It had been a strange few months.
Teng stood behind a pop-up counter holding a ladle and waiting. The marquee that hung over him and the other cooks blocked out the sun which gave the volunteers some much needed shade to cool them away from the flames that kept their pots of soup warm. The Chuunin was on hard times, but he couldn’t remember being this happy. He had lost his house and a lot of his talent to alcoholism over a single month and still found it impossible to believe how much a person could lose in such a short time. His father hadn’t spoken to him in the last two weeks since he had moved back in with his folks, but that was to be expected. The old man had his mind too far up the old goals of a clan that was long dead except in name only, and Tengoi didn’t believe himself the person his father had suddenly tried to prop up. The air between them was thick with tension, but the guy had a lot to deal with.
For now, Teng was working on himself. He put in a resignation from the military, started going to AA meetings, and now does as the rest of his family does in Konoha: volunteer to help the poor and hungry. The first week was rough, but he got used to it. Before long the ex-shinobi found himself simply falling in love with his new life, and saw his military career as misguided youth; just as his folks had expected. There was just too much kindness that ran through his bones to wish harm on others, and though he had gotten over his initial cowardice, he still wished for nothing that involved harming others. If you had told him a month ago that he’d find more fulfillment in collecting trash on the side of the road over drawing a blade across someone’s throat, he’d of laughed at you; agreed, but laughed.
Teng rotated his wrist and stirred the soup slightly, ready for another day of simplicity.
[Retired]
Teng stood behind a pop-up counter holding a ladle and waiting. The marquee that hung over him and the other cooks blocked out the sun which gave the volunteers some much needed shade to cool them away from the flames that kept their pots of soup warm. The Chuunin was on hard times, but he couldn’t remember being this happy. He had lost his house and a lot of his talent to alcoholism over a single month and still found it impossible to believe how much a person could lose in such a short time. His father hadn’t spoken to him in the last two weeks since he had moved back in with his folks, but that was to be expected. The old man had his mind too far up the old goals of a clan that was long dead except in name only, and Tengoi didn’t believe himself the person his father had suddenly tried to prop up. The air between them was thick with tension, but the guy had a lot to deal with.
For now, Teng was working on himself. He put in a resignation from the military, started going to AA meetings, and now does as the rest of his family does in Konoha: volunteer to help the poor and hungry. The first week was rough, but he got used to it. Before long the ex-shinobi found himself simply falling in love with his new life, and saw his military career as misguided youth; just as his folks had expected. There was just too much kindness that ran through his bones to wish harm on others, and though he had gotten over his initial cowardice, he still wished for nothing that involved harming others. If you had told him a month ago that he’d find more fulfillment in collecting trash on the side of the road over drawing a blade across someone’s throat, he’d of laughed at you; agreed, but laughed.
Teng rotated his wrist and stirred the soup slightly, ready for another day of simplicity.
[Retired]