The Winter's Blues

While You Read:

Since returning to Hyogagakure and being admit through its illustrious gates by Tommy Sinns, the Wretched was immediately expected to report to the palace. The first order of business would be officially adopting Sakaiza as the new Hyogakage since Satoru's decree had been delivered. Still though the public and most of the shinobi force were unaware of this regime change, which was wise so that uprisings would be prevented in his absence from the village. But now that the Wretched man stood within the inner chambers of the palace, he had been subject to the short proceedings which officially recognized him as the new village leader. And so this news was allowed to be conveyed first to the village's shinobi forces, who were nevertheless advised to treat it as confidential. In the same meetings, Sakaiza was briefed on the happenings that transpired between the regime changes. Though most were accords of comers and goers to the village, the status of major constructions, and affairs in the Land of Rice, one of which struck Kai as particularly alarming. 

There had been a recent prisoner, a genin of Hyogagakure, which was remarkably odd. Most typically the shinobi force of the Land of Snow was disciplined, adhering to any and all laws etched into the village's code. But this shinobi in particular, which the incident report identified as Midori Terumi, had a rather unique case. The report was not very descriptive, as the eye witness statement suggested a struggle between Midori and his father, which resulted in the latter's death. His father was of recognizable status through Hyogagakure, being among the first abled bodied men to join the village since Satoru erected it. And so his murder, had taken civilians and shinobi alike by shock, especially once his own son had been suggested as the killer. Motives, alibis, and statements were not included in the report however, but there was indication that Midori had now been imprisoned for just around three months. Given the severity of the crime, and the fact that a village shinobi was the perpetrator the matter was quite urgent. And so, the Wretched man tasked himself with investigating it himself.

The tail of the cloak fastened to his Ghost Coldblooded Commander set danced in the breeze behind him, as Sakaiza set out from the Royal Palace. Although the walk from the Royal Palace to the prison was short, it was predominantly occupied by thoughts which the masked man had on the situation so far. He was unsure what exactly would drive a teenager to murdering his father, but it was a crime nonetheless. The elevated platform which the palace sat upon offered Sakaiza a view he had not seen in over a year. He was able to glance upon the growth the village had, while simultaneously taking in the elegance of the ice carved features of the land. Something a prisoner native to the Land of Snow would undoubtedly long for. Perhaps it could be a bargaining chip when speaking with this Terumi.

The pathway would lead Sakaiza East from the palace and subsequently North and into the threshold of the military's base of operations. Once inside, his status was immediately recognized by the authoritative figures inside, and they'd greet him with a salute of respect. 

"I am here to speak with a prisoner, Midori."

The figure in charge would nod, and motion Sakaiza to follow him. The pair would proceed towards the rear of the building which was concluded with a single door. To the right of it was a fuinjutsu seal, which the officer would place his hand upon and it would glow a vibrant blue. An audible unlatch of the door would occur, which would place the men in a stairwell. In its entirety it descended downwards 20 floors, where each of the floors was representative of a different layer dedicated to specific military operations. The first ten floors spanned the entire height of the raised platform which overlooked the village, with the tenth being at the village's ground level. The subsequent 10 floors were beneath the surface of the earth. At the fifthteenth floor, there was another door with a fuinjutsu seal adjacent to it. The guard placed his hand upon it once more, and it led the men down a 150 long meter hallway South which ultimately met another door and fuinjutsu seal. Repeating the process, the door would open and the men would now be standing within the underground prison, situated 200 meters below the village's epicenter. 

Having escorted Sakaiza this far, the guard would depart and return to his post. And the warden of the prisoner would inquire about Sakaiza's purpose here. He'd repeat his motives of speaking with Midori, which the warden would raise an eyebrow to, but would nevertheless assign a prison guard to escort Sakaiza to a meeting room. Another guard would be instructed to retrieve Midori from his cell, bind his hands, and walk him to the meeting room.

At this point, Sakaiza stood waited in the 5 x 10 meter meeting room. Equipped in his midnight black ghost armor, his horned mask to maintain anonymity, and all of his relevant weapons. His chakra signature bled an essence of Yuumei, a sorrow filled past, but was immensely dense as a testament of his hardened life. And his demeanor was rigid, unwavering, and exuded confidence and authority.

+2 Yuumei Stacks
WC = 898

As Sakaiza waited in the room, his passive chakra sensory would detect Midori approaching once he reached 10 meters of where the Hyogakage stood. Though it did not inform Kai of anything discernible, all that he could make out was its essence was rather calm. And his demeanor seemed to match, suggested by Midori's tranquility and observant nature. It was rather uncharacteristic of most connotations associated with prisoners, as generally the presumption was that they were rebellious and failed to face the truth. But this teenager conducted himself maturely, as if he accepted the consequences of his actions and was prepared to serve his sentence. Something that Kai respected, no matter how heinous the crime was. This was how a soldier carried himself. And as the Terumi sat in the chair at the table in the middle of the room, positioning his across from Sakaiza, he placed his hands in front of him. Sakaiza's eyebrow, behind the cover of his mask, would raise. He was relatively well versed in the study of human body language, and attributed this posture to one of someone willing to be honest. Though it could be a bluff. And so Sakaiza's posture remained unchanged, as rigid as his guard. And he'd simultaneously stay silent, as Midori sought to speak first.

The Wretched paid close attention to Midori's dissertation, and not just what he said, but how he spoke. He didn't initiate the conversation with an introduction, though instead he began with a comical statement as if he took his imprisoned state and crime all too lightly. This was disgusting to the Second, but he would not let it show overtly. It seemed Midori was more interested in understanding Sakaiza's purpose. And he was rather talkative. Almost if each thought which came to his mind was instantly relayed to his tongue, as he transitioned from inquiring on Sakaiza's purpose in visiting him to breaking down his own assumptions of who Sakaiza was. This segued into Midori drawing conclusions about Kai's own capabilities. Still, Sakaiza remained quiet and his posture unchanged, letting the silence ensue within the small room. Then once more Midori pressed on further, speculating on what question Sakaiza just might ask.

Sakaiza stayed taciturn, looking the teenager over before raising his arms to his chest and folding them sternly across it. Although he was quite empathetic, charismatic, and humorous now was not the time to display such traits. Now, he was tasked with being a leader. And as a leader it was vital to ensure his soldier's never wavered from their own nor Hyogagakure's code of ethics. And murder was unacceptable. Thus the Second's patience was already wearing thin, within only moments of knowing this Midori.

His voice would break the silence of the room with bravado, sharp as the winter's wind which any free man in Hyogagakure was currently subject to.

"Is this amusing to you, Midori?" 

His words were cold as they cut through the air. This was indicative that he would not be moved by the boy's observation or flattered by his pleasantries regarding Kai's appearance. The rhetoric question was quickly followed by Sakaiza again, before giving the Terumi a chance to respond.

"Think on where you were three months ago, and look at where you sit now. Shackled. Deprived. Stagnant. Do you think it's wise to make light of the situation?"

His tone allowed for no misinterpretation, as clearly he was not interested in befriending the insubordinate solider which sat before him. His posture would subtly shift, not as a sign of irritation, but as a reflection of him redirecting the conversation to impose onto Midori just who was steering.

He would give the teenager just one opportunity to answer the following question, and for Midori's sake, it better be good.

"What is expectation for a shinobi of Hyogagakure?"

Sakaiza hoped that Midori's keen deduction served him well. For the Wretched was more concerned with why Midori, despite the situation, allowed himself to break the laws of the village. Actions of the sort exhibited a lack of discipline, weakness, and no rigidity. They were unbefitting of a soldier...of someone whose temperament was as calm as the teenager sitting before him.

+2 Yuumei Stacks; 4 Total
WC = 700. TWC = 1598

Sakaiza could tell that he questions he had asked Midori made the teenager stop, and think further before responding. The expression upon his face appeared conflicting, potentially a glimpse at the duality of Midori's seemingly remorseful yet necessary motive. This came with the movement of his hands again,  as his fingers interlocked and rested upon the table. To Sakaiza, this type of body language was either a product of the tension in the air or Midori's attempt to compose himself before responding. In either case, it was somewhat of a grounding mechanism which lasted only long enough for the boy to display three fingers, coupled with a deep breathe. He was requesting to answer the questions which Kai inquired on. The Wretched would neither budge nor speak up, indicative that he would listen to whatever explanation that Midori offered. And while the Terumi spoke,  Kai's arms remained tucked beneath the well of his pits, suggesting that he was still approaching the situation in an unyielding manner.

At this point, Kai's patience was around two thirds of what it would typically be. But he wanted to give the boy a chance.

The first response garnered an eye roll from Sakaiza, as the first half of it was Midori seemed to think it wise to make light of the situation with a poorly worded introduction in an attempt to kickstart the conversation. Wasn't he aware that first impressions were everything? Or the implications of an "autograph" would imply Sakaiza, or anyone for that matter, was proud of the teenager's heinous crimes? In response to this first clause, Kai's head lowered by a few degrees in frustration, somewhat intensifying his gaze. "Wrong" his thought echoed to himself shortly after Midori said it aloud, as he would have been much more receptive to Midori simply not responding to the rhetorical at all.

One of Midori's three fingers would drop, as well as a third of Sakaiza's remaining patience. Leaving his cup a third of the way full.

Now Midori would explain his life prior to his arrest. The tone in his voice seemed to reflect fondly upon his previous status, albeit it was short lived. The subject matter swiftly transitioned into the murder of his father, likely just as quickly as the pace of the events which ensued at the time of the murder. Kai knew the feeling of killing all too well, and he could easily recollect how the moments just before and the moment of only felt like a split second.  This was likely what Midori faced, before being jailed shortly after. And the teenager's tone seemed to regress into one of regret. The Wretched's empathetic nature did feel some sorrow for Midori, as he too know what it was like to lose everything. And the Terumi's next finger dropped, a deeper window into this pain was painted. Midori seemed to suggest that his father had suddenly maddened and thrashed against his family, of which Midori was their savior. He in turn posed a question to Sakaiza wondering what he would have done, but the Hyogakage would not answer. Although he now better appreciated the Terumi's perspective, Kai's actions were his own, and his family was long gone. All he had now was Hyogagakure and its people. Those were his family. And he would not tolerate the murder of any, especially if the culprit was one of their own.

His posture remained stiff, but he was pleased with the self reflection that Midori displayed. Thus his patience had been restored back to up two thirds of its typical levels. He'd unnoticeably relax his posture, simply with a slight relinquish of the pressure in which his tucked fists were balled. And at the same time, Midori leaned backwards. Given the subject matter, this seemed less related to Midori being relaxed of comfortable. It seemed more apparent that this was a response of letting all which he had been thinking of over the last three months out of his head. Almost as if the burden of replaying the events was slightly alleviated, causing his previously tense posture to quell. He'd conclude his answers with a digression regarding how other prisoners acted, which Kai cared nothing of. The other prisoners were not his shinobi. But what was resonating was that he was more so a prisoner to his feelings, rather than the bondage of his holding cell and shackles. Touching. At least at this point, the real Midori was speaking, rather than the clown mentioning an autograph.

Once Midori's explanation had concluded, the room fell silent with the gravity of the situation.

"I am not here to tell you whether murdering your father to save your family is morally right or wrong. That is your own burden, and you must bear it. But Midori," Sakaiza would pause, "You lack discipline."

His tone was heavy, as his words echoed through the room.

"As Hyogakage, I cannot allow my soldiers to commit homicide on our own people. Especially as with more discipline and control, the subject may have been apprehended. But instead you sit before me, fatherless. Even if your intentions were pure, you are forever to live without further guidance from the man who raised you. Think of all the times where you in your adolescence demanded his discipline, restraint, and de-escalation. That is what he needed from you. That is what Hyogagakure needs of its soldiers."

He'd walk along the table, to the side perpendicular to Midori and adjacent to the entrance of the room. Propping himself against the wall, Kai would sigh. His positioning was angled so that he had clear visibility to Midori's face, with clean reach and access to his hands which laid together upon the table.

"You lack conviction." Lowering his hands to his side, and placing his dominant one upon the neck of his katana's hilt while the left rested on its scabbard.

"Not in the sense of protecting those you care of and your beliefs. That at least is admirable, from man to man. But the conviction of a higher standard. If I cannot rely on my shinobi to handle situations with precision and produce optimal outcomes, I cannot rely on them. You have terrified civilians and have demonstrated that our soldiers can operate outside the law."

"I mourn for you and your loss. And I relate to it. But that bears no weight. From you, I expect discipline. Conviction. Adaptability. Growth. Precision."

His last three words, foreshadowed what was to come.

"Rotting in this prison will do neither you nor I any good. Nor will any outside of this room learn from it."

Exhaling, his katana would rifle from its scabbard in an overhead arch. It sang a melancholy tune, filled with agony and despair as it eventually would plunge downwards. His standing positioning would aid in the movement as a sudden flick in the wrist would deviate the blade from its path, which initially appeared to dismember the Terumi's hand. However with the aforementioned change, the tip of the katana's trajectory would change. Instead it would cleanly slash Midori's face, producing a long diagonal slash across it which would not damage the functionality of his eyes, lips, or nose. And in the same downward motion the blade would then collide with the connecting chains between the shackles upon Midori's wrists. They would break, freeing the teenager's hands in turn.

"The loss of your father is punishment enough. The village will see you walk as a free, yet broken man. And this scar upon your face, will serve as a constant reminder to you of a fraction of what your father felt when his life was ended. It will serve as a reminder of mercy for the deserving. Although it will be hidden by your Reikonmen, it is a brand now a part of you. That brand, is what I task you to learn from. Learn how to challenge yourself to be better equipped to use your ability in a manner which uplifts our home."

His words hung like the icicles suspended outside each and every building of the Land of Snow. And with the conclusion of his words, his blade would swiftly return to its place of residence. Kai, would remain standing in place, in anticipation of however Midori would respond or act in turn.

+2 Yuumei Stacks; 6 Total
WC = 1388. TWC = 2986

-15 AP for Quickdraw

Sakaiza's words touched Midori's heart as sharply as his blade touched his face. In the process, a sputter of blood splattered across the table from the initial slice. Its pool expanded by the constant dripping from Midori's exposed face, and as it grew in size so did the severity of the situation. The Wretched was not proud to deliver such a blow, nor was he satisfied by any means. It pained him, especially as the boy already was mourning. However being the leader over such a powerful force of shinobi meant exercising discipline. It meant instilling conviction into one's forces. And when shinobi would falter, it was absolutely necessary to get them back into fighting form. Midori undergoing a waiver in his will and judgement which led to his father's death, subsequently segued into a three month stint of being stagnant. It was a downward spiral. And unless he was given a hard reality check, Kai was doubtful how he would bounce back.

And though the air deafened in the room after Sakaiza finished his speech, Midori would ultimately comment on his bewilderment. It came with a laugh, which Sakaiza dismissed as being more out of sheer disbelief and simultaneous relief. This seemed more true with Midori's final statement, indicating that his fire was now relit.

"Good," Sakaiza would say in turn. "Now keep that flame ablaze. Your last three months have been the lowest of your life. Rise about it, grow as a man, and do not fail me."

With that Sakaiza would turn to exit the room. He'd speak with the guard that stood outside it, letting him know that Midori had be pardoned of his crimes, and should be escorted out. His instructions also included trainings to recondition Midori, particularly to fortify his will and aid him in his decision making process. Following that, a separate guard would come and escort Sakaiza out of the prison and back to the military headquarters. Along the walk, he'd silently reflect on the pain Midori had to bear, feeling partially responsible for it. As this could have been addressed months ago if he was present in the village. But these thoughts he had to bear was the burden of being the Wretched. He was the one who had to endure hardships. The one who had to witness agony. And the one to usher his followers to a high standard.

- Exit -

WC = 399. TWC = 3385. TWC x 1.5 for Dawnbreak Bonus = 5078 WC
- 1875 WC Towards Lamentation Technique (1875/1875)
- 3000 WC Towards Spiritual Misalignment: Shift (3000/3000; under the recent guidelines of S Rank techs requiring 4000WC instead of 5000)
- 203 WC Towards Chakra Suppression (203/1500)
- Memorizing Midori's Chakra Signature