An Ember is Lit

[Texas]

Some time had passed, enough time for Tenzin to continue his duties as normal but also keep tabs on Ikinari. The young man had noticed he had gone to the bars several times which made the shinobi curious if that was part of their religion or not. Regardless, Tenzin wanted to speak with Ikinari now that he was a little bit settled. Maybe he had come to a conclusion based on their dinner date a little bit back.

Tenzin left a note under Ikinari's bedroom door to meet him in the library. Based on his patterns, the shinobi figured that Ikinari would be there in the afternoon. Over the years of traveling and missions, Tenzin had acquired quite a collection of different types of literatue. A lot of folklore, a lot of stories, and a lot of world culture novels. One in particular was a Wind Country bible that gave descriptive information regarding their "Children of the Light" texts for the religion of Yuumagure. Tenzin had spent the better part of two days studying and learning about the religion of Wind Country along with where their religious culture had truly manifested from. Honestly to the Leaf Bannin this was all a bunch of hooplah and if he was a Kage in the past, he probably wouldn't have been allied with a shinobi culture that credited their religion for their strength than their own doing.

There was a few lines that shot out at him and with his right pointer finger on one of the quotes and his left hand holding the book, he would wait for Ikinari to walk in before reading the quote out loud. As the older shinobi walked into the office/library, Tenzin read a part of the scripture he found rather interesting. "Life formed was created by the Sun, only to be returned to Her Light." He would gaze from looking at the scripture and caught looking into the "cousin" of Tenzin's own eyes, "As a native, do you believe in Yuumagure?"

[Ace Trainer]

Ikinari had spent the last few days exploring Konohagakure. He had struggled to balance the curiousity he had about the village with the need to appear as if he’d lived here his entire life. He’d already ran into one person that seemed to finger him immediately as a non-native, but he’d navigated well enough around that one, or at least he felt he did. He was a diplomat after all. It had been an interesting time so far, Konohagakure was quite a different environment between the weather and just generally how the people interacted. While Suna had been forced to be compact given the limited availability of space, Konohagakure seemed like it spanned on endlessly. It was easy to get lost.

Regardless, he found his way back to the Hatake mansion just in time to receive a note on his host summoning him. He would gather himself in his room, taking a quick drink from a flask and then placing it down on his dresser, heading towards the library.

”Well…”, he rubbed the back of his head as he walked in, surprised Tenzin would ask such a question without really any prompting. ”Its complicated.”, he explained. In Sunagakure, Ikinari had been a lucent of a temple that’s meant to guide those questioning their faith. ”I am…was, a Hizashi. I was raised in my clan. And the Hizashi do not follow Yuumegure. They believe in Buddhism.” Yet, as a teen he found himself compelled by Yuumegure - the beliefs of the two systems didn’t conflict contrary to popular belief. So, it was possible for him to hold both, despite the controversy that sometimes caused. ”I was a Lucent of Yuumegure, however. Between my own cross-doctrine beliefs and my role as a diplomat, I was particularly skilled at guiding people who were wavering in their faith back into Her Light.”, he explained.

He continued into the room, the surprise of the question settling. He would take a seat opposite of Tenzin, sitting in it but still appearing a bit uncomfortable, ”If I was in my temple, I would tell you its not a matter of belief. The Sun is there, no? Each day it provides Light to us, no? Would you ask someone if they believe in air? Trees? We have entires academies dedicated to learning and understanding chakra, would you ask if they believe in that? Of course not. In the same way all of those things are, Yuumegure simply is.“, he explained. As he spoke, he visibly became more uncomfortable, reciting his doctrine did not seem to bring him some relief. ”The rest of it. Well, depends on who you ask.”

He sighed, he missed his temple. ”What can I do for you, Tenzin?”, he asked in a less than subtle attempt to shift off the topic.

[Texas]

The shinobi watched and listened as Ikinari went off on how he would "recruit" the lost to the religion. It was exactly as he thought. In Tenzin's shinobi career he has come to understand how similar religious societies and cults recruit those who are lost. Giving purpose isn't a bad thing, it always depends on intent. In that same tone, over the years Tenzin has blurred the lines and viewed both of them rather the same. He would make a one off comment about the religion before moving on from it. "Interesting how you guys don't worship the Awai clan here in Konoha, they are blessed by the light." The shinobi tried to use the proper vernacular to somewhat prove a point before closing the book and placing it on the table.

He would then move himself to his little bar cart that had a brown liquid in a nice glass container, pop the top off, and pour it into two glasses he had set up on the bar cart. There was a tiny bucket full of ice where he used tongs to place the liquid "on the rocks". With both hands picking up the brown liquor, Tenzin would use his left hand to reach over and give Ikinari a glass. Whether he took it or not, the shinobi would continue over to a seat that was on the opposite side of the little office/library. Crossing his right leg over his left, Tenzin would get right to the point. "There is nothing wrong with having a drink here and there, just be careful of making it your escape." It was an odd way of explaining that Tenzin has been taking note of some of his drinking habits without outwardly saying so.

"I have nothing for your personally. I just wanted to call you in here, have a relaxing moment and simply just talk." This was followed up as he swirled his glass a little bit, lifted in the air to cheers the Hizashi, then take a sip. "How has adjusting been? It must not be easy with everything going on both outside the village and the major cultural difference inside the village."

[Ace Trainer]

The mention of the Awai clan brought about a soft laugh from Ikinari, ”Thats just chakra made to look like light. Depends on who you ask, but most would say that isn’t quite the same thing.”, famously, the former Kazekage Kiyori had been able to utilize Hiton as well, which many saw as truth to her role as the prophet of the Sun, especially those who weren’t shinobi and didn’t understand chakra. Then again, Indra came to mind as someone capable of utilizing a type of jutsu thought to be blessed by the Sun. Was that any different? Perhaps it would be a good use of his time to spend time with an Awai. The thought of Kiyori also brought his mind to Emi, the daughter of the Kazekage who’d been out of the village in the time leading up to the war. What were the odds she was safe?

”Thanks. I don’t indulge though.”, a polite rejection of the drink, unaware that Tenzin had been watching him, or at least electing to not consider it as an option.

He nodded in response to the cheers, ”It has been interesting. A good learning experience. I think I mentioned, but I’ve been to Konohagakure twice in the past. Both of diplomatic envoys. So we didn’t get to do a lot of exploring. It’s been nice being able to explore. The weather is a bit cooler than I’m used to, doesn’t make much of a different thought.”, another nervous laugh. Hizashi didn’t really get hot or cold, their bodies had a natural equilibrium that compensated for that. ”It rained yesterday though.”, while his tone seemed up beat, his face didn’t really show any happiness about the matter, showing he was still a fair amount depressed about the situation, ”Haven’t really ran into anyone from Suna either.”, he admitted.

He finally shrugged though, ”But, at the end of the day I’m a diplomat. Settling into foreign cultures is part of the gig.”

[Texas]

It was like looking in a mirror. After his failures of the war, Tenzin had to uphold professionalism with the Anbu and while surrounded by his peers. It was hard to keep a normal appearance when on the inside, Failure was doing nothing but tearing everything apart. A dark cloud that was molded within the body and protruding out of the body like an illness. Tenzin would give a slight smile and breathe a little loud out of his nose, to respect the man's chuckles. However, the final words noted by Ikinari caused him to tilt his head slightly to the side, before placing his own drink on the a side table. "Well, you were a diplomat... right?" A bit of an annoying pick at his words, but Tenzin was trying to drive home that things are now in motion for change. If those words weren't enough, the silver haired failure would continue further. "For all intents and purposes Hatake Kyuushi, you are a Jounin of Konohagakure no Sato" Tenzin would look at his "cousin" to see if any kind of repulsive reaction would be painted over his face.

He would reach back out to pick up his drink, while continuing to look at him. "Last time we spoke you were going to spend some time here and try to figure out what you wanted to do here, or if you even wanted to continue being here. Have you given your decisions time to come to fruition. Is there anything I can do to help? A soundboard, or just break down anything you want to talk about regarding it? Like I said before, your decision is yours to have. I am just merely here helping out an ally- well a family member." With his legs crossed and eye contact continued to try to be made, the bannin waited with beated breath to see what Kyuushi possible has come up with.

[Ace Trainer]

”mm. Yeah, I suppose so.”, Kyushu didn’t rebut what Tenzin said, instead seemingly accepting it if not a bit somber about the notion. ”Regardless of it’s origin. I have a skillset. And it is making this process easier than I think it would be for most.”. He would let the vacant space between them remain as much, his mind wandering. Why was it that he accepted so easily that he was no longer a part of his clan, but not as easily that he was no longer a diplomat? As a child, Ikinari had loved his clan with all of his might and his aspiration for greatness within Sunagakure had been driven by his love for his family, yet it seemed settling into Konohagakure his family was the first thing he was willing to let go.

Tenzin’s offer to be a sounding board felt unnatural. While Tenzin was Kyuushi’s “cousin” and sole ally, their relationship was almost entirely fabricated. Had Ikinari not gotten tired when he did, had he not stopped in that particular village on the outskirts of Fire Country, it was likely he’d have arrived at Konoha and be in a completely different position. Instead, Tenzin had smuggled him in and made him his cousin. It was an interesting decision that Ikinari had not yet decided if it was a good outcome or not.

But, irrelevant to the possible realities, Kyuushi had no one else to talk to. His eyes locked onto the ground between them, his mind tracing through the various options and pathways he had in front of him, ”Our family seems well off. For reasons you’ve yet to disclose to me. You are a bannin, so well established in the village. Clearly someone of esteem so I’m sure you have students of your own.”, he made some assumptions but he was confident none of them were wrong, ”How would you feel if you had failed all of them?”, he would take a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm some level of more intense emotions that were bubbling up.

[Texas]

Tenzin smirked and placed his drink on the table. He let the words sit in for a while before speaking. "Well Kyuushi, you should know by now I am littered with failures. I have most of my pupils die or disapear, every mentor I have had has died or retired, I even failed to protect my own Hokage on the same battlefield that resulted in not only the fall of Wind Country's borders, but the death of Lord Takeo himself." Tenzin would then stand up with his arms crossed behind his back. "My side of the family is well off, more than my sister due to missions I have taken in Dragon's Breath, In the Anbu, and contracts taken as a Bannin. The missions simply pay off better. I also got a financial bump after my father disappeared when I was child and was presumed dead. So some could say for that Hayate Family, I am the head of it."

Tenzin would then walk over to one side of the bookshelves and lean on it slowly. In truth there was a secret room within the library... (how cliché) that would lead down to a basement lab that was Tenzin's only one true legacy. "However, regardless of where WE are financially, my failures haunt me more than any achievement I have made. Especially since all of my achievements have been made within the shadows to naturally never be spoken about. So you can imagine that outwardly and to the public I have done nothing but failed. In truth Kyuushi, as much as my failures eat me up every day... I can't focus on them. Because If I wallow in self pity and wish for things to get better... nothing will and that mentality wouldn't allow me to help Konoha or even its allies."

The shinobi would cross his arms and lean against the bookshelf with one leg crossed over. "So Kyuushi, I will ask it differently. What do you want to do in Konoha. What would both help Konoha and its allies the best. What could you do with your prior skills to progress forward with your perceived failures as nothing more that scars that have molded you into what you are now." The silver haired bannin made a point to litter facts about himself in his tangents so that Kyuushi had both a bit of background of his "cousin" and understanding of Tenzin's situation as a whole.

[Ace Trainer]

He wasn’t entirely sure what answer he was expecting from Tenzin, but this one was not it. Despite the heavy nature of the topics Tenzin discussed, his tone was cold and calculated. Callous might even be the right word to describe it. And while Kyuushi felt some degree of understand and even companionship through the words, it also felt like an enormous valley being formed between them. In truth, throughout his life Ikinari had not failed much outside of the past 3 years. He was naturally talented in his clans’ abilities, and his own belief system had lended itself towards his path as a diplomat. The last three years of turmoil across Wind Country had resulted in a slew of failures that Kyuushi was facing for the first time, and they were grave. Tenzin on the other hand seemed rather familiar with failure, even if that wasn’t the point of the stories, which felt jarring for the former Sunagakure shinobi.

”Thats a lot.”, he confessed.

In truth, when Ikinari had been troubled in the past he rarely went to his own leadership within the faith, but instead to his clan elders. ”I had a lot of people acting as my support structure.”, he paused, “Or, well. Ikinari did. The Hizashi clan is a support structure.”, he balled his hands into fists on his thighs, “In the Hizashi clan, with Buddhism being the dominant belief, most clan members believe in cyclical relationships. You are good to everyone around you, you support everyone around you, because they are you.”, Tenzin talked about his family as if they were family but to a Hizashi family was all an extension of the self.

“Yet, it seems my family is the first thing I have to abandon.”, his mouth verbalizing the thought as it entered his head. Indeed, his failures came from many places, but where he had found peace in the past 3 years had been in his clan elders and yet here he did not have them. He recognized that his response did nothing to give an answer to Tenzin’s questions; he wondered briefly if this would frustrate or anger his host who seemed to be short on patience at times. “Life is tough without family, cousin.”, he explained, “And its hard to know anything of the Hizashi clan in Sunagakure. It is unlikely the leadership bent the knee, and once they were addressed by Iwagakure, the rest of the clan would have fallen in line at behest of what is likely the now gone leadership.”, he sighed now, pausing, trying to be rational and not emotional as that was clearly what appealed to Tenzin. It felt like a losing battle, however “I should be there.” Did he regret coming to support Indra? His face twisted at the urge to cry, this conflict would have no answer.

[Texas]

Tenzin's demeanor changed awkwardly as if he was confused. Kyuushi seemed to not follow the bouncing ball and instead of thinking forward, he was yet again thinking in the past. "Kyuushi, why do you feel as though you have to abandon your family? Although physically you have left them, you still have their teachings, their values, their blood with you." It was a rather blunt but needed question to be asked. Tenzin was hoping that in some way he could try to make him realize that he had made his decisions. Come to grip that his choices have lead him to where he is and that it was time to make a new decision, one which would either create a future, something different.

It was almost like both of them were talking in circles around each other and not fully connecting on each other. Somehow the two were still guarded in a sense, unable to get through each other's awkwardly tough shell. The circles they were talking in weren't necessarily on purpose either, they just were not on the same page. The shinobi would walk over to grab the drink he offered Kyuushi and bring it back to the bar cart where he got it from. The Bannin would place both his drink and Kyuushi's drink on the table. "I'll be honest with you, in hopes you will be honest for my next question. I have been keeping tabs on you since you have been here. It is part of my nature, I know you have been drinking more than normal, well at least more than what your reputation has been. You actually have been to one of my favorite bars a few times." Tenzin would let go of the drinks and turn around towards Kyuushi. "You have left your clan and village but not out of fear, you left out of responsibility. You have given your clan a potential for a second chance that isn't tainted by Iwa's cold oppressive hands. So my question to you is, what else are you fearful of outside of these walls? Other than the inevitable result of not only your clan, but all of the clans in Suna." Tenzin's tone completely changed. Although it wasn't cheery, it more or less felt lighter to the ears. However his last few sentences were sharper and more monotone. Almost like his bluntness in words were met with his tone.

[Ace Trainer]

The question coming from Tenzin was blunt, and Kyuushi shot an aggravated look at Tenzin that would immediately fade away to a blank face as Kyuushi clearly began to start thinking. While Tenzin probably hadn't intended it, his question was actually quite in alignment with the teachings of the Hizashi clan. Indeed, the physical presence of the clan had little to do with the clan itself. The very essence of the clan was eternal, passed through the members of the clan, each of them carrying with them their knowledge, experiences and traditions. It permeated through everything, and when the physical clan was no longer there, all of that would still be...like heat.

The rest of what Tenzin said reached his ears like a buzz, barely registering in his brain as he began to swim in his thoughts. In normal settings, Ikinari was rational, diplomats had to not only be successful in spite of pressure but flourish in it. Kyuushi was an accomplished member of the ANBU and fully capable of separating his emotions from the mission at hand. But in this instant, neither of them felt any of that competence. Instead, he could feel his heart racing and the feelings building up in his stomach. As he processed what he was thinking about the clan, a much darker thought was coming into his mind.

What if the clan hadn't stopping pushing back? Was there any information that suggested Iwagakure was going to preserve the clans integrity? When he'd returned to the clan compound on the way out, he hadn't seen anyone. Not that it was a time people would be active. He tried to think back to the compound, had he seen any sign they were active? That people were still in the compound? He gritted his teeth, his eyes seemingly gazing into space as he thought. "My responsibility is to my clan.", he said incredulously, having seemingly processed some of what Tenzin said, but clearly not all of it given he had no response to the implication of Tenzin's observations. "How can I protect Indra, or the village, if I fail my clan?", pushing back again whatever Tenzin had said.

"You may have everything of your family, but as a Hizashi, who will receive those traditions, values or teaching if I am alone in this village posing as your cousin?", he spat back in frustration.

[Texas]

Tenzin listened intently with the man flipping back and forth between his psyche trying to figure out what to do. Maybe giving the Hizashi an identity was too much for him to handle. Tenzin never intended for it to be a long term thing. Perhaps the purpose of what shinobi was doing for him was going over his head. Or maybe he was just so riddled in failure and self pity, he couldn't break past that wall to see the full scope of his own situation.

With those thoughts racing, Tenzin listened to Kyuushi as he started to ask rhetorical questions combined with regular ones. After Kyuushi asked the last question, Tenzin lounged down back to his chair and had his legs spreading in a way that women even coined the phrase itself. He would bring his hands to hold the arms of the chairs and utilize the leverage to lean himself forward as if he was thinking and then wanted to break this down more.

The silver hair shinobi was trying to think. However, he thought out loud a little quieter than the tone he had been talking about the whole time. "It's almost like you are split between two major responsibilities." When Tenzin realized he was speaking he would just continue talking. "It must have been easier when everything was all together under one village. Even if you were to leave and try to rebuild your village, protect Indra, and rekindle your clan... that would be an incredibly difficult task. You also can't be in two places at once."

The Bannin was a little stumped. In his experience however, he has found that the best way to break down a situation was to break it down out loud. Maybe talking it out could help. "Having two different responsibilities in completely different places makes it impossible for you to focus on one and prioritize one over the other. Although you said your clan comes first, your tone makes it sound as if Indra and your village are barely second." Tenzin would after stand up again and place his right arm behind his back with his left hand clutching his chin as he paced a little bit throughout his side of the room. "Kyuushi, you seem to be wrong about two things. The first probably goes without saying, but this alias you have is very much temporary. It is for the protection of Konoha and yourself. If the handler of the genma host was known to be within our walls then it would just be another reason for Iwa to inch towards us. It allows you to pursue what you need to without too many prying eyes. I also don't want the Hokage figuring things out in business he doesn't need to know about yet. The second thing you are wrong about is saying you are alone. I am here." Tenzin would proclaim as he looked at Kyuushi. Hopefully the seasoned shinobi would take his lead and engage in this exercise of talking it out. However, Tenzin was fully aware that most people don't understand what he was doing until it was over.

[Ace Trainer]

Tenzin spoke, really he waxed poetic, about what Ikinari - Kyuushi - whoever he was - had to his benefit, and what he had misunderstood. In truth, it all felt like nonsense to the older shinobi. Intellectually, Ikinari understand what Tenzin was saying, and why he was probably saying it. Sure, he was right. Things were easier before, and what he was on the cusp of which be exceedingly difficult. Could he be confident that if he returned to his clan he wouldn't feel regret for abandoning Indra in the same way he felt right now about his clan? No. Rationally, he knew Tenzin was right.

But emotionally, Tenzin continuing on to say he was wrong about not one but two things was just frustrating. To an extent, he felt like Tenzin had stolen his life from him. What would Ikinari have done had he arrived in Konoha without Tenzin to chaperone him and he realized Indra was not here? How would his decisions have been different? Would they be different? He wasn't really sure. But it felt a little like Tenzin was taunting him with the indecision, even if it wasn't Tenzin's intent. His heart beat heavy in his chest, and his face felt hot, even for a Hizashi. His blood was hot, he was a Hizashi.

Being called Kyuushi only seemed to frustrate him more. As Tenzin spoke, Ikinari would push out of the chair he was sitting in, pacing away from it with clenched, frustrated fists. The room felt closed around him, cramped. another reason for Iwa to inch towards us, again the logical part of Ikinari mind knew this to be true, but the emotional part was frustrated that now Konoha seemed concerned about Iwagakure. While they'd helped in the previous front of the way, they wasted time with a distraction tactic that had done nothing to protect Sunagakure the second time around. Even if Ikinari had touted the move as decisive at the time, now in his frustration it just felt like another reason not to trust Tenzin.

But the final words stung the most, 'I am here', certainly it had been intended to be reassuring, but instead it inspired nothing but ire from Ikinari who would whip around to look Tenzin straight in the eyes. Ikinari was frustrated, lonely, scared, disappointed in himself, but most of all - angry. Without hesitation he would snap back at Tenzin, "Great, here you are. What good is that? Are you to bring me my clan?"

[Texas]

Tenzin watched the older man get up from his chair, heated red in the face, fists clenched, pacing, as he was talking. When he was a teacher, he was familiar with this behavior from his students. It seemed something the silver hair shinobi said was striking a nerve. The snap back at Tenzin made the young man visibly annoyed. From the Bannin's perspective, he safely brought him in, offered him housing, an identity if he wanted to use it, and allowed him to do whatever he wanted. He could have easily left and Tenzin would have done nothing. Sure maybe he would follow him and give him enough sleeping gas to take a kidney or something, but in truth, the shinobi fully cared about strengthening his allies so that they can fight their own battles. Because of their failures, Konoha was borderline in a cold war by itself. With Kumo's borderline neutrality and Kiri/Iwa Alliance, Konoha basically didn't have much wiggle room.

The shinobi looked at Ikinari with a slightly annoyed look. Almost like he was in shock that his kindness was getting thrown back at him. Tenzin decided to give up the façade that he had provided Ikinari. It was time they had an honest talk. "I'm sorry Ikinari, did my kindness to you go to someone drowning in so much self pity and indecisiveness, to the point where they can't look beyond what's going on in front of them? If you don't want my help, if you don't my resources, then by all means you can go through the front door. I told you from the beginning that I was going to help you, I also told you from the beginning everything I was offering was just that, an offer. You can leave be Ikinari the Suna refugee any time. You can go back to Iwa's Suna and try to get your clan back. Which by the way, any strong fisted ruler would have taken all of the important elders of your village's clans and brought them to Iwa. He would also probably have extremely high surveillance over a village that did not willingly invite him in." The tone for sure changed as Tenzin's annoyed/confused look turned into a serious straight gaze. "I will not bring you your clan, nor could I outright if I even wanted to. I have sacrificed enough for Suna, but I figured helping you would potentially help Suna in the future. If you are so bold and brazen and care for your clan, why don't you plant the seeds and try to build from the ground up here." Tenzin's off the cuff suggestion filled the air for what felt like hours to him, that could actually be something he could do? In the mind of the silver haired shinobi, especially at this point, it would have to be something Ikinari would have to ask for help.

It was clear the tensions maybe were a little high. For some reason, Tenzin took the snap at him personally. He walked over to a little study desk in the office/library and sat down in it slowly. He would take a deep breath before speaking and would lean back in his chair. His tone would change to a softer and more mellowed version of what it normally was, similar to the voice one would use after over scolding a child. "Listen Ikinari, trust me or not, I am here to help. Anything from giving you supplies to leave for Suna, helping with roads and pathways that are safe so you can attempt to find Indra, or even providing you with the tools to start a life here maybe even begin creating a new version of your clan... I don't know. That's what I meant when I said I am here to help. Hell if you are sick of me, you can just go report to the Kage Mission Building and register fully." Tenzin would reach over to his large glass of brown liquor and place it on his desk. He would then draw his empty glass and place it on the table. As he poured himself a drink he would just note, "If you need time to think about it, then by all means go for it."

[Ace Trainer]

Ikinari scoffed indignantly, his breath hot and floating through the room. ”I’m well aware of how foreign leaders behave during hostile assaults within their conquered lands.”, he pushed back. Ikinari was, after all, one of the most foremost historical diplomats in Sunagakure, or at least he used to be. He’d read ample historical texts about the things leaders did, he didn’t need Tenzin to preach to him from his pedestal about what could be happening in Sunagakure. It was frustrating because Tenzin was his host, and despite his frustration, Ikinari felt a moral need to be appreciative to his host. Yet in this moment as the feelings continued to get more intense, it was difficult to focus on that. Tenzin insisting he’d sacrificed enough for Sunagakure certainly didn’t help, from Ikinari’s perspective Tenzin had offered nor sacrificed nothing.

He turned his back to Tenzin, fully intending to leave the room, no longer wanting to humor the conversation. But then Tenzin said something, and the hairs on the back of Ikinari’s neck would stand on end, causing him to stop mid-stride, his hand falling on a chair in the office and gripping the back of it.

even providing you with the tools to start a life here maybe even begin creating a new version of your clan.

Time seemed to freeze as the words sunk deep into Ikinari’s brain. Was that really an option? He thought back to his clan, his beliefs, his village, and for some reason, Tenzin’s suggestion really seemed to resonate. The Hizashi were Buddhist, they believed in reincarnation. Beyond the reincarnation of the body, they believed in a continuous cycle of ideas, energy, beliefs, and more. The ‘death’ of the Hizashi, whether figurative under the reign of Iwagakure or literally at the cost of their lives, did not demand the death of the clan itself. In the same ways the spirit was brought back to a new body to continue towards ascension, the clan could too.

”Could you really do that?”, he asked, all of the tension seemingly sucked out of the room, ”Help me in bringing about the Hizashi?”