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By the time his bath was over, he could smell the scent of freshly made pork. The smoky, sweet spices used in the sauce assaulted his senses, making his mouth water, and his stomach growl. After jerking the plug from the tub, he leap out of the draining water and rushed out of the bathroom, forgetting all about a towel or even clothes. Water dripped from the tips of his hair as he raced toward the kitchen, leaving behind small puddles of water from his pounding feet.

Skidding to a hard stop, he stood in front of the older man who held a plate of freshly cooked baby-back ribs. Kenji's face twisted into an expression of utter confusion and shock, before it seemed to sink in that yes this child was standing right in front of him, bare ass naked and unashamed. “What the hell are you doing!?” he half yelled.

Hidan's head tilted to the side as his own face scrunched up into a frown, almost as if the answer should have been obvious. “I'm hungry!” He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed a bit, not happy that the man was once again yelling at him. He had always been used to the more gentle voices of the village, but this man wasn't like them at all. He made his dislikes plain and clear.

Kenji sighed once more and shook his head, setting the plates on the side of the stove. “Ah no, no, no, you go get dried off, and some damned clothes on you little hoodlum.” He paused however and seemed to mull over something...the boy didn't have any other clothes. However he scolded himself for even thinking about it in the first place. He wasn't the boy's father and it wasn't his concern.

Hidan huffed once more but turned around and raced back through the house to the bathroom. Glancing around for a moment, he finally found the towel that had been left out for him to dry off with. Snatching it from it's resting place on the side of the sink, he wrapped it around his body and began to wriggle around, trying to get his skin dry. He wanted to eat, not sit here and waste time with having to get his damned clothes on.

Eventually the task of drying off was complete and he snatched up his clothes, running back towards the kitchen as he slid his shirt on over his head first. As he entered the kitchen, Kenji turned around and spied that he was still half naked and sighed heavily. “Damnit boy what did I just tell you!?”

Finally Hidan glared up at him as he started to hop up and down to get his pants to slid on over his still somewhat damp legs. “I'm hungry damnit! I can get dressed and eat at the same time!” He watched the older man shake his head in exasperation before setting the plates down on top of the table.

“You little shit, here eat up while it's hot.” Taking a seat at the table, he watched as Hidan followed suit, having to sit more so on his knees so he could reach his plate. He was a pretty tiny little guy so far, but that could be fixed with a good diet, which red meats usually were.

He watched a while longer as Hidan took a large bite from the meat, his eyes watering a bit from the steam hitting his eyes. It was almost a sad sight to see, Kenji never really liked to see children going hungry but then again in the world of shinobi there were battles, battles meant death, and parents were among them, leaving children to fend for themselves. It was unavoidable unfortunately. Subtly the curiosity hit him. Just where was this boys parents? He was still very young and he didn't know of anybody that looked like him. Had he been abandoned? Were the just dead? The possibilities were endless.

It didn't take very long before the boys plate was completely cleared. At least he liked the meat. Finally his eyes closed and his mouth stretched widely in a long yawn. Kenji turned his head a bit and glanced out of the kitchen window. It was dark outside, so he was sure it was time for the boy to sleep. It was fairly warm outside, so he could safely stick him in the barn without worrying about him being too cold.

Standing up from where he sat he sighed and went through the back of the house towards an old closet in the wall. Sliding the door open, he reached in and grabbed a pillow and small thin blanket. Tucking them under his arm he returned to the kitchen and passed the supplies over to Hidan, who accepted them with a slightly confused expression. Kenji merely folded his arms and stood up straighter, wanting to seem disconnected and uncaring. “Alright here's how it's gonna be so listen up. You can eat here but you'd better pay me back with some work if I ask you...understand?”

Hidan listened to his expectations and didn't really like the thought of having to work for something but the meat he had received was pretty good and his stomach didn't hurt so badly anymore. Perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad agreement? He nodded his head once and squeezed the blanket in his arms a little bit, still staring up at the older man who seemed to have more to clear up with him.

'Well at least he seems compliant enough with a firm hand,' Kenji thought. He could see pretty plainly the boy might be a bit rebellious with some disciplinary issues, but he acted as though he could still be reasoned with, which was what counted in his book. Kenji could put up with attitude so long as he earned his keep. “Alright, you sleep here, then you sleep in the barn. It's not very comfortable but you'll be dry and warm. C'mon with me.”

Starting forward he opened the door and let the boy trot ahead of him with the supplies still clutched tightly in his arms. Kenji eventually made it to the barn with him, and slid the door open, revealing the band of pigs and pinned up hogs that were laying down together in tight bunches. Hidan wrinkled his nose a bit and shook his head. “They stink.”

Kenji rolled his eyes a bit and placed a hand on the boys head, ruffling his hair semi-fondly. “Well so do you.” At that Hidan whipped his head away form his hand and glared spitefully, his eyes narrowing.

“What's that about I took a bath like you said!” A chuckle was his answer, but he honestly didn't even see how that was remotely funny. He just insulted him! Kenji walked past him and moved towards thin ladder towards the side of the barn and placed his hand on the wall, patting it slightly. “Simmer down you hoodlum. Now here, climb on up in the loft, it'll be warmer and you won't have to fight a hog for that blanket.”

Hidan still wore the frown but grabbed the wooden ladder and scaled up to the loft relatively quickly. Bouncing up into the thick stacks of hay that was scattered and tucked along the ground and sides, he found a small spot in the corner and tucked the pillow under his head. Pulling the blanket around his body tightly, he snuggled up against the hay and sighed softly, ready to go to bed after such a long day.

By the time the following morning arrived, Hidan's eyes began to peel open. He looked around through his messy hair as it slid in front of his face. He blew upward a bit to toss some of the locks aside, dully noting that there were bits of hay sticking out of his head. Sighing a bit he sat up, letting the blanket fall from his shoulders, before starting to pick and pull at the hay, trying to clean his hair. He did take the time to note how soft it felt. Guessed that was what shampoo was for.

He perked up a bit when he heard the barn doors being pulled open. Smiling slightly, he remembered the older man from the previous night that had taken him in. Rushing out from underneath the blankets he crawled towards the ladder and grabbed the ends to slid down. However his leg managed to bump a loose bail of hay hard enough to send a few flakes falling down below him, followed by a loud curse.

“Hey! Ah damn-what the hell!?” Blinking slightly, Kenji's head shot up to the wide eyed child with a guilty expression. Hidan smiled sheepishly and waved a tiny hand, chuckling nervously. “Good morning Kenji-san,” he squeaked.

The farmer seemed none too amused as he sighed and placed his hands on his hips. “Damnit get your ass down from there, if you wanna help go throw this to the horse out back.”

Hidan tilted his head a bit before finally swinging his body on the ladder and sliding down. Moving over to the scattered bits of hay, he scooped them up in his arms and began walking towards the now opened barn door, following the fence until he found where the horse was standing. Tossing it up and over, he watched as the rather large animal walked over and began to bite and munch at what was to it a very tasty breakfast.

Kenji soon joined his side and looked over to the gelding that seemed pleased to have a handy snack. “What 'cha think of Kon?”

Hidan turned his head to look up at Kenji, before turning back to the animal, unsure what to think. “He's big...and blue.”

The older man chuckled slightly and nodded his head. “Well that colour is pretty well known if you've been a farmer for a few years. Blue roan is what they call it. Now as for his breed, well...can you guess?” Probably not, the kid was only three for crying out loud, but might as well teach him now. His answer was confirmed when the boy shook his head, wearing a confused expression on his face. Either he was in the process of learning or wondering why the hell he was being told this.

“Clydesdale. Good for pulling, that's why they're so big.” He glanced over to the animal as the massive head lifted up to looked at the humans before once again dipping back down to the hay, finding it more interesting.

Hidan nodded his head once more, seeming to take it in. It was some sort of information that may or may not be useful in the future but might as well know it. He watched as Kenji shifted his weight to one leg and finally sighed.

“Alright now, time to pay me back for your food. I want you to go feed the pigs there on that side of the barn...just watch out for the big hairy ones. Those are hogs. Difference is, they have teeth and will bite the shit out of you if they can.”

Hidan simply nodded his head for now and jogged beside of the older man to see just what he was supposed to do. He watched as he was given a large metal scoop and bucket. He looked at the tool for a moment before looking back up to the farmer. “Um...what do I do with this?” What did he want? For him to throw them the bucket?

Kenji sighed a bit and pointed to a bag that was crammed in the corner. “It's called grain. Also if I happen to have any left overs I usually come out here and just toss it to them. So fill the bucket to the top and put it in that bin over there. When you're done, come inside and you can have breakfast before I turn you out.”

Another nod was his answer as Hidan picked up the bucket with only a bit of trouble since it was about half his size. Walking over to the bag he began scooping the feed as instructed before having to half carry half drag the heavy load to where they bin was. However the hassle began when the group of pigs began to crowd and try to shove him.

Glaring a bit he pulled the bucket closer to his front and set it on the ground. “Hey! ...Stop that!” he yelled. He wasn't gonna be knocked around by a group of dumb animals. That was just ridiculous. However the animals persisted to try to move closer to him, each trying to shove each other and the small boy that stood between them and their food.

Once again he glared at the animals but grabbed the bucket once more, starting to drag it the rest of the way towards the bin, giving a loud yell, and an occasional kick whenever a pig would get too uppity and bump against him. It seemed to take forever but eventually he made it to the bin and tipped the bucket over, spilling the grain along the wood.

The pigs finally seemed to forget about him and began to swarm the bin as if they hadn't eaten in months, which was impossible given how fat they looked. A heavy sigh was released before he began to drag the now much lighter bucket towards the barn. Placing it in the corner where he had taken it from, he turned and began to run towards the house for the promised breakfast.

The meal had been fairly simple, a few strips of bacon and a couple of eggs and milk. Well, it may have been simple to most, but to someone like Hidan it was a once in a while gourmet. Before the woman that had brought him to Kenji caught him, he had been running around the village stealing whatever food he could find. It wasn't hard but sometimes he did slip up and get caught. Mostly a verbal scolding and shooing away was the worst they did. The people in the village never really seemed to get angry...it was almost inhuman.

He watched as the old pig farmer stood up and adjusted his shirt collar, flipping the stiff fabric downward so that it folded more neatly. Eventually he looked at the silver haired child and nodded firmly. “Well that's it then, out you go. You can come back tonight when you get hungry if your willing to work it off. Deal?”

Hidan stood up from the table and nodded once understandingly. “Yea Kenji-san...umm, see you tonight then?” He turned and walked out of the small kitchen and through the door leading outside. He glanced over towards the livestock as the animals went about their own routines for the day. Grunting and squealing, shoving each other around and getting dirty. It was just daily life to them.

He was pretty sure he liked Kenji. The man didn't seem to really like him but he didn't seem to dislike him either. Just treated him like a child that happened to be a bit of a trouble maker. Walking down the roads as he always did he glanced around at all of the people in the village. They smiled to each other, and spoke in high pitched friendly tones, waving and laughing. It was strange how happy they always seemed. They always talked about things like loved ones, something he never really understood.

He had no clue about his parents. However when he did ask anybody that may have had a clue, all they could say was the couple were traveling shinobi. His mother had apparently had him in the village, but by the time he was being returned to her, she was no longer there. She had just forgotten him.

Perhaps that was what shinobi were like though. Most people that weren't shinobi always said things like how dangerous they were, or how blood thirsty some of them could get. It always fascinated him and he wanted to learn more about how to become a shinobi. Whenever he could he would always wander near the training grounds, watching the other hot water ninja sparing with kunai knives and swift kicks and bounds. Their movements were beautiful, and precise. He just knew that was what he wanted to do. He wanted to be a shinobi, and he wanted to be a good shinobi. He would work hard for it as soon as he was old enough. However for now he wasn't. All he could do was press his nose up against the glass and take notes.

The day passed on by slowly. Hidan had occupied himself with wandering the insides of the village, watching the shinobi training with each other. By the time they had stopped the sun was starting to set. He glanced over towards the light, the orange rays tainting the sky a light lavender with pink blotches. It always looked so nice over the trees, especially through the steam of the hot springs that surrounded them. He liked his village well enough. He watched travelers come in and out to visit the hot springs and soak away their troubles, and they always seemed to dislike the place where they came from in the first place. Be it politics, no family, or what have you, they all found reasons to leave their homes. He could imagine doing such a thing.

Shaking away the thoughts from his head, he turned towards where the farm was and began to run as fast as he could. He was excited to get to go see Kenji and he was excited to get food in his stomach. Granted he wasn't as starving as the previous day, he was just craving something to hold him over for the night.

By the time he reached the house, Kenji was standing in a large corn field beside of Kon the horse. He wore large leather straps around his body which was attached to some sort of plow that was sticking up out of the ground. Both were covered in sweat and bits of grim. He jogged down to where they were and called out to him. “Kenji-san!? What are you doing?”

The farmer lifted his head up and nodded politely towards the small child running towards him.”Plowing the fields you hoodlum what's it look like?”

The large horse also noticed and turned his head lazily towards Hidan, nickering softly. The silver haired boy lifted his hand up and patted the animals nose a bit before looking back at Kenji. “Why?”

He watched the older man sigh heavily and shake his head, as if he couldn't believe he would even ask such a thing. Well damn he just wanted to know! Why couldn't he just get corn the way the rest of the village did? He stood patiently with a confused expression before the older man began unbuckling the straps on the tired horse. “Because it's cheaper to plant your own food and feed yourself for four months then it is to shop every week. Saves money, something I ain't got a lot of.”

Hidan tilted his head slightly. How could he not have that much? He had a nice house and a lot of land, livestock. Didn't he have a job or something like the rest of the village? “Why?” As soon as the question was asked he watched the man lift the old hat from his head, lifting it up, and bringing it down to clip the top of Hidan's head. It didn't really hurt him as much as it just surprised him, making him yelp and jump backwards. “Hey! What the hell did you do that for!?”

Bringing the hat back to his head, the older man grunted and pulled the last bits of harness from the horse. “Don't be such a shit head you hoodlum! Why, why, why, because that's the fucking way it is that's why. Someone tells you something don't question it. Just accept it as is, goddamnit.”

Hidan glared up at the older man and growled slightly. Well jeez a kid couldn't even ask a question without getting nailed! However he blinked when the older man passed him the rope attached the the horses halter. “Now take this and follow me to his paddock. You can turn him out and we'll go eat.”

Hidan nodded his head a bit and began walking with the older man, the large horse following behind obediently, not minding too much being pulled around by the tiny boy. Hidan walked silently for a while but suddenly seemed to think on something. He looked up at the old farmer and tilted his head a bit. “Um, Kenji-san? Can I ask you something?”

The farmer turned to look at him and was at first irritable, but calmed his temper a bit seeing the legitimate concern on the boys face. “What is it?” He walked a few more steps quietly, his gaze dropping, as if he didn't know how to word it, before his eyes lifted back up to him. “I was watching some of the shinobi today...you know, out in the training grounds?”

A nod was his answer as he continued. “Well, I...how old do you have to be exactly before you join the academy? I want to be a shinobi...I think I could do it.”

Kenji seemed to think on this for a moment, his eyes becoming distant. Hidan watched him carefully before stopping at the gate with the horse in hand. He had forgotten about letting it loose for now, he was too interested to see just what Kenji was thinking on. Or at least hear about it. Surely he'd tell him....any minute now. “Kenji-san?” he pressed.

The older man looked at him and shook his head heavily. “Hidan-kun, I'm gonna tell you something I don't think you're gonna want to hear. Give up on that right now. Just forget about it. Being a shinobi...it isn't worth it. It's not as great as it's cracked up to be and it's just too dangerous. Causes more problems than people need.” Like he imagined, he watched the boys expression go from curious to angry.

“What!? Now wait just a minute, you don't think I can do it do you!? Yea it's dangerous it's supposed to be! You don't just go into battle and talk your way through shit you have to fight and risk your life for your home! Shinobi risk their lives everyday to fight! I want to fight too!” He was infuriated. Why on earth would Kenji tell him to give up on the one thing he wanted to do with himself? The village wasn't very fond of him because they knew he stole, had a foul mouth compared to the rest of the children, and was quicker to violence than they were. However it didn't mean he wouldn't fight for them just the same.

The older man shook his head and leaned back against the fence with his arms tightly folded. The subject wasn't easy for him to begin with. He knew the dangers of shinobi life and this boy, whither he could do it or not...he had no guidance was reckless. Even he could see that. He would get himself killed. “Why? Why on earth do you want to fight for this damned village? What on earth could you want to go out there and stick your neck on a chopping block for? What makes it so worth it?”

Hidan shook his head angrily and raised his voice even more so, quite close to flat out shrieking at the man. “Because it's all I have! I watch other shinobi train every single day! I want to do something that I can be good at! I can fight and I want to learn! What makes it worth it is the knowledge I am getting better at something that I love! I've always admired other shinobi, and how easily they will risk their lives for the sake of their homes and families, and I want to do it too!” He couldn't believe that the man would dare suggest for him to just throw his dream out the window.

After the temper tantrum, Kenji could only stare at him. His eyes were narrowed but not out of anger like Hidan had expected. No, in fact he seemed to be thinking over something else. Jeez did the man ever stop thinking!? How could someone have their head so full all the time? It would give him a headache if his mind constantly raked like that.

Finally after a long period of silence, the world around them starting to grow dark from the disappearing sunlight, Kenji spoke. “You really want to do all of this for the sake of fighting because you think you could be good at it, and to defend the village from rival shinobi?” A thrill seeker. Just what he was afraid of. Granted he hadn't expected the boy to really want to fight for the sake of some greater cause, he just hadn't really expected it to be a simple as the fact that he knew he could be a skilled fighter that could stand between the village and the enemy. “Hidan-kun...you...” He paused a moment and ran a hand across his forehead to wipe the sweat from his brow. The kid was quite the handful. “Alright look, if you want to go out there and rush to your death I guess I can't stop you. You wanna know when and how to get into that academy I'll tell you. First of all, you can start tomorrow if you really wanted to. Secondly, well basic requirements are these. First, love your village, help to preserve peace and prosperity. Second, have a mind that will not yield, be able to endure hard work and all that good bullshit. Third, be healthy in mind and body. Basically don't be a pussy and act like you want to do back flips for your village.”

Hidan stared at him for the longest time, seeming to take in what he was saying. Could he really join tomorrow? Hell if he could he knew just what he would be doing! He wanted to join! If those were the requirements to get in by god he had it made! However it was then it dawned on his mind. How did Kenji know all of this? Was he a shinobi at some point? Was he a retired shinobi? “Kenji-san? How do you know all of this? Were you a shinobi?”

At that the older man turned away and sighed. “No....but my son was. He was about your age when he wanted...you know what? Fuck it, never mind. Get the horse put away, feed them like you did this morning and get your ass inside for dinner.” Without giving him time to respond, Kenji marched towards the house, seeming to be grumbling under his breath.

Hidan sighed heavily and began to tug on the rope to bring the giant horses head down to his level. He couldn't believe Kenji had a son at some point. He guessed he was dead now due to shinobi life. Was that why he tried to discourage him from it? Was it...concern? Was the older man really that concerned for his safety and well being? It would be somewhat nice to think so. Unclasping the lead rope, he walked away from the horse and began to scoop in the feed as he had done so that morning. Once the task was finished, he turned and raced towards the house.

Description
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By the time his bath was over, he could smell the scent of freshly made pork. The smoky, sweet spices used in the sauce assaulted his senses, making his mouth water, and his stomach growl. After jerking the plug from the tub, he leap out of the draining water and rushed out of the bathroom, forgetting all about a towel or even clothes. Water dripped from the tips of his hair as he raced toward the kitchen, leaving behind small puddles of water from his pounding feet.

Skidding to a hard stop, he stood in front of the older man who held a plate of freshly cooked baby-back ribs. Kenji's face twisted into an expression of utter confusion and shock, before it seemed to sink in that yes this child was standing right in front of him, bare ass naked and unashamed. “What the hell are you doing!?” he half yelled.

Hidan's head tilted to the side as his own face scrunched up into a frown, almost as if the answer should have been obvious. “I'm hungry!” He crossed his arms over his chest and huffed a bit, not happy that the man was once again yelling at him. He had always been used to the more gentle voices of the village, but this man wasn't like them at all. He made his dislikes plain and clear.

Kenji sighed once more and shook his head, setting the plates on the side of the stove. “Ah no, no, no, you go get dried off, and some damned clothes on you little hoodlum.” He paused however and seemed to mull over something...the boy didn't have any other clothes. However he scolded himself for even thinking about it in the first place. He wasn't the boy's father and it wasn't his concern.

Hidan huffed once more but turned around and raced back through the house to the bathroom. Glancing around for a moment, he finally found the towel that had been left out for him to dry off with. Snatching it from it's resting place on the side of the sink, he wrapped it around his body and began to wriggle around, trying to get his skin dry. He wanted to eat, not sit here and waste time with having to get his damned clothes on.

Eventually the task of drying off was complete and he snatched up his clothes, running back towards the kitchen as he slid his shirt on over his head first. As he entered the kitchen, Kenji turned around and spied that he was still half naked and sighed heavily. “Damnit boy what did I just tell you!?”

Finally Hidan glared up at him as he started to hop up and down to get his pants to slid on over his still somewhat damp legs. “I'm hungry damnit! I can get dressed and eat at the same time!” He watched the older man shake his head in exasperation before setting the plates down on top of the table.

“You little shit, here eat up while it's hot.” Taking a seat at the table, he watched as Hidan followed suit, having to sit more so on his knees so he could reach his plate. He was a pretty tiny little guy so far, but that could be fixed with a good diet, which red meats usually were.

He watched a while longer as Hidan took a large bite from the meat, his eyes watering a bit from the steam hitting his eyes. It was almost a sad sight to see, Kenji never really liked to see children going hungry but then again in the world of shinobi there were battles, battles meant death, and parents were among them, leaving children to fend for themselves. It was unavoidable unfortunately. Subtly the curiosity hit him. Just where was this boys parents? He was still very young and he didn't know of anybody that looked like him. Had he been abandoned? Were the just dead? The possibilities were endless.

It didn't take very long before the boys plate was completely cleared. At least he liked the meat. Finally his eyes closed and his mouth stretched widely in a long yawn. Kenji turned his head a bit and glanced out of the kitchen window. It was dark outside, so he was sure it was time for the boy to sleep. It was fairly warm outside, so he could safely stick him in the barn without worrying about him being too cold.

Standing up from where he sat he sighed and went through the back of the house towards an old closet in the wall. Sliding the door open, he reached in and grabbed a pillow and small thin blanket. Tucking them under his arm he returned to the kitchen and passed the supplies over to Hidan, who accepted them with a slightly confused expression. Kenji merely folded his arms and stood up straighter, wanting to seem disconnected and uncaring. “Alright here's how it's gonna be so listen up. You can eat here but you'd better pay me back with some work if I ask you...understand?”

Hidan listened to his expectations and didn't really like the thought of having to work for something but the meat he had received was pretty good and his stomach didn't hurt so badly anymore. Perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad agreement? He nodded his head once and squeezed the blanket in his arms a little bit, still staring up at the older man who seemed to have more to clear up with him.

'Well at least he seems compliant enough with a firm hand,' Kenji thought. He could see pretty plainly the boy might be a bit rebellious with some disciplinary issues, but he acted as though he could still be reasoned with, which was what counted in his book. Kenji could put up with attitude so long as he earned his keep. “Alright, you sleep here, then you sleep in the barn. It's not very comfortable but you'll be dry and warm. C'mon with me.”

Starting forward he opened the door and let the boy trot ahead of him with the supplies still clutched tightly in his arms. Kenji eventually made it to the barn with him, and slid the door open, revealing the band of pigs and pinned up hogs that were laying down together in tight bunches. Hidan wrinkled his nose a bit and shook his head. “They stink.”

Kenji rolled his eyes a bit and placed a hand on the boys head, ruffling his hair semi-fondly. “Well so do you.” At that Hidan whipped his head away form his hand and glared spitefully, his eyes narrowing.

“What's that about I took a bath like you said!” A chuckle was his answer, but he honestly didn't even see how that was remotely funny. He just insulted him! Kenji walked past him and moved towards thin ladder towards the side of the barn and placed his hand on the wall, patting it slightly. “Simmer down you hoodlum. Now here, climb on up in the loft, it'll be warmer and you won't have to fight a hog for that blanket.”

Hidan still wore the frown but grabbed the wooden ladder and scaled up to the loft relatively quickly. Bouncing up into the thick stacks of hay that was scattered and tucked along the ground and sides, he found a small spot in the corner and tucked the pillow under his head. Pulling the blanket around his body tightly, he snuggled up against the hay and sighed softly, ready to go to bed after such a long day.

By the time the following morning arrived, Hidan's eyes began to peel open. He looked around through his messy hair as it slid in front of his face. He blew upward a bit to toss some of the locks aside, dully noting that there were bits of hay sticking out of his head. Sighing a bit he sat up, letting the blanket fall from his shoulders, before starting to pick and pull at the hay, trying to clean his hair. He did take the time to note how soft it felt. Guessed that was what shampoo was for.

He perked up a bit when he heard the barn doors being pulled open. Smiling slightly, he remembered the older man from the previous night that had taken him in. Rushing out from underneath the blankets he crawled towards the ladder and grabbed the ends to slid down. However his leg managed to bump a loose bail of hay hard enough to send a few flakes falling down below him, followed by a loud curse.

“Hey! Ah damn-what the hell!?” Blinking slightly, Kenji's head shot up to the wide eyed child with a guilty expression. Hidan smiled sheepishly and waved a tiny hand, chuckling nervously. “Good morning Kenji-san,” he squeaked.

The farmer seemed none too amused as he sighed and placed his hands on his hips. “Damnit get your ass down from there, if you wanna help go throw this to the horse out back.”

Hidan tilted his head a bit before finally swinging his body on the ladder and sliding down. Moving over to the scattered bits of hay, he scooped them up in his arms and began walking towards the now opened barn door, following the fence until he found where the horse was standing. Tossing it up and over, he watched as the rather large animal walked over and began to bite and munch at what was to it a very tasty breakfast.

Kenji soon joined his side and looked over to the gelding that seemed pleased to have a handy snack. “What 'cha think of Kon?”

Hidan turned his head to look up at Kenji, before turning back to the animal, unsure what to think. “He's big...and blue.”

The older man chuckled slightly and nodded his head. “Well that colour is pretty well known if you've been a farmer for a few years. Blue roan is what they call it. Now as for his breed, well...can you guess?” Probably not, the kid was only three for crying out loud, but might as well teach him now. His answer was confirmed when the boy shook his head, wearing a confused expression on his face. Either he was in the process of learning or wondering why the hell he was being told this.

“Clydesdale. Good for pulling, that's why they're so big.” He glanced over to the animal as the massive head lifted up to looked at the humans before once again dipping back down to the hay, finding it more interesting.

Hidan nodded his head once more, seeming to take it in. It was some sort of information that may or may not be useful in the future but might as well know it. He watched as Kenji shifted his weight to one leg and finally sighed.

“Alright now, time to pay me back for your food. I want you to go feed the pigs there on that side of the barn...just watch out for the big hairy ones. Those are hogs. Difference is, they have teeth and will bite the shit out of you if they can.”

Hidan simply nodded his head for now and jogged beside of the older man to see just what he was supposed to do. He watched as he was given a large metal scoop and bucket. He looked at the tool for a moment before looking back up to the farmer. “Um...what do I do with this?” What did he want? For him to throw them the bucket?

Kenji sighed a bit and pointed to a bag that was crammed in the corner. “It's called grain. Also if I happen to have any left overs I usually come out here and just toss it to them. So fill the bucket to the top and put it in that bin over there. When you're done, come inside and you can have breakfast before I turn you out.”

Another nod was his answer as Hidan picked up the bucket with only a bit of trouble since it was about half his size. Walking over to the bag he began scooping the feed as instructed before having to half carry half drag the heavy load to where they bin was. However the hassle began when the group of pigs began to crowd and try to shove him.

Glaring a bit he pulled the bucket closer to his front and set it on the ground. “Hey! ...Stop that!” he yelled. He wasn't gonna be knocked around by a group of dumb animals. That was just ridiculous. However the animals persisted to try to move closer to him, each trying to shove each other and the small boy that stood between them and their food.

Once again he glared at the animals but grabbed the bucket once more, starting to drag it the rest of the way towards the bin, giving a loud yell, and an occasional kick whenever a pig would get too uppity and bump against him. It seemed to take forever but eventually he made it to the bin and tipped the bucket over, spilling the grain along the wood.

The pigs finally seemed to forget about him and began to swarm the bin as if they hadn't eaten in months, which was impossible given how fat they looked. A heavy sigh was released before he began to drag the now much lighter bucket towards the barn. Placing it in the corner where he had taken it from, he turned and began to run towards the house for the promised breakfast.

The meal had been fairly simple, a few strips of bacon and a couple of eggs and milk. Well, it may have been simple to most, but to someone like Hidan it was a once in a while gourmet. Before the woman that had brought him to Kenji caught him, he had been running around the village stealing whatever food he could find. It wasn't hard but sometimes he did slip up and get caught. Mostly a verbal scolding and shooing away was the worst they did. The people in the village never really seemed to get angry...it was almost inhuman.

He watched as the old pig farmer stood up and adjusted his shirt collar, flipping the stiff fabric downward so that it folded more neatly. Eventually he looked at the silver haired child and nodded firmly. “Well that's it then, out you go. You can come back tonight when you get hungry if your willing to work it off. Deal?”

Hidan stood up from the table and nodded once understandingly. “Yea Kenji-san...umm, see you tonight then?” He turned and walked out of the small kitchen and through the door leading outside. He glanced over towards the livestock as the animals went about their own routines for the day. Grunting and squealing, shoving each other around and getting dirty. It was just daily life to them.

He was pretty sure he liked Kenji. The man didn't seem to really like him but he didn't seem to dislike him either. Just treated him like a child that happened to be a bit of a trouble maker. Walking down the roads as he always did he glanced around at all of the people in the village. They smiled to each other, and spoke in high pitched friendly tones, waving and laughing. It was strange how happy they always seemed. They always talked about things like loved ones, something he never really understood.

He had no clue about his parents. However when he did ask anybody that may have had a clue, all they could say was the couple were traveling shinobi. His mother had apparently had him in the village, but by the time he was being returned to her, she was no longer there. She had just forgotten him.

Perhaps that was what shinobi were like though. Most people that weren't shinobi always said things like how dangerous they were, or how blood thirsty some of them could get. It always fascinated him and he wanted to learn more about how to become a shinobi. Whenever he could he would always wander near the training grounds, watching the other hot water ninja sparing with kunai knives and swift kicks and bounds. Their movements were beautiful, and precise. He just knew that was what he wanted to do. He wanted to be a shinobi, and he wanted to be a good shinobi. He would work hard for it as soon as he was old enough. However for now he wasn't. All he could do was press his nose up against the glass and take notes.

The day passed on by slowly. Hidan had occupied himself with wandering the insides of the village, watching the shinobi training with each other. By the time they had stopped the sun was starting to set. He glanced over towards the light, the orange rays tainting the sky a light lavender with pink blotches. It always looked so nice over the trees, especially through the steam of the hot springs that surrounded them. He liked his village well enough. He watched travelers come in and out to visit the hot springs and soak away their troubles, and they always seemed to dislike the place where they came from in the first place. Be it politics, no family, or what have you, they all found reasons to leave their homes. He could imagine doing such a thing.

Shaking away the thoughts from his head, he turned towards where the farm was and began to run as fast as he could. He was excited to get to go see Kenji and he was excited to get food in his stomach. Granted he wasn't as starving as the previous day, he was just craving something to hold him over for the night.

By the time he reached the house, Kenji was standing in a large corn field beside of Kon the horse. He wore large leather straps around his body which was attached to some sort of plow that was sticking up out of the ground. Both were covered in sweat and bits of grim. He jogged down to where they were and called out to him. “Kenji-san!? What are you doing?”

The farmer lifted his head up and nodded politely towards the small child running towards him.”Plowing the fields you hoodlum what's it look like?”

The large horse also noticed and turned his head lazily towards Hidan, nickering softly. The silver haired boy lifted his hand up and patted the animals nose a bit before looking back at Kenji. “Why?”

He watched the older man sigh heavily and shake his head, as if he couldn't believe he would even ask such a thing. Well damn he just wanted to know! Why couldn't he just get corn the way the rest of the village did? He stood patiently with a confused expression before the older man began unbuckling the straps on the tired horse. “Because it's cheaper to plant your own food and feed yourself for four months then it is to shop every week. Saves money, something I ain't got a lot of.”

Hidan tilted his head slightly. How could he not have that much? He had a nice house and a lot of land, livestock. Didn't he have a job or something like the rest of the village? “Why?” As soon as the question was asked he watched the man lift the old hat from his head, lifting it up, and bringing it down to clip the top of Hidan's head. It didn't really hurt him as much as it just surprised him, making him yelp and jump backwards. “Hey! What the hell did you do that for!?”

Bringing the hat back to his head, the older man grunted and pulled the last bits of harness from the horse. “Don't be such a shit head you hoodlum! Why, why, why, because that's the fucking way it is that's why. Someone tells you something don't question it. Just accept it as is, goddamnit.”

Hidan glared up at the older man and growled slightly. Well jeez a kid couldn't even ask a question without getting nailed! However he blinked when the older man passed him the rope attached the the horses halter. “Now take this and follow me to his paddock. You can turn him out and we'll go eat.”

Hidan nodded his head a bit and began walking with the older man, the large horse following behind obediently, not minding too much being pulled around by the tiny boy. Hidan walked silently for a while but suddenly seemed to think on something. He looked up at the old farmer and tilted his head a bit. “Um, Kenji-san? Can I ask you something?”

The farmer turned to look at him and was at first irritable, but calmed his temper a bit seeing the legitimate concern on the boys face. “What is it?” He walked a few more steps quietly, his gaze dropping, as if he didn't know how to word it, before his eyes lifted back up to him. “I was watching some of the shinobi today...you know, out in the training grounds?”

A nod was his answer as he continued. “Well, I...how old do you have to be exactly before you join the academy? I want to be a shinobi...I think I could do it.”

Kenji seemed to think on this for a moment, his eyes becoming distant. Hidan watched him carefully before stopping at the gate with the horse in hand. He had forgotten about letting it loose for now, he was too interested to see just what Kenji was thinking on. Or at least hear about it. Surely he'd tell him....any minute now. “Kenji-san?” he pressed.

The older man looked at him and shook his head heavily. “Hidan-kun, I'm gonna tell you something I don't think you're gonna want to hear. Give up on that right now. Just forget about it. Being a shinobi...it isn't worth it. It's not as great as it's cracked up to be and it's just too dangerous. Causes more problems than people need.” Like he imagined, he watched the boys expression go from curious to angry.

“What!? Now wait just a minute, you don't think I can do it do you!? Yea it's dangerous it's supposed to be! You don't just go into battle and talk your way through shit you have to fight and risk your life for your home! Shinobi risk their lives everyday to fight! I want to fight too!” He was infuriated. Why on earth would Kenji tell him to give up on the one thing he wanted to do with himself? The village wasn't very fond of him because they knew he stole, had a foul mouth compared to the rest of the children, and was quicker to violence than they were. However it didn't mean he wouldn't fight for them just the same.

The older man shook his head and leaned back against the fence with his arms tightly folded. The subject wasn't easy for him to begin with. He knew the dangers of shinobi life and this boy, whither he could do it or not...he had no guidance was reckless. Even he could see that. He would get himself killed. “Why? Why on earth do you want to fight for this damned village? What on earth could you want to go out there and stick your neck on a chopping block for? What makes it so worth it?”

Hidan shook his head angrily and raised his voice even more so, quite close to flat out shrieking at the man. “Because it's all I have! I watch other shinobi train every single day! I want to do something that I can be good at! I can fight and I want to learn! What makes it worth it is the knowledge I am getting better at something that I love! I've always admired other shinobi, and how easily they will risk their lives for the sake of their homes and families, and I want to do it too!” He couldn't believe that the man would dare suggest for him to just throw his dream out the window.

After the temper tantrum, Kenji could only stare at him. His eyes were narrowed but not out of anger like Hidan had expected. No, in fact he seemed to be thinking over something else. Jeez did the man ever stop thinking!? How could someone have their head so full all the time? It would give him a headache if his mind constantly raked like that.

Finally after a long period of silence, the world around them starting to grow dark from the disappearing sunlight, Kenji spoke. “You really want to do all of this for the sake of fighting because you think you could be good at it, and to defend the village from rival shinobi?” A thrill seeker. Just what he was afraid of. Granted he hadn't expected the boy to really want to fight for the sake of some greater cause, he just hadn't really expected it to be a simple as the fact that he knew he could be a skilled fighter that could stand between the village and the enemy. “Hidan-kun...you...” He paused a moment and ran a hand across his forehead to wipe the sweat from his brow. The kid was quite the handful. “Alright look, if you want to go out there and rush to your death I guess I can't stop you. You wanna know when and how to get into that academy I'll tell you. First of all, you can start tomorrow if you really wanted to. Secondly, well basic requirements are these. First, love your village, help to preserve peace and prosperity. Second, have a mind that will not yield, be able to endure hard work and all that good bullshit. Third, be healthy in mind and body. Basically don't be a pussy and act like you want to do back flips for your village.”

Hidan stared at him for the longest time, seeming to take in what he was saying. Could he really join tomorrow? Hell if he could he knew just what he would be doing! He wanted to join! If those were the requirements to get in by god he had it made! However it was then it dawned on his mind. How did Kenji know all of this? Was he a shinobi at some point? Was he a retired shinobi? “Kenji-san? How do you know all of this? Were you a shinobi?”

At that the older man turned away and sighed. “No....but my son was. He was about your age when he wanted...you know what? Fuck it, never mind. Get the horse put away, feed them like you did this morning and get your ass inside for dinner.” Without giving him time to respond, Kenji marched towards the house, seeming to be grumbling under his breath.

Hidan sighed heavily and began to tug on the rope to bring the giant horses head down to his level. He couldn't believe Kenji had a son at some point. He guessed he was dead now due to shinobi life. Was that why he tried to discourage him from it? Was it...concern? Was the older man really that concerned for his safety and well being? It would be somewhat nice to think so. Unclasping the lead rope, he walked away from the horse and began to scoop in the feed as he had done so that morning. Once the task was finished, he turned and raced towards the house.