Jailhouse Rock [P,IO]

Kenjiro paced in his cell, looking at Gisei the entire time, it was like being stuck in a pen with a wild animal. Kenjiro stalked the man, attempting to try and reach for his throat the few times he was in reach. Those attempts only brought pain as guards quickly came to his cell and beat him till he let go. It wasn't fair...he had lost his friends...Gisei tried to kill him first, he wanted revenge. More importantly, he wanted to be free so this fucker could rot. The more he dwelled on it the first couple of days the more it became abundantly clear...they were both equals again...criminals tied to the murder of now a dozen people and labeled arsonists. The last thing that Gisei said to him before they fought was "Long live the Mizukage..." Then a name he had etched into his mind that would remain with him for the remainder of his life.

"Xyxer Gyojin," Kenjiro said under his breath as he stared at Gisei with a determined gaze. Who the hell was the guy, he knew the title, and then the fact that Kirigakure absorbed Konoha as a proxy state was the matter that led him and his sister down the path that they were currently on. Then his thoughts drifted to his sister and his family; He had left them to worry time and time again, and then when he finally addressed the situation he went and fucked it all up once again. Gisei finally spoke about four days into their incarceration.

"I haven't forgotten what happened Kenjiro...and it makes me feel an even stronger bond to you than before, almost familial in nature you could say. Hell, now that you are a criminal too my whole outlook doesn't seem too bad does it?" Gisei said as he posed the question one night just as the guards went to their nightly posts.
"This changes nothing Gisei...we are enemies...friends once...but...now we are indeed the same," Kenjiro said as he left it at that and went to sleep.

For a while, he just went through the motions, even during their "free time" Kenjiro remained alone and avoided the gaze of many eyes that sought after him for more nefarious means.

After three weeks Gisei approached Kenjiro as he trained in the yard, practicing basic tai chi and taijutsu forms from his academy days. Kenjiro seemed quieter during all times of the day, though he was often caught murmuring "Mizukage Xyxer Gyojin" as if it was a mantra for him to continue on doing what he did.

"I think it is time that we spoke seeing as our "fair trial" is coming up soon." Gisei started in as Kenjiro looked back at Gisei with a cold stare.
"What is there to talk about, I ended up getting my friends killed, and you helped burn down a piece of Konoha slums." He kept his cool despite the small flame burning inside of him telling him to get rid of the infection that remained in his life.
"I get it, Ken..." Gisei started to speak, even referring to him as his sister does. As Kenjiro grabbed the scruff of Gisei's shirt.
"Don't you fuckin' ever call me by my name like we're old pals. You are a troublesome, COWARD of a man that tried to leave the village to go to the very people that twisted this village and created a shadow the ENTIRE world can see. I don't care what you wanna plan, I am not going to be a part of it." Kenjiro said as he shoved Gisei as he had to real in his own anger, his head flooding with so much emotion that it was creating a migraine for the Genin.

With that shove, Gisei motioned to attempt to speak again, but instead, he breathed deeply and walked away. His own emotions were becoming confusing...he felt sorry for Kenjiro. He went to his cell as he began to think of his plan to escape from this fucked up life that he had led. He would finally escape Konoha, regardless of Kenjiro's help or not. The kid had lived long enough and had become a significant thorn in his side for far too long, so it was time that they buried the hatchet...the court of Konoha would be the perfect place.

WC:725

It was three weeks till his appointed hearing in court. Gisei stopped trying to persuade Kenjiro to talk, instead, he began to piss off other inmates, which caused problems for both of them as he decided to read books from the library and attempt to decipher them aloud to Kenjiro as a way to stimulate a response from him as Kenjiro had since gone mute, as he had to constantly formulate how to avoid the other prisoners during lunch and their free time.

Tonight's theme was life. The futility of it, the beauty of it and everything in between. Gisei was receiving the same usual droning from the peanut gallery as he read from a book on poems and philosophy regarding the subject.
“Hey Ken listen to this.” He started off in the same way he always did, his voice sounded more lively as he read the passage.
“Freedom of mind is the real freedom.
A person whose mind is not free though he may not be in chains, is a slave, not a free man.
One whose mind is not free, though he may not be in prison, is a prisoner and not a free man.
One whose mind is not free though alive, is no better than dead.
Freedom of mind is the proof of one's existence.” He ended the passage as the jail grew quiet. It seemed some of those on the block were actually listening, and others just got tired and went to sleep.

Kenjiro laid on his bed as he thought about those words. He was a prisoner of this jail for sure, but he also was a slave to his own mind. He allowed himself to become so overcome with hatred and revenge that he did not see any light at the end of the tunnel. When he was home he thought he had freed himself of his mental burden of Gisei, but in actuality what he had said to him earlier resonated...they were of the same cloth and one just got a bit dirtier than the other.

“Being a trapped in your own mind is...deadly, the more effort you put in and it always seems like the deeper you did yourself a hole to hide in. We are all trapped in our minds really...”. Kenjiro said as he sighed, he didn’t want to continue talking to Gisei, but he was not going away either.
“However, when exactly are you free. Freedom comes from being unbound from your physical and mental restraints, and as such one could argue that to be truly free is to be dead...”. Kenjiro said as he waited on a response from Gisei.

A response did not come as Gisei just let the words hang there in the air. He knew what Kenjiro was saying, so there was now no longer a gap between them. Gisei knew that to be truly free from his shackles he would have to eventually die.
"Kenjiro...I am sorry for how I have ruined your life, I truly regret pushing you into that river and I should have never threatened you. I admit defeat to it all, I just want to be forgiven." Gisei said solemnly as Kenjiro heard those words, but did not respond that night as he went to sleep.

As he slept the image of being tossed into the river played over and over, he remembered the first time he looked into the memories of Gisei, and the technique he used...Gisei would have had to be willing to share that experience. Kenjiro was following this path the entire time, Gisei had a weight on his shoulders he did not want to burden anyone with, but it became too strong for him and he broke under the pressure. Dammit, he did not want Gisei to appear right, he wanted him to pay for his crimes and he wanted revenge, but it was a hollow feeling with no real drive behind it anymore. Nobody knew he was here, the court appearance was handled off the books as a ninja matter and not a village matter so it would not be public knowledge except for the events that had already transpired. All he had left was the man that drove him here.

WC:710/1,435

The day came for their trial, and so Gisei and Kenjiro were both let free from their cells and brought before a judge in a small room as they were both sat down and there it started as Kenjiro's life would change forever, that day of trial.

"So Kenjiro and Gisei Uchiha of Konoha. Both of you are Genin that have been attached to a number of events that have transpired inside of the village." The judge began as Kenjiro adjusted in his seat so that he sat straight up, his eyes had a kind of sunken-in look to them as if he had not slept much since entering the jail.

"Yes..." Gisei spoke first with a surprising turn.
"I am the sole antagonist in this entire thing. I am a ninja of Konoha that wished to become a missing ninja with the intention of either forming a rogue element inside or benevolent benefactors in Kiri or sell village secrets to our enemies. Kenjiro discovered my plans and attempted to stop me at many turns, but he is still a ninja that is just learning his way and as such, I took advantage of that and tried to break him down physically and mentally, even going as far as attempted murder on three occasions. The boy, though I am no full-grown man myself, is innocent and only acted in a way to show the village that he can handle home-grown threats. Again, I wish to take full responsibility for what has happened over the course of my trying to leave the village." Gisei finished as the judge looked down from his platform before looking to the very few others in the court before turning his attention to Kenjiro.

"Is this true Kenjiro, is this all this young man's fault?" The judge asked as Kenjiro rose to speak, and before he did the judge issued a stern warning.
"Weigh your words carefully before you speak, they will determine what lies ahead for you both. We have very few witness reports besides those of the guards that have seen the scenes of where you two have been. So make it quick as my judgment will soon follow." He finished as Kenjiro took a deep breath without looking at Gisei.

"It is true. What he has said is what happened, he killed my friends, invaded one of their houses and lit it on fire. I originally went out to get rev...to stop him at his house immediately afterward, but found his family dead and then waited at the village gates where he was bound to be heading to begin his journey outside the village. I stopped him with force, barely able to overcome him initially. Then when I finally had him subdued I waited for the guards and was taken in because I was at the scenes of the crimes he committed." Kenjiro finished as he did not look at Gisei, however, there was no emotion on either's face as the judge looked between them both and then the guards behind them.

"Very well. I will take what you two have said into consideration in the next few hours, The evidence that I have been presented and reports, adding yours to the pile means I will have to piece together everything to pass judgment. In the meantime, I will be placing you both in holding cells away from each other so that there will be no crosstalk. You are dismissed." The judge said as the guards took them both and began to lead them out. Kenjiro looked then to Gisei to see that the boy was already looking to him with a smile on his face. Kenjiro did not know what he was planning, but he was so confused because of what just happened. Gisei took the reports and altered the events since there were barely any witness accounts. He did this so that Kenjiro could leave this place and live his life.

When he was put in his holding cell he stood there for a few moments before the tears began to stream down his face.

"Gisei you bastard..."

WC:690/2,125

The hours seemed to slowly pass by as Kenjiro soon began to pass the time by meditating on chakra control as he wanted to be of more use in the future. The verbal beatdown he and his sister engaged in brought many things to light and he was not ready to be counted out yet. If and when he got out of this place he would devote more time to practical usage of his genjutsu so that he could attain a better position within the village. As for now though he relaxed his mind as he let the chakra flow throughout his body evenly like a cup being slowly filled with water.

He began to go over basic martial arts forms with the intentions of getting faster as the only sound inside the cell was his occasional breathing and sweeping of his slippers against the cool cement. He anticipated the movements of his shadow fighter as the form of Gisei, every so often taking a moment to notice that Gisei was no longer the angry visage of revenge he once was inside of Kenjiro's mind. For now, at least it seemed as though that Kenjiro was beginning to get over it, but coming to peace with it all was an endeavor. He still wanted to avenge his friends...the ones that followed him through it all and then became like a second family to him. Gisei's men killed them all and now he had to live with that the rest of his life. They defended him while Gisei's men followed any order given. If it was not terrifying it would be impressive at least and something that might even help him to raise up in rank later.

He shook that image from his head as the sound of the lock clicking to open brought him back to reality the harsh light stung his eyes a bit as the door opened to reveal a guard and one individual that was dressed way above what a ninja would wear. As the man sat down he laid a piece of paper before Kenjiro and spoke before allowing Kenjiro to view the paper.

"The judge has offered his sincerest apologies in this regard with Gisei Uchiha, and the loss of ninja from these events will look bad on the village if word got out that Konoha breeds terrorists. So this paper here is a sign of trust, on it, it will tell you that you will always be watched by ninja while you are inside the village. You will have to report to a civil officer for the next five years every other Friday...consider it as a probation period, and your family will not be made known to this fact. This is the only deal you are being given since you have confessed what you know and the judge has made his decision on what is to be done with Gisei." He started as Kenjiro had to ask.

"So what is happening to Gisei...?" He did not look up at the man.

"Gisei Uchiha no longer exists, he will be kept here for the remainder of his life as he has agreed to give the village intel on the ones that operated the pirate television broadcast that you yourself was once on. He will never see the light of day again, that is all." The man answered as Kenjiro sighed to himself before looking over the paper. Everything was as the man said, no secret clauses, but if Kenjiro made a wrong move that was seen as hostile to the village...he would be brought in and would share the same fate as Gisei.

"I want something to be added to this. I want to be able to visit Gisei on the days I have to report to the probation officer." Kenjiro said as he looked up and into the eyes of the man, he did not activate his Sharingan. He was looking at the man as an equal, an as such the man thought for a moment before grabbing a pen to write down at the bottom a clause that Kenjiro was allowed access to visit the unnamed inhabitant once every other Friday. At once Kenjiro signed the line at the bottom and the deed was done. The man and the guard left the room without a word as Kenjiro was left to think about what would happen to him next.

WC: 735/2,860

And just like that...Kenjiro was released with the same clothes he was captured in, the sunlight overbearing for a moment and as his eyes adjusted to the area he found that he was in an area devoid of trees or grass, but a simple shack marked the area, and a single guard was there to help Kenjiro get back to the village proper. It did not take long, but as he arrived the guard escort seemed to fade away, leaving Kenjiro free to do as he pleased once again.

He made his way to the Uchiha area of Konohagure, making sure to keep his head down the entire time as he took his time getting home, but once he arrived into his home and walked inside his mother and father looked up from their plates to see that Kenjiro had returned. His mother began to sob, but his father was swift to get up and walk to Kenjiro before smacking him across the face.

"How DARE you walk away from the clan without a word, you have worried us...especially since what happened to Gisei and his family...those poor people." He said as Kenjiro stood there. In his mind, he was happy to be home though as he accepted the slap then returned it with a smile before bowing.

"Forgive your son for his impudence, I beg that you...my family I pleade you to accept me as I am, I will not cause any more problems for you or the clan as long as I live." He finished as he remained bowed, but soon the footsteps of his mother were heard as she swiftly leaped up and crossed the room over to Kenjiro whom she embraced lovingly.

At that moment he felt at home and no longer a stranger.

WC:300/3,160

[EXIT]

Claiming: 15 Stats, Genjutsu Choking

Approved Kenjiro <3