The wind blew gently through the barren, stoney plains of the Earth country as it usually did, with the hot sun bearing down on all of it's inhabitants as they went through the days with their usual routines. That is how life went; you got up, went to work, made the needed amount of money to support your family, then you came home to a warm, comforting place with your wife and children waiting for your return. That was life.
At least, that is how life was for that of a commoner. The life of the Ninja was much different. Hakumei knew that all too well, after the years he had experienced in his life time. At only age fourty five, he had ammassed great amounts knowledge from the world he lived in, from the places he had seen, the people he had known, the history he had learned, the missions he had accomplished, those that he killed... all that and so much more had. Most of what he knew though, came from a certain person that he loved and respected: his father. That's what he liked to to think of him anyways. The man's true identity was the Tsuchikage Tomoshibi of Iwagakure, the Village Hidden in the Stone. That was his former title, anyways. He now had another title that replaced the one which he took so much pride in: deceased.
It had been twenty five years since the death of the honorable Kage... a horrible one at that. Hakumei could remembered it as if it happened yesterday. One normal day, as he was returning from his first accomplished S-Ranked mission, hoping to see the face of a proud father figure as he walked into the place that he called home. Several weeks before the mission, Hakumei had undergone rigerous, and brutal training from Tomoshibi to achieve the class of S-Rank. Having finished every single thing with great results, the final task in his training was to fight Tomoshibi himself.
Though Hakumei had lost greatly to the Tsuchikage, he held his own very well against his onslaught, especially for someone who had only held the title of Jonin for several months. From what Tomoshibi saw in the ninja, he could tell that the young man had great potential. He had allowed him to go to advance to the S-Rank, one of the highest and most respected level of ninja.
What Hakumei had come home to, was not that of a proud man... but to a beheaded one. Tomoshibi's body was seated in his favorite chair, with the top of the neck covered in blood. The head was no longer attatched to the old man's body. It had been severed, and taken away.
Many strong emotions were running through Hakumei's mind, those of hate, anger, rage, disbelief, saddness, depression... but all he could come to do was to cry. Tomoshibi always told him never show anyone your true emotions, but he just couldnt' help it. This sight was just to much to bear, and all he could do was pour his heart out through the tears that came rushing from his eyes. Tomoshibi was the only true family that Hakumei had... and now he had been swiped away from his reach, and now he was gone and never coming back.
This was the day that Hakumei had left the village, not wanting to cope with the man's death. He told one of what he was doing, or what had happened to their leader. They would soon find out on their own. This was also the day that Hakumei had hardened his heart, keeping his true feeling on the inside and never letting them out. That was what he decided, and that was how it would be.
He stood over the dead man's grave, which was high up on a hill overlooking Iwagakure. Hakumei knew that Tomoshibi would have liked the view. It showed all the wonderful scenery, and so many mountains that were off in the distance. The sunset looked amazing everytime here, almost so much to make Hakumei not want to leave the place. He knew he had to get going though. The world was calling him, and he had to oblige to it. The only thing he lived for anymore, was missions and a good fight. At least he still had his beliefs. They never got in the way of his missions though... unless he felt absolutely disgusted by what was asked of him.
There would be plenty of jobs for Hakumei in the time to come though, for a war beginning to rise from beneath the surface. This would bring nothing but anger, hate, senseless violence, spilt innocent blood, death, the things that Hakumei loathed to see. Each side had their own beliefs, and a strong difference of beliefs caused nothing but pain and fighting. Hakumei did not judge either of their beliefs, they each had the right to their own opinion... he just didn't know which ones he should believe. Shrugging off the subject for now, he bowed to the grave in respect for his old Sensei, then turned around and started walking away. He had a war to fight... whether it be on one of their sides... or his own.