A Dark Welcome
Fall , Year 13
????
His eyes heavy, his eyes waned as did his body, but he still trudged forward with determination still in his heart, refusing to falter until he would reach home. It was a long, arduous journey, If one could say that, beginning with his capture after attempting to save his kin, to it's climatic end where he not only fought a great daiyoukai to the death, but discovering something breathless upon his lengthy return to Izumi, something he had never thought he would live to see, a daughter. Staring into her fledgling eyes as he looked upon her infant form, his crimson eyes could only dispel a truth. He found himself witnessing a infernal abyss like none other, like nothing he had ever seen before, even from his older sister, who wielded the same eyes as him, allegedly. He was breathless. One day, this child would be special. For what end, he couldn't know, for in the back of his own head, he was still much too young to know his own place in the world, little less hers, but regardless, he refused to let this treasure whether away in isolation. While before, he dreamed of returning home upon "proving" himself, he had no idea what would be his destiny or what purpose he would play within his Clan, or even IF he would still be able to marry Shizu, or be forced to elope with her, but after holding his daughter in fatigued, ever weaking arms, he felt something within himself he had never felt before. Was this what it felt like to be father? Frankly, he had no clue, not a soul he could ask for guidance, but the more he looked down at her, and seeing the potential that burned within her, his path was clear. He would return home, and do what was just, to do what was required of a father, regardless of the consequences. He would secure her future just as his parents had done for him. To see otherwise, he couldn't stomach it, despite being overly hardened for his age. Still, he steered himself for what was to come, a showdown he he had never given thought to before until now, a confrontation between himself and his own father. His stomach curled slightly at the thought, but than he remembered his climatic battle with the great daiyoukai at the throat of the world, and the callous his father often showed, and proudly displayed. In a instant, that curling vanished, instead replaced with determination in his eyes. He never thought he would challenge the clan head for dominance, but there was no turning back now. His daughter's future hung in the balance, and he wouldn't certainly live life in exile, not after all this. Despite his mistakes, his father would accept him back into the fold....or he would kill him. It didn't matter the outcome, it would end in the way he desired, consequences be dammed.
Yet, in despite of all that, even with new found conviction and purpose, there was one thing he had forgotten, If only for a few moments, his fatigue and injuries. It was no hidden truth's that between the journey itself, and the battle with Masuda, his body had taken a toll like it never had before, his prior death like training not even coming close. Him returning back to the isolated, abandoned shrine was a journey it on itself, nearly took his life several times in his severe weakened state, and now he spoke of doing of equal consequence? No, his body and even mind needed time to recuperate, to heal and mend the wounds he had sustained. It would not be a quick process, even with his new found mastery over life itself, but it wasn't anything he wasn't used to, especially in these last few years. So, as summer came and went, he found himself at the mercy of his self proclaimed wife, and her infernal pranks and what other mischief activities she could crank out. He would never admit it, but in his great time of resting, he found some enjoyment, especially when they included his infant daughter, allowing him momentarily to leave his hardened shell. Every moment as a father was a experience he had never felt before, but he wouldn't trade it for the world. It rejuvenated him further as he recovered from his past struggles. He only wished she was older, or at least old enough to run around. The thoughts of exploring the woods with a fiery, energetic, one tail Kitsune put a smile on his face for the first time at a point in his life, he couldn't even remember the last time he smiled. It gave him a hope for the future. Summer would come and ago, and so would the fatigue and the injuries that was plagued him for so long. It was unexpected, considering he had never heard of any shinobi taking this long to recover. He could only guess it was a combination of pushing his body far beyond it's normal limits and unlocking the fabled Mangekyou Sharingan, did it do him in. He had wished he could have trained somewhat in that time, but his infant daughtered evened it out for him, regardless of the times her crying had nearly drove him insane.
On the eve of fall however, with the leaves beginning to turn orange and shades of brown, he found his strength returning to him, his fatigue gone, allowing him once more to continue as he was before. This meant only one thing, returning home, and by extension, the village. A daunting thought, but he swiped them away in his mind. He had already made up his mind, there was no going back now. There was the eventual confrontation with the Raikage over his disappearance from the village for so long, but he deal with that once he got to that bridge. Given the rumors he had before his capture, he no idea how she react. Some would fear it, considering her martial prowess, but he didn't, the warrior spirit still lingering inside him. If the worst came to be, he take pride in the fact It was Lady Raikage who kill him, not some lovely bandit. Regardless, on a calm morning, with the morning rays barely shining, he departed the comfort of the abandoned shrine, and began his long, arduous journey back home with nothing more than what he had returned with, his possessions ranging from his chipped, damaged Odachi, which he had carried since before he was even a mere Genin, to his still, old leather backpack that carried what little supplies he had on hand. With the exception of his new fur clock, he now found himself now donned in a new Senninbari, courtesy of Izumi. He could tell she spent long hours on it from the craftsmanship & love she put it in. For once, he gave her slack, understanding the full extent meaning behind this gift. Perhaps he was too harsh on her, despite the mischief she's caused, but there was no doubt, he could feel his daughter's essence within it's fibers. He couldn't explain how, but every moment he concentrated, he could feel it. It was like she was right besides him. That put his mind further at ease as he began trudging down the dirt path that would eventually lead him out of the forest and back into the familiar lowlands of his homeland. Hours upon hours would pass, with the sun reaching the middle of the cloudy sky before he would finally be granted freedom from the cursed forest, granting him the sight of rolling plains and the land's infamous mountain range in the distance.. He had arrived back finally at the lands of civilization, though, It remained a mystery, just long it would take before he would arrive at true civilization, for the lowlands were massive in scale, and there wasn't doubt he was most likely on the outskirts of it. Regardless, after taking in the sight and a fresh breath of air, he exhaled and moved on, making his slowly into the lowlands from above.
Fall , Year 13
????
His eyes heavy, his eyes waned as did his body, but he still trudged forward with determination still in his heart, refusing to falter until he would reach home. It was a long, arduous journey, If one could say that, beginning with his capture after attempting to save his kin, to it's climatic end where he not only fought a great daiyoukai to the death, but discovering something breathless upon his lengthy return to Izumi, something he had never thought he would live to see, a daughter. Staring into her fledgling eyes as he looked upon her infant form, his crimson eyes could only dispel a truth. He found himself witnessing a infernal abyss like none other, like nothing he had ever seen before, even from his older sister, who wielded the same eyes as him, allegedly. He was breathless. One day, this child would be special. For what end, he couldn't know, for in the back of his own head, he was still much too young to know his own place in the world, little less hers, but regardless, he refused to let this treasure whether away in isolation. While before, he dreamed of returning home upon "proving" himself, he had no idea what would be his destiny or what purpose he would play within his Clan, or even IF he would still be able to marry Shizu, or be forced to elope with her, but after holding his daughter in fatigued, ever weaking arms, he felt something within himself he had never felt before. Was this what it felt like to be father? Frankly, he had no clue, not a soul he could ask for guidance, but the more he looked down at her, and seeing the potential that burned within her, his path was clear. He would return home, and do what was just, to do what was required of a father, regardless of the consequences. He would secure her future just as his parents had done for him. To see otherwise, he couldn't stomach it, despite being overly hardened for his age. Still, he steered himself for what was to come, a showdown he he had never given thought to before until now, a confrontation between himself and his own father. His stomach curled slightly at the thought, but than he remembered his climatic battle with the great daiyoukai at the throat of the world, and the callous his father often showed, and proudly displayed. In a instant, that curling vanished, instead replaced with determination in his eyes. He never thought he would challenge the clan head for dominance, but there was no turning back now. His daughter's future hung in the balance, and he wouldn't certainly live life in exile, not after all this. Despite his mistakes, his father would accept him back into the fold....or he would kill him. It didn't matter the outcome, it would end in the way he desired, consequences be dammed.
Yet, in despite of all that, even with new found conviction and purpose, there was one thing he had forgotten, If only for a few moments, his fatigue and injuries. It was no hidden truth's that between the journey itself, and the battle with Masuda, his body had taken a toll like it never had before, his prior death like training not even coming close. Him returning back to the isolated, abandoned shrine was a journey it on itself, nearly took his life several times in his severe weakened state, and now he spoke of doing of equal consequence? No, his body and even mind needed time to recuperate, to heal and mend the wounds he had sustained. It would not be a quick process, even with his new found mastery over life itself, but it wasn't anything he wasn't used to, especially in these last few years. So, as summer came and went, he found himself at the mercy of his self proclaimed wife, and her infernal pranks and what other mischief activities she could crank out. He would never admit it, but in his great time of resting, he found some enjoyment, especially when they included his infant daughter, allowing him momentarily to leave his hardened shell. Every moment as a father was a experience he had never felt before, but he wouldn't trade it for the world. It rejuvenated him further as he recovered from his past struggles. He only wished she was older, or at least old enough to run around. The thoughts of exploring the woods with a fiery, energetic, one tail Kitsune put a smile on his face for the first time at a point in his life, he couldn't even remember the last time he smiled. It gave him a hope for the future. Summer would come and ago, and so would the fatigue and the injuries that was plagued him for so long. It was unexpected, considering he had never heard of any shinobi taking this long to recover. He could only guess it was a combination of pushing his body far beyond it's normal limits and unlocking the fabled Mangekyou Sharingan, did it do him in. He had wished he could have trained somewhat in that time, but his infant daughtered evened it out for him, regardless of the times her crying had nearly drove him insane.
On the eve of fall however, with the leaves beginning to turn orange and shades of brown, he found his strength returning to him, his fatigue gone, allowing him once more to continue as he was before. This meant only one thing, returning home, and by extension, the village. A daunting thought, but he swiped them away in his mind. He had already made up his mind, there was no going back now. There was the eventual confrontation with the Raikage over his disappearance from the village for so long, but he deal with that once he got to that bridge. Given the rumors he had before his capture, he no idea how she react. Some would fear it, considering her martial prowess, but he didn't, the warrior spirit still lingering inside him. If the worst came to be, he take pride in the fact It was Lady Raikage who kill him, not some lovely bandit. Regardless, on a calm morning, with the morning rays barely shining, he departed the comfort of the abandoned shrine, and began his long, arduous journey back home with nothing more than what he had returned with, his possessions ranging from his chipped, damaged Odachi, which he had carried since before he was even a mere Genin, to his still, old leather backpack that carried what little supplies he had on hand. With the exception of his new fur clock, he now found himself now donned in a new Senninbari, courtesy of Izumi. He could tell she spent long hours on it from the craftsmanship & love she put it in. For once, he gave her slack, understanding the full extent meaning behind this gift. Perhaps he was too harsh on her, despite the mischief she's caused, but there was no doubt, he could feel his daughter's essence within it's fibers. He couldn't explain how, but every moment he concentrated, he could feel it. It was like she was right besides him. That put his mind further at ease as he began trudging down the dirt path that would eventually lead him out of the forest and back into the familiar lowlands of his homeland. Hours upon hours would pass, with the sun reaching the middle of the cloudy sky before he would finally be granted freedom from the cursed forest, granting him the sight of rolling plains and the land's infamous mountain range in the distance.. He had arrived back finally at the lands of civilization, though, It remained a mystery, just long it would take before he would arrive at true civilization, for the lowlands were massive in scale, and there wasn't doubt he was most likely on the outskirts of it. Regardless, after taking in the sight and a fresh breath of air, he exhaled and moved on, making his slowly into the lowlands from above.