Behind Enemy Lines

A grey tint covered the village as slow drifting, large snow flakes descended from the cloud covered skies above. The village bellow was crusted with a thin layer of soft snow as Nobunaga stood above it. Perched upon the heads of the former rulers of this once independent village, he solemnly stood alone, letting the descending snow gracefully fall upon his uncovered hair. From high above, he watched the young, youthful shinobi of the next generation honing their skills in the not to distant training grounds. He could see simple citizens going on with their daily work, shoveling snow and spreading salt to disperse that pesky ice. Other's were going about their daily chores, visiting local shop keepers while their children ran around gleefully, rolling around and jumping in the snow, catching the falling snow flakes with their wide open mouths and outstretched tongues. It painted an image of prosperity and happiness, one of joy and hope.

But just like he had back in Kumo, Nobunaga could not see the beauty of the scenery before him. He could not see the hope emanating from the citizens and shinobi bellow. Nobunaga saw the truth, he saw beneath the mask that veiled the actuality of Konoha's situation. They were an occupied state, a people dominated by a foreign force and now subjugated to their will and rule. How would it affect the members of this village? Would they simply roll over and accept it, or would they fight back and continue the burning of their flame? Only time would tell but it was a peculiar circumstance to be in, one not too unfamiliar to Nobunaga's current plight.

He was a Suna shinobi, serving the kingdom of his enemy. Duty was everything to him, his raison detre. It was his duty to serve and protect the last remnants of Suna therefore that was what he he would continue doing. At the time of Suna's destruction he had decided to keep serving his former village by acting as the aegis to its successor. However how could he faithfully serve the memory of Koroshi by aiding those responsible for his very death and the destruction of the home he built? It was an inner turmoil, a constant struggle that was brewing deep within Nobunaga. A tornado of torment ripping and shredding at the fabric of his mind. One that he felt was causing him to lose his way. Therefore, Nobunaga found himself here in Konoha to meet his master. At the suggestion of a Kumo Chuunin named Max who had aided Nobunaga in coming to terms with his reality, it was time for Nobunaga to make his thoughts known to Kyson.

So, these were the famous rocks that were carved into Konoha’s famous past leaders. It was his first time seeing it up close like this. The view was beautiful and incredible. He hasn’t felt this free since he was in Suna. Back when things were a lot simpler. It was the closest thing to match that energy he had back in those days. It was one thing he did love about this village. It just never got old to him. Walking so casually as he strolls along side the faces with his head turned towards the top of the village. He wore a black trench coat that cover almost all of his body that went down to his knees.
 
But deep down, they were no different than Suna. Behind ruled by an outside force they weren’t prepared for. It was a tough time for the young ANBU Captain. But it was the only thing that singlehandedly opened his eyes. It showed him the true colors of this world filled with shinobi. His position allowed him to see everything that was going on behind the scenes, which gave him a clear vision of how things were done.
 
As he continued to stroll, he noticed a familiar large figure from a distance. His eyes widened for a second. There was only one person he knew with such a large figure. Hopefully, he isn’t here to state that the village is in trouble.  But something inside him told him that wasn’t the case. A smirk let off as he walked over towards casually. Stepping in the inches of snow as it made a crunch sound in each step he took. Walking over to his body guard until he was about a meter next to him. He would join him in the nostalgic viewing.
 
“A way more different energy than Kumo, eh?” He would say to Nobunaga. Their last encounter wasn’t a pleasant one. Things got heated in Raikage office after they arrived form the Kage Summit. But the young Hozuki still wasn’t completely over it. He felt betrayed by his own people. Even ones that felt like family because they shared the same bloodline. Ones he trusted to look over the village along with him. He assumed they were all on the same page, but it seems they had other plans in mind the entire time. Even Kyson’s interaction with Komon this entire trip was really minuscule.

Clad as if ready for war, Nobunaga donned his heavy plated armor that was entirely concealed by the massive black cloak draped over his body from neck to toe, even coating his arms as it left nothing visible save for his head and the top of his boots. As always, his massive great sword was strapped to the hook on the back of his chest plate, the blade also concealed by the cloak, the only visible part being the handle poking out behind his left shoulder. Solemnly Nobunaga stood alone with nothing but the cold weather and his own thoughts to keep him company. The very same thoughts that lead him here. The same thoughts that made him so unsure and confused about his place in the world and brewed the inner turmoil boiling within him. 

Then the man of the hour made himself known, the person Nobunaga came all the way here for just to speak to. As soon as Kyson got within range the Hiyu sensed his chakra nature. Upon doing so, he would remain still on top of Hokage Rock overlooking the village. He knew Kyson would have been aware of his presence as well and thus would seek him out. 

Keeping his eyes out over the village upon Kyson's arrival, Nobunaga would answer his question without any of the formalities. The two of them were past that. "This place still has hope. I dont know if I can say the same for Kumo."  A village surrounded by rot and puss, ruled by conquerors, tricksters and scoundrels. What was there to look forward to when living in Kumogakure? Perhaps the next generation of lightning shinobi could bring about the change the current generation of shinobi could not. Which got Nobunaga thinking about why they were even here in Konoha. "How do the Genin fair in the exams?" He would ask, starting a light conversation before moving on to why he was here.

After Kyson would answer, the Hiyu would say while never taking his guarding eyes off of the village "If you have the time, there is something I must speak to you about. Something that has been bothering me for quite some time now." Releasing a sigh that was visible through the mist being shot out from his nose due to the cold weather, the Hiyu prepared himself to speak his truth. He prepared himself to do what Max had suggested he do, to do what he came all the way here for and that was to open up and speak his feelings and his doubts about serving this very man.

As the two stood above the hidden leaf, he nodded when he mentioned Kumo. As of right now, things were getting a bit out of hand. But in due time, things will pick back up and start running smoothly. At least that was the Hozuki's plan. When Nobunaga asked about the genin, Kyson couldn't help but let off a chuckle as he scratched his head. It was a little awkward since most of them didn't make it far. "Well.. two lost, one quit and the other made it to the finals." Kyson said. It wasn't the best way to explain it, but it was straight to the point. 

"Wasn't the best performance I've seen, but hey. What can you do?" What done is done. He expected more from their shinobi but this was a lesson for them to learn. A way to see how shinobi just like them from around the world compared to them. This lesson would either make them or break them. It'll either make them stronger or show that they were never meant to be shinobi. But that was a choice they had to make themselves, Kyson couldn't do it for them. 

Kyson was all ears when he heard something was troubling Nobunaga. "Say what's on your mind." Waiting to hear what he had to say. Its been a while since the two spoke outside of shinobi work. With a change of scenery and a different environment, Kyson treated this trip like a little vacation.

Nobunaga had started the small talk, which was unlike him. Perhaps it was a sign of the anxiousness he was harboring inside of him. As Kyson spoke about the results of Kumo in the Chuunin Exam, the Hiyu paid little attention. He simply gazed out over the snow covered village, periodically nodding to the words of the Hozuki. All he could think about was his failure, his failure to serve the last remnants of Suna and his failure to guard the world against its evils and the inevitable surfacing of it when it came time to tell Kyson.

That time was now. Releasing a slow sigh, from underneath his cloak Nobunaga's left arm would move to his weapon pouch and pull out his Kumo head guard. The Hiyu would reveal it by motioning his arm out from underneath his cloak and revealing to Kyson was he was holding. "I have failed you." Looking down at the head guard crested with the symbol of Kumo upon it, Nobunaga would dive right into things. "I am afraid I can no longer serve under you." Turning his stern gaze to face Kyson, he would continue "I came here to talk of another matter that was bothering me. However before my arrival into the village I crossed paths with the Mizukage, Xyxer." Nobunaga paused for a moment, contemplating how to say what was coming next. But there was no way to sugar coat it, he had to just come out and speak the truth of what happened.

"We spoke momentarily and our ideals clashed. I always fancied myself a protector, bred to shield the world against those who seek to destroy it. He saw himself as someone only doing what was necessary. I encountered him previously at the Kage Summit. I saw what he was capable of, saw that he was willing to force his view of the world upon the rest of us at any price. His conquest of Konoha made that all the clearer. Any means are justified for him, in order to achieve his goals." Nobunaga would turn to overlook the village once more, a village that appeared free but was under the reign of Kiri. He thought about Xyxer's words once more. They were not free but perhaps were they finally at peace? Thats what Xyxer would have Nobunaga believe, but he could not see village under the same light which Xyxer painted it with. "I could not stand by and do nothing while he was in my presence. Therefore I challenged him to a duel. Should I win, he puts an end to all his future plans of war and conquest. It was an opportunity to bring about true peace in the word, stop his inevitable invasions of the remaining villages he did not already control."

Solemnly Nobunaga would turn back to face Kyson while simultaneously sticking his arm out towards him and handing him the head guard. "However... I lost. I failed in my duty to protect.... protect you... to protect the world from men like him. Now I must serve the very beast I despise... for his terms were that I join the forces of Kirigakure no Sato." Whether Kyson took the headband from Nobunaga or not, he would continue, not allowing the Hozuki to interrupt him. What Nobunaga was saying had to be spoken. "My life for the opportunity to put an end to this war. It was a small price to pay in my eyes. What is my life worth compared to the countless lives I could have saved? But in the end I was a fool for I saved no one." Revealing the weight of his failures was a crushing blow to Nobunaga and it could be seen in the slight slouching of his head and his hunched shoulders. He was a proud man, strong and stern. But he lived a life plagued with failure. He failed in duty, he failed to protect, he failed to do what he was meant to do. He always failed.

If Kyson had not taken the head guard Nobunaga would simply drop it onto the ground, a sign that he truly no longer belonged to Kyson and the village he served. "I must join Kiri... you cannot sway me now so please, I ask that you do not attempt to. My honor may mean little to the rest of the world, but it seems my honor is all I have left. I cannot go back against my word, not once I have given it, even if to a man such as himself." Should Nobunaga lose what he believed to be his honor, the last remnant of the man he thought he was, it would break him. He would become a complete and utter shell of the former man he once was. Like a baby clutching and grasping for its mother, the Hiyu held on dearly to his honor least he be lost forever. "Even if I did go against my word, betraying my promise to Xyxer would only spell an immediate attack on Kumo. It would be unwise to do so."

It was time for Nobunaga to go. To depart from Kyson's presence, abandon Kumo, and join the enemy once more, something the Hiyu was unfortunately all to familiar with at this point. "Should you choose to brand me as a missing ninja of Kumo, I shall not hold it against you... for I have failed you. It would only be the appropriate response." Nobunaga would pause for a moment, standing in silence as the realized the moment was finally upon him. The moment where he abandoned Suna once and for all, the moment he was dreading the most from this meet. "I am sorry... but I must go now." He did not know how Kyson would take his words; if he would try to stop Nobunaga any means necessary or understand his reasoning behind the events that took place and why Nobunaga felt he needed to do what he did and let him go. But whatever the case, the towering brute would turn away from Kyson. Without looking back at his former leader, Nobunaga would depart from the heads of the Kage that overlooked the village and made his way towards the village gates. His fate had been decided and his future was uncertain, but he had to leave the past behind him. 

Exit if uninterrupted.
Will make claims later

Hearing the first words that came out of his bodyguards’ mouth was not what he expected. He hasn't been here for long, what could have happened in order for him to fail. He knew he didn't run all the way down here just to watch the exams, it didn't really seem like his thing since the time he met him. The young leader would turn his body to face Nobunaga face to face. He wanted to make sure he didn't miss any words while he was speaking. The way it was sounding, it was going to be a long story. So, the young Hozuki stood there quietly and listened.
 
His assumption was indeed correct, his travel down here did not have anything to do with the exams. But before he could explain his actual reason for coming down here. It seems he came across something unexpected. He came across the man who took over the village hidden in the leaves. Tilting his head down a bit, he already knew how this was going. Knowing the type of person Nobunaga was, Kyson already knew how he would respond to someone with such ideals. The man took over Konoha just as Maku took over Suna. Even till this day Nobunaga resented how Kumo treated other villages and their people. So, he had a feeling the talk between him and the Mizukage wouldn't go well.
 
Letting off a sigh as he picked his head back up, "I think I see where this is going already." Kyson said as his ears were still ready to dissect every word that was coming from his bodyguard's mouth. He listened as he explained the encounter with the Mizukage. He forgot this would be the second time Nobunaga would see this man because he was also at the summit. Which made Kyson suck his teeth because he was left out of the global meeting but ended up being the first person to be sent to escort our shinobi to the exams. It was a bad situation for the village and a lot of words were said. But that was in the past now, Kyson was only focusing on moving the village forward. Having war within the village itself is not going to solve anything.
 
But judging from his words, the Mizukage must have said things that riled Nobunaga up. He usually doesn't show this much emotion when they speak to each other. But then Kyson heard the event that took place that made him fail the young Hozuki. Kyson palmed his face with his right hand as he found out he decided to duel the man. On top of that, to go through with a bet like that wasn't the smartest thing to do. There was no way to prove if he would keep his word if he would stop his ideals. But for Nobunaga to put his freedom on the line was reckless. Now Nobunaga was in a situation that was no different than what he went through when he was Maku, being someone’s pet and having them use you for their bidding. It wasn't the best feeling in the world even though it helped Kyson move through the ranks. Being Maku's personal guard wasn't too bad for the you Hozuki. he had a lot of freedom and Maku also taught him a lot about how to run a village. As much as he hated being someone's pet. He was fortunate to have someone show him exactly how the world was and everything that went on behind the scenes.
 
As dumb as Kyson saw this deal was, there was nothing he could do about it. Even if it was just a simple deal, if 2 men make a promise. Whatever happens, both must follow through no matter what. He doesn't agree with Nobunaga's decision to fight the man and make requests such as the one he made. But he is a man of his own. He dug himself in this hole, so it was his job to dig himself out of it. But the boy only had one thing to say before Nobunaga left. It was an unfortunate situation to be caught in and wasn't the smartest thing he did. But what's done is done.
 
“Once a deal between two men are made, you can’t go back on your word. So, no. I won’t follow you… I won’t send anyone to come looking for you.. and I won’t label you as a missing ninja of our village. This was the path you chose for yourself and you must go through this path alone. I made some decisions in the past that weren’t the best decisions. But at the end of the day, what’s done is done and you can’t go back and change them. It was an honor having you serve me, and it would be almost impossible to have someone else replace you. So, from this day forward, you are no longer my body guard and I am no longer your leader. But you'll always be like a older brother to me. So, no matter where you go from this day forward. Don't forget who you are.. Hiyu Nobunaga of the Hidden Sand." He said as he walked the opposite direction. It was a shame that the last time these two will see each other might very well be on the battlefield. This was not the way he expected to end the day, but it was nothing that could be done. Even though Nobunaga was part of the hidden cloud under Kyson. he knew his heart would never leave Suna. Same way when Kyson moved to Suna but no matter how far he left his home. His heart always brought him back to the hidden cloud village.
 
Walking through the snow as he began to exit the Hokage Rocks. It was a long way down and a good trip to reach back to ground level. But there was a lot on the boy's mind at the moment, so time went by fast when you’re thinking a lot. But from the way it looks, it seems Kumo took the biggest lost in these exams. Slamming the side of his fist on a wall as he sucked his teeth and continued to walk back through the village hidden in the leaves.

(TWC: 1704)

(EXIT)

Claims:
- 1704 words towards Kyūshū Seal (-25%)

Approved.

1947 words

Claiming:
1875 to master Basic Duplication Technique -25% max stat discoount
72 into Corrosive Gas

Approved.