The Lonely Walk Home. (solo)

(If all you care about is that I did the time/wc and did some CD with a npc i might kill later, then I summarize at the bottom)

******

He really only intended to visit the compound as a courtesy. Logos didn't actually care what his brethren thought of him. They didn't believe in him. They thought he was a failure in business and as a warrior. He intended to prove them wrong. They knew jack shit about business and were wilfully ignorant. The only way to throw that in their face would be to become a really, really rich guy. One that would have the active choice of contributing to the financial longevity of the clan or investing to create a competing empire.

However, the way of the warrior was theirs to know and defend. Here Logos was definitely the underdog. His issue was not with their assessment. The doctors agreed that a minimally developed Chakra network was generally not a good sign of regular health, nevermind for a Shinobi. The problem was that it didn't grow as he got older, and he ultimately was left behind by the rest of his generation. When that was discovered, his family turned on him. Any further investment on their part was viewed as a waste, frustrating him at the time.

Since then he had grown apart from them. Being kicked out certainly contributed, but Logos chose to find his own path as a civilian businessman rather than try to reclaim his heritage. Now though, there was no way that he could avoid his past. Not now that he was going to train as a ninja and then make his money to grow a business. A weird route to be sure.

Despite hating his family, he felt that he owed them an opportunity to accept him again. Well. “Owe” was a strong word that didn't accurately fit the situation. It might be more accurate to say that they were his family no matter how bitter the relationship turned. He had the same blood in his veins, even if it may have been a lower  concentration than normal when it came to raw power. Perhaps he felt it was a procedure to notify his family, rather than an emotional obligation. If anything, Logos wanted to see the expression on their faces - the horror of having a child who was not a kid genius when it came to the martial arts.

Part of him hoped that things could magically go back to how they were before. When he was younger, and had potential and wasn’t the flippin pariah of the mighty clan. When he had faith in family ties now frayed. Before he learned just how frail human bonds could be, or how long a shallow relationship could best a naive fool as himself.

Of course, just as deep down, he was certain there was no going back. The Uchiha had far too much pride to take him back in even if Logos became powerful. That would imply the Uchiha had made a mistake, and the Uchiha never make mistakes. Ever. Right?

Still, he had to try. In the very least, he needed closure, an end to the emotional turmoil. It would be impossible to focus properly otherwise. This fresh wound he had torn open days ago with the rejected business proposal needed to be tightly sewn shut. Never to return.

*****

He found himself inside the compound. Some of the people milling around and doing tasks inside looked surprised to see him. His physical status was well known at this point within the clan, and he had very recently been the target of some explosively worded monologues. So yeah. They weren't particularly pleased to see him, if only because he was probably going to cause another fight. He walked past little houses, searching for one of the larger ones.

Ah, there it was. A large dwelling within the compound loomed large, a deceptively welcoming terrace the first thing a traveller might pass by. The pavement was smooth for the most part, darkened by frequently tread paths. Weeds dotted the pavement - clearly it had not been maintained for a while. One tree stood near the doorway - it had been there since his childhood - its branches bare and a few green shoots beginning to emerge from the tips of some of the gnarled branches.. A heavy wooden door guarded the entrance, framed by iron, with a lion shaped knocker just above eye level.

His stomach churned a little at the sight. The place wasn't particularly unsightly. He just felt a little sick when he was stressed out. Both mental and physical stress. For instance, if he didn't get enough sleep he would be dry heaving for a good five minutes. Strangely, it wasn't the stress of the actual event that made him queasy mentally. More likely it was the anticipation that made him feel off color.

Logos fought down the nausea as he rapped sharply on the door. He exhaled slowly. He thought he saw movement behind the peephole accompanied by some shuffling, but nothing happened.

Was he being ignored, perhaps?

He picked up the lion shaped knocker and let it drop. Prior experience told him that it was heavy enough on its own, he didn’t need to help it. A loud thunk resounded and then echoed briefly as the knocked bounced off the wood a couple of times before settling down. The movement he heard behind the door earlier returned.

The door croaked as an elderly man appeared. Ah. The butler. The old guy frowned.

“You are not welcome here.”

Logos’ face twitched slightly as he brushed by the old fogey. “Doesn’t matter. I am of this family. You will not deny me”

The old guy protested but even Logos was a faster walker for all his own feebleness. He passed through several different large rooms close to the size of his apartment before finding a room with many large ornate chairs. This was normally the dining room, but it was empty at the moment. Logos stared at the candles while waiting for another member of the family to arrive.

Nyusen showed up first. Not that it really mattered who showed up. Logos was merely here to state his intentions and see how they reacted. That was his official reason anyway, even if deep down he just wanted to be accepted again. Nyusen looked pretty unhappy, evidently Logos’ little prank had bitten him. Or he was normal. Nyusen hadn’t looked happy to see his elder brother in quite some years. Toxic sibling rivalry and all, even before it was discovered that Logos had a weak body.

“Hey little brother. Just thought I’d stop by for a friendly visit and mention that I will become a ninja too, since my chakra network has strengthened recently. I will become our family heir through my own strength in due time.”

Nyusen failed an attempt to stifle laughter as he ran from the room, soon returning with their parents. Calling them stunned would be an understatement. His father looked to be holding in a large explosion. It was like he swallowed a live bomb, and just as lethal if it was possible to spontaneously self combust. His mother had a stern expression on her face, years of suppressed emotions expressing themselves in an unhappy frown. The elderly butler burst through the doors behind Logos suddenly, as suddenly as an old man can while shuffling. The elderly butler fell to his knees.

“Forgive me, my lord, I failed to detain the unmentionable one.” The butler kowtowed deeply.

*Weird habit, this fellow. The ”Unmentionable one” sounds like they could be the speaker’s boss or something. It is absurdedly benign given their true feelings. Maybe this is how they refer to me to others and they repeat it in private out of habit.*

“If we couldn’t straighten this idiot out, then there was no way you would. Return to your duties.”

Logos’ father spoke, breaking the awkward silence.

“Why do you desecrate the halls of a warrior clan, pray tell?”

As hostile as ever.

“Father, I have taken up the mantle of a ninja. Soon I will be a genin. I will bring glory to our name, with or without

[*]your
help. That is all.”
[*]

Logos turned on his heel to leave, having stated his intentions. That was all he really wanted to do. If the Uchiha cared enough to have him return, they would have to come to him.

“Wait.”

Logos paused, mid step. For once his father lacked the usual hostility. It sounded both slightly amused, and like a snake coiling itself to strike. His suspense was not long lived though.

“Prove you are worthy of the Uchiha title then. You better be stronger than you look, though I sincerely doubt it.”

The words spoken were a bit of a shock to Logos, though he should have expected such ideas to begin with. His father was quite the traditionalist and was enthralled with the glory days of the Uchiha clan despite the reality of their steadily declining influence. What better way for him to prove his strength (mostly inner at this point) than to fight his brother and hopefully win. Unfortunately, he was feeling a bit peppier physically, but not enough to offset years of dedicated ninja training. His brother Nyusen would probably curb stomp Logos, and all he could hope was that the Uchiha recognized bravery as a substitute for raw power.

It was a long shot, obviously. But what choice did he have?

“Come. Boys have all the weapons they need without the tools of the weak as crutches.”

Oh. His father wanted this to be bare handed. So tactics would be even more barren than normal against a vastly superior opponent. Nyusen didn’t look happy either but he was unwilling to oppose their father; he dropped several knives. If Logos had to guess, those knives had his insides written on them. Ok, maybe this was a blessing in disguise, especially if he had shown up unarmed.

The two boys found themselves in a small courtyard, with their father as a biased “referee” and some other clansmen as the onlookers. Apparently their mother had figured out the result already and Logos understood the sentiment.

They squared off, but not for long. Logos moved first when the starting flag was dropped, his fist travelling forwards in a straight jab. Nyusen stopped circling and waited with his hands at his sides. As Logos lunged into the final strike, Nyusen moved blindingly fast, and Logos found himself tumbling through the air all of a sudden. He couldn’t tell whether Nyusen had bothered adding any extra momentum into the throw, but he had caught a glimpse of red eyes briefly.

He hit the ground hard with his hands barely slowing him, slamming his face down. He tasted blood in his mouth and spat as he stood. His brother stood a few meters away, smirking, red eyes with two little black apostrophe shapes swirling around each pupil.

Oh shit. His brother had begun awakening for some time, evidently.

“Like what you see? Sharingan gives such a rush when you activate it. Unfortunately, you have to have potential to use it.” Nyusen sounded like he was trying not to laugh. If his job wasn’t to beat his elder brother up, he would be probably rolling on the ground kicking and laughing.

Logos knew he didn’t have a chance at that point, but he wasn’t going to go down quietly if he could help it. He charged again, this time aiming a punch at his brother’s face as a feint before low kicking at the knees. It would have worked on a normal person perhaps, but Nyusen had this bored vibe going the whole time.

“Just stop trying. Don’t waste my time.” Logos was sent flying from a returned kick. He slammed into the wall of a house. He flopped forwards, prone on the ground. Gravel crunched underfoot - his brother approached again.

Logos slowly began to raise himself up on his arms. This wasn’t over yet.

“I don’t want your filthy blood all over our castle.” This time it was his father speaking. The irony of comparing their slightly dilapidated housing units to a castle was not lost on Logos but he had no time to savor it.

“You roach. You have no strength. You have no respect. You hold no worth. Leave forever, commoner, for you have no place among us.” The foot swung forward swiftly towards Logos’ alarmed countenance.

***

He woke up on the street down the road from the compound. His body was covered in other aches and bruises. If he had to guess, they probably rolled him down the street by kicking him with their feet. Fuck. EVERYTHING hurt. He would have to get checked out at the hospital. Then he could sit down and plan out how to convince his clan they had made a mistake.

No.

That couldn’t happen. He was effectively banished from the clan, and the only reason they didn’t kill him was that they didn’t control the city. Even if people didn’t care, it would look bad for the Uchiha to murder their own. And no government would want an upstart faction ignoring the local rules with impunity. It briefly occurred to him that his proximity to the Uchiha clan compound had protected him from assault. The Uchiha had low tolerance for any kind of “scum” after all.

He had nothing left tying him to his now former clan now. All the years of stress and abuse had finally come to an end. He stood up slowly and shakily, beginning to walk to the registry office.

What joy naivete can bring. Ignorance can be bliss. And bliss it seemed, was forever gone. Gone with the other suppressed feelings from the later years, when everything turned bad.

For all the years of abuse heaped upon him, they had still been his family. A shitty family, but family nonetheless. It hurt to let go such a large part of his life. Perhaps what he missed the most was the idyllic seeming lifestyle. His earlier years had been filled with the sweetness of a loving family and the doting of the inlaws on the “young master”. Back then, there was no talk of “the shame of the Uchiha”. His love of learning could be satisfied with their library. He had actual friends, not people after money. Then again, if they had been real friends, they wouldn’t have abandoned him for the shallow reason of a weaker constitution. Sometimes there was affection to be found in abusive relationships, especially those based on something more physical. Like family. It didn’t make sense, but it existed and sometimes it was hard to let go, without a severance like today.

If only it hadn't turned out this way.... Tears dripped down his face and pooled with the blood to seep into his clothing. Any link to his past brought a bitter taste to his mouth now.

Now was the chance to leave this all behind.

*****

After wiping some of the excess blood away, he signed the forms to formally change his name. Some staff had suggested he visit the hospital first but this was his mania, he had to shed his name as soon as possible. His physical injuries could heal faster than his mental ones. Then all of a sudden, the deed was done. Logos Uchiha was no more.

Now began the life of “Logs”, who stumbled out of the building and down the street. He approximated the direction of his apartment, but truth be told, he wasn’t sure where he was really going.

He was free.

No centuries of stupid traditions enforced with brutal beatings. No unrealistic and overbearing parental expectations. No target on his back for being the weakest member of a disliked clan. No constant comparisons to his clearly talented younger brother. No internal feelings of obligation to uphold the family standards through unorthodox ways.

It was as if a dam burst within him. Pent up emotions of hate, anger, and betrayal suddenly welled up inside him uncontrollably. His body twitched a little spastically, his voice erupting in a raspy bout of hysterical laughter, mixed with sobbing. Oops. He had forgotten about the damage to his body. He couldn’t have controlled his reaction anyway, but he normally preferred to be fully aware of situations.

The lonely figure hobbled back to its hidey hole in the city.

********

(exit)

(wc: 2700 or something like that. When I was at 2k it wasn't a natural stopping point so....

Attempted claiming 1st Tomoe of the Sharingan, and a name change to "Logs" ic?

(Tl,Dr: Logos announces his intention to become a ninja despite his weak body to his family, they are not amused. Logos is defeated easily by his younger brother and disowned by his father, he in turn rejects the Uchiha name. For the first time, he is free of his family entirely, giving release to a multitude of feelings repressed, including sorrow.

His younger brother Nyusen appeared in Logos’ first training and will continue to do so for a good while…….)

Approved.