Tekkey Hinode

Name: Tekkey Hinode

Aliases: The Lazy Ninja (self apointed), The Freak, The BI warrior, The Wasteman, The Zombie (all courtesy of the enemies of the Leaf), The best dresssed ninja (winner of the community contest)

Age: 20

Zodiac: Libra

Bloodtype: AB+

Chakra nature: None (Artificially implemented basic earth affinity)

Village: Konohagakure (Leaf)

Rank: Genin (often epthatized: Eternal Genin)

Clan: Hinode

Organisation: Leaf Medical Corps (oldest member)
 

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LIFE AND DEEDS:

Chapter I - the Iron

 

Honor is a fool's prize

Even in the Land of Iron, where saving face is valued way more than life, there's no honor among the thieves, the poor, the hungry. During long, cruel winters all that matters to the simple peasants is survival, no matter the cost. Mother said so, over and over again during our days together spent on constant travels and struggle to satiate the hunger. Looking back - she was proven to be fool. If she had followed her credo, cast her boy aside as the burden and ran by herself, the outcome for him would have been just the same, but at least she could have lived. Instead, the guards, still winded after the chase after two thieves, beat her to death in the name of shogun's law and dragged her child away. All for the theft of two white raddishes by hungry mother and her child.

 

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How cold steel is, and keen with hunger of blood

In the Land of Iron human life sure is cheap, but courage in the face of death is appreciated. After all, all that lowly iron needs in turn to be turned into yet another fine steel blade at shogun's disposal is a proper smithing. The orphanage itself wasn't so bad for the boy. Caretakers weren't bad either. Nor the other kids. But all combined, those few years spent there, turned out to be insufferable. For the one thing lacking there, the most important one - was freedom. Everyday orphans adhered to the same routine of training in the art of wielding the sword, unarmed fighting, shaping chakra into a shape of a blade, followed by lectures about discipline and honor. Upon coming of age and completing the full course, graduates would become samurai in service to the Shogun. In the end, he was the man providing the orphans with food and shelter, and he expected them to pay him in future with their servitute and an absolute loyalty.

In one of those boring and unfruitful days of repetitive chores, the boy asked his best friend a tough question that changed everything:

- "Ever wondered what you really want to accomplish in your life?"

- "Sure. I want to become the best swordsman in the world" - he responded without moment of hesitation.

And that dream was just like him. Great fencer, but simple like a sword he wielded - straightforward, outspoken and energetic. He was a few years older than the boy, and the great talent he showed, made him one of the most promising trainees. The boy was direct opposite - lazy and but silent, not distinguishing himself in any of the classes. Yet for some reason those two sticked together and both cherished their friendship a lot. On that fateful day they snuck out of the orphanage to their favourite spot, the nearby rocks next to waterfall. They could be really honest to each other here. The constant noise of water falling was blocking anyone who could have tried to eavesdrop on their conversations.

- "Until you become one, there will be many better trained and more experienced fencers in Shogun's army. And you'll be forced to obey them. That's the hierarchy of command, you see?" - nickpicked the boy.

Older kid smiled nonchalantly. Like usual, even after class he was training with a weightened sword. Like he had no idea what rest meant.

- "Then I'll beat the first guy trying to order me around and take his seat. And then I'll beat all the samurai above me, one after another."

- "Even if you succeeded, that would only make you the best in the Land of Iron. You wouldn't been able to overcome the foreign ninja, about whom keepers keep warning us during class."

- "Then I'll become the ninja as well, and crush anyone and anything standing on a way to my dream."

- "Even me" - asked the boy, squinting eyes in newly found suspicion.

- "Not you" - assured the friend. - "You're no competition to me, you have no talent with the sword" - he clarified immediately with brutal honesty.

- "I just don't get it! We were all forced to be here. Why would you guys even work that hard? Are in hurry to be drafted into military? For more commands and oppression?"

- "I just don't care about that. And if it bothers you, then quit. Just don't go back to the orphanage and be free, or whatever. Where's the problem?"

- "Right there" - the boy gestured towards the buildings in the valley. - "Bacause our caretakers would hunt me immediately, if I escaped. What I truly want to accomplish in my life, is to just to be free of all of this. I would rather kill myself than take another day of such life."

The slight hesitation showed on the friend's face. His sword slowed down and after a momentary pause, he sheated it and looked back at the orphanage with thoughtful stare. Well, that was something new. Never before had the boy saw him breaking his training session even a second. And it wasn't the end of surprises. Without uttering a word, his friend started walking back alone.

- "Hey, Zabuza! Where are you going?"

The boy jumped down from his favourite rock, and followed older orphan, just to be brutally pushed aside. He fell on his back and silently looked up, astonished.

- "I'm gonna have a little chitchat with the head teacher. You stay here, I'll be back soon" - said Zabuza, looking down on him. - "You would have been of no use anyway."

 

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Everyone is a mirror image of yourself

People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds, it is something one creates. Despite his promise, Zabuza never returned. The orphanage kept burning until the dawn of the next day. Shogun's army would arrive few hours later to investigate the ashes. The boy would not wait for them to hear his testimony. He came back to whom he was before the capture - a wanderer, a thief, a nobody. Never staying long in one place. Avoiding drawing attention of the locals. That's why the situation situation he found himself in one of the rural markets, was dangerous, to say the least.

- "Hamerashi!" - yelled the old woman, stubbornly clinging to the front of his kimono. He could feel the wetness of her falling tears soaking through the fabric. - "Hamerashi, how long have I waited for you. My loooove..."

They boy barely dodged the kiss, respectfully but firmly pushing molester aside.

- "Lady, you've got the wrong person. My name is..., well, not Hamerashi" - he explained, with pained look on his face. People were watching. A lot of people were watching. Some were even starting to pass gossip, no doubt about him, the stranger. And that wasn't any good for his chances on getting out of here with the few vegetables he managed to swipe off villager's shops.

The surprise glistening in the eyes of the woman, suddenly changed into something wild. Something evil to the core. She broke into loud cruel laughter, cutting like a knife.

- "Oh, but you are Hamerashi, you just don't realise it. You don't know yourself. Not yet..."

- "You're crazy. I've had enough."

He pushed her off, trying to leave the market. Haven't even made three steps, before the old lady shrieked "thief" and pointed her bony finger at him. He ran like a rat, dodging projectiles thrown at him and squeezing through the alleys of the village. He managed to get out, finally, just to see the lady sitting right outside his temporary hideout.

- "How did you find me?" - he hissed, grabing an old knife he had by his side.

- "Why are you so scared of the old, harmless lady? As you can see, I don't carry a weapon. All I have is my sharp tongue" - she showed it to the boy.

- "Answer me. I can throw stuff too, just like the people you turned against me."

- "Those old eyes can see much more than just present. The past. The future. You won't need that knife today, Tekeiyuu. Sit by me. Let's have a talk."

- "I don't know what you want from me, but I couldn't care less." - he answered, reluctantly sheathing the blade.

He remained standing, watching her with suspicion and fully prepared to run again.

- "From you? It's about what you want from me. Aren't you looking for someone?"

- "So what if I am?"

- "You're in the loss, because you go the places that he was. What you need to do, is to go where he will be".

- "And you could help me with that? How?"

- "I'll give you a guide to this place. My granddaughter. I want a better life for her in a place far away from Land of Iron and the shogun's tyranny, and you will do fine for her travelling companion. You will obey her and protect her. And once she tells you, "your duty is over", you will meet your friend once again."

 

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The only cure for grief is action

Old lady's granddaughter carried none of her grandma's weird quirks. She was cheerful, direct, and was paying for every traveling expense. They were moving quickly, following the steps of Zabuza up to this place, just outside of the borders of the Country of Iron. So far he commited many crimes, but this...

- "What a bloodbath. Seriously, what was Zabuza thinking?"

Tekeiyuu looked around in sheer disgust, on dismembered body parts, and blood splattered on the wooden floors, furniture, walls and ever the ceiling of the small crossroads bar

- "Up here it's just the same. Fifteen heavily armed dead guys. How many more you counted? - the voice a girl interrupted the boy's thoughts."

- "Twenty one down here. It's the new record. Wait..."

Did one of the bodies just moved a little? He closed in, looking sceptically on the corpse of longhaired young man. He was slashed badly, but at least he still had all his limbs attached. As he kneeled to check out if the man is still breathing, the man let a faint blow escape his lips. It was reeking with odour of sake. 

- "It's twenty, Mirai. We got a survivor here."

It was already dark, when the lone survivor has awakened.

- "What the hell is going on? Who are you?" - he jumped on his feet and started screaming as soon as he opened his eyes.

Sharp pain of the suffered injuries must have finally get to him, as he quickly has fallen on his back, breathing heavily. He was a tall and muscular young man, no sign of beard on his cheeks yet. Under the suntan, he was pale from the bloodloss.

- "It's ok now. Rest. I'm not a doctor, but I patched your wounds" - Tekeiyuu assured him.

- "And show some gratitude" - added Mirai.

- "Gratitude? Why am I injured in the first place?"

- "There was a fight..."

- "More like a massacre" - the girl corrected her companion.

- "And we were hoping you could explain to us what happened in the inn" - finished the boy.

Man just stretched his head and looked around in confusion. His long brown hair was now sticking out randomly from the bandages he loosened.

- "Well, sorry. I don't remember much. I was trying to drink myself into oblivion. The next thing I know? I'm here, talking to you. Is there anything left to drink? My head is killing me."

 - "You would leak like a barrel with a holes in it. Give it some time."

- "Oh come on! There must be at least some booze left here?"

As the man started to crawl out of the bed, the girl hit him on the head with an empty bottle.

- "Just don't move. You'll tear the bandages. I don't want to start all over" - she whispered, chuckling to his ear.

 

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The new dawn raises

The chase continued, although slowed with the need to care for the wounded man, who introduced himself as Kiroku of the Land of Iron. He claimed to be quite accomplished swordsman from a well known school. However he always got grim, whenever questioned about more details about himself. In fact, he was moody for the most of their time together. Constantly asking them to look for some sake and get stoned. He clearly had a problem, but his new friends would only get to know the true extent of his addiction in few weeks, while sitting in the first real inn in a long while. To no surprise, Kiroku was truly cheerful, as he finally got the dose of his favorite poison. That may have been the reason why his tongue rolled more than ever.

- "So I've been wondering for a while. Are you guys a couple? You're always together" - he asked, while sipping yet another cup of sake.

The silverhaired, greeneyed man and a short cut, dark haired girl exchanged glances. Well, there was some truth in that.

- "I pretty much always lived all alone. She's just my guide, who needs to get me where I need to be. And that better be on time, or I'll be having some not very pleasant conversation with her grandma."

- "You don't have to worry about that. If you hold your end of the bargain to the end, that is. Besides she's not my real grandma. Just an old lady wishing me well. I simply want a new place, new life. What's your story, Kiroku?" - Mirai wasn't going to let slip the occasion to pull the secretive companion's tongue.

Brown haired swordsman gave them a blank, pained stare, but unlike before - he responded.

- "My parents died early. I survived, fighting like a pit dog in gladiatorial tournaments. Then I was taken in by my master. He raised me, trained me in the sword. And then he got murdered. Whomever did it, left me his head as a trophy. You know what? Screw those wounds, I need a stronger drink."

If their companion haven't walked away to order sake, not even giving the warning stare to Tekeiyuu might have stopped him from making the right question here.

- "You think Zabuza had anything to do with the head in the box?" - mumbled the girl.

A boy shrugged.

- "Well, it fits his style more than the inn massacre. Especially, if that guy was a famous swordsman. So not a word about that to our new friend."

- "Why? The more, the merrier. If he would join us in the hunt..."

Tekeiyuu shushed girl anyway, though she was absolutely right. They could use some reinforcements... but with grim determination written on his face and two big bottles of sake in each hand, Kiroku was already returning to the table. He pushed the half emptied wine bottle to them, seemed like he was planning to empty all the new ones by himself.

- "It's fair to say then, that we're all orphans here, with noone that would care for us if we die" - Mirai picked the conversation where it ended before.

- "Yeah. We're just like stray dogs, all of us" - responded Kiroku.

- "But you know what? We can become brothers now, if we exchange a cup of sake. Agreed?" - tempted Tekeiyuu.

Soon, two man has rised and emptied their cups. Kiroku was first to grab the bottle and fill them for another round.

- "So, from now on, we're brothers. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we'll always be bonded together" - announced Kiroku, with deepening drunk wide smile on his face.

They came to regret it not even a half an hour later.

- "Wnna shome? Come and geth it!" - screamed Kiroku in drunken frenzy.

He was the epicentre of mayhem, with all-on-all crazy fighting breaking in the inn just after he went to get even more booze. On the way he collapsed the table of a big group of tough looking folks, who felt offended by that, and jumped on Kiroku. Which in consequence forced Tekkey to stop the assiliants harassing his new brother. And it all went downhill from there. Because Kiroku seemed to have lost all grip on reality. Not only has he started to indiscriminately attack everyone around, but he included even his brother. Tekkey already had a black, swollen eye because of the first surprise attack.

- "I'm not patching you after this, fool!" - he shouted, throwing a bottle after bottle at the damn drunkard.

Purely by instinct and sheer luck, Kiroku clumsily dodged all of it and fallen like a log behind a table. Using  all his force, he turned it verically and charged at his brother, pinning him to the wall. Luckily some guy with spiky white hair managed to distract berserk with well aimed throw of barstool.

- "You need to stop. We all need to stop" - he glanced around the room with his green eyes, trying to talk some sense into surviving participants.

- "Don't you tell me whats to do! You're not sense... You know what? Just die!"

Kiroku picked a sword from the belt of one of the unconcious men and charged at the guy. This was no longer a mere brawl, realised Tekeiyuu, watching the stranger barely defend himself with another barstool from the flurry of cuts. Kiroku was gonna repeat here the massacre made by Zabuza's hand. Or did he...?

- "Stop right there!" - a mighty voice overcame the uproar.

There was a man in regal red uniform standing in the open door to the bar. As he stepped inside, from behind him many others, dressed in the similar fashion, started pouring into the building. They were all heavily armed.

- "You wanna get some of me?!" - yelled Kiroku, who just couldn't get a hint for once.

He charged with his stolen sword, swinging wildly. With a move blindingly fast, the officer drawn his own katana and broke the opponents blade with a single hit. Right after that a brown haired troublemaker dropped on the floor like a log. Tekkey watched this in a silent awe. The rest of the brawlers just surrendered. All besides one. He casually walked to the black haired man dressed in red, and greeted him nonchalantly.

- "Commander."

- "Duke" - responded coldly the swordsman. - "This falls under Hinode guard authority. Don't try to stop me. Because you won't."

The tall black man just smiled gently, bowing his bald head just a tiny little bit, that might have been either a sign of respect or mockery. Possibly both.

- "Why would I stop you, dear Tameshi Hinode? Don't we all serve our Lady Kasai in a way that we know best? But as you can see, I was already in here, when the fight started. No need to lock all those nice men, that frequently visit Tanzaku's bars and support our establishments with their money. See those two strangers? They started it."

Tekeiyuu managed to get surprised just a little bit, before he was cuffed and taken away alongside unconscious Kiroku. Just the two? There was no sign of Mirai to be seen anywhere. So far for the duty.

TO BE CONTINUED
(as most of my biography got deleted or displaced over the years i've been meddling in it)