The Scar

The night drew in closer as Ryuzaki bent over double, his hands on his knees, sweat profusely dripping from his forehead, the training session complete. Falling back to sit down he propped himself up by hisarms, his head started to pound, the scar on his face long healed but started to feel like an open cut. Bringing his mind back to when he received the scar, the pendulam swings and time rewinds.

Nine years earlier...

Summer time was peaking, the days were long and hot, Ryuzaki had just finished his first year at the academy, he was progressing at a modest pace, the catalyst for his evolution not yet at his side. The stores at Ryuzaki's home began to empty and it was time to head into town and get some supplies for the coming weeks. Yamamoto was away on a trip and would not be back until the next day. "I'll head into the village and pick up something nice for when he returns," Ryuzaki thought to himself, also he needed to get some food and treats for Taco the dog. Sliding a secret panel back from the floor Ryuzaki fished out a pouch full of ryo and headed towards the village.

The paths that took Ryu from his home to the village were not known to be dangerous, he had travelled them many times and never had a problem. Occasionally there were wild beasts that stumbled onto the beaten paths while looking for food, but even a 1st-year academy student could ward them off easily. Ryuzaki climbed up a mountain path that led over the peak before the village, as he descended on the other side he was meet by a group of individuals standing in the middle of the path, there were three of them in total. Menacing looking bandits right and left and in the middle a village genin. Ryuzaki did not think twice about it as he started to walk past the group. "Hey kid!" one of them called out as he was squatted down on his haunches drawing something ni the dirt. Ryuzaki turned to face him "It seems maybe you might have something for us" Ryuzaki stood there, a puzzled look on his face "I'm just on y way to the village for some shopping, what would I have for you?" The boy did not grasp the situation he was in, he still did not know how cruel the world could be, but he was about to find out.

WC: 416

The man who spoke rose to his full height and started to walk forward "Give us your money boy, maybe we won't beat you". Ryuzaki instinctively jumped backwards, his training taking over his body. Ryuzaki lowered his stance and brought up a fighting guard, he reached for his right hip where his weapon pouch was. "Shit!" he cursed realising he did not wear it in the holidays, he had no need for it, at least before this very moment. He was outnumbered, by an unknown foe and with no weapons, there was only one option, run. Which way would he choose? home? but there was no one there, his master would not be back for at least a day. To the village? Yes, that was the correct choice, but would he make it?. The thoughts ran through Ryuzakis' head at a quick pace, but the decision was made, he would run for the village, hoping to find some of the chuunin who guarded the entrance. 

Ryuzaki turned and started to run, his speed was his greatest strength at the moment, but still, would he be able to outpace the adults. Ryuzaki pushed the thought from his mind, it was the only option, so he had to go for it. Ryuzaki took several paces before an object struck him in the back, he fell forward, one of the bandits behind him had hit him with a club. Ryuzaki was unconscious, the pouch of gold spilt from his waist and coins were sent scattering across the ground. "Why do they always run?" Ryuzaki heard the voice as his consciousness started to seep back into him "They never getaway". Ryuzaki turned to the source of the voice, a puzzled look across his face, awake but not fully aware. "Oh you're back" the voice continued, the man began to beat Ryuzaki stomping and kicking him, until he passed out again "Why don't we teach you a little lesson..." he brought a knife out of his pocket ",,,in respect". The man began to sink the knife into Ryu's skin, just be the right side of his mouth and dragged it all the way up to his temple, as he began to cut Ryuzaki was once again roused back to consciousness, he began to scream, the pain excruciating, until he once again passed out from the overwhelming sensation of pain.

The next time Ryuzaki woke he was in a hospital bed and his master stood by the window peering off into the distance. "You're awake Ryu, good." He said as he turned "You're lucky you were found by a passing merchant, somehow your bleeding was stopped when he found you" Ryuzaki closed his eyes again, the wound across his face now started to ache as the memory of what had happened came back to him. Ryuzaki explained what had happened to his master and was met with a comforting smile. "You are going to have something to focus on with your training". Ryuzaki thought that was typical of his master, everything was about training, the work ethic of the man was second to none, something Ryuzaki was trying to imitate, but as of now had not quite been able to keep up, his head was always full of doubts and procrastination, but all of that was about to change, he would now become a force to be reckoned with, his efforts now fully focused.

The pendulum swings back...

Ryuzaki collapses tp the floor as another training session is completed, one more step towards chuunin.

WC: 589

TWC: 1000

claiming +10 vigor and 1000 words towards Shadow Imitation rank B 1500/1500

Approved