Arriving

Posts : 757

Thirteen year olds who wandered the streets were probably good for nothing rats that spent the majority of their time stealing anything they could get their grubby hands on. Regardless of their origin or what have you, nothing was good about these orphans or bastards who ran around doing terrible things. They ranged from all ages, all sizes but they shared a common trait that even Shen had been aware of. Nothing in this world was free and even if you didn't have the money to pay for it, the cost of taking something that wasn't yours was simply the power you had to expend to take it. Shen was not blameless, he had stolen food from under peoples noses. Yes, right from their lips and literally under their nose. A thief he had made himself to be at a tender young age of eleven. However, the fact that he was still alive today allowed him to press on to the next day and the next. Surely in some part of this massive ninja system there was some god who was looking over him making sure he was all right.

It wasn't always a good feeling to steal from people or take what didn't belong to you. Sometimes the hunger from the rainy nights without shelter would blot out guilt like split ink. Taking what was necessary to survive was human instinct and Shen even felt he would succumb to worse if his life did not change. Yet despite all this unhealthy thinking about what happened in the past, he remained strong in order to push forward. He felt that balance in life was superior to all other goals and the only right thing to really reach. If the stars had decided that he should live his life as a wandering child until he returned to dust then so be it, it would be as foretold. He knew that he was worth much more than that. There was no self pride in knowing this, just the fact that he knew that in his life he would accomplish great things, simply because he believed fate had planned that for him. It was almost a religious way of thinking, but it was how he could still drag one foot in front of the other.

There was no way he would go back to the Leaf village at all even though he wore their own headband. He didn't want to return to that place to be forced into the same exact system his parents were forced in and follow the same exact rules that ultimately lead to their death. Instead he decided to go to another village where he could plan something different and hope that they would treat him different. The journey here had been long for a child his age but not impossible. The entire land he was in was very different from what specs he could pull from his memory. He remembered growing up surrounded in the thickness of trees and foliage. He remembered the air almost wet with humidity and the smell of damp dirt after it rained. This place was different. There were more rocks and lots more water. The whole place seemed to be situated in some kind mountainous region in some large body of water. After traveling so high up into these mountains he could see why it was called the Cloud Village.

Every where he looked it always felt like there was more to be seen above him. The air wasn't necessarily getting thin up here, but it was definitely different from the times he'd spent in other countries. He wondered what would happen. His eyes wandered up to a path that allowed access to the village gates across a deep chasm. He walked towards the edge of the side of the mountain he was on, not close to the path yet and looked over. Yeah. He was up here for good. There was no turning back. Not many people had passed today, no one had really seen him and he didn't remember seeing any of the village's ninja walk through this way either. As he adjusted the bag on his shoulders he took a free hand and pulled off his headband from the back, untying it under his dirty white hair. His fathers headband was something he shouldn't arrive with, as he had cut through the Konoha insignia. Using his left hand he brought the bag in front of him to put the headband in the bag. Before he could actually undo the tie to put the headband in the bag he realized that his entire body would probably be searched, starting with the bag. Instead he decided to put it around his waist under his shirt like a belt. It wouldn't be visible to anyone like this, but there was a chance someone could still check there.

As he neared the massive chasm between him and the village he wondered what exactly would happen. There was no way to predict what could go on the moment he reached the gates. He took a single foot and stepped on the path across the chasm. This was the first step into a new life or death. Even now as he took about three more steps across he knew he could be killed at any moment. A spear or kunai, or explosive senbon could come flying at his face and knock him into a hundred meter death. Even though the possibility of death was real, he had no fear. He decided to tread with caution as being so high up meant that the winds liked to play with every step you took, dancing under your feet and pushing your upper torso around. Eventually he had breached the path and was now walking up to the gates in range of everything. It was now red alert for him. Since the gates were massive and blocked off a lot of sight. He couldn't tell if anyone was looking at him or if there was anyone until he drew closer through the cloud. Continuing on, he walked evermore closer to the village gates until he was a good thirty meters from them. At that point he stopped and waited. He stood still and tightened the grip on his bag. Here he would wait all night or all day. There was enough food in his bag to last him for about three days. Someone would confront him soon enough, and once that happened he could try to get inside of this village to a better life.

Age : 37 Posts : 2201

[NPC-ing the guards.]

"So I told her. 'Mana, honey, I am a grown man. I don't have to tell you where I am at all times. So I can get home late if I want to. I can have a drink with my friends as I want to.'" Shin rolled his eyes while speaking out, his obvious lack of love for the drama that had been caused the evening before reflecting in his tone. The man sitting opposite of Shin, raised an eyebrow with a humorous expression. Probably knowing by now that mouthing off to the woman you were dating was a sure way of getting your ass kicked. "You said that huh?" Shin nodded, and ran his tanned fingers through the thick mass of blonde hair upon his head. "Yep. And needless to say, I will be sleeping on the couch for the next week or so." The howling laughter from the other guard, made the young blonde male frown a bit; wondering if he should throw something at the black haired Nara who had been his best friend for over a decade. But instead, his own smile started to spread over his lips as he stroked his fingers across his jaw. "Let me tell you, that tiny woman.. she sure can boss me around. I might even propose to her in the near future." The other guard held his hands up in the air, in a 'I told you so' gesture. But he didn't comment too much on the matter. Shin knew that Mazaru's own wife held him by the balls and it was almost for sure that he had had to also sleep on the couch from time to time.

"Hey." Mazaru suddenly grew silent and serious as he nickered towards something over Shin's shoulder, causing the blonde guy to turn around and also spot the young boy who was advancing closer. With a quick examination, he came to the conclusion that no headband was to be seen. At least not from this distance. And at that same moment, his muscles clenched a bit while he muttered out a soft a curse. "Trouble?" "Not sure yet. I've never seen his face before. Check the books to see if we have anything." By books, he meant not only a list of the village's ninjas but also the book that held a list of most the missing ninja out there. Those who were considered armed and dangerous. Shin pulled himself up to his full height of 190 cm, his dark brown eyes narrowing a bit as he took a step forward before holding his hand out in a gesture for the boy to stop. The guard's gaze went from the unique silver colored hair of the boy, to the mask that was covering most of the his face. That mask already gave him the wrong feeling, as he had a bit of a trouble trusting those who had to hide their face. He noted also that it seemed like the boy hadn't come into close contact with a shower for at least a few days. Tch they keep getting younger. He was expecting trouble, but he had still motioned for Mazaru to stay a bit back while he himself moved slowly closer. Still at a distance good enough to stay well out of reach, he knew that his buddy would most probably be moving stealthily to the side. Ready to butt in, just in case something happened. "Stay right where you are, and know for a fact that I will take any sudden movements as hostility."

"State your name, village and business with Kumogakure. And where is your forehead protector?" If that brat even had one. Shin grimaced, feeling sickened by the thought of maybe having to cross blades with a kid like that. But that didn't mean he wouldn't. A life for a life, he had always been told. And it was his duty to protect the village. Even against a scrawny kid like that. The sword on his back felt heavy as always, when he felt on the edge. His fingers twitched with the need to draw it, but he refrained from doing so. Knowing full well that posing any threat might put those of a .. weak sanity to the edge. So he stood there. Watching the kid. Waiting for him to make a wrong movement. Fully prepared to sever that boy's head from his neck. The Jounin didn't hide that he was estimating the slight distance of 10 meters that was pulling them apart. He looked hard at the boy, and waited with a not so patient expression on his face.

He had already been a guard for 5 years, and yet he always got this feeling when a new person arrived that today might be the last day he could breathe. And for a moment now, he regretted having parted ways with his girlfriend that morning without getting his goodbye kiss. As even if he could only quickly and roughly estimate that this was a Genin standing in front of him, then there sure were enough monsters in the ninja world for Shin to know that he should never assume anything about anyone. Especially not when his life was on the line.

Posts : 757

There was no way he would just force his way into the village, no that was not at all like Shen. He knew he couldn't just simply breach a highly guarded village no matter how many earth jutsu he knew or created. There were better jutsu guarding it and even some that these guards wouldn't know about. Most kids and even older adults that were missing nin would have this mentality of, 'If I want in I'm gonna get in'. Shen knew that there would be a very long process which is why he spent time killing boars in the forests of other countries and fish from the rivers. He took their meat and dried it out for a few days to have jerky to eat from should it take longer than normal. There was no way any village would allow any missing nin -no any human- to wait outside of their village for three straight days. He knew that he would be accepted or rejected in a timely manner. What happened had all been accounted for.

Shen looked sharply towards the voice as soon as he heard it crack over the wind. He moved closer to Shen as if to approach him with caution. It felt more like he moved closer to put himself in range of killing him however. He'd heard that the cloud was exceptional at close range combat but there had to be variety at the gates. Even now he could understand that he was in range of a killing blow. "Stay right where you are, and know for a fact that I will take any sudden movements as hostility." For the most part he was very serious for a child but he couldn't help at inwardly chuckle at the guard. He did his best in keeping his face as cold as the rock beneath his feet but it was fucking hilarious. Of course he would take any move as hostile, why the hell did he think he was just standing there? There was a reason in showing no motion, because as smooth as ninja were they were nothing but magicians wearing banners on their heads. One smooth move or some distracting words could get even the best of shinobi talking about who had the bigger sword. Shen knew he couldn't make a move, that's why he was standing still waiting for further instruction.

It finally came after the shinobi continued to eye him even more for a few second. He felt so much pressure from this guy, not like chakra pressure or anything radiating out of his body, but pressure. The type of pressure when someone couldn't fail in an action even though failure was always a possible out come. Maybe pressure wasn't the right word, but long story short this guy was being very serious. Like he had not taken a shit in about two weeks. "State your name, village and business with Kumogakure. And where is your forehead protector?" At first it was hard to speak simply because he hadn't really spoken to anyone in about a week since he had no one to talk to. Once the crust between his lips cracked open he became surprised with his voice. He hadn't heard himself speak in a long time and it was finally good to sound a bit older. "Shen. I'm not from any village and I was hoping to join yours." He left it at that. There was nothing more to say. Of course they would have other questions but he would deal with those in due time.

Age : 37 Posts : 2201

~~"Shen. I'm not from any village and I was hoping to join yours."~~

The blonde guard raised a single eyebrow as he sighed and placed his hands on his hips, his face got turned down a bit as he chuckled softly while glancing down at the ground like the burden of the whole world had been placed on his shoulders; before looking again with a piercing gaze at the boy. Truly he didn't think it would go just that smoothly? "And what, you decide to take a stroll over here and see if we have an application for anyone that wants to join Kumogakure?" Man, why did he always have to land on the brats? This kid didn't seem like a bad one at first glance, but perhaps a bit difficult to get to. "Where were you born originally? I think I can safely assume just from the looks of you that you aren't just any ordinary kid." He didn't like it when his questions weren't answered, as even if this Shen said he was of no village.. then there was always some place you got born in. And learned to be a ninja. So it was a bit suspicious if he didn't have a headband.. but it wasn't unheard of. If that kid was really just born outside of a village, and then trained by his parents. Whatever the reason was, Shin would need some more answering than a single sentence. Single sentences would not be getting that boy into the village.

"Do you remember the name of your parents, Shen? Can you give me something more to work with here?" Shin had this look on his face like he was sure he was about to have his leg pulled, and he was ready for any kind of lie thrown at him. Problem was, how was he going to be able to say what was a lie or not. He had prided himself of usually being able to read people in a way, but it didn't seem that this kid was easily read. So, he had to assume for now that anything this 'Shen' told him was true. And he would write it down, search the kid, ask some more questions, and if everything would go well he could take him to see the Kage.

"Well, Shen, if you have any weapons on you then I'd like it if you would place them on the ground in front of you. A guy can never be too safe huh? Also take off your shoes." It would be nice to see if the boy was heavily armed. Prepared for trouble. It wouldn't exactly give Shin a chance to judge him as a bad guy, only to see how .. cautious the boy was? "I would appreciate it if you wouldn't .. forget any weapons when you are placing them on the ground. As I, unfortunately for both of us as you aren't a pretty chick, have to search you a bit, and I wont like it if I will prick my finger on something sharp." There was no real pleasure he got from having to do body-search on that boy but it was something that had to be done. Why is there never a babe wanting to enter the village? How cruel and unjust life was. Maybe that was why Mana had never had a problem with his job, she just knew that there was a slight chance he would ever meet a pretty chick that wanted to join the village. Or just pass through for that matter. Guys, guys, guys.. old and young.. middle aged.. damn he would start having nightmares soon.

The Jounin knew that his buddy was snickering somewhere, as it always seemed like he got this role.. especially when the males arrived. Damn those Nara. Too sneaky for their own good. As he waited for Shen to either object, not do anything or obey, he kept studying him silently. How would the boy handle it if he would tell him to remove that mask? Well it shouldn't be a problem for him if he wasn't really hiding his identity right? And if you wanted to join a village then you had to be honest and prepared to get probed. Not literally... in most cases at least.