A True Strong Wind

Salzem walked through town, tired and frustrated. Ever sense his father's death, his default state of mind was angry, impatient and violent. Not to the point where he would lash out at the next person who saw him, but enough to make any who cross him have a VERY unfortunate day. He had just barely talked his way out of punishment for participating in a fight between himself and a couple other genin. He may have participated, but they enticed him to do battle. Salzem still felt guilty over his father's death. He knew there was nothing he could have done and he knew from the letter that this had been going on long before he was born, but regardless, the feelings came. At first, he just needed time alone. He would sit in his room, trying to clear his mind, to think rationally. Someone would appear at the door minutes later, asking to see his father. The constant reminder of his lost parent would drive a jagged, rusty, dull stake through his heart each time, forcing him to tears as soon as he explained the situation and the person left. Eventually, when the tears stopped coming, the fires in his body ignited. People stopped coming around eventually, probably due to his less than gracious greetings and responses, making the poor sanguine-eyed genin feel more isolated than ever before.  Salzem flinched as happy memories flashed over his vision. He saw his father, mother, himself. All celebrating his 10th birthday. There was cake and food, laughs for days, and... and... family... Salzem still had his mother but she only came around on his birthdays, leaving him alone in a land he felt barely even tolerated his own existence. He consistently got into fights with others, no longer just bullies. Anyone who dared speak to him out of turn once, for mentioning is diseased father or otherwise, caused an uncontrollable urge to spring up and shut up the person responsible. On more than one occasion, he was disciplined by the local chunnin to break up the fight. In what passed for his heart, Salzem knew what he was doing was a childish game. That every single time he found himself confronting someone who didn't know better, he should kick himself and get himself under control. Despite knowing these things, the a part of the genin, a large part, refused to play the apologetic, quite, socially awkward Salzem he once was. If he had trouble with his demons before, this was a world breaking catastrophe. Before he could distinguish his two states of mind. Before it was like two minds fighting against each other, equals. Now, he could barely make out what he was in that sea of fire. Every time he thought he should speak up, apologize, regret the things he said or did, he would be shut down by the overwhelming force of the creature that was called "himself." It used to scare him. He used to be afraid that the next thing he was going to do would end up being someone else's last. Soon, that to faded. Leaving only his body being the only remaining part of who he was before. He flinched again as another memory flashed over his vision. The letter. His father's last words filled his vision. Salzem's hand reached unconsciously over to where the organ called his heart rested in his chest and clutched at it. It seemed to throb a great, sharp, pulsing pain the made his lips quiver each time it came. The memory scrolled down the letter as he had that day, coming to an end as it paused over the final words. I know you will be a splendid ninja. Salzem chuckled bitterly. If only his father could see him now. Barely a ninja. A demon. A broken person consumed and controlled by his own internal feelings. He was sure that he learned a rule about that once. It doesn't matter. Salzem had unconsciously walked up to the training grounds, the only place he has found anything resembling enjoyment sense his father died. He saw genin training with their fellows, smiling, laughing, helping each other up when they fell down. Salzem's heart ached again, but not in a pain of loss as it did before. It ached for companionship. Someone who he could confide in. How can you confide in someone who doesn't know your loss? a voice echoed in his head. It wasn't taunting or dark like his previous demons. This voice sounded sad, mourning, as if it to had lost a loved one. Salzem walked through the training grounds, ignoring the other genin as the voice continued to speak to him. You are in so much pain... Father, dead. Mother, out of reach. No friends to speak of when you need one most. Salzem cringed as he heard his misfortunes laid out before him. At no time when the voice spoke did it become cocky, sadistic or dark. If anything, its voice seemed to drip with sadness, as if seeing Salzem's misfortune hurt it more than Salzem feeling it. Salzem sighed. Although the voice continued to lay out his misfortunes, Salzem continued on, heart locked with the flaming chains or rage. No longer was his heart throbbing it was burning. If the voice had a face, it would be smiling. If it had eyes, a dark shade of red would envelope them. The voice stopped speaking for but a moment, seemingly basking in Salzem's suffering. What are you going to do about it.....?  It whispered before dissipating from his mind. That was All the encouragement Salzem needed. He did a full 180, walking back toward the genin to find himself a... "durable" training partner.

(TWK: 955)

Salzem looked over toward the training genin. Most of them seemed very young... perhaps 12 give or take a year. All appeared to be below his level of skill. He was afraid that if he did battle with one, me may end up wounding or even killing them. Salzem looked for other, older kids. He found a few, perhaps age or older, but still not strong enough to give him a good fight. Finally, his eyes landed on a boy play-training with one of the younger genin. He seemed much happier, enjoying playing with the smaller girl. Salzem, no matter how angry he was in the moment, wanted to pull the person aside when he was done. He respects personal training. Once the boy defeated his opponent, he launched into this extreme recap on how she "almost" defeated him. When he was finished, the girl left with a smile on her face. The boy watched the girl go, not seeing Salzem approach from behind. Salzem tapped him on the shoulder and he turned, flinching back suddenly when he came face to face with the cruel steel of his mask rather than the recognized flesh of a persons face.
"I wish to spar with you." Salzem muttered, restraining himself just enough. The boy looked at Salzem for a moment, studying him. He nodded and dug around in his rear weapons pouch. He pulled out a pair of brass knuckles and slipped them over his fingers. Salzem looked at the unusual choice of weapon but made no objection. He drew his katana as he knew how devastating a blow enhanced with 5 pounds of metal could be. As soon as the boy lowered himself into a fighting stance, Salzem swung his blade up in a deadly arc. The boy spun to the right and threw a punch at Salzem's stomach. Salzem leaped back a yard, eying up his opponent. He was better than he had anticipated... But that always makes it more fun. The boy moved in, making short, quick jabs with his front hand, his intention to keep Salzem back at close range. Salzem ducked or redirected each punch as it came. He wouldn't dare block for fear of breaking his hand. The boy stepped forward so that he was inside Salzem's guard. He moved quickly, bringing his left arm around in an uppercut aimed at Salzem's chin. It connected and Salzem felt a wet, echoing crack as the metal-clad fists connected with his jaw. Pain followed half a second later, flaring up as if his whole face was on fire. Salzem did not notice his mask had flown free of his face, showing his sanguine eyes to all who looked. He jumped back, testing his jaw. Nothing broken but the pain was agonizing. How about this? Salzem thought to himself as he brought his hands together in the tiger sign. A shadow clone appeared beside him, looking eager to pay him back for that attack. Salzem and the clone sheathed their weapons, which seemingly surprised his opponent. Salzem and the clone rushed the boy, seemingly trying to overwhelm him from the front. The boy threw a punch as they came within range  but right before it connected, Salzem and his clone activated the Body Flicker ability, appearing on either side of him. Salzem and clone let loose a series of high and low kicks, each connecting with the boy's face, body and legs. He ended the Leaf Whirlwind with a straight kick that knocked the boy backwards, back hovering above the earth below. Salzem used this opportunity to slip under the boy and, by using his body like a spring, knocked him upwards with a Kohoha Rising Wind. The boy did not gasped in pain as he was launched 10 feet in the air. He did not notice that the clone had already appeared beneath him, mimicking him like a shadow. Salzem watched from the ground as his clone grabbed the boy by the back of his shirt and plunged downwards, towards the earth. When they got within a meter of space, the clone swung the boy down like a mallet, crashing him into the hard earth below. The back of the boy's neck connected with the rock, his eyes going wide. The clone leaped back behind Salzem as soon as the boy touched down. Salzem expected that that would be the end of it. No one he has ever fought before has ever gotten up from an assault such as that. The boy did however. He sat himself up, slowly, face showing obvious pain. This was ridiculous. The boy had amazing stamina it seemed. He groaned softly before raising his hands up in defense. It seemed the fight had just begun.

(TWK: 1747)

Claiming 8 stat points