Naruto: Child of the Lion

Chapter 1: Way of the Warrior

For as long as there have been men, there have been warriors. They fight in different forms, and fight for different reasons. Yet one things stands above all. The reason for the warrior's existence. Warriors exist to protect those that cannot protect themselves. That is what I do as my kind have done for many generations.

Allow me to introduce myself to you kind folk. My name is Kaya. If you put one of my kind side by side with a ninja, you see that we are very different. My weapons may seem strange to clouded eyes, but they are very effective in their tasks. My people are not as numerous as ninja, but we live among them in peace and harmony.

My favorite color is black. I express it in my turban, face cover, and clothing. The veil covers the bottom half of my face, so you only see my eyes. My skin is tanned, and my hair is black. All are distinctive features of my people. If you stay in my good graces, I can do what I can to help you, but I am not one you want to triflyl with.

I stand by a vow: 'I will never attack, when I must it is to defend the defenseless'. I care for others as I care for myself. I have fought off my opponents, yet among the ninja, I feel there is something missing. Lacking is more of the word I am looking for. Honor. To your family, to your gods, and yourself. Where does yours lay?

On these trails, I walk alone, but that does not mean I will not open myself up to making friends. I was on my way to a village called Konoha to meet with their leader, Tsunade. It was then that I made my first friend through her curiosity, "I know you are there, come...I will not hurt you or harm you in any way," I said to my guest.

"I've never seen you before," said the curious shinobi, what they call a kunoichi.

"Then I am happy to be the first of my kind your eyes have been welcomed to see," I replied, adding a piece of kindling to the fire keeping me warm on this night. The young lady slowly came out of the shadows. I turned an eye to the kunoichi that looked around my age, "now then, what are you called? What is your name?" I asked,

"Tenten," said the kunoichi, I nodded lightly and noticed a detail that I may find useful. Although she is not the first ninja I have ever met, she is certainly different from the others I knew in the past. Some tend to be prideful of their abilities, boasting how they are going to kill me. Sad to say, the trade for their pride is their lives.

"You come from the Hidden Leaf Village?" I asked in observation of her headband

"Yes, the village is not far from here, what brings you all the way out here?" she asked,

"I wish to speak with your village leader, Tenten, I am at the age where I am setting out on my own, forging my own path," I replied, Tenten seemed confused as I turned an eye to her, smiling under my veil, "I see you have questions, I will do my best to answer them, it would make for a pleasant conversation," I offered to her,

"Well, you don't look like a shinobi, so where are you from?" Tenten asked, I admire her inquisitiveness. It shows an interest in the world outside of her own. This is the farthest I have ever been from my homeland, and I have to say I am just as curious about her kind as she is about mine. There is a lot to learn from one like me.

"I come from a land far to the east, further than I am thinking many of your kind have traveled, though I could be mistaken," I explained, "as my people are not like yours, I would say I am curious of your kind as well," one thing that grabs the interest of people I meet along my travels are my weapons. One can call them 'exotic'.

That was not the case with this one, "Hmm...I have seen armor before, but nothing like this," said Tenten touching and feeling the sleeve. The armor I wear is called chainmail. It is light, and helps with ease of movement when I have to fight. When you fight an opponent, movement is very vital when both attacking and defending.

"It is called chainmail, very light, very fast," I replied, and put out the fire after supper of chicken and rice was concluded, "now then, since your home village is my destination, would you be so kind as to lead the way?" I asked, putting my bowl away in the bag at my back, Tenten seemed very willing to help me on my journey.

"Sure, follow me," she said brightly, "by the way, I forgot to ask your name," she added,

"I am called Kaya," I said following with ease.

"That's a pretty name," said Tenten, my kind are known for our speed and agility in battle. This stems from tough training at an early age. We train our bodies with stones tied to our backs, wrists, and ankles. As you grow, the weight grows and soon even the birds in the trees will greet you with their songs as you leap with them.

I am not a ninja of any kind. I use weapons and a fighting style that are different, with different names: the talwar (saber), the katar (punching dagger), the pata (gauntlet sword), the chakram (projectile weapon), and the bhala (spear). I can be your friend, but I am not one you want to anger. My name is Kaya. I am a Rajput.