Sero had left the academy only a couple of weeks before but now he had received a mission to go help with the teaching as a substitute as the teacher had informed the head of the school they where not feeling well. No doubt his high scores had landed him the job. Still teaching had never been his strongest skill. Though study and practice has always come natural to him. So perhaps he would be able to share his skills with a class of people who where in line to protect the nation. He nodded to himself as he decided on that as the curriculum. Before once more he dressed into the black shinobi pants and mesh shirt. Tucking 5 Kunai into his left pant equipment slots and then another 5 into his right. He then slipped into his grey hoody but left the hood down. His cold grey eyes staring into the mirror as he placed five shuriken into his left shoulder pocket and then another five into his right shoulder pocket. Before grabbing the windmill shuriken and strapping it to his back. His Rapier getting strapped on over the windmill shuriken. The hilt popping over his right shoulder. He hated going anywhere under prepared.

With that he exited the dark Osada manor he lived in alone. Walking down the wrecked path of the untamed yard after 5 years of negligence. Thorny weeds crumbled under his sandals. Reaching into his right front pocket he tied the Kiri head band around his neck calmly. Before pushing open the rusted gate. Turning and heading down the path. If nothing else he would walk this path as they needed to serve Kiri with out question. What was the path of a demon if not to be directed by it's master? Still the question was hardly one that bothered him. He knew where his loyalties lay. His right hand reaches out and touches one of the stone walls. Mixed together with the ashes of the fallen city. It felt cold to the touch. Much like how he figured he came across to others. His gaze lowered as he wondered quietly if his mother and father would have shied away from his touch. Still he would never know that feeling. His eyes snapped to as he realized he had been walking for some time and was now just outside of the academy itself. Now was the time.

Sero walked through the double doors as the bell rang. Just in time for the hallways to empty and him to walk down the hall alone to the assigned class room. The solitude was all he needed to wash away the brief emotions he had felt. That strange sensation in his heart. He had thought he had managed to kill that part of himself but he was too young to know so much of the world and to be so empty. Still he didn't mind. After all the tears and the blood to be something more. He had made an image for himself and a goal.

Now as he entered the room the class was being particularly rowdy. However as he moved to the desk the class room seemed to sense him. And silence fell as cold grey eyes looked over them all. Before he began to speak. He introduced himself and went over a list of names. Name after name for a good ten minutes. No one dared to interrupt him though. Sadness however filled some eyes as certain names where mentioned. By the end of the ten minutes a great deal of the class was either confused or on the verge of tears. Sero paused and set the list down before he began to speak.

"That is a page out of the list of shinobi that have fallen in battle. A list of men and women who fought for you and I. Who died with purpose in their hearts knowing those they left behind. What we train you to do is survive. But you must find your resolution. You must find your reason to win against all odds and survive. Otherwise your name ends up on the list. And your nothing more then an honored memory. any questions?"

One of the girls in the back burst into tears and ran out into the hall. Sero watched her leave with out stopping her. Obviously she had been close to some one on that list. Still he looked amongst the faces of the others there. A mixture of tear stained faces and rage. Some had determination in their eyes though. He had revealed a harsh reality to them and they would react as needed. However as the progressed to practice in the throwing range. The girl he had watched leave earlier came back with a cold fire in her eyes. And gave everything she had to the practice. People stared in awe at her determination before they too got fired up. Class ended but Sero agreed to stay at the students nervous request as they pushed themselves. Working well into the afternoon. Parents arrived to try and figure out why their children where so late to see them practicing with everything they had. All of them refusing to budge an inch in the spars and battle cries of the names of the fallen rang out even as the night fell. Before proud and crying parents escorted or carried exhausted kids home. After the children left the only one left there was Sero. He watched the last of the people leave before as usual he was left standing alone. That pain in his heart returned as he turned and began to practice on his own until morning. Then cleaning up and leaving as the same cold person he had arrived as.

~Exit thread.