1 Searching for answers. [Plot point/invite only] Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:47 am
Zeref Kyōakuna
D-rank
The full moon was cresting over the village casting a dim light over the village. Zeref walked the streets in his usual attire, armed with all his weapons as always. Over the last few days so many questions had been brought to his mind, why did it seem like the village was preparing for something, why did they send Zeref and Tomohiro on so many missions above their level, and why did he keep having memories flash through his mind at random moments. The most recent one, was a memory of his father, Noc, speaking with a small group of men about training, and seals. Zeref never saw the strange men's faces, nor did he ever find out just what they meant by any of their words. Zerefs father was dead, he died a few years back so there was no chance of getting answers from him, but the best place to start looking for answers would be his childhood home that was built deep in the mountains
His childhood home was a small compound towards the Kaminari no kuni border, he hadn't been there since his fathers death. There was a small chance it was destroyed seeing as he left as it was being attacked and burned by bandits but it was the only logical place to start. Perhaps his father, being as careful as he was, hid his notebooks somewhere out of reach of the flames that claimed his own life, Zeref only hopped.
Zeref neared the village gates, as always a few chuunin and jounin were on guard duty, patrolling the entrance. As he neared the opening he was stopped by one of the shinobi at the gate. "And where are you off to as such a late hour?" It was odd, Zeref hadn't been stopped from leaving in a while, they usually just let him slip by with out so much as a second glance. "Just going on a midnight walk. Zeref kept his voice friendly, perfectly hiding his annoyance at being stopped and questioned. The shuunin that stopped him was about to speak again when a jounin placed his hand on the chuunin shoulder shaking his head 'no.' It's fine Ken, he can leave." Ken looked at his superior and then at Zeref a bit confused, but didn't say anything. The jounin smiled lightly at Zeref looking at him "Go on ahead Zeref, you are free to leave, have a nice walk." Zeref nodded giving him a 'thank you' as he walked passed the other guards and out of the village.
The whole exchange, although only lasting a moment raised more questions. Just why was Zeref, a genin, allowed to come and go as he pleased, when others had to get permission or have a higher ranking shinobi with them to do so. There was a lot of things that weren't making sense as of late, and Zeref didn't like being out of a loop that clearly involved him. Zeref pushed the exchanged from his mind for the time being and headed into the forest towards his home.
Zerefs home was near the southern boarder, on the other side off the mountain the compound was, was the ocean that 'Genbu the Turtle Island' was said to roam. Zeref new the route still even though it has been sometime since hes walked it, it was almost like second nature still. The only thing he had to be careful of was the few traps that were around the compound it self, there was no way to know if they were still active or not.
Zeref reached a fork in the road, to the left was the road towards Shimogakure, the right would lead down south and eventually his home. Taking the right road he started up the mountain path that was at a steady increasing incline. After roughly three miles the path was almost vertical, and no wider then a meter, wagons, horses, and such wouldn't even be able to make the climb at this point. Zeref stopped for a moment to catch his breath, looking up ahead he could see the small path that broke off to the right, that path would take him directly to the compound.
Continuing his hike he split off to the right before stopping, before him was a small cliff wall, with in the cliff face was small hand and feet holds. Most would try and use ninjutsu to climb, but a seal buried in the wall negated any such technique from being used, from this point on it was more climbing then walking. Grabbing a hold of the first hold Zeref started to climb. The cliff was roughly four hundred feet tall, and took him a bit of time to finally pull himself over the edge, luckily the cliff was sturdy and didn't cause any rock slides.
Zeref, now standing with the cliff behind him, could make out the compound a few hundred meters ahead. It was at this point where Zeref had to stop and think about where the traps were located. He knew that there were three paths, one to the right, one straight up the middle and one to the left. All three would lead to a different gate of the village, but two were heavily booby trapped. The middle was the shortest route to take, but there was a fall pit, three trip wire traps that sent spikes up from the ground, and the gate itself was a powerful seal that once touched would send thousands of volts into someones body, so that left the two paths to the sides.
Zeref stood at the split, looking left, then right, he thought for a moment before taking the left path. He remembered his father saying that three rights make a left, he took a right out of the village, a right at the first split, and a right onto the small path. It seemed trivial at the time, but it was hint on what path was the safest when coming back from the village.
Zeref pushed open the gate that lead before him, as he did it let out a haunting moan as it swung open. Zeref standing in the door way looked into his compound. A few buildings were still standing, holes in the roofs and sides, but standing none the less, others were nothing but piles of rubble, bodies were scattered across the compound grounds, they were nothing more then bones and clothing time had claimed their flesh. Zeref stepped inside the compound, he was home.
1100
His childhood home was a small compound towards the Kaminari no kuni border, he hadn't been there since his fathers death. There was a small chance it was destroyed seeing as he left as it was being attacked and burned by bandits but it was the only logical place to start. Perhaps his father, being as careful as he was, hid his notebooks somewhere out of reach of the flames that claimed his own life, Zeref only hopped.
Zeref neared the village gates, as always a few chuunin and jounin were on guard duty, patrolling the entrance. As he neared the opening he was stopped by one of the shinobi at the gate. "And where are you off to as such a late hour?" It was odd, Zeref hadn't been stopped from leaving in a while, they usually just let him slip by with out so much as a second glance. "Just going on a midnight walk. Zeref kept his voice friendly, perfectly hiding his annoyance at being stopped and questioned. The shuunin that stopped him was about to speak again when a jounin placed his hand on the chuunin shoulder shaking his head 'no.' It's fine Ken, he can leave." Ken looked at his superior and then at Zeref a bit confused, but didn't say anything. The jounin smiled lightly at Zeref looking at him "Go on ahead Zeref, you are free to leave, have a nice walk." Zeref nodded giving him a 'thank you' as he walked passed the other guards and out of the village.
The whole exchange, although only lasting a moment raised more questions. Just why was Zeref, a genin, allowed to come and go as he pleased, when others had to get permission or have a higher ranking shinobi with them to do so. There was a lot of things that weren't making sense as of late, and Zeref didn't like being out of a loop that clearly involved him. Zeref pushed the exchanged from his mind for the time being and headed into the forest towards his home.
Zerefs home was near the southern boarder, on the other side off the mountain the compound was, was the ocean that 'Genbu the Turtle Island' was said to roam. Zeref new the route still even though it has been sometime since hes walked it, it was almost like second nature still. The only thing he had to be careful of was the few traps that were around the compound it self, there was no way to know if they were still active or not.
Zeref reached a fork in the road, to the left was the road towards Shimogakure, the right would lead down south and eventually his home. Taking the right road he started up the mountain path that was at a steady increasing incline. After roughly three miles the path was almost vertical, and no wider then a meter, wagons, horses, and such wouldn't even be able to make the climb at this point. Zeref stopped for a moment to catch his breath, looking up ahead he could see the small path that broke off to the right, that path would take him directly to the compound.
Continuing his hike he split off to the right before stopping, before him was a small cliff wall, with in the cliff face was small hand and feet holds. Most would try and use ninjutsu to climb, but a seal buried in the wall negated any such technique from being used, from this point on it was more climbing then walking. Grabbing a hold of the first hold Zeref started to climb. The cliff was roughly four hundred feet tall, and took him a bit of time to finally pull himself over the edge, luckily the cliff was sturdy and didn't cause any rock slides.
Zeref, now standing with the cliff behind him, could make out the compound a few hundred meters ahead. It was at this point where Zeref had to stop and think about where the traps were located. He knew that there were three paths, one to the right, one straight up the middle and one to the left. All three would lead to a different gate of the village, but two were heavily booby trapped. The middle was the shortest route to take, but there was a fall pit, three trip wire traps that sent spikes up from the ground, and the gate itself was a powerful seal that once touched would send thousands of volts into someones body, so that left the two paths to the sides.
Zeref stood at the split, looking left, then right, he thought for a moment before taking the left path. He remembered his father saying that three rights make a left, he took a right out of the village, a right at the first split, and a right onto the small path. It seemed trivial at the time, but it was hint on what path was the safest when coming back from the village.
Zeref pushed open the gate that lead before him, as he did it let out a haunting moan as it swung open. Zeref standing in the door way looked into his compound. A few buildings were still standing, holes in the roofs and sides, but standing none the less, others were nothing but piles of rubble, bodies were scattered across the compound grounds, they were nothing more then bones and clothing time had claimed their flesh. Zeref stepped inside the compound, he was home.
1100