Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Those tails on the kyuubi? Yeah, you can blame those on me…

Movement 1: Pain…

Pain…

Many think of it as a feeling. Some like to attune it to a status of an emotion. People like to think of it as a reminder of our humanity, others, our depravity. Some understand it in a way many find twisted: pleasure. Some see it in two types of flavors. One flavor is physical, to which one can die from too much: trivializing it like some trendy drug. The other is emotional, to people are thinking more every day is much, much more devastating: to both the victim and the community.

Me? I've dealt with both. Physical pain I'm trained in every day; and even more so to withstand wounds which would kill a normal person, due to adrenaline shock and internal bleeding and such. Emotional I've learned to deal with on my own. They like to think of it as a "shield," but mostly it's a horrible form of dissociation.

One thing I learned throughout my training pilgrimage was another kind of pain.

Obligatory, destined pain. The kind of pain you neither look for nor bring upon yourself. The pain where you are backed into the corner: with nothing to gain and nothing to lose. And yet for all your suffering, you are only given one choice, and that is to deal with it. Deal with the crippling pain, deal with the banishment from society, and deal with it because you're the only one left alive to do so. That hopeless, unforgiving kind of pain.

I learned of such an individual a long time ago…in the country of Wind…

The dusty clouds swept the golden bounty of the landscape, as unnecessary as it was. The wind howled with the ferocity of a lion, and the voice of a child. A dusty border town could be seen if close enough: battered daily by sand and wind. The buildings were made of solid granite, shaped into the smoothed squares. In the middle of this small villa stood a little cabana…

I was sitting at the local saloon, just minding my business. Ero-sennin had allowed himself to the vintage of area, and even I couldn't tell if he was drunk or not. I was trying to swallow the dry food: which I really didn't have a choice seeing as the Wind country was a place where dry goods were king. I was going to drift to sleep before what sounded at first like a small tussle started to get loud like an argument. I looked to the entrance to see the commotion…

A villager grimaced at the sight that just pulled itself into the door. A man with a dome straw hat had walked in slumping like he was half dead. The man wore a hakama top with an obi wrap to hold it in place. The man's pants were traveler's pants, with the exception that several slashes were cut into them across the leg. He seemed to be wearing bracers, which were metal plated and seemed to reach the hands up to the knuckles. What really set the villager off was the large blade he wore on the back of his waist, supported by what seemed to be a clasp: one on each hip on his back.

One of the local shinobi approached the man to inquire. "You, stranger," he spoke, "what's up with you? You look like you're in need of attendance."
The man tipped his hat up to look at the speaker, his eyes black and crusty from lack of light and sleep. The man took a look at the shinobi and then tilted his hat back down.

"I have no need to state my affairs, as I'm a traveler," spoke the man in a gruff tone.

The shinobi was obviously irritated at the man's smugness, but instead of taking action, he opted to form some simple kata and vanish from the bar. With that out of his way, the man ordered some food from the bartender, and sat himself down near a table against the wall.

Seemed pretty straight forward to me, and I thought nothing of it. However, what that Sand shinobi went to do was go get him some reinforcements. I was soon to witness that the two extra shinobi he brought back with him would prove to be of little use...

The mysterious warrior was finishing his meal when three Sand shinobi approached his table, the one he shrugged off leading them.

"Okay stranger, I think its time you let us in what you're up to here in town," said the ninja, obviously confidant that he was in control.

Naruto was quick to notice his sensei's actions, as he went from being inebriated and half off his chair, to sitting straight and watching the scene attentively. 'Sometimes I wonder if he drinks that much just to see if he ever gets drunk,' though the blond genin.

The man took his time, as he continued to finish the jerky and bread and ale he bought from the bar. With every bite and sip it seemed, the Sand chunin seemed to slowly lose control of his temper: a typical trait of the arrogant.

"That's it! You've finished your meal, now talk!" spoke the ninja in a more forceful tone.

Still the man paid him no mind.

The chunin had now lost his patience, and drew a kunai from one of his leg holsters. He attempted to cut the man to get him to cooperate, but all he struck was the man's metal bracers.

The man had put up his left hand up to defend himself, and even though he was sitting down, he was easily holding off the ninja's downward force. After a few seconds, the man decided he made his move, and pushed the ninja backwards with his arm. As the chunin easily gained his footing again, he seemed rather unnerved – and also rather pleased – that he finally got this man's attention.

The man was angry, but didn't budge, as he tilted his head up to look his dead black eyes into the eyes of his attacker.

"I see you won't leave this be. That...is a shame," spoke the man. "Now I suppose I'll have to defend myself from you three."
The chunin chuckled for a few seconds, his kunai still in hand. "You...want to fight all three of us?" he asked, pointing to his two companions.
"You can all attack me if you wish. I'll finish you all in one stroke," replied the man, and he put his right hand up in what seemed to be a kata.

The three chunin used their agility, thinking their opponent to be slow with such a large blade, and not being a ninja. However, the man kept his promise...

His left hand gripping his blade, the man waited for the three to attack simultaneously. His first target was the front one, who he hit with the butt of his sword. Using the momentum, and seeing the second to the right and back of the first, slashed horizontally. For the last one, using the same stroke alternated hands, and used a vertical slash before returning the sword to the waist, this time on the right clasp.

Of course, no one without training to see the unseen could see this happen. So for the man, Naruto and Jiraiya were his only witnesses, as in a flash, the three were motionless. The man calmly walked over to the bartender.

"Thank you for the meal and hospitality," he said, and flipped a coin onto the table. "That should cover it and the mess in here."

The bartender didn't understand, and looked to see the man just payed for a bronze ryou meal with a gold ryou.

"Sir, are you sure about this? And what do you mean about a mess?" he asked to no avail.

However, he was to receive his answer.

The first chunin coughed blood, as he fell apart in a "T" shape. The second was cut in half across the belly, as was the third down the middle. The blood of the three dead chunin sprayed everywhere, splashes of it landing on Naruto and Jiraiya.

When the incident reached the ears of the Kage in charge of the Wind country, he sent several Jounin and hunter-ninja to investigate. However, Ero-sennin and myself where there to explain the situation to the ninja. We let them know about how the mysterious man didn't strike until the chunin had provoked him. Apparently the Jounin knew of the arrogant creep as a troublemaker, and seemed to find no evidence of foul play. They declared the matter resolved, and the little town went on its busy way.

I didn't have much time to wonder about the man, as Ero-sennin took me out almost all the time to train. What started was a pattern. I'd be woken up at 5am, spend the morning on chakra exercise and jitsu training. I'd go in for lunch. I'd spend the afternoon fighting Ero-sennin for combat strategy and practice. The Evening would roll around, and I would be finishing the day with some light Taijitsu practice, then off to get some dinner.

It was those small breaks I had that I began to notice the man had been staying in town, contrary to what I thought about him. This time, he seemed to notice me as well, if only to glance my way before he began his own food. It took me two days of this before I decided to try and talk to him. I still wonder why I felt I wanted to, but the best I can guess is I felt where he was coming from. "Two chips off the same stone," or so the saying goes.

The man noticed the presence approaching him, and looked up to see the familiar blond at his side, looking to get his attention.

"Can I sit here?" asked Naruto casually, even though he knew the man recognized him.

The man was still eying him before he spoke. "Its common courtesy to give you name before you ask such a thing," he said commonly.

"Uzumaki Naruto," replied Naruto, "and now that I have given mine, what is yours?"

The man tapped his thumb on the table a few times while he mulled it over about the young man. Eventually he looked to him and gave him an answer.

"Sanada, Torimora Sanada," he replied, "and yes, you may sit here with me."
"Ah," spoke a voice behind them, "I could've sworn that swordplay was familiar."

Naruto and Sanada turned their attention to Jiraiya, who was rubbing his chin in interest at the man.

The man smirked. "I supposed the famous Toad Lord would recognize many forms from the past," he said to the hermit. As he spoke Jiraiya helped himself to a seat.

"Ero-sennin, you know about him?" Naruto asked, hearing a dark chuckle from the warrior over the 'honorific' he used.
"The man here is Sanada samurai, though I was to learn that they were wiped out completely. Apparently it was incomplete information."
"Sanada samurai," muttered Naruto, "but wait, how is he able to be so quick at swordplay? He was faster than any iaijitsu master I've seen in the past."
"The Sanada were the last recorded clan of samurai who were not only trained in sword arts, but were given special training in the shinobi arts."

Naruto turned to the warrior for his own take on the matter. "You have ninjitsu training?"

Sanada nodded in response. "A long time ago, we didn't have the ninja villages, or the countries that controlled them. Before the villages were given military status, there was a Daimyo system in affect. I was under a daimyo that controlled what is now known as the Country of Lightning. My clan was the result of an idea of creating warriors who knew the grace of swordsmanship, and the deadly efficiency of ninjitsu."

Jiraiya shook his head at the idea. "It was so foolish for a daimyo to think of such a thing. Ninja and samurai were always meant to be yin and yang, the sword and shield of their respective countries."

"You seem to forget though, how successful the daimyo was," commented Sanada. "The countries of the land cowered when they saw how effortless we completed our duties. But, I guess we scared even the man we swore fealty to."

"So that's how it happened," spoke Jiraiya. Naruto wanted to ask what he knew, but learned lately how just to shut up. Sanada continued his story.

"I was young still, just finished with my learning, and looking forward to master my technique. But the daimyo feared what he had created, and in an act of true cruelty, announced us traitors to the country. That one statement stripped us of our entire honor, and to finish off his crime, he sent an army of shinobi to wipe us out."

Sanada shook his head. "There was so much blood. I am the last of the clan. I have no honor, no duty, and no land to call home. I gave up on hope, love, and purpose a long time ago. And yet I can't just end it, for my code allows me not to. I...have one choice."

Naruto had to burst out at this point. "What?" he almost shouted.

"Die. Die in battle. That way the clan can die with some honor."

Naruto just looked at this man, after he said such an answer so effortlessly.

"Naruto," spoke up Jiraiya, knowing his pupils confusion. "You must understand that samurai live by different code than shinobi, even though we have similar duties and codes. Though he has no lord, Sanada here earns honor through battle. This is his own, and his clan's honor. He sees his only option is death, but not like the way you and I see it. He must live to the ideals he's grown on."

Sanada nodded at the hermit's explanation. "You need not feel pity young man. I had no choice the day the country of Lightning left us to die, stripped of purpose."

The way he spoke reminded me so much of Haku. The young ninja had himself come to the conclusion this man spoke of. I wondered at the similarity. After the Country of Wave, I would now and then think over the weight of Haku. He wanted to die, seeing as it as act of mercy instead of having him live without anything to live for. Everything inside me shouted that this was a horrible way of thinking. But then again, maybe I had no idea how they came across this philosophy? I wish to take the tile of Kage, so that I may bear the brunt of this horrible pain for the villagers. However, I decided long ago that I would learn about true pain first, and then decide for the others. In that way, could I feel my conscience clear?

"Will...you ever find this honor?" asked the boy to the new friend, at least in his mind.
"That," spoke Sanada, "is something I am not supposed to know, just try to find. Boy, you'd do well to head to the same words."

Sanada took his hand, and rubbed the young man's blond hair. "You're quite the sleeping dragon, or so the saying goes. Until the time you get stronger than me, try to take my advice." He decided to leave then.

"Wait!" shouted Naruto, pleading with the samurai.
"When I become Hokage, I want you to be there as a fully-fledged member of my clan."

The man quirked a brow, and looked rather shocked.

"Boy, I said you were strong, but do you expect me to take you seriously about such a promise?"

Naruto showed his left hand, showing the signs of the wound he gave himself years ago during the Wave mission. "When I swore upon this hand, I kept it," he said, and taking a kunai into the hand, plunged it into the right hand this time.

"And now, I give a promise to you. As long as this wound is here to remind all, you will become a member of Konoha."

Sanada bore no emotion, as his eyes locked onto Naruto's. After a while, Sanada pulled out his blade.

"This is the clan blade, Heaven's Cloud. To show my acceptance of your word, place your blood on its sacred edge." Naruto obliged the samurai, and let several drops of his blood stain the steel of the blade.

And recalled the last I saw of the man for a while. It would be months before Ero-sennin and I left the Country of Wind to further my training. I wonder if he's still alive. If he does live, I will keep my word. From him and Haku, I think I learned what pain was, physical, emotional, and obligatory. I can't help but wonder how this makes me a better person: many could see it as training in how to apply pain in my technique list. No, I will let them know, that I will know what it is to take it in, and hold it for your entire life. I have myself for the longest time, so I know better than everyone that it's something no one else should feel.

However, I didn't learn that yet in practice. My next event would show me what the consequences were for that. How if I weren't willing to do it, someone I care for would suffer even more than she had to...

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Oh well KPAAF all, see you soon...