Though this had been his first morning home since the Arena incident that ultimately lead to his arrest, it was actually quite normal. As he awoke, he yawned, stretched out his arms, and set up on the side of his bed. This was the first night he had a peaceful nights sleep in so long, he couldn't remember. Unlike his cold, and dark, stone holding cell and thin sleeping mat back at the prison, his home was was full of warmth and luxury. Rubbing his face, he glanced towards the windows and took particular interest towards who bright the morning sun was today. Standing up, he walked over to window and glanced through the blinds; there had been some heavy snowfall overnight. It was pure white outside and the sun's rays were bouncing off the snow, almost briefly blinding him. For a moment, he was taken back by the sight, but the feeling quickly faded as he reached down to grab his sweat pants off the floor.
Getting dressed, as least from the waist down, Kazan went into his living room and glanced his fireplace. The wood he had set ablaze the night before had been smothered out, leaving nothing but ashes in it's wake. Taking a moment, he cleaned out the fireplace before stacking more logs into it. "At least it'll be ready for tonight." He thought, as he walked to his kitchen and began to brew some coffee. In his mind, he knew that even though the fireplace wasn't burning, the snow surrounding his house was most likely acting as an insulator. What little warm air was left in the house was trapped, but come nightfall that probably wouldn't matter. Going through the motions, Kazan eventually got fully dressed for the day, cleaned up his house, and darted through his front door with his basic equipment and weapons.
As he looked around, he noticed how remarkable and surreal everything appeared to be. Unlike most other Shinobi, he didn't actually live within the village. In fact, his home was just on the outskirts of it overlooking some hilly fields. Today, those fields were covered in a thick blanket of snow and it was as white as his eyes could see. While he had recently been released from jail, he hadn't officially returned to duty as a Shinobi. Eventually his superiors, or at least someone higher than the Rank of Jounin, would find a way to contact him and tell him his next course of action. Leaving his porch, he glanced back at his house and took note of the thick layer of snow on top of his roof and against the outside walls of it.
"I should probably collect more wood and maybe hunt or fish for something to eat." He thought, as turned and began to walk. Suddenly, as large burst of smoke appeared beside him, as his eyes shifted. "Kazan! Where the hell have you been!?" Roared Atlas, as the smoke began to fade. "Atlas!" He shouted in reply. "It's good to see you old friend." Kazan would reply, as he went to reach towards Atlas's head, only for Atlas to slowly back up for a moment. "Don't ignore my question, Kazan." Stated Atlas, with an annoyed tone. With a slight chuckle, Kazan would give in and explain himself. "Fine, alright well things didn't work out as I had planned a while back. They locked me up for hijacking the village's communications and publicly trying to fight the Raikage and the Sennin. So, I've kind of been in prison. I just got out yesterday evening." He explained, as Atlas listened quietly before reprimanding him.
"You fool! I've told you before and I'll tell you again. Your village is your pride. You're supposed to protect it and ensure it's survival, not throw it into disarray. You're lucky they didn't declare you an outcast and abandon you." Roared Atlas, as Kazan nodded in acceptance of his words. Perhaps at the time, Kazan was just frustrated with how things seemed compared to what he was use to or could remember. It was foolish of him and he knew it, but at the very least had the plan gone off smoothly he could at least say he had the opportunity to challenge what should be the strongest individuals within the village. "So what brings you here today Atlas? Surely you didn't just miss me." Asked Kazan, as he continued to walk towards a tree line.
Atlas would begin to follow him, before getting in front of him blocking his path. "A while back, something happened in the heartland. My territories have been invaded and many of the other animals have either been run out or over hunted. We've been fighting back, but we need help." He said, before he tilted his head towards his back. "Who invaded?" Asked Kazan, as he quickly jumped onto Atlas and held on. "Snakes." Stated Atlas, as he took off carrying Kazan along with him. As Kazan heard that statement, he wondered if this was anything like when he met Atlas, a Dragon, or the Slug creatures he had previously met before.
A look of confusion would cross his face as he simply began to make assumptions. Atlas was a lion, who could communicate and use natural energy. Then there was those slimy slugs he had encountered, who much like Atlas could communicate verbally and use natural energy. As far fetched as it seemed, maybe these snakes were just as similar. As Kazan rode Atlas, he held on tight until they reached a clearing deep within the heartland. Atlas had brought Kazan to the core of his pride, where Kazan could see several recognizable lioness and cubs. Hoping off, he made note of how few of them remained here. "Hey, we're there tons more of you guys living in this forest?" Asked Kazan, as Atlas glanced to the ground. "This is all that's left. Our numbers have been cut in half several times over. Some gave their lives, and others fled." Stated Atlas, before approaching one of the lioness.
Kazan began to count. "Two." He'd think, as he glanced towards the cubs. "Five." He'd think to himself, as he counted the lioness. "Six." He'd tell himself, counting Atlas among them all. At one point, there was over fifty lion and lionesses within this pride, but now there were only six of them left. "This isn't good...." He'd say under his breathe as a strong sense of responsibility and anger began to overwhelm him. A moment of silence would pass, as Kazan watched Atlas tend to what remained of his pride. "Are these snakes like you or are they just overly populated...?" He'd ask, for Atlas to quickly reply. "At least one of them are, but there's a lot of them and some of them are large enough to swallow us whole." Said Atlas.
Nodding, in recognition to what Atlas has said, Kazan squatted down and placed the pointer finger and middle finger on his right hand to the ground. Clearing his mind, he focused on the natural energy all around him in an attempt to sense any kind of presence around him. "I'll do what I can, just point me where you think I might be able to find any of them." Stated Kazan, as Atlas and the lionesses looked confused. "Give me some time to get my pride to safety and then we'll go together." He'd tell Kazan, before quickly being shut down. "I'll handle it myself, you just focus on getting your people somewhere safe." He'd say sternly. At that moment, Atlas could tell just how serious Kazan actually was.
Nodding, in reply Atlas sent Kazan off to the southern part of the heartland. Taking off, he sprung to action jumping from tree branch to tree branch, quickly clearing several kilometers in a short amount of time. All the while, taking note as to how void of life the heartland seemed to be this time around. He hadn't even seen the first squirrel or noticed even a single bird while dashing through the tree line, let along sensed any other types of wildlife. Jumping from one tree, to the ground below he took a second to look around. Things seemed ominous, quietly, and just outright uncomfortable as he tried to just catch his breathe while he felt the sweat drip from his brow.
"Something has to be nearby." He thought, as he glanced about. Lifting his bearded axe, rightfully named Hellfire's edge, with his right hand his glance focused directly in front of him. A large, and long, shadow figure laid just beyond the tree line in front of him. An odd feeling of dread flashed through his mind, as he caught himself and simply tightened the grip he held on his axe, while simultaneously activating both his Sharingan and extending his Chakra through his axes bladed end. "Whatever you are, come out!" He shouted as he began to walk towards the figure. In his mind, he just knew this figure had to be a giant snake of some kind, but with his mind focused on the figure Kazan suddenly lost his footing and fell into what seemed like a pitfall trap.
After freefalling a couple meters, Kazan would crash into the ground below and lose grip of his axe. After a rough landing, he'd quickly rise to his feet, pick up his axe, and look around him. Not only had he fallen into what appeared to be an underground cavern, but before him were several large and long figures. From the shadows, one would approach him. "You sssssssmeellll like the lionsssssss." Whispered the creature, as Kazan's eyes met it's. "I am the Lion Sage, Akira Kazan and I've come to slaughter you and your kind." He'd state, dauntlessly as all the other figures hidden within the shadows of this cavern began to hiss and slither around him.
[Wc: 1643] [Gonna be using "Discovery of Contract of Your Choice ~ Snake Contract" for this search] Obtained here
Getting dressed, as least from the waist down, Kazan went into his living room and glanced his fireplace. The wood he had set ablaze the night before had been smothered out, leaving nothing but ashes in it's wake. Taking a moment, he cleaned out the fireplace before stacking more logs into it. "At least it'll be ready for tonight." He thought, as he walked to his kitchen and began to brew some coffee. In his mind, he knew that even though the fireplace wasn't burning, the snow surrounding his house was most likely acting as an insulator. What little warm air was left in the house was trapped, but come nightfall that probably wouldn't matter. Going through the motions, Kazan eventually got fully dressed for the day, cleaned up his house, and darted through his front door with his basic equipment and weapons.
As he looked around, he noticed how remarkable and surreal everything appeared to be. Unlike most other Shinobi, he didn't actually live within the village. In fact, his home was just on the outskirts of it overlooking some hilly fields. Today, those fields were covered in a thick blanket of snow and it was as white as his eyes could see. While he had recently been released from jail, he hadn't officially returned to duty as a Shinobi. Eventually his superiors, or at least someone higher than the Rank of Jounin, would find a way to contact him and tell him his next course of action. Leaving his porch, he glanced back at his house and took note of the thick layer of snow on top of his roof and against the outside walls of it.
"I should probably collect more wood and maybe hunt or fish for something to eat." He thought, as turned and began to walk. Suddenly, as large burst of smoke appeared beside him, as his eyes shifted. "Kazan! Where the hell have you been!?" Roared Atlas, as the smoke began to fade. "Atlas!" He shouted in reply. "It's good to see you old friend." Kazan would reply, as he went to reach towards Atlas's head, only for Atlas to slowly back up for a moment. "Don't ignore my question, Kazan." Stated Atlas, with an annoyed tone. With a slight chuckle, Kazan would give in and explain himself. "Fine, alright well things didn't work out as I had planned a while back. They locked me up for hijacking the village's communications and publicly trying to fight the Raikage and the Sennin. So, I've kind of been in prison. I just got out yesterday evening." He explained, as Atlas listened quietly before reprimanding him.
"You fool! I've told you before and I'll tell you again. Your village is your pride. You're supposed to protect it and ensure it's survival, not throw it into disarray. You're lucky they didn't declare you an outcast and abandon you." Roared Atlas, as Kazan nodded in acceptance of his words. Perhaps at the time, Kazan was just frustrated with how things seemed compared to what he was use to or could remember. It was foolish of him and he knew it, but at the very least had the plan gone off smoothly he could at least say he had the opportunity to challenge what should be the strongest individuals within the village. "So what brings you here today Atlas? Surely you didn't just miss me." Asked Kazan, as he continued to walk towards a tree line.
Atlas would begin to follow him, before getting in front of him blocking his path. "A while back, something happened in the heartland. My territories have been invaded and many of the other animals have either been run out or over hunted. We've been fighting back, but we need help." He said, before he tilted his head towards his back. "Who invaded?" Asked Kazan, as he quickly jumped onto Atlas and held on. "Snakes." Stated Atlas, as he took off carrying Kazan along with him. As Kazan heard that statement, he wondered if this was anything like when he met Atlas, a Dragon, or the Slug creatures he had previously met before.
A look of confusion would cross his face as he simply began to make assumptions. Atlas was a lion, who could communicate and use natural energy. Then there was those slimy slugs he had encountered, who much like Atlas could communicate verbally and use natural energy. As far fetched as it seemed, maybe these snakes were just as similar. As Kazan rode Atlas, he held on tight until they reached a clearing deep within the heartland. Atlas had brought Kazan to the core of his pride, where Kazan could see several recognizable lioness and cubs. Hoping off, he made note of how few of them remained here. "Hey, we're there tons more of you guys living in this forest?" Asked Kazan, as Atlas glanced to the ground. "This is all that's left. Our numbers have been cut in half several times over. Some gave their lives, and others fled." Stated Atlas, before approaching one of the lioness.
Kazan began to count. "Two." He'd think, as he glanced towards the cubs. "Five." He'd think to himself, as he counted the lioness. "Six." He'd tell himself, counting Atlas among them all. At one point, there was over fifty lion and lionesses within this pride, but now there were only six of them left. "This isn't good...." He'd say under his breathe as a strong sense of responsibility and anger began to overwhelm him. A moment of silence would pass, as Kazan watched Atlas tend to what remained of his pride. "Are these snakes like you or are they just overly populated...?" He'd ask, for Atlas to quickly reply. "At least one of them are, but there's a lot of them and some of them are large enough to swallow us whole." Said Atlas.
Nodding, in recognition to what Atlas has said, Kazan squatted down and placed the pointer finger and middle finger on his right hand to the ground. Clearing his mind, he focused on the natural energy all around him in an attempt to sense any kind of presence around him. "I'll do what I can, just point me where you think I might be able to find any of them." Stated Kazan, as Atlas and the lionesses looked confused. "Give me some time to get my pride to safety and then we'll go together." He'd tell Kazan, before quickly being shut down. "I'll handle it myself, you just focus on getting your people somewhere safe." He'd say sternly. At that moment, Atlas could tell just how serious Kazan actually was.
Nodding, in reply Atlas sent Kazan off to the southern part of the heartland. Taking off, he sprung to action jumping from tree branch to tree branch, quickly clearing several kilometers in a short amount of time. All the while, taking note as to how void of life the heartland seemed to be this time around. He hadn't even seen the first squirrel or noticed even a single bird while dashing through the tree line, let along sensed any other types of wildlife. Jumping from one tree, to the ground below he took a second to look around. Things seemed ominous, quietly, and just outright uncomfortable as he tried to just catch his breathe while he felt the sweat drip from his brow.
"Something has to be nearby." He thought, as he glanced about. Lifting his bearded axe, rightfully named Hellfire's edge, with his right hand his glance focused directly in front of him. A large, and long, shadow figure laid just beyond the tree line in front of him. An odd feeling of dread flashed through his mind, as he caught himself and simply tightened the grip he held on his axe, while simultaneously activating both his Sharingan and extending his Chakra through his axes bladed end. "Whatever you are, come out!" He shouted as he began to walk towards the figure. In his mind, he just knew this figure had to be a giant snake of some kind, but with his mind focused on the figure Kazan suddenly lost his footing and fell into what seemed like a pitfall trap.
After freefalling a couple meters, Kazan would crash into the ground below and lose grip of his axe. After a rough landing, he'd quickly rise to his feet, pick up his axe, and look around him. Not only had he fallen into what appeared to be an underground cavern, but before him were several large and long figures. From the shadows, one would approach him. "You sssssssmeellll like the lionsssssss." Whispered the creature, as Kazan's eyes met it's. "I am the Lion Sage, Akira Kazan and I've come to slaughter you and your kind." He'd state, dauntlessly as all the other figures hidden within the shadows of this cavern began to hiss and slither around him.
[Wc: 1643] [Gonna be using "Discovery of Contract of Your Choice ~ Snake Contract" for this search] Obtained here
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