Old Faces, New Enemies

Salzem was going out shopping in the village for his father. He had come down with a rather nasty cold, making him little more than a bed-ridden mess of snot, sheets and tissues. Salzem thought it was one of the funniest things that a medical ninja such as his father would succumb to something so minor as a cold. He thought about sharing that delicious irony with his father but, considering his sense of humor would be nonexistent during his cold, Salzem chose to just grab him some warm food instead. Salzem walked along the path to the ramen shop, seeing some other kids watching him from the shadow of a building. Salzem looked them over from the corner of his eye and noticed that these three kids where the same ones that harassed him on his walk. He also noticed they had Konoha head bands on as well. How those idiots passed the genin exam was beyond him. Hopefully, they would take no notice of him as he needed to get the ramen to his father. Unfortunately, Life does not always bow to one's wishes and soon Salzem found himself dragged into a dark ally way where the three ninja thugs advanced on him. They were much bulkier than Salzem had remembered, probably due to their training. Salzem felt no words where necessary and drew his katana from it's sheath. He did not care if he had to wound them, his killer's instinct kicking into over-drive.

As the genin approached, he slashed at their bellies, intending to cut them apart. Luckily, they managed to jump back and avoid his strike. A moment of clarity passed over Salzem's mind as his blade banged against the walls of the ally, sparks flying everywhere. He was going to kill them! He- Didn't get much further with that thought as the three genin bullies attacked him in unison. Salzem's instinct took over again, making his body dance to it's vile tune. He stabbed viciously at them, forcing the genin back, halting their advance. This instinct seemed to shatter his control over his body, forcing him to watch as his body moved to kill. The genin were shocked by Salzem's immediate, vicious reaction. They tried to escape by running up the walls but Salzem wouldn't let them. He slammed his hands together in the tiger sign, three shadow clones appearing in front of them, each landing a solid kick to each of the genin's chests. They lost their grips on the walls and crashed to the earth, dust springing up from the impact. The clones positioned themselves in such a way that Salzem would have the pitiful fools all to himself. Salzem's control returned, but the viciousness had not gone away. There was going to be a blood-bath today! Salzem took his mask off and tossed it behind him. They were going to see his face when he crushed them. Salzem's blood red eyes glowed with blood-lust as he approached the bullies. The genin backed away, trying to escape the wrath of their once-victim. One looked behind him, seeing a shadow clone in their way, sword raised, same look as the original. Salzem saw their fear of him and felt invigorated. Fools! They were hopeless, stupid, evil fools who preyed on him for needing more help. For his red eyes. For being different! Salzem's katana edge scratched against the wall, making a screeching sound as he took step after bloody step toward his prey. One of them, the leader , (Oh yes! He remembered him!) Stood in front of his two buddies, kuni knife raised in a defensive manner. Salzem stopped, studying the fool. Even though he was much bigger than Salzem, he was not as fast or as confident in his abilities. Salzem saw this through the genin's eyes. The clones moved back, smiling devilishly as Salzem was as the genin leader lashed out at the monster in front of him. Salzem easily stepped inside his strike and jammed his face into the genin's, eyes widening in relish, smiles spreading into something sinister, vaguely resembling a smile. The leader tried to push Salzem away with is right hand but Salzem did not let him. Salzem caught the genin's arm with his left and twisted it. Hearing the boy squeak as Salzem strained his wrist bones only made the action all the sweeter. The genin leader, eyes watering from the pain lunged forward with his kuni, point aimed at Salzem's heart. The kid was slow and his aim was off, giving Salzem enough time to bring up is katana and deflect the blow. As the knife bounced off the sword, his hand passed next to the katana, just near enough to be painfully cut... And that was exactly what Salzem did. He twisted his blade only slightly so that the genin's palm out rake over the edge, cutting just deep enough not to be fatal. The genin gasped as blood and agony poured through his hand and arm and out over his knife. Salzem kicked the genin away, letting go of his twisted wrist. As the leader fell back, his lackeys moved in, seemingly determined to protect their leader. They leaped at the monster before them, throwing attacks with all their strength. Salzem's sadistic killer's mind was amused by their feeble blows as he dodged each and every one of their attacks. Once they slowed from exhaustion, his clones moved to Salzem's side, all four of them sheathing their weapons. For a second, the three bullies' eyes lit up with hope. Perhaps... Perhaps  he was going to let them go! Perhaps... No. That was not what was going to happen. Salzem and his clones let off a devastating combo of high and low kicks, each reaching a near, invisible speed. The bullies had no chance, each hit landing, smashing into their flesh and bone, possibly breaking something. Finally, Salzem and his clones ended the Leaf Whirlwind combo with a high kick which struck the bullies square in the side of their heads, knocking them out cold. Only when they lie on the ground, broken, battered, bleeding, does Salzem realize what he had done. The killer in his eyes had faded from a strong, commanding force in his mind, to a small spark, still present, just no longer a threat. Salzem felt tears well up in his eyes as he saw his handy work, his... Murder! He did not see the faint rise and fall of the genins' chests as the tears fell over his face, obscuring his vision. He felt the after effects of going to long without his mask coming to form. His chest burned, his head began to feel fuzzy as his lungs could no longer process the oxygen without help. His clones dispelled shortly after Salzem broke into tears. He was a monster. He knew it all along. He was too stupid. Too naive to admit it to himself, but he knew deep down what he was. Salzem tore his mask up off the ground, tempted to smash it up against the concrete walls to either side of him. Instead, He took his katana and slashed the upper part of his mask clean off, leaving only the respirator obscuring his nose and lower face. Salzem slipped his new mask on, tears no longer flowing from those sanguine eyes of his. He had no tears left. Monsters don't cry.

(Exit)
(TWK: 1241)
(Claiming 6 Stat points)