(Ken Tokitō POV - Konoha Year 38 - Tokitō Residence)
I gave Masuyo and Kai one last hug, feeling the weight of their gazes lingering on me as I turned away and walked toward the rest of the squad waiting outside the residence.
Other than me, there was also Toshiko Uchiha. She rested her hand on the hilt of her katana, the weapon strapped to her hip, and wore her Konoha headband over her dark hair.
Then there was Kenshin Shimura, who was wearing a regular Konoha flak jacket and a Konoha headband on his forehead. I sighed. Shimura's were such bores, always so rigid and strict.
And there was also Azami Hyuga, who, as all main branch Hyuga did, looked at me in scorn, her chin tilted slightly, and her posture stiff. I rolled my eyes so far back I was surprised it didn't get stuck.
Then there was I.
I was dressed in a dark gray tunic, with an open, thin gray jacket. My shoes were steel-tipped with bandages covering my forelegs and a dark gray robe tied around my waist. My Konoha headband hangs loosely from my neck.
As we began our journey, I looked back at my house one last time before it fell into place and caught up to the others.
(Ken Tokitō POV - Konoha Year 38 - Konoha's Base Camp in Amegakure)
It took two days to finally reach Amegakure on foot. The atmosphere in Ame was depressing; it was raining constantly. It was a surprise that there wasn't any flooding.
My teammates and I didn't talk through the whole journey; we had no similarities. This was not a kids' game; this was war.
As we slowed our pace, mud started to slosh at my boots, rain wetting the clothes I was wearing.
As we got into the base camp of Konoha's forces, we had to be inspected to make sure we were not spies. Some Yamanaka looked through our minds to figure out if we were.
It made me uncomfortable. It was as if a gigantic eye was in my most precious memories.
The team then went to report under Orochimaru. It's been a while since I saw him in person. After the academy and his gaining fame from being the student of the Third Hokage, he probably doesn't even recognize me.
Multiple other Ninjas joined us in the conference room, where Orochimaru gave a speech.
He was creepy, unsettling, pale white skin that looked inhumane, hair that went down to his back, purple markings that went from his eyes to the bridge of his nose, a tall and slender frame, with yellow and snake-like eyes.
He would probably make kids have nightmares.
I didn't listen to the speech, will of fire this, will of fire that, all I was wondering was about how Kai and Masuyo were doing.
I let out a faint smile as I thought about how Kai was probably complaining about Masuyo's cooking and her twitching her eyes in anger.
I almost let out a faint laugh, but held it in out of respect for Orochimaru.
"-And with that, you are dismissed." Orochimaru finally finished, and I left the room with the other shinobi.
I walked around for a few minutes, looking at the other Ninjas who were there before, seeing the hollow eyes and red eyes filled me with bitterness. Was this really the purpose of a Ninja? To be killed and replaced with the next one, only for that one to be killed and replaced again?
It said Hashirama wanted to stop the killing of children, yet I see children being killed; perhaps he meant only clan children? What did that mean for Kai then?
Is this really how chakra was meant to be used?
It didn't feel like it, but if I had to use it like this, to protect my family, to make sure we live another day, I would.
I would die before I let him become some mindless killer for a village that didn't cherish him.
I'll train him to be greater, to be someone who can rewrite the system.
Yeah, my son will be great.
Suddenly, A few screams broke into the air as a few kunai rained down onto the camp.
__________________________________
Ok! First chapter of the day, there'll probably be another one in an hour or two, as it will be longer.
This arc, following Ken, will last like 5 chapters, including this one.
200 powerstones for a bonus chapter!