Private Talk (Koro)

"I can't revert back..." Salzem admitted. It felt as though he was telling his entire life's story to Koro. A dangerous and desperate move, but it was one he made nonetheless. For Koroshi to be of any help, he had to know how this all worked. "I literally can't turn back. Lycanthropy, what I have, is like having two monsters under the same skin... If one dies, the other dies right? Well, one technique exists, accidentally created by myself, allowing the body to purge each and every human cell from my body and spit it all out as a human copy, leaving the lycanthrope biologically 100% lycan. I... Ascended past my humanity and became this inadvertently." Salzem's regret became heavy on his face, weighing it down as if there were an intense source of gravity right below his face. "The human copy came out as my human form... completely identical in every way with all the memories, techniques, everything I am... He was me... But he's dead now... I'm dead now... I killed him... ripped him asunder in a fit of primal rage... The Salzem you got to know when you first met him... half of him lays dead several feet under sand because I couldn't control my own bloodlust.... I lost my restraint, what made me human... I lost friends... because this thing took away all that that human form gave me." Salzem looked up at the Kazekage, his eyes an unreadable mix of emotions.

"I can't gain "full control" because there is nothing left to revert to." Salzem looked away, his gaze attracted to a certain spot on the floor next to his left foot. "I'm stuck like this... Slowly, I'm relearning the concept of restraint, lord Kazekage. Every day is a brutal grind for control, but I'm making progress.... For whatever comfort that brings you."

Hearing Salzem's words about his clan, and hearing the story about how he got stuck in this form makes Koroshi think, some of what he is saying wouldn't make sense on a medical stand point, being that he has read through almost every medical book known to both the Leaf and Suna, he feels confident enough that he would be able to help Salzem with his issues, or maybe even find something that is maybe a mistake. He waits for Salzem to finish, Koroshi making sure to listen to what he says so he can begin to work on his game plan to help his friend, once he has stopped, and seeing the pain and heavy look upon his face Koroshi would begin to speak "I am sorry for what you have gone through and the events following, you should not have had to deal with such things. However I may be able to help you still, would you mind if I did some tests on you? I am a medical ninja and I have studied a great deal on how the body works, genetics among other things. From what you are telling me it seems very odd, and for lack of a better word impossible, if I were to study some more on this I am sure that we could reverse the effects, making it where you can have a more comfortable life" Koroshis says explaining his offer, and giving him some hope, Koroshi thinking of different ways to scan his body, and where to do so. He could always bring him to the hospital so that he could have a soft place to lay down while the tests are done, giving him privacy.

After giving it a moment of silence for Salzem to think he would begin to speak again "Should you accept we would be going to the hospital so that you can be comfortable, and that I would be able to do any and all tests to make sure that you are returned to your old self again"

"Impossible..." Salzem laughed bitterly. He shouldn't have come here. Not only was the man refusing to believe him, but he called it impossible in a world where one can summon talking animals and absorb colossal monsters into themselves. Which was more impossible? It was frustrating to the wolf that this man can sit here and declare that what he had just said was impossible when he is, quite obviously, stuck in this form. Of course, Salzem was tempted to argue his case, to make the Kazekage see that he was wrong, but what real-world good would that do beyond further the Kazekage's drive to prove Salzem wrong? Resisting every erg to talk back, Salzem listened to Koroshi's offer to take him to the Suna hospital in some sure-to-be failed attempt to revert him. Once again, Salzem found himself literally biting his tongue in an attempt to maintain his respectful composure. The absolute last thing Salzem wanted was to be poked and prodded, to be opened up and observed only to be told the same thing he had been telling Koroshi. It would be stupid, it would be useless, it would be nothing more than a waste of his time and the Kazekage's. With that all being said, Salzem's objections remained unsaid. He simply looked at Koroshi with an expression that was as unreadable as his emotions, though, considering the kazekage's "powers" he could probably see right through that as well. If he could, likely what he'd see is a lot of resistance, a frustration kept on a barbed iron leash, but not a short one. One just long enough to keep it a few feet from the man's face. But Salzem kept himself restrained, composed, showing that he, for lack of any real choice (knowing that at this point, Koroshi would insist), would allow this little experiment to take place on his body.

"If that is what you want to do, sir." Would be all that Salzem would say, waiting for the Kazekage to lead the way to the Hospital. He would follow, his stride only slightly drug by his own apprehension. The Kazekage was a smart man, a compassionate man, but he seemed to be as shortsighted as everyone else, just in a different way. Where everyone else saw a monster, he saw a human. Just as he was getting used to dispair, he's assaulted with hope. This inconsistency they forced upon him frustrated Salzem to no (conceivable) end. With Koroshi now offering back his old body, Salzem's head burned with the combat of resistance and submission with submission controlling his body and his resistance dominating his mind.

As Koroshi spoke he could sense that his words may be taken wrong as Salzem's face now seems o be emotionless, and he picks out one word from everything he said which was 'impossible' sensing that this may cause a problem Koroshi is about to speak again, however before he can Salzem replies agreeing to the tests. This comes off as a bit of shock given the emotion or lack their of on his face, despite all of this however Koroshi would nod "I would really like to try, I can see how this has been hurting you and I want to do everything I can. Now we are not going to be doing anything painful or anything that would cause you any harm, just some simple scans, although we may need to put you under just so we can test different aspects about your body and blood, is that ok?" Koroshi says standing up, should he agree the two as planned would begin to walk to the hospital together.

Should nothing else be said the two would arrive rather quickly as there are many different hospitals within Suna, one being made only a few buildings away from the chambers itself. Once they arrive Koroshi would request a room from one of the nurses who happened to be passing by when they walked in, she politely accepts, leading both of them to a room where they can be alone. Within this room is a comfy bed, a heart monitor, and some tanks with novocaine in them, and a mask to deliver the gas in a safe way. The nurse would after leading them to the room would leave the two there, shutting the door. Should everything be accepted until this point Koroshi would gesture toward the bed for Salzem to lay down and relax "Now I am going to be running some tests, for now go a head lay down, get comfortable and close your eyes" Koroshi says with a smile, even though Koroshi is going to be doing some medical exams on him he still wishes for the situation to remain friendly as he wants Salzem to feel as comfortable as possible.


Should he agree and do as instructed Koroshi would step forward, his hands glowing with chakra as he hovers them above his chest, while activates his eternal mangekyou sharingan, scanning his body for any abnormalities, so far and besides the larger form it seems that he is rather healthy, however his chakra is flowing more so around his body as if there is a constant drain on it from the form and whatever powers it gives. This is normal for someone with a blood line, or anyone using a jutsu really, where every the focusing point for the jutsu is, is where the chakra draws from, doing a transformation or even just something that would coat your body like an armor would show anyone with chakra vision how the body is glowing bright with chakra. He scans for a few more moments not really seeing anything strange besides his draining chakra, which if this form was his new permanent form theoretically it should not have any cost or drain on his body or chakra net work.  

Thinking on this for a few moments he recalls him say that he killed his human self, which was very strange and didn't make any sense what so ever in a medical stand point, at this point Koroshi thinks that he will have to put him under so he can finish some more tests, mainly to see back into his memory to see the event that happened that night. "Good news is that I am not seeing any injuries within your body what so ever, however I can sense some chakra being drained from your body, most likely to keep up this form. I am going to be running some more tests but to do so I would need to put you under, when I do and I know it may be hard, but I want you to think about the night that you first changed into this form and couldn't turn back. This will help me when scanning your different brain waves" Koroshi says to Salzem explaining how he could help in possible getting himself fixed, while Koroshi tries to make a bit of a joke when speaking about him not having any injuries.

Should he accept his request Koroshi would begin to administer the gas by placing the mask firmly around his snout, holding the rubber around it it shut so that it doesn't leak into the air as this mask is meant for a human and wouldn't fit right. After doing so Koroshi would begin to twist the knob, releasing the gas into the mask allowing Salzem to breath it in. After a few moments and once Salzem is fully unconscious Koroshi would touch his chest, flowing chakra into his necklace before transporting both of them and his bed to Asgard. After here Koroshi would place his hand on Salzem's head, beginning to read his mind, going back to when he first got stuck in this form so that he can watch the events unfold

Koroshi had asked Salzem something before they made their way to the hospital, but he wasn't really listening. He simply nodded absently as they made their way to Sunagakure's medical facilities. A nurse showed them both the way to a room, her expression was the same one they always wore. It was that plastered smile one would come to expect from any medical staff. It was the kind that could be telling the truth just as easily as lie to your face. It was that kind of smile that told you that you were going to be okay regardless if you were or not. It was the kind of look that chaffed under the appearance of Salzem's hulking form. While it faltered, it did not fall and, upon showing them to the room, she left just as gracefully as she led them. The Kazekage wasted no time, gesturing for Salzem to lie down in on the bed, wearing the same smile as the nurse, though he held it up far better than she. He closed his eyes and forced his muscles to relax upon command, almost as if he were a dog preforming tricks.

A moment passed. Then two. Then three. Silence. Salzem was about to open his eyes and ask what was going on, but Koro spoke before he could. He explained that he had no wounds on his person, but that something was eating away at his chakra and that it was likely the form he possessed. That confused the wolf because he hadn't noticed the drain before... Once again, before Salzem could say anything, Koro said that he needed to run "more tests" and that he needed to think about the night he became stuck in this form. Saying nothing, not a word of protest or a nod of approval, Salzem followed through with the request, his eyes scrunched up as he forced himself to dig out that repulsive memory. That was then Koroshi placed the mask over his mouth and flooded his lungs with a sedative. If he were human, he would be able to snap his eyes open, perhaps resist the incoming flash of unconsciousness, but the way it was now and with the body he had, Salzem was out instantly.

This is what Koroshi would see upon probing Salzem's mind:

It was dark with a pale/white moon in the sky. Salzem was human, but his flesh stretched and contorted under the moonlight, the cracking of bone, the reinforcing of muscle as he took the shape of his wolven form. If Koro could look deeper, he could see that Salzem was in Sunagakure, the center of the commons. Salzem would buckle as a bulge began to form and grow where his belly lay, increasing larger and larger, eventually causing the wolf to heave. Salzem tried to roar, but it came out a pitiful cough, the bulge moving up his chest, and mouth. Eventually, Salzem vomited something out before he fell to the ground, unconscious from the effort of releasing the thing. The discharge began to take shape, first, something like an abnormally large fetus, then something more human. Within moments, what was nothing more than a blob of flesh, took the appearance of Salzem that Koroshi had first met. The two lay motionless on the ground for what seemed like the longest time. Eventually, the two rose from the sand, looking at eachother like they couldn't believe what they saw. Neither did anything for a few moments, still in awe, before the wolf jumped on the human Salzem, angry, rabid, hungry. The human fought back, but in his weakened state, the wolf was just naturally stronger and faster than the human. The fight was short and brutal, but eventually, the wolf stood triumphant over an open, shredded corpse of his human counterpart. The wolf let out a howl of triumph before the understanding seemed to leak into it's eyes. It looked down at the destroyed corpse of what was once half of him, horror and realization of what had happened seeping in. Without a word or noise, the wolf picked up the corpse as if it were a child, carrying it off into the desert where it would be buried in a shallow, unmarked grave.

Seeing as everything is going to plan Koroshi begins to focus his chakra into Salzem's mind, closing his eyes as he gazes upon his memory of that night, watching everything unfold. It is as he said, although seeing the wolf literally throw up the human side and then kill it seems very odd and very unrealistic, after watching the whole event ending with him burring himself Koroshi would decide to check the before and after of this event to see if he could get some more clues as to what might have caused this so he can begin to fix it. He watches his night before going to bed, not seeing anything different or anything that sticks out, watching him drift off to sleep. He then scans the dream one more time to make sure of any details before watching the morning after, one thing sticking out to him, the room. Even though there was a brutal murder that happened there was no blood marks or stains anywhere on his room, clothes, or sheets, and in the vision he saw before he didn't see him cleaning up any off the mess besides hiding the body.


This begins to start a new thought process, maybe this was all a dream? Maybe this dream being how real it was and having his cursed blood line has caused him to believe that it was actually real, and that he was actually stuck like this. Having this in mind as well as knowing that there is a constant drain on his chakra Koroshi would open his eyes looking at Salzem's wolf like form sleeping in front of him on the bed, knowing the basics of sealing chakra he would place his hands on his chest, taking away his ability to use chakra for a moment by turning off his Tenketsu, this is often something down during operations so the patient doesn't wake up mid treatment and use jutsu, that or use it while they are under. After doing so Koroshi watches as Salzem's body slowly behinds to shrink and return back to the way that it was before, seeing that he is normal again Koroshi would let out a sigh of relief and would turn his chakra points back on once more, before transporting the two of them back to the Suna hospital, placing Salzem back where they started on the same bed as he waits for him to wake up, as he is excited to tell him the good news. During the wait Koroshi would turn his Sharingan off, would grab a mirror from one of the trauma nurses, and would sit in a chair next to him. It should only take moments for him to wake up, given the difference in Asgard time and the real thing, plus Koroshi not giving him a large amount of the gas.


Once he would wake up Koroshi with a smile would greet his friend "Well Salzem I have some good news for you, I have found out why your chakra has been draining, and I have also found a few reason as to why your body changed. However I think you will like the out come" Koroshi says as he hands the mirror to Salzem for him to look at himself when he is ready

Salzem awoke slowly, having no awareness of how much time actually passed. The first thing he noticed was that his whole form felt much lighter. Koroshi began to speak, but with him just waking up and with the drugs wearing off, it was muddled, intelligible except for the last part: "I think you'll like the outcome." Salzem looked in Koroshi's direction, noticing that his vision wasn't quite as sharp as it used to be. Without another word, the kazekage handed Salzem a mirror with a smile that made Salzem both suspicious and hopeful that just maybe, he succeeded. Hesitating only slightly, he took the mirror and held it up to his face. Salzem's face contorted with confusion as he was greeted with a face he didn't quite recognize. In the mirror, staring back at him, was a boy, pale with haunting red eyes. He had spiky, medium-length black hair and seemed to mimic the confusion Salzem was feeling. Surprisingly calm but slightly shaky, Salzem set down the mirror on the bed beside him and sat up, taking off his gauntlets and setting them on the bed too. He stared at his hands, also pale white and no longer contorted in the shape of claws. Human hands. With no words still spoken, Salzem stood from the bed. He felt so much lighter, but slower and he was MUCH shorter. He no longer towered, but now he was about eye level with the Kazekage. His body began shaking harder, though little emotion could be felt throughout his body. Little, except for the butterflies of anticipation dancing in his gut. He snatched up the mirror again and stared into it, once again met with that same face. He then looked at Koroshi, lowering the mirror once again.

"I....." Salzem tried to speak, surprised by his own voice. It was higher than before, less gravely. It was easier to speak than before too... He didn't have to concentrate to form words. "I'm... human...?" He had not a smile on his face as he said this, but a sort of calm disbelief. It was like he couldn't believe it, but he wasn't overly excited about it. He still had his memories after all. Salzem felt a compulsion to feel for his breathing mask, reaching up only to be met with his chin. That's right... he gave it to Ryu. However, around his neck was his multi-weave mask. It would serve, he supposed, at least until he found a more appropriate mask. He slipped the mask over his nose and everything below it before addressing the Kazekage again.

"You actually did it. I'm.... I'm back... Thank-you lord Kazekage. I owe you even more than before." Salzem's voice remained neutral and sincere, though he knew he could no longer blame his behavior on his form. No... now that he knew for a FACT he could've transformed back, he knew that it was all him. Disgraceful. In some ways, he was more dangerous now since no-one could simply say "Stay out of the way of giant the monster wolf." Maybe they wouldn't need too... Salzem felt much more restrained than before. Cold, even. Everything was locked away, nice and neat in it's place. Orderly, peaceful, calm. Salzem couldn't stop staring at his hands, though. They were human, yes, but still bloody.

Koroshi watches silently as Sazelm begins to look at himself in the mirror, as well as his hands confirming that they were both human, and that he was finally normal again, however even though for most this would be a happy moment, much like a burn victim seeing their flesh returned, it seems lacking. Having gotten rather good at reading people being the Kazekage and seeing many more faces than he ever would in the Leaf he is able to pick up that he is still blaming himself for something. He listens as Salzem tries to speak obviously shocked about the way that he sounds, and possibly because it may be easier. After a moment he is able to get his sentence out, saying that he is human, to which Koroshi nods to him, watching as he begins to reach for his face, at first Koroshi thinks that he may be wanting to see how his skin feels, however Koroshi quickly remembers that Salzem always were a mask before he transformed, so he is most likely looking for that to cover himself up, this is quickly confirmed when he lifts his multi-weave mask up, covering his face. Koroshi taking this as some sort of personal security, much like how a Blanket or a Toy would be to others.


Once his mask covers his face he begins to speak again, shocked and thankful that Koroshi was able to return him to his human form, saying that he owed him even more now. Hearing this Koroshi would shake his head in disagreement. "Salzem you do not owe me anything, this was merely me helping out a friend. However I do have something to tell you to hopefully set your mind at ease, when I was scanning through your mind I was able to replay though events for himself. At first everything was as you said it, I watched your human form get slaughtered and buried just as you have told me." Koroshi says before pausing for a brief moment to collect his thoughts "However, upon further research and by viewing the memory before and after I was able to see that what you thought was reality was just a very vivid, and detailed dream. To be honest anyone would believe it upon first glance, however there was some minor details missing from it that lead to me finding out the truth." Once again Koroshi would pause for a moment to allow Salzem to let this sink in that he actually never killed himself.

"My next clue was how your body was draining chakra from you being passive and not preforming any different jutsu and such. After that it was easy enough to return you back by shutting off your kentesu temporarily preventing you from using chakra. With that gone you changed back on your own, however I would give it a little bit before you begin walking around or trying to use any jutsu." Koroshi says with a slight laugh to lighten the mood before delivering one last piece of news to him "In short, you are not a monster, any and all thoughts and actions you have done between then and now have been caused by the stress this dream has caused on, not only your mind, but your body as well for constantly keeping up that form. You were in a sense hallucinating from lack of chakra" Koroshi says with a smile as he waits to see how Salzem takes to all of this

"Dreams..." Salzem repeated, still looking over his hands as if they would suddenly burst forth full werewolf again. What good was he if he couldn't even tell dreams and reality apart? What kind of ninja did that make him? It made him a useless one, that's what. Koroshi called Salzem a friend, but he suspected the man wanted him gone. Why wouldn't he? All Salzem had brought is trouble and general civil unrest with his little "dream." The thought didn't depress him in the slightest. Instead, Salzem looked up at Koroshi, his eyes hard, but not wrathful. The rest of his face looked worn and tired, but determined. Salzem had quietly decided it was about time he moved on.

It was at this point the kid came to the conclusion he really wasn't worthy of the man's protection, kindness or any of that. Salzem was let in as a missing ninja, he became a monster under the Kazekage's charge and went about hallucinating that he could no longer change back. What a fool he was. Another thing to add to the list for him to kick himself for. And this kick would be especially hard. The man had given him only kindness and Salzem botched it pathetically each and every time it was demonstrated. What a wonderful guest he was. Salzem pulled the hood of his jacket over his head and a familiar shadow crept over his pale, snow-white face. It wasn't comforting, not in the least, but it felt preferable to have the darkness on the outside than the inside. At least on the out, it didn't eat away at him as quickly. Salzem's sanguine eyes peered back at the hospital door, then back at the Kazekage, his fists clenched slightly and his head held only a little low. His mind only echoed one word to him: Idiot. It's what he'd think every time he'd look at the Kazekage. He wasn't calling the village head an idiot. No, it was intended for himself. It seemed he could do nothing right. He couldn't even sit still in one place right. Why was he even here?

"If it would be okay, Lord Kazekage..." Salzem spoke, his voice stalked by a faint echo of self-devouring guilt. "I need to take a walk. Outside." With Koroshi's permission, Salzem would find his way out of the Hospital and proceed to walk through Suna, taking no time to admire the village, feel the sand or notice the weather. All his attention was diverted in on himself like a dying star. Imploding because there was simply nothing left to burn or, in Salzem's case, the core became so heavy with guilt, it might just fall through him, ripping him asunder if he didn't take care of it now.

(exit if allowed)

Koroshi after telling him the good news waits for Salzem to smile, jump up and down, or even show some sort of emotion that would denote happiness. However much to Koroshi dismay he does no such thing, he stays quiet and pulls his head over his head to hide himself, Koroshi still feeling a great deal of darkness around him doesn't know if this treatment had actually made him better, or worse. Hearing his request to take a walk Koroshi would nod, he no doubt needs to figure some things out, getting such heavy and some what embarrassing news can shake a man a great deal, he can only hope that Salzem is able to work through these issues and become a better ninja because of it. Koroshi would wait a few moments for him to begin walking past him, just before he would reach the door Koroshi would speak once more, offering one last thing to hopefully make this process better "I know you may not be able to see it now, but this whole experience has helped you in more ways than one. I feel that you are a stronger person from what you have gone through. Once you clear your mind some more please come to my office again" Koroshi says to give him something to think on. Even though his form and his thoughts were caused by a dream it does not make him any less of a person, in fact it shows how powerful dreams can be, all one has to do is channel it in the right direction, and they will not only shine, but they will do an amazing good for this world.

Should Salzem leave Koroshi would stay there for a bit longer, looking out the window as an eagle flies past, their eyes meet for a brief moment before it flies out of frame.


(Approving Salzem's exit. )