Where are you, Uchiha Kenshin?

[fina]

“Well I think I’m ready”

Both men stood at odds, facing each other in a battle of words and wits with no clear winner in sight. It took Fina no more than hour after his arrival to come racing to Kai, his main sensei, for permission to finally learn “it”. Of course the old man would say no as he did always, giving him some crap line regarding how he needed to become stronger before taking on such a difficult task. However, Fina would produce evidence to make the man think twice: everything regarding this trip to the Sand, the attacking monsters and even his incident in Stone would be recited with insane detail, ensuring the old man comprehended the large gap in power between the Fina before his trip and the one standing before him.

“Oh, and then there’s this”

Before time for an appropriate response could be had, Fina fully entered the room, dragging in the Coal Blade of Kira for Kai’s eyes to see. Up until that very moment, the genin had been standing in the middle of the doorway, half inside the old man’s humble abode, half out. One hand held the huge sword, grasping it firmly so that it didn’t slide back down the stairs. When the time came, a huge jerk of his arm brought it out; now the evidence was on the table, now Fina could be denied no more.

Kai would take a minute to think before nodding; he would continue to say nothing, walking out the room for a minute before returning with a book. As he put his glasses on and skimmed through the book, he would employ a serious tone never before seen from the sage. During the entire time he spoke, Kai’s eyes remained frozen onto the literature bellow him, his eyes eagerly absorbing everything they would read.

“Nap, you need it. When you wake up, I’ll give you the location of the first; your second request will have to wait”

Satisfied with the answer, Fina trotted quietly away, hoping to reach his room before the old man changed his mind. He knew getting him to say yes was one of the hardest things he could achieve in his life; right now, he felt like a winner. With a sigh, he threw himself on the bed, worrying not about his clothing. It would not take long for him to succumb to the powers of sleep, leaving him to rest for the entirety of the afteernon. During his nap, the old man would hobble in, leaving him some fresh clothing and a map with writing on it atop his desk. Once he felt he left Fina everything he needed, Kai would leave the house, embarking on a secret trip solely for the genin’s behalf.

On the paper, the top had bold writing on it: “Follow the path to find Kenshin. The rest is up to you, good luck.”

[fina]

Waking up with a booming groan, Fina’s once still figure could now be seen violently contorting and twisting in conjunction with his yawns. It would take him only a minute before he knew what needed to be done, his objectives replenished when his sleepy gaze caught sight of Kai’s map on the night stand. With a swift dash forward, Fina found himself undressing on the way to the shower, leaving a trail of dirty, bloody dark clothing behind. His subsequent shower would last a good fifteen minutes under a steady stream of hot water. He knew this would be the last good comfort he’d have for a while, so he’d do his best to enjoy it.

The clothing Kai left behind would suffice for the genin to wear, although the arsenal wasn’t the best looking attire he’d seen. A simple pair of gray shorts, slightly tight to the skin due to a sizing mistake on Kai’s part, a white shirt and some shoes. Then again, if all went well, the training rigors under Kenshin would definitely prove no attire worthy. So, looking past the outfit’s simplicity, Fina quickly got dressed and ready. When his weapons were accounted for and the map double checked, he would he off.

Before attempting a deep search for Kenshin, Fina would travel to the ANBU headquarters, where he’d attempt to use his semi successful hunting reputation in order to obtain info on Kenshin’s whereabouts. After all, he WAS one of Kusa’s best hunters; someone was bound to know where he resided. Traveling atop rooftops and over trees, Fina would arrive at the headquarters with ease. Once his identification was shown at the front grates, he would penetrate deep into the building, searching for the record’s department. Two figures could be seen at the front desk. Slowly, Fina approached.

“Where can I find Uchiha Kenshin?”

At first they said nothing, but after looking at each other in a puzzled form, they would return Fina’s gaze. Serious looks lined their faces, one a bit annoyed while the other seemed indifferent. The annoyed one was quick to reply. Yet before any negative commentary emerged, Fina would show them the urgency of meeting the great hunter, summoning this Sharingan. As the three tomoe began to rotate around the iris, no more words came from the men. Instead, they would quietly consult each other throw whispers. It would take them only a few seconds to reply.

“He’s in the Eastern forest. Don’t waste his time”

Fina would listen to no more, taking the small directions given to him and rushing off towards the exit. Within a few seconds, he was now back on the street, ready to find the famed Uchiha. With Kai’s map and that of the two receptionists, his odds had just improved dramatically.

[fina]

About an hour into his trek, most of the hectic downtown city life would be left behind. No longer did the wooden halls echo with the screams of business, nature being at peace, absent of man’s suffocating pestilence. This was Fina’s favorite part about Kusa: its Flora’s ability to bring him peace. For a moment he had forgotten his purpose to be there, hopping around solely to enjoy the experience. However, when a trunk came dangerously close to squashing him, Fina would remain focused, shaken but keeping his gaze steady and his wits about him.

It was now several hours into his trip and the harshness was beginning to settle in. Opting for a break, he would cease his high speed travel, slowing down until he found it easy to drop down from the trees and onto a clearing. This part of the forest had been rather dark, the tall thick trees blocking out any sunlight. Despite the creepiness of it all, the lack of sunlight made it so that the forest received a constant cool breeze. Viewing this as an overall plus, he would make a camp there, resting for a few more hours.

When he woke back up, he would find it to be night time, freezing almost. His reaction to the sudden cold was comical, although the way Fina currently felt would have no humorous bearing. For he felt as if his insides were frozen, ready to be coughed out at any second. All the results of his exposure to the cold, all thanks to faulty preparation. Allowing his tiredness to overrule his reason earlier had been his downfall now; he would now have to endure the worst in order to move on.

After he packed everything up, a shaking Fina would resume his trip, hopping up the tree line until he could be in the sun’s graces once more. Immediately the difference in temperature would be felt, the warm touch bringing light back into the genin. Although the temperature imbalance would be cause for sneezing, he would welcome it with open arms, for the cold was too much to be handled alone. It would take a bit more travel before the dense forest began to let up, replaced by winding canyons and rivers that had slopping tree lines and irregular land structure.

This truly was no man’s land.

[fina]

Despite having been privy to the extreme incline of the landscape ahead, nothing prepared him for what he was about to see and feel. For as soon as he approached to the nearest edge of the grassy cliff, he would feel the earth’s pull to the extreme, as if wanting to swallow him down whole and without room for protest. It was almost too overwhelming, causing the genin to often loose his footing and find himself slipping off. But instead of letting his adventure end prematurely short because of some accident, Fina willed his way back, using extreme chakra control to keep his hand held steady on the edge. Showing no signs of budging, Fina slowly climbed back up, keeping the flow constant until his entire body was now back safely onto the ledge.

A deep sigh of relief would be breathed as he rolled over, wincing and gasping for air as he replayed what just happened. His look would be of disbelief, and he would often curse out loud, but all of this cave man like attitude would cease when he rolled back around, catching sight of small house built in what appeared to be one of the most extreme houses on the cliff. Fina was in shock, hailing it as an architectural feat and wondering in amazement if that really was Kenshin’s house. As he corroborated with the map and look around to find no other residence, all fingers pointed towards the oddly built one as the source. With a pleased smile, Fina began to regain his composure, readying himself for the extreme drop bellow.

He would analyze his plan only once, taking off like a bullet when it completed paying itself in his head. At the last second, just before he would jump off the cliff, extra chakra would be placed at his feet, granting him a much needed boost. Now in the air, he would do his best to glide downward, using the walls nearby as pads to jump off of. While at first the idea seemed amazing, the violent drop and the guaranteed death that would occur if a step was missed made Fina wish he hadn’t gone through with it all. By now, his Sharingan would be active, using its ability to predict in order to choose the best path down, avoiding placing his footing on loose rocks.

In order to attempt and slow himself down, Fina would run constantly around the walls of the decreasing canyon, hoping his attachment to the mountain with his chakra would be enough to slow him down considerably. However, it would only serve to throw him off balance, gravity being far too strong to allow Fina perfect control while standing horizontally along the mountain. Thus, he would find himself in a straight free fall, now close to the hut, but no longer in control of his movements. Flailing, he prepared himself for the pains the impact would bring by landing.

The area around the hut was full of what seemed like fluffy grass, so it appeared as if the Kusa nin would escape with his life. Now, all he could do was close his eyes and wait.

[fina]

A loud thud could be heard ringing from around the grassy canyon as Fina Sasori’s body finally impacted the ground. Fortunately for him, he had descended far enough along the wall that when he fell off, the drop would not be long. Plus it was as he predicted, with the grass being fluffy and bouncy, allowing his body to land back and forth several times before rolling off onto firmer ground. Finally, it was all over…

Pain ran through his sides as he contemplated his fate. On one hand, he would thank the heavens for leaving him with a beating heart, looking past the minor scratches and bruises without a word of complaint. However, he was severely sore, left winded and dazed for a rather long time. He would open his mouth to speak, but no words could escape, only a low moaning. It would take him several minutes before he could even begin to think about getting back to normal. He would slowly get up, wiping himself down and shaking his head several times.

Looking over his shoulder, the canyon could be seen once more. From the bottom angle, the drop he did seemed legitimately suicidal, and he’d make a mental note not to be so reckless again. A pain originated from his right elbow as he winced and yelped, grabbing into it before looking around. Currently, his things were all discarded wildly, his Coal Blade being the closest to him. He would take the time to gather his items back up, leaving the sword for last. When he was over it, he would grab it, but stop short when he noticed smoke emerging from the house.

For a moment he had forgotten of his purpose there, a side effect of the injuries suffered. However, the minute signs of life could be spotted from the hut, Fina knew to be ready. Daring not to walk in, Fina would call from outside, hoping not to be mistaken for an unknown assailant.

“Anyone home?”

[coal]

Since I am Uchiha Kenshin's RPer...

---

"May I help you?" A man would walk up from behind Fina with a slow pace, slung over his shoulders were several wires that looked to be fishing lines, and attached to those lines were several fish that were most likely caught in the local stream that ran through this canyon of sorts. To look upon this man was to look upon a history of hardships, his face and bared arms had several defining scars upon them, and his eyes seemed rather cold and hard. His eyes, black like most Uchiha eyes, scanned the man who stood before him and noted his headband most of all. A shinobi of Kusa was more welcome here than most shinobi. Kenshin himself was dressed in a gray kimono top without sleeves, matching kimono bottoms held by a gray sash, and white socks with beige sandals. On his hip was his own katana, the hilt worn from years of use, the scabbard scarred and cracked. Black hair fell to his shoulders, tied into a pony-tail, shiny in the lighting that spoke of a well-kept persona.
"If you are looking for my son, Jissei, he is out training."

He began to walk passed Fina, without even a glance toward the boy, heading toward his door and placing his hand upon the knob. A wind rushed by, creating a wave-like pattern in the grass, and Kenshin turned once more to face the boy.
"If you are here to see me, then step inside and tell me what you want. I would like to know why you decided to bother me in my retirement." Stepping within his small home built for two, he left the door open as he disappeared into its darkness, smoke from the chimney still rising but now with the added smell of baking fish. Now Fina would be faced with two choices, to either continue forward into the abode and see where the road may lead him, or to turn back now and forget about his ambitions. Should he go in, he would find that Kenshin was sitting upon a wooden chair with his back toward the door, an iron rod being rotated by him over the fire, six fish upon it roasting.

If you were to look around his house, you would find that it was rather clean, a fairly dust free at that. A single round table soon after entering, a couch off to the left with several black scrolls upon it, a hallway off to the right that lead to two bedrooms and one bathroom. The fireplace was their stove, and the river was their sink, but they would not go without the luxury of an in-home bathroom. A single sword hung above the fireplace, unused for quite some time, a beautiful sword with a golden blade. This was the home of Uchiha Kenshin, not much, but you can not do too much when you build the house with just yourself and your son.

[fina]

As the question was painfully asked, his eyes would not leave one of the gashes on his left arm, currently entertaining the appendage by coating it in an unnatural crimson color. Not an audible curse could be heard escaping the lips of the genin, but his face would contort in stressful ways, grimacing whenever he accidentally scraped his wound across the ground. Slow to stand, his focus on his current health overwhelmed his censorial system, leaving him oblivious to the man slowly looming behind him. It would be only after he brushed past the Kusa nin that his presence would be made public in his eyes, and a wild one at that. Rather than startled, Fina was intrigued with the man’s presence, receiving the same kind of “up in the air” feeling that anyone familiar with the concept of celebrities must have felt sometime in their life. But this was different; no glamor, no money, no flashing lights, just a man and his still beating heart.

One with nature…no matter who we are…

Upon noticing the man’s slightly aged weapon firmly strapped to his side, the notion of nature and its dominance over all living and breathing organisms played itself out in his subconscious. Fina would learn to appreciate and respect the great man on a whole new level for his latest life path choice, which involved living the life of an outdoors man, enjoying nature, and contributing to its success. For without it, men were lost, unable to coexist. Thus were the laws of life; thus were Fina’s laws. As he gazed quietly in amazement, a smile crept from the corner of his mouth, growing as he heard Master Kenshin speak his second part.

“Yes, master…”

A fairly domesticated house lie waiting for him, its insides neatly organized and in place. Pride oozed from every ornament in the room, and even the impeccable condition it was in revealed a lot about the house’s owner and rules he let reign over himself. As he entered the house, Fina would motion towards his shoes, wondering if the great Uchiha would like his newfound guest to remove them. If he were to nod, he'd remove them during his speech. He would watch the man commence his dinner ritual, careful to start talking only after he had taken care of the more important aspects of cooking one’s own dinner. His tone would carry the utmost respect and his eyes would never leave the man.

“First of all, my sincerest apologies for my sudden intrusion; I intended no harm, meant no disrespect, and I especially did not want to bring any disturbances onto your home. Your service to Kusa was great…”

For a moment his voice trailed off, loosing itself to the great Golden Sword hanging off the wall; before continuing his explanation, an amazed gaze would be kept locked onto the weapon, admiring its beautfy and power. This was only for a few seconds, and he would quickly return his attention to the man.

“But when I came looking for you, no one told me you wished to be left alone. I’m not the only one I saw looking for you; you see, even back at the headquarters, they made it very hard for us hunters to find you”

Letting the man know of their shared profession was done with the intentions of showing him his similarity to the man and his prowess. On the second pause, he would press down on a bloodied wound underneath his shirt, small enough to be no problem, but large enough to cause minor issues; in this case, it decided to bleed through his garments, despite the pressure received.

“I came looking for one thing: knowledge.”

A quick pause was taken; as he emphasized the last word, his stage three Sharingan would emerge. He meant no hostility by this, only to prove himself in the eyes of the man. As such, they’d leave him as quickly as they had been birthed into this world.

“I know you have it. Please teach me. Allow me to call you, master.”

[coal]

As he sat before the fire, he mulled the words of the Kusa genin over in his mind, and each time he thought of the outcome it proved to not be in his best interests. “Yes, master.…” Yes, master...yes, master...it has been a long time since he last heard those words. There had once been a pupil of his, much like this boy was now, however it was not the knowledge of his technique he was after, but his way of combat out on the field. Of course that boy had to face his former pupil in combat and emerge victorious, and when he did the training would begin, now that boy is his former pupil. His dark eyes turned to Fina, there was a slight grimace on his face, but he waved aside the need for removal of one's shoes. Then the words came from the boy's mouth, speaking of his career, a career washed in blood and death. It was never a subject he enjoyed speaking about, nor did he even enjoy reminiscing about any event within that time period.

“First of all, my sincerest apologies for my sudden intrusion; I intended no harm, meant no disrespect, and I especially did not want to bring any disturbances onto your home. Your service to Kusa was great…”

Images of many battles flashed before his eyes, and he saw the face of his former pupil once more, the red eyes and long red hair of a man who would one day be the best warrior out there; perhaps he already was. Fifty-six years old, retired for nearly ten years, shortly after the outbreaks of war all over the country.
"My service to Kusa? Ha. My service was a slaughter and I an executioner. Only one good thing came out of it, and I do not know if he is even alive anymore." He noticed the boy's eyes on the golden sword behind him, a sword that he had made long ago in hopes of giving it to his son some day, if he son could prove that he was worth of the last name Uchiha.

“But when I came looking for you, no one told me you wished to be left alone. I’m not the only one I saw looking for you; you see, even back at the headquarters, they made it very hard for us hunters to find you”

Us...so he was a Oinin was he? Did he presume that this made them friends some how, or some kind of training obligation to brothers in arms perhaps? He would be sorely mistaken that being an Oinin meant nothing to him. However he would not hold it against the boy either, for it was not his place to judge, only his place to understand. To his understanding, this boy wanted to learn Chidori, but it was not going to happen with his arm damaged like it was.
"Hold still." Kenshin grabbed the hot rod from the fire, a single shake of it causing the cooked fish to fall onto their waiting plate, and the glowing red iron was all that was lost. Reaching for the boy's arm, if allowed he would grab it and pull the boy forward, and then he would rip off the shoddy bandage. Then he would press the hot iron to the wound if allowed, cauterizing the wound and allowing the boy quick use of his arm, after which he would replace with a fresh bandage he would pull from his table. Either way it was then that he would see the Sharingan eyes...

“I know you have it. Please teach me. Allow me to call you, master.”

"Master. I will grant you what you wish," he paused and looked at the boy, and his eyes narrowed, "but like my pupils before you, you must defeat my previous pupil. I will provide you with a picture of him and his location. Oto no Kuni." It was then that he would leave the boy, swiftly going into his own bedroom, returning before fifteen seconds could pass with a slightly faded picture.

"He is my former pupil. Defeat him in combat and bring back proof of your victory, then I will teach you what I know. Now go, have a fish for your journey, return when you are successful or I may not see you again at all if you fail." Placing a fish the boy's hand, wrapped neatly in a paper towel, he turned from the boy and went back to making the dinner for himself and his son.

[fina]

As his “brave” story would be retold for the great man to hear, a verbal command on his part had the genin frozen in place, outstretching his arm as the elder requested. The source of the bleeding would be temporarily exposed as he brought forth the wounded appendage, instinctually wincing in reaction to the waves of sharp pain stinging at him like small knives. An attempt at showing no discomfort past a few groans would be made, but once the hot steel marred the arm, all face saving efforts would be lost, tossed around like the aerial seeds floating outside Kenshin’s simplistic home, falling victim to the overbearing power of the winds.

Yet his pain would not be eternal; instead, he would find himself at peace within a minute or two, the body’s natural pain killers muffling the true agony his wounds made him endure. Content with the notion his arm suffered for the better, he would keep his head down and take any pain head on, knowing his return trip to the village would have him stopping by the local clinic for a quick fix up job. Once the primitive medical procedure was done, Kenshin would speak once more, his words making Fina’s wildest dreams come true.

To defeat his former pupil, huh?

As he contemplated the gravity of the request received, his gaze would lazily follow the Uchiha around the room, watching him disappear momentarily only to return quickly thereafter. Nearing the genin, a faded picture could be seen pinched tightly in between his fingers, revealing the identity of his student. His face was without expression, holding his weapon legitimately, as if he intended to swipe the air with it before the cameraman disturbed his peace. A tingling sensation would be felt on the back of Fina’s neck, signs of natural fear emerging.

All the Uchiha would do was nod. Clutching the recently treated wound, he would efficiently start to walk out. Before he left, however, a swift turn in place would have him facing the man once more, a few more words intended for his ears before his presence was to be gone forever.

“Thank you for the opportunity…forgive me, but I meant to ask one more thing from you…”

At that point he paused, grabbing hold of the fish and glancing once again at his golden sword. When he was ready to go, he’d finish his request. However, Kenshin already turned the corner and began to mentally prepare himself for a nice dinner with his son. Being one to not like interrupting, he'd bow and make his exit, whispering a "see you soon, master" before silently exiting.

It would take him a minute to rearrange his bandages before set off, taking a saner root back towards the village. First stop? The hospital...

[exit thread]