The Bad News [open]

News spreads fast, however this one came slowly. Hitomi was eager to have her training if not more determined. Failing the bell test wasn't easy to take in however she knew it meant she needed to be stronger. She let out a sigh for a moment, dank air sank into the area and gave a feeling of dreariness.

She got up to meet with Rias possibly at the training grounds however she soon stopped when a group had been chatting about her Sensei. She stood back a bit and listened in, closing her eyes to hear them better. "D-dead?! By who, and why?" Hitomi paused a moment shaken by their words. Dead? He's not suppose to die, he's stronger than that.

She tried to reason for a moment in her mind. Tried to think of an explanation. Soon enough she took a gasp before heading off to Rias to see if he knew about it. Not to mention her other mentor Syndra, did she know? It would be a shame to die without him telling her, Hitomi already knew he had something towards her. Not to mention this was an Uchiha, how would his clan take this, his family.

She felt lost, a loss of words, direction, it was trail without directions. She wanted to cry really, he understood betrayal like she did, he understood the pain of it and now he's gone. She couldn't cry here, heck she really just wanted to be left alone in her shell once more but Rias has a right to know too and she couldn't just leave him to know alone. That wouldn't be right.

Syndra would have just gave her report to the village on the death of Soma Uchiha, her ally that was killed in action by the terrorist sword woman who attempted to completely destroyed the stone faces of the village. Syndra would then be on the search of Hitomi. A young girl who she knew was the student to Soma Uchiha. When walking through the village, Syndra saw Hitomi after just hearing rumors. Syndra would approach the girl down an empty street and stop about 10 meters away from her.

Syndra's attire consisted of an black long sleeve turtle neck with the neck rolled down some so her neck was still visible, a grey jounin flak jacket with pointed shoulder guards, black shinobi styled pants that stopped at her shins but her shins were not visible due to the bandages she wore from her ankles to her pants line, and black standard shinobi sandals.
She was pale skinned, light blue eyes, and long snow white hair that was held back in a long ponytail that was held together by three black hair rings. The moon marking on her forehead was covered by forehead protector that bore Konoha's village symbol. Strapped to her right thigh was shuriken holster and strapped to her right back hip was a tool carrying pouch.

After stopping in place about 10 meters away from Hitomi, Syndra would smile slightly to Hitomi. Although smile seemed like the type of smile that tried to comfort someone when bad news were about to be broken. "Hitomi, I have some bad news." Syndra would say, in a professional manner. She was use to breaking deaths to others, she was medic and had to do so often.

She turned to see Syndra, another she chose to trust during her more quiet and shelled time. She was a bit frantic and scared but not outrageously. Just her face showed her fear, she trusted him because he understood her which not many could do. She looked up to Syndra seeing her face and pausing with her eyes dilating from fear seeing her's filled with concern even with a smile. She knew something happened, that sentence is only said when someone dies close to another.

She took a deep gulp trying to hold her ground and readied herself for the news. She already knew what was going to be said however she didn't know how to take it. Her mentor was dead, someone she actually believed in was gone and she once again was left alone. Atleast it was her that would tell herself it. She did somewhat wish Rias was nearby, however she also hoped he wouldn't come near her. It was confusing like she needed someone just to be there but she didn't want to seem weak and just hang onto someone.

She even wanted to cry, she didn't but she wanted to so badly. Even the wind that usually calmed her down only just drove her deeper into fear. She didn't even speak, she didn't want to. Why would she need to, why not just be mute forever? Just ignore others and never trust anyone, but that wouldn't be nice. Especially not to Syndra and Rias, they were trustable to her at least. It would be just plain rude to ignore them after everything. She stood there unsure what to do other than listen and hope she doesn't break down. She did however speak calmly to Syndra with what she could. "I...I'm so sorry, I know he r-really liked you...it...must hurt so badly for him to be gone." She took a moment trying to gulp back her sad voice.

Syndra saw the distress in Hitomi, she was afraid. Syndra knew that typically genin didn't do well with accepting something like this. How could they though? They were young and were fairly new to what the shinobi world truly was. Syndra would take a deep breath and begin to speak in a somewhat concerned voice.
"Soma Uchiha, was killed in action during the attack on the village. Me and him fought to protect the village. ." Syndra paused as a tear rolled down her right cheek, showing some type of remorse over the situation. "He gave his life to protect me and this village. He died with honor." Syndra claimed in a type of voice that was often times heard at a funeral during a speech. Syndra seemed quite upset about the matter.
Syndra would then bow to Hitomi for a moment, as a sign of respect and as a sign of sympathy for her lost. Syndra would then raise. The shinobi world was a cold place.

She took in the information knowing it would come sooner or later. She didn't deserve to cry, after all Syndra was right there...someone who was right there and was much closer than she was. So why was she crying herself. She put her hands to her face trying to wipe it away, it wasn't right. It wasn't right and she hated it. She barely saw Syndra tear up and it just made her want to cry more.

"...I-I...I'm sorry...I don't deserve to cry. But, I c-can't stop it." She said with a small hiccup, it seems she was overwhelming herself. She was still a kid and yet she expected to act like some strong faced shinobi. She couldn't do that, she couldn't stop herself from it. She really hated crying, it was like she showed weakness to others however since it was her she was somewhat okay with it. Even so she tried to stop several times, unsure how to.

Syndra would take a couple steps towards Hitomi and place her hand on the top of Hitomi's head, as if comforting her. She would then speak as a slight breeze came by, causing green leaves to pass by them from the tree's planted near by in the village.
"It's okay to cry, Hitomi." Syndra would claim in a soothing voice. She would then ruffle her hair slightly before speaking again. "He would want his teaching live through you. Let that happen. He died honorably, as a true shinobi of Konohagakure. There's not better way to approach death as a ninja than to know it will benefit those you care about. In his case, it was the village." Syndra claimed in a sensei like voice before lifting her hand off Hitomi and placing it back to Syndra's side. She saw that Hitomi was upset over the matter. Syndra's face and words showed concern for Hitomi, although she wasn't tell the complete story. Although, for the time being no one would know that. Soma did die honorably, he died as a true shinobi of the village.

Just a normal day in the leaf village. The villagers, young and old, were in the light of the sun going throughout the day with their usual routines. They all went about life differently, the children ran from here to there playing their games and causing some mischief. While the adults worked hard at their careers but satisfyingly so, as they providing for their loved ones as well as interacting with their fellow leaf villagers. It was a normal sight for Rias as he walked along the streets of his village. On his back was a pack that held many vegetables within it, which could be clearly seen. Whilst in his hands were bags that held the rest of the things he was tasked with buying from the market. One having a few wrapped fish, some chicken, and beef. The other one held Rias' personal stash of sweets for his insatiable sweet tooth, comprising of mochi, daifuki, and his favorite above all else, dango. As he purchased them he was mentally aching to devour them then and there.

As he made his way past an old couple that were having a play at shogi, he spotted his teammate Shiruku-san. Something was off, deciding to venture over and check up on his teammate and the woman she was with, the tears caught him off guard. What was wrong? Why was she crying? Was she hurt? All these questions popped into his head as his face became contorted with worry for her. "Um.. Shiruku-san? Are you okay? Why are you crying?" He spoke with a gentle voice as his crimson eyes became soft.

She tried to listen to Syndra but wasn't even sure how to make words herself. She felt so embaressed and it didn't feel right to cry yet she did and had. She soon hear Rias nearby and didn't even want to look up. She kept wiping at her face trying to stop herself from crying but kept on. "S-sensei...he's...just...why...I-I...I trusted him. he's d-dead...gone...by battle...wh-why..." She seemed so sad in saying it with a cracked up voice and the occasional hiccup.

She sniffed a bit trying to finally calm down before huffing deeply. "Who killed him Syndra...I want to know...." She seemed serious and almost darkly in her voice even with crying. He didn't just flop over and die someone had to did him in. Syndra was there with him so she must have seen them. "I...I want them to pay..."  She gritted her teeth tugging on her shirt to keep herself from crying again. She was going into an angered state now, she wanted revenge. She never felt the death of someone before and now she wanted to avenge them. She finally looked up at Rias, she seemed so sad and angry even her blue eyes seemed less bright.

Syndra would look Hitomi directly in the eyes when she questioned his death, she knew she would ask. Syndra saw hate in the child's heart, she saw eyes that reached for vengeance. She would then speak calmly to Hitomi, soon after Rias showed up.
"It was a terrorist attack from a woman wielding one of the legendary Seven Swordsmen of the Mist's blades. I'm sure you have seen the recently destroyed face and that they are being reconstructed. Soma took an attack to give me an opening to strike down the woman, but the attack he took was just too much. If I have gotten to him a couple minutes earlier I might have been able to save him, but he had lost too much blood. The woman was killed and the village is currently investigating the Mist to see if it was a random act of violence or launched by the nation." Syndra's words seemed sincere, as if she was reliving the moment as she spoke of it. She knew that Hitomi might find some peace of mind knowing that her sensei's killer was struck down. It seemed that his death was not a pointless one, he died protecting the village.
Syndra would then glance over to Rias and then back to Hitomi.
"I will not overbear you with my presence. Take some time to cope. I could use the same, he was a great shinobi. I've known him for so long." Syndra would claim, remembering seeing him around the village while growing up.
Syndra would then bow to both Rias and Hitomi, to show respect and condolences before turning and leaving.
|Exit|

Something terrible must have happened. Shiruku-san was shedding tears uncontrollably and struggled to clear her eyes of them, but to no avail they continued to fall from the blue oceans that were her eyes. ~Just what happened to make her like this?~ He thought as he allowed the the bags in each hand to fall from his grasp, and moved closer to place his hand on her shoulder. No matter what had happened he was going to be there for her. Soon she began to speak but it was hard to understand exactly what she was saying due to the level sadness she felt. However, a few words got through to him. It took a second for him to piece them together and come up with the conclusion. As this new realization set in to him mentally, his eyes became darker almost completely losing that calming glint of a flame that resided within them. The hand on Shiruku-san's shoulder dropped. Their sensei was dead. Killed in action by someone, who he could only assume was an enemy.

Rias hadn't known the man long enough to actually know him but he did fight him, so that gave him somewhat of an understanding as to the type of person he was. That brief clash of fists and chakra had brought them closer than if they had simply spoke to each other for at least a year. Rias had began to envision their squad going on missions together, becoming stronger together, and most of all having fun together. The memories he wanted to make with them as a team were now obstructed. A piece, an important piece for those memories had vanished like a little flame upon a candle, causing the once illuminated room to be swallowed by darkness. Simply like that, quickly and without warning. With nothing left behind but smoke, which like the flame would disappear into that gluttonous darkness, albeit more slowly.

Shiruku-san was having it harder than him, obviously as she had knew him longer thus was much closer. He wanted to comfort her. Help her shoulder that sadness, he didn't want to see her cry anymore. Not in this way, not in pain. She had asked the woman whose name was Syndra for who exactly killed their sensei. Was she there with him? Then of course she should know...but. Crimson eyes made their way towards his teammate, she was angry. The way she spoke and gritted her teeth. She wanted revenge, which was very reasonable, even Rias wanted to avenge his sensei. But it seemed Shiruku-san was showing great hatred for this person, who had taken someone precious away and out of her life. Rias remained silent for the moment, should he say something or at least advise against revenge for now. Someone who took out sensei, would be without a doubt stronger than the two of them combined. Then again, how could he stop her? Would she even listen now? Rias cared for her, he didn't want her to go off and be killed too... Then Syndra had explained that the person was killed as well, which he hoped would calm her some. Knowing that her sensei was avenged, should relieve some if not most of her anger. But the fact that it was a mist ninja stuck in the back of his mind...where a few thoughts were invoked.

She had then looked up at him, her eyes reddened from crying so much but determined all the same with that anger. In that locking of their eyes, it was hard...so hard...to say what he wanted. All he could do was offer a small...sad...smile, and move to hug her. Hoping that having someone to embrace her would soften this pain...even a little.

She took a moment to listen to Syndra, as much as she could and word for word. She needed to know, she wanted to. However she paused in her anger and for a moment shuttered fear. The Swordsmen of the Mist. A title not lightly taken, and more-so she now understood a bit more on the battle. She took a moment to get her bearings with a tight gulp in her throat. She knew about them, but the attack she hadn't seen only saw the left over damage. She was busy at home during the fight, her father clearly knew more about it than she did and had her mother keep her and her younger brother away. She remembered seeing the faces of the mountain so mangled, so demolished. Not to mention as she thought deeper, who killed the swordsmen. Also where would the sword be right now. She didn't really want to ask this however. Mostly due to her body still in a saddened state that couldn't make words.

She nodded to Syndra, seeing her go off then turned over to Rias. She wasn't angry because the revenge was filled but even so. If those swordsmen are coming to the village, What would happen. She didn't want to lose anyone and yet this was a huge threat so they couldn't stand down. Her face seemed worn from the crying however the quick hug stopped her for the moment. She huffed a bit unsure how to react. Merely standing there while being hugged. She took a moment to pick her hands up and hold them out before hugging him back but rather tugging on his kimono as if she wasn't stable enough to stand. A quick grasp as she started crying again but it was a bit more comforting. With that said in her mind she was even sadder, she was growing bonds and what would happen if these bonds were to break. How could she take it, if her own sensei's death has brought her to tears.

[Exit]

Ryuho's heart sank as he read the paper note that arrived thirty minutes after a commotion of an incident occured earlier in the village. An explosion of sorts. Soma Uchiha was reported dead. A terrorist came to Konohagakure. Apparently she was wielding a legendary sword of sorts. A blade from the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. Both Syndra and Soma were able to stop the threat, but at the expense of Soma's life. The terrorists' corpses would also be in the hospital along with Soma's. He would like a last long at his men, and try to find out if the terrorists were linked to the other group before.

Oh, but how his heavy heart cannot bear this destruction upon his village. Not only Soma's death, his handsome face ruined, his lack of success in tracking down the enemy, but also Lindow Uchiha was also killed too. Cited by travelling sources, he was killed by three identical men who looked muscular with weird bulging eyes and had kid-like face. He would have to investigate this man. So many attacks on Konoha. Conspiracy? Links? It seems like the evidence that he couldnt find came back to Konohagakure after all. How ironic. Yuu-chan could see the redness on Ryuho's face. He didn't want her to see him, so he excused himself to go into a small room that's part of his office, although there are no soundproof walls or doors.

The good Hokage could not take it anymore. He stood there, the palm of his hand over his eye, weeping and sobbing, crying his broken heart out.