Seigi let out a gentle sigh of relief as he walked through the doors of the study, setting his backpack by the door, closing it gently behind him in case anyone was sleeping. He had meant to try and get back to Kumogakure during the day, but the mountain pass through the Takoyaiba Mountains was especially dangerous these days and Seigi took his time passing safely. Kicking his sandals off, he wondered if Shimiko was in the building. He had spent the last month on a mission in the Land of Grass, looking for a surgeon who was rumored to be in the area, but Seigi had zero luck in finding him. He knew that Shimiko would have a new lead for him, but he didn't mind waiting until tomorrow to ask her.
After putting his things away and resting for a moment, Seigi slowly made his way to Shimiko Tower's bath house, knowing he probably didn't smell the best after hiking all day. Seigi wasn't sure how the Chinoike Clan could afford it, but they didn't pull any punches when putting the bath in, and Seigi made sure to take advantage of it every chance he could, often soaking for hours after missions, the warm waters soothing his muscles and achey bones. He was young, but his body had paid a hefty price for his years as a shinobi. Taking off his long black robes, Seigi would catch a glimpse of himself in a nearby mirror, taking in the dark circles beneath his eye. Seigi looked different than he did when he first came here, letting his hair grow long, his white hair now creeping down his back and the sides of his face, his bangs covering his missing right eye, hiding the eye patch underneath. He was lean and tone, his body light yet powerful once more, carved by war and constant training. Shimiko was a tough teacher, but she knew battle and Seigi paid attention to that, doing his best to adhere to his younger sister's teachings. Scars littered Seigi's flesh, stories from both his former life and current, fused into one body. His fingers moved to a large scar that covered most of his chest, reaching down into his abdomen, from where Tatsuya's blade had met his skin almost five years ago, complimenting the new ones he received from The First Shinobi World War.
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He could barely sleep that night. Ever since the war, Seigi had trouble sleeping, often tossing and turning, his mind racing at all hours of the night. After abandoning Konoha, Seigi had aligned himself with Kumogakure, but only in secret, officially taking the mantle of Missing-nin once more. This gave Seigi more freedom to do as he wished, able to work outside of the village's jurisdiction. He was careful not to abuse this, especially as he had the face of a dead kage, but he was careful to hide his identity. After about a couple hours of tossing, Seigi got up, redressed himself, and silently made his way into the night, looking for something to quench his thirst. Kumogakure's nightlife was always bustling, especially since the end of the war, and many bars often stayed open until the sun came up. Seigi had a particular bar he liked to frequent, Kobyashi Maru. It wasn't far from Shimiko Tower, kept his cup full, and had just enough energy that it felt alive, but he didn't have to yell over people. Tonight was just the same. As he entered the bar, he heard a cheer from a small party in the back that looked much more lively than what this bar could offer them, but as long as they were having fun, Seigi figured it didn't really matter. Approaching the bar, he would wave to the bartender.
"Sei-chan, where ya been buddy?" Inosuke would say, throwing a towel over his shoulder. "We thought we might of lost ya there for a second. What will it be? Shouten's Sake?" He would say, his sentences fast, each one blending into the next, not giving Seigi a moment to reply, a jar and cup of warm Sake placed in front of him before he could reply.
"You know me too well, Insosuke." Seigi would say, then yelling out the traditional cheers, before downing the cup of Sake in one quick gulp. He would gaze around the bar, looking for familiar faces, feeling oddly chatty tonight. He would look to Inosuke, smiling a toothy grin. "That Sake works quick, huh?"
After putting his things away and resting for a moment, Seigi slowly made his way to Shimiko Tower's bath house, knowing he probably didn't smell the best after hiking all day. Seigi wasn't sure how the Chinoike Clan could afford it, but they didn't pull any punches when putting the bath in, and Seigi made sure to take advantage of it every chance he could, often soaking for hours after missions, the warm waters soothing his muscles and achey bones. He was young, but his body had paid a hefty price for his years as a shinobi. Taking off his long black robes, Seigi would catch a glimpse of himself in a nearby mirror, taking in the dark circles beneath his eye. Seigi looked different than he did when he first came here, letting his hair grow long, his white hair now creeping down his back and the sides of his face, his bangs covering his missing right eye, hiding the eye patch underneath. He was lean and tone, his body light yet powerful once more, carved by war and constant training. Shimiko was a tough teacher, but she knew battle and Seigi paid attention to that, doing his best to adhere to his younger sister's teachings. Scars littered Seigi's flesh, stories from both his former life and current, fused into one body. His fingers moved to a large scar that covered most of his chest, reaching down into his abdomen, from where Tatsuya's blade had met his skin almost five years ago, complimenting the new ones he received from The First Shinobi World War.
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He could barely sleep that night. Ever since the war, Seigi had trouble sleeping, often tossing and turning, his mind racing at all hours of the night. After abandoning Konoha, Seigi had aligned himself with Kumogakure, but only in secret, officially taking the mantle of Missing-nin once more. This gave Seigi more freedom to do as he wished, able to work outside of the village's jurisdiction. He was careful not to abuse this, especially as he had the face of a dead kage, but he was careful to hide his identity. After about a couple hours of tossing, Seigi got up, redressed himself, and silently made his way into the night, looking for something to quench his thirst. Kumogakure's nightlife was always bustling, especially since the end of the war, and many bars often stayed open until the sun came up. Seigi had a particular bar he liked to frequent, Kobyashi Maru. It wasn't far from Shimiko Tower, kept his cup full, and had just enough energy that it felt alive, but he didn't have to yell over people. Tonight was just the same. As he entered the bar, he heard a cheer from a small party in the back that looked much more lively than what this bar could offer them, but as long as they were having fun, Seigi figured it didn't really matter. Approaching the bar, he would wave to the bartender.
"Sei-chan, where ya been buddy?" Inosuke would say, throwing a towel over his shoulder. "We thought we might of lost ya there for a second. What will it be? Shouten's Sake?" He would say, his sentences fast, each one blending into the next, not giving Seigi a moment to reply, a jar and cup of warm Sake placed in front of him before he could reply.
"You know me too well, Insosuke." Seigi would say, then yelling out the traditional cheers, before downing the cup of Sake in one quick gulp. He would gaze around the bar, looking for familiar faces, feeling oddly chatty tonight. He would look to Inosuke, smiling a toothy grin. "That Sake works quick, huh?"