...Into the Further You Go

Salzem stood at the open gates, gazing down the road leading out of Konoha. He had a vacant expression on his face as he did so, not able to determine between bitterness and relief. He had lived here all his life, but it was only recently when he had woken up to reality. Konoha's purpose had long since faded from him. In fact, it had faded from  his purpose the moment Isshin was killed before his very eyes. He should've given up the village right then, left and taken his chances with that woman who guarded the borders. Instead, he swallowed it, let it brood in the pit of his guts for a year, going about his daily routine as if his purpose never existed. Now, he loathed nothing more than his failure to take action that day.

Salzem stood at the open gates, fists clenched, eyes alight. He had enough strength to smash down Konoha's forests, enough speed to zip past almost anyone, and yet, he didn't feel any stronger than that day he watched Isshin die. People wouldn't say it to his face, but he knew when people were afraid of him. They way they stared at him, the way the talked about him when they thought he wasn't listening. They feared his relative might, his ability to crush bones like toothpicks. They are afraid he would do this to them! Every time he heard this, every time he was subject to their subtle back talk, Salzem had to restrain himself from using what they feared.

Salzem stood at the open gates, weighing his options at getting out of there alive. Leaving the Leaf was a possibility torturing him since that day. Although he wouldn't admit it to anyone, he was afraid. He didn't think he had what it took to exist out there. One year ago, he was a child, with no perspective of the world. Salzem's gaze shifted to the ground as he imagined the cruel encounter the Kage would force upon him should he leave. The team of Genin he'd trained... his old friends from his Genin days... If asked, the kage would respond with something along the lines of trying to convince the ninja to come back, but Salzem knew the real reason. It was to ensure one last stab of guilt before the missing ninja died....

(the link you sent didn't work, so I'm going to assume this is the topic, and pop on in.) 

From the east, the side of the world where the sun is destined to rise every day, walked forth it's child. Each movement forwards came with three thuds; that of each foot, and the strong wooden staff that the man held in his right hand, each one following the other, in a perfect steady triplet of a rhythm, and no pauses between them. 

The power of the sun itself was set in his eyes, as twin inferno's twisted into a vortex where his pupils should have been. His hair, black as the ash that he left behind, tied tightly into a topknot. The red and yellow robes of the sun around him, contrasting with his tanned, yet heavily scarred, face, and especially against the green grass below him. Each step, he felt as if he threatened to set the land ablaze. 

He was on a pilgrimage; searching for those who knew the truth; those who had seen what they needed. As he approached one of his old friends, he knew that he was one of these. However, to ask him to join straight out and immediately was not the way. To see the way, one had to see the light, and you are never to look directly at the sun; at least, not at first. 

"Hello, Salzem," Kasai said, approaching his friend, and nodding in greeting. "It is good to see you again."

(Yeah man, Sorry... *smiles sheepishly*)

Salzem's moment of brooding shattered when he heard a voice behind him. One that was all too familiar... He whirled around, eyes wide, caught completely by surprise by the sight that befell him. The man that stood in front of him had an uncanny resemblance to Kasai. The main thing that put him off however, was those swirling pools of fire that rested in the whites of his eyes. Salzem stared at the man, unable to speak, barely able to think. Was it.... Could it be...?

"K-Kasai........?" Salzem said incredulously. He had longed believed his friend to be dead, having disappeared all that time ago. The other ninja hadn't found a trace of him, or if they had, they hadn't bothered to spread the news of their comrade's return. He didn't know whether to hug this man or punch him in the stomach so he stood there, frozen. After a moment of silence, Salzem made a move.

(will try to respond when I can; pm me to remind me if it takes too long. I get slammed with homework like hell cause engineering major.)

(Ok, declaring this topic Invalid. Kasai informed me that He's not going to be around, like, at all, so I feel like ending the topic here would be pointless. Requesting the invalidation of this topic Please and thank you)