A Stinging BDay [Open]

It was a lovely day in all regards as groups of children laugh and run after each other down the streets. Villagers going about their daily lives with a smile on their faces. Clerks wishing everyone a good day and even putting some sales on their wares for the special occasion. This was probably a good example how far of peace this village has come to. Especially since everyone seems to be happy about something.

Well, maybe not everyone in the village. There is one particular boy who would be found at the local blacksmith’s forge in Secondary Market Street. The familiar sharp clangs of metal striking glowing hot bars echo throughout the forge as the smith hammers away at the piece. Whatever little draft of chill from the outside is immediately washed away from the surging waves of intense heat. The warmth was comforting and welcoming to an extent.

Green flaked, light blue eyes gaze at the stone floor beneath them. Rin felt like something was off from today. Perhaps because today was his twelfth birthday, but like every other birthday as far as he remembers it was hardly celebrated. Rin was used to it by now, so why did it bother him now? The large man that was quite muscular with a bald head looked over his shoulders. His eyes were covered by goggles to protect his eyes from the blinding light. “Are ye gonna sit ‘ere all day moping?” The man asked with a deep voice as Rin glanced up at his mentor, but no words came out of his lips.

Hitsuro, Rin’s mentor into smithing, scratched his chin for a moment. “Don’t tell me this is about some girl. Ye look awfully young to be worrying about stuff like that.” While it did snap Rin out of his state, the boy just looked confused as to what the man was implying. “Not quite sure what you are trying to say there. I am only…” Rin paused as he tried to find the right words to say here, but only a sigh escapes from his mouth. “I have a lot of stuff in my mind right now.”

Hitsuro dipped his head before going back to slamming his hammer onto the bar of molten metal. Sparks of fire erupt from the strike as they fell to the ground. “Get out of ‘ere kid. Ye should be out trainin’ or whatever it is ye genin do.”Hitsuro told his student who took a moment to gather his coat. In Rin’s mind most people would be spending time with their family and friends on this day. At the very least he figured to stop by the Uchiha clan estate.

Rin just looked so out of it as his mind went from how he should improve on his next training regiment to thoughts of his family. He couldn’t place it, but there was something off with the whole atmosphere when Rin is near other members of his clan. The only one who even acknowledges him is his mother Maiori Uchiha. However lately it feels like even she is pushing him away. They don’t participate in family activities or even go on trips through the Senju Forest like they used to. It has kind of made him wonder if maybe Rin did something wrong that might have set them off?

Rin dismissed those thoughts as he approached the estate with his coat wrapped snugly around his body. The genin walked into the courtyard and honestly wasn’t surprised to find anyone outside. Just in case, Rin suppressed his chakra as he didn’t want to be noticed if he can help it. After all Rin is curious how the members act when he is not there. So he walks up to the building with his feet nearly silent on the wooden planks. When Rin quietly slides open the door he is immediately bathed in warmth as laughter can be heard throughout the corridors. Remembering his manners, Rin closed the door and took off his shoes before quietly making his way towards the dining room. Back lightly pressed against the wall, Rin leaned over as there was a lot of talking and there was a lot of people in the household. Thankfully no one seemed to notice him, but just as Rin feared the sight stabbed him quite harshly.

They would never do that with him, for the moment he enters the same room with them the household would grow quiet and stare at him in disgust. Rin remembers that all too well, and quite frankly it hurts him as tears began to trickle down his cheek. The boy brushed them away before he walks along the corridor where his room is located at the very back and practically the smallest room in the estate. It is literally a walk-in closet that is barely 10x5 which is big enough for his bed and to hang up his clothing. Rin only grabbed one thing, and that was his katana which strangely held a familiar bond even though Rin had just bought it from Hitsuro. Afterwards Rin, without saying a word to any of the Uchiha, practically stormed out of the estate and immediately departed for the First Training Grounds.

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Rin’s steps carried more emotion than he intended as mixed feelings of emotional pain and anger swells up in his core. The boy traveled to the intended training grounds where he felt like he would be alone. Once he arrives, Rin slides his weapon out of the wooden scabbard, letting the naked blade soak in the winter’s sun. Rin practically swung his blade at the air in anger as the iron sliced through the wind. Leaving only a familiar sound left from something keen slicing through the air.

“I don’t get it…” Rin swung two more times each with a step forward and as he swung for the third time Rin spun at 180 degrees and proceed to stab. The speed was remarkable for someone who supposed to have no talents whatsoever. Yet Rin didn’t give two bats about accuracy as he was honestly just swinging his sword at the air in frustration. What was he missing? Why is he so different from the other members of his clan? Why does everyone seem to hate him so?! At the final thought Rin stabbed the blade into the ground as his body temperature was rising both from the amount of physical effort and from the confused anger dwelling on his mind. “What did i do…? Why don’t i have the talents like my brethren do? It makes no sense…”

“Keep swinging that thing around mindlessly and you won’t get anywhere except tiring yourself out much quicker.” A familiar voice spoke up that brings Rin to a halt in mid-swing of his blade. That was a voice he honestly didn’t expect to hear since he could’ve sworn she was still at the clan’s estate. Now that he’s bringing his senses to a focused state, Rin does sense someone standing roughly ten meters behind him. When he looked over at that direction there was nothing but a line of Senju trees. Yet his senses knows that she is there as there was no mistaking it. Sure enough, like dropping the curtain, a puff of smoke suddenly appeared on the spot behind the tree.

Maiori's Appearance:

Stepping out of the tree is a beautiful woman with long black hair and is garbed in a black kimono embroidered with reddish gold threadings that looks like plants and vines caress her body. The most distinguished part of her was the eyes for they were dark as the night. This lady is Maiori Uchiha, Rin’s mother and teacher until he graduated from the academy. “If i was able to approach you this close and you didn’t even notice my presence then you really need to work on your sensing abilities too.” Maiori appeared that she wanted to say more, but resulted in sighing instead. Reaching up, Maiori combed through her silky black hair with her delicate fingers before speaking again.

“How has your training been? I mean, since after you got assigned of course. I hope the head of the Hyuga family wasn’t too rough on you for the first day.” Maiori asked as she honestly felt guilty for pushing Rin away. However the clan felt it would be best to more or less isolate him as it would help shape him up as a shinobi. Perhaps it was motherly love, but Maiori was strongly against the very thought. She felt that pushing him away would only result in brewing hatred towards the clan, and worse hatred towards her. Maiori knew he didn’t possess the Sharingan, so the isolation would do nothing but make him forsake the clan’s name.

Rin was panting as the grip on his sword ache from the amount of swings he’s given so far. However unintentional it was, Maiori saw from her perception that he was crying. Rin didn’t seem to have noticed though as he responded trying to hide the anger and doubt swelled up inside of him. “The training was fine. I couldn’t do anything and i couldn’t even keep up. Worst of all she kept both arms crossed and just used her legs.” It shouldn’t be surprising, or rather it wasn’t surprising as he knew from the very beginning he was going to lose. While he was aware of the goal and purpose it still put a stain on his weak pride as yet again he failed to meet up to the Uchiha’s standards.

Maiori remained silent as she pursed her lips. She already expected that Rin wouldn’t be able to stand up against a jonin let alone someone who has the eyes and skill of a Hyuga. However the woman felt that it would’ve been best for Rin to be trained outside of the clan in hopes someone would be able to train him better than he was being treated at the estate. It was risky Maiori will admit, but she hoped this approach may quell the old hatred between the two clans. Least to say Rin is not dead so there’s something. “I see… Well in that case allow me to train you one technique. One that would prove valuable to cross the distance at a much quicker pace.” Maiori briefly explained that Rin looked a bit… antsy at best.

“Will you tell me why the family treats me so? What did i do to cause them to hate me?” Rin asked even though he was excited about learning a new technique, however he still wanted to know. Perhaps he can correct himself and bring redemption to his name. Maiori appeared to have a pained expression in her dark eyes as she pondered on it for a moment. “When you get selected to participate in the Chunin Exams I’ll tell you the true reason behind it. Until then, keep training and work with your team.” Rin was disappointed that his mother didn’t tell him, but at least she’ll tell if he gets selected into the Chunin Exams right?

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“Again.” Half an hour passed as Rin attempts the Body Flicker technique for the 25th time now. Ends up failing as the chakra around him simply winks out of existence before it can kick off. The boy has the half tiger sign up with his left hand. Yet his focus is not in his training for he is still bothered and doubting himself because Rin has picked up that nobody likes him and in fact seem to hate him. His mother sure didn’t deny that part either so it was true that the Uchiha clan hates him.

Rin shrouds his body with the active chakra before he attempts once again to move from one end of the training area to the other in just a second. It was an accident, but hatred brewing towards his family’s name took ahold of his mind as Rin actually executed the technique. Just didn’t control it as he slams into that tree that is on the other side from where he was standing. To put it bluntly him slamming into the tree face first moving at that speed ended up knocking him out. Maiori frowned at the thought that Rin knocked himself out from running into a tree. It just showed he wasn’t controlling his chakra well enough. Honestly she remembers why she sent him away elsewhere because he is quite a handful when it comes to anything related to Ninjutsu. She had to teach him how to properly do the transformation and clone jutsu. Yet that took weeks to accomplish before he got it right.

Still, Maiori lets out a sigh as she walks over to peel young Rin off from the bark and picks up his sword. She found it odd that he was using a sword for she never recalled him ever getting one. Maiori suddenly felt guilty as she remembers how he is different when it comes to wielding the sword and even sword arts were they not so advanced. By the end of the day Maiori is beginning to realize why Rin’s previous family was just a group of extremely talented swordsmen. She even began to wonder if it was possible to get a friendly Kenjutsu specialist to train Rin just to see the difference. But alas that was a time for another day.

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Word Count: 1140/100

Body Flicker (D)