Nayoko let out a long sigh as he dropped his bag onto his bed. He was leaving today and yet he hadn’t yet taken the time to pack anything that he would need for the journey ahead, nor for his stay in the Land of Water. Why he had been so negligent he was not sure. Perhaps it was the monotony and melancholy that had swallowed up most of his life now leading him to forget anything that was out of the ordinary. And this was certainly out of the ordinary. Late the previous night he had received hi permission from the village administration building to travel back to the Village Hidden in the Mists for unfinished business as well as to continue to keep the relations between the villages strong. It was only half of the reason for his journey, but he could not let those in charge know of the rest. Not because it was anything illegal or against his village’s expectations, but rather because he had fallen below those expectations and needed to climb back to a level where he could actually do something for his home.

His training with the Mizukage all those months ago had granted him a power that he never expected to achieve. He was a Butterfly Sage now, able to wield Senjutsu and enter into a Sage Mode that greatly enhanced his abilities. But the cost had been great. The Butterfly Sage school was within his mind, and him order to grow in power with his Senjutsu abilities, he had to conquer a beast that had grown within him. It was a creature of hate and cruelty born of the feelings on abandonment and loss thanks to the death of his mother. The training had gone ell at first, as he was gaining ground over the beast and learning how to combat it. But when he heard about the fall of Sunagakure no Sato, followed by the rumours that Mitsuo Sarutobi, a man he considered a mentor, had claimed responsibility, he was thrown into confusion and depression. Every night he experienced the visions of the demon, stalking through his mind and expecting to fight. And every night he had fought back but was unable to overcome it. The repeated battles each and every night began to wear on him to the point where he was exhausted almost every day, and he was unable to do anything more than simply hold the demon at bay. It would not take over him, for he had enough willpower to prevent that. But it would get close each and every night.

It needed to end. He needed help.

And the young Jounin knew of only one place where he could get such help. And that was with the person who had taught him about this power in the first place, Ayakashi the Mizukage. She could help him wrest control form the demon, and then he would truly be able to excel in his position as a jounin of the Hidden Leaf Village. It was not the ideal situation, but the months of monotony and ineffective action was proving to be too much for him to bear.

Finally, having thrown all of his things into the bag, Nayoko walked down the stairs and threw on his jacket. With his Konoha “forehead protector” sitting on his belt and his back over his shoulder, the jounin stepped outside and toward the village gate. He knew the journey was a long one as he had made the trip before. But he was looking forward to having the time of solidarity. Perhaps he would even be able to make some strides on his own while on the way to Kirigakure no Sato. Whatever was ahead, Nayoko vowed to grow on this journey, lest he be consumed by the darkness within him.

[Exit Thread]
WC: 642 (Travel Complete)