Brothers of Blood and Bone

The premise unsettled the ambience in the room. The silence told enough, except for the quivering boy, watched by the. She waited for him to speak, yet, the child could not raise his voice. He had lost it, except, the naïve one expressed it by slamming his hand on top of the Kage's desk. Papers flew around and about. His glare had intensified, but, she understood the turmoil he uncontrollably showed. Her lovely son was hurt, more so betrayed by his loved ones: the boy whom Kōsei views as his own blood and herself. She didn't question the child about his discoveries; the Kazekage could only confirm it. And, she knew, oh, she knew the consequences. Her innocent boy was devastated, broken, no longer smiling at her words. After all, his entire life was a mere dream to conceal the darkness of his family, which, now, became the nightmare of his existence.

From then on, Kōsei isolated himself from his two beloved ones, but, also, ignoring his duties as the Shugami. He had fallen in a state of despair, which, then, developed into a long term depression. Others, such as his master, attempted to approach him. Pull him out of that dark zone. It was to no avail. He digressed them, especially from the dream he wished to attain for the world. His world had crumbled down, the wishes he wanted to fulfil... no longer mattered. Yet, that was the biggest lie that Kōsei told to himself.

At last, finally, surprising everyone around him, Kōsei had returned to his former self. Many were relieved to see the smile of the boy, yet, some saw through that façade. So, once more, Urushi approached the boy, he was one of them that knew it was a mere mask. He knew that the boy suffered longer than he had showed to the world. He knew that Kōsei endured more pain and sadness than he revealed. After all, the boy has witnessed death more than a child of his age should encounter, especially one with a fragile heart as his. And, moreover, Urushi knew that the innocence that men tried to protect never existed.

Now, months later, he stands on top of the sand dune at the entrance to Sunagakure. His hound-mask hides his facial features. As such, Kōsei was forced to play the villain, knocking out the guards, who, were brave enough to stop him. They thought he was going to attack the village. The rash wind forcefully brought his hood down, revealing the blue strands. Jumping down from the height should result to one's death. Yet, through the holes of the mask, the eyes of the predator became a glowing red with black sclera. Wings of blood tore through the back of his attire, shoving the mantle aside, as it slowed his descending. It slowly dissipated as he walked down the sand path. Some of the blood still dripped down on the sands, as a reaction to the heat, most of it boiled immediately that removed any trace of its usage.