"Come back here you thief!!"
The cry for help echoed across the busy market streets, coming from a small ramen stand. An older man, clearly too aged to run after the miscreant, stood shaking his fist near the front of the stand, cooking utensils still in hand. A pained grimace crossed his face before he mumbled and retreated back to his cooking area, abandoning hope for retribution as he cursed the man loudly.
A younger shinobi, hair black as the darkest of Kumo nights, happened to be sitting nearby the area when the incident occurred. He had just finishing his own meal, and managed to catch glimpse of the delinquent. The lad was probably no older than himself, hurriedly pushing his way through the crowds of people, a stray noodle still hanging precariously from his mouth. A hit and run I see...
With a sigh, Hira stood up, his lightly colored kimono covered in wave-like patterns brushing gently across the floor as he did so. With one quick leap, he found himself on the rooftops, chasing the criminal overhead with ease. It was a short and ultimately unfulfilling capture, that ended with the man in question tied at the wrists with what appeared to be a small water prison. Hira lead him back to the shop and called the shop owner out to present his prey. As the old man stepped out, his eyes glowed with both excitement and vengeance as he began to yell at the boy.
"Hey old man, make sure you don't go too rough on him. We all fall on hard times now and again. And kid, just make sure you pay him. He's working hard to make sure he stay in business, understand?"
Hira gave his advice to both of them, and barely began to walk away when he heard a cheer roar out behind him, as a woman ran up and grabbed him ecstatically.
"That was amazing!" The woman yelled excitedly. HIra grimaced as the woman embraced him, pushing her off in a hurry before yet another woman flung herself onto his shoulders. As he looked around, he would see a group of them with bright smiles and watchful gazes. Jeeze, all I did was make the kid pay for his food... Is that really what constitutes a hero these days? How can I accept that kind of praise when I can't protect people when it really matters...?
Hira realized the danger he might be in, the crowd growing ever eager to grab onto his arms and shower him with praise. The shinobi saw only one way out of this dire situation...
RUN!!!
Through the crowded streets he pushed, not stopping to look back nor to catch his breath, and only when he could no longer hear the chorus of femininity did he find a small alley to hide in and find some respite. As he crouched down in the alley, he sighed, hoping that nobody else might find him and he could enjoy the rest of his day in peace.
[Requesting Nozomi]
The cry for help echoed across the busy market streets, coming from a small ramen stand. An older man, clearly too aged to run after the miscreant, stood shaking his fist near the front of the stand, cooking utensils still in hand. A pained grimace crossed his face before he mumbled and retreated back to his cooking area, abandoning hope for retribution as he cursed the man loudly.
A younger shinobi, hair black as the darkest of Kumo nights, happened to be sitting nearby the area when the incident occurred. He had just finishing his own meal, and managed to catch glimpse of the delinquent. The lad was probably no older than himself, hurriedly pushing his way through the crowds of people, a stray noodle still hanging precariously from his mouth. A hit and run I see...
With a sigh, Hira stood up, his lightly colored kimono covered in wave-like patterns brushing gently across the floor as he did so. With one quick leap, he found himself on the rooftops, chasing the criminal overhead with ease. It was a short and ultimately unfulfilling capture, that ended with the man in question tied at the wrists with what appeared to be a small water prison. Hira lead him back to the shop and called the shop owner out to present his prey. As the old man stepped out, his eyes glowed with both excitement and vengeance as he began to yell at the boy.
"Hey old man, make sure you don't go too rough on him. We all fall on hard times now and again. And kid, just make sure you pay him. He's working hard to make sure he stay in business, understand?"
Hira gave his advice to both of them, and barely began to walk away when he heard a cheer roar out behind him, as a woman ran up and grabbed him ecstatically.
"That was amazing!" The woman yelled excitedly. HIra grimaced as the woman embraced him, pushing her off in a hurry before yet another woman flung herself onto his shoulders. As he looked around, he would see a group of them with bright smiles and watchful gazes. Jeeze, all I did was make the kid pay for his food... Is that really what constitutes a hero these days? How can I accept that kind of praise when I can't protect people when it really matters...?
Hira realized the danger he might be in, the crowd growing ever eager to grab onto his arms and shower him with praise. The shinobi saw only one way out of this dire situation...
RUN!!!
Through the crowded streets he pushed, not stopping to look back nor to catch his breath, and only when he could no longer hear the chorus of femininity did he find a small alley to hide in and find some respite. As he crouched down in the alley, he sighed, hoping that nobody else might find him and he could enjoy the rest of his day in peace.
[Requesting Nozomi]