Haiiro's eyes slowly peeled open to the sight of the tent ceiling, lit by the dwindling fire at its center. The crackling embers echoed in the confined space, while the chilly air seeped through the fabric, reminding him of the world outside.
Panicking, Haiiro shot up from his bed, convinced he had overslept. However, his anxiety was interrupted by the entrance of a guy into the tent. With shoulder-length navy blue hair and yellow eyes, he casually strolled in, holding a bundle of wood. Ignoring Haiiro's apparent panic, he headed straight for the furnace and began placing the wood, causing the flames to intensify. Haiiro watched in silence, his eyes fixed on the unexpected visitor.
"Thank kami it was cold in here," the guy sighed with relief, seemingly oblivious to Haiiro's presence. It was an awkward silence, Haiiro struggling with words while the guy continued to enjoy the warmth of the fire.
Summoning the courage to speak, Haiiro tried a simple greeting. "Hello," he choked, only to be met with the guy's direct gaze and a curt question. "Do you need something?"
Haiiro stuttered out a hesitant "No," but the guy pressed on, asking why he was still staring. Flustered, Haiiro apologized and quickly averted his gaze. The guy nonchalantly returned to basking in the fire's heat, while Haiiro continued to shift uncomfortably.
Growing irritated by the silence, Haiiro finally spoke up. "Could you tell me what time it is?" His voice held a trace of irritation, but the guy remained unfazed.
"It's 4 o'clock," he replied casually.
"4 am?" Haiiro pressed, dissatisfied with the vague response.
"No, just 4 o'clock," the guy clarified, seemingly indifferent to Haiiro's frustration.
Feeling the tension, Haiiro decided to leave the tent. Before stepping out, he couldn't help but voice his irritation. "You don't have to be so rude," he muttered, the wind catching the tarp as he walked away. The guy, absorbed in the warmth of the flames, paid little attention to Haiiro's parting remark.
" You were rude as hell ren" A young girl said under her cover yawning trying to go back to sleep. Ren was surprised his sister was up.
" shut up Rumi" Ren replied
Outside the tent, the pre-dawn air was crisp, and the sky painted in hues of dark blue which could be mistaken for black. Haiiro took a moment to collect his thoughts and shake off the odd encounter.
The section of that camp that Haiiro was in had circular columns and there were more of these circular columns around the camp. Creating the whole. From a bird's eye view these came off as an ant farm with the walkways were like tunnels with these bigger patches of land which laidered their camp.
There were watch towers in specific sections of the walkways and each tent had this black tube. Which would let off the smoke for the furnace given heat for the ninja lodging. Haiiro didn't really have the metal stability at the time to process his current home. But he couldn't help but think " this is pretty organized."
After walking around which would seem like a maze to him he finally found the exit to the main hub. Walking near the gates he spotted the man who almost made him headless. Haiiro's heart started to race, and his eyes darted away from the man's gaze. Haiiro got close to the gate, still trying not to make eye contact. But the Man stared at Haiiro almost wanted to say something. But all that came was the signal to open the gates. Haiiro walked through the open gates, " I will not apologize for doing my duty, but I will admit I was a bit harsh. But I hope you recover well." The man at the gates said.
Haiiro muttered an awkward thanks before simply leaving. Haiiro walking around in the main area, he realized there was little activity right now. Besides the guards and the very few shinobi he didn't mind. There was this sense of tranquility in the silence under the night. As he strolled around the camp his mind faded to his thoughts.
His friends and family were gone. To them He just disappeared. Or was his mind displaced and his physical body died? Is there a chance to return? And if he can, what about time? Does time pass the same way back home or does it just keep moving forward? All these questions and no answer. But Haiiro can't help but think of something he's been trying to ignore.
" I feel nothing for them." Haiiro muttered. Stuck in his own head he fails to notice he walks into a thick pole. Ow he muttered. Rubbing his head. He looks up and it seems he wandered far, to arrive at a small training ground with a few dummies. Log to be more precise.
Haiiro curiously walks up to the log he bumps into to feel it bark. While his hand slid down the log he could feel the pounding the log endured from the eagerness of shinobi training. " I'm gonna have to pound my hand on thick wood just to be decent at this," Haiiro thought. Resolve leaving his body realized the work he truly has to put into this just to live.
" Oh training this early in the morning aren't you and Early bird!" A boisterous voice brought him out of his thoughts. Looking to the direction Haiiro heard it from to find no one was there.
" Behind you" whispered in his ear, startling him. Jumping back to see who was trying to startle him. What he saw was a girl with wild navy blue hair and piercing yellow eyes. Before Haiiro could even open his mouth, the girl let out a giddy laugh. Haiiro, being embarrassed, Had a slight stutter telling her " wh-what's your problem."
She laughs even harder at Haiiro before forcefully trying to cover up her laughs.
" So-sorry. I didn't expect you to jump so easily." She said, letting some giggle out.
" Sorry I didn't have the reaction you expected. When you shouted at me so early at night and then sneaking behind me and whispered in my ear. Like, what a weirdo" Haiiro said.
" Chill, chill. No need for the sarcasm. I was just fucking with you" The girl responded.
Haiiro did just that. He took a breath and relaxed his posture. " Crazy bitch" He thought.
" So back to my first question, are you training this early?" The girl asked with a curious gaze.
" No, I was just walking and found myself here." Haiiro responded.
" Y'know, walking around without paying attention is unnatural for a shinobi. It is one of the first lessons you learn in the academy. " A shinobi must be aware of everything and everyone at all times""She finished mimicking a man. Haiiro responded with an uninterested yeah, yeah.
" well while you're here. I do need a sparring partner" Haiiro gave a resounding huh.
" Come on? I haven't spared in so long. I'd usually spar with my brother but he's been busy with the duty they assigned him" Haiiro responded by pointing to the bandage around his arm, shoulder and neck.
" I should be taking eazy. Doctor orders. Not to mention I feel sore all over." Haiiro added. " Especially that spout I had with Kobachi" Haiiro said silently under his breath
" Fine. A light spar, please." The girl started begging, getting all close to Haiiro's face. Haiiro takes a step back giving her a resounding no.
" I don't know. A light spar sounds nice for you right now." Both the girl and Haiiro look up to the direction they heard the voice from.
"Kobachi?" Haiiro responded. Kobachi jumped down from the tree he was on.
" Good morning to you too." Kobachi respond to Haiiro
" Who are you?" The girl ask.
" Let's just say I'm here to wipe Haiiro into shape and leave it at that. But I think a light spar will be good to see where you're at right now." Kobachi said. Haiiro tried to object, raising his bandage arm, but Kobachi paid it no mind.
" Thank kami" The girl responded with glee.
" The rules are simple, no weapons, just taijutsu. The first person to land a hit at the back of the neck wins."
The trio set up a makeshift sparring area, and Haiiro reluctantly prepared for the match with a series of stretches. Kobachi stepped away, giving the girl and Haiiro enough space. Both the girl and Haiiro faced each other, ready for the light sparring session. The crisp morning air added to the tension as they awaited the signal to begin.
While the girl took in the rain stance. Her legs bent and low, her front foot slanted while her back foot was turned a 90 degree angler. Her torso facing forward with her fist at her hip and an arm parallel to her face in an open palm.
Since Haiiro didn't have the memory of the rain Taijutsu, he took in A basic boxing stance. Haiiro on the ball of his toes, his legs wide and low. His right fist near his jaw while his left was in front of his face. This stance which Haiiro had from his past life but felt kinda uncomfortable to him for such an odd reason.
" What a weird stance. He used the rain kata last we fought." Kobachi thought but let it go to see the spar play out.
"Alright, on my mark," Kobachi announced, taking a step back to serve as the referee. "Three, two, one, go!"
Those thoughts vanished as the girl wasted no time, lunging forward with a lightning-quick straight. Haiiro, relying on instinct, executed a seamless weave to the right, narrowly evading the oncoming strike. The girl, undeterred, followed up with a sudden sidekick. Reacting swiftly, Haiiro folded his arm into an 'x' to block the kick. However, the unexpected strength behind the girl's move blasted his arms out of alignment, shattering his guard in an instant. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut—his defense was compromised.
"Shit," Haiiro thought, a bead of sweat forming on his brow. He scrambled to bring his arm back into position, but the girl, wearing a confident smirk, had already read his vulnerability. It was a moment frozen in time, a silent acknowledgment among the three —she had him right where she wanted him.
The girl, with a calculated glint in her eye, prepared to release her left fist towards Haiiro's vulnerable stomach. Time seemed to slow as Haiiro assessed his limited options. In a split-second decision, he steeled himself, mending his hands together and bringing them down like a hammer. The girl, unfazed, released her punch into Haiiro's gut, and he winced in pain but maintained his course.
The punch landed, but it proved inconsequential as the girl seized the opportunity. In a breathtaking display of agility, she transitioned seamlessly into a front flip, landing a devastating axe kick that Haiiro had not anticipated. The impact reverberated through his body, the only sensation he felt was a hand on neck.
" The girls wins," Kobachi announced, ending that match. Kobachi could help but think Haiiro's movements were stiff. Like he was going against the waves instead of flowing with them.
Still in shock Haiiro could only perceive the drips of red liquid painting the dirt. " I'm bleeding" his words rang hollow in his mind. " It all happened so fast," He muttered to himself. Kobachi tossed a cloth to Haiiro and told him to wipe his nose.
" Sorry I didn't mean to get that excited." The girl said.
" No, no it's fine." Haiiro said giving a force smile
" Ok, Now that you both had a little breather are y'all ready to go again." Kobachi said.
" You're not much of a challenge but beggars can't be choosers. I'm ready when you are, "she replied.
" Haiiro up," Kobachi said. Haiiro got up reluctantly.
" Mimic her stance," Kobachi whispered in Haiiro's ear. Furious but determined. Both Squaring up. Haiiro did what Kobachi told him and mimicked the girl's stance.
" So Haiiro your name. Well you didn't ask but my name is Rumi"