Tales of a Ninja Magician: Of What Defines Us

Into the Rabbit Hole

There was certain rhythmic monotony to the duo's trip. Mana's pace had slowed down significantly, she was trying to be more careful and mindful of her surroundings. Last time she left the archive it was completely totaled. It was very likely that there'd not be a breath of air between the massive stone pieces that filled the underground facility. If an object as ancient as the Summoning Contract of the Bailong was even in the archive to begin with, it'd be either completely turned to dust or greatly damaged at this point.

With Mana being used to the monotony of her steps clacking in tandem with the thuds of her companion she was instantly made aware of the fact that Zairyo had stopped moving and began looking up. The magician's own gaze followed only to greet a swift blur of brown feathers that latched onto the swordsman's arm and hesitantly began clawing at it, causing irritation but still not breaking the skin, rushing the wielder to take away the contents that the hawk had carried.

"What is this?" Mana wondered out loud.

"My orders. My servitude for my village is what separates a man who is constantly journeying and is simply absent from the village affairs from a rogue ninja who is having people sent to take care of him. I am still a subordinate of my village, most of the times..." the man replied indifferently as his eyes struggled to read the letter's contents due to the rather difficult to work with lighting. The Sannin pocketed the letter and gently flicked the hawk on the top of his head, it must've been a way to commend the animal for breaking through the difficult upper layers of the forest as the hawk let its voice be known and expressed in joyful pride.

Soon the bird departed.

"I thought the Sannin are as good as retired, do you still take orders from the village?" Mana stopped walking as the Sannin's explanation confused her.

"Technically Sannin are considered ninja of great value that have paid their dues. They take up the missions they themselves want to be part of, in a way, they do not get orders. They get suggestions of open jobs that may require their expertise. That being said, I was not a Sannin my whole life. I've been receiving orders from the village through messenger hawks for many years, all the way until I've become Sannin." Zairyo sighed, the magician's curiosity must've really begun to get to the man.

After a brief pause the kunoichi turned around and kept on walking, carefully looking around to identify clues around her that may have helped the magician identify the archive or at least that she was getting close.

"So you've been making the grass waver for pretty long, huh?" Mana asked, still keeping her eyes occupied.

"Ever since my team spirit died out. I was a bit older than you when I left, at first ninja were sent after me but after several encounters and proof that I haven't deserted, given the circumstances of my background, I was allowed to work while constantly on the move. I'd like to think I have made myself useful..." Zairyo closed his eyes beginning to recall the memorable moments of his past deep in his mind. Even with his eyes closed and his mind fleeting the man managed not to bump against a single tree in a forest infamous for its thickness and cruel conditions.

The magician's emerald gaze met the man's eyes once they opened but then wandered off and began surveying the environment again. The Sannin sighed, he knew quite well what exactly the girl wished to ask but didn't.

"My team betrayed me and tried to kill me. After the Second Great Ninja War ended, the mood with the young brats was not too pro-ninja village and pro-war. Young kids right out of Academy died out by thousands, entire classrooms sent to war and eliminated in their entirety. The desertion rate was so off the roof that they began skewing the statistics. I refused to desert with my team so I was betrayed, taken out and left to die. My teammates may have been deserters but they were also wimps who couldn't finish me off. I think that the Third Hokage may have gotten a bit squeamish of forcing me work, he just let me work it out the best way I saw how. If he had pressed me with orders and reminders of the "ninja way", I'd have snapped too, I think..." Zairyo recalled.