Unusual meet up (P) (Sal)

Sal said that if there were more that he would have to keep them under control. He feared to ask because that means Sal has had personal experience. Then Sal the nodded, signaling that he was here for the exam. "Oh wow." He says in awe.

Sal the said. "...I'm looking forward to testing my skill against one of your ninja, you know..." Ryou wondered if it was because there was someone specific. Sal then adds a complement after saying that, "...It's hardly a secret that Sunagakure trains their ninja well, perhaps even on par with the hidden leaf's." Ryou laughs. "Thanks, I'll take that as a complement towards me." Ryou laughs a bit more.

Then, out of seemingly know where, a personal question. "...Why do you train?" Sal asked. Ryou had thought about that before. When he meet Yen, that helped Ryou know why. As well as when he met Aya, that helped with his medical ninjustu. "I do it because I need to protect my family and friends, no matter the village or clan." He says proudly. The reverses the question, "Why do you?"

Ryou's answer to his inquiry was something he'd come to expect. It's pretty much the catch-phrase of most ninja was to risk life-and-limb for queen-and-country. It was what they were raised to do in this age of war and violence. With half of the population being soldiers and the rest being civilians, it was hard to NOT expect someone to declare that their main aspiration as a ninja was to protect. It was what Salzem wanted to do when he first joined the ninja academy. He certainly believed in the cause and thought it righteous and worthy... He found out real fast that he was far more selfish than his compatriots.

Salzem smiled softly as the kid turned the question on him, asking why HE chose to be a ninja. It would be the easy to paint a more selfless picture (if a bit dull) and state that he was doing it for the same reason, to protect those he cares about despite most of them being in the ground already.

"Not for the same reason, I fear." He laughed, his hand immediately shooting up and rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Why I'm a ninja is to fight people. Of course I want to protect people, my village, etcetera, but what I really want to do is have a good fight. Its either my opponents are too strong or too weak you know? I want a good rival, someone I can clash with and have a good fight with..."

Sal answered the question Ryou reversed, "Why I'm a ninja is to fight people. Of course I want to protect people, my village, etcetera, but what I really want to do is have a good fight..." Ryou wasn't sure if that was good or bad. If all he wants is to fight someone strong and have a good fight, he or the opponent could get killed. Ryou was a strange person, caring for people he just met. "O-oh Ok." He replied sheepishly, not telling Sal of his thought process, Ryou wasn't sure how he would take it. Then he remembered what he said as well, "I want a good rival, someone I can clash with and have a good fight with..." Ryou laughs a bit then says honestly. "I'm not a good rival..." Ryou wasn't very confidante in himself with all the teachers he had and friends, he was never strong enough to beat anyone he battled.

"Oh, I wasn't referring to you specifically." Salzem laughed, his guard lowering just a bit. "I just meant in general... I dunno. Maybe one day you will be that person...." The lycan looked out over the horizon, right up to the wall that separated Sunagakure from the rest of the desert. It made him think of the times where big forts were built right outside the boarders of vulnerable towns, a place where all the physically incapable citizens could run for protection while their homes succumbed to invading parties. It made him wonder if this was really the best Sunagakure was at one point, if now really was the safest it had ever been. Of course, their ninja were out there clearing out villains and outlaws every day, ever-dutiful and ever-impressive as per the standard, but they never seemed to be making headway. It made him wonder if the village was the equivalent to those large forts, what with it's huge walls and high concentrations of trained killers, constantly waging a war against chaos that they must know they cannot win.... It made him wonder if Sunagakure once held the entire desert to themselves under one massive empire and this village, this piece and the trading roads/routes were all that was left of something far greater. On the other hand, this was just as good as the villages got in general and things just used to be a LOT worse... hell if he knew. Salzem hardly ever payed enough attention to the things that really mattered... His inattention was the foundation of his history.

"Oh, don't worry Ryou." Salzem smiled, holding out a fist for him to knock with his own. "I didn't think I'd be interested doing taijutsu, you know. Way-back-when, I ironically was more interested in Genjutsu and illusions compared to hitting things really hard, you know." He laughed lightly before returning to his original point. "What I'm trying to say is, you'll probably grow into something different, something else than you are right now. Today, you may not be a good rival. Tomorrow though... that you may very well be..."

"But seriously... And this may be out of nowhere, but... what made you want to do this...? Like... did you wake up one day and realize that you wanted to be a protector or... was flinging jutsu and ninja-tools something you always wanted to do?" The lycan paused, considering something. "I understand if it's personal and that you probably don't want to share anything with a stranger like myself."

"...Maybe one day you will be that person...."Those words from Sal rang through Ryou's ears. Ryou thought if they would meet again after this encounter that he hoped to be strong enough to have a good battle with Sal. He thought if he improved his kekki genki jutsu that he could match Sal's tai jutsu. After all, his clan's jutsu was known back in the day for it's tai jutsu abilities. He smiled and nodded after all was said about that.

Sal then said "...I ironically was more interested in Genjutsu and illusions compared to hitting things really hard, you know." Ryou gave Sal a confused look, like Sal was speaking gibberish. "But why can't you?" He asked Sal. Ryou had a kekki genki that was known for it's tai jutsu but he still learned ninjutsu because he loved it, never really thinking about his kekki genki he was blessed with.

"... what made you want to do this...?" This was next thing he asked Ryou. Sal, of course, was talking about him being a ninja. Even after Sal said if he didn't wanna share that he didn't have to, Ryou felt he could trust this man even after the sudden spar. "I did it at first because of my aunt and uncle but then i thought the real reason to be a ninja." He felt proud of what he said in response. He hoped Sal liked it.

Oh, Well... I found that punching people was more fun!" Salzem laughed, his answer only half-honest. "What's so enjoyable about smacking people senseless with illusions when you get the satisfaction with doing it with your fists? But seriously, I found out real fast I didn't have the patience nor the talent to learn what Genjutsu hat the offer. I wanted to be in there with my comrads, fighting along side them, facing the danger with them as we ninja should, not hanging back and playing support." Salzem spoke those last words with a slight twinge of disgust, as if the mere phrase left a bad taste in his mouth.

"That's about as common a reason as any. It's not a shameful thing for one's family to serve in the military. After all, being a protector of one's way of life is an honorable thing and I respect you for that... for whatever that's worth to you." With a small grin, the lycan sat himself down against a nearby training dummy, patting the sand beside him, offering it to the younger boy. "Me? I got into it the stupidest way I could imagine: I was poisoned by a flower." Salzem's cheeks seemed to flush red as he admitted this truth, still blaming himself despite the fact he was only a little child. "Yeah... It's not the most glorious entrance into the academy... You see, when I was just a little kid, maybe a little younger than you, I never gave second thoughts to being a ninja, even while my parents were... I was little and ignorant and I couldn't tell a poisonous object from one that was just trying to be pretty. SO! I saw this flower while I was playing in the wood around our house and as I bent down to pick it, it sprayed poison in my face, damaging my lungs as I breathed it all it... Luckily, dad managed to save what was left, but I was still... uh... weak. I didn't like seeing them look at me like I was fragile and so, despite my weak state, I entered the academy and passed!" The lycan smiled softly at the kid before looking up into the blue ceiling of the sky.

"People are weird... Life is weird... Wonder why people are even still fighting each-other..."

Ryou didn't really understand why Sal didn't like supporting comrades with genjutsu, but Ryou didn't ask. He found that because he wasn't strong that he would have to be the one supporting at the side. He didn't completely mind that fact but he still trained a lot to become strong like Sal or Ayame.

Sal then told his story on how he became a ninja. Ryou found it kinda funny that he got poisoned by a flower. Ryou remembered when he became a ninja, it didn't take a lot for Ryou to become a genin. Ryou knew his jutsu well back then and now, he trained a lot for it though and it helped to have a aunt that was a ninja.

Ryou heard Sal then say, "People are weird... Life is weird... Wonder why people are even still fighting each-other..." He nods as he agreed agree. "My aunt always told me that people fight because everyone is different from each other." He said remembering asking the same question to her.

"Hey Sal, why not we meet up after the exam and spar on last time before you leave." He said hoping he'll be stronger the next time.

Salzem smiled at the kid as he asked that they meet up after the exam, offering to spar with him one last time before he heads home. He was glad this kid wanted to fight him one more time... He had a feeling he was going to turn into something quite special for sunagakure.

"Sure thing kid." He agreed. "Well... I gotta go look for someone. I'll see you then Ryou."

And with that, they lycan would disappear, having body-flickered off deeper into Sunagakure.

(EXIT)
(Claiming nothing)

Ryou smiled as he left because of Sal's agreement to spar before he left the village. Ryou slowly starts to walk home. Ryou then notices all the rips and tears in his clothing. He sighs as his aunt wasn't going to be to happy about the laundry. He had to make up a story about training a little to hard. Ryou didn't want to tell her about Sal in fear of her response.

EXIT
Claiming Lycanthropy bloodline

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