The morning sun had been up for some time now and the heat of it seemed to fill the air. The smell of the farmlands around him was what first accosted him as his green eyes slowly rose to half open. He was staring across the little pitched up tend over himself at the little bit of land he had earned via working the fields. His home was a simple tarp held down on one end with a couple of rocks and held up on the other with a couple of branches buried partially into the ground. Really the Tarp had just been a lucky find and he could always just turn it against whatever direction the wind blew. Still he wouldn't of minded getting a couple more walls. He might see if he can get permission to do a couple of low key missions from Kumo some time this year. He wasn't one for killing so those missions were out but he supposed they would work with him and allow him to bring in prisoners. Bad people brought in to face a fair trial and all. However the issue was he wasn't even a citizen even though he had mosied about all of Kumo the last few years. Even the farm land he was camped out on wasn't technically his. The farmer just let him use it.

Still Bau slowly rose up from where he was resting on a blanket on the dirt ground via pushing himself up with both arms slowly and sliding his feet under him. He felt sore and weak still. Just getting up after a good nights sleep was rough. He couldn't actually feel the sensations but he knew his limbs were moving slower and he could here his joints popping. His mouth felt dry as he moved to the front of the makeshift cover and found the bucket of rain water. Cupping his hands he dipped his hands in before bringing the water to his mouth and drinking it. The warm water was uncomfortable but it would do. The rest of it he splashed on his face and rubbed into his slightly hairy face before brushing back his hair. There he stood, barefoot in just a pair of pants enjoying the warmth before he bent over. The scar down his back looking as angry and red as ever. He picked up his Robe he had been using as a pillow and shook it out before slipping into it. He was dressed now. It was time to collect a little of his harvest for a good morning smoke.

He didn't have to go far as he shifted over his own square section of field. A side path led out here but it was away from the main road. He doubted many people traveled the path to the location he was at. As for his chosen plant to grow, the farmer knew he grew it. After all the farmer came and traded supplies for a baggy every once in a while. Still Bau found a nice and ready bit of bud and pulled it apart from the rest. He moved it over to the shaded spot he had and set it up to dry before pulling down the one that had been there before. He took some time prepping it before he had a lovely looking nugget of green. Or rather a handful of nuggets. With that he moved back to his makeshift home and fumbled in his blanket before finding a corn cob pipe and a lighter. He packed the bowl and yawned. His walking stick was to the left of him and his sword handle, peace tied as it was poked out under the blanket just a little.Further under the blanket was a kunai and three shuriken. Interesting weapons the folk had here. Still he packed his bowl and then placed the long stem to his mouth and sucked in smoke as he lit the marijuana. Enjoying the smoke for medicinal purposes.

675

The sun was just starting to rise when Ruvaak woke up, starting his morning routine starting with a shower before getting dressed and heading out the door the cool breeze hitting his face. He had spent the last few weeks inside the village and had grown bored with seeing the same thing over and over everyday so he decided he would go out of the village today just for the change of scenery. As he headed through the gate and out of the village he thought over where he would go, Kaminari no Kuni was such a large country and there was so much to do and so many things to see it would take him months to see it all and he didn't want to stray too far from Kumogakure just yet he still had business to take care of there. He finally came to the decision of traveling the scenic route until he came to the farmlands traveling through on his way back to Kumo and hoping to see everything there was to see. He walked slow relaxing and just enjoying himself along the way listening to the birds and other animals as he walked down the road.

After about 4 hours he found a nice shade tree along the road where he took a break for a little while, now that the sun was out the heat was starting to increase as the day continued and it wasn't as cool as it was when he started his little journey. The rice fields ran along the horizon for as far as his eyes could see and he was honestly disappointed he had been hoping to see something, anything interesting and yet all he could see for miles and miles were rice fields, not to mention the fact that he hadn't seen a single person this entire time along the road. As he layed in the small patch of grass under the tree his eyes grew heavy and his thoughts went back to Valyria and how there was always something to do, he just couldn't understand how Kumogakure is so much larger than Valyria yet there seemed to be less to do and soon he drifted slowly off into dreamland.

When he awoke from his sleep it was about midday he stretched out yawning as he did taking a minute to get his bearings about him before standing and looking around. It was much hotter than earlier and the sun was shining bright the shade almost gone, after another quick stretch he headed off down the road towards Kumogakure. As he walked the road he came across a familiar euphoric scent, and it wasn't far off carried to him by the slight breeze from the west, Ruvaak hadn't smelled the sweet aroma of that unique herb since he left Valyria and was honestly quite shocked to smell it here of all places. Looking around he spotted a little side path through the fields following the aroma of the plant that called to him from a distance, it wasn't long until he came across a small patch where he came across a man puffing on a corn cob pipe and he couldn't help but smile the euphoric aroma was undeniable and it smelled every so sweet. Ruvaak approached the man slowly not wanting to cause problems when he was in clear ear shot he called out to the man as he waved slightly, "hello there, I don't mean to intrude but I couldn't help but smell the aroma of your herb, I didn't know anyone around here smoked". Ruvaak approached a little closer to the man, before extending his hand out to the man, "My name is Ruvaak, it's a pleasure to meet you."

---

WC: 636

Bau didn't see the young man approaching for some time as he seemed relaxed where he was. Sitting there under his tarp and smoking on his long stemmed pipe. The harsh smell of the herb filled the air as he felt his mind slipping into a sense of bliss. He wasn't going to be very aware of his surroundings while smoking that specific herb. Still he coughed a little as he took a particularly strong hit of it. His mind swam for a moment almost making him dizzy. It was a wonderful sensation to have his thoughts numbed. He couldn't feel his body to being with but his mind seemed to go numb as well. He sighed in relief at the sensation and yawned a little bit. Not bothering to cover his mouth. Still he heard a voice as if from no where as his head lifted and green eyes blinked from under his striped hat. He turned his pipe to the corner of his mouth as he saw a young man waving to him and approaching. He didn't see any headband naming the kid as part of a village. Perhaps one of the farmers children? It was entirely possible. Still Bau smiled warmly as the boy got close and spoke of how he didn't know anyone around here smoked what he specifically was smoking. A hand was extended and Bau raised his own length arm, his sleeve falling back to reveal thinner arms then might be expected of someone with such broad shoulders. Still the hand that shook the boys was callused and scarred. It could be a working mans hands but there was something about that grip and the hilt of the sword poking out of his bed mat that whispered as to something more. A hint of a different life.

"Ruvaak eh? Well lad, Theys calls me Bau. I be not from around dese parts. Not originally anyways. Ya say you know little of many round dese parts dat smoke dis? Well den dey be missin out don't dey?"

His accent was heavy for certain. Where ever Bau was from originally he either didn't have a proper education or he had been forced to learn the language here via experience. The latter was more true then the first though the first wasn't entirely inaccurate. Where he was from didn't exactly have schools. Sure he could read and write just fine but that was stuff you picked up on your own or someone passed onto you. Still his hand released the boys and he smiled a white toothed smile and took the pipe out of his mouth before using the long stem to indicate the growth nearby. It was a small amount but more then he could smoke if he didn't push his luck. "Dis here be mah crop ye see? Grow it meself and trade it to those who have grown a bit of a taste for de bud eh? Ya know it do ya laddie? Well Den it would be a might bit inconsiderate of a gent like meself ta not offer ye a seat and a toke yea? Go on youngin, plant a seat next ta old Bau and tell me about yeself." Bau cleared a spot next to him by picking up his walking stick and grinding it into the ground. He would then hold out the offered pipe to Ruuvak and lighter, the bowl still packed and only half burnt. It was only natural now to Bau to share what he had. Even if his accent was a bit strange Bau still seemed cheerful and kind. Not to mention a warm smile to boot.

1296

The man's smile alleviated some of the tension Ruvaak feared there might be, he had know people to be very defensive when someone approached them while smoking the herb the man held and was relieved to see that this man did not react as such. When the man lifted his hand to shake Ruvaak's, he noticed the man's thin arms come out from under his long sleeve, yet the man's hand was firm and rough Ruvaak could tell his hand had seen action whether he was a working man or a shinobi didn't matter to Ruvaak, as they shook hands ruvaak began judging the man's hand, Ruvaak could tell that whatever it is that the man does he does it well as the man's hand gripped his own with such a firm grip from an arm so small. When the man began to speak it was clear that the man wasn't from around here, his accent was strong maybe from the south and Ruvaak had a hard time understand every word the man spoke but he did understand the gist of what he said enough to know what he was talking about, his name was Bau, he wasn't from around here and others were missing out on smoking. Ruvaak couldn't help but laugh, "It's a pleasure to meet you Bau, and your right they are missing out" Ruvaak said to the man as he continued to laugh slightly. Using his pipe as a pointing utensil the man pointed out to a nearby crop as he spoke, when Ruvaak's eyes fell onto the section the man was pointing out he could see it clearly, it had been 2 months since he had seen a plant of this nature, as he didn't think to bring any with him from Valyria as he thought he would find some out in the rest of the world, but he never expected for it to take as long as it did. No matter how long it took however he would never forget it, it was one that he was constantly on the search for when ever he would travel he would forever keep an eye out for the plant as it brought him such peace. The man offered to share his stash and although Ruvaak was never much of one to intrude on someones secession the sweet aroma of the herb was overpowering his brain, his desire to smoke and let all the stress wash away, 'I need this' he thought to himself "I appreciate your offer Bau, I hope I am not imposing" he said as the man began to move his stuff out of the way to make a spot for Ruvaak to sit. As the man moved it was then that Ruvaak saw the glint of the handle flash from a stray beam of sunlight, he said nothing nor reacted to the sight of it, so what if the man had a weapon everyone did, the fact that the man made a place for Ruvaak to sit on the opposite side of him was to keep his weapon in reach. Ruvaak of course understood this logic as a shinobi he knew that a weapon was like a part of the wielder and that one should never be too far from it.

As Ruvaak sat the man offered him the pipe and lighter, as he inhaled the smoke filling his lungs to the brink and the sweet taste filled his mouth, all of his cares and concerns started going away, it had only been two months since he last smoked and he was already a light weight. Ruvaak exhaled the breath coughing, after a few seconds when he stopped coughing Ruvaak thought back to Valyria and the last time he smoked. The man's batch was good and the fact that he grew it out here of all places was awesome in itself, however he could not compete with the plants of Valyria of course no one could as it had an entire Hydroponic system and produced hundreds of plants at a time to supply the entire village. Ruvaak thought what exactly to tell the man about himself, a stranger with no ties to a village could of course be dangerous however the fact that he smoked with Ruvaak was enough for him to trust the man. "Let's see where to start... I am Ruvaak Unmei of Valyria I am on a personal journey of my own desire and am currently taking residency at an inn within Kumogakure once I am done here I will be moving on." Ruvaak paused taking another hit from the man's pipe before passing it to the man, "I'm sorry its been so long since I've smoked" he said apologetically before continuing with what he was saying before, "I am currently undecided as for a destination as of yet but there are still many weeks before I plan to leave so still have plenty of time to make a decision." he said with a laugh before adding, "what about you?" he figured why not get to know the man you're smoking with, who knows maybe he would be nice enough to give him a little to take with him when he left here.

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WC: 892/1528

Bau watched as the boy smoked on the pipe. He coughed a little but he took it like a champ. Green eyes lit up and met the smile that was on Bau's face. He seemed like a fairly genuine character. Didn't mind strangers and didn't seem to react violently when being approached. Still he was a stranger. One could never be too sure when it came to strangers. Still Bau leaned back and rested with his right hand holding him up behind him. He left hand rested on his left knee as he sat back. He had some fairly lengthy arms and legs to be honest. If nothing else his reach was imposing. Still he was all for listening to the story of the boy across from him. White eyebrows rose in curiosity at the mention of a country that sounded very similar to something in his own homeland. It brought back memories, some good and some bad. A field like this one that stretched on. The golden sway of the field of wheat was just another memory. He could almost smell it. But the memory was also part of the crops being trampled and the scent was replaced with the memory of how blood and death smelled. Still Bau sighed as the pipe was passed back to him and puffed on it to finish the bowl before the question was passed back to him. He held it in a moment before breathing out a cloud that slowly swayed upwards between them and faded away. A sadness was in his eyes as he tapped the ashes out of his pipe and set it to the side. His gravely voice booming once more. Deeply accented but an almost mournful tone.

"I too be from a land across the waters from here. Bau Eitilt is me birth name. Somethin bout flyin and fightin from wha I know is da meanin of it. Dat is exactly what I did too. In dose lands I be known some years back as de Raging blade. Truth is doe I was not nearly da best der was. Years ago I lost but lived. Da men who done brought me here. Dey left me to survive or die in this country. I chose ta survive. See?"

Bau held up his right hand to show he wasn't meaning any harm as he stopped putting his weight on it. Then once he made that clear he picked up his bastard sword sheathed from under his bed and set it between him and the boy. He then indicated for the boy to feel free to pick it up. If Ruuvak studied it he would see that it was peace tied and sealed shut. The metal of the hilt was melted to the scabbard and roped tied it tightly closed. If one were to pull it free it would take a huge feat of strength. Still Bau continued speaking as he loaded another bowl.

"Dat dere is da weight of me past. Da same sword I used when I was da Rage blade. A great many lives I has to atone for. But dese years have not been lettin me do dat. Truth is lad, I had a back injury...it took all dis time to regain full movement. I no longer be as strong as I was once. But that is only strength of body see? Strength of mind and strength of soul take longer to build den strength of body. All three are equally important doe ya? So I been practicin wit dis stick here. I vowed to naw longer take a life but in order ta protect all dese lives around me. I need to grow stronger ye see? I figure I gots work ta do here in dis country before I can move ta the next. Ready for another bowl den?" Bau lit another bowl and took the first couple of puffs before holding the long stemmed pipe back out to Ruuvak.

1965

As the man spoke, even with the accent, Ruvaak could tell there was a great sadness in his tone, and in his eyes, and the more Ruvaak listened to the man speak the more Ruvaak came to understand as to why the man's voice sounded so mournful, too be forced from his home and stuck in a distance land that wasn't his choosing was a terrible fate, but the man still made the best of the situation he was stuck with. The man then pulled the sword out from under the blanket and putting in front of Ruvaak for him to look at while he loaded another bowl and continued talking. The Sword was melded to the scabbard and peace tied together preventing it from being drawn out to be used, that alone was sad a warrior that couldn't use his weapon was sure to run into problems along the way. Ruvaak also understood what the man meant when he mentioned the three different types of strength as he too was focused on training all three of them himself, the fact that the man took up bojutsu as a way to defend himself was impressive to Ruvaak as the man finished talking and offering him the bowl for him to smoke some more, Ruvaak couldn't help but wonder what the man's blade would be like to use a sword like that in combat, or even a staff it was all impressive.

Ruvaak took the bowl from the man and took a long slow hit enjoying the sweet taste filling him again, as he exhaled he mimicked the man exhaling the smoke in a thick cloud floating slowly to up above them. "I completely agree with you, they are all important and very valuable to every shinobi" passing the bowl back to the man, "Thank you very much for smoking with me Bau, I appreciate it very much I just wish there was a way for me to repay you for your kindness" Ruvaak said as his thoughts drifted slowly into nirvana. Ruvaak laid back on the shaded grass as his mind wandered succumbing to the effects of this special plant, closing his eyes as he gave himself over fully to the effects of the marijuana. He wasn't asleep, he was just relaxing as he enjoy the feel of the weed, he was completely oblivious to the man and the world around him, after a couple of minutes of lying back with his eyes closed he sat up to receive the bowl from the man once again. The aroma of the marijuana was all around them and there was a large cloud of smoke lingering in the air above them as the slight breeze that had been blowing stopped. Ruvaak passed the bowl back to the man already high as fuck before asking, "I don't mean to intrude and you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but I don't quite understand why would they bring you here just because you lost? I mean it seems a little weird for them to do that. Is that how all things like battles are over, you either die or you get banished?"

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541/2069

Bau could only sit there for the moment as he watched the boy with the sword. He picked up his striped hat and placed it on his own head to shadow his eyes. He was calm as usual but the memories of his past was the only pain he felt anymore. Broken bones and thrown stones meant nothing anymore and he had seen his share of both as a crippled bum. People liked feeling superior and somehow the only way to show that was through flinging hate around like a song caught on the wind. He didn't hate them though. Holding onto hate was how he had gotten into that position to begin with. His life before as a warrior hadn't been that great to begin with. Living only to fight and fighting just to live. He hadn't been the best and truthfully no one ever was. Yet now he felt much calmer then those times and he hadn't been this weak since he was a child picking up his first sword. He couldn't change the past but he could remember it and learn from it. Still he leaned back and lifted his face to the breeze and closed his eyes breathing it in. The scent reminded him of a time he had barely ever gotten to know. He hadn't been born into battle. In fact he could remember the scent of the river near his family home. He could remember watching his fathers back as he fished and his mothers arms holding him close. A small boy at the time. Though he couldn't recall their faces he recalled those times. He recalled knowing love. He recalled not standing alone and feeling a part of something.

Since then he had been a thousand places and seen a thousands faces. His green eyes had seen blood and hate and shed tears of misery. But he had also seen Love and devotion for another without exception prevailing against anything that came against that person. He had seen a man lay down his life to save a stranger and he had seen strangers stand between him and those who had spat on him and refused to give ground. Tears stung his eyes at that particular memory. The farmer and his family had stood between him and thugs...they had lost a large portion of the crop that year in retribution from the men but still the man had invited him to his home. He had helped Bau heal and had given him honest work like his hands had never known. He preferred dirt to blood on his hands. It was far easier to live with. That was why he knew there were good people. That is what he wanted to stand for. He took another toke of the pipe and dried his face with his sleeve before the boy sat up again. He wasn't about to cry in front of a stranger. Still when he spoke again it was quieter and his voice cracked a little as his eyes glistened as he handed the pipe back for the boy to finish..

"Lad, I Be a might happier den ya could know that ye dun understand it yet. It be a true blessing to see that Truth be told son, War is not filled with glory nor can heroes be found der...perhaps at first but given time...de heroes become a villain to someone...In war ye fight for everything ye have when its in yer own fields...blood stains yer crops and when the smoke clears...ye gots bodies ta bury...eventually da bodies beneath yer crops come back te haunt ye. When ye finally do lose...and ye always do...they gots no room der for men who stood against der rule. Ye either die in battle or ye get humiliated and then die without a chance ta fight back. Truth is us runnin...dat showed we lost our honor long ago...I ain't ready to let my pride go doe....My wounds, dey healed after all dis time...I may be nothin ta no one now...but I wanna be someone to dese people...I am dun killin, but I ain't done standin up for da people here...dey be good people...dey deserve someone that can and will fight for dem. Ya?"

2698

Ruvaak saw the glistening of tears in the man's eyes when the man handed the pipe back to him, despite the man trying to hide his eyes behind his hat. And he heard the man's voice crack as he spoke, and his voice was a lot lower than before however Ruvaak did not mention it, he has had his own share of people putting their nose into business that did not concern them and he was not about to join them with this man although Ruvaak could see that the man was having a hard time it was not his place to comfort or make him talk it out or whatever so he simply took the pipe back taking a big hit to finish off the bowl the man had loaded while the man finished talking. Although Ruvaak did agree with the man about people needing someone to protect them he couldn't help but feel as if it was the responsibility of the Kumo-Nin to protect them not the man's, but again it wasn't his place to say one way or the other and so he decided to not say it to the man as he did not want to start an argument or upset the man after he had just shared his marijuana. "I am glad that you have found a purpose here and that you did not just give up because of your loss." Ruvaak said to the man as he handed the pipe back to the man as it was now cached.

Ruvaak listened to the birds chirping as they flew overhead and could feel the cool breeze of the wind which was very refreshing considering the heat they were sitting in, he was not sure if he was noticing it was because the marijuana was kicking in at full force or if it was because this was the first time today that he just relaxed watching the world around him where he sat with this man. Ruvaak's mouth began to have the unpleasant cottony feeling caused by the dry mouth side effect from the marijuana, grabbing his water container from off his shoulder taking a good long drink, "I don't have much but your welcome for some if you like, its the least I could do considering your kindness" Ruvaak said as he offered the container to the man. it was true that he indeed did not have a lot of water but it was easy enough to fill all he needed considering how close to the village from here but as he looked around and saw that the sun was beginning to sit meaning he should be going soon but he wasn't quite ready for the time with the man to be over he could learn so much just from listen to the man but that would be up to the man of course.

"Well Bau I hate to smoke and run but its getting late and I need to be getting back, of course if you are up for it you could accompany me on the way back to Kumo, I'll even pay for your room at the inn if you wish." Ruvaak said to the man as he began to start getting up "Got some business to take care of early in the morning need to get some sleep" Ruvaak finished and waited for the man's reply. If Bau said yes to Ruvaak's offer then along their walk to Kumo Ruvaak would ask what he would like to talk about along the way, not necessarily about Bau's past but whatever he would like. But the choice was his.

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WC: 618/2687

Bau paused as the boy held up a flask of water and began to drink. He realized his own lips felt like patches of leather suddenly as his tongue came out and quickly licked his lips. His way of avoiding his lip splitting from being too dry. He had grown rather used to it though. Sure he spent a lot of time lounging about and enjoying the breeze in the shade of his makeshift home, but all that time was spent outside and in most way just roughing the weather. He smiled as he sat back and put his pipe back into his sleeping roll. Tucked there where it was barely a bulge. It was calming to be near the youngster but he wondered about the young man. He didn't speak too much of himself. Just that he liked to travel. The thing was traveling in this world was a truly dangerous thing to do. One was likely to be set upon by bandits or worse, rogue ninja. He wondered to himself if the boy had some hidden power of his own. Perhaps a martial arts prodigy? If so the boy was going to be someone to keep track of one day. Maybe even ally with.

Still when the water was offered to him he took it gratefully with a nod and took a deep swig of it. The cold water soothed his throat but made his teeth ache from the sudden cool liquid against them. Still he removed his lips from it and wiped off the top with a fairly clean part of his sleeve and handed it back. In his culture that was acceptable behavior after all. They were some rather barbaric people. Warriors but no real sense of proper and what not. Still he felt refreshed with the drink of water. Still forest green eyes looked up to the young man as he spoke of allowing Bau to follow him to Kumo and paying for his room. Bau's smile met his eyes as they nearly closed from the smile and he bowed his head in respect. Bau himself rose to his feet and for the first time it would become obvious that Bau was a very large man even though his limbs were so thin. Still he quickly hunched himself and patted Ruvaak on the shoulder before shaking his head no.

"While the offer be kind laddy. I can not go with ye just yet. I have yet ta tend ta mah crop ye see? I need ta pack da lot of it before I can go. You go on ahead doe boy. Perhaps iffen I run into ye in the village I can take ye up on da offer for room and board. Ye travel safe now ye hear?"

Bau would pat the boy on the shoulder with a heavy hand yet again but gently before moving back to his crop. He had let his attention drift too much from the days project and now he was running out of daylight. There was plenty of green herb to pick and not a ton of sun left in the sky to pick it. So he picked up the pace and set to it anyway. Getting what work he needed done so he could travel the next day.
Exit thread
3250
750/750 Speed E-D
750/750 Reaction time E-D
750/750 Endurance E-D
750/750 Perception E-D
225/225 Strength E-E2

25 words remaining

Ruvaak was slightly sadden to hear that the man was not yet ready to leave his field, but he would not object nor would he offer any other words with a nod of his head the young male would take his leave from the field heading back to the village to ready himself for the days to come. It did not take him long to reach the village gates, and after a short conversation with the gate guard the boy would make his way to the inn. Somberly walking into the Inn with a heavy head the boy would be greeted by the innkeeper and his wife offering him dinner before he headed to bed, the offer was well met with the hunger of the boy as he quickly devoured the food sat before him. Thanking them both the boy took his leave to his room, taking time only to shower briefly before falling on to his bed and welcoming the dreams that awaited him.

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332/3019

{Exit Thread}

Genjutsu from nothing to C-Rank: -3000