The weeks were growing in length for the little crow as time continued onward rapidly. The Chuunin exams were coming faster and faster still and yet the small shinobi who stood as a mere shadow compared to his hulking peers was naught but a better practitioner of medicine than that of a greater warrior since his graduation from the training academy.

He had found joy in some he had met, his sensei in particular from the Land of Demons and so too those in passing he had bouted with. It was a growing tale for the would be hero and he desired more than anything to finally catch up to those who might be his colleagues one day lest he be damned to a life of civil service like those of his parents all current events aside.

The little crow had decided, as he often did, to venture outward into the swamps of sorrow once more for his daily training in which he attempted to map and track the area. He had a real fascination with the living swamps with their intricate eco systems and host of both flora and fauna that would marvel even the most stoneward of shinobi. There was something beautiful about it to the little puppet master and the more time he spent there the more time he felt it was like a secondary home.

As he stood rested upon a branch of one of the great willows under a shining sky he watched the nearby stream as it gently passed by. It was something rather beautiful to the puppeteer as it flowed with not only water but algae and an assortment of unique insect that each served their own purpose. Although he had begun his life wishing to be the true hero that Kirigakure needed he had found a growing depression in his lack of ability but so too as each insect was important in the eco system of the swamp could he also find solace in the fact that he had always tried his best and had always pushed beyond his limits. He would never give up, but with it being said he would so too never find compacency even if his dream was achieved.

Resting his Guqin on his lap he began to play gently, a small melody that brought him relaxation and calming of the spirit trying to mirror the sounds of the swamp in each of his movements of his fingers. He was, admittedly, using the time to relax so too as a way to measure his reaction and speed. Though he could play his instrument gently and melodically handsigns and the like were another story, none the less the little crow found a great pleasure in the strumming and plucking of his favoured instrument from his original homeland far beyond that of the shinobi isles where grand warriors roamed.
-
479

She was but a shadow in the swamp. A little something. To be unseen and forgotten. To be left behind. She was that thing in the corner of your vision that you missed the first time you saw it. But then. When you turn your head back around to catch it at last. Its gone. Verdandi has ascended far above human senses. Whenever ninja train. They don't just naturally become bulky as a golem or as fast as thunder. It isn't their body that naturally exceeds their limits. All of us. Even the strongest within our kin. They are human. The one thing that allows such a human to become a weapon of mass destruction. Is nothing but the ability to control their own chakra. Verdandi, not long ago, did know as much of chakra as Xiao did now. Looking back, one would call themselves foolish. A wise woman would gently smile and nod her head, knowing well that the young crow. Or spider. Was nothing but another gentle fruit slowly growing into a ripe and potent adult form of itself. Super strength is born from learning how to command the tiniest of chakra particles within your own muscles. To command them instinctively to do all the work for the simple, weak, human muscles. To enhance what one may lack from birth. Verdandi's true strength, despite having quite the punch ready for now, was however not the brute strength. She let others do the heavy lifting as one would say.

No. The frost princess was the avatar of awareness in this swamp. In the depths of where no man dared to venture. Where the most dangerous animals had made their home. There was the elder tree. The heart of the swamp. A tree so old and large, that the elder folk of Kiri insisted that this very tree was the one that gave birth to the whole rest of the swamp. Ages, if not aeons ago. Long before this day. Before the kage. Before the warring states period. When humans still brought offerings to the gods of nature. Back when the tribes of the island of the mist still worshipped this tree as their mother. Now having lost significance. Lost meaning. But not lost. She was beautiful. Verdandi gently called her 'mother' as she touched her bark. Placed her forehead against the tree and begged her for her blessings. Avalanche. The huge polar bear that is never far from Verdandi's side. Gently crawled into a swampy pool of water nearby. Nomming on some fish that 'mother' had presented him with. He too could feel her presence. Her power. Verdandi was strong. Insanely so. But compared to 'mother' she was but a little leaf trying to compare herself to a whole tree. Almost literally so. Wearing her common outfit, simple garments and bandages. She would slowly move about to get into a simple meditative position. Closing her eyes. Her body soon levitating on spot. Her chakra aura exhaling a cool misty breeze. Her energies trying to connect with the spirits and the tree itself.

It was time to let 'mother' teach Verdandi another lesson about nature. Senjutsu. The practice of sages. Some people learn it in a fortnight. Some try their entire life and never unlock its secrets. Verdandi wasn't that far from the 'truth' within Sen. But she still had a long way to go. Her senses sharp. Her seal that usually kept her Sharingan asleep was open. Her ears would listen into the forest. Her eyes gaze into it. But while she could hear and see for hundreds of meters. She was starting to see with the tree and not with her eyes. Her bond to 'mother' revealing all the depths of her forest. All her roots connected with every last one of her 'children' reaching over kilometers past Verdandi's natural ability to sense. It was time to become a sage again. To accept that there is something greater than herself, something that she will never be able to reach.

Meanwhile. A little tune of what seemed like an odd instrument. A lute maybe. Softly echoed in the depths of the forest. Verdandi was searching for it. Despite her wide open eyes. She could not see its source. Despite her fine tuned and toy enhanced ears, she could not naturally hear the noises. It was mother who heard and saw him. Verd tried to use the elder tree as means to connect. As a means to properly see. To hear. To touch…

Eventually Xiao's foot would once again touch one of 'mother's roots while wipping his foot to the tune of his instrument. And for a split second. He'd see the image of a floating, meditating woman. With alabaster skin. Snow-white hair, as long as they could only be. With eyes glowing with light brighter than the sun. Blue and red. A chilling aura that would make him shiver to the bone. And a simple whisper in his head. Potentially breaking his concentration on his musing. Saying but one thing.








850

Spoiler:

As the young boy's fingers gracefully danced upon the strings of the guqin memories of great heroes he had once known fluttered by his mind's eye. His father was that of a foreigner, far from the lands of shinobi who had naught even heard of chakra before their arrival fresh off of the ships and his mother, though a shinobi, would speak little of her history beyond that it was 'pleasant'. Though both held no shame to their name nor hidden secrets intwined into their history. They were, simply put, boring and so had his life outside the world of his imagination. Looking forward for but a moment he saw a whisper of something there, intangible and yet so real to him. He was unsure of the feeling, never having been one to excel in the art of the shinobi and yet here he was feeling...a presence?

There it stood, wavering traces of the fair outline of an ivory figure for but a moment as if something in the corner of ones eye and then stripped away entirely in a moment soon after. It startled the boy for a moment ceasing his playing for a brief second before he snapped back into action assuming perhaps it was his music keeping the specter alive. As the image began to fade, Xiao Guan narrowed as he felt as if visited by something beyond this very world. Something there and yet not...and yet at the same time he felt compelled by it. Revitalized and driven to find this force, wherever it may be the little crow scampered to his feet though opting to keep the guqin in his hands and opting to play it more in the style of a guitar or lute than the crossed instrument it truly was. The small bells on his trousers jingled as he began to gently walk through the forest trying to find the location.

The tune he played was an ancient song of beauty that could topple even the mightiest of empires with merely her glance. He began to gently sing the melody with each step of his bells jingle and the strumming of his guqin gently. Loudly he sang out so that his voice echoed, a haunting blue note that was high in tones, throughout the swamp causing the scampering and the curiosity of the fauna about to draw curiosity to the location of the boys location.

He wasn't sure if he would find anything, not sure if what he felt was a mere illusion but perhaps maybe this rattle was enough to draw forth the spirit he had assumed he had summoned himself. Walking blindly and yet determined to find the location of the specter of beauty that drew his curiosity so easily.


439

The  boys tune echoed within the forest… within the swamp. As if the mist seemed to make way for his passage, he'd find himself presented by a path that opened before his eyes. He might have noticed how it artificially pushed and urged him towards the centre of the forest. He could feel the mist around him thicken. If the path would close down, he'd be lost in the darkness. Moisture grew into sweaty droplets of water on the forest trees. Falling from their leaves to gently tap and greet the young boy, kissing his forehead with their short existence before dispersing slowly into the mist once more. He was brave. Neither mist nor darkness seemed to frighten him or make him turn back around. But did he truly know what he was doing? Or did he just blindly follow the omens and signs of nature around him. The image of the white lady. The shadow of the frost princess lingering in the corners of his half-open eyes. Was it a good omen? Or was she but a siren from the deepest, most dangerous depths of the forest. Another monster that tried to lure him in. Seduce him and eventually turn him into another victim to be placed in her large spider web. All of it was possible. Yet too late it seemed already. Each step the boy took would illuminate his path within the mist. Urging him to move on forwards. To not look back. The light only ahead of him. Slowly dissolving once he passed a point. There was no going back now.

His tune played. The monsters of the mist would move. Wolves. Creepers. Critters. Insects. Hungry spiders. Bored predators. This was but their home. These lands were off limits to little genin such as the boy. He must have remembered. The warnings. The strict teachings that say to not venture on too deep. That things live in the mist. That do protect us from silly outsiders that dare to come and disturb our solemn peace. But the boy kept playing. Growling noises would come close to him. Before they would be silenced once again. Noises of fights going on in the distance. Giant spiders being mercilessly torn apart by the brute strength of a monstrous bear. At least, it would sound alike it. Footsteps of golems and skeletons. But made of… ice? Marching through the mist. Slaying monsters. Sometimes the boy would walk past the corpse of an insect the size of a small tree. Their oddly coloured blood slowly spilling into the fluids of the swamp. Living and dying happened continuously and mercilessly in this realm. The army of frozen monsters marched through the mist. Xiao could hear them. But not see them. The unliving. Born for the simple purpose to serve their goddess. To slay the evil that tried to haunt the boy on his march towards the queen. The young everfrost. The heir over everything that is frozen in time. The ice princess.

When Xiao's instrument stopped. The noises of evil were gone. The armies of frost that he could swear were there… vanished again without ever laying a proper eye on them. What remained once again. Was darkness and grey mist that gently surrounded the young lad once more. A few thudding loud steps. A large monstrous shadow. A bear, with arms and legs the length of a very tall grown man. Blue glowing eyes staring gently into Xiao's own. It was not hostile. Not angry. Not growling. Not hungry. It exhaled peace from its very own presence. Even while its shape and form would struck fear into men's bones. Xiao would feel that the bear was nothing to be scared of. He'd draw closer. Careful. Suspicious. As if Xiao was the one to be feared and he but a young helpless cub that is sniffing for master's bread in his palms. He wanted something. Though… again… he wasn't hungry. His snout would come closer. The sniffling noises of snorting and breathing becoming ever oh so louder the more he'd draw in against the boy. His seemingly empty 'blind' eyes glaring at the boy's unusual instrument. He stared at him. Expectantly. Until once again, the breeze in the air would turn frosty. And the shadow of the frost would move past Xiao in the corner of his eyes. He could hear it. The voice more clear but still distorted in its whisper.






750 / 1600

As the mist began to part the young boy assumed that it was simply that of a response to his music. Was he secretly part of a sound based clan? Was this his great awakening? The questions raced through his mind as he continued to strum and play as he was lead through the weaving mists of the forest, unsure if he was in a haze or dream. It was as if all was naught right in the land of the mist and that fog hid more than mere creatures and crawlers. The haunting sounds of the world tried to sway him from his path but as he heard them out the little crow would give a more boisterous sound, he was lead by the hand of fate and he grasped it openly with little concern for what may lay ahead. What mattered to the little ninja was that he would find something of interest, something to give him a reason to keep striving forward. Something to fill the cold chill within his heart. He was, for all intents and purposes no more than a little child who could stitch a wound. He wasnt any great lion like his father or the pale songstress like his mother, instead he was simply a small child that was lost not only to the world but also his purpose.

He wished for a chance to be one of the great seven, this was true, but as the world continued to disappoint him so too could he feel a growing desire to wish to bring about a change to something and as he wandered the path singing his merry tune in the face of all great danger his spirit resembled his most upheld desire and goal: Freedom and Kindness in the face of danger. Kindness was not simply 'being nice', it was the desire to aid in whatever shape or form that took place and so the small shinobi had always sought out to solve his issues without bloodshed or even drawing a knife. He simply wished to make peace with the world around him and for the world to make peace with he.

It was here that his strumming dimmed to a stop as the veil of the ice princess began to shiver away leaving the visage of a large bear that glowed so beautifully much to the delight of the little crow. Cocking his head to one side and planting his guqin beside his body he admired the beast for a moment examining it. The world of spirits was one that truly interested Xiao Guan far more than anything material. Everything he did in life, every moment he spent in the world of the physical had always felt far less real than that of his dreams and if he was in yet another then he would simply do as he always did and be like water and fill the shape needed. As the bear grew closer the young boy would bring one hand outward to attempt to feel the ethereal creature "You're an unusual thing, aren't you?" he stated calmly with a smile as he examined the bear. It was true that he had always favoured animals over humanity. Not for any solemn or lonely reason but simply because he liked their bluntness. he enjoyed that they would express exactly what they wished and wear their emotion without fault. It was a trait the little crow shared with the beasts of the world and one that drove others away. The only thing the young boy wanted, as if a bird to seed, was to love and be loved in return and yet it was the hardest thing he could find being shaped as a tool for a village to utilize in battle.

"It's a guqin. It's an instrument from my home land...or my fathers homeland." he explained to the animal calmly, it was a habit of his to speak aloud even his most pointless of thoughts - yet another thing that drove others away far too often. That was when he heard it, once more the whispers on the wind of a hushed tone of a spirit that may have long passed. The little boy gave a concerned look for a moment before giving a hearty laugh "I guess...I'm entertainment for the spirit world today" he chuckled almost making himself tear up as he rubbed his eye, snorting and laughing as he lowered his body and sat in a cross legged pattern as he re-strung his guqin "Hmmm...this song is called Midnight Crow." he stated calmly as he closed his eyes allowing his fingers to feel the small grooves in the steel strings as he began to gently pluck and rub along the strings. The song was far deeper than others, a little more hearty like the cry of a crow and he felt it appropriate to 'show' his heart to whatever beast this was. To ensure that he was honest, he played this song to showcase exactly who he was. A mischievous, brave yet foolish and naive young boy simply looking for love and freedom.

859

Avalanche wasn't one to judge. But as he observed the young boy he was wondering to himself why the Mistress bothered keeping this frail creature save an alive. The polar bear was, by all means, a predatory animal and lived by the code and law of nature. The strong survive. The weak die and become food for the strong. So that the strong may become stronger. Keeping the gene pool clean. Not only within tribes. But over all creatures and animals in existence. Avalanche had grown to be a ninja pet. An animal with the unusual ability to use chakra. Most animals would never learn such a thing. Some gifted ones sometimes find the secrets of chakra on their own. But usually it takes a ninja to teach a gifted animal how to unlock their potential properly. He was slightly ignorant to that fact, that a human blessed him with his unique powers, after all he had trained himself to become as strong as he was now. A true predator of the wild. One you'd have to fear for real. His claws and jaw powerful enjoy to smash down any of the swamp creatures within seconds. The spider he fought earlier was taller than him and he bested it in mere seconds. He was a hero among polar bears. Some of his kin would worship him as alpha. As omega. As the one true leader to a pack. He would be their bear god. But little do they know about chakra. Little do they know about the magic of our current days.

They were about as ignorant as the little boy before him. Staring at Avalanche. Thinking it was but a romantic misty dream that was surrounding him. Unaware of the dangerous creatures that all had chosen the boy to become their next meal. That Verdandi's whim alone had summoned him and the frost skeletons and golems to march through the forest and slay the predators trying to harm the boy. He could respect that. It was Mistress's decision. She could make such a decision cause she was strong. He could recognize her strength. It was a reason why he followed his master. Because she was the true pack leader in his mind. The one powerful. Not the most powerful being he ever met. But the one he cared for. The one that had raised him since he was a little cub and spent every minute by his side. He'd die for her and she'd die for him. That. Is what it means to be a pack. But this boy here was far from being part of anyone's pack yet. Avalanche could smell his desperation and loneliness. His secret call for affection. He was looking to be adopted by a strong tribe. Was Mistress considering to actually let him join her tribe? Would she care for such a weak human? One he could easily snack away for dinner. The beast opened its mouths. Fangs as sharp as steel would be seen from such action. But at heart. Even if he doubted the boys worth. He was the kindest animal in this forest.

His eyes watered. The very thought or consideration of making a snack of the boy made his empathy hurt within his chest. Curses! He hated the weakness within himself. It was but Verdandi's influence. Her caring and loving nature had made him soft. But she was strong. Despite her weakness. He smiled. His jaw closing. His nose gently brushing against the human's palm as he extended his hand forward. Slowly kneeling. Sitting down close to the human. Watching him. Inhaling his scent. He was a good one. He exhaled a good aura. A kind spirits. A caring soul. Mistress would be fine adding him to the pack. She wouldn't want him eaten. She protects and he would do the same. Avalanche was a majestic creature. He had the heart of a predatory beast. But he had learned the wisdom to be a kind soul. He was wise above all other of his tribe. If Verdandi was able to sooth his monstrous soul and give him reason to life and love. She could do so with anyone. She was a kind spirit. He chuckled to himself in a creepy growling voice. Fine. So be it. Mistress wants to see the puny little crow. She shall have her wish granted. Ava would gently reach out with his huge palm and lift the tiny boy up. Tossing him casually but gently on his back.

Trotting off slowly into the distance. The bear would listen to the noises the tiny human made with his funny little instrument. It was comforting of sorts. He'd be a good boy and sit tight on Ava's shoulder. Not long before the two of them would escape the mist. Entering a small valley. Xiao would soon see the huge tree now clearly. As thick as ten trees. Bigger than the largest building in Kiri. Roots as thick as if they were their own creatures. The roots visibly reaching over the whole valley like veins inside a living organism. Extending into the mist. Obviously extending into all of the swamp around them. At the tree's edge. The ice princess was floating. In meditation. It was just her body. Her soul was elsewhere. Following Xiao. He'd have to get her attention as to that she'd return to her body once more. Avalanche would move towards his Mistress. Bowing gently to let the tiny human be dropped off before her. Then he'd turn around and find his own spot in a swampy puddle of water nearby. The large polar bear with shiny eyes, keeping his gaze on the human. Interested as to what the princess might wish to do with the puny little boy.







980 / 2580

The beast was something that the little crow couldn't entirely comprehend. Not in the sense of the concept of a sentient beast being able to think and feel for itself but rather the fact that a shinobi animal like this could exist in the first place. Xiao Guan was from quite a unique family, not one that had birthed him any legendary status but quite the opposite. His family being so mundane and run of the mill caused him to have a tendency to miss out on the more intricate parts of shinobi life. He was aware of the basics, of course, and through his history books had a deep comprehension of the lore of the world but when it came to the intricacies of the shinobi world that laid in the mystical nature of both chakra and it's origins. The amazing nature of the world was that it was constantly shifting, changing and evolving with each generation bringing their own 'spin' on the way of the world, each one innovating on what was once there and Xiao Guan truly hoped to be one of their member one day.

The beast began to move much to the confusion and yet interest of Xiao Guan. He was interested, of course, to see just where this dream would take the small naive little shinobi without fully comprehending what was happening around him, without actually knowing what would transpire if he did not watch his back. As they continued a large tree was seen much to the delight of the little crow "Wow! That's gotta be atleast bigger than my house!" he called out with a smile as he looked at the tendrils of the mighty tree that spread throughout the fertile land of the clearing piercing and twisting throughout them as if sapping the very life and forming a symbiotic nature with all about them. The little crow gave a large smile as he watched out but then it caught his eye, something truly odd, something...floating? The little crow scratched his head as he looked outward, examining the object, was it part of the dream? The bear continued on his way before her elegant beauty that caused the little shinobi to smile, he was a fan of all forms of beauty not merely those of the artistic world for he found even in a way a beautiful woman or a handsome man could be equal to the of a grand masterpiece. He finally understood the words of that famous song Jia Ren Qu, of a beauty that could truly stop a warring nation with but a look. He was humbled, to say the least.

As the bear stopped the little crow would scamper from his back placing his hands behind his back with a smile as the bear would then begin to low itself to show honor to the ghostly woman. Xiao Guan followed suit, or atleast attempted to, trying his best to seem atleast somewhat graceful as he gently lowering his head and placing his hands in a greeting position unsure of just what this dream was hoping to do for him or rather what his mind was thinking with images of wild bears and beautiful ghosts. The young boy gently rose up as words rang through his head 'welcome home child'.
The little crow scratched his wrist, a nervous tick he had developed as he glanced towards the mighty bear then back at the ethereal ghost "...Are you a spirit?" he asked gently, unsure of whether he would anger a mighty yokai or bring a curse down upon him for a dream could easily become a nightmare a fact he knew all too well. He wasn't sure of what to do and so like a spring his hand shot out towards her, extending as he began to beam "I'm Guan Xiao, I mean, you probably know that, spirits know a lot, y'know" he jittered unsure of what to do entirely.

660

Verdandi's body was glowing brightly in sapphire blue colours. Horns had grown on her forehead. Scales were scattered on her alabaster skin. Eyes would become more and more that of a demon. It was the dragon within her that threatened to break from her feeble shell. Verdandi's sage nature was not under proper control. Not by a long shot. Many months would have to pass into her training to actually master the arts of the dragon sage. But the nature chakra that was flowing through her didn't have as disastrous effects as if she was directly tapping on the origin of dragon chakra. Still the connection to the elder tree, took a lot of spiritual and natural energy. Something that might be easily conceived as a ghost-like ability. Whilst however the arts of senjutsu, the connection with nature, were but just another way of how specialized shinobi were able to put use to their unique chakra imbued powers. The display of horns and scales on Verdandi's skin were faint and quickly disappeared again. Leaving Verdandi in but the mist of blue hue glowing chakra surrounding her. She'd inhale once deeply and her 'soul' or rather her centre of concentration would fully return back to her mind. The seeming shadow of her chakra trail, that Xiao so wonderfully mistook as a ghost, now back home in Verdandi's shell. With a load groan her body would start to move in her meditation. A groan that might sound scary to the boy before her.

But he would not have to worry for long. As the glowing chakra would subside. Her eyes turn back to their normal colours. Her alabaster skin and silver snowy hair yet remained. She did have an unusual appearance but for one that knew the Yuki Clan, would know of the frost-born and their white and cold physical attributes to themselves. Verdandi was chuckling as her body returned normal and her appearance became properly visible to the naked eye. Her body covered in simple grey garments and bandages. She'd still grin while moving a bit towards the boy. As a princess she was not unused to being shown respect, or even bowed towards. However, she didn't see reason as to why the stranger kid would feel need to do so here. Letting him stand properly. She'd move a hand forwards to gently cup his cheek for a second while glaring at him. "Hmm I would bless you if I was such spirit as you call me young child, but alas, I am but a simple kunoichi, not much unlike yourself are a shinobi. But the power that has drawn you here was not really myself. But rather it was 'mother'..." She smiled and turned about for a bit. Stepping closer to the elder tree once more. Placing her hand on it. Then touching the tree with her forehead. "Come child. Come closer. Listen to what 'mother' was about to tell you. She can see into your fate. Into your destiny. That is… if you think you can take it ~" Verdandi would chuckle, teasing the boy was a bit mean but she knew that what he'd see within his vision of the future. Was to be important.


550 / 3130

The shinobi watched as the bizarre spirit began what Xiao Guan assumed was the start of a mystical ritual. He wasn't entirely sure what to think, perhaps this was all a trick to become that of a meal for her pet. Could this be? The little crow wasn't entirely sure but he did know that when it came down to it, he was too deep into this to turn back now, too deep to shield himself from nefarious plans or run away. He was trapped now but all at once he had no fear, he held no concern, instead he felt calm. Comfort in the  strange dream like presence of the 'mother' of ice. She placed her hand upon his face as she spoke of her reason of drawing him close. "Your...friends with my mother? Are you one of her jogging friends...?" he genuinely stated confused but earnest by the entire situation. It wasn't that he was rude or jesting rather he was a young boy in a strange situation without much world experience in the slightest.

As she walked towards the grand tree the little shinobi tilted his head to the side watching her as she did so. She placed her hand upon the tree and began to speak, much to Xiao Guan's curiosity "The tree, y'know?" he questioned unsure of what to do exactly and instead opted to mirror the kunoichi of the land of ice. Giving a small nod and a grunt he looked to the grand oak "Okay...I mean, y'know, I ain't...y'know, all powerful or anything..." he muttered unsure entirely of what to do as he gently placed his hand forward pressing it against the trunk. "What's supposed to hap-" he remarked but soon his message was cut short as his eyes began to roll backwards. Visions, flashes of things he couldn't fully comprehend. He stood naked in the darkness as he could feel his flesh squirm and contort, his flesh starting to shift and move as great legs began to sprout where his arms once were his flesh splintering and his human arms falling as great growths of insectoid like arms began to spiral outward, his eyes growing red and bloodshot as he could not stop but see his large new spider like arms flailing and trying to find ground. Suddenly the darkness was not merely a room of black but a moving room, a room of a thousand spiders with red stripes down their center all scurrying forward, all coming to his body and taking a piece of flesh, taking him apart piece by piece, the spiders covering his body as they bit through his flesh and soft tissue each taking a piece as the boy screamed out in agony as the spiders continued to take him piece by piece by piece ripping him apart entirely, the young crow trapped in a complete onslaught of bites feeling his body ripped down to the muscle but it was here, here that he felt something new. Something strange. He stood in the darkness as a greater version of those small black spiders with a red back, scrambling and scurrying about in confusion as a black flame began to engulf the area, all around the large spider-Xiao Guan whose confusion grew. The black flames drew closer and closer still as suddenly upon the floor a triangle inside that of a circle was made, struck out that held the flames at bay. He heard a voice, far off from where he was, voices and words he couldn't make sense of "I'll never die… Even if you destroy my body, and I'm left with nothing but my head… I'll escape somehow… and when I do, I'll find you and bite your throat out!" The words that echoed through his mind caused him to shake and jitter in utter confusion before suddenly he awoke.

Standing next to the ice princess unsure of what had happened at all. "...Your tree.....What is this? A genjutsu?"

663

Verdandi watched the boy hesitate. She could feel the weakness of fear crawling up in him. She was slightly disgruntled at it. As much as the huge bear had become wise to human empathy due to Verdandi's teachings, the ice princess had fallen victim of relying of rather animalistic instincts she learned from her companion, from her best friend. This boy reeked of fear and weakness. Nothing unusual. It was something that she could sense and smell all over the human plane. But why was she originally so drawn to him. So, intrigued by his spirit, if now, all that she could sense and smell was but the shell of a tiny, puny human that could have served well as fodder for the swamp's creatures and added to the eternal life cycle of nature. Why did she show kindness to such an unimportant soul? Verdandi watched how the young lad pressed his forehead against the tree Verd would easily revere as the strongest being on this whole island. As the whole valley started to become dark as the night. The mist would thicken. The heavens above would cloud up completely. Shapes and symbols of old fuin tales would appear on the ground. Chakra impulses would be sent from the tree and a shockwave of chakra would exhale from it. Verdandi would be forced to lean back for a moment as the world around them would slowly return back to normal. The boy seemingly oblivious to what had happened. Clearly breath taken on his own accord anyhow.

To see such a strong reaction from the elder tree. Both Verdandi and Avalanche did not expect any of this. Or even see this coming in any sort of way. Needless to say, their faces were struck with surprise and confusion. Verd demanded answers. But the boy wouldn't be able to give a proper explanation. So, she forcefully pushed her palm against the tree. Verdandi would soon be left screaming as her Senjutsu chakra would demand entry into the vision of the child. A few seconds she could invade the mother's thoughts. Irritating visions of pure pain. Deep agony. Verdandi would scream out in painful shock as her nerves endured the vivid vision of the boy's complete destruction. Flesh being torn apart in ways that she wouldn't wish to be the death of her worst enemy. The vision of a large, humongous spider. The agony that drives one mad and only one alone can endure such. The emotionless. The children of nature that were even closer to the law of the world than Verdandi or her bear. The creatures that were truly one with the cruelty of the world and decided to take part in the play of the charade that the humans call their daily life. To be a human for the simple purpose of fitting in and learning our weakness. Whilst in their core they are but the uttermost evil beings that Kiri has ever produced within its most bloody days. The children of Sero, bringer of agony. The Unmei.

Verdandi would be panting and sweating as she removed her palm from the elder tree. That was an intense vision. One she had clearly not seen coming. But whilst the boy himself must most likely feel deeply lost within the depths of his own vision. Verdandi had seen this process once before. Some of the spider children are born from the great mother, just like Haka. While others are chosen by blood, but not by birth. Verd had never seen how those children actually turn into their true self, but she had a hunch, after this vision, that she had just witnessed part of how these cruel monsters are born into our world. Verdandi was disgusted. Utterly and entirely hated every slight memory of what she had just experienced. But the same part of her that, just moments ago judged the young boy for his weakness, that same part was now profoundly sure that he was, indeed, not weak at all. But only his current shell was. A part of her more humane and empathic self however, wasn't quite sure if it was worth to endure such a horrid future just to unlock what must be but the boy's destiny. Verdandi scratched her head. She sat down. Calming slowly. The frost that was home within her veins would prevent her from sweating or become feverish. Naturally cancelling the negative after effects of connecting with such an overwhelming vision. The boy however didn't have such talents at hand.

Before his questions could really bear any answer, he would have passed out already. Verd would carry his body to the little pond Avalanche sat in. Slowly letting him sink into the water. Breathing a chilly, frosty gasp of ice over his wet body. Forcefully removing his own potential fever and cooling his hot body in minutes what naturally would have taken hours. He slept. Peacefully his body would remain swimming, hovering gently in the pond while his mind would wander. Verdandi could only guess what he would see while he was dream walking. But she knew what to do with this kid. One way or another they would have to meet the Unmei and eventually face the choice of their fate. Obtaining insane power through the path of endless agony. Staying weak forever but remain in peace? Was that the choice the boy would be able to make someday? Or was it already written. Did fate already decide that he'd go through this horrid process? Verdandi didn't know. All she could do was sit back down and meditate over what she had seen. While the child would peacefully float under the caring eyes of Avalanche, wandering his dreams. On his path to find back home into the world of the living. Patience is the key...



980 / 4110

Standing faintly he could hear the echoes of voices swelling about his head, infecting his mind in a sense as it began to make the boy waver to and fro. He couldn't quite focus on the reality of the situation, he couldn't entirely stay grounded whether it the feeling of the ethereal woodland realm that seemed to waver in and out of the tangible plain or that of the nightmare like visions that felt almost burned into his eyes. Whatever the tree had done to the boy had awoken something in him, something that had caused his mind to race. Why spiders of all things? He had no contract or attachment to these creatures and yet here he was with visions of them tearing him shred to shred.

As Verdandi panted and sweated the young boy gazed upon her with concern, he wasn't entirely sure what to do but he did know as a medical ninja he needed to aid those in need or so was his code. As he gazed to her with a great concern he rung his hands and tensed them so as he felt the pain of the vision from the world tree unable to fully escape it's taxing grasp "Please...Just tell me...what's happening...so I can help..." he defiantly stated. Though he was pained and struggling to barely hold his consciousness the little crow continued to try and push through that pain his desire to help being far greater than the need to cease the struggle he had.

It was then he would feel himself sleeping, going under the spell of sweet unconciousness as he was cooled and tended to by the sage of the iceland. Feeling a calming presence over his body, feeling that all pain was simply melting away or rather was cooling from the heat as he slumbered peacefully swimming in the water. In the darkened room within his mind he continued to search about. The dark spiders crawled about with red scars upon their back until the little shinobi began to shake in reality. He wasn't fearful but his body would jolt and jostle in ways that made it resemble as if he was having something of a seizure. The little crow imagined himself as a deformed abomination, one of himself though with an elongated nose like beak covered in the blackened feathers he once had seen as his 'sign' or rather his signature for those to indicate that he was more than a simple genin. The fact that he was entirely unaware of his past, entirely avoidant of it in fact was something that the little shinobi was slowly learning would be a plague on his life. He had a long ways to go but as of now he stood in that blackened abyss surrounded by shuffling insects that seemed to pool about his body.

He breathed deeply as he examined his hand covered by the black moving mass with intrigue this time, not so much as pain as it was shock that had driven him into a state of weakness prior now it was time to explore the nature of what it meant to be an Unmei though the name was still entirely foreign to the shinobi as of yet. He looked at the mass of spiders that scurried about his skin as words once more echoed in his head.

We are not this flesh, We are more

The spiders would spiral about his feet and then begin to enmass growing a form, growing into something like a humanoid shape made up of the small spiders that resembled Xiao himself. Both stood naked, bare and open to one another, a shadow and an object glancing deep into each other as the spiders continued to make a semi-perfect clone of the boy or rather a near perfect shadow.

We know you don't feel. Cease your false smiles. We know

The spiders taunted the young boy who shook in fear, unsure of what to do. Unsure of what could possibly save him from the darkness and the dark figure before him that began to grow grander and grander forming that of a replica of Sero's grand spider form though merely a visage, a mirage of what this would be as opposed to the truth of the matter. The grand spider king and Xiao hybrid stood with the young boys torso hanging loosely whilst looking down at his 'true' self. Xiao was frozen in fear and unsure of what, or rather why everything was happening.

757

Spoiler:

Verdandi was casually making a fire by the pond. The element of destruction and fury didn't seem to worry the elder tree much. The sacrifice of dead and broken leaves, twigs and bark was a necessary evil and a circle of life. As was the fact that Avalanche had fetched a wolf for dinner. She usually enjoyed the company of these creatures. But in the swamp they were overly aggressive and thinning thy herd wasn't much of a moral problem here. The strong consume the weak. Law of nature. Verd had already prepped the meat and put the bones and skin aside, sealing them in one of her scrolls. The tanner at the village will make useful tools and hides with them. The organs that were inedible for Verd were tossed somewhere out of the valley in a corner, for the wild animals to find them and nourish themselves on it. Killing the insects and spiders that threatened Xiao's arrival was one thing. Specifically hunting for food would always awake Verdandi's hunter instincts. The teachings of her father and uncle. To never waste out on any part of the animal. If someone came to hunt on you and kill you in the process, you too would wish that it was at least a worthy death and proper use would be born from it. A commitment of a hunter. A simple ideology. It didn’t make Verdandi a better person. She just did it out of pure traditions sake and for no other reasons at all.

While Verd left a part of the good meat on a stick above the fire, she had already consumed her fill and a rather large portion of the chewier meat had gone down in Avalanche's maw. The bear always celebrated it to hunt and feast with his Master. To be part of the wild and part of the game of nature. It made him feel right at home. He snored and slumbered quietly and satisfied next to the unconscious boy that had been out cold for oh so long. Verdandi had made sure to keep him floating in the pool and his body temperature at comfortable level. Heating him when he was shivering and cooling him when he was heating up feverish again. She didn't dare to touch him or the elder tree ever since the first vision had been forced into her mind. She was busy contemplating the malfunction of her skills. How she had no control over that nature chakra she used to make the elder tree show her what the boy had seen. How she had been too weak to deal with the visions in a proper manner. She was brooding over it and chewed softly away at some of the last pieces of meat she had put in portion for herself. The boy would have to face the last of his dreams on his own. Not that he could see anything worse than what he already did. A vision this strong was unusual. Last time Verd had encountered such a painful fate, she had foreseen the death of a close companion.

Visions were not to be taken lightly. They often, if not always become reality. Cause its not tied to spiritual desires. But directly connected to the energies of nature chakra. Senjutsu. Surrounding us. A power far beyond that of what a normal shinobi could ever dream of. Nature was the true god among humans. No Ayakashi or Hastur could really claim such a title for good. In the face of nature, they were once more but tiny little puny creatures, easily crushed if the elements themselves decided to rise up and take matters into their own hands. But usually. They didn't. Mother nature and mother tree had no reason to. They abided by the laws of nature. If someone stronger would come to prune this swamp, the mother would probably accept her fate. But if someone tried to cheat nature. Cheat the laws of the wild. Try to enslave nature without a proper, equal trade. Then mother would move her very own roots to bind this miserable being and crush him or her within seconds. Verdandi knew that. She understood that the principle of Senjutsu would be to accept how one can only borrow a tiny fraction of natures true power. Understand that very basic law was her own first step into becoming a true sage. The dargon within her was still brooding. Threatening to tear from her skin and take over. She'd have to spend a lot of time here and in the dragon realm to learn and control the natures power within her.

But her brooding was disturbed. The boy coughed. His eyes opened. They usually lost balance as they always tend to realize that they were floating like a leaf on the surface of the water in the pond. Verd wondered if the boy would panic as well and sink into the water. Or if he had the mental strength to remain a leaf and float. Anyhow. Verd was here now to try and answer the many questions that he must have waiting on his tongue. It'd be night. Dark. Slightly cold. The warmth of the fireplace would be very comforting once he would make his way towards Verd and the firepit. Avalanche was asleep. The mist was still surrounding the valley. But the heavens above were clean, clear. Millions of stars could be seen at the nights sky. The suns of worlds far away from ours. Verdandi usually remained silent in such gorgeous nights. As the universe reminded her, that even the nature she feared as a god and worshipped it as her superior, was but a tiny organism compared to the vast and endless power of the void that collected all these stars and planets above them and kept them in the sky, right where they are supposed to be. Verd would tug the meat that she had saved for the boy from the stick and place it in a big, clean leaf. Pushing it towards Xiao. He must be hungry after his rather long... nap.

"I'm afraid you couldn't help me while the vision overwhelmed us both, child. Tell me. What did mother have to say about your future? It seemed distorted and cruel to me. An unusually painful path seems to be waiting for you. No, I'm not going to sugar coat it. That was plain horrid. You know it too now, don't you? You've seen it. The terror that awaits you…"


1100 / 5210

As he tossed and turned in reality in the darkness of his mind he was surrounded by the shifting spider-monstrosities that continued to try and attack and gnaw at his flesh and bone. He darted and dodged to the best of his ability unsure of what exactly to do in this situation, he had no idea what was happening to him nor what would become of him if one of these hits impacted. Was this the tree or was this something more? Was this, perhaps, all a genjutsu he had been put under? He was not sure. He, infact, was unsure of most things in life but the concept of giant shadow spiders was another story entirely.  He had no true understanding of his bloodline, not yet anyway, he was for all intents and purposes completely seperated from the cold reality of his birth and his hybrid like nature but more and more the world seemed to scream at him that he was no crow, not at all, but rather that of a spider whose web was starting to spin.

As the boy awoken and found himself spluttering in the water with his eyes flickering from the strange confusion he found himself greeted by a strange feeling. Water was a comfort for him, greatly easing him in times of stress that allowed him to take in a deepened breathe and enjoy himself even when completely distraught. The water calmed him as he gently balanced upon it'sun broken surface blinking his eyes several times. Was it all a dream? It was hard to fully comprehend a sentient bear and shadow spiders and yet here he was having awoken in a lake in a strange area in the depth of night with only the sound of crackling fire to keep him from feeling the eerie total silence of the land. Gazing skyward to that beautiful night sky he let out a small mist filled breathe as he gazed along that black abyss with confusion.

"Am I dead?" he managed to mutter out trying to regain his senses and trying to figure out some semblance of where he was, or what was going on about him before the tug of meat would be heard as it placed towards Xiao. He looked onto the meat and rose an eyebrow to Verd, unsure whether to accept food from a strange - especially a fellow shinobi - whether it be a trap or not. The little genin couldn't decide and thus his body decided for him, almost instinctively grasping it between his fingers "Uhh, thank you...Thanks...y'know"  he whispered awkwardly as he pressed the meat to his lips gently tearing the flesh and eating as he gazed upon Verd in a somewhat cold and anxious way, unsure entirely of what would happen. It was then that she spoke, much to the surprise of the Shinobi who still assumed the presence of yokai or demon about the land.

He pondered the question for a moment, brushing his hair that fell forward into a fringe into a sweep backwards using the water he had recently had splattered upon him to smooth his hair down. "Mother? Uhh....Oh...that thing?" he stated looking towards the tree with a glance "Right...Well, I guess those nightmares were just dreams, y'know...Spiders. Lots of spiders." he said with a shake of the head and a gentle smile "It's weird. Does that mean something? I've never been all that good at the whole spirity stuff, y'know, I like nature but...dreams and stuff never got me" he muttered as he chewed upon the meat with true confusion "What was that anyway?"


601

Verdandi casually grinded her teeth into the meat, tugging on it to chew the delicious meal down. There was rarely anything better than absolute fresh meat, properly warmed and cooked. The beast inside the icy princess was thoroughly satisfied for now. Her shiny eyes were glaring at the young boy past the darkness. The conversation between the two would be slow and a lot of silence would be there, hanging heavy above them and potentially making it a slightly bit awkward for Xiao to be here. He was anxious and nervous to begin with. But Verdandi had a remedy for that. Being able to influence the temperature allowed her to remove some cold within the air and allow the fire to grow bigger and warmer. Making the both of them feel slightly more comfortable. The bear behind Xiao was casually snoring very softly into the night. The stars were beautiful and the tree behind Verdandi, the thing she so casually called 'mother' was still an imposingly large thing. Its crown concealing a huge part of the sky in that direction. But its leaves and branches still a beautiful display. All in all, it was a quite eerie feeling that would sneak into the situation. Allowing Xiao to slowly forget the terrors he had seen in his vision. Concentrating slowly but properly on the snow-white haired princess with the glowing eyes and the alabaster skin that sat on the opposite side of the fire. Glancing at him with a soft but warm, even motherly smile.

"I don't know what it was that you have seen. The vision will be soon lost to your memory. Most of it. We're not supposed to know of these things. Mother only shows us to warn us. Mother takes care of all of us. She feels with us. Your vision is but a sign of great pain and hardship waiting for you. I don't know why or how. But when the times comes, you'll understand." Verdandi gazed down to her palm. Tugging on the last bits of meat she had there, casually bringing it to her velvet lips and chewing on it. The dragon within her was sure that the boy will prevail and become stronger from this fate. But the empathic young princess within her was worried, she didn't enjoy it to see people suffer. A part of her already wished to have never seen the vision. But it was as it was. There was no sense in trying to change the fate of a person. The only good thing was, that mother didn't tend to show us our death. Verdandi would very much dislike to foresee how she's going to die. So, considering this fact. She knew that the boy would survive this trial. But at what costs? Something she couldn't tell or know. Something that would forever escape her wisdom. But the visions started to fade from her memory again. Leaving behind but a foul and insecure feeling of angst and despair that is coming for him.

"There is no sense in trying to fully decipher what you have seen. But hardships are waiting for you boy. You will need to be strong in mind and body in order to face these challenges. Otherwise they will claim you and crush you. It is Maktub." Verdandi nodded and pondered. Quickly following up. "Maktub means… that it is written. Some parts of our life have destiny all over them. A hand bigger than yours, something above you that decides which way you will go. But be not afraid. You'll see in time. That all happens for a reason." She smiled. It was ancient wisdom. Something he had surely heard before. Nothing new. Verdandi wasn't going to be the revolutionary guru that would completely twist and change his view on the world. She was but a guide on his path. "Hence I believe it was no mistake for you to find your way to the heart of the swamp. To raise my attention. To become recognized by 'mother'. To be accepted by Avalanche. To be here to foresee your destiny. To be made aware that you need strength to obtain your destiny. It is all as it is meant to be. So… if you wish to know of strength. I can show you. I can teach you. But you will not be able to leave this mist, until you have learned what you need for your path. Decide… which way you want to go."



750 / 5960

As the little crow, or rather evolving spider, watched the crackling fire grow he began to attempt and control his breathing somewhat. Gently breathing in so to ensure that his heart rate would slow. The 5-5 technique was something that truly gave him peace, something that often allowed him to focus in on his breathe and really take in what was happening around him. This wasn't due to any supernatural feelings or spiritual power but rather a basic relaxation technique taken by most training student to slow their heart rate so as to avoid inflow of poison or being detected by enemies when stealthily moving.

As Verd spoke the little shinobi bowed his head, almost hugging his knees as he thought about what he had seen. Spiders. Grand shadows of spiders that tore at his flesh and beaconed him to fight. What could that mean? It was impossible to truly comprehend the meaning behind it all as he was but a child and the concept of prophecy was lost on him already but her words almost gave him a sense of melancholy and yet peace. Though he would be happy to be rid of the memories all at once knowing his future was enough to bring him hope that he may be able to change it. "I see...the mother, that big tree...Is that a Senju?" he asked genuinely unsure of what it truly was but he was sure that there was a connection between Hashirama and literally every single thing in the world that had ever been or was. Such was the reality of the shinobi world, a world with more mystery in it than anyone could know between the Yokai and the shinobi aliens from a third planet. "I mean to say...Is it...y'know is it alive?"

He would run his eyes over the snow princess, the great one who had offered him such comfort and experience in their short time together. He was learning enough, learning a lot about who he was, what he was and what his future held. What his future could be was something that currently was somewhat unknown but as for Xiao Guan he knew that pain was a crucible of sorts, it was something that continued to ensure that you were at your purest state, that what you wished could be achieved no matter what troubles you were put through.

If Xiao Guan was going to be one of the warriors of the mist, one of those who would defend Kirigakure with a sense of purity and honor then he would need to be not only tested but burned to the point in which he was tempered iron and perfected steel.
He was told there was no true point in attempting to decipher the riddle that was the vision though he had no true intention to do so, admittedly due to his naivety of all things ethereal.
The term he had never heard before, Maktub, it sounded odd to him, something from a foreign place or perhaps that of the land of spirits. It was hard to decipher really, hard to fully comprehend what that meant but luckily Verd was there to explain it thustly.

"Oh...like Fate, right? the Red string?....but does that mean...I'm going to be eaten by spiders?...no matter what?" the little shinobi asked tracing the dirt beneath his finger in small spirals, unsure of how to feel with such information and what exactly to do with it feeling somewhat lost admist the grand scheme of things he was a small stone nor did he feel like he was anything exceptionally special but rather he was simply a young boy with ambitions to save the world but not much else really besides these feelings of abyssal dread caused him to feel as if he was choking in oil. Thickened oil that filled his lungs.

"...So who is in charge of all that? Y'know of who we get to be? The tree?" he asked genuinely unsure of what to say, he was new to all of this, new to the life where people would actually contemplate more than the noodles that needed to be sent out that day or the package that had not been delivered. He was in alien territory that he had never come across before and was unsure entirely of how to feel. "So you're...a spirit? I...I would like to learn...I honestly feel so lost lately. You see...I'm very good with my hands, y'know, healing and helping others but when it comes to combat...to actually harming another...I don't know...It's not in me, it doesn't feel right y'know" he rambled looking to the ice princess with hopeful eyes and twisting his thumb upon his canine, a typical habit of his as he gazed upon her with a furrowed brow of nerves and sorrow. He was truly, and honestly, opening his heart at this point "I just want to protect everyone I can...y'know...not just clean up after them" he muttered gently twisting the sand once more as he looked to the ice queen.

Verdandi gazed at her student to be with patient eyes. But it was clear to her facial expression that the boy before her asked a few questions more than she had wished for. She could understand his confusion, especially after an intense experience such as the one they had moments ago. Verd casually picked up one of the wooden sticks she used to push the wood around in the fire and let it come down to hit Xiao gently on the top of his head. It was her way of telling him to shut up for a moment and take it easy. "Relax, you have experienced a deep vision. It is important to contemplate your feeling over it but there is little you can really do right now. If the tree has shown you how you will die at the hands of a thousand spiders. Then you will die at the hands of a thousand spiders. The tree is never wrong. She never lies. She has no reason to do so. But she too knows. That dying once doesn't necessarily have to be the end of your story. We all get reborn sometimes. In various ways. I think she didn't show you all of this so you may despair, but rather, to be prepared of it. As when the moment comes. You shall not fear it. Don't loose yourself in the pain. Physical pain is temporary. Rebirth is eternal. She has shown you what will happen. Don't overthink it. But prepare yourself. Go on with the knowledge that great pain awaits you in your future and you may be able to be ready for it. Maybe… if you are a smart little medic… you might even find ways to avoid the pain while still fulfilling your destiny. That is what this vision is for."

Verdandi was casually biting into her ever so smaller getting piece of meat. Munching on forth with it. Gesturing for the boy to finish up his own piece as the nutrients will be needed. Verd didn't honour the question of, if the tree was a senju with an answer, it was obviously not, a tree is a tree. That doesn't make it less alive or anything. Instead she used her stick to give the tree a harsh bump and suddenly, the boy could hear a whistling noise from above. If he would glare up, a big seed corn would fall straight onto his forehead. It was Verdandi's way to show him, that the tree was pretty much alive. In a way that a tree is alive. Nothing more and nothing less. As it is. The boy proceeded to ask about fate and spirits. He truly did know little about the world. But that was ok. Everyone has the right to be born without much knowledge of the true things behind the world. Verdandi wasn't born an alchemist, a dragon, a frost princess or a sage either. She was lucky that either of these things had been brought to her by wise men.

"Fate is decided by what is above us. It is up to you how you paint that being. It can be an old wise man with a white long beard living in the clouds. It can be a blue woman with a thousand arms and a death glare that will judge you. It can be but a big hand that guides you. Or just a cloud of pure energy that impresses onto your feelings. None of us have ever seen it. Some are oddly aware of its presence. But neither of us has ever met the one that writes the stories of our life. That doesn't make us less alive now does it? Just because our existence is influenced doesn't mean we are without power. Whom says that the ideas flowing into our great writer are not directly coming from us and we are the ones influencing them instead? But all of this is contemplation over existence and reality. I'm not sure if you should be thinking about such poetic philosophy right now. I'm no spirit either. I am but a young Sage of nature and a kunoichi of the mist. I am here for the same reason as you are. Cause fate and the great hand above us have sent me here to meet you. Mother has already shown you what she had to tell you. Now it is my turn to do so. Sooo… what do you decide? Do you wish to stay and learn? Or do you want to go home, child?"


770 / 6730

As he was told to relax and informed that not all weaved fate were as we had seen them the little shinobi proceeded to nod in agreement. Perhaps it was true that it was metaphorical or perhaps even an allegorical statement, it was true that as time grew and shifted that
these visions may not be the doomed death of his physical life but perhaps of ego or the previous personality. All of these matters were often hard to fully comprehend but when it came down to it the shinobi hadn't a single clue of how to fully understand or formulate a coherent opinion on all the things he had seen. He was utterly lost not only in the sense that he had no idea how to progress but so too was he lost to his sense of self. He was...a spider? He was linked to a spider? The concept wasn't able to be fully understood but at the time he knew there was something there, something unlocked that perhaps would be revealed in time.

"That's a comfort...It's my goal...y'know...I want to become an aid to the world." he stated honestly and calmly, feeling an increasing calm as he was around Verdandi "...Unfortunately it appears my only talent is medicine anyway..." he stated feeling the cool air about him, the calm aura exuded by Verdandi. As she gestured he hastily finished his meal chewing the meat as he thought on the aspects of the piece of meat, the nutrients were his - sure, but a life was taken to sustain him. This was not to say that he was a vegetarian nor that he felt any shame but rather the nature of...well, nature was one that he found a constant exchange between that of life and death, of chaos and order, of the dragon and the knight.

As the seed fell from the tree it planted directly where his third eye may be found, he glanced upwards or rather attempted to, see his own forehead that tended to make him look quite stupid. The tree was, indeed, something to behold but he really still had issue grasping it. He was interested in the spiritual world but the truth was that he had no actual ability in the form of Ninjutsu, Genjutsu or anything of the like. He truly had a lot to learn as he plucked the seed from his head raising an eyebrow as he gazed upon it, was this a senju he wondered. As he glanced at the seed he proceeded to roll it between his thumbs and gaze upon it as Verdandi spoke of fate and the weaving narrative of life that made him truly admire her composure. She asked him whether he wished to return home or continue to which Xiao Guan decided he may only ever have this chance once.

"In truth...If it's not too much trouble...I am a medic...but that's all I am. I have no understanding of the ways of combat but...I'm not sure how to put it. Can you, perhaps...help me in some way to understand the fundamentals of the ninja arts? I don't wish to be an anchor on the village"

Verdandi chuckled, he wanted her to teach him the ways of a ninja. She considered smacking his head with the stick again. But eventually she'd be seen as a bully rather then a teacher if she continued to do so. Verd nodded. But she also gazed up into the trees and towards the stars. The night was approaching. The cold of the mist would soon rob even the comfort the little campfire gave away. He had decided to stay. There was no reason to guide him home now. So, he could just as well share the same fate of the night together with Verdandi. The ice princess shortly warned him as to not be scared before she formed a few hand seals and slowly a rather large dome of ice would start creeping up over them. As she formed the solid igloo around them the campfire flame alone remained as a source of light for a moment. But once the ice dome was complete. Verdandi hit her fist against the icy surface and slowly the thick frost began to turn into see-through crystal. While the distortion of light would be visible. The moon and stars would now shine through the frozen dome of protection. Wind could no longer harm the three of them. Avalanche, still half asleep had been woken by the casting of frost. He trotted slowly from his pool towards Verdandi. The large bear laying down behind her and Verd gently used her elemental suiton control to remove the wetness from his fur.

Laying back into the warm fur of her pet. Verd added another bark of wood to the campfire. The dome would keep them warm and a little hole at the top of the igloo would gently filter the smoke to the outside. Making it quite comfortable within. Verd motioned that it was time to rest and didn't really remain for a discussion. Rather she'd close her eyes and fall back into the fur of her bear. Both of them pretty quickly being fast asleep. If the young spider boy would still be forced to remain awake for a bit. The moon and starts above him, as well as the shadow of the huge tree behind the dome, would most likely be comforting to his disturbed mind and soul.

---

The next morning. Verdandi would wake early. The boy was still fast asleep. Avalanche casually snoring away with his heavy breath. She gently ruffled her palm into his fur and placed her head lovingly to his belly. Her friend. Her companion. Her little fluffy monster. She smiled. It would be a good day. One that would mark the beginning of a proper long training spree. The young child had much to learn. Much to prepare for himself to become strong enough to face his fate. To be powerful enough that the pain of his vision would not break or kill him. That he'd be enduring and wise enough to accept his future transformation. And become one with his destiny.

Verdandi was still satisfied from the wolf-meat dinner. She still had a few pieces of meat sealed away that they could most likely use for lunch. She moved and melted a little doorway into the crystal igloo that had become their shelter. Leaving the area to search for a fresh water source. She could always drink moisture collected within the air. Or filter the pool water. But there was something more refreshing to consume water that she can taste, is coming from the cleaner sources of the kiri mountains. No one but animals and monsters lived in this swamp. The mother tree the only non-hostile entity that could somehow be a companion to whomever may get lost here. Verd quickly followed her Senjutsu enhanced instincts and soon reached the source of fresh water she was looking for. With a little suiton bending she let a good gush of it flow straight down to her mouth to sate her own thirst. Before she pulled out the bull bladder flask from one of her arm seals and filled it properly with the cool, fresh water. Returning to the camp. It seemed like the young student had awoken. Avalanche was still snoring away but with the boy up she could let the crystal dome melt away again. The soft breeze didn't bother the bear that was born in the frost of the north. The sun was shining warmly through the clouds and while mist surrounded the valley, the valley itself was clear and warm.

Verdandi moved up to Xiao to hand him the water flask. "Drink" she'd say and then ogle into the distance. Nodding at the tree as if she was having a conversation with it for a bit. Once Xiao would be sated by his thirst. She'd place the flask close to Avalanche and then take a seat on a large, conveniently odd grown root from the tree. "Alright. Before we begin, what do you know about martial arts, taijutsu and what do you know about ninjutsu. Tell me about it. What you think these two are about. You shall learn them both."


860 / 7590

Still resting the little shinobi haunted by spiders and visions of a past unknown's dreams were filled with just that. Webs upon webs of intertwined visions that made him shake and turn in his slumber with thoughts of that determined future in which he may very well be prey to the horde of arachnids that would suck him up and in turn spit him out anewed in a form that would be comparable to a new life, a new body, a new meaning. It was a new weaving history that was coming from a deepened place in his own mind not entirely sure of what these visions meant.
The mother spider, Momma, was beaconing him home into her care and ruthless reality of the Unmei and slowly that was being awoken in the very core of the boy himself.

As he stirred from his slumber he was greeted once more by the beauty of the ice princess much to his delight. She was a calming presence in this time of misunderstanding that shook him deep to his core, her care for him had given him enough time to collect himself though he still felt shattered in one sense or another. 'Drink' she stated much to his delight, he was thirsty beyond that of words, something about being devoured time and time again made those who endured it develop quite a thirst for some reason. Drinking swiftly though trying to hide his dehydration he looked to the great Ice Princess with a smile "Th-Thanks so much, Spiders....y'know..." he stated alluding to his dreams, or rather nightmares.



As she questioned him he rubbed his head trying to fully comprehend the question "Well...For Taijutsu that's like...hitting things. I can do that, not to the level of any of my friends, y'know...but that's using the body. Ninjutsu, admittedly, I uhh...I'm not very good at. Whenever I try to mold chakra or do anything I tend to be, y'know, not all that great" he stated shyly admitting his failures when it came to Ninjutsu "I uhh, I mean...I just never 'got' it..." he admitted hanging his head in defeat to Verdandi.

Verdandi made sure the water flask would remain close to the young boy so he could indulge in with it as much as he desired for rehydration. He seemed to have been sweating through the night. Even if it didn't disturb him as much as the real vision did. His mind was obviously preoccupied with his unusually intense experience. He'd most likely have to properly meditate and reflect on it. All Verdandi could do was to comfort him as she already did and eventually give him hints as how to prepare for his seemingly imminent doom. While it might sound dramatic. Verdandi was sure that a large trial was close at hand for Xiao and she wouldn't make the mistake to play it down just so that he might contemporarily feel better. It was wiser to pressure the topic softly as to keep its importance set and that he will for sure, spend a lot of time preparing for this challenge. Only then, he will be triumphant and survive through his test that will change him forever. But alas, Verdandi was not one that could control fate whatsoever. She could only read the signs that 'mother' had delivered to them and trust her instincts were on spot as usual when it came to read the signs properly. What and how it will actually happen to Xiao still escaped Verdandi's comprehension. Why it would even more so. Despite her intimate knowledge of spiders and Unmei. That the boy was carrying the seed of an actual spider-clan in his veins were far from her potential perception.

As the boy seemed to calm and regain his seemingly full composure, he found himself ready to contemplate some of the training offered to him. Even if it was just to distract him from what was bothering and irritating him. It would do him good to let go for a minute and concentrate on something simpler and more manageable then visions of the future. Verdandi went ahead and was obviously not very impressed by the boys seeming lack of knowledge overall. But it only meant she had to start her explanations a step early despite of what she had initially planned. She told Xiao to get up. Picking her wood stick she told him to get into something that he'd call his initial combat stance. As Dandi would circle the boy idly with a gentle and reassuring smile on her lips. Her wooden stick would gently but still strictly hit the boy on his shoulders, knees, thighs and slowly bending him into a more presentable stance. Right leg forward, left leg behind. Left foot adjusted to a tilted position as to give more grip against incoming knockback. Arms properly lifted. Not too close to be of distraction for each other and not too far to give too much opening either. Hands lifted. Firmly set. Not too close to the face as to not accidentally hit oneself, and not too far to lack protection movement either.

Verd told him to loosen up and then regain the entrance stance. Whenever he forgot to move into the correct fighter pose, her wooden stick would come around to hit Xiao at the limb he screwed up with. As basic as this training was. Verdandi needed to be clear that the stance was, even if adjustable, important basic and required the boy to get into it in a split second on simply instinct and muscle memory. In actual combat he needed to know a hand to hand defense properly or he'd look like a fool and most likely lose in his very attempt to protect himself.

"Alright basic stance seems fine. You can learn more styles later. For a start. Remember this one whenever you want to get ready for a melee combat situation or whenever you're forced into such a moment. Now. I will lift my palms and you will start to hit them. As fast, precise and powerful as you can."


670 / 8260

It was as if everything he knew in his life was unraveling like an unspooling cotton tabs that ran faster and faster as the yarn was drawn from these spools to create a new lifein the form of re-purposing the yarn into a new article of clothing, giving it purpose, giving it a new lease on life that took it from the tossed material it once was and honed it into something usable. This was Xiao Guan. A mess of a person that acted as if the gods had spilled a human being and declared 'I'm sure he'll be fine' rather than that of an actual accomplished being. Xiao would try his best to adhere and obey Verdandi who had shown him an immense comfort that he had, admittedly, longed for in regards. He had not time to mourn his parents nor had he time to truly think about the rammifications of everything that had happened to him not out of a desire to be strong or inability to do so but rather out of necessity. If he stopped now. If he let the emotion get to him he was afraid of what might happen. He was afraid of what could happen if he allowed these demons to swallow him whole and the encounter with the great tree was the closest he had got in a very long time to truly confronting his emotions without masking it with humor or comedy. Ninjutsu, a task he had struggled with was also encompassed in this. He was a failure when it came to the shinobi arts and thus how could he actually call himself a shinobi with this being said? Admitting he had a problem with the art was enough for the shinobi to realise that perhaps asking for help was not the end of the world. Perhaps  even something to push him into this rebirth, into this new world of mastering the mystical arts.

In the world of the shinobi came the understanding that one was to be a weapon, one was not their own person but rather an extension of the will of others and if it was he reality that Xiao Guan was born into this meant that he would need to be perfect in function, perfectly functional and perfectly crafted did not mean that he was to be a perfect warrior rather live up to his own capacity and the thick branch that Verdandi held made his mind swell with images of being beaten with a thicket when making a mistake. It was an uncivilized teaching technique, but a proven one at least.
A combat stance was told to do so, a combat stance? Considering what this meant the little shinobi mused over what it could be in terms of optimal stance. To be perfectly honest his only 'combat stance' really was to improvise with anything and all around him as opposed to actually having any unique pattern or sense of ability. Taijutsu was in fact something he greatly enjoyed, he would need to practice it far later, but he had never received any formal training and rather spent most of his time in combat improvising with the environment around him. He opted for a low pressed square-ish stance that enabled his body to be in 'line' and proportionately symetrical in all regards. As she knocked and altered him he would nod, trying to make a mental note of where everything was to sit and where everything optimally should be.  

"Y-Yes! Understood, I'll give it my best!" he retorted with a smile to Verdandi "I...I know I have a lot to learn...but...y'know...I'll give it my best" the young boy stated as he focused his energies to the best he possibly could trying to find something of a true strance to better allign his chakra and himself. What would tomorrow bring? What would this new relationship bring? Find out next time on Verdi and Xiao's Whacky Adventures.

[Exit]
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WC Total: 6547
Discovering Unmei 6547/3000

Ditching Puppetry Specialty - 3547/0

Ninjutsu Learning to C Rank - 3547/3500
-
3047 Remain (Clan Discovery)
1500/Learned Taijutsu Specialization (Reaction Time based)
1500/Learned Taijutsu D - C (Focusing on Reaction Time)

47 Unspent
--

Verdandi chuckled. The boy was a bit of a goof but he certainly had his determination right up where it needed be. Verdandi kept smacking gently with the stick whenever he didn't make the stance correctly. She gave him a break and then told him to return to the stance. She gave him a training assignment of a few sit ups and handstands and told him to return to the stance again. Verdandi let him run around the mother tree for a few and let him return to the stance again. It was a simple concept. She had to make sure that his muscle memory alone would be capable of remembering the combat stance. He'd require to know how it works all on his own, instinctively returning to this motion whenever he is in sudden eminent danger. Verdandi made sure to pressure the lesson for almost throughout the whole day. Nothing else seemed to be of much importance. She let him remain in this stance for over an hour without allowing him to move at all. To the point his muscles would end up cramping up and he'd feel shitty about it. Training wasn't always necessarily a pleasant thing to experience. Verdandi was very aware of that. She made no mistake into showing that she'd be gentle or anything. She continuously reminded him that only with pain there would be any gain for the young boy. It wasn't quite true… but for a start one rather learns about the nasty muddy parts of training.

In time the day went by quite smoothly. Verdandi was content with the progress her newest student was making. To give sometime between the tedious stance-training she'd occasionally make sure to let him hit her palms and do some basic boxing and kicking introductions. It was important even if it seemed bland to be aware of what one has to do in basic combat. Feeling untrained or even completely unsure how to even hit your opponent was a big flaw in the ninja world. All ninja uses martial arts one way or another. Verdandi was more of a straight forward kung fu practitioner but her focus relied on Kenjutsu, sword mastery. Her blade dances had followed her since childhood. But today won't be the day she would teach her pupil how to wield a sword or a katana. It would have to wait for a different occasion. For now, all he had to learn is how to use his perception to properly hit the targets presented to him. How to use his reaction time to properly keep a defensive posture while yet also going into offense. How to use his endurance to remain strong despite being hit and taking blows to the body. His speed to make his offense as efficient and quick as possible and his brain how to accurately mix the combination of all basic ninja skills into a proper mix that would benefit him and keep him alive during actual combat.

As it was getting late, once again Verdandi's crystal igloo would arise from the ground and make shelter from the cold wind of the night. Her pupil will need his rest. He had exhausted himself greatly during the day. Verdandi would take her time to return into her meditational state. To commune once again with the mother tree. To channel her Senjutsu chakra and give proper reason to her own training. She had been trying to balance her power ever since the tree forcefully turned her into a dragon form the other day. It was necessary for her to properly balance the chakra that the nature power around her was flowing through her body. She wouldn't be much worth as a sage if she couldn't prevent herself from being overthrown by her own chakra. But she still had a long way to go for obtaining full mastery.

[EXIT]

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