Noboru opened his eyes feeling a massive headache in his skull, and his ribs were aching in pain. He moved his hand down his shirt.

  ‘That’s right, I left it in the drawer next to my bed.’

  Noboru moved his hands further down, and felt bandages wrapped around his body. He slowly sat up, and got a good look at the room.

  It was simple, and small. He was lying down in a bed slightly shorter than his own, but the window to his right showed him something he wasn't used to.

  'Ame.'

  And not just what was in Kosutta territory, no - this was all of it. Tall metallic buildings coloring the skyline, he could even see the faint outline of the Kage Gullet Mikan escorted him through the previous day.

  'It's all so small from here.'

  He must have been several stories up as the streets below were small, and lifeless from where he was sitting; though the great wall was tall, the skyscrapers of Ame were several stories taller. It must've been the afternoon because far off in the distance he could see the sun shining through the dark gray clouds. The time of day reminded him of something he didn't want to think about, something he wanted to ignore.

  Earlier he'd fought against his father Sejin in an attempt to unlock his Kiidogan, but it ended with an abrupt, and disappointing failure. Noboru had lacked the strength to defeat his father, and therefore he wouldn't be able to participate in the Mock Exams. He wouldn't be able to live freely, and he wouldn't be able to marry Chocho.

  He had failed.

  But as he thought about that unavoidable fact his mind drifted to his present situation. Rubin had saved him; stopped his father from ending his life. Given that, it stands to reason that he was at Jonin HQ.

  Noboru pinched the bridge of his nose.

  What value did Rubin find in Noboru? Without a doujutsu he wouldn't be able to adequately represent his clan. The only thing Noboru could think of is if Rubin had to meet a quota for Mock Exam participants. If that was the case then it'd stand to reason that he'd go out of his way to protect him, but even then why risk getting on the bad side of Sejin?

  Noboru thought endlessly on Rubin's reasons for saving him, but in the end all he could do was wait for the man in question to explain himself, and luckily that didn't take long.

  The door opened, and in walked Rubin, and Minori.

  "Minori, are you sure it's safe for you to be here?" Rubin asked

  "Sejin is probably sulking in his office right about now, don't worry about him." Minori replied.

  "I'm not worried about Sejin Minori, it's his birds that I fear."

  "Birds? You mean Natsuki?"

  "He's one of many."

  "He's more of a pigeon-"

  Rubin had no words for that.

  "-I just wanted to see him alive and well before I left him in your hands," Minori added.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  "Minori." Noboru interrupted their conversation.

  "If Mikan was there, do you think... Do you think I would've-"

  "If Mikan was there it wouldn't have made a difference. The truth is Noboru, the reason you didn't unlock your doujutsu is because you lack something-"

  'Resolve.' Noboru thought

  "-And you have your father to thank for that. How could he expect you to grow as a person if he keeps your wings taped to your back? I don't blame you for that loss Noboru, I only regret that it was Rubin who stepped in and not me."

  "Wings taped to your back?" Rubin repeated with a raised eyebrow.

  Minori shrugged his shoulders, "The bird analogies work better when they're not coming from you."

  Rubin smiled, "Anyway, well if you tried to intervene he may not have stopped, so. It's for the best."

  "For what it's worth, your Air Current Dance has improved." Minori told Noboru.

  "Thanks, I guess."

  "See you around, I'm heading back to the complex before anyone notices I'm gone." The young chunin waved him goodbye before heading out the door.

  Rubin, and Noboru were alone now. The man reached into his back pocket, and revealed a Hidden Leaf headband.

  “I see more in you than just eyes, Noboru. Fight for Ame in the Mock Exams, and become a shinobi. Do that, and you won’t have to worry about Sejin.”

  Noboru chewed on that thought. He had no doujutsu so his fathers interest in him would certainly dwindle over time. Hypothetically, if he were to leave, and come back to Ame would Sejin bother with him at all? Regardless of what he thought the answer was clear.

  Noboru took the headband from Rubin, and sat it on his lap.

  “It’s not like I have another choice.”

  “Sejin is the other choice.” Rubin said bluntly.

  “I’ll fight in the exam, just don’t expect too much of me.”

  “I’m glad to hear it, you’ll make a fine shinobi.”

  “The Exams are on an island right? How do you expect me to get there?”

  “Unfortunately for you the other Ame candidates left yesterday, and generally it’s not safe for exam candidates to leave Ame without a jonin level shinobi to escort them.”

  Noboru had heard murmurings of an ongoing Civil War outside of the village.

  ‘Has the fighting gotten that close?’ He wondered.

  “But luckily, Mikan was three steps ahead, as usual,” Rubin said regrettably.

  “Ohh, is that jealousy I detect? Of Miss Mikan?”

  A new, distinct voice had presented itself. Noboru peaked over Rubin’s shoulder and saw a young girl his age wandering into the room.

  “Wow, I almost didn’t hear you come in. You’re definitely her student.”

  ‘Student?’

  “I don’t need you to tell me that, Rubin.” She made her way to the bedside, and eyed Noboru curiously.

  “You must be what Miss Mikan’s been keeping all to herself.” She glanced at the lead jonin, “Are you sure I can’t meet mister Sejin as well?”

  “”That wouldn’t be the best idea.”

  “Don’t feel too bad,” Noboru started, “I don’t know anything about you either, my sister doesn’t tell me anything.”

  Noboru felt relieved, after all he thought he was the only one in the dark, but it seems Mikan treats her students in the same way.

  “So, I’ll be traveling with you then?” The boy added.

  “That’s right! So I’ll be asking you lots of questions. Please feel free to do the same with me!”

  “I don’t think you’ll be interested in anything I have to say.”

  “Hmmm, I wonder about that.” Rin said, bringing a finger to her chin.

  “Noboru,” Rubin interrupted, “Rin traveled here on her own from Kirigakure, and managed to do so undetected. You should be safe traveling together.”

  Feeling uncomfortable with two people standing over him, Noboru got out of bed. He took the headband, and stuffed it in his back pocket.

  "You probably won't need it, but here's a map of Ame no shima the island our village is on. You'll want to follow the path west to Ryoto Port, from there you'll take a boat to Point Break."

  Noboru studied the map for a moment before nodding his head, and placing it in his pack. He figured Rin would know the way, but it'd be good for him to take note.

  “You’re almost as tall as Miss Mikan.” Rin said, her hands behind her back.

  “Will we have any trouble getting out of Ame?” Noboru asked Rubin.

  “As Minori said earlier, Sejin is probably too busy sulking to notice.”

  ‘Sulking about me huh?’

  Noboru smiled.

  “Why are you smiling like that? Are you thinking of something stupid?” Rin asked.

  “Someone.”

  “I’ve got supplies packed for you both downstairs, please remember to take them before you leave.”

  After thanking Rubin, and loading up on supplies Rin, and Noboru had finally exited HQ.

  The boy instinctively reached up to grab the pendant that wasn’t there, before sighing in frustration. Instead, he squeezed his shirt in its place.