Snakey Business

Kiraku had set cross-legged in the middle of the training room, scrolls, books and parchments strewn all around him. Marks ran along nearly all of the parchments, marking who pages of interest to him. He had been up before the early rays of the sun had descended upon Sunagakure no Sato, reading through the darkness in the light of bare flames. He had finally found it.

It had all started when he kept finding references to beasts of battle that could be transported to battle with the use of ninjutsu. Further reading had brought him more insight, even a basic grasp of what a Sage mode was, Yet, scroll after scroll and book after book, he could not find were these powers were gained. There was mention of how to perform a so-called "Summoning Technique" yet it seemed to require a contract of sorts, with whom he was not sure.

After scouring tomes over tomes; he found he what he was looking for. There was a passage that spoke of a Cave in a land unmarked by no map, where Snakes that could speak resided. These snakes would grant one power unrivalled by any other yet the required a pledge of services should the shinobi be needed. The parchment continued, talking about the great risk allying with the Snakes and that their cunning was sharper than of any man's and as deadly as the venoms that coursed through them; yet Kiraku had long stopped reading. He skipped ahead, in search of any directions were one could find this cave.

He did find what he sought yet written in another clansman's hand; Directions through the sand swept lands of Suna to a cave network, that after 3 days and 3 nights would lead to the Great Cave, home of the Great Snakes; The Ryūchi Cave.

The sun had barely risen over the tallest buildings of Sunagakure no Sano, yet Kiraku knew he had to hurry if he wanted to make it in time. He cooked up trails rations, consisting of sandwiches and meat, packed the scrolls in a leather bag and set himself to dress for the journey. When he was ready, he stepped outside, the sun perched up high in the sky.

He walked on the roads this morning, his attire going unnoticed by many. He covered from head to toes in ragged clothing; only his eyes showing beneath. Typical clothing for moving through a sandstorm. Yet there were no storms, the wind willowing against the village walls yet no threat to those inside. Many times he felt his side of the bag as if to make sure that no one had taken it from him. Being lost in the sand-swept deserts was certain doom to many, be them great Shinobi or not.

He passed unnoticed through the crowds and morning bustle and soon enough he found himself outside of the great bronze gates; without as much as a single question from any of the shinobi guarding. For the first time in his life, he made his way away from the Village.