A Much Needed Reunion (NK, inv. only)

Higuto was tired. After having explored the memories of his village, going from different nooks and crannies of the multiple sections of the village just to gaze upon them and reminisce, he was getting aggravated at how powerless he truly was on the inside. On the outside he had been able to mold his body to be strong and fast though on the inside his emotions were so fragile that he could feel himself slowly descending into the darkness that laid dormant within him. It was something that he had been trying to keep down within him for a long time, it coming so close sometimes that glimpses of what he kept would rear it's head, as he was afraid it would turn him into someone he wasn't and lash out at people that didn't deserve it. He didn't want that but it was certainly something that he could feel was on it's way to coming to fruition and it was going to come out in a bad way if he didn't do something to stop it. The question was what could he do in order to bring about a chance to either stop himself... or control himself. After all it was something that was a part of himself. Maybe he could be able to channel it and grow stronger thanks to it. The thing was that this darkness seemed to do something to his psyche whenever it showed itself. It would be glimpses of what seemed to be a whole other person apart from himself pop out and cause him to act differently. It was both something that made him curious and frightened at the same time to see what would happen if it ever was given free reign to come out fully. 

Currently he was walking along the streets of Konoha taking a look at the surroundings of his lifelong home, passing by adults he saw all the time along with children he saw with parents all the time too, as he allowed his mind to roam on events of the past once more. What he wouldn't give to have his parents by his side once more, guiding him and showing him the correct ways to see the world, so that he wouldn't have to suffer this loneliness anymore. He had to find some kind of way to clear up his mind. He thus came up with his plan: There was only one group of people he could trust to share some time with and he needed to see them once again to feel complete again. He walked over to his place and took out a pen and paper as he started to write into three different pieces of paper. In each they would simply read:

Meet me at the training field at 4:00 if you're able. I believe it would be great if we had a get together as a team once more. If you can't come I understand and hope you have a good day. 

-From Higuto.

Upon finishing he would fold the papers up to make them a bit easier to carry. He then allowed a few of his insects to crawl out from beneath his shirt sleeves and along his arms as the three papers each were gripped by three insects. They would fly into the air and to separate places as he watched them all fly away. 

Watching them leave made him pause a bit, noticing his clock that it was about 30 minutes before 4:00, before he decided to go into his wardrobe and try out a new wardrobe for the day. It would of course still involve a jacket, jet black in color with a zipper that pulled up only half way, though he'd switch out his usual shorts for jeans and tennis shoes. He also went to put on a new earring that he had recently bought, a soft aura of power stemming from it, as he put on a bracelet along his right wrist before rolling up his sleeves to reveal about 1/3 of his forearms. He figured if he was going to wind up becoming a new person he may as well go for a new look. He put his usual facemask around his neck, though, as he thought he'd make his own someday in the future. Upon finishing changing there was only one thing left to do and that was to make his way to the place he planned on meeting everyone.

He left his house at a corner of the village as he hopped up onto the top of a nearby roof as he looked around the village from his vantage point one last time before closing his eyes and forming a single hand seal as insects slowly began to fly around his body. They would fly around him faster and faster and surround his body entirely before dispersing and revealing that Higuto was no longer in the spot where he had summoned them. The insects would fly in a streaming cloud of buzzing over the village as they all made their way quickly over to the training field. Higuto's chakra being dispersed amongst them all gave them the speed to move quickly as they made it to the field in almost no time at all. Upon doing so they, once again, began to swarm around a singular spot in a twister like formation as Higuto's chakra formed and molded together as the insects dispersed and revealed Higuto now standing in the center of where the twister of bugs had been. They all made their way back into him through his jacket sleeves as he looked around at the field to take in his surroundings.

He was in a open location, a circular area about 100 meters in diameter open to the sun apart from the surrounding trees, with the hero's gravestone besides three stumps used for training stuck into the ground. He walked over to the gravestone to look at the names that occupied it as his eyes traveled straight to the place where the names of his parents were. They might not have died a hero's death but they were most certainly heroes to the village. 'I don't know if I can do this without you two... but I shall try.' he thought as he closed his eyes. He took in deep breaths as he allowed his psyche to merge with the darkness that he held within him, the darkness he feared, as even his insects grew tense from what was happening within him. The positive side of his heart finally began to meld with the negative as he could feel the other side of himself coming out into the open... It tingled... He continued to take in deep breaths to make certain he was still himself but he most certainly felt his mood becoming better as he let the events of his failure at the Chuunin Exams finally wash itself out from within himself. A small smile appeared upon his face as the darkness melded with the light inside him and he certainly felt a whole lot different. A good sign? He wouldn't know for sure until it was time for his invitees to show. Taking a look at the sun it was certainly getting very close to 4:00. Hopefully they turned up soon.

The jump from looking over a group of Genin to running a village in place of the Hokage was a leap the Nazar had not been prepared for. It put into perspective what Risako must have been going through. She too had been thrust into this role of village leader with no warning. Simply because the village needed her to. Now he was doing the same thing, because Risako needed him to. The only respite he had was knowing it wasn't permanent. He knew that eventually all this pressure and work would be handed back to Risako once she returned from the summit. Rather if she returned. Who knew what was going to happen at such a gathering. Kinzoku needed to prepare for the worst and that included Risako never returning and him being forced to permanently take her position. But he was hopeful of her return. He was going to use the experience and knowledge he'd undoubtedly gain from being in this position temporarily to help alleviate some of the pressure Risako was baring. 

The position came with a lot of paper work, a lot of meetings with village elders and representatives of the Daimyo, and more paper work. Kinzoku could tell some had their doubts about the Jounin due to the fact he was an outsider from Suna. Even though this was now his home, it wasn't always that way. Others were not so negative. Even hopeful. After all it was not the first time an outsider assumed the role of Kage for another village. The Kazekage back when Kinzoku was a Jounin of Suna was none other than Koroshi, a Konoha shinobi. Brother of Kurisu, Hokage at the time, he took the role of village leader because he had to. He to was not accepted with open arms by everyone. But he did what was needed and proved himself. Although Kinzoku was not in the same position of Koroshi, he could take what he knew from his former leader and apply it to his own situation.

The thoughts of the former Kaxekage and home filled the mind of the Nazar. He was in the Hokage's office but not currently seated at his desk. Instead he was seated on the floor with his legs crossed and arms resting gently on his knees, eyes closed. He took a moment for himself everyday to meditate. It was a practice his clan participated in since the beginning. After all his clan was comprised of monks. It helped him remain in the right state of mind needed for the current job. It also allowed him to keep his mind in tip-top shape. The body of a shinobi had no lack of training to keep it in shape and up to task. However often times the mind was neglected and left to rot. The Nazar used meditation to prevent this from occurring. It also allowed them to reach a state of Enlightenment, something only few people actually obtain. 

It was during his meditation that his eyes finally opened and he snapped back to reality to the sound of knocking. It was Miko. She informed him he had received a letter by way of bugs. By the way she was handling it it seemed she was afraid there still may be bugs lingering on the note. Slowly rising, Kinzoku took hold of the letter knowing it was from Higuto and read it. Seems like he was requesting a meeting. He was intrigued to see what the Aburame had in mind. Kinzoku hesitated on joining up with his student knowing there was still plenty that needed taking care of, demands that needed answering. But a break would do him good. Dressed in his usual all black attire, the swung his jacket off the rack and around him before grabbing his signature hat and placing it on his head. Lastly he grabbed his trusty Peacemaker before strapping it onto his back and making his way out the door. He informed Miko that he'd be out for an extended period of time and to send someone to the training grounds if he was needed. He then took his leave from the building. Judging by the time Higuto had asked to met the Nazar was going to be late. But what was new there.

Eventually Kinzoku would arrive to the large clearing where the grounds were. Of course Higuto was there first. To his surprised he was actually the fire one to arrive other than the Aburame. It made him wonder whether he had been the only one invited by Higuto or not. It wasn't usually like the other two to arrive after Kinzoku. Either way he would find out soon enough. As he approached Higuto he noticed what he was looking at. A gravestone inscribed with the names of Konoha Shinobi lost. Kinzoku could only assume he was there in memory of his parents. He's lost family as well during his years as a younger shinobi. He knew what Higuto was going through. The most he could do was simply be there in the Aburame's time of need. Higuto would undoubtedly sense Kinzoku coming. Once he'd acknowledge his presence, Kinzoku who tip the brim of his hat to his student with a smile. 

"How you been?" the Nazar would inquire of his student before walking up along side him. "I trust you been keeping up with your training. Now that I've been too busy to keep up with you young-lings y'all are gonna have to keep your training up without me. At least for the time being." He would wait for find out why Higuto had called them. It was only fair for him to explain once Jace and Allegro had both arrived.