In a dimly lit room within the area, a young man discovered a path that would alter the course of his life forever. As he ventured forth, his footsteps echoed on the weathered wooden floor, each step causing the ancient boards to creak beneath his weight. This young man, named Togusa, possessed determined brown eyes that gazed steadfastly ahead. His confidence was questionable, but his curiosity drove him forward.
He found himself entering an aged shrine, overgrown with moss and strewn with rocks that littered the floor. His heart raced as he surveyed the interior, the statues within partially or completely destroyed by the relentless passage of time. His brown eyes carefully scanned the room, as if his very breath might trigger an unfortunate mishap. Undeterred, he pressed on, the gray wooden planks beneath his feet illuminated by the soft glow of the full moon overhead. He yearned to uncover something of significance.
This place lay within his clan's ancestral lands, abandoned for years, and situated on the outskirts of the town. Its existence had faded into obscurity, much like the people who once inhabited it. No one paid heed or remembered this shrine, this land, or the circumstances that had led to its construction.
Within the temple, remnants of statues depicted individuals from a bygone era when ninja clans thrived, and this land was their homeland. Togusa's clan, once masters of the surrounding territory, had now faded into oblivion. The knowledge that this land had once been theirs to safeguard and cherish had been erased from the memories of all those who still drew breath.
Much like this place, Togusa himself was a forgotten ninja, not reviled like Naruto Uzumaki nor revered like Sasuke Uchiha, but simply consigned to the annals of history. The young man was an incoming student at the Konoha Ninja Academy, and as he explored the shrine, he reflected on his family's land.
Kaza Togusa moved cautiously, ensuring his footing on the rickety wooden floors, riddled with holes likely created a century ago and left neglected for decades. It served as a somber reminder of his clan's decline, a tragic lineage marked by failure and despair. Among his generation of Togusa, he stood as the sole survivor. His father had perished on a mission against bandits, his uncle during the attack of the Nine-Tails, and his grandfather in the Second Great War. His cousins had met their end in a battle against samurai in the Land of Iron. None had lived beyond the age of 25, and most had not even reached 19. Now, he was but an ordinary 8-year-old burdened by this history, weighed down by self-doubt stemming from his family's tragic legacy. The burden of failure and misfortune weighed heavily upon him as he pressed onward.
He released a deep sigh and closed his eyes, focusing on the sounds surrounding him. The wind whispered through the temple, and he could discern the faint scurrying of a mouse behind him. The serenity of nature enveloped him in this tranquil moment. Opening his eyes, he proceeded with greater caution, spotting a toppled stand at the rear of the temple. His attention was drawn to an unusual chest adorned with a mysterious combination. As he examined the lock, he contemplated the symbols scattered around the structure.
Kaza dedicated some time to deciphering the box, uncertain about its purpose. He fiddled with the symbols, altering each one, until a sudden crack echoed through the temple, and the box sprang open.
With dark brown eyes focused, Kaza gazed at the contents within, delicately sifting through them. He discovered an ancient scroll and a striking golden ring adorned with a vivid emerald gem at its center. The ring emitted an eerie, otherworldly glow. Kaza raised the ring to his eyes, scrutinizing it meticulously from every angle, ensuring its perfection.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Kaza slid the ring onto his finger. Instantly, the ring illuminated with a brilliant, radiant green light, seemingly adjusting to his finger. He attempted to remove it hastily, but to his surprise, it clung to his finger as if bound by some unnatural force. Panic surged through him as his body was drained of energy and chakra, leaving him weakened and gasping for breath.
Summoning all his willpower, Kaza focused on regulating his breath and calming his racing heart. Gradually, his breathing steadied, and he mustered the strength to rise from the ground. Though he remained weak, he knew he had to make his way back home. The path ahead wound through a forest, providing cover for his late-night excursion.
Carefully, he leaned against a tree, using it for support as he navigated from the shrine to his family's residence. Fortunately, his mother was asleep, sparing him her scolding for sneaking out at such a late hour.
He quietly entered through the back door and made his way to his own room. Collapsing onto his bed, he lay there for a while, breathing heavily. His heart raced, partly due to panic and partly due to the stress of the situation. Eventually, exhaustion overcame him, and he drifted into slumber, his eyes closing as he sought some rest that night. His body gradually adjusted to the absence of chakra.
The next morning, lying in bed, he felt weaker and less capable. On his first day at the academy, the eight-year-old boy found himself lacking energy, regretting his choice of picking up the ring and putting it on. He glanced at the scroll again, opening it. Its contents remained a mystery, with strange symbols he couldn't decipher.
He walked to school quietly, embarking on the long journey from his family home, which was far from the village center and outside its walls. He had to arrive early, navigating the streets and reaching the academy before anyone else to avoid causing any commotion at home. The decision to keep the ring was his, and he resolved to handle it alone.
He took a seat near the back of the classroom, unnoticed by his fellow students, and placed his small bag of supplies on his desk. Leaning back in his chair, he had arrived early, well ahead of the others. As he perused the list of names of his fellow ninja, he couldn't help but feel insignificant in comparison. Many came from renowned clans, and some were even children of leaders of those clans. Compared to them, he felt like a nobody, unworthy of mention.
The second person in the room was the teacher, Iruka, who looked at Kaza with a hint of surprise at seeing a student at school so early. He regarded Kaza for a moment, somewhat bewildered. "Good morning, um... Kaza," he said, trying to recall his new students on the first day of school. He glanced at the name on his roster, and Iruka couldn't help but be surprised to find a member of the Togusa clan in his class. Wasn't that a clan that had faded into obscurity?
"Good morning, sensei," Kaza replied, his voice lacking confidence or boldness as he opened a book and began reading, effectively closing off any further conversation.
Iruka remained silent as he prepared the classroom, unsure of what to say to a child who had lost his entire family or appeared so reserved. If Kaza wanted to read, then let him read. Things would work out in their own time. Shortly afterward, other students began to arrive, drawing Iruka's attention away, especially when the boisterous Naruto Uzumaki entered the classroom like a whirlwind. In the midst of such dynamic personalities, Kaza was bound to go mostly unnoticed that morning.
Even the colorful ring on his finger, which might have attracted attention from his classmates, seemed to go largely unnoticed as they entered, each lost in their own world. Kaza remained seated, reading quietly.
Eventually, the time came for introductions, and Kaza stood up straight, his eyes scanning the room. He didn't shy away from speaking before others, displaying a small spark of pride or confidence as he addressed his new classmates. "Good morning, everyone. I am Togusa Kaza, and I'm glad to be here. Thank you for letting me attend this school. I hope to do my best and follow in the footsteps of my father and the rest of my family before me by becoming a ninja," he said before taking his seat. He left a positive impression, but it quickly faded as the actions of more attention-seeking students dominated the classroom.
As he occasionally glanced up from his book, Kaza remained focused on his studies, diligently working to learn what was required. He was a diligent worker, but he continued to fly under the radar, forgotten by most. His appearance was average, and his scores in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu were subpar, although his intelligence scores were above average enough to keep his overall grade just high enough to pass without drawing much concern from his teachers. This, however, kept him unnoticed, as teachers often expected a certain level of performance in all areas of study.
He had no friends, no enemies, and no rivals. His future, at best, seemed to predict him as a ninja with little significance.
Every day after school, he would head straight to explore the Togusa lands, searching every inch for clues on how to rid himself of the ring, which seemed to adapt to his growing size. Although he never found any answers, he did discover the remnants of numerous buildings and temples, a forgotten area lost to time, much like he was lost to the world. Yet, each day he persisted, climbing and pushing himself to stand out among a field of talented ninja who overshadowed him like towering trees, leaving him in their shadow.
In the unfamiliar territory of his family's homestead, Kaza could find solace, revel in simple pleasures, and truly be himself. There was no one there to pass judgment on him for being a Tosa, and no one to overlook his existence. It was just him and the untouched expanse of nature. In time, he would become intimately acquainted with this land, knowing its every nook and cranny.
He scoured the landscape for any hints or clues regarding the enigmatic ring and worked tirelessly to restore the land to a semblance of its former glory. On official records, this land still belonged to his family, though it had been forsaken and lay far removed from the bustling village. That had to hold some significance.
A/N- Thanks for the review and a good question, I like to use it to help me to fix my many grammatical errors and such. If this is a problem my apologies. I just want to put together a fun and readable story. Also this is the 3 times I have restarted this story, the first time I didn't post it, the second time I did, and I don't like it, so I am rewriting this completely. I lost the main themes of importances to focus far more on the romantic elements. So I am going to try to balance out my two tries, with this, and do a better job at it. Sorry if you preferred the other ones. Also if you don't like my writing for whatever reason thanks for at least getting here.