"So this is what the sun can see."

Standing alone atop a mountain taller than any other for miles on end, would be a slender figure wearing a black kimono, as his black hued lenses peered off into the distance, gasping in astonishment at the view affront him. This man was of course, Xigs who had just spent his seventh day of traveling atop the tallest mountain that was near to him. Having received a mission to employ some bodies for a reason unknown to him, Xigs had made his way toward his destination Kumogakure, however Xigs was a man of intellect, a being of knowledge and wit. So whilst his mission was important, living through his tourism dreams was also a major priority for him, so much in fact that when opportunities such as these came to be, they should be taken immediately for the life of a shinobi was never safe.

As the scent of rich lavender was gathered by slow winding winds, Xigs would bask in the glory of the sun as his skin began to darken ever so slightly. The clouds would slowly shift through the air as they blanketed Xigs before drifting with the wind. As hot as the day was however, Xigs would reach into his pockets and pull out a pencil and parchement to simply scribe the beautiful landscape the world had to offer, taking note of important roads that could lead him to completing his mission here in the land of lightning. Having so many mountains across the rocky expanse made finding any human colonies exceptionally hard.

So climbing atop the tallest mountain in the area? Name a better way to see out a mission to hire mercenary. If you looked close enough, small trails would lead into caves mid way up mountains, which meant bandit pathways were abundant here. As these caves were the perfect cover for bandits, Xigs would begin to sway his mindset to recruiting bandits instead of mercenaries. However bandits were usually outlaws and savage, so as he read about them leverage was often needed to sway their allegiance to attain a sound level of cooperation. Completing his notes and compiling his work, the stone shinobi would timingly finish his analysis but heavenly timing would appear.

Just as Xigs had begun to ponder at what leverage he would use to force the bandits to succumb to his will, a large line of caravans would tread slowly through the narrow path that weaved through the mountains. Seeing this many caravans; most would assume would be a supply run from another village however lack of security would allow others to safely assume it was owned by a private company. However Xigs knew well that the narrow path was perfect for attack from bandits, and based on how many caravans were mobile would tell a tale of how slow the shipment was, not to mention that a voyage this big would be pre-planned and thus would give others a chance at a preemptive strike.

Gleaming at his fortune Xigs would rely on his instincts as he swiftly made his way down the mountain, as high as the peak was however would dissallow him from getting to the caravan as quick as he would like, regardless he would continue to make his way realising by the time he got the ground he’d have to travel again by foot along the ground to catch up. A deep sigh would eacape his lips as he continued to speed down cliff faces, somewhat allowing gravity to help his movements and launch further down.

WC: 600

Several minutes passed for Xigs to finally make it to the ground. Feeling less at ease now his true mission had begun, he continued his pursuit without delay chasing the cargo caravans. However there was a daunting displeasure that was hard to succumb to, and that was what leverage could be used to 'persuade' the bandits. No matter how Xigs thought about it combat was inevitable, however it wasn't something he wanted to do in a land he knew nothing about. Sure, he had read his fill on the land hidden in the clouds, however reading was miles apart from experiencing. It seemed to be the a problem that constantly arose in the shinobi world, with soldiers being nurtured from their youth, it eventually meant children were born killers who thrived of survival of the fittest. Regardless of the peace after the fourth great shinobi war their was always conflict behind the scenes that led the path of the future generations to go downward. Why did teens these day get so aggressive after learning a few jutsu?

Definitely a question for the ages as it shown it is the same outcome regardless of how far back you look through the existence of shinobi ranks across the globe. Xigs knew this quite well as he didn't come all this way to the land of lightning just to die by some goons. He wanted an eventual peaceful life, where he sit and red comfortably in his own leisure, preferably affront a fire with a book in his hand.

Regardless, he continued on until he finally arrived only 50 meters away from the cargo, looking up toward the cliffs Xigs would began to feel a deep rooted unease, as if he felt that the cliffs were so luckily designed that it would make raiding and stealing easy. His train of thought would be interrupted by the presence of a spear as it flown from the caravans and into the air, however Xigs eyes would widen as he realised the spear was heading for him. Thrusting his left leg off the ground, his body would launch upward allowing the spear to pass by and crash into the ground behind him, shattering the earth and scattering debris. However the distance was long from the caravans to Xigs, so he knew he was quite safe as he didn't know if he could dodge the same spear if he were closer. His train of thought would be interrupted again as six spear flew into the air simultaneously from the caravans once again. However their trajectories seemed more random, yet seemingly close to Xigs.

Ducking and weaving instead of leaping, Xigs would continue to keep his distance as he continued his pursuit. Debris would break apart and scatter, lifting dust clouds in their wake staining the shinobi's kimono vaguely as it was black to begin with. Just as Xigs had finally evaded the spears, a figure would emerge from the caravan holding a seperate spear in both arms. The figure was a bulky man with a dark brown beard and overalls. "Tha fuck ya want? Ya ain't dressed like ya from ere'." The figure yelled as he stood his ground, physically urging Xigs to stop. "I mean no harm, but I can assure you, there are bandits coming for you and I wish to stop them." Xigs replied as he looked vigilantly between the figure affront him and the cliffs where small pebbles began to fall. It had seemed the bandits were here, as the falling debris of stones came with the sounds of heavy stomping. The bearded figure would smile at Xigs as he waved at him. "Stop them? Ya not catchin' on are ya?"

Xigs eyes would widen as he the caravan came to a stop, as now was their chance to escape and they would instead stop the
caravan completely? However it was also when the worst scenario for Xigs would happen. The creators of the marching, stomping sounds were now showcasing their presence as bandits mounting rhinos began to charge down the mountains. Their horns would obliterate all natural blockades of the cliff, as they enveloped chakra to the rhinos feet so they could keep their balance across the cliff. However the caravan would do not move an inch, even with the bearded man laughing as he looked back at Xigs.  "The name's Ligg, thanks for the concern but watch and wait."

WC: 744 +600 = 1344

A breath would escape the young shinobi's lips as he regathered his composure seeing the man affront him returning to the middle of the caravans. Xigs off instinct would begin sprinting toward the cliffs closest to him, however he would notice his presence was ignored by the bandits as they continued their assault at the caravans. However Xigs would see a rhino approaching atop the cliff, as it stampeded toward him its horn would light up by a cloak of fire. Xigs after swiftly looking backward would immediately begin to fall back whilst reaching for two kunai in his pocket. Also a few seconds would pass before the rhino was directly in front Xigs, as the rhino lowered it's head to strike Xigs with the flaming horn. Xigs couldn't seen any opening from his position as the rhino sped toward him as usually with beasts such as these were easiest to take care off when you take out their senses. However there was a bandit atop the rhino to take care off at the same time. An idea sprang into his mind as he thought back to his training three months ago.....

~ Three months prior ~

The sound of metal colliding would echo across the small woods that covered this small nature park on the far west of the earth country. Multiple genin shinobi would leap from tree to tree, launching kunai at different targets, piercing through leaves and branches with the majority hitting the target. This was all due to one new genin missing every target, and would somewhat throw two kunai out each time instead of one. **** would begin to follow through the forrest as they scorned the young shinobi for his poor efforts, however it was there when a small golem would make it's way from the shadows, slowly making his way toward Xigs which everyone took notice off. Xigs would stand patiently as he waited for the golem to make it's way toward Xigs, and press it's hand against Xigs back. Chakra would surge through his body, centralising to his mind, as information began to process swiftly as a voice spoke instructions on his doings. This voice was of course, his guardian back in Iwagakure, Elder Kusa, who like his name suggests is an elderly shinobi, who is a professor and has created innovative ideas that have shaped the structure of Iwagakure.

A blue hue would gleam from his eyes as he required the helping hand of knowledge from Elder Kusa, and without a moments notice he launched two kunai simultaneously outward, heading no where close to a target. The fellow genin would begin laughing hysterically at the poor throw, however it was then when Xigs revealed his true goals, throwing two new kunai directly in the gap between the blade and handle of the kunai, and surely enough the kunai would push the floating kunai's faster, redirecting their trajectory allowing them to strike two targets that were hidden behind two thick trees. A silence would follow as the shinobi were gobsmacked after seeing pinpoint accuracy in his ability with kunai knives. The difference between then and five minutes ago was the same as a spark and the sun. A jounin would emerge from the darkness, gifting Xigs a new certificate before vanishing. The blue hue that had been in his eyes would slowly fade revealing his empty black eyes once more, the weird feeling of power began to quiet down, shifting back into his normal self.

~ Current Day ~

So Xigs had done in the past his kunai would flick outward after being thrown slowly, thus aiming either side of the rhinos head before Xigs swiftly threw two new kunai, however these were aimed between the blade and handle. The two slower kunai's momentum would be ignited as they were both hit with precision and power, firing into the rhinos eyes. Letting out a screech as it fell to its feet, however the momentum was not helpful for its rider as the bandit atop it was flung upward off the cliff with no chance to survive from his fall. Xigs would watch the bandit fall to his death as he looked back downward toward the caravan not wanting to see a caravan destroyed and people murdered. However what he saw was even more astonishing, as he looked around and saw countless rhinos impaled to the cliffs by long silver spears. Bandits were sliced and impaled with them, which meant Xigs had no way of hiring them for the needs of his village. "Ah fuck." he murmured as he slowly made his way to the platoon of caravans which now looking over them, he would notice they were twenty well built men who all began to pick up their spears back from the dead rhinos and bandits.

WC: 818 + 1344 = 2162

Blood would ooze slowly down cliffs, trickling through crevices before joining at the bottom, pooling as if a feast was presented to a plague of mosquitos. Xigs had never seen such a one sided massacre in his life, nor the true horror in how his assumed/predicted outcome would be soo off/wrong. The helpless mercenaries he had thought were actually merciless warriors proven deadly with the spear. To the point in which they literally massacred a bandit horde of 48 bandits and rhinos. Xigs would remember the fact that these guys were the real deal, people capable of mass murder in an instant yet chose to take this route for a supply job. Xigs would walk up until he finally reached Ligg; the bearded man in overalls who was trying to kill Xigs just moments ago. Ligg was going through a rather bulky bandits pockets, pilfering through the corpse to claim some good fortune. However Xigs would stand shocked as he noticed three holes identical to the ones made by the spears in the rhinos on the chest of the bulky corpse.

This man had been annihilated, receiving three quick stabs with such speed and ferocity to tear directly through an entire chest. The best way to describe it was simply a mess. Xigs had never truly seen something like this before, but the twenty men would finish their pilfering through the corpses belongings until heading to their caravans. Ligg however would look Xigs straight in the eye. A stern silence would follow as the two stared directly into each others eyes before letting out cheeky grins. "In all my years of searching for these fuckers they finally came out of their little shit hole." The man would raise of flask of wine to his lips, chugging down the red/purple liquid grape gold, before staring at Xigs again. "I saw you take out one so I know ya not an enemy, but you definitely aren't from these parts are ya?" He would leave another pause as Xigs looked at the other men relaxed with blood spilt across the once sacred yet now ugly battlefield.

What would follow was an event that would forever be embedded into Xigs. Gasoline would be poured across the bodies of the bandits before being ignited by torches. Beautiful flames would erupt as the smell of burning blesh became apparent. Xigs stomach began to churn as the nauseating event unfolded before him, however he continued to keep his composure. There was something about fire that had always frightened Xigs. Ever since the day he mistakenly had moulded his chakra to gain the fire nature, he had always been wary of it, as if he was scared of his own power. But now looking at the man before him Xigs would stand tall as he posed firmly with respect at Ligg. ”Looking at you and your group now I can see you show great battle prowess. I come from a land far from here in the earth country at the capital city, Iwagakure. I may have a proposition you cannot refuse.” Xigs would wait a moment as Ligg would stay silently watching the long haired shinobi. ”Orders have been issued to recruit men of.... well... of no allegiance, whilst i don’t know the exact information regarding how, the Tsuchikage himself has proposed big rewards who help him in his conquest.”

Another pause would follow as Xigs watched the bulky man before him stroke his beard, look at the clouds and walk back toward his men. ”Ah fuck. Guess i spooked him.” Xigs murmered to himself, as he gazed upon the back of the men who had just slaughtered the bandits. However Ligg would stop in his tracks before, looking into the sky still pondering on the proposition. ”How long does it take to get to Iwagakure?” Ligg replied, as he smile spread in unison with Xigs behind him. ”So it’s settled, I’ve got some business in this nations village so I’ll be back in three days. If you wish to join me than meet me exactly in this exact spot at sundown.”

The two would nod before parting ways. Whilst Ligg gave him no definite answer Xigs was quite sure he knew that these money loving mercenaries were perfect for the job and could never refuse a deal such as this. For what proposition was stronger than one of a kages? It is actually impossible to find one remotely close. So now Xigs, would begin walking into the distance. Realising he had still a long journey to actually make it to his desired village, the village hidden in the clouds. However after traveling for so long up and down mountains Xigs could see how the village got it’s name. For there truly was an abundance of clouds, it would seem his equilibrium would allow his ease to constantly ‘pop,’ which was unfortunately a sensation he could never feel due to his body being numb. However after a few hours of travel Xigs would stand atop a cliff, looking over an array or mountains where a huge utopia would atand firmly within the cliffs. Here was finally here, in Kumogakure.

-Exit Thread -

WC: 870 + 2162 = 3032

Training: