Abandoned Toy (Training Flashback)

The morning is dark, as Maneku's lacking sleep wandering into this town. Maneku keeps thinking how he hates being permanently tied to a small village that's forsaken him, all because he was a special Tau. A missing ninja life isn't one that Maneku chose. The karma and demons pesters Maneku's freedom even if he prospers. It'd be fine if he's bad, but why must they put a bounty on Maneku when he hadn't even done anything yet? One thing led to another and now Maneku's stuck with this life of crime. The perspective of peace that Maneku's found is well-developed compared to others now. Efficiently minding his own business has made Maneku stronger. A black cloth mask and blanket is carried on Maneku, so he doesn't appear too menacing. Underneath his bundled blanket is his weary body. Keeping himself clean and presentable isn't too hard with his threads. The only problem is food. Light loads gives Maneku the reason to know what's useless and what's needed.

Whenever Maneku's in a new town, he's looked at oddly. Most non-ninja places don't have a lot of people and anyone that lurks is suspicious if they aren't contributing. The only life that Maneku can have is the life of a ninja from how he's been branded. Whatever Maneku can build up is given grace by his status at least, since most missing ninja become founders, if they don't die or stick to a village. In Maneku's case, he has nothing to steal from his body, so he's open to interact with mostly anyone. A lonely doll with no filling and looking for some. Maneku seeks information about summons, even though he can't shelter with them. One day, Maneku will find a dimension or space of his own. For now, it's best to rely on others. Peering down shyly, gothic eye circles under his mask wander the town center sporadically. Money's a good way to find pets.

WC: 323

Wandering some buildings, Maneku looks for early morning workers. He wants to find a butcher. If Maneku's to find food and summons, he might as well roll both into his exercise. The butchers are good teachers too, since Maneku needs to be more reliant on himself in his travels. Food isn't easy to cut into efficiently. 

Opening up his tired mind, Maneku listens, and eventually hears some chopping noises. Some of these places might be too extravagent for Maneku to waltz into. Before entering a place, Maneku looks to see if it's vulnerable enough. The smell of the shop appears bad enough for Maneku's tastes. The building is depressingly grey and unattended to.

Walking up to the place, Maneku opens a door that's meant to be opened. A kindly old man is chopping away, hoping to attract the attention that Maneku's brought. Not smiling, Maneku just approaches and looks around to see the back area. 

Circling a finger, Maneku signals he's looking for work. Shrugging, the old man moves his chin up to a different part of town. Taking one last look at the butcher, Maneku doesn't really know what fluffy animal's being taken apart. Part of the experience of knowing what to eat isn't something that Maneku can afford to have. 

Walking out of the shop, Maneku starts his walk once more. People don't crowd the streets yet at this time, and Maneku has a general idea of a market he's probably looking for. At the market, Maneku might be able to find a distributor for livestock.  

WC: 258

The shy upcoming pirate remains hungry, as he proceeds to a more cozy market area. Initially, Maneku had slight suspicions of his intentions in going to a lone butcher. Something had sparked a more open-minded approach for Maneku's tastes. If Maneku had chosen to serve the butcher, he'd have felt like he'd be tied to the man. There's not much a missing ninja can do to preserve their safety, so Maneku is beginning to think of more nefarious ways to feed himself.

With the warmth closing in today, Maneku's internal organs shrivel up like in an uncomfortable oven. The blanket Maneku carries did not take much time or consideration, so the color does not help in Maneku's conditions. Without much haste, Maneku arrives at the market, and he shakes in discomfort. Maintaing a slight bearing, Maneku looks around to see small morning crowds. 

Everyone is exposed, with their family present and for their focus. Smelling smoke begins to test Maneku's nerves. Someone notices Maneku and guesses Maneku is down on his luck. There's no reason why Maneku would refuse a safer narrative. Being passed some basic bread by a man, more people notice Maneku, and only now things become unreasonable. It'd be too easy to frame Maneku, and his defensive instinct feels to bite the hand that fed him. First, Maneku backs away from the place, and he makes his way discreeter toward a storage shed so he may try to find his focus.

WC: 244

Once out of sight, Maneku tosses away the bread. A bad example to be set is to accept charity too easily. Expectations form and the charity can have been made wanting a positive result. Mainly, Maneku doesn't trust donations when he's down on his luck. Fulfillment's easier when a person satisfies their ego. Trying to rationalize his suffering, Maneku's hunger maintains a bubbling arrogance. An animalistic glare follows Maneku's steps toward the storage shed.

Sustaining and ending, a simple thing done through casual consumption. Today, it'd already been determined that Maneku wouldn't be eating. Another hungry day contributes to Maneku's self-loathing, so he can realize how he must continue in a world where his birth was his curse. The less filled Maneku becomes, the more edge he'll have in his focus. Softening his steps on hay, Maneku begins to find some stray pigs. 

Caretakers aren't anywhere to be seen. Forfeiting his attempt on pursuing society, Maneku unceremoniously bashes a pig's head in. A moment after, he thinks to stitch it up, and then repeat again and again insanely. Instead, black blood and ink form on Maneku's left hand, as if forming a positive curse. Beginning to stare at a suspicious bashed-in pig, Maneku watches the pig open up and a rotting head appears. Having not eaten today, Maneku's morals have already collapsed in his inability to puke at the horrific sight. How much food and of a person becomes contaminated unwittingly? 

WC: 241

Finding something unlucky is a game of luck in itself. Signs appear on all sorts of roads without meaning. Becoming overtly pitiful and reaching rock bottom can scrape the bottom of the soul, so Maneku doesn't mind experiencing what he is. Coughing, Maneku has a look of dismay. The first instinct is to be disgusted for the stable, but Maneku is faking his disgust. A dirty thought to eat the emergency pig and it's mixture somehow came first. The playground has only Maneku around still. Other animals no longer enter Maneku's view.

Is the head a sign of what Maneku does to his summons? The death total of summons must be low. Contributing to a new high is a pleasure that can hide many uncomforts. If something dies, it dies. It's a curse to create collected rarities. Making something widespread ruins the appeal. Feeling lost in his circumstance is hard with such a great ego. Sadistic without someone to concentrate his focus, Maneku has realized the darkness he seeks, staring at an endless abyss of contemplation.

Maneku's main skillset in jutsu is space-time, but at this moment his experience is lacking. Finding space and the right time is a game of chess or treasure-seeking. Guessing games are only for those that are neutral to luck. With all the summons, it's hard to pick the best one. Most people believe they've encountered something rare and destined, or they want to commit. In Maneku's case, he just needs what's going to help him feed on others. The pig is demonic, signaling Maneku to approach it. Is the face real? 

WC: 266

Much of life is a joke, a lot of it going over the head. In Maneku's case, he just wants to say things are a prank to his pig bros. An oni-like face contacts Maneku's hand, and then it disappears ominously. Mysterious settings aren't good for Maneku's health right now. Eyebags are on Maneku, and he just wants to bag away today's hidden temptations. The joke went over the heads of whatever he's offended, and Maneku doesn't want to stop the bleeding. All Maneku wanted was a little bite, but he took more off than he could chew.

Before Maneku knew it, the pig has disappeared with a clownish mask. Other pigs start to crowd into the shed without notice. There's no chaos, but some pigs have bite marks on them. Oinking sounds emerge along with chewing. A tasty smell begins to spread. Keeping himself clean, Maneku's all full. He leaves the mystical shed. Fear isn't possible for Maneku against these animals that he'd wrestle. Too many crimes for one day isn't productive though, and kidnapping the young pigs just spreads dirtiness. 

Maneku's been a bystander to his more positive focuses, and he should of chose to do a mission. Licking up loose hair on his face, he's still clean if he wants to find something else to do. Some people's bodies are simply low maintenance. Not needing to better his stomach, Maneku's senses are dulled by fulfillment. Finding his calling, Maneku's connected to a new unknown path. A twisted, cursed, and hidden fate. Contracting with suffering that Maneku's owed to the pigs.

WC: 263

(Exit)

TWC: 1595
Stats: +15 to Vigor
Words toward jutsu: 1000 towards https://www.narutoroleplaygame.com/t46051-summoning-technique-v7#358829
500 to learn and master for hand seals https://www.narutoroleplaygame.com/t51012-sensory-deprivation

Approved