Contemplations.

He was tired. His legs ached and the seemingly long ago shattering of his shoulder reminded him thoroughly of its presence by persistently throbbing. Rubbing a roughened hand across his face, the proprietor trudged along dejectedly as he neared his next destination; the lone traveller on a dirt path. His shoulders slumped forward beneath the heaviness of his large pack, his thin frame bent as he sought shelter within the comfort of the canopy of trees. All around him they grew; their endless branches blending together with their neighbours’ until an infinity of shade was provided for him. It was cool beneath their matronly hold and the man allowed himself a moment of rest. His pack was settled against the trunk of the tree gently, his back sliding down the bark as he settled into an undignified slump upon the floor.

He noted offhandedly that his rump was most likely going to be stained an unsightly brown after such a position, but he hardly allowed himself to care. Having parted from her, the man found himself seeking solace in the loneliness that he was surrounded by – the sole human in nature’s home. She was beginning to seep into his head, tainting his ideals with her pitiful emotions and self-sacrificing attitude. It disgusted him; her empathy as it made her weak and fragile to the realities of the world, and although he respected her less for such faults, they did not allow him to discard her entirely. This bothered him as one’s usefulness was the deciding factor upon which he dictated with whom he graced with his presence, and her inability to be objective and logical counteracted that. He should want to disown her; leave their budding relationship behind, and yet, here he was, lamenting.

It was pathetic, really. She called to him with her vapid siren’s song and hidden secrets. Beneath the weakness that she attempted to justify, the panther knew a story of great interest hid. He was unsure of its value, but any skeletons he unraveled from her closet were going to be something he wanted simply because they would bring him closer to understanding the woman who had steadily risen to a higher status with her mind. She challenged him, the minx, with her wit and smarts, and inability to be everything he wanted and expected of her.

Now, this feeling wasn’t love, he knew. The traveller did not think he was capable of such an emotion as it relied on actually feeling empathy for another individual, but she was initiating sensations that were foreign and uncharacteristic for him. It was close to caring, he imagined, but not quite. He wished for their continued association as she was proving to be an asset, but it went beyond his use of her to him wishing to spend time picking her brain. In some ways, he wished for them to laugh and joke together; for her to share her secrets with him by whispering in his ear. If she even decided to warm his bed, he’d be more than willing, but something nibbled at his mind telling him that a one night stand with Yamanaka Hira would not satisfy him. He wanted her, yes; she was hot and sexy, but he hypothesized that the two of them in bed together would be explosive and playful.

Yamanaka Hira.

The temptress that he had left behind.

Appearances Lie.

The decision to stay in Konohagakure was not an abrupt one. He had goals that he aspired to, and conquering such a village was definitely one of them. He was beginning to be well-known in Kumogakure, but Konoha was a location untouched by his wandering hands. Considering its upstanding relationship with many of the other villages and the amount of trade that occurred throughout its borders, the traveller knew that it was imperative for him to infiltrate. If he wished to achieve his goal, it would be necessary for him to set up shop there and begin canoodling with the locals in order to succeed.

Thus, after his unfortunate run-in with Eji, the man felt like it would be best to delay his return home and allow Hira to go on without him. He already knew what waited for him upon his arrival; a peeved Raikage and limited access to the aforementioned one’s library. It would be an unfortunate consequence for his actions, but it had been a necessary one that he still wasn’t interested in undergoing until he was ready. At least while he was in Konoha, he’d be able to do something productive with his time, whilst avoiding his punishment and the woman that was currently fuckin’ with his philosophies. Damn her for being such an inconvenience.

Filing the nuisance away for later, the traveller let out a ragged breath as the gates of Konohagakure appeared in the distance. They were tall and rugged; years of weathering peeling the reddened paint from wood as they continued to stand presumptuously, marking the entrance into the village. Walking forward tiredly, his pack once again settled upon his shoulders, the fatigued figured reached lamely back into his sullied pockets to retrieve his papers. Unlike his dirt-streaked clothes and sweat-gleaned face, the man’s passport was pristine. The quality spoke of a character who took pride in his appearance and understood the importance of one’s place in society.

As the wall continued to loom closer, the stagnant beige unappealing in its intimidation, unknown figures slipped from the shadows of the gate to approach him. Dragging his feet to a stop when they neared, he bowed lightly whilst handing over his identification papers, voice ragged.

“Hello, Shinobi-sama,” he greeted, his parched lips cracking, “How are you today?”

The ninja merely nodded in return, perusing the man’s papers carefully as he considered the poor appearance before him. It was not uncommon to be unfamiliar with travelling merchants since so many tended to pass through Konoha’s borders, but the disheveled appearance and beaten flesh spoke of conflict that had not been reported. Raising a brow, he asked carefully, “Sumi-san, where is your registered and approved caravan?”

Eyes watering unintentionally, Sumi Auto scoffed at the obvious weakness before an unknown entity. “Kami. I’m sorry,” he apologized, feigning a stony exterior to save face, “I was attacked whilst in Lightning Country and lost my caravan and horse. Unfortunately, I did not insure my wares and thus, I could not be compensated for my losses. This,” he stated, indicating the pack upon his back, “Is all I have left. I just figured it’d be best for me to make this trip, or fall victim to the fear of never traveling again.”

The guard nodded empathetically, returning the elderly man’s papers. It didn’t surprise him that Kumogakure and the Lightning Country would treat its occupants so poorly, considering their unsympathetic natures. Nodding his head to the guard upon the wall, he ushered the dejected man into the village with a soft smile and a slight bow, “Everything seems in order, Sumi-sama. Welcome to Konohagakure.”

Returning the bow tightly, the tea specialist thanked the thoughtful man before entering the throng of people with a coy smile. Previously tired eyes brightened and seemingly chapped lips smiled – it was time to open a new business.