Somewhere deep in the "Rockies", a hidden mist shinobi found themselves alone. It wasn't for a minute hand job or seeking piece. Nissan cried loudly like a wounded beast. The failed chuunin exam made him question his entire ninja career.
He was sitting behind a big oak tree, which casted a wide shadow. While holding and staring at his bandana, a storm of tears fell onto the metal plate. " Hey moron, the metal will catch rust if you don't stop watering it! " - said his alfa inner voice, while trying to meditate and fix his anger issues.
Now they have switched places after they successfully took the third exam. After the proctors and the Raikage found out about Niidashi’s kekkei genkai, they said “disqualified”!

Yes, the Raikage himself - Hastur Miyamoto – was there to help Nissan. He was a little taller, about the same weight and that’s about it with the similarities. The way he talks, the way he walks, his whole appearance was intimidating and honorable at the same time. His right hand, sitting in his shadow:
“Are you ready, kiddo?” - this old man was nice to the genins, but it looks like it was hard for him. So he have used the same phrases over and over. That time it did not quite worked. That was a grown ass kid, almost as old as the Kage.
“ Yes. “  – answered formally Nissan, but inside he was truly pissed off. This kind of humor was not onto his taste but he doubted that it was humor that Hastur have spoken.
There was a legend spoken by the locals: If you want to find a true balance you have to beat your locked hatred at the falls of truth. There was a story for Naruto Uzumaki the nine tailed jincuuriki and Killer Bee the eight tailed jinchuuriki which both have succeeded here and in a result they took control of their inner beasts. The final trial was not to do the exact same thing, because it was extremely difficult. Just a little demo version of it.
The falls were so cold that around them the temperature was at least two degrees lower. The cold drops were so refreshing, that cooled Nissan’s masculine body, which rested in a lotus pose. Just like the wise elders which meditate in order to find the peace with themselves and gather strength. The second part was more interesting to the bearded man. The possibility to get more powerful was driving him forward all the time.
“ Close you eyes now! “   – insisted the "right hand", while the Raikage himself was performing couple of signs. “A ninja, must come to terms with the truth within themselves “– said the Raikage for first time, then the silence conquered the area.
It was like going into another dimension really. Instead of excited, Nissan had felt scared from the change, so he tried to hide it with his blurry face. He was still filled with doubt. “ Will I become a chuunin after this? I am only one step away! Let’s just finish this exam for inner bullshit and I will be one step closer to greatness! “ - Nissan had thinking only for the results, not for the path that he is destined to walk. The last words he heard from the real world was:  “Just find the ruby gemstone and break it! “  – they sounded like faraway echo even back then.
The inner fight appeared so clear to both Nissan, so while they both meditate behind the oak tree, they have experienced it once again. Nobody knew about this drama, because it was only in “Yin” and “Yang” minds.

“FLASHBACK, DREAM or DEJA VU EXPERIENCE "

I open my eyes and look up, while still maintaining the lotus pose. A dark silhouette appears behind the clear waterfall. A dark crimson glowing eyes followed by a pale white face with dense beard. A complete mirror image from the toes to the hair, a perfect creation by analogy of ME? The water is falling so realistically on the copy’s shoulders, the same cold drops as before. Witch the assistance of the wind the cold drops are touching his skin gently, showing me that every sense experience is natural. This is not an ordinary illusion technique, that’s why the locals were telling this stories again and again until it became a legend.
“ I was waiting for you, Yin! “  – said the fake’s voice which sounded a little bit softer than my voice. “ This is why you are made! To wait for me, to serve me!“  – I grinned and gained confidence in front of the recessive. Actually we both have heard each other’s voices before, but it is our first meeting face to face.  “ It’s not about you don’t you get it? It won’t be as easy as before! You are on my territory now! “[/color]. – reasons “the fake”. He calls himself “Yang” and he always existed deep inside me. I want to use him, he does not deserve acknowledgement. He is not a real part of me!

***

“ It’s only a kekkei genkai! “  – I used to say, never accepting that “Yang” might be as rightful as me to make decisions and take control of things. Maybe we both deserve equally to be Niidashi? But how to share the control of your own life with someone, especially if he is an opposite.

***

“ If I win now I will gain full control of your power and I will become chuunin! “  – I said with passion. A flame in my eyes started burning, my strong-willed trait was sharp, everybody could see it without a psychology degree.
This was next level of motivation! Everything is lying on a card, all in. “ If I loose I loose myself! “  – I think in my mind, hoping the other bastard don’t have access to it now. I hate to show weakness in front of him.
We both are running towards one another. With the first step a blue glowing chakra appears on our feet, in order to keep us above the water surface. The super natural walking practice, a technique we mastered to perfection in the Academy.
I am making my first attempt for attack with a fast and furious low kick. "My shadow" is reading me as an open book so instead of doing the same he hardens his shin bone with an earth chakra and soaks my kick smoothly, we both take some damage in a result, but it's OK for me! “Burokku to rōkikku“ – is the answer of the soft one. After the block the next step is returning the kick to me. I am smiling, while perform the same block: “You damned copycat! I worked my ass for this technique!“  – obsessed with battle rage, I screamed at my reflection. Instead with anger, the “dark side” answers me calmly, but I can still sense the offense in his tone: “ You? Do you remember my visions of how to master the technique? I was with you all the time pushing whenever you were about to quit… and you just never acknowledge my effort!

One kick after another, I'm doing my best to take him down, but it looks meaningless!. I can feel the damage and the pain, but cannot stop right now! “ I will ****’ erase you! “  – I aggressively yell at him, while still hitting. It is like fighting a mirror that just don’t want to brake! “ You are fake! Just a pale copy of me! You are not real, you don’t exist! You are just unstable source of energy! I am the one to settle you down!  “  – determined to crush my opponent’s will, I continue with the barrage of strikes without wanting to hear anything from this annoyingly softer voice.
“ Listen to me… you close-minded dumb head! “ – storms the “Yang” returning every hit, with much greater force. “ I want to participate in this chuunin exam as well! Why are you depriving me from living?“  – a small teardrop fell on the ground. The softer voice has a softer soul despite his “darker” appearance. He notices that with showing his feelings, I am gaining more confidence and I am becoming even stronger. He swipes his face and changes his look to mimic me: “ You deserve to loose here and when you do, I will absorb your body, and you will become my servant! “  – I am ****'s scared now! Like this is my worst nightmare!
When you experience such a terror you just wake up. The fake one takes the advantage of my moment weakness with strong punch into my face. A-uch! That hurts! I open my eyes instinctively and in front of me - the Raikage. “ What happened? Did I lost? “ – I asked him curiously. What the hell? I can see my own body still meditating! Am I dead? A ghost? Did I lost? This bastard took my body now?!. No, he wouldn't do that!I have to admit that I might need the help of him after all.  Probably this soft bastard has a point… Also I am sure that I cannot extend my stay here! I have to go back fast! I am concentrating just like before, meditate and trying to fuse my mind with my body. I don't know how much time I have here!

I appear once again in this inner world and my other half is waiting for him calmly. “ You are back, I am not surprised! Why do you think that this time will end up differently? “  – asks my not so “Dark” half and crosses his arms in front of his hairy chest. His chakra is almost visible at this time, even stronger than before. He's trying to intimidate me, even if his stance is not so masculine as mine.
When I was in this astral world for a minute, I felt respectful to Yang, but now... I won't show him my weakness! Damned me! I am so pathetic with my fragile thoughts! I hate myself, not my other half, I hate myself even more! He is weakling and admits it but now he stand stronger than me! So what am I then? . Once again I charge forward, swinging my heavy fists. The “Yang” nods with his head and tries to counterpunch me. A furious clash, covered by a water splash. When the water fell on the lake, "Yang" is seeing my smashed face. I don't feel more pain, I am fuse with it, I accept it. He looks surprised, confused and even scared a bit. “ Why are you stopping? Are you giving up already? “  – I grinned in response, while my blood is running on his hands. “ You hit like a pussy! “  – I add through my teeth, trying to provoke him. Another tear propels the host, this time he is not wiping it. “ I won’t hit you again! I am part of you, but you are part of me as well! “  – says “Yang” recessive part and then hugs me from nowhere. He then pulls out the ruby gemstone, which was hidden in the falls – the Raikage’s help! I am stunned, do not understand the meaning of this... “ Here you are! You can destroy it now! I don’t want to be the dominant! I just want your permission to be closer to you! “  
“ I may even let you take control of my body. But you have to understand that is difficult for me! “  – I sight but then look at my reflection straight into his eyes. It is not a trick only to pass the trial, I am honest with myself. We both extends our hands and performs a strong manly handshake. Two completely different personalities made the first step towards co-operation. “ Us against the world “  – the “Yang” says, I only nod as a sign of approval. “Yang” is getting too excited and tris to give me another hug, but this time this women behavior won't pass! I feel like this guy is going in the wrong direction!. “ C’mon now, pussy, let me break this thing and finish our trial! “ – I mock him, cross my arms and look to the side. Yang did not seem to get angry from my reaction. He is even smiling about something, maybe because I said “our trial”. With a smile on his face he is passing the ruby gemstone.  “ See you in your thoughts my friend! “  – he grinс then waves for “goodbye”.

“FLASHBACK, DREAM or DEJA VU EXPERIENCE ENDING "

After that “Yin” had cooled off faster than he got mad. He acted just like a kid that got what he wanted. Without loosing any more time he crushed the ruby gemstone with his strong fist.
A small particles started to rip from Yang’s skin, he was breaking apart to million pieces. All of those were attracted to Nissan. They swirled spirally and formed a mirror. “ Is that you or me now? Does it matter? “– Nissan got confused for a second but something pushed him forward so he stepped forward.  It was like dimensional portal which broad him back to the “real life”.
Nissan came to the world of the living and felt his own body still sitting in this lotus pose next to the Raikage:
“ Finally! I was that close to disqualify you! “  - said the "right hand" of the Kage, showing Nissan a tiny space between his thumb and index finger.
The bearded genin nodded calmly and stood up. For first time he felt a hundred percent alive.
Everything looked perfectly fine for our man, but a two Kumo proctors appeared only to gave a document to the Raikage. It was a report about Niidashi’s kekkei genkai, which means only one thing – both Yin and Yang have been working together in order to pass this exam. Just to be sure, one of the proctors touched Nissan’s head and got a memory. It was the time when “the dark evil side” gave by their own will the gemstone to the tested student. Sharing that information with the Raikage, resulted a direct disqualification.

***

Now Nissan is sleeping behind the oak tree. This weird inner shit, made him experience once again every single thing from his Third trial. He was all wet from sweat and dried teardrops. His Kirigakure bandana began to catch rust from this aggressive environment.

---

WC: 2399

The time to return home was fast approaching and Eishi was already starting to feel it. The boy had spent the last couple of days thinking about the Village Hidden in the Mist, buying cheap souvenirs with what little cash he had managed to save up by running around on his (almost) hourly errand schedule. The days he spent in Raphael's apartment allowed him to progressively reduce his expenses to the point in which he was able to buy himself a one-way ticket overseas. The plan was simple and as follows: the white-haired genin was supposed to join a caravan and by agreeing to protect its stock (for half the travelling price) he was to receive food and a carpet in the guard's van (there wasn't enough room for bedrolls and the like). Once they reached the sea, the caravan owners would then load their precious goods on a merchant boat that would set sail for Kirigakure no Sato with the rising of the next sun (but not a second earlier!). As part of the contract Eishi was obliged to oversee a great deal of the transference and continue to stay vigilant over the stock until his foot set a mark on his homeland's soil. In case of discarding a real threat, Eishi was supposed to receive a further deduction of taxes (that is, the prominent traders would return some of the invested ryo and eventually offer the shinobi a permanent job contract – a promise that didn't really stroke Eishi as a plausible option /at least not for the time being/). All the genin could think of right now was returning to his house after his long Odyssey, apologizing to his family for... a lot of things – yet mostly for his recent idiocy – and then... changing his way of life for the better. Well, perhaps the deed wouldn't be so grand and ostensible as he first conceived it, but it was something, and right now it was all the kid could promise himself to achieve. A goal after all – in a place which greeted him goalless.

"That obsidian elephant statue would cost you 10 ryo, good sir. It is made of the finest quality stone, polished by these here hands. My nephew dug the stone himself. I saw it." The tawny shopkeeper resumed his verbal charade. He described the quality of the item in such sweet details that the genin almost fell for the old trap of commerce. It would've been a spectacular catch if the boy hadn't actually seen the same product over and over again on the street markets. It was a brand from the Wind Country for many of the nearby foreigners were refugees from there. They brought with them whatever they could, trying to sell it before the end of the exams, hoping to make a living on the small profit thereafter. Or at least step back on their feet with it.
"I am curious... what does it represent? Is it somehow connected with luck and fertility? For believe me, friend, my... erm... it's rather personal, but... erm... I can really use... you know... some height."
It was a crude joke on Eishi's part, yet it always worked. And it was always amusing to observe the results.
"But of course! Of course! It will get your kunai as sharp as an alligator's tooth, my lad! I've tried it myself! Man, my wife almost made me quit business, I tell you that! See, the other night I walked into the kitchen..."
The genin had no intention to listen through it all. Instead, he interrupted the shopkeeper by pointing at a magazine on a nearby shelf. On its cover was a cute girl holding a fluffy pupper, her blonde hair caressed by invisible hands. Her eyes – green as the rarest of emeralds – were sparkling wish mischief.
"What about that? Do you know her? Can you tell me more about the..."
"A perfect choice for a handsome teenager!" The shopkeeper clapped his curly hands in excitement, completely forgetting about his previous article. "My, my, you are gonna love this! It is a special edition of the most sought after magazine for young..."
The game would be carried on until the Kiri representative grew bored of it. He would ask about all kinds of silly stuff before leaving the neighborhood without buying a single thing. It was... unpleasant for everyone but the main player, the evil mastermind, the... trickster. Jokester. Or whatever. One thing was certain though – silent curses would coincide with him leaving.


"That paperbag is of rather low quality. I wonder if I can fit all the junk I got in it."
Eishi was sitting on a bench, his merchandise scattered all around him. He had shopped for (mostly) basic stuff; his father was bound to receive some special "energy" candy, his mother – local cloth pieces and sharpened needles, for himself the boy bought a new set of crayons and a blank sketchpad with Kumo's symbol in the upper right corner. There was also a small action figure of the Raikage – collector's edition – made out of wood and dyed in the appropriate colors, a culinary book with country's recipes (master chef's recommendation), a vintage-looking diary with crumbling yellow pages (marked with symbols of lightning) and the like. The top item however was a cotton stole with embroidered images of the Village's history – the genin was quite fond of it. And he managed to buy it advantageously too – after an hour of haggling with a depressed vendor who was desperate to get rid of his clients and go home to relax in quiet.
"Come to think of it... it was kind of a selfish move on my part. But hey – a ninja gotta exploit what a ninja gotta exploit. It's life. Sadly."


After Eishi had submitted his luggage, payed for its safekeeping and (finally) completed the tedious paperwork surrounding the entire process of its transportation, he decided to go for a stroll around Kumogakure, hands in pockets as usual. Even though the exams were coming to an end, there were still plenty of tourists flooding the streets, trying to capture every detail of the village's architectural glory. Men and women of all races, shapes and sizes were littering the sidewalks, forcing the guards to observe the scene from above. At one point the current was so strong that even Eishi decided to bother by jumping on a nearby roof and continuing his journey from there. It was a drag that the residents got quickly accommodated to. And thus it wasn't a big deal.


The sun was setting down and the frosty ninja had had enough of his leisure. After breathing freely for some time, clearing his mind, he considered it to be a good idea to just go back. The lands were kind of barren anyway – not much flora or fauna to be seen that high in the mountains. Well, except for the casual sporadic trunk here and there, and the bushy shrub to keep it company. It was under one such trunk that Eishi noticed the curved figure of a beast. "A boar?", he thought at first, but then the animal cried out in pain. "No... no chance... don't tell me that... no... what are the odds of that happening..."
"Hey, Nissan, is that you, buddy? What are you doing out here? Are you alright? You seem... hurt. Should I call for help? Man, ain't you hairy!"
A groan of torment interrupted the cheerful lad's greetings.
"... seriously! Nissan! Hey, Nissan! WAKE UP!"

Eishi was too afraid to come near the giant's torso, preferring to yell from a distance. If the intense shouting proved to be insufficient however, he was going to use his water element to elate his old comrade. In case of a failure, the boy would draw out his bo staff and carefully approach, trying to determine the case of the grief. Lots of bruises had taught the white-haired genin to be extremely cautious when being around his buddy so he wouldn't trade his safety (that means – distance) for the opportunity to indulge his own curiosity. If it so happens that Nissan is actually hurt though, the Yuki would do his best to call for help. And quick at that.
---

WC: 1403

Eishi’s voice sounded like a far away buzz of bees. Thinking about bees, woke up the beast’s hunger but not his sleepy consciousness. A box of thick natural forest honey, that was the food he was dreaming about. His stomach began to ask for the dreamed food with various types of sounds which can be described as “metal cutting”. Added to the soar throat growling, the result was similar to an animal concert symphony.
“ Hey, honey! “ – Nissan muttered, being close to awake, but yet dreaming. He turned his massive body towards the approaching comrade.
Eishi’s staff touched him in order to check his reflexes. Oh, gosh! He snapped the wooden stick like a dog, almost took it away from the hand of the wielder. A second was enough to realize the hardness of the “fake honey stick” and to get it out of his mouth.
“ What is that?! An angel? Did I died out of hunger? “ – Nissan came to the real world with a confused look. On his eyes there was like an thin layer of spider web which blurred his vision. With a couple of winks and brain processing, everything was clear.
“ Eishi, what are you doing here? Are you following me, mate? It’s creepy, you know? – said formally Nissan, trying to sound as much boring as it can be. He hoped that no questions will be thrown at him, as long as he trash talks a lot.

There was a myth that if you meditate so deeply and you get scared from someone in the real world you will not come back as the same person again. In Nissan’s case it was just fine, because there was another personality who can take the place for a while, till he returns. Actually that is what just happened. Instead of the "Alfa" aggressive personality who everyone knew, now the "Beta" recessive Nissan was here. It wasn't surprising, considering that this personality had stronger inner power and mind, lacking the adrenalin rush of the "Alfa".
But any of these things was not concerning right now. Both personalities experienced a similar emotion, but for a different reason. The first reason of the main personality was the most obvious one - the failure. Only the final result - disqualified from the chuunin exam - made him feel like trash. The second reason of the secondary personality was not so obvious - the deception of the third exam, the unreliable trust in the Yin and Yang, despite their steps forward to perfect balance.

The sadness was shown in the bearded man. Not very often this emotion hits him, but when it did it was hard. It was an interesting decision to go to the mountains and just cry. But that’s how it was. On his age it will definitely suit him to drink a sake in order to drown his sorrow. Probably this was not a bad idea at all. Especially if next to the alcoholic drink there was a sweat barbeque steak soaked with honey, grilled till it is well done of course. Damned, the hunger he experienced was stronger than all the emotions combined.

Even when got into a conversation with his white-haired friend, his stomach could not distract from the idea of a forest honey on top of a steak. With a cutting sounds it tried to get attention, Nissan stubbornly pretended that it was nothing more than a “road construction” nearby, or a wood cutting.
“ These pricks cannot acknowledge the beauty of their nature, that’s why their mountains are – Rocky Desert “– his beasty appearance was covered by a softer, balanced voice, accompanied by gestures and manners.
Probably these statements were without any evidence, just another sand tossing in Eishi’s eyes with the idea of hiding the hunger, which hided the sadness. A complicated situation which can be referred to a mechanism called “Matryoshka”. Most likely the beast would be a simple puzzle for a smart genious like Yuki’s clan boy.

---

WC: 667
TWC: 3066