The New Guard

Approved

mid thread claim 
1456 wc to Disruption Field  for Mastery of Half Handseals already at 929 from here [2385/3750]

Approved

A simple twitch of the eyebrow was a minute expression indicative of a plethora of emotions. The day seemed to be as unassuming and monotone as any other, the albatrosses native to Haven scarcely being heard chirping above the position of the esteemed Water Gardens of the Village Blessed by the Stars. The afternoon sun raged violently throughout Hoshigakure, yet the skies remained absolved of its oppressive radiance. The orb of conflagration reflected itself tens of thousands of infinitesimal times on the floating lilacs and clear ponds of the Water Gardens; the beautiful scenery was a testament to how wildlife was expertly preserved in Hoshigakure - seen as an extension to mankind in which it should always be kept in excellent condition. Even with the beautiful scenery in hand, there was still an air of foreboding mystery clouding the area. The Chuunin Exams had concluded with a masterful climax that no one would have predicted. A foreigner by the name of Gin Akimichi - hailing from Kumogakure - claimed the title as The Strongest Genin in the World by defeating everyone in his path during the exams. He embarrassed his competitors and stole the title that was within Hoshigakure's grasp, leaving the village shaken and perturbed moments after his victory. No one expected a Genin from another village to become the champion - much less Kumogakure, so it was quite the sucker punch to the home nation's ego. However, just like every time Hoshigakure fell down, it would rise...stronger than it was once before. The village had the heart of a phoenix, not that of a loser. Hoshigakure still reached second place and defeated plenty of other villages after all, so the village would utilize their unexpected defeat as a stepping stone to becoming victorious in the future. The Genin were ravenous for power, the Water Gardens being filled with plenty of shinobi who yearned for strength...

Enishi Kurosawa was one of those shinobi.

Spurred by his untimely defeat, the understudy was hungry for strength. His body was still not fully recovered from the aftermath of the exams - shown by his bandaged arms and chest - however, he didn't have any time to slack off. In his time at the hospital, he met with his fellow competitor and ally, Zeo Kamigawa. They agreed that in the distant future they would venture to the River Country to discover crucial details of the Kamigawa Clan. It would be the first time that Enishi would actually travel outside of the Haven Country...so it would be fair to say that he was rather nervous. The looming threat of Missing or Hunter Ninja that would try to assassinate them for economic or political gain was extremely high, so they needed to be able to defend themselves should the situation arrive.

He would arrive at the Water Gardens the moment the sun began to rise, being the earliest of birds that day...he did have to sneak past the personnel in the hospital since it was illegal for him to leave without being properly discharged but what did they have to know? He would seat himself in the gazebo right next to the lilacs and floating flowers since it was a relatively peaceful area; not many would train right next to the rivers unless they specialized in Water Release, which was fairly uncommon in the Haven Country. The understudy's chakra was still disrupted due to the effects of the poisonous arrow that pierced his heart, however, that didn't mean he was completely unable to utilize energy... Performing a meditative stance as he sat on the gazebo, many would write off Enishi as just some religious fanatic looking at the position he put himself him, however, those who studied chakra variants would instantly recognize the hidden intricacies behind the meditation stance. Enishi was gathering and regulating his Nature Energy for training; gathering Nature Energy was second nature to those who hailed from the Jugo Clan, however, regulating it was a different beast entirely. Until he was able to fully utilize his chakra again, he would train day after day, trying to control this bizarre power. Soon, noise would become blurred as the scion was deeply entranced in gathering the energy coursing throughout the wild, utilizing the leaves falling from the trees to count how many "points" of nature energy he could gather per leaf falling. The first leaf fell, then the second. Third. Fourth. Fifth. Six-

"KAGE IN THE TRAINING GROUNDS!" Instantly, any sort of concentration the understudy had was immediately thrown off the tracks. A shinobi blurted out something that was utterly incomprehensible. The Hogokage, was at the training grounds? There was no way. That would be the moment that Enishi's eyebrow would twitch in annoyance and confusion equally. Normally, he would ignore such ignorant hecklings but this was such a bizarre statement that he needed to see. His emerald eyes would trail off, looking towards a crowd of shinobi, huddling a safe distance away from the entrance to see the enigmatic figure in his truest valor. There was just no way...

"...He's actually here. So this is Yasaki's successor." The Jugo trailed off in his thoughts, a sense of admiration rising from within his soul. In all honestly, Enishi had never seen the new Hogokage - much less interacted with him. All he knew was that Yasaki handed the leadership over to a man called Ayato Hyuuga before retiring. The Hogokage was accompanied by many unfamiliar faces who seemed to be relatively high up in the government; the only person Enishi could distinctly recognize was Jak. He was the bodyguard of Yasaki who accompanied the understudy once to the Hogokage Office. He wasn't exactly sure whether the bodyguard remembered him, but it was an interesting experience nonetheless. The Jugo's eyes wandered off to the people of interest, being Tsunayoshi, a man with hair resembling the ore of ruby, and a bigger man with another unusual hair color. The understudy hadn't seen Tsunayoshi in a while and he seemed that he was in another group, so for the meantime, Enishi would blend in with the crowd, watching for what was about to happen.

The group would kneel systematically in front of the Hogokage and his associates as if they rehearsed this arrangement for the people in the Water Gardens to behold. Immediately, a strange-looking man would spawn a stranger-looking blade to "Knight" the kneeling Tsunayoshi in a bright light that shattered, promoting him to the rank of Chuunin and also a full-fledged member of a clan called "Hoshimura." The understudy would probe his mind at that moment - he wasn't familiar with Hoshimura Clan and their abilities but he knew that they were notable enough in Hoshigakure to have a strong following and kinship, so being inducted a clan that notable wasn't something to scoff at. His friend deserved praise, and Enishi would recognize that, clapping with his bandaged arms and a bright smile at the sight of Tsunayoshi's promotion. He was most likely the strongest out of the Hoshigakure Roster for the simple fact that he managed to disarm Gin...literally, and that deserved the most amount of praise. The crowds jeered and cheered for the newly promoted Journeyman Ninja. This was the rank where one's worth as a shinobi would truly be evaluated, so it was nothing to take lightly. Though Enishi had to wonder, how much would he have to sacrifice to compensate for such a joyous moment? There was a price for everything in this world, what was Tsuna's price to pay?

Such abstract thoughts would have to be put on hold however, as Ayato would call out two more names to be promoted. Zeo Kamigawa and... "Me?" The understudy thought in a confused expression? But he lost! At the biggest stage too! Why did he deserve to be put on the same pedestal as Tsuna and Zeo? It didn't make sense. He couldn't wrap his head around it. But at the same time, everyone was staring at him. He had to accept it - this gift from the Hogokage himself. It would be the greatest form of disrespect if Enishi stubbornly denied it as he internally wished to do. It was foreign...but he would have to stop hating himself for today. The understudy gulped, all the attention was put on him. He weaved through the crowds with his injured body, looking at the group of powerful shinobi waiting for his arrival. Time was cruel, as each step the nervous Jugo took felt like eons upon eons were passing. Once he arrived to the area, he would step to the left of Tsuna before looking at everyone including the Hogokage. Inhale. Exhale. His slender right hand would find itself on top of his bandaged chest hidden by his black shirt and green trenchcoat as if he was performing some sort of pledge. Enishi would bow towards all figures in reverence, flashing his usual smile, fighting against the nervousness infecting his body.

"G-greetings everyone. It is a p-pleasure to meet you all."

All he could do was wait.

WC: 1606

It was a bright day in the water gardens, the place many jounin, chunin and genin were summoned to as the Hogokage himself had an announcement following the events that happened. Much had happened while Zeo was in the hospital recovering from the Chunin exams. The exams ended, despite his loss, his visit from the Hogokage himself, discovering his Kekkei Genkai, and witnessing the battle that one of t he rogue shinobi tried to reduce their village to ash-- which was stopped by the Hogokage himself.

As always, Zeo was quiet. He still had bandages on his body but he got the clear to leave the hospital. He had one more check up to do, but then he was good to go. He also had patched things up with Enishi. As far as Zeo felt know, he and Enishi had become true friends. Not merely cause of the vision he had of him, but the two had reconciled their differences after the fight in the exams. Now, Zeo felt... different. Improved, and ready to continue growing to be a part of the village.

However, what was going to happen, he didn't expect after his performance.

The others got promoted and they were just standing there idle. However, it was then that the Hogokage himself called both their names. "Eh--excuse me?" Zeo said surprised, and it seemed that Enishi too was just as surprised as the two exchanged glances.

Summoned up to the pedostal, Zeo quickly stepped forward through the small crowd and approached the Hogokage. He soon bowed in greeting, being respectful to the leader of the village. "Thank you, Lord Hogokage..." Zeo said, though he wondered-- did it mean he became Chunin after all?!

He almost dared not to keep his hopes up that high. After his fumble in the fight with Enishi, though best effort, he thought he wouldn't make it-- but that seemed to be him underestimating himself.

From the crowd, he could see the masked face of Yasha, his mentor, smirking as Zeo was now on stage awaiting the Hogokage's judgement and words.

WC: 349

Ayato Hyuuga stood straight as a lance watching the two figures emerge from the crowd answered the summons. Both of the Genin were bandaged and worn out from the Chuunin Exams Finals. The soreness of a hard-earned battle, how much Ayato longed for that. The Kage's mind drifted back to a different tournament when he grabbed the victory against Hikari Namikaze, the girl that became notorious for raining blinding hellfire on everyone with her light release techniques, and Genevieve Oasis with her mythical dragon summons.  

And this day in the gardens was not about the 7th Hogokage. It was that of the next generation. His father, Lord Hibari Hyuuga, said that a leader needed to spend time with his shinobi if he hoped to keep them. “Know the men and women who follow you. And let them know you back. Nobody wants to die for a stranger.”

Enishi was an orphan from the utmost North of Haven, the adopted son of Suguru Kurosawa. The former Hoshi Jounin had passed away recently; the news saddened Ayato. The most curious thing about the boy was his hair; it was white, white as the summer snows. Inheritors of the Jugo bloodline usually had orange hair; Ayato knew that information from the boy's medical file. The stronger the heritage in them, the more vibrant the color of the hair. A different Jugo descendant, the most notorious bandit of Haven, Hiroshi The Red Griffin, named them for his hair color was proof of that.

Zeo Kamigawa seemed so disconnected from the world of the living, but at the same time, his battle skills proved the opposite. Few Genin flew at an opponent without any thought or plan. And what they thought was an S rank missing Nin attacking during the bell test of the exams. The Kamigawa of the River country had certain bravery about him. And in the third stage of the Exams, the fight between Enishi and Zeo was a joy to watch for Ayato’s grey-white eyes.

“There was a great honor in winning, but even greater at overcoming defeat. Never let it discourage you. After promoting you, there is no going back. So I will ask this once, Zeo Kamigawa and Enishi Kurosawa, are you men of the Village Hidden in the Stars, ready to protect the realm and its people?”

WC: 389
TWC: 1845

Zeo stood before the kage, and remembered what he had said. The same thing he said to him in the hospital where he was recovering. He knew he could only go forward and now he had become stronger. The bloodline of his family, the newly discovered Kekkei Genkai he possessed. He wasn't simply a talented, hard-studying shinobi. He had a power all his own no one else could possess. He would only improve from here on out as he firmed his resolve and raised his head up to the Kage.

It finally clicked. He was really there, to become a chunin-- just as the goal of the whole exam was for. He didn't fail at all!

"I am, lord Hogokage. I choose to become a shinobi to protect what matters," Zeo explained proudly as he looked to him with new resolve behind his blue eyes. "The village and its people are no exception to that. I will fight for their sake, no matter what."

His spirits were risen from before, figuring he was just there to witness a ceremony but soon realized he was part of it. He felt a part of his soul swell with pride-- perhaps his own persona growing stronger with his renewed sense of accomplishment. In the end, he now stood side by side with other accomplished Shinobi and Enishi too was among them. They would get stronger together and nothing would be impossible. Next time such a challenge against other villages came, they would shine brighter than before.

WC: 255

So many things were going on in the training grounds of the village on this day. The young Shinkou was more than honored to be surrounded by such names from the village roster, names of those that have already honored the village. He wished to reach the same level as these shinobi, but they did have time on their side, not to mention experience. Kurayami didn’t know whether to speak or to stay silent at first, so he ended up choosing the latter as he didn’t see any value in his own words. 

He didn’t even really know what to say about his rival becoming a Chuunin, but not just any Chuunin, but he was deemed to be the young Shinkou’s teacher. This was a strike to his pride that could not be explained or brought to words. He saw the gap between both him and his rival only getting wider and wider and he was losing hope that he was going to catch up to him. His depression rose close to the surface before he stopped himself. He could hear the chanting in his head getting louder and louder as the shadow began to fill his very being, but he was able to fight it off, at least for now. 

He looked over to his new teacher, and he would congratulate him, doing his absolute best to sound as sincere as possible, holding back not only his sadness, but his frustration at the same time. He was truly proud of his friend and rival, but he hated him at the same time for reaching such levels, and leaving himself behind. This was when he became quiet, which was also the same time that all of the others joined into the conversation with the Kage and the new Chuunin of the village. There were many faces that he had only seen in passing, but none that he had any direct interaction with, and in his current headspace he wasn’t in any shape to initiate conversation, so he  retreated within himself for the time, staying quiet and as invisible as a person could get. 

There would be no lull in the conversation as other members of the conversation would get promoted to Chuunin rank, and while he did know that he was unable to be promoted to such a rank as he hadn’t earned it in any way, he prayed to the shadow that he would gain the same level as them, as if only to save himself from the absolute shame that he felt from being so far below the others in the conversation. The chanting began to run through his mind once more, with the only difference is he was unable to fight it off as the other members became Chuunin of the village. 

He stood there, silent and unmoving. The only thing he could do was stand there and continue to actively breathe, as his body was beginning to deteriorate, even if it was only in his mind. He lost his desire to speak or even think, for the only thing that came to his mind was his shame. He was sure not to allow this on the surface, making sure that he didn’t make himself the object of anyone’s attention, but he couldn’t help to feel in despair in the current situation.

A single breath escaped from the silver-haired shinobi; the breath was one of surprise, confusion, and even a hint of excitement emerging from himself. Enishi Kurosawa, a boy who was abandoned by his family - cast away to die in the hellish blizzards of the winter, a boy who was a scapegoat for all the atrocities committed by his parents...a boy who yearned for hope and prosperity, yet lacked the hands to hold such a pure wish - was given the greatest of honors in the world. He never thought he'd come this far to reach his dream. Years ago, the understudy would have seen such a goal as a pipe dream - something that would never come true irregardless of his efforts. He was a monster. He killed many. Many cursed him. Many feared him. The understudy was born with an irreversible curse that turned him into a demon; he carried the burdens of those he ruthlessly murdered throughout his everyday life, weighing on his very soul. There was no place for repentance, and he fully accepted it. The understudy accepted the sins of his ancestors, knowing that the only thing he could do to expiate his curse was to use the same power that brought him strife. He wasn't a noble shinobi or a particularly brave, yet he still wanted to be of use to the village. Maybe that way, he could atone...

So why was he being rewarded?

Despite his promise to never look back and to move forward to face the next day, Enishi still looked behind him, mirages of his past failures and tribulations playing through his mind. He still saw a demented monster that caused chaos and carnage wherever he went. He felt as though he was undeserving of the honor being bestowed by the Hogokage. There were other people that were more deserving of the promotion - the ruby-haired man, the puppeteer, Yuuma... No. Regardless of whether other people were deserving of the promotion or not, the fact still remained in its fiery truth. Out of the hundreds of Genin that hailed from the land of Haven, Enishi was one of the three chosen to become Chuunin to this day...

"Who am I to question the authority of our Kage?" The understudy would no longer be able to hide the smirk that threatened to split his face in half from its tenebrosity. His gaze lowered as Ayato spoke, urging the Kamigawa and Jugo to take arms and graciously accept their promotion to the rank of Chuunin. The crowd grew silent, awaiting the anticipated answer of the two Genin that fought their hardest at the brightest stage of the year. 

It was time for them to relish in the fruits of their labor.

The boy who talked to spirits, the boy who survived the cruelty of fate, the scion who could call upon god - Zeo Kamigawa took the spotlight. His words were not that of a River Country native, but rather, it was that of a Hoshigakure Chuunin who swore to protect his village with all of his might. Enishi's grin carried on to the Kamigawa's speech, delighted to see that his friend was brimming with so much hope, he would bear nothing but respect towards his peer at that moment. Zeo's words would end, and silence would return to the Water Gardens. The spotlight was on Enishi Kurosawa. The heir of the Jugo Clan had endured many trials and tribulations over the past months, but that did not deter him from accepting a greater role in his military force. The smirk centered into a neutral expression, devoid of malice nor devoid of joy. It was an emotion far too removed from the understudy's psyche, yet he yearned for it...and now, it brimmed throughout his body.

Purpose.

"...Many years ago, I could distinctly remember when I was walking to the gates of the hallowed heights of Hoshigakure. I wore nothing but rags on my body and slabs of wood on my feet. Many towns and cities among the borders turned me back in fear of my reputation. Hoshigakure did not." He paused. The silence in the Water Gardens was unsettling Enishi - it seemed as though everyone was entranced in his tales. So, the tale went on, "This village saved me from death. It gave me clothes to wear, food to eat that weren't worms, and...a place to call home." Another pause. Yet again the silver-haired teen remembered vividly of the time that Suguru adopted him from the hospital, taking mercy on a malnourished boy in rags. The visage of jubilation that his father possessed when he adopted the mangled Enishi...the Jugo ached to feel such joy in his life. "Hoshigakure saved me from hell, so I will return the favor." The understudy suddenly took a knee towards Ayato, Shina, Vanear, all of the higher-ups so they would face the enervated Enishi. His eyes flared with conviction and his resolve was firm. His right hand would cover his wounded chest. To everyone, from the people in the Water Gardens to the person that was at the edge of Hoshigakure - Enishi would pledge.

"I accept. I will give my body and soul to the village so that it will never grow weak. I will go beyond what is required of myself and protect Hoshigakure until my body rots to nothingness. If this village needs a sword, I will be that sword. If this village needs a shield, I will be that shield. There will be nothing that stops my unwavering devotion to this village, and that will not change. I swear such a promise on my late father."

In the heavens, a Jounin smiled.

"My name is Enishi Kurosawa, son of Suguru Kurosawa and heir of Jugo. Until my last breath, Hoshigakure will not fall!"

WC: 1066
TWC: 2676