The Shinobi Code: A Leaf On The Wind

[EmilyHuene]

"A shinobi must always put the mission first."
"A shinobi must follow their commander's instructions."
"A shinobi must prepare before it is too late to."
"A shinobi must never show any weakness."
"A shinobi must never show their tears."
"A shinobi must see the hidden meanings within the hidden meanings."

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"Who comes up with these rules?"

Her name was Aeryun Huene. She was a young Kunochi warrior from the Land hidden in the Sand. At the age of eight she began learning how to be a ninja, just like her mother and father before her. The young child sat on a bamboo mat across from her father as he laid out a scroll of several rules and regulations a Shinobi Ninja must follow. He read them to her stoically and with pride. Aeryun just titled her head like he was speaking a foreign language.

That was her favorite memory. It was the first time she saw her father laugh. Or at least the first time she could remember. After the Third ninja war he was always so serious. He'd always been on missions and afterwards was no different. He was always busy. When he finally took the time to sit down with her the first thing she did was laugh at the code.

"So you're not allowed to cry? Not ever."

"Not ever," he repeated and nodded his head.

"Did you ever cry, papa?"

The older man looked up and thought about it for a good long while. Aeryun began to worry that he'd forgotten what she'd asked of him. For being her father, he could easily pass as being her grandfather. They'd married late; the war too important to settle down. She wouldn't think of it now, but in her darker times she'd wonder if she was a mistake. Sometimes she still felt that way. But his answer that day warmed her heart.

"I cried once. It was the happiest day of my life."

Aeryun leaned in closer.

He continued, "It was when you were born."

Aeryun wiped her eyes as she felt the tears coming to her. It wasn't the memory of her father that was making her weep on this awful summer day, it was the sight of what was ahead of her. An entire village up in flames. Giant snakes attacking all over the city. The city was the village Hidden in the Leaves. The Sand had come here to destroy it. Aeryun hadn't understood what that meant until now. Talking about defeating an enemy was one thing. Watching a village of innocent people being attacked and burnt to the ground was different. This wasn't war. This was wrong. This was a mistake.

"What have we done...?"

THREE DAYS EARLIER​

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Aeryun walked into a classroom where several Genin shinobi had taken up waiting for the Chunin exams to begin. Her eyes scanned the room around her at her potential opponents. She saw HIM immediately. Gaara. Red hair, eyes full of malice. Aeryun looked away. She then noticed his siblings. She always respected Temari. She was a wind user like her. But where Temari used a fan, Aeryun used a bow. She even wore her headband the same way she did: loosely around her neckline.

Her outfit was one that fit an air-user quite well for it was loose and non restricting. Her torso was covered as were her sleeves but the shoulders were exposed for greater movement in the arms. Her midriff likewise was also exposed and met with a high-waisted skirt that fell in two parts down her legs. Tall long boots then covered her legs where she kept a few hidden daggers should she need them. Her black hair was braided in two long tails so as to stay out of her way when drawing the long bow she had slung over her shoulder by leather straps which also held her quiver.

Looking around the rest of the room she saw several Leaf ninja, including a yellow-haired boy who looked so much like the Fourth hokage. "That must be his son," she thought to herself. Like Gaara, he was the son of a Kage. Surely he was just as powerful. Her eyes drifted to his teammates and then moved toward the others in the room. A few Sound ninja had made their appearance and were causing some trouble with a grey haired Leaf ninja. Aeryun was curious about the Sound. She knew they were allies, but she couldn't say it aloud. The Leaf was their enemy. The Kazekage instructed them as such.

Moving away from the door she checked behind her to see if her teammates were there and then found a spot in the corner that was unoccupied....

@EmilyHuene ; @Black Noise ; @Darasuum ​

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[TwoSidedHeart]

A woman held her child close to her breast, her body so weak that she was sure that if there weren't pillows stuff behind her, that she would fall backwards. He breathing was haggard and she could feel herself trembling. Biting her lip, she looked down into the sleeping face of the child she was cradling. Her child. Her baby boy. Tears began to well up in her eyes as she thought about the fact that he would never know his father. The report of her beloved husbands death had come in only hours after the babies birth and it had caused her to fall to the ground in her grief. With the way things were going, it was likely that another war would break out over the next few years.

"Oh my little boy." The woman said, craning her neck to place a kiss on his forehead. "This world you've been born into is going to test you in ways I can't imagine. But I'll be here to help you. I'll always be here." The baby murmured, nestling himself further into her and she felt her tears overflow and begin to fall down her cheeks. She could feel the lie in her own tone, but he wouldn't be able to understand that. He was only a couple of days old after all. Her body was fighting against her and it was all she could do to hold him like this, even for a short time. "What should I call you? It's probably time I give you a name. I was hoping to wait for your daddy to help me decide but..." Blinking her tears away, she forced a smile and eyed her child before an idea flashed into her mind. "Takeshi. Takeshi Endo. A strong name for a strong boy."

Sixteen Years Later

Blood. Fire. Smoke.

The Leaf Village was in complete chaotic carnage. Takeshi threw himself aside to avoid an attack from some Leaf Shinobi, throwing several kunai at his attacker. For the most part the Kunai hit their marks and the Leaf Shinobi fell to the ground. Picking up one of the Kunai that had dropped, Takeshi looked down at his opponent who was looking up at him with fearful eyes. Setting his jaw firmly, Takeshi stepped closer, ignoring the pleas coming from the boy who was about his age. The protesting stopped moments later and he released his hold on the Kunai, leaving it embedded in the side of the boys neck. The sounds of battle could be heard all around him, the roars of giant beasts assaulting the city off in the distance and panicked screams of civilians filling in the space between. When his team had been assigned this mission, he remembered being excited for it all but this? This didn't seem right. This was a slaughter, not a battle. His emerald colored eyes looked upwards from his position in the spectators stands to the purple barrier where a great battle was taking place between two Kage. Clenching his fists to stop the trembling, he scoffed and tore his gaze away, taking off to find his way out into the village and hopefully his team mates.

"I hope this is all worth it in the end..."

Three Days Earlier

Takeshi was excited.

His eyes darted around the chamber, studying each and every person within sight. There were the famous three children of their Kazekage of course, some of the most powerful prospects out of their village in years. Every Genin from the Sand knew who they were and Takeshi was no exception. His eyes lingered on Gaara in particular. He'd always been somewhat wary of that boy. Takeshi's usual chatty nature had never managed to elicit more than a disinterested grunt from the red head and it made him uneasy. Kankuro and Temari on the other hand were always looking for conversation. Then of course the Sound Ninja, the ones that were there to help them out in the grand plan to overturn the Leaf Village. They all looked pretty strong, except for one of them who had his arms in casts. Takeshi couldn't help but wonder what that had all been from.

And then there were, of course, the Leaf Genin. The yellow haired son of the Hokage, the last Uchiha, the Hyuga's great prodigy; so many potential enemies that he was going to have to combat. The very thought of it brought an eager smile to his face. As always he was wearing a baggy black hoodie with a maroon colored mesh T-shirt underneath, grey shorts and black ninja sandals. Around his waist was a belt with multiple pouches which housed various basic Ninja Tools such as Senbon, Kunai, Shuriken, Smoke Bombs and Wire while his favored Snake Sword was holstered on his back within easy reach. Lastly, he wore a thin gauntlet on his left wrist which held a limited supply of Senbon for quickfire and maroon finger less gloves. He had dyed the tips of his bleach blonde hair red for this particular occasion, wanting to give of a particular kind of recognizable flair to the audience.

He followed his team mates to a secluded corner, absent;y wondering if he would have to fight either of them in this. It was entirely possible. Heck, he could even be unlucky enough to have to combat Gaara. Or would that be lucky? The boys ultimate defense was well known after all, but maybe he could come up with some way to defeat the red head if he had to. Not that they were supposed to even try. Gaara was their villages secret weapon after all.


"I can't wait to get this going." Takeshi stated, breaking the silence among his team mates and letting his gaze drift to the son of the Hokage. "He looks pretty eager too. I wonder what techniques the son of the Leafs Yellow Flash has picked up?" Then his eyes went to the Uchiha boy and he smirked. "Reckon the Uchiha kid has unlocked his Sharingan yet? Could be a good time in battle."
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