One Day

[Chikamatsu Nashi]

Kino walked up to the fence around the forest, placing his hand on the fence and leaning against it. He hand a long way to go before he'd see the inside of the fence, and honestly he wasn't exactly found of the concept. Sure, he'd be able to prove himself but let's not pretend it was all cool on the inside.
Either way he was excited for once, he was about to start his journey, his path of the shinobi. Admittedly, just becoming a shinobi wasn't enough for Kino, no he needed to be one of the best. He already knew what he'd pursue, and he'd do just about anything to get it.

"One day.." That was all he said as he turned back around and leaned his back against the fence. He looked up to the sky with a smirk, thinking of what this new way of life would have to offer him.

 

[Akamine Sota]

"One day what," came a bark.

From in-between the trees, Sota stepped out, hands shoved within the comfort of his pockets. His eyes, narrowed with indifference, trained on the territory which had once been a no-go zone. Still was, to some degree. But who'd stop the few that liked to chase danger?

"You look like you've got big plans." To everyone's surprise, the comment carried no bite to it. Sota can't remember the last time he'd stripped the venom from his tongue, let alone in the face of a fellow volatile student.

Kino wasn't a boy he'd ever familiarized himself with, mainly due to a lack of interest. But word spreads fast. Through the grapevine, Sota had come to learn just about enough to form judgement of the other, as he did with anybody he was forced to acknowledge. Kino painted a less typical picture. A short fuse, a fighter; an easy target. Little sparks of curiosity would've led Sota to him one way or the other — like today. Which just so happened to be about the worst day for a meeting. A series of events had exhausted Sota to the point where he felt no need to shove himself into Kino's space. Didn't toss him any funny looks, didn't even add joke to question. Simply picked a spot nearby and — idled. Even his gaze had settled past the dark locks, onto the other side of the fence. "So?"

Unsaid: what plans busy your mind?



—
wc 243

 

[Chikamatsu Nashi]

Kino looked over at Sota having zero idea who they even were, as he had little to no effort in such things. He cocked a brow and almost winced before speaking, "who are you exactly?" His words were less than friendly, but didn't carry any aggression or attitude on them. He had enough injuries from picking fights this week and wasn't exactly keen on gaining any more, though depending on what this guy had in mind it was likely.
He looked back forward to the trees and continued, "You always just interrupt people having their relaxation, or are you out here for something?" He asked as a weirdly curious look grew on his face. While he wasn't looking in the direction of Sota, it was clear he was genuinely curious about what this kid was doing out here. Usually, if he came to this place it was a guaranteed quiet time he could think. Maybe Sota was also looking for that quiet, or maybe he was looking to start shit, either way Kino was going to ask and not answer.

(Mft - 179)

 

[Akamine Sota]

Times like these, Sota felt the slam of a hammer bring him back down to reality. Hadn't approached with expectations, so, when Kino quips back a question, Sota's face contorts.

"Haa, and here I was trying to be nice. My fuckin' fault, man."

When he turns to face the taller kid, his chin is held high, and — with a forced smile — he challenges: "Relaxing, huh? Let me help you with that." But before he finishes his sentence, a reflection of light flickers before his arm; dark metal cutting down what short distance there is between them. (Slicing the air in half is a kunai; quickly coming for Kino's eyes would he not react in time.)

Regardless of if, and how he'd evade the brush with death, Sota's jaw would suddenly clench, a quiet "fuck," muttered underneath his breath. In his right hand, he'd hold the left — the one that had thrown the weapon. Both hands were bandaged, but the one that was held shook with a reinvigorated pain, old wounds seeming to reopen and repaint white cloth with red.



—
wc 180

 

[Inuzuka Keiyaku]

"Yeah, you're right, Moru. Bit too close to the forest, ain't they?"

Keiyaku exchanged a glance with Morutobu, the adolescent Shiba dog at his side who'd alerted him to the presence of two boys hanging around the forest gates. The dog adorned a kind of battle harness with small pockets containing kunai and other pieces of equipment, while its master sported an ANBU uniform, a blue and white wolf-like mask hiding his face, but two slitted pupils were clearly visible through the eye holes, and were currently watching the two young shinobi interact. Ah, the Forest of Death. He remembered, not so fondly, taking his initiation exam out here when a mad hoard of forest-dwelling beasts had burst its boundaries and were terrorising the nearby settlements around the village. Ever since, he always made a point to add the gates to his patrol route, purely out of paranoid habit. As the two watched from a distance, Morutobu gave the Inuzuka a very quiet whine, prompting him to jerk his head up.

A glint of metal.

"Whoa, nelly!"

The moment the boys heard the voice, Sota would find the kunai suddenly and aggressively tugged from his hand by an unseen force, moments before he could plunge it into the unsuspecting boy's flesh. Keiyaku stepped out into the open, his hand extended into the air above him, where the kunai was now floating, idly spinning.

"Ever heard the old saying, kid? 'Don't bring a knife to a relaxation fight'," teased Keiyaku, a smile clearly evident in his voice. Moru, despite his small size, was in full guard-dog mode, his side glued to his big brother's leg, eyes fixated on both boys, his hackles raised.

"Tanuki, relax, it's good for ya," said the masked boy, and the dog seemed to loosen up a little, but still looked wary.

Keiyaku fixed the black haired boy with an appraising glance, wondering if he'd said something to provoke such aggression in the other boy. Raising his hand again, he caused the kunai to float into his grasp, twirling it around his clawed fingers. Leaning forward, he handed the kunai to Kino, curiously to see what his impulse would be; revenge, or peace?

"Here, kid, souvenir," said Keiyaku, a trace of a smirk in his voice. Something distracted him though; the scent of blood filled his nostrils and his eyes jerked down to Sota's bandaged hands, watching them pool with scarlet stains.

"Maybe you should get yourself to the Byoin and get patched up again; that looks really nasty..."

 

[Chikamatsu Nashi]

Kino looked very unbothered by the whole situation as he turned back to face the pair now in the area. "Oh, thanks" his voice was incredibly nonschelant given the attempt at his eye made a moment ago, "you make a habit of just appearing from thin air when kids fight or?" He laughed lightly. It wasn't like Kino had a plan for a kunai this early in the day, he was just going to throw his hand up to save his eye, which would've made his hand junk and been a waste. Luckily that wasn't the case, so now he didn't have to think about the weirdness of it all. He could just play it cool and play it off like it was under control.

Though, whoever this kid was had some serious temper problems, which in all honesty Kino could appreciate. So maybe this wasn't the worst situation he could find himself in, given his naivety to the who shinobi thing.
(MFT- 162)

 

[Akamine Sota]

Before the projectile can reach its target, something snaps it out of path. Claims it before it can fulfill its task, and has Sota's brows tightening with confusion. Reinforced when the masked man lets on a joke. It is a joke, right?

Was it even a man? Or could Sota hear youth in his voice? At the very least, he prides himself on being able to recognize the mask; a common piece of ANBU attire.

Moreover, "hell's that? Telekinesis?" Pays no mind to the way his blade is readily handed to the other kid. Wouldn't be able to, even if he wanted. Not while the screeching of a familiar pain imprisoned his mind, swatted at his thoughts whenever he'd offer his attention to the next thing in line.

"Yeah yeah, maybe you should mind your own fuckin' business." Once again, the bite in his voice is strained. Sota spares the protective dog a glance. A thought has his jaws clenched. Wonders; can he beat all three of them? Has heard of the deadly man-dog combination of the Inuzuka clan. Can hear the growing protests from his hand. Knows the answer, and yet

decides to give up the well-being of his right hand and draws out a second kunai.



—
wc 204

 

[Chikamatsu Nashi]

Kino's eyes shoot to sota, his hand slowly forms a fist. "Seriously? What is your issue?" Kino cocked his shoulders to loosen them up, "I don't know you and yet you have such a damn problem with me, you'd be willing to fight me and Anbu? are you daft or dumb?"

He took a step and his nostrils flared, his temper was rising at the level of audacity being presented by Sota in this moment. He was fully expecting a fight, and was about ready to say 'Fuck it' and go for it. Something at that moment snapped in him though, his adrenaline stopped flowing and a sense of calm washed over him. "Look.. take a second, why are we fighting?" His question was genuine but also felt very forced from him. The hot headed kid was trying, for some reason, to keep his cool.

 

[Inuzuka Keiyaku]

Keiyaku raised his eyebrow as the assessment of his 'telekinesis'. He chose to avoid that particular question; that old chestnut wasn't something he felt safe telling just about anybody. His gaze alighted upon Kino, and so did the Shiba dog's, both of them seeming intrigued by his lack of ill-will in the face of someone who had tried to stab him in the eye. Was that a good thing, or not? Still, if the two weren't going to fight, that meant less paperwork for him.

"Other guy," he said, looking at Kino, "not hurt, are ya?"

"'Fraid it is my business, kid," he said, gesturing to the mask he was wearing, that trace of a smirk still evident in his voice, "this ain't for fancy dress."

Eye darting down, he watching a second kunai in the Sota's injured hands. The hell was so important about gutting the other kid that he was doing so with bleeding hands.

"Give it a rest, boy. Drop all your weapons, or you and I are taking a trip up Shit Creek," he said, looking down at him. Behind the ANBU's eyes, it was as though something much more than the Inuzuka alone was looking out at Sota.

There was something hungry.

 

[Akamine Sota]

"Like I said. Just helping you out." Half a smile accompanies the quip, and a metaphor drowns under his words; the claim to help almost ironic considering Kino had just drawn within his mind a map towards greatness. In another day, perhaps the statement would've proven true. Perhaps, all of this could've simply been a case of Sota helping an ambitious classmate train. Here's a truer answer to Kino's question:

Steam.

Boils and scalds your skin if kept away for too long. Doesn't rest easy within the pits of your crown. No, screeches with a vicious need to be vented out, and so, Sota is simply letting off steam. You see, a bad child that suddenly quiets down to play good is a promise that things have gone awry. Poke him with a stick and you risk tearing down the facade he'd put so much effort in holding up.

Sota's wall was crumbling. Bleeding hands go unfelt in the face of fear. With all the strained bits of his person, he realizes there is no energy left over from the previous days. Nothing to siphon into strength, and so —

like an animal caught in a net, raw impulses take over: the sharp end of his blade suddenly juts in the direction of the wolf-like mask.

(Hint: Bleeding hands offer very little in terms of steady aim.)



—
wc 223

 

[Chikamatsu Nashi]

Kino was about to speak when his eyes focused on the blade moving toward this stranger. While he knew in his heart that the stranger did not need any help, his impulses took control. He reached his hand out and physically blocked the blade tip with his hand. THe piercing pain shot up his arm and he winced on impact. 'Wh.. what the hell am I doing? why.. am I..' His thoughts were a jumbled mess ass his second hand went to grip the wrist of the would be assaulter. He gripped it firmly but it was beginning to shake as the blood trickled down from his other hand.

"Hey.." his eyes looked to Sota an emptiness in them, "He told you to drop them.. so.. we should drop them ya?" His pupils were pinned from the pain of the blade. Why he had decided to use his hand as a block, who could say, but from the amount of scarring on the face of his hand this wasn't the first time he had done this. "No need for us to wind up ... Any worse than this.. okay?" His words left from between his teeth that were instinctively grinding together from the pain. His breath were short and hallow, as if he was desperately trying his best to not lose his mind on Sota, as he knew it was not going to help... but it was becoming a struggle with every bit of blood that left that fresh wound.

(WC 249)

 

[Inuzuka Keiyaku]

Keiyaku reacted quickly, but Kino had reacted at the same time, doing something incredibly foolish. As he gripped Sota's worst, he blocked the blade with his hand. The ANBU launched into action immediately.

"Tanuki, get him away!"

Moru reacted instantly, shutting his eyes for a moment and conjuring up a sudden puff of smoke. When it cleared, the dog had seemingly transformed into a perfect clone of the Inuzuka, mask and all. With his newly acquired arms, he grabbed onto Sota's wrist, twisting it enough to disarm him of the kunai which was still lodged in Kino's hand. The dog in Beast-Clone form, pulled Kino back, away from the carnage, grunting and growling as he did so, making sure he was safe.

"Medical frequency. This is Jackal and Tanuki. Forest of Death North Gate, I have a student stabbed. Please attend," said Keiyaku, speaking very quickly into his headset as he kept Sota at bay. With that out of the way, he could concentrate on putting the guy down as he spewed steam.

Stepping in close to Sota with blinding speed, he grabbed the boy's face in his hand and forced it up slightly, so he had no choice but to look into his eyes. The moment their eyes met, Sota would feel his body beginning to seize up as the paralysis took hold.

"I think you've earned yourself a time-out, young man," growled Keiyaku, glancing briefly over to check Moru was taking care of Kino.

[Requesting Medic]
[Morutobu uses Beast Clone]
[Keiyaku uses Body Bind]

 

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi was sitting at the desk of his office as always, filling out paperwork and just trying to get by and keep on top of it, it seems that everything kept him busy these days. However that soon came to a stop when the sound came over a headset call, it seemed that something interesting was going down and he honestly wanted to see what was going on, and could help as was required, he was gone from the office in the blink of an eye. As he headed into the forest with speed, the village and pathways he knew like the back of his hand, as he knew full how to get there quickly.

"Who needs the healing and what is going on?"

He landed in between everyone in the group, the white robes fluttering around him, as his hat covered up his face until he rose to his full height, the Hokage robes flowing back to cover him as he wore the traditional gear of the Main Branch, his eyes darting towards the one who was wounded as he moved towards him without speaking waiting for his questions to be answered.

He formed the familiar seals of his hands, and quickly completely reconstructed the wound with no words being spoken, stitching the skin back together, mending torn vessels and any other damage that had been created, satisfied with the repair work he had carried out he waited for answers.

[Topic Entered]
[Used A-Rank Angelic Blessing on Kino]

 

[Chikamatsu Nashi]

Kino's eyes widened at the rush of motion and commotion between Sota being taken and the fourth Hokage landing at his front. Once the wound was healed he pulled it close to his chest and gave it a squeeze with the opposite hand. This just became a situation where Kino now felt like he was either about to be in some serious public service hours, or he was going to shut his mouth and see what happened.

Having chosen the second option he simply gave a nervous "Th.. Thank you" and waited for the Anbu in the area to explain things. This was way above his pay grade for something that had started as a simple unfriendly chat, and now Kino was desperate to find a way out of this conversation.

 

[Akamine Sota]

A million ways. Sota had pictured a million ways this would fail. Instead, like an intentional punch to the gut, the odds pick the least expected picture from the list. And he didn't typically picture results before he acted on actions, much like now. Nor did he ever know to respond with shock. Only a childish thrill. But a hand pushing forward to block the sharp of his strike drains all the fever from his head.

Sota spends a good three seconds in his newborn state, eyes peeled wide, lips drawn flat, body unmoving. In those three seconds, he watches his chin be tugged in the direction of death. Feels his bones give up, and watches as a bleeding Kino is tended to by — get this — the fucking hokage.

What a week.

Suddenly wants out of his invisible chains. Not so that he can freely panic, though some claustrophobia was beginning to trickle over his skin. No, something bubbles at his throat; he needs to laugh. Can't let out a snicker, not even form a smile. But he really, really needs to bark out a laugh. Can already feel his sides hurting, and yet

nothing comes out.



—
wc 195

 

[Inuzuka Keiyaku]

Keiyaku watched as the boy struggled against the jutsu slowly creeping through his body, denying him chakra flow and bodily autonomy at the same time. Not wanting him to hurt himself, he caught the boy in his arms and slowly lowered him to the ground, thinking that he would deal with him in a moment. For now, he needed to report to...

"Lord Hokage," said Keiyaku, a little stunned as the village leader healed the slightly bewildered student's wound. He bowed his head, as did Beast-Clone Morutobu, who seemed to be just as surprised. As if to save himself the risk of embarrassing himself, Moru got up and took several steps away before poofing back into his normal doggy body in a puff of smoke.

"Agents Jackal and Tanuki," he said stiffly, but with martial bearing, "random knifing as far as I can tell. If you don't mind, sir, I wanna briefly detain Sally-Stabs-Alot over there and see what's caused all this."

He gestured to the paralysed student now lying in the grass behind him.

"I didn't get your name, kid," he said, looking at the black-haired boy with concern in his eyes.

 

[Uchiha Takeshi]

Takeshi listened to the situation unfold it seemed to say the least that it could have just been a state of a student getting some practise in, or losing their mind, he honestly didn't know. As he listened he walked over to the dog that had formed and gave it a scratch behind the ears. The bloodline was one passed down to those gifted and it seemed this pair had trained well and developed a very strong bond between the two of them. As he turned his head towards the student he had just healed, the eyes had changed, giving his name its true meaning as the Sharingan stared back at him.

"Your name, and your side of the story if you please?"

As he waited for this information to come across, he turned his attention back to Jackal and Tanuki. Knowing that they were first on scene, he wanted to give them the freedom to show off their abilities.

"You were here first, you should take charge of the situation and investigation, I am here if you need the support, and of course to make sure the boy doesn't do anything stupid once you release him from the bind."

 

[Chikamatsu Nashi]

"oh sorry.. I uh.. I'm Tanatsu Kino.. academy student.. but.. that's probably obvious.. uh.. " The nerves were calming but still present in his voice. "I was.. I don't really understand what happened here if I'm being honest. I was mumbling to myself thinking and then it was a fight. I'm not sure if I said something or what exactly Lord Hokage."

He took a deep breath before continuing "either way I'm sorry for the inconvenience of this," he bowed deeply to the pair, "it won't happen again sirs." He took another deep breath and stood straight. While he couldn't fully make that promise, it was clear he was meaning to do his level best to try.

 

[Inuzuka Keiyaku]

"Don't sweat it, Kino," said Keiyaku, nodding to him in a show of understanding as Lord Hokage questioned him about what had transpired. Now that he had one side, he was curious to see what had been going through the other boy's head to make him do such a thing. He wanted to get to know the boy a little, making him feel comfortable, and question him in private, hoping to soften him up enough to be a little less abrasive than he'd been before, "I'll see ya at the academy sometime, kid. Take it easy."

Turning his attention on the paralysed Sota, he carefully lifted him into his arms, and then rather unceremoniously slung him over his shoulder.

"Lord Hokage, thanks for trusting me with this. I just wanna make sure this doesn't happen again - I'll handle him from here."

And with that, both the Inuzuka and the dog flitted away into the air, moving as though the force of gravity itself had launched them skyward.

[Topic Left]
[Continued here: https://ninpocho.com/threads/hanging-around-req-sota.67701/]

 

[Chikamatsu Nashi]

Kino takes a deep breath and nods, he then turns to face the Hokage. "Unless you need anything else Lord Hokage, I should probably get going myself. Roll call for dinner should be starting soon at home." He gave a deep bow and stood waiting to be dismissed.

He was not going to rush off without dismissal, even if he had wanted to. This was the first time he's met the Hokage, and he wasn't about to leave a bad impression.