The Same (but Different) Sand Man

The long days, the sweltering heat, and and the coarseness of the rich sands of the Land of Wind are a sure indication of the summer months in Sunagakure. What most people don't realize is the smell. A sensitive ninja can smell Sunagakure before they even see it. The growing and bustling metropolis has an odor that not even the dome can stop.

Upon walking into view of the cleft Musu could see that very little has changed since he last left. The walls appeared to still be intact, the cleft still as large and intimidating as ever, and the rest of the village seems even louder and greater than what it was 5 months ago.

Onlookers will noticed a tattered, bearded, and slender man along the horizon. Covered in a thick layer of sand and dust, the man appears disheveled, but keen viewers could noticed the long red hair flowing down to the mans hips, though less like the cover of blood and more the color of wet clay.

The man wears a cloak that covered most of his body, though any features of the cloak have long vanished, and serves merely as a cover to the body of it's host.

In immediate view of anyone that may spot the man walking closer and closer to the gates, they will notice the one thing that appears to be pristine on the ninja, a large gourd covered in black seals, almost eclipsing the man as he steps towards the cleft.

This man, Musu Uzumaki, has returned. The mystery of the mans disappearance and the suddenness of his return are still fuzzy even to Musu himself. However, the will the sand holds strong, and the ninja still has a debt to pay.

At this point, musu will simply walk slowly towards the gates, awaiting any response from any who are on duty guarding it, like Musu did for so long before departing.

(321)

[For the sake of brevity, a story will be crafted via flashbacks, but refer to this topic as for a start of this "disappearance arc" or whatever it'll be called.

Flashback Topic]

Gate duty. The day had been hot but that had been normal for the desert area of Suna. The Aubrun Ogre sat inside of the shack outside of the gates with a book in one hand and a kunai twirling around his fingers idly. Today's literature had been about medical procedures and how to do transplants. Along with that it also went into great detail about some bloodlines and how they worked. Ironically, Kushimaru found these to be quite useful. Since the Yuumei had been flushed or purged form his body he felt...different. He could tell that he had some traces of Tsuki-Onna within him. The horns were still there though thanks to a transformation technique they were hidden for now. He was used to them and now with his reformation into a new being it wasn't all bad though he missed his Yuumei counterpart. He could hear some of the guards talking about their night, a small sigh of disdain left the Jounin's lips as he flicked a page and spoke up," If you have time to talk about whom you've laid with, you have time to guard," though he could hear the underhanded remark they said, Kushimaru would give a minute. With a flick of his wrist, his strength would be shown as the Kunai flung through the air passing the guard who had spoke, shattering in the wall of the cleft and leaving a dent. Without skipping a beat he would flick another page and smile," So do you anything else to say? That could be your genitals if you keep running your mouth," to which both shook their head and went back to their duties.

While they had been paying attention a figure could be seen coming into view of the village. Their exclamation to the fact alerted Kushimaru who had stood up and walked out of the shack, looking out toward the figure and smiling," Finally something to do." Walking forward he would walk into the path of the strange individual and stop them," Name and ID." He would keep his hands to his side, anticipating resistance but holding the urge in for now. Maybe this would go easy for the both of them.

Musu, tired but not broken, would continue through the sand. As he got closer he could see the packed earth beneath him and the travelers over the years created a semi permanent walkway through the sand and to the crevice that allowed entry and exit into the greatest village the land of wind will ever or ever has known. Musu would gaze up upon the rocks as they began to tower over him, growing in strength and magnificence, and oh did the memories of the past begin to flood his young mind. The days guarding the gates, the nights around town, and the friends that he had met along the way. While most of the time spent in Suna was work Musu began to understand that he had met people that respected him and he began to wonder just what they might be up to: Zaine, Raleth, Souji, and of course, the Kazekage.

Musu would approach the gates and quicken his pace. The sand around the cleft beg ginning to swirl and dance around the ninja and Musu drew closer and closer. The sun high in the sky, a light breeze blowing warm air onto Musu's face, and as he saw where he once guarded a single tear would begin to swell into his eyes.

Enough of that, Musu would take his dusty and tatter cloth and wipe it across his dusty and uncleaned face. There was never any hope of getting rid of all the sand at this point. The thought of a nice warm bath beginning to make Musu long for the luxuries of city even more. First things first though, Musu was enter into the village, and for that he must gain passage by the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper appeared strong and stable, ready to respond to any situation, and he had an authority about him and Musu never was quite able to muster. As the ninja of the sealing sands got within distance of speech, he could hear that he was asking for papers of ID, something that Musu no longer had.

"My name is Musu Uzumaki, Jounin of the Hidden Sand." Musu would reply as he slowly reached into his cloak. Sand and dust would continue to fall from the man as he searched through his pockets until he found the tattered remains of his shinobi headband. Despite his best efforts to keep it clean, there were days when that wasn't an option, and though the metal appeared still to be brand new, albeit dusty, and sash and surrounded it appears dirty with the slight stench of moldy water emanating from the once proud emblem of the hidden sand.

"I have been gone from the village for quite some time..." the jounin would conclude.

"Eh?"

The Ogre would raise his brow as he looked over Musu with interrogative eyes, his ears in disbelief yet he would only be putting up a front for now. It would be quite hypocritical of him to be super suspicious since he had just returned to the village not too long ago. Yet for his job as a gate guard he would have to be suspicious all the same. He'd raise his right hand and snap his fingers to call forward one of the two gate guards to came rushing over but stopped five meters behind him," Go and check the logs for a Jounin by the name of Musu Uzumaki and confirm if we had a ninja by that name...," with no kind of identifying papers it made it hard to confirm the information. Meanwhile he would return his gaze to Musu looking him over for a moment as he folded his arms and tapped his right index finger on his bicep," So Musu if you are a Jounin what made you up and disappear mm?," he would ask as he heard the footsteps of the other guard coming back over. Turning his head only slightly he would stare into rather than out them, something that was becoming more and more of a habit," Uh...Well...WE do have information on Musu Uzumaki. His story checks out," to which he would turn to the Jounin and shrug," Looks like you are in the clear then. Don't know how long you've been gone but welcome back home," turning on his heels he would walk toward the shack and tap on the books as he continued," As you know, you need to sign in here...and probably get a bath. No offense you stick bud," he'd wait for Musu to sign in and of course grant him passage into the village if he had no further questions.

"Thank you, sir. It's a long story but in the end I've grown thanks to these dunes and brought more power to the mighty village as a result."

Musu would carefully watch as the gatekeeper would gather the necessary information. This man was so... intense given his presence but still spoke as someone who picked up a book or two. On top of that the man also had a commanding, near booming voice, and even Musu could feel the authority that was coming from it.

"I will have to tell lady Kazekage about it when I see her, Mizuki sure has put Sunagakure on the right track, or so it seems. I've been dreaming of a warm bath too. I'll be sure to take a nice long one before attempting to visit her. I'm positive that she is as busy as ever." Musu would reply. At this moment, Musu has no idea that the lady of the sands was no longer here and that a new kazekage would have taken her place.

But no matter, upon getting approval from the large oaf Musu would casually walk through the cleft and begin his journey in the bustling town. If Musu was not stopped of course.

(985 TWC)

"Drop the honorifics. I'm no one's father. If you could however sign so i can get back to my book that would be great," there was no ill intent toward the other Jounin but this was just a replay to him and it felt...weird. Though as he sat down in the shack and watched the male sign the papers, he would hear what the male had been saying about meeting the Lady Kazekage. A small huff would escape his lips as he shook his head," Don't get your hopes up on that one chief. The new Kazekage in town is Guren. Your "Lady" defected and left the village before I got back. There's a lot you aren't informed of so i'll make it easy for you. There's been a change in power, a few of the villages elites are MIA and there had been an exam recently. You should find a bath and then get up to speed...," it was odd. Almost as if he had been looking through a mirror at his own situation but...worse? Whatever his response would be to the news, Kushimaru would wait and address his concerns.

Musu was taken aback by the abrupt and near uninterested tone the gatekeeper gave him. Never once did Musu ever treat his customers, the visitors, village-folks, and even dignitaries, with such disregard. No matter, not every person is like Musu in that way, but even in this state of near exhaustion he still took time to talk and treat people with that respect; even if they didn't deserve it manners are still manners and they were something of a autopilot for Musu at this point.

Musu would let out a long sigh as he waddled forward towards the piece of paper the Auburn Orge told him to sign. Reviewing the document quickly, which appeared to simply be a formality ensuring that Musu was who he said he was, and entering the village as such, the sand jounin would put his index finger along the dotted line a blue twinge of chakra would emanate. The chakra would then form into the signature of Musu Uzumaki: chicken scratch considering he was one who worked on seals and the sealing arts for most of his life.

"What, abandoned the village? I'm one the talk but to just give up on the people who put their trust in her to lead." Musu would say as he finished writing. His attention and gaze were now squarely towards the attention of the gatekeeper who has informed Musu of the change of power. Musu couldn't believe that Mizuki, the lady Kazekage, would just leave the village like that, and give up all the power that came with it. Sure, the lady was always a bit strange, but that didn't prompt the sand ninja to think that she would just leave like that.

"I'll leave you to your work, gatekeeper. Before I go, tell me more about this Guren? What do you know about them?" Musu would ask.

(313/1298)

The book had been picked up once more as he went back to where he had been reading and answered the males question," What prompted the switchup is unknown to me but if you have questions about it, ask the big man yourself. Guren is pretty laid back and for the village, but if you want some more information as to why she left he would be the one to speak with. Given they were close and all," looking over the book he would nod to the gates and point up," head to the tallest building in the village and ask for Guren. Your answers from then on will come from the source. Welcome back," those would be the last words he would speak as he went back to his book.
[Letting Musu in, will post claims later]

"Thank you, Gatekeeper, take care." Musu would bow as he finished his transaction with Kushimaru.

Receiving word from the gatekeeper and the clearance to enter, the sealing ninja of the sand would walk through the cleft and into the cooled, sprawling city of Sunagakure, and the long and tedious process of getting life back to normal would now begin.

Now though, it was time for a bath.

[Exit]

1357

Sand Clone (1357/3750) Max stat discount.

Moosiah wrote:[Exit]

1357

Sand Clone (1357/3750) Max stat discount.

Approved!


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