[Flashback] Ironblood meets Blackberry [Ei]

To think these people can withstand this unbearable heat has to be immune or something. Rin knows he's been getting into shape due to the month long of unable to exercise and consume meals like he's used to. Eventually Rin was able to train enough to walk normally without stumbling on the walls or the ground. Minor things also get in the way such as having a phantom limb symptom. Where he subconsciously thinks he has a right hand when in reality it's just a stump now. Rin made a reminder every time he mistakes his hand that soon he either regain his hand, gets someone to make an artificial one, or to use Kurama's chakra for it.

Before any of that however, Rin must get rid of this pesky Five Elements Seal that still hinders not only his access to chakra, but to link directly to Kurama. Luckily there is someone skilled in the sealing arts as well in Sunagakure. Problem is that Rin doesn't have any money for the service due to some lunatic robbed him of his money and gear. Leaving only the weapons stored in his wrist. Which means that Rin would have to resort into exchanging favors. He just hopes that this won't be another life or death favor. Doing a mission is one thing, but Rin is in no shape to do highly dangerous favors right now. However, before he can even suggest such a thing Rin has to get comfortable with just one hand now. Ninjutsu or not, missing a hand is something Rin has to teach his body.

Rin is garbed in simple clothing as he doesn't have armor or weapons on his person. Not even his headband or anything that says that he's from Konohagakure. Then again, there are a lot of people who at least heard of his feats. The successful defense against Kurama and becoming Kurama's host is the biggest feat he's accomplished. Then again so was the assault on the former Mizukage. Instead, Rin is only wearing a sand colored linen shirt that exposes some of scarred torso of his. A set of baggy pants with the ends wrapped by a white cloth around just above his ankles. Which shows the sandals he wears. Scars that looks like someone or something cut into an intricate pattern similar to tribal tattoos along his arms. It looks deep and recent as it seems to crawl up to his shoulders which bears the mark. The mark that resembles Hakkun, as it bears the head of a dragon with an opened maw.

So he finds himself at Sunagakure's training grounds. Usually he would bid his time sparring against his shadow clone, but the seal prevents such a technique from being performed. So he's having to make due with a dummy boulder. A boulder that's human sized, but with a quick and strong slam of his left fist utilizing the Arhat Fist. The boulder simply shatters into many stone shrapnel. A sigh escapes from his lips as the stone kicked up a small dust cloud as the sound of rock and an audible boom echoed throughout the training grounds. The knuckles on his left hand held a layer of sand, but otherwise not even a mark remain on his skin.

Sure he lived by the unexpected miracle from Nozomi. As by all accounts he shouldn't be alive right now. Time and Time again something unexpected always happens whenever Rin was on the verge of death. Frankly this time he was far closer to death for what felt like an eternity. Sometimes he still gets flashbacks of being in that soundless void. Other times he sees what he would compare to as Hades. Perhaps even Amaterasu, but the pantheon is always indirect. Whatever the case is, Rin hopes this doesn't make him numb to the thought of dying. There were still things that needs to be done, and frankly there were things only he can do. Or rather willing to do.

What's more is how alone Rin feels right now. Not in the sense that no one is around him, but rather Rin feels like he failed the bijuu. He promised the great creature that he would free Kyuubi rather than let Kurama fall into the Society's hands. Yet in the unexpected turn of events it was the leader of the Society who rescued Rin. Not any of the major villages pooled any effort into freeing him. The sad part of it all, is that it went roughly how Rin predicted it would. It just shows that the nations' only interests is their own greed. For once, Rin catches himself following a very similar mindset of Kurama's. Of what Kurama said right before Rin sealed the bijuu. That all he knew was greed, and Rin wanted to prove the bijuu wrong. Yet this whole time, Rin thinks, he was protecting the bijuu from the wrong people.

"I'm sorry, Kurama." Rin mutters to himself as he steps away from the rubble. Perhaps it was pointless to try to talk like Kyuubi can hear him, but Rin can't see what's on Kurama's perspective. So far Rin has let the bijuu see and hear as Rin does. Giving the chakra monster the freedom to at least move around and experience things as he does. Hence is probably why Rin's iris was always red even when Kurama's chakra wasn't active. Now because of this annoying seal that interferes with the connection not only is Rin's eyes back to hazel sea-green, but he can't even communicate with the bijuu.

The training grounds of Sunagakure were not somewhere that Ei frequently visited, having completed her own training as a Genin years ago, but it seemed that the few times that she did choose to make the trip she would be rewarded greatly. It was just a walk for her, in her standard kimono while carrying herself under the share of a parasol. It was a warm day. To any other it would be blistering hot out in this heat, but to her it was pleasantly cool, to perhaps where the parasol was unnecessary. Still, she enjoyed the aesthetic of the parasol even if it’s function was useless to her. It gave her a certain charm as an elegant woman that was difficult to find elsewhere.

She would be greeted by a man, practicing taijutsu on his own. It seemed that he was content with being without a partner, smashing his fists into a roughly human-sized boulder. Somewhat barbaric, but everyone had their own methods. She couldn’t fault him for being more brawn than brains, as strength was an important talent in its own right. Ei would stop herself on her stroll though, turning to watch the man as he destroyed the boulder and turned it into rubble.

“You must be Rin Uchiha, then.” It was the first thing to leave her mouth, spoken softly over to the man who might have not been aware of her presence until now. Just from his appearance she could recognize him, but in addition his mention of ‘Kurama’ gave it away.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.” It was said with a little bit of a singsong in her voice, as if she was teasing. Word spread around fast, after all. “For one, that you’re looking for an expert in Fuuinjutsu?”

No sooner did he turn away from the rubble he created, Rin caught sight of different colors that wasn’t light brown. It was mixture of colors that was simple in design yet still drew attention to the eyes. In that same moment Rin notices that what he was looking at was a kimono that an elegant woman was wearing. Out of habit, he presented a small smile and waved a hand in greeting. Not really expecting that she’ll stop or even speak to him. As he’s used to just being one of many faces in the crowd and easily overlooked.

She asked if he was Rin Uchiha, and his smile dropped into an expression of concern. In fact he seems to be guarded as he immediately suspects her of having some ulterior motive. ”And what if I am?” He couldn’t help except to feel defensive when a stranger, no matter how appealing they are whether through physical appearance or reputation, Rin is having a hard time to just trust anyone. Ei continued to say that she’s heard a lot about him, and that she specifically heard that Rin was looking for an expert in Fuuinjutsu.

”From what you’re saying is implying that either you fit the bill or you know someone who does. But before I agree to anything at least tell me your name.” Rin says as he might seem a bit defensive still, but he’s actually being neutral in his responses. He doubts that any of Konoha’s brats would infiltrate somewhere they don’t even know where he is at. At the same time, Rin wouldn’t put it past Akihiro to send someone or do it himself to assassinate Rin before Rin becomes a problem. Given what he’s heard of Konohagakure and Kirigakure’s track record. They were hoping that Rin would die by the hands of Menza, and now that Rin hasn’t and is in fact rescued by Nozomi. He owes his life to her, and if anything he’ll at least try to make her goals easier to obtain.

“And what if you are? A lot of things. Rin Uchiha is a very famous name as of late. Someone of your significance being all the way out here has a lot of implications, don’t you think?” She would smile, a bit of a teasing tone in her voice. The way he was so defensive about it was almost a bit cute. Rin reminded her of Azuma in that way. The sort of boy who was great for teasing. She almost had the urge to play with him a bit. Lead him on with some subtle information that would make him paranoid, or something that he would only half understand and thus make him relentlessly curious. It would have perhaps been a bit cruel, but that wasn’t the reason that Ei refrained. It was more out of a respect for her own time. There were many other things she had to do today. She couldn’t spend too long playing with him, and she knew that if she started it would engross her to the point she would find it hard to tear herself away from it.

“My name is Ei Kanagawa. Not a name that many would recognize, perhaps unless you’re one who appreciates the local arts. I’m a Jōnin here, in Sungakure no Sato. Or at least, I was. I don’t know if rank means anything anymore, with how this village has changed as of late.”

“But, I suppose I don’t want to burden you with local politics. It would be rather rude of me to do so… I’ve come to find you based on hearing that you needed some help with a seal. Is that not true?”