'The spirit is an inward flame; a lamp the world blows upon but never puts out... Never feat the light within... may it ignite the Sacred Flame in your soul... Be the Flame. Not the Moth'
Ryuni's hands would trace the pages of the text before him, the words etched with the passion of those before him that would write this to ensure the next who came would have the words to guide them. However, the Yamashiro were muddled with so much passion and fire that they often were not taken seriously in their attempts to move the needle forward. To move the generations into a stage where they could take the Sacred Flames into new pastures. This is where Ryuni's mind would constantly set. He wanted to be the bridge and the Kazekage had told him that his dream was a dream worth fighting and scratching to obtain. What did that entail though... How would he be able to use his light to bring about peace within the village? This ever-changing wave of emotions tended to overcome the boy from time to time as he thought.
Tonight, would be the night that they would begin the ritual. The Ritual of Awakening. The dance and branding that would begin the next phases into Ryuni's rite of passage. Many Yamashiro would go about this process, and it was a daring ordeal that would be placed under much scrutiny if the village would seek to find deeper answers to it. Ryuni's father frowned sullenly down at his son. Ryuni often wondered what ran through the man's head as he roamed the world around them. He respected him, endlessly. All he would want would be the approval, the long approval that he was doing right by the man, and the stoic man would never seem to show his only child. Maybe it was for that reason, being an only child, that the man would not want to coddle the boy.
Ryu, for his credit, often exceeded expectations in his clan, but he was always behind the children of the other clans. Strong within his own people but often being a step behind others. He'd sparred against a few Renmei and lost because of the bad matchup but even against children of the Kyouketsu and Tsuchigumo clans Ryuni would often find himself with his face gazing up to the ceiling in defeat, even when it came to academics. Where he excelled would be in hand-to-hand combat. And even then, he fell short more often than not. He was constantly fighting an uphill battle when it came to this, and he found that he had to work that much harder to keep up with the pack. Now that he was a Genin, he would begin seeing the spoils of his effort. While those of the other lesser and even noble clans would rely on their natural born power, Ryuni's effort and willingness to push passed his limitations seemed to close the distance, and ever since something had unlocked within him on the day of his exam...
That night, the boy had a plot to go to the edge of the village and channel his chakra into the skies in a dazzling display of power, to light the sky with the power that equaled the shining might of the Sunan sun. In this act, the details were sketchy, but from what sources state from multiple accounts is that the edge of the rocky edges of the village were burned a crisp and a hole had been seemingly punched through the side of a cliff... but also the entire right side of the boy had nearly been charred. Leaving the limb nearly unusable. . . which turned out not to be the case, as Ryuni is often seen being sleeveless with no real scarring on the limb.
In actuality, he'd only hurt his chakra core that day... his ability to push beyond was hampered by his ability to string together chakra infused techniques because his chakra core had suffered greatly limiting his maximum output. So, he had to think about his tactics from that day on. Which could've saved his life? Or could have made him a better warrior in some eyes having to think about his offense and making himself a bit more defensive.
In actuality, he'd only hurt his chakra core that day... his ability to push beyond was hampered by his ability to string together chakra infused techniques because his chakra core had suffered greatly limiting his maximum output. So, he had to think about his tactics from that day on. Which could've saved his life? Or could have made him a better warrior in some eyes having to think about his offense and making himself a bit more defensive.
A call back to his power surging that day. Something that he'd been attempting for a long time and maybe something snapped within him allowing him to tap into something hidden under the surface. A Power yet to fully be unleashed and one that would ultimately allow him to surge into the spotlight as a warrior, which could lead to the respect needed to begin building that bridge that he'd spoken to the Kazekage about. To gain the respect he would have to be calm, concise, and unwavering yet teachable. As a Yamashiro these things did not come easy but he could learn to do things outside of what was expected of him. Somethings could become apart of him even though he was not born with it. This gave him peace...
"...Today you are here... In a hidden Yamashiro Shrine home in the Diamond Ocean. To perform dance of flames and commence the Ritual of Cinders to bring out what is hidden underneath. My son... you are strong. And you have the power to be even stronger than myself." the man would pause for a moment looking down, the frown still etched across his lips but the words were littered with hope, faith, and wanting. He was a strange man, no show of affection but Ryuni could tell he was loved? Maybe the fact that he subtly questioned it worried the young boy.
The dance was something that he'd worked on for ages with his mother, it was simple a mix of his chakra as he moved along the ground made a pattern that completed a symbol as it was danced upon. The Symbol would be the Suna Symbol of their headbands along with a flame within the center piece. It took a bit to complete which always ended up bringing the temperature of the room. They could take it, being that it was something they constantly would feel. Their fires and heat being a part of their very blood.
'Don't mess up don't mess up' Ryuni clattered to himself as he nervously paced the floor etching his flames on the floor as his father would watch. If he were to be successful, the seal would culminate on the floor with an orange tinge. And the first step would be completed. For those who were able to complete this part the next would be the harshest... but it would be worth it, and a rite of passage to those strong enough to withstand... the heat. Stamping his feet to the floor and sliding, before flexing his arms and pumping his fists with every step and move Ryuni would expertly move as if he'd been practicing this for ages. Which he had. At his level of proficiency, he'd be able to teach the elders. All at once he would jump into the air, landing at the helm of the image below. For a moment, he huffed as sweat beaded down his brow, almost thinking he'd messed it up before his father would huff and the symbol began to glow... first from the flame in the middle piece then the entire image would pulse as it was completed to perfection.
Wide eyes would gaze to Ryuni's father from the boy which would be met with a smirk and a simple nod. "Move to the center and kneel." he'd command, causing Ryuni to pause for a moment expecting praise for his preparedness. It would not come. No applause. No congratulatory remarks. Just another command. This made Ryuni frown for a moment before moving to the symbol without objection. Without a word, San, Ryuni's father, would step before his kneeling son, forming three hand signs. Rat, Dog, Serpent. San would begin infusing his chakra into his palms before his fingertips began to glow in dazzling red luminesce. Ryuni's eyes sparkled in awe before clenching shut from the pain he felt from the jut of his fathers fingertips to his forehead. Ragged breaths would begin to emerge from the young Yamashiro, sitting in the room wish his father's hand pressed to his forehead.
San began chanting inaudibly from Ryuni's perspective, but his mind was trying to force away the pain he felt as his father channeled his energy into the seal on the boy's skin...
Without warning, Ryu's eyes would flash at San's shout, "THRESHOLD OF IGNITION! OPEN! Ryu's vision would flash again before his body would begin to be enveloped in chakra power. His muscles rippled. His body buckled and lifted into the air off his knees and unto his feet before bursting backwards to the back of the room. The dry walls of the underground complex would silently sweat from the heat of the unwavered sun outside. The sun roared overhead and the sun was so hot that one could sizzle steak upon the surface. The air would snuff out much of the moisture within and would dry even the most dense water sources. The walls themselves buckled and heaved under the pressure of the chakra that was being released, but all at the same time the chakra was condensed unto a single point on Ryuni's forehead.
The walls crackled but did not give.
Ryuni's father would walk to prone son, kneeling and lifting him by clenching his hair and checking to see if he was still alive.
"Good. The seal took, and soon your familiar will reveal themselves... Once they have... Come through the tunnel and meet me for your next step training..., he'd release his son lightly, standing to his feet and slowly walking out.
'Familiar...? What did that mean?'
[Kinjutsu Application - Hachimon]
[Discovery of Random Contract Card used]
