"Do you really think I could be a good shinobi one day?" A small voice of a young girl hung on the cool night air. The brilliant lit city-scape of Konohagakure gleamed and burst from the cover of the tree tops in the darkness, a truly beautiful sight from the vantage point of Hokage Rock. Two dark-haired figures sat atop the likeness of the Nidaime Hokage amidst the bright colors of fallen leaves reflected in the starlight. The second figure, a man in his late twenties, chuckled. "I think you could be a great shinobi, if that's what you want to do." His daughter's grey eyes turned from the city back to her father before looking down at the ground. The Saitou side of the family made no secret about the worries they had about her joining the academy. They had made every pitch for merchanting that they could - freedom to make your own choices, opportunities to travel, relative safety. While parts of this were appealing to the girl, the idea of being like her parents and giving back to her birth place by serving it in this way was far more exciting. "Yeah, but you think everyone could be a great shinobi," Reicheru commented with a smile. Though she was being difficult, she said it only partly as an argument - the other part was an admiration for the great teacher before her who invested in every student. "What's wrong with that?" Saitou Gorou said with a laugh and a grin. "Being a shinobi isn't just about raw talent or skill - though you've got that going for you from your mom. It takes heart," he said, placing a fist to his chest. "I may not be able to pass on any unique skills or bloodline on to you, but I hope to be able to give you that, mini-me." The fist loosened as he reached out to ruffle his daughter's mop of long brown hair that mirrored his own. "Dad, stop!" young Rei shouted, feigning annoyance but smiling as she pushed his hand away, both laughing into the otherwise quiet night.
[lb2][/lb2]
"Dad, really, stop!"
Reicheru blinked and turned in the direction of the shrieking laughter. A father had picked up his young daughter and was tickling her, prompting her to eat her vegetables if she wanted it to stop. Plates clanged in the kitchen and teapots whistled to create a backdrop for the various muffled conversations taking place throughout the udon bar. Though not a large city, the place the traveling trio found themselves in was quite a change of pace from the last few days of their journey. Unfamiliar with how to navigate the mountainous terrain of Lightning Country, the Konoha shinobi had opted to enter a smaller port than that of Lotus Sinus Bay, further south where the hills were only just starting to show signs of maturity and greater potential. They'd traveled northwest through the Heartlands in the direction of De Crevitate Attonbitus; true it seemed the faster route on paper to cut directly through the uncultivated marshes and forests, but the three - even without great knowledge of the threats that lurked in these unexplored realms - found it prudent to take advantage of the benefits of civilization for their travel. The small villages along the Azusa Rice Fields had been hospitable but quiet; humble people busy making preparations for the hard winter that was on its way. So now, in De Crevitate Attonbitus proper, the occasional busy city amongst the farms and fields of the lowlands brought a new and needed element of liveliness to the otherwise somber trip.
Placing yen for her food down on the counter and taking a moment to count up how much she had left for the remainder of the trip, Reicheru looked at her half-eaten bowl of noodles. She couldn't bring herself to finish, but the thought of being so wasteful when they had to be smart in rationing what they'd saved didn't sit well with her. "A container, please?" While she waited for the server to return with the carry out bag, the foreigner looked out into the street and started scanning the store fronts. She, Maik and Danii had checked into an inn on the outskirts of the larger city, what with it being cheaper than a hotel in the heart of the local businesses. The other two had decided to sleep in that day, but Reicheru was on a mission: she needed a warmer jacket. They hadn't even made it into the mountains yet, and already she felt the insufficiency of her cloak. This climate would certainly take getting used to. Her flitting grey eyes took note of movement along the buildings - not on the ground where you might image, but along the rooftops. Scruffy and patchy black fur streaked across the afternoon sunlit sky, and for a moment confusion took hold of Reicheru as she was certain it was Catsu. No, no - he was back in Ine-cho, with Naikiri-san. She was positive of that. Shaking her head, the young traveler turned back and nodded her thanks to the server before making her way down the street, leftover food in hand.
The downside of shopping in the city, too many of the jackets she found were flashy or fashion-statement pieces more than they were functional. She was certain a native would know how to navigate the streets to find where the retirees congregated and sold items more akin to what she was looking for, but as it were the Fire Country native was at a loss. Wandering aimlessly through the business complex, she eventually came to the edge of the more official and promoted businesses and stalls of street vendors began popping up. Following the sound of a stringed instrument that sailed above the tops of the stands down a side street, the buildings parted and a full-fledged street market cropped up seemingly out of nowhere in a little plaza. There were no Fuego accents here, but so it seemed she'd found what she was looking for. It also seemed her friend had found her, as the pitter patter of the black street cat's paws drew her attention to the tops of one of the stalls. A tailor's stall, for that matter.
With her new coat in hand - simple, gray, fur-lined, deep pockets, warm but breathable for good movement - Reicheru turned her face toward the inn. She'd spent more than she'd wanted to already today, and she really ought to check in on the others. As she made her way to the city limits, however, her feline friend once again caught her eye. Odd - usually street cats stayed in the busier areas where it was more likely they'd catch some scraps. Burrowing her brows, Reicheru watched as the midnight colored cat hoped down to the ground for the first time, and forged its way through the bushes that lined Reicheru's path, opposite of the direction she was headed. Yet… something pulled at her. A vague but compelling curiosity told her feet to change course, and soon she found herself following after this Catsu clone. Maybe, just maybe, Katsu's companion had stowed away on the boat and followed them all the way here? As untrue as she knew that to be, Reicheru had to make sure.
Though De Crevitate Attonbitus had largely been cultivated, this close to the region border there were plenty of lowland areas that remained untouched. One such area was where Reicheru now found herself. Making her way through overgrowth and foliage that reminded her of their short time in the Heartlands, the girl was just about to give up and turn around when she felt moisture on her face. The cold air of Lightning was dry outside of snowfall, and even then it was a cold, bone-chilling moisture that filled the air. This was warm, welcoming. Taking a few more steps to figure out what was causing this phenomena, the trees and bushes thinned and a small clearing in the foliage gave way to a small pool of water bordered by large stones, atop one of which the black cat sat. It was too small to call it a lake, and steam rose from the water's surface. A hot spring, this close to a city that wasn't being utilized for business or overrun by tourists and vacationers? What sorcery…? Though disbelief filled her, the warmth radiating from the pool beckoned the foreigner who was out of her element. 'I should get Maik and Danii… after I make sure it's safe, of course…' The internal debate was quickly won when she dipped her fingers in the onsen, its temperate waters by Fire Country standards feeling wonderfully steamy in this climate. She hesitated only at the thought of having to shed her layers before being able to jump in - surely the moment of frigid cold would be worth it? As she mentally readied herself, the sound of a small stone tumbling into the water turned her attention to the cat who now stood, his gold eyes locking with hers before turning tail to travel back down the path.
[lb2][/lb2]
Standing to head home, the rustling of dirt and rock shifting not far off drew the pair's attention. On the other side of the Sandaime Hokage's bust etched into the mountain were the beginnings of a new carving, and some spots where construction had just started left the parts of the rock face unstable and shifting. A new Hokage, Uchiha Takeshi, was slated to take over the office soon. "Have you ever met him? The new Hokage?" Gorou shook his head. "Nope, but I'm sure he'll be just fine." The duo began down the path back home. "Have your friends been talking about it?" Reicheru shrugged; a few of her friends who were older and already in the academy were more in tune to these types of things than Reicheru and her cousin Hiroshi, so she'd heard bits and pieces. The village was still young, and there seemed to be a great deal of uncertainty and concern surrounding this transition - not that a child would understand the depth of that just yet. "Change can be scary, but it can bring about some of the best things in life. We ever tell you where your name came from?" Thinking for a moment with her bottom lip stuck out, she shook her head when nothing came. "It means 'ewe'. The Saitou family, before we were tailors, we were shepherds. We looked after sheep in the few pasture field areas of Fire Country; a semi-nomadic and simplistic life. Until one son decided he wanted something more stable, and started working the wool to sell. Then we became textile merchants, until another son got tired of being the middle man and decided to tailor his own materials how he saw fit. It took a lot of heart to break tradition like that. Now your family makes everything from gowns for royal engagements to new and improved armor for the shinobi villages, because they each improved upon the things they'd learned. We didn't give you your name to chain you to the past, but to remind you that someone already laid the groundwork for you to improve upon. We all have to make hard choices on how we do that, and not everyone will agree. But all of us - me, you, even this new Hokage - owe it to those that come after us to make additions they can build upon and not have to tear down. The decisions you make, they never just affect you. Remember that, mini-me."
[lb2][/lb2]
Reicheru's own grey eyes stared back at her out of her reflection on the water's surface. She'd chopped her once long locks some time ago, when the three had finalized their decision to leave the Hidden Leaf village. She didn't deserve to look like him - Saitou Gorou would have stayed, would have fought for those few innocents who remained in their failing village no matter the cost to himself. "I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't have enough heart," she whispered into the spring. Looking away, her gaze fell on the cloak and boots she'd already shed. Remembering once more her cousin and boyfriend who were still at the inn, she sighed, tense and conflicted. They had to stick together, keep each other safe - and they'd done that so well, spent so much time together these past few weeks, that this opportunity for a few moments alone with her thoughts was too difficult to pass up. Sitting herself down on one of the large boulders, Reicheru closed her eyes, unaware of what effects this seemingly small decision would have.
[WC: 2,136]
[OOC: Set prior to entering Kumogakure in this thread.]
[lb2][/lb2]
* * *
[lb2][/lb2]"Dad, really, stop!"
Reicheru blinked and turned in the direction of the shrieking laughter. A father had picked up his young daughter and was tickling her, prompting her to eat her vegetables if she wanted it to stop. Plates clanged in the kitchen and teapots whistled to create a backdrop for the various muffled conversations taking place throughout the udon bar. Though not a large city, the place the traveling trio found themselves in was quite a change of pace from the last few days of their journey. Unfamiliar with how to navigate the mountainous terrain of Lightning Country, the Konoha shinobi had opted to enter a smaller port than that of Lotus Sinus Bay, further south where the hills were only just starting to show signs of maturity and greater potential. They'd traveled northwest through the Heartlands in the direction of De Crevitate Attonbitus; true it seemed the faster route on paper to cut directly through the uncultivated marshes and forests, but the three - even without great knowledge of the threats that lurked in these unexplored realms - found it prudent to take advantage of the benefits of civilization for their travel. The small villages along the Azusa Rice Fields had been hospitable but quiet; humble people busy making preparations for the hard winter that was on its way. So now, in De Crevitate Attonbitus proper, the occasional busy city amongst the farms and fields of the lowlands brought a new and needed element of liveliness to the otherwise somber trip.
Placing yen for her food down on the counter and taking a moment to count up how much she had left for the remainder of the trip, Reicheru looked at her half-eaten bowl of noodles. She couldn't bring herself to finish, but the thought of being so wasteful when they had to be smart in rationing what they'd saved didn't sit well with her. "A container, please?" While she waited for the server to return with the carry out bag, the foreigner looked out into the street and started scanning the store fronts. She, Maik and Danii had checked into an inn on the outskirts of the larger city, what with it being cheaper than a hotel in the heart of the local businesses. The other two had decided to sleep in that day, but Reicheru was on a mission: she needed a warmer jacket. They hadn't even made it into the mountains yet, and already she felt the insufficiency of her cloak. This climate would certainly take getting used to. Her flitting grey eyes took note of movement along the buildings - not on the ground where you might image, but along the rooftops. Scruffy and patchy black fur streaked across the afternoon sunlit sky, and for a moment confusion took hold of Reicheru as she was certain it was Catsu. No, no - he was back in Ine-cho, with Naikiri-san. She was positive of that. Shaking her head, the young traveler turned back and nodded her thanks to the server before making her way down the street, leftover food in hand.
The downside of shopping in the city, too many of the jackets she found were flashy or fashion-statement pieces more than they were functional. She was certain a native would know how to navigate the streets to find where the retirees congregated and sold items more akin to what she was looking for, but as it were the Fire Country native was at a loss. Wandering aimlessly through the business complex, she eventually came to the edge of the more official and promoted businesses and stalls of street vendors began popping up. Following the sound of a stringed instrument that sailed above the tops of the stands down a side street, the buildings parted and a full-fledged street market cropped up seemingly out of nowhere in a little plaza. There were no Fuego accents here, but so it seemed she'd found what she was looking for. It also seemed her friend had found her, as the pitter patter of the black street cat's paws drew her attention to the tops of one of the stalls. A tailor's stall, for that matter.
With her new coat in hand - simple, gray, fur-lined, deep pockets, warm but breathable for good movement - Reicheru turned her face toward the inn. She'd spent more than she'd wanted to already today, and she really ought to check in on the others. As she made her way to the city limits, however, her feline friend once again caught her eye. Odd - usually street cats stayed in the busier areas where it was more likely they'd catch some scraps. Burrowing her brows, Reicheru watched as the midnight colored cat hoped down to the ground for the first time, and forged its way through the bushes that lined Reicheru's path, opposite of the direction she was headed. Yet… something pulled at her. A vague but compelling curiosity told her feet to change course, and soon she found herself following after this Catsu clone. Maybe, just maybe, Katsu's companion had stowed away on the boat and followed them all the way here? As untrue as she knew that to be, Reicheru had to make sure.
Though De Crevitate Attonbitus had largely been cultivated, this close to the region border there were plenty of lowland areas that remained untouched. One such area was where Reicheru now found herself. Making her way through overgrowth and foliage that reminded her of their short time in the Heartlands, the girl was just about to give up and turn around when she felt moisture on her face. The cold air of Lightning was dry outside of snowfall, and even then it was a cold, bone-chilling moisture that filled the air. This was warm, welcoming. Taking a few more steps to figure out what was causing this phenomena, the trees and bushes thinned and a small clearing in the foliage gave way to a small pool of water bordered by large stones, atop one of which the black cat sat. It was too small to call it a lake, and steam rose from the water's surface. A hot spring, this close to a city that wasn't being utilized for business or overrun by tourists and vacationers? What sorcery…? Though disbelief filled her, the warmth radiating from the pool beckoned the foreigner who was out of her element. 'I should get Maik and Danii… after I make sure it's safe, of course…' The internal debate was quickly won when she dipped her fingers in the onsen, its temperate waters by Fire Country standards feeling wonderfully steamy in this climate. She hesitated only at the thought of having to shed her layers before being able to jump in - surely the moment of frigid cold would be worth it? As she mentally readied herself, the sound of a small stone tumbling into the water turned her attention to the cat who now stood, his gold eyes locking with hers before turning tail to travel back down the path.
[lb2][/lb2]
* * *
[lb2][/lb2]Standing to head home, the rustling of dirt and rock shifting not far off drew the pair's attention. On the other side of the Sandaime Hokage's bust etched into the mountain were the beginnings of a new carving, and some spots where construction had just started left the parts of the rock face unstable and shifting. A new Hokage, Uchiha Takeshi, was slated to take over the office soon. "Have you ever met him? The new Hokage?" Gorou shook his head. "Nope, but I'm sure he'll be just fine." The duo began down the path back home. "Have your friends been talking about it?" Reicheru shrugged; a few of her friends who were older and already in the academy were more in tune to these types of things than Reicheru and her cousin Hiroshi, so she'd heard bits and pieces. The village was still young, and there seemed to be a great deal of uncertainty and concern surrounding this transition - not that a child would understand the depth of that just yet. "Change can be scary, but it can bring about some of the best things in life. We ever tell you where your name came from?" Thinking for a moment with her bottom lip stuck out, she shook her head when nothing came. "It means 'ewe'. The Saitou family, before we were tailors, we were shepherds. We looked after sheep in the few pasture field areas of Fire Country; a semi-nomadic and simplistic life. Until one son decided he wanted something more stable, and started working the wool to sell. Then we became textile merchants, until another son got tired of being the middle man and decided to tailor his own materials how he saw fit. It took a lot of heart to break tradition like that. Now your family makes everything from gowns for royal engagements to new and improved armor for the shinobi villages, because they each improved upon the things they'd learned. We didn't give you your name to chain you to the past, but to remind you that someone already laid the groundwork for you to improve upon. We all have to make hard choices on how we do that, and not everyone will agree. But all of us - me, you, even this new Hokage - owe it to those that come after us to make additions they can build upon and not have to tear down. The decisions you make, they never just affect you. Remember that, mini-me."
[lb2][/lb2]
* * *
[lb2][/lb2]Reicheru's own grey eyes stared back at her out of her reflection on the water's surface. She'd chopped her once long locks some time ago, when the three had finalized their decision to leave the Hidden Leaf village. She didn't deserve to look like him - Saitou Gorou would have stayed, would have fought for those few innocents who remained in their failing village no matter the cost to himself. "I'm sorry, Dad. I didn't have enough heart," she whispered into the spring. Looking away, her gaze fell on the cloak and boots she'd already shed. Remembering once more her cousin and boyfriend who were still at the inn, she sighed, tense and conflicted. They had to stick together, keep each other safe - and they'd done that so well, spent so much time together these past few weeks, that this opportunity for a few moments alone with her thoughts was too difficult to pass up. Sitting herself down on one of the large boulders, Reicheru closed her eyes, unaware of what effects this seemingly small decision would have.
[WC: 2,136]
[OOC: Set prior to entering Kumogakure in this thread.]
