Continued from The North Eastern Tryst Pt. II.
The temperature had dropped significantly with night's fall, bringing chill where once heatwaves reigned supreme. Unlike other parts of the world, Wind Country had been known for its extreme weather. The dark hours and the daylight scenery were completely different from one another. Having been mostly raised on an island off Wind Country's southern coast, Jin'ichi had become used to a more stable climate. Despite the cityscape spreading out from the north eastern part of the island, there was much jungle and countryside left. The mainland was different, but doubting his decision to leave home wasn't even an option.
He was headed towards a place called Sunagakure, where the apparently waning art of the Ninja still remained. Jin'ichi's father had been among them, but possessed by a greed stronger than his honor, the man turned to a life of crime. In the same way he abandoned his duties as a Shinobi, the fallen Takahashi would abandon his family, including a young Jin'ichi. Unable to cope naturally with the life of an ordinary person despite his family's wishes, the boy turned young man would set off on a journey. All the hardships they'd endured, and the weight of the world that slowly crushed his mother's health... They were ultimately the fault of a careless man without regard for others.
He'd known to some degree that his father was no ordinary man, and if he was going to track that man down he needed to be more than ordinary as well. Selling his life, loyalty, and total allegiance to a military nation was fair trade. If they could give him the skills and strength to make that man pay, then so be it. He'd thought about it long and hard, eventually leaving on less than good terms with his remaining family. It was while walking through the cold darkness on his way to sell his soul to the Kazekage, that he'd come across a nightmarish scene. Just over the dunes, a deep red glow set the sky ablaze as energy emanated from a youth. The wild ashen colored hair and gleaming crimson eye broke the shadows. Surrounding the small eerie figure were mutilated corpses. Arms, legs, as well as entrails and other gore littered the scenery. The boy turned around, now looking at Jin'ichi across the short distance. Jin would take note of the blackened sclera, and that freaky grin plastered across the mask. The demonic child sprinted towards Jin, full force, kicking up sand behind him. They were face to face for a moment-</FONTFACE>
And then...
---
Immediately sitting up, Jin's eyes widened and he hugged his knees. "Aiyah! Just what the Hell is going on here!?!" His voice rang throughout the Lightning Country wilderness from the center of a caravan. Those near to him informed him of the situation, about how he'd been found in the desert some time ago. If it weren't for them picking him up and bringing him along, death would have come for him instead. Without any clue where this blood covered man had come from, or where he was to go, they rescued him and tended his wounds. Seeing as how his clothing was no longer stained with blood, he could only assumed he'd been cleaned up. Beneath his kimono bandages wrapped his arms and torso for support. When asking where the caravan was headed, they told him a place called Port Cirrus in Lightning Country. "Lightning Country? Where the Hell is that?" He asked himself more than anyone else, shoulders drooping and face frowning.
It was too far to turn back, more than three weeks of tedious travel had brought them so far already. The caravan had saved his life, and in truth it would be ungrateful to ask them to turn around simply for his sake. Deciding it was best to go along with them until he could find a way home, Jin'ichi became a temporary member of their group. The trip went smoothly, all the worst having passed while he was unconscious. Upon reaching Port Cirrus, they'd part ways and he'd be directed to the authorities for information. With Sunagakure's location not being common knowledge to most, even within the lands of Wind Country, it seemed that he'd hit a brick wall. That was, until someone suggested that another Shinobi village known as Kumogakure might be able to help. He'd never heard of the place, but he was an amateur and a rookie so that was to be expected.
With help from Port Cirrus, a telegram would be sent to Cloud on his behalf:
After taking a day or two to recuperate in Port Cirrus, Jin would stock up on supplies and grab a coat for the mountain weather. Alone, but with all the direction needed, he embarked on a new destination. His mind would flash back to when he first awoke on the caravan, the nightmare he had about the possessed boy he'd slain. The thoughts were becoming a problem, and even when he passed mirrors he'd sometimes swear the child and that sadistic grin were looking back at him. It was as if the dark energy that night was so foul and putrid that it stained a part of Jin'ichi that would forever remember the day. He found that a few strands of hair at the base of his neck had begun to turn white as well... Getting old at 26? No, there was more to it than that. He'd have to get back to Sunagakure and ask Sousuke to look into some things. That is, if his cousin even had the time.
Upon reaching the Dragon Tooth Pass, he came to a halt. Wearing his kimono as usual, only covered by a traveler's shawl. He was carrying a backpack, belt pouch, canteen and other survival goods. Although it wasn't snowing, he was clearly shivering. Rubbing his arms he'd look up towards one of the towering gatehouses. "Hello? Is anyone's there?! I sent word I was coming..." By the time he reached his last sentence there was little vigor or volume in his voice. Feeling quite a bit stupid was what anyone could guess about his disposition at that point. With a sigh he waited, knowing that someone, somewhere, was watching him.
WC: 1,000+
Marked for training.
Edit: Changed title from Void to Active/Requesting Entrance. Had planned to scrap this, but opportunity has knocked.
The temperature had dropped significantly with night's fall, bringing chill where once heatwaves reigned supreme. Unlike other parts of the world, Wind Country had been known for its extreme weather. The dark hours and the daylight scenery were completely different from one another. Having been mostly raised on an island off Wind Country's southern coast, Jin'ichi had become used to a more stable climate. Despite the cityscape spreading out from the north eastern part of the island, there was much jungle and countryside left. The mainland was different, but doubting his decision to leave home wasn't even an option.
He was headed towards a place called Sunagakure, where the apparently waning art of the Ninja still remained. Jin'ichi's father had been among them, but possessed by a greed stronger than his honor, the man turned to a life of crime. In the same way he abandoned his duties as a Shinobi, the fallen Takahashi would abandon his family, including a young Jin'ichi. Unable to cope naturally with the life of an ordinary person despite his family's wishes, the boy turned young man would set off on a journey. All the hardships they'd endured, and the weight of the world that slowly crushed his mother's health... They were ultimately the fault of a careless man without regard for others.
He'd known to some degree that his father was no ordinary man, and if he was going to track that man down he needed to be more than ordinary as well. Selling his life, loyalty, and total allegiance to a military nation was fair trade. If they could give him the skills and strength to make that man pay, then so be it. He'd thought about it long and hard, eventually leaving on less than good terms with his remaining family. It was while walking through the cold darkness on his way to sell his soul to the Kazekage, that he'd come across a nightmarish scene. Just over the dunes, a deep red glow set the sky ablaze as energy emanated from a youth. The wild ashen colored hair and gleaming crimson eye broke the shadows. Surrounding the small eerie figure were mutilated corpses. Arms, legs, as well as entrails and other gore littered the scenery. The boy turned around, now looking at Jin'ichi across the short distance. Jin would take note of the blackened sclera, and that freaky grin plastered across the mask. The demonic child sprinted towards Jin, full force, kicking up sand behind him. They were face to face for a moment-</FONTFACE>

And then...
---

It was too far to turn back, more than three weeks of tedious travel had brought them so far already. The caravan had saved his life, and in truth it would be ungrateful to ask them to turn around simply for his sake. Deciding it was best to go along with them until he could find a way home, Jin'ichi became a temporary member of their group. The trip went smoothly, all the worst having passed while he was unconscious. Upon reaching Port Cirrus, they'd part ways and he'd be directed to the authorities for information. With Sunagakure's location not being common knowledge to most, even within the lands of Wind Country, it seemed that he'd hit a brick wall. That was, until someone suggested that another Shinobi village known as Kumogakure might be able to help. He'd never heard of the place, but he was an amateur and a rookie so that was to be expected.
With help from Port Cirrus, a telegram would be sent to Cloud on his behalf:
.-- . .----. .-. . / ... . -. -.. .. -. --. / .- / -.-- --- ..- -. --. / -- .- -. / -... -.-- / - .... . / -. .- -- . / --- ..-. / - .- -.- .- .... .- ... .... .. / .--- .. -. .----. .. -.-. .... .. / -.-- --- ..- .-. / .-- .- -.-- / ..-. --- .-. / -.. .. .-. . -.-. - .. --- -. ... .-.-.- / .... . / .- .-. .-. .. ...- . -.. / .-- .. - .... / .- / -.-. .- .-. .- ...- .- -. --..-- / - .... . / .-.. . .- -.. . .-. / --- ..-. / .-- .... .. -.-. .... / ...- --- ..- -.-. .... . -.. / ..-. --- .-. / ..-. .. -. -.. .. -. --. / .... .. -- / ..- -. -.-. --- -. ... -.-. .. --- ..- ... / .- -. -.. / ... .- ...- .. -. --. / .... .. ... / .-.. .. ..-. . .-.-.- / .... . / -.-. .-.. .- .. -- ... / - --- / -... . / .- / -- . -- -... . .-. / --- ..-. / ... ..- -. .- --. .- -.- ..- .-. . --..-- / .- -. -.. / ... .... --- ..- .-.. -.. / -... . / .- .-. .-. .. ...- .. -. --. / .-- .. - .... .. -. / .- / ..-. . .-- / ... .... --- .-. - / -.. .- -.-- ... .-.-.-
---
<FONTFACE fontface="Times New Roman">After taking a day or two to recuperate in Port Cirrus, Jin would stock up on supplies and grab a coat for the mountain weather. Alone, but with all the direction needed, he embarked on a new destination. His mind would flash back to when he first awoke on the caravan, the nightmare he had about the possessed boy he'd slain. The thoughts were becoming a problem, and even when he passed mirrors he'd sometimes swear the child and that sadistic grin were looking back at him. It was as if the dark energy that night was so foul and putrid that it stained a part of Jin'ichi that would forever remember the day. He found that a few strands of hair at the base of his neck had begun to turn white as well... Getting old at 26? No, there was more to it than that. He'd have to get back to Sunagakure and ask Sousuke to look into some things. That is, if his cousin even had the time.
Upon reaching the Dragon Tooth Pass, he came to a halt. Wearing his kimono as usual, only covered by a traveler's shawl. He was carrying a backpack, belt pouch, canteen and other survival goods. Although it wasn't snowing, he was clearly shivering. Rubbing his arms he'd look up towards one of the towering gatehouses. "Hello? Is anyone's there?! I sent word I was coming..." By the time he reached his last sentence there was little vigor or volume in his voice. Feeling quite a bit stupid was what anyone could guess about his disposition at that point. With a sigh he waited, knowing that someone, somewhere, was watching him.
WC: 1,000+
Marked for training.
Edit: Changed title from Void to Active/Requesting Entrance. Had planned to scrap this, but opportunity has knocked.