The next thing he knew, the two of them stood within his compound, The Monkey King and the Hellfire Drake side by side. Eizo hadn’t asked Mitsuo what he had seen, he hadn’t had time, but he knew that whatever it was had been something that had changed him. He had never felt such a cold fury radiating from the normally hotheaded yet kind Mitsuo, and to say it made him a little nervous was an understatement. He had known Mitsuo for a long time, and he knew that he had a tendency to be stubborn and not necessarily see reason when it was pointed out to him. Mitsuo made his way towards the room that housed his effects, looking towards the items there that he would be bringing with him on his journey. He put the chest protector on over his shoulders and strapped it into place, fixing his leg armour and bracers after so that he would be prepared for combat when it arose. The next thing he did was take his black linen pants and shirt, putting on the light clothing so that he would not suffer from the desert heat when he arrived in his destination.

He found his old cloak, clasping it in place so that he could pull the hood over his head and cover himself further, obscuring who he was even more. He removed his Aoi Bara headband, sealing it away with his cloak and mask, and pulled out the Konoha headband with the strike through the center of the leaf, fixing it to his throat. He placed the Sword of the Immortal Blaze on his back and wrapped Penance, his chain whip, around his chest. The Twin Blades, Justice and Retribution, were situated at his hips. He looked towards a glass case, seeing the last piece that he needed in order to fully take on his role as judge, jury and executioner. In the case, sitting in pristine condition, was the mask he hadn’t worn since his last trip into the desert, when he had extinguished Synn Karisuma, and the rest of their clan from the face of the earth. He pulled out his mask and placed it over his face, feeling a white hot rage wash over him briefly before that cold burning fire took over once more.

“Eizo, my friend. We have work to do. We must make way towards the village of Sunagakure no Sato. I have business there...business that I have been looking to take care of for many years.” Eizo frowned slightly, putting a hand on Mitsuo’s shoulder. He knew what Mitsuo had in mind, and he had thought from what he had told him in the past that it was possible that Suna had been the cause of his woes.

“Mitsuo...forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. At yet, there is no peace without forgiveness...If you do this, you will never know peace.” Mitsuo turned to look at his friend, his eyes piercing through him as the glowing orbs behind the mask fell upon the Monkey King.

“I forgive them, Eizo. For killing my mother, I forgive them. For killing my brother, I forgive them. For killing my father, I forgive them. For killing my lover, I forgive them. I forgive them for all of their past transgressions...but I also must do my duty and prevent them from hurting anyone else as they hurt me.” He nodded and was silent, Eizo sighing as he put his hand on Mitsuo’s shoulder. He concentrated and the two of them were on the outskirts of Sunagakure no Sato but a moment later...

{Exit Thread}

628 travel complete~