Another Face

Coming out of what seemed to be an eternal slumber he finally returned outside to the world after his awakening and quick match with the beast himself he only took a couple days to think and try to remember what truly happened that night. It was as if he was solving a puzzle one hidden away within him for that he did not know why but it was nothing if he could not adapt with the progress that awaited him. Stepping outside he placed the headband of the village around his neck as he sported a blue and white kimono upon his belt rested his fathers katana sheathed in a white case as blue and white cloth wrapped and twisted its way around the hilt. Brown skin standing about the height of six feet even with dark blue hair and a set of matching eyes to go along with his outfit taking a step outside in the traditional shinobi footwear it seemed he had to start from the bottom once more. Building himself up from whatever was left of him clearly he lost some of himself but it didn’t feel like he was losing as if something replaced the missing parts of himself with grit and valor. Not just that but something completely different growing stronger meant he might lose himself but to be strong enough to defend the village and the people inside his life meant nothing. Compared to those who lived longer than him or those who even escaped battle missing a limb or two they needed to see another sunrise and sunset no matter who stood waiting for them on the horizon. Blitz made sure to look out for them all whether they knew it or not he made his vow to destroy evil and protect his village no matter the cost nothing was greater than the place he called home. All this thinking had his mind processing the truth that if he was to take the helm the people would be safe as long as he remained fighting for them and the future that awaits everyone.

“...”

Passing through the streets as he crossed through crowds of people he made his way out of the district into a quieter part of the village where he could think clearly and attempt to absorb as much fresh air that was possible. Releasing his lungs he could only attempt to free his mind in the comfort of the village, something he wanted to learn as he heard from the distance voices and laughter. The sound of eager hearts ready to start their day, the passion that resonated from villager to villager and maybe from shinobi to shinobi giving off hope in an attempt to secure happiness. It wasn’t that he was eager to fight but it came down to it for the people of this village he would let himself be devoured but all this was just the start he needed to accept the hardest part of himself. Taking another deep breath before focusing more on his current mindset and what he was able to do with something so broken had him nearly guessing that he indeed had much more work needing to be done. As he stood motionless the people around him tended to watch glaring and wonder what he was up to but as a shinobi to the common people he was just a killing machine. Looking around it was only a mere number of people making their way to the market leaving the side he stood on with silence. Giving himself a chance to even find a seat as he enjoyed the comforts of his own mind and the way the world was on this path of throwing everyone together in the loop. It didn’t matter at all to the male but the one who took his helm and forced him to sit out was one he didn’t mind having a chance to communicate with; he might not even get one.


“....”
5

It would be another day that Achana walked through the Village. She was one of the more intimidating looking sorts with her large, black coat and her respirator. The only thing that made her more ominous was the glowing red eyes of her Akayurei doujutsu. She was one of the training hunter kunoichi in the Village of the Mist and covering her face mostly in public was a common practice. Nobody wanted to truly know who might be ordered to kill friends and family if the order came down. Faceless killers were what her profession was to be about. So, even as she was, it wasn't like anyone truly knew anything about her, or would find her particularly remarkable. Her clan was known for producing sickly, and otherwise insignificant fighters. So, it was only better that people paid her little heed as she went about the day to day.

Though as Achana walked along toward the training facility for the day, she did note one individual she had not seen. Most folks tended to keep to a regular routine, at least five days out of a given week, and Blitz's appearance was nothing short of anomalous. To the kunoichi, this warranted investigation. She turned her gaze on him and began to look at his chakra signature. She was trying to get a feel for his relative strength by his levels of energy before approaching, which was what anyone would expect a prudent assassin to do when hunting a target. However, hunting and socializing tended to be sort of the same thing when it came to the raven-haired girl's profession of choice.

She then decided to go take a seat next to Blitz, sitting down on the bench next to him slouched over like a gargoyle of sorts. "So, a new face, or maybe just one that hasn't shown much of itself yet.", she said in sort of a matter-of-fact tone. Achana was analytical and precise as an individual and so her bedside manner was somewhat lacking. Probably due to the fact that while she wasn't particularly physically sick like most Yurei, she did have some issues in her mental faculties like O.C.D. and some Spectrum-like tendencies. "I am Sonozaki, Achana. Genin. From the look of you, you're probably about the same, am I right?", she inquired before extending a friendly hand to Blitz. "Ana for short, it's easier than listening to most mispronounce my name.", she added in greeting.

It seemed his ability to attract the unexpected continued to dance above his head a voice soft but direct came to him it sounded from afar then made its way closely to him confident but gentle in a way. A person who he never saw with eyes that reminded him of the night he sat in his own pool of blood was quick as it seemed she was on the nail when it came to not seeing this particular shinobi. To her this was a new shinobi never before seen giving a little grin he decided to play along and see where this interaction would take him from a study of the young kunoichi. From her breathing device to her outfit she indeed was a shinobi made for killing this much was easy to tell this was almost amusing enough for him to laugh he was even starting to wonder if this was another test. Waking up from his long coma, sparing, and now a new contender stood in his way, how much did he miss? He started to wonder but he himself was out of the picture compared to her probably or was he getting used to his body once again the only details that bugged him was the young woman and his recent absence of memory. Listening closely he paid attention to her hand that stood out in front of him as her name sounded out through the mask with a clear understanding. There was nothing too much to be said afterwards except to only give her what she wanted to hear from him but when it came to people did he have what it takes to bring more allies into the fold. Standing up once more he softly held her hand for a couple seconds before letting it go, feeling her warmth for someone with such eyes he had no clue to what clan she belonged to. Clearly she was not affiliated with such an element of the cold like him but it didn’t hurt to try to see what was going on in this situation.

“Blitz is my name, a pleasure we are both of the same rank.. Sonozaki Achana. Simple to pronounce as is mine. Tell me Sonozaki what brings you to me on this day?”

Glancing once more at the woman he studied her and readied himself internally for anything that she was ready to spring on him or say but in all hopes it was just to see where she stood. If this was a set up or was this something for him to pursue another ally to increase the strength of the village or himself in the future. It seemed he was the only one around anymore as others were about their missions and off doing their own duties but to have someone come around once more. It was clear she was going to be seeing the same monster he saw himself and probably see the man hiding within himself another person to watch out for in times like this he could only wish he had full control over the things happening in his life. But he has nothing to lean on but himself as always to make these changes possible he could only keep on trying till the day that he awakes with complete mastery. The thought of putting someone else in danger for his own failures once more made him a failure as a shinobi. Maybe this was a test once more one to keep himself in line. This was interesting and he even began to doubt if he could do such a thing once more. Without even giving her a second to answer the first he began to wonder if it was just better to fish out what he really wanted to know himself. He needed to understand something but maybe in the end his paranoia was the one kicking him around mentally.


“Sonozaki Achana…. Who really are you?”

"Who really am I? Now that's an interesting question. Actually, it is one I think we're all trying to answer is it not?", Achana mused as she looked over at her fellow comrade. She then began to wave one hand one way, and then the other in the opposite direction until she was pointing both right and left. "Who am I? What is my purpose? Is there a point? Do I really matter?", she asked with each motion of her hands. Her crimson gaze locking back onto Blitz as she paused before she narrowed her eyes upward. It was clear by the motion of her cheek bones that the raven-haired girl was smiling. "I guess it is a question only the person asking it can answer. Though I riposte with a counter-question; Do you even really want to know?", she concluded before looking to the ground. A soft chuckle could be heard like a whisper from her gas mask.

Achana eventually looked back up from the ground to Blitz and nodded to him. "Though, philosophy aside, I am who I am. A proud Genin of this mighty Village, A member of a clan not known for robust soldiers, and one day I'll be feared and respected for my ability to kill and heal.", she said with a tone of resolve to her voice. "Yeah, medical ninjutsu and becoming talented in it is on my list of things to accomplish.", she added lightly. It was clear she meant no offense and was not intent on harming Blitz. She just was a bit on the dramatic and possibly dealt with some manic issues. Psychology matters put to the side, she was not insane, actually quite the opposite.

He could only watch as she seemed interesting enough to continue on a conversation with this man yet alone have such characteristics behind a mask as it seemed there was no real reason to ask that question. She was in her own mind when it came to him. It was nothing to even worry about or even fret a unique individual stood before him that day from her attitude to clothing it felt like in some way he wasn’t the newest one around the village with this one around. Her talk of becoming known in this village is something he yearned for but lately it seemed that path stopped calling his name watching her hand movements it seemed to make some sense. Paranoia was his enemy afterall with such moments he could only blame himself for not cutting off his nerves such persistence hasn’t allowed him to make correct judgements lately. It seemed she was curious in fact to wonder why he ever had such a question in his arsenal knowing if he was asked his answers would have been made with no consideration just words spewing from his mouth. In a sense he was curious of who she was but in the end she only asked for such little information there was nothing to know now or in the future it was best that he minded his own problems and maybe learn to conquer his own war. Backing off a little he gave her more room he went back to sitting down and enjoying the peaceful moment of silence between them for a little bit before continuing by giving a proper answer.

“Your life is your own Sonozaki Achana as long as you remain loyal to the people of this village.”

Crossing his arms he seemed satisfied with what came out of his mouth; he only wanted to mind his tongue and stay out of the way till the time came for him to emerge once more. She was here so it seemed best to play nice taking a deep breath in a way she seemed a little light hearted but that could only be a plot. Just like everyone else there will always be two sides to every coin this side of her was not going to be seen on the battlefield that was easy to tell but now he only wondered how truly hungry her blood lust must be the time would come to see for himself. But now was the time to rest. It didn't bother the man to have some company during the time as he stretched out his legs and looked upwards towards the blue sky with nothing in his mind but the future and the possibilities of seeing it. The thought of even seeing what the future holds for this village and the world that they currently live in only made him chuckle to himself. The possibilities were endless; he could only hope his own name would ring like a bell to the other villages.

“I want more than the village to know my name..I want them all to remember it..”

"That's kind of boring, if you think about it, Blitz. Your goal is to be a memory? Memories fade, people will forget. Eventually we all fade into obscurity. That's just the way it is.", Achana remarked flatly as if she were answering a question in a classroom. She had a clinical, cut and dry, way of looking at things. Some might say it was more than just her eyes that could see beneath the surface. It was her mind. "No, I think it would be better to think about what you can have now and leave the things we leave behind to those who find them. Besides, you do strike me as somebody with more ambition than to just be content at being remembered.", Achana remarked with a giggle. It was clear she was trying to get him to think bigger and broader.

Achana had ambitions of killing and feeling the rush of holding another's life in her hands. The ability to save them or the ability to condemn them into entropy. It was as close to playing God as one could get. There was no need to elaborate on this openly, however, as it would likely cause some to loft an eyebrow or even to take advantage of her current status and kill her before her plans could come to bloom.

"So, what do you plan to specialize in? Brute force with the Kenjutsu in hopes of being elected a member of the Seven?", she asked with a smirk playing behind the mask. It was a common goal for many boys and men in the Village. It was why Kenjutsu was a well-practiced art form, and a lot of would-be smiths came from Iron and other lands to sell blades. "Or are you more of a mentalist with the genjutsu?", she asked now, trying to figure out her comrade's skillset and how it might be beneficial to her in a symbiotic way, should the two take some missions together in the future.

A memory seemed to last longer in people's minds when fear was implied but she seemed as if she was persuading him to go the long course and live his life to the fullest, something he never gave full thought but he was willing to survive in such a world. Her perspective was rational but the way he would be recalled would be for years his plan was to run his name through the hearts of thousands. In fear or grace did not matter on how it was received he was truly satisfied to meet a legacy such as that one day another legend in the tales of many a fitting end to those who lived such a life as a shinobi. It was nothing but a dream of his that he surely knew would never come to prosper but he could only hope for the best. It wasn't a long shot but it seemed more real than hoping to sit in the chair of the Mizukage for something to actually occur to the point where he can stand on his own two feet against the pressure from the world. Such a vivid thought only meant that he was really raring to go out and put his foot down but the first thing that was needed of him was to gain more strength and resolve. His way was different from that of others but he was willing to put in the work to make sure his name rang out for centuries even as the outer wounds heal he aimed to destroy them from the inside where no one could help. Such was the very nature of ice to destroy and corrupt everything it touched nothing was made to live in such conditions he could only hope the day would come where he could see this come to fruition.

“No, I think this path calls to me..”

Letting the words creep out his mouth it seemed he made up his mind about his life and the way he wanted it to play out for her. On the other hand her goals kept her bound to whatever she seemed to enjoy. It would be interesting to see her rise to the challenge but she had her own goals. In seconds she had more questions wanting to know more about the person she was talking to indeed she was curious from gazing upon his blade wondering if he was willing to become one of the seven or if he preferred the distance and silence. Using that of Genjutsu to blind his prey and attack all seemed such worthy questions but he had no answer for the woman. What he wanted in the world even he didn’t know but the odds of him picking up a blade for the village would be entertaining to his mind even if it wasn’t forever the fact that if he wielded one he only had a small chance to gain his reputation. No he didn’t want to be a sword for the village he wanted something more and unique but that was all he had in his mind gazing a little bit at the young shinobi. She seemed skilled and ready for her own type of battles a shinobi who prepared was never caught without some type of back of plan to keep themselves alive. Hiding who he was seemed a little bit deviant but it bolstered the fact that he was learning about her in detail and also not giving up too much or receiving a lot. A tiny chuckle escaped his lips before he started to speak to her for a little bit.

“I don’t want to be anything.. Just my best self.”

Burittsu walks away.

~End.~