Tsuyo was unsure of what was to come of all this. His information sources seemed solid. He had checked and rechecked repeatedly with different sources and all he could do now was to investigate personally. That said he wasn't going to walk into a home that had forsaken him alone. Regardless of how powerful he believed himself to be he wasn't a fool. Numbers counted if the death of Uchiha Hao had proved anything. He was not interested in becoming another statistic. Of course that wasn't the only reason. Another of the kings had a personal grudge against his current target as well. Much the same one really. A certain someone within the borders of Konoha had dared to slay Tsuyo's brother after running his whole squad out of the village. Many assassins had failed to kill Tsuyo in the following years until he found a home in Iwa. For some time he was safely hidden while he discovered what power was, when he restored a country and built up students. While he created the very organization that allowed him now to discover the identity of the man that moved the hand of fate around him. Mistakes had been made, actions taken against himself and Mitsuo and now there would be justice served.

For now Tsuyo leaned back against a boulder on the side of the road. His horse drinking from a stream with the saddle already taunt and packed with supplies. He was wearing riding gloves with a white suit shirt and a tie buttoned up the front of it with a silver vest over it. Dark slacks covered his legs hemmed to fit him perfectly. Dress boots with the bottom of the pants tucked over them were obviously polished. Over all of it a dark suit coat covered his shoulders from neck to his knee's with a comfortable button up at the front. A strange glisten coming from the coat that suggested it was not of normal fabric. In his right inner pocket was a metal case with his smokes within and a gold plated zippo. In his left inner coat pocket was two sheathes with only one holding a curved dragon fang dagger. The other was in his right hand as he used it to carve the green apple in his left. The curved blade slicing through it like air. Still he used his thumb to hold the slice in place and bring it to his mouth before chewing on it.

The juice filled his mouth as he chewed and truthfully as with some of the simplest things the taste was divine. He was never much of one for five star dishes or unique foreign foods. A simple apple was still plenty to fill him happily regardless of all his riches. Still his silver eyes shifted to look down the road towards Kumo. He was unsure as of yet when Mitsuo would come or even if he would. He doubted the man would miss a chance at redemption even if he only needed it in his own eyes and yet anxiety filled him. He could not pass up the opportunity and as such even if Mitsuo did not arrive, Tsuyo would progress without him. Truthfully he felt in his heart his fellow king would come. The more pressing issue was if the man would come before any Kumo nin did. They were both fairly wanted in this country. Should anyone of significant rank arrive, leaving would prove rather difficult. Not that Tsuyo would allow anyone to keep him here. Should the Raikage himself arrive to arrest or kill them Tsuyo was determined that he would wipe out anyone in his way. Even that though was paranoia. Kumo would likely gladly see two enemy combatants leaving and had they intentions of taking them down either had been simple to find this whole time.

650

The Sword Saint of Konoha had gone through a lot since he had returned to the continent of the shinobi. Almost as soon as he had landed in the village of Kiri, he had been dragged into a war out in the village hidden in the clouds, where he would then run into someone whom he had thought to have been long dead. He was reunited with his former lover and his daughter, people whom he had somewhat hoped would have forgotten about him, but he knew that wouldn't be the case, as they had been worried about him the entire time. Their reunion had been a touching moment, but it was one that had also brought Mitsuo much sadness and shame. That reunion hadn't been quite as good as the one that he had with his best friend, and the man who was responsible for him having led such an interesting life after leaving his village the first time, Tsuyo Hyuga.

Mitsuo and Tsuyo had both been working towards the same goal for many years, trying to find the person who had killed Tsuyo's brother Kimaru. Mitsuo had a personal interest in finding this person, and fiercly wished for it to happen, due to the fact that he and Kimaru had been lovers. While Tsuyo and Mitsuo had never really gotten to know one another when Mitsuo was a kid, he had always looked up to the older shinobi, as did Kimaru who would always tell Mitsuo how proud he was of his brother. After his death, Mitsuo had been fortunate enough to run into Tsuyo one again, who was going by a different name. When the two of them saw each other for the first time in many years, they were both shocked, and Mitsuo broke down. He screamed at the man, telling him that it was his fault that Kimaru was dead, which of course was how Tsuyo found out about his brother. The two of them would eventually come to be extremely close and work together a lot, Tsuyo becoming the person Mitsuo trusted most in the entire world.

As he walked towards the stables, his Konoha ANBU armour hiding beneath his coat, and the stricken out Konoha forehead protector in his jacket, he smiled softly. He supported a young girl who had suffered a leg injury while attempting to kill Mitsuo, something that he had specifically told her to do. She was foolish, but she also had listened to him, where most people wouldn't have taken that order seriously. He had promised her that he would take her back to Konoha, where she would be able to be properly trained in the art of being a ninja, and that what she did there would be up to her. After he had injured her, however, he had figured it would probably be a good time to take her to meet Tsuyo. As he approached the man, dressed in his riding garb, he nodded towards him, gesturing towards the young girl. "My friend, I appear to have found a tag along, and she is injured. I'm wondering if you can give her a hand, maybe patch her leg up a little bit; I think she may have fallen..." There would be no fooling Tsuyo of course, the injuries were clearly caused by Mitsuo's chain whip, the third degree burns and the cuts into the leg matching with the blades on his whip perfectly. He didn't personally care, as he imagined Tsuyo wouldn't ask too much about it, but he was still not too happy about how things had ended. He also couldn't be bothered to be put into a sour mood, because today was the best day that he had had in a long time...today was the day that he was going home.

646 (Sayuri is the girl)

Sayuri was concentrating so hard on staying upright and conscious that it came as somewhat as a shock to realize that someone other than Mitsuo was present. She drew herself closer to Mitsuo, nervous now that she was injured and could no longer escape if she needed to, she was also growing quite faint. Fallen? I certainly have not... she thought to herself, not annoyed, only somewhat amused. She said nothing aloud, and allowed her hero to have whatever story he wished, it really didn't matter to her, and falling was less embarrassing than the truth anyway. She was not keen for anyone to know what a failure she had turned out to be, that was her secret shame and she was glad he let her keep it. Her hand brushed at her face though her tears had stopped long ago, leaving behind salty ridges of dust along her wind and frost burnt cheeks. She was surprised that he had brought her here to be healed and wanted to see her potential healer now so made the conscious effort to take her eyes off the small pebble at her feet with the tiny black flecks in it and look up.

Her breath came in pained choking gasps and it was all she could do to keep her composure long enough to lift her head and not scream out in agony. She glanced up at the smartly dressed man leaning against a rock only for a moment before noticing the apple he held. The green skin was so vibrant it fairly glowed, and she swore she could practically taste the flesh from here as she could see the tall silver eyed man had already sliced into it with a wicked looking knife. Her mouth began watering in spite of her better intentions and her stomach growled, loud enough that she blushed a little certain that Mitsuo and the silver eyed man had heard.  Sayuri thought about the last time she had eaten, a cold handful of rice that she had stolen by sneaking around back of a farmhouse, she had made it last as long as she could, but the last of it had been eaten up three days ago now.

Without even thinking Sayuri took a step forward towards the man holding the precious fruit and the world went white and was so very loud. It took her a moment to realise that the noise was her own screaming and the white was her hair fallen over her eyes as she had slumped against Mitsuo, because of course she had, her leg had not regained any of its mobility on the grueling trek to this spot her hunger had merely made her forget that fact. And had she thought that her tears or stomach upset were over she was gravely mistaken as they reasserted themselves with a vengeance, she managed to turn her head to avoid directly vomiting on either Mitsuo or the other man, and she mentally kicked herself for being so stupid yet again and wiped her mouth on what remained of her sleeve. She gritted her teeth and tried again to compose herself and steadied herself against Mitsuo's arm while attempting to bow her head in the direction of the other man. "I'm Sayuri, it is nice to meet you, I fell and could use some help." She really didn't except the man to believe her, she was a notoriously terrible liar, but she also didn't want to call Mitsuo out on being a liar either, so this was way probably better.  Though in the long list of choices she had made in the past her judgement was likely not to be trusted as usually she ended up causing more trouble than good.  

631

Tsuyo would turn his attention to the sound of someone approaching in the distance. His mouth would pause from chewing as he listened to the heavy and slightly unbalanced foot falls. Mitsuo was a very graceful man from his experience so he doubted for the moment it was him. Nor would it be any common place shinobi that was tracking him down as most of them would be attempting to move with considerably more silence. His finger ran down the silk on the handle of his blade he was using to cut the apple. A drop of the juice from the apple falling from the curved tip of the blade. Even as the drop fell ever so slowly to the ground he considered his options. If he had to guess on sound alone based on who he was perhaps they sent a very large man after him. Sheer strength in an effort to overpower him. He doubted Sanosuke would be so bold or foolish but he left it as an option. His feet spread apart slightly as he shifted into a rapid movement stance allowing him to move any direction he needed. He looked comfortable standing there but his feet were further apart than normal with the toes pointed in near opposite directions. If he simply leaned in whatever direction he needed to go and rolled his weight across his foot before pushing off he could move far quicker.

He almost breathed in relief as Mitsuo came through the walkway with a young lady carried across his back. The smell of burned skin and muscle filled his mouth as he tasted the pain she must be in. It was a sad thing to see someone so hurt in his friends arms. He would not of brought someone before Tsuyo he did not find honor in. He spoke of how she had fallen and she attempted to move towards Tsuyo. The attempt was pathetic and weak but it was not in Tsuyo's nature to ignore those he could help. Those that still deserved his aid. She screamed and fell before weakly agreeing with Mitsuo. He didn't move to catch her but instead handed the apple to his horse. Wiping his blade with a pocket cloth before sheathing it. She wasn't about to die though her condition needed much to be desired. With a sigh Tsuyo rubbed the bridge of his nose and moved over before kneeling down. His silver gaze moving towards Mitsuo and studying him as for some reason the man felt he could lie or perhaps he was being funny. His silver eyes moved to the wounds as his hands hovered over them gently touching here and there. It would hurt but he would seek out the infected parts of the wounds based on that. He spoke as he did so to Mitsuo while never breaking concentration.

"In either saddle there is a container of water. Bring it here and make sure she drinks slowly. It will ease her recovery if she is hydrated."

While it was a simple task for Tsuyo to clap his hands and all would be well he preferred not to display so much chakra when they were preparing to leave. Instead he moved over each infected area and concentrate a green ball of chakra with one hand. The other hand pointing a finger and shifting his thumb with the tip of the finger just above the worst of the wounds. A green orb shooting out each time and easing the damage a little at a time. He worked over her as he used a multitude of different techniques all under B rank to keep his chakra signature low. As he did though he would ease her pain until the burns faded to tender pink skin and the wounds little more than tiny marks. He would rise to his feet and brush his hands off before smiling to her. Speaking in an amused tone.

"If you fell, it was into a tiny volcano with very sharp rocks young lady."

1327

Sayuri walked along with Mitsuo, and he was impressed that she had made it as far as she had. He had expected her to have passed out long ago, but her determination was quite impressive, which was good because he didn't particularly want to carry her. When she spoke it wasn't necessarily what he had been expecting to hear, but he was okay with that, enjoying the fact that she simply echoed what he had said. He was sure that Tsuyo would understand what had happened, he knew that when people trained with Mitsuo, they tended to get hurt, but he still didn't want it to seem like he was some kind of monster. He watched as Tsuyo got down from his horse, feeding the apple to it, which Mitsuo thought was a pretty good idea because that horse had to take them all the way to Konoha, and then moving towards Sayuri.

Mitsuo tried to look over Tsuyo's shoulder as he treated her, but he would instead be sent to fetch some water from the saddle bag, which of course he did with no hesitation. He rooted through, grabbing another apple from the bag and smiling as he took a bite of it. They were quite delicious, and as he continued to chew, he began to slowly give the water to the small girl. "Drink slow, kid. You don't want to choke. When you're done I've got half an apple here for you." He took the opportunity to watch Tsuyo work, always impressed by the medical prowess of the older shinobi. Mitsuo's extent of medical knowledge included cutting things off, or burning them to stop bleeding. He had even put that second one into action to save Tsuyo from bleeding out from an unfortunate accident involving a sword removing two of his limbs. If it wasn't for Mitsuo's quick thinking, Tsuyo might have been dead. He certainly knew he was no expert however, and took another bite of the apple before handing it to the small girl.

When he heard Tsuyo speak, describing the attack that had injured Sayuri, Mitsuo couldn't help but to chuckle. He had been referred to as many things, but a "tiny volcano with very sharp rocks" was a new one, and it made him smile. "Come on Tsuyo, Volcano's aren't so precise. It would take a master of fire, and of the blade, to make such a perfect attack." He was so painfully proud of himself, but he choose not to laugh, assuming that Tsuyo likely wouldn't find this funny. He walked away and pulled out his pack of cigarettes, pulling one out and bringing it to his lips as he grabbed the zippo lighter from inside of his cloak and flicked it opened, lighting the smoke before quickly closing it and putting it back. He would inhale and bring the smoke into his lungs, holding it there for a few seconds before releasing once more, watching as the smoke drifted up into the sky. One of the best things about being a ninja was there were people like Tsuyo out there who could heal away all of the ill effects of smoking, one of Mitsuo's favorite pass times...

1195

Sayuri watched in disbelief as two incredible things happened; the wonderous life giving apple that the tall handsome man held was absently passed to the horse. And then the same man moved to help her. She hated herself for it, but her stomach heaved again and she coughed up clear bile onto the road, the smell was terrible and the pain it caused in her throat and mouth was worse. Her world had become a dizzying miasma of pain and anguish, dotted occasionally with moments of lucidity that held memories she would rather not spend much time remembering. She lay on the ground trembling as the man named Tsuyo approached and knelt down beside her on the road. His kneeling did little to diminish his formidable size and Sayuri shook with fear as much as pain, the past day had been quite exciting and one she was not looking to repeat any time soon. She flinched and whimpered as he began examining her injury, "Please... no... it hurts too much..." she said halfheartedly. She of course did want to be healed and if she was objective it did not hurt more now than it had initially, but she and the wound had reached an understanding and currently that equilibrium was being messed with and she would prefer to not be awake for the painful part of it.

When Mitsuo handed her the container of water she was already choking before she heard his warning about drinking slowly. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was until the water had touched her lips, it was glorious to have the cool liquid soothe her throat and wash away the acid taste that lingered on her tongue. She smiled sheepishly up at Mitsuo before resuming drinking slower this time, despite wanting to finish the water quickly, excited at the prospect of half an apple. Sayuri propped herself up on one elbow so she could look down at her leg as Tsuyo worked. To her it seemed as though perhaps she was dreaming, the tiny green balls of chakra were so pretty and reminded her so much of the apple that she swallowed some more water quickly and held her hand out to Mitsuo for the half of the apple she was promised.

She giggled when Tsuyo spoke "A tiny volcano? That's the most adorable thing I've ever... " Sayuri tried to behave more seriously, "Oh, uh, yes. Very, very, very sharp rocks Tsuyo Sama." She marveled at her current lack of screaming and tried wiggling her toes just a bit while smiling up at Mitsuo and Tsuyo, "Now can we go travelling? And make camp? And tell stories?"
1077

Tsuyo would finish his healing techniques over the wounds and feel a little bit of ease from his hands as he let the techniques fade. It was just a reflex for him these days but he still felt how the techniques worked against the wound. Felt out where it needed healing as if it called to him. Her wounds were gruesome as most things burned were but they healed none the less. The blackened flesh peeling away into nothing and the skin and muscle forming back together slowly until all such things were a memory. He did not mind when she whimpered or cried out as he did not assume pain something so easily overcome. Even as he finished his work his own body sent phantom stings from his shoulder and leg. It had not been burns when he was wounded by the other man but the pain had left him unable to move. A state of shock that nearly ended him. The burns came after to save him. However even now at times he would feel a pinch in those limbs as if they didn't belong. He would rise to his feet as she wiggled her toes and was no longer in immediate danger. The leg would be sensitive and for the time being he didn't wish to push his luck with more chakra use. Still he would glance to Mitsuo with a raised eye brow at the whole scenario. That he would bring someone else along when where they went could be fatal for even them brought questions. He would brush his hands off and look to the horizon once more. Speaking warmly with a smile as he did so. Ignoring the cigarette smoke from Mitsuo. It sent a craving up his spine but for the moment he wasn't in the mood for smoking.

"We have some distance to cover for the time being. There is a valley in a forest I wish to reach before nightfall. If we can make camp there we can risk a fire as it won't be seen from very far. Young lady I insist as you need the a night of recovery before you utilize that leg that you ride upon Jacobs. My steed. Mitsuo, if you would I would like you to act as both my scout and my hunter. You are more skilled at both than I. If you will allow it I will guard your ward for you while you do. That way we won't be surprised by anything up the road and we can cook meat for dinner."

He would smile and his horse would toss its head back and make a grunt like noise at the sound of its name. A rather large horse but still nothing in it's eyes suggested it being wild. Certainly easy to ride while being regal all the same. He smiled to the girl a moment as his hand rested on the neck of the powerful beast before patting it. His gaze once more moving to Mitsuo. Tsuyo had incredible sensory range himself with his all seeing eye but again he wasn't eager to activate his Byakugan for the time being. Nor in front of new company. He smiled at the man all the same. He trusted Mitsuo to not miss anything where as he might and to be discreet. Even should his pride one day force him to challenge someone who could kill him Mitsuo was still loyal. That said Tsuyo was eager for some alone time with the new individual. He wished to see what he could learn on his own. Not that Mitsuo would wander too far from them but far enough would do.

1949

Mitsuo frowned as the small girl used the term adorable when it came to describing what Tsuyo had said about the attack that had befallen her. He was a bit of a prideful person, and he didn't appreciate being called adorable, he was terrifying. She talked of going travelling and camping and stories and what have you, but all Mitsuo was focused on was riding through the night and getting to his destination; his home. He had no interest in stopping to enjoy the scenery or galavanting through the night or revisiting old stories that were likely left buried. Mitsuo liked the past just where it was, and he had no intention of revisiting the painful memories from his own. Tsuyo and the Aoi Bara were one thing, as they had been a place for him to grow, but so much of his past simply pained him these days that he prefered not to talk about it, let alone think of it. Perhaps he could tell the story of the Karisuma clan though...He had heard it was making the rounds that the big bad Mitsuo Sarutobi had stormed their compound and murdered everyone in it. Thinking of this made him chuckle softly, as he knew the real story and it was nothing so grand.

Mitsuo saw Tsuyo look towards him with a quizical look, as though questioning who he had brought the girl, which was a fair point. Where they were going wouldn't be safe for the two of them, but this girl had been through much and needed a place to go, and Mitsuo knew no better place than the village hidden in the leaves. After Tsuyo spoke his piece Mitsuo nodded and then walked up to him, speaking low so that only he could hear. "This girl saught me out, some kind of hero worshiper. She has no home or family, so I told her I would take her to Konoha. I'm friends with Sousetsu, the Hokage, so I'm sure that she will have no issues finding a place to stay in that village. I don't need another child on my conscience." He took a look out, cracking his fingers and stretching his legs. Mitsuo wasn't one for horses, or any kind of vehicle really. When he was growing up he and Chisoku, his cheetah companion, would run together constantly, and Mitsuo prefered being as close to the ground as he possibly could be just in case, or at least in the trees for a better lookout. He looked back towards the two of them before activating a small seal that would cause his weapons to vanish into it, making him more silent as he ran. Fuuinjutsu was something he had been working on learning for years, and its mastery had been something he was quite proud of, the only thing he was proud of in his time in this village.

He looked back at the two once more before taking a look down the path. "I won't go too far ahead, and I'll let you know if I see anything. I don't imagine there are many who would be foolish enough to chase two legends, but there are always white knights looking to make a name by slaying a dragon." He chuckled once more before nodding again and then taking off at a full sprint, moving towards two trees where he would spring off the ground at the trunk of one of them and kick off of that one to get onto a branch on the other. He would then jump from tree to tree, keeping his eyes peeled for any sort of danger and activating his Wings of the Saint jutsu, one of his signature style. The movement felt so natural, so fluid, and with his sensory he felt connected to everything, it was as though he had been doing this all his life, which technically wasn't too far off. He couldn't wait to see those familiar forests once again, the beautiful greens of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, his true home. Nothing in Mitsuo's mind could be better than the feeling of being at home again, or nothing that he really wanted to think of anyway...

1910

Sayuri was supremely happy, despite having her leg horribly mutilated not long before, now she had water and half an apple, her childhood hero and the handsome man who saved her leg. She breathed in the scent of the apple before taking a bite, knowing from experience that eating too quickly after going so long without was bound to end in sadness for her. She made a happy sighing noise while chewing on the piece of fruit for it was just as wonderful as she had hoped and she watched curiously the silent exchange between the two men. She supposed it was none of her business but it was worth noting all the same that there was some sort of communication commencing that was not intended for her, maybe so as not to worry me, she thought hopefully and set the thought aside. She reached down and touched her leg, still pink in spots but not too much worse than that, it was tender to her touch and she withdrew her hand quickly while shaking her head. She had been very, very stupid, this was the least of what she deserved to be sure, and yet it left her feeling just a tiny bit... resentful. She could not pin down the origin of the feeling, it would require more reflection at a time when she was not cold and tired and hungry and in pain, however it was there and bore consideration, something about the wound felt... not right. She shook her head again in a physical effort to put the thought from her mind, no good could come from dwelling on a thought like that and she looked up at Tsuyo as he spoke.

As he smiled at her Sayuri could not help but to smile back, it had been a long time since someone had been kind to her and that alone would have been enough to win her over, but he had such an easy charm about him that it was difficult not to be content in his presence. A mixture of conflicting emotions ran through her at his words. She was excited that there would indeed be camping, she had not been travelling with anyone since her beloved grandfather Hiraku had taken her. And to be able to ride the horse! Sayuri glanced up at the large beast with its long legs and shiny coat thinking that it must be a mount fit for a Daimyo and then became painfully aware of her current state of attire. Her own clothes were dirty and torn rags, patched together from bits of stolen or found garments, no shoes and now covered in blood. She set her apple down carefully and with no small amount of effort pushed herself to a standing position, wincing still as any weight was applied to her newly healed leg. She tugged at her clothing in an effort to appear presentable and make the thread bare garments become new again, blushing fiercely as she did so. After this failed miserably she settled for removing the dried blood and dirt before bashfully looking up and returning the smile. She spent all together too long looking at her clothing embarrassed and trying to think of something to say or do, knowing that each passing second was drawing more attention to the very thing she was trying to hide, but each moment causing her to feel more paralyzed.

"I would like that very much, thank you. To ride on the horse I mean. And I'm not that young. Or a lady." Sayuri would stammer the words while limping over to the horse to try to hide the scarlet of her cheeks. She wasn't trying to be rude she just didn't know how to behave with people that were nice to her, and that she wanted to be nice to as well. So instead she would speak to the horse, that seemed safer. "Hello Jacobs, it is very nice to meet you. My name is Sayuri, would you like an apple?" At that moment Sayuri would remember her now quarter apple sitting, where she left it, on the path. She would gently rest her head on the horses leg and then limp slowly and sheepishly back to retrieve it, grinning at Mitsuo and Tsuyo on her second trek back to the giant horse. Her grandfather had always told her that she would lose her head if it weren't thankfully attached to the rest of her body, and he had always been proven to be correct. This thought would make her chuckle as she offered the remainder of her apple to Jacobs, Tsuyo's mighty steed. Sayuri would try to make herself appear busy as the two powerful shinobi spoke in hushed tones, as she did not wish to eavesdrop, but she would watch them out of the corner of her eye. Tsuyo was taller than Mitsuo, and where they both were dressed well, Tsuyo looked like some sort of foreign prince whereas Mitsuo was like a foreign war lord perhaps. It was an interesting contrast, even in their manners, still Mitsuo had not smiled at her where that was nearly the first thing Tsuyo had done. They appeared to her like two sides to the same coin, it was no wonder to her that they were friends.

As Mitsuo sprinted away Sayuri decided she would trust Tsuyo. Mitsuo had promised that he would deliver her safely to Konoha, and if he left her here alone with this man, than he must trust Tsuyo and that was good enough for her. With a quick nod of confirmation to solidify the decision she had made she moved to the side of the very tall horse and grasped at the saddle, trying to pull herself up. She probably could have done it given about an hours worth of attempts, but she was fairly certain Tsuyo didn't want to wait quite that long, even if it would be entertaining to see her slide off a horse a dozen times. She would giggle as she turned to Tsuyo and asked "Would you mind helping me up? I'm a bit short."

2110

Tsuyo would listen as Mitsuo whispered. It felt like common mischief whispering under their breath as two men like them were wanted for so little. He would smile as Mitsuo spoke of the girl and how she came about them. Konoha when he had been there was a home to him and one he still yearned for even though his home was gone. Oh but what a thing it was for someone so young to seek out adventure and to grasp it with their own hands. The world was open to the girl and she was eager to discover its secrets. Perhaps her journey would have a better start than Either Mitsuo's or his own. The world stretched a great deal more than one realized and he had seen much of it. Each new land a new culture, different people and words and art. Around every bend and over every hill something new to see and admire. Perhaps she would settle in Konoha but if she were anything like the two of them, if she wished to model herself after Mitsuo she would stretch to her toes too see more until her feet simply began walking. Mitsuo had done so out of a sense of loss but Tsuyo suspected this girl would have a curiosity that simply could not be restrained. As such he would encourage Mitsuo to train her in combat a little when he returned later. After all there were the darker things in the world too and he would not have her go unprepared.

Still he would turn and see her fidgeting about her clothes. She seemed so innocent in them and yet it appeared she had been through hard times. She was in need of a bath and an actual outfit before she met with Sousetsu. Still Mitsuo would turn and make his leave with a comment about legends, knights and dragons and Tsuyo would nearly scoff out a laugh at the inside joke. It was then the girl spoke in thanks and Tsuyo bowed his head. Replying to her with a simple bit of words and a warm smile meeting his silver eyes. "My apologies. I could not fathom someone so beautiful as anything but a lady in her youth." He would watch her speak to the horse and wait as he adjusted his gloves and glanced over the saddlebags showing everything they needed was packed. A tent and some rations with a few canteens of water and some coin. It was minimal but Tsuyo had the connections to purchase anything they needed upon arrival to the village. This girl may just be useful as a face for them to purchase lodging until they meet with the Hokage. Seeing as both of theirs were wanted.

Still he would glance as she limped over to her partially eaten apple. Feeding it to Jacobs as well. A fairly well fed horse as he was he gobbled it down with little to no grace as she held it out to him. After which she would move to his side and attempt to hop up a couple times. Jacobs was well trained for battle and stood firm without shifting while she struggled up before ultimately failing. Tsuyo would show mirth without judgement in an expression with a slight smile as she asked him for help. Once more he would bow his head and speak in a warm tone like silk on the ears. "As you wish." before stepping forward. He would smile and look her in the eyes as this close she would see his eyes were not simply silver. They were the color of the hyuga eyes. His hands would shift to her hips where his grip was firm and yet somehow comfortable. He was a doctor so he knew where one could lift without hurting someone. What may have come as a surprise though was how he lifted her with no effort. Like an adult lifting a newborn she was placed upon the horse. Mitsuo wasn't the only one with raw power. Still he would smile before turning and grabbing the reigns and with that he set off after Mitsuo. Allowing a moment of silence for the girl to speak as he wished for her to grow comfortable with him at her own pace. Mitsuo would likely be near enough to hear a shout if needed but truly he simply hoped for some meat that night for camp.

2692

Mitsuo had missed this rush, the feeling of the wind whipping through his hair and across his face as he ran. He had missed the smell of forest, just forest, something so simple and beautiful that he had grown up with his entire life. He had been stuck in a place where it just didn't feel the same, the village being a fascinating place, though the presence of someone Mitsuo hated more than essentially anyone else made it a little bit frustrating to be there. Being away from the village was freeing, and feeling like he was no longer being hunted as well played a big part in that. Because Sanosuke didn't like him, Mitsuo was fairly positive that were he to find him he would have had him arrested once more, and likely executed. Fortunately for Mitsuo, that wasn't something that had happened, as he didn't want to be the one held responsible for the death of the current Raikage; Had Sanosuke come, Mitsuo surely would have killed him.

The nice thing about Mitsuo's Wings of the Saint technique was that he didn't have to worry about seeing where he was going necessarily. He would always be able to feel if something was passing through his space, as it was impossible to move through air without being obvious. It was a clever little jutsu that he had created many years ago in order to better hunt criminals, and when he became one it was to help him avoid confrontation and capture. It had saved his life more than a few times, and as he made his way down this pathway it would end up saving his life in a different way this time. He could feel several small things moving through the brush beneath him, rabbits by the shapes of them. Mitsuo smirked as he felt this, Tsuyo had said he wanted to have meat after all. Light was beginning to fade, but that meant nothing to the Sword Saint of Konoha who didn't need to see to be able to see.

Mitsuo unsealed several Kunai, counting six rabbits in total on the ground through his space. He had gotten fairly lucky, and he didn't take that fact for granted, but he sat atop his branch and waited until they would begin moving. They were quick, but Mitsuo was one of the fastest people in the entire world, the shinobi being able to easily out run and out maneuver these animals. Had he wanted to he could have slain each of them with a sword, but there would be no meat left had he tried to do that. He would throw six kunai, six precision shots. Mitsuo was used to killing humans in one shot, the nice thing about most animals is they didn't try to kill you while you were doing so. The movement of each rabbit stopped suddenly as Mitsuo pulled the wire that he had run through all of the Kunai, feeling the weight shift to the end of his wire as he lifted up. There were six plump rabbits, each with a Kunai in their left eye. He hadn't intended that specifically, but he was fairly proud of the feat nonetheless. He would sit beside the tree, unsealing a few simple items like a bottle of water, a pot, and a bag of vegetables. When it had been revealed that he would be leaving the village today, Mitsuo had prepared for that, knowing that he would likely need to make camp at some point.

He would skin the rabbits, storing the pelts for later, as well as the feet which he figured he could get some ryo for at the very least as people loved their curios. He would then begin to cut the meat into the pot, which he had filled with the water and set over a small fire which he had created. It had started getting darker, and since it was winter such things happened sooner these days, so the fire would give off a little bit of light. Mitsuo had no doubt it would dip off Tsuyo and Sayuri as to where he was. When he was finished with the meat he would begin to chop up carrots, potatoes and celery, putting them into the pot as he began to make Rabbit Stew, an old personal favorite of his from when he was a child. He remembered his mother teaching him how to make it when he was very little, he and his brother so excited to learn such a skill. It was one of the last lessons he had ever learned from her...Mitsuo would sit there making his stew and await his comrades, humming old songs from his childhood as he did.

2713

As Tsuyo approached she became increasingly aware of their difference in size and had to tilt her head back to see his face. His visage was striking, he was possibly the most beautiful person she'd ever seen, but it was his eyes that most intrigued her, so pale and this close she could see they were ever so slightly edged with lavender. She opened her mouth to speak and instead gasped as he grasped her hips and in one fluid and effortless motion placed her gently on the back of his steed Jacobs. Sayuri stared in shock at the back of his perfectly tailored suit as Tsuyo gathered Jacobs reins, she had not been expecting someone with such a gentle and easy manner to be so powerful. She was also pleasantly surprised that the sudden hoisting hadn't caused her any pain, she was used to being tossed around like a doll being she was so small, but not so carefully even her grandfathers tanto tucked into her trousers hadn't dug into her skin. It made sense, the Sword Saint of Konoha would of course have powerful allies she just hadn't expected it and now felt terribly out of her depth. She shivered in the saddle, the lack of pain making the cold less bearable than it had been before, and snuggled closer to the horses mane hoping to draw in some of its warmth.

She lay along Jacobs' mane, hugging the sides of the powerful horses neck, head turned to one side quietly watching Tsuyo trying to decide what to say to him. The silence was not uncomfortable, but she was bursting with questions that she just needed to have answers to and wasn't sure which ones were appropriate and which ones would have her tossed in a snow drift. She slowly started tracing her finger along the horses neck, drawing pictures of birds and trees in a effort to quiet her mind before blurting out something stupid. After opening and closing her mouth several times she would gently bang her head against the horses neck and then push herself so she sat straight in the saddle and draw in a deep breath before speaking. "Thank you so very much for fixing my leg, I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't fixed it. Limped forever I expect, or died. Probably died. I'm Sayuri by the way, I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself before I wasn't trying to be rude or anything, why are your eyes purple?..."

Realizing she was talking too much Sayuri would trail off and begin playing with her hair, pulling the long white strands over the right side of her face to try to disguise her green eye, she had always liked her blue one better, though now she could feel tears pricking at both of them regardless of their hue. She hated that she always cried, it was an annoying quirk that was often made her the subject of much ridicule. Her grandfather had tried to comfort her by telling her that crying meant she cared, and caring for things was the most important thing in the world, but it was hard to believe that after so many years. These tears were prompted by the fear that she had asked a question that was too personal, why are your eyes purple? she repeated the question in her head angrily. What on earth had she been thinking to go on this fantastic quest of hers? How was she supposed to set things right if she couldn't carry on a civil conversation?

2720

With Mitsuo gone they set off and for a time it was silent traveling. She was cold but truthfully Tsuyo had nothing to give her to cover her. The warmth of the horse beneath her would have to be enough. He had not packed expecting another to join them. While he regretted it his coat wasn't built for warmth anyway. He was wearing it and kept it near him always because despite it appearing to be a business coat the article of clothing was actually a famed piece of light armor. The Lord Fortune was a coat that could parry any basic strike. If jutsu were not involved no blade could pierce his coat or club damage his bones. Though after an hour they had entered a more wooded flat ground and faded from the mountain behind the temperature did improve. Kumo was a land of mountains and thus its temperature fairly cold. Konoha however was lush forests and low lands. While often it rained and the temperature was still cold due to season it would be easily noted there was no more of the snow. Still he would keep in mind to remain prepared here as well. Home or no this place had once turned on him too.

The walk was slow to him but he did wish to travel casually so as not to draw attention. Besides it gave him time to monitor the girl left with him. Silence was golden but to a trained eye there were many tells. Her clothes were in no way matched and many in poor condition. Worn for some time he would imagine. Some were burned of course but that left little to tell as she had met Mitsuo. That Mitsuo would train her and keep her near though suggested potential. He could of given her coin and home in Kumo but he preferred her access to Konoha. Chances were she had potential. That aside she didn't appear to have the mindset of someone off the street. While timid of new people she wasn't hardened. She didn't go for the throat or glare she simply knew fear. Perhaps she was new to the vagrant life. Someone of position at some point or comfort. A refugee of the war? It was possible. He would learn all in time. Still when she finally did speak he smiled and paused for a moment before glancing back and her with an amused look before turning and continuing as he talked over his shoulder.

"I had not thought it possible someone would not know of these eyes in this day and age. Those who are born with them in my clan are considered to be given a power. Long ago in my home we go to now I first unlocked my all seeing eyes. My clan, the hyuga celebrated but in the end, I was wanted all the more for having them."

The sun had begun to set when she finally did speak but he could tell they had neared their destination. It was within the travel distance and it was with relief he noted they had not drawn attention. Likely if Kumo knew of their departure they had no interest in following them. Still they passed into a tree line for a time and Tsuyo remained silent. He was close to home now and his heart fluttered with mixed feelings. How good it was to stumble into a clearing where a fire burned already and Mitsuo sat cooking. Tsuyo smiled and tied the horse to a tree before helping Sayuri down with as much ease as before. Speaking as her feet touched ground and he released her.

"Mitsuo, Dinner smells delightful and I thank you. Lady Sayuri if you would join him by the fire and warm your bones I will see to it that the sleeping arrangements are made. I plead your pardon but we have but the one tent. As one of us would stand guard as the other slept. It is more than big enough for two I assure you if you would share it with either of us."

He smiled and should she turn to the fire and a meal he would take off the horses saddle. Setting it over a stump before collecting some oats and two pales. The first he filled with oats and set before the horse and the second with water. Drinking the last of that canteen himself. He would pat the loyal beast before letting it eat and drink and moved on to the tent. Setting it on a piece of flat ground unassembled he would step back. His right hand would lift as a bit of golden chakra would fade in and out of view along his arm. It appeared to be like a golden dragon, thin and long but at the end of his hand it shifted along and moved to the tent circling it and as it did the tent would seem to lift and gradually assemble itself before snapping into place and standing tall. Spikes embedded in the ground to hold it down. He glanced inside to see two sets of fur blankets he had forgotten he had packed. Sighing as he realized he could of used them to warm her had he not been in such a rush to get out of Kumo. With a smile he grabbed the fur of a polar bear he used and collected it up in a roll before moving over to the fire. He would bow before handing her the fur and settling on a log next to them. Speaking pleasantly.

"The air feels better here does it not brother? What home cooked meal have you made us today?"

3649

The Sarutobi Clan head sat sitting beside the fire, stirring the pot and smiling softly as he stirred and whistled. There were many things in his life that he was ashamed of, and he had every reason to be, but there were also a few simple things that he was fairly proud of. He was proud of his mastery of the blade, the title that his once sensei turned Hokage had given him being a testament to that. The Sword Saint of Konoha title was something special, and since there would only ever be one it was something that Mitsuo held extremely close to his heart. He was proud of the fact that his daughter, Kaia-Mai, ended up being a pretty great person in spite of the fact that he had been gone for so long and she had been through so much. She was everything that he had ever wanted in his life, the proof that it was possible for him to have a family and for them to truly turn out good, not fantastic or wonderful, but good...she was his hope. The third was such a stupid little thing, but it was the mastery of this simple dish. He hadn't been able to spend a lot of time with his mother before she passed away, but in one of those moments she had taken the time to teach Mitsuo and his brother this recipe. He wouldn't get to learn much from her, but this was one of the things that he got, and he was so happy to have shared that moment. Mitsuo cherished that memory above any other in his life, and he remembered it in his darkest times.

He could still feel everything around him, so he felt Tsuyo and Sayuri approaching when they were fifty meters out. He was just finishing his stew and as they got to the clearing he had pulled out some bowls and spoons for the three of them to use. He continued whistling his tune, the sad melodies of it rising over the crackle of the fire and the sounds of the horse and its riders. He didn't look up when they got off of the horse, but he did flash one of his trademark soft half smiles as they made their ways towards him. It had seemed as though the two of them had spoken a bit on the way over, which was good, as he wanted them to like one another. Mitsuo worried about the girl, at least enough to bring her back to the village. He didn't like the idea that she lived with no family and no home at such an age, and he wanted her to find a place to call her own, though he didn't want her to think it had to be with him as he had no intention of going down such a path. He heard Tsuyo speak, thanking him first and then discussing sleeping arrangements. He looked towards the tent that Tsuyo was setting up, not personally being used to stopping on these journeys. He was a big fan of pushing himself past his limits and crashing when he got to his destination, unless the situation called for something else.

"I will take watch brother, it is not like me to sleep on such a journey anyway. I will not be able to rest until I am back in my compound sleeping in my own bed once again...I have waited to do so for five years after all. My daughter should be there waiting for me too, so my excitement level is currently fairly high..." His voice would trail off, he wished that he knew his daughter would be waiting for him, but he had no way of actually knowing that. She had told him that she forgave him for leaving, but he knew that it was impossible to simply forget about such a thing. He had abandoned her for a very long time, and he felt fairly sure that he would get home to an empty house, save maybe for painful reminders of how his life had been before he had to flee the country.

"It feels more like home." Mitsuo nodded as he agreed with Tsuyo's comment on the air and then handed Tsuyo and Sayuri each a bowl before looking down at the stew. "This is a simple rabbit stew, something that...something I hold very dear to my heart. My mother taught my brother and I how to make this before...well..." He sighed and continued looking into the bowl, closing his eyes and remembering once again the moment he held his mother in his arms as she died. It was impossible to forget such a thing, and he knew that Tsuyo had heard the story, as it was a member of his clan who was being targeted when it happened. Mitsuo was only ten years old when he lost his mother, and it was devastating. He could feel a pressure in the corner of his eyes, which he fought back after taking a second. "Sayuri, you said you wanted to hear stories? I have one, and you may have heard it before, as I know that people still talk about me to this day, but it is one I am exceptionally proud of. Do you know how I got the title of Sword Saint of Konoha?" He would pause for a second for effect, not actually expecting either of them to answer but he knew there was a chance that it would happen.

"When I was a young lad, seventeen years old, after Tsuyo had left the village and I was spending my time split between either training with the sword, or being with Kimaru..." He stopped for a second at saying this name, as it was one that he was still careful saying around Tsuyo. "I was put into a squad with Takeshi Uzumaki. He was an interesting individual, and where I picked up many of my bad habits from..." as he said this Mitsuo pulled out a cigarette and put it between his lips, using the zippo lighter that his sensei had given him to light it and take a deep drag, letting the smoke fill his lungs before exhaling through his nose. "He was fairly impressed by my ability, sending me to Sunagakure to compete in the Chuunin exams fairly soon after taking me into his squad. Myself and my best friend, Ukiyo Senju, represented Konoha. We both made it through the first two rounds, sticking together through all of it, and then when it came down to the battle rounds I was matched up against someone who I had an elemental weakness against, who as it turned out had brought an illegal pet into the battle. He and I had an amazing battle, and at no point did I ever believe that he would defeat me. I fought him into a corner, my ability with a blade clearly superior to his, and was about to strike the finishing blow when he managed to get out of it using an ability that was far beyond his own abilities, which it was revealed after was due to the pet.

"After this fight I was promoted instantly to the rank of Chuunin, and returned to Konoha where I found that the village had been attacked, the Hokage killed (along with many others) and ANBU agents waiting for me. They led me to the top of Hokage Mountain where Takeshi was waiting for me. We spoke at length on what had happened, me telling him about the chuunin exams before he told me what had transpired here. He told me that Tatsumaru, the Hokage at the time, had used an extremely dangerous release known as Explosion release to attempt to defend the village, and had managed to destroy most of the village in his wake. He was shot by the attacker, who then got away. Many citizens had died, shinobi and not, and Konoha would be looking to rebuild. He told me that he was extremely proud of myself, and Ukiyo who had made it to the semi finals, and that we would be two of the people to usher in the future of the village. It was then that he told me that he had been appointed the Hokage of the village, and that I would be promoted once again, my ability surpassing that of a Chuunin. He told me that he wanted me to be at his side as his head of ANBU, and that the world would henceforth know me as the Sword Saint of Konoha, the only of my name. It is a great honour to bare this title, as it shows people the world over that in the village hidden in the leaves there is none my equal with a blade..." Mitsuo's voice trailed off once more, another drag of his cigarette as he wrapped up the story. "I am sorry that this story isn't the most exciting ever. I am not a story teller, I am more of a motivator." He chuckled softly and looked back up at the other two.

"I believe my brother is quite the storyteller however. Perhaps he could bless us with a story of grandeur? Something to hold us over before you two get your rest. I want to leave as early as we can so I can get back to my home once more..." He finished the contents of his bowl and relaxed once more, moving a hand to wipe moisture from his face. It was hot sitting beside the fire, it must have been, for Mitsuo never perspired. He was naturally hot...

4343

As Tsuyo paused and turned back to face her Sayuri held her breath attempting to prepare herself for all too likely event of her being tossed off the horse that was her only current source of warmth. When she saw the warmth in his eyes and the grin on his lips however she exhaled audibly and slumped back against Jacobs’ warm neck, resuming her semi comfortable and watchful pose. It was interesting to her that there was so much of the world that she did not know, and also it was a puzzling phrase. She tried to imagine what kind of power Tsuyo’s eyes must hold, he had called them ‘all seeing’, so perhaps that meant that he could see especially far, or in the dark, or perhaps colours that no one else could see. But what anyone else would want him for she could not fathom, I will ask him of it later, she thought to herself, when it is a less awkward situation, and she smiled warmly across (for they were nearly eye level now) at Tsuyo now in silent thanks for his patience. As the sun was setting and began leaving trails of copper and gold along the trees it sparked a memory within Sayuri, just a glimpse, a feeling really, that she had seen this before, when she was small. She furrowed her brows and tried to pull the memory forward, staring intently at the tree line as she did so, it was there just on the edge of her consciousness. And while it was maddening to not be able to remember something, the ‘something’ that she could not recall was oddly comforting and also had caused tears to flow from her eyes unbidden, though she had no explanation for either strange occurrence. And with no answer to pacify herself with she glanced over at her traveling companion to see if he was disturbed in anyway, and much to Sayuri’s dismay, his face was unreadable. It was not of course that she wished any distress upon the man, however some mirror of her own distress would have been validation enough to calm her spirit and lay it to rest, but she found none and chewed on her lower lip in worry. The further they went into the forest the stronger the feeling got and the more anxious she felt. With nothing else to do but ride Sayuri would occupy her time by braiding the horses mane with many small braids and then weaving those together in intricate patterns only pausing in her work when she heard the gentle sound of a crackling fire and the haunting sound of a whistled tune floating on the wind. Sayuri looked up as they passed into a clearing where she could see Mitsuo, at least she believed it was him as there was a fire burning brightly that was making it difficult to make out details, what she could discern though was that the music was coming from him. She did not recognize the tune, but she knew the feeling it carried, that overwhelming sorrow that only follows losing something that is truly loved and cherished, she knew that feeling all too well. Sayuri would say a short prayer under her breath for Mitsuo to her grandfather.

“Please Sofu, watch over him as you’ve watched over me. I don’t know why, but he’s hurting too.”

After her mumbled prayer she would look at her surroundings, the clearing was quiet save for their presence and smelled of trees and damp earth, fire and food… glorious, wonderful food. Her stomach would cramp in protest at the delicious aroma without the immediate consumption of its source and she would gasp and then whimper quietly while clutching at her middle as Tsuyo would tie the giant horse to a nearby tree. Once the horse was tied securely Sayuri would weakly begin wriggling her way off the mountain of a beast before being caught firmly yet considerately in Tsuyo’s grip and lowered her tiny frame to the clearing floor. As her left leg touched the soft debris scattered beneath her feet she would wince and grasp at Tsuyo’s arm to steady herself as pain and heat would radiate through the muscle of the still tender limb. She would try to smile through the pain so as not to appear weak and interrupt the peaceful mood, and taking Tsuyo’s advice limp her way over to the blessedly large and warm fire, flashing a shy smile at Mitsuo as she did so. Sayuri would clamber onto a log beside the one Mitsuo was sitting on and pull her legs up to her chest and wrap her arms around her knees to comfort her empty belly without looking too obvious about the process. Though as soon as sleeping arrangements were mentioned she would turn around quickly to gauge the intention behind the stated assurance, with the fire at her back it was easier to pick out details, and seeing no malice or malintent she would nod once slowly while moving her hand subtly to her hip to be certain that her grandfather’s tanto was indeed still there, which she was relieved to discover it was. As Tsuyo fed and watered the horse Sayuri thought wistfully of all the animal friends that she would miss now that she was headed to Konoha, they had been her closest companions and her confidants for most of her life, which most people may have found strange but to her it was perfectly sound reasoning. Animals did not lie or betray, they were loyal and kind, and treated you with the exact same respect and care that you bestowed upon them, oftentimes more so. Sayuri’s eyes would grow wide as when Tsuyo placed the tent upon the ground a thin golden light of chakra would flow and weave its way around to pull and place the canvas and spikes and poles in the appropriate places, a minuscule golden dragon moving at his apparent bidding. She would giggle reflexively with excitement, “Oh, how wonderful!” and resume curled up on the log with her arms wrapped around her legs, chin resting gently on her knees and a smile beaming across her face. Her thoughts full of dragons and cows, she would giggle again with a start not noticing Tsuyo’s approach with the white fur blanket, and would quickly jump up, cry out, bow, accept the blanket and crash back down on the log in a fit of giggling and whimpering that was very far from dignified or ladylike.

As Tsuyo and Mitsuo exchanged words Sayuri managed to calm herself and catch her breath while wrapping herself in the fur blanket, thankfully in time to be handed a warm bowl brimming with hearty looking stew, which she would hold in both hands and breathe in for a moment to savor the aroma before eating greedily, ignoring the slight burning sensation on her tongue and lips, punishment for not allowing it to cool down some before devouring it.

“Thank you Tsuyo-sama for the blanket. It is lovely, if oddly timed, and for the offer of a place to sleep, I had been expecting to either ride through the night or sleep under a tree. And Mitsuo-sama, for this wonderful fire and delicious food, it is possibly the best thing I have ever eaten, you are an excellent cook and I think your mother would be proud.”

She would look up as she finished her sentence and instantly regret her choice of words, she had said something wrong, certainly. She couldn’t be sure of what, but there was that pain again and this time it was her fault of that she was certain. She would open her mouth to apologize just as Mitsuo asked if she had heard of the story of how he had become the Sword Saint of Konoha. Which now that she actually was asked… she realized she hadn’t actually.

“I have only heard scattered rumours Mitsuo-sama. And I’m certain that those rumours do not do the true story justice. I would dearly love to hear the story from the Sword Saint of Konoha himself, I had never dreamed that I would have this chance. I beg you please, tell me the story!”

And with that she would lay the fur blanket on the log and lie down on top of it on her belly, chin propped up on her hands, eager to hear the legend from the Legend. It truly was a dream come true, not a day had passed since she had run away from the fiery inferno so many years ago that she had not dreamt of finding the man that would help her to save the rest of the world and lay to rest the memory of her village and of her family. She would listen intently to the sad and epic tale but she felt her heart shatter as she spied tears edging their way out of the corner of Mitsuo’s eyes. As he chuckled she would allow him his peace and smile sympathetically up at him despite tears of her own flowing freely down her cheeks.

“You are a wonderful story teller Mitsuo-sama, thank you for sharing that with me, I am honoured. It seems you have been through many trials, you must have been chosen by the gods I imagine. Are you two brothers then? You don’t look so similar… but then I don’t know so many people, I’ve spent most of my life alone or well trying to be alone. Trying to hide, from the people that… All the same, yes I would like to hear more stories, from Tsuyo this time. And I’m not tired yet, even though by all rights I certainly should be, I’m not sure when I last slept There’s just one thing...”

Her voice would trail off as she looked down at her empty stew bowl and then looked up shyly through her hair between Mitsuo and Tsuyo.

“But before more stories, may I have some more stew?”

4421

Tsuyo would settle next to them and as a bowl of stew was passed his way he would quietly set about stirring it and enjoying the aroma. It smelled wonderful but he could feel the heat through the bowl. Still he would pick up a moderate spoon full and lift it up. Lightly blowing on it before accepting it would no longer burn him and enjoying the sweet tastes in his mouth. Chewing quietly and with dignity a little at a time. Stirring the bowl again each time to keep the flavors mixed. Mitsuo's cooking was a rather pleasant surprise for the night. A large part of him had expected simply to eat crispy animals on a stick cooked over a fire. It wasn't lost on him that Mitsuo had more talents than even he knew of. Mitsuo spoke of being to excited to sleep. Tsuyo intended to argue the point but not during the meal. Any disagreement could be handled with full bellies and a comfortable position to sit. Still it would seem to be Mitsuo who would start off the story telling. He would listen with his eyes watching for a moment until his little brothers name was mentioned.

As always Tsuyo's eyes would fall at the mention of the name and his spoon would stop stirring. There was a moment of uncomfortable silence. Within it Tsuyo set his bowl down next to him. Reaching into his coat for a flask before pulling it out. Idly he unscrewed the top as Mitsuo continued and Tsuyo drank a great deal of whatever was in the flask. He would listen then as he pushed the flask back into his coat pocket. His hands not returning to the stew as it appeared his appetite was gone. Mitsuo spoke of the time between when Tsuyo knew him and how he rose to his position. He remembered Ukiyo and not so fondly as the memory of her brought his right hand to his eye as it rubbed the side of it. A painful memory. Still it was interesting to listen to the man describe how he became who he was when Tsuyo met him again. A rather quick rise to power with dedication and talent. Nothing to surprising given what he knew of the man. Still the title was impressive. What he didn't mention in the story was how he himself had been Hokage for a time. Interesting that he would leave that out.

Still he would suggest that Tsuyo was somewhat more grand with his stories. The girl would suggest she would like to hear it but was eager for another bowl. As she would either be served another or denied Tsuyo would simply stare into the fire for a moment. Only once attention was turned back towards him Tsuyo would speak in a humble tone. His eyes filled with a strange pain. "My tale is not one so grand a rise, nothing to dream of and filled with more sorrow than triumph. I fear the world for me has proven grim in my memory. However I shall tell it as I saw it." He would idly reach down and touch the ground. As he did so dirt would rise up in front of them and forms would take shape. Like magnificent clay dolls with great detail they would rise. Four in total. One was someone who resembled Tsuyo but with no facial hair and slightly altered face. Another a dark robed man with a gas mask and long hair. The third was an older gentleman with a goatee and hair in a pony tail and lastly a girl with flowers in her hair and a sweet smile. All would bow as he began to speak.

"When I was a young man in the village hidden in the leaves I had risen with great promise to the rank of Special Jounin. I was a prodigy even in the hyuga clan and destined to rise up as the next clan head. As such promise was considered rare at the time I was placed in a special squad. Myself the hyuga was to be the hand to hand combat specialist with my ability to disrupt chakra pathways with a touch. Another, an Aburame and a good friend of mine was a ranged specialist and able to attack with pinpoint accuracy with bugs which ate their victims chakra. The girl was an Uzumaki who specialized in sealing incoming jutsu and her chains when they made contact with an individual would render their chakra useless. Lastly our squad leader was our medic and a Shihana. With his eyes he could force chakra of those within his eye sight to remain dormant. We specialized in chakra shut down and we were effective."

The four figures would suddenly shift and move in formations in place as random figures poorly created would seem to attack them from the dirt only to be put down one after the other. Seemingly with ease. However that would quickly falter and soon only the squad leader and the Uzumaki girl would be holding hands gazing into each others eyes. A pair of long skeletal hands looming over them. "What we did not know was the squad leader was a descendant of royal blood. Distant but still royalty. He and the Uzumaki girl were in love but she was but a commoner as were the rest of us. It was forbidden but they intended to wed anyway. Someone from the shadows would not let their traditions be trampled on. An order was issued for just the Aburame and myself to track down a pair of traitors to Konoha and eliminate them. When we arrived we were shocked to find the other half of our squad."

The scene changed to Tsuyo and the Aburame standing there across from the pair. Tsuyo had his hand on the Aburame holding him back. Somehow they seemed to drip and it became apparent that somehow it was raining tiny droplets over the clay figures. Tsuyo's hand glowing golden against the earth. "I remember it was raining that night. She stood between us and her would be husband and pleaded with us that they were innocent. She explained what was happening and we doubted her. We felt betrayed. However I have never seen such earnest truth in such hurt filled eyes. I have felt a great deal of guilt for having doubted them even a moment every night since. Her tears still maiming my soul."

Once more the scene changed. The two lovers faded running into the ground and were gone and the Aburame and Tsuyo ran for a time with what appeared to be hounds and men on their tale. Losing them here and there but hounded until they too faded. "We allowed them to flee and in doing so had to flee ourselves. We had disobeyed a royal decree and thus it would be our heads. For years we ran through the country side before finally we understood we could not find redemption as we were. We moved on to Iwa where I offered our services. However the Aburame simply wanted to grow in power and wealth and I sought retribution and salvation. We split ways and I formed an organization bent on going where our might was needed. I have since expanded its resources and in doing so found the answer I sought. You asked if Mitsuo and I were brothers....he loved my little brother more than even I and unlike me was there when Kimaru answered for my transgressions in my place. I can never take back what was lost. I can never have my family back. Mitsuo is the closest I will ever have again."

He felt his shoulders slump and exhaustion fell on him. Suddenly he looked so much older and more weary. His smile faded and food forgotten. He would rise from his seat to his feet and walk quietly over to Mitsuo and place a hand on his shoulder quietly in passing before speaking on his way to the tent. His voice a forced sound and filled with pain and tired sounds. "We need our rest. I will take my rest for the night but Mitsuo, I urge you to wake me so you can get some hours in yourself. We are not returning here as heroes and I need you rested for anything that may come our way. Please try and do this for me." With that he ducked into the tent and found his fur. Falling on it on the left side of the tent and allowing himself to drift into a sleep he had not had in some time in Kumo.

5107

Mitsuo didn't play much into his own storytelling ability, though it seemed as though he had managed to captivate his audience at least a little bit. The young girl expressed her gratitude and praise, which as she did hero worship him it did make sense. He decided not to bring attention to this. When she asked if the two of them were brothers, he decided he would allow Tsuyo to answer that question, as it was his time to tell a story anyway. It appeared everyone was enjoying the stew, which made Mitsuo happy as he didn't particularly believe himself to be the greatest cook. He had quite a bit as well, since six rabbits went a fairly long way towards making a lot of food, so when Sayuri asked for more he spooned out a little bit more. Mitsuo would tend to his own stew as Tsuyo began to speak, watching him begin to use his earth chakra to create small figurines that would illustrate his story. Mitsuo wasn't sure why he hadn't thought of using his Katon chakra to enhance his own story, but he had decided that when he was up again he would make sure to do so, listening intently to Tsuyo's tale, as it was one that he had never heard before.

He had never heard of why Tsuyo had defected from the village, all he had ever known was he was in the Bingo Book when he became an ANBU agent, which made sense as he had left with Mitsuo and Kimaru were fairly young. The face of the one of the dolls that Tsuyo created was a face that Mitsuo knew fairly well, the face he had always known Tsuyo to wear, and one that looked exactly like Kimaru. It pained Mitsuo a little bit to see it, but he didn't let it show as he continued to listen. Of the four people Tsuyo spoke of in his story, Mitsuo had met the Aburame, as when he had joined the Aoi Bara he was a member of the group, though he wasn't around for long after Mitsuo had joined. He had always wondered why he had left, and it was curious to hear the reason. His story was quite beautiful, Tsuyo having a much greater way with words than Mitsuo did in the regard of storytelling, and he was quite right in assuming that his story would be a good one. His story touched Mitsuo's heart, as Tsuyo had lost so much and he had been forced to run, something that Mitsuo could relate too. He had spent the majority of his adult life running, and it still crushed him to think of what could have been had things turned out differently...

He wrapped up his story by telling Sayuri about Mitsuo and Kimaru, and about why he and Tsuyo were so close, which was nice to hear. As he moved off to go to sleep, he put a hand on Mitsuo's shoulder, something that always managed to calm the Sarutobi Clan Leader. He told him that he wanted to wake him up at some point so that Mitsuo could get some rest as well, which when Tsuyo said this he answered. "Of course Tsuyo, I'll wake you for a shift. When we are in Konoha I want to talk to you about a few things as well..." His story had made Mitsuo realize he didn't know much about Tsuyo's past, and as the two of them spent so much time together it made sense that Mitsuo should learn more. He imagined they would be travelling together a long time, since that seemed to be the case with them. As Tsuyo turned in, Mitsuo looked across at Sayuri. "One more story, then you should get to sleep as well. I appreciate the company anyway, but you certainly should get some sleep." He looked at the fire, smiling as he would get to use a similar trick as to the one that Tsuyo had used, creating two figures in the fire. One of them could have been said to vaguely resemble Mitsuo, and the second to vaguely resemble Tsuyo, though Mitsuo had changed so much since this time that it would be impossible to tell.

"This is a tale of two lovers, and it is one dear to my heart. The two met when they were but boys, merely ten years old in the academy. They became friends quickly, forming a close bond through their days through the academy." The figures would shift to two young children, the flames dancing and playing with one another, or so it would seem, though in reality they were training. "They spurred one another to do better, and to become stronger, the two of them quickly advancing in their class in the academy. Each of them had a brother, the first boy a twin and the second an older brother who all three boys looked up too." Two more figures appeared, one identical to the first figure and the second like an older version of the other boy. "The three would graduate from the academy and all be put into a squad together, something that they were all very excited for. This excitement wouldn't last long, however..." The scene in the fire would play out, the two lovers sticking close to one another, their sensei fighting a powerful adversary, and the twin being stabbed, causing the first boy to run and hold him in his arms as that flame died out, becoming coals in front of them. "Such things never truly last, you see, and in this life it is even more rare for these things to happen. The boys however never gave up, and even when the second boys brother left the village, they continued to push themselves harder. The first boy was determined to find his brother's killers, and the second sought a way to bring his brother back to the village."

The two figures would grow, a wall of flame separating them as this happened, Mitsuo's eyes focused on the second boy always. "Their careers would mirror one another, the first boy rising through the ranks via the chuunin exams, while the second would do so through sheer missions and force of will. Both rose quickly, and both became members of the faceless ANBU core, becoming one step closer to having the ability to achieve their goals." Both of them shifted once more, their faces disappearing though the first figure had short hair and the second had long. The first figure was adorned with a sword while the second used his fists. The differences between the two reminded Mitsuo that he and Kimaru were close despite their differences, quite like he and Tsuyo were. "When they were both seventeen, the first boy had become the head of the ANBU Black Ops, and the second was his right hand, the two lovers working side by side the entire way. A notice would come across the first boy's desk, telling them what they had been looking for; the man whom had killed the brother."

A third figure would appear in the fire, though he was indiscernible as he was cloaked in flame, impossible to distinguish any features at all. "Quite like with Tsuyo's story, it was raining when they tracked him. It is interesting to note that truly dramatic things generally happen in the rain." The fire would dance as he simulated rain. "Now these boys had been fighting together for years, and knew each other better than anyone else in the world. There was nobody in the entire shinobi world who could defeat the two of them." The figures would fight the shadowed one, sword strikes blocked, fists being countered, and then the cloaked figure would disappear as the two of them would be left standing face to face, before the figure showed up behind the second boy, plunging a blade through his heart. "But of course, as I have said, such things are never meant to last. The first boy couldn't save the second, the most crushing moment of the young boys life. He had held his mother, his brother and his father in his arms as they had died, and though he didn't believe that he could have done anything to help any of them, he knew that he could have helped this boy, his one and only love..."

Mitsuo watched the flame through hazed vision, remembering that night in vivid detail, the scream that pierced the sky, the rage with which he had pursued his foe. The figure of him played out the brutal slaughter of the man who had killed his lover, even though that wasn't something that had actually happened. Every time he played it out in his head, he saw it this way, a vision of what he wished for. Once the shadowy figure was dead, Mitsuo's figure would go back and hold the second boy in his arms, throwing his head to the heavens before placing a palm to the dead figure's chest and watching as he grew brighter and then vanished from sight. "This life, the life of the shinobi, is full of tragedy. And though that boy would grow to be a powerful man, one revered by all, and would find his lover's brother down the line and join him once more, he could never remove the pain of loss from his heart." The figure in the fire died out, leaving the fire to burn normally once more.

"The boy fled the village, and went on to do great and terrible things, crushing the drug trade, saving a village, becoming the Hokage, finding love once more, adopting a beautiful daughter...and then again he would be forced to flee, leaving everything he loved behind once more. It broke his heart and all he wished for was death. When he returned, it was all he sought...Sadly most stories in our world are tragedies, and I wish this story had a happy ending, but it only ends in death and pain." As he stopped speaking he looked up at the young girl. "Now, you should get to bed. It wouldn't do you any good to be exhausted tomorrow for the rest of the trip." With that he dismissed her and would spend the next few hours sitting beside the fire alone, listening to the sounds of the two sleeping and of the nature around him. He would manipulate the fire to show him Kimaru's face, tears streaking down his cheeks as he reflected on what had brought him to this place. There was no day that he didn't think of the loss of Kimaru, but being here with Tsuyo, telling these stories, they brought all of that pain right back to the forefront once more. Other than his painful reflection however, he would not encounter any issues, and he would wake Tsuyo before sitting against a tree and falling asleep for the few hours he would be allotted.

Once morning hit, he would run ahead once again, determined to get back to his home once more. He wouldn't stop until he had hit a forest that smelled like home, and when he did he smiled one of the largest genuine smiles he had smiled in a very long time. This was what he had been working towards for so many years, the thing that he had yearned for most of all. He was finally home...

{Exit Thread}

6287

Travel 600/600 Complete
Reaction Time A Rank -> S Rank 5000 words
687 words discarded.

There was so much more to these men that Sayuri did not know. She caught glimpses of it in their troubled looks and downcast eyes. The way when, at the mention of the name Kimaru, Tsuyo pulled a flask from beneath his coat and drank from it as though his life depended on it. She felt at once both uncomfortable to be witnessing the deeper strife of these two titans and privileged that they would allow her to. She readily accepted the second helping of stew and spent her time enjoying it, no longer feeling the aching need to fill her belly as she had a short time before. It truly was wonderful, she had not been exaggerating when she had told Mitsuo as much, however she had not taken the time to truly appreciate the depth of her compliment. She looked at him over her bowl for a moment with new eyes and wondered what else he was. A legendary hero, a renowned shinobi, the Sword Saint of Konoha… and an excellent cook. Perhaps master tailor, or learned scholar or even avid poet? Her gaze passed over to Tsuyo then, at his beautiful clothing, shining shoes, perfectly (though messily) styled hair, and she wondered over him as well. Blacksmith perhaps, or… naval officer. She looked with interest as he began to speak excited at the prospect of learning one of his hidden shades and her eyes went wide with awe as the chakra flowed from his body to the ground.


The shade of Tsuyo that she saw was deeper than she would have liked, a lump formed in her throat that hurt so much she could no longer eat her stew and set it aside on the log beside her. The clay people fought and trained and danced and died. Loved and lost. It was beautiful and horrible. She cried and held on to herself and rocked gently, choking on tears and holding back words of hollow comfort. For what was there to say? Nothing in the world could erase that sort of pain, so she just listened and only looked away once when he said that Mitsuo had loved Kimaru more than he. She still didn’t quite understand, but she took note of it. And saw the sorrow and loss written clearly in Tsuyo’s old looking eyes as he laid a weary hand on Mitsuo’s shoulder before exchanging words and heading to the tent.

Sayuri’s tears had almost dried when Mitsuo looked across at her and insisted that she both sleep and listen to one more story. Which she smiled at as it was somewhat of a contradiction but she didn’t mind, she thought Tsuyo could use some time to fall asleep alone anyway. She nodded to Mitsuo and lightly tapped the side of her head as she spoke “I couldn’t sleep now if I tried Mitsuo-sama, there are far too many things in here for me to think on. I enjoy your company, and I hope that I am not too burdensome of company for you.”

As he made the figures in the fire it finally dawned on her; Kiramu, Tsuyo’s brother, was Mitsuo’s lover. Fresh tears sprung to Sayuri’s eyes and spilled down her cheeks, splashing onto the white fur that she had wrapped around her in a vain effort to comfort herself from the sorrowful tales. She watched again as the training and fighting, the love and the terrible, horrible loss occurred. And then came the rage. She had never seen such fury. It frightened her and she pulled the fur blanket tighter around herself and wept, wept for herself for she was afraid, for Kiramu for his short life, for Tsuyo for the loss of his brother, and for Mitsuo for the loss of a love so great that its loss burned like fire.

As soon as Mitsuo dismissed her she would stand still wrapped in the fur blanket, carefully this time so as not to damage her leg any further, and after a quietly spoken parting word would make her way softly over towards the tent. “Thank you Mitsuo-sama for showing me this. Your trust is well placed. I hope that you will sleep.” She would pause at the entrance to the tent to settle her nerves and then duck inside the tent only to stop suddenly when she would realize she could not actually tell where Tsuyo was. She would then stand awkwardly letting her eyes adjust to the dimness and eventually move her way over to right side of the tent where she would curl up in a tight ball. As she would try to fall asleep the images from the nights stories would go through her head, the fire especially as it brought back memories of her own family, and her body shuddered as she would sob and cry until she eventually fell asleep due to sheer exhaustion.

When morning arrived she would do her best to climb on Jacobs’ back, finding a tree stump if necessary and would ride on through the wooded lowlands until they arrived at the mighty city of Konoha.

5286

{Exit Thread}

Travel 600/600 Complete
Jutsu Training - Tempest Shield 2000 words + 250 ryo
Jutsu Training - White Raiton: Enhanced Cutting Technique 1000 words + 150 ryo
Jutsu Training - Thunderous Voice 750 words + 80 ryo
Stat Training - STR, END D-0 > D-1 650 words + 50 ryo
286 words discarded

Tsuyo would lay in his tent for a time. Laying on his back and staring at the top with a deep contemplation bothering him. The village had been a home he had missed for so very long now. He wished to see his clan house again and perhaps even restore it. He wouldn't live there often but it would be nice to be able to visit home. To walk his own front lawn and sit on his porch watching the youth train their forms. Enjoying summers by the river and winters by the fire. Perhaps Mitsuo and he would make it a habit of spending time together laughing about old times. When they would play fight Mitsuo would jokingly threaten to cut off his arm and leg again and Tsuyo would laugh. In his mind even their kids would grow together should Tsuyo have any. More than likely bastard children of his he would need to raise. He would stand next to Mitsuo as the celebrated every promotion. Seasons would pass and Mitsuo and he would tell their grand children stories of old and speak lovingly of the ones lost instead of like a distant pain they could not avoid. It was a beautiful dream. With his medical knowledge Mitsuo and he would live to a grand age and be considered Sages to the village. Grand old men that knew ancient secrets. When they did pass the village would mourn them and their lives would be celebrated by huge families and the whole village.

He smiled a little as the fantasy faded. It was a beautiful thing to consider but none of it was realistic. He might be able to find his home again but chances were someone else lived there now. So many years had passed since his brothers passing. At best he could offer to purchase the home. At worst it wouldn't be an option. He would sigh ever so slightly as he rolled onto his side. He could hear them outside. Smell the fire and the stew and on occasion even her tears. She was soft and he worried for her. The world they knew was harsh and for someone like her, if she remained she could very likely be damaged in the end or dead. Something he would usually not allow but he would leave the choice to her in the following day. instead he considered where they were going. They needed to take this approach slow. Entering the village right away would be a fools game. They needed residence outside the walls where sensory wasn't always at play. Somewhere off the road. He remembered an old cabin rental in the area and that would do. He had stayed there before and there were no common patrols through the area. At least there hadn't been. Their own sensory would feel anyone coming and Mitsuo and himself could both hide their chakra levels. Their chakra control was substantial. Besides they would need someone from the village to deliver a message in due time.

His concern even as Mitsuo finished his story and Tsuyo drifted into slumber was convincing Mitsuo to remain patient and show caution. A proud man with so much confidence in his blade he likely was ready to take on the whole village if he had to. Tsuyo dreamed in a fitful sleep of the Hokage sending waves of shinobi at them to die until in time they were overwhelmed and the Hokage finished them himself. The one they had come for never punished and their stories ended. It was one possibility and one that he wished could never occur. He did not wish death on anyone within the village. None of the shinobi were involved nor the Hokage as far as he knew. Lies were every where but he was observant. There was just one politician building up forces and locking himself in his manor for years now. Paranoid that someone was coming for him and only talking to a mysterious advisor. He wasn't wrong though. Someone was coming for him. Documents had been stolen from him having the orders issued. An image of a framed death certificate of Kimaru on the wall. All the evidence Tsuyo needed to move on this man and his advisor. They would need to be full strength though. A part of him wished Gin and Tsuneo had demanded to come but for now this would do. It wasn't until a few hours had passed that Mitsuo woke him and Tsuyo started with a blade up near Mitsuo's throat with a sharp intake of air. With a sigh he hid the blade again and took watch.

Tsuyo would settle on a log and drink some water for a few hours hoping Mitsuo slept. Watching him outside the tent slumped against a tree. He was silent even in sleep and honestly Tsuyo could not tell if the man slept at all. He knew if he approached the man he would wake and likely not sleep again. Still Mitsuo had questions for him later. Ones he was sure he wouldn't be eager to answer. Still he ate a bit of jerky and drank some water while he waited. Activating his Byakugan Every half hour like clock work and seeing around them for a hundred meters. Nothing stirred until morning when Sayuri rose from the tent. As she did Mitsuo would waken and run ahead again. Tsuyo would pack the tent and smother the fire before watching Sayuri help herself onto the horse. He would make sure everything was packed before leading them along the path Mitsuo had left. He was very good at keeping his trail minimal but Tsuyo had eyes like no other. In due time they would reach well into the Konoha border and Tsuyo would be home. Eager for Mitsuo to double back and meet with them for whatever Tsuyo had planned out next. This was Tsuyo's little game of chess after all.

6161
Exit thread
600/600 travel complete
5561
2500/2500 Hidden Kingdom S rank trained
3061
1500/1500 Delay minor B rank trained
1500/1500 Mirrors deception B rank trained

61 wc left over