because of that baffled mind, those pale and warm lips of his were slightly parted by a gap which was most likely smaller than an inch; statuesque might actually be the most appropriate way of describing how the man looked underneath this darkness.

Without having the time to allocate anymore thoughts within this matter, those lips of his had basically surrendered against her own pair, and it was more out of instinct when the man slithered his own tongue inside. In the same moment that she leaned towards him, that left hand which belonged towards the Uchiha had entangled around Shinako’s back at an inch distant from that thin waist of hers, whilst the other one went upon the left side. With those scrawny fingers of his own right hand, the raven-haired man allowed it to glide upwards against that fabric which represented the blue kimono before it was going to reach and grasp the woman’s left breast, for a tight and firm clutch upon it. Having the curiosity to unveil what might happen next, Tenzō did not back down from this so called attack; ironically, instead of easing up that guilt, the raven-haired man had only succeeded in making it dwell even further inside.

~ 530/5650 of Total Words ~

Shinako

Shinako


D-rank
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.”

For the first time in her life, Shinako had chosen to be kissed, and it appeared as though Tenzo was as eager a partner as any. There were no eyes to fall upon them, or to be wary of, and when he gripped her, though his fingers were and hands were tentative, he really meant it. Removing her hands from his chest and neck, she gripped his arms at the wrist, though she did not peel them away. This was not a moment in which to be polite, or reserved.  Instead, she moved his left arm lower, down past her lower back, and her waist, pressing herself into him in the dark of the cave.

Shinako's chest heaved as she drew in air through her nose almost violently, releasing it only moments later in a moaning sigh, biting down gently on Tenzo's lip so that their mouths would not have to part as she respired. Any question that had been asked before, and any answer, had been discarded and forgotten in the moment. Konoha lay far behind, and the chunin exams were a distant speck down the road leading into the swirling maelstrom of the future. Her mind was occupied only with thoughts of how easy it would be to simply dissolve into Tenzo's arms, to be held, possessed, protected. Her eyes were shut tight against the outside world, with nothing but the sound of the waterfall and their own breathing to break the silence.

Then it was over, scarcely lasting the space of two breaths. With another sharp inhalation, Shinako extracted herself from Tenzo's embrace, opening her eyes wide, but not taking them off of his face. In the darkness she was not sure if he could see, and was not sure if she cared, but it was not passion so much as a desperate panic that filled her eyes, though they were set in a now still and determined face. Looking deep into the impossibly dark orbs of his eyes for any sort of recognition of what had just happened, her eyebrows furrowing lower and lower as she failed to find it. Looking into Tenzo's face, imagining his reaction, seeing how much he wanted her, only made her feel deeply, completely, and inexplicably angry.

Slowly but surely, Shinako began to shake her head back and forth, a self-conscious and contemptuous half-smirk breaking across her face as she finally looked away from Tenzo.

"You just..."

She dropped the sentence there, unsure of exactly how to say what it was that she wanted to say. She wasn't sure that he would understand, even if she could find the perfect phrase. Her words echoed in the space of the cave, and she realized for the first time, shooting a backward glance at it, how small, empty, and cold it was; featureless and without character. Dead.

Shinako raised her left hand to her face, brushing back the strands that had come loose in the physical action that had come before, and wiping the remnants of the kiss, sensation and all, from her mouth. Then, without another word, moved to the sparkling barrier of the waterfall, thinking back to the moment from the day before in which Joruri had shoved her into the water; thinking about how much she hated water. Shinako remembered the words of her father. For the first time, as she internalized them, she heard them as part of her inner monologue instead of in his comforting voice.

*There is something to be learned from a sudden rainstorm. You may run quickly down the road, trying to avoid getting wet, but even doing such things as passing under the shadows of trees and the eaves of houses, you will still get wet. When you are resolved from the beginning, you will not be perplexed, though you will receive the same soaking. This understanding, Shinako, extends to everything.*

She did not look back. This was the beginning, with nothing left to look back on. She raised her left hand, parting the portal of the waterfall and feeling the displaced droplets striking her cheeks. It was a strange sensation for her to feel something so cold and cool in a space which was usually reserved for the hot sting of her own tears.

"All the people in Konoha, huddled around their stick-and-leaf town, burning the future just to stay warm..."

Shinako's voice did not change, physically, but she spoke in a tone that she had not used since she was a girl, dropping all pretense and affectation, using her voice not as a musical instrument, but as a naked device designed to signify...for once she meant to mean.

"Don't become one of them, Tenzo. Don't let the shadow crawl so far inside of you that it kills the light."

With that, Shinako plunged forward, not ducking her head or closing her eyes as she collided with the icy sheet of uncertainty before her. Without a backward glance, she walked off, away from the lights of the village, into the starry night.

~~~~~Exit Thread~~~~~

training:

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Last edited by Shinako on Mon Sep 05, 2016 12:17 pm; edited 5 times in total (Reason for editing : Training)

Uchiha Tenzō

Uchiha Tenzō


S-rank
“Infinite in mystery is the gift of life

We seek it thus, and take it to the sky

Ripples form on the water’s surface

The wandering soul knows no rest.”

At a first thought, probably letting himself driven by those primal instincts was not such a good idea, since Shinako’s own pair of hands had departed from the man’s own chiseled chest and fragile neck with the intention of heading directly towards the ones that belonged to Tenzō. Once that firm grim was formed around the wrists of the man, a simple thought came within that head and forced the Uchiha to open up those closed eyes at simple thought that she was going to free herself from his own clutches.; however, things did not really happened as they were expected to. Instead of removing those hands from her body, the young woman chose to guide the Uchiha’s left hand further down her back upon where those scrawny fingers had the privilege and pleasure of touching the firmness of those cheeks, since they chose to rest between. And that was just the beginning for the true tease which was displayed afterwards, pushing herself onto the raven-haired man who was already close against the wall.

Without pouring anymore thoughts, the back which belonged towards the Uchiha was arched mildly enough just so that his own crotch might get closer towards hers, and the same time in which the woman chose to inflate that chest with a what appeared to sound like an almost furious snort. That unpleasing sound was quickly replaced by a moan which imprinted a certain shivering inside the man’s body while he was getting aroused, especially when she showed that playful side of hers once that lip of his was bitten. A bold gesture which marked the ending of this game, as such, those warm breaths which were exchanged earlier had slowly started to cease their interaction. An so, those ebony and dull eyes were opened once more in the same time in which the man folded both of those empty hands against his own chest; that spine of his was still lashed against the cold wall. With that gaze kept against Shinako, the raven-haired man witnessed that attempt of a smirk upon that determined face; however, those dark and brown eyes were no longer facing him, which only caused the man to mildly open those lips and make way for a deep breath.

An attempt was made after, one in which Shinako chose to speak but only ended up with two words, and those were more than enough to kindle the guilt which dwelt deep inside the man; it almost felt as if a blade made its way inside, one which almost had the power of killing of that barely, flickering flame. Unlike her, Tenzō did not remove that prolonged gaze and kept it even when she walked towards that curtain made out of water. Those words which came out made the man ponder a bit, and the conclusion that he managed to extract from them was hinting that people were capable of doing everything just to live on the next day, to keep themselves and those around safe. It was a cruel point of view, and if you were to look from the same perspective of her, you might realize that those words were right; however, that did not make the raven-haired man’s point of view wrong in any kind of way. Life was strange after all, and almost every side of it had beneath some kind of truth or reason, the only problem was that you had to look quite deep inside of it in order to bring out the light.

“Perhaps, those last words were to inform the man about the shadow which lingered inside, or to calm him down with the simple thought that there was still light inside... in that moment, Tenzō had been swallowed by uncertainty.”

That back of his slowly began scraping itself against that cold wall as the man started towards his downfall; once more the woman chose to leave the man behind, but this time, it was inside the darkness of the alcove, taking away the rays of moonlight which pierced inside of this place. Small and reminiscence was the pale light which slowly began to fade away, forcing those ebony and dull eyes to lose themselves within the black and unforgiving background. Defeated was probably not the most appropriate word to use in this context, since it was more of an acceptance which then brought the man question himself if the feeling of guilt or regret was ever going to fade away. One may consider it small, but the whole purpose of this meeting was so that this particular Uchiha may ease the turmoil from inside; however, things went the opposite way he only managed to make it worse. Perhaps, guilt was something which haunted as for the rest of our lives, and the only way to get rid of it was to ignore it, to cast it far away from the boundaries of our mind.

Remembering the words of Orochi Risu, Tenzō acknowledged that his own sole purpose was to become a monster, as such, there was no more reason for him to fight against his own fate; or perhaps, the monster was already inside of him, waiting for the right time to emerge and consume this helpless husk. Finally, the time has come for him to accept the calling, to no longer run away from the feelings which kept following and lurking like a shadow from behind. Unlike the woman which belonged to the Nara clan, this particular Uchiha couldn’t leave behind those thoughts and so he continued gazing back, in that haunting past; always looking past that shoulder, without letting those eyes seek out the future. With a heavy burden such as that, this young man was still not capable of moving forth and seek out the answers which he needed; and so, for now, the man remained just a simple vessel shrouded in mystery.

Perhaps, one final attempt to fend off those uncertain thoughts might occur within the nearby future, to end the confrontation and to unravel the rest of those words which remained unspoken; things had to be made clear before it was too late. If the man was only haunted by those words which belonged towards Shinako alone, than this would have not been enough to break down this crumbling soul; however, the most vicious guilt of all was the one related towards his own sister. Tenzō was not capable of mentioning it, but the loss of his own sister happened beneath his own eyes since he was too weak to protect that ones he loved, and not only that. Being an ANBU, the Uchiha had to deal with the corpse and if it was a normal situation, this raven-haired man would have carried it all the way back to Konohagakure; however, since the man was surrounded by enemies, the job had to be done differently. With a technique learned from his training, this particular person had to dispose the body through other ways; basically, its existence was erased from this wretched world.

Nonetheless, no more thinking. With a sturdy shove, Tenzō arose from the ground before a couple of what appeared to be defeated and weakened footsteps had taken the man outside towards the light which he did not saw, passing through those curtains of water which he did not feel. There was nothing for him to do in this place, and for the time being the man would just return back at his own lodge to grasp a few hours of sleep; perhaps, things would be different tomorrow, and the sour taste left behind that hungry kiss might be forgotten. For the time being, this fragile husk would do what it knew best, and that was to pile up those thoughts; hopefully, the man would not crumble beneath their staggering weight. No matter who they were, everyone were simply bound by their limits and the only way to avoid the downfall was to ease up that mind.

“The wandering soul knows no rest.”

~ 1375/7025 of Total Words ~

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Uchiha Tenzō

Uchiha Tenzō


S-rank
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